#Rhian sader-Mistral

[secretly-a-catamount]

Despite Rhian being both Evelyn and Rafal’s favorite, Japeth is actually the one who’s most like them.

He killed his brother and then stole his identity, all to raise his lover from the dead, a lover who never loved him at all.

They loved Rhian because he was what they wanted to be. Good.

They hated Japeth because he was what they were. Evil.

[liketwoswansinbalance]

SGE Characters' Potential Majors:

Rhian (prequels): Psychology, minor in Architecture.

Rafal: Forensic Studies, minor in Literature.

August Sader: Classics or Philosophy.

Evelyn Sader: Anything along the lines of Communications, Public Relations, Journalism/Media Studies, or Gender Studies.

Sophie: Fashion/Design/Visual Arts, minor in Public Relations or Literature.

Agatha: Social work or Law, minor in Literature.

Tedros: Political Science.

Callis: Chemistry, Medicine, or Biomedical Engineering.

Midas: Economics. (I can't think of anything better. Perhaps, a minor in Literature because he's a Reader?)

Hook: Maritime Studies. (Possibly, a minor in Linguistics or Translation? He'd need to know whatever the Woods' lingua franca is, if he's to travel the world.)

Aladdin: Undeclared. (Nothing wrong with being Undeclared, despite the fact that I'm associating it with him. I just feel like he's the noncommittal sort and he'd be undeclared for far too long. Maybe he'd eventually go into Business?)

Japeth: Physics or Aeronautics. (If you're reading this, Jude, I couldn't come up with anything better. Feel free to fill in the blanks!)

Rhian (TCY): Political Science or Communications.

Kyma: Sociology. (Or possibly Anthropology. I can't think of anything much better for her either.)

Rufius: Culinary Arts.

Merlin: Gender Studies and Astrophysics/Astronomy/Cosmogony (or Mathematics, Chemistry, or Physics).

Hester: Sociology and Criminology.

[fourleafclovxr]

11: your turn

“Your turn,” Agatha says. Someone raises their voice from the room below— high, piercing, ugly. It’s probably Rhian’s mother. Who thought Sader family reunions were a good idea?

“Hurry up, Rhian,” Japeth snaps. He’s in a bad mood today. Understandable, but so is Rhian, and he’s not taking it out on anyone.

He fumbles with his cards anyway. Agatha has just put down a yellow reverse card, throwing the direction of play right back at him; he puts down a yellow five, leaving Japeth to groan as he snatches a card from the draw pile.

“I’ll get you back for that,” he grumbles. It’s hard to tell whether he’s being serious. It’s been getting harder and harder these days.

“You can try,” Rhian retorts anyway, and Japeth snorts something like a half-laugh. A joke, then. It wasn’t very funny.

It’s Agatha’s turn, again. “Uno,” she says, as she slaps down a blue five, brandishing her one last card triumphantly. “I’m going to win.”

Rhian eyes his own hand of ten cards, then Japeth’s with twelve after Agatha had hit him with a double plus four. “It’s not like you have very steep competition,” he points out.

“Not all of us listened to everything Mom told us to do, Rhian,” Japeth says, rolling his eyes. “I played Uno with my friends in primary school. You’re the only first-time player here.”

“Your friend,” Rhian coughs. He gets an elbow to the stomach and a dark scowl for the trouble. Not his fault it’s true. But he’s going to have a bruise on his ribs for a good few days.

“Like you’re any better,” Japeth hisses. “You and Kei.”

“Yeah, but Kei isn’t crazy,” Rhian mutters.

“Okay, I get that this is very much not my area of expertise,” Agatha intervenes, “or my business, but if you guys are going to kill each other, can you wait until we finish playing? Because I want to win.”

“You’re weirdly chill about this,” Rhian says, even as Japeth subsides into an angry silence.

“My best friend tried to ruin my life in first year,” Agatha offers. “I know a lot about crazy friends. Or, you know. Only having one friend. Not to rush you, but it’s your turn again.”

No blue cards, no fives. Rhian shrugs and picks another card off the draw pile. Plus two. Nice. “Right. Nice talking with you.”

“Good talk,” Agatha agrees. Japeth slaps a blue skip card onto the pile, and it’s back to Rhian again, who takes another card in due resignation.

“I’m going to catch up,” Japeth mutters, “just you wait,” and puts another blue card down.

There’s the sound of something breaking downstairs. Agatha pauses, hand halfway towards the draw pile, and Rhian and Japeth exchange tense looks. Again, with feeling: who thought a Sader family reunion was a good idea?

Uncle August, that’s who. Rhian has nothing against the man; he’s likeable, and he’s kind. Definitely kinder than Rhian’s mother is. But he has such terrible ideas sometimes.

“This is why Uncle July doesn’t come to family dinner, isn’t it,” he mutters.

“He doesn’t come to family dinner with us because he hates our mother,” Japeth says, deadpan. “He goes to family dinner with Agatha.” He says this matter-of-factly. Rhian doesn’t really want to know how he found out. It probably wasn’t pretty.

“He does, yeah,” Agatha sighs. “It’s really awkward, though, because his kids are closer to my dad’s age than they are to mine, and then I end up sitting there with no one to talk to.”

“Still better than whatever’s going on down there,” Rhian says gloomily. He’s ninety percent sure his mother threw something at someone. Only a little less sure that it was at Uncle August.

“I don’t know why your dad tries,” Japeth says to Agatha, bitter. “Mom’s not going to like him anytime soon.”

“He’s gotta try,” Agatha says quietly. “Sucks to give up on family.”

“I’d give up on her in a heartbeat,” Rhian volunteers.

Japeth turns to him, mouth drawn up in a half-snarl, and for a second Rhian really, truly believes that Japeth is going to— what? Jump him? Bite him? He’s done it all before. But Agatha’s there, so he doesn’t. All he says is, “Don’t talk about her like that.”

“Alright, fine,” Rhian mutters. They don’t agree on her. It’s fine. They don’t talk about it, and that’s why Rhian can still tolerate talking to his brother. And the other way around.

They’re each other’s closest friend, unfortunately. They know everything about each other. Sure, there’s Aric, and there’s Kei— sweet, serious Kei. But they came later.

It’s been Rhian and Japeth against the world all their lives.

And it sucks massively.

Because Japeth is screwed up in the head. Because Rhian is supposed to be normal, and he can hardly go around being normal when his brother is half-insane. Rebellious one moment, mommy’s boy the next.

Because maybe, just maybe, that’s all Rhian is ever going to get. To deserve.

“Your turn, Rhian,” Agatha interrupts. She says it gently; with no bite behind it. Quite unlike Rhian’s brother. He puts down a card absently. Japeth rolls his eyes as he takes another from the draw pile.

What Rhian wouldn’t give to be Agatha’s brother, instead. August Sader’s son. They seem happy. Normal.

The door slams open. It’s their mother. Of course it is.

“We’re leaving,” she snaps. She doesn’t even acknowledge Agatha before she storms out.

Rhian drops his cards. He fumbles to sweep them up, but it’s too late, they’re all face up for Agatha and Japeth to see. Can’t even get this right. Can’t even play a game right.

Mother never allowed games. Said they had to focus on their schoolwork, and their extracurriculars, and their portfolios, and Rhian did, he did, so why is everything still so screwed up—?

His hands are shaking. That’s not good.

“Hey,” Agatha says, alarmed. “Hey, it’s just a game. It’s okay. We can play again sometime, we’ll see each other in school anyway— well.” She winces.

Rhian goes to school with Agatha, because he got out of Arbed on scholarship. Japeth is still there.

“Whatever,” Japeth says dismissively. It’s entirely possible that he genuinely doesn’t care. Rhian sometimes wonders whether he has feelings at all. “Rhian. Let’s go.” He's already dropped his cards, reaching for the rest of his things. It’s easier not to argue, when she’s angry, and they both know it.

“Yeah, okay,” Rhian says, softer.

The door opens, again, nudged open by the end of a cane. “Dad,” Agatha says. “Hey. Are we going home, too?”

“Agatha,” Uncle August acknowledges, warmth diffusing through his voice. He’s always much more open around her. “We can if you want, since Rhian and Japeth are leaving. But it’s your choice. Also— hello, you two. I’m sorry about all that.”

“It’s okay,” Rhian says. Their mother has never apologised for anything, so this is already a step up in his books.

Uncle August sighs. “I don’t think it's the last you'll be hearing of it.”

“What did you do that pissed her off so bad?” Japeth asks carelessly, shoving his phone into his pocket.

“Ah,” Uncle August says delicately. He’s definitely stalling.

“Dad?” Agatha asks, voice tilting into a question. Great. Rhian wasn’t about to point it out.

“It has to do with their father,” Uncle August answers.

Their father? Rafal hasn’t talked to them in months. He normally just pretends they don't exist. Unless he’s been talking to their mother again?

“We’d know if he did anything,” Japeth snaps. “Mom would be yelling at us about it for weeks. Saying we’re just like him. I’m just like him.” He gets defensive about their father, too. The name gave him a bit of a complex. RJ. Rhian is glad it wasn’t him.

But the Saders aren't supposed to know who their father is. Their mother never told anyone. Never tells anyone a thing about him. Rhian and Japeth don’t talk about him either. No exceptions.

“What is going on,” he says.

Uncle August hesitates, still. His fingers twist up and down the head of his cane.

“You’re not supposed to know about him!” Japeth seethes. Took him long enough.

“I did not, no,” Uncle August says thinly, “until tonight.”

“Stop talking in riddles,” Agatha pipes up. “Just tell it to them straight, Dad.” Her eyes are bright with curiosity, and worry. She’s probably dying to know, too.

“He’s seeing your father, that’s what he wants to say,” someone else says. It’s Uncle January, the eldest brother, suddenly appearing at his youngest sibling’s shoulder.

“He’s what?” Rhian demands.

“Seeing your father,” Uncle January repeats.

“No, I heard you the first time, what the fuck,” he spits. Uncle August has the decency to look slightly apologetic— no, he doesn’t even have anything to apologise for, he didn’t even know. Didn’t know Rafal was their father, the father who left them with Evelyn Sader as their only trusted adult, the father who left, full stop. That only makes Rhian angrier. How dare he feel sorry. He doesn’t even know—

Japeth snatches up his bag and storms out of the room, shoving past their two uncles; Uncle January slips away to follow him with a worried crease of his eyebrows. Clearly he’s having trouble processing. Rhian is too. But he’s just sitting there, numb, so he’s not really doing any better. Never mind.

“Um,” Agatha says, with polite disbelief. “Sorry, what? The man from the university, with the silver hair. That’s Rhian’s dad?”

“Yes,” Rhian mumbles, “fuck, he teaches at the university, he dyes his hair because he thinks it looks nice.” He presses his head between his knees. This cannot be happening. This actually cannot be happening.

“I don’t intend to let it continue,” Uncle August says, somewhat like a promise.

“No,” Rhian says, with feeling. “I mean— don’t do that on our behalf. Yeah, he left and everything, but honestly. Who wouldn't leave our mother? Have you met her? She’s crazy.”

“Rhian,” Uncle August says quietly.

“No, she’s actually crazy,” Rhian assures him. “She didn’t let me have a phone until I was fifteen because she was scared it would stunt my learning. She doesn’t let me talk to Kei outside of school. She doesn’t care that Japeth is screwed in the head. I’m telling you, anyone who left her was definitely making the right choice.”

“Be it as it may,” Uncle August says, “I don't want her to take it out on you.”

“She does that anyway,” Rhian says. “Might as well be of some use.”

Uncle August exhales. “You’re just a child,” he murmurs. “You shouldn’t have to think of these things.”

“Tell that to our mother. Oh wait, you probably did,” Rhian says, a little hysterical. “S’why she hates you. She hates that you're always so good. So upright. Things always go your way. You’re too good, Uncle August. You’re not the same as we are.”

“We’re family, Rhian,” Uncle August says, low and tired.

“It’s gotta count for something,” Agatha says, finally. “That we’re family.”

Rhian wants to ask her: what does it count for, exactly? There’s no point. Everyone hates their little branch of the family. Their nonexistent— well, existent now— father, their crazy mother, the two of them, equally screwed up in their own ways, just that Rhian is more considerate about it. Everyone else is normal. Happy.

“Maybe it does,” he says, “for you.”

“Man,” Agatha says. She turns away from him to collect the fallen Uno cards, shove them in the box and hand them to Rhian. “Look, this is what it counts for, okay? You take those, play with Kei or whoever, with Japeth. The next time we see each other in school, we’re playing and I’m kicking your ass, and you’re giving that back to me. That's what this means.”

Rhian blinks, reflexively taking the box of cards she drops in his lap. “Come again?”

“You’re not just turning away from me like that,” Agatha says, quieter. “From us.” Uncle August nods in the hallway, mouth curling in gentle, fatherly pride. Rhian’s heart wrenches for a second. Flings itself off-beat. It would be so easy to turn away. It’s how he’s lived all this while. No one but Japeth; no one but himself.

But he wants this. He’s never wanted anything more.

“Your turn, next,” he says, finally, and Agatha smiles.

“Bet,” she says agreeably, and Rhian finds himself smiling, despite it all.

[harmonyverendez]

Ella Max | Daughter Of Kiera Mistral. ( School For Good And Evil, Rise For The School Of Good And Evil )

Age: 16 - 1000.

Parents: Kiera & Jesper Fahey.

Family Members: The Mistral Sisters, Rhian & Rafal Mistral. Unknown Grandparents. Rhianna, EllieMay, Evanna, London. Isaiah Mistral. Rafal -Rhian Sader Mistral, Jespath Mistral. Carolyn Evanna Sader- Mistral. Evelyn Sader. Janaya, Astridge.

School: School for good ( School for girls )

Personality: Kind, sweet, and caring. But others above herself. Always looking out for people. Can be mean, and can take control of the room.

Finger glow: Gold/ White ( Like her mother's )

Eye color: Violet.

Hair color: Strawberry Blonde.

Hair length : Reaches past her waist.

Face Features: Plump lips, freckles. Thick eyebrows, heart-shaped face. Medium size nose. Thick eyelashes.

Ear: Earnings, the top ear is pierced. Along with the second hole.

Height : 5'10.

Weight: 140.

Kids: Evanna, London & EllieMay.

| These are her children |

Clothing style: Fashionable, unique, fairytale, high fashion.

Mental Disorders: ADHD, Bipolar disorder. Anti-Social Personality Disorder.

Love Interest: Michael.

Gift/ Powers: Seer ( Like her mother )

Shoe size: 9.

Bra size: 32 B.

Handwriting :

Ella Max

Pets: Dog, Bird, and Ferret.

Background: Ella grew up with her uncles, Rhian & Rafal, they were both amazing people to be around. Her mother always brings her around the two when they are at school. They would always carry her on their backs, running down the hallways of the school being a goofball. Always climbing and jumping on Uncle Rafal, Rhian is always taking pictures of her. Going around seeing the other professors and staff. They all love her dearly. Everyone protects her. Love-hate relationship with Dean Hook ( Obviously despises that man ) when it was time for the war, she chose the good side. And was devastated when the other uncle killed the brother. Ella cried for weeks. As the years went by, many people came and went. That's life right? Wrong, her past hardened her. She didn't let anyone in. When Carolyn, Rhian, and Rafal came into the picture. Her life was turned upside down.

Guardian: Rhian & Rafal for a short period, and then it was her mother Kiera.

Siblings: Isaiah, Janaya, Astridge.

Hobbies: Sword fighting.

Likes: Going outside for walks, watering the garden. Building House. Going to see her siblings.

Etc.

[iamverynormalaboutsge]

I want to cry when I think of the old gen in SGE.

You're telling me it's canon that Lady Lesso was Callis' Dean (With Callis being the not-so-ugly uglification teacher).

It's cannon that Lady Lesso absolutely despised Evelyn and Rafal because hello, Evelyn ratted her out and Rafal forced her to make a choice, BUT THEN Evelyn and Rafal's son (Japeth) is obsessed with Lady Lesso's son (Aric).

It's cannon that 2 generations, no, THREE generations of evil were obsessed with Sophie? Rafal(love interest), Rhian(Love interest)/Japeth(Interest) and Evelyn(Interest). Although truth be told Evelyn was probably a bit irritated after she read the Story of Agatha and Sophie and saw Sophie kissing Rafal. Maybe she pushed it to the side with 'Oh it's fine, he's just using her'. Ok Miss Clown and you think he ain't using you? She probably realized he is when he turned her to dust.

Do you guys ever think that Sophie thinks that she practically dated a father and his son(s)? As we know her probably not.

Here's my question, I can't exactly recall if in book 5 when we are shown how Rhian and Japeth's existence came about if Rafal was young and beautiful or not(aka if he was old).

But if he WASN'T old and ugly then what happened in the meantime? How did he turn wrinkled and ugly as hell?

Was he also ugly or not when he tried to propose with Calissa? Cuz I can't remember for the life of me.

Are we also just gonna ignore that Evelyn was practically on the streets and that the Green Knight, the OG Japeth took care of her? Talk about being a deadbeat dad Rafal (cough RHIAN cough).

How does he keep seducing all these women?! I mean with Calissa it was a fail, Sophie was easily manipulated, and hell only knows what Evelyn's thinking process was given how easily she dismissed her each time she tried to be 'useful' to him.

Do you guys think Rafal knew that Japeth liked Aric? And if so is that why he made Aric the Dean of New evil(besides his own...evilness and the fact that he is Lady Lesso's son and inherited her magic).

We don't forget that 'Rafal' literally laughed when he was told he'd have to marry a woman for evil, right? Right? And then he became the Number 1 playboy. But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree because his true name sake(Rhian) took Sophie for the same reason (power) as his father while liking Kei and Japeth, the son that took after him, took Sophie with the intent of reviving Aric.

(I still refuse to believe Japeth was conscious of how Aric would act towards him when he came back. Japeth x Aric feels like it has a weird symmetry to Evelyn x Rafal due to the possible toxicity between the two given Aric was low-key homophobic. Well... More than low-key but that's beside the point)

[bellatrixnightshade]

What is your favorite Edgar Allan Poe story?

And if you’ve read any of the ones with murderous doubles or twins in them, what do you make of them in relation to the prequels?

Hmm that is a difficult one, but I'd say it's a tie with "The Masque of Red Death," "The Cask of Amontillado," or "Morella."

With the double ("William Wilson") I suppose it could reflect the twins and themes of insanity, or being each other's half, in a vague way? I think Poe's poetry fits SGE's universe better as a whole though, rather than many of his short stories, because I think Poe's stories touch a lot more on vice, evil, and just plain grotesque situations without a moralistic, dualistic part to them. Maybe they could serve well as Never stories, but I don't know. Maybe if Soman did SGE more Gothic, hehe.

I do think maybe Aric's father could potentially be a spin on "The Raven," where Lenore is Leonora and she left him, so he became insane, tortured by the Raven. Maybe even ghost Rafal had something to do with it, as this man may have been associated with Rhian or someone else Rafal doesn't trust.

Also, a lot of Poe's recurring plots involve the death of beautiful women, and that could include Sophie, Evelyn (permanently), and Callis, with the sadness, emptiness, or chaos it leaves behind. Never after vaguely reminds me of "Never more."

Maybe "The Masque of Red Death" fits Rafal trying to beat the prophecy of one brother dying for himself, when ultimately Death got to him in the end. Also, the colors of Rhian being blue reminds me of the symbolism in the story.

I would like to say Montresor is like Rafal, but I think Rafal would be dead if he even tried to stand a chance against Montresor. Rafal has a sadistic, twisted sense of fairness, but Montresor is just plain vengeful, and I think Rafal would resort to a more physical death than luring someone to it by pretending to be nice. Rafal would be nice to use people, but not kill them, per se. I don't think Rafal would kill black cats, like another short story, or his wife in the act of trying to do so, if he had one. BUT main series Rafal/ Rhian killed Sophie while trying to kill Agatha, who reminds me of a black cat. Also, the man was initially nice but he took to drinking and fell into vice, which reminds me of Rhian's downfall.

So I think Poe fits main series more, which had more instances of borderline dark dark darkness than prequels per se? I don't know. It just hits differently.

I think Agatha would love reading this stuff, too.

Thanks for the ask!

[wisteriaum]

au where the twins are big social media influencers and they originally made content together but around a year into it they kept arguing about what they wanted to make together so they made separate channels and it's kind of like "who do you like better??" and it's like such a big thing where it's like friendships are ending because of who supports which twin and then later on in their separate careers rhian does something stupid to get him cancelled and the internet goes absolutely wild and he makes one of those half-assed youtube apologies and all the original rafal supporters say stuff like "i always liked rafal better" and "i always got bad vibes from rhian tbh" after all the rhian fans either stop watching or move to rafal's channel

bonus: marialena is one of those people on twitter or whatever who makes a bingo prediction card for each year and she's suspiciously right every time she's right she always comments on whatever was on her bingo saying "this WAS on my [year] bingo card"

[sarascamander]

in another life, they're endgame

[discjude]

Hi prequel community. If I said that I think the reason why there were only two prequels compared to the three that the other parts of the series got (3 TSY books and 3 TCY books) AND the reasons why Rhian's eye colour changes miraculously from Rise to Fall from green to blue (I think he's described as having green eyes in Rise? someone might have to correlate me on that) is because in Rise he's supposed to parallel TSY Sophie (green eyes, doubtfully good, multiple boyfriends) and then in Fall he's supposed to parallel Japeth (blue eyes, fratricidal, insane, gets cool one liners) how would you react to that

[nothing-to-see-hi]

Everything I currently have about the siren Rhian au that I keep bothering his tag with.

Okay so, 1, sirens are typically powerful people who were cursed by other powerful people. Yes, I am basing this off of Persephone's myth.

On that note, no, they are not the bird sirens. Usually. Rhian is not a bird siren at least.

Summing up my previous post about the origins, at the end of Fall, Rhian tries to stab Rafal only to end up cursed as a siren in the middle of nowhere instead. He ends up going kinda feral and is running off of hatred by the time we catch up to him in The Camelot Years.

Hort knows. You cannot tell me that the guy who grew up on Hook's ship doesn't know about sirens. Particularly the one who has been going after the Hook family for 200-ish years.

Anyway, how we get to Rhian in the first place.

Hort, being the guy who's familiar with the sea and whatnot, tells them not to take a right at the fork because that's where a siren is and they end up taking a right at the fork anyway.

Enter the boyo

So who is on this ship? Sophie's on this ship. And what does Sophie absolutely reek of? Rafal's magic. And who does Rhian want to tear limb from limb more than anything in the world? Rafal!

A storm is conjured and the singing begins. To cut matters short, Sophie gets some nice claw marks on her face and Rhian gets blasted off the ship.

Cut to around the time where Sophie has the scims in her ears.

Twins v2. Electric Boogaloo kidnapped their uncle and tried to little mermaid him. It partially worked. Rhian's got legs again and regained a bit of himself. Bad news: the legs go away whenever he gets wet and the scims are in his throat so he can't talk, or sing, or use basically any of what little magic he has left.

Does this stop him from attempting to add a sub romance plot to what is already a subplot? No!

Enter nameless kitchen boy. Who for some reason I gave a vague family backstory. Japeth catches them making out in a closet.

Now why is Rhian in Camelot? The twins v2 want to lure out Rafal because they can't have the healing powers + wife + Aric if he's still alive

Also Rafal kept his limp and at least occasionally uses a cane because the Storian is not letting either of them go unpunished for the events of their books.

How is he alive? Idk. Idc.

Anyway at some point there is a massive battle between twins v1. in Camelot's throne room where Rhian seems to get some of his old powers back. At least temporarily.

Depending on your angst levels Rhian might die at the end of it. Or he survives and goes off to lick his wounds with his love interest. Either one.

They might vaguely appear at the ending in a crowd or something. Maybe Japeth brought his siren reinforcement in case something went wrong with the sword hunt. Idk again.

Misc.

Sophie and Rafal might have a Talk about how screwed up his entire family is.

And if there's anything he can do about her face

Rhian is used by v2. as the proper weapon he is and I could not be prouder

He also uses his undetermined relationship label guy to see what's going on around the castle

Is this all of it? No. Is it most of it? Yeah. If there are any questions they will happily be answered.

[harmonyverendez]

Yes, I do. 😁😁😁😁😘😘😘😘

y’all ever fantasize about a fictional character a little too hard to the point you’re convinced you should be admitted to a mental hospital?

[secretly-a-catamount]

WIP for a fanfic, I guess

  Dinner was a tense affair. The meal itself was lovely, of course, Camelot’s chefs not knowing how to make any other kind. A lush, creamy, goat-milk, lemon, and mint soup with a side of pan-fried potatoes wedges. Six separate salads, three of which were composed entirely of fruit. Roasted nuts and seeds dipped in a salty black sauce. Cuts of nearly every kind of meat imaginable, waterfowl and poultry, white meat and black meat, livestock and game, all so tender they bled juice the moment a knife sliced through their crust.

  Sophie ventured into the topic of conversation near the start of the sixth course. Her jade green eyes focused on the man seated across the table from her, taking note of the fact that his plate was a mirror of her own, treated more like a prop than something he was actually going to use.

  “Japeth, darling, do tell me about yourself. Your brother and I already get along so swimmingly”—sitting on her right, Rhian gave a wane smile, as if he was amused with her half-truth—“and since we’re going to be roommates I thought—“

  Japeth’s head snapped up. “What did you just say?”

  “There’s no need to throw a hissy-fit around it, I’m not any happier about this than you are,” Sophie sniffed, nibbling on the edge of a cucumber sandwich, “your brother’s the one who suggested it.”

  “Than he can un-suggest it.” Japeth snarled, tightened his grip on his knife, wearing the resigned expression of a dog who knew a beating was coming but was too tired to try and defend himself.

  Rhian didn’t look up. In the low light cast from the fireplace at the other end of the room the scar on his head looked like a thick, pink rat tail. Sophie had to fight the urge to reach over and brush it off.

  “Rhian—“

  “I’m not going to answer you while you’re emotional like this, Japeth, it’s unbecoming for our family.”

  “Rhian—“

  “Control your emotions, Japeth.” Rhian reprimanded, with the inflection of someone who was saying something so obvious it didn’t merit repeating.

  Like wiping a chalkboard clean, Japeth slowly managed to ‘control his emotions’, as Rhian had said, although not without some effort. Sophie was disappointed, she’d been hoping that they’d kill each other.

  “Better?” Japeth spat through clenched teeth.

  “Extremely.”

[liketwoswansinbalance]

I am really curious to see your take on Aric and Japeth's relationship. I mean, the beloved author and creator of the series have addressed this issue with 'in their own sick wicked way they had loved' so yeah it's cannon cool. But I feel like the further implications of this? We saw evil 'unable to love'/ 'only ever have true love'. From what I remember Japeth mentioned Aric more than once, how they would write letters to each other how Aric 'begged' for Japeth to come to him but Japeth never did so and then bro spent the last of his life trying to bring Aric back to life. There are so many implications, the dynamics, the context, everything, but I love how you theorise and explore all sorts of ideas so I can't help but wonder how you view all of this :D.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and have a great day/afternoon/evening/night!

Sorry to disappoint, but I should probably start off with the fact that I don't ship Japeth and Aric. While I like Japeth, partly in thanks to @discjude winning me over, and further recognizing the tragedy surrounding him, his relationship to Aric never canonically does him any favors. And, with Aric, I think I'm apathetic enough towards him that I don't actively hate him; I just don't care about him. In truth, if not for Aladdin's pitiful existence actively hammering on my nerves, Aric would probably be my least favorite character.

The first thing I want to address is that Evil being "unable to love" or "only Evers have True Love" is actually false, despite the many times the series puts forth this claim. Yes, we are explicitly told this "fact" in book 1, but the book's point was to subvert/deconstruct the myth.

First, by the end, with her self-sacrifice, Sophie proved Evil's capacity to love, meaning: Evil being unable to love is just a commonly-held belief in the Woods, not the absolute, be-all, end-all truth.

(And the belief could've been perpetuated by "Rafal's"/Rafal's way of running his institution that literally shapes the Wood's perceptions and the future. Alongside this claim about love, consider the existence of the Doom Room, created to punish a singular mutinous class of first-years, based on a now-revised philosophy about Nevers' learning from harsh treatment and (probably) disproportionate retribution that an excessively stubborn dead man already too entrenched in his old ways never had the chance to change because he died—and this is all aside from the fact proven by the display at the very first Circus of Talents, that Rafal's students did indeed learn better when he finally listened to them and mentored them as an equal in their position (as Fala). In addition, the statement: "Nevers learn from deprivation" similarly reveals how the Woods really do generalize about Nevers—until Sophie, the "exception" and iconoclast, comes along.)

Second, Sophie's non-romantic True Love at some point was said to be Agatha, and I think this established fact is consistently maintained throughout the series, even if other elements overshadow it, so not only Evers can have True Love.

My take on Japeth and Aric is that Japeth's love for Aric, however twisted or sincere it was, drove him to become the Snake, follow along with Rhian's Camelot ambitions and initial staging-terrorism-and-hostage-scenarios plot, and commit all his other, duplicitous, villainous acts throughout TCY, later by his own will, which is a motive I find fascinating (and contradictory about the nature of the Woods' Good and Evil souls, whenever Japeth is set next to the rather grey Rhian).

So, while Japeth's devotion to Aric could be viewed as romantic, it's just not appealing to me, personally, due to the relationship's ambiguous one-sidedness in particular. And, I think I once may've read something about Japeth as a Never fighting for True Love (or his perception of "True Love") and Rhian as an Ever fighting for power (the Nevers' ideal fairy-tale ending) being ironic or inverted in some way. That's also some world-building fodder to consider, or even just another point that could overturn the Rules as we know them, yet again. I'm not surprised by that subversion honestly. Japeth is very much like his parents. Nearly every SGE villain Soman has ever written has been motivated by the pursuit of love, or by the overwhelming force of their own (often obsessive) infatuations (with the exception of somewhat flatter, less-developed, secondary villains, like Aric, Vulcan, Marialena, and Peter Pan).

Also, thanks for the compliment!

[fourleafclovxr]

7: player

“Quite the player, aren’t you, Kei?” Japeth asks. A scim slithers over the gaping gash on his cheek, comes around the other side of his face, dripping blood. He seems wholly unbothered. “That trick you pulled, to let me out. Drug pretty girls often, do you? Sweet-talk them until they’re kicking their feet and giggling and giving you whatever you want?”

He somehow manages to sound both amused and disdainful. The only woman Japeth has ever loved is his mother, probably, and judging by Rhian’s stories even that’s debatable. Kei rolls his eyes— a well-worn action, around Japeth— and continues pretending he doesn’t exist.

But Japeth, like Rhian, refuses to stop when it comes to getting what he wants. And right now, what he wants is to infuriate Kei. “How did it feel?” he asks conversationally. “Did you feel bad, wrapping that idiot of a girl around your finger?”

He could almost pass off as friendly. Kei does not think Japeth had ever had a real friend.

“I don’t like women,” he says, pointedly not looking at Japeth. They are certainly not friends. They are not even remotely close. Kei would gladly have left him rotting in the Sheriff of Nottingham’s jail, if Rhian hadn’t had plans for him.

“Does it matter?” Japeth coos. “You seemed to like her well enough. What was her name? Dot, was it? What an actor you are, Kei. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” Kei says, “and I don’t particularly want you to.”

“You think terribly lowly of me, don’t you,” Japeth sighs, not a question, not really. “You and Rhian, in your own little world. You know, Kei, I thought you were smart. I don’t quite understand why you choose to follow my dear brother on his fool’s crusade?”

“Don’t you?” Kei asks, blank. “Aren’t we on the same side in the end?”

“The difference is,” Japeth says, “Rhian has promised me something very precious to me. Something that I, unfortunately, see no better way to achieve. But you. You have nothing to gain from him.”

“Nothing to lose, either,” Kei says, clipped— and that’s already revealing too much. Japeth laughs, loud and open, and blood trickles from his mouth as it devolves into a wheezing cough. A scim darts across his face, past his pale lips. The blood remains.

“There’s always something to lose,” he says breezily. “Even for people like me. And they say I’m insane. Better than being such a fool.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” Kei repeats, steady. He knows what Japeth means: if he was not a criminal before, then he certainly is now. He will always be marked by dishonesty, by deception, by lies. He will always carry that cruelty with him.

But people are cruel.

But people want him to be cruel.

It is not so much of a loss, in his mind. And in return: a chance to be his own person, forge his own way, outside of the destiny that Arbed House had dictated for him.

Kei has always known, clear as day, what he wants. And it has never been something anyone other than Rhian would give him. A friend and a companion. Someone to follow and to trust. And in return: whatever he has to give, and give freely.

This is the truth: Rhian has never asked anything of him. Whatever Kei has done for him, it has always been his own choice.

Japeth shrugs, then, scims slithering up his face to form his signature mask. Kei can’t help but wince, and Japeth’s mouth curls— or rather, the scims do, twisting into something like amusement.

“You think you’re so different. You’re not. You and I are more similar than you think,” he says, languid. “They hate us both. They think us both broken. Evil, if you’d like to call it that, though I’m aware you don’t subscribe to our beliefs.”

“I’d rather die,” Kei tells him.

“What?” Japeth laughs. High and mocking. “Rather die than be like me? You’re bound to him just the same as I am. Rhian’s clever, my dear brother, he really is. He knows how to pull people’s strings. He’s playing you, you know. He always has been.”

“If Rhian hadn’t said he needed you,” Kei says, ice-cold, “I would have left you to rot.”

“What do you owe Rhian, that you would afford him such loyalty?” Japeth sneers, blue eyes glittering behind his scaled mask. “Think about it, Kei. Think about it.”

And this is where Japeth’s argument fails: Kei owes Rhian nothing. It has always been his choice, to follow where Rhian goes, to believe what he believes. What else would he do? What else could be kinder than this?

He goes back to ignoring Japeth. The other boy huffs in annoyance, scims hissing in eerie harmony as they shuffle over his skin.

“Suit yourself,” he says, unkindly. “You are nowhere near where my brother envisions himself to be. You are nothing, compared to him, compared to us.”

Scim-suit fully formed, he stalks away. Kei settles in to wait; peace and quiet, at last.

Rhian arrives in the middle of the night. Kei lets his face soften upon seeing him, relax into something less guarded, though certainly not less fake. Rhian is golden, gilded. He is glorious.

It’s an easy choice to make.

Rhian sits by him, in the dark, whispering about Sophie (said with a hint of fear amidst the disdain), and Tedros (mocking), and Agatha (almost respectful). He asks after Kei. Then after Japeth. He winces when Kei tells him Japeth had killed the three guards; well, it wouldn't have been Kei, he prefers to keep his hands clean. Rhian must know this already. He must not quite be happy about it. Another complication to weave a lie over, to hastily play to his advantage.

“I don’t like your brother,” Kei murmurs.

“Who does,” Rhian sighs. “I don’t like him either, but it was meant to be the two of us. I’ll just have to drag him along.” He offers Kei a tired smile. “Sorry you had to put up with him earlier.”

“I didn’t tell you that,” Kei says, half a question.

“No one else gets to you like he does,” Rhian says quietly. “Not since Aric. I can tell. What did he say to you?”

“Nothing true,” Kei says easily. “Nothing at all.”

[harmonyverendez]

Carolyn: If you kill him! You kill me!

Rhian: Awww

Japeth: Then I'll kill you both.

Carolyn & Rhian : ಠಿ⁠_⁠ಠ

[iamverynormalaboutsge]

Imagine an AU where Rafal and Rhian are still immortal sorceresses however now they have to RAISE the children the Storian deems worthy of its story like- imagine them taking care of toddlers

Hester arguing with Sophie

Hester: Can I say a bad word?

Rafal: Uh-

Hester: Can I say a bad word?!

Rafal: Yeah-

Hester: YOU MOTHER F#*&ING B#TCH!

Rhian: That is 2 bad words. Time out for you missy

Rafal: *cracking up*

------

Rhian holding Sophie: she is beauty she is grace she can't punch you in the face because she just got her nails done and her creams are too expensive to risk for her to sweat

Rafal: You spoil that one too much

Rhian: NU-UH

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Rafal(Agatha confuses him): This one is so controversial *holding Agatha*

Tedros: *hits his leg repeatedly with a stick*

Rafal: Cease such foolish behaviour or I shall have you doomed

Tedros looking up at him: ... *Swings the stick again*

Rafal: that's it

Agatha and Tedros: *both in time out*

----

Rhian: Did you eat All the chocolate chip cookies?

Dot covered in chocolate: no...

Rhian: You're damn lucky your father gave me that cloak *mumbling*

-----

Rafal: Aaaaah. Augustus! Good to see you old friend-

Rhian: HISSSSSSS

Rafal: Bad Rhian. Bad. The seers are our friends

Rhian: I LIKE THE SADER FAMILY BUT HIM

---------

Rhian with Sophie: Yes yes yes you'll do a lot of murder by being fabulous✨!

Rafal contemplating to raise Sophie's mother from the grave

-------

Rhian: So... Here *throws the second twins and runs*

Rafal: *catches them with magic* . . . I'M AN UNCLE?!?!?!?!?

Evelyn: WHERE IS MY CHILD SUPPORT RAFAL?!

Rafal: what- 💀

-----

Rhian: For the last time Caliss we just follow orders we can't give you your daughter back-

Callis: I just came to give her, her toys.

Rafal: ...Callis that's a bunch of sticks rocks and a hay ragdoll-

Callis: And you hold the wand like this-

Rafal: STOP TRYING TO TEACH HER WITCHERY SHE'S A GOLDEN STAR KID!

Rhian: let her be. We'll need Sophie's prince to burn a witch on the rug later on

Rafal: I can't with you-

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