#Him calling all the people he loves his 'troop of beloveds'

[enjoltrwolfstar]

Rip Lestat De Lioncourt you would have loved 2024 tumblr

[marinerainbow]

Do you have any more information on that when’s were peach fell in love with bowser eyes 👀 it interest me a lot

Powser is my favorite Mario ship... So yes, I do >:3

Let us renember; in my headcannon, Peach is SEVEN FOOT THREE! Imagine how huge Bowser is if he can grab her up like this!?!?

This post shall also be done in dot points for my sanity XD also, this will be referring to the Powser Timeline of my Mario's Galexy.

In this cycle, Mario and Luigi showed up much later, so they aren't around for a good while. So when it came to maintaining the peace of The Strangelands, it fell on our beloved princess' shoulders. In fact, in this timeline, Bowser doesn't get to kidnap her because she approached him first for peace between their nations.

Bowser had been planning to take over the Mushroom Kingdom for the same reasons I stated in my Mario AU post. So you can imagine how surprised he was when he received an invitation to the very palace he was planning on conquering in the first place. He took this as a chance for a surprise take-over, and told his men to prepare as such.

... The thing is, though, he expected to come face to face with a sentient mushroom ruler. Not the beautiful, kind-hearted, and collected Princess Peach we know and love to greet him at the edge of her city. He actually thought she was a passing human, but no. The toads flanking her sides introduced her as their princess. And when Peach approached Bowser with a sweet smile and took one of his clawed fingers in both of her hands, he fell in love instantly... Which was quite the show when his koopa troops surrounded the princess and her toad guards as was the original plan 😅 Bowser had to quickly call them off, and come up with an excuse on the spot as to why his koopas would point their spears at her.

Peach: Wh-What is this!?

Bowser: No! No! It, uh... Y-You see, my princess *totally not squealing on the inside for getting to say that* uh... My people, we uh...

The Koopas: 😶😶🤨🤨🤨🤨

Bowser: We aren't used to uh... Friendly people, such as you.

Peach: Really?

Bowser: Yeah, yeah! It uh... We were expecting an attack, actually-

Koopa: But my lord, you said-

Bowser: *gives him the 'shut the shell up!' Look*

Peach: Oh, you poor koopas! 🥺 don't worry. You will find nothing but acceptance and peace among the toads. And with our alliance, we'll be sure to offer your people the prosperity you deserve ^^

Bowser: *definitly not wondering what Peaches ring size is already* Right, that's why we're here! For peace! Haha...

(Eventually, after they get married, Bowser tells Peach the truth of what happened. To which she surprises him by confessing she already knew, but decided to give him a chance since he called off his troops, and she's glad she did. My Peach may be a pacifist, but she's not blind.)

Anyways, they went inside her kingdom, and Bowser not only got to see a side of The Strangelands he never did get to see in The Darklands, but was also shocked at how peacefully they were able to work together. Peach never spoke down to him or his people, and made sure neither side would be treated unfairly in their kingdoms union. He was honestly amazed, having never seen anything political being taken care of through non-violent means. It made him reflect on his own laws and Kingdom, too. But he wanted to leave a good impression on Peach, so he tried to paint his kingdom and ruling in a positive light... Which failed miserably 😅😅😅 but at least it encouraged Peach to renain in contact with him and help bring his people into a new, kinder era, so... He considers it a win.

There was a lot of work to be done. Imagine if all of the main Mario games focused on Peach and Bowser teaming up and fixing various issues between their kingdoms. That's how much time passed between them after that first meeting (I actually wanna see that 🤔 Bowser being able to use force and offense when Peach's negotiations and defense fail, and vice versa. Kinda like Bigby and Snow from The Wolf Among Us). But it only made Bowser fall for her harder, and eventually Peach started to fall in love with Bowser, too. And since their kingdoms were already united, it seemed like the most natural course of action ^^

Their love and marriage lasted for the rest of their lives. Raising the koopalings and Junior, and changing all of the Strangelands for the better. However, it all ended on the star festival, as it always does with each cycle; Bowser, Peach and their children were all enjoying a night of fun and collecting star bits, and forming the final grand star before their timeline ends with the galexy resetting itself... Unfortunately, Bowser and Peach don't fall in love in the next cycle, but they at least had their happy ending while they had it...

I hope this timeline makes sense 😅 but! Time for headcannons/tid-bits of the Powser Galexy Cycle!

As you can see, Bowser is still a bit of a goof in this timeline. In fact, he's able to show that side of himself more in this cycle than in previous cycles. That's because there's no need for him to be so tyrannical, and because his precious wife encourages him to let this side of him out ^^

Even so, he still knows how to lay down the law. Peach, she is a good and benevolent ruler. However, there were plenty of times when people tried to take advantage of that. Whether it be neighboring kingdoms during negotiations, enemies trying to take over her kingdom, or even their own people trying to get out of paying for a crime they committed. In that case, Bowser is always there to make sure nobody tries to pull the wool over Peach's eyes. He's kind of like her guard dog, standing behind her with his arms crossed and ready to roast somebody if they hurt or try to fool Peach... Needless to say, this does make people think twice about trying to harm the princess.

Though on the flip side, Peach is able to get Bowser to realize when aggression is unnecessary and whether or not a punishment for a criminal is just or too extreme. It's not uncommon in the kingdom to see Peach by Bowsers' side, holding his claw and keeping him calm enough to see reason and keep things smooth during meetings. If Bowser is her guard dog, then Peach would be his emotional support kitty.

Sometimes, just to tease Peach or because he needs he close in that moment, Bowser will pick up Peach just like in the gif above to give her a kiss, whisper something in her ear, or even during meetings and he and Peach need to talk without anyone else listening in. Sometimes, Peach will hop up onto his shoulder to peck his cheek and see him turn red ^^

In my previous post, I said that Ludwig was the first to be adopted, followed shortly by Iggy. They were actually brought in by Bowser before he and Peach were married. Even though they weren't a couple, however, Peach fell in love with them instantly and would constantly ask Bowser how he and his sons are doing. And he even trusted her enough to send them to her palace whenever necessary! 🥺🥺🥺 Peach treated them like her own, and when they came back, the first thing Iggy asked his dad was why aren't he and mama Peach married yet? This was actually what encouraged Bowser to finally confess his love to her ^^ (Ludwig was in his emo phase at this point, so he was just like "Yeah, she's alright." // "Shut up, Luddy, you still have the violin Peach got you." // "SHUT UP!-")

As such, Ludwig and Iggy are the only koopa kids who remember having only Bowser as a parent. The other koopa kids, even though lived under the rule of Peach and Bowser, were adopted after they got together.

After they were married, they built their own palace on the borders of both of their kingdoms. Peaches' original castle is the families' summer vacation home, and Bowsers Castle is their winter vacation home.

The Mario Bros come to The Strangelands during Bowser and Peach's wedding planning, actually XD when they were due to be married within a week, in fact. Larry found them first and showed them to his parents like they were cool bugs or stones he found XD "Mama, look! They look like you, but very small!" They were able to fix some plumbing issues in the castle that would have potentially interferred with the wedding, so Peach and Bowser promised to help them find their way back home for their help ^^ (I like to think Mario may have developed a mini crush on Peach, but since she was getting married, it obviously went nowhere.)

When it comes to parenting, Peach is the more firm parent. Bowser loves his kids, and he can discipline them. But... He's weak. He can't do it unless it's something serious. And we know he spoils his kids 😅😅😅 Peach loves them to peices as well! But she knows where to draw the line with them and makes sure Bowser doesn't go too far with spoiling them or letting their antics slide. As such, they actually grow up less bratty and not so "we just love being mean!" Then they do when it's just Bowser raising them. Imagine Peach being like Mary Poppins with them, making sure they behave without being aggressive about it. Except she's their mother, not their nanny. Daisy though, is their cool aunt.

When it comes to Junior, Bowser still made him on his own. Even though he and Peach wanted to try for kids, their drastic size and biology differences did make them hesitate. So, to stay on the safe side, Bowser incubated Juniors egg all on his own. Though this time, he had Peach tp take care of him through the draining process and take care of their kids ^^ (and that's how, in the current timeline, Bowser Jr. Still has buried memories of a past life with Peach as his mother. Just not by blood.)

A kinda funny thing though, is that when the palace is under attack, Bowser will go face the threat and the koopalings will surround Peach in their own version of a kill circle XD even though she's their mama, it's no secret that she's the most delicate family member (koopa babies, while still being fragile compared to adult koopas, are still pretty tough compared to humans. I mean, Lemmy and Junior, the youngest kids, already have sharp spikes on their shells 😬). So even though Peach will stand between her babies and any threat, her kids really are the next line of defense if, for whatever reason, Bowser fails.

Though, Peach is still a mama. And any mother worth their salt would break a man in two for touching her baby... That is actually what people find out in this timeline, after the one and only time Peach was actually kidnapped in this cycle. She had Junior with her, so he was taken too. Bowser pulled up with his battleships, ready to destroy the whole galexy to get his wife and son back... Only for him to find his darling, wouldn't-hurt-a-fly wife having tossed her vow of pacifism out the window and curb stomping her and her sons' kidnapper the second she broke out of the cage. That was just more proof to Bowser he found the perfect woman. (He still set fire to the guy when Peach was done with him. The koopa kids all think their mom is even cooler now.)

Oh yeah. Bowser still writes Peach love songs. And Peach writes him so many lovey dovey letters- yes, even after they're married- and bakes him many cakes. They love each other so much 💕

So yeah. They are a pretty dynamic duo with running kingdoms and raising families in this timeline ^^ Thank you for sending this in! I hope you enjoy reading this ^^

[lunargazing-png]

I felt so flattered when people wanted to learn more about the Mass Effect OCs I made, so I thought I'd write a (very long) summary (more like an info dump) of them and introduce all of the characters from my previous post here (and briefly mention a +1)!

I'm calling my little rag-tag cast of OCs "Starcrossed." I've made five characters so far.

The year is 2157. A human scientist named Kara Twelves is scrambling to save her research as alien forces are closing in on her laboratory in Shanxi. The building has turned into a fort for Alliance troops and colonists, and the force of the Turians has overwhelmed the human occupants inside. Her once-beloved lab is beginning to crumble- its structure unable to take the barrage of firepower much longer. The last things she takes with her are a USB and a photograph of her two-year-old daughter, Kenzie. Kara has dedicated the past two years to learning about Shanxi's unique flora and fauna and isn't willing to abandon her work so quickly.

This is Kara during her time as a colonist in Shanxi. She was 22 years old during the First Contact War) Azailick Zeusura is a foot soldier rookie on the battlefield, determined to earn the respect of his peers- and, more importantly, his father. He knew he wasn't fit for this mission, but he naively went anyway. Az was eager to prove himself a mature, loyal soldier under the Turian Hierarchy. General Williams surrendered the Shanxi garrison two weeks earlier, which lifted soldier morale in properly taking siege of the colony. His platoon is steadily advancing to eliminate an Alliance fortification, picking off soldiers who are starting to realize that their odds are dwindling.

(This is Azailick. He was 18 years old during the First Contact War.) Alliance soldiers make a last-ditch effort to ward off their attackers, and Azailick's world comes to a halt as a grenade lands at his feet. Maybe some supernatural force made Kara act the way she did, but in the blink of an eye, she was suddenly not hiding anymore. Kara pushes Az out of the impending explosion, and they tumble into a debris-riddled cliffside together.

(This picture was in my original post! kerplow 💥) Kara becomes critically injured from the fall. Suddenly, it's not about Az making a point that he's a capable soldier anymore. He has a choice: Does he carry on and leave his enemy to die as a soldier would, or does he acknowledge her sacrifice and make an effort to help his savior?

The year is 2167. It's been ten years since the First Contact War. Kara doesn't remember what came of the Turian who carried her to safety or her belongings she failed to save. She, her daughter Kenzie, and her nurse Agjaa T'rete are settling into their new apartment on the Citadel. Her sister's constant hawking over her physical care became too much to handle, and Kara decided she wanted to start fresh. Kara couldn't fathom the grandness of the megastructure they were about to live on, and she was ecstatic to start a new chapter and be more independent. During one of her strolls, she spots someone who feels familiar. Her stomach twists in knots as she realizes who she's looking at. Azailick retired from playing soldier eight years ago to support his eight-year-old son, Apsot. Working at C-Sec seemed like the better option and was less emotionally taxing for him. Someone politely grabs his attention, and he's struck with so many emotions at once that he doesn't know what to do with himself. He almost mistakes her for a ghost at first, but it's the human colonist who saved his life right in front of him!

(This is a painting I did showing what it was like when they reunited with each other.)

Even through so much tension after the war, Kara and Az manage to kindle a friendship with each other- and maybe even something a little more than that :-) I've always really liked narratives of love being the stronger power when everything is stacked against its favor, and they fit this bill very nicely. After they reunite, they learn more about each other and bond over their trauma from the war and how their unlikely union completely changed fundamental parts of themselves- for good and for bad. and that's about it!! thank you for reading about my ocs :-) I hope to draw more of them soon. Here's a Kenzie as sheldon cooper for you as a send off.❤️idk if anyone would be curious enough to send asks in, but my ask box is open!

[fanaticsnail]

Mihawk kissing Governess' hand and her allowing herself a slip in her exterior armour to kiss his cheek and his reaction, oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god

"Reaching upwards, you placed your left hand on Mihawk’s cheek and shepherded him into yourself, placing your lips gently against his left cheek as you cradled him against your palm. He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth and froze his shoulders in place." <- tattooing this passage on my brain, thanks

I'm sorry but this whole passage had me giggling and flinging myself about in bed as I read it like a school girl, and it is so funny to me that they did All That in front of an audience of not only four powerful men but also a soiree of guests. It's like when you see regency era period pieces of a couple breathing heavily with barely contained lust after one dance bc they're Repressed Virgins, and remembering that there is a whole ballroom of other people there.

"He doesn't love you." <- NO! BAD! (spritz with water). My immediate thoughts is Sapsorrow or some other force is interfering.

"“I just thought I saw-...” Perona began, cocking her head sharply to the side and holding firm her gaze, “Something watching.”" <- screaming and wildly swinging a baseball bat. I'm so emotionally attached to these characters and invested in this story that I know that there's no way it ends on so soon all happy so there's got to still be conflict before the wedding in order for a resolution and I'm excited but at the same time I Refuse.

“The symbolism behind it is you, yourself, are the sun. The gold is what encases you beneath it," <- well goddamnit snail that is poetry.

The description of Beckman and Governess' relationship!!!! I love them so much!!! "He treated you with the utmost respect and found himself hanging onto your every command as a loyal knight taking instructions from his queen. From then on, you were the friend he confided in and trusted to handle the troop easily when ushering you throughout the seas on the red-force. Of all aboard, you trusted Beckman the most to treat you well." AAAAAAAAAA

“It won’t be enough. It will never be enough.” BACK! BACK I SAY

“You watched as he began to scramble, at first attempting to askew the floral arrangement behind his back from view before holding it at heart-level.

“Lost-Lady,” his voice called to you, disguising what you thought to be a small stumble in his footing as he began to clamber towards you from his prior position gardening. His boots met with the sludge, sliding the earth from beneath his footstep and successfully dropping him down to his knees. You sucked your lips into your mouth, witnessing a man full of dignity and grace be brought down to his knees while cradling flowers against his chest." Oh my gawd. She's literally making him fumble over himself. Just the thought of such a serious figure doing all this to strip himself of his dignity just for his beloveds comfort so that she might have a confidant in a new place where she is alone and so that he might be able to partake in her unadulterated company, and the idea that he loses all his composure around her and fumbles, is so sweet. The way you write it manages to work with his personality and not feel out of character, and it's so romantic I Love it.

"I am uninjured, my darling," MY DARLING??? What happened to keeping up the facade, Governess?

"“I believe the world of your abilities, sir. Now, allow me to aid in your rise to your feet once more,” you smiled down at him, his eyes meeting your own with an almost overwhelming amount of adoration. You hoisted him up to his feet, uncaring at the passing of grime onto your clothes from his." Governess stand up, get off your knees, put away the ring, you're already engaged to him!! My girl is swooning

I do love how the Governess recognized the voice as being external and even noticed it having a physical presence, and not letting it overtake her by assessing her thoughts rationally. It shows her strength and smarts in being beyond just a Damsel In Distress but still believably in distress if that makes sense? It kind of makes me excited that now that she actually knows she wants the marriage and future with Mihawk I feel like she'll be beyond angry when she finds out something/someone has been trying to take it from her, and I really can't wait.

"He yearned for this deceit to flee from his form. No longer desiring to adorn this shield and to be the man beneath this amassment of muck for you; he wanted so desperately to cast aside titles and just truly be yours." A man that loves his wife! What a lovely gift for me! Chewing on him as we speak <3

"“Step away from my governess, Hag!” Her voice held several tones within the single vocal strand, the air sucked from its delight of the morning rays." I FUCKING KNEW IT!!!

"Zoro immediately was drawn to his feet, unsheathing his sword from beside him and brandishing it with flourish. Mihawk also rose to his feet, nodding to Zoro briefly, before he closed and reopened his amber eyes; now a ruby iris surrounding its glow. Zoro did the same, his iris crackling under the new color within his orbs." Get her! Go boys! Sick 'em!

Fr loving the protectiveness of the Governess' new family

"“How long has she been here, Mihawk?” Perona asked at your other side, her eyes fixed on a pinned point in the roof and remaining unblinking, “She seemed so sad.”" (visibly vibrating) I Am Being So Completely Normal About This Lore.

I love Perona so much, I (and the Governess) am so proud of her, she was brave, and kind and observant enough to notice when things were going wrong with someone she cared about, and she stood up for her friend, she's obviously always been an awesome person but I feel like her time with the Governess has allowed her to direct herself more and therefore do more and it's really cool to see the good influence on her daughter ward.

“What was it you told the clown? We are more than the titles that make us?” hhhhhhhh he values her thoughts so much he memories all her words and conversations even those that don't involve him

“I had always thought of you as a woman who commanded every space she found herself within. Even as a man far more advanced in his years,” he continued, reopening his eyes to look lovingly into your face, “I had always seen you as a woman who could have the mighty fall to their knees- much as you had me do this morning.” <- if anyone needs me I'll be drowning in a river

Forehead touches forehead touches foreheadtouchesforeheadtouches

“If you so desire for your Farm-Hand to bring his Lost-Lady your daily gift of flowers, I will gladly become him once more for you. However,” Mihawk drew his eyes back to yours, an almost playfulness dancing behind his honeyed gaze, “I expect my Lost-Lady to be in naught but her nightdress in return.” AAAAAAAAAAA (pt. II)

The EPILOGUE!!!! the teaser/reference for Shanks' Sapsorrow ring, the hinting to the law!!! You truly know how to feed us

“That’s what you want, isn’t it? To see others have what was taken from you? To see them happy and thriving with each other?” AAAAAAAAA (pt. III)

SNAIL!! BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE CHAPTER 6 REVIEW!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I'm so glad you freak out about this story as much as I do. Makes it feel more alive to know how it moves you. Thank you for taking the time to go through it bit by bit to notice the little bits I add for Mihawk's humanity and adoration for him and his governess.

Openly flirting with his bride in front of Perona and Zoro, without them saying anything about it, was one of my favourite parts. He loves her so much, finally admitting it both to himself and to her without saying the three little words we want him so desperately to say.

I have drafted their vows and began working on chapter 7 to be out soon!

"If anyone needs me I'll be drowning in a river" <- I would not say such things if I were you. Our little ghost has some fight yet remaining.

[olympeline]

You ever get struck with an idea for a multi-chapter, 100k+ word fic out of nowhere and you’re just: Damn, son, if only I had the free time to devote to bringing this word child into the world. It would be glorious

I was going about real life and I suddenly thought: #ScotFrUK #Enemies to Lovers #medieval kings and princes AU #Slow Burn #Angst With A Happy Ending. It would be so mmm *chef’s kiss* So good

Like, imagine it’s the early days of the Auld Alliance but it was much more of a big deal than in our world. To the extent that the king of France sends one of his sons to wed the Scottish king, Alasdair, to cement their pact against the English. Francis is reluctant, but obeys. Happily, he and Alasdair turn out to have what TV Tropes would call a Perfectly Arranged Marriage. A real opposites attract deal. They had to marry out of necessity, but soon neither would be with anyone else.

So, there’s the lovers. Where’s the enemy?

Arthur: 🫡

There we go. Arthur is a prince too. But, unlike Francis, he’s both an only child and the heir. Meanwhile Francis is a second or third son. Hence why he was sent away to wed sexy scotsmen instead of staying home to rule. Anyway, Arthur’s father is still alive, but old and sick and noone expects him to live much longer. Arthur comes back from leading England’s army on the continent and his Evil Uncle™ (who has been de facto king thanks to Arthur’s dad’s illness) immediately sends him north to Scotland. Deliberately misleading Arthur about the strength of Alasdair’s forces in the hopes of getting his nephew killed. Then Evil Uncle™ just has to wait for the old king to die and presto: England’s throne is his

So, Arthur and his men get fed some story about Scottish barbarians pillaging northern English villages and cross the border to try and break up this ragtag bandit hoard. Only to be met with the full force of the highlands army, led by the dreaded King Alasdair himself (gee, I wonder who could have tipped them off? Oh Evil Uncle™ you incorrigible scamp, you).

The English troops are badly outnumbered and are soon crushed and scattered. Those that aren’t killed are sent fleeing desperately for the border, Arthur among them. But he’s captured before he can get to safety and dragged before Alasdair. Arthur is smart enough not to reveal his true identity and manages to pass as a knight. Alasdair takes him back to his castle as a “gift” for his beloved Francis

See, despite their instant connection, Alasdair still worries life in the highlands isn’t enough for Francis. That his love will eventually tire of a life that’s more rugged and spartan than he’s used to. Tire and long to return to the rich splendour of France. Spoiler: he won’t. But Alasdair still worries and so gives his king consort a captive English manservant to torment. Hoping it will distract Francis from his (imagined) homesickness. Oh Alasdair, you silly soft headed twit. Francis doesn’t need distracting. Not when he has you ❤️

Either way, Arthur - still hiding his true identity - is presented to Francis. After that it’s the slow burn, enemies to lovers between all three of them. With plenty of ups and downs, and tension and drama (relationship and political) mixed in. Francis, still so in love with Alasdair, but sweating bullets over how attracted he is to Arthur. Alasdair, trying to quash his own attraction to their “guest” while also drowning in longheld feelings of inadequacy that are only getting worse. And Arthur wrestling with the guilt and self-loathing over the fact that he is indeed falling for his captors: the enemies of his people. Give me all that angst and drama and other good stuff! Pretty please

And pretty please also give me the eventual first sexy time. With royal husbands Alasdair and Francis seducing Arthur together, Arthur getting the full 👉👌👈 losing all his inhibitions, and loving every minute of it

Urggh. I want to write it. I really do. I shouldn’t, but I really, really want to

[gwen-writes]

The Fool

i was tagged by @purdledooturt to do WIP wednesday and here i am! i had the idea for a postgame ascended astarion fanfic, but with my own little twist, lol. here is the first chapter!

Summary: With no other options left to expend, Tav implemented a temporary solution. If the Vampire Lord could not be killed or saved, they would have to dull his strength - severely. And unfortunately, there is a ranger in Faerûn who is naive enough, kind enough, to feel bad for him.

Word count: 2.2k

Pairing: Ascended Astarion x Ranger!Female OC, but he's cursed to be a bat, because it's funny

-

The woods communicate, the soil must feel. Eyes etched into the bark of oaks, ears tucked into leaves. A hidden pact between the forest and wolves, roaches, beasts. It all sang to her, the tune that had been ingrained in her blood since birth. Pyryeva ran over her memories of lycanthropes in her head: the followers of Urdlen she had come across and slain, the petulant werecats clawing at her ankles in the defense of Shar, the wereboar who rammed into her tent and could not be convinced to just talk it out.

In fact, she often preferred to just convince creatures to leave - to stop harassing villages, or trampling beloved buildings. Other people found her a bit odd, something foreign and drifting behind her eyes that must have uneased acquaintances. But animals… understood. Scaled, hairy, or vicious, they paused to listen all the same. 

And so this troop of lycanthropes, she prayed to Ilmater, would stop their ravaging and just listen. Her passing through the Wood of Sharp Teeth was meant to be swift, just a stop on her journey toward the Reaching Woods. The shreds of the High Moor Heroes’ Guild summoned her back home to Elturel, tearing her away from the outskirts of Candlekeep.

Candlekeep, she had once dreamed, would be the city where she finally became an academic, a scholar. Instead, she was promptly declined from every formal institution for her… well, there was a running list. Lack of foresight, short-term memory failure, lack of perception, lack of artistic strength. It took her around thirty minutes to realize that these tests were not actually a qualifier for entry through the Emerald Door, and instead the guards’ cruel way of mocking her.

Her exit from Candlekeep was bittersweet, but she knew that it would lead nowhere. As had many of her ventures - a poor attempt to be anything but a ranger with impressive aim. Politics slipped from her fingers before she even grasped it, an incomprehensible block of information that she could not register, let alone wield. Then there was fiction, song, welding. Fiction felt as though it was holding her mind and wringing it of all its joy, so she quit. Song tumbled from her mouth like a dreary scratching. She actually quite liked that hobby, but that time it was the protesting of her peers that willed her to leave it behind. Weapons were too heavy and domineering in her thin hands, fingers too fitted for a sleek bow to keep something formidable in her hold. 

Embroidery stuck, her quick fingers weaving through fabric easily. That was enjoyable, for a while - the outstretched hands of Ilmater twined through her leather armor. And then, once her God had been preserved on all of her belongings, she was out of ideas. Nature was the next obvious option, but the badger she wanted for her gloves muddled into splotches in practice. The lovely frog for her blanket resembled more of wretched Grung. 

Thus, Eltruel called to her, and she harkened back. Only the Wood of Sharp Teeth bisected her path home, and when the renowned storyteller Pallidor pleaded for her help against the plague of lycanthropes - was she meant to decline?

Werewolves, Pallidor had described them, cunning and volatile. They were still reeling from their loss alongside Grand Duke Valarken, though that man was long dead. She would have loved to live to see that battle. Pyryeva found humanity one of her greatest pleasures: their intense emotions, vulnerability, and courage lended themselves well to sex and gluttony, two of her favorite pastimes. However, she felt torn over the human lifespan. It was 1500 DR, the dawn of a new generation, and nothing exciting was happening. The monsters had been slain, most notably The Absolute. She loathed having not been a part of the “Heroes” troop. But she assured herself that she was meant to be alone, and meant to like it, and meant to give and give as Ilmater commanded.

As ridiculous as it may seem, she wished that new monsters would rise up in the coming years to give her a title of her own. Good things come to those who wait, as her scripture alleged. She smiled, padding along the damp forest floor, imagining beasts scurrying away under her command in exchange for heaps of gold. 

Lycanthropes came in many forms: beautiful elven women or menacing orcs, their transformations ranging from a delicate swan to a dreadful wereserpent. Her awareness stirred, the woods calling out to her.

 Deep musk, wiry fur tickling her fingers as if she was touching it freely.

The sight of her targets were just as she had pictured - goring, rabid werewolves. Like gnolls, but hopefully receptive to a little charisma. Curiously, though, their focus was completely rapt on the trees overhead, paws swiping at the air with no success. Had they taken it upon themselves to hunt a squirrel? Or a bird?

“Going after a squirrel? They’re defenseless,” Pyryeva watched them, like puppies chasing a toy. The pack of three whirled on her, snarling. The tallest one of the group ducked to all fours, lunging at her. The ranger’s nails dug into tree bark, crumbling under her force, as she leveraged herself atop the oak.

“I don’t want to shoot you, but I could,” The bow was already in position, an arrow tipped with silver aimed for his yellow, feral eyes. “I’m good at this. It’s kind of my job.”

He only responded with a grunt, before clawing his way up the base. Fine.

Blood squirted from his right eye socket, a dog yelp escaping his snout as he loosened his grip on the tree. 

“Had enough?” She muttered, another arrow taut, suspended by her bow, immediately. The two lackeys in his wake deliberated amongst themselves, weighing the benefit of their previous prey with the supple-fleshed human hanging in a nearby tree. Apparently, Pyryeva was a better target.

“No way!” A huff escapes her as she hones her focus on one of her most consumptive spells, Speak with Plants. A waste in a battle so easily winnable such as this - as mother would scold - but Pyryeva was hired for her ability to win, not her ability to devise. The roots of the wide birch beneath the two lycanthropes rose from the dirt, entangling their massive paws.

“Your friends are trapped, and you’re about to be blind!” She called down to the leader. “Come out of your wolf forms, and talk to me!”

Instead, the werebeast opted to shake the oak with all his might, interrupting her balance. As a teenager, she despised when her instructors would force her to stand on one leg, books piled atop her head, for hours on end. Balance this, balance that. As if she had been training to join the circus, to tiptoe across rope. But it was as if novels depicting fairytales and wizard battles were resting on her skull, pressuring her to still. 

“I don’t have to spare you, you know! I’ve just been hired to get your group to go away, and I’m trying to be kind!”

This wolf was relentless, yanking the arrow from his eye with a deep grunt. 

“Damn you,” She hissed, her silver arrow heading for his throat, rather than another eye. The yellow of his iris was consumed by black, staring her down as he collapsed onto the leaves and soil. With a flick of her wrist, a swarm of pixies gathered around her frame, swirling down to the ground with her as she plummeted off of the tree.

The two final opponents stood, ankles beginning to look raw from the friction of their incessant wriggling.

“Will someone please just listen to me,” She panted. “I am Pyryeva. You are free to leave these woods -  I will not harm you. All I ask for is peace.”

“And if you don’t give me peace, I will stick my pixies on you, and leave you for dead.”

The green fairies around her cheered with fanatic anticipation. No peace! No peace! No peace! Shrill giggles fell flat around the three of them, lost to the dank vines and stumps.

A burst of energy from the left side, dissipating to reveal a thin elven man with black curls. Pyryeva sighed with relief, ready to start speaking instead of threatening, but he offered her no such grace.

“We, the true lycanthropes of this realm, will not be outcast to other planes for any longer!” He bellowed. “Vehlarr will be restored in Faerûn! It must be done!”

Foam spilled from the corners of the right’s muzzle, teeth bared. Pyryeva gave them a long stare, waiting for the dam to break, waiting for them to see sense and reason with her. But when she studied the elf’s dark eyes, she found no such thing.

“Kill them,” She murmured softly, and the pixies whirled ahead. The ranger shut her eyes tightly, rushing away from the sight, leaving the desperate yelping of dogs behind.

That was, until, her neck was alight again; senses tingling and buzzing with… with nothing at all. Not nothing - it was all consuming, gnawing and starved. Blood sapped over hundreds of years, icy flesh, and then pure depravity. Women and men scattered across the floor, necks torn through. Whips, scars. And a heartbeat pounding, so loud it takes all of Pyryeva’s constitution not to keel over and sob. 

Something rotten, something unholy and corrupt, something undead. Her instincts forced her to sprint, she was sure, to make quick work of the earth beneath her and vanish between the wood. And yet, when her eyes opened, that was not her view at all. A white bat was crumpled on the forest floor beneath her, and it reeked of undeath. But it was so… small. Fluffy. She knew that her senses had never been wrong, honed so particularly by her instructors that an error would never occur.

But she wasn’t in the habit of persecuting small creatures, no matter how undead they may be. A vampire bat, to be sure, but not one she couldn’t befriend. Pyryeva crouched, searching for visible wounds.

“You okay, little guy?” She cooed, and the white lids snapped open to reveal ruby eyes. In moments, it was latched onto her neck, stabbing through her flesh.

“Wha- Ow!” Pyryeva wrapped a fist around the little beast, ripping it from the wound. “You fucker! You fucking… fucker! Ow!”

It strained against her grasp, clawing at her thumb fiendishly.

“Let me go, you wench!” A deep voice emanated from the creature, so ironically demanding from such a cute face. Involuntarily, Pyryeva giggled.

“At least someone is talking to me today,” She flipped him upside down wordlessly, studying his form. “You’re so cute!”

“I will fucking destroy you, tear your muscle from bone!” His best attempt at a threat. She brought him a bit closer to her face, sniffing the air between them.

“You aren’t a normal bat,” She asserted.

“Well, aren’t you a scholar?” He spat, still wiggling in her hand. 

“Vampire bat,” She ignored his slight toward her. “Are you here with the lycanthropes? The werewolves?”

“Those miscreants?” He hissed, offended. “Absolutely not.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Just flying by, of course,” The bat hummed.

“Well, I hope your travels are safe, little guy,” She smiled earnestly, lowering him to the ground and loosening her grasp.

“You are so trusting, little human,” He purred. “Who taught you to be so… docile? It’s fascinating.”

Somehow, he was animated when he spoke, one wing covering his chest as if scandalized.

“It’s just… how I am,” Pyryeva replied softly. She felt an inkling in the back of her skull - a warning that despite this bat being adorable and small, something devoid of soul hid inside. “I really should be going now. More werewolves to catch, and all.”

“Ah ah,” He corrected her. “You will be going nowhere at all.”

“What?” She stared down at him, now standing five and half feet taller than his tiny stature. His wings flapped, and he buzzed up to her face, meeting her gaze.

“My name is Astarion, and I have endured a terrible affliction, you see,” Astarion began, clearly preparing to delve into a story.

“Astarion? Like, "Hero of Baldur’s Gate Astarion?” Her voice was shrill. “Like, Vampire Lord Astarion?”

A killer. A shameless, overgrown child in the form of a handsome, elven man who had gone sick with power. Infamous for his parties and their gore, the feasting on innocents that he indulged in, day or night. The fearsome Vampire Lord who could not be stopped, no matter how many high ranking officials came knocking at his door. Their remains scattered through the streets - a demonstration - and a subsequent silence from the public.

He was corruption born from flesh, a demonic bastard who emerged from the fantastic defeat of the Absolute a vile, psychopathic monster.

“You are a scholar!” His red eyes beamed.

“I want nothing to do with you,” Malice twisted in her words, unlike her usual cadence.

“Oh, my dear, you want everything to do with me, because your sappy, frivolous God says so,” Astarion crooned, glaring at the symbol of Ilmater on her chest. “And if you don’t help me, I will transform and devour you.”

That was a bold-faced lie, of course. The reason he so desperately required her assistance is because he could not transform at all, not since last Uktar. And poor Pyryeva, not studied in her Baldurian literature or news, completely unaware of that fact.

She stumbled back from him, “You wouldn’t.”

Astarion laughed in her face, “Oh, I would.”

“What do you want from me?” Pyryeva forced out the words.

“Walk with me, dearest, and I will tell you the whole sordid tale.”

-

i tag @tequilya and @syoish for next week! <3 :)

[randomgentlefolk]

CPC CHAPTER 159+160

I had exams for 1 week and 3 days so I can only do this now (and now i also have remedial...bruh)

Y'all is Leland secretly a bookworm or something? Because—

"Fairytale", "Trope", all of those books in his office, one of his to do list is buy more books...is he also a bookworm like Frederick???

PREZ VS BLAINE!!! PREZ VS BLAINE!!!

YES PREZ!!! GET TO HIM!! I seriously hope Blaine will SNAP out of it and go to a path of redemption. Seriously bro I love him and i really want him to redeem himself.

I should make Blaine a separate post cause i'm speedrunning writing this :') i've been busy and cpc is going to update in one hourrrr

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE APPRECIATION!!!! I DO ENJOY SOME EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE (tho i must admit i am not one of them sadly)

THE THEORY. THE DAMN THEORY. This is also a huge step towards the theory that the portrait Leland stole is a portrait of Leelathae. Which is also why Leland punched Blaine for calling Gwen ugly and then not understanding why he did that.

Wait. A theory just came to me.

If we think about it, isn't Gwen just visiting the places in the old chapters chronologically?

First, she was in bed. Then, the waffle room. Then the forest where she met CPC. We can assume the little red's grandma's house is the cpc place. Then she was in the sugar room and finally, the gala. I'm going to theorize that the next room will be maybe... back to her room? The gala room but destroyed? The carriage?

BRO LELAND GOT BEAT UP BAD LMAOAOAOAOAO. MAIDS! MAIDS! MAIDS! Bro got hit by an IRONING TOOL. I KNOW THAT HURTS. Too bad he managed to throw a FUCKING SOFA at the maids tho... but fr ARE THE MAIDS OKAY??? MOLY, IS SHE OKAY?? I WILL NOT HAVE BELOVES MAIDS DYING YOU HEAR ME.

M'dude ;)

Orson and Monika my beloved nerds. I hope Monika's trauma will be addressed more ngl cause she clearly has trauma.

REAL REAL REAL!!!

LANCE!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! I wonder what he's planning? Maybe he's going to order the troops to clear the door? Please tell me he's going to reunite with Frederick :(

NOOOOO PREZ ALMOST GOT THROUGH HIMMMMM.

OH NO. OH GOD OH MAN. OH GOD OH MAN. Welp, I suppose arachnophobia alert for the next chapters....

I had suspicion that the pills shouldn't have side effects as THAT bad. And oh well. Too bad we didn't get any arachne Prez tho :(

...can someone help Blaine like damn man is just passed out there 💀

Okay that's it for these 2 chapters because damn i am SPEEDRUNNING.

Mono out! (But still in to hear your thoughts)

[greypetrel]

I was gleefully telling my friend about you and showing her your art (she's super into LOTR so I was trying to find those, but got in the wrong tag🤣) and found/shared your Vespa comic. We had a good laugh and she said: "Wait till someone tells them about ROLLER COASTER" and I immediately came over here. WHAT IF someone tells Dorian and Aisling about ROLLER COASTER?? 🤣🤣🤣

Forgive me if it took too long, but this made me laugh so much that I HAD TO draw something.

Also: I'm leaving you the correct tag down here, but the Dark Lady one is "aisling the dark lady AU". You can find all my aus and tags in the character masterpost!

They'd LOVE the idea, of course. A little too much. They. Not most people around them.

They'll ignore Josephine begging them to please, PLEASE reconsider, think of your reputation, and rush to the Undercroft. Dagna will be over the moon with the plan, of course. Here's the blueprint, and under the cut some other details:

They found plenty of materials to build it in the Exalted Planes. Someone will have to dispose of all that rubbish after the war ended, right?

"Can't you build it in the Exalted Planes?" "But Josie, if we build it there, how would we experiment on gravity? We'll need to travel there and you see, that would be a great bother and will hinder our research. Also if we have it here, it would improve the moral of the troops greatly! :D"

Dorian's calculations were right. Solas discovered it with the first trial run. Not that any of the -very elated- science bros knew, but he actually started to think that maybe the Veil wasn't that bad of an idea, right there and then. Because can you imagine them WITHOUT THE VEIL? CAN YOU? Thedas wouldn't survive.

In order to make Josie happy, they'll come up with other rides to install around Skyhold:

Teacups will be installed in the upper courtyard. Except they're still a scientific experiment on Centrifugal Force, so they're fast. So fast that the game promises a free foal to everyone who manages not to puke on them. Since the foal is one of Little Brother's, Aisling horse (he made a name for himself in the Western Approach, biting on Venatori's butts, and is generally a prick), the excessive speed is actually considered a good thing. So nobody will win a foal of that horse or will have to tell Aisling that her beloved horse is an asshole.

Cullen's tower will be turned into a haunted house (thanks @ndostairlyrium for the idea). He'll actually contribute in painting the place, and will say that it's very useful to dissuade people to come looking for him if the report isn't REALLY important. "Aren't you scared, tho?" "Please, I was a commanding officer in Kirkwall."

Whack-a-mole in the Tavern's courtyard. The Iron Bull and Cassandra monopolize it and they're so-called nemeses. One day, then, the TRAGEDY: a mysterious person beat their record. No one knows who they are, there's a whole weekend of them playing Sherlock Holmes interrogating everyone around the Keep. (it's Krem.)

Josephine needed one joy, or ONE THING that she can use to sell the Inquisitor to the aristocracy. So Aisling organised something cute and nice for nobles to see and participate in. With horses! She named one of the horses Josephine! Josephine is moved, and from how Aisling describes it, calling it "giostra" because she heard the term from Dorian in vernacular Tevene and can't remember it in Trade for the sake of her, Josie thinks it's a carousel.

It's actually something better, and Josie loves it. (In Italian, "giostra" means a carousel, and also what happens in the video)

(Aisling is the unbeated championess. It's not that people let her win, is that she just can't be beated.)

One day, Dorian will eventually use all the data to calculate how much force they will need on the roller coaster to send a cart into orbit. Aisling will read his notes and find a way to propel the cart strong enough to actually do it.

Sera greatly approves.

[jade-kyo]

RvB 20th rewatch: s13

And here we are… at the end… I delayed watching this like a whole day I swear I am going to die

The Tartarus crew with Felix is just a speed run of what he did to the fans

“Hey that’s intolerant” // “you’re intolerant!”

Rip Stassney 😔

13 really knocks it out of the park right from the beginning on every angle- comedy, drama, animation… they held nothing back

I want it noted that I think Tucker dancing and Sarge being his backup vocals is a VERY important animated goof. I love them.

God I love Carolina and Church

GRAY!!!!!!!

“It’s Christmas come early, unless you’re looking at it from the pirates point of view, in which case it’s the opposite” // “Hanukkah?”

God I love when Church gets to be dorky

Man they gave us og blue team silliness they fucking knew what they were doing

“Yeah that’s tough I’m crying on the inside” quoted line

Have we considered Grayboose-

WHEN THE VOICE OF ALIEN JESUS TALKS DOWN TO YOU YOU DO NOT RESPOND WITH WHATS UP

“Don’t psychoanalyze me” heavily quoted line

GOOD DAD TUCKER

Church not responding to Epsilon was always an interesting touch to me

CAROLINA AND CHURCH MY BELOVED

Sometimes I remember how Church is a copy/memory of a copy of Carolinas father and then I see how he sometimes gets all protective over her and I lose my fucking mind

CAROLINA HAS REDISCOVERED HER INNER SILLY MY GIRL I LOVE HER IM SO PROUD OF HER KAVSKAJALHDKAJSKH

You know Counselor I’d also kill the Director if it meant not having brain worms for a 21 year old web series that ruined my life

THE POWER OF LETTING YOUR VILLAINS BE A LITTLE SILLY

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT PAST TENSE BULLSHIT

Correct Caboose IS a true warrior

SANTA

Game Grumps cameo

JINKIES ITS SHARKFACE

You know the bad thing about the whole Doc thing is that the first time I watched this I legitimately did forget about him being gone 😭

BUT THE WAY I CHEERED WHEN OMALLEY CAME BACK I WAS SO HAPPY I LOVE HIM

Wash was so real for his taunting Locus

THE CALL BACKS THIS SEASON ARE SO GOOD

Tucker really pushed to his wits end

“Gotta go faster” Carolina is sonic the hedgehog

AKAHSKAIHAKSHAKSHKS EPSILON FAILING AJHSKKANSKJDKDJSKWNK

Petty little sister time: my brothers fr missing out on the beauty of this season it’s so fucking good and I get to enjoy it alllllll to myself in this family :3

Speaking of petty sisters: Love Church just being like how do I not get killed by my sis when she wakes up

Take yourself… fuck yourself… with yourself

Carolina and Church have a moment and I need a lobotomy

“I can’t lose another family” somebody sedate me

“Complete and total faith in one another” SOMEBODY SEDATE ME

Doyle you will always be famous to me

Rip sharkface

God… Doyle’s sacrifice, Epsilon and Carolina, the music…. Fucking… G O D the power…

And then KIMBAL SPEECH GOD

Also I cackle every time the army’s start firing their guns cause like WE JUST ESTABLISHED THEYRE LOW ON WEAPONRY AND AMMO AKSHKHSKDJJS

AND THEY LET CABOOSE DRIVE THE TANK!!!!

Counselor was so real for wanting to just nope out of there

“The moment Donald Doyle blew half your troops to hell” frothing at the mouth THAT LINE DELIVERY

Just kill me

It’s been a hot second since I’ve gotten to say this but Sarge being the one to understand that Wash is being genuine when he says he believes in them? SARGE HAS THE BEST CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SERIES!!!!!!!

I love how Felix is fully animated while the reds and blues are mostly machinama in the final fight

OH PLEASE IM THE ORIGINAL BAD BOY

“What is wrong with you people” they are a bunch of deranged little weirdo assholes and I love them dearly 😊

RIP FELIX YOU LITTLE RAT BASTARD

Insane that they had a great set up for future stories with Locus and then proceeded to do nothing with it

KAI!!!!!!! AND JUNIOR!!!!!!!!!

Ever think about how they won… like they did it… they defeated the bad guys and sent the message… the only reason things end the way they did is because Hargrove couldn’t lay down and accept defeat… they fucking won and it still wasn’t enough to save them…

they truly were doomed by the narrative

SHEILA!!!!!

He’s so… BALD

GOD CHURCH SEEING TEXS HELMET

“Not this time buddy” kindly requesting to be taken out back and shot

What the fuck do I even say? They made the perfect ending. They pulled out all the stops, the callbacks, the character development, trocadero went harder than they ever had before, they wrapped up all the remaining loose ends of project freelancer… it was thematic and beautiful, it fit the themes of the show, it was tragic, it ended the only way RvB can… with Church dying for good. There’s no version of this story where he lives…. Where they’re not doomed

And thus concludes my 20th rewatch of RvB 1-13… truly the show ever. of all time. It manages to be just as powerful now, 8 years and 20 rewatches later, as it was the very first time I watched it as a little 15 year old girl who decided to watch that silly halo show my brothers were always quoting because I was bored one day.

Anyway sure glad that’s where the show ended and it definitely didn’t get dragged on for way too long with mediocre seasons and an unsatisfactory ending or anything like that… wouldn’t that be crazy

[noroi1000]

Could I request headcanons headcanons of commander(empress)!reader and gojo,it could be fluff,badass etc and/or a mix of them

An: It's not exactly headcanons, but it's almost like that. It's short.

Commander 6

Well, Gojo as an emperor would be almost the same as a prince.

Especially when he has a queen with him that is you. You are his empress, and you have as much power as you want. Everything he has, you have too.

There's nothing to argue.

You were one of the most wonderful empresses ever to rule with an emperor.

When a decision has to be made, he is the one who comes to you to ask your opinion.

Satoru wouldn't do anything without the consent of his beloved wife. After all, he doesn't want you to be left out of anything.

You still have your responsibilities as empress, but you are also able to help him.

In every possible way.

You help him make a lot of decisions. Therefore, he does not need many advisers. Often a woman's point of view is enough to solve all the problems that have ever been handed to her on a platter.

Because you are very good at all this, he lets you do what you want. Everything they ask you, you know the solution after a while.

Since you also retained your position as military adviser, you can do almost anything with the defense of the country.

As if you were advising yourself on military matters.

Being with Satoru, you deployed military forces your way, unlike before. Previously, other advisers disagreed with your idea of ​​reducing troops in the capital. Now no one said they disagreed because it was just you and Satoru.

By deploying now, there is no place in your country where it is unsafe.

The enemy can attack from any side. But it won't go any deeper into the country because you've placed patrols and troops in strategic locations. Perfect places on the border for attack, defense, traps.

No one would dare attack such a militarily efficient country, would they?

From your experience when you were young, you made armor heavy and light. For women and for men. Different sizes. Various armors to choose from. And it all depends on the convenience of a person, as well as on the preferences for weapons.

After the story of a small town girl who became a captain and made it to the elite spread, then she became commander, adviser to the emperor, then empress, more women were in the army.

Even as sanitary help or any kind of support, but there were more women.

Many people admire you.

Some people hate you too. They are mostly of noble birth. After all, for them, a commoner cannot become an empress and rule the country.

Well, not this time. You're the empress, and you're very happy about it.

Satoru supports you in everything as you support him.

You help him relax. Physically and mentally. You relax his body with just your touch and your voice.

You take away all his stress.

In all the ways he wanted. After all, your emperor deserves the best. Because that's what he gives you.

You still can't get used to people calling you "your majesty"

But at least it's easier than political meetings…

You don't like it, Satoru doesn't like it.

That's why you're both glad that Satoru's Father attends them most often. Even though he is no longer the emperor, he is still the father of the emperor, and also a former emperor. He has the same rights.

You were supposed to handle the spy's case, you had him cut his tongue and let it go to his boss. It didn't matter who he was. The spy won't say anything else.

You took on the case of a killer who murdered for no reason, just for fun. Unconditional death. Kill him as he killed all his 12 victims. Strangling, drowning, setting fire, stabbing, slashing, dropping from a height, cutting off the skin and leaving it to bleed, poisoning. Order according to the person who executes the sentence.

Despite these situations, you also do good things.

On your initiative, schools were established in smaller towns. Conditions have improved.

People love you.

Satoru keeps telling you that you make everything perfect. And that you yourself are an ideal.

You love him.

You are the empress, and you are happy.

Because you can have a family with Satoru, and live happily ever after.

[cberzuela]

What Defines a Hero?written by CBerzuela

written: september 19, 2023; 21:38

concluded: september 20, 2023; 00:18

We have to stop seeing our heroes flawlessly. They may embody greatness, but that doesn't mean that they are the epitome of perfectness. Our heroes are also humans like us; they make mistakes, they have their own flaws and they are no exception to death. What's extraordinary about them is their notable love for our country along with their reamarkable actions and their undying commitment to protect it, no matter what.

But does a flaw enough to overshadow their greatness and disregard their sacrifices?

General Gregorio Del Pilar is one of our most controversial heroes with lots of conspiracies and misconceptions surrounding his name.

"arogante"

"tuta ni aguinaldo"

"vain"

---as they call him.

While it's true that Goyo's death in Tirad Pass isn't as heroic and valorous as we deemed it to be, does it automatically means that he didn't die for his beloved country?

Contrary to what most people think, Goyo didn't actually die gloriously riding his white horse and bravely shouting encouragements to his soldiers, that's the romanticized version of the Americans. What actually happened is that the general's rashness to discern the enemy and his order for a ceasefire is what gave the americans an opportunity to shoot him, according to the accounts of Vicente Enriquez, his aide-de-camp and Telesforo Carrasco who were with him during the "battle". It's kind of tragic and devastating that he died that way. His life (along with the 52 out of his 60 troop) ended due to a major fault; a consequence to lack of military planning and strategy. It is equally unfortunate that the humiliating disaster at Pasong Tirad became the reason why some or most people perceive him as an incompetent general and an ineffective military leader.

His hands were also tainted with blood, because apparently he tortured and killed the Bernal Brothers who were Luna's aide-de-camp and loyal soldiers under Aguinaldo's command. As Filipino National Artist for Literature, Nick Joaquin put it, he is "Aguinaldo's hatchetman."

All of his dedication and victories seem to be forgotten and overshadowed by his flaws. People may question his integrity as a hero, if he really deserves to be recognized as one. Some might say that he died to protect his "idol" in the form of Aguinaldo and not for the sake of the Philippines. Well, it's not really the case because even before serving Aguinaldo, he's already part of the revolution, doing his part to show his defiance against the Spanish conquerors. He first showed his prowess in the battlefield when he fought on Kakarong De Sili under Maestrong Sebio against the Spanish forces. He was so determined to defeat them that he didn't backed out eventhough Maestrong Sebio had already escaped leaving the battle to the ten of them (including Goyo's brother, Julian.) There, he was hit by a bullet in the forehead that he luckily survived. You see, the AGILA is already capable of great things even before his prestige as a general.

I hope that we don't only think of that disastrous battle in Tirad whenever we hear his name; i hope that we also look back to the Battle of Kakarong De Sili, the raid at Paombong, Battle of Pasong Balite, Battle of Quingua and Battle Of Calumpit. His flaws and shortcomings as a general is not what defines him as a hero. It is his love for the country that makes him a true hero. For the love to our country, always.

[ninhaoma-ya]

Chapter 1082 — Let’s go and claim it!

It’s getting annoying with how people don’t respect the publishing schedule at all with respects to the leaks. Spoilers have been out for over a week already when the official release is this incoming Sunday. I had to double check on Shueisha, and yes, 1082 is out on the 7th.

It’s like… you’ll still have to wait for the next chapters, y’know? There will be a break at some point, so why not just accept the pace we’re going at?

Oh well, I digress.

On to what you’re here for!

(A word of warning: this will be a jumpy analysis.)

What a horrible way to start the chapter :(

Although a minor side-bob, I really liked T-Bone. And yes, that’s why Oda killed him off: to show how well the Cross Guild’s plan is working, pitting civilians and pirates alike against the marines.

Although only some enlightened marines see it. Others are wilfully blind.

I wonder, Sengoku, I really do. The name Ohara doesn’t ring a bell? Flevance? Alabasta? Dressrosa? All the people on Sabaody sold in the human shops? The people in the Blues, extorted by worms like Nezumi? Egghead, a governmental island that’s going to be blown to kingdoms come as soon as Kizaru gets there?

Tsuru is truly a great strategist, able to see all sides, although she loses some points for still condemning the culprit…

…through whose eyes we see the devastation.

And Buggy is such a great showman! He does know how to get his people roaring..

..except for his oldest and dearest who are happy to listen to him being tortured.

Shame. Shame on you.

(This is totally on you, Mihawk and Crocodile. You saw what the devotion of his fans did to the Cross Guild poster and yet you let them create the ship?)

The ship is beautiful. I wonder what it’s called.

And now we learn about the importance of communication, boys and girls:

Shanks: Why don’t you share your reasoning with your old friend Buggy?

Buggy: Why do you assume Shanks wanted you to become a subordinate when he said “join me”? And why don’t you talk with Shanks about your and his dreams and see if you can find some common ground, instead of burying your own dreams because you thought someone else had a better shot at achieving them?

I really like Buggy vocalising his dream.

And the strategic genius of rallying the troops.

Yes, almost all pirates we’ve seen have been touched by Roger and the dream of the One Piece one way or another. It’s a great move to remind them of it — now they’re part of your crew and you, Great Chairman Buggy, obviously have a chance.

And rallying the troops keeps your bosses from killing you.

And, of course, the sheer romanticism of Buggy. He still believes, deep within, doesn’t he?

And the second part – it's nice to get some new faces and Koala my beloved, but:

WHAT HAPPENED? PLEASE, FINALLY TELL US!

I assume we’ll be going back to Egghead next chapter since we’ve been gone for quite a while and thus Sabo’s revelation will be left a cliffhanger for the upcoming year or so.

Such is story pacing and weekly cycles.

But then.

Oda’s line art.

It’s getting worse and worse. I really hope they finally convince him to let an assistant take over the inking, because this is not good.

Sure, the assistant-drawn neat backgrounds save a lot, such as in the above Tsuru/Sengoku-panel, but One Piece is still a character-focused story, with a lot of personal close-ups. And Oda’s lack of time (and probably weakening eyesight and increasing age) is showing so clearly.

There are so many who would love to help Oda create this masterpiece. Please, let them help.

Transport chapter, but I give it a dream come true and a wish upon a star.

[that-angry-noldo]

not to spam you with asks but also I feel like you’re my girl for an Aerin x Tilion snippet during the war of wrath I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO ❤️❤️

your wish is my command. hope you enjoy <3

-

Aerin bends over the side of the boat, threading her fingers through the cold wind currents. "It's cloudy again," she remarks. "Do you think we'll need to clear out the clouds?"

Tilion looks from above, steadying the steering wheel. "Eh. No, I don't think so. As far as I can tell, they're not Morgoth's. If Manwë doesn't take care of his skies, I won't be doing it for him."

"Sad," Aerin sighs. "Clearing out the clouds is fun."

"It becomes boring after few decades of sailing."

"You become boring after few decades of sailing," Aerin rolls her eyes and walks away from the edge. She climbs up to where her husband is standing, and takes a deep breath. Up here, the stars are both close and distant; it takes a moment for her to tear her eyes aware from the skies and look back, down to earth.

They stand like that for a while, enjoying the silence. Aerin shivers under her cloak, and squints.

"Is that... a battle down there?"

"Huh? Where?"

"A bit to your left. I can't see as good as you so I'm not sure, though."

Tilion stares. He's quiet for a moment. Then, he perks up.

"Yes, there's a battle! Would you hold the wheel for me?"

"So you get all the fun?!" Aerin protests. Tilion is already by the ship's edge, and she takes a moment to fix the course and prevent the wheel from spinning before joining him. She squints again, but sees nothing except for ridiculously small figures - more bugs then people.

"That's Ingwion," Tilion says confidently, and jumps on the taffrail. "You see that golden blob? That's him."

Aerin sighs. "I need glasses," she says. "I can't see anything from here, it's all a blur. What are they into?"

Tilion tilts his head and reaches for his bow. "I think they were ambushed. There are too many of the enemy troops."

"Oh," Aerin says. "Are we going to do something?"

Tilion shoots her a wink. "Do you want to see me in action, beloved?"

"There are people dying, Tilion."

"And do you want me to help them die less?" Tilion grins and draws an arrow. "Let me show you why were they calling me Quickshot way back when."

Aerin watches as he takes aim. "Tilion," she says solemnly. "I'm going to remind you of that nickname every time we share a bed. There are so many jokes in my head, and not one of them is appropriate."

"Beloved, please focus. Look!"

He releases the arrow, and Aerin watches, mesmerized, as it shoots through the sky and disappears. Tilion remains still for a second, and then lets out a triumphant yell. "Perfect shot! Brillant shot, Aerin! Wait, wait, let me try once more- yes! Again! Are you proud of me, Aerin? Another one! I think I deserve a kiss for that. O-ho-ho! And that shot deserved domething more than a kiss, if you know what i mean-"

"Tilion, the only thing you're going to get are the dishes you still didn't wash," Aerin smirks, squinting into the distance. Tilion releases another arrow and turns to her, looking with sad eyes.

"What, not even a small kiss? The smallest kiss? The most petite smallish kiss from the beloved?"

"Mmm... let me think."

"No?"

"No," she grins, wrinkling her nose. Tilion groans and draws another arrow.

"You're the worst."

"But you love me."

"I do. Now, stop teasing me, beloved. I'm trying to win a battle here."

[daylightaftertherain]

ok ok sea bestie

i know i sent one of these to you yesterday but i'm also lowkey losing my mind over how wilmon coded the great war is so

let's get into it

My knuckles were bruised like violets Sucker punching walls, cursed you as I sleep-talked Spineless in my tomb of silence Tore your banners down, took the battle underground

(coming back after break at the beginning of s2 but then again at the end of s2. just how the whole thing feels like a fight against everyone else except for them)

All that bloodshed, crimson clover Uh-huh, sweet dream was over My hand was the one you reached for All throughout the Great War Always remember Uh-huh, tears on the letter I vowed not to cry anymore If we survived the Great War

(just how after everything, they still came back to each other again. they couldn't help but reach for each other. they're each other's safe space, despite everything that happened between them)

You drew up some good faith treaties I drew curtains closed, drank my poison all alone You said I have to trust more freely

(definitely more simon coded in this verse. like how he's so used to trying to deal with things by himself)

maybe it's the past that's talkin' Screamin' from the crypt Tellin' me to punish you for things you never did

(this gives me, locker room fight vibes)

It turned into something bigger Somewhere in the haze, got a sense I'd been betrayed

(august and sara and that whole scene on the gun range)

Looked up at me with honor and truth Broken and blue, so I called off the troops That was the night I nearly lost you I really thought I lost you

(when simon is walking away from wille in that scene following the whole gun range scene but ALSO this could apply to when wille decides to "let simon go" at the valentines dance)

I vowed I would always be yours

(the end shot and sequence of s2)

they make me go INSANE

that's all for this one but it DOES make me lose my mind when i think about it too hard

-miels 💜✨

miels my love I'm so sorry this is so late but here are my thoughts to this stupidly wilmon-coded song <3

okay intro is actually giving me strong s1 vibes. "my knuckles were bruised like violets" wille was in a literal fight and is metaphorically fighting with the crown over going to hillerska. he texts his mother asking to go back at night, aka "cursed you as I sleep-talked." "spineless in my tomb of silence" like how he didn't say anything for simon during the denial (which I know isn't his fault but this song is simon's pov so)

and YES the chorus is sooooo s2 them, with the way they keep finding each other and trusting each other unconciously and relying on each other like oh my god ahsgfjdgkd

also "drew my curtains closed" is such a simon lyric. yknow that comparison between hiw he got thicker curtains after the video? yeah. and "I vowed not to cry anymore" could mean so many things because simon's dealt with so much shit, not just from the video, and he never allows himself to be vulnerable around people outside of his close circle, and we see his past affect him throughout the show

and the way taylor sings "somewhere in the haze/got a sense I'd been betrayed" ugh I KNOW simon would be all over this song

okay now for the BRIDGE it's literally just the valentine ball in song form I swear to god, even down to the "broken and blue" line and wille's color palette including blue. also the verse after the bridge??? "say a solemn prayer, place a poppy in my hair" religious and war imagery+wilmon my BELOVED (also the poppy symbolizes remembrance for people lost to a war - erik, august, and sara??). "there's no morning glory, it was war, it wasn't fair," is basically s2 wilmon looking back on the morning after their first time, after all the golden lighting has drained from their lives and they realize what happened that morning.

anyway I love this song and I love you and your asks mwah <3

-💛✨

[marypsue]

Hhhhhn I’m glad you put your pinned post back bc i missed a few sneak peeks!! First of all, I love the ominous suit baddies and a new introduction for Erica Sinclair bc she honestly would be a child detective and rabble rouser! Also I love that Erica has heard enough about Lucas’s connection that lets him sneak into the movies that she goes to Steve when she feels unsafe! Tbh I feel like it’s a crime that we never got a scene of Lucas braving about his cool older friend who lets him go to movies for free and drives only for Erica to call Steve a loser but clearly note down that he’s a trusted adult ( let thé Sinclair siblings bond!! Let them be children and shit talk but also care for each other deeply! )Also truly such a joy seeing your impeccable sense of dramatic tension bc that scene sucked me right back in and left me excited about stranger things again . The blend of character work and plot has really gotten so good and it’s fun seeing how your style changed since the first installment!! Also belatedly, the age swap fic (another beloved marypsue AU that is always rotissering in my brain alongside body swap) with Nancy detectiving and a fun twist on the classic Hopper finding the government conspiracy beats of ST1.

Hello hello! Thank you so much! I'm thrilled to hear that the tension is good, and that the plot and character work seem to be working together well. That's all I ever want.

I love Erica and I want her to have all of the screentime! All of the sibling relationships on Stranger Things are so interestingly set up and I just want more of all of them. All the time. Forever.

I feel like the setup in this AU allows for a little more cross-generational interaction in general than the show itself implies. That was one of the things I really liked about s3, the way it put together the Scoops Troop instead of just splitting everybody up into three groups based on age again. It worked really well in s1 because, obviously, they were riffing on three different genres aimed at the three different age categories, and also because none of the characters knew anything, including that the others were involved. The more everybody knows, though, the more you either have to come up with external obstacles to separate them out and not have them share what they know with the others, or you gotta play with and shake up that structure a little. (I'm having some fun with it with former heroes right now, and I hope you'll like how it turns out!)

It's funny that you should mention the change in style, because it's something I've been thinking about recently. Part of it is definitely that the first installment in this AU is canon divergent after all the canon setup and everything, so I was able to lean a lot more heavily on what I could assume the audience already knows. I liked that a lot, and I'd like to try to pull that stylised, storytelling-style voice back into it more. But the changes in the s1 and s2 fics have enough knock-on effects, and I'm also changing enough things in the plot, that I can't lean so much on what people already know about s3. (Although I'm definitely having fun using some of those expectations!) I want to make sure everything's set up well, clear, and makes sense, and I'd like to do a little more of that highly stylised stuff again. Hoping I can strike a balance there.

Also, just so you know, for when and if I change the pinned post again (which will happen when I have a new fic to post), there are a few ways to see only the samples on my blog, other than the pinned post. I am from the Ancient Times, before tumblr decided blogs should automatically open in the dash, and my pinned post is actually just a roundup of the links in the header that you can see if you go to my public-facing blog page! (This page also has the added benefit that you don't have to be logged in to tumblr to see it. Technically, every blog has a URL like this, but I believe that if you use the default tumblr theme, it forces you to go to the blog-in-the-dashboard version automatically. I'm not sure, though, I haven't changed my blog theme in something like a decade.)

I also tag for organisation, and I find it's easier to find tagged posts in the [blog].tumblr.com view than the blog-in-dashboard view. On marypsue.tumblr.com, if you click on a tag, it will show you every post tagged with that tag, in chronological order. It won't catch posts that use the same phrase in the body text, only posts that have been tagged. But it will bring up every post with that tag, and it won't show you duplicates of the same posts (which I find the search often does for no apparent reason).

All my fic samples and fic posts are tagged with the wildly imaginative this is mary's fic tag. All my original writing is tagged with mary writes. I've also tried to start tagging by WIP name. So if you're, say, in the mary writes tag, and you read and enjoy a sample from Fearleading Squad, you can click on the fearleading squad tag on the post and it will show you more samples from that WIP. Or if you're looking for samples from the upcoming final installment of the Hawkins, Indiana psychic baby boom, there's a tag for that too.

(If you already knew all of this and just found the pinned post more convenient, I hope you'll forgive me. I just realised as I was reading your ask that tumblr goes out of its way to direct you to the blog-in-dashboard view, and I don't know how common knowledge it is anymore that there's another option.)

[theprayerfulword]

October 15

Jude 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Judges 10:15 But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now."

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

May you stand every place God directs you and speak all of the words He gives you to each of the people He brings you, whether it be words of comfort or of rebuke, of acceptance or of warning, for He desires that none would perish, and takes no delight in the death of the sinner, seeking only for them to turn from their own way and be obedient to Him, that He may relent from the disaster that evil requires, and instead bring the blessing that obedience permits. Jeremiah 26

May you clearly discern between that which is sacred and that in which the sacred dwells, giving the vessel honor but giving the Lord praise, seeking the One Whom you cannot see, and not settling for the vessel just because you can see it. Jeremiah 26

May you trust in the hand of the Lord to provide for and protect you, not choosing to leave the work He has assigned you or responding in fear to the anger of man or God's enemy, not trusting your own understanding or depending on the strength of the arm of flesh, for the Lord Almighty watches over His word to perform it and will rescue you through ways you cannot see by paths you have not known. Jeremiah 26

May you submit, in meekness, to the powers God designates and obey, as unto Him, the authorities God chooses as His servants, for they have a role to play in His plan, and no will shall be established on earth save for the will of the Father. Jeremiah 27

May you have confidence in the Lord that He is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one, and that He will direct your heart into God's love and Christ's perseverance, delivering you from wicked and evil men as you work to honor and spread the message of the Lord rapidly. 2 Thessalonians 3

My child, do not expect physical or spiritual ease during harvest season. I assign both workers and warriors for the field, for this is the season in which the raiders are seen in the land, seeking to steal the harvest for themselves, and destroy any part of the harvest they cannot steal. I am calling you to long hours, hard work, extreme conditions, full alertness and constant watchfulness. Expect the barricades to be in your way, My laborer, for that is why I have empowered you to scale a wall. There will be troops of robbers riding through the land, My warrior, for that is why I have prepared you to run against a swarm of thieves. Though I teach your hands to war and make your feet sure like hinds feet on high places, do not trust your skill with the bow to rescue you or your strength with the sword to save you. Seek Me for direction, ask Me whether a battle is yours to fight, for at times I will tell you to stand by and see the deliverance that I will bring you. At other times, I will give you the strategy by which the enemy will be routed, but always know that the victory is Mine to give you in order that you can manifest what I have worked in you. Whether you find yourself engaged in spiritual battle from sunrise to sunset, or need to endure no greater challenge than stacking the sheaves of grain that have been reaped in the field, you are called to demonstrate and exercise the divine nature that has been worked in you through your submissive yielding to My Spirit and My Word. I set the boundaries across which the enemy cannot cross, but I do not shield you from the requirements I expect of My children as My representatives, My ambassadors, members of My family who bear My name and My honor before the world.

May you always follow Christ's example in all you do, living according to the teaching of the Word which godly people have demonstrated for you and the Spirit has made life to you, ever laboring in the work of the Lord, not seeking to exercise “rights” but to walk alongside others as a model, never tiring of doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way, and be with you always. 2 Thessalonians 3

May you be certain that the Lord will forgive the iniquity of His people and cover all their sins, setting aside His wrath and turning from His anger as they turn from following their own ways with sorrow and repentance, humbly confessing their wickedness and seeking the Lord with their whole hearts. Psalm 85

May you listen to what God the Lord says as He promises peace to His people and to His saints, if they will not return to their folly, for He will restore His people and put away His displeasure, showing His unfailing love and granting His salvation, which is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in the land. Psalm 85

May you allow faithfulness to spring forth from your heart while righteousness looks down from heaven, as it goes before Him and prepares the way for His steps so that the Lord can indeed give what is good and the land will yield its harvest, once love and faithfulness meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85

May you exercise moderation in your enjoyment lest indulging excessively cause you to despise it. Proverbs 25:16