#B 462

[slowtraincomingsoon]

3462 002 in Werder an der Havel am 15.10.2023

[usaac-official]

B-29s of the 462nd Bomb Group on the move at West Field, Tinian, 1944-1945

[blackwidownat2814]

Steal My Thunder (T.Owens)

Pairing: Tyler Owens x female reader, Tyler Owens x shy!reader, Tyler Owens x insecure!reader

Word Count: 462

A/N: Welcome to my first Tyler Owens fic! I was throwing fic ideas around before I even saw the movie. I watched several interviews and other stuff on YouTube and took notes even. Then after seeing it the third time, I started working on this story. I don't anticipate this being a real long story, but I also will be a little slow to update because of work or writer's block or working on a crochet project I really need to finish. What I'm really saying is please be patient with me. Secondly, like in my other works, I'd planned to make this with a plus size!reader in mind, but I decided to go with insecure because I want to try and be a little more inclusive. Also, unless otherwise stated, my readers are always female readers. Lastly, I'm already working on Chapter 1, so keep an eye out for that. However, if you really like this, please let me know and I can tag you in future updates. And as always, I will be crossposting this to AO3. If you see this story anywhere besides AO3 or Tumblr, it's stolen Kthxbye! PS: Thanks to KJ & Jordyn for their help in beta-ing and title/chapter ideas! Love y'all!

Prologue

You were a Lead Meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  You should not be handling school age tour groups.  You were just about DONE with being treated like a secretary.  The rest of them thought that just because Kate was gone that they could go back to treating you like they did before her.

You were quiet, shy, and someone whose love language was acts of service, so you loved to help people out.  The problem was that your co-workers abused that part of you.  They asked to lead the school groups, bring everyone coffee, put together packets for meetings, etc.  Complete nonsense…and you were done.

It was then, as you mentally typed up your resignation, that you received a serendipitous call from Kate herself.

“I believe the sayin’ is ‘No man left behind’.”

“You’re not an US Army Ranger, B.”

“Yeah, well…”  You trailed off, not wanting to burden your friend with your issues.  Kate always told you that it was okay to talk to her when you needed someone, but you were stubborn.  You were very much of the ‘friends aren’t therapists’ mindset.

“Talk to me B.”

“I’m happy for you, ya know?  You’re back to doing’ something I know you loved.  I can see it in your eyes with each video or stream I watch.”

“Okay, keep your secrets…and thank you.  I am happy.”

“So…what can I do for ya?  Why are you botherin’ me on my lunch hour?”

“Damn!  Sorry about that B.”

“You know I don’t actually care.  Tell me what’s up.”

“I’m callin’ with a job off-”

“I’ll take it.”

“Woah, I haven’t even said what it-”

“I don’t care.  Ever since you left, and because I’m a huge push over, everyone’s been walking all over me.  You know I had to do three tours today?”

“We’ve talked about this.”

“I know Kate.  Just…what’s the job anyway?”  Your friend was silent for a moment, before you heard her exhale.

“It’s storm data analysis really.”

“Elaborate.”

“We’re trying to really get down to the nitty gritty with the data from the EF-5 we got to dissipate last season and see where to improve, how to catalog it in our info database, etc.”

“I’m in”, you said.  “Y’all won’t treat me like some secretary, I’ll be close to home again, and I’ll get to spend all my time with you.”

“We most definitely will not treat you like some secretary.  We’re equal opportunity storm chasers out here.”

You tossed your empty sandwich bag into the trash and pulled up Word to start drafting your resignation letter.

“Say, what are the benefits as a Tornado Wrangler?”  Before Kate could reply, you heard Boonie baby! Woo! in the background.

With that enthusiasm, what could possibly go wrong?

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

Tagging: @buckysdollforlife @13braincellsonly

[daydreamingyuta]

Love Song | Jaehyun

summary: fluff, drabble, Jaehyun writes you a sweet love song and wants to play it for you <3 w/c: 462 a/n: Happy Jaehyun Day to the Valentine's boy!! 💚

There were very few things you loved more than spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with your sweet boyfriend. Laying down with his arms wrapped around you while a new album plays off of Jaehyun's record player, was something you found yourself always looking forward to. 

The record crackles and stops playing, signifying that it has reached the end of the A-side. You brace yourself for Jaehyun to leave you and place the B-side onto the table, but he doesn't move. Instead, he grabs your hand and plays with it nervously. As you turn your head to face him, your back presses slightly more against his chest and feel his heartbeat grow faster. 

You were just about to ask him if something was wrong, when his words stop you. “I’ve been working on this song.” He says, still putting all his attention onto your hand that he’s toying with. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, and I really want you to listen to it and tell me what you think.” You nod your head yes enthusiastically, Jaehyun’s voice being one of your most favorite things in the world. As he gets up and goes over to his keyboard, a part of you is confused as to why he was acting nervous. He’s played you his songs plenty of times and has never seemed anxious before. 

You cast your thoughts away though for the time being and sit criss-cross on his bed and offer him your undivided attention. He starts playing a soft melody that perfectly complements his sweet and gentle voice. 

It hits you after a few lines in that this song is very clearly about you. Not only that, but it’s a love song. His lyrics tug at your heartstrings as sings about all the things he adores about you. There’s a line about how you’ve made him a better man and another about how you’re as beautiful to him as flowers in a meadow. 

You can’t lie that you haven’t daydreamed about him writing you a sweet love song, but this is much much more sweeter than what you’ve imagined. A part of you never wants him to stop, while the other just wants to hug and kiss him until you can't anymore. 

He plays the final notes of the song and then turns to you, wanting to see your reaction. “You wrote me a love song, Jae?” You ask, smiling so brightly at him. 

He nods his head at you, “I know it needs some more work but-” You interpret his speech with a gentle kiss, the unexpectedness causing him to pause. Then he wraps his arms around your waist and kisses you again with so much love. “It’s perfect Jae, I’ve always wanted one from you.” 

“Then I’ll write you a million more, angel.”

[gimmethemprimals]

How enjoyable would eating each FR breed be

Hi. I did a survey. I got 381 people who added their input.

Each breed has a score calculated from their tastiness score and their mental toll score (Taste minus how bad you'd feel afterwards). Here are their scores.

Undertide: 931

Skydancer: 515

Coatl: 385

Banescale: 366

Wildclaw: 358

Pearlcatcher: 333

Imperial: 255

Gaoler: 227

Snapper: 139

Guardian: 49

Tundra: 41

Ridgeback: -29

Sandsurge: -96

Nocturne: -101

Fae: -138

Spiral: -326

Aether: -333

Obelisk: -386

Veilspun: -423

Bogsneak: -462

Mirror: -481

Aberration: -1006

Also, most edible deity is the Gladekeeper at 32% of the vote, with the Tidelord in 2nd place with 23.4% and Windsinger at 10.2%. (Earthshaker scored in last place with 1%- the Plaguebringer scooches past with 1.3% with a SINGLE vote!)

Exact scoring calculations under the cut- now you can see how bad people feel about eating Aethers!

(T for Taste and B for Bad)

Undertide: 2732 T - 1801 B

Skydancer: 5269 T - 2054 B

Coatl: 2691 T - 2306 B

Banescale: 2150 T - 1784 B

Wildclaw: 2186 T - 1828 B

Pearlcatcher: 2219 T - 1886 B

Imperial: 2153 T - 1898 B

Gaoler: 2101 T - 1874 B

Snapper: 2471 T - 2332 B

Guardian: 2073 T - 2024 B

Tundra: 2403 T - 2362 B

Ridgeback: 1835 T - 1864 B

Sandsurge: 1905 T - 2001 B

Nocturne: 1792 T - 1893 B

Fae: 1876 T - 2014 B

Spiral: 1985 T - 2311 B

Aether: 2253 T - 2586 B

Obelisk: 2012 T - 2398 B

Veilspun: 1467 T - 1890 B

Bogsneak: 1573 T - 2035 B

Mirror: 1407 T - 1888 B

Aberration: 974 T - 1980 B

And for the deities:

Gladekeeper - 32%

Tidelord - 23.4%

Windsinger - 10.2%

Flamecaller - 9.4%

Icewarden - 7.3%

Lightweaver - 6.8%

Arcanist - 3.4%

Shadowbinder - 2.6%

Stormcatcher - 2.4%

Plaguebringer - 1.3%

Earthshaker - 1%

[mrsniallhoran505]

Good Night Elvis Girls!

Theme 462: when you can't see who is talking

GNEG! Tag List:

Sometimes tags works sometimes they don’t!

If you want to be added to the tag list, please send me a message.

@kctj82 @just-another-boring-bisexual @jojam10 @chasingwildflowers @g00d2balive @cinnamonandmercury @eliseinmemphis @pennyroyalcreep @butlerette @lillypink @kill-bill33 @lookingforrainbows @pinkcaddyconfessions @ab4eva @faithhopeandlove @xanatenshi @b-bradshaw

[blackcat419]

Rewriting HotD: Plot breakdown of Fire and Blood the Dance of the Dragons

Part 3: 130 A.C. Fall of Kings Landing to 130 A.C.

Part 1 Here

Part 2 Here

The following is an in depth plot breakdown of F&B where character moments, plot beats, difference in sources, and missing details will all be analyzed and possible solutions proposed. The timeline will start in 101 A.C. with the first great council as where the seeds of the dance were thoroughly sowed and watered to the death of Jaehaera in 133 A.C.

This is the first part of my rewriting HotD series. The next part will talk more about character arcs and expanding on them using the enneagram as a jumping off point.

Page numbers will be cited from my copy of fire and blood the 2022 Trade Paperback Tie-in Edition.

Legend

Bold for the year

Italic for character moments

Blue for Orwyle’s account

Purple for Munkun’s A True Telling

Green for Septon Eustace’s The Reign of King Viserys

Red for Mushroom’s The Testimony of Mushroom

Orange for rumors that have no source

Pink for minor sources where their credibility and bias will be discussed when they come up

(Parenthesis) will be used when I deem it necessary to comment on the story either about the plot or how the fandom views the story.

[brackets] will be used for when I want to add real world historical context.

Where Gyldayn does not identify which source he is using or which sources disagree with eachother, it will be assumed that all sources agree with each other.

Source Bias is discussed in Part 1

Because the war is barely three years, months and other year dividers will be used when mentioned and most divisions will be by location.

Acorn Hill

Riverlanders first hold back the Westermen but fall back after Lord Piper's death. Mushroom says Lord Piper died after seeing his favorite grandson's head on a spear. Pg 460

3 Days Later Acorn Hill

The Riverlanders group under the hedge knight called Ser Harry Penny. Ser Penny kills Adrian Tarbeck but dies soon after. Pg 460

The Westermen win the battle and are now led by Lord Humfry Lefford. Pg 460

The Twins

The Winter Wolves are greeted by Sabitha Frey at the Twins. Pg 460-1

Harrenhal

Aemond's march is delayed by bad weather. He finds Harrenhal empty and believes Daemon has fled rather than face him. He parties then challenges Simon Strong to a trial by combat and feeds his corpse to Vhagar. Pg 461

After finding out about the fall of King's Landing, Aemond executes all the Strongs, true born and bastard, but takes Alys Rivers as his mistress. Pg 462

---

Aemond: First delighted when he thinks Daemon fled rather than face him but is angered when he learns about the fall of King's Landing. Doesn't execute Alys for some reason.

Alys Rivers: Somehow keeps herself alive during the Strong massacre. Did she turn on her kin for Aemond?

Fish Feed

Lord Humfrey Lefford has his army camp with The Lake of the God's eye behind them for protection rather than face either army. Lord Lefford tries to send for help to Aemond but all his ravens are shot down by Red Robb Rivers. The Lannister soldiers are attacked and either die in the fighting or drown in the lake. Pg 462-3 (Reference to Lake Trasimene?)

The Northmen suffer the most deaths. Pg 463

---

Benjicott Blackwood: Weeps when he sees the dead.

Other Battles

Daeron and Lord Hightower put the other enemy Reach lords into submission. Pg 463

Borros Baratheon Marches south into the Dornish marches to presumably protect against the Dornish. Pg 463

Fair Isle is attacked by the Greyjoys. Pg 463

Holding Harrenhal

Aemond and Criston's forces die of starvation and sickness. Foraging parties go missing. Pg 465

Mushroom says Aemond and Criston became rivals for Alys Rivers while Eustace says Aemond was the only one who wanted her. Pg 465

Criston leaves to join Daeron and Oremond Hightower while Aemond stays to wage war in the Riverlands. Pg 465-6

---

Aemond: refuses to retreat saying 'only a craven runs from traitors'. After hearing about Fishfeed, he almost strangles the messenger to death and is only stopped by Alys Rivers. Says Rhaenyra won't risk the lives of her sons, a mother's fears. (perhaps dig at Helaena and Alicent?)

Alys Rivers: Stops Aemond from strangling the messenger, showing her influence over him.

Crison Cole: Leaves Aemond to rejoin Daeron to hopefully retake Kingslanding.

The Red Keep

Rhaenyra frees the imprisoned Black loyalists, imprisons the Green loyalists, beheads Otto Hightower and Jasper 'Iron Rod' Wylde, and tortures Tyland Lannister for info on where the treasury is. Pg 466

Alicent is spared and placed in golden chains. Pg 466

Rhaenyra removes the tongues of Lord Rosby and Lord Stokeworth before executing them for initially turning to the greens. Pg 466-7

Daemon suggests marrying the eldest daughters of Lord Rosby and Stokeworth to Hugh and Ulf to secure the lands and reward the two. Corlys argues against Daemon's plan saying they can't disinherit the younger sons in favor of the daughters and that Rhaenyra was a special case because she was named heir by her father. Munkun says Rhaenyra sided with Corlys in fear of losing her lords' support. Pg 467

Hugh Hammer beats a household knight to death over a sex worker and Ulf rides naked and drunk through the city. Pg 467

Celtigar becomes the master of coin and implements unpopular taxes that mainly affect merchants and traders. Executions were commercialized and bodies were fed to dragons as feed. Pg 467-8

The commoners start calling Rhaenyra "Maegor's Teats" or "King Maegor with teats" Pg 469

Rhaenyra has Aegon the Younger and Jeoffrey come to court. She makes Aegon her cupbearer and celebrates Jeoffrey becoming the Prince of Dragonstone. Pg 469

Mysaria becomes the unofficial Master of Whispers and spends the nights with Daemon. Pg 469

Each time Rhaenyra sits the Iron Throne, she is cut by it. Pg. 469

---

Daemon: Seeks comfort in Mysaria after Rhaenyra rejects his plan for Stokeworth and Rosby (Again the hand is favored over him)

Corlys: Focuses on Rhaenyra being a special case and not upsetting the other lords (Despite him passing over legitimate granddaughters for his bastard sons.)

Rhaenyra: Has Stokeworth and Rosby killed for switching sides. Sides with Corlys to not upset her lords.

Bartimos Celtigar: Staunch and unwavering support of Rhaenyra. Unrelenting, incorruptible, and ingenious.

Bitterbridge

Bitterbridge is crowded with refugees from Longtable. Lady Caswell closed her gates to them. Pg 470

Rikard Thorne goes to the Hog's Head with Maelor disguised as father and son. A stable boy named Sly tries to steal from Rickard and finds Maelor's dragon egg. Richard Thorne Kills the inn keep Ben Buttercakes, and then flees on a horse with Maelor. The bridge guards try to stop Richard and he fights them till a crossbow bolt takes him down. Pg. 470-2

The crowd fights over Maelor and pulls him to pieces. Pg 474

Mushroom says Willow Poundstone squeezed Maelor to death. Eustace says Maelor was chopped into pieces by a butcher. Munkun says Maelor was torn apart by the mob. Pg 474

Lady Caswelll has the stableboy Sly, Willow Poundstone, and the man who owned the horse Richard fled on hanged. She sent Throne's body and Maelor's head to King's landing and Maelor's dragon egg to the Hightowers to try and appease both sides. Pg 474

The Red Keep

Mushroom says Rhaenyra wept when seeing the head while Eustace says she smiled and had the head burned. No announcement was made but rumor spread that Rhaenyra sent Maelor's head to Helaena. Pg 474

Realm Overview

Dalton Greyjoy abducts five of Lord Farman's daughters. Pg 474

Lady Merryweather surrenders to the Hightowers and her castle is stripped to feed the army. Pg 475

Battle of Bitterbridge

Lady Caswell asks for the same terms given to Lady Merryweather but Daeron says 'You shall receive the same terms you gace my nephew Maelor.' The city is asked withe everything burned and everyone killed.

Lady Caswell pleads for her children's lives before hanging herself. Her kids are sent to Oldtown in chains.

---

Daeron: Decides that Bitterbridge will be sacked for the murder of Maelor.

Harrenhal

3 days after Aemond leaves Harrenhal, Sabitha Frey takes it and finds Alys Rivers claiming she is pregnant with 'The Dragon's Bastard' Pg 475-6

Riverlands

Aemond burns the Riverlands starting with House Darry. Lord Darry and his heir are burned alive while his wife and younger children survive in the cellar. Pg 476

Butcher's Ball

4 days (Presumably 1 day after Sabitha takes Harrenhal) out of Harrenhal, Ser Cole faces guerilla-style attacks from the Northern army. Criston tries to surrender to save his men and then offers to fight a 3 v. 1. Criston is shot dead by Red Robb Rivers. Pg 476-7

The Winterwolves slaughter Criston's fleeing men. Pg 478

---

Criston: Tries to sacrifice himself to save his men but is murdered for his bravery.

The Mirror Shield

Ser Byron Swann wants to kill a dragon like Serwyn of the Mirror Shielf did (Reference to Medusa and Persius). Munkun says he wanted to kill Vhagar to end Aemond'ds raids, Mushroom says it was Syrax he meant to kill, and Eustace in a letter suggests it was Sungrye though his where about were unknown at the time. Pg 478

Ser Byron Swann died screaming, roasted alive. Pg 479

Maiden's Day

The Maester releases ravens to announce the coming of winter. Pg 479

The Triarchy is falling apart, Vaelyrons control the sea, Jeyne Arryn and Lord Manderly send men by sea to Rhaenyra. Pg 479

Aemond burns Harrenhal again, taking Alys Rivers and forcing Sabritha to flee back to the Twins. Pg 479

The Riverlands ask Rhaenyra for dragons to defend against Aemond. Pg 480

The Hightower Force with Daeron marched on King's Landing and forced their surrendered enemies to join them. Pg 480

Corlys advice Rhaenyra to offer pardons to Baratheon, Hightower, and Lannister, send her half brothers to the wall, give Alicent and Helaena to the faith, and let Corlys foster Jaehaera and then marry Aegon the Younger. Pg 480

Daemon suggests killing all the traitors and giving Storm's End to Ulf and Casterly Rock to Hugh. Pg 481 (The others to Hugh and Ulf keep increasing and keep being taken away)

Rhaenyra decides to focus on killing her half-brothers and then forcing the Green Lords to surrender. Pg 481

Rhaneyra, Jeoffrey, and Addam stay in Kingslanding, Daemon and Nettles leave for the Riverlands, and Ulf and Hugh fly to Tumbleton. Pg 481

Alicent begs for her sons' lives and offers to split the realm but Rhaenyra denies her. Rhaenyra says that her half-brothers could have had places of honor at her court if they had not betrayed her and that her sons' blood is on their hands. Alicent says 'Bastard blood shed at war' and that her grandsons were the only innocents. Pg 482-3

Munkun and Eustace say Rhaenyra threatened to have Alicent's tongue ripped out for calling her sons bastards. Mushroom says Mysaria stayed the queen's hand and suggested that they sell Alicent and Helaena at brothels till they both have a bastard. Pg 483

---

Corlys: Focus on diplomacy to end the war and offer pardons.

Daemon: Focus on removing all threats to Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra: Focuses on removing her half brother and their claims to the throne.

Mysaria: cruelty by suggesting women be sexually assaulted.

Alicent: Bargins for Rhaenyra and Aegon both to be monarchs and still holds firm in her spite towards Rhaenyra.

Treason of Tumbleton

Munkun says Rhaenyra's force of 9 thousand was outnumbered by Ormund Hightower. Pg 484

Ulf and Hugh switch to the Hightower side. Mushroom says it was because they were craven. Others, not specified who, say the two wanted wealth and lordship and thought Hightower would give it when Rhaenyra had not. Pg 484-5

The Winterwolves push into the Hightower forces where Lord Roderick Dustin kills Ser Bryden Hightower and Lord Oremend Hightower before dying. Pg 485-6

Ulf and Hugh join Daeron in burning the city. Ser Roger Corne and his men turn and attack the men in Tumbleton. Lord Owain Bourney also turns for the Greens and kills Ser Merrell the Bold. Pg 486

Tumbleton is burned and no mercy is given to the survivors or the ones who surrender. Pg 486

Riverlands

Daemon and Nettles base themselves in Maidenpool. Pg 487

Vhagar attacks multiple towns and survivors can never agree on where she goes afterwards. Pg 487

Daemon and Nettles fly over the Riverlands each day in search of Vhagar. Chronicles of Maidenpool say Lord Mooton suggests they split up when searching but Daemon refuses. Pg 488

Mushroom says Daemon took Nettles as a lover. Pg 488

Chronicles of Maidenpool say Daemon ate with her, bathed with her, and instructed her in courtly courtesies. Pg 489

---

Daemon: Refuses to search separately from Nettles. Perhaps for strategy or personal reasons

Nettles: No older than 17, grew up homeless in Spicetown. Probably had to sell her maidenhead when young to eat. Mushroom calls her 'a skinny brown girl with a skinny brown dragon'. Eustace says she had crooked teeth and a nose cut across for stealing. Pg 488-9

Blackwater Bay

The crew on the ship Nessaria see two dragons fighting and the tale spreads till everyone on Dragonstone has heard it. Pg 489

Local fishermen find the dead dragon Grey Ghost, partially devoured. Pg 490

Ser Robert Quince declares the Cannibal the killer and forbids fishing near his lair. Pg 490

Baela spends many of her days patrolling the waters around Dragonstone and Driftmark. She wanted to investigate Grey Ghost's death but was caught before she could leave and was confined to her chambers. Pg 490-1

Tom Tanglebeard and his son Tom Tangletounge bring their two 'cousins' to the lair of the Cannibal Pg 491 (Aegon and who is revealed to be a bastard knight named Ser Marston Pg 544)

---

Ser Robert Quince: Amiable and obese knight named Castellan of Dragonstone after Rhaenyra leaves. Not investigative perhaps due to overconfidence or he was an ally to Aegon?

Baela: Wild and willful. Played kissing games with squires and let a kitchen boy grope her and then pleaded for his hand to not be removed when found out. Loves boys and flying.

The Red Keep

After hearing about Tumblton, Rhaenyra orders the city gates to be barred to keep out any traitors. Pg 491

The black council argues over what to do with Addam and Nettles. Bartimos Celtigar argues that bastards are treacherous by nature, Ser Luthor Largent, Ser Lorent Marbrand, and the Mandarly men agree with him. Only Lord Corlys and Master Gerargys argue against killing them. Pg 492-3

Eustace says Rhaenyra had been betrayed so often that she expected it. Pg 493

Rhaenyra calls on Mysaria who tells her Nettles is sleeping with Daemon. Eustace says she grows wroth and orders Addam to be tortured to find out if he's a traitor and for Nettles to be killed. Pg 493

Addam flees before Ser Luthor can arrest him. Ser Luthor bounds, beats, and imprisons Corlys believing he told Addam to flee. Pg 494

Rhaenyra dismisses Geradrys as Grand Maester, no longer able to trust him because he urged caution. Pg 494

The people of Kings Landing turn to a man called the 'Shepherd', the dead shepherd according to Mushroom. Munkun says he was a poor fellow. Pg 495

The Shepherd preaches that dragons are unnatural and gains a large following that the gold cloaks can't break up. Pg 496

---

Alicent: 'All they have sowed, now they shall they reap' after hearing about Tumbleton, very vengeful. Pg 491

Rhaenyra: Grows pale after hearing of Tumbleton and the betrayal. Sees betrays all around her. Dismisses Gerardy believing his caution means he is a traitor.

Joffrey: wants to fight and avenge his brothers. Excited for the battle to come.

Corlys: Warns Addam before he is attacked and stands his ground against Ser Luthor, not admitting to anything.

Tumbleton

The army becomes unruly and cruelly keeps sacking Tumbleton. The commanders begin fighting amongst themselves. The eldest Hightower, Ser Hobert, is a weak leader who was only intrusted with the baggage train before. Daeron is too young and inexperienced. Lord Unwin Peake, Ser Jon Roxton, and Lord Owain Bourney argue for leadership. Roxton kills the lord of Tumbleton to take his wife as his war prize. Peak and Bourney get into an argument and Peak kills Bourney, saying once a traitor, always a traitor. Pg 496-8

Eustace and Munkun assert that Daeron was horrified by the violence. Pg 497

Ulf declares he wants Highgarden and Hugh says he wants to be a king. A new prophecy about a hammer falling upon a dragon and a new king arriving. Pg. 498 {Refrence to Ceaser using a made-up prophecy to justify his own rule}

---

Daeron: Unable to take control despite being horrified and having a dragon.

MaidenPool 8th day of the 5th Moon 130 A.C.

Maester Norren in the 'Chronicles of MaidenPool' says the Lord Mooton needed three cups of wine after reading Rhaenyra's letter demanding Nettles' head. Pg 499

Lord Mooton's brother and the captain of his guard, Florian Greysteel, argue on how to subdue Daemon to kill Nettles. Florian says the old king would never ask for this (whether this is referring to Jaehaerys or Viserys is unclear) Pg 499

Lord Mooton elements that he is either a traitor or breaks guests right. Pg 500

Maester Norren pretends that the lord never saw the letter and delivers it to Daemon. Pg 500

Nettles feeds Sheepstealer a black ram, Daemon helps her mount him, and she flies off in the direction of the bay of crabs. Daemon leaves for Harrenhal. Maidenpool turns to Aegon II. Pg 500-1

---

Daemon: says 'a queen's words, a whores work' after reading the letter, probably referring to Mysaria.

Nettles: tear streaked face when she has to leave.

Harrenhal 8th-22nd day of the 5th Moon 130 A.C.

Daemon stays at Harrenhall for 14 days, slashing the weirwood to mark the passage of time. Pg 501

HarrenHal 22nd day of the 5th Moon 130 A.C.

Aemond arrives with Alys. Daemon and Aemond fight on dragon back. Pg 502

Caraxes slams into Vhagar and Daemon jumps off Caraxes and pierces Aemond through the eye. Pg 504

Historians record that Aemond, Daemon, and their dragons died that day. The singers say Daemon survived and returned to Nettles. Pg 504

---

Aemond: He Brought Alys with him and was confident he'd win.

Daemon: Seems to have accepted his death and just wants to take Aemond down with him.

Kings Landing

Mysaria says Addam fleeing proved his guild. Pg 506

Lord Celtigar suggests a tax on bastards. Pg 506

Soldiers sworn to house Velaryon start abandoning Rhaenyra with Corlys in prison. Some go home and others join the Shepherd. Pg 506

Corlys' personal guards Ser Denys Woodwright and Ser Thoron True try to free Corlys and are executed for it. Pg 506-7

Helaena jumps to her death from Maegor's holdfast. Mushroom says she killed herself because she was pregnant after being sold as a prostitute. Munkun says the horror of seeing Ser Denys and Ser Thoron dead drove her to her death. Eustace says Mysaria told her how Maelor died out of malice or some unknown reason. Pg. 507 (George's comments suggest that Eustace's story is the right one.)

Rumors spread that Rhaenyra had Ser Luthor Largent Kill Helaena so she could not revel in Rhaenyra's downfall. Pg 507

Munkun says the Shepherd spread the rumor. Mushroom says the Shepherd only repeated the rumor Larys Strong started. Pg 507-8

Dreamfyre breaks two of her chains and roars loud enough to shake the dragon pit when Helaena dies. Pg 508

Alicent rips her garments apart when she hears of Helaena's death and curses her rival. Pg 508

---

Mysaria: Continued focus on removing support and a sense of safety from Rhaenyra.

Helaena: Was driven to suicide by something (most likely the details of Maelor's death).

Alicent: Curses her rivals when she learns of Helaena's death.

Kings Landing The Riots

Kings Landing raises in riots that night over Helaena and her sons. The riots started in flea bottom with rioters looting, beating up gold cloaks, and attacking Lords and Knights. Lady Darla Debbings' brother Davos was killed defending her from being raped. Sailors attack the river gate and fight the city watch. Pg 508-9

The rioters attack Lord Bartimos Celtigar. His guards flee or join the rioters. Arthur Celtigar tries to fight off the rioters but a serving girl lets the rioters in and he is killed. Bartimos tries to flee but is captured and tortured to reveal where his wealth is. Pg 509

The Shepherd preaches against Rhaenyra and proclaims the stranger has come. Pg 509

According to Mushroom, Ser Luthor Largent led 5 thousand men of the city watch to try and disperse the rioters to take away the Shepherd but the mob held firm and the Shepherd was bundled away. The mob throws stuff at the watch and an archer loses bolts on the crowd. Pg 510 (Reference to the Boston massacre?)

Despite the watches training, the crowd outnumbers them and slaughters them Pg 512

The Shepherd holds sway over the city. Hundreds gather around Wat the Tanner who killed Lord Celtigar and declared an end to taxes. The sex workers declare a 4-year-old boy, Daemon Pale Hair, the rightful king and bastard of Aegon II. Hedge knight Ser Perkin names his squire Trystane, a boy of 16, the natural son of King Viserys. He dubbed any sellsword, thief, or butcher's boy a knight if they swore to Trystane. Pg 513

The Gold Cloaks under Ser Balon Byrch and Ser Garth the Harelip restore order to the streets North and East of Rhaeny's Hill. Ser Medrick Manderly and his white Harbor Men restore order northeast of Aegon's High Hill to the Iron Gate. Pg 513

Ser Torrhen and his Northmen to the River Gate and find the garrison killed by Ser Perkin's men and the garrison turns over to him. Ser Toffhen loses a quarter of his men fighting back. Pg 513

Ser Lorent Marbrand, Lord Commander of the Queen's guard died in flea bottom. Ser Glendon Goode rescues his body. Pg 513

By evenfall, Rhaenyra is beset on all sides. Mushroom says Rhaenyra wept at Ser Lorent's death, raged at Maidenpool turning, Nettles escaping, and Daemon's betrayal, and trembled when Mysaria said the next night would be worse. Mushroom says the men attending her slowly left or were dismissed until only Mushroom and Rhaenyra's sons remained. She calls Mushroom loyal and he says he rather be her consort which makes her laugh. Pg 513

Munkun says Rhaenyra swung from rage to despair and back, cutting herself on the Iron Throne. Pg 513

Rhaenyra names Ser Balon Byrch commander of the goldcloaks, sends ravens to Winterfell and the Eyrie to ask for aid, orders a detaining order on the Mootons, and names Ser Glendon Goode Lord Commander of the Queensguard. Pg 514

---

Rhaenyra: swings between rage and tears but is able to order new appointments and next steps.

Kings Landing the Last Day

Eustace and Munkun say that on the Last Day, Aegon the Younger stays at his mother's side and Jeoffrey wishes to fight on his dragon. Pg 514

The sex workers bestow their favor on any man who swears his sword to Gaemon Palehair. Ser Perkin has his knights feast on stolen food and then march along the riverfront. Wat the Tanner leads his mob against the Gate of the Gods and breaks through and towards an unknown direction under Bartimos Celtigar's rotting head. Pg 514

The Kings Gate garrison flees and the Lion Gates garrison joins the mobs, leaving three of the seven gates open to Kings Landing. Pg 514-5

The Shepherd reemerged and continued preaching against Rhaenyra. Eustace says the crowd was twice as large and thrice as fearful as the night before. The Shepherd rallied the crowd against the dragons and marched on the Dragon Pit. When the mob reaches the dragon pit, they are 20 thousand strong. Pg 514-6

Mushroom watches the attack unfold alongside Rhaenyra, Aegon the younger, and Joffrey. Rhaenyra sends riders to Ser Balon at the Old Gate and Ser Garth at the Dragon Gate to stop the Shepherd and defend the dragons but only the messenger to the Dragon Gate arrives. Jeoffrey pleads to go leave and defend the dragons which Rhaenyra forbids. Mushroom says something siding with Joffrey and is told to hold his tongue by Rhaenyra leading to Mushroom not saying anything when Jeoffrey sneaks out. Pg 516

Joffrey takes off on Syrax for the dragon pit without a saddle or whip. Rhaenyra commands men to ride after him. Munkun says these were men of honor, Eustace says they were moved by Rhaenyra's love for her son, and Mushroom says they were idiots looking for a reward and not caring if they died. Pg 516-7

The Seven Who Rode: Ser Medrick Manderly heir to white harbor, Ser Loreth Landsdale and Ser Harrold Darke of the Queensguard, Ser Harmon 'Iron-Banger' of the Reeds, Ser Gyles Yronwood exiled knight from Dorne, Ser Willam Royce, and Ser Glendon Goode Lord Commander of the Queensguard. Pg 517

Syrax throws Jeoffrey off her back and he falls. Rumors say that Jeoffrey died in the arms of a girl named Robin, a candlemaker's daughter. The mob quickly strips Jeoffrey of all possessions and tears his body apart. The seven who rode fight with the mob over Joffrey's body. The seven protect his body but Willam Royce, Gyles Yronwood, and Glendon Goode die. Pg 517-9

Dragon Gate gold cloaks retreat from the mob. The Dragonkeepers try to hold off the mob but are slaughtered. Shrykos is slain by Hobb the Hewer. Morghul was killed by the Burning Knight. Tyraxes tried to retreat into his layer but the Shepherd directs the mob through the back to kill him. Dreamfyre fights and breaks the Dragon pit dome, killing her and the multiple dragonslayers. Pg 520-522

The Shepherd next directs the mob to kill Syrax who lands to feats on the burned corpses. Munkun says Hobb the Hewer killed her, but the book says this is most likely a mix-up with Shrykos' death. Some says a blood-soaked giant leapt from the broken dome. Others say a knight named Ser Warrick Wheaton slashed off Syrax's wing with a Valyrian steel sword, most likely Lamentations taken from Willam Royce. A crossbowman named Bean claims to have landed the killing blow. The most common which Eustace and the singers tell is that the Shepherd killed Syrax. Pg 522-525

---

Aegon: Seldom speaks and is always at his mother's side.

Joffrey: Wishes to fight for his mother on dragon's back like his brothers did. Goes against his mother's wishes and takes off on Syrax, leading to his death. His last words are 'Mother forgive me' though praying to his own mother or the Mother is unknown.

Rhaenyra: forbids Jeoffrey from fighting after the death of Jace and Luke. Holds Aegon the Younger close, refusing to let go after Joffrey's death.

Mushroom: very petty as he does not warn Rhaenyra of Joffrey sneaking off after she told him to shut up.

Kings Landing The Day after The Last Day

Rhaenyra flees the city at dawn through the Dragon Gate (This might be a mistake as the Iron Gate is closer and had order restored by Medrick Manderly). planning to move up the coast to Duskendale. She leaves with the Manderly brothers, four surviving Queensguards, Ser Balon Byrch and twenty gold cloaks, four of her handmaidens, and her last son Aegon. Pg 525

Garth the Harlip is given guard over the Dragon Gate to protect the city. He turns it over to Ser Perkin the Flea in hopes of mercy only to be executed along with twenty other knights, Ser Harmon of the Reeds amongst them. Lady Mysaria is whipped through the city from the Red Keep to the Gate of the Gods, dying halfway through the march. Pg 525-6

Eustace is spared as Perkin did not wish to anger the faith. He also frees all the prisoners in the cells including Grand Maester Orwyle, Lord Corlys Velaryon, and Tyland Lannister who was left blinded, without his fingernails and toenails, no ears, and without his manhood by Rhaenyra's torturers. The three along with Alicent Hightower watch as Ser Trystane takes the iron throne. Larys Strong emerges and is treated warmly by Perkin and takes a seat next to Trystane. Pg 526

Munkun says that the Moon of the Three Kings was a time of chaos. though the shepherd never claimed kingship. The Shepherd preached against the highborn and wealthy, saying only the poor and humble were safe, the crowd grew smaller each night. Gaemon Palehair rules fromVisenya's Hill and issues progressive reforms. Mushroom says these come from the Dornish sex worker named Sylvenna Sand who was the paramour of Gaemon's mother Essie. Trystane repeals unpopular taxes and opens up the Kingswood to the hungry. Ser Perkin says over the Goldcloaks to control four of the seven gates. Pg 526-8

The smallfolk slowly turn away from the Shepherd and look towards Trystane Truefyre for leadership. Pg 528

---

Rhaenyra: Is ashen and inconsolable after the death of Joffrey and Syrax.

Larys Strong: friendly with Ser Perkin, showing he might have planned Trystane's rise.

Tumbleton

The young lords are anxious to take Kings Landing including Ser Jon Roxton, Ser Roger Corne, and Lord Unwin Peake while Ser Hobert Hightower urges caution. Pg 528

The question of who is now king is raised with Aemond dead and Aegon missing. Daeron stood in line as either King of Prince of Dragonstone but Hugh Hammer wished to be king. Ser Roger Corne knocks a crown off Hugh's head and is killed by Hugh hammering three horseshoes into his skull. Three men died and a dozen were wounded when knives were drawn between Hugh's men and Corne's friends. Pg 528-9

Lord Unwin Peake and Hobert Hightower met with eleven other lords and knights to discuss what to do about Ulf and Hugh in the cellar of a Tumbleton inn. The conspirators decide to kill Hugh first then Ulf and have the bravest men claim their dragons. The Caltrops have Lord Owen Fossoway fetch Daeron who approves of the plot with his seal. Pg 530 (reference to the conspirators against Julius Ceasar? arguments over honor and what will be done with armies/dragons)

---

Daeron: Once gentle prince eagerly affixes his seal to Hugh and Ulf's execution warrants.

Second Battle of Tumbleton 2 days later

Addam attacks Tumbleton on Seasmoke. The singers say he took council on the Isle of Faces from the Greenmen. Other sources say he gathered an army from castles still loyal to Rhaenyra in the Riverlands. Most likely threatened lords by making their keep another Tumbleton to get an army of around four thousand. Pg 531

Addam gets Elmo Tully to join the war. He fathers Sabithat Frey, Hous Vypren, Lords Stanton Piper, Joseth Smallwood, Derrick Darry, Lyonel Debbings, and Hugo Vance with Black Trombo. Pg 531

Addam attacks at night, his men cutting down the Green soldiers. Any building spared after the first battle is burned. Ulf was in a drunken sleep in a tavern. Hugh tried to mount Vermithor to fight but was cut down by Jon Roxton only for Hugh's men to kill him. The best-known claim of Prince Daeron's death is that he was killed by a Myrish sellsword smashing his face in with a morningstar. Another claim is that he was killed by a man at arms with a sword. Munkun says he died in his burning pavilion. Pg 532-3

Tessarion and Seasmoke fight in what is described as both a mating dance and battle. Vermithor rises to fight but is slammed into by Seasmoke and Tessarion joins in the fight, although it is not clear on which side. Vermithor rips SeaSmoke's head off and tried to take off but his wings were too damaged and he collapsed and died. Tessarion survives till dawn when Benjicot orders a longbowman, known as Billy Burley, to put her out of her misery. Pg 534- 536

The rivermen are unable to take Tumbleton and retreat back into the hills, bringing Addam Velaryon's dead body with them. Pg 536

---

Addam of Hull: Relentless and determined and glib of tongue.

Tumbleton The Day After the Battle

Silverwing is the only dragon to survive, flying over the battlefield. The singers say thrice she tried to lift Vermithor to get him to fly. Pg 536-8

Eight of the thirteen Caltrops are dead. When Ulf wakes, he says he's the only dragon rider left and will take the throne. Pg 538

Hobert Hightower invites Ulf for drinks to discuss the upcoming plans. He planned to drink Dornish red and have Ulf drink Arbor gold only for Ulf to realize his deception and insist they both drink the Arbor gold. Hobert Hightower instead of betraying his fellow Caltrops, drank the wine and asked for more. Ulf drank the poisoned wine and fell asleep never to wake. Hobert tried to throw up the wine but his heart stopped. (princes and the bride reference? Is only Hobert micro dosed poison) Pg 538-9

Unwin offers a thousand gold dragons to whoever can mount Silverwing. Two men die and the third backs down. Unwin Peake calls a retreat. Pg 539

---

Ulf the White: Decides he'll take the throne now. Is smart enough to notice Hobert's nervousness but is true to his word or too drunk to care.

The Crownland Coast

Rhaenyra faces hardship on her way to Duskendale. At Rosby, the young Rosby woman whose claim was passed over was denied entrance to her. At Stokeworth, the Castellan granted hospitality but only for one night. On the road, they are attacked by broken men where Ser Balon Byrch is killed and Ser Lyonel Bently is mortally injured and dies the next day. Pg 539

The widow of Lord Gunthor Darklyn, Lady Meredyth, was not pleased to see Rhaenyra after the death of her husband and his uncle in her service. Ser Harrold Darke persuades her to let the queen in only if she does not stay long. Pg 539-40

Rhaenyra sends three ravens to Gerardys on Dragonstone but does not hear back, making her question his loyalty again. Cregan Stark and Jeyne Arryn promise to send support but each has reasons their forces are delayed. Pg 540

Rhaenyra sells her crown for passage on a Braavosi merchant ship to Dragonstone. Her allies try to persuade her to go to the Eyrie or White Harbor but she insists on Dragonstone to get another dragon. Pg 540-1

Rhaenyra avoids Corly's Velaryon's warships. Pg 541

---

Rhaenyra: walks the castle battlements of Dun Fort, falling deeper into despair. She keeps Aegon the Younger with her at all times.

Dragonstone 22nd day 10th moon 130th year

Rhaenyra docks at Dragonstone and is met by an escort commanded by Ser Alfred Broome and forty men. Rhaenyra asks where Ser Robert Quince, the Castellan, was only for Alfred to say they'd see him soon. They find Robert's charred corpse hanging from the battlements of the gatehouse along with the bodies of the steward, captain of the guard, master at arms, and the head and upper torso of Grand Maester Gerardys. Pg 541-2

Broome's men seize Rhaenyra, Aegon, and her ladies, killing the last of her guards. They were marched to the castle ward where they came face to face with Aegon II and Sunfyre. Pg 542

Munkun, based largely on Grand Maester Orwyle's account, says the Larys Strong spirited the king and his children out of the city through secret passages of Maegor the Cruel. He had a bastard knight take Aegon to Dragonstone on a skiff. Sunfyre was drawn to Dragonstone, Eustace suggests that he sensed Aegon's desperate need. Tom Tangletounge plied the Volantenes sailors to discern that it was Sunfyre and not the Cannibal who killed Greyghost. He then delivered Aegon and Ser Marston to Sunfyre's lair. Aegon took flight each morning while the two Toms and Marston found allies on Dragon Stone. Pg 542-4

The Fall of Dragon Stone took less than an hour with Broome leading men to open the gates to allow the two Toms and Marston to slip in. They kill Gerardys, and Robert, seize the master at arms and guardsmen, and seize the armory. They try to seize Baela but she slips out and saddles up Moondancer. Pg 545

When Aegon II comes to land, Baela attacks him and Sunfyre on Moondancer. The two latch onto each other and fall to the ground where Moondancer dies and Sunfyre tries to fly but fails. Aegon jumped from Sunfyre's saddle, shattering his legs. Baela stayed on Moondancer till she hit the ground and pulled herself away, burned and battered. Alfred Broome moves to slay Baela but is stopped by Marston Waters and Baela is brought to the maesters by Tom Tangleton. Pg 545-8

According to Eustace, Rhaenyra laughed when she saw Sunfyre and sought to reward who did it. Mushroom says she only asked 'How has it come to this' Pg 548

Aegon has Rhaenyra killed by Sunfyre. Alfred Broome has to cut her breast to get Sunfyre to kill her. Eustace says it only took six bites, leaving only her left leg. Elinda Massey supposedly gouged out her own eyes at the sight. Pg 550

Alfred Broome argues for killing Prince Aegon but King Aegon forbids it, deciding to use him as a hostage. Prince Aegon is shackled and held in the prisons under Dragonstone. Rhaenyra's ladies-in-waiting are held in cells in Sea Dragon Tower. Pg 550-1

Aegon sends ravens declaring that the pretender is dead and that he is coming home to reclaim his father's seat. Pg 551

---

Baela: As fearless as her father, attacking Aegon straight on despite never fighting before this.

Aegon: refuses to take milk of the poppy from Maester Gerardys, not trusting him and not wanting to 'walk that path again.'

[lalune9x]

SCTIR Translation - Chapter 462: I'm a Fan! (2)

[NOVEL SPOILERS] Story context: The Gold Hamster is a monster that Han Yoojin previously promised to obtain for Do Hamin. I don't think there is much other context needed to understand this section, other than the beginning of the China kidnapping arc (i.e., Park Hayul's abilities and role), which has been translated by SFS Translations. But please let me know if anything is unclear!

The man at the front, in particular, didn’t even seem real. His build looked to be twice, no, three times my size. “Hyung-nim, get a hold of yourself,” Hyuna whispered quietly.

Chapter translation under the cut.

---

The team that succeeded in capturing the Gold Hamster was an alliance between the guilds Burn Cave and Modbul. Modbul, a mid-sized guild based in Central Africa, handled purchasing the entrance ticket to the Gold Hamster dungeon and led the way. Burn Cave, a large American guild, contributed the main combat hunters to the dungeon strategy team, as well as the monster tamer.

However, Chloe Alger did not belong to either guild. The report stated that she had been hired as a freelance hunter.

Although her name and affiliation were revealed upon her arrival in Korea, her identity had initially been anonymized in the report. The Gold Hamster was a ticket to scoring a contract with the mount rearing facility. Of course, there would be those trying to seize it for themselves.

"The hunters currently present include the Burn Cave guild leader and members, with one S-rank, five A-ranks, and three B-ranks, including the freelance hunter," Director Song reported. 

His gaze briefly fell to my shoes before returning upward. "Even without heels, Han Yoojin-ssi’s height has suddenly—"

“Oh dear, Director Song! You’re so tactless!” Moon Hyuna interrupted Song Taewon’s words. “You should just pretend not to notice.”

“...Pardon?” Director Song looked confused, glancing between Hyuna and me. Well, um. I guess Director Song wouldn’t know about stuff like this…

Director Song continued, “If your height increased by around 3 cm in the span of a week, it could be due to a stat rank increase, so it’s worth checking out. There's no need to hide it—”

“It’s height-enhancing insoles, just insoles!” I blurted out, feeling the back of my neck heat up in embarrassment. I had known that the S-ranks who saw me regularly would easily notice, but I had hoped they’d quietly let it slide. “If I just raise my height a little more, I’d be over 180 with the shoes... Everyone else is around 2 meters tall, and they’re all broad-shouldered, you know? The Americans especially are no joke.”

Among America’s high-ranking hunters, many had been over 190 cm and weighed over 100 kg even before their awakening. There was even an incident where two American football teams, known for their physical prowess, had awakened en masse due to a dungeon break near a stadium. As a result, the average height of America’s top hunters was around 2 meters.

People who were more than a head taller than me, all crowded together... Plus, since I personally liked some of them, I wanted to appear even a little bigger. Even when negotiating contracts for mounts, I didn’t want to be underestimated just for being too small.

“Ah, I see. I had noticed your gait seemed a bit unnatural...” Director Song nodded slightly, seeming to understand. “My apologies.”

“No, no, it’s fine. Haha...”

...Maybe I should just take them off.

“It’s because of your height?” After Director Song, it was my younger brother's turn to tilt his head curiously. He looked like he couldn’t understand why I cared about my height at all. “I thought it was some sort of support to help you walk more comfortably.”

“...It’s for increasing height.”

Yoohyun, you'll never need to know about these things. In the first place, no hunter would wear insoles that could hinder their movements. 

Yerim whispered, "Ajussi, hang in there.” 

Normally, I wasn’t too bothered by it. After all, it wasn’t as if I was short by non-awakened or lower-tier hunter standards; it was just that all the American hunters were giants.

“When you’re too small, it’s possible to get underestimated. Sung Hyunje-ssi, would you also care to say something?” I said as I took off my shoes. It felt better not to wear them if they made me seem awkward.

“If you’re worried about being underestimated, growing a beard might be a better option,” Sung Hyunje replied.

“Huh? A beard?”

“It would make you look a little older.”

Sung Hyunje’s comment made Hyuna nod thoughtfully. “That’s true. Hyung-nim, you look like a high schooler at best right now.”

“I-I’m twenty-five!”

“But the people over there all look older. They seem to mature rapidly in their late teens. Even Liette looks four or five years older than you.”

I had chalked that up to a difference in demeanor. Maybe I should consider wearing a fake beard.

“Since the Burn Cave guild might find it threatening, not everyone can follow Han Yoojin-ssi,” Director Song said, looking at the S-ranks. Even excluding the public official Song Taewon, there were still several S-ranks. While the other side only had one, we had four.

“He’s my brother,” Yoohyun asserted, clearly implying that he should be included.

“I’m here to meet an acquaintance,” said Moon Hyuna.

“I also know the guild members over there,” Sung Hyunje commented.

“Would they really find little old me threatening?” Yerim played up being a mere fifteen year old middle school student, pretending to be weak. 

Director Song sighed heavily. “I’ll ask the Burn Cave guild. But if they refuse, you’ll have to accept it.”

He pulled out his phone and walked toward the window. Though he said "if they refuse," it seemed unlikely. After all, they probably wouldn’t be just leaving one mount in my care. As expected, Director Song soon nodded in acknowledgment.

“Only one person can stay by Han Yoojin-ssi's side. The rest of you will need to maintain some distance.”

“Let’s draw lots, fair and square!” 

Yerim glared at Yoohyun as she said this. She had lost every single round of rock-paper-scissors. In their most recent match, they had even allowed the use of skills, with Yerim using her mist and Yoohyun his acceleration skill, creating water droplets to block visibility and then evaporating them into steam. It had been chaotic. In the end, they resorted to playing rock-paper-scissors blindfolded, but Yoohyun still won.

Yilin had helped Yoohyun by acting as his eyes. Once Yerim found out, she fumed, saying, "Just wait until my elemental is born!"

“...Please draw one stick each,” Director Song said, offering four sticks for fairness. The person who drew the marked stick was none other than Moon Hyuna.

“Luck is always on my side!”

“Hyung...” Yoohyun looked disappointed, and Yerim also seemed deeply regretful.

“You’re only being asked to stay at a distance. What’s the big deal?”

It wasn’t as if they were being sent away. What was all the fuss about?

“I’m worried my partner will be enchanted by his first love and leave me,” Sung Hyunje said.

“Ah, I told you she wasn’t my first love.”

“Really? Just a week ago, you were blushing in my arms,” Hyuna said.

“Hyuna-ssi!”

"It's my fault for having such a popular partner."

"Well, our Director Han is just so cute, what can you do? Let's have a drink."

Their banter was so absurd that I didn’t know what to say. You two, of all people, have no right to make such comments! If popularity were a competition, you’d both be contenders for the top ranks.

Anyway, with Moon Hyuna by my side, the others split into two teams: Yoohyun and Director Song on one side, and Yerim and Sung Hyunje on the other, to watch from a distance. There probably wouldn’t be any issues, but just in case.

And soon enough...

‘...This is ridiculous.’

A group of massive people appeared one after another. Their average height looked like it could easily exceed 2 meters. Wow, look at the size of their necks. Their shoulders were no joke, either. The man at the front, in particular, didn’t even seem real. His build looked to be twice, no, three times my size.

“Hyung-nim, get a hold of yourself,” Hyuna whispered quietly.

No, but seriously… Isn’t he a giant? Even though I was used to being around tall, well-built people, I couldn’t get used to this. Not only was he tall vertically, but he was also wide horizontally, making me think he probably couldn't pass through a normal house doorway face-on. I couldn’t help but wonder if his house was double the size of an average one, with larger doors, higher ceilings, bigger couches, dining tables, and beds. Even a king-size bed would look like a single to him.

“I’m Jason Braun, the leader of Burn Cave Guild.”

“...I’m Han Yoojin, the head of the Rearing Facility.”

Jason extended his hand. Of course, his hand was enormous. As he stood before me, everyone else completely disappeared from view. I had to crane my neck just to see his face.

"You must be tired from your long journey. Please, have a seat..."

Was there even a chair big enough for him? This lounge was designed for high-ranking hunters, so everything was oversized, but still, he was way beyond the norm. Wow, even as a non-awakened person, this guy could’ve easily overpowered a lower-tier hunter. Had he grown even bigger after awakening? He must have already been 2 meters tall before.

While I zoned out for a moment, Jason greeted Moon Hyuna, then acknowledged Director Song, Sung Hyunje, Yoohyun, and Yerim. It made sense for him to know Sung Hyunje, but I didn’t expect him to be familiar with Director Song. That must have been 100% because of Sung Hyunje.

"So, you mentioned wanting to take a look around the rearing facility, correct?"

I tried hard to recall the pre-arranged visit schedule of the Burn Cave Guild. But the giant in front of me kept interrupting my train of thought. His chest was right in front of my face. Our height difference must have been at least 40 cm. This was like the difference between a child and an adult.

“Yes. We also brought a baby monster we’d like to entrust to you, Director Han.” Jason smiled broadly as he spoke. He hadn’t mentioned that part earlier, so they must have been keeping it a secret. Probably because it could be taken away... His shoulders were so broad they made his head seem small.

“First, we’ll need to draft a contract. You’ve already received the basic terms, correct? Since I’m the one who requested the Gold Hamster, I’ll keep additional conditions to a minimum. You’ll also need to sign a safety-related contract in addition to the breeding contract, as this is a facility where ordinary employees and young monsters reside. And I'm only F-rank myself."

Fortunately, words flowed smoothly from my mouth.  As we moved to the prepared seating area, I could finally see the people accompanying Jason. The hunters standing a bit farther away were also big, but compared to Jason, they seemed relatively ordinary.

And standing at the end of the group was a familiar face—Chloe Alger. Moon Hyuna, sitting next to me, gave her a small wave, and Chloe smiled back, lifting her fingers in a subtle greeting.

Wow, she really came.

“Director Han?”

"Oh, yes. Here, this is the safety contract."

I handed Jason the contract I had prepared in advance. I shouldn't make it too obvious. We're practically strangers, after all. Even so, my eyes subconsciously drifted sideways again. She was as tall and well-built as the man standing next to her. Her closely cropped hairstyle was different from what I'd seen on TV.

“And here’s the mount-rearing contract. What kind of monster will you be leaving in our care?”

“It’s a Black Bear. Sadly, it’s not S-rank, but it’s a powerful A-rank dungeon boss, just shy of S-rank.”

Oh, I think I’ve seen that on TV before. While Jason checked the contract, I snuck another glance. Ah, we made eye contact. The man next to Chloe whispered something quietly. What was he saying?

"He's saying Director Han looks really small,” Moon Hyuna quietly relayed to me.

Well, with Hyuna next to me and a giant in front, I must look even smaller than usual. 

"I also heard someone asking if you’re really twenty-five and not fifteen, instead.”

Fifteen was a bit harsh... I’m still taller than Yerim, at least. But compared to Jason... well, I wouldn’t blame them for thinking I’m an elementary schooler.

"...I'm not that small when I'm not next to you guys."

"That's true. I was worried when you shook hands earlier."

I’m perfectly average...

Jason, having signed the contract, looked at me and smiled. “You seem to have an interest in Hunter Chloe Alger.”

“Pardon? Oh, it’s just that... I happened to come across her on the internet.”

Even though there were no Korean subtitles, they still aired hunter-related shows. As soon as Hyuna had mentioned it to me, I had looked it up right away. Since filming inside dungeons was impossible, the current shows mostly focused on dungeon breaks. They covered response strategies for when dungeons burst, how to identify and avoid monsters based on their traces, and so on.

Before my regression, Chloe Alger’s broadcasts had mostly focused on survival techniques, too.

"I found the content quite informative. It seemed useful even for non-Awakened people."

“Yes. That’s why we hired Hunter Alger. To help capture the Gold Hamster, we needed her expertise in understanding its habits and behavior.” Jason mentioned that she had been a great help.

“After watching her broadcasts, I felt like I wanted to share some ideas with her... or perhaps offer my assistance,” I said. When I glanced over, Chloe was staring at me. Ugh, this is so embarrassing. Calm down. It’ll seem weird if I fanboy too hard after watching just a few broadcasts.

“Chloe! Director Han has something he wants to say to you,” Hyuna raised her hand, calling Chloe over. 

Wait, wait a minute. Chloe strode toward me with long steps.

“Oh, well, um. We’re developing equipment that allows filming inside dungeons. It’s already in the testing phase. Since you’re involved in broadcasting, I thought you might be interested...”

“In Korea?” Chloe asked, sounding a bit surprised. “To already be at the testing stage, that’s quick.”

There was a similar project underway in the U.S. After all, before my regression, the U.S. had pioneered this technology.

“I liked the purpose of your broadcasts, so um, I thought our equipment might be of interest. Plus, it could be good publicity. You have a lot of subscribers.”

“You’re too kind. It just seems that way because of the larger population." 

Her warm smile was exactly as I remembered before my regression. I’d always wanted to meet her in person... Although the feeling wasn't as desperate as before the regression, it was still nice. She seemed to be the same kind person as before. Despite being a high-ranking hunter, she took the time to create helpful broadcasts for those weaker than herself. Usually, hunters just killed monsters directly, but she helped people learn how to defend themselves.

So it wasn’t just out of personal fondness that I wanted to support her.

Chloe gladly accepted my offer. We stood up to head to the Association first and then to the rearing center.

‘Should I use the keyword?’

I didn't really intend to apply the keyword to Chloe, but if I could grant her an optimized skill, it might be helpful. Maybe I should just check how many optimized skills she had. While hidden behind Hyuna and Jason, I discreetly used my Sprout skill on Chloe.

[Awakened - Chloe Alger 

Current Stat Grade: S 

Potential Stat Grade: A~S]

…Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be A-rank?

[cityof2morrow]

Bella Brand: Blackfyre 002

Published: 11-7-2023 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY “Inspired by the wealth of Bella Goth lore from the Sims/SimCity franchises (aka the “simsverse”), the Bella Brand Series includes more than a dozen sets and 230+ new business-themed items. Lore suggests that the wealth/influence of the Gilman, Crumplebottom, Bachelor, and Goth families increases considerably under Mortimer and Bella Goth, especially the latter. So, this series imagines what a prestigious Bella-based brand might look like…” Blackyre 002 takes inspiration from bold, infamous beauties who turned nightmares into new opportunities, from Lady Ravendancer to Olive Muenda-Thanasia-Mortis-Specter, to Bella Goth. The set includes functional apparel and cosmetics – enjoy! DETAILS Requires ALL EPs/SPs. You need Mesh Set 001 (Simmons, 2023) and the Display Counter (BellasSecret_Counter_Somedaythesun)from the TS2 Maxis Match Lingerie Store Set (SomedayTheSun, 2023) – these items are required for all textures to display in-game. The counter uses recolors from the Bosenklavier Model B grand piano (Bon Voyage EP). Find recolors for the counter interior in the Bella Brand: Retail Floor Set (Simmons, 2023).

Recolors may include swatches for items in other Bella Brand sets such as signs, packages, cosmetics, etc. Objects in Sims 2 are limited to two recolorable parts, so not all items are recolorable in the same way. Find additional recolors for Bella Brand sets on this site under #ts2recolors, #co2recolors, and #co2bellabrand.

ITEMS Blackfyre Bone n’ Body Lotion (498 poly) Blackfyre Moonlight Moisturizer Potion (345 poly) Blackfyre Magic Skin Masque (710 poly) Blackfyre Midnight Mist (462 poly) Blackfyre Quickshower Potion (584 poly) Blackfyre: The Ravendancer (932 poly) Hanging Ravendancer (980 poly) DOWNLOAD (choose one) from SFS | from MEGA

Functional Apparel Objects Apparel objects are debug items and show up as “clothing pile” in the catalog (Misc > Dressers). They must be placed on one of the DEBUG displays/shelves or they’ll float. Once purchased, take them out of the sim’s inventory and choose from one of the following: Purchase Clothing. Select an outfit (or several) of any type. Each apparel object is worth §100 towards the TOTAL cost. Sims save more money (and your businesses make more money) if they use one apparel object per new outfit. Sell. Recycle the object for §100 simoleons.  If you exit the Buy Clothing window without adding anything to your shopping cart, §100 will be added to the sim’s household funds instead. Apparel objects are worth §100 regardless of how much sims pay for them on OFB/community lots. Pricing an item below this amount can function like a discount sale (i.e., pay $75 in-store and §100 towards the purchase or a 25% “discount/rebate.” You can decide whether this counts as cheating). Pricing it above this amount is not recommended since sims will end up losing extra money. Debug objects have slots which “catch” fellow clones if you place them too close. To prevent this when trying to clutter them close together, turn “snap objects to grid” OFF and “move objects” OFF. Functional Cosmetic/Hygiene Products Items can be used from any surface or a sim’s inventory and will boost hygiene/comfort. After several uses (12 by default), the product will need to be replaced. When using cosmetics from a sim’s inventory, wait until the sims finishes using the first item BEFORE selecting the second one. Otherwise, the second object will be removed from the inventory. Both the object and plug-in files are needed for each item to work properly in-game. Number of uses and motive gain are tuneable in simPE (BCONS: 0x00 = number of uses, 0x002 = hygiene, 0x03 = comfort).

IMAGES (left to right): Blackfyre 002 cosmetics tag, Blood of the Raven, Friend of the Raven. CREDITS No copyright infringement intended. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. CCA = Creative Commons Attribution. Thanks: @catherinetcjd, @gayars, @gummilutt, @haziewhims, @kashmiresims (Rach’), @somedaythesun, whoward, Easy Shine Removal Kit (PF Forest, 2023), Reducing GUIDs/OBJs Tutorial (HugeLunatic, 2022), Sketchfab and Blender Communities. Sources: SEE CREDITS (ALT).

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #462

At first, Headmate A couldn't tell what had summoned them to the front, but then they heard it.

And felt it.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey." With each and every "hey," Headmate B gave them the equivalent of a telepathic poke, looking for a response in the same way a little kid looks for attention from their parent. "Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey –"

"Yes?" Headmate A cut them off, and Headmate B brightened.

"Look!"

With no further introduction, they unpaused the TV in front of them, which Headmate A only just registered was in the middle of playing a show they didn't recognize. There was nothing especially of note for the first minute of running – not anything that would inspire Headmate B to call them to the front – but just as Headmate A was about to ask what they were looking for, they saw it.

A character... changed.

No. No, that wasn't it. That wasn't just a change in personality. That was a switch.

Headmate A's breath caught as Headmate B began to shake with excitement. "Did you see that?! They're like us! I didn't – they're like us!"

"Yeah," Headmate A breathed, a dawning sort of happiness growing in them. "They're like us."

[usaac-official]

Scrapper of the 462nd Bomb Group showing off some rather aggressive nose art, 1945

[sandiavolo]

As the Ash Cloud Passes Over Ch. 11 🕷️🔥

War breaks out. Flames rain across beaches. Terror floods into the minds of many. The ash cloud has been building up, and now, it shall truly pass over in all its terrifying glory. It's Fire vs. Water! Ash vs. Forest! New Family vs. Old Friends!

A.k.a. IT'S ASH NA'VI TIME BABY!!! 🔥🔥🔥

This is without a doubt my most meaningful chapter yet. It not only stands as a mark of this work (12K+ hits, 462 Kudos, 169 Comments. Are you kidding me? I love y'all so much) but it also signifies a change of course. No longer will I be working with mere teasers, or dancing along the entire truth. We are going to get everything. I'm talking characters, backgrounds, culture, so much lore for the Ash Na'vi! And it's all going to come together for our boy, Trr'ong. AND I'M SO EXCITED B/C I HAVE SO MUCH PLANNED!

Huge shoutout to @anka-partizanka-from-pandora for their continued part in this! You guys are going to be hearing more about them very soon! I love their work and what they choose to do, I only wish I can be able to repay their kindness with my own effort! Pls pls pls, if at all possible, show them some love. They deserve the true love 💙

I really hope you guys like this one. After nearly a year of brainstorming, inconsistent pauses, gaining new friends and lifetime readers, I'm filled with so much joy at being able to delve deeper into the culmination of my enthusiastic love for 'Avatar'.

Questions and feedback are always welcome, as are any comments that y'all wanna make 🤗 Once again, I love you guys with all my heart, and I hope this can brighten your day 💙💙💙 Have a beautiful day/night, and may your life be forever amazing! I'll see ya next time.

[leftistfeminista]

From  The Valech Report, officially known as The National Commission on Political Imprisonment and Torture Report, documents instances of abuses committed in Chile between 1973 and 1990 by agents of Augusto Pinochet's military regime. Published on November 29, 2004, the report presents the findings of a six-month investigation.

It is so terrifying and heartbreaking how these Chilean socialist women would begin their day at the office, and be dragged into this horror, that ended with becoming pregnant from the same brutal guards who knocked their teeth out. And that new human life was created from this, and had to live with that. As the 15 year old daughter testified “I represent the greatest pain and worst experience of my mother’s life”. 

As translated in The Chile Reader: History, Culture, Politics edited by Elizabeth Quay Hutchison, Thomas Miller Klubock, Nara B. Milanich Page 462

[bendingwind]

Fanfiction Year In Review

This was a special year for me, in that I wrote a lot after almost a decade of writing relatively little and believing I'd never be a particularly active fan author again. Thank u psych meds (and the years I spent trying to find ones that didn't absolutely wreck my extremely dumb brain chemistry).

I started out January with writing like, just a ridiculous amount of explicit Witcher fic, which I still haven't finished posting all of. I hyperfixated on Bleach once again and wrote a good amount of Bleach fic, though I abandoned a few incomplete works I started. I wrapped up the year writing some Dragonriders of Pern fic, which hardly anyone will read, but I sure will enjoy! I reached 150 stories total posted on AO3! I posted over 100k words this year! Shoutout to the Bleach folks in particular, for engaging with me and making it so that posting for that fandom is such a fun time!

And honestly, I wrote probably half as much again that I didn't complete or chose not to post as what I did share. Overall I'm very pleased with how this year went writing-wise!

Statistics:

Kudos: 701 Comment Threads: 50 Bookmarks: 104 Word Count: 101,131 Hits: 8,725

Not too bad for mostly old or older fandoms and several obscure pairings!

Stories I Posted (scroll to see what I didn't, which in my stupid opinion is the more interesting part):

Something So Magic About You (The Witcher) (2,825 words)

Any Stranger I Choose (The Witcher) (1,027 words)

glow (Bleach) (1,019 words)

Any Thrill Will Do (The Witcher) (3,118 words)

i'd tell you i miss you (but i don't know how) (Bleach) (1,365 words)

we're takin' on the world together (Bleach) (462 words)

my days once revolved around you (Bleach) (811 words)

Scarred and Scarring Still (The Witcher) (1,016 words)

the way you move is like a full on rainstorm (Bleach) (4,173 words)

i don't know how to be something you miss (Bleach) (200 words)

Need To Be Youthfully Felt (The Witcher) (1,590 words)

Offer Me That Deathless Death (The Witcher) (5,873 words)

The Wretched and the Joyful (The Witcher) (871 words)

The Most Eligible Bachelor in the Seireitei (Bleach) (20,607 words)

shrike (Dragonriders of Pern) (19,516 words)

Touch (The Witcher) (1,006 words)

felessan (Dragonriders of Pern) (7,524 words)

branoren (Dragonriders of Pern) (3,250 words)

Settle Soft (The Witcher) (1,082 words)

robse (Dragonriders of Pern) (3,432 words)

jarrol (Dragonriders of Pern) (4,097 words)

gellim (Dragonriders of Pern) (5,234 words)

All the Things I Would Do (The Witcher) (721 words)

No Shortage of Sordid (The Witcher) (1,189 words)

Fell In Love With the Fire Long Ago (The Witcher) (928 words)

Any Way to Distract and Sedate (The Witcher) (1,089 words)

Remember Me When I'm Reborn (The Witcher ) (1,089 words)

For Years or for Hours (The Witcher) (1,056 words)

The Same Kind of Music Haunts Her Bedroom (The Witcher) (4,961 words)

Stories I Didn't Finish or Didn't Post

untitled RenRuki pre-academy smut in which they attempt and badly fail at having "casual" sex (abandoned at 2k words because I lost the hyperfixation, though of all of them this is the one I most want to pick back up)

A really, truly, absurdly cracky Ichigo/Shuuhei a/b/o fic (abandoned at 3k words because I woke up and went "wtf am i writing here")

not what you thought it would be, IchiRuki, part of my speak now series, this one based on the titular song. I don't want to deal with the drama of posting it and I don't think the fandom needs any more of this particular variety of take on IchiRuki. It's also one of the first things I wrote after getting back into the fandom and I'm not sure I agree with the characterization any longer?

never grow up, Ichigo & Isshin, abandoned at under 1k words because it's hard to balance Isshin being, well, Isshin, with the tone of this story

Another moderately cracky story in which Toushiro develops a crush on Byakuya and finally starts to grow up because of this and is mortified (abandoned at a little over 13k words + some outtakes--same lost the hyperfixation deal)

the same music series, which deals with Ichigo dying unexpectedly and having his memories erased before being sent to Soul Society. There's a finished standalone piece about Rukia dealing with losing Renji in a battle (all that we intend is scrawled in sand, ~2k words) which I haven't posted because it makes me Very Sad. The series is primarily Orihime/Rukia, but eventually ends up Rukia/Orihime/Ichigo. I also sort of vaguely had an idea about a final part that was Byakuya/not!Renji (there's a core theme where souls can be tracked across incarnations because their zanpakuto always takes the same shape, even if they are fundamentally a different person due to different life experiences and have completely lost their memories). I abandoned the first draft at about 5k words in and the second draft at about the same point.

NORTH, the first in a planned IkkaYumi series where they wander the Rukongai and fall in love. (abandoned on draft 3, each about 4k words long, because Ikkaku is hard af to write)

Around half of the An Art to Life's Distractions explicit series, which I'll probably get around to editing and posting next year. It's, uh, been more or less finished since February of this year :flushed_emoji: I just struggle with it because I think it's good but the kudos:hits ratio... does not agree.

A Pern series focusing on original characters late in the Ninth Pass. There's one "complete" het story that needs to be rewritten (about 20k words), about 12k of a femslash story that's technically a prequel, about 15k of a slash story that's also technically a prequel, and plans for an additional het story that takes place after and features one of the OMC's like five billion half-brothers.

All this to say, I wrote a shitload of words this year \o/ I will not be jinxing myself by making any wishes about next year \o/ Happy New Year y'all \o/

[suvidrache]

NSFW Alphabet - Kisame

age in bio when interacting. minors do not interact.

Word Count: 462 / Read it on AO3 | Offline Version

A: Aftercare - What they're like after sex?

- Very sweet and kind. Will get you anything you need and want. He will also clean you up.

B: Body Part - Their favorite part of themselves/you?

- His arms. Your chest and ass.

C: Cum - Taste, texture, etc?

- Salty and white

D: Dirty Secret

- He has photos of you that he took. You'd never know or see them. They're in a locked gallery on his phone.

E: Experience - How much experience do they have?

- None, most people avoid him due to him being an Akatsuki member as well as his looks.

F: Favorite Position

- Missionary or doggy style. He likes looking at your face while he's in you, but there's something about doing it from behind that he also enjoys.

G: Goofy - How are they: serious, funny, etc?

- He may tell a few jokes here and there.

H: Hair - Shaved, not shaved, color?

- The only hair he has is the hair on his head. The rest of his body is completely smooth.

I: Intimacy - How are they romantically?

- Very romantic, flower petals, a romantic evening. He may accidentally give a few bites and draw blood.

J: Jack Off - How often do they masturbate?

- 2-3 times a week, if you aren't there.

K: Kink - Their kinks?

- Praise, marking, breeding.

L: Location - Favorite place(s) to do it?

- The ocean/beach, the bedroom, or the kitchen.

M: Motivation - What gets them into it?

- Lingerie, short skirts/shorts, being suggestive.

N: No - Will not do/turns them off?

- Public areas, threesomes, pain.

O: Oral - Giving, receiving, skill?

- Giving - very skilled. Does like to receive.

P: Pace - Fast, rough, slow, etc?

- Slow and hard but will go rough and fast if you want.

Q: Quickie - How often?

- Anytime, as long as he isn't busy.

R: Risk - Willing to take risks/experiment?

- It depends on what it is.

S: Stamina - How long/many rounds can they go?

- 5, for about 40 minutes with breaks.

T: Toys - Do they have any/will they use them?

- No, not unless you want to use them. He had vaguely heard of them, but never considered using them before.

U: Unfair - How much do they tease?

- A lot. He likes how needy you can be.

V: Volume - How loud are they?

- Loud, deep moaning and grunting.

W: Wild Card - Something random?

- Would love for you to be able to breathe underwater with him. He could take you to many places and do many things with you.

X: X-Ray - Size, appearance, etc?

- 6½, light blue with a slightly darker tip, one or two noticeable veins. Cut.

Y: Yearning - How high is their sex drive?

- Slightly above average.

Z: ZZZ - How quickly do they fall asleep?

- About 30 minutes to an hour after you do, it depends.

© SUVIDRACHE — do not copy, translate, modify, or plagiarize my work. reblogs are appreciated!

Tag List: @eli-chris / Join My Tag List Here!

[appalesbian]

⭐️ hello ma'am please go nuts talking about a scene of your choice if you are so inclined👀

sksjdhhsjsjskakssq thank you for enabling me, you lovely soul

Okay so the bit that immediately comes to mind is this passage from It’s Enough to Make a Girl Blush (excerpt is sfw but please mind rating and tags if you’re going to read the whole fic lol):

“You said Naga rolled in some flowers before you gave her the bath, right?”

“Yeah, they were yellow and they were growing on a little tree in the forest.”

Asami returned to her search in the massive encyclopedia currently crushing her thighs. Okay, Page 462, poisonous flowering plants. She skimmed the list of flora and their associated poisoning symptoms. Lily of the valley causes seizures, lobelia causes tremors, oleander, drooling, peace lily, also drooling…

At the next entry, Asami’s eyes lit up.

“Korra? Do you know if there’s… shit, I don’t know how you pronounce it, ‘pinnaculum’ growing on this island?”

“If there’s what?” Korra asked, her face now cradled in her hands.

“Flowering pinnaculum.” Asami punctuated the name with a jab to the page that, of course, Korra could not see. “It’s native to the coast, has flowers, obviously. And all the symptoms match yours: elevated heart rate, sweating, dilated pupils, and…” Oh.

Okay so this is a deeply unserious fic and I had so, so much fun with it. One of my favorite things ever is doing research, making lists, etc. about random bullshit.

I had a pretty solid idea of the image I wanted to work with as the beginning of this fic— Naga covered in pollen, Korra mad that she has to give the dog a bath. Where I grew up, there was a solid couple of weeks in the spring where outside was just disgusting with pollen— it’s neon yellow, it’s sticky, it cakes and accumulates, and it’s everywhere. My mom would let our pets play in the backyard and we had more than one mostly-white cat. You can imagine what that looks like when the cats come back inside after rolling in the cakes of pollen outside. Naga is a huge, fluffy white dog— wouldn’t it be such a nightmare to try to get that off of her? Not to mention of course what happens later on.

I was reasonably certain there wasn’t a plant just like the one I was imagining (though of course I checked) so I decided to invent my own. I needed a name for it, so I’m researching ancient sex-related words and I land on pinnaculum— root of pinnacle. Ya know. And then add ‘flowering’ to it because a) it’s a plant name and b) Ya know.

So then I have to research what plants would have entries around pinnaculum in the encyclopedia, and that leads me down a rabbit hole of looking up poisonous flowering plants that grow on the coast in environments similar to the United Republic’s, as well as what symptoms they cause. From there, I have to cut it down to make it read like Asami’s just skimming the entries as opposed to reading the full things. I found it funny that a lot of them cause drooling, so that made it in there.

And then the idea that Asami, as smart as she is, had to literally have it spelled out for her in order to reckon with it (combined with Korra being so stubborn and awkward that she won’t cop to it until it’s spelled out) was so amusing to me that as soon as I thought of it, I knew it had to be the turning point of the fic.

So there you have it, some insight into simultaneously the filthiest and goofiest thing I’ve ever written😌