#IS HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY THE ONE THAT KILLED HER ???

[conundrumoftime]

Okay so look, here is why I want Celeborn in TROP as soon as he can feasibly get there

I know that many people feel he shouldn't turn up yet because at the moment Galadriel is still traumatised, brittle and emotionally entangled with Sauron. I want him to turn up now precisely because Galadriel is traumatised, brittle and emotionally entangled with Sauron.

I do not want him to swoop in and instantly save her from that, to be clear. I do not want him to be her reward for getting through it. I want him to turn up as an almost-stranger to a wife he's been away from for eight hundred years and see her now, see her as she is, hairtrigger temper and trauma and grief and unresolved situationship with Satan's Little Helper and all. I want his love for her to include all of that.

(Because! They don't have to stay together! Galadriel's family is full of couples who lived out their marriages on separate continents due to what I'll just briefly gloss over as Some Significant Ideological Disagreements. We know they end up together in Lothlórien but the characters have not read Lord of the Rings!)

I want him to see her tempted by power, and know that whatever they have later is built on that kind of understanding of what she wants and who she is and what she nearly did - and what she might still do. I want Sauron to still be offering her that in their 3000-year-long mind battle and for her to still be tempted by it and for Celeborn to know, to fully know, maybe to have it as an unspoken pain between them, maybe to be the only person she can trust to tell.

I do not want them to sit around holding hands and smiling gently at each other, yay missing husband's back hearts and flowers THE END. I want them to argue. I want those centuries of separation to matter. I want hurt feelings and pain and grief turned to anger, and to see how they navigate through that - why they navigate through that.

I want Sauron to try a divide-and-conquer approach with the two of them by showing Celeborn that raft-vision of Galadriel as his queen, and for Celeborn to find himself horrified by it and loving her despite it, and - perhaps! - really quite intensely turned on by the thought of it, too.*

I want them to rebuild that marriage, not just to resume it like they were never even apart. I want it to be worth rebuilding. I want him to love her, and not love the perfect past-temptation no-longer-fighty image of her that angry male Peter Jackson fans on Twitter have told me she is Supposed To Be - I want him to love this Galadriel, this broken and grieving and furious one, this one that still refers to Sauron as 'Halbrand' sometimes, this one who's on Numenor's list of Prisoners Who Haven't Yet Finished Their Sentence For Causing Sedition when Pharazôn turns up ("Did you actually - you know what, never mind, tell me later"). I want him to love her.

---

(* one of my Silmarillion incomplete draft fics is Thingol trying to warn Celeborn away from her by bringing up stories about her from the Helcaraxë, "well she looks all happy and peaceful mingling with our court now but can you imagine her drenched head to foot in the blood of a bear she just killed?", only Celeborn is the exact opposite of put off by this. "No! That's terrible! I must go and speak to her about it immediately in private and get all the details, just to assure myself about how terrible it was.")

[daycourtofficial]

Are we getting a Caramel Cookie Pumpkin Spice latte???? 👀👀👀👀

I am actually so glad you asked for this because I had started something in my drafts for this!!

Order your own coffee for gingerfucker week from the menu here

Caramel and pumpkin spice latte with a cookie = gingerfucker + Eris + fluff with extra banter

Eris’s body relaxed into the soft mattress, the sheets seemingly molding a perfect dip for him. Sleep found Eris much easier these days, the familiar comfort of his mate’s body made his body relax so easily it almost terrified him.

Was this how everyone else slept? In his younger years, it seemed he spent hours each night staring at his ceiling, hoping for its collapse to grant him some rest. Sleeping had always felt too vulnerable for him, his body never quite stilling long enough.

Hia eyes closed so easily, an arm draped around his waist. His breathing slowed.

“Er?” A soft shaking woke him up, his eyes not opening but his eyebrows moving up. His name was met with something between a groan and an acknowledgement, something he knew she wouldn’t be bothered by. With the grogginess of his sleep laddened mind, he hoped the question wouldn’t require too much thinking to stir him from this half-sleep existence.

“You know I wouldn’t actually get married again, right?”

His mind flashed to an earlier conversation, one about how his mate’s next husband will surely be both well endowed and capable of making the chocolate cake she loves so dearly from her home in the Night Court. It was a silly statement, one he balked at as he told her no matter how well-endowed he may be, she’d always think of him when with her next husband.

“If this is a ploy to get me to allow you to marry Lucien….”

“No.” Her voice left a pause, one Eris tried desperately to stay awake to hear the rest of. “But you’re it for me. I don’t care how blessed any male has been, he’s not you.”

“Thank you, my dear. It was eating me to alive to consider you would forego widow status for a large cock.”

“I’m serious, Er.”

“As am I. If you remarry, I’d never allow him to be buried in our plot.”

This conversation was a bit ridiculous for the hour,

“We have a burial plot?”

“Of course. You’ll lay next to me for eternity and there is no room for a second husband.”

“Can we hold hands?”

Eris reached back, his hand searching to entangle in hers, “not now! I mean when we’re dead.”

“We can do whatever you wish. You may have to decide soon. I may die from lack of sleep.”

The room was silent, his mate’s breath in his ear steadying him. Despite her objections, she held a tight grip on his hand.

“If I died first, I would kill you if you married someone else.”

“Of course, mhm.”

“There’d be no room in the house for them. The closet’s full and there would be nowhere for them to stay.”

The house was large enough for several families to occupy, a fact Eris kept to himself. The sounds from Eris were slurred with sleep, but the arms around him tightened.

“Er?”

“Mhmmm?”

“I love you.” She left a soft kiss to his back before burying her dace between his shoulder blades.

“I love you too, my first and only wife.”

[pruneunfair]

Tropes in manhwa are awful yet people still defend them

I'm in a bad mood right now so what better way to release all that pent up anger by ranting on what can ruin a good story.

1: Slavery being inserted only for cheap plot and slaves being demonized as obsessive/greedy monsters for "not knowing their place"

Theres nothing wrong with wanting to insert slavery in your story AS LONG as it's not just cheap plot to make your MC look "better" by buying from a single to all of the slaves because let me tell you this: there is no such thing as a good slave owner, you cannot morally own another human being. A lot of manhwa like to have slavery be a part of their plot completely ignoring that just because the MC goes "wow this is terrible" doesn't make them a good person after they buy a slave.

Remarried empress does this with its villian Rashta by pushing the notion that she's being greedy for not wanting to stay in poverty so Navier won't suffer because apparently a slave wanting what the silver spoon mouthed nobles were born into is so terrible not to mention they justify slave owners and slavery in general as a punishment for criminals (neglecting the fact that children can be sold by their parents)

The villainess has fun again justifies a child slave being bought by the lead and he becomes an obsessive shouta love interest, fans continously justify by using the ancient lolicon excuse "he may look young but he's actually 99182823 years old!"

In divorcing my tyrant husband, Robelia buys 30 slaves and the only 2 that consistently show up have no other personality other then "we love you FL we will worship you till the end of time!"

There's a damn manhwa out there literally called the order of slave breeding and even when a story tries to do this correctly such as VADTD with Penelope being portrayed as a bad person for what she did to Eckles, fans have been so deluded by the idea that FL's buying slaves is "girlboss" that they think Eckles should be grateful to be Penelopes "pet"

2: ML's murdering innocent people after one guy hurts the FL

I already made a specific post about it before and I'll say it again: all this does is make your male lead/father figure look like a horrific monster. While you could say it's because its a medieval kingdom (objectively that is true that they would do this) manhwa and OI is the same place where despite in those times taking a mistress was considered normal they still view it as cheating and "how could you pick that slut when you have such a perfect wife!? 🤬" in most stories. So yes, modern morality is still inserted within these tropes. While I can get it's a way to show that the man in questions loves the FL so much he's willing to go to such lengths to protect her I think just mutilating the guy that actually did the sin would be enough because try imagining yourself as a faithful servant who was amazing at your job getting brutally slaughtered by the Emperor because your boss attacked his daughter or lover.

Into the light once again does this with Aishas dad murdering all the relatives and close friends of a count that tried to kill Ysis and Aisha, Aisha doesn't seem to care despite being in a situation where she was wrongfully executed in her past life.

Remarried empress does this too. After Navier is nearly killed by Krista's brother, Heinrey tortures and kills the dad and slaughters the servants of the zemensias. I can't remember if he also murdered the remaining family members but I wouldn't put it past him.

3: protagonist centered morality

Protagonist centered morality is the biggest indicator that a piece of media is dealing with a mary sue FL. Whatever the protagonist says is right is immediately morally correct. This is actually used to justify the last 2 examples with "it was for the FL!" Things like slavery, murder, workplace abuse, union busting, pedophilia, and being a POS to your loved ones are all justified if the protagonist finds a cheap way to justify it and you HAVE to agree with her because her backstory is very tragic 🥺. Protagonist centered morality also ruins the chance for good characters since the FL herself never has to grow as a person so she stays the same exact thing as she was just with more enablers and random characters will be treated as villains even if they aren't actually wrong about being suspicious of the Protagonist or calling out her behavior. It twists the narrative in such incomprehensible ways that you don't even know what your reading anymore. I can't even list all of the manhwas that do this given how many there actually are so I'll just list some that are at least self aware there Protagonist is awful/morally grey or isn't even a bad person but they still have flaws that can be pointed out

Villains are destined to die

My in laws are obsessed with me

Not sew wicked step mom

Depths of malice

The villainess turns the hourglass

Beware of the villainess.

4: villains being dumbed down to make the lead look smarter

This is unfortunately another common staple often used as a quick way to make the FL look smart and witty but is that really hard to look smarter when everyone else around you is an idiot? Not only does the FL not have to put in actual effort to best her enemies but you just start to pity the villain for basically being a punching bag. Dimwitted villains aren't always bad in fact they can be some of those most entertaining characters no matter much they lose but that only works when they are meant to be seen as a goofy character that your not supposed to take seriously. Villains that are written as extremely childish and stupid but your still supposed to treat them as serious antagonists on the other hand are just annoying since you wonder how the protagonist even got killed by them in the first life if they're so stupid.

Isabella de Mare while admitly having a good reason for being dumbed down (she's a teenager in the 2nd life so it's reasonable she wouldnt be as smart as her adult counterpart) is still a joke of a villainess who keeps flipping back and fourth from a snot nosed whiny brat to a mastermind only at convenient opportunities when the plot needs conflict.

Mielle from the villainess turns the hourglass was first portrayed as extremely conniving as she arranged for Arias downfall in the shadows but in the second life she fails at every scheme she has even though she has Emma and Isis to help her out.

Ragibach is a literal demon possessing the body of another woman with the goal of setting demons loose on the word to start another human vs demon war and she succeeded in that the first time, the devastation was all there so clearly she has to be a formidable antagonist right? Well no, she's another case of being dumbed down further and further so Keira can succeed and while they do understand some plot holes such as Ludwig not trusting her as much in the second life it doesn't change the drastic character change from evil genius to bumbling idiot.

In short: dumbing down your villains so your lead can look smarter is essentially going to give the equivalent of a hydrogen bomb vs a coughing baby.

5: feminine women being demonized as basic "other girls" sluts

Okay this one isn't nearly as terrible as the others on this list because we all love the good old "a demon makes itself look beautiful to deceive humans" kind of villain, in fact as you probably know by me by now, white lotuses are my favorite kinds of character and even in media outside of manhwa I always find myself drawn to angelic villains but it seems like this is less of that and more of "Oh those are all the other girls who just want a man to save them, look at how much better my badass rich boss babe is for working for herself while taking all of their men at the time 😎" in manhwa. As soon as a traditionally feminine girl shows up, comments are already calling her a two faced bitch and half the time protagonist is already skeptical of her. This is the opposite of what being a feminist really is, a real feminist wouldn't be putting down other women just because they dress with more pink with bows and skirts and while I do think for most manhwa this is unintentional I do wish that we could have more characters like Psyche, Helena, Athy, and Jennette that prove that being overly feminine doesn't make you a backpedal on feminism. This doesn't make the badass or sexy fl's bad either, it just means they can co-exist.

An angelic villain should be treated as evil for being a well calculated schemer, not because they have a light colored color scheme

6: toxic relationships being romanticized as good

You know for a large community that claims to be about girl code a good chunk sure likes to look the other way when it comes to toxic relationships as long as the abuser is "hot" and theres always the terrible excuse such as "he has trauma!" Or "he doesn't know how to show his love normally!" No just no we aren't doing that here. Cry or better yet beg has this problem with not only the narrative claiming that Matthias graping Layla is okay because she actually loves him and doesn't know it but a large part of the fanbase also defends it, the same goes with try begging, a manhwa written by Solche who also wrote cry or better yet beg and once again despite Leon being an abuser everyone's ready to justify his actions because he's just a soft little boy who ends up falling in love with Sally awww 😍 (what the hell?) Everyones all about not justifying abusers because they had a sad past until it's the "sexy" male leads with daddy issues.

7: maid slapping

This shit isn't asserting your dominance as a boss bitch it's just work place abuse. This trope has gotten so out of hand of being justified by narratives and readers that there is an entire webtoon called this isekai maid is forming a union that's all about criticizing twisted manhwa tropes that get brushed off with maid absuer being at the biggest one. It's funny because a lot of people complain that Isekai maid union villainizes the nobles too much but they never ask the same questions when a OI is demonizing maids as greedy and lazy in order to deserve a beating. This doesn't just stop at hands either it can escalate to threats of mutilation just to assert dominice which is absolutely sick. Most of the time these leads used to be office workers or terminally ill patients, they know how terrible it is to be treated like garbage by their superiors yet they continue to absue every maid who isn't getting on their knees for them. Most maids in real history would not mistreat a noble even if they were the most hated in the house and even if they did they'd be fired without a letter of recommendation so why can't the FL's just fire the rude maid if they care about dignity so much because I'm pretty sure getting violent with a maid isn't very dignified either.

8: disgusting age gaps

Very similar to #6 but in this case while the ML/FL isn't a cruel monster to their partner it doesn't change the fact that grooming and pedophilia is still a crime worthy of life in prison. You'd think "oh no way, this can't be justified can it?" You'd be wrong. Now I belong to house of Castillo thankfully has a larger fanbase of people who think that a relationship between a girl who got groomed by her knight is bad but in cases like into the light once again a lot of people like to say "Well Aisha is technically 28 so it's fine!" When it really isn't since Aisha is still mentally 14. Taming my ex husbands mad dog is another one that does this with Reinhardt grooming a 16 year old boy and its apparently meant to be "cute".

9: claiming a character as unattractive yet giving them a perfect body and appreance

I just think this is a major cop-out since there's time where they want to make a realistic story yet also wanting a fantasy fufilment. I don't think its a coincidence that the only woman in tears of a withered flower that yout supposed to support is a Victoria's secret model body type. Even though she's meant to be an overworked exhausted 33 year old woman being mocked for losing her beauty she sure as hell isn't drawn that way, the only other women around hae soo are all women with smaller boob's and in general more common body types that are either classed as stupid or jealous that Hae soo is so beautiful that all the attractive men want her

how about we don't pit all the women against each other for once? And let's especially not villainize other women because their jealous they could never be have large boob's and tiny arms+waist at the same time?

10: the commoner protagonist actually being a noble rich person all along

Look I know most of us had loved those "the hated child is the lost princess" GLMM but we need to drop it because it's kinda disappointing that the nobody who had to work their way to the top is actually a secret magical princess who had royal blood in them all along. While I did think the villainess turns the hourglass was a pretty decent read I was super disappointed finding out that Aria was of noble descent all along. I liked seeing a commoner protagonist for once and it really felt like it was critiquing the idea that all commoners and poor people who want nice things like the nobility are greedy animals. Something similar can also happen with certain saintess manhwas that decide to twist itself into "the villainess was the true saintess all along!" And I'm just sitting here thinking "well there goes the hope that you didn't need the super duper rare power to be a strong character"

I feel way better now after writing all this.

[betterthanyalls]

Can u do a Reader x epic various where y/n is apart of Ody's crew and during the end of thunder bringer Zeus kidnaps y/n and takes them to Olympus instead of letting them either drown or get washed up onto Calypso's island?🥰🥰🤩🤩 It'd be cool if during God games or something Athena finds out what Zeus did and now instead of the games being just to free Ody from Calypso's island, it's ALSO about freeing y/n from Olympus and reuniting them with Odysseus?? Sorry if this doesn't make sense or if it's too much work lol, just write this however you want if you even wanna write it at all teehee ^^"

blinks i think i went through 37 different emotions while writing this, most of them were bad. Ok so, I'm not sure how good this is but please don't kill me😇 TW: Zeus gives reader Ganymede treatment

Masterlist

Stolen Soldier

Various (kind of) x Reader

EPIC: The Musical ~ Oneshot ~ Angst

Words: 1.6K

Published: 11-4-2024

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

Thunder roared, winds whipped, and waves rocked the lone ship back and forth. Standing on the bow of the ship was a figure of divine power and presence, waiting with a wicked grin. “Choose,” the king of the gods demanded harshly.

“Choose?” Odysseus muttered, looking at Zeus in fear. “Someone’s got to die today, and you have got the final say. You,” he pointed to Odysseus before gesturing to the rest of the crew, “or your crew.”

The captain looked to his crew, locking eyes with Y/n—his best friend, his rock, his shelter. He took a shaky breath, looking back to Zeus in desperation.

“Please don’t make me do this; don’t make me do this,” Odysseus begged. His mind seemed to be playing tricks on him. Looking back at his crew, he saw a range of emotions: anger, hurt, terror, grief, and more. Taking a daring glance at his closest friend, the soldier felt his heart shatter. Holding back tears, Y/n gave him a hesitant nod to show it was ok.

Then, a new voice tore his gaze away from his crew. Looking out over the sea and to the clouds, a figure of familiarity seemed to take place within the clouds. Illusion or not, that was his wife.

Penelope. Odysseus took staggering steps across the shaking boat and to the edge. Both of his hands latched to the wooden railing, his eyes never moving from the clouded position of his partner. Memories flooded his judgment, from his crew and Y/n, to his family waiting for him. “Captain?” A voice of uncertainty spoke up. Eurylochus. The said captain couldn’t even dare face his right-hand man as the sky darkened and Penelope faded back to the clouds.

“I have to see her," Odysseus whispered, tears brimming in his eyes as he finally looked back at his crew. The general saw all of the hurt and betrayal in his men’s expressions. The fear hurt the most to see. “But we’ll die,” Eurylochus pleaded. Odysseus knew he would regret this option until his final breath. Once he got home, how would he tell Ctimene he was the cause of her husband's death? “I know,” Odysseus’ voice broke, a few stray droplets not belonging to the storm washed down his cheeks. 

At the end of those words, the thunder roared, and Zeus grinned evilly. Zeus rose above the clouds, lightning moving to gather in his raised hand.

“Thunder, bring her through the wringer.” The crew drew their weapons in defense, charging towards Odysseus with murderous intent. Y/n stood away from the fight, not daring to lift any sort of weapon against her best friend.

“Show her I'm the judgment call. The one who makes her kingdom fall. Lightning, wield her, use and yield her.” 

As the crew closed in on their captain, the air started to become tense and electrified. Y/n took a step back from the chaos, looking up to see a phenomenon of heavenly power. “Show her what she can’t conceal; her true nature will be revealed.”

A bright light enclosed the surrounding sky, ripping down to the center of the ship. In an instant, a deafening crack sounded, and all light faded to black. Y/n felt like her soul was being ripped apart as she opened her mouth to scream her pain, but no noise came out. Then she felt a drop, only to be brought into a suffocating embrace of cold. Finally, her mind cut out. ~~~~~ Y/n felt different. She didn’t sense the shivering water anymore, but instead a subtle warmth. It took a few minutes, but eventually she managed to peek open her eyes. Y/n wasn’t on a ship in the middle of the sea with the night sky above anymore, but instead there was a grand painting on the ceiling of white marble overhead. Looking around slowly, the young woman saw an unfamiliar scene.

A lavish bedroom surrounded her, furnishings a king could only dream of sitting like average decor in each nook and cranny. Moving her hands, Y/n felt the silk sheets of a glorious bed below her. Ivory blankets fell from her body as she slowly rose up from her position. Placing her feet on the cold marble flooring, the mortal stepped through the room. It wasn’t long before she found herself in front of a floor-length mirror. 

White and gold fabric draped down on her body—a dress fit for a goddess of divine origin. Confusion clouded her eyes as she scanned her new attire. That puzzlement was quickly replaced with fear as two wooden doors opened, revealing an even more confusing sight.

A tall man wearing a white toga entered the room without a care of knocking. Striding to where Y/n stood, she instinctively took steps back from him. “My dear, why do you back away?” The smile on his face was unnerving, especially with the nickname. Y/n recognized that voice immediately, terror coursing through her veins as her lips parted to let out a gasp.

“Zeus.”

The god in question continued to walk towards her with that two-faced smile until he backed the mortal into a wall. “Mmm, you’re as smart as you are beautiful,” he took her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles. Y/n shuddered in disgust and fear; her heart raced faster than a chariot racer's steeds. She wanted to push him away, but her body felt locked in place. Y/n tried to speak, but her lips were closed tightly like a stone wall. “Hm, dear, I think I know a dress that’d fit your body much better. Let me help.”

~~~~~

Within only the second morning of the Heavenly Palace, Y/n had the overwhelming urge to jump off. But she wouldn’t be allowed such a pleasure with the god at her side. Zeus had taken it upon himself to guide the mortal on a tour through Olympus, which only influenced her thoughts. 

Y/n kept her eyes on Zeus every second. Not out of intrigue or anything of that sort, but of apprehension. Each movement of his that was near her direction, the mortal would tense up and pause everything. Soon enough, the king of Olypmus noticed and grinned with faux comfort. “Dear, you seem tense. Allow me to ease you.” ~~~~~ Day after day. Weeks after week. Zeus never let Y/n leave his side, threatening any god or goddess who even dared to give her a sympathetic glance. The woman was a shell of who she once was. Her eyes sunk and her soul depleted; she felt her life draining by the day. Not in mortality-wise, no Zeus would never let her perish. But in consideration of her spirit.

Each night she would cry until no more salt would leave, leaving only choking sobs. Each night she was infiltrated by the king of Olympus. Y/n would stare at herself in the mirror, vomit building in her throat as her eyes trailed down to every mark on her body. No spot was untouched. No matter how hard she tried, Y/n could never wash off the sin. The mortal would scrub her skin until she was raw and bleeding, but the phantom touches remained.

Each night she missed her home and friends more and more. Where was Odysseus now? Did he forget all about her when he returned to Ithaca? What about Penelope? Would she miss her best friend? 

Seven years. Seven years of misery, force, and agony. Seven years of physical and mental torture she endured to no fault.

But soon, like all stories, her savior arrived. ~~~~~

Athena stood in front of her father, spear and shield in hand, while staring into the king’s eyes murderously.

“I’ve played your game and won. Release them,” the goddess of wisdom demanded, shifting her gaze to where Y/n stood anxiously beside Zeus’ throne. The mortal had gone through so much, and Athena was determined to save her. 

Zeus glowered down at his daughter, rage covering his expression. “You dare to defy me? To make me feel shame?” He growled, his fists clenching so tight that his knuckles turned a bright alabaster. “No one beats me; no one wins my game!”

The lightning god stood up threateningly, his hands glowing a static yellow. “Thunder, bring her through the wringer!” The air was caught in Y/n’s throat at the familiar words, her eyes wide in horror. Zeus rose up, the electricity in his hands growing as the woman noticed the alarmed looks on the other god’s expressions. “Show her I’m the judgment call, the one who makes her kingdom FALL!” With a vociferous burst, he threw the lightning at his daughter, forcing her back onto the floor. Once the light faded, everyone looked to see the warrior lying face down, her body still as ice. “Is she dead?” the voice of her brother Ares asked hesitantly. Y/n thought back to every moment her and Odysseus had been with Athena. They were an unstoppable force together. Now though, Y/n only wanted to rush to the goddess side.  Before anyone could do anything, Athena struggled to her feet, holding her aegis in defense while pointing the spear tip to her father.

Zeus’ look of utter shock soon turned to rage at her defiance. In response, he sent a barrage of bolts towards his favorite child. Against this attack, the war patroness held her shield strong and pushed against the force, making her way to her father.

Finally, at the feet of the king, she grabbed his arm and fell to her knees.

“Let them go, please. Let them go.” Her plea was finished as the goddess collapsed, her breath slowing to a stop.

[iamsweetcrow]

Duckvember Day 02: Venomous Duck

It is said that men are more violent in killing, while women are more subtle.

I don't think Strawberry is that kind of woman, but I know she is a motherly woman who loves her family. So hearing other people talk badly about her children or her husband will only make the next cupcakes the last ones.

I've been wanting to draw Strawberry for a while, although I hope to make a better fanart for the next one.

Strawberry belongs to @miyakoqualcker

Image used as reference :3

[crimeronan]

Camila’s “Oh god I need to get Luz to see a doctor” vs her “Oh god how do I fend off news reporters and the police if someone asks questions about how my not-actually-dead daughter who has been missing for 13 years is alive” Fight

The circumstances for this to happen might be a little bit of a stretch but Do you think there’s a world out there where Hunter gets REALLY accusatory about Camila wanting Luz to see a doctor to the point that Camila would have to say like “Hey, I’m sorry for being pushy. This is a bit of a sore subject for me. My husband passed away from an illness he had been fighting for a while. We didn’t catch it fast enough to get the treatment he needed,” and Hunter immediately panics about “Does Luz have it? Whatever made your husband sick, Does Luz Have It???”

OUGH.

i've always imagined that manny died of cancer, simply because i Think that's the most common type of long-term illness that kills people in their 30s/40s..... camila explaining that no, she doesn't think luz is sick Right Now, but cancer can run in families so it's important to see a doctor regularly....

and if i'm gonna be extremely self-indulgent, i could also see manny having passed from some kind of autoimmune disease, since that's the other big category of Thing That Kills You that frequently targets younger people. and that tends to have an even more immediate and pressing genetic component than cancer. i won't say it's fully AU canon, bc i think if it WAS, then camila would be even more worried about luz's neurological health than she already is, but...... food 4 me.

as for the logistics of camila getting luz to a doctor.... YEAH. i was thinking about how one of the Biggest complications is that camila can't, like, feasibly say this is luz. at least without sparking a million questions. if she had any outside help with getting vee a legal identity then i imagine she'd turn to them for resources.... because good god. The Complication.

[starreyblueberry]

Ok… honestly I hate to accept that but gotten have to accept that… I do deeply need Timmy cause I miss him! 😭

I do like Hazel, she’s great! Same for Dev! I hope he will have redemption!

Poor this child…

Anyway, I don’t care if we have the original series to watch and Timmy may have been selfish and crazy, but in New Wish series, I would love to see the canon adulthood of Timmy, how he grow up and mature, and have a wife and maybe a toddler or not yet, but it would be cool to see his wife pregnant with their first child.

Timmy’s lost memories of fairies, magic and his fairy family could return somehow, probably not fully, not all. Depends on what the team plan on him.

I would love to see Timmy and Hazel’s relationship, like him giving her some advice or something. Same with Timmy and Deb’s relationship too!

I have those ideas stuck in my mind for a bit, that could be be ideas for New Wish series future seasons, I don’t know why I found those….

Interesting.

Galaxy Institute is probably the bad news because it got the weapons and those types, that COULD can kill or hurt the humans even if they were meant to be for fairies and creatures. I mean we saw what happened to Crocker in “Crocker To Future” episode. It would be great idea for plot in future…

Remember that part in “Crocker To Future” episode, AJ mentioned that fairies are dangerous, might be killed?

THAT MAN IS NOT SWEET BOY WE KNOW! 😭

He’s not AJ at all! I know people change as they grow, but it breaks my heart! It got me thinking….

What if he turned out to be villain?! I don’t know what kind of villain, but he wouldn’t understand, like why heck did he think they’re dangerous if he never met one?!

(I know he did before but his memories got erased of course, but that’s not the point.)

AJ could wants to protect humans from them or something. There gotten reason why he’s like that… I know he looks nice but still. Maybe his family or something.

It could destroy Chester and Timmy’s friendship with him. Timmy would feel betrayed and don’t understand. He would definitely be on fairies side! You should not kill them without knowing them, and more! It would be hard to forgive AJ…

Hazel would time travel into past, to young Timmy’s timeline, Jorgen would sand her back. Hazel will have to avoid and try not mass the timeline up or something, she needs to warn young Timmy. He won’t remember but will remember those words what Hazel warn him once she found him: “Be careful who you trust… trust me with that!”

Of course young Timmy would be confused but listened to her. This would take place after season 8 of the original. He would be bit mature.

Honestly… I really really REALLY DISLIKE THIS ONE! I don’t know about you but what if…

Marcus turned out to be kinda of villain too?! I mean he work at Galaxy Institute as well! He could be kind of that loves his family and just wants to protect them especially Hazel.

Like there’s a villain from Star Wars, Luke’s father loved his family and wanted to protect them, and other villains from other series/movies that loved their family. Not having Marcus turning to evil fully, of course not. He would be not understanding, he’s just… him. I don’t know how to explain.

I know it’s going to hurt and worry Hazel. She would be fear and try to understand this issue. Antony would have to protect his sister even if has goes against his own father. Hazel needs this. Antony promised he would protect Hazel no matter what, it would be why. Angela would be upset with her husband and don’t even understand him.

Dev will definitely supports Hazel and on her side.

But, but, but! What I’m hoping that… they hopefully could have redemption by realizing their mistakes or something! Right?! 😃

I’m not sure if any fans ever thought about whole villains thing, I only saw one poster about AJ villain but I don’t remember it-

Okay… it must sound super heavy angst!

But what if somewhere, AJ or someone, used the weapon to shot Jorgen, Cosmo, Peri or Wanda… but instead of them, Timmy saved their live, instead he got hit and was knocked out, unconscious.. it would be worse if he saved Jorgen, his reaction would be confused and shock that Timmy saved his life. So, he decided to take Timmy back with Hazel, Dev and fairies, got out of the danger, back to fairy world, or Fairy Council would take them all back. Like they somehow knew there’s danger. There was a way to save Timmy. They would also take Tootie (and child) with them to protect them.

I know it might sound crazy and terrible! Ugh, I’m so sorry! So sorry that I had to drop this ideas here! I just feel like I need to talk about it!

It just that my ideas and theories sometimes just don’t make sense or probably wouldn’t be canon in New Wish series-

Now…please, excuse me…. (Run off crying cause I seriously need help-)😭

Speak of that… I wonder what happened to Mark Crang… we lest saw him that he’s still on earth, right? Maybe he went back to his home planet but yeah- (season 9-10 doesn’t exist as I heard I think)

Honestly those would be great ideas for fanfics too….

So… what do you think?

To be honest I was kind of scared to talk about it because I’m not quite sure if you or anyone would like or not-

Does any of this make sense?

This makes so much sense and I just posted a small ramble about what if Timmy was a villan LMAOOOO, I love ur ramble asks their some of my fav things ever?? I love the idea of Timmy and AJ having a rocky friendship and the time travel aspect as a episode idea, and Marcus as a villan is crazy work/pos

[spacebarbarianweird]

Baldur’s Gate Modern AU (1990s Russia edition)

In 1990s Saint Petersburg mafia, KGB, oligarchs and deathly cults strive to control the "northern capital". Six people find themselves in the midst of events — who shall they become, puppets or revolutionaries?

Astarion

Looks much younger than he is, native to Leningrad. His family are a part of old soviet intellectual elite (educated and classist). Graduated from the Leningrad State University (degree in Law). Astarion was making a political career but alas perestroika started and the crime rate increased — got almost killed by gang members and was saved by a mysterious figure who used his fragile state to kidnap him and force into sex work (also put Astarion on drugs). Now, ten years later Astarion has no fucking clue what to do with his life and how to obtain freedom after years of abuse, drugs and prostitution.

Gale

Until recently Gale was a teacher in a private boarding school for the oligarchs' kids. Was groomed by an older woman who was also a wife of a politician. The lady infected Gale with AIDS and also blackmailed him. Now his life and health are in ruins and he is being hunted by goons hired by Mystra's husband.

Wyll

Transmasc and native to Northern Caucas. Disowned by his clan and family, he comes to what is now Saint Petersburg snd becomes a hitman for a local authority, a cruel woman called Diavolitsa (she-devil). Wyll doesn't give up and is always in a good mood tho it seems like you can't run from russian mafia even if you go straight to hell.

Shadowheart

Raised in one of many cults that grow abundant in the country, Shadowheart remembers neither her real name nor childhood. She believes in the cult leader, the Dark Lady, who claims herself a goddess, and suffers from chronic pains. Her beliefs will be challenge as she starts rememebering more and more. Who kidnapped her? Where are her real parents? And where does the line lie between a hippie commune and a totalitarian cult?

Laezel

An illegal immigrant, she is at least dissapointed with the current state of events in post-soviet Russia. She is on a secret mission and actually a a spy. But considering her age she has never truly experienced life and all its opportunities.

Karlach

A former child sportstar. Perestroika and the collapse of the USSR took her future and life opportunities. Worked as a bodyguard for an oligarch Enver Gortash but he sold her to mafia who tortured Karlach relentlessly. Her health is ruined and she needs drugs that aren't sold in Russia so she has to ask drugdealers for help. Many people think she works for mafia but it isn't true

Minthara

A KGB agent (was and is). Believes in whatever the state tells her to believe but misses good old communism. Very loyal and doesn't forget betrayals. Knows sambo, comes from a big all-women family, despises men.

Halsin

Eco-activist and a protester. He is the oldest in the group. Much more educated than he looks like but doesn't think intelligence is a merit of a good person. "Lenin was educated, look where it all took us". His full passport name is Serebryakov-Vetkin Mikhail Dobroslavovich. Probably comes from some tzar time nobility but he will never tell.

Bonus:

- Oligarch Enver Gortash (Gortashev Enver Igorevich), heavily involved with military

- Mafia leader Raphael (everyone calls him Rafik and he hates it, has a mansion built on his dad's money)

- Dammon, people call him Dimon. A talented inventor, has little to no ambition. If he emigrates, will probably become a millionaire

- Elminster (Emil). Once a member of science academy he is downgraded to a personal tutor of a greedy politician whose wife Mystra seduced Gale. The only reason why Gale is still alive is because Elminster managed to persuade the powerful couple to let Gale go for now

- Volo (Vova). A bard and a menestrel, he is heavily involved into fantasy RPG subculture. Meanwhile he is a huge Tolkien fan and makes ballads based on Silmarillion, he mostly cosplays Jaskier from the popular Witcher series. Once performed a lobotomy in a communal flat

- Jaheira (Yana). She was against USSR when it wasn't trendy. Spent some time in prison for anti-communistic ideas. Was pardoned in 1992.

- Minsc (yes, he is from the capital of Belarus). Jaheira's friend he was put into mental facility in the 1970s. Everyone thought he died but he is here with us, ready to fight for freedom and peace (though years in the ward affected his mental health). Has a pet hamster.

- Cazador ("why spanish name, fancy yourself Pablo Escobar?"). Well, in his head he is the scariest man in Saint Petersburg (Leningrad). In reality, no one knows him. Literally. He is no one. He isn't even rich. Kidnaps people and makes them slaves in his mansion. Has a deal with Rafael's father. Sadist and pervert, makes money by forcing his slaves into sex work. Basically just a greedy pimp.

- Ketheric Thorm. Oh this man, a victim of relentless history. He witnesses the October revolution and civil war, dedicated his life to the USSR and communism and then it collapsed leaving Ketheric old and miserable. He works for Enver and has no hope for the future.

- Isobel. Ketheric's daughter and a talented surgeon. Was considered dead.

- Lady Aylin. Isobel's gf and a professional fighter. Was held hostage by Ketheric who didn't want his daughter to be a lesbian.

- Araj Oblodra. A psycho pyromaniac and that person who will poison you if you cross paths with KGB. Obsessed with vampires (Twilight fan before Twilight).

- Orin. Professional ballet dancer, she will perform Swan Lake on your enemies bodies. Everyone thinks Enver sleeps with her but he is too afraid.

- Mystra. A politician's wife, grooms her lovers from young age. Into spirituality.

- Karniss. Hell no. Don't ask what was done to him in a secret KGB lab

- Petras (Piotr), Dalyria (Daria), Leon, Yossen (Esya), Violet (Violetta) - Astarion's siblings and Cazador’s victims. The relationship between them are rocky at the very least

Hope you enjoyed it! If i forgot someone, let me know!

[theotherdragomirgirl]

ELIA OF DORNE and ANDROMACHE OF TROY

I have long wanted to write this meta of sorts, because if there is one mythological woman Elia Nymeros Martell has always reminded me of, it's Princess Andromache of Troy (or Andromache of Cilician Thebe).

In Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Trojan Prince Hector, daughter of King Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled.

Following the Trojan War, after Achilles has killed Hector and Troy is being captured and sacked by the Greeks, her son by Hector, named Astyanax (born Scamandrius) was murdered by being thrown off the city walls. His killer, Neoptolemus, son of the mythical warrior Achilles, then took Andromache as his concubine. By him, she was the mother of Molossus, Pielus, Pergamus and Amphialus.

The world of ancient Greek Mythology mostly does not sees rape of women conquered in war as rape at all, and yet, King Priam of Troy, father in law of Andromache, himself talks of the mass rape that will happen should Troy fall.

In Iliad, Andromache is portrayed as the perfect wife, weaving a cloak for her husband in the innermost chambers of the house and preparing a bath in anticipation of his return from battle. Just as Princess Elia is said to be "a good woman, kind and clever, with a gentle heart and a sweet wit", enough so that even her melancholic prince, who even by accounts of those who admired him most, did not have it in himself to be happy, grew "very fond of her".

Just like Andromache represents the injustice done to the women of Troy, to women of war torn lands in general, Elia represents the injustice done to women in King's Landing during the sack of the city.

Andromache and Elia are both widows of Crown Princes when their cities are sacked, but that doesn't save them from gruesome fates. If anything, being married to the dead heir to the throne dooms them too. One to a lifetime of misery, the other to an unbelievably horrific death.

We first learn about Elia through Daenerys, as she imagines the fall of the Targaryen dynasty:

"Yet sometimes Dany would picture the way it had been, so often had her brother told her the stories. The sack of King’s Landing by the ones Viserys called the Usurper’s dogs, the lords Lannister and Stark. Princess Elia of Dorne pleading for mercy as Rhaegar’s heir was ripped from her breast and murdered before her eyes. The polished skulls of the last dragons staring down sightlessly from the walls of the throne room while the Kingslayer opened Father’s throat with a golden sword."

Daenerys' description of the sack, and what happened to Elia and the rest of the Targaryen royals during it, is very similar to what befell Andromache. Her son was ripped from her arms, and murdered before her eyes, while her father-in-law was murdered by the invading forces. Elia and Andromache's role as mother, a fundamental element of their position in marriage, is emphasized within the text of their respective tales.

Following the murders of their sons (and daughter also, in Elia's case) both women are subjected to aggravated rape. Andromache is made a sex slave, and Elia is raped to death.

Both women had their family entirely stripped from them by the violence of war, making them fulfill the fate of conquered women in ancient warfare.

Both are wives of admired, beloved crown princes seen as the hope and future of their dynasty. And later, widows.

Both loose everything due to their husbands dying in war at the hands of a great warrior. Robert of House Baratheon, in case of Elia. And Achilles, in case of Andromache.

The so-called (or so-perceived) "good guys" of the stories victimize Elia and Andromache, or outright benefit from their victimization.

In some versions, it is Odysseus who kills Andromache's infant son, and then takes her mother-in-law, Hecuba, as his war prize.

Robert Baratheon had a just cause to rise against the man literally named "the mad king", but he defiles the justness of his own cause by walking to his throne of swords over the brutalized dead bodies of Elia and her children (Princess Rhaenys, not even three years old, stabbed half a hundred times, infant Aegon bashed into a bloody pulp against the wall, Elia raped with her son's blood and brain on her rapist's hands, then cut in half by him), calling them "dragonspawn" with disgust. Not only refusing her family justice, but actually awarding the man who orchestrated the monstrous deeds with a crown for his daughter.

Then there is their treatment by other women:

Hermione, daughter of Menelaus, king of Sparta, and his wife, Helen of Troy, wife of Andromache's captor and rapist Neoptolemus, blamed Andromache for her inability to become pregnant, claiming that she was casting spells on her to keep her barren. To the point that she asked her father to kill Andromache and her son while Neoptolemus was away at Delphi.

The same way, in text, Cersei Lannister blames Elia for her unhappiness as wife of Robert. Basically declaring that if Rhaegar had only married her, not Elia, everything and everyone would be well and happy. That it must have been madness that drove King Aerys to marry his son to the Dornish Princess.

Outside of text, we have the fandom's treatment of, and attitude towards, Elia. People who prefer Rhaegar Targaryen with Lyanna Stark, treat Elia as if she was the interloper in the marriage, and not his lawfully wedded legal wife, in eyes of both the Old Gods and the new. I have seen people outright say "fuck Elia and her children". It is honestly... Bizarre.

Andromache was famous for her fidelity and virtue. And it is safe to say Elia was both of those things too. Since even her biggest detractors, Jon Connington and Cersei Lannister, two people who wanted her husband for themselves, could not find any fault in Elia in that regard. Jon could only complain that Elia was sickly and unworthy of Rhaegar, despite the fact that she gave him two children in two years, and Cersei could only complain about Elia's breast size.

And yet, for all their amazing qualities, both women still suffered unquestionably and immensely, all for someone else's "love story".

Paris made off with Helen, and Andromache payed the price with all that she held dear.

Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna and thousands died for it. Including his innocent wife and children.

Andromache.

Elia.

Daughter

Princess

Sister

Wife

Mother

[zeherili-ankhein]

Some of y'all are not ready for this conversations... (PART – 1)

1. There was no Sita Swayamvar in reality. Ram just went, broke the bow and Janak decided “yooo son-in-law who?”

2. Mandavi and Shrutakirti (or rather Bharat and Shatrughan's wives) doesn't exists... Even if they did they weren't named such. And Urmila was very briefly mentioned (that also without a proper name)

3. There was no thing called Lakshman Rekha (that story came from Bengal's Krittibasi Ramayan by Krittibas Ojha)

4. Hanuman is not supposed to be a monkey. Non of the Vanar(s) are.

5. There were no Ahiravan or Mahiravan in the actual Ramayan.

6. Ravan. Was. A. Fucking. Rapist. (Honestly if I see one more Ravan was mahan post I'll beat up your family)

7. Ravan gave zero fucks about Surpanakhaa. She needed to lie in order to get him to abduct Sita.

8. Ravan kidnapped Sita purely because of his own lust and nothing else. Also no he wasn't all kind, gentle and respectful towards Sita. He threatened to kill her a lot of times.

9. Ram was mascular as hell.

10. AHALYA. WAS. NOT. A. VICTIM. (my Gods!! Stop giving Indra the L for this one perticular incident, he already got enough. He was in wrong too yes, but it was a well consented from both parties affair. Ahalya very well knew it was Indra disguised as her husband.)

Uhhh.... That's it. That's part 1 ig... I think I'll make more parts later when I get more motivation.

[powerpuffobsession]

First time writing an essay about Helluva Boss. Episode 2.10, Ghostfuckers

So, episode 2.10...

I have a lot to say about it considering all the previous episodes. First of all, I'm glad that the senior man managed to punch Millie through a wall. She deserved that for all the innocent humans she, Blitzo and her husband murdered in episode 1.3 (I remind you that this is a cartoon about imps who are serial murders, and DHORKS are not the villains but rather just looking for revenge, uguuu U_U)

I'm just disappointed that Blitzo didn't get punched (because he's a traumatized uwu baby in this one and that would break him in half, I guess)

Now, let's get to it, to the bad and a bit of good

Animators and voice actors are still killing it, they are the ones single-handedly saving this show (had it not looked so pretty compared to Family guy or RiIck and Morty, I'd never even given it the light of day with its writing, because my eyes would just bleed and I'd close the tab. I'm a sucker for beautiful animesque designs, what can I say)

The fighting scenes are much more fluid now, my head doesn't hurt from watching them too

But the writing... The best way to describe this is "Uncanny Valley"

Because Brandon Rogers basically made fanfic inside fanfic. The whole show is already full of loopholes, strange turnarounds and retcons, etc. And Ghostfuckers looks like a stand-off fantasy that first goes on about some fanon version of Millie Brandon would like to see if he was the one who came up with the idea of Helluva boss... And then it switches abruptly to canon Millie, because we have to remember that this is still an episode of Vivziepop's show

This is what we get when Vivziepop is too grossed out by having to develop her female character and dumps it wholly on another writer (for the second time in a row already)

The switch between that cold-blooded and unfriendly Millie and the current awkward happy-go-lucky Millie is just too unnatural. I don't see any hints in the previous episodes about her being such a stock "cool gurl" in the past. It feels like yet another idea that was mashed into the show out of nowhere with no planning (like Stolas and Blitzo meeting as kids or Stolas being a helpless soy-bean victim)

I hate how the show tries to go in the direction of posing Blitzo as a local savior-wannabe who supposedly made the lives of Moxxie and Millie better.

No, he didn't....

I have eyes and ears. I saw how he humiliated Moxxie and made fun of him, he made threats to him and Millie, stalked them outside of work and he still refuses to stop doing that, he DOESN'T EVEN PAY THEM, INSTEAD WASTING ALL THE MONEY ON RANDOM STUFF AND SHAMELESSLY TELLS THEM ABOUT IT DIRECTLY (especially in episode 2.10, do you know what it means not to be paid for a MONTH when you are depending on yourself and not living off your parents money, like Millie and Moxxie?)

In real life, Blitzo would have been told to go fuck himself and all his workers would have left him a long time ago. But in vivziepop's verse Blitzo is apparently the only employer in Wrath ring, I dunno...

I feel like Millie comforted and thanked Blitzo out of pity just so he would stop whining. I remember how she didn't show up to help him escape from the humans in the last short (Moxxie wasn't captured that time unlike in 1.6 episode, so she was unbothered). I tell you, the gurl is hiding her true disdain for Blitzo, since he's her boss. I know two-faced when I see one (and I don't blame her at all)

However, with what condition Blitzo is in in this episode, I have quite a few nasty words to say about Stolas

This is the second or third or maybe even fourth time we've heard how Blitzo ruins the lives of everyone in hell (literally, he gets a whole ass party dedicated to how bad he is, thrown by almost half of hell - writing overkill much?), how he should change, etc... My question is, when will the same be said to Stolas?

Stolas performed the same disgusting scheme a lot of toxic partners have always been using: he tamed Blitzo, he made Blitzo feel like he (Stolas) is important and irreplaceable, Stolas pretended to be kind to Blitzo (when in reality all he wanted from the imp was sex, otherwise he would have requested something else in exchange for the book, it was not that hard to do you know)... And then Stolas got all offended completely out of the blue (just because Blitzo hesitated before accepting his gift, seriously?) and ditched Blitzo while sincerely partaking in an insulting song dedicated to Blitzo at the "Fuck you Blitzo party)...

That bird bitch knows exactly what he's doing. He knew Blitzo would get used to the idea that Stolas only wants sex and doubt Stolas' attempt at selflessness (with the Asmodeus' crystal). Stolas can't be so clueless if he's 30-something years old, I can't stand how Vivziepop infantilizes her characters right at the times when they should realize their wrongdoings and self-improve

If Stolas is not going to understand the damage he did to Blitzo and apologize to him, AND if they are going to still be the end game after all... That'd be a pure romanticization of Stockholm syndrome

You can't have Blitzo as this scapegoat who is somewhat held responsible for his actions (he is at least feeling guilty sometimes and trying to do.... something??? to fix things) and then show someone who's emotionally abusing him as this innocent suffering being. I hate black-and-white writing where the author is playing favourites when it comes to conflicts between characters

Now the small things:

Moxxie wears a bra apparently. Transmale Moxxie headcanon confirmed? (I know his horns are black and white, but he could have dyed them)

I find it funny how the characters keep conversing smugly while fighting and jumping all over the place. Can you stop for one minute and breathe? You're all gonna end up with pink eye one day I swear

The fight scenes are still a repetitive mass of random noise and movement. And that's why in my opinion they last for longer than they should. Helluva Boss is trying to be Samurai Jack with its suspense and various styles/pacing of action, but fails

I loved the scene where Blitzo was tortured by the hallucinations of his past. Helluva boss does a decent job at creepy stuff for a stupid comedy-drama cartoon. The scene where a fantom of his mother shows up and burns in his arms is especially cinematically strong. Blitzo really got stabbed where it hurt the most

Blitzo is more vulnerable than Millie in this episode in general. His past is screwed up big time for a lot of reasons, so he's got a lot of trauma buttons one can push to easily drive Blitzo into a helpless snotty-teary state. Millie, in contrast, is living her best life in hellish terms - she's got loving parents, strong body and personality, no guilt on her shoulders, literally nothing to be ashamed or guilty of. The villain tries to tell her that she's miserable, and she's just laughing in his face because she KNOWS it's not so. That's why Millie keeps protecting Blitzo in 2.10 episode. It's an interesting chemistry and I'm glad it got explored

Though I still don't get how Millie meeting her husband is Blitzo's merit. Not like he actively helped them get together, to of the goodness of his heart too, I sincerely doubt it, given how egoistical, abusive and immature Blitzo is

I hate how Blitzo keeps talking about sex only at some times. It's like a psychosis or something. "Adult cartoon should feature sex talk, because that's how it happens in real life, grow up". In real life anyone would get dirty looks if they spoke in "sex fuck FUCK SEX FUCKING FUCK I want to get it up my ass I WANT SEX" only at the most inappropriate times, so piss off, it's cringe. I get it how Vivziepop and her crew find the mere word "sex" funny, as well as swear words (someone did not grow out of their middle school phase), but can we have other jokes please? The "read the chains" one was kinda funny as well as the high five scene from the 1.3 episode. I want more comedy stuff like that, though it takes effort to come up with that

Speaking of which, I hated the part where a disfigured person who can't even blink is made fun of. Especially how Blitzo and Millie demonstratively express disgust upon seeing her. Unhealthy people are not a joke!

The villain was bland. He's basically just a tool to make Millie and Blitzo get character development. No charisma, no memorable lines or scenes (his transformation to his true form was sort of spicy but lacked something still), no clear motivation. He didn't pass the sexy tumblrman test, I have no memories of him

No s*icidal Millie in this episode. I'm glad about that because that conflict just doesn't suit her (I also think that her reflections about feeling unimportant in 2.5 episode were bullshit, she has no reason for that). If anything it would have been logical to give Moxxie the s*icidal tendencies and the problem of feeling unimportant - he's weak, sensitive, gets mocked and bullied a lot, has a troublesome and dark past with an abusive father.... It'll be a missed potential if until the very end his suffering is going to be taken as just a joke instead of being explored as a serious issue (though we all know vivziepop is going to leave it as that)

Thankfully Luna didn't murder Moxxie at his most neurotic and vulnerable state and didn't ignore his attempt at burning himself with all the papers (I get you, man... Paperwork sucks majorly sometimes). She even gave him an ice cream! When Millie asked Luna to watch over Moxxie, I actually was worried she and Blitzo would return to see Moxxie dismembered and pissed at all over or something. Because this is the same Luna who abused Blitzo (someone who literally allows her to live carefree at his expense), and bullies Moxxie on a daily basis... Blitzo didn't even die when making her do the unnecessary work of burning the owl taxidermy. Is she on antidepressants or something in this episode?

I rate this episode as 7/10

[sifya]

My idea ally of promoteus/boss on olympus or dream real: Penelope. Penelope isn't directly cursed as her husband her coinsin but she has suffered the conseguences in everycase. Helen was kidnapped by Paris and bloody war where a lot people died for a stupid apple because Zeus couldn't handle 3 women. Clytemnestra felt in darkness because the death of her daughter,losing her mind. Odysseous is probabily full of ptst from war and SA(I wouldn't never call cheating) ans penelope cannot help him. That is just inderect consequence, she had to survive in her house,ruling a kindom alone protecting her son from feral man who wants her like object and kill her son. Not for moment zeus god of hostitality ,give her help,athena didn't help neither. Penelope survived by herself and she didn't have her happy ending because people she loves has suffered too much. Plus her ability with wearing, the fact she daughter of nyph , and spartan princess make me believe she can be a dangeous boss, theseus. Greek gods cannot die but can be hurt by mortals. Plus being honest Od is lame here, I think his personality as cheater bastad who doesn't care of family make him sounds like jason of medea.

I also believe kidnapping of fates, and the fact wearing has power in this world, and moros implied arache would be abled to challange the fates one day, make me believe Chronos wants to create new fates.

Penelope, arachene and 3rd part(maybe pandora) are necessary for that goal.

If Mel doesn't help arachene by breaking her curse,whuch means going agaist hecate, arachene would side with titans too. Same for dora.

More Hades 2 rambles from me! Though this time round it's a continuation of a point I made in this post.

Specifically, that I think the final boss of the Surface will be a living human mortal.

A couple people on that post disagreed that it would be a human, mostly just because of boss fight mechanics. Which I do get, but this is my not so little refute of that idea (all in good fun of course, I very well might be wrong! I just have thought a bunch about it since then and wanted to ramble about it).

I'll be getting into later how the game could have a hard mechanically satisfying human final boss later, because first I want to talk about how it would make sense naratively. Not because anyone remotely argued this point, I just think it's interesting haha.

So let's go back for a moment to Hades 1, and it's final boss, Hades himself. On a mechanical sense, it makes total sense, Hades is the god and master of the underworld Zag is trying to escape. He would be the final obstacle. But what really makes Hades work as the final boss, is the story and emotional reason he's there.

The plot of Hades is ultimately about Zag's messy relationship with his dad. And that final boss fight is an ongoing conversation with him. While irl you and your questionable dad constantly fighting to death is not a great way to fix your problems, these are weird bound to underworld greek gods. Death is their weird love language for like half this cast haha. There is a reason Death is one of, if not the main love interest.

Okay now that I've established that, let's look at the one final boss we do know from Hades 2, Chronos. Now it's Grandpa's time to shine. Unlike Hades 1, he fits a lot cleaner into a more traditional villian role. The monster who literally takes over your house and takes your family hostage.

In that way, it is a personal fight for Mel to save her family, but Mel lacks a specific personal connection to Chronos himself. Obviously there's the whole Grandpa thing, but she wasn't like raised by him or anything. He is a convient big bad she can hate simply and wholeheartedly. While he does try to challenge her beliefs at times, Mel will never listen to him because of the whole family kidnapping thing, and Gramps equally doesn't want to engage with her either. He just wants to be a dick to her.

While I'm a firm believer in the "We (the gods) are actually the bad guys" theory, I don't think Chronos is secretly an angel. He did you know eat his kids and that entire scene with Hades and him just reeked of shitty dad vibes. While Chronos might be better for humanity, I think he really is using them as a prop and doesn't genuinely care about them. (This is a derail, but I do think the human army side of things including Prometheus will turn on Chronos at some point. Specifcally that they are already planning to).

But yes, basically, while I adore Chronos as a villain, you get none of the character growth from either party that you got between Zag and Hades in the first game. Obviously, we are still in early access, so there's more dialouge to be had. But from what we have seen, those two are not changing the other. So this is my roundabout way to say that must mean the Surface boss is the one that is going to be all about Melinoe's character growth.

I don't think I need to explain why fighting a human would be a fascinating place for character growth for humanities #1 hater Melinoe. Mel's the Hades equivalent in this game (not the Zag), who will not listen to anyone who disagrees with her. Getting beat up by a human might actually start to get it through her head.

But also I want to dig into why I don't think the final boss will be another Titan. I've seen Atlas thrown around a bunch as a possible final Surface boss. Also Typhon... I'm certain there are others. But I don't know what they would add to the narrative, especially as a final boss? I think there's more evidence for Atlas, so I'll focus on him.

It would make some sense, he was the leader of the titan rebellion and much like Prometheus, in certain versions of the myth he was also freed from his punishment by Heracles! Which considering Heracles suspicious lack of dialouge so far, and the dialouge he does have being a god hater, I do think he's the one who freed Prometheus in this game.

But other than those connections, what does Atlas add to make him an interesting antagonist to Mel? He's not particularly tied to humanity, and while his punishment sucked he did lead a rebellion against the gods (and traditionally the reasons have nothing to do with humans).

Mostly, in my opinion, if the game was going to have a titan also be the final boss for the Surface, it wouldn't be Atlas. It would be Prometheus. He's the powerful titan who has a legitimate gruge against the gods and who can engage with Mel in interesting ways, challenging her stance against the gods. But they have already used Prometheus, I don't know how they could write Atlas (or whatever titan/god) in a way that would be more interesting than Prometheus, and rival the Hades boss fight for thematic weight. Also, it would be 2 titans in a row, which isn't nessisarily a bad thing, but still.

I've also seen people throw around it might he Ares, which I will admit would I would be way more excited for that another titan. Theres some interesting ideas to be had with an Olympian who has betrayed the gods. But we already have dialouge with Athena where she says how Chronos' armies motivations wouldn't line up with Ares'. And I feel like going from a dude only obsessed with war to someone fighting for some kind of higher cause would be a jump in character. Not impossible, but a little weird.

And ultimately, I just think that a Human would serve the purpose better as an antagonist to Mel who would shake her worldview on living mortals in particular. A fight with Ares would mess with her relationship with the gods, but not as clearly with humans.

Okay now that I've talked about themes, how about what people actually had an issue with lol, how would a final boss with a human make sense from a boss fight perspective. I have three main ideas, that don't really contradict each other and could all exist in the fight.

1st idea: multiple enemies. We've heard that there are human armies, the final boss could possibly be a leader of them. We could have hords of enemies, could have select recognizable commanders that have different skill sets, etc. None of the Surface boss fights have multi bosses in them (they have random mobs but none like the sirens or Theseus and Asterius), so I don't think it would be strange to have it. And while stretching the definition of a human boss a bit, these other bosses could be ghosts and other kinds of beings (I just think the main boss should be a breathing human).

2nd idea and tbh my main one. Have them be a Witch! Or some other kind of magic user. I feel like this should be obvious, but a lot of the theming around Hades 2 is witchy/magic stuff and it's wild we don't have a major witch enemy yet (other than obviously Hecate, but for obvious reasons I don't count her).

I'm thinking some kind of High Priestess of Chronos kind of character, we still don't know exactly how Chronos was revived and this could tie in, but there's a bunch of ways you could spin a magic user! I think it would be a prime place to put a narrative foil to Melinoe. A fellow Witch whose family was stolen away by the gods who is looking for justice. Maybe when finally looking into a mirror, some of the stuff Melinoe's been told will finally breach her thick headed skull haha.

I don't think I really need to get into the technical about how a witch fight could be cool. But one idea, tying into my first point, a magic user could have mind powers and compell powerful beings to fight for them. This could be the Zag boss fight of borderline crack theories or even maybe the aforementioned Ares who maybe got captured during his war path. A magic fight doesn't need possessed enemies, but it could be cool.

And finally, my 3rd idea. You might be going, but how could a human be more powerful than Prometheus? Well first point magic, but more seriously, just have them be boosted by Chronos and/or other allies. I mentioned a theory about a high priestess sort of character (the power of God and ani--), but more specifically, if they do go the route of a foil to Melinoe, she has her boons from the gods. Much like Theseus in Hades 1, the final surface boss could gain the boons of Chronos/Prometheus/and the like. Maybe even a Chaos boon, they have already aided Chronos once, and there's a decent chance the humans might betray Chronos at some point so Chaos might be chill with them. This could also be a way to introduce more titan characters and the like without needing to make models for them haha.

But yes, tldr, magic human gives us both the thematic weight of it being a human, witch stuff to parallel Melinoe, and just cool powerful magic fight as a final boss (and it could parallel the Hecate boss fight, the first boss u fight and the last being magic based).

[bluerosefox]

A Sibling Sacrifice

The JL were having a normal, for them at least, meeting when suddenly a portal rips opens and spits out a young teen with snow white hair and glowing green eyes and he's carrying a bundle as he's stumbles out and lands on his knees in the meeting room.

The two main odd things about this kid was floating above the kid's head was a crown made of stars, ice, and the colors shifting like a aurora borealis and the bundle in his arms was strangely made of stars somehow, almost like a blanket of galaxies plucked out of the cosmos.

Before anyone of them could say or do anything, the kid turns around and screams towards the portal as he scrambles for it.

"JAZZ NO DON'T DO THIS! I CAN STILL FIGHT THEM! NONONONO!" but before he could reach the portal it snaps close.

The kid lands again onto the floor when he doesn't reach it in time, pleading for the damn thing to open again, and the bundle in his arms begins to cry from the jolting and noise.

The baby crying was the only thing that stopped the kid from pleading and instead focused his attention on the bundle in his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm so damn sorry Ellie. I should had gotten us out of there sooner, I should had saved you bef- I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything..."

Those were the rushed, raw words the kid said down to the bundle. The kid curled inwards a bit, to both shield the baby, who was calming down somewhat into tiny cry hiccups, and for himself.

Those with advanced hearing could tell the kid was still whispering apologizes under his breath as he held the baby close.

"I'm sorry everyone, I'm so sorry. I tried, I tried so hard to save everyone but in the end... I'm sorry- everyone's gone... I'm sorry."

-x-x-

[Pssst, read the tags, they clear everything up]

[the-tenth-arcanum]

rough episode for aramis

[sukibenders]

One of Rhaenyra's biggest opps (in HOTD) really was her own father. Because how are you going to proclaim your daughter as heir, only to then marry her best friend and have four kids, three sons, in an environment that is against women already as is but even more so with one sitting on the Iron Throne? And then, not only, do you not prepare her for anything political but scold her publicly, which isn't good for her image, and just....hardly do anything to aid her until you're on your last leg? And yet there are still fans saying he was a "great dad" and that he "did all he could". HA, I THINK NOT!

[cymorilcinnamonroll]

The Slavic Iceberg Explained (cont.)

5 level

February 29th is an evil day - in Orthodox Christianity the 29th of February is dedicated to Saint John Cassian. But in folk Christianity this Saint attained demonic traits. It was believed that Cassian is mean and even actively harmful to humans, and his gaze withers plants and kills animals and humans. During the day of Cassian, people tried not to work and spent this day inside of their houses. 

Good and Evil trees - in Slavic tradition certain trees can be considered holy or harmful. Often, there are legends that explain how these beliefs came to be. For example, the hazel covered Jesus and Mary when they were hiding from the thunderstorm, while the aspen refused to do so. That’s why the hazel repels lightning and hailstorm, and the aspen is mean and considered to be connected with harmful spirits (magical items are typically made from this tree).

Physiologus - a predecessor of bestiaries from Alexandria, basically an encyclopedia about beasts, plants and minerals (with ridiculous “facts” and moral lessons). It was pretty popular in Tsardom of Russia and influenced many other books.

Cattle death - a spirit of epizootic in form of the black cow or chicken (or a hideous old woman). To protect a settlement from Cattle Death, villagers performed a number of rites like plowing around the village with women in harness and invoking Saint Blaise (possibly Veles).

Slavic Samson - Samson is one of the rarely mentioned bogatyrs. Not much is known about him, but he is clearly inspired by the biblical Samson, since he has seven “angelic” hairs and possesses supernatural strength.

Bayun the Cat - Bayun is the monstrous cat, who sings and tells tales. His voice puts people to sleep, and then he kills them. Interestingly enough, some researchers theorize that Bayun’s murderous intentions were invented by Alexander Afanasyev (the most prominent Russian folklorist) (see “singing cats”).

The linden-legged bear - a very creepy and strange tale about a family of two old people, who cut off a bear’s leg and then were visited by the same bear who made a replacement from a linden wood. It seems to be a holdover from the shamanistic era, where a bear could have been a sacred animal.

Skimen - in Old East Slavic “skimen” meant “lion cub” or just “cub”, but in bylinas this name is given to a monstrous creature that seems to lead a pack of other beasts. Skimen has golden fur and can loudly roar (with the same effect as Nightingale The Robber).

Anathemated books - Slavic name for biblical apocrypha that were officially banned by Stoglav Synod or other Orthodox Church officials. Anathemated books included both foreign apocryphal books like The Book of Jubilees and Slavic written sources, some of those stray pretty far from Christianity (like books detailing various divination practices).

Prince Bova - East Russian adaptation of “Bevis of Hampton” with many authentic additions. Prince Bova runs from his evil mother and her husband (who killed his father), while simultaneously trying to win the heart of the princess. “A Tale of Prince Bova” was very popular in the territories of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine and greatly influenced folklore and literature.

Egory the Brave - Saint George in Slavic tradition attained some new character traits (and new name, as you can see). There are some tales (so-called “spiritual poems”) about him that mention the most important aspects of the Christian Saint (martyrdom and dragon slaying), but also show a lot of pre-Christian influence. Egory the Brave fights Tsar Martemyanische (who is inspired by the Roman Emperor from an original legend, but also adopts a few traits from Slavic Zmeys). Then he tames a pack of wolves (keep an eye on that), a flock of birds, makes dark forests safer and tells giant moving rocks to stop moving. And he does all of that by converting them to Christianity and singing holy hymns. In the folk religion Egory was also considered a defender of cattle and a “wolf pastor”.

Holiday characters aren't gods - characters like Yarila, Marena, Maslenitsa and Kostroma are often called “deities” in popular media. Yet many researchers are hesitant to use this word. Some, like Vladimir Propp, a renowned Soviet folklorist, argued that these characters cannot really be considered gods, since they were only worshiped during their holidays.

Zherday - a very strange creature that got pretty popular due to creepypasta and analog horror. This is a spirit that looks like a very thin and tall man. Zherday wanders the streets, looks in windows and warms its hands over the chimney. It is not clear whether it is somehow harmful to humans.

Wild people - in some regions of Russia and Belarus these are wild and hairy humans, who live in forests like animals. Sometimes they are equivalent to Leshy or something akin to fey, but in other regions they can be imagined as another race of men.

Mammoths - Mammoth is the only prehistoric creature named after itself. People of Siberia found mammoth bones in permafrost and thought of them as remains of giant underground deer-like creatures. Technically speaking, this entry is not “Eastern Slavic mythology”, but according to some hypotheses, mythological mammoths were the source of inspiration for Indrik.

Klikusha - this word was used in Russia to designate people (typically women), who were thought to be possessed by demons. These could be people with epilepsy or mental illness, but sometimes klikusha were just normal people who tried to frame someone for “putting the hex on them”.

Belovodye - this legend is much newer than others and arose in the end of 18th century among the Old Believers - the Christian denomination that rejects Orthodox church reform of 1600th. “Belovodye” means “the Land of White waters” and it is said to be a mystical eastern land beyond Siberia, where old, “true” Christianity still exists and holds all political power. It is also the land where “there will never be any Antichrist”.

Strafil-bird - a giant bird from written sources like the Dove Book. It combines characteristics of some semi-mythological birds like an ostrich (giant size) and kingfisher (lays eggs that float on the sea). In some books Strafil is depicted flying and holding a giant fish in its claws.

Domovoi-related entities - in some regions instead of one Domovoi, a household is populated by many spirits. They include, but not limited to: Domovikha (Domovoi’s wife), Bannik (the spirit of the bathhouse), Dvorovoi (the spirit of the yard), Ovinnik (the spirit of the barn), Kolodechnik (the spirit of the well) and some others.

River of milk - rivers of milk with banks made of kissel (jelly-like food made of oats) are mentioned in some tales. Often, the river of milk can be mentioned in the prologue for the tale as a way to tell “this happened very long ago, when the world was at its Golden Age”.

The Slavic Iceberg