#DC Karras

[moonstar-edits]

day one of @mydarlingedits' 150 followers event- "a character who reminds you of me or my account"

we're not really sure why- but starfire was the first person we thought of (other than marin- obviously)!

without bows under cut to keep post relatively short!

[thesummerstorms]

Anyway, so I just made it to issue 69 of The New Titans. ( Yeah, yeah.)

Which means I just finished The New Titans Annual #6, the one where Kory's marriage-of-state husband is murdered.

And look, I actually am totally willing to watch the writers explore themes around how being a part of an all-powerful hereditary monarchy that you truly believe has a duty towards the state/planet/people comes into conflict with things like family, love, or even basic personhood.

Myand'r as a fucking terrible father who was willing to sell his daughter into slavery versus his role of King and how that lead to the justification of it being one life (even his daughter's) to preserve all the lives on the planet. How he had watched his mother pay that price with her own life after every other royal family member died fighting to avoid it and she finally couldn't take the suffering any more.

Koriand'r suffering repeatedly at her sister's hands, terribly, over the course of a lifetime, and yet being forced to accept her father's will and her people's will in crowning Komand'r Queen or risk another civil war and all the casualties that endures.

Kory being forced to endure exile and then the indiginity of being summoned, commanded by the sister who has harmed her deeply. Because Kory has been raised to be free in her emotions, yes, but before even that, to be dutiful towards her people and obedient to the Crown. Because, again, if she doesn't it will be the rest of the planet that suffers, not Komand'r...

But at what point does she get to say no to her own suffering? When does she get to do less ruthless calculus?

Korras gets some of this too. Married for duty not love, despite desperately wanting to be with someone else, despite seeing how it wrecks both his and his intended 's lives, because the peace has to be kept. Challenging his long lost sister because of how she has used Tamaran 's people for her own gain and threatened a whole other planet, then dying even in victory.

Even Komand'r being (in her point of view) discarded and rejected due to a disability and then finding acceptance from the people around her and a reconciliation (it seems) with her parents when she became useful as Queen, not because anything about her person had changed. (If anything her person got fucking worse.)

There is a really interesting conflict & dynamic to explore there! A whole question of what's owed to the society versus the individual and what it looks like to deal with a family where their love for you will never be their first priority, much less shielding you from harm.

And yet...

The writers ended the issue with Blackfire and Starfire hugging and reconciling. And man, that just felt like a cop out to the extreme.

I'm not sure that the conflict they set up could be ever fully resolved, but I absolutely do not buy it being ended with a demand followed by a hug.

And honestly, I know they spent quite a lot of time on the love triangle angle of this plotline (Kory, Dick, and Karras) and had Dick tell off Kory's father for her suffering.

But I wish they had allowed Kory to grapple with that conflict more outside of her romantic life and more in terms of dealing with what has happened to her.

At what point does duty become self-harm... And is that ever an excuse to escape it if lives hang in the balance?

Does she owe a family and a people who are willing to not just overlook her pain but orchestrate it for the greater good? If she does, then how much? To what end?

[umbrellacam]

New Teen Titans (Vol. 2) #10 - "He's like something out of a bad romance novel. Man, talk about your cornballs. Who writes his dialogue? Hallmark cards?"

Vic speaking my thoughts on Mr. Wing Man >_> and wow, they're sure having him pull overtime on the lampshading meta snark in this issue:

New Teen Titans (Vol. 2) #10 - "Why will the next Teen Titan hate her parents? Will we have to turn Titans Tower into Titans Hotel? These questions will be answered...in the next sickening segment of--"Daze Of Our Lives!" Same Bat time! Same Bat channel!"

[frogaroundandfindout]

After Garth is taken as a prisoner of war, he communicates with the gordanians until he is given an audience with Karna’s rulers. He then negotiates a deal where if the tamaraneans are allowed to colonize a portion of the planet, the tamaraneans will use their good reputation to bolster the gordanians place in the new age of the Vega solar system. The Gordanian ruler refuses if Ryand’r acts as the tamaranean ruler, so Kory steps in and says she’ll do it. (Titans #19)

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Kitten Heel

Fandom: DC Comics

Summary: Roy meets Jade in college and she offers to help him study chemistry in exchange for help in her music class. They develop feelings for each other, but Jade disappears after the semester ends. Nearly a year later, Roy catches a glimpse of a woman with a baby getting on the train. And she's wearing his bracelet...

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Dick Grayson, Koriand'r, Ryand'r, Karras

Relationships: CheshRoy, DickKory, KoryKarras

Additional Tags: College AU, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Falling in Love, Complicated Relationships, Arranged Marriage, Established Relationship, Secret Relationship, Single Parents, Good Friend Roy Harper, Past Drug Addiction, Past Torture, Breaking Up & Making Up, Trust Issues, Angst, Romance, Hurt/Comfort

Chapter One: Chemistry

Roy scratched his head as he checked the answer to the homework question. He did his best, but Chemistry wasn't his subject. She knew that. Jade sat three tables down, watching her classmate grow more frustrated as time passed. Roy sighed and put his head down, locking his fingers behind his neck. He'd been at it for hours. Reading the chapters, rewriting his notes, going over the quizzes. He'd finally given up for the afternoon when he heard the click-clacking of heels against the floor. "Do you mind if I sit here?" Jade asked.

He looked up, helpless but afraid to swallow his pride. "Sure, I'm almost-." She took his homework and looked it over.

"You're in luck, you know," Jade smiled, "Chemistry's my best subject. Do you see this big number? The coefficient? You multiply it by the subscript, and you've got six. Right?" Roy nodded. "Okay, now what was the subscript for Nitrogen?" "Two," Roy replied. Jade smiled at him, raising an eyebrow as she waited for him to come to a conclusion. "Like this?"

"Exactly," Jade replied. Roy broke eye contact and thanked her. "I didn't just come over here to tutor you in Chemistry... I wanted to ask you a question because I've seen you play gigs at the college. Can you read sheet music?"

"Sure can... Why?" Roy questioned.

She unzipped her bag and took out a neatly folded piece of paper. "I'm taking a music class... But I don't understand the whole sheet music thing in practice. I think I get it, but the quizzes don't make sense." Roy looked at the paper and pulled out his iPod.

"Do you have headphones? I forgot mine at home," Roy whispered, "I'm Roy, by the way."

"Jade." She pulled a pair of headphones out of her bag and removed the zip tie. Roy grinned.

She plugged them into his iPod, and he opened an app. "You're taking Joyner's class? He'll only test you on this once... But the thing is a lot of the songs a simple if you learn to recognize the music. He usually doesn't grade too hard because he learned sheet music later in life. He plays by ear."

"Plays what?" Jade asked.

"Piano. I only know because he likes to do the open mic nights. He'll come in once a month and play a song, and if he sees his students there, he gives them extra credit," Roy replied as he played the notes for her on the app.

"ABCs," Jade replied.

"Or Twinkle Twinkle, but yeah... Exactly," Roy smiled. Jade looked over the second problem on Roy's homework.

"Hey, are you hungry?" Jade questioned. "Maybe we can finish this over lunch?"

"Are you asking me on a date?" Roy asked.

"Nope. I'm asking you to be my study buddy... Besides, I think better after I've had something to eat," Jade replied. Roy nodded.

"Okay," Roy replied as he packed his backpack. Jade stood up, and Roy followed her out of the library.

"What do you eat?" Jade asked.

"I'm not picky," Roy replied.

Jade decided on smoothies and sat at the park until they finished their homework. "When are you usually free?" Jade questioned.

Roy ripped a piece of paper from his notebook and wrote down his number, schedule, and dorm room number. "My roommate's a cool dude, so if you stop by my dorm to study or something and I'm not there, he'll let you in," Roy replied, "Well... I'm giving him too much credit. He'll be an asshole about it... But he'll let you in." Jade laughed.

"I'm probably not gonna stop by your dorm, but I appreciate you being extra available. Here, let me see your notebook," Jade replied. She wrote her number down and gave him her cell with her schedule. "It was nice meeting you, Roy-."

"Harper. Roy Harper," Roy interrupted as he shook her hand.

"Jade Nguyen. Nice to meet you, Harper Roy Harper. I'll see you Saturday morning?" Jade asked. Roy's eyes widened.

"Huh?" Roy asked.

"I'll call you with the details," Jade replied.

Roy waited until she was out of sight to bite his knuckle. "Fuck," Roy whispered. He texted his roommate and received a call a few minutes later. "Dick-."

"It's literally a random Thursday in September, Roy. Are you telling me you've fallen head over heels for a girl at first sight in a library?" Dick questioned.

"It wasn't first sight. You didn't see her-."

"You're thinking with your Johnson, Harper," Dick interrupted.

"Come on, I felt something-."

"Roy, please. I'm eating," Dick joked. Roy laughed.

"Are we hanging out tonight? Or are you busy?" Roy asked.

"Depends. Are you gonna talk about this girl you just met the whole time, or are you gonna hang out?" Dick asked.

"I'm gonna hang out," Roy answered half-sarcastic, "Are we still skyping Wally, or did he cancel?"

"He's gonna be late. Garth got dehydrated again, so he's picking him up from the E.R.," Dick replied. Roy laughed. "You can't laugh at Garth being in the E.R., Roy... Roy-." Dick fell into a fit of laughter.

"And he wonders why everyone called him Fish in middle school," Roy joked.

"I thought they called him that because he drank pool water on a dare," Dick responded.

"What are you doing right now?" Roy asked, walking backward toward his dorm.

"Watching you from the window," Dick answered.

"You missed me or somethin'?" Roy teased as he turned to look at their dorm window. Dick flipped him off. "Aww! I love you too, buddy." Roy returned the gesture.

"Are you wearing my sweatshirt?" Dick asked.

Roy looked down at the shirt and pulled the collar to check. "Nope, all mine, birdbrain. I've got the chewed-up collar to prove it," Roy replied, "Oh, and I think I might've found a Chemistry tutor."

"Don't tell me-."

"Yeah," Roy interrupted.

"That's gonna end well," Dick sarcastically replied as Roy made his way up the stairs. "I know you're gonna go for her anyway, but I want it on the record that I warned you."

"You don't even know her," Roy replied.

"But I know you," Dick answered as he opened the door. Roy hung up and dropped his bag. "You always fall too hard."

"You don't fall hard enough," Roy replied. He dug through his dresser and put his pajamas in his shower caddy. "Have you called Kory yet?"

"I'm still thinking," Dick answered. He flopped back on his bed, eating a slice of pizza. Roy grabbed a slice from the box and sat on the floor.

"You love her, don't you?" Roy asked. Dick sat up.

"Of course, I love her... But, it's complicated. She's engaged to somebody else," Dick replied.

"It's an arranged marriage..."

"A marriage is a marriage, Roy. She's committing herself to somebody else," Dick replied, "Do you know how serious that is?"

"No, but I know you've been irritable since she left. You should've gone with her. Kory asked you to go with her," Roy answered.

"I don't know anything about her world... And I'm not gonna go watch her marry somebody else-."

"Don't be such a big baby. It's an arranged marriage, Dick. And how much do you wanna bet her and Prince-Whoever-The-Fuck can't stand each other?" Roy grinned.

Dick groaned. "Okay... Fine, talk about your tutor. Anything but this right now," Dick replied. Roy took a bite of pizza and sat next to Dick.

"She's smart. Really smart," Roy replied, "And-."

"A brunette?" Dick interrupted.

"That's where you're wrong. Her hair is jet black," Roy half-joked.

[comicheap]

The New Teen Titans (1984) #18 

The one-liners never end

[keycomicbooks]

Tales of the Teen Titans #76 (1987) Eduardo Barreto Art, Marv Wolfman Writer, 1st Appearance of Salja & Tharras, Starfire's Marriage to Karras

#TalesoftheTeenTitans #76 (1987) #EduardoBarreto Art, #MarvWolfman Writer, 1st Appearance of #Salja & #Tharras, #Starfire's Marriage to #Karras "For Better...For Worse!" The time for Starfire's wedding has come. Will she go through with it even though she is still in love with Nightwing? SAVE ON SHIPPING COST - NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICK UP IN DELTONA, FLORIDA https://www.rarecomicbooks.fashionablewebs.com/Tales%20of%20the%20Teen%20Titans.html#76  #KeyComicBooks #DCComics #DCU #DCUniverse #KeyIssue #TeenTitans

[celaenaeiln]

Dick isn't a cheater or a womanizer. He can't stand the idea of it.

I don't know what was going on with the wedding scene and him sleeping with Barbara but that is a blatant mischaracterization of him.

There's countless examples in the comics where he talks about only being able to be with one person.

When Kori gets married to Karras under the force of her father, Dick needs to go home but she begs him to stay. But Dick can't do it.

The New Teen Titans (1984) Issue #26

He can't bear to cheat or be used as the object of cheating. His moral standards are too high for that. He also tells Kori afterwards that love should be between two people.

It's impossible for him to just sleep around.

Action Comics Issue #614

"I gotta be honest, Roy-I couldn't make love to someone I didn't really love."

He can't even sleep in the same bed as another woman when he's in love with someone else.

Batgirl (2016) Issue #17

"You could've shared the bed."

"I'm-I'm just not over Shawn yet."

To Helena he talks about how he can't sleep with just anyone and to Roy in Outsiders he scolds him for wanting to sleep with every female hero.

It's literally impossible for Dick to cheat or sleep around. He can't be romantic with people he knows he's not dating. The guy's rock solid.

Dick's morals exist for himself. He's intrinsically the most upstanding character in the DC community.

I really REALLY REALLY hate how DC dashed literally decades of characterization just so they could promote a ship.

It's SO out of character that there's scene in direct contradiction to this.

In the New Teen Titans (1984) comic, Dick has a dream about kissing Raven and he wakes up panicked next to Kory because he's dating her.

Kori tells him she sees the way Raven looks at him, in love, but Dick doesn't believe it for a second.

But this has been going on for a while and Dick is sick of it because he knows he loves Kory and no one else. He's scared and tired so Kory offers to talk to Raven for him which he gladly accepts.

The New Teen Titans (1984) Issue #39

With a little kissing of course <3

So Kori meets Raven and they hang out together where Kori explains the difference between friendship love and romantic love

Raven subconsciously influenced Dick to kiss her with her powers because she was in love with him. But Kori doesn't get mad at her,

I love Kori so much.

Anyways, they have their chat and Dick meets Raven again after Kori and her three week vacation sister-bonding.

HE'S LITERALLY HAVING A MELTDOWN BECAUSE RAVEN KISSED HIM

He's full on panicking that her chat with Kori didn't work. His first thought is "where's Kory?". At this point the poor boy is scared to even be in the same room as her despite Kory giving her explicit permission to date Raven.

That's how much Dick emphasizes monogamy, love, and his partner.

He's only relieved that it turned out to be a prank. Not too pleased with the kissing prank but ig it is what it is.

You can't have all these scenes and then do that DC. It doesn't work that way. He doesn't work that way.

[dattebabunn]

Thinking about Beast World and how telenovela fun it would've been if the Tamaranean that betrayed Starfire and brought all this bullshit was revealed to actually be Karras, her husband on Tamaran

Now THAT'D be a reveal. Bring the drama back, DC! I don't care if the comic is good I want it to at least be absolutely wild

[ashley-slashley]

10 Fandoms/ 10 Characters/ 10 Tags

thank you for tagging me @bullsandthebones!

this is in no particular order, and just characters i like in general - pls don't hurt me. also, my brain's still fizzled from having a shitty day at work yesterday

star trek - spock

evil dead - ash williams

the exorcist - damien karras

beauty and the beast - belle

doctor who - the 12th doctor

my fair lady - eliza doolittle

dc - martian manhunter (second choice was catwoman)

an american werewolf in london - jack goodman

alien - ellen ripley

the black cauldron - the horned king

tag (optional): @salt-pile @theoriginalpurpledogpalace @david-watts @rogersgarden @laing-caster @chaoticmunsons @thesightstoshowyou @glennsdick @hesawifebeaterdanusethegun @killer-beans @daughter0fcain @humanrinds @fangsandroses @persesnickety and anyone else who wants to do this

[pandoraimperatrix]

Wandering Worlds Meta (Part III) - The Evanescent Tamaranean Empire 

Reminder that everything I'll write here only applies to My Fanfiction. Please for the love of GOD do not use this as some claim I'm making over the DC or the HBO Max's show canon.

Tamaran is a Monarchy of coalition, it means the Monarch's power is not absolute, as most monarchies go... But unlike, idk, the monarchies of Europe, because Tamaraneans are deeply emotional straight forward people, and because they have a Living Goddess; there is no pretence that the Monarch’s status comes from God.  

X'hal is alive, and well, living her best life and the Tamaraneans believe that when they die their life-energy will return to her. And by coalition, I mean there are various small kingdoms under the Great Monarch (Kory’s family, at the moment) they are closer to a democracy than an absolutist monarchy. 

For the last three generations the And'r House has been the Great Family House, the family that has been ruling over the small local Kingdoms, but it doesn't mean there has been many internal and external disputes.  

Tamaran is under constant attack from the Citatel and their Gordanian Mercenaries, they attack to capture prisoners for slave trade; and the Psions, enemies of the Citatel, a race of Scientists that like to capture other species to experiment on them until they die. 

In Wandering Worlds, unlike the New Teen Titans Comic Book, Kory's parents never exchanged her for peace with the Citatel, therefore, she was never sold to slavery. She was never experimented by Psions either, her powers are her own, there was never stealing of Kom’s powers. 

Kory's mission to kill the Raven and save the world from season one, was the mission that would make her ascend from Crown Princess to Queen, after that, she would marry and take over while her parents would step down. 

She was promised to the House of Arras, but not to Prince Karras, but his older brother Yarras. And Karras was supposed to marry Komand’r. Yarras died as a child of the same illness that handicapped Komand'r, Ga’ula.  

What is this sickness? It's a viral infection result of Psion experimentation that became pandemic, it’s the reason why Okaara perished and they had to move to Tamaran.  

Tamaraneans have the great ability of absorbing solar radiation and store it. This radiation is how a Tamarean feeds. They don’t need to eat everyday, nor to breath oxygen everyday, but they cannot go without sunlight for longer than three days. 

The radiation from the sun is metabolize and used to create starbolts, repair their own bodies super fast, to fly AND to absorb and share language through touch. 

Ga’ula damages the photoreceptors of the tamaranean skin, without being able to absorb sunlight the person dies of inanition.  

Depending of how much damage the virus does to the body, you can have someone with handicaps like Komand’r who has many issues in the high functions (her deficiency concerns the mostly the ability of absorbing and communicating using language) but has never been in danger of dying. Karras older brother was so ill, that he couldn’t even feed from the sun to keep his body functioning. When Yarras died, Kory became Karras promised. One of many reasons why Komand’r always felt like she only Kory’s hand-me-downs, and it didn’t help when after Karras became Kory’s fiancé, nobody cared to set a new match for Kom. 

When Kory failed to return to Tamaran, the Citatel used the fragility caused by the internal politics to finally invade Tamaran, they had been making small attacks for eons, but this was a frontal attack how they had never dared before. Whole cities were raided, and millions of tamaraneans were kidnapped and sold to slavery. 

With their heiress still lost, Myand’r and Luand’r tried to negotiate peace, the Citatel offered ten years of truce if they were handed Komand’r as a prize. The nobles and smaller kings and queens who had already lost their own children, pressed the House of And’r to take the deal since Kom was already damaged. When Kom found out, she murdered her own parents and tried to take over the planet, breaking the attempt of peace and drowning the Tamaran in civil wars. When things got really bad she went after Kory and season 3 and the plot of Wandering Worlds happened. 

 Next on part IV: Tamaranean noble houses, foods, military, words and traditions. 

[dang-itshauntedinhere]

I Don't Love You, But I Always Will - Chapter 1

Summary:            

I watched The Exorcist with a friend and spent the entire time staring at Father Karras, so of course we crafted an elaborate story surrounding his and reader's life together. Falling in love with a Jesuit priest and watching his faith fall apart in front of you is not problematic at all actually, and your life in this story will proceed in abject simplicity. (Lies, slander) Enjoy!

Chapter 1 (You are here) - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6

Find also on my Ao3

Divider by @racingairplanes

Word Count: 4.5k

After marrying a man you believed would give you the life you wanted, you think love will be enough. You leave everything you know and love behind, believing this.

A/N: This story takes place throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

  Chapter 1: Leaving for Georgia

Summer in DC was always beautiful, you thought. Something about the blue skies and the shaking of the leaves always brought out something warm and exciting in you - the wind is what you really loved. How it seemed to finger through your hair and make you blush, how it reminded you of the tingling, scrappy feeling of returning home after a long day of roaming the streets as a kid.

It reminded you why you loved the city.

Chris was always up-front about wanting to move back to Georgia after the wedding, and you had agreed easily; his aging grandparents were there after all, and a tenure-track position as a professor of philosophy at the University of Georgia was nothing to sneeze at, either.

You’d spent your mornings on the phone with realtors in Athens for the last three months, leafing through the mail every day to find new flyers and catalogs. Evenings were for wedding planning and house hunting.

It had been so much organizing, though your contentment with a small wedding was an anchor, his southern family was too large to be modest. The money, through it all, had been distressing. Your new husband may have been wealthy enough to cover the cost easily, but you still weren’t used to the feeling. You were raised on frugality after all - this kind of spending was terrifying. You winced just thinking about the blank check Chris had handed you one morning. Like it was no big deal. You called him for every little step of the process, confirming every piece of the reception with sweat rolling off your brow.

You readjusted your purse on your shoulder. The noise of the busy street was comforting, but it didn’t slow the race of your heart. It felt like everything was moving so fast.

You took the long way for a reason. Your steps became a little slower, and you stopped to set yourself haltingly on a bench in front of your favorite corner store and tried not to think about never seeing its bleached yellow awning again. Smiling sadly, you took out the folded flier again.

—

You’d had your little list of hopes for a home. Space for a garden, large window sills for sitting and reading, steps to sit on and shuck corn or peel apples. You knew you wanted it to be small - cleaning a mansion every day was not on your bucket list. You knew you wanted stained glass in your door - something to stream colors into the hall and remind you of the tall churches of home, and most of all you knew you wanted a room for your painting. Anything would do, just something for you to cover with scrapbooks and canvases.

With these in mind, you hungrily poured over the pictures his family and your realtor sent along every night and made notes, checking for price and commute time to his office and your school. You circled and cut and pasted, until you had a fitting list to show him in the morning. You’d trudge to bed, hands sticky with paste and head light with images of your future home together.

Of course, he had his own list. The house needed to be no less than 15 minutes from his parent’s home, with a spacious yard for him to keep pristine, and a large office with space for his books and papers. There had to be a large dining room, (for university guests of course) a broad back porch for beers and chess in the evenings, and two bathrooms (he was absolutely anal about sharing).

Every morning, you’d sit next to him during coffee and talk quietly about your findings. You’d slide him the carefully crafted scrapbook with all of your notes and clippings tastefully collected on a page, with each option’s best qualities highlighted. He’d give a tired smile:

“What have you got for me today, honey?”

You’d begin your pitch with a deep breath. “Meet 887 Cherry Drive: 2 bedroom, 2 bath, - she’s got a HUGE back yard, big windows, glorious mahogany floors, only 20 minutes out from your office, 30 from your folks, and has delightful red shutters. And on your left, 2003 Elliot: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a connected garage and white porch. This one’s on a corner, so the yard is more like a side yard, but it’s got a peach tree and-”

“Oh not that neighborhood, and couldn’t you get my drive down a little more? You’re a magician with it all, babe, I know you can figure it out,” he interjected, checking his watch. “Ready?”

You closed the book. “I’ll do my best,” you sighed. “Remember we have to buy this house by August,” You said.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s just the book is taking all my time, and I only have so much time - and I’m marrying an artist for a reason! Gotta get some bang for my buck,” he smiled.

You sighed a smile. Your drive to his office helped, though, as he explained the wondrous world of footnotes. He always got this charming determined furrow to his brows when he got frustrated.

—

He picked a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom southern colonial a block away from his parents, deep in the Athens suburbs. It was stark white, with a rolling front yard and a stand alone garage - for your painting.

It wasn’t exactly what you pictured, but it had plenty of space, and two big hickory trees in front, with one in the back - the thought of the cool shade and quiet nights had you looking forward to it.

You tucked the folded flier back into your purse, and stood up with determination. Your skirt buffeted in the wind, like it was pushing you back. You walked on. He’ll be happy for me, we’ll have a friendly goodbye and we’ll go our separate ways.

You smiled into the wind as you turned onto the familiar brick path of St. Mike’s. Don’t cry.

—

He set the glass tumbler down with a dull clink and sat down in a huff. Class on Monday - I should really get them thinking about evidence-based decision making by the end of the month.

Damien enjoyed teaching, it added something to his life that he missed when he only spoke to the others at the seminary. All of their conversations came back to faith. Medicine he could give answers for, but faith was something different. He leaned on his fist as he watched the ice in his glass melt into muddy amber.

Faith was difficult. In the last few months, he could feel his assurance slip. He still believed wholeheartedly in his beliefs of course, but the world seemed to gray around him without… something. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but his thoughts had been clouded, days monotonous, and prayers rambling. It was like he was losing his touch.

It worried him. At least the students ask interesting questions.

He watched the leaves roll soundlessly outside the window and took a sip of his warming drink. It didn’t taste like anything.

He wondered if this was God’s latest test to his faith. A cruel one, at that. He usually trusted the path of his life - it was strange to question it. Maybe devotion is lonely. He’d lost some cosmic meaning; and when a priest loses his meaning, it often means he’s close to reaching that quiet, perfect devotion that carries him through the rest of his life. Maybe this is the feeling that makes so many men of the church so, so dull.

Then he thought of her.

Her easy conversation, the sun in her eyes, the warmth of her arm through his, her ever-changing laugh - yes, he thought. It has been a while, hasn’t it? He felt suddenly embarrassed, alone with his thoughts. He missed his friend - of course.

His thoughts suddenly fell to her wedding. He hadn’t realized he’d been blocking it out - he chalked it up to a busy schedule, the small voice in his head that went to medical school scolding him.

Only a few weeks ago, he had watched her walk down the aisle, glowing in a white dress.

—

He’d sat in the back corner, as far from the ceremony as he possibly could, strangely content to have as fuzzy a view of Chris, amicably chatting with Father Dyer, as possible. The ceremony was huge. It seemed like nearly 500 people crowded into the sanctuary, sweating politely through their Sunday best.  Days like these, he despised his high white collar.

He felt a little bad for his mother, seating them so far from the stage as possible, but she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she seemed to be avoiding looking at the groom as well.

He’d been to so, so many weddings over the years, always officiating, never attending simply as a guest. It was certainly a different occasion - somehow being in front of everyone with such a central role felt less visible than this did. He couldn’t complain, however, it was her wedding. He knew he had to be there - and his mother had absolutely insisted when she heard.

Her small family sat front row, the rest he could recognize as her guests were city natives. Her doctor, a few store owners, Carol (the only woman in the whole of the city she’d let cut her hair), some graying professors from your university days, and what looked like 20 kids and their parents - her Sunday school art students. The rest of the church he didn’t recognize, and the overture of southern accents in the chatter seemed unfamiliar.

The din quieted suddenly as the overbearing weight of the wedding march rang out through the sanctuary - you always liked how the organ shook the room.

People craned their necks to watch the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk slowly to the front. He involuntarily pressed a hand to his chest as his heart beat accelerated unexpectedly. His face grew hot and he tried to breathe deeply and quietly - was it audible above the organ?

He watched as Sharon stepped slowly through the doorway in front of him, she seemed relaxed. Seeing her suddenly brought him back to the moment, and he remembered there was no reason for him to be panicking. He set his arm along the back of the pew and parted a small smile as a young girl nervously sprinkled clumps of white petals across the red carpet. With a deep breath, he forced himself to relax, and silently thanked God he’d found a seat far from where she’d be able to see him.

Until she was suddenly before him, her eyes clear through the white mesh of your veil. She’d spotted him immediately - he was painfully aware of how wide his eyes were. She smiled.

Despite his hammering heartbeat and the blood rushing in his ears, he smiled back, and something relaxed. Everything felt right then, and it was as if you’d shared a long, satisfying conversation or told a quiet inside joke - and then she turned towards the front with a step.

He wasn’t sure if it had been milliseconds or minutes, but the moment passed. He turned to his mother, who watched her with a sad smile, tears in her eyes. She held his hand in hers, cool and frail, and said quietly in Greek, “Εκεί πηγαίνει, φαίνεται τόσο όμορφη (There she goes, she looks so beautiful.)”

He forced a fast smile and looked forward. “Ναι, το κάνει (Yes, she does.)”

The rest of the ceremony passed quickly and foggily, as if it was a dream.

He didn’t see her again until the reception, when people had thronged around her so tightly he wondered if she could breathe. Flashes of white would appear in the crowd, and he subsisted on the occasional glance of her face among it all, beaming. She looks tired, he thought. Thrilled, but… tired.

Her hair had rebelled from its perfect styling, and single soft hairs stuck out at various angles, framing her face in messy curls. Wouldn’t be so bad if you’d stop running your hand through it, he smiled. You always do that when you’re high-strung.

He allowed himself to appreciate her dress in glances - the layers of off-white organza complimented her frazzled elation well, artsy, as always, and the cut complimented the curve of her waist-

He shook his head with a start. Well, it does.

He buried himself in conversation with Father Dyer, grateful for the familiar face in the crowd. He needed the distraction - from whatever that deep, vague sense of dread he was feeling was, and from her and her tired eyes and bright smile – champagne and Father Dyer’s easy going company would suffice. He leaned against a wall near the back of the room by the door, standing next to his mother, who watched the sea of people through sleepy eyes.

“Oh, looks like she’s about to toss the bouquet,” Father Dyer said, turning to a particularly loud group surrounding you. He put a hand on his mother’s shoulder, crouching down to alert her of the spectacle. They watched as the bundle of flowers sailed over the sea of heads, hands snatching at petals as it fell. It landed in Sharon’s outstretched arms, and an excited chorus rose from the crowd as it dissipated quickly.

Seems fitting, he thought. The white of her dress was suddenly navigating through the crowd, passing hands on shoulders and smiling “excuse me, sorry, pardon me” fell from her lips. She looked up and pushed a wave of hair from her face as those familiar e/c eyes found his. She smiled, carefully picking her way through the maze of shoes.

He collected his thoughts quickly and straightened. She sighed a laugh and looked into his eyes as you came upon their small circle.

“Hey, I’m sorry I made you wait so long,” she said with an apologetic look.

“You look tired,” he said. She smiled, shrugging slightly, then turned away from him and leaned down to his mother’s outstretched arms, her dress collapsing around her in pillowy swells.

“Mama Karras!” She held her face in her hands, beaming up at her.

“Αγαπητέ μου, είστε όλοι ντυμένοι! Πάντα ήξερα ότι θα έκανες έναν όμορφο γάμο,” she said.

She glanced down to her hands, where she held three white roses, preserved from the bouquet. His mother’s face lit up.

“Δεν πρέπει να έχετε!” She gasped and gingerly clutched the roses to her heart, bringing her in with her other hand as she kissed her face. He smiled at them together - they were always so happy together. When his mother wasn’t asking you to eat more, or talking about him in broken English.  

“Couldn’t let you go home empty handed, Mama Karras,” she kissed her cheek and stood, holding her thin hand in her own. She leaned against the wall next to him, letting her head fall on his shoulder and hanging an arm from his coat sleeve.

“Can I tell you a secret,” She asked. He looked over at her with a raised eyebrow and a nod. He was grateful to finally have a moment to hear her, feel her touch again. Her face finally relaxed.

“I’m exhausted,” she said with a small smile, meeting his eyes and glancing over to Father Dyer.

“Lighten up, the wedding is meant to be for the bride after all.” He handed her a drink.

“Thanks.” She took a sip and sighed against him. He wished the whole party would evaporate then - just decide it was time to go home, leave you alone, let you sit down. He wondered if you’d sat down since before the ceremony.

The shadows across the room had long since grown long, and the light had changed from a bright yellow to a deep orange. The music simmered above the din, the low, sonorous tones of Doris Day relaxing the mood.

She tugged on his sleeve and glanced up at him.

“A dance, ‘father?’” She nodded towards the opening in the crowd, where guests had paired up, drifting in lazy circles. He looked to his mother, separating from you to lay a hand on her shoulder.

“How are you feeling, mama? Could we leave you for a moment?” She looked suddenly awake, lighting up as she stood quickly, straining against her cane.

“Μη χάνεις στιγμή να μου μιλάς, συνέχισε!” (Don't waste a minute talking to me, go on!) She pushed his hand away, walking haltingly to father Dyer and taking his arm. He went along easily, shooting him a knowing smile and turning to his mother happily.

He held out his arm.

“Thought you’d never ask,” he said. She smirked, taking his arm as they stepped slowly to the dance floor.

His face felt warm again, and his heart sped as they drew closer. She deflected relatives’ prying glances politely, leading them slowly. He wondered then if this was too much, if it wouldn’t bring Chris out swinging. Somehow he knew he wasn’t one to do that, but was slightly alarmed at how easily the thought of defending her from her new husband had slipped into his mind.

All at once, they had arrived. He left his thoughts as her arm suddenly left his, hand resting in his as she brought her other hand up to his shoulder, her arm resting bent against his. He brought an unsteady hand to her waist, squeezing her hand in his other. She looked up to his eyes as they began to step and spin slowly, talking quietly.

“So how do I look?”

“Beautiful, of course.” He gave a frank smile.

“Better than tired, I count it as a win,” she replied. She laid her head against his shoulder and yawned with a laugh. “Damn.”

“Cursing at a priest at your own wedding! Wait and see where that gets you,” He yawned. “Stop that.” He resisted the urge to rest his chin on her hair.

She closed her eyes.

“I like where it’s gotten me so far.” They stayed like that for a while, mumbling under the music and barely moving at all. She scrunched up her face and shook her head slightly, lifting her head away from him.

“Sorry dames, I’ve got to wake up,” She blinked repeatedly and rubbed her eyes. “Still have the rest of my wedding to be at, probably should be awake for it.” He fixed a strand of h/c hair behind her ear and took her hand. He led her arm over her head, turning her in a lazy spin.

“Wake up then,” He said. The song ended then, and the room faded back into view. They let go of each other’s hands, suddenly aware again, and clapped with the rest of the guests. She smiled at him among it all, and something struck him in her look. You’re happy.

He went to take your hand again when Chris rushed up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face in your hair as you laughed. All attention was on her again, and her eyes were on Chris. Not him.

He stepped into the crowd quietly, navigating back to his mother and Father Dyer.

They left before he could see you searching the crowd for him.

—

Your knock rang out loudly in the quiet hallway of the conservatory. Your heart rushed and your skin prickled at the silence. You always appreciated that about the church, that utter quiet, and better yet, breaking it with some angelic choir or powerful organ. Breaking this silence felt different though: nervous. You could hear shuffling from within.

The door unlatched and swung open in a rush, and Damien was all at once in front of you. He looked disheveled, but fully dressed - like he’d fallen asleep standing up.

“Hey Dames,” you said with a small smile. “Did I wake you up?” You stepped towards him, straightening his rumpled collar.

“No, no, just… lost in thought -thanks for that,” He looked distant for a moment as he pushed his hair back. “Come in,” he said with a tired smile.

You stepped into the familiar room, sparse as ever. The low bed was neatly made, a solitary cross hanging above the headboard. Sunlight streamed in through the open window, the noise of the street drifting in over the silence. The only clutter of the room was an abundance of books; a half of the small room had books piled on every surface, wedged in every crook and cranny. The table was similarly populated, displaying a few open books and strewn papers. He gathered them self-consciously, adding the stack to an already-precarious pile on the floor.

You smiled at his collection and turned to his closet. You scanned the top shelf.

“Where’d you move your vase?” You asked. You offered your small bundle of black-eyed susans with a crinkle.

He dropped a stack of papers on his bed and looked over with a raised eyebrow and thought for a moment.

“Ah.” He swiveled and produced the blue pitcher, pitching the musty water into the gutter outside the window before stepping through the bathroom door at the back of the room.

You unwrap the flowers, setting the paper on the table and dropping the bunched stems into the awaiting pitcher easily. He set the pitcher on the table with a light thud.

“Thanks, they really bring it all together,” he said with a light smile.

You always enjoyed his room- some may have thought it claustrophobic, but you preferred cozy. Countless afternoons reading and talking over coffee and tea - he always kept a box for you - sitting with your back to his dresser and his back to the wall, you’d drape your legs over his and watch the light grow orange with the evening. Conversation came in patches, quips about a passage, some thought question or story about your day, and you’d slip between talking and reading, lazily flipping through hours on end. You hadn’t been over in some time - you missed those afternoons.

You were struck, suddenly, by the knowledge that this might be the last time you spoke here. You fiddled with your hands, spinning your wedding band around your ring finger. His brow furrowed with concern.

“What’s on your mind?” He sat, you followed.

“I’m uh, I’m here to tell you I’m leaving, Dames, for Georgia in a week,” You said, flashing him a smile you hoped wasn’t too forced before looking down again. “Chris’ parents are there, and we’ve bought a house in Athens. It’s close to the University, and to the school. We’re really excited- I’m really excited for the fresh start, you know? And-and I’ll get to teach part-time, art, and I’m so excited to meet the kids, and,” you looked up to find him stony-faced, brown eyes swimming with hurt. “And, so I’m leaving the city soon. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner…”

You took his hand across the table and squeezed. He looked away. You sat in silence for what seemed like minutes, watching his eyes stare at the white wall. You didn’t pray often, but suddenly your mind rang with pleas. No, no, no, I’m sorry, I wish I’d told you sooner. You’re mad. You’ll never forgive me. I wish you’d look at me.

“Talk to me, Dames, please,” You said, swallowing hard. He inhaled and straightened. He turned to you and brought his other hand to yours.

“Is that what you want?” He said, face lined with pity. “Do you- want to leave the city?”

You were taken aback by his change in tone, now tone soft and coaxing. His therapy voice. His advice voice. His “savior” voice. Your stomach twisted with indignation.

“Yes,” you said in earnest, looking away. You couldn’t look at him when he gets like this, not now. “He’s my husband, Dames, what are you saying?” You drew your hand away.

“I’m not- You’re not hearing me - are you sure?” You stood.

“Yes, I’m sure! You’re acting like I’m some wayward woman you have to counsel - you’re my best friend, Dames, I thought you’d be happy for me-” He stood and looked you in the eye, his face serious.

“I’m not blind, y/n,” He raised his voice slightly, taut with frustration. “I have watched you give yourself up to him, piece by piece - first it was your apartment, then it was your job, and now it’s this- you’re leaving me, everything?”

“That’s what marriage is! That’s what love is!” You whipped around to look at him now as you raised your voice. “It’s devotion! Sacrifice! I chose this!” Why were you getting defensive? You weren’t thinking straight - you took a shaky breath and ran a hand through your hair. You hated this feeling.

“And don’t you dare act like you don’t know what that means. Like I haven’t watched you give yourself to the church - watched you sweat and cry and bleed for this? You think that hasn’t been hard for me? Watching you give everything away and leave nothing for yourself?” Nothing for me?

“Don’t make me say it, y/n.” He said, scarily still, brown eyes burning. “It isn’t the same - I’d never choose-”

“And I’d never make you! I’d never ask that!” You said. He stopped at that, looking like he had more to say but turning away. You were surprised as a hot tear dripped down your cheek. You held a hand to your mouth, swiping the tear away and turning. No, not in front of him. Not now.

Your head ached sharply as you held back tears. The pressure was overwhelming. You tried to take a breath, but it came shaky and louder than you wanted. Your face burned with embarrassment. He started to say your name behind you but you gathered yourself as much as you could and clutched your jacket together.

“Tell your mother I’ll miss her,” you managed. He was quiet. “Goodbye, Damien.”

You didn’t look back, opening the door to the quiet hall and walking as quickly as you could away. Away from him, away from his warm voice, his knowing looks, his broad hands, his rare smile, and everything else you loved about him. The sound of his door shutting at the end of the hall was all it took. Hot tears streamed silently down your face, your vision blurry and head pounding. The only sound was your shaking breaths and small, choking sobs.

You stepped onto the street with a wash of relief and set out the way you came, hurriedly smearing tears away as you walked.

You wondered for a moment if this would make leaving easier. Somehow you knew it wouldn’t.

[fancyfade]

hi i really like your in-depth comic read-throughs! i was perusing one of your NTT posts and if you don't mind an anon about this, i wanted to say i found your reaction to the arranged/political marriage subplot really interesting. i feel like i had the completely opposite view on the conflict: this was a time where i entirely sided with nightwing over kory because i couldn't see how nightwing could accept kory going back to do the bidding of the parents who had abused her so much and even sold her into slavery as a child. tbh maybe i'm biased because i'm not white american and i come from a culture where arranged marriages are still extreeemely common today, but it's impossible for me to not view it as intrinsically archaic and abusive system that's used to treat women and children as vessels and assets :/ so i was really mad at any implication in the comic that it's just a cultural difference that nightwing should've gotten over. especially because kory was the princess of the whole planet, so any kids she'd have either with her arranged match (or honestly even with nightwing) would undoubtedly be called back to serve the planet and be forced to fight in the gazillion wars that tamaran seems to have - after all, tamaran's royal family seems to have no issue calling kory back when they need her even after selling her into slavery :/ and i felt really gross watching kory and karras have sexy times (xD) for their wedding night or whatever even when she and nightwing still loved each other it was so...bleh. i think this was one of the many times where the 2003 cartoon had a way superior version of a plotline over NTT, i was happy when they explicitly made starfire's arranged match a really ugly alien thing because even though it was on-the-nose, it really showed you that what was happening was completely wrong and not just a cultural difference that people should accept (which is an excuse that a lot of people use to justify abusive treatment in different cultures imo). but also i think wolfman might not have treated the concept of arranged marriages with the gravitas it deserved, being a white american himself, so that's why i feel more strongly about this since it's so personal (and i think a lot of MENA/south asian women would agree) - and tamaranean culture kinda makes me really uncomfortable anyway with how it's emphasized to be extremely "war-like," and violent or whatever. if it really was supposed to be a nuanced conflict and not just "kory is repeatedly pulled into doing the bidding of her evil abusive family" then wolfman should've made tamaran far more sympathetic imo. sorry for all this text, i'm not trying to change your opinion or anything - it's more like i'm one of those fans sending in mail to DC's "letter to the editor" columns :D

I'm guessing this letter to the editor is in resposne to this post? (link) Specifically this bit?

Dick acts selfishly, and does not understand Kory’s situation with her planet (the complex political situation, doesn’t like her having tamaranean morals even though she doesn’t kill people on earth, her just saying she would be OK with it is something he hates) and generally focuses on himself when he apologizes rather than on her,

Which I did sound kind of 'it's just a cultural difference' thing, but that really wasn't my intention, especially since earlier in the post I mentioned that she was forced into the position. His problem is the fact that he doesn't seem sympathetic at all to her being forced in this situation.

(like specifically these panels):

None of that interacts with Kory being in an impossible situation or her parents being abusive. Dick's just treating it like she personally betrayed him.

Anyway, so like... I agree that kory being pushed into an arranged marriage is awful but I don't see how dick being the biggest jerk ever about it is helpful? Like I don't think I ever said the arranged marriage is a good thing (and... I don't think the plot of the TV show was an improvement for reasons I'll get into soon) but if your gf is being treated badly by her family treating her badly yourself and telling her her culture is savage (after dick himself has acted wary of kory herself and said she's too bloodthirsty, so the judgment clearly is of her herself and not the practice of arranged marriage) is not gonna help. It would just make her feel like you don't understand and she can't be open with you. Like how is Kory supposed to separate Dick's judgmental-ness of she herself as a person and Tamaranean from his feelings towards her arranged marriage? She already canonically felt as if she was being asked to hold herself back and could not be herself.

So I'm saying... I totally get why you don't like the arranged marriage and why it has bad real world context. I'm just also saying that dicks actions are still terrible boyfriend material, he seems more worried about her being non-monogamous from his perspective than her being forced under the thumb of her parents who signed her up for abuse. Like, we see a scene where he compares a woman who's husband wants to kill her because she cheated on him to him and Kory. That doesn't strike me as "Dick understands this practice is abusive". it strikes me as "Dick views this as cheating and blames Kory for her parents putting her in this position".

Getting into the toon: i think that making the arranged husband an ugly alien just correlates beauty to goodness and it seems as if the general idea is not "its awful she's being forced to marry someone she doesn't love", but " oh no she has to marry an ugly thing". Like, going into the issue with arranged marriage: it's the forcing the marriage itself, not the 'the person might be ugly'. If I recall correctly for the toon (It's been a while since I watched) Kory also still was going to go through with it, before her friends revealed that the invasion fleet was a scheme, so it's not really she got a chance by the writers to actually say no or have agency herself, it was just her friends vs blackfire.

WRT Your assessment of Wolfman: I definitely do think he wasn't intending to portray it as a terrible thing, since many people besides Dick seemed chill with it (and like I said earlier - a lot of Dick's complaints seemed to be that he viewed it as her betraying him, not 'she's going back to people who hurt her and ruining her own happiness'. IIRC he said something about her parents like. Once. But his general angst, especially once the marriage goes through, is about the non-monogamy). I think Woflman was playing it up for cheap drama, rather than treating it with the appropriate gravitas, as you said. (and in general, yes, Wolfman does stereotype the Tamaraneans a lot).

I think the plotline could really have benefited from having people besides Dick and Joey there. I think Donna could talk some sense to Kory without lashing out at her like Dick did, and Kory might feel more supported.

Anyway TL;DR: Sorry if it was unclear, I'm not saying my analysis of the arc in a pro-arranged marriage thing. (I didn't realize I had to clarify that was something I was against). I still think that Dick acts like the world's least helpful, worst boyfriend in the arc, and due to the previous way he treated Kory, it's not really read as something to help her or as him understanding why it would hurt her to be in this position. He mostly seems to be focused on how it hurts him, especially once the arc's over.

Thanks for sharing your perspective, though! It was interesting to read and food for thought and definitely made me think to be more clear in what I'm critiquing

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[bluejaysandblackbats]

Fics to Update (Titans Fab 5 Edition) Pt. 1

The Flames That Burn The Brightest: Donna Troy is working as an English teacher at a high school, and to her surprise, she comes face-to-face with an old flame who just so happens to be the new guidance counselor.

Space Oddity: Garth grew up in a carnival freakshow, and he never thought about the world outside the glass walls of the aquarium until a group of kids befriended him. Their love and interest in finding his people might be the key to escaping the silent horrors of his home life at the show.

Kitten Heel: Roy meets Jade in college and she offers to help him study chemistry in exchange for help in her music class. They develop feelings for each other, but Jade disappears after the semester ends. Nearly a year later, Roy catches a glimpse of a woman with a baby getting on the train. And she's wearing his bracelet...

Titans Academy: Grant struggles to accept his new reality when Roy takes him in and enrolls him in Titans Academy. He must adjust to life at a boarding school and life with his new foster family (Roy and Lian). Can he learn to trust the people that claim to care about him? Or will he shut himself off from love altogether?

[readingforsanity]

The Senator's Wife | Liv Constantine | Published 2023 | *SPOILERS*

In this town, anyone is replaceable...

After a tragic chain of events led to the deaths of their spouses two years ago, DC philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on. The horrifying ordeal drew them together, and now they're ready to settle down again - with each other.

As Sloane returns to the world of White House dinners and political small talk, this time with her new husband, she's also preparing for an upcoming hip replacement - the latest reminder of the lupus diagnosis she's managed since her twenties. With both of their hectic schedules, they decide that hiring a home health aide will give Sloane the support and independence she needs post-surgery. And they find the perfect fit in Athena Karras.

Seemingly a godsend, Athena tends to Sloane, and evens helps her run her charitable foundation. But Sloane slowly begins to deteroriate - a complication, Athena explains, of Sloane's lupus. As weeks go by, Sloane becomes sicker, and her uncertainty quickly turns to paranoia as she begins to suspect the worst. Why is Athena asking her so many probing questions about her foundation - about her past? And could Sloane be imagining the sultry looks between Athena and her new husband?

Riveting, face-paced, and full of unbelievable twists, The Senator's Wife is a psychologcal thriller that upends the private homes of those who walk the halls of power. Because when you have it all, you have everything to lose.

Two years before the events of the novel, Sloane and Robert Chase and Whit and Peg Montgomery are vacationing at one of Sloane and Robert's homes. Both men are prominents senators in Washington, and Robert and Peg are cousins. What was meant to be an idylllic weekend away turns sour when Whit and Peg begin arguing over Whit's supposed infidelity. Peg confesses to Sloane that she believes Whit to have been unfaithful with Madelyn Sawyer, another prominent politician in Washington, though Sloane doesn't put any stock into this as she feels Peg's drinking and paranoia have gotten the better of her.

A few months later, Peg has invited Robert over after having Whit followed the last few weeks to prove his infildelity. Whit denies it, stating that Madelyn and her husband, Fred, have been supporters of his campaign and have given him quite a bit of money in order to continue his work in Washington. However, Peg doesn't accept this answer and grabs a gun that was hidden under the couch cushion. Robert, seeing what is about to happen, jumps up in order to save his friend and Peg accidentally shoots her cousin before turning the gun on herself, both of them killed instantly.

Two years later, Sloane and Whit have found love in each other, and have remarried. Unfortunately, Sloane's health has taken a dip after a lupus diagnosis in her twenties have left her with uncomfortable flares and her hip is in need of a hip replacement, a surgery that she has finally scheduled. Despite the loss of their respectives spouses, the two of them seem to be on a good start to their new marriage, though Rosemary, Robert's mother and Sloane's mother-in-law, isn't happy to see the two of them having moved on so quickly.

For her recovery, Sloane and Whit have agreed to hire a home healthcare aide in order to assist Sloane with her day to day duties with her health, as well as some admin tasks for her foundation, where Sloane and Robert have helped thousands of abused women. In this, they hire a young, beautiful woman named Athena Karras. The daughter of Greek immigrants, she feels close to both of the Montgomery's, as she too is a widow after having lost her husband in a motorcycle accident before returning to the United States after previously lived in Greece with him.

Athena moves into the home, and quickly becomes a huge help to not only Sloane but to Whit as well. Rosemary, on the other hand, reaches out to a friend of hers, Mac, in order to begin investigating not only Athena herself, but also Whit. It appears Whit may be involved in some untoward events in Washington, and Rosemary wants to present these facts to Sloane, but only once she has proof, as Sloane hasn't taken to her mother-in-law's dislike of her new husband.

Sloane, unfortunately, begins to have a lupus flare shortly after her surgery, and shortly after that, her memory and health continue to decline. She begins to hallucinate, have memory lapses where she forgets the names of those around her, and also begins experiencing the loss of huge chunks of time. She begins to suspect that Athena and Whit are working against her in order to kill her so the two of them can be together.

Whit and Athena have become close to each other the more Sloane's health declined. They would often have dinner together well into the night, and Whit began sharing his fears of Sloane's declining health, as well as his hopes for the future. He begins to believe that Athena is his soul mate, and the two of them can be together after Sloane's passing.

When Rosemary is attacked in her home, along with her Congresswoman friend Faye, and is in a medically induced coma for several weeks, Sloane's health continues to worsen. Rosemary was on the cusp of finding out the truth, that Whit really is involved in something sketchy with other people in politics. When Sloane begins to worry that Athena is drugging or poisoning her, she goes into Whit's room in order to look for something that could point that he is also involved.

What she finds is disturbing: a watch that belonged to Peg's father, having had an insurance claim on it after it was believed to be lost in the fire that had killed Peg's parents. On top of this, she also finds the report that Rosemary had received from Mac in a briefcase inside the closet.

Now truly believing that her life is in danger, Sloane begins to worry what she can do to get out of this situation. However, her health doesn't allow her to get very far as she loses consciousness shortly after returning to her bedroom. At this, Athena offers to end Sloane's life, act as an angel of mercy, in order to put her out of her misery. Whit has confided in Athena that Sloane's doctors have found permanent brain damage as a result of her lupus, and that this would be the best way to honor his promise not to let her get into such a state.

Whit leaves, and Athena enters Sloane's bedroom; when Emmy, Sloane's daughter comes home from LA the next morning, she is told that Sloane has passed away. Funeral arrangements are set, and we receive Whit's POV that he was involved in everything that people believed he was guilty of. He was using LLC's in order to launder money, and now Sloane's money would be his.

When he goes into the foundation offices in order to get a head start on things; he finds himself faced with not only his supposed dead wife, but Emmy and Athena as well. We come to learn that Athena helped Sloane fake her death; while looking inside of his office one day, Athena came across the items that Whit had been using to poison her with, including Bactrim and belladona, also known as nightshade. Athena is really Athema Pimfilis, an FBI agent with a prior medical background, making her work undercover the perfect cover in order to get Whit's ass handed to him.

Although Whit pleads guilty to attempted murder of Sloane and the corruption charges, he was unfortunately unable to be pinned for the murders of Robert and Peg, of which he was truly guilty of, having admitted so during one of his POVs. He received a sentence of 15 years, and Sloane began the process of divorce shortly after finding out the truth. The president and others involved in the money laundering scheme were also charged and are doing sentences of their own. It turns out that Rosemary's friend, Faye, had been involved in the laundering as well as the attacks on the two of them.

Athena returns to Greece, returning to her roots and where she truly feels connected and Sloane, Emmy and Rosemary visit with her and the women connect on all levels, forming a friendship that knows no conditions.

Liv Constantine strikes again with this one; my second 5 star read of the month. Even if you know nothing of politics, like myself, the story is easy to follow along with. You truly feel for Sloane, feeling lost in her mind. It read very much like another story I read about a woman experiencing Alzheimer's at a young age and just watching her mind deteoriorate.

I sort of hope this one becomes a book of some kind; or even a TV series. It would do really well.