#I think I have to re read Master and Apprentice

[mika1683]

Usually I am the "Anakin was traumatised war criminal who wasnt cut out for being Jedi and couldnt be saved/fixed because Palpatines plans sealed his fate" kind of person

However! I recently became victim of my own mind (and fluffy Fix it au) and I want you to consider:

Rael could help Anakin if he was his master

They both share similar backstory, both of them were taken into the order when they were older, they both struggled to find thier place and have troubles with rules of the Jedi Order

Rael has healthy approach to casual relationships and seems to actually understand the whole "attachment is forbieden rule" (half of the fandom can't relate) even if he doesnt always obey it . He also talks about love as something good and natural between master and padawan. Of course he is not the most mentally stable person within the order, he has bunch of his own problems but I think that Anakin would benefit from having him around

Also they could bond over losing thier padawan after Ahsoka left the order. It would definitely help Anakin with his own grief and feeling abandonment

So yeah if I had to choose what thing could help Anakin it would be having Rael as his master (even tho palpatine would still ruined it)

[kaykebitez]

Arcane Arousals (Rolan x F!Reader)

Rating: Explicit Category: F/M Pairing: Rolan/Tav; Rolan/Female Reader Status: Complete Chapters: 1 Word Count: 6,838

Tags:

POV Second Person, Unnamed Tav (Baldur's Gate), Wizard Tav (Baldur's Gate), Location: Sorcerous Sundries (Baldur's Gate), Female Tav (Baldur's Gate), Tav is Not Described (Baldur's Gate), Banter, Mutual Pining, Teasing, Inappropriate Use of Telekinesis, Vaginal Sex, Clothed Sex, Desperation, Sloppy Makeouts, reader is a shit, Wizard Banter, You Tease Rolan Until He Snaps, Feral Rolan, But Still Kinda Submissive, Shameless Smut

Summary:

You're an accomplished wizard and in the wake of the Netherbrain's defeat, the hero of Baldur's Gate. In the aftermath of the mindflayer invasion, you move into Ramazith's Tower with Rolan, technically taking on the role of his 'apprentice', even though you have several years of teaching experience under your belt at Blackstaff, pre-tadpole. Rolan is insufferable, prickly, and very obviously into you, but he hasn't made a single move towards you, and it's starting to drive you just as crazy as his ego is.

So, one day, after taking verbal potshots at each other that wind up with Rolan giving a demonstration of a new spell he's learned... you decide to test his concentration. By any means necessary.

You also want to see just how far you can push the bratty wizard until he snaps.

AKA: You (Tav) tease Rolan until he can't take it anymore and you fuck on the floor. That's it. That's the fic.

READ ON AO3

Snippet Below the Cut

“Rolan, for the last time, Spectres & Spectral Weave Incantations belongs in the Evocation section, not in the Necromancy section,” you chide, plucking the tome from the dusty shelf in Ramazith’s library to pass off to one of several mage hands that float animatedly around the room. The noonday sun streams in the stained-glass windows, and sorting books would be a wonderful, relaxing way to spend an afternoon up here, if it weren’t for the insufferably prickly tiefling wizard insistent on mucking up your carefully-curated organization strategy.

Rolan whips his head around from where he was rifling through books on a different shelf, letting out an irritated huff through his nose. “By Vivri Arevi? The necromancer?” he says, the emphasis on the last word reminding you much of how one would speak to a small child. The tone has your hackles raising already, but more than annoyance is the overwhelming desire to put this pompous arse in his place.

“Just because the author was a necromancer doesn’t mean all of her writings are classified as Necromancy,” you say, directing the mage hand to shelve the book in its proper place across the way, watching as Rolan’s honey-gold eyes follow the hand with annoyance. “Honestly, have you even read the thing? You’d know within the first few pages it’s clearly an Evocation text.”

“I don’t know what kind of time you think I have these days,” Rolan says with a scoff. “But between running the shop and re-organizing this disaster Lorroakan left, there’s little time left in the day to pour over obscure texts.”

“Obscure?” You snort, stepping down from the ladder you’ve been perched on to place your feet on the floor. “That’s a second-year text for students at Blackstaff. I think I could recite the prologue forwards and backwards. Honestly, Rolan, as talented as you are you’re remarkably under-read.”

It’s a cheap shot, sure, and Rolan’s tail thrashes as he glares at you. But after everything you’ve been through together, this kind of bantering is normal for the two of you, and you flash him a teasing grin, even if the gleam in your eyes is a little mean.

“Is that any way to speak to your master, Tav?” he shoots back at you, all sharp teeth and smug satisfaction. Oh. You’re playing ball today, alright.

As the de-facto ‘master’ of the tower, that makes you his apprentice. Although it’s more of an in-joke between the two of you rather than a true master-apprentice relationship. You taught at Blackstaff Academy before you were forcibly abducted by mindflayers and infected with a tadpole. Your abilities zapped, you were forced to save Faerun with little more than a first-year’s spell knowledge, and unfortunately, the full scope of your talents haven’t returned in the wake of the netherbrain’s defeat. You couldn’t very well go back to your old life as an instructor at your level, so you stayed in Baldur’s Gate, Rolan graciously offering you a place to stay at the tower in return for saving his and his siblings’ hides multiple times over.

 And so, on paper, you’re technically his apprentice, but it’s in name only. While your spellcasting abilities took a hit thanks to the tadpole, your knowledge certainly didn’t. Considering Rolan is entirely self-taught, you find yourself often teaching him things, when he’s not getting on your nerves or you’re not riling him up, that is. In fact, you’ve both grown as wizards in the last two months of working together, you in power and him in knowledge. It’s been an enjoyable working relationship, to say the least, and his company isn’t bad, either. You almost rather like living at the tower with him and his siblings; it’s less lonely than your solitary teacher’s dormitory back at Blackstaff, that’s for sure.

You eat dinner with him most nights, talking about all things arcane until your food’s gone cold and you’ve both sunk nearly a full bottle of wine. When Rolan isn’t trying to posture, isn’t trying to be the ‘best wizard in the realms’, he’s almost rather charming. You could even consider the two of you close friends.

But that doesn’t mean that Rolan, the bastard, won’t rub in your face that he’s your ‘master’ at any chance he gets.

Which is why it’s now become your hobby to knock this young brat down a few pegs each day.

It’s simply the natural order of things.

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 58 Welp Posting

Hello kind void. Short (for me) yap this time... it's mostly just pain this chapter, after all. So much pain.

Very rough TL of the editor's notes:

First page: 漆羽の命滅契約は一体…? [Uruha no meimetsu keiyaku ha ittai...?!, What in the world happened to Uruha's lifelong contract...!?] Last page: 信念のもと漆羽を殺めた座村を前に… [Shinen no moto Uruha wo ayameta Samura wo maeni..., Standing in front of Samura, who killed Uruha due to his conviction...] Google Translate or DeepL can probably do better than me on this one, so go ahead and copy/paste that text into one of those instead for a better idea. Just note that 漆羽 (Uruha) usually gets auto-translated to "Urushiba" and 座村 (Samura) to "Zamura".

*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*

Pregame Mini Meta Rant: If I hear a SINGLE complaint about how many panels were reused this chapter Imma get heated. Yeah, there's been a lot of copy-crop-paste stuff going on in the past two weeks. This chapter alone re-used Hakuri's exhausted seal pose four times. But the major scenes still hit hard as fuck and the new art is holding up. Let the author do what it takes to avoid burnout and health issues just as his series is getting the major promotion treatment, okay? Dude's had to do a lot of extra work recently with the cover and colour pages in addition to the usual volume redraws and accompanying filler sketches/doodles.

These chapters were probably being written and drawn about the same time as the extra materials. It's not like the author starts drawing on Monday and sends the chapter out by Friday so it can be published Sunday- they're finished weeks in advance before they're released. I recommend checking out a short manga called The Right Way to Make JUMP! by Takeshi Sakurai if the practical details of getting manga out to thousands of readers in both print & digital simultaneously every week seem interesting!

*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*

Uruha vs. Samura

I interrupt this ramble before it even begins to do a little celebratory dance. I got most of what I yapped about last chapter right for once! Yay! ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ I won't have to recap the Samura motivation/mindset yap with the new information! (This will probably never happen again.)

Anyway...

Let's start with this because fuck it was so cool and sad.

I love how every character in this manga holds fast to their convictions, man. But I didn't expect Samura to be so cold about killing his former apprentice y'know?! Not even a hint of remorse from this guy. Between this and the subdued greeting Uruha gave him, the lack of warmth in their dialogue together... I wonder if they had a positive relationship. Uruha certainly respected Samura's skills but the contrast between how he thinks about Kunishige and the man who presumably taught him everything he knows about fighting is striking, isn't it? He was pretty unemotional about having to duel his master to the death despite being such an emotive guy. Yet now we'll probably never know... (sigh).

Here's something I missed on my first read: Samura didn't use Tobimune to face Uruha; he was just the quicker draw with a regular katana.

His sword is closer to being sheathed, while Uruha's sword is still farther out.

In case anyone still wants to believe that Uruha is alive or can come back somehow after this... more power to you. The Sojo copers can probably give you some tips if you need them. But there is one small smidgen of comfort to be had, if one wants to interpret it as such.

Not using Tobimune can be read as respecting Uruha's determination and facing him on equal footing. I know he unnecessarily double-tapped Uruha when he was laying on the ground- he didn't need to slash the guy again with Tobimune to make the kill. I get it, the Enchanted Blades are tools of death. Just let me have this. I need it.

Uruha deserved better. He deserve to live, dammit. I didn't get nearly enough of him. But what a way to go. Standing up for what you believe, your dead (boy)friend's last words telling you to live no matter what running through your head. Fighting for your life to honor his wish even though it's a completely lost cause... fuck what a tragic character. He was such a passionate guy despite the losses he suffered. Uruha, man... I really wanted to spend more time with him, but I guess all we'll get of him are flashbacks about him from other people or during scenes recounting what happened in the war.

The worst part of saying goodbye is that it felt like we had so much more to see and learn about him. His story's incomplete but it's over all the same. That's what hurts most when authors kill these characters- the sense of real loss because of all the loose ends. Anything we learn about him will be retroactive for context. No more growth, no more silly faces... damn you Samura...! Fuck this author makes good villains in a short span of time.

Whatever incident was covered up 18 years ago has to be incredibly awful to drive Samura to become an avenger for the truth. I'm talking "establishing a whole fucking international court system to process it for over a decade" levels of bad. Which it may well be, if this flashback from Sojo's PoV in chapter 8 remains unchanged when we revisit it for context:

Hello, probable war crimes.

Yeah I'm banking on that mystery kid being Magatsumi's current wielder. Whether he was a child soldier or picked up the sword by accident somehow, this might be the clue to The Incident that turned Samura against his allies. The point about how anyone can use the Enchanted Blades is made repeatedly during and after the Sojo arc- why not a child? Covering up a massacre like that would be in a lot of people's interests.

Unfounded spitball theories aside, now that Hakuri and Chihiro are both clued in that some real bad shit went down, we can expect to learn more about it. Hopefully sooner rather than later because I'll definitely be judging the shit outta Samura based on how awful it is. I'm very interested in his moral dilemma but I've got unreasonably high standards as to what kind of event could drive someone to do something so awful (in fiction, at least). IRL people are messy, but fiction demands justification. And the way this incident is being hyped up makes me believe it's different from the other horrors of war sinking in and slowly driving someone to resent everything they did for the cause. Whatever the Bearers and the Kamunabi covered up is going to cast them all -Kunishige included- in an extremely unflattering light.

Burnout

He just looks so cute being carried like that even though he's so exhausted and roughed up…

... Yeah. Poor Hakuri.

I won't take up as much space here as I want to yapping about him because most of it's just retreads of things I've been saying for weeks already. But man. Man.

This guy awoke to his powers, killed his dad and brothers, put an end to his family's cruelty, saved a bunch of lives at great risk to himself, passed out, and woke up to try and do this crazy mission with Chihiro all in just over 24 hours. He's so fried he fell asleep while being carried piggy-back and can't even move any more! But he's still kicking himself for not summoning Kumeyuri for Uruha when he had enough adrenaline to sort of stand up on his own. Never mind the brain haemorrhage- he's got lives to save. Ms. Makizumi's words about pushing himself too hard being dangerous just go in one ear and out the other. These people want him to care about himself for the mission and because he deserves it but he just refuses to take it to heart...

Then the person he promised to protect is killed in front of him right after he made it his life's mission to prevent exactly this sort of scenario.

Fuck.

Can't even turn this into a ship moment I'm so bent out of shape. Someone strip me of my fudanshi creds.

It looks like Hakuri did summon Chihiro in a panic after all- he couldn't even call out to Uruha so reaching for Chihiro instead was his first instinct. He just wasn't fast enough because his body and mind are on the brink of totally shutting down. If he's truly unable to use sorcery again after finally gaining his own strength at long last... oh, that will hurt so bad. I'm not ready for how hard Hakuri's going to be on himself when he eventually wakes up despite doing his very best.

Hakuri's gonna be out of commission for sure after this event.

I'm close to 100% positive he'll temporarily lose his powers now. If it comes to be, then Kagurabachi will have passed my bullshit "don't say they'll die if the consequences don't match up to the risk" test. Being paralyzed and powerless for a while is good enough to convince me that death really was a possible outcome. See, it's really that easy. Totally not unfair and arbitrary.

Regardless, there's a lot of suffering ahead for Chihiro and Hakuri. Not only did all of this shit go down the day right after the Rakuzaichi, but there's still whatever the blood test will reveal hanging out there... the political and practical price of this failure with the Kamunabi... processing the guilt of not being able to save a life... coming to terms with how much they don't know... so much has happened to them in a short 24-ish hours, huh? And neither of them have anything good to look forward to in the short-term.

I gotta wonder what Hakuri will do this arc if he's literally unable to move for a while. His PoV gave us the info that there was a specific incident that was covered up, but that doesn't mean he'll be involved in that plot line. But let's save that stress for another time- gotta see how badly he fucked himself up and how things shake out between Chihiro and Samura first.

Chihiro vs. Samura

(Ch. 50) A long-awaited reunion.

What will go down next week? I'm sure as hell not gonna try to guess. Could be anything from casual conversation to an actual skirmish. At least one thing will definitely not happen though.

Neither Chihiro nor Samura are dying here. Chihiro cannot die until the last fight in the series is finished, so that's out (boo joyless nerd take no fun booooooo). Samura's simply too strong to go down to an exhausted Chihiro and we still have to learn the history behind his motives. So he's gonna stick around for a bit longer to cause trouble. Wouldn't be surprised if he's the arc boss! Hiruhiko's got his own training arc ahead of him and all (and some arms to reattach), so he'll be more of a recurring villain than someone to defeat as a character growth moment for now. It's looking like Samura vs. Chihiro for the foreseeable future IMO.

If I can reveal a selfish hope, I want Samura facepalming Chihiro and feeling the scar to be the means of getting insight on how he feels about Chihiro's situation. Samura's probably the one who tipped off the Hishaku about Kunishige's location thanks to accidentally finding out when Momma Shiba took Chihiro to the local festival. Oh boy, if Chihiro learns that Samura was the one that sold him and his dad out... that would be some incredibly potent angst. His hero, a monster? Say it ain't so. Would have told you sooner if I could, Chihiro.

Hm, Kunishige and the Bearers who were entrusted with his vision...

(Chapter 1)

(Chapter 9)

(Chapter 58)

I feel confident in thinking that Samura is basically Bad End Chihiro now. He's been tormented by guilt for nearly two decades and has decided to do everything himself. He'll kill his former comrades and the Hishaku or go down swinging- and kill himself if he actually succeeds. He's on a doomed mission to scorch the earth and take out as much evil as he can. All scum go to hell! Including the guy who's so mired in grief that he does a lot of murder to cope. Those scars of his don't look like tear tracks in some shots for nothin'. (Wait, wasn't I talking about Chihiro for a bit there?)

Chihiro's well on his way to following Samura's path already... he's not the type to kill his comrades, but he's definitely got the "guilty sinning avenger" thing going on strong. So if Samura is Chihiro's "Bad End", what will he force Chihiro to realize? Every major foe reflects a part of Chihiro back at himself and forces him to answer difficult questions, after all. Sojo- forced him to accept that there are multiple ways to interpret and use his dad's legacy

Kyora- forced him to look at his own devotion to his dad's legacy and admit he doesn't know as much as he needs to

Hiruhiko (round 1)- forced him to admit that he thinks of himself as a monster for the lengths he's willing to go to

As for Samura, I think it'll be along the lines of "is it necessary or justifiable to sin and/or commit oneself hell for the sake of a cause?". Maybe "can I be redeemed at all?" (or if redemption is even necessary in the first place). Legitimately can't wait to see what goes down between them next week to get more clues! God I love this manga so much. I haven't been so consistently engaged week to week like this in ages.

...One last thought. This is probably looking too far ahead as an angst merchant and I was rightly rebuked for mentioning it. I should know better than to share the worthless depressing bullshit that goes on in my head. But these posts are supposed to just be some yaps into an ambivalent abyss so... sorry, kind internet void, but you get some of my depresso espresso.

"The least I can do is refrain from causing harm to others and take you Hishaku bastards to hell with me." - Chihiro (ch. 53)

With all the deliberate parallels drawn between Samura->Chihiro and Uruha->Hakuri, I wouldn't be surprised if our favourite protagonist/deuteragonist pair has the same exchange later down the line. Definitely not under similar circumstances! I can imagine scenarios where Chihiro is trying to kill Hakuri but they're so far removed from canon that they make absolutely zero sense.

But there could well be a time where Chihiro decides to leave because he really does need to bear this burden alone and Hakuri tries to call him out on the ridiculousness of that mindset. I think it would be a happier result for Chihiro and Hakuri compared to Samura and Uruha if only because Chihiro isn't as far gone as the blind traitor rat is. But yeah I'm just sticking that in my back pocket to see if it manifests in the future.

Time to write some hurt/comfort and hope canon eases up on the pain soon. It's either that or setting up a bingo sheet with all the angst scenarios I've got written down in my drafts and notes... I choose the one that I can create my own happy ending for. Until next time, dear void.

[an-au-blog]

Re-ordering (highest to lowest) the bounties in the strawhat crew because Oda is either way too bias or has the memory of a goldfish. (I'm rating them if I was a marine in canon) (updated I didn't mean to miss anyone I'm so sorry)

1. Luffy

for obvious reasons: he's the captain, strongest, etc.

2. Nico Robin

i cannot stress this enough. NICO ROBIN IS SECOND!

She is the only person left alive that can read the ponegliphs, therefore the only one who can get ANYONE to Laugh tale. She had been chased by the government since she was eight. She's not only one of the smartest people not only on the crew, but dare I say on the Grand Line, but she's also one of the strongest. (like idk how people keep forgetting this, did we not watch Wano???) She's been an assassin and the right hand man of one of the seven warlords for years. I'd even say she was kind of his body guard tbh...

3. Franky

I'm putting Franky so high up because of a couple of factors. The obvious ones: He is physically strong, also extremely smart (as he was an apprentice to a man so feared by the marines they looked for any excuse to execute him, whether because of his social standing or skills) He has lasers(one of the strongest, if not THE strongest weapons in their universe) designed by Vega Punk himself. But most importantly: he memorized the blue prints of a weapon important enough for the world government to try and assassinate as many people as they need to get their hands on. He can build it at any point and there's no other copy of it.

4. Zoro and Sanji (same bounty)

I'm putting them above the rest mainly because I still respect Oda's decision to put them higher up. Physical strength aside, each of them, in my opinion, has a good reason to be deemed as dangerous. Logically, one would put the Captain's right-hand man above the other, but Sanji's "Vinsmoke" status, much as he hates it, boosts him up. He may not have grown up with them or have the same mutations or "upgrades", but the people don't know that. Fear wins half the battle.

5. Jinbei and Brook

By very little below №4, if they're not the same, they are very close (but IDK which one is above the other.) What would be scariest to me if I was the world government's shoes, would be influenced and propaganda, and these two are extremely influential figures and loved by many.

But let's start with Jinbei: He's an ex-warlord. He is lobed by man, if not all of Fiahman island. He's highly respected and feared. The waters are his domain, plus he's physically very strong.

Brook: a master swordsman and a man who can control people with music?!?! I feel like we keep forgetting that. He also spent the time skip become an infamous rockstar, who's fans FOUGHT THE NAVIE so they could listen to him! Influence-wise, Brook takes the cake.

6. Usopp

With half-a-mind to put him in the №5 bundle, I'm putting him a bit lower for one reason only: not everyone would know or believe what happened in Dresrossa. Undoubtedly, he had created a cult-like following there and he can spin a tale to his advantage, and technically being pronounced a "God" would make it... a cult... But that would lose brownie points in the major public's eyes. Even though his skills are admirable, he's not as strong or wildly influential as Jinbei (a literal warlord) and Brook (the Michael Jackson of op)

7. Nami

Navigator, they can't go far or fast without her. She has had a record with the navie before as a petty thief, but other than her charms and wits, there's no reason for them to put her higher...

8. Chopper

The Navie does not care for Chopper. I don't think they'd put him anywhere above the last spot in any universe... sorry.

[naruto-ol-protags]

You know, those desolate sand costumes really reminded me that I really want to see MC outfits released representing different villages. Where is my Sunagakure Breeze Dancer… I need her so bad…

I’m not sure if you’ve gotten a question like this or not, but what villages would you assign all of the MCs outside of Konaha? I personally think there’s room to mix and match depending on what skills you equip your MCs with. Just wanna hear your thoughts!

I love this question, and for real, Suna Breeze would be so cool and even current canon-adjacent. I must say I haven't thought about this before, which is why it took me so long to answer. I had to re-read the wiki to see if I could come up with anything. It's long so I'm putting the answers under the [read more]!

The easiest answer based on their main and/or secondary elements would be: Azure - Kirigakure, Breeze - Sunagakure, Crimson - Iwagakure, Midnight - Kumogakure, and Scarlet (secondary Earth element) - Iwagakure. I remember some fanworks implementing this system (while Scarlet was usually left to be from Konoha), and always enjoyed the chaos following having so many differently raised teenagers interact with each other.

The other answer would be a mix of Orichara-era choices and some canon? In the cases of Azure and Breeze who were listed as from Konoha I had to find other hints to follow - for Azure it was her main work material, for Breeze her powers and origin. In the cases of Crimson (suspected Orichara origin, beta design) and Midnight I worked with their beta designs.

Azure from Kusagakure - (through Orichara) associated with cotton, she's listed as also preferring to use genjutsu. She is portrayed as rather kind and cheery, thus the choice from a less violence-prone village. Being from Kusa also makes her an ally to Konoha and possibly supplies her main material of choice.

Breeze from Kirigakure - Orichara gave her water/ice powers (based on her Tsurara (yōkai) origin - it's actually super interesting to see where most of her traits started off from) and so Kiri (thinking back to Haku's powers) seems like a decent match.

Crimson from Iwagakure - the suspected Orichara paints Crimson as an apprentice of an architect master. That combined with the contrast between their ages (16 vs 92) somewhat brings up an image of an Iwagakure shinobi (I'm thinking here of the Akatsuchi and Ōnoki team up). On the other hand, based on his beta design, Crimson's clothes (color palette, style) and appearance pretty much align with Kumogakure's. I like how he was given a more serious air, with his neutral expression and a scar over his left eye.

Midnight from Kumogakure - his old sword looks somewhat like Darui's Cleaver Sword (and in one of the images you could also argue that he looks a bit like him?). It's also interesting to note just how consistent his design is with the lightning element. My second pick would be Kirigakure since the sword loosely matches the village's weapon designs. Midnight also has his Bloodthirsty Demon skill, which plays well with his bounty hunter profession if taken in the context of “death matches for Kirigakure Academy graduation”.

Scarlet from Amegakure - another Orichara choice, and a peculiar one with him defecting. I like this pitch because despite being from Ame (which does suit his later-given genjutsu abilities), his main element is wind (also uses water and earth releases). He's also described as longing to join the Akatsuki, how interesting.

And then the synthesis of the above mixed with just some fun choices and other biased canon picks for my maximum enjoyment:

Azure from Kirigakure - a kind character from an infamously not kind land; I really like thinking of Azure as kind despite the circumstances, as in making her caring and curious personality an active choice instead of sth that just happens to her. She is also known for loving fish (fish dishes?), and after skimming through "ideal conditions for growing cotton" maps the choice (baring Konoha) was between Suna and Kiri, so... I'm making this list alphabetically, but this choice is also fuelled by the interest in seeing the contrast between how she turned out vs Midnight.

Breeze from Sunagakure turned Otogakure and defecting (and going back to Suna?) - see, I'm such a ride or die for the headcanon that Breeze did work with Orochimaru at some point in her life (whether voluntarily is a different matter but I do like all answers to this). It makes her traveling the world thing have more flavor, and her ending up in canon in Konoha is also soo conflict-inducing. This way, her strong personality and intelligence would be crucial to her forming alliances. Also after so many changes, I think her canon judgment of good and evil is sth quite worthy of careful dissection.

Crimson from Land of Flowers - he is so incredibly kind and loves plant cultivation. Since Land of Flowers was caught in conflict with Iwagakure and saved by Kumogakure it also puts Crimson in a nice intersection of possible skills and appearances (his darker skin is similar in appearance to other Kumo shinobi, his earth release skills - Iwa's, his drive and need to protect others born from the conflict?). But generally I just really love the image of Crimson cultivating flowers ;w;

Midnight from Kirigakure - I like it when someone's main elemental release doesn't match the Village's majority and Midnight's bloodlust and skills are more compelling to me than his other traits, I guess. The fact that Village of the Bloody Mist's reputation would line up well with his personality of a loner and not much of a talker is also fun. There are also some thoughts on how lightning powers would be amplified by an environment rich in water.

Scarlet from Ame (defected) - the whole setup made from Orichara is just so good. It gives him a motive, gives him freedom (something he seems to be struggling with a lot in canon - loyalty vs personal beliefs), and so many directions to grow into. And I love how he's good with drawing and scrolls, and how it's probably the happiest and (arguably) least burdened Scarlet we've ever seen (he's described as having many interests and being able to solve conflicts with his smile).

[multif0rmed]

Wrong Side of Heaven - Chapt. 6

Rating : T (mostly for Xehanort, really)

Summary : During that year Ventus had been apprentice underneath Xehanort. Follow both of them as they navigate throughout this time - as their relationship starts off strong and eventually deteriorates. Presented as snippets within the year.

Brings in Dark Road elements, along with BBS, because we've never gotten the mix for the two.

Will be posted here as well as on ArchiveOfOurOwn.

Index HERE.

Chapter 5 - HERE. Chapter 7 -

Chapter underneath the Read More.

Drip.

Drip.

Salt mixed with dust.

It remained the only sound within the atmosphere until Ventus felt another charge of Xehanort's.

It almost staggered him, but he nevertheless pushed back. Another, immediately after. Managing to block it, he pushed away No Name at least briefly, before magick nearly hit him in the side. He felt a nick of cold ice, and he stumbled. Hand pressed against a medium sized rock nearby, before the body pushed off, trying to ignore the pain surging in the arm. The slice of ice trying to burrow itself deeper; it proved as a steady distraction. Blood spliced upwards, and it fell messily onto the dull gravel below them.

Finally, Xehanort lowered his weapon as he stepped closer towards Ventus, who kneeled in the dirt with his legs folded and hand gripping at his chest. "Killed. Destroyed." His words were cold.

"I.. It hurts .." Ventus murmured.

"You have an opening from the enemy. You are in pain. What do you do?"

Ventus squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to think. Clouded. "I .. heal .."

"Then do it," he ordered. If necessary, he'd do it himself. Moments ticked by, and finally Ventus attempted to re-summon Wayward Wind. It flickered briefly into existence, but quickly disappeared.

"I can't .."

A spiral of light green suddenly washed around and through the boy. "Killed. Destroyed. You have failed."

Ventus winced, while his injury on his chest sealed shut. The ice melted - though kept the dull throb present. "I'm trying though, right?" He gazed up to that cold face.

“... Not good enough for the heat of battle,'' Xehanort told the boy, before turning away. “It has to be this way, if you are to embrace the darkness within you. You must learn self-reliance.”

Flinch. It seared across his face. “Why? Why is it like t-this?” Ventus spoke, letting his head fall. “We haven't --” He suddenly tasted dirt. He sputtered, though in an attempt to lift his body, he just fell down again. “M-Master please --”

He could see the shiny black metal of No Name within his view. “No, boy. You must --”

“I can't! I have to rest!” Ventus protested, then roughly coughed, as he ended up inhaling dust. Everything hurts .. Why does the Master have to be this �� different? Cold metal against his face abruptly drew him out of his thoughts. Darkness swirled along the keyblade, effortlessly. Widened eyes – and the boy pushed harder to move out of its way, exhaustion clinging to him.

A grin spread across the elder's face. “See? You can move,” he lowered himself into a battle position.

“Again.”

His legs were like jelly – but, eventually, the blonde pushed himself into a standing position. Xehanort had been patient enough – but also charged without any warning.

A yell ripped out of Ventus.

Xehanort froze – scowling, dispelling his keyblade. Up a good portion of Ventus' right arm were wisps of black and purple licking across the surface. ..They had to stop.

Scars like that needed time to heal – time to scorch away.

Xehanort had been all too familiar with such things, multiple lengths dancing along his torso, or limbs. Darkness had been hard to tame – but at some point he had managed it. By then, his eyes color had completely and irreversibly changed as well. Even as a master, he still could learn about it, and its relations to others. .. He had pushed things too relentlessly with Ventus. Thing was – they seemed to be getting somewhere in the last few weeks, but it was starting to plateau. And pretty hard.

A harsh frown spread across his face. He stepped forward, gently grabbing the boy's arm as he knelt down into the dirt. “Scars are not uncommon during this … I have received aplenty myself.”

Tears streamed down Ventus' cheeks. “I-It hurts, master ..” he mumbled, his voice thick.

Xehanort nodded. “It does … We will stop here today. You need some rest.”

Ventus nodded wordlessly, before he felt being pulled up roughly by the elder. His feet staggered, as they attempted to balance his form.

“Come,'' came the command, as a dark corridor spun into existence.

Ventus hurried on after.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

The master's eyes watched as the boy's bandaged chest rose up and down – all too coldly. ..Only if I had a master when I had learned darkness.

He flexed his right hand, almost feeling the ghost of an ache run up his arm. Part of the reason why he started wearing gloves. Luckily he hadn't lost the ability to hold his keyblade in that hand, but it had ached for months afterwards. Stepping forward, he ran a gentle finger up Ventus' arm, wondering just how much subtle pain the boy would be in … His hand curled away, letting it return to its usual position behind his back. “Ventus,” he called, eyes fixated on the other.

No movement.

“Ventus!” He called out a little louder now, and a small inch of movement showed itself almost immediately.

“Ermm ..?” Eyes immediately squeezed back shut. He turned back onto his side. “Just five more minutes ..” the boy groaned.

“No, then you won't be able to sleep tonight.”

A subtle wince went through the blonde as he sat up. “What did you need, master?” He asked groggily, using his uninjured arm to rub at his eye.

Xehanort smiled, though it didn't quite meet his eyes. “I figure ice cream is best after such a harrowing training session today.”

“I did good?” he immediately asked.

“No.” Nice and simple – it should have been obvious.

Ventus' face fell.

“You need some sort of easygoing activity after such an injury,'' the old man answered, gently motioning his hand towards the bandaged arm.

“O-Oh,'' he said. “Erm .. what about a shirt?”

Xehanort nodded towards the dresser nearby. “There should be something in there. I'll have your other shirt repaired soon. Meet me downstairs once you are ready.”

The blonde nodded, sliding off the bed with a spring within his step.

The elder moved with precision as he climbed down the steps, careful not to push himself. Such an old body ..Annoying. Head turned, his sight lingered on Ventus' door. More and more, he was fearing the worst … Perhaps he'd have to, afterall, respond to one of Eraqus' letters for once.

How annoying.

But it'd nevertheless serve as an ultimate test. He'd know he'd potentially have to cut the other down if the situation presented itself, in order to carry out his goal.

Brows ticked down once he heard the door open, and he turned intent to go outside. Hearing the footsteps, he waited by the front door. Yellow shifted. A plain shirt covered the boy's scarred chest and upper arm. “Is it comfortable for you?”

Ventus nodded. ''It is, yeah,'' he said quietly.

“Good.” A simple reply, before the keyblade master opened the door, allowing for light to pool around them. They could hear the birds chirping off in the distance – along with some conversations and laughter. Ventus' eyes picked up some shine, despite the aches on his body. Excitement. He hadn't been able to enjoy a lot of the town so far – despite being here for months now – so he'd eagerly take whatever opportunities were offered.

“Stay nearby,'' Xehanort called, as Ventus went a few feet away.

“I-It's just so much to see ..”

“It's quite the impressive world.” The elder nodded, leading the way as they weaved through the crowds, carefully to avoid bumping into anyone.

“Ooooh! It's this place again!” the boy exclaimed, as he rushed forward to open the door for his master. He grinned as he did so. “This is the best one.”

''Not the other place?” The older male asked, eyes gleaming with small bits of curiosity. “One could argue that has the better view over the town.”

Ventus shook his head. “Nah, this one has the better flavors.”

Once his master came inside, the boy rushed to the line in front of the counter with a slight stagger. His eyes scanned the menu carefully … Mint chocolate chip? Or.. peanut butter? So hard to decide .. He hoped the ice cream would soothe his wounds .. He purposefully wasn't using his arm too much in fear of agitating it. At least the potion earlier had helped with it, but it most likely would scar. He rubbed at it a bit, an itch persisting.

That means it's healing.

A hand was placed onto the boy's shoulder, causing him to jostle out of his thoughts and his heartbeat picked up.

“Ven? Have you decided?”

Ventus blinked. When had they gotten to the front of the line? His eyes tossed themselves up again. “Uhm .. peanut butter, I-I guess.” A fingers started to pick at the skin on his other finger; a habit that was starting to grow more and more. And what a day he's had.

“Good choice, lad ..” Xehanort let Ventus know, before glancing towards the cashier. “I'd like one of those as well. With sprinkles.”

The cashier nodded, making sure she selected the right options on the screen in front of her. “Okay, anything else?”

“A Diet Coke as well. Ventus?”

“Root beer.” An easy selection.

Once the old man paid for their treats and got their drinks, he led them over to a table. A sigh flowed out of the boy; it felt nice to sit. He slumped, sliding a hand over his chest. Bumpy. It had mostly shut. “A.. Are we gonna train tomorrow too ..?” He asked, flicking his hues away from the table onto the familiar haunting yellow.

That hue studied the blue quickly enough. “It depends. On how you feel. Anything dark-inflicted typically takes at least a couple of days to bounce back from.” He had gestured with his hand in the air, but lowered it now onto their table.

Ventus' cheeks burned. How embarrassing. “O-Oh.” He looked away through the nearby window, studying the streets. “It's just … scary. I guess. Still to me.” A murmur.

The elder hummed. “That's why you must study it, become one with it. It cannot be destroyed … only channeled.”

“Yeah .. I remember ..”

“At least your memory works on that subject .. have you not have much success with your previous life ..?”

The boy frowned, and shook his head. “Not much at all.. Just .. flashes.”

“Hm .. That must be the cost of what had happened. Either that, or it just time to recover what information you've lost,'' Xehanort answered, taking a sip of his drink.

Another rub at his arm. “Hey, Master Xehanort ..?”

“Hmm?” the male uttered, once he set down his drink.

“Have you always used the darkness?”

If he had been still drinking, he would have spit out a bit. It certainly took him off-guard. “... No. Not always. I had been the typical keyblade wielder ..” ...Until I've killed one of my classmates. One of my comrades. “.. up to a certain point.”

“What happened?”

He stared. “..I had always been the certain one in my friend group to question the old traditions .. so naturally .. after a few years, I had started to veer off from them. And I had found darkness to be quite the useful tool.” Smooth.

“But .. doesn't it just ..” he shifted lightly. “.. destroy?”

A harsh laugh. “Now you sound like Eraq..” He bit his tongue. Damn. Didn't he destroy any thoughts of the man as of lately? “.. someone I once knew.”

“One of your friends?”

“Hm.. We've used to be close. But .. he didn't see my views on light and darkness.”

Ventus abruptly frowned and looked downwards. “Oh .. that sounds like it sucks.”

Time to push the conversation away from him ... “Hmm, what makes you say it destroys, lad?” He inquired, as he leaned back to allow their waitress to set down their prepared ice cream.

“There you are, you two! Enjoy,” the waitress said, smiling, before backing away.

“Thank you,'' the elder said, before grabbing his spoon out from the cold treat.

“Thanks!” Ventus exclaimed, copying the other.

Xehanort turned his attention back to the blonde, motioning with his spoon. “Our conversation .. Why? Or am I pointing out the obvious, due to your injuries?”

Twice now the boy's face burned. “Y-Yeah, pretty much.” He shook his head. “No, it's just .. the limited interactions I've seen too. People are just sometimes so .. mean. Mean to each other. Like, it doesn't take much. It hurts to see.”

Xehanort hummed. “Indeed, lad. You can thank the tyrannical Light for that.”

Ventus blinked. “Oh, yeah, you mentioned that before .. because both are of the same coin. Why couldn't Eraq... whatever his name was see that?”

Xehanort scowled. “Just enjoy your ice cream, boy.”

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Out of the previous ten years, only five of them were the both of Xehanort and Eraqus sending letters back and forth – but never seeing each other during that time. Their last argument – it had all but created a permanent 'burning of the bridge'.

At least within the Master of Darkness' mind.

The black-haired male had been but ready to try to move on from their last argument. He had started sending bits and pieces about his life to the other in an effort to reach out – but Xehanort rarely replied back. Their argument had spoken of a finality to their relationship – whatever it had been at that particular point in time – and he took it fully to Heart.

He couldn't share his ambition with the other.

He couldn't share his life.

It had hurt deep down – but the master had made sure to channel it into hatred, cold resentment instead. Still, that meant he had to act out of false emotion instead of actual when he got to see the other ...

Gloved fingers dug into the drawer within his art room once he had made sure the boy had been asleep. A neatly stacked pile of letters lay bare for him to see; some were previously crumpled up. A heavy feeling settled within his stomach when he carefully dug out the latest letter – a letter from about a month ago. He slapped it onto a clear part of a table nearby and looked for a pen. A few moments later, he went back over to the parchment.

Carefully re-reading it.

Only dull pain managed to surge up.

Improvement, he mused, before reaching down to yank out some fresh parchment.

Time to finally reply.

[burnwater13]

Ashoka Tano speaking to Grogu and Din Djarin in the woods of Corvus. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 5, The Jedi. Calendar from DataWorks. Caption reads: I've only known one other being like this - a wise Jedi Master named Yoda. - Ahsoka Tano.

Hey folks. I'm taking some time off from our routine, daily stories and just re-running some stories from 2023. Hope you enjoy them. I'll be back with fresh content soon.

This story first ran November 1, 2023. Titled 'What Kind am I?'

Grogu thought a lot about what his dad said that day on Tatooine. “If I can locate another of my kind…”. That turned out to be pretty easy. When Mandalorians weren’t hiding they stuck out like sore thumbs. But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was did anyone know what ‘kind’ Grogu was?

Ahsoka Tano had said she knew Master Yoda, but then so did Grogu. He wasn’t locked away in some closet at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He was there with the rest of the younglings and Master Yoda visited them all from time to time. But that didn’t mean he knew what ‘kind’ they were. 

Lot of different kinds of people were at the Jedi Temple. Lots of different kinds of people became Jedi. But of Grogu’s kind there were only three of them. Master Yoda, Master Yaddle, and Grogu. Grogu didn’t have any illusion that he was their child either. That was sweet and romantic and convenient. Nope. Not their kid. 

And even if he had been their child, what kind of parents were they? They weren’t raising him. They didn’t teach him songs to learn his numbers, or tell him stories about their home world, or even pat him on the head when he’d done something particularly clever. He much preferred to think of them both as people he had met and could not un-meet. 

Now, here he was on Nevarro, with his dad, Din Djarin, Mandalorian Bounty Hunter and all around good guy. They watched out for each other. They told each other funny stories. They ate the same food (sometimes) and they both burped in the same distinctive manner. They even had the same eye color. 

Grogu was Din Djarin’s apprentice and was going to learn how to fly a starship and be a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter. That seemed really cool and so far it had been pretty exciting. But considering everything that had happened with the Clan Mudhorn Festival and the fact that Luke Skywalker had come all the way across the galaxy to help him when he really needed the help, Grogu felt a tiny bit of the old Jedi spirit tugging back at him. Were they actually his kind?

He wasn’t sure who he should talk to about this sort of stuff. Grogu didn’t want to talk to his dad. That would just make the Mandalorian sad and think that Grogu didn’t love him and that was beyond wrong and there was no way he was going to hurt his dad like that. Nope. 

But then, Luke wasn’t the right person to talk to either. Luke had a vested interest in Grogu returning to Jedi Sleep Away Camp and Grogu was well aware of that. He should probably just start training his nephew and see how things went. Grogu knew too much to be a student and too little to be a master and most importantly, he knew that.

He supposed that he could talk to the High Magistrate, but Greef Karga was still too excited over how the Clan Mudhorn Festival had worked out in Nevarro City and was already planning one for next year. Sure the name would change a little, but then it wasn’t going to just be something Clan Mudhorn put together for everyone to enjoy. ‘The Nevarro City Council of Civic Engagement Proudly Presents an Evening of Story Telling, Culture, and Friendship’ is what Grogu heard the High Magistrate tell Fennec, once the prior night’s event was all wrapped up.

Maybe he should talk to Fennec. She had done a lot of different things and had dealt with some real setbacks and knew exactly how to analyze a situation. She collected data, drew conclusions, took action and made it all look so easy. The only draw back to speaking with Fennec was that she might think he’s not as cute and competent as she told other people he was. ‘Listen to the kid, he’s got a good feel for that’, ‘Grogu knows what he’s doing, pay attention people’, and ‘Don’t tell your dad, you’ll be fine, you always are’. He really didn’t want to risk that happening. 

Grogu sighed deeply.

“Hey! Ya little womp rat… oh, sorry, you don’t like being called a womp rat any more, you’re growin’ up so fast! Would you like Auntie Peli to get ya some nice dung worms? You need to keep up your energy if you’re goin’ to go all dark side on us.” 

Peli Motto scooped him up, tweaked his nose gently and carried him over to the campfire that his dad set up outside the cabin. They had all been having a quiet day together, chatting and playing games, like chase the frog, find the target, and hide from the Jedi. 

“Ya know, you need to get some rest, just relax, and maybe, just maybe, watch the clouds float by. Look at me! First time off Tatooine ever and here I am with my best friends doin’ nothing but havin’ fun. This is my kind of life… I just hope Treadwell doesn’t sell the garage while I’m gone.”

HA! There it was! This was Grogu’s ‘kind’ too. Kind of life that is. Surrounded by friends, just having fun and eating a big bowl of slow roasted dung worms. What could be better than that?

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Eye of the World! Chapter 10: Leavetaking

I feel like saying "Hello" at the start of these is silly, but I don't know what else to do to start up each section of this reread! This reread is filled with more spoilers than a Cliff's Notes Omnibus, so if you're trying to avoid them you should avoid this post too. Run away like the gang is skipping town!

This chapter has Moiraine's staff for its icon and I think it's just because she's taking charge of everyone's fates now, or trying to. The Wheel's gonna weave though, whether she likes it or not.

“I looked,” Perrin replied. “There’s nobody here but us. Why would anybody hide—”

Why would anybody try to destroy your hometown, Perrin? I think people think you're slow because of stupid questions like this.

Rand thought about flourishing the sword, but Lan being there stopped him. The Warder was not even looking in his direction, but he was sure the man was aware of everything that went on around him.

Rand's constant need for Lan's approval in all things is wonderful and I'm going to point it out every time it happens. If you don't like it, join the people afraid of spoilers.

“Master Luhhan made it about two years ago, for a wool-buyer’s guard. But when it was done the fellow wouldn’t pay what he had agreed, and Master Luhhan would not take less. He gave it to me when”—he cleared his throat, then shot Rand the same warning frown he’d given Mat—“when he found me practicing with it. He said I might as well have it since he couldn’t make anything useful from it.”

A DIscord buddy of mine said that Perrin is basically what happens when King Arthur grows up next to Crystal Dragon Jesus, and boy is he desperate to prove it, since he also has a weapon inherited from a father figure but it's nowhere near as cool as Rand's Bladed Certificate of Badassery.

Anything can be a weapon, if the man or woman who holds it has the nerve and will to make it so.

Lan, meanwhile, once accepted a challenge to defeat a rampaging Trolloc army by using all the items in an abandoned Borderlander farm once each. Kind of a shame that we end up sticking mostly to traditional weapons and magic as the series goes on; stuff like Rand boiling the Trolloc with the kettle always has an extra fun element.

“We left notes,” Mat said. “For our families. They’ll find them in the morning. Rand, my mother thinks Tar Valon is the next thing to Shayol Ghul.” He gave a little laugh to show he did not share her opinion. It was not very convincing. “She’d try to lock me in the cellar if she believed I was even thinking of going there.”

Frankly Mat, I think that as long as you weren't being dragged off in irons, your mother would be quite happy to have you out of the house for a few months to grow up and not cause trouble.

Also, it's really weird that Perrin only mentions the Luhhans and not his own family. I'm aware that as Perrin is an apprentice he needs his teacher's approval to do things, but you'd think his parents would have a problem with this too. I hope Perrin actually left them a note too instead of just Luhahan; it would really suck if he missed this opportunity to say goodbye what with their imminent demise.

“Not without me.” Egwene slipped into the stable, a shawl-wrapped bundle in her arms. Rand nearly fell over his own feet.

One of my favorite things about the story is that our young lady is jumping at the chance for adventure and taking every opportunity to get while our young gents are being painfully dragged towards their doom. Egwene's not a ta'veren because the Pattern doesn't need to drag her around by the heels like it does with the layabouts; she's probably already planning on becoming Amyriln and she doesn't even know she can channel yet.

Do you think you three are the only ones who want to see what’s outside? I’ve dreamed about it as long as you have, and I don’t intend to miss this chance.

Sadly though, she does have a tendency to project. Absolutely none of the boys are leaving out of curiosity about the outside world; camping trips to the mountains are as far as they're interested in going.

A startled expression darted across Lan’s face. It was gone in an instant, leaving him outwardly calm, but furious words erupted from him. “No, Moiraine!”

It may seem a bit strange for stoic Lan to be having this outburst, but I stand by my fake dialogue from several chapters ago: dude is (rightly) convinced that Rand is the real deal and (wrongly) convinced that the others are just a waste of time. Now Moiraine's not even adding plausible candidates to their entourage, and who gets to hide all of their tracks? Lan. Dude might be loving the idea of becoming the Dragon Reborn's personal sword sensei, but babysitting the rest of these idiots is making him long to just go die in the Blight like he was going to twenty years ago.

“That will not be possible,” came Thom Merrilin’s resonant voice from the hayloft. Lan’s sword left its sheath this time, and he did not put it back as he stared up at the gleeman.

If this chapter was from Lan's POV, this is the point where his internal monologue would be lots of funny Borderland swears. And jeez Perrin, you "didn't think" of looking in the loft? That's like the most obvious hiding place!

Thom put his feet on the stable floor and turned from the ladder, brushing straw from his patch-covered cloak. “In fact,” he said in more normal tones, “you might say that I insist on traveling in company. I have given many hours over many mugs of ale to thinking of how I might end my days. A Trolloc’s cookpot was not one of the thoughts.”

Also, Thom may be using the Trollocs and lure of Tar Valon (not quoted but mentioned earlier) as excuses, but they're both BS. He knows damn well that he's not a target and that Moiraine's party is, so joining them only increases his risk. Further, he has no reason to go to Tar Valon unless he's ready to die by trying to off whatever Red Ajah witches killed his nephew, and right now he doesn't even know their names. He's just worried that one of the boys - all of the boys - might have the ability to channel and that they're being led to their doom, and he's willing to put up with a lot to save them if that's the case. Nobody in this stable is a paragon of morality, but they all have the hearts of heroes. As far as I'm concerned, all of them EXCEPT Mat (who doesn't wanna be) are bound to the Horn and this is just one hell of a crossover episode.

“Bela,” Rand said, getting a look from Lan that made him wish he had kept silent. But he knew he could not dissuade Egwene; the only thing left was to help.

Speaking of good hearts, I love the way that the EF5 are almost incapable of getting along but will still assist each other at nearly every opportunity.

The only horse left riderless was Cloud, a tall gray with a black mane and tail that belonged to Jon Thane, or had. 

Rand started this story with Bela and now that he's realized he's eight or nine years overdue for a properly mid-life crisis, he's traded her in for a racing model. Boy is gonna go through a lot of horses before this is over. Current horse count: 2

(There is no way I will remember this count by the time we get to the third horse, let alone the finale.)

“Wolves!” Perrin exclaimed, and the Warder favored him with a flat stare.

Foreshadowing! Boy deserves some since he hasn't really had much yet.

“Two Dha’vol Trollocs would have them all for breakfast,” Lan muttered when the sound of their boots had faded, “but they have eyes and ears.” He turned his stallion back. “Come.”

We don't know much about the Trolloc bands, but we can probably gather from this that the Dha'vols (guess the etymology!) are some of the least threatening.

Rand peered at the high-peaked houses in the dark, trying to impress them on his memory. A fine adventurer I am, he thought. He was not even out of the village yet, and already he was homesick. But he did not stop looking.

Don't be too hard on yourself, Rand. You're not coming back, not in this lifetime, and maybe even not in the next. Also your home is several miles away so you're further off than all the others.

A black shape flew slowly across the silvery ball of the moon. Rand’s involuntary jerk on the reins halted the gray. A bat, he thought weakly, but he knew it was not.

Meet the draghkar. I'm not quite certain where their name comes from (it seems to be a dragon variant), but they're pretty obviously (suc/in)cubi with hints of siren or vampire. Like the other variants of Shadowspawn seen thus far, draghkar are made from human beings, which makes me wonder: is there some sort of Fade equivalent to them, like what Trollocs have? Or is the genetic manipulation severe enough that the channeler gene doesn't exist in them, so no such throwbacks occur? Both options are frightening in different ways.

Also note that despite being potentially really effective threats against our heroes (one almost takes out Moiraine in book two after all), they pretty much drop off the face of the earth after book five or so. Sanderson brings them back for the Last Battle though, but sadly not in a way that really lets them shine. It might have just been too hard for either author to keep coming up with organic ways to include them that didn't end too much like previous encounters or with the readers going, "Yeah that person should be dead now." Or maybe the gholam ended up filling the same sort of niche too well.

It was Thom Merrilin who answered her hoarsely. “In the war that ended the Age of Legends, worse than Trollocs and Halfmen were created.” Moiraine’s head jerked toward him as he spoke. Not even the dark could hide the sharpness of her look.

Moiraine was born eons too late-early to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation, but if she could see it, like me she would absolutely hate it when Picard asks the away team what's happening and Riker answers, "Trouble" or something else that is only an answer in the most useless sense of the word. She really doesn't appreciate it coming from someone who knows they need to be quiet and whose contributions are doing nothing but scaring the children she's trying to kidnap. Thom, meanwhile, really doesn't appreciate it when women are Aes Sedai in his presence. Naturally, Jordan thinks they're soul mates.

But that's an unsatisfying romance for another book, and we're closing out another chapter, bringing us closer to the somewhat unsatisfying romance in this book! Next time: The Road to Taren Ferry!

[mischievouschan4]

I have read Transference several times, and love your take on QuiObi. What is your fave SW ship, and also, what is your favorite QuiObi fic or series? Mine is Re-Entry by Flamethrower

Omgggg @dhawerdaverd, you're making me cry! I'm literally still amazed that people want to read it once, let alone several times! THANK YOU!!!!

Honestly, QuiObi was what got me back into the SW fandom way back in 2022, and even though I was quickly swayed into Obikin (preference is AniObi 😈), I think I gotta stay true to my first. QuiObi, especially after reading Master and Apprentice, is just so juicy. So much potential!

That being said, I need to shoutout my fav QuiObi author, @thesilverqueenlady for playing a big part in my obsession hahaha I literally love every single one of their works, but recent highlights include:

Submission of the Conquered

And the series Luminous Elements Are We

I'm a sucker for some good angst and a guaranteed happy ending 🙌

Now... if we're talking rarepairs, QuiObiAni is my go-to, obviously hehehehe 😁 and I LOVE @dreaminghour's work:

The series A Family Affair (probably some of the hottest smut I've read in my LIFE, part 3 was just *chefs kiss* but this one is a bit spicy, so heed the tags and read at your own risk, please!)

Unmoored (one of two pieces of fanwork that finally kicked me into gear to start writing Transference)

Alrighty LOL sorry if that was TMI about my preferences 🙈 Please keep this a judgement free zone!

(I will read Re-Entry at some point, it's just... very intimidating to start, and I've found that I can't write AND read at the same rate that I used to at the same time. But feel free to wax poetic about it to me! Maybe that'll encourage me to start sooner!)

Thank you so much for the asks, and I so appreciate your continued support for my writing 💟💟💟

[thevikingwoman]

Timbermaster Beatin is one of my wol, Meryta's close friends. I really enjoyed the ARR carpenter quests, and couldn't leave these fools alone.

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV | Words: 1542 | Read on Ao3

Beatin x Gairhard, Beatin & Meryta Khatin | early/mid HW | fluff Rating: Mature. Slice of life, Meryta tries to help, romance, re-kindling relationship, implied sex, fools in love

Distance

Meryta barely dares to show her face in Gridania, but once she does, she’s inexplicably met with support from the locals. It wasn’t something she expected, given how they treat outsiders. Perhaps she no longer is one, and it allows her to let her guard down a little.

Now she’s making her way to the Carpenter’s Guild, as she is wont to do when she finds herself in Gridania. It’s late afternoon, the sunshine casting a warm light on the wooden building, the waterwheel happily turning in the stream.

Timbermaster Beatin is there, intently focused on a newly crafted maple staff. An apprentice’s work, surely.

“What do you think, Meryta?” he says, when she approaches, casting a glance over his shoulder. “Decent, but not as good as your first tries.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think I can be the judge of that. I’ll defer to your expert opinion, Guild Master."

“How are you doing, Meryta? I’m glad to see you here.”

“Well enough for the circumstances. The Fortemps family has been most welcoming. How are you, Master Beatin?”

“Things are fine, the new apprentices are adequate, as you can discern for yourself. I’m glad there is always new faces interested in woodworking.” He gestures at the staff in front of him.

“I’m glad the guild is well. How are you?” Meryta presses on. “How is Captain Gairhard?”

Master Beatin fidgets.

“He’s well, I suppose. Off on some mission.”

“Beatin, pray tell me you did not have another argument.”

“We did not!”

“Surely, you do talk more often, no more hiding in the workshop.”

She keeps her voice gentle and teasing, but she wants to grab the staff and beat him over the head.

“I – we do talk, but perhaps not as often as I would like. Every time he goes off on a mission – I know it’s his job and all…” Beatin shakes his head and sighs. “I simply do not know what to say. I am but working here, not out there risking my life.”

“Have you told him how you feel?”

Beatin draws in a sharp breath, and Meryta remembers to be gentle, no matter how the staff is tempting her. The sunstone will come off, surely.

“You should let him know you’re worried, at least. It’s not – it’s not a bad thing to know people worry, or do not think you’re invincible.” Or a convenient weapon to point at a problem.

“I will think of it,” Beatin says, a finality to his words.

It is but two days later when an errand takes her to the Adder’s Nest, and Meryta spots Captain Gairhard leaning against the wall inside.

“Greetings, Captain Gairhard. How are you?”

“Ah, Meryta. All is well here, we just returned last night from a run-in with the Ixhal in North Shroud. Nothing me and my unit couldn’t handle. The crab bow is performing well.”

“I’m glad to hear so, Gairhard. Pray tell me, have spoken to Beatin recently?”

“Not since I’ve returned, but do now worry. I believe things are – settled between us.”

Meryta nods.

“Good talking to you Gairhard. Stay safe.”

“Same to you, Meryta.”

She hurries to the carpenter’s guild, nods at Corgg by the door. Timbermaster Beatin is in the back, as she expected.

“Meryta? Did you find the owner of the spear?”

“No luck so far, but I have a good lead.”

“That is well.”

“I met Captain Gairhard just earlier. He is back for his mission.”

Beatin lights up, and then his shoulder slumps a little, all the more obvious for his height.

“I’m glad he is back safe – mayhap I merely wished he’d come see me all the same.”

 Here we go again, she thinks, do you really want to do this again?

“You should invite him to dinner,” she says out loud instead.

“To dinner?” Beatin almost sputters.

“Invite him to your home, make a nice dinner, tell him that you’re happy he’s safe, and that you worry. It would be nice.”

“A dinner between friends… it has been a while. I supposed he always liked my stew.”

Meryta beams and claps his arm. “I’d even make a dessert I’ve recently acquired the recipe for, these Fig Bavarois are very popular in Ishgard, for a good reason.”

“Dessert too? Yes, I will invite him.”

---

The stew is simmering on the stove. There’s a pile of raw planks against the wall, but he’s truly not bringing work home – the grain was interesting and he wants to make a shelf for his living room – but now he halfway regrets it’s there. But his work is his work, and if his friend will argue; so be it.

Everything is in order. It’s too late to cancel. Meryta’s dessert is on the counter, gorgeous and precise slices of figs adorning the tiny tarts – figs from Dravania she said, fancy like he is some sort of noble! – she has good hands and an eye for details regardless of what she turns to. No, he promised. It will be fine.

It is fine. Gairhard barely comments on the planks (and the tools too, left in a box in the corner). It’s easy, their friendship, their closeness rushing back like a quiet comfort as they talk. They talk about big things and small things, the day to day life that goes on about them. The stew was good and the wine was good too, Gairhard filling their glasses with the last of it. It’s perhaps more measured than when they were younger, but it’s similar enough.

“I regret we didn’t do this sooner,” he blurts out, like a fool. He’s already apologized, a while ago, for his temper. But that’s not what he means. The slow way they fell apart, the way he pushed Gairhard away out of his own foolish fear. The rest of these words won’t come though.

“So do I,” Gairhard says, “and this too.”

The other man holds his gaze as he reaches across the table, and takes Beatin’s hand, turning it over as he does, Gairhard callouses rough against his own. It’s careful and deliberate and slow enough that Beatin could withdraw his hand at any time. He doesn’t, and he remembers being much younger and bolder, but just as foolish.

“Gairhard, I – “

He can’t bear it, the distance, the table between them (he made the table long ago, out of beautiful rosewood), the plates and the wineglasses preventing him from pulling the other man close. Beatin gets up and around it all, and now he pulls Gairhard up and into a kiss, growing fervent and needy the moment their lips meet. Forthwith they’re touching each other, running hands up arms and down backs and tearing at clothes; far too many clothes.

Beatin is breathless and his glasses askew.

“My bedroom, if I may?”

“You may indeed.”

They make it down the corridor, hurried, kissing and he’s ravenous, but too old for a fuck on the floor; against the wall (or like years ago, on a moonlit roof), and finally they reach his bedroom. He’s neat enough and the bed is made, despite not thinking he’d bring anyone (Gairhard, it’s always been Gairhard) here tonight. He’s a fool, but he’s not alone, and with a wide grin he pushes Gairhard onto the bed.

They’re careful now, clothes slowly removed to reveal an expanse of skin. They have time, and comfort to explore, and Beatin does, running his hands over scars, old scars but not old enough for him to know. Gairhard is a warrior, and Beatin is struck that he could have been there, seen every one of them fresh.

“Pray accept my apologies,” he mumbles, tracing raised tissue across Gairhard’s chest. “I should not have let my fear for your life keep me away.”  

“Only if you accept mine,” Gairhard replies. “My own regrets are many.”

He nods and kisses him, and continues his exploration, hands on shoulders, untying laces of pants, an apology (a rebuke) for every scar he finds.

Soon enough they’re both naked and entangled in Beatin’s bed, and all excuses and worries and sorries and regrets fade away into the night, along with the time and yalms between them.

---

It is a while before Meryta is back in Gridania, months spent trekking through Dravania and beyond and changed for the journey. This time, she doesn’t find Beatin in the guild, and she’s pleased, it’s late and the stars are already blinking in the twilight sky.

She does find him in the Canopy, sharing a mead with Gairhard.

“Am I intruding?”

“Meryta, please sit.”

“What news, my friend?”

“I have some stories to tell, but first, how are you, my friends? Ah, and I hope you enjoyed the sweets.”

“They were utterly delicious. Your deft hands are truly skilled in many areas. Remarkable you also have time to save us all.”

Gairhard chuckles. “Thank you Meryta, what he’s not telling is that they were delicious for breakfast the next day. We never did get to them that night.”

He winks at Beatin, who blushes deeply and fidgets with his glasses.  Satisfied, Meryta leans back in her chair.

“I am pleased you enjoyed. Anon, let me tell you of the Moogles who live in the skies…”

[gamesception]

let's read rgu chapter 21, part 1.

Late again today. Slept in plus lost time doing more set up of the new toy. I'll make a separate post about that later. In the mean time, we've started chapter 21, or I guess volume 4 of the graphic novel collections, out of I believe 5.

I'm a little confused by that, because I'm pretty sure we're not doing the Black Rose arc. There's just not time enough to do that AND have a final confrontation with Akio. On the other hand, if Akio is the only thing we're doing for the rest of the manga, 7 chapters feels like maybe too much. But we are doing actually new stuff now - threatening Utena's friends with an arson attack is something that never happened in the anime, and is a solid move for raising the stakes and drawing audience heat, though as I mentioned last time if he had made Anthy do it I think that would have been more dramatic, drawn more heat, and fit Akio's character better. But then again, I don't really know this version of Akio yet.

this chapter in the scan opens with a brief recap. I don't know if the original manga chapter started with that, or if it was something added to the reprint volume.

We also get this recap here showing manga Anthy much more enthusiastically agreeing to follow Akio's orders.

the tag team manipulation of Utena starts with Anthy arranging for Utena to wake up late & be late for classes, stopping Touga from acting as utena's squire by redirecting him towards student council responsibilities, only... wasn't he supposed to quit the student council?

Anyway, Anthy doesn't wake Utena, but wouldn't you know it Akio just happens to show up with his Fancy Car just in time to give Utena a ride.

Only, Akio couldn't have known exactly when Utena was going to wake up, so now I'm imagining him just idling outside her dorm for like two hours, a stupid smarmy grin on his face the whole time, thinking "I'm so clever and devious!"

But Akio doesn't actually take Utena to class, instead taking her out on a joyride to take in scenic views in the area.

Akio's laying it on a little thick here, and you might criticize Utena for falling for it, except this bastard has been literally grooming her since she was six years old to be specifically vulnerable to exactly this kind of behavior. But Utena is savvy enough to think of how Akio is behaving similarly to Touga, who she knows was manipulating her - though she hasn't pieced together that Touga's whole manipulative affect was stolen wholesale from this bastard here.

Mentioning Touga briefly cracks Akio's mask, though.

"My former apprentice! How dare at fool defy me for your sake!"

I choose to read Utena's expression in this panel as being concerned by Akio's change in demeanor rather than struck by the sort of compliment, but it could be either way.

But before that tangent in the conversation can go any further, Utena slips and trips into the water, soaking her shoes, and Akio...

Yeesh. It's doesn't go any further than that, but still.

Back home Utena and Anthy have this conversation, where Anthy directly asks if Utena's falling for Akio. What is she thinking here? Is she afraid for Utena? Jealous over Akio?

Either way, Anthy's upset enough to go to Akio about it. It's still not clear here whether she's afraid that Akio will hurt Utena, or leave Anthy for her. For his part, Akio seems completely unaware of her concern, focused more on trying to come up with the absolute creepiest and grossest dialog possible, as befits 'Prince Licky-Licky'. "Your body will have to be put to Good Use"... Gross. Gross, Akio. That's gross. Go to jail.

That line - "What if she doesn't want to?" does definitely sound like Anthy being sincerely worried /for Utena/. But Akio's so wound up in his masterful manipulations that he doesn't catch the decidedly not Rose-Bridely thought.

...

There's more to this chapter, but I'm kind of burnt out and busy today, and this post is late enough already, so I'm going to end off here and finish the rest tomorrow.

[black-rabbit-razumikhin]

July Reading Wrap-Up

The amount of books I got through this much is statistically anomalous. For the most part, I really enjoyed these and some of them I think even deserve re-reads in the future. Also working on going to the library more often and getting back into that habit.

~~~~

Reclaiming The L-Word edited by Alleyn Diesel - Even though this book is about 20 years old now, it still feels relatable and an important window into part of global queer history. 4/5

The Sword-Master's Apprentice by Edward Burke - I enjoyed the story and the layout of the lessons and anecdotes far more than I enjoyed this specific writing style. 3/5

E=mc^2 by David Bodanis - Anyone who knows this blog knows that I'm not in STEM, but this book was easy to follow, interesting and exceptionally informative about the history of a topic always espoused as far too complicated for anybody to understand. 4/5

The Business by Iain Banks - My second Banks book this year and just as entertaining as the first, and the ending had me yelling at the pages. 4/5

Karate-Do: My Way Of Life by Gichin Funakoshi - One of those books where the line between anecdote, fable and reality is so deliciously blurred. 3/5

The Call Of The Wild by Jack London - That was far more brutal than I expected going in, why is this marketed as a children's book? 3/5

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - I've had this book for years and never opened it; what I read is so far from what I was expecting. 4/5

The Kojiki - The august deity augusted down the stairs augustly. 3/5

Kyoto's Gion Festival by Mark Teeuwen - Hands down, this is the best and most comprehensive social history of Japan I have read so far; really, really impressed. 4/5

[eddis-not-eeddis]

If you like the religion of TQT, I recommend Lois McMaster Bujold's World of Five Gods series, specifically Paladin of Souls. It follows Ista, the former mad queen. You don't need to read the series in any particular order.

If you like the politics of TQT, The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison has a lot of the court machinations and a main character who is unbelievably sympathetic. We all adore Maia. The crossover of fans who love TQT and fans who love TGE is quite significant.

Again, if you enjoyed the politics, you might like the Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith. I just generally enjoy Sherwood Smith's female protagonists, they are each deeply relatable, in very different ways. The Trouble With Kings was another of her more political fantasy novels that I remember enjoying.

If you like sneaky protagonists, Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak has two scheming protagonists who plot and plan and trick their way in and out of all sorts of trouble.

If you like sneaky bastards who are always getting themselves into Situations(tm), look into the Vorkosigan Saga, but Lois McMaster Bujold. I don't recommend all the books (and they are definitely geared towards a more adult audience), but the first two Miles Books are really fun. The Warriors Apprentice and The Vor Games are the two I liked. Barrayar was also kind of fun, in a very different way. Just a heads up: There are a lot of touchy subjects in these books that I don't think were necessarily handled very well. It just depends on your threshold for certain things. You can do your own research and decide if you think they're worth giving a shot.

In the same vein (sneaky bastard protagonists) Moist von Lipwig from Going Postal by Terry Pratchett is fabulous. He's not as subtly brilliant as Gen is, but he's still so much fun to read, and Pratchett is a master of his craft.

River Secrets by Shannon Hale has a very endearing protagonist who is kind of that "outside looking in" catalyst figure. I can't compare Razo to Costis point by point, they are very different characters in very different stories, but he has that endearing 'everyman' kinda vibe going on that worked so well for Costis in KoA.

For books that are completely different vibes from TQT series, but are still enjoyed by myself and other TQT fans:

The Lockwood and Co. series by Jonathan Stroud. This is an alternate reality fantasy series where the world ended up infested by ghosts, with a fabulous "slice of life" angle that makes it an annual re-read for me.

The City Between Series, by W. R. Gingell. An urban fantasy without the ick factor that a lot of urban fantasy seems to have. You have to get through the first book, which isn't necessarily that great (not terrible, but suffers from having to do too much set-up in not enough time and it fell a little short in my opinion) but the rest of the series is really good. This series features "slice of life" very heavily along with the monster slaying, which has made this my new main comfort series.

finished the queen's thief series AND IM SO SAD cuz now i have no more books to listen to :( so idk anyone who's a fan of that have any suggestions?

[redrose-arrow]

RedRose (re)reads: The Burning Bridge

aka the book that i somehow rarely think about but that’s actually so so good  

“Halt allowed himself a grim smile” that sends shivers down my spine, ngl

“nothing is impassable” i know this isn’t a reference to halt’s adventure in tey2 but i will still interpret as such

i love how, when they first go galloping towards the wargals, it’s made so clear that Halt’s the master and Will’s the apprentice. idk i just appreciate it, because it makes Will’s growth all the better

reading Will’s reaction to seeing the wargals for the first time hits different after reading TRR6

Will panicking and Halt comforting him >>>

do y’all reckon that Morgarath was particularly pleased that Halt of all people found the fake battle plans and this would’ve been responsible for Araluen losing the war? because i do.

“the tall man who moved with the east grace of youth” i am SCREAMING it sounds like Gilan is old

Will imitating Halt >>

Halt messing with Will >>>>

Gilan being amused by Will >>>>>>

Halt and his two apprentices >>>>>>>>>>

we deserve more Halt Will and Gilan. there i said it.

i forgot Will literally exploding of curiosity LMAO

“what use would i have?” “none” i genuinely can’t breathe

chapter two is essentially a constant up and down of making Will feel better and then worse about himself. beautiful. also mean.

you, halt, grim?? i can just hear gilan’s tone go higher and higher

the sir scene is top notch comedy ngl

it’s so cute that Will wanted to say goodbye to all of his friends but “particularly Alyss”. teenage love <3

okay but can we please just take a second to 1) appreciate how good of a teacher Gilan is and 2) how good of a swordsman he is??? i just hope he got to do more teaching <3

“but i’ll make tea if anyone chooses to tell me.” TEA. TEA. TEA.

please tell me Horace got to meet David. he’s so in awe, it’s what he deserves. maybe after Morgarath’s defeat, Gilan tells his father and David visits Horace in the infirmary. yes, I’d like that.

Gilan follows Halt, Halt keeps him for the week. that’s kidnapping lmao. (i know he talked about it with David before but still)

“i’ll probably lop your head of your shoulders” okay i take it back, maybe Gilan’s not ready to be a teacher yet (jk)

lmao not Will being reminded of Halt by Gilan’s reaction to his questions

idk why but it just warms my heart knowing that Horace will one day receive a sword made out of similar materials as the Ranger knives. he’ll never have to worry about sharpening his sowrd after training the double knife sword defence again. 

ok i just reread my enthusiastic “TEA TEA TEA” comment but also,,,, it’s double funny. because isn’t Will essentially asking for the tea on MacNeil??? tea indeed. 

WHAT ABOUT AN AXEMAN???

jump off the cliff. it’ll be less messy that way. ASDKLJFASDKJ F

1) no gilan’s not ready to teach; 2) gilan is so done with the boys i love it and i respect that; 3) i’m not the only one who still dreams about a fic about will jumping off a cliff, right? 

why am i so excited about a history detail like the plague??

not Will choosing what Tug likes over what he himself likes. and not Gilan using that to his advantage. 

it’s so cute that Will is admiring Horace’s swordmanship. literally the cutest thing ever. they’re babies. 

hi friendly reminder that when something goes wrong, the first thing Will thinks about his how he’s disappointed Halt and that’s NOT something that makes me feel better. 

Gilan and Halt really do have a tendency just to let Horace fight his own battles, huh? i appreciate it. 

istg Gilan is one of Horace’s biggest supporters. genuinely. 

Gilan admiring Horace’s swordmanship is me admiring everything Gilan does. i’m kidding i’m not

CASSANDRAAAAAAAAAAA

gorlog how she’s grown onto me <3

i am genuinely so curious to Gilan and Cassandra’s relationship. i mean, when she sees him it’s the first time she feels safe. that feeling has to have stayed. 

literally she panicks again after waking up UNTIL she sees Gilan. i mean, mood, but like... see above point ig 

i didn’t once doubt Cassandra’s story but now that i know what i know,,, the details, i love them

“self doubt is a disease. and if it gets out of control, it becomes self fulfilling.” why do the side characters have the best motiviational quotes??? not that i mind, tbh

little bit taken aback by the reminder that rangers have the authority to hang people. idk what Araluen’s justice system is, but it’s interesting. 

“i could hang them. but i can’t” “because you’re not in araluen?” “because there’s no trees” ICONIC

“in the past, he’d found that advice given by senior rangers usually turned out to be worth following” so when not, huh? when not? i wanna know. what was the useless advice and who gave it? 

Halt says Halt says Halt says Halt says

ngl i don’t know any of these terms in English, lmao. the fissure??? nah that sounds fake

i love it when Horace figures out important stuff. he says “i don’t get it” and Will all but calls him dumb, and then Horace makes the most important point and helps them figure out that the plans are fake. 

HALT HAS A SAYING

Erak honey i love you but not yet. definitely not yet. 

i am, however, already in love with how the skandians talk to and about the wargals. quality content. 

omg i forgot how soft i can get for extremely sleep deprived gilan arriving at the war council’s tent. AND HALT. AND DAVID. 

“that was the voice that had meant comfort and security to him throughout his five years as an apprentice.” it might be allergies (kinda are) but my oh my, i will cry

lmao as if Duncan wouldn’t respond until the “Celtica” comment. nah, that man heard of Gilan’s arrival and just got scared his maps would be wrong again. 

so Arald has ties with the King of Celtica himself. interesting. idk where i am going with this but i am intrigued. 

no but i’m not okay with reading about duncan hearing that his daughter is dead. he doesn’t deserve this. he doesn’t. last time, his wife died and he had to go off and fight a war. his daughter was the only good thing that came out of that. and now she’s dead??? and he has to go off and fight another war against moragarath??? nononononononono

i know that john flanagan said that Madelyn wasn’t named after Madelydd but she was. she was. i make the rules now. 

“I’m the King. And for the King, private matters come last. Matters of the Kingdom come first.” is what I read and then my book fell shut and i gasped. 

Halt literally sitting by Gilan’s bedside >>> I am sure he and David just took shifts. 

Gilan just keeps running into Duncan’s tent and telling him he’s wrong, isn’t he? lmao 

i want an entire book about David and Duncan’s friendship. i genuinely believe that they’re good friends. 

David looking at Halt for an explanation and Halt just shrugging. they might be both his dads but no one ever knows what Gilan is up to. 

Will’s growth in shooting at wargals <33

look i am already loving Erak’s thinking. how he knows Morgarath’s plan is going to fail. he doesn’t wanna hand Evanlyn over to the wargals. i respect that. 

we were robbed of Horace being debriefed by the king. robbed, i say. 

i appreciate Arald and Halt feeling the loss of Will. so so much. 

i want to see that scene of Morgarath speaking for the first time. people will simp and i will not be able to judge them for it. 

Erak is such a liar lmao i love it

lmao not Chubb being the Kingdom’s back-up force 

David is shining and I appreciate that

I love how everyone is convinced that Skandians are approaching but it really is still Halt and Gilan

“Halt is alive?????” Gilan grins. “Oh yes sir.”

Halt is a strategic genius and part of that credit should probably go to his teachers in Clonmel. 

i hate this about myself but i absolutely love romanticising wars and battles. 

not again Morgarath losing his absolute mind over Halt defeating him 

poor Horace being terrified of war, i hate this wake-up call for him :(

i love how Halt’s just “idc what you say - if i shoot, i’m gonna be too fast for you anyways”

i do wish we’d seen more of Crowley, tbh

“as Royal Battlemaster, I can respond to any challenge made to you” David honey-

SIR DAVID WAS THE FOREMOST TOURNAMENT KNIGHT OF THE KINGDOM. THE FOREMOST TOURNAMENT KNIGHT. OF THE KINGDOM. THE FOREMOS-

David: “let’s outsmart Morgarath, he’ll challenge Duncan and I’ll fight”

Morgarath: “i’ll challenge Halt because i hate him”

also just “I challenge Halt the Ranger” idk what’s funnier, that or the idea that he could’ve said “Halt Arratay”

and Halt just goes “kay cool” like no, Halt

“i can challenge anyone” he shouldn’t have said that. 

HORACE NO-

i’m not kidding i’m not gonna make it to the end of this book without crying

“i’ll stop you if i have to. but don’t make me do that. we’ve been friends for far too long” yup, tears. 

Gilan’s eye for swordmanship is incredibly, he’s always the first to notice how it’s going to procede. 

“Horace felt his throat go dry as he realised he was now fighting for his life” samesamesamesamesame

i don’t want to read this combat. 

DON’T THROW YOURSELF IN FRONT OF A HORSE

‘It was Gilan who realised what was going to happen, a split second before it did.’

1) i appreciate Gilan being taken up in the ranks 

2) side note: i’m curious as to what all the other rangers are doing tbh. are they there? are some of them back in their fiefs to keep the peace? where are they and what are they doing

3) anyways -- DOUBLE KNIFE SWORD DEFENCE BABY

‘he felt a ridiculous surge of hope’ YES

HORACE KILLED MORGARATH HORACE KILLED MORGARATH HORACE KILLED MORGARATH

i’ve read this book so many times i lost count, but it’s been so long, i feel like i’m reading this for the first time again. the FEELINGS. 

i stocked up on snacks so i don’t have to get out of my room so that my housemates don’t have to see my teary eyes. i am crying. i am. 

‘Horace, bruised, battered and bleeding’ my boy :(

RODNEY ILY AND ILY BEING HORACE’S DAD

okay i return to the idea of David also visiting Horace in the infirmary

i want to bury my face in a pillow and scream. 

i love that Halt is still so respectful towards the dying Skandian. after everything, still. 

‘I will find you, Will’

don’t do this to me

no

not my heart

i am in so much pain

this book is so good why don’t we talk about it more often????

i just checked, this is almost 1900 words of notes of me having feelings and thoughts over this book. i should talk about it more often. i should. i really really should. 

[aprodaydreamer]

So my brain hates me. I re-watched OWK today, after watching the documentary and now I want to read about show!Obi-Wan and ObiKin and their children. So I was thinking about my Pregnant Anakin fic idea and I was like what if:

Anakin is pregnant in ROTS and only agrees to be Sidious’ apprentice to protect the twins. And well, everything he does after that is just that, him protecting his children by obeying his ‘Master’, while Leia and Luke grow up basically in their family quarters, never allowed to leave, nor explore, and they don’t really know what’s happening in the Galaxy... ‘Til they are “kidnapped” by rebels and/or have an accident and end up in Obi-Wan care and then they tell him about their Ani and Obi-Wan realizes what trully happened 10 years ago and decides to save Anakin so they can live happy ever after the four of them.  😭 😭 😭

also obvi suitless Anakin unless you want the twins to have sequels from that fight too....

[giurochedadomani]

The thing with Mihawk is. My hc with him is that Something Terrible happened in his past to get him to behave like he does in the manga/anine and making the Marines be the clerics in this au would fit, with their ranks and all, and would let us make Mihawk into some sort of betrayed recruit who was accused of, but didn't commit Atrocities, or something like that. Thus him being Very Against ever again being part of a crew/party, thinking that he's better off alone, etc.

And. And. The important thing here is that the bards also have minor healing capabilities. And I've told you all of this to ask you to picture Shanks trying to help Mihawk with his amnesia and all he's able to do is the magic equivalent of putting a band aid on his forehead. Mihawk is very charmed despite himself, thinking is very sweet. Meanwhile, buggy, who knows Shanks just did it with the intention of rizzing Mihawk up, is gagging in the background.

Also yes!! Bg3 is a d&d game, everything works the same ❤️😂 love moria being a tiefling, yes!!! Just-- maybe a wizard? Because there's wizard school of necromancy, which would be fantastic for him. Maybe with Perona as her apprentice?

The main storyline of the game is getting to baldur's gate and defeating the cult of the absolute, which is wrecking havoc across the land with very bloody murders and whatnot. Depending on your choices, you can defeat the cult and free the land or defeat the cult and rule as the absolute. In order to become the absolute you gotta let the tadpole consume you (the tadpole that the mindflyers inject in you when they kidnap you at the start of the game). The tadpole gives you extra powers, and for some reason the members of the party don't start experiencing the syptoms of an oncoming transformation right away (which opens the possibility that they maybe could keep their new powers?). 

(in this au, the reason would be the effect of Mihawk's magic sword. Not that they know (at the start of the campaign)

So maybe moria is the one who introduces the concept of the cult of the absolute to the party, talking about how his very beloved crew / party / apprentices were murdered by the cultists (and have since then been resurrected as his zombies)? And only Perona survived / he took her in later.

And also, I was absolutely at loss for doffy as well, but I've been re reading about the classes, and maybe an archfey warlock? They can make enemies attack each other, which is fantastic for our resident pink master of puppets 😝 no idea who did he sell his soul to, though. Maybe his story is connected to Croc's

He clearly wants to take over baldur's gate, maybe he's the son of the deposed old grand Duke and has come back to take what he thinks is rightfully his, cultists be damned. Maybe in the past he tested waters with Croc about doing this coup d'état and ruling together, but it didn't work out.

Part of me wants to keep Shanks as a human and make Mihawk and elf just for the bittersweetness of it all. And maybe because the cultists can temp Mihawk away from his mission, offering the possibility of making shanks an elf.

Which. Now that I'm thinking about it. Idek what disagreement they have in this au, but it happens right before Shanks is kidnapped by the cult-- and a shapeshifter (one of the main baddies) takes his place.

And also, perhaps buggy as a half elf or a drow? Enterely raised by humans, of course, alongside with Shanks. So shanks has some ideas about what to expect of elves, but they're never quite right, because I'm a big sucker for cultural differences 😂😂😂

But for the rest I've got no idea, what would you make them be?

Not to mix together all my obsessions, but how about a bg3 au ? Mihawk is the party's cleric, because just the thought of Mihawk being the one you've got to go for healing spells is hilarious to me.

More concretely, he's an extremely loyal follower of Sharr, our lady of loss. The goddess has sequestered all of his memories until he fulfills his mission, of which he only knows that he's got to go to baldur's gate (maybe his huge magic sword and his disconnected dreams that seem to show him uh. Purging the temple of heretics might have something to do with it. Who knows).

Shanks and Buggy are respectively the party's bard and de facto leader and the rogue. They went to baldur's gate for Roger's execution, had their massive fallout...... And were among the people kidnapped when the mindflyer ship attacked, alongside with Mihawk and the rest. The fact that the tadpole the mindflyers injected them gives everyone in the group extra powers will definitely be a source of fight between shanks and buggy

Crocodile is our very very dark version of the blade of frontiers, aka the party's warlock! He sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his sand powers. Nowadays he's revered as a protector of the land, and he aims to take over baldur's gate, but the devil might catch him before he finalizes his plan.

There's still a bunch of classes left, druid, fighter, barbarian, monk, paladin and ranger, but idek who else to include.