#THE CYCLE CONTINUES. THERE IS NO FREEDOM FROM THIS HELL.

[saint-cecilias]

so with Kendall fumbling the issue with Sophie....the cycle of Roy daughters not getting their emotional needs met by their dads continues. 

except unlike Shiv........Sophie is not white and even her last name does not exempt her from racial attacks. 

so Sophie's situation is WORSE all round.

[torgawl]

crack theory: what if the abyss twin isn't a descender because they're an ascender?

[zoloteh-volossya]

Some Thoughts on Minthara

A repeating theme of all of the Origin companions is that what they think they want at the beginning of the game is a result of their fucked up pasts and is ultimately bad for them. Shadowheart wants to be a DJ, but that cuts her off from the potential to grow beyond Shar and loss. Lae'zel wants to Ascend, which would obliterate her in her entirety. Karlach would rather die than go back to hell, but dying cuts off the potential continued life she may find thanks to that Infernal Forge. Astarion wants to Ascend, which locks him into a cycle of violence, power, and fear. Gale has two failures of goals - first to kill himself for Mystra's forgiveness, then to Ascend (which hollows him out of all the originally noble intentions he had going into it). Wyll wants to serve, no matter what the cost to himself - which would lead him to stay pacted to Mizora when freedom beckons.

All of these initial goals stem from the environments/abuses that the companions are coming from. And they're all understandable! But they're unhealthy and/or maladaptive, and so in order for every Origin companion to get to their best/happiest ending they need to change and grow away from what they initially thought they wanted due to the influence of their pasts and personal flaws.

Minthara, when we meet her under her own free will, has abandoned Lolth but not her attitudes. She seeks love, yes, but also seeks any sort of power she can get her hands on with a desperation borne of fear. She cares deeply for Karlach and Lae'zel and reluctantly for Astarion, Shart, and Gale, but is willing to enslave them all as she herself was enslaved if it makes her Top Dog. Her ideal ending is codependent evil power couple with you, controlling the brain - and I think that's her 'bad' ending, akin to Ascended Astarion or DJ Shart.

Basically, I think there’s two sides to her. There's the side that desires genuine connections and is willing to go to hell for Karlach even if unromanced... and the side that chases power even if it means doing things like enslaving Karlach. She wants purpose (per her dialogue upon leaving Moonrise), a home and friends (per her dialogue when leaving the party), and protection (per her dialogues with the player). I think if she was able to obtain those things through sources other than trying to conquer Menzoberranzan/the Sword Coast she might be able to express the former side of herself more.

We see a bit of that in her Karlach romance, where she throws aside all concerns of seeking power to go to hell for her girlfriend. She doesn't talk of conquering or ruling Avernus - her focus is purely on vengeance for Karlach. It's an interesting reevaluation of her priorities and also why I like her pairing with Karlach so much.

As a side character, she doesn't get a questline and arc like the Origin companions get. But I think that it is notable that her happiest ending seems to be staying in Baldur's Gate. In her epilogue dialogue with Origin!Lae'zel she confesses that she is not happy if she pursues reconquering Menzoberranzan, and harbors doubts about her ability to succeed.

Because ultimately - as Ascended Astarion shows - pursuing power and conquest does not actually make you happier or safer. It just means a life dominated by fear. Lolth's treatment of the drow - and thus the drow treatment of each other - has been compared by writers of canon D&D novels to an abusive relationship. And like so many other survivors of abuse, Minthy is out of the immediate situation but still carries that way of thinking worn into her psyche, like ruts in a road.

She’ll never be “nice” or even necessarily “good,” but I’d like to think that over time, in the right environment, she can leave behind most of the self destructive power seeking of the Lolthite mindset. Move on from the toxic patterns of her past, as the Origin companions get to do in game.

[moonsaver]

Good day moon! Okay I normally don't do asks when it comes to yandere cause it's not my usual thing but seeing the last post you made of Yan!Sunday and his darling, that one where he just desperately wants to have that normalcy in their relationship but couldn't ever have it because of what he's done, made me think of something rather angsty; like how the darling's backlashes against his affections would probably go turn for the worst as time passes on, they don't hate him in a sense because he's really trying hard to not make them hate him and they can see that his love is real (just really fucked up) but that deep urge to hurt the person who took their freedom away is still there, it wouldn't just go away just because he loves them so much that he wouldn't dare to break them. Oh that satisfaction on seeing Sunday looking so hurt after yelling at him, they know it doesn't make them any better than him but at that point, what else is there for them to lose? Maybe in hurting him so subtly, they may find some pity in themselves for him to actually give him some semblance of love but until then, all Sunday ever receives from them are either silent treatment or backlash

Such relationship could only thrive in the worst way possible and maybe Sunday knows that but even then, he still holds out that little (delusional) hope that maybe his darling will still love him someday

Sorry for the rant, it's just that I feel for Sunday but his method will never work and it'll just deeply hurt him and his darling in the end asgfjgsfg also if it's alright, I'd request this but I'll leave it to you with how you write it, be it an imagine or anything else since I'm fine with it!

- Elys

Hello Elys! Im so sorry it took a long time for me to get to your request lol, tons of things got in the way but I remembered this request for a while.

In any case, I feel you've summed it up quite well!

Sunday isn't harsh or as brutal as I imagine him. Unlike my [i have to self advertise here, sorry HAHA] soft yan!blade, Sunday most likely wouldn't even need a bit of working around to be a softer yandere.

He's so loving, it's painful. His love is like despaired poetry for a lover who is still alive, just further than their reach. I imagine his love to be very tender, even as a yandere, if he doesn't become even softer.

And it's hard to convince him he's wrong – mainly because he already knows. But rather that's a bit distorted in his view; instead he thinks it's a wrongdoing against your nature as someone who wants to be free, but correct in the context of the situation rather than actually understanding it is absolutely wrong in general. And he doesn't budge. He's stubborn, almost infuriatingly. And instead of getting angry, I imagine he rather looks disappointed or disgruntled, which somehow does more damage/strikes more fear than anger.

And it's still heartbreaking; frustratingly for both of you, not just yourself.

You lash out, you scream, cry, wail, argue, relentlessly push and resist against him. it's your only way of getting back at him, you're sure as hell you're going to strike the hardest that way. And you relish the hurt you see in the eyes of your captor, but something more sympathetic tugs at you when you see his lovingly sad eyes. It's this cacophony of guilt, frustration, anger, and utter despair at the loss of your freedom. Sunday feels all of it, aswell, and you want to be relieved that he does – if it weren't for the fact he still wasn't letting you go.

He continually withholds your freedom from you. That single injustice to you is enough to weather your patience over time – your anger only burns hotter and hotter, pushing away any semblance of sympathy or reasoning, and it only hurts Sunday more, until you realise what you're doing, and quietly give in to sooth him for the time being. Just a little. Until that little injustice starts bothering you again. It's a toxic cycle.

And it hurts even more when Sunday tries to find normalcy in your relationship; he's trying so hard to be your lover, to hold you gently and bathe you with care, to dry you off and still love you after seeing you bare. He wants to come home and see you smile, be happy, elated that he's there, just as he feels when he sees you. But that's not what happens. His delusions and flimsy expectations are shattered the moment he steps into the dimly lit room, your form refusing to even look at him. The silence is strangely stronger than his hopes.

Anyways, that's all i can think of at the moment. I love angst yandere sunday time.

[cosmicjoke]

Alright... okay... I just... need a moment.

Fuck, I'm emotional. I'm trying to gather my thoughts, but it's difficult. So I'm going to try my best.

First, I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone involved in the creation of this anime, of this story, of this masterful, masterful piece of art. The animators, the composers, the writers, the voice actors, the directors, the producers, just, everyone. And most especially, to Hajim Isayama, who, without doubt, has created one of the greatest stories ever told.

And with that said, I'm just going to say this. "Attack on Titan" is, in my opinion, the greatest show ever made. I mean that, sincerely, and with all my heart. It's the greatest show, and one of the greatest stories, of all time. It's truly a masterpiece. A pillar of great art. I don't think that's hyperbole. I think that's absolutely true.

I don't even know where to start.

I'm just blown away. Completely blown away.

Ahh, well, I guess I'll just start by talking about some of the changes that were made, and what wasn't, and how much I appreciate both. I knew they would stick with the overall story and not change the ending, and I'm so glad they didn't, because it was always the right ending. I don't care what anyone says, what anyone's criticisms are. This was always, always, always the right ending.

The obviously biggest change was the conversation between Armin and Eren near the end, and I think, given the controversy caused by this particular moment in the manga, I'm not surprised, and I think they did an excellent job of clarifying what Armin actually meant, and most importantly, that he wasn't ever condoning Eren's actions. That they had Armin instead take on and shoulder the responsibility of Eren's actions, in a show of love and friendship to Eren, was incredibly moving and gut-wrenching at the same time. That Armin blamed himself for what Eren did as much as Eren himself, and said that they would be together again someday, in hell, was actually incredibly shocking to me. But then, it makes perfect sense for Armin's character. Armin, who from the very beginning understood and accepted the bleak reality of war, of having to abandon one's humanity in order to accomplish victory. Armin's never shied away from who he really is, or what he's capable of, or tried to console himself with an idealized self-image. It doesn't surprise me that he blames himself for Eren's actions, or takes on as much responsibility for them as he places on Eren. Though one could argue all day against Armin's self-condemnation, I think it makes perfect sense for his character. I also adore how they really clarified and left no room for doubt as to the motivation behind Eren's actions. He just flat out admits at the end that it was because he wanted to "see this sight", meaning a world completely devoid of humanity, of life. He admits to Armin that he's a "slave to freedom", that this outcome came about because of who he is and for no other reason. Not to make the alliance into heroes, not to save Paradis. It was because Eren couldn't accept a concept of freedom beyond what he'd seen in Armin's book. Because, as he says of himself, he was an idiot who came into power. 80% of the world's population died because of that. But as Historia also admits in the end, it's also a result of ALL their choices. I always have maintained that AoT is a cautionary tale of what happens when we blame and persecute and hold accountable people for the sins of the past. Eren, an idiot, only came into that power to begin with because of Marley's persecution of the Eldian's, continuing to punish the Eldian people for the crimes of their ancestors. Indeed, Historia was correct. It was a culmination of all of their choices. Violence begetting more violence, and on and on the cycle continues.

The Jeagerist's created an army out of fear of reprisals from what remains of the outside world, but in doing so, they sealed their own fate. In becoming so hostile to begin with, they ensured those reprisals. That's the great irony. They formed an army to protect themselves, they became a hostile nation, an isolationist nation, and in the end, it lead directly to them being destroyed. As Armin tells Eren, his violence and desire to see a world wiped clean of humanity leaves them with nothing but the lesson of kill or be killed. It leaves nothing but a legacy of continued violence. That's the whole point of this story, of course. That violence only ever leads to more violence. Even when we don't have a choice, even when we're backed into a corner and there's no way out but to fight, even when it's the right and only choice. That's the tragedy of violence. That's the tragedy of the world. That's the tragedy of humanity. It's not that violence is always wrong. Violence isn't always wrong, but it's always tragic, and it always only leads to tragedy. Armin's condemnation of Eren and his actions here, telling him that he's robbed the world of even the small hope of one day understanding one another, that's the condemnation of Eren's violence, the condemnation of the cycle of violence. He pushed Paradis toward armament through his actions, but so did the rest of the world. People will always fight one another. There will always be war as long as there are people. The only way there won't be war is if there are no people, as Armin says, and that's the biggest joke of all. There's no such thing as lasting peace. Paradis meets its demise in the very end because it falls to the same trap, the same cycle of violence, the same cycle of continued hate that drives all war and that, saddest of all, is intrinsic to the human condition. Violence is intrinsic to the human condition, and to nature itself. In the end, Paradis brings about it's own demise, just as, in the end, Marley and all those who persecuted the Eldian's, brought about theirs. This is an anti-war story. That's what it's always been. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool. But it's also a story about the tragedy of humanity and the inescapability of our nature as a species.

So, okay, now, because I'm primarily a blog which talks about Levi, and because Levi is probably, far and away, my favorite character of all time, I have to talk about him.

What can I say?

Levi was the hero of this final episode. Of this final bow of what, again I repeat, is the greatest show I've ever seen, and one of the greatest stories ever told.

Levi is a hero.

First, if anyone, if I see anyone ever, ever, ever question Levi's commitment to humanity and to saving it ever again, after watching this episode, I will come down on them like a fucking bomb myself.

Levi saved humanity.

They all did, of course. They all contributed.

But Levi... Levi was the leader that saved humanity. He became the leader in that moment that humanity needed. For all the talk and accusations thrown Levi's way, of robbing humanity of it's greatest chance at survival in Erwin, by letting Erwin die, it was in a time of humanities greatest need that Levi stepped up and took the reigns and didn't let humanity fall.

Levi wasn't the strongest in this battle. He wasn't humanities strongest soldier anymore. He wasn't the most affective in battle, or able to single-handedly turn the tide of the battle, like he might once have been able to. But he didn't let anyone give up. He didn't let anyone give in. He didn't let anyone lose hope.

I've been saying this since the manga ended, but seeing it brought to life like this only drives it home all the more.

Levi rallied and organized and held together his soldiers when they were all ready to give up and give in. When his own body was ready to give in and give up, Levi's heart and will wouldn't. It was Levi who enabled Mikasa to deliver the final, killing blow to Eren by not giving in to despair or fear or grief when it became clear that everyone on the ground was going to turn into a pure titan. It was Levi who, in the end, fulfilled the dream of his fallen comrades of a world without titans, by keeping it together and giving out orders, by abandoning his own driving need to save lives, like he's always done, since the beginning, in order save more, in order to save the lives of people who had done nothing, in fact, but condemn and persecute him his whole life.

Levi is a hero. He's a pure hero. He has the purest heart of anyone. He's the best of them all.

And I think the change they made to Levi's final scene just drives that truth home all the more.

I'm not gonna' lie, I nearly burst into tears seeing what they did in Levi's last scene. To have him sitting there in his wheelchair, his body not even a fraction of what it had once been, but still finding a way to help people, to help, especially, children, again, it drives home without doubt what Levi is. A hero. To see him handing out candy to children, to see the happiness he finds in that simple act... Jesus Christ, I really don't even know what to say about this. It was maybe the most beautiful moment in the entire series. Shit, I'm gonna start crying just talking about it. To see him smile, again, at last, to see him truly at peace. He found a way to be a hero, even with his strength gone. He found a way to be a hero without having to be a weapon, because Levi's heroism was never in his strength. It was never because he was physically strong, or a weapon. It was never because being a hero was easy for him. It was because of his heart. Because his heart is the heart of a hero. His heart is the heart of someone who has only ever wanted to help and protect others. That he still wants to and does help people, despite already having given everything...

Yeah, don't nobody ever, EVER say to me again that Levi doesn't care about humanity. He helps even when he doesn't have to. Even when he deserves to be selfish.

He cares more than anyone.

Man, that's all I have for now. I'm pretty speechless about this episode. I'm just beyond words.

Greatest show ever. Not anime. Just any show, ever. One of the greatest pieces of cinema ever made. One of the greatest stories ever told, with some of the greatest characters to ever exist.

Thank you Hajime Isayama, for giving this gift to the world.

[hitlikehammers]

on the radio

rating: t ♥️ cw: criminal-levels of softness, love beyond the boundaries of what it even meant to love before the spring of ‘86 ♥️ tags: established relationship, rockstar!eddie, teacher!steve, rockstar husbands, tour dates coincide with summer vacation because Eddie can't sleep without his Stevie thank you for your cooperation with this policy, soul-deep love, slice of life, softness

for @steddielovemonth day fourteen: Love is being late to work because you can’t ever say goodbye in a reasonable amount of time (@sharpbutsoft)

more codependent rockstar!husbands of the je ne regrette rien variety, you say? oh, well, I mean: I guess ♥️

Steve can fucking taste freedom, he swears.

He looks at the list of student records he needs to close out to transfer to the high school before he can pack away the last of his office and sign the hell off for the school year—and start the summer tour cycle with his husband through the Midwest, up and down the East Coast, and then they’re fucking breaking Europe, got signed on to a couple festivals, and Steve is goddamn vibrating with excitement and shit, just: are there parts of your heart that like, fit together? Like bones where they connect and shit, or is it all just one piece?

Steve thinks is more like one piece, but he is gonna go with that it’s more like stitched together or something, just so he can fucking say exactly what he feels, which is that his whole goddamn chest—heart and ribs and lungs and all the other fucking bones and shit there—all of it’s seriously bursting at the seams just with so much fucking pride, okay, because his Eddie’s goddamn made it. This dream of his isn’t just gold records; it’s a plane across an ocean to play for tens of thousands of people who don’t even all speak their language and that’s…that’s just like…

Steve’s so goddamn proud he’s split between wanting to scream about it from the top of the school and maybe sob about it with all kinds of sappy declarations peppered in as he messy-cries, so: bursting at the seams. Heart in his chest so full it’s primed to just explode like a goddamn confetti cannon.

Though time has kind of served as testament to the fact that that sensation’s less exclusively about Eddie’s music, or his success, and more just about Eddie.

Eddie, and loving him beyond the boundaries of any understanding Steve ever had about what it meant to love before the spring of ‘86.

He’s almost through the ‘V’s at the end of his alphabet of names when he notes the time—shit, he almost missed it.

He reaches for tiny radio in the corner of his desk that literally just lives there for the purpose of Eddie and the boys doing interviews on local stations every so often, and tunes it in 93.9.

…elcome to most of the infamous lords of midwestern metal, Corroded Coffin, the DJ’s introducing and good, Steve sighs and flips through his…fifth-to-last folder—just in time, he can listen to the interview the guys are squeezing in before hitting the road, then he can get home while the band’s getting their flight to the first venue in Chicago, they’ve got a couple of days there and he and Eddie are planning to look at some houses; Erica’s out of high school they’re ready to make the leap, and Steve will take the 6:10 flight and head straight to the show like the often do, it should work perfect; it’s great to have you guys back but Jeff, I gotta ask, the maybe most…colorful?

You can say obnoxious, Lenny, if anyone knows, we do, Jeff’s shooting playfully, and Steve snickers, distracted by closer folder-number-five and flipping open number-four.

I would never, the DJ gasps theatrically to laughter, and Gareth’s muted holler almost like he’s here! and then he continues on; that does open the line of inquiry, though: where’s your notorious frontman, Mr. Munson?

Steve’s hand slips on the folder; he barely catches it before it falls to the floor.

Eddie…Eddie’s not, not there?

Steve tries to talk down the adrenaline response that’s never wholly died at the idea of the love of his fucking life gone missing, and worse, the idea of something happening to him while unaccounted for: Jeff was playful. Gareth was teasing. They have to at least have known somethingabout Eddie’s absence, Steve talks down his racing heart to something just a little anxious as he listens for clues, and doesn’t have to mine little hints or anything even, it’s clear and plain:

Eddie’s got a sore throat, so like the diva he is, he’s resting it before showtime, Dougie chiming in and yeah, two points to that: one, the only reason Eddie’d have a sore throat would have been fine by sun-up, yeah, and it was, because Eddie was all sunshine and manic energy when they parted ways that morning, and then two: Steve actually knows these guys well enough to be able to tell when they’re talking out their asses.

And Doug is maybe the worst liar of the three on-air.

Steve’s chewing hard on his Bic, trying hard to keep a level head about this: if anything drastic had happened, he’d have heard, they all have his office number, they all know where he is, it would—

Steve startles when he hears rubber squeaking down the hall outside the office; as far as he knows, though, he’s the only person here—everyone else takes at least a week free from this place after classes end, but Steve has a timeline, and a flight to catch, so y’know: sacrifices must be made and whatnot.

He barely gets to turn in his chair to consider getting up to check when the culprit and his perpetually-trashed Reeboks skids to a halt in the doorway.

“Sweetheart,” Eddie beams at him, a little breathless, hair a fucking mess but smiling so big, those dimples popped so deep: shit, if Steve’s heart hadn’t been quick already, that’d fucking do the trick.

��Eddie,” Steve stands, and meets him in the middle where Eddie’s already crossing to him, kissing him immediately and hungrier than the maybe-five-hours since the saw each other really fucking merits. “What, you, why aren’t you at the station?”

Eddie’s eyes flick to the radio as he clocks the question and of all the reactions Steve could predict from him, the fake-sheepish grin with the glimmering fucking eyes?

Probably could have guessed that one.

“I forgot something.”

“You forgot something?”

“Yeah, something important,” he nods fervently and Steve frowns.

‘Babe, you could have called, I’m meeting you at the arena, I could drop it with security if needed to,” he offers, argues: but not really, and not like it fucking matters, because here Eddie is, and the boys were planning to run straight to the airport from the interview, both of which are in the city but Steve’s not, and Eddie’s gonna have to be fucking quick, here, if he doesn’t want to be late for his goddamn flight; did he already swing by the house for whatever it is he needs, it—

“Nope,” Eddie pops the denial like a bubble; “can’t leave it with security.”

Steve squints at him, because now it’s a puzzle. Now it’s Eddie being…kind of a little shit.

And Steve doesn’t even begrudge him the momentary panic before; he’s too adorable. Steve’s too fucking in love.

And now he’s curious.

“You kissed me goodbye.”

“Oh, always,” Eddies almost offended by the suggestion he could have forgotten that. As in: ever.

“Said you loved me.”

“Bigger than the universe,” Eddie says exactly what he came up with that morning, like he does every morning, some new outlandish way to describe the scope of his affections and Steve rolls his eyes but eats it up every fucking time; “and the universe is always expanding so I love you bigger than what it’s expanded to since this morning, too.”

Steve can’t help but kiss him for that, because; well.

Because.

“What the hell else then?” Steve asks, because Eddie has a fucking timeline here and then his husband’s grin stretches slow, and sly, and then he’s drawing Steve in, and kissing him deep, licking as far as he can reach and wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist tight, knocking him a little off balance by design and Steve goes with it, because he fucking loves it, and then—

“Goddamnit, Edward,” Steve growls between them into Eddie’s shit-eating fucking grin as he smacks Steve’s ass, again, and keeps his hand there to squeeze while he pecks at Steve’s lips with feeling.

“It’s good luck, baby, for the journey!” Eddie protests between kisses. “It would curse the whole shebang if I left without showing the appreciation duly accorded to a goddamn masterpiece,” and then he leans in and goes deep one more time, draws a moan out and drags it slow from Steve’s lips before breaking away to declare emphatically:

“Unthinkable.”

And Steve…Steve fucking loves this man bigger than the whole expanding fucking universe or whatever, so he kisses him back until Eddie’s the one moaning, then pushes him away, kinda hard.

“Get out of here, you fucking lunatic,” but then he’s quick to drag Eddie back for one last kiss to mouth against him: “have a safe flight, I’ll see you tonight.”

And Eddie smiles against him, and makes to actually listen, but.

Not before Steve slaps that ass as it makes its way out the door.

Turnabout’s fair play.

Or whatever.

tag list (comment to be added): @pearynice @hbyrde36 @slashify @finntheehumaneater @wxrmland @dreamwatch @perseus-notjackson

♥️

divider credit here

[strong-with-the-sarcasm]

Part 5 - dare not preach

Dp x DC AU: Regent!Jazz & Vigilante!Jazz

Masterlist Part 4

"And If I had the answers I'd have written them out so I could tell you what to do and what this thing is about. But all I've ever learned comes second-hand and I dare not preach what I don't understand." -Make A Move by Icon For Hire

//////////////////////

Content warning: briefly implied child abuse (Vlad is not a good guy by any definition),

Time was lost in between bouts of consciousness, flashes of pretty eyes and fire hair,  soft muttering and gentle caresses against his skin soothing his aches. 

Jason was caught between heaven and hell, wracked with agony behind his ribs one moment and healed with persistent warmth the next, a never ending cycle. 

He wanted to scream. 

One bout of semi-clarity was of some citrus concoction on his tongue, gentle murmurs of a woman by his ear before she kissed him again, forced something down his throat again. 

He both loved and hated that woman. She felt familiar in a way that made his bat-honed paranoia rear its ugly head, the instinct to survive in his gut a heavy weight, but she brought him peace in the same moment she could damn him. 

He caught his name once, his real name, spoken by her as he swallowed dutifully, a spike of want in his heart almost a welcome change from the pain by that point. 

————————————————

Jazz spoke with the Lady frequently as the Red Hood, Jason, healed in her bed. 

The elder spirit, regal in mannerisms and aura, demanded the Regent to aid this one vigilante, this one knight and Jazz had finally figured out why. 

It was so obvious when she had all the puzzle pieces, the depth of occult knowledge both in her brain and at her disposal should have been her first resource used to dig deeper, but she’d allowed Danny and Frostbite to assume (and let her assume) that the Red Hood was an awakened Liminal who was recovering from corrupted Ecto in his system. 

The Red Hood had been Jason Todd-Wayne, the second Robin- bright light of Gotham- and he’d been murdered by the Joker. 

Unburied in my soil. 

Jazz groaned in self-contempt as she paced the graveyard of Gotham’s Crime Alley. It was decrepit and uncared for, not like the higher class cemetery of Gotham proper where the Rich and powerful are buried. She what’s spent the better part of three days researching her new bedmate roommate once he’d been stabilized enough to be on a consistent schedule for ecto-infusion. He’d be unlikely to regain full consciousness for another month or so, but he would recover fully. 

That was, if he understood what he had become in his near-fatal collapse. 

(Thanks to Jazz and her rash actions.) 

The Lady had been cryptic when speaking of Red Hood at first, but with his recovery and development of a strong proto-core Lady Gotham was eager to aid the Regent in making her once Robin adjust to a world-changing consequence once again. 

(At least this time he would have support.) 

Not only was Jason a Liminal with an indisputable death-claim, he had been a- a Revenant whose continued existence was a mind boggling happenstance of circumstance that was one in a infinite chance of ever happening again. 

The Lady claimed him. The Lady gave a bit of herself to resurrect her bright Light, the one who shouldn’t have died so young, not while he deserved happiness for the hope he brought to so many. 

(Damn it all.)

He clawed himself out of his own casket, to be found by Talia Al Ghul of all people… then survive the Lazarus Pits in body, with only Pit Madness to show for it? 

(It was a callous way to think about it, but Jazz knew that it had also given him his freedom in many ways, that Jason wouldn’t have if he was still just a Revenant.) 

(Did the Al Ghul know what she had found that night in dreary Gotham?) 

(Was she aware she had given Jason Todd a third chance at life- however much of one being death-claimed by Lady Gotham could be called a life.) 

The Lady, wistful once assured in the Regent’s anger having passed, swore an oath that Jason would never be forced to be a Knight again. 

(Jazz reveled in the understanding that Batman, Bruce Wayne, was destined to be Gotham Knight for his mortal lifetime- possibly beyond.) 

(Had he sworn his fealty by accident in his grief? Or had his donning that ridiculous gimmick been enough of a bind to tie his soul to the Lady?)

(Regardless, for his inaction, Jazz privately reveled in the satisfaction of the true consequences of his choices.) 

Jazz, who’d been pacing a strict line in the uneven row of headstones, came to a rest at the grave of the once-Revenant who now lay in her bed. 

Jason Todd 

He’d been only a year older than her little brother when he’d been murdered by the Joker, buried under a name that was half-complete. He was a Wayne in life, but not in death? How hypocritical of the old bat, to not give him the courtesy of giving him the hyphenated last name if he wasn’t going to bury him in the Wayne cemetery. 

What would it have been like if Danny had a grave, complete with a stone and inscription? 

(The portal was his grave. He’d died there and the house was his graveyard.) 

Would it have been up to Jazz to choose the words to describe her little light, the brightest star in the galaxy, the one reason she had for getting up in the morning… or would her parents have cremated him and put him on a shelf to prevent a corpse from ‘piloting’ his corpse? 

(Jazz still had nightmares about Danny’s death scream. The portal ripping him apart in the same moment it fused him back together.) 

(Into something different, something more.) 

(He was her little brother, the same one who she spent her birthday money on to get those ridiculous glow-in-the-dark stars.) 

(They’d spent hours forming constellations on his ceiling.) 

How does one paraphrase a life? 

Would Jazz start with his name, his preferred name, or with his date of birth? 

Would she put down ‘dearest brother’ or ‘missed’, ‘Be at peace’? 

No. Jazz knew she’d give the most important pieces of what made her little brother the brightest star in the sky- 

Danny, per aspera ad Astra.

Danny had an unconventional memorial tucked away in the remnants of the Fenton lab, underneath the debris of what was once a strange machine to a world unseen. 

The portal was built into the wall with ample access space in the rear for intended maintenance, though it was not required once the portal was completed and functional. 

Jazz left flowers for Danny in that maintenance space three days after she first saw his transformation, yellow tulips, though she didn’t know the impact the action would have later in life. 

Once a month, Jazz would return to replace the dried flowers, dust away the cobwebs, close the door, rinse and repeat. 

Christmas was particularly complicated in the Fenton household, but the first year of Danny’s half-life was the worst Jazz could recall up to that point. 

It wasn’t the eerie lack of ghost attacks (thanks to her not knowing of the Truce then), or the winter storm being harsher than any other Amity Park had faced in previous years… No, it was that Danny had died, while nothing and everything changed. 

Jack and Maddie still screamed their arguments about Santa Claus, loud and proud for the world to be privy to. 

Jazz had extra tutoring to take up for Christmas presents. 

Danny… Danny still had to fight a ghost. 

Ghostwriter wasn’t a malicious ghost in nature, far from it in fact, but he was never a fan of her little brother. 

Jazz overheard Danny tell his friends about his ‘storybook adventure’ and she had to sleep in the access space for the night, just so she didn’t wake anyone with her crying. 

It wasn’t right. 

That thought repeated on a never-ending loop in her head as she tucked her growing limbs into the cramped space, eyes shut tight and the darkness shrouding her in safety. 

(That had been the first nightmare of her own death to come, fingers frantically searching for a pulse as she woke in the dark.) 

Perhaps she should have never left that darkness. 

Because then the anger that had been building inside of her would never have been unshackled after the release of the tyrant king. 

Jazz had been a patient girl her entire life. It was a necessary evil when raised by scientists to follow in their footsteps, though she had no intention to make her life into any imitation of her negligent parents, she learned those lessons at the knee of Maddie Fenton, who had given her life to the pursuit of ecto-science. 

(Built a very strange machine to a world unseen.)

When Jazz failed to achieve something, she observed and struck when the opportunity presented it. That’s how she’d survived ghost attacks for so long, escpecially when it was her own dinner- that and the ingrained knowledge to strike hard and quick when it was required. A paradox of a hunter and a hunted, but that was Jasmine Fenton’s upbringing in a nutshell. 

Jasmine knew Vladimir Masters was a bigger predator than she was capable of hunting as a young girl. 

(Jazz was just a little girl when Vlad became obsessed with her and her mom.)

(Only the dead truly knew what an older man could do to someone so much smaller.)

It was a waiting game that morphed as she grew, bones sturdy and teeth sharper as Ecto-contamination finally settled into her molecules- Death-claimed, Liminality. Vlad was a false halfa, just as he was a false friend to her parents and a false business man, but as long as he stayed out of her way in caring for her little brother than she would not destroy him. 

(She was a patient hunter.)

Pariah Dark was the final crack. 

(It needed somewhere to go, all that anger, all that rage.)

Jazz had been patrolling the outer limits of the ghost shield now that Amity was returned to the Living Realm, anxiety in her gut as Danny had yet to show from his battle against the tyrant king. 

He had obviously won if they were all safe, right? The mech suit would boost him enough, but could it really kill what was already dead? 

Hidden in the embrace of familiar shadows, Jazz witnessed Plasmius carrying an unconscious Danny over his shoulder and a…crown in his right hand. 

Not only had the bastard released the King for the Crown of Fire, he’d damned them all for the same item he’d stolen in the aftermath.

Jazz’s next actions weren’t borne from Vengeance, they were unfiltered rage.

Vlad had died that night, Jazz believed wholeheartedly, he died before she locked him in his casket- a since soldered shut Fenton Thermos. 

Thing was, Jazz didn’t recall what happened between them- all she could really remember when thinking of that time frame was a green haze that was so similar in color to the damned portal. 

One moment, Plasmius had Danny and the Crown. The next, he was a beaten man in his human form with no rise and fall of his chest to convince Jazz he was alive. 

Was it concerning? Of course. Jazz never wanted to hurt anyone, especially not in a blackout rage state. 

(How times have changed.) 

Would she ever mourn Vlad? No. He deserved a far worse fate than a second death. 

(His sins were numerous.) 

If his casket would later be given to Pandora, the trusted Mentor of the Boy King’s Regent…. Well, where better to keep a body hidden than with a Matriarch who understands the sins of man? 

(Pandora had always believed in Jazz, the Regent’s soul was far too bright to be snuffed out without a war.) 

Within the Infinite Realms, the Regent was called many things- titles that held little meaning to the one in question, but offered weight to her authority. 

The Lady of the Acropolis, for her mentorship with Pandora and position of respect among the populace. 

First Knight of the Star King, would be granted once her Regency was over and Danny was crowned. His epithet as ‘Star King’ was a beautiful homage of a lost dream. 

Death-Claimed Champion. 

It made the Regent grit her teeth when addressed as such, especially when she lived in Gotham presently- the city of Lady Gotham’s Knights… her Champions. 

Jazz had survived to adulthood as a highly contaminated Liminal, no patron to claim as her- Not even Pandora counted even though they shared a teacher/student relationship. 

Would Jason, Red Hood of the Alley, be able to handle managing his territory without the backing of a patron claim? The Lady did swear that the once-Revenant was no longer bound to her service, which meant he could pack up his gear forever if he wanted to.

Though that was highly doubtful. 

Jason was a strong willed man to lay claim to his haunt so quickly and hold fast for so long. Jazz shared her haunt with Danny, but that was only because he was the powerful Halfa and future King. His Haunt would never be challenged by a competent opponent, not in Gotham at least. 

Perhaps Jason would be willing to unite their haunts? 

It was a common tradition for older ghosts to allow weaker ones to share their haunt for protection, but that didn’t translate well to the Death-Claimed. 

(Jazz had a hunch that Jason was so in tune with his haunt that he instinctively knew when she or Danny stepped foot across his boundary.) 

(They tried not to linger, out of respect of another’s haunt of course.) 

Then again, Jason was the Baby Liminal between the two of them. Danny and Jazz should be offering him to share a haunt for protection. 

(Jazz couldn’t help but wonder what Jason looked like as a child.) 

(She would bet almost anything that he was an adorable kid.) 

(Would their kids be so cute?)

There was a slight lilt of sadness that lingered over the daytime hero, Signal, that Danny almost choked on his Death Wish. 

The coffee, that is. 

Little late on the literal bit. 

Gotham (city, not the Lady) was an ever-gloomy fruit basket full of ghastly vibes. You see it and you know you’re in for a bad time, but that’s typically at night. 

So what was up with Sunshine Child? 

Yeah, he was clearly human and allowed to have off days, duh, but for it to hang like a shroud of storm clouds over Sunny? Yeah, no. That shit needs to be gone, like yesterday. 

“Hey, Sunshine!” Danny called out with a false cheer. It was too damn early in the morning for real cheer, are you mad, but Signal didn’t seem to notice as he approached the lawn chair the Halfa had decided would be his new throne. 

(At least Jazz would find it funny.) 

“Hi Danny. Can I help you with something?” 

Danny took a loud sip of his coffee before he went straight for the throat, “You’re doom and gloom this morning, Sunny. Whose bones do I need ‘ta steal?” 

“No, no, it’s fine. Just…” the meta Hero trailed off, voice tired as he let himself relax for a moment in Danny’s presence. 

(That’s right, Danny’s just a friendly civilian teenager with anger issues, right?)

(Oh he would be cackling at that lie when he had a moment to himself again.)

“My brother is missing.”

Danny blinked. 

“Your brother? One of the birdies?” He tried very hard not to pull out any of his jokes about traffic lights and Stabby Robin, but at least he didn’t sound condescending? 

“Sorta. Red Hood… he went off grid about a week and a half ago.”

(Yeah this isn’t something Danny should be privy to.) 

(Like at all.) 

(It’s not like he was housing the guy in his home right?) 

(Oh wait.) 

“Yikes, Sunny. That sucks, ‘m sorry.”

Signal sighed, “Yeah, thanks Danny.” He paused again, studying the canonical adoption bait that was Danny Fenton before he dropped a bombshell. 

“Batman thinks he’s dead.” 

(Danny almost cackled in manic glee at that statement.)

(Overshot the mark there, Bats. Yikes.) 

Danny happily waved goodbye to his meta friend, a dorky salute with his coffee cup in commersiation of a shitty hour of the day to be awake, before he leaned back in his lawn chair and yawned. 

“Oh, what drama. Jazz is gonna kill me all the way if she finds out.” He said out loud to no one in particular. The occasional shade that kept him company didn’t bother to move at the sound of his voice now that Signal had left, but it did let out a mournful trill that made Dannny chuckle. 

“Yeah, yep, you’re right- when, when, Jazz finds out.” Danny laughed again, “Worth it.” 

A/N:

Yeah, I wasn't expecting so much angst either, but apparently, that's my jam, because I literally cannot write anything else. Well, anything that doesn't sound like two robots trying to mimic humans at least.

This was supposed to be a more upbeat entry and look how epically I failed. I had to put a content warning up top because I wrote/heavily implied that Jazz was abused by Vlad due to his obsession with Maddie.

In other news, I have a playlist now for what songs I listen to while writing this. It's called 'Guns & Sword: Jazz on' 'cause 2am me thinks she's clever.

[cocogum]

Eliatrope Goddess immediately gives off shady vibes and here’s why:

Eliatrope told Yugo, Adamaï, and Nora that there would be plenty of time for these three to talk together but that there are bigger things to address right now. So Adamaï asks her if she was the one responsible for the Inglorium’s destruction and this chick straight up tells him that this topic will have to be discussed later while then adding that he should trust her since she hates violence.

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

Even though the leaders of the World of Twelve were a bit harsh towards a freaking GODDESS (these ppl are saying this is the first time they’re in the presence of a deity and yet they had some balls of steel talking to her like that), Eliatrope did not see any issue with telling them that she’d be surveilling the world and infusing vigilantism.

That almost sounds like she doesn’t really understand what freedom truly is. Keeping people under a good watch to preserve peace is not freedom but rather just plain control.

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

Now that I’m mentioning controlling, didn’t the Eliatrope goddess already do that before? She had one entire planet for her children and just kept watch over them which is why they were able to live in perfect peace and harmony (while the minor problems were solved by Mina. And by “minor” I mean minor problems that aren’t severe ones like poverty, pollution, etc.). The eliatropes didn’t see anything wrong with what she was doing because that’s all they’ve ever known. The eliatropes were practically doing the same thing every day over and over again without being aware of it all. This incessant repeat is also supported by Qilby saying that everything was always the same cycle back in his home planet and he was just witnessing the same history repeating itself.

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

She was perfectly fine letting Adamaï go because she claimed that his mistrust towards this entire situation was perfectly normal for him since he’s someone who mistrusts things in general.

But like-

Adamaï is still her kid, and yet, she just lets him go just like that after being away from him for all these millennials.

But then again, he was the same person who pointed out the question: “Are you the one responsible for the destruction of the Inglorium?” And she wasn’t able to answer him properly. When someone asks you uncomfortable questions that you know the answer to, you usually try to make them leave, no?

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

For someone who’s nicknamed “the goddess of love”, she brought Qilby back and even told Yugo that she’s fine with keeping the traitor around since he at least goes on missions to help IF IT BENEFITS HIM IN SOME WAY.

What kind of “goddess of love” is fine with letting a child of hers continue this bad habit of helping others to benefit them???

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

Where is Balthazar? No seriously where is he??? If the Eliatrope goddess has the children of Emrub with her, then surely Balthazar has to be around in the area somewhere or maybe with the goddess surveilling the children but he isn’t.

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

She doesn’t know what the hell the Lokus is supposed to be or what it was even “guarding” her temple for but she did not tell anyone about this??? About the fact that she didn’t know? Did she tell Nora or Qilby?? Or even the other eliatropes???

Also, she apparently knows that its heart can help fend off the necromes and yet hasn’t told this to Nora and the others. Maybe she forgot to tell them but like- HOW DO YOU FORGET when you’ve been into contact with them??

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

When she wanted to leave the world with her children at the very moment she heard that the necromes were coming, she did not even once mention bringing Chibi and Grougaloragran with her despite being able to sense their wakfus.

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

She tried to cut off Yugo’s friends from him so she could leave with him and the other elite eliatropes. So when Yugo tells her he wants to stay and the other eliatropes side with him, she just leaves.

She left. SHE JUST LEFT THE WORLD AND LEFT HER KIDS BEHIND-

‼️ SHADY ASS BEHAVIOR ‼️

[celestialdragoncookie]

I made a typo on your new page earlier, and I'm very very sorry, just place 'ours' with a Y alr?

But anyways, here's more ideas! Cuz I love the story :3

So since Dark Choco and Dark Shadow we're sent to the deepest part of the dungeon, I like to think that, Y/N would try to save them once she revived the clan, or maybe try to warm or make sure that they we're alright, but sneaking in and giving foods or supply for them, and since she was immortal cuz she can reborn themselves/herself from the ashes, and I think they/the three brothers don't have to worry Abt her being like gone or die, BUT if her ashes was like... Just separated or flew into the air or something like that, it's a sign that she can... Never be alive or reborn again cuz her ashes.... We're spread into the air unknown redirection or something like that.

And maybe some Phoenix would try to help if she revived them and told the 2 prince sacrifice and stuff what happened, and she's just worried Abt them... And maybe has a teeny tiny crush on... Dark Choco cookie, cuz he seem to truly care Abt her and respect her will and stuff like that, which makes Y/N I bit comfortable with him and likes him like that and maybe will confess if she got them out from the 3 psycho (/ brothers)

But as usual you can choose from whatever you like, but also, you can choose if he accepted her confession or not :3, or whatever you want <D

" From Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust" Yandere Three brothers x Hybrid Phoenix Reader:

From that gaining freedom, all that sacrifice was drained into imprisonment as the two rebellion princes were sent to " Dark Void" a dungeon known for keeping the worst of worst criminals in check and monitored. The security was were much tighter and prisoner guards are active all the time and very much experienced in this field so escaping is very much impossible, not in centuries have a single prisoner had ever escaped not one if so they will have to suffer under extreme torture as warden himself and the guards are sadistic bastards love to play to thier hearts content.

In the darkened prison full of raisin rats, as the once proud respectful princes were reduced to mere pitiful state chained to the broken old cold stone wall, the treatment was no different then prisoners but it was worst as they to endured the continue harassment and bullying of the prisoners including the guards, drunken warden in stress and tired would lash out his rage in torturing them. Their dough is full of marks of abuse and torture, they would vomit as the food and water laced with deadly poisen barely survive. Spending an entire week in that hell seems like a horrible nightmare for them as the cycle continue to spin mocking thier resolve and resistance as a mere wastage of time. One fateful day, passing the same routine suddenly flap of wings could be heard as beautiful glowing fiery feather falls through the broken window illuminated the dungeon, with painful groans he looked up only to see you dressed in cloak to cover yourself up , in your hands is basket full of delicious fruits, snacks and bottles of milk. You gave a shuss action looking around signing in relief and jumped from the window with a silent thud, dusting yourself off looks at the poor state of the two princes your shocked because how could thier father's do something like so horrible especially thier own sons..... Even beasts wouldn't kill thier children. In thier eyes, they are just disposable tools just pawns so they can get what they want how cruel, clutching your fists so hard wiping your tears off before feeding the two hungry princes. During this time it had became a daily routine for you to visit them, patching and cleaning thier wounds feeding them. Unknown to you, your fiery temper, warmth and kindness has reached the cold lonely heart of dark Choco Cookie who would brightened up seeing your smile especially kindness and would always look forward to see your appearance this was notice by Dark shadow milk cookie, looking at his expression he would lightly smile knowing that his innocence dense cousin has finally someone to care and protect.

Meanwhile in the office, as angry roar and trashing of things could be heard as numerous paperworks, important files , pens and documents were flying away as sudden pissed dragon throwing things in hate especially impatient. He angrily growls turning his face towards the shivering guard asked with a pissed off tone " Where is she? Have you find her whereabouts yet?" The shivering relactant whither to tell him the truth or not but his silence was seen as ignoring him which pissed him off again in sheer rage he extended his claw ready to slash as the frightened braced for incoming attack but opened it only to see the king himself dark cacao cookie took the hit instead as the strawberry jam falls on the ground as stunned dark cacao cookie glared at his brother he replied with a colder firm tone " Brother I know your angry but don't force it out Infront of my people got it?". His tone got him surprised he thought the sheer audacity of him he growls slamming the door shut as dark cacao cookie dismissed the frightened guard. He cleans the wounds from his face looks around the trashed office, his purple eyes falls on the picture emblem on the table grabbed it he gently rubbed his finger on the fragile frame of it as his eyes softened with a glint of regret, self loathing especially longing. He stutter every words, mumbling as tears fall freely from his eyes twinkling the broken frame he falls on his knees hugged the picture like it was his lost hope, he continues to cry silently replies full of longing especially loneness " My dear light, my sunshine I couldn't bear to see you disappear when you said your going to hibernate I was devastated which led me to kidnapped an innocent cookie and do unspeakable things to it I am a sinful cookie, I hope you wouldn't pardon me for my sins I am just lost, I don't what to do without you my life is meaningless my dear dragon empress Celestia I miss you my dear queen". He cried alone in the office without anyone comforting him nor hugging him to soath his heart out. Unknown to the crying broken king, someone was outside listening to it as his magenta eyes softened before giving tsk left the grieving king.

Back in the dungeons, it's been days since your last visit dark Choco Cookie was getting impatient because you haven't appears for fulfilled your daily quota as dark shadow milk cookie comforted the paranoid prince. But suddenly the door to the dungeon opened as both of the princes hissed in annoyance as the light nearly blinded them upon recovered they shocked to see the king himself dark cacao cookie looking at him with his usual self, dark Choco Cookie just glared at his monsteroisty of a father. Dark cacao cookie gestured his guards to follow the chained princes outside, upon arriving dark Choco Cookie almost lumped on him but dark shadow stopped him. Dark cacao cookie turned around and falls on his knees asking for his forgiveness which took them off guard dark Choco Cookie glared at his father with amused smile laughs " You monster of a cookie due to thinking I would bye your Soo called acting skills, give up your the worst scumbag I have ever seen". Dark cacao cookie clutching on his fists knowing it would be difficult to ask his forgiveness but suddenly a voice called them out turned towards the source it was you flying in air upon landing you said" I already forgiven him but dark Choco Cookie you should pardon him, his is sincere. Dark Choco Cookie was reluctant but dark shadow milk cookie forgive him along with forcefully pardon, suddenly dark Choco Cookie grasped your hands asked in worry " are you okay are you hurt? Is your wings okay?" Unknown the situation they were in Dark shadow milk cookie looking between them he gave a smirk

" I heard love always win the war, heeeee what a beautiful way to display it hahaha".

Dark cacao cookie just smiles made a teasing tone " Son when are grand kids are coming?". This took both of them off guard you took blushes and move away in embarrassment.

Unknown to the clueless couple, somewhere between the Himalayas deep within the cannoyan of it as an crimson glowing yellow slit eye opens illuminated the darkness as the star marking on it's forehead glows, opening it's jaws numerous fangs could be seen said it tone full of silent rage " Looks like I have to pay " special" visit to dark cacao kingdom don't you think my dear sister?". Camera paused as another eye opens with snowflake like marking on it's forehead glowing blue and one azure baby eye glows as the entire Himalayas shocked due to unknown beings presence.

[an-excellent-choice]

While I like thinking about how the dead three's chosens (Ketheric, Orin, Gortash) could be redeemable. Today, I want to think deeper and talk about how they are irredeemable. (i like villains being villains oki)

So, all three of them have tragic backstories that you can sympathize with Ketheric losing his family and being ignored by his goddess, Orin being indoctrinated from the very start and her mother trying to kill her, Gortash being sold off and fighting for his life every step of the way.

So, these three experience the worst in life and thus also started doing horrible things. Generally, people in pain can cause great hurt to others but these three had specific actions that made them irredeemable.

These actions for me is inflicting the same pain they have experienced but worst. They didn't just continue the cycle of pain but they multiplied the pain in their cycles.

They had this pain and rather than think that nobody deserves the pain I experienced because it destroyed me. They decided that I experienced this, now it is your problem and your turn for it.

Ketheric lost his faith because he lost his family. Ketheric then proceeded to subjugate and murder families for still having faith in Selune. Not only that but he also cursed the very lands that were once filled with by families and friends.

Orin's mother attempted to murder her on Sarevok Anchev orders for Bhaal's approval. Orin ended up murdering (or attempted to murder) durge because she wanted to be the chosen one on nobody's orders.

Gortash was sold off by his parents and had fight his way to freedom/life. Gortash sells Karlach into slavery knowing full well that she will be a prototype to the engines. Karlach can never be free because of it, no matter how hard she fights or runs she still an engine for a heart that needs to stay in hells.

They are great villains. Sympathetic but still monsters in the end. Maybe redeemable but unforgivable for their victims

[yarpharp]

"Ascended Astarion is evil and fucked up and why would you romance him and why is he like this--?"

Spawn Astarion used a mask of power and sex to manipulate you for his survival. You, as the player, have to really work to reassure and help him begin to heal from 200+ years of trauma to let go of that mask; let him Be Himself. But he's also still 10000% terrified out of his mind, because change is terrifying and he's spent 200+ years being told he's worth nothing and exists as a sexual tool to lure in prey for his master. He will do absolutely anything to keep himself safe. Even if he cares for you by Act 3, he's a traumatized survivor, so he's instinctively going to protect himself first. It's hard to let go of that mindset within a few weeks(?)/months(?) of trying to get a tadpole out of your party's heads. It's why you have to be careful with your dialogue selection to convince him to let go of the Ritual, kill Cazador, and just Be Himself. He's fucking terrified of what happens after it's all over, and yet he's undeniably feral for freedom/independence.

Ascended Astarion is what happens when the mask is made Real. He's more powerful than his former master by a long shot, who was essentially a Vampire Lord. He can walk in the sun, he can partake in "mortal delights," he can turn people into spawn, etc. He has so much power at his fingertips, he's as good as a Vampire Demigod. He can indulge in ways he never could as a Spawn, and he's positively DRUNK on it. He can be powerful and sexy and do whatever he wants, because now he doesn't have to be afraid of being hurt. He can make any choice he wants with no (immediate) consequences. The mask isn't a fake mask anymore. The Mask is him now. But as a result, he's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Cazador killed his former master and became a Vampire Lord, and now Astarion has continued the tradition with extra steps and benefits. He's lost himself to the cycle and revels in it. How can you expect him to love you as he did before if he's in love with the Mask Made Real more?

I'm not saying he has NO care for you as a Vampire Demigod, but he definitely treats you with far less care. Because from his perspective? While you aided him in getting to this point, showed him he can be more, you can't ever BE EQUAL with him now. Why should he treat you as more when you're not? You're special in the same way a beloved pet is special. And he's actually still terrified, but it's more "is any relationship I have actually built on real trust, or are they all just Spawn that have to listen to me?" And that is the New Hell he sold himself to. He's a Mask living in a house of cards.

[bharv]

I was reading your post about why god-Gale is a bad ending, and your comment " I don’t think any of the endings are a binary of good or bad, they are breaking and perpetuating cycles" which I super agree with! But it got me thinking, which of Karlach's endings do you think is the breaking/perpetuating?

This is going to be. Unpopular.

Soooo I think not all of the companions have the same writing. I think Astarion and Lae'zel, and possibly Shadowheart though I think some small details shifted, have the endings closest to what they were planned to have. I think Gale, Wyll, and Karlach were changed a lot.

Wyll and Karlach don't have as straightforward a narrative as the others, because theirs is much more about the freedom of choice.

Wyll has had to live for others entirely, and whatever ending he goes down, it's the reconciliation with his father and the breaking with Mizora that is the most important element of it. I don't think his ending where he keeps living for others is bad at all! It's just a choice and a sacrifice and he does beautiful things with it. Including pledging himself to Karlach, and them being heroes in a whole new way! But it is continuing his journey of sacrificing himself for others, whereas strangely, the Grand Duke ending, while being sacrificial on the surface, allows him the possibility of his own family, his own path. No ending is perfect for him, and I like that, though I wish we got more.

Equally what I love(d) about Karlach's ending is it reminded me of the realities of choice being important. I think honestly? The ending which gives her the most freedom and agency is burning up on the docks. She gave it her all, she lived her life to the fullest in the ways she could, and she dies on her own terms. Everything else is a huge compromise she does not want to make, and though we know from the additions that going back to hell gives her enough time to find a cure, it's a huge gamble (I also think it's a cop-out but that's just me.) It's tragic, it is. But it was also a very moving, poignant ending to me, which I think would have been more fitting had some of the other endings not been softened quite so much.

[princess-of-the-corner]

LoZ: No Fate

(Glad that went through!)

I see your point on Ganon being a straight incarnation as apposed to “Guy who got possessed”. My other thought would be, OG Demise & Hylia are like, Two Forces that were Fighting, but they’re both Immortal Deities, so eventually Hylia did a thing where she trapped Demise in a “mortal shell” so he could potentially be defeated. The first Hero teams up with Hylia to fight him, but the Hero gets mortally/soul wounded, so Hylia uses her power to save him, but the price is now their souls are tied together, so Hylia reincarnates into a mortal body alongside the hero … .

Gonna be honest, not sure how well I’m explaining this. I just like the idea that OG!Hylia, or the TriForce, or SOMETHING, started this cycle as a way to beat Demise (cause, you know, as a mortal he can actually be killed) but at this point, Demise is the only one actually benefitting from it. Like, it started as a way to get rid of Demise, but Demise keeps coming back, and no matter how many times he’s defeated, it isn’t before he manages to get power, or chaos, or whatever. And no matter how strong the Hero or Mortal Goddess get, they then expend all that power defeating Demise, so the next incarnations have to train up all over again.

Somewhat unrelated, but. I have this image of the Trio being tossed into this dreamscape where they meet all their past incarnations. For Zelda, it’s a bit like meeting all your older, far more successful sisters and cousins you don’t talk to much. They are trying to be supportive and helpful, but Zelda just feels like the baby failing to measure up. With Link, there’s a bit of the family element, but it’s more like meeting a bunch of war veterans. They all have advice, experience, and are willing to share it. While there is SOME of the “failure to measure up” feeling, the Links are a bit more varied, so it’s easier for NF!Link to feel, “maybe I can do this. I mean, at least one of these guys started as an impoverished farm hand, I can probably do it too.”

For Ganon … it’s hell. It’s meeting your abusive dad that you never met, but everyone insisted you look just like him, and you’re terrified of turning into him. Most of these Past!Ganons are harsh. Cold. Cruel. They mock him, and his desire for peace. For freedom. They are either disgusted by his friendship with Link and Zelda, or disgusted that he isn’t using this friendship to his advantage. They think he’s weak, or naive, or just plain dumb. You think you can be different, boy? You think you can challenge who you’re meant to be? Look around you - look at who came before. Not one of us chose different. What makes you think you can try?

Zelda comes away uncertain, but determined. Link wakes up feeling more secure in himself. Ganon refuses to talk about it.

-

Honestly it’s been a While™ since I played through Skyward Sword but iirc the cycle was actually started by Demise cursing them all to continue the cycle because he refused to be killed for sure.

also GOD the ‘meeting the past selves’ bit is fucking OOF

[buckaroundandfindout]

how I know I grew up: civil war edition

When CA:CW first came out, I was def "team tony" bc I liked Tony Stark the most because he was snarky and funny and quippy and sarcastic I hadn't really gotten into the Cap movies (like, I saw them but hadn't really paid as much attention until Civil War).

When I did finally get into the Cap movies and then re-watched CA:CW, I realized I'd lived a lot of life that had taught me a few things the #1 of which being picking a team is pointless and getting "upset" at either Cap or Tony and taking a side is futile (for me, at least) and fully not the point, even from an in-world character perspective.

The TL;DR of it is that Steve is the guy we (probably) aspire to be: very strong moral compass, rock-solid conviction, always seems to know what's right and what he stands for, and fully will go die on that hill. He owns his failures even if they're big fuck up failures, and sees it all through to the end. He has truly incredible, breathtaking resilience. He will always, always, always keep trying. He stays his course and will keep on the path that moral compass shows him, come hell or high water. Not afraid to do the hard thing, especially if it's right. Doesn't really care what others think of him, weirdly, and is unconcerned with people pleasing in the face of doing the right thing. Phenomenally loyal friend who will go to the ends of the earth and war with half the planet for people he cares about, and still not leave those he falls out with hanging. Most people, I think, should want to be Steve Rogers (and by extension, Sam Wilson).

But then I look at the trajectory of my life, and I realize the reality is that I am way more like Tony-- continually going through cycles of making questionable-to-outright-BAD decisions with really good intentions, but that result in bad-to-catastrophic consequences, and then letting the obsessive guilt spiral swing you so hard the opposite direction that the overcompensation ends up usually resulting in such truly shitty collateral damage that makes you wonder if you were better off the first time around. But you can't seem to stop and so you just do your best, looking forward and not back, trying and failing and fucking up and stumbling through the mess of your best attempts to do just one good thing right and have it work out for once without nuking your life and losing most of your friends.

I think that's why it works so well, because in a weird way I think most people are "rooting" for both sides: we root for Cap because we want to BE him, we also empathize and want to see Tony succeed because we kind of are Tony.

The actual issues, the accords, etc., seem like they're just proxies to emphasize the conflict of the dynamic (one side being "standing your ground for your + what is effectively your minority group's personal freedom & autonomy as well as clearing the name of your framed best friend" and the other being "can we be trusted to be left to our own devices to make the 'right' choice when it has such high-stakes consequences? who even knows what is 'right' at all? …and can maybe someone else decide because the guilt around having it be my personal responsibility is starting to wring me out because I can't seem to stop fucking up and its eating me alive")

it's like… maybe not even about one VS the other, but more like you want this guy who is everything you aspire to be to come out on top to re-solidify your conviction in the kind of standards you try to live up to, but who we empathize with more bc it's more realistically as slice of ourselves-- we can't bear to see lose because that hits a little too fucking close.

or something, idk

[paramounticebound]

~ Character Info Sheet

name: Sibahl Khan Noonien Singh

name meaning: 'Khan', often a surname, is derived from the historic title khan, referring to a military chief or royalty. Ruler, leader, king. / 'Noonien' is of Chinese origin and means "gifted one". The story goes that Gene Roddenberry, in the midst of the Cold War, was attempting to find a friend with this name and hoped seeing it on the big screen would enable them to connect again. / 'Singh' is a Punjabi/Sikh surname, derived from the Sanskrit word सिंह (IAST: siṃha) meaning "lion", and is used in the sense of "hero" or "eminent person". ['Sibahl' is rooted from two different sanskrit words: 'singh' which means lion and 'bal' which means strength.]

tl;dr his name is an amalgamation of different cultural roots, while the general meanings remain consistent.

alias/es: The Augmented Prince, The Augmented Tyrant, John Harrison, Captain, Popsicle, KHAAAAN

ethnicity: indian british now ig thanks section 31 ┐('～`；)┌

one picture you like best of your chara:

and his alternate fc b/c i have no chill:

three h/cs you've never told anyone:

His name, I suppose. Learning that 'Khan Noonien Singh' was not the original name for the character sort of set me off, along with the moment in the comic where he took on a new moniker. Sibahl is the name that Sarina gave him, and sometimes he still tastes it in the back of his throat; yet when he'd realized what he must become to lead his people, he shed it in favor of KHAN.

While he fears failure and loss, Khan does not fear death. Truthfully, he finds the concept comforting in a way that words can barely describe. To return to the earth, to stardust, is so unfathomably beautiful-- to continue the cycle of life until it dissipates in entirety. His body will feed the soil, bacteria and carrion consuming all that he has to offer, and so he will live on and on in a way that the soul cannot. He's absolutely written poetry about it, and you'll never get to read it.

When he was a child, he was gifted a khanda by a close friend of Sarina's-- a historian and antique dealer. While it was originally ornamental in design, Khan sharpened and modified it to become a functional weapon.

While I generally consider him unable to scar, a wound from a previous rp partner yet transcends many of his verses. It's a scar just under his rib cage on the left side, vaguely in the shape of a sunburst.

three things your character likes doing in their free time:

Calligraphy-- he misses paper and ink, how his hands long to create instead of destroy.

Playing chess-- a way to destress while keeping the mind sharp.

Whittling-- he has occasionally been known to gift woodwork he's created. Not as often in his current timeline.

eight people your character likes / loves:

Marla McGivers (@sweetbitterbitten): A mad widower does not a worth leader make. Without her, insanity is the best comfort that can be had. With her-- oh, with her, Persephone to his Hades, he is fit to rule in hell. He is fit to drag it wherever he needs it to be.

Fox Alkaev (@vuulpecula): After writing him for so long, Fox has become interwoven into his story, in some way or another. In every verse, he is somehow connected to her.

Sarina Kaur: Mother is God in the eyes of a child.

Joachim: What is a king without an advisor? This is his right hand man and greatest confidant.

Kati: Much like Joachim, he relies on her wisdom, either as a dampener to his righteous fury, or a kindling when blood must be shed.

Liesel Ivanov (@noblehcart ): Who else can dance only to melody of humming stars and thrumming hearts?

His unnamed child from Wrath of Khan/Ender (@middaysandmidnights): His child, his legacy, his lifeblood. The one whom he hopes will endure despite him.

The rest of his crew: without them, he is nothing, a dead end king, a freedom fighter without a cause.

Multiple muses that have melted his icy heart over the years. I'd make a giant post if you'd let me.

two things your character regrets:

Terran exile, and how long it has taken to regain a rightful throne. He wishes that he hadn't relied on the unknown to save them.

Letting any of his people die. Those that have still haunt him, ghosts ever present, continually chanting, "Our captain has left us behind."

two phobias your character has:

Claustrommetaphobia - fear of suffocation in an enclosed space.

Atychiphobia - an extreme fear of failure.

Tagged by : @ssolessurvivor <333

Tagging: @gcldenratio @asteritm @jundlcndwastes (juni!) @hcxcd @noblehcart (liesel!) @lastsurvivor @sweetbitterbitten (whomever you're feeling the most; or marla!) @vulku / @greatprotector @admiralchristopherpike @godresembled (rey!) @whydotheykeeptakingmine @learnedlucidity @hiislegacy @weavefcrged @primitiveside @dethqveen and YOU!

[clarafell]

“ what did you do? what the hell did you just do? ” teehee

darker thrilling prompts / accepting / @wolfvirago

In another world, Homura may have flinched at the sound of Robin's angry voice as if her aggressive demands were metal harshly scraping against the ground. To be the target of Robin's anger would strike fear into the hearts of anyone, especially with the wielded sword. Homura, however, stands her ground. The being that Robin gazes upon is no longer the good-for-nothing weakling from eons ago. In her place is an abomination, oozing with a repulsive power that should not exist. The devil takes the stage, casting away the role of a maiden with a still beating heart.

❝ You have also managed to remember? How strange... ❞ She does not bother to answer the questions, more interested in the anger than the question themselves. Homura has come to learn the universe like the back of her hand, but surprises still come to greet her. Having to witness Sayaka Miki's impressive streak of luck to not only summon her witch, but also manage to remember her sinful deed, did surprise her. The blue-haired warrior once called herself the secretary to the Law of Cycles, but everyone knew she will always be the sword to strike down anyone who dared to tamper with her former childhood friend.

Sayaka's ability to remember pieces of the horrifying act of rebellion against the Law of Cycles will always be quite impressive, but it wasn't something Homura wanted to see again. So, all Homura did is force back those memories. She pushed back the mermaid witch until it slept in the darkest depths of Sayaka's mind, forced to sleep. To have a puella magi that can summon forth her witch into battle is useful, Homura notices quite quickly. The closest comparison were the forgotten yet still impressive doppels from that failed timeline. Having witnessed the confident dance between Sayaka and her witch, Homura has found herself inspired...

She has chosen to bring back witches, unable to help herself from experimenting. They may come back as human, a dream plenty of them still longed to grasp in their hands. There is a price for them to walk amongst humans again. It isn't a painful price, not from her perspective. They will simply need to serve her when the time comes. Is that such a hard thing to do?

Robin, however, is lucky to not have been a resurrected witch. She still had the beauty of freedom on her side, able to carve her own path.

Well, not total freedom.

❝ It doesn't matter what I've done, Robin. All I have done is not allow such a perfect opportunity to slip from my fingers again. It has already happened, so there's no need to waste your energy on being so upset... ❞ Like Sayaka, it seems that Robin also has a bone to pick with her. Was overthrowing the Law of Cycles such a big deal for the both of them? Robin didn't even understand the depths of her decision to clip the wings of the Law of Cycles.

It wasn't like Homura was actively destroying the world, but... Robin still glares at her as if she has already brought ruin upon this world with every breath she takes.

Did Robin not look at their surroundings in this garden?

The sun still shines down upon them, bringing warmth and light. The universe is as fine as it can be, is it not? Her magic may spread, yes, but the world continues to spin. Everything is safe. The Incubators don't have their filthy grasps on the Law of Cycles because Homura has taken control, forcefully bringing the old universe to the chopping block in order to make room for her universe. She was once their tool, her darkened soul becoming their defenseless experiment in an endless cycle of torture, but she refuses to let them get closer to anything remotely important.

She will become anyone's enemy in order to stay in control.

❝ You shouldn't remember what happened. Let's fix that, shall we? It's best you accept it, not be as defiant as that brave yet stupid Sayaka Miki. I thought you would understand that fighting something you can't even begin to understand is not the best decision for you to do, especially since you saw what happened to her when she still had the nerve to stand against me. ❞ Weary eyes narrow ever so slightly the moment Robin's still lingering disbelief melts completely into anger, but Homura only continues to stare into her very core with an unflinching gaze.

❝ This is a new beginning, Robin. You will grow to love it here, I'm sure of it. All you need is a little push in the right direction. Enjoy your freedom, Robin... ❞

Or does she have to silence Robin?