#I’m glad I’m not out there killing people

[anamericangirl]

I always read the articles you fearmongers post, including this one, so I can know what actually happened and let everyone know you’re lying. So I’m pleased to go through it with you and help you understand it better :)

“Such as?”

Such as the fact that Texas abortion laws don’t ban miscarriage treatment and explicitly state that abortion is allowed in cases like this one and they leave that out because they want to blame it on the abortion laws.

“Although US abortion bans – which more than a dozen states have enacted in the two years since the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade – technically permit the procedure in medical emergencies, doctors across the country have said that the laws are worded so vaguely that they don’t know when they can legally intervene. Instead, many physicians say they have been forced to wait until a patient is on the brink of death – then attempt to pull them back.”

So poorly written legislation is delaying needed medical care and making what should be routine procedures more dangerous. “

No, poorly written legislation is not delaying needed medical care and making routine procedures more dangerous. The problem is either a lying media or stupid doctors who apparently can’t read or are lying to try and seize an opportunity to be activists are delaying needed medical care and making routine procedures more dangerous.

Claiming “doctors just can’t understand it 🤷‍♀️” doesn’t explain how the legislation is at fault especially since the journalist was able to understand abortion is allowed in medical emergencies. So if a journalist understands that but the doctor doesn’t that hardly seems like the fault of legislation.

I don’t think any of the doctors have actually read the abortion law in Texas and I know you haven’t. So let’s look at the applicable part of the legislation Section 170A.002

(a) A person may not knowingly perform, induce, or attempt an abortion.

(b) The prohibition under Subsection (a) does not apply if:

(1) the person performing, inducing, or attempting the abortion is a licensed physician;

(2) in the exercise of reasonable medical judgment, the pregnant female on whom the abortion is performed, induced, or attempted has a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless the abortion is performed or induced; and

(3) the person performs, induces, or attempts the abortion in a manner that, in the exercise of reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive unless, in the reasonable medical judgment, that manner would create:

(A) a greater risk of the pregnant female's death; or

(B) a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant female.

Any doctor who claims they can’t understand that if they, in their own medical judgment, determine the situation to be an emergency that they can perform an abortion and do not need permission would be saying they don’t know what “reasonable medical judgment” is and if that’s the case they are a dumbass doctor.

So you or the article are going to have to explain how this is too confusing for doctors to understand. What is poorly written about this legislation?

“So this VERY clearly is a law, as written, killing this woman. Like the only arguments here are if you don’t understand what’s going on.”

lol I’m glad you admitted the only arguments you have are if you don’t understand what’s going on because that’s clearly your issue. No one who reads the paragraphs you posted from the article would see how that is VERY clearly the fault of the law because the article was really vague about the law and they don’t even link to it so that people could see what they are talking about and they mention nothing specifically about what’s in the law. So it’s only VERY clearly the law if you just believe what you’re told and are too lazy to do any independent research. But thankfully I’ve posted the law for you so you can read it and see that the claims the article makes it about it aren’t true. Let’s go through the paragraphs you posted that you believe make it VERY clear that the problem is the law for some reason.

“Barnica went to the hospital with cramps when she was just over 17 weeks pregnant on 2 September 2021, the day after the Texas six-week abortion ban took effect, according to ProPublica.”

Ok so we’re clear there’s a six week abortion ban in Texas.

“Barnica’s cervix was dilated at nearly 9cm, a condition that left her vulnerable to fast-acting infections, ProPublica reported. Normally, in cases like Barnica’s doctors will offer medication to speed up labor or perform a procedure to empty the uterus”

Ok so now they see she is at risk of infection and the guardian lists two options that are usually done in this case.

1. Offering medication to speed up labor.

2. “Empty the uterus” (aka abortion)

“But Barnica’s fetus still had a heartbeat. And under the Texas ban, doctors could not intervene unless a “medical emergency” – a term that was not defined in the law – developed.”

And here’s where the dishonesty starts coming in. Under the Texas abortion ban, abortion is banned at six weeks unless there is a medical emergency. And the guardian claims the term was not defined in the law but as I have shown by posting the law itself it clearly states that what constitutes an emergency is up to the doctor assessing the situation. So if a doctor believes, using reasonable medical judgment, that the situation is an emergency abortion is permitted. Any doctor could have examined her, determined in their own judgment that it was an emergency and performed an abortion. And every doctor in Texas knows that.

Besides, even if doctors don’t know what “reasonable medical judgment” is (which in that case makes them bad doctors) and stupidly believed they didn’t have the authority to declare the abortion medically necessary this is all in reference to option 2: “emptying the uterus.”

We still have another treatment option.

Here’s the paragraph you’re leaving out between the one above and the one below.

About 40 hours after Barnica’s second arrival at the hospital, doctors stopped being able to detect a fetal heartbeat, according to the report. A doctor expedited her labor using medications and delivered Barnica’s fetus. But after she returned home, Barnica’s bleeding continued and worsened.

So Barnica has been treated at the hospital. Labor is induced and the baby is delivered. The baby has been removed from her uterus - just like would have happened in an abortion - and she is sent home where her condition gets worse.

“Within days, she was back at the hospital, where she died of sepsis involving “products of conception”, according to her autopsy report.”

Just in case you were wondering that means the baby killed her.”

No sweetie, that doesn’t mean the baby killed her. The baby is also a victim in this scenario.

“Multiple experts, including OB-GYNs and maternal fetal medicine specialists, told ProPublica that delaying Barnica’s care ran against the medical standard of care due to the risk of infection.

That bit means that medical experts knew what to do but werent allowed to.”

No dear that bit doesn’t mean medical experts knew what to do but weren’t allowed to. I know your reading comprehension is bad but my gosh you’re really taking some liberties here.

What that bit means is that there was a delay in her care that ran against the medical standard of care. That’s not a law issue, that’s a doctor issue. That doesn’t mean they weren’t allowed to treat her, it means they didn’t treat her fast enough. The word “delay” doesn’t mean “not allowed” it means “a period of time during which something is late or postponed.”

She was treated and they got the baby out of her but they should have done it earlier. They were allowed to do that the entire time but they waited too long. That’s what that bit means.

“So now that we have clearly shown that you projected your own sin of ignorance upon me. Let’s see if you had any other points to make.”

No you haven’t clearly shown that at all. What you have clearly shown, though, is that interpreting news articles is not your strong point.

“Article covered that... there was a heartbeat so no care could be provided due to the Abortion laws in Texas”

And I addressed that. If there’s a medical emergency or severe risk to the mother that restriction does not apply. You even quoted the part of the article that confirmed that and I posted the law for you to read. Read it over as many times as you need to until that important bit of information sticks. So in this situation there was no restriction based on the heartbeat.

“Baby had a heartbeat so their hands were tied. You either didnt read the article, dont understand what you are talking about, or dont care what is written and just pray your audience wont read it.”

Their hands weren’t tied and both you and the article failed miserably in attempting to prove that they were. And they did treat her so clearly their hands weren’t tied which you would know if you had read the article and had any reading comprehension whatsoever which you very obviously do not.

They induced labor and the got the baby out. That was the treatment. But later she developed sepsis and tragically died anyway and ALSO, because I’m SURE you don’t know this, ABORTION WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPENED HERE. Sepsis is also a risk with abortion. If doctors had performed an abortion and sent her home she likely still would have developed sepsis and still would have died.

Really she needed to remain under observance in the hospital so they could have monitored her condition instead of sending her home.

“Wait wait wait... did I not read the article or is the article lying? If these laws aren't preventing this necessary care then there should be a HUGE wave of malpractice lawsuits being taken out against these doctors who " committed malpractice when they saw an opportunity to be activists."

I think the article is lying and I think maybe you did it read it but you’re not good at understanding what you read.

I think there definitely are some malpractice lawsuits that need to happen but the article is lying here because they are blaming abortion laws for the fact that this woman died when as I’ve clearly shown abortion laws had nothing to do with specific case.

The woman was treated, the baby was removed from her uterus and she tragically developed sepsis later on, which would also very likely have occurred with an abortion so you and the article still have yet to say how the abortion laws prevented treatment in this specific case.

The doctors involved in this case haven’t even commented which means the whole article is largely speculation and you really should be ashamed of yourself for being so easy to fool.

I’ve already explained that the heartbeat restriction doesn’t apply so if you say that again you’re objectively wrong and make pro-aborts look even worse than they already do because you’re showing you guys can’t comprehend basic information.

So wait... your argument is that Doctors are sacrificing the lives of patients for political gains? That is a HUGE leap and requires more proof than you insinuating that it might be true. I could, with just as much likelihood, insinuate that you are suggesting such a thing in a completely baseless way because you want to hold on to your political views and win an argument despite facts. So please provide some sort of basis that makes your statement that political human sacrifice is happening in OB/GYN offices in (I think) 14 states across the nation.

No sweetie, my argument is not that doctors are sacrificing live of patients for political gains. My argument is that when the media writes these articles and spreads them around they are lying.

I’m saying the cases did NOT go down the way they reported and doctors are not standing around with their hands tied because of abortion laws you don’t understand. The women they claim died because of abortion bans actually don’t die because of the abortion ban and they die for different reasons.

What I’m saying if the articles were actually being truthful, it would mean doctors were committing malpractice for political gain. But I DON’T think that’s happening because the articles are NOT telling the truth.

Some doctors out there do for sure but the articles you share are mostly just disinformation intended to make people think abortion laws are responsible for deaths they’re not responsible for.

[azaharinflames]

I’m loving your theories on the whole BuckTommy (sorry Lou ilu but the name BuckTommy has stuck with me) arc. So I have to ask… why do you think people (read: fandom people) are convinced this is the last season? I really don’t see ABC/Disney undertaking this big of a show (money and following wise) and being like “yeah we’ll put time and effort into this production, but only for one season”

Thank you! Glad you love them, I feel slightly less of a clown when people understand how I think lol. Also - I was rooting for Tevan hard, and even Firefly, but I've accepted Bucktommy and now it has a special place in my heart.

As for your question... I think it all comes to change.

Let me explain. For shows to have a long life, they have to change. They have to evolve. We cannot feel as if we are tuning in to the same thing every week, especially when the same thing has long become boring. I will put Modern Family (my ultimate comfort show) as an example: the whole eleven seasons are of constant change. We are growing with the characters, we are happy, frustrated, sad, whatever, with their actions and choices. And because they are changing, we want to tune in next week to see what will be next.

911 has a severe issue of lack of change. The characters go through these cycles constantly; we said Buck was in a hamster wheel, but the truth is that every single character is in there, too. The writers are somehow unable to find new storylines or conflicts, that aren't what we have seen already, only this time with a new context.

This is partly the reason why so many people, and why a big part of the GA, latched onto Tommy and BuckTommy so quickly - because they were a breath of fresh air, and they felt like the much-needed novelty we were all expecting. If we don't have them, we go to the same repetitive stories - with Buck, but with everyone else, too, to be honest.

And if there is no change... people get bored. There are just so many times you can see Henren on the brink of losing their kids, or Buck trying to find the one (it's stopped being cute, especially when he just had the perfect partner for him walk away), Eddie being unable to move on or forget Shannon (because as much as he's 'better' - has he actually dealt with it?), Madney having either a kid storyline or a Dough-influenced storyline, Bathena having issues with communicating... eight seasons is a long time of this. And unless they change it up, just how much longer can they go? We joke about Grey's sometimes, but the fact is that they are constantly changing.

So. That's partly it.

But (without wanting to make this a whole novel), there were also rumors that some cast was hesitant to continue. Take this with a grain of salt, please, but rumor has it that Peter was kind of ready to walk away a while ago. He even has said in interviews he cannot do this for much longer, as 911 is a very exigent show to shoot. He even wanted Bobby to be killed off at the S7 opening emergency. Angela has also expressed a desire to be on Broadway, so that could also be conflicting. Again, take it with a grain of salt.

And as for ABC - you're right, they bought 911. But with the upcoming spin-off, one can't help but wonder if it is not complimentary but, rather, a substitute. Perhaps they are planning on moving someone from the OG there, who knows. The fact is that they managed to catch the audience's attention with the OG, enough that if they lose it but immediately have a variation of it, they might tune in. And this new show would be cheaper than OG is right now because let me tell you - it ain't cheap, as far as I am aware.

If you want my personal opinion on this - I am 50-50. I think it would be a very weird final season if this was the last, but I wouldn't be that surprised if we find out it is. I can see them going for a ninth season, but I cannot see them going further than a tenth, and that is being really generous. If they prove me wrong and are willing to adapt to change, I will happily eat my words.

PS: I do think if this is the last season, or even if we have it in the next couple of years, they could bring Tommy back (if they haven't yet), as a sort of rushed HEA. Kind of playing with the whole 'right person, wrong time', just bringing it to the right time finally.

Thanks for the ask <3

[girlwithadragonheart]

Chapter 3 - Kalais "Rook" Mercar

This story contains major spoilers for Dragon Age the Veilguard. Read at your own discretion!!

Rook x Lucanis

Summary: The First Warden completely disrespects Rook and an old friend stands up for her. Rook has a nightmare about her past, and Spite of all people comforts her when she wakes in a panic. It's awkward the next morning when the two wake up on top of each other.

Word Count: 3.8k

Warnings: Spoilers, cursing, mentions of death, mentions of sickness, implied torture, slavery

A/N: For the heaviness of this one I tried to counterbalance it with some light

Chapter 2 DATV Masterlist Chapter 4

The Shadow Dragons reached out to me and said they were having an issue with Blight and Darkspawn along with the Venatori. Neve and I decided to help, and Lucanis was always down to kill cultist bastards. We cleared the secret passage between the shop and the base, coming upon the shocking revelation that the Venatori and the darkspawn were working together somewhat. Or at the very least, not trying to kill each other.

This was problematic at best, and a catastrophe at worst. If the Gods control the Blight, then they control the Darkspawn, and if the Darkspawn don’t attack the Venatori, then the Venatori follow the gods, and it’s all this big confusing loop of a hierarchy that just means we have more bad guys to kill.

When that was finished, Tarquin thanked us and said he was glad I was back. I didn’t realize I had been so sorely missed.

Our next step was to meet with the First Warden at the Cobbled Swan. The Grey Wardens were the most effective tool against the Blight, so we would be needing their help before this was all said and done.

When we entered and I approached, a dark skinned, bald headed man put his hands on his hips. “I am Jowin Glastrum, First Warden and Supreme Commander of Weisshaupt. I received word of your team’s request for Grey Warden assistance after an incursion of the blight at D’Meta’s Crossing. You’re a Shadow Dragon, I hear. A criminal organization of Tevinter insurgents. I was not surprised to learn that you are wanted for numerous offenses, including theft, murder, and wanton destruction of property.”

“Did you also hear that the Shadow Dragons saved me from slavery?” I crossed my arms, tilting my head. “Or that I got those offenses by wrecking a slavery ring? Theft? You mean rescuing enslaved people. Murder? You mean the Venatory cultists who enslaved those people,” I glared.

“And destruction of property?” He questioned.

“Just felt like it,” I shrugged.

“Fine. All I want to know is how a Minrathous crook unleashed the blight.” His words? Condescending. His tone? Even more so.

I took a deep breath. “We’ve been tracking a mage named Solas. He’s actually several thousand years old. In elven mythology, he’s known as Fen’Harel, the Dread Wolf, god of lies.”

“That is a number of titles.”

“Well, Fen’harel is elven for Dread Wolf, so that only counts as one. But yeah, you’re not wrong,” I explained. “Anyway, he wanted to tear down the Veil and restore the ancient elven empire. We stopped his ritual.”

“I did not come here to listen to fairy tales. I am here because of the Blight,” he said adamantly.

“Right, but it all ties together! See, when we disrupted the ritual, Solas got trapped in the Fade. But two of the elven gods got out. Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain, we think. And they’re blighted,” I told him.

“Why would elven gods be blighted?” He said skeptically.

“The ancient elven gods used the blight. That’s why Solas imprisoned them. The point is that the gods are making the blight worse. D’Meta’s Crossing was just the start. That’s why we need the Grey Wardens,” I explained.

He tilted his head down to me condescendingly as he spoke with a hand on his hip. “I suspected more politicking from the remnants of the Inquisition. I see now that I was wrong.”

“I’m really glad to hear that.”

“It is clear that whatever you did to unleash the blight has corrupted your already weak mind.”

“Okay, wait…”

“You will be taken to Weisshaupt and placed under heavy guard until the danger you caused by unleashing the blight passes.”

My chest seized. “No, please, you can’t do that.” I felt Lucanis shift a step closer to me.

“I assure you, I can,” he said simply.

“I don’t know how much time we have! The gods are doing something with the blight—we need to stop them!” I pleaded.

“Let me tell you something about the blight. It is evil, it is implacable, and above all, it is predictable. The blight has not changed in over a thousand years. The Grey Wardens will defeat it, as they always do. And we will do so without you causing confusion with your deranged conspiracy theories. I suggest you come along quickly.”

I saw the hardness of his eyes, and I knew he would not be assuaged. I took an instinctive step back, bumping Lucanis’s shoulder.

“Adamant Fortress. 9:41 Dragon.” My head whipped around, seeing a familiar face to accompany the friendly voice. Well, friendly to me. “The Grey Wardens attempted to raise an army of demons. Hardly the models of good judgment yourselves, are you?”

“Dorian,” I smiled at him. “It’s good to see you.”

He bowed to me. “And you as well, Kalais. You’re looking well.”

The First Warden cleared his throat. “Everyone knows Warden-Commander Clarel acted alone at Adamant Fortress.”

“Acted alone, you say? Imagine if everyone were to see the letter I discovered where you authorize her actions. I wonder how that might complicate the narrative.” He popped a hip, resting his fist on it.

“Are you prepared to risk the security of the Grey Wardens for this deluded girl?” He questioned.

“You may be surprised to learn that I care very little about the security of the Grey Wardens,” Dorian argued.

The First Warden was silent for a moment, staring down his nose at the two of us. “Stay away from the blight, and do not pester the Grey Wardens with any more of your nonsense.” With one final, pointed glance at Dorian, he left.

Dorian turned to me with a pout. “He seems upset. Was it something I said?”

I grinned. “Your timing is impeccable.”

“A flawless entrance, I’d say.”

“Thanks for the rescue. I don’t think I could’ve survived a Grey Warden prison,” I told him.

“A mutual friend thought you might require some support.”

“Maevaris Tilani? Of the Shadow Dragons?” I asked.

“The very same,” He smiled.

“I think we made an enemy of the First Warden today. Well, more you than me. He just thinks I’m a dangerous idiot.”

He laughed sharply. “Enemy. I’ve ignored greater men. No Grey Warden worth the name sits in a Minrathous lounge, sipping wine. You need the Wardens? Look for the ones out there fighting the Blight. In the meantime, the Shadow Dragons will keep a close watch on the Venatori. Good luck. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” He stopped to look over his shoulder at me. “Oh, and Kalais. Dangerous you might be, but you’re no idiot. Get out there and show him just how dangerous you can be.”

“You know I will,” I grinned.

“Good,” he said. “Though, do try not to get yourself killed,” he shot back as he left.

“You know Magister Pavus?” Neve asked.

“I do. It’s complicated, and I’d rather not get into it right now. He’s an… old friend, you could say.”

“Old. Lover!” Spite hissed between Lucanis’ teeth.

I blinked before I burst out laughing. “That man is fruitier than a basket of peaches! He is not an old lover.”

Neve snorted, and Lucanis just shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. I didn’t know what kind of argument he was having with Spite in his head.

“Let’s get back to the Lighthouse.”

—-------------------------------------------

I opened the double doors to the Infirmary and Varric looked up at me. “There you are! I haven’t seen much of you lately, and I was getting worried. Everything all right?” He asked. “Wait… that dagger. I’ve seen it before.”

“Solas was using it at the ritual site,” I said. It’s the dagger that stabbed you, of course it looks familiar.

“No, before that. Shit. It can’t be. Look at it, Rook!”

“I’ve been fidgeting with this thing since I picked it up, Varric. I know what it looks like.”

“Remember that story I told you about me and Hawke, Meredith and Orsino? How the trouble started in Kirkwall? On our expedition to the Deep Roads… that’s what we found. That’s what my brother tried to kill us for. An idol made of red lyrium. That sang a song which drove anyone who heard it mad.”

“Are you sure it’s the same thing?” I asked.

“Look at it. It’s changed, but it’s the same size. Same rink at the top. Not to mention: It’s pure lyrium. No one, not even the dwarves in Orzammar, work pure lyrium like that. It’s too dangerous,” he told me.

“If that’s true, if this dagger is the red lyrium idol from your story… how did Solas cleanse it of the blight?” I questioned.

“I have no idea. I can’t believe you found it.”

I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned to see Harding. “Oh! Hey, Rook. I’m… not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No. You look more comfortable with your abilities. How are you?” I asked.

“Things are… weird, but I’m adjusting. I think. That’s not what I came in here for, though.”

“All right, Harding. What’s on your mind?” Varric asked.

“So… the Wardens. I know some. A married couple Varric and I met while we were tracking Solas,” she said.

“I’d almost forgotten about that. I really am getting too old for this shit,” Varric grumbled.

“You think they’ll talk to us? After the First Warden, and everything?” I asked.

“It’s worth a try?” She said. “I can write them and… hope.”

“Okay. Let’s see who’s in our corner,” I said with a smile. Harding nodded and left. I glanced at Varric. “I’ll let you rest.”

“Hey, kid,” he said before I could leave. I turned back to him, raising a brow. “Normally, my advice on befriending abominations would be, “Don’t”. In this case, just keep an eye on him.”

I felt my face flush, and I just bowed my head to him before leaving.

—---------------------------------------

My footsteps were soft as I made my way through the quiet corridors of the safe house, my mind still echoing with Dorian’s parting words. I’d barely seen Lucanis since the encounter with the First Warden, but the comforting smell of brewing coffee led me to the dimly lit kitchen.

Lucanis stood at the counter, carefully pouring hot water over coffee grounds. He looked up as I entered, a hint of surprise in his gaze, which softened almost instantly.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice gentle in the quiet space.

I offered him a tired smile. “It seems sleep and I are sworn enemies these days.”

Lucanis nodded knowingly and held up the mug in his hand. “Coffee?”

“Actually… Can you make me one of those choco-chico things?” 

His expression flickered with amusement. “The cioccolata calda. I should have guessed,” he murmured, turning to reach for a tin of cocoa powder. “I can made that happen.”

“Correct me all you like, I’m not sure it’s ever going to stick,” I laughed. I watched as he rolled his sleeves up, and I caught myself staring at his forearms, trailing over his shoulders and watching his muscled back as he worked.

We fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of the stove’s low flame filling the space between us. I watched his movements, taking in his quiet confidence, the precision of each gesture.

Once he handed me a warm mug, we leaned against the counter together, sipping in companionable silence. Finally, Lucanis turned to me, his eyes searching. “So… Kalais?” He raised a brow. “I had my suspicions, but I’m guessing Rook isn’t your real name.”

I laughed softly, staring down at the rich, dark liquid swirling in my cup. “No, it’s not. Kalais Mercar, that’s who I was—am, I suppose.” I glanced at him with a wry smile. “But Rook’s what Varric called me when we met, and it just stuck.”

The corners of Lucanis’s lips upturned slightly. “Why Rook?”

“I asked him that too, once. He said it was because I never stayed still for long. ‘Like a rook on a chessboard—always moving forward,’ he said. And… well, I liked it,” I explained. “I liked most that it came from him,” I shrugged.

Lucanis’s smile grew. “It suits you. A fitting name for a survivor.” His tone softened as he added, “And a strategist.”

I took another sip, letting the warmth seep through me. It was the first time in ages that I felt a little lighter in someone else’s presence, besides Varric. Lucanis’s gaze shifted, his eyes studying me intently.

“You said something to Neve. About Dorian,” he ventured, curiosity evident in his voice. “That it was… complicated?”

“You mean when Spite accused him of being my old lover?” I grinned, teasingly.

Lucanis pinched the bridge of his nose, “Mierda.”

I laughed, squeezing his shoulder lightly, “I’m messing with you.” He just shook his head. I stared off into the distance as though I was capable of seeing the past. “He bought me,” I said. “Dorian did. Me, and a group of others in our household. We were slaves for another house, but Dorian…” I took a steadying breath, recalling those brutal days. “He picked the most capable of us. Bought us, freed us. That’s how I met him—and how I met the Shadow Dragons. He introduced me to the organization.”

Lucanis listened, his eyes dark with understanding, but he stayed silent as I gathered my thoughts.

“It was the first time anyone had ever given me a choice, given me a chance. I barely knew how to breathe without fearing it would draw the wrong kind of attention, but he didn’t ask for anything. Didn’t want me to be anything other than… free.” I shrugged, trying to dislodge the weight of those memories. “The Shadow Dragons offered me a purpose. A way to help others trapped like I was. So I took it.”

The silence that settled between us now was a heavy one, but it was comfortable. There was no pity in his eyes, only a shared understanding, as if he could see something familiar in my story.

“Dorian was the first person to show me that sometimes, you don’t have to run from everyone who offers you a way out. It made it easier to trust Varric,” I finished, my voice quieter as I swirled my drink. “Dorian set me free, and Varric helped me grow.”

Lucanis’s fingers tapped gently against his mug as he spoke. “You’re more than that past, Rook. It shapes us, sure, but it doesn’t define everything,” he offered a small, sincere smile. “You’re not just fighting your past—you’re fighting for a future. And that… that takes courage.” 

He sipped his coffee with an appreciative hum. A soft laugh escaped me as I shook my head. “Coming from you, that means more than you know.”

Lucanis’s gaze held mine for a moment before he looked down, clearing his throat. “Well, someone has to keep you in line. You know, in case you get too reckless,” he smirked. After a moment of silence he looked up at me again, brown eyes soft. “Thank you for sharing that.”

“Of course, I—” I cut myself off, shaking my head. “If you ever need– If you ever want to talk about what you went through in the Ossuary…” My voice trailed off, leaving the offer unspoken.

Our eyes met, a quiet understanding passing between us, forged by shared struggles and a mutual respect that went beyond words. The world outside might have been crumbling, but here, in this quiet moment over coffee and hot chocolate, we were two souls finding a brief respite, a sense of connection that neither of us had anticipated.

—----------------------------------

The sunlight speckled the ground as it filtered through the leaves, casting its warm gaze upon me. I was no older than five again, running through the halls of the magister’s manor. Notes from the piano drifted to my pointed ears from down the hall, and my little feet led me to see who was playing.

It was the Lady of the house, her fingers moving deftly over the keys with grace and precision. I watched her with wide eyes, pushing the door open more, cringing as it creaked. Her head whipped around, but her gaze softened as she saw me.

She beckoned for me, holding her arms out invitingly. Her voice was the sweetest melody I’d ever heard. “Come, little star. Sit by me while I play.”

Carefully, I climbed up onto the bench, and she pulled me into her lap, placing her hands over mine on the keys. Slowly, she taught me what she was playing.

I looked up at her with a wide smile, and she grinned softly at me. “Never forget your beauty, my love,” she said.

In the same second those bright green eyes were looking at me, they blackened, spiderwebbed black veins running through her cheeks and consuming her. Her cheeks became gaunt and her eyes sunk in, dark circles forming beneath them. I screamed, trying to flee only for my back to hit a wall.

I was a teenager now, bringing notes to the magister. The Lady had passed when I was seven. I was too young to remember her name. 

“Your notes, Magister Imarius,” I set the books down on his desk, the room smelling like ink and parchment. 

He looked up, face always one of disgust when facing his disease-ridden slaves. Never mind that we took care of the house and him. I always believed he blamed me for his wife’s death. He never said it, but he never had to.

I felt the harsh tug on my scalp as he gripped me at the base of my hair, pulling me down to spit in my face. I saw the flash of a dagger in my peripheral vision, and then there was a pair of hands on my face, pulling me away.

I met Cole’s gaze, and he frowned. “This memory cannot have you any longer.”

—-------------------------------------

“Rook!” A hand on my shoulder shook me.

I sat straight up, chest heaving. Cold sweat dripped down my neck. I blinked, looking up into glowing purple eyes. “Spite?”

“You. Were dreaming.” Lucanis’s hand came up, a cold finger brushing my cheeks. I rubbed the other, feeling the wetness of my tears. “Why do you cry?” He questioned.

“Just a nightmare. I’m okay,” I smiled at him. “I guess Lucanis fell asleep? What were you doing?” I asked.

“Find. You.” He pointed at me. “Want. To talk.”

I took a shaky breath, the remnants of the dream still lingering like shadows at the edges of my mind. Spite’s eyes, cold and assessing as always, flickered with a strange intensity. He tilted his head, watching me with a kind of curiosity that felt almost… protective.

“Thank you, Spite,” I managed, my voice barely a whisper. The sensation of Imarius’s grip, the bite of his loathing, lingered, but I pushed it down, trying to focus on the present, on the here and now.

Spite’s gaze didn’t waver. “Dreams. Hurt you,” he stated bluntly, not with mockery but with a rare sincerity. “They pull you back.”

I exhaled, glancing away as my fingers twisted in my lap. “Yeah… sometimes they do,” she admitted. “It’s just… echoes of the past. They don’t mean anything. I’ve moved on.” Or I’m trying to at least.

Spite’s eyes narrowed, and he studied me as if he could see through the thin shield I was holding up. “No. You. Break free. But they cling. Rotten shadows.” He pointed a finger at my heart. “Memory can trap. Better to cut it out.”

My lip twitched, almost smiling at his bluntness. “And if I did, what would be left? Those memories… they’re part of me, whether I want them to be or not.”

Spite’s frown deepened, a faint flicker of frustration darkening his face. “No!” He hissed. “You are more than them,” he insisted. “Lucanis… he knows too.” He gestured vaguely, as if struggling with the limitations of this form. “If he won’t. Remind you. I will.”

His words hung in the air between us, and I felt something shift. There was a sense of grounding in his presence. His raw honesty cutting through the fog the nightmare had left behind. I gave him a small, weary nod. “I appreciate that, Lethallin.” I allowed myself a moment to steady myself. “Sometimes… sometimes you’re right. Don’t tell Lucanis I said that.”

His grin nearly split Lucanis’s face in half. “Yes. Good. Now, rest. No more dreams. I’ll be here.”

I managed a grateful smile, letting myself lean back against the cushioned chair in the dining room, reassured by the presence of this strange, fierce ally who’d appeared to guard me against the shadows of my own past.

—-----------------------------------------

I blinked awake slowly, my mind groggy, caught somewhere between lingering dreams and reality. As I shifted, something solid and warm pressed against my shoulder, and I froze. I could feel Lucanis’s steady, rhythmic breathing, his face so close I could see his dark lashes resting against his cheeks.

Oh no.

I was leaning against him, slumped in the worn sofa that sat in the corner of the dining hall. I felt heat rise in my cheeks, but when I shifted again, his eyes fluttered open, hazy and confused.

“Mierda,” he muttered, sitting up too quickly, their shoulders bumping in the process. He blinked, looking as flustered as I felt.

I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say. “Um… good morning?” I eventually managed, my voice barely over a whisper.

Lucanis’s gaze darted away, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he mumbled. “Morning. I don’t– How did I get here?” He asked.

“Oh, I had a nightmare, and Spite found me and he wanted to, um… stay?” I twisted my fingers in my lap. “Didn’t mean to… you know…” I trailed off, glancing at him sidelong.

He sat there, cheeks tinged faintly pink, looking at the floor with the same embarrassment I was feeling. He nodded, shifting slightly so there was more space between us, his fingers tapping against his knee. “Of course. Couldn’t just leave you there after…” He trailed off, his hand making a vague gesture that could have meant anything but somehow explained everything.

We sat in silence, both of us searching for words we didn’t have. Finally, I laughed, a sound that came out more nervous than I intended. “Well, good to know you’re a decent pillow.”

He gave me a sidelong glance, a small smirk breaking through his embarrassment. “I’ll keep that in mind if you ever fall asleep in strange places again.” His eyes softened as he added, “Just don’t get used to it.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t keep from grinning. “Oh, please, I’d hate to make it a habit.” I stood, brushing myself off, then hesitated. “But… Thanks, Lucanis. And Spite. Really.”

He looked at me, the last traces of awkwardness replaced by something that could be mistaken for warmth. “Anytime, Rook.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! I know it's not as long, but I was itching to develop Kalais

Let me know if you want to be on the tag list!<3

[theloveinc]

I am reading “the butchering art” (recommended to me by a friend on here actually… hi meep meep) and it’s changing my life bc.. I’m not a science / biology person at all but damn I think it would be fun to be a surgeon in the 19th century… all u needed to know was anatomy (and be a man and shit) and they’d just let u chop off body parts LMFAOOOOO

[samgirl98]

Dammit Clockwork! A Little Warning Next Time?

Wrote this while bored at work and on my iPhone so its not my best

“Come in,” a voice said at the other side of the door. Danny took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It was just his new boss. What's the worst that could happen? He'd get fired and have to find a new job.

Of course, being in Gotham, finding a job that wasn't Wayne Enterprise would be hard, especially one that offered such a sweet deal, like the scholarship and health benefits he would receive. So, no, Danny couldn't screw this up.

Danny didn't know why the CEO wanted to meet the scholarship recipients/ new employees one-on-one, but who was he to question it? After all, rich people were weird.

Danny took one last deep breath and swallowed his nerves. Everything would be fine.

He entered and came face-to-face with Tim Drake, CEO of WE.

They stared at each other for all of five seconds before Mr. Drake jumped over his desk.

Danny gave an embarrassing shriek as he fell to the ground hard. Ow, that hurt! To be fair, though, what else was he supposed to do when tackled by someone who could be his twin? Or a clone.

Well, maybe biting him hadn't been a good idea.

Danny heard a hiss above him as he bit down harder. There was no way in the Infinite Realms he would let go anytime soon. If this was a clone sent to kill him, Danny had to protect himself. Then he could worry about deprogramming him.

The look-alike tried to shake off Danny, causing him to bite down even harder.

And things had just started calming down, too.

His parents had kicked him out after they found out he was Phantom. He had been homeless on his eighteenth birthday, but honestly, being homeless and not vivisected was better than what he thought was going to happen.

Thankfully, the trio and Jazz had made a plan in case Danny had to run away from his parents. Sam had opened a bank account for Danny with a little over twenty thousand dollars. He was lucky he didn't have to use the fake IDs Tucker had set up. His parents had let him take his papers.

Which was how he found out he was adopted.

Danny had talked to the air in the little motel room he had ended up that night, begging for help from Clockwork. Danny didn't know if Clockwork had pitied him, but the Ancient had appeared. Clockwork had given Danny a vague clue about family in Gotham—Oh, the guy he was wrestling was probably the family he was hinted at.

Dammit, Clockwork, couldn't he have warned Danny?

Danny let go of Tim Drake.

Who was Drake to him? A sibling, a twin?

Danny didn't know yet.

Tim Drake was about to attack again when Danny put his hands up in surrender.

“Wait, wait!”

The other teenager stopped. Tim was breathing hard from the little impromptu fight they had been in.

Danny was glad that his half-dead status made it hard for him to have to catch his breath. It was impossible to run out of breath when one didn't have to breathe technically.

“Who are you,” the other boy asked.

“Fenton! Danny Fenton. I’m the new hire?”

Danny hated that the last sentence came out as a question.

“You bit me!”

“And you tackled me! Now that we have that out of the way, you're not a clone, are you,” Danny asked warily. After all, that wasn't out of the realm of possibilities for him.

“What? No! I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“Why would a rich CEO be afraid of cloning,” Danny asked.

“Why would a small-town guy from the middle of nowhere America be afraid of cloning,” Tim fired back.

“Touche,” Danny said.

Neither of them said anything. They stared at each other until Danny broke the awkward silence.

“So, what now?”

“Now we take a DNA test and try to figure out what the hell is going on.”

“Ahh, I'm adopted and was told by mystical means that I have family in Gotham and was going to find them ‘when the time was right.’ I'm guessing now is that time.”

“That explains nothing,” Tim said in a hysteric voice. “What do you mean mystic means, and could you be more vague?”

Danny shrugged again, “Welcome to my world.”

A few hours later, through rich guys' means, Danny Fenton and Tim Drake had a piece of paper confirming they were twins.

Well, Danny’s afterlife just got interesting.

Later, Tim is going to feel pissed that Damian respects Danny but still treats Tim like crap.

They both try to hide their heroic tendencies from each other and fail miserably. Jason bonds with Danny over dying and death jokes. Danny also has to fight off Bruce with a broom. No, he doesn't want to get adopted again.

Sam and Tucker are laughing at Danny’s predicament and Jazz gives Tim the equivalent of a shovel talk not to hurt her baby brother or else.

DPXDC Prompt #131

Danny started his new job at Wayne industries today and he was a little nervous about messing up. His adopted family the Fentons kicked him out after finding out he was Phantom. Danny was a little disappointed but it was better than how he thought they’d react. He knew he had other family and from what little cryptic Clockwork told him they lived in Gotham.

He gets to his new bosses office and knocks on his door. When he’s told to come in Danny does so but then comes face to face by what he can only assume is his twin and the CEO of the company, Tim Drake. Danny had about 5 seconds before he found himself pinned to the floor.

[canon-gabriel-quotes]

you made it onto a gianni stream did you know this.

INEEDTOLEAVE IGOTTAGETOUTTAHERE

[hinalatte]

A Thematic Analysis of Chapter 2’s Killer

Drdt spoilers. Obviously

There’s a lot of people who have started liking Ace more since this episode. I am not one of those people. He’s always been my favorite character. I’ve suffered from paranoia as well, and it sucks when people don’t take that shit seriously. Just because it’s irrational doesn’t mean it’s not harmful, and just because it’s stupid doesn’t mean the person suffering from it is stupid. I related to him a lot because of that. His issues are constantly downplayed by the people around him. Either that, or they think he’s irreversibly crazy for fears he can’t really control.

But besides that, I like him because his brain is fun to pick apart. He has so many problems. It’s a genuine shame he’ll never be able to get over them. It’s not the direction I expected his character to go, but it makes a lot of sense.

All that glitters is not gold.

The title made me think that a “good person” would be the killer, but it was Ace, a “bad person.” And his victim was Arei, another “bad person.” The people who died this chapter were the cast’s “worst people,” people who were outcast by everyone else for being bullied. But this chapter also shows their human sides—maybe they were only bad people because they were never given a chance to be good, like Arei. Maybe they were pushed to extremes because nobody treated their problems seriously, like Ace. Meanwhile, the cast’s “good people” are all revealed to be worse than they seemed. That was the thematic reason behind the motive secrets. Some of the others have done things far worse than Arei or Ace.

Nico was someone most of the cast liked. They were never mean to anyone, and they were constantly the victim of Ace’s bullying. They were easy to like, or at least easy to not hate. They quickly formed a bond with Hu (because Hu seeks out people she thinks need her protection). But in this chapter, they tried to kill someone. They admit themselves that it was reprehensible. Nico is a “bad person”.

Hu was supportive of everyone in chapter 1, positioning herself as a motherly figure. She was kind, caring, and helpful. But in chapter 2, she infantilized Nico to the point that she thought they can’t speak for themselves during the trial. She let biases cloud her judgement. She derailed the trial without good reason, because she wanted to be helpful to Nico, even when they weren’t asking for her help. Hu is a “bad person”.

Levi was called a good person by Eden at the start. He’s polite, takes care of other people, and reached out to Ace of all people. But in this chapter, it’s revealed that he did all of that for his own convenience. He doesn’t care about other people. He’s a murderer. He’s a “bad person”.

Levi threatened Ace, making Ace’s paranoia worse. Nico tried to kill Ace, confirming Ace’s idea that he was going to die if he didn’t get himself out of the killing game. Hu defended Nico, confirming Ace’s idea that everyone was against him.

The so-called “bad people” are cursed to die, while the so-called “good people” are shown to have been bad all along.

And isn’t that far more interesting than showing that good people can do bad things, and ending it like that? Now all the so-called “good people” have to live with the fact that their actions led to Arei’s death, without having been Arei’s actual killer. Arei was killed by the cast’s mistreatment, negligence, and trivialization of Ace Markey.

Thematically. Not literally, of course. Ace did that.

But their culpability in Arei and Ace’s deaths, even tangentially, shows in full color the consequences of letting their flaws go unchecked.

And in the context of Nico and Hu specifically, I can’t wait to see how that impacts them in the long run. Chapter 2 was all about facing the darkest sides of some of these characters. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that Ace’s death would influence some of them (like Nico) to examine their actions more closely and try to grow from them?

I can see Nico cutting off their friendship with Hu after this. She refused to acknowledge their fault in the situation. Since Nico is an objective person, I think they’ll understand the part they played in the Ace/Arei situation, and want other people to understand it as well. They won’t want Hu’s misplaced protection anymore.

And for Hu, I have no idea where she’s going after this. After her performance in this trial, where her flaws were pointed out to her by all the other characters, is she going to reflect and change? Or is she going to regress first, especially now that Ace, who she believed to be a villain, actually snapped and killed someone?

A big theme of chapter 2 has been growth. Ace shows the consequences of not growing. He was pushed to murder because of the rest of the cast not confronting their flaws, and he himself committed the murder because he didn’t know how to change.

It’s a bit of a hopeful spin on his death, but I’ll be honest—I’m still majorly bummed out about it. His life has just been terrible and will be terrible until it ends. He’s a horrible person with blood on his hands. He’s a coward and a bully who is hated by everyone. It’s all he’ll ever be, because he’ll die before having the chance to be someone else. Nico, through the sheer coincidence of having their murder interrupted, will be able to grow and change. Ace never will. A terrible life and a terrible death for a terrible person. And he won’t be missed. Not like Arei. Not like Min. Not like Xander. People like Nico, Rose, and Eden may feel bad about it, but no one will miss Ace specifically, because no one likes him.

If you were able to change and become a better person, it only means you were a good person to begin with.

If you weren’t able to change, it means you were doomed from the start. There’s no use trying.

There’s another world where people took Ace’s fears seriously. Where they didn’t dismiss him as a joke at the start and a volatile dog at the end. He might’ve survived if that happened. No matter what David says, bad people can change, if they know how to do it.

When this chapter finishes, I might make a full thematic analysis of it. There are still a bunch of things to say. I’ll just leave this post off with: Nico survivor stocks going up! Invest now!

[loptrcoptr]

The blue eye samurai fandom, for some reason

[angelfrogs]

Considering the latest chapter I am not sure if Yoshida’s dead but I think even if he was in control of himself Denji would not give a damn about Yoshida’s fate. In fact after everything I would not be surprised if he was cool with the idea of killing Yoshida personally, nor do I think he would be the wrong for wanting that!

There’s a lot this last chapter has left up in the air! Yoshida’s fate being one of the major unanswered questions, and genuinely I have no idea if he’s dead or not currently to me it’s about a 50/50 chance. I stand by on what I’ve said on him before, if he’s dead I believe he died full of regret and I think he may have died outright apologizing (though in this state that probably wouldn’t register to Denji at all). If he isn’t dead? He probably will be dead soon, if not at the hands of Denji then by someone else. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next chapter is Yoshida focused for this reason but given how much Fujimoto likes to jump around and slowly weave the scene together I’m not holding my breath. Either way, while I have always found Yoshida interesting and have been waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to this character for a LONG TIME, I think that his fate will be, and should be, a vehicle to discuss Denji’s current emotional and moral standing. I do not think Denji, or rather chainsaw man, would hesitate to kill Yoshida. (Though I don’t think he’d actively seek Yoshida out or try and track him down if he ran) There are two ways Denji could kill Yoshida right now and that depends on, like you mentioned, how in control Denji is of Chainsaw Man currently, my first instinct on seeing this version of csm (the version that can eat devils out of existence) is to say that this isn’t Denji at all but Pochita, like what was true before. However the circumstances in which this csm appears are quite different and it’s very possible that through all this emotional turmoil Denji found away to fully take hold of his devil side and keep his own consciousness. So if Denji has/does kill Yoshida as this version of chainsaw man it’s either done unfeelingly with pochita in the “drivers seat” sort of speak… OR Denji kills him personally in his own rage, as you mentioned. To an extent I agree with you that Denji would not give a fuck about Yoshida’s fate, mostly in that I think Denji would not care if Yoshida as a person is alive or dead. I do, however, think that if Chainsaw Man kills Yoshida, that will weigh on Denji. If Denji kills Yoshida mindlessly and without full control? Well then we are back to the conversation of the ways being chainsaw man, being half devil, dehumanizes Denji. If Denji does it consciously in rage? Then I think this would actually be more in line with the narratives of exploring Denji’s sexuality: he would have to face that even though he wanted it there would be no actual gratification in doing this because it’s a stand in for what he really needs. Revenge like this is unfulfilling either way, and while I absolutely agree with you that I don’t think he’d be in the wrong at all for wanting him dead I don’t think that’s the actual dilemma he’s going to have to face, I think it will be the horrifying realization that this carnage means nothing to him. But that’s just my two cents!

And a side tangent while I’m on the subject! I do think that there is a way where Yoshida is completely and irreversibly caught but he still survives: if Asa intervenes. Asa cares a lot about Denji, Yoshida is someone she knows personally, and she is someone with extremely strong feelings about morality (she doesn’t like the idea of killing people so intensely she keeps the WAR DEVIL from doing it) I think if she’d be able to she would try and talk Denji out of it. I think narratively if there’s going to be anything that snaps him out of this spree it’s going to be that but once again I’m not holding my breath on this lol! Especially bc now we have to deal with this no mouth situation….

[meepmeep19]

Yk how Dazai contributed to half of the PM’s profits during his time in the mafia? Imagine if Chuuya had been responsible for the other half. So like everyone else in the ENTIRE PM only contributed like 0.0001% in total lmao💀

And so Mori would like on the reg call meetings calling (read: scold like a high school teacher) everyone except SKK (he does NOT need to increase their ego anymore than it already is lmao) while massaging his temples like

Mori: Can you please explain how two immature CHILDREN have managed to contribute more to this organization than every single TRAINED ADULT in this room???

Ace: (because he is 100% enough of a snivelling weasel to insult two children out of pure pettiness) It’s not our fault Sir. We’re all only human after all, but those things-they’re INHUMAN!!! Demons like them obviously don’t need to take any breaks; hence the cause of the work discrepancy. If it wasn’t for this minor detail, then I can assure you Sir, that we would all prove to be FAR more competent than those freaks.

Mori: (already feeling a headache coming on) Ace, how many times do we have to go through this? They’re not actually…

Meanwhile SKK are right outside the door eavesdropping and snickering to themselves (after having just come back from playing competing in the arcade for like 7+ hours lol) Yes their egos are in fact inflating to a horrifically unhealthy degree.

[cyarskj1899]

[sweenstar-reblogs]

sry to be emo on main but i think watching the world tacitly enable genocide and settler colonialism (both violent and ‘non violent’ forms) despite having so much hard proof that it’s objectively Bad has . kind of ruined me

[impossible-rat-babies]

puppets bunker and ddos attacks have never been so much fun

[eggs-love-loki]

Me: I’ll watch one episode of my hero after dinner that’ll be fun :)

Me three episodes later, having gone from crying earlier to just pure distress by the end: Well that was the worst choice ever

[tariah23]

Now he’s trying to lie when he literally tagged Princeton like 5 fucking time. White people are so evil, bro. They always know what they’re doing when they do shit like that. With the attempt to bring harm to Black people who they want to “get out of the way,” because they don’t think that we belong in the same spaces as them while at the same time, believing they should be allowed INTO our spaces and afforded hospitality and a whole red carpet rolled out. The sad thing is, she has connections to the industry because of her uncle and name so what if this was just a random Black woman who worked for Princeton without this kind of protection at all…?

[lunarcigar]

Some of y’all occasionally need to remember that a lot of your favs are people, who fuck up, and do stupid shit sometimes! And that’s okay! Call them out on it! If you don’t like their response then don’t support them anymore! No need to send them dms saying to kill themselves!! I cannot think of a situation that could warrant that!!! What the fuck!!