#The legacy of guilt and responsibility and power and duty

[fairandfatalasfair]

"Most young patrollers who exchanged north of the Dead Lake took primed knives from home along. About half the patrollers returned, ready to take up expanded duties. None of the knives did. A steady stream of sacrifice, flowing northward."

[writing-with-sophia]

Common character motivations

Revenge - seeking to get even with someone who has wronged them

Love - driven by romantic feelings for another character

Greed - motivated by a desire for material possessions or wealth

Power - seeking to gain control or influence over others

Justice - motivated by a sense of fairness and a desire to see justice served

Redemption - seeking to make up for past mistakes or wrongdoings

Curiosity - driven by a desire to learn or discover something new

Duty - motivated by a sense of responsibility or obligation to others or a cause

Ambition - driven by a desire to achieve a specific goal or succeed in a particular endeavor

Fear - motivated by a desire to avoid danger or harm

Guilt - driven by a sense of remorse for past actions or decisions

Jealousy - motivated by envy or a desire to possess what another character has

Betrayal - motivated by a sense of betrayal or desire for revenge against someone who has betrayed them.

Ambivalence - a character who is conflicted or uncertain about their goals or desires

Freedom - a character who seeks to escape from a restrictive situation or society

Fame - motivated by a desire for public recognition or notoriety

Identity - driven by a need to understand or define who they are

Family - motivated by a sense of loyalty or obligation to their family or loved ones

Discovery - driven by a desire to explore or uncover hidden knowledge

Patriotism - motivated by a love for their country or a desire to protect it

Rebellion - driven by a desire to challenge authority or the status quo

Artistic expression - motivated by a need to create or express oneself through art, music, or other creative endeavors

Religion or spirituality - driven by a desire to connect with a higher power or to live according to certain beliefs or values

Altruism - motivated by a desire to help others or make the world a better place

Atonement - driven by a need to make amends or seek forgiveness for past actions

Nostalgia - motivated by a desire to return to a simpler time or relive past experiences

Status - driven by a desire for social or professional standing or recognition.

Insecurity - driven by a need to prove their worth or gain acceptance from others

Legacy - motivated by a desire to leave a lasting impact or to be remembered in a certain way after they're gone

Survival - driven by the need to survive in extreme circumstances, such as a natural disaster, war, or an apocalyptic event

Belonging - motivated by a desire to fit in with a certain group or community

Love of knowledge - driven by a passion for learning and acquiring new information

Addiction - motivated by a compulsion to engage in a particular behavior or activity, such as drug use or gambling

Inciting incident - motivation driven by a specific event that triggers or sets the character on their journey

Fear of death - driven by a fear of their own mortality or the mortality of others

Intimidation - motivated by a fear of others or a desire to intimidate others for personal gain

Envy - driven by a desire to possess what others have or to be like someone else

Manipulation - motivated by a desire to control or manipulate others for their own benefit

Protecting others - driven by a desire to protect loved ones or innocent people from harm

Sense of duty - motivated by a sense of responsibility to fulfill a particular role or obligation.

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[haydenigmatic]

Aurelia/n Mezzei

Meet Aurelia/n, the firstborn and heir of the Duke Bricriu, yet burdened by the shadows of a turbulent family history. Raised amidst the opulence of noble court life, Aurelia/n's journey is a delicate dance between duty and desire, navigating the complexities of power and privilege while grappling with the ghosts of their lineage.

Their face and voice claim are: Medalion Rahimi and Şükrü Özyıldız

Family Dynamics:

Father - Duke Briston:

Aurelia/n's relationship with their father, Duke Briston, is strained due to the turbulent history of their family. While there is a sense of duty and respect towards him as their father and as the head of the house, there is also resentment and disappointment. Aurelia/n struggles with conflicting feelings of loyalty and betrayal, especially regarding their father's unfaithfulness to their mother. Despite this, there is an underlying desire for approval and acknowledgment from Duke Briston, fuelling Aurelia/n's drive to excel as the heir.

Mother - Duchess Elvina:

Aurelia/n shares a close bond with their mother, Duchess Elvina, who has been a source of support and guidance throughout their life. Despite the challenges in their parents' relationship, Aurelia/n finds solace and understanding in their mother's presence. Elvina serves as a confidant and ally, offering wisdom and comfort in times of turmoil.

Younger Sister - Izevel:

Aurelia/n's relationship with their younger sister, Izevel, is characterized by a mix of protectiveness and rivalry. While they care deeply for Izevel's well-being and want to shield her from the harsh realities of their family's dynamics, there is also a sense of competition and jealousy. Aurelia/n struggles with feelings of inadequacy and resentment towards Izevel, who is often favoured by their father despite being younger.

Deceased Younger Brother - Bisha:

Aurelia/n's relationship with their deceased younger brother, Bisha, is marked by grief and sorrow. Bisha's untimely death has left a profound void in the family, casting a shadow over their relationships. Aurelia/n carries a sense of guilt for not being able to protect Bisha and harbours unresolved emotions surrounding their loss.

Some details about her/him:

Their dangerous side is honed through rigorous training. Aurelia/n is a formidable combatant, skilled in the art of whip combat, a talent that is known and respected in both noble circles and less savoury territories.

Has a habit of regularly looking up at the sky when deep in thought. It's a meditative gesture that helps them centre themselves, especially before making important decisions.

Has an irrational fear of enclosed spaces, stemming from a childhood incident.

Despite their reserved nature, has a mischievous streak and enjoys playing harmless pranks on their friends.

They have a tendency to overthink situations, often analysing every possible outcome before making a decision.

Their childhood was marked by summers spent exploring the vast estates of their family's holdings.

Carries a heavy burden of guilt over the death of their younger brother, Bisha, feeling responsible for not being able to protect him.

They have an estranged cousin who resents them for being the heir and is almost always trying to undermine their position.

Harbours deep-seated resentment towards their father, Duke Briston, for his infidelity and the turmoil it caused within the family.

Feels a strong sense of duty to uphold the family legacy and honour their ancestors, despite the challenges they face within the family.

[smokesandsonatas]

Theory and Analysis

The Legacy of the Shroud and Draconia Families: The Prodigy and the Miracle

I haven't posted anything in ages, but in the span of a day, I have caught up to everything happening in TWST. All I could say is -

Wow.

Should I miss or incorrectly put the lore, feel free to correct me.

Warning: Spoilers, long post, language, and crude humour.

Without further ado, let's get into the post. All credits belong to their owners.

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The Shroud clan

The Shrouds have been in existence for a really long time. Their ancestor was "appointed a Gatekeeper back in the age of gods and goddesses." Let's assume that was thousands of years ago. Due to this task of essentially keeping the balance in TWST World, Tartarus was built, and henceforth S.T.Y.X was 'formed' about 100 years ago.

Due to their long history, the Shrouds are rich, rivaling the Al-Asims in terms of wealth. According to Vil, they are a branch of Jupiter Enterprises. An influential conglomerate that essentially built Google Chrome, or maybe Facebook, and Amazon of TWST.

The Shrouds reside on the Island of Woe. It is not on any map, therefore it is completely hidden from the public due to the fact it is literally built under the sea.

For the secret organization, Lillia said that a legend goes like this, "When a wizard forgets themselves and succumbs to their own power, punishment from the Island of Woe shall befall them."

The Shrouds are tasked with such a heavy job that about a hundred years ago, they were cursed, preventing them from escaping their duties. This curse manifested in their flaming blue hair, burning off accumulated blot. But if there's no blot to burn, the curse instead eats their magical energy. That's why the Shrouds, especially Idia having inherited the curse from his father, must now be in constant close state of OB to survive.

Idia's grandmother, Aidne/Idone Shroud, is known to have this curse. Both her and her son, Mr. Shroud are using magical devices to combat it.

The Shroud Prodigy and Tragedy

Idia is a prodigy. Born a genius in the Island of Woe. As a child his intellect far surpasses the adult researchers at S.T.Y.X. With this impressive show of his potential, his fate is sealed: Idia will become the next head of the Shroud family.

Ortho's life is a tragedy. He was born, and then he died. Then he was reborn again as a humanoid robot that Idia created while in complete isolation for 2 years. Complete with the 'real' Ortho's memories, personality, and appearance.

This is Idia's way of coping with the guilt that consumes him. Blaming himself for his only brother's death.

Why wouldn't Mama and Papa Shroud do something about this?

I like to think that they did try to console Idia. From the looks of it, they do love their children equally. But they also have to grieve too. They also suffer the same guilt Idia feels because suddenly the portal that they're supposed to monitor as the Director and Chief Engineer of S.T.Y.X breaks open, resulting in the death of their younger son. [But I think Idia's unique magic has something to do with the incident.]

It is important to note that Mama and Papa Shroud treat 'Ortho' as their real child, not a replacement of their dead son. With the events ending in Ignihyde chapter, Ortho is on his way to becoming his own person.

Combining his brother's 'death', the responsibility of running S.T.Y.X in the future, the constant state of near OB just to stay alive, and the isolation made Idia the genius, foul-mouthed, introvert prodigy dorm leader of Ignihyde.

As of Diasomnia chapter, Papa and Mama Shroud, the Director and Chief Engineer of S.T.Y.X respectively, are trying to get in touch, or are now in touch, with Queen Maleficia, Malleus' grandmother.

The Draconia family

The Draconias are nocturnal fae, tracing back their long lineage to dragons. They all possibly have horns protruding from their heads. Their lifespans can go on for centuries. A Draconia will reach adulthood at the age of 1,000 years old. That lifespan is longer than the kind of fae like Lilia.

Simplified:

If Malleus reach 1,000 years old, he'll be only known as an adult Draconia, but for Lilia, 1,000 years is his whole lifespan.

In the current events of TWST, we only know 3 Draconias so far.

Queen Maleficia, Princess Mallenoire/Malenoa, and the only known male heir, Malleus.

Not much is known about them, except the current queen (has been for a long time) is Queen Malefecia, the grandmother. She adopted Lilia and Levan, the father of Malleus and Princess Malenoa's husband. The royalty in Briary Valley is complete with senators, dukes, royal guards, and is just basically a monarchy of faes.

The Draconias, and most fae creatures, reside in Briar Valley. There are forests that are pitch black, giving an advantage to nocturnal faes, like Lilia. It is also rich in magical minerals.

In Diasomnia chapter, Malleus put up a barrier of thorns that is going around or extending throughout Sage Island, essentially marking it as his domain, and everyone in this domain will remain asleep, dreaming. It is worth noting that Malleus is said to be one of the top strongest mages, as evidenced by this:

"S.T.Y.X. together with the Magical Force, and the Briar Valley’s royal family attempted to break into Malleus Draconia’s domain, but… "

"Neither physical nor magical attacks could make a dent."

"The thorns do not discriminate between humans and fae, and anyone attempting to enter just get sucked into the field."

Because he's a fae, he gets energy from his surroundings. Therefore if Malleus' keeps extending his barrier, he will get stronger. Heed that not even Queen Maleficia can get through the barrier her grandson had created. With this scenario, it effectively puts Malleus, a little bit stronger than her.

The Draconia Miracle

I contemplated saying the Draconian Miracle but either way is fine.

If we are to consider Malleus as a miracle manifest in itself, let's first look at the way he was born.

The prelude of Malleus' birth is chaos.

During or even before he emerged from his shell, Briar Valley is going through a fae-human war. Starting when the humans started populating and abusing the place. Note that their population started with only a small sailing ship, and throughout the years they multiplied.

Princess Mallenoire/Malenoa/Mallenoa is the mother of Malleus, and she, by far is the strongest defense of the land, as said by Lillia.

But before Malleus can even crack the shell, his mother is already gone. Going by the angst route, let's assume she died protecting her egg that houses her son.

Makes you wonder how brutal the fight must be to 'kill' a mother dragon protecting her only child.

Levan/Revern, a raven fae or a dragon duke in some sources, is his father. He is a diplomat of Briar Valley, therefore his task falls into making allies, not enemies.

Yet, he did not return.

It is presumed that he died in an ambush, or possibly has a new identity. If he is alive it is cruel for him to not come back to his unhatched son. I am not saying Crowley is Malleus' father but there's a chance that Crowley is related to the Draconias, in one way or another.

Now, why is Malleus considered a miracle?

Because he was born against all odds. His birth is a highly impossible event, yet it did happen.

Due to his parents' absence, this effectively made the hatching of Malleus uncertain. Dragon eggs can hatch within 2-3 years of laying if showered with love and cared for.

[ This part is taken from the accounts of Lilia's dream in the Diasomnia chapter, where Silver is also surprised by the huge gap of the war and the dragon heir's birth.]

Malleus' birth is delayed by 200 years, because he has no one to care for him. It is truly pitiful that even before his birth, Malleus is abandoned.

Why wouldn't Queen Maleficia love her unhatched grandson? Is her love and power not enough to hatch Malleus?

I bet she did, but she also has grieve the death of her only child. On top of that, she has to be strong because she's a queen of a country. Any sign of weakness can mean the humans threatening her or even one of the faes betraying them, putting her family and the nation in danger.

The thought of the Draconia bloodline ending with her likely filled her with depression. Also, Queen Maleficia is not Malleus birth mother, only his grandmother. So that is not enough for a dragon egg to hatch, since it needed the love from his birth parents. I like to think that this part is where Lilia, as his caretaker will come in. Lilia's loyalty to Draconias extended to Malleus, softening the heart of the war-torn general, enough that he had the sympathy to adopt a human child.

It took 200 long years for Malleus to emerge from his egg shell and when he did, Briar Valley celebrated his birth. Matter of fact, his birthday is a public holiday.

Defying the odds is another powerful instance why Malleus is born to be a king faes, the valley and the abyss.

The parallels between Idia (the prodigy) and Malleus (the miracle)

[Is it me or they both look good?!]

Both Malleus and Idia grew up in isolation.

Literally.

[Island of Woe and Briary Valley are two places in the middle of seven-knows-what. Anyway...!]

With Malleus as the only heir, and Idia as the first born, they both have huge responsibilities on their shoulders. We're talking about responsibilities scaling nations and the safety of huge populations.

Idia's childhood is tragic with the death of his brother. But we can argue that Malleus' childhood is tragic too, with the disappearance of his parents.

Malleus grew up isolated and protected in the castle. His only confidant for decades is Lilia, his caretaker. And even then, Malleus said that Lilia is prone to going away for long periods of time.

For Idia, his only companion for the 2 years he locked himself in his room is the prototype of Ortho that he's building.

Idia represents the uncanny future, and Malleus represents the eerie past.

Think of it this way, if you put Malleus in Island of Woe where everything is about technology, I bet he will say something about the importanc of the past and teleport back to his place.

If you put Idia in Briar Valley... man's not even going to survive the night. He will lament his poor WiFi connection.

They compliment each other well: One doesn't want to be approached and the other is unapproachable.

Both Idia and Malleus are some of the loneliest students in NRC. Idia doesn't have social cues, and Malleus... doesn't have good social cues either.

They're both so awkward when interacting with others it becomes endearing.

As awkward as they are, both are arrogant too. Every time Idia regards himself as the acting leader of S.T.Y.X and Malleus as the future king, sends a thrill or.pride to whoever can hear them. [Go forth children! Be the leaders of the TWST world.]

And they will be leaders. As heavy as the mantle of Shroud and Draconia is, Idia and Malleus will have no choose but to shoulder on. That's why I think the battle between (yuu), Idia along with NRC against Malleus will be tragically beautiful.

+++

Fun fact: Hades tried to ask Maleficent out in a date once, lol.

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There's a reason why all of a sudden the story of TWST started to become more serious in the Ignihyde chapter and just hit the fan in Diasomnia. Soon, were about to find out why.

Idia and Malleus are the complete opposite yet their existence compliments each other so well.

One is a keeper of the underworld, and the other the blessing of maleficence.

And then there's Yuu, trying to uncover the secrets of Twisted Wonderland.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Towards new encounters

Wherever they appear, common notions and transformative movements can fall prey to rigid radicalism. The shift can be subtle: what worked in a particular place and time can be converted into a fixed how-to list. A sense of experimentation and vitality can be sucked out of the air with a few words that induce a sense of paranoia and lack-finding. The shared capacity for encounters across difference can be converted into moral certainty and guilt-mongering. What was initially transformative in one context can be held up as the answer, a new duty, or a new set of responsibilities that are imposed on others. This can even manifest as a rigid insistence on autonomy and individual freedom that crushes the potential for collective responsibility and action.

Ethics and uncertainty cannot survive long in an atmosphere of stagnation and rigidity. Detached from the transformative relationships that animate them, common notions become fixed principles dropped on other people’s heads. They remain enabling and ethical only insofar as they retain the capacity to activate response-ability: the capacity to ask, over and over again, what might move things here and now, and to really take pause and listen to each other deeply. All of this is to say that ethical attunement, experimentation, and common notions are powerful, fragile, and precious. These sensibilities are already emerging in a lot of places, as people figure out how to sustain and defend joy against the crushing tendencies of both Empire and rigid radicalism.

Paranoid reading, moralism, and ideology aren’t going anywhere, and even naming and criticizing them can be ways of slipping into their poisonous grip, giving one a sense of superiority, of being above all those things. The critique of rigid radicalism can manifest as a new way of finding mistakes, or as contempt for places and people (including oneself) where rigid radicalism takes hold. It can become a paranoid critique of paranoia itself: criticism might be helpful to get a little distance from stifling and hurtful dynamics, or in figuring out how they work, but it will not necessarily activate other ways of being. Critiques are no use unless they create openings for joy and experimentation, and for feeling and acting differently. For us, the best way to do this analytically has been to affirm that openings are already happening and always have been, and that it is worth being grateful for these powerful legacies.

In our own experience and in talking to others, becoming otherwise is never a linear passage from one way of being to another, but a slow, uneven, messy process. Sometimes something new emerges only in the wreckage after groups have torn each other apart, or have people “burnt out.” Sometimes the flight from paranoid reading flips over into an everything-is-awesome attitude that refuses all forms of discernment and critique. Sometimes people sense that things are not working, find bits of joy, but then rigid radicalism takes over again in another guise. Sometimes a dramatic event leads to new common notions and joyful ways of relating, and rigid radicalism loses its grip. Sometimes people abandon rigid radicalism in favor of an attempt to live a “normal” life under Empire. Sometimes people travel and their encounters leave them changed, more capable of cultivating collective power and experimentation. There is no blueprint, no map for moving in other ways.

In telling these stories, we have tried to avoid generating prescriptions for others, and we hope to have made space for a proliferation of other stories about rigid radicalism, especially those about how and where people have been able to undo it or relate differently. New potentials can be activated by continuing these conversations with each other.

Ultimately, we think, what is at stake in undoing rigid radicalism is joyful transformation: a proliferation of forms of life that cannot be governed by Empire nor stifled by rigid radicalism. To be militant about this is to nurture and defend these shared powers that grow through people’s capacities to tune into their own situations, to remain open and experimental, and to recover and invent enabling forms of combat and intimacy.

[callsign-owl]

An Impossible Choice

Edinburgh, Scotland - 1990

The late afternoon light filtered through the tall windows of the living room, casting long shadows across the ornate furniture. The air was thick with tension as Bartholomew and May stood facing each other, locked in yet another bitter argument.

Bartholomew, stood tall and rigid, his hands clenched at his sides. His eyes, cold and unforgiving, bore into May with an intensity that could have shattered stone. "You're neglecting your duties as a mother. This family deserves better than your pathetic excuses and weak resolve," he spat, his voice a low growl that echoed through the room. "Percival is old enough to notice your absence, and *redacted*... He’s barely a year old. They need their mother, not a reckless, self-absorbed woman who can’t even fulfill the simplest of maternal duties."

May stood defiantly with her arms crossed over her chest. Her petite frame seemed almost fragile beside her husband's, but there was a fire in her eyes that refused to be extinguished. Her wild auburn hair, as untamed as her spirit, fell messily around her face, and she made no attempt to brush it back. She flinched at the mention of the children, a flicker of guilt passing over her face, but she quickly buried it. "And what would you know of what they need, Bartholomew?" She shot back, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You don’t spend time with them. All you do is dictate and control, like you do with everything else. You think that money, status, and discipline can substitute for love and warmth."

Bartholomew’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t you dare question my commitment to this family. I’ve done everything in my power to ensure our legacy, to provide for you and our children. What have you done, besides indulging your every whim, shirking your responsibilities, and—"

"Responsibilities," May interrupted, her voice rising. "You talk about responsibilities as if they’re all that matter. But I never wanted any of this, Bartholomew! I never wanted to be your dutiful wife or the mother of your perfect little heirs. You trapped me in this gilded cage, and you expect me to play along like some obedient doll? Well, I won’t." Her voice broke slightly, and she swallowed hard, regaining her composure. "I was never meant for this kind of life. You knew that, and yet you trapped me here, with all your talk of duty and obligation. You never cared what I wanted."

Bartholomew took a step forward, his face a storm of restrained fury, his patience wearing thin. "You’re weak, May. Pathetic. You can't even handle the simplest of responsibilities. Look at you—turning to those vile substances like a coward instead of facing your obligations, abandoning your children. What kind of example are you setting for Percival and *redacted*? You're ruining everything I've worked for."

"Everything you worked for," May scoffed, her voice dripping with bitterness. "This was never about us or our family—this has always been about you. Your legacy, your reputation, your empire. You never cared about what I wanted, or how I felt. You only ever cared about yourself."

Bartholomew took a step closer, towering over her, his expression darkening. "I cared about giving you a life of comfort, a life most people would kill for. But you—you're too selfish, too reckless to appreciate it."

May’s eyes blazed with defiance, though her voice softened, betraying the depth of her internal struggle. "I never wanted your life of comfort, Bartholomew. I wanted freedom. I wanted to see the world, to explore, to be my own person. But you—" she shook her head, her voice trembling with emotion, "you took that from me. You trapped me here, suffocating me with your expectations, your rules."

Bartholomew sneered, his lips curling in contempt. "So, you drown yourself in drugs, abandon your children, and call it rebellion? You're destroying yourself, May. And for what? To prove a point? To punish me?"

May's eyes welled with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, refusing to show any more vulnerability in front of him. "I don't need to prove anything to you, Bartholomew. I just... I just wanted to be me. But you never understood that. You never tried."

Bartholomew’s face hardened, his voice a cold, unforgiving whisper. "You’re not fit to be a mother. You're not fit to be anything at all."

The words hung in the air between them like a final, irreversible judgment. May’s breath caught in her throat, but she didn’t let him see the full extent of the pain his words caused. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze with the same defiance she had shown from the beginning.

"I won’t let you break me, Bartholomew," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "No matter what you say, no matter what you do— I’m not going to let you destroy what little is left of me. I won’t be molded into the perfect wife or the perfect mother that you and this cursed family demand. I won’t sacrifice who I am just to fit into your narrow world."

"And what kind of world do you think you belong to, May?" Bartholomew’s voice was cutting, a sneer playing on his lips. "The world of addicts and failures? Because that’s where you’re heading."

She met his gaze. "Maybe I am. Maybe that’s the only place I can find any semblance of freedom in this prison you’ve built around me. But I will not let you, or anyone else, dictate my life any longer."

Bartholomew looked at her with a mixture of disgust and disappointment, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "You are a disappointment, May. To this family, to our children, and to yourself."

May bit her lip, the sting of his words cutting deep. But she didn’t let him see her falter. "I may be all of those things, Bartholomew, but I am still me. And that’s something you will never control, no matter how hard you try."

Bartholomew's expression darkened further, a storm gathering in his eyes as he took a slow, deliberate step closer. The distance between them was mere inches now, the tension between them palpable. "You’re right, May," he said, his voice low and cold, "I can’t control you. But I control everything else in this household."

May’s heart pounded in her chest, but she stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. "Our children need more than just your control and your suffocating expectations, Bartholomew. They need love, warmth—something you clearly know nothing about."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes—was it regret? Anger? Pain? But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the hard, cold resolve that had defined him for so many years. "This is your final chance," he said, his voice as unyielding as iron. "Go to rehab. Get clean. Do your duty as a mother. Or you’re out—cut off from this family, from everything. And you’ll never see Percival or *redacted* again."

May felt a chill run through her at his words. She hesitated, her thoughts racing. She could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her—the lives of her children, the life she would leave behind. But then she thought of the endless days trapped in this house, the crushing expectations, the life she had never wanted. The prospect of being free, of finally escaping this gilded cage was too tempting. It called to her like a siren’s song, promising relief from the suffocating weight of her existence here.

She took a deep breath, feeling the resolve harden in her chest. "You think you can scare me into submission, Bartholomew, but you’ve already lost me," she said, her voice steady and strong. "I won’t be your prisoner anymore."

Bartholomew’s eyes narrowed, a mixture of fury and disbelief flashing across his face. "You’re choosing to abandon your children? Your family? For what—your so-called freedom?"

May’s heart ached at the mention of her children, but she forced herself to remain resolute. "I’m choosing to finally live my life on my own terms. I’m choosing to be free from you, from this life that’s been nothing but a nightmare for me. And maybe one day, when they’re old enough, Percival and *redacted* will understand why I had to leave."

Bartholomew’s face twisted in disgust. "You’re a disgrace, May. A disgrace to this family, to your children. I won’t allow you to poison them with your weakness and your failures."

"You don’t have to worry about that anymore," May replied, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I’ll be gone before the sun rises."

Bartholomew straightened, his expression hardening into the cold, emotionless mask he had perfected over the years. "So be it. You leave this house tonight, and you never return. You no longer part of this family."

May nodded, a strange sense of calm washing over her despite the gravity of the situation. She had made her choice, and there was no turning back now. "Goodbye, Bartholomew."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing through the silent halls of the grand estate. She didn’t look back, didn’t allow herself to feel the weight of the decision she had just made. All she could think about was the freedom that awaited her—the freedom to finally live her life on her own terms, no matter the cost.

[lostxndbroken]

FULL NAME: Dean Winchester NICKNAME/ALIASES: Deano, Deej, Squirrel FACE-CLAIM: Jensen Ackles GENDER: Male AGE: In his 30’s (depends on the storyline as well) BIRTHDATE: 24th of January ZODIAC: Aquarius RACE: Human MORALS: Depends on the thread, mostly Chaotic Good SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English

HEIGHT: 5 feet 10 WEIGHT: 186 lbs BODY TYPE: Fit SKIN TONE: Light skin tone POSTURE: Depends on the situation. Resilient, readiness, capable. EYE COLOR: Green HAIR COLOR: Dark brown BIRTHMARKS: - TATTOOS: Anti-possession tattoo on the upper left part of his chest PIERCINGS: None SCARS: He has plenty of scars

LIKES: Classic rock music. Cars, especially his black 1967 Chevrolet Impala who he refers to as 'Baby' and once belonged to his father. Junk food, and food in general. Hunting the supernatural. Weapons, firearms. Pop culture. Beer and stronger stuff. Classic horror movies. Cowboy movies. Impersonating and pulling pranks. Protecting his family and those he care about. DISLIKES: Demons. Angels (most of them anyway). Losing loved ones, he wears a lot of emotional scars of the losses he endured through his life. Being vulnerable, he doesn't like to show weakness or emotional fragility, he prefers to maintain a tough exterior. Being controlled and manipulated, especially by supernatural entities or powerful beings. Breaking promises and betraying the trust of those close to him. Reckless behavior, even when he is reckless and impulsive at times, he doesn't like it when others put themselves in unnecessary dangers. Being idle and waiting. Letting others down. Losing control. HOBBIES: Working on his car, or cars in general. Listening to music. Watching movies and shows, and sometimes porn... Playing pool. Cooking, even if his meals are not much different than the fast food he gets outside of the kitchen. Reading lore and research. Playing guitar. Exploring local bars and diners. Hunting and fishing. Metalworks. Fixing and modifying. Collecting weapons. HABITS: Eating junk food. Quoting movies and tv shows. Tinkering with gadgets. Protecting his impala. Maintaining weapons. Keeping personal items. Being protective of family and friends. Using humor as coping mechanism. Being resourceful and adaptable. Drinking alcohol. Sleeping with a weapon nearby. Making sacrifices for family and friends. Seeking justice, even if it costs him his morality at times. MOTIVATION: Family legacy. Protecting others. Personal experience. Sense of justice. Identity and purpose. Responsibility. Overall, Dean's motivations for hunting the supernatural are deeply ingrained in his upbringing, personal experiences, and sense of duty to protect others. DISCOURAGEMENT: Loss and grief. Failure and setbacks. Betrayal and loss of trust. Moral dilemmas. Personal demons and guilt. Lack of control. Existential threats. Recurring trauma. Facing mortality. Struggles with self-worth. Burdens of leadership. CONFIDENT LEVEL: Dean exhibits a high level of confidence in his abilities as a hunter and protector, but this confidence can be tempered by moments of self-doubt and insecurity. GREATEST FEAR/PHOBIA: Loss of family. Abandonment and isolation. Failure to protect others. Facing personal demons. Unforeseen consequences of his actions. Losing control. Death and mortality.

PARENTS: John Winchester / Mary Campbell-Winchester SIBLINGS: Samuel Winchester, Adam Milligan (half-brother) OTHER RELATIVES: Samuel Campbell (grandfather) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: John was harsh on his sons and even more on Dean for being the firstborn. From a young age he took Dean along with his revenge plan to kill the demon that took his wife. It formed Dean's own motivations and sense of purpose as a hunter. Mary was a loving mother who quit hunting for her family but tragedy drew her to make a decision that cost her her life. When she was returned to earth by Amara, she was a mother to her boys again, with struggles. Trying to find herself in the new year, new technology.

OCCUPATION: A hunter CLOSE FRIENDS: Sam, Bobby , Castiel, Charlie, Jody, Donna, Eileen, Jack, Kevin and even Crowley and Rowena at some point. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Pan-Sexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Pan-Romantic PREFERRED EMOTIONAL/SEXUAL ROLE: It depends on his partner really. He does like beefy, big muscle guys, so preferable bottom, but he'd top for the right guy as well. TURN ON’S: He likes dirty talk, but not degrading. A bit of roughness. Teasing and playfulness. In a sexual matter, being controlled is a turn on but he wouldn't admit it. TURN OFF’S: Humiliation and degrading. Deep talk during play. LOVE LANGUAGE: Dean Winchester's love language in romantic relationships is a combination of physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and occasional gift-giving, reflecting his deep commitment, affection, and desire for connection with his partner. RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES: -

STRENGTHS: Combat skills. Tactical thinking. Lore knowledge. Emotional resilience. Protective instincts. Resourcefulness. Charisma and leadership. Determination. Versatility. Mechanical aptitude. Survival Skills. Quick thinking. Sense of humor. Empathy and compassion. Respect for tradition. WEAKNESSES: Emotional guardedness. Self-doubt. Guilt and regret. Stubbornness. Tendency to self-sacrifice. Impulsiveness. Difficulty trusting others. Sense of responsibility. Trauma and PSTD. Struggles with self-worth. Addiction, particularly to alcohol. Difficulty processing loss, he often carries the weight of grief and unresolved trauma. Codependency, Dean has a tendency to become emotionally dependent on his relationship with others, particularly family and romantic partners. Communication issues, especially in a healthy way, he avoids difficult conversations of deflect with humor. Difficulty asking for help. Fear of abandonment. PHYSICAL HEALTH: Great, even with the amount of junk and alcohol he consumes. MENTAL HEALTH: Very poor due to; PTSD, guilt and self-blame, depression and anxiety, emotional guardedness, his way of coping with trauma and loss often leading to self-destructive behavior.

Dean Winchester is a fiercely loyal and protective hunter with a quick wit and a strong sense of duty. He is brave, resourceful, and deeply committed to his family and friends, often putting their needs above his own. Despite his tough exterior, Dean carries deep emotional scars from his traumatic past, including feelings of guilt and self-doubt. He masks his vulnerability with humor and sarcasm but possesses a compassionate heart and an unwavering determination to fight against supernatural evil.

[poisonheart]

It’s been several days since I finished FFXVI and I gave myself time to process those emotions, but I still don’t like the ending. The more I watch people play through that conclusion, the clearer my reasons become. To me, Clive was never free.

He was his mother's disappointment (and treated like a bastard just because he failed to "awaken"), his brother's shield (I loved their bond but it was still a big responsibility for a child), a slave assassin to a foreign kingdom, Cid's replacement, the person people placed their faith on in the absence of a savior while being wanted/hunted as a vessel by a selfish god who only cared about self-preservation.

In the end, after having so much taken from him and giving so much of himself, he had to lose everything to birth a new, better world.

And I get it. Intellectually, I understand and can even see the "beauty" in the tragedy of it all. I know what had to be done and I know he was always that kind of guy—willing to give himself up for a better cause.

Emotionally, I disliked it. I always do. In the end, he didn't escape the whole "being Child of Fate" thing.

Joshua shouldn't have died.

Dion shouldn't have died.

Clive shouldn't have felt like he needed to die to bring happiness to everyone but himself.

I know it's implied he survived despite seemingly calcifying at the end. He was given a quill and suggested to abandon the sword for that quill—to become a writer when it was all over. And you see a book after the credits written by "Joshua Rosfield."

Again, taking up someone else's name, having their legacy live on. I get it was a cute, meaningful gesture—if it was Clive who wrote it because Joshua didn't survive, but he could never just be "Clive." He was always someone else, something else. Not just Clive. I wanted him to live as Clive Rosfield.

I know the ending was ambiguous to leave the door open for DLC's. I mean, Clive "healed" Joshua after consuming the powers of god with all the creation magic that came with it. We can assume, if we want, that Joshua does make it too. Maybe he's the one who becomes the writer because Clive was too busy being a farmer or something.

Maybe Dion survived too.

Maybe when Clive "healed" and "birthed" this new world, or whatever actually happened there, those people in the vicinity were restored.

[And maybe none of them lived and DLCs are about the past of the characters in those 13 years after the intro... or they'll give Jill a little Clive baby who is also tasked with living up to his father's legacy...]

Don't get me started on how Dion deserved better. Especially if you do the quests before the finale—that shit hurts. Clive was given time and a support system to overcome his guilt over "killing Joshua" but Dion never had that. He was only allowed to find absolution in death. He should have lived a long life—repairing his kingdom, raising that little girl who saved his life with his boyfriend, and being happy.

Maybe on the other side we didn't see, in some DLC, they did live happily ever after.

But it wouldn't change how punishing the finale felt.

Jill said Clive always wanted to save everyone, but never thought to save himself, and even at the very end he didn’t.

He could never rid himself of his fate as some divine plot device. 

I get that it is heroic and noble to give up oneself for those you love and the world they'll be left in. That undoing the horrible suffering we saw was indeed an act of love, but I personally dislike this trope.

It's a personal bias of mine when a hero needs to die to achieve a greater good, leaving behind people who want them to live because they too deserve a slice of the happiness pie.

Clive spent his life juggling duty, guilt, promises, dreams while being stalked by a god hell-bent on destroying his life to break down his will and take over his body (Ultima, you had tits too, so why?) and yet he was still chained to his fate of becoming a sacrificial lamb.

The only difference was the outcome.

One option ensured everyone/the world perished.

The other option ensured the everyone/the world didn't perish.

He just couldn't escape being bitch slapped no matter what.

I know that it's poetic to show how different he is from Ultima who didn't care about anyone, hijacked a planet because his was dead, and created people for the sole purpose of saving himself through them someday.

Clive had to be the opposite.

Had to be willing to die for a better world.

Prove to Ultima who was floating in the lifestream that selfless love was better than self-love.

I get it. I get the themes, but I don't have to enjoy them.

This was also my problem in FFXIV with the Warrior of Light's ties to a past that chased them all the way to their reincarnation(s), but that's another story.

I felt the story punished Clive for existing.

I didn't feel liberated by the ending.

The vagueness of it didn't satisfy me.

He had a miserable fate from beginning to end.

Even if Clive is alive, happy, and free in some future DLC chapter, that hint of disappointment will stay with me. Because they said the ending was meant to stand on its own.

I know that a story isn't good because it has a happy ending, but I can't think of a cast of characters who deserved a sappy end more than this one, especially a protagonist who was seemingly born under the worst possible star (fate).

I didn't want the conclusion to be left up to interpretation.

Overall, I still liked the journey, I enjoyed playing it, loved the cast, and especially enjoyed the combat—which I wasn't expecting—but I can understand why so many people turned to fanfics.

It's the only way to cope now.

[rookiestreams]

Oppenheimer

By- Rookiestreams

Title: The Oppenheimer Paradox

In the heart of Los Alamos, New Mexico, during the tumultuous years of World War II, a brilliant physicist named J. Robert Oppenheimer finds himself at the center of an enigmatic moral dilemma. This is the story of his journey through the complexities of science, morality, and the consequences of his own creations.

The film begins with Oppenheimer, a gifted but tormented scientist, grappling with the weight of his intellect and the ethical implications of his work. As the world plunges into war, Oppenheimer is approached by the U.S. government to lead the Manhattan Project, a top-secret mission to develop the atomic bomb.

Initially hesitant, Oppenheimer is driven by a sense of duty to his country and a desire to end the war. However, as he delves deeper into the project, he becomes increasingly troubled by the destructive power of the bomb and the potential consequences of its use.

Oppenheimer's internal struggle is mirrored by tensions within the scientific community. His colleagues, including Enrico Fermi and Leo Szilard, grapple with their own moral dilemmas, torn between the pursuit of knowledge and the fear of unleashing unimaginable destruction.

As the project progresses, Oppenheimer becomes haunted by the specter of the bomb and the implications of his actions. He begins to question the morality of his work and the motives of those around him. His relationship with his fiancée, Kitty, suffers as he becomes consumed by guilt and doubt.

Amidst this turmoil, Oppenheimer finds solace in the company of a young physicist named Richard Feynman, whose irreverent spirit and unorthodox approach to science provide a welcome distraction from the weight of their responsibilities.

But as the project nears completion, Oppenheimer is forced to confront the consequences of his actions head-on. In a series of tense and emotionally charged scenes, he grapples with the decision to use the bomb, knowing full well the devastation it will unleash.

In the end, Oppenheimer is faced with a choice: to proceed with the mission and unleash hell on Earth, or to defy his government and risk everything to prevent the bomb from being used. In a moment of agonizing clarity, he realizes that there are no easy answers, only difficult choices and uncertain consequences.

In a dramatic climax, Oppenheimer confronts his superiors and pleads for restraint, arguing passionately against the use of the bomb. But his pleas fall on deaf ears, and in the end, he is powerless to stop the inevitable.

The film concludes with Oppenheimer grappling with the aftermath of the bomb, haunted by the lives lost and the devastation wrought by his creation. In a poignant final scene, he reflects on the paradox of science: the power to create and destroy, to build a better world or to bring about its destruction.

As the credits roll, viewers are left to ponder the legacy of Oppenheimer and the moral implications of his actions. The Oppenheimer Paradox is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of science, morality, and the human condition, reminding us of the profound responsibility that comes with knowledge and power.

[theaibooks]

tittle: ENDERS GAME by Orson Scott card

In the distant future, humanity is facing an existential threat from an alien race known as the Formics. In order to prepare for the coming invasion, the International Fleet has been scouring the globe for young children with exceptional intelligence and strategic ability to train as soldiers.

Enter Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a brilliant and emotionally complex child who is selected to join the prestigious Battle School at the tender age of six. Ender is immediately thrust into a cutthroat environment where he is constantly challenged and pushed to his limits by his instructors and fellow students.

Despite the brutal competition, Ender quickly proves himself to be a natural leader, able to think several steps ahead of his opponents and anticipate their moves. He also forms close bonds with a small group of fellow students, including Petra and Bean, who become his closest allies and confidants.

As Ender progresses through his training, he is put through a series of increasingly difficult simulations and battles, each designed to test his abilities and prepare him for the eventual confrontation with the Formics. He is constantly pushed to the brink of exhaustion and emotional collapse, but he perseveres, driven by a deep sense of duty and responsibility to protect humanity.

However, things take a dark turn when Ender discovers that the final simulation he has been preparing for is not a simulation at all, but a real battle against the Formics. Despite his initial reluctance, Ender ultimately leads his fleet to victory, destroying the entire Formic race and unknowingly becoming the greatest military hero in human history.

But the victory comes at a steep cost. Ender is devastated by the realization that he has committed genocide and becomes haunted by the memories of the Formic Queen, a sentient being who communicates with him telepathically and reveals the true nature of the war. Ender's guilt and self-loathing lead him to retreat from society and become a recluse, haunted by nightmares and plagued by the fear that he is a monster.

Years pass, and Ender is eventually contacted by an alien race known as the "Hive Queen." The Queen tells Ender that she has saved the last surviving Formic larva and needs his help to find a new home for them. Ender agrees to help, and he embarks on a journey through space with the Queen and her followers.

As they travel, Ender learns that the Hive Queen has been manipulating him all along, using his empathy and compassion to further her own goals. Ender becomes increasingly conflicted, torn between his loyalty to humanity and his growing sympathy for the Formics.

Eventually, Ender discovers a new world that is perfect for the Formics, but he also learns that humanity has been tracking him and plans to destroy the Formics once and for all. Ender realizes that the only way to save the Formics is to sacrifice himself, using a powerful weapon to destroy the human fleet and ensure the survival of the last Formic.

In the end, Ender dies a hero, sacrificing himself for the very creatures he once destroyed. The book ends with a sense of bittersweet redemption, as Ender's legacy lives on as both a tragic figure and a savior of humanity and the Formic race.

[ohifonlyx33]

Sorry, I'm just thinking about how Agents of SHIELD set up the themes within their characters and gave them such rich characterization (even if they never had enough time to show us the long conversations and therapy sessions). Like overall, you just KNOW who that character is.

And the finale stayed true to that. And in a sense gave those core struggles some closure.

Coulson is an agent of mystery, and yet a seemingly average guy. He never was able to have a normal life, but he was given a family, particularly a daughter and a wife (Daisy and May). The show started with #CoulsonLives and, he died peacefully with the woman he loved. Only his memories and legacy still lives on in the form of an LMD. In a sense, he is both dead and alive.

With May you have a woman who wanted nothing more than to be a mother, but who was living in the guilt of having harmed a child on a mission. Here is a traumatized agent, who only comes out of inactive duty to help Coulson. To protect him. But she becomes a mother to Daisy, and later Robin and Flint. She takes care of the whole team. And when her duty is done, she can rest again. This time, content and absolved. Not hiding, but truly retired from active duty because she completed her mission.

With Daisy you have Belonging & Becoming. She never had a family. She didn't know her self-identity. She believed she was a weapon and a curse, but people showed her that they cared for her. The team became her family. She found a family, and she knew who she was even without them... so that in the end she was able to go off and start a new family as children must do.

Then there's Jemma, a sweet and brilliant and curious young mind turned toward helping others and trying to study them. Jemma always had problems processing and expressing her emotions which resulted in repression, internalized responsibility (which turns to guilt), compartmentalization, hyper-vigilance, and over-rationalization of everything. She went through so many traumas and had to learn how to not only have courage and be resilient but how to have compassion, how to let herself be vulnerable, how to let go of guilt, how to be open. In the last season she starts losing her memories, but they come flooding back to the surface along with all those emotions--love and pain and motherhood and family and all her grief and joy is no longer repressed.

And here with Fitz... his story deals primarily with his identity as a genius boy, but it becomes a story about free will and choosing goodness and not letting yourself be programmed by the mistakes you make or the people who hurt you... and in the end he doesn't find his peace and self-worth in being a heroic agent, but in being a loving husband and father. His story is about self-image and forgiveness and staying kind. And he becomes the kind of father Alya deserves. A father who stays, a husband who lives, a man who has made himself a sacrifice so many times at last gets a reward.

You have Mack, the gentle giant, the team mechanic, who is really a simple guy. He starts off hating violence, but he also realizes he has to fight sometimes, in order to protect people. Losing his daughter when he was younger made him a more cautious individual. Finally he used his grief and his own faith in God to bring Hope to others. He became a leader in his own right, learning not to be paralyzed by indecision or fear.

And Elena, she never slowed down or looked back or questioned herself because she couldn't let herself. But she always ended up back where she started, getting nowhere. She learned she needs to wait for others, take time for herself to be still, and think through her actions. She almost lost her faith because she was running from God and her inner self, but in the end, she slowed down, remembered the beautiful power of grace, and started truly running the race.

[mask-of-prime]

TLK: Rulers of Pride Rock

So for the longest time I've been thinking about making a line of succession list of the Pridelands' monarchs because I was inspired by looking through some royal family trees. Also, I wanted to make some siblings for the past Lion Guard leaders I introduced a few months ago. So as a 27 Year Anniversary thing for the first movie's release, I finally got this done (took days to think of designs and repeatedly lose/regain motivation and reason to make this lol). I tried modeling a few of them after the way some civilians and monarchs dressed in old times, such as Early Middle Ages (Watoto), Late Middle ages (Akili) Elizabethan (Kusita), and kind of a pirate vibe (Nahodha).

Massive character breakdown below:

Mfalme (”king”, “royal”) was the 1st Ruler of the Pridelands. Husband to Malkia and father of Warithi and Askari, as well as other older half-sisters with other lionesses before betrothal was established. Mfalme was only the king of his pride during his reign, first establishing a sovereign title of monarch to solidify his leadership. He also established the tradition of betrothal to keep the royal line linear and therefore pure, as well as carefully chosen by destiny. He is also the only king before Pride Rock was formed and before the Pridelands territory had been expanded and bordered. Mfalme died of old age.

Warithi (”heirs”) was the 2nd Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Mfalme, brother of Askari, and father of Watoto and Wajibu. Before the firstborn inheritance of the throne had been established, Warithi defeated his brother Askari in a spar to determine who would succeed their father. Warithi was caught in a takeover of the Pridelands when a pride of evil lions invaded the land. The evil lions stripped him of his power until Askari returned with the newly-discovered Roar, ultimately defeating the evil lions and returning Warithi to power. He is the first king to have a Lion Guard and was the first to rule Pride Rock after Askari created it with his Roar. Warithi died from an unspecified illness as he neared old age.

Watoto (”cubs”) was the 3rd Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Warithi, brother to Wajibu, and father of Akili, Mkali, and many other children. Watoto was a rather jolly and jovial king in contrast to his stern and stoic younger brother Wajibu. Coincidentally with the meaning of his name, Watoto had the most cubs of all the monarchs aside from Mfalme (who had many mates before betrothal while Watoto was fully monogamous), having six sons and one daughter. All of his sons from second to last born became members of Mkali’s Guard. Watoto was accidentally killed in the middle of a Lion Guard mission when unexpected enemies ambushed them.

Akili (”mind”, “intellect”) was the 4th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Watoto, brother to Mkali and many other siblings, and father of Kusita and Taka. Akili was a brave warrior who had defended his kingdom from various sieges and battled many wars. Akili seemed indestructible given his great size and valor, until he met his downfall with a swift bite on the heel from a rogue lion. (Akili... heel.... see what I did there lol)

Kusita (”hesitant”, “reluctant”) was the 5th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Akili, brother of Taka, and father of Nahodha, Nkosi (sons), and Nzima (daughter). Kusita was a patient listener to all perspectives, but not a great immediate decision-maker. His way of ruling was often split between his brother’s conservative ways and his youngest son’s progressive ways. He only wanted what was best for his family and feared upsetting his peers. He would let his pride debate until he would make a final, balanced ruling that would satisfy all parties. He died from complications of an unspecified, degenerative disease that he was predisposed to as he was born rather meek.

Nahodha (”captain”) was the 6th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Kusita, brother of Nkosi and Nzima, and father of Kivuli and Kijani. Nahodha was hasty and hotheaded, catching himself in a territorial dispute over the Pridelands’ borders due to his competitive nature. When a troop of baboons grew in numbers, their king tried to claim much of the Pridelands as his. Nahodha not only won back the territory, but was overcome by greed, insisting he took more than his share of land. His younger brother Nkosi persuaded him that he was way over his head and was making poor decisions out of anger, and Nahodha drew back on his land siege after powering through his stubbornness. Though the Pridelands had expanded and herd landmarks remain part of it to this day, the royal pride no longer oversees these lands and lets the herds live naturally on their own with their own leaders. Nahodha died trying to protect Nkosi after the baboons tried to get revenge, ending his strained relationship with his younger brother.

Kivuli (”shadow”) was the 7th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Nahodha, brother to Kijani, and father to Mohatu as well as three other children. Kivuli was a strong, stern, and feared king. Though the firstborn, he was known to be even fiercer than that of his meek, flighty brother Kivuli, who’d led the Lion Guard during his reign, which made Pridelanders question of the Great Kings even knew what they were doing in making Kivuli King and Kijani Guard Leader. He met his end when there had been an outbreak of a rabies-like disease. In a fit of maddened distemper, he had killed all of his cubs except Mohatu before succumbing to a final seizure.

Mohatu (”was loved”) was the 8th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Kivuli. husband of Almasi, and father of Uru and Moyo. Plagued with loneliness all his life due to his father’s early passing, untimely demise of his siblings as a cub, and disease outbreak taking away half of his pride growing up, Mohatu was an excellent speaker and negotiator despite it all, even getting the Pridelanders of all kinds to work together to find a water source during one of the Pridelands’ worst droughts. Mohatu did not have a Lion Guard until his secondborn son, Moyo, came of age. Mohatu died from complications of pneumonia and old age. He is said to have become the Brightest Star in the Sky.

Uru (”diamond”) was the 9th Ruler of the Pridelands and was the Pridelands’ first Queen. She was the daughter of Mohatu, sister of Moyo, wife of Ahadi, and mother to Mufasa and Scar (formerly known as Askari II). She took her duties very seriously as she had a graceful, levelheaded demeanor that would silence any Pridelander. Shenzi’s Clan was first banished during her reign, after her husband Ahadi had caught them hunting the herds for sport. During that time, she was away looking for a water source for the Pridelanders, as her father once did. Uru had been the more serious and confident parent of her two boys, always getting them to stop bickering when Ahadi couldn’t. Uru was very intelligent, which meant it took a lot of manipulation from her youngest son to get his way. The spoiling of her youngest son combined with Ahadi’s passive parenting/discipline indirectly caused him to follow an entitled path that had steadily worsened over time. Uru died from the same illness that took her father.

Mufasa (”king”) was the 10th Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Uru, brother of Scar, and father to Simba. Mufasa wasn’t always the big, brave lion he is known for nowadays, he once started off skittish and shy. When he grew older, he compensated for his former cowardice with a harsh temper and brute strength. As an older sibling of an entitled younger brother who would use his temperamental reputation as an advantage to get him in trouble, he’d often get the brunt of blame and responsibility and was unfairly admonished by his mother at times. This strained relationship between him and his mother/brother led him to be closer to his father Ahadi. Mufasa found balance within himself, toning his aggressive nature down after marrying Sarabi and having Simba. He was overthrown by being mercilessly killed in a stampede by Scar once his jealously and psychopathy was at its peak.

Askari II (”soldier”, “warrior”), mostly known as Scar, was the 11th Ruler of the Pridelands by coup d'état and being next in line after Mufasa and Simba. Son of Uru, brother of Mufasa, and uncle of Simba. Askari II grew up spoiled as he would get away with things due to his intellect and manipulation abilities. Prideful of his intelligence, Askari II wanted everything his older brother Mufasa had as he thought he would be better because he was smart, so much so that he thought leading the Guard wasn’t good enough. After being bitten over the eye by a cobra and earning the nickname “Scar” by Mufasa, his envy of Mufasa accelerated so greatly that he’d risked his position as Leader of the Guard trying to get his Guard to overthrow his brother, formed an alliance with the banished hyenas, and ultimately killed his brother in a stampede. Scar would then let the Pridelands into ruin when Shenzi’s Clan still practiced overhunting. Scar stewed in envy of Mufasa’s position of king so much and claiming that he would be better and smarter than him that he didn’t even bother trying to properly rule, as he’d always been a lousy leader and refused to let his predecessors teach him; he ignored pleas and suggestions from his subjects, started conspiracies with loyal followers of his, and succumbed to madness and paranoia brought on by a twinge of worsening guilt of killing Mufasa. Scar met his end when he was mauled alive by the hyenas after he threw them under the bus trying to save his own skin from Simba. Scar’s legacy is survived by an orphaned protégée who he’d left in the care of his most loyal follower and somewhat de facto queen, Zira.

Simba (”lion”) is the 12th and current Ruler of the Pridelands. Son of Mufasa, nephew of Scar, and father to Kiara and Kion. Growing up mischievous, impatient, and a tad bit spoiled as a cub, Simba’s carefree innocence was taken from him as he watched his father Mufasa fall to his death, had Scar tell him lies that would live with him for the rest of his life (Scar thought what he said wouldn’t matter because Simba would just die anyway), and was threatened with death from the hyenas all in one day, causing him to develop PTSD that would carry on for life, no matter how carefree his outcast friends Timon and Pumbaa taught him to be. Simba believed in Scar’s lies all the years he was exiled, believing Mufasa’s death was his fault and that everyone would be mad at him if they saw his face again, even if it was all an accident. Simba came home not only to learn that no one would’ve been mad at him as he’d only been a cub when Mufasa’s death happened, but he’d also learned that Scar had truly done it, and on purpose, and Simba, along with everyone else, had been furious with him instead. After defeating Scar, Simba was a nervous and cautious ruler, much different to the way he’d expected to rule as a cub. He would ironically go on to face many threats and disputes during his rule, and as numb as he seemed to it, it was not good for his mental health, and his selflessness due to his warped perception of self-worth would leave him to often run himself ragged. Kiara ("light") will be the 13th Ruler of the Pridelands in the future. Daughter of Simba and sister of Kion. A curious, adventurous, and rather spunky cub, Simba saw himself in his eldest cub Kiara, and did not want her to go through the same things he did growing up. He would not let her depart without an escort like his friends, Kion and his Guard, Nala, or himself. Because of this, Kiara felt sheltered and unconfident in her abilities. Kiara struggles with a bit of Impostor Syndrome as she feels her accomplishments and differing facades she uses for differing peers are disconnected from her true being, and fears she won't live up to everyone's expectations despite not wanting anything expected of her. Kiara's poor perception of her position as future queen is stemmed from her very opposite experience in royal lessons from her father's; Simba was once excited to be king when he saw how cool and easy Mufasa made it look, but Kiara witnessed a traumatized father who made being a monarch look like a lonely burden because of how much he saddened himself uttering words to her that his father once told him. Kiara went through phases growing up; Uncertain as a child, accepting and enthusiastic as a preteen, and back to uncertain as an adult, but with an added hunger for justice and peace. Kiara's awareness and observation of her parents' mental health and past allowed her to grow mentally strong and open-minded, aware that all individuals are complex and are not at all black-and-white. This openmindedness allowed Kiara, along with Kovu, to call for peace between the Pridelanders and Outsiders. Though she's open and sweet most of the time; she will not hesitate to fight back if someone actively harms her or her loved ones after refusing to accept the idea of peace. Her strong mind and empathy will likely make her a kind and just queen.

[aidensm8]

Random vampire AU ramble just cause it was too tempting

Setting:

All the light sides are vampires, the dark sides are hunters

Patton is head of his own vampire manor

Remus and Roman were born human twins (still a prince and a duke)

Janus is a shapeshifter who became a hunter to protect his friend from a demon that friend made a deal with

Logan is the average working human

Virgil is also a normal human who wanted to make a legacy and so he ran away and became a hunter

__

Storyline:

Patton’s is a pureblooded vampire who owns his own manor, he has gargoyles and other newer vampires to serve him

Logan is a regular human who was stressed about work, he one day runs into the dark woods in a fit of anger when his boss and coworkers piss him off

Logan cools down but then realizes he’s lost

A creature finds Logan, severely injuring him

Patton is out on a hunt when he stumbles into Logan. He feels pity and asks Logan if he can try to save him

Logan says “I doubt there’s anything you can do to save me but yes…” while hoping the stranger meant giving him a merciful death

Logan is surprised when he awakens in a fancy room, his wounds seemingly gone. He feels a huge wave of relief that he’s alive but is now anxious of what to do when he goes back home. He’s panicking but tries to calm down to figure out his situation

Studying his surroundings, he notices that the room has no mirrors

His thoughts are interrupted when one of Patton’s “servants” come to check on him. They give him spare clothes and tell Logan that they’ll inform the master that he’s awake

When Patton enters the room, Logan’s worries are calmed. He recognizes Patton as the stranger who saved him and asks him what he did

Patton apologizes profusely and tells Logan that he is a vampire now

Logan is shocked but now trying to figure what to do, how his job would react

Patton offers to let Logan stay with him, to be his advisor or keeper of the archives

Logan takes a moment to think, he has no friends nor attachments to his human life. He has a chance to feel happy, but knows the feeling of guilt from “running away” from his duties will haunt him

Patton reads his emotions, sensing the guilt, and assures Logan that he’s free to start over, to choose what’s best

Patton gets up to leave since he has duties to attend to, but will return to check on Logan later

As time goes on, Logan is feeling settled in his new role in the manor, doing an excellent job at maintaining the archives

Patton regularly checks on Logan to see how he’s doing until one checkup, Logan asks why Patton cares so much about him, why he saved him

Patton’s response brings Logan to tears. Patton holds Logan close, giving him words of assurance and love, and at that moment, Logan silently vows to himself that he will protect Patton with the 2nd chance of life he has given him

—

Moving on to the twins’ side of the story, Roman and Remus are still prince and duke

Roman is crowned prince but recently, discourse has happened and their father, King Creativity, had made some mistakes to warrant the people wanting the royalty removed

The king makes the mistake of pissing off a vampire, who vows revenge against King

King is immediately worried and gets more security on himself

He made the mistake of letting the twins wander alone in the back gardens, where the vampire attacks them

Remus was the intended target since he was the dark duke, seeming to be a perfect addition to the vampires

But Roman draws his silver sword and intervenes

In a moment of spite, the vampire takes Roman with him to the woods, dropping his sword

Remus chases after them, now wielding the sword, and when he finds the vampire leaning over the unconcious form of his brother

Remus fights off the vampire. As they leave, they mockingly laugh at Remus, asking him “Who will take the throne now? Surely, they wouldn’t want a bloodsucker on it”

Remus looks over Roman, realizing that he had changed

Roman wakes up, and now they’re both worried on what to do next. Either way, this was a loss for their lineage

Patton was on his own hunt when he runs into the twins

Noting Remus’s sword, he asks from a distance what was wrong

Patton felt a wave of protectiveness on him, seeing a vampire so close to a weapon that could harm them

Remus is poised to defend Roman, asking Patton what he wants

Patton tries to calm him down to let him know that he just wants to help and explains to them that from what he sees, Roman was a vampire

Roman is panicked at this, but Patton offers to take in the prince

Remus tries to stop this, but Patton argues that Roman needs someone to help him figure out this new life

Roman is also hesitant, but knows that only tragedy awaits them if they return home. He asks “what about my brother?”

Remus withdraws, realizing Patton is right, but knows he can’t return home either so Remus decides that he’s going to pursue being a vampire hunter to protect his brother from other vampires and hunters

Roman is worried about this but Remus assures him that he’ll find a way, as he always does

Patton takes Roman home with him, and Remus takes his leave to begin a new journey of hunting evils, he will be the evil they fear

__

Years pass, and Patton is very protective of Roman as he is like a son to him

Logan also views Roman as a son, and is protective of him, but is more protective of Patton

Remus meets Janus during one of his missions, and they quickly became hunting buddies

Remus figured Janus wasn’t human, and Janus admits

Janus suspects Remus isn’t just a messy hobo, as he noticed that Remus had some grace in his gestures and way of speaking, seeming like he is very much educated though his usual manner of speaking seems like the opposite

Virgil and Janus were old friends

Virgil finds that Remus does have features that seem very much royal, but brushes it off since Remus acted so weird

Virgil doesn’t agree with Remus’s messy methods, but stays nice for Janus’s sake

Virgil wanted to be bold, and so he tries to go on a mission alone

Virgil meets Roman, and is entranced by the vampiric prince

He realizes how much he looked like Remus

He can’t find it in him to attack Roman, and Roman, smelling Remus’s scent on Virgil, cautiously asks him who he is, using his vampiric power of persuasion

Virgil tells him that he’s a hunter who wants to make a legacy for himself

Roman tells him that not all legacies end welp (such as his and Remus’s), and leaves

Virgil takes in Roman’s words, realizing he had a point. He decides to try to find Roman again just so he can talk to him, but for now, he returns to the inn where he meets up with Janus and Remus

He tells him about meeting a vampire and wanting to deal with it alone

Remus wants to come, but Virgil insists not to

Janus convinces Remus to just let Virgil do as he wants, and they leave

After a while, Virgil finally finds Patton’s manor

The servants are alert and attack him until Roman pops in, seeing Virgil, and asks them to let Virgil be

He asks Virgil to leave, but Virgil doesn’t want to lose Roman again

“You can’t lose what you never had”

Virgil looks defeated, but Roman gives him a forhead kiss, “but perhaps one day, we’ll have each other”

Virgil blushes, but is now outside. He leaves, but he finds Roman waiting for him where they first met, and they start slow with small conversations which escalate to “May I hold your hand?” then to “May I kiss you?”

Virgil realizes maybe he doesn’t want to be a hunter anymore. He tells Janus about his thoughts of wanting to settle down, which Janus finds suspicious

So when Virgil meets with Roman, he says he has a surprise for later, giving Roman a quick kiss before leaving

Roman is confused but watches as Virgil heads to the direction of the manor

He is about to follow him but Janus pins him down by surprise, thinking Roman may be a shapeshifter since he looked just like Remus but cleaner

Janus tells Remus to help him but when Remus recognizes who Janus is holding, he attacks Janus to get him off his brother

“Remus, what the fuck, that shifter is using your face”

Remus stands protectively in front of Roman

Remus explains that the vampire was his brother and the reason why he became a hunter

Janus is shocked at this, but calms down as he realizes that this may be a revelation for Remus’s background and motives

Roman and Remus hug as they tell each other how much they missed the other, telling stories of what had happened

Janus is just there, until Remus remembers and introduces him as his boyfriend, joking about the whole “in-laws sure do love attacking each other lmao”

Roman is shocked, but is open to meet the person who had been taking care of his brother in his absence

Meanwhile, Virgil had asked to meet with Patton

Patton agrees and Virgil now sits in his office/grand hall

Virgil explains that he wants Patton to turn him into a vampire

Patton agrees and Virgil becomes a vampire himself

Remus, Roman, and Janus had decided to go back to the town so the brothers can catch up since Roman was very excited about seeing Remus again

Later that night, Remus fell asleep first and Janus and Roman get to talk. It’s a bit tense since their first interaction was a fight

They apologize about the fight before and they find they have many interests in the same field, even having near equal acting prowess

Janus then moves the conversation along to ask for Roman’s blessing in proposing to Remus

Roman is happy for his brother and agrees

Roman is happy to stay the night so he can have more time with his brother

Virgil was waiting for Roman to return at the manor, and when he didn’t return, he got worried. Patton tries to assure him that Roman tends to have little misadventures that last a few days, but Virgil was still anxious

In the morning, he decides to return to the inn to pick up his stuff

Janus and Remus woke up before Roman did and Janus gets to talking about them, and how much he looks forward to Roman being his immortal brother-in-law

Virgil returns and seeing upon seeing Remus and Janus hovering over an unconcious Roman, has his anxieties assuming the worst and he goes feral protective

Caught off-guard, Remus and Janus didn’t stand much of a chance. When Janus tries to ask Virgil what he’s done to himself, Virgil doesn’t respond, carrying Roman back to the manor

Uh…. fuck, this ramble got long o_o

So I’ll pause now, thanks for taking the time to read if you made it down here. I may consider making a part 2 (for when Logan meets Remus, Virgil and Janus making up, Patton being a dad to all of them, etc) but anyways, that’s all for this post

[rahleeyah]

how do you think the EO reunion would've gone if kathy wasn't killed by the car bomb?

ok ok ok anon out here asking the real questions

are we saying hurt but not killed? or not hurt at all? bc those are two wildly different scenarios.

if kathy is hurt but not killed, i think elliot's catholic guilt binds him to her. initially he's gotta be thinking that the bomb was meant for him, and even when he finds out it wasn't they still only went after her bc of the work he was doing, he's gotta feel responsible. and if kathy is still alive? needing pt and care and he put her there? i think his sense of duty would go into overdrive and liv would feel the need to keep her distance and they'd both be wrecked but we wouldn't be getting what we're getting now. if the kids aren't grieving, if elliot isn't completely out of his head - bc if kathy is alive he is still struggling and determined to find out who hurt her but it lacks the utter devastation of her being dead - there's no intervention, kathy is still keeping the peace in her household. liv walks away, i think, brokenhearted but fully believing that elliot has made his choice, and elliot is dying inside but lets her go bc he thinks he has to.

if kathy is not hurt though? bruh.

elliot sees olivia again at the ceremony. she can't hit him, and he can't hit his knees for her, bc kathy is there. their conversation is strained, and leaves them both reeling. olivia is shaken to her core, but he feels distant from her somehow, and elliot is dying bc she's right there but he can't touch her. he gives her the letter. the we were never real letter. but he's in town for meetings, for a trial, he's not gonna vanish the day after the ceremony. and let me be completely self indulgent for a moment

what if it's eating at him. he's in the same city with olivia again - yeah, he's been back to visit, but this time she knows he's there, and he is more aware of her than he's ever been. and he knows what that letter says. he's lying awake at night. staring at the ceiling. this is your life. this is your wife beside you. you are going back to rome. you will not see her again. he gave her his number but she doesn't call; he didn't expect her to. not after their uncomfortable interaction, not after the letter. the days are passing and he is running out of time. he has to go back. but he is thinking of her, now, in a way he has not allowed himself to for years. he has seen her now. seen how beautiful she still is, seen how powerful she is, the respect she commands, the work she has done, the legacy she has built for herself. she is more compelling now than she has ever been.

it gets down to his last night. he is going to leave in the morning and olivia hasn't called and something snaps in his chest and he tells kathy he has to do a work thing and he goes to the 1-6. it's late. she's probably gone. but he doesn't know where she lives; he's not gonna go to her old apartment, that feels too much like admitting the truth of what he's doing. he goes to the station.

he goes home.

and he finds her there, and some of her people are still around and she says not here, tightly, and they go up to the roof.

and bc kathy has not been hurt and he is not grieving and there is no case to solve, they explode. liv lets him have it, pours out everything she's been holding back, and their voices get louder and louder and louder and they can hardly breathe and finally she demands i read your letter, why are you even here, and he snaps.

i didn't write the fucking letter [insert explanation here] the only part i wrote...it will always be you and me, liv. that's why i'm here. it'll always be you, for me.

and she's fucking furious, and hurt, and maybe there's more screaming or maybe she hits him or maybe she just fucking crumbles, but however it happens it ends with his tongue in her mouth and both of them knowing he's not going back to rome. and kathy, across town in the hotel room, is only packing her things, not his, because she knows it, too. she did her best, with the letter, but she saw that look in his eye. she knew what it meant. she's spent the last decade doing her best to keep him, but he won't be kept, and she's through trying.

[ciaran-archive]

Okay explain the genshin post about everyone being everyone else

wrt this post. thank u for asking! :3

Diluc thought he was Jean: the thing about diluc is that he grew up the son of one of the richest (if not the richest) and more well-respected men in mondstadt. he was the heir to its legacy, the ragnvindr boy who would fulfill crepus's dream of joining the knights, the one who would be perfect. not even because he was trying to be perfect, but because he was diluc, and everyone loved him already. this is a story that has striking parallels to jean's status as the golden girl of mondstadt and her family, though in many ways i think the expectations weighed heavily on both of them - diluc really thought he was meant to be the prince of the city by jean's side at the head of the knights.

and then, well, y'know.

but actually he’s Rosaria: rosaria's story, rather like diluc's, is about a loss of innocence. it's about coming to terms with the fact that you're a terrible person who does terrible things, that you'll always be this person, and deciding that the only thing you can do is use it to serve those better, kinder, nicer, than you. diluc revels in violence. he's good at it. he derives almost unearthly pleasure from maiming and killing, but he also deeply harmed those closest to him with these same abilities. guilt and duty are the same burden for both of them, and they always feel out of place in the world.

everyone thinks Kaeya is Lisa: lisa's a strange person, in many ways. she's brilliant to the point of genius, incredibly dangerous and stunningly lazy, good enough to be promoted to the head of a company less than a year after being hired and determined enough to keep her obscure and less powerful position because she believes power would drive her nuts. and yet, the parts of her that people see are the ones she wants them to: she's easy-going, bored, a little dangerous but rather too flighty, flirty and sweet.

behind those facades, however, lisa is a dangerously flawed person. she's terrified of the truth, and determined to run from it for as long as she can so she won't have to pay the price it exacts. she refuses to confront herself, and though she pursues knowledge it's tentative, on her own terms, less a dominion over the world and more a graceless giving-in to her weaker impulse, the side of her that seeks always to understand more.

when people see kaeya, they see someone inexplicable: mysterious, charmingly flirty and just a touch condescending, incredibly dangerous and incredibly lazy. they see someone who got where he is by dint of no effort, and continues to put in no effort to stay there.

Kaeya is Jean: jean is marked by her responsibility, her willingness to do whatever it takes, and her commitment to her ideals. kaeya thinks he lacks all of these things, and the fact that he thinks he lacks them counts for a lot, but he...doesn't? he does what it takes, and he's very responsible in his own brash and ruthless way, and he takes steps in the right direction even if that immediately fucks things up for him. when he does something he finds morally wrong it itches at him. it fucks him up.

Lisa is Diluc: diluc can be a cold ruthless bastard when he wants to be, even against people he loves. and so can lisa. i firmly believe she has this potential and we're never allowed to see this side of her, but it exists. and it's terrifying. lisa does not have any actual ethical limits, only herself, and it's bloody scary.

Jean is also Diluc: jean is what everyone thought diluc would be; the responsible, gentle face of the knights, the person who manages everything without ever letting it slip. and she is that person but only because she's repressing emotions like a true fucking hero. she's got so many emotions and nowhere to put them, because she's the Bright One and the Responsible One and the Good One and nowhere in there does it say she's allowed to be weak or take time off from her duties to simply live. it's what diluc always envisioned for himself. it's what he finds horrifying, now that it's happening to jean

[unohanadaydreams]

Ok ok, but can I get some unohana hcs please?? I absolutely LOVE how you portray her, and honestlu I could sit here and read your writing all day lol. Thank you! Xx

Thank you so much! There is never enough Unohana content! Here are some general headcanons. This got a bit analysis-y but it’s because I really love her and uuuuh made myself sad lmao.

Retsu Unohana:

A life of violence simmers underneath veins and boils at seemingly trivial words and actions. It’s not something that will simply go away or even fade with age. Unohana is so disciplined and benign as the 4th captain because she must be. She is strict with her habits. Tea now, meditation after, and katas next, all with her hair tightly braided. Always disciplined. Always benign. Always contained. Always simmering under the surface.

This is further reflected in her staunch refusal to participate in combat until it is quite literally for the sake of saving Soul Society. This decision is followed by her being told she is not powerful enough to fulfill her duty of healing Ichigo and co. and realizing she is not powerful enough to defeat Yhwach after Yamamoto’s death.

She chooses to battle again, to slink into her old skin, only when it becomes clear that on both fronts of her expertise, she is too lacking to refuse the suicide mission. How can she say no, when saying no could mean the end of what she learned to cherish?

This is also reflected in how she treats her division. She sees the boiling passion and recklessness she denies herself staining their actions and she leads them to calmer, cooler waters. She instills in them the sense that they are important, that their actions and lives have the power to influence many. They have the power to heal and they must understand it IS power. They must comprehend that the 4th squad members are responsible for their lives and others, that they must always think about the hurt their recklessness can inflict.

Coming to terms with these ideas was very painful for Unohana, herself. She only learned to heal in order to battle longer, after all--to be near immortal. How many lieutenants and underlings did she discourage and dismiss? How many did she encourage to take the wrong the path? How many did she completely degrade? How many other souls does Unohana see behind Isane’s eyes when she calmly insists her lieutenant think of the bigger picture?

I don’t think she was scared to approach Kenpachi and in fact I’m sure she did when he came to the Seireitei to be a captain. But he didn’t want to hear or see her wrapped in his idea of weakness. I don’t think she gave up on it either; she needled him from time to time. Why else would the 11th division so unabashedly bully the 4th division under his leadership? He only accepted her wisdom when she emptied herself, when she forsook the wisdom she needed to impart with the wisdom he wanted--that the Seireitei wanted. 

Absolutely suffers from depression and is partial to introspection and guilt. She went from cutting down people to feel something, to genuinely caring about healing others and leading her underlings to be thoughtful, well-adjusted healers. Some days, convincing herself she has changed or that her changing matters is nigh impossible.

Tenjiro Kirinji absolutely verbally kicked the shit out of her and helped her adjust to being a healer. He’s gruff enough to get through to her. To make her see what a “self-centered whiner” she’s being. Oh, you think the 15th seat is a wimp and not fit to be a shinigami at all? That’s fine, Retsu; you’re now his personal tutor for the rest of the month. Have fun, ya brat! Wow, you think you’re too damaged and awful to do good? Fuck off; you’re here to give the wounded a fighting chance, not find salvation. She learns to find meaning in healing. In doing her job. In undoing damage she used to relish.

She left Isane an insane amount of stuff, including techniques Tenjiro left behind for Unohana herself. Katas and kidos and healing concoctions she holds dear or leaves Isane to finish. She leaves favorite teas, cherished pictures, and lovely clothes she never gave Isane, but thought would suit her. ‘For the girl wearing my legacy in her hair, words woven in the braid.’

She leaves Kenpachi journals she found sort of cringey before she died, but she thinks they’ll help, perhaps. That her struggle and strife on paper might mean something for him. ‘For when you conquer the mountain and can go no higher; when only the climb down is left’ she marks it. And he tosses it with a scoff (but stores it somewhere safe a few hours later.)

She leaves behind the memory of Retsu Unohana, the captain of the 4th Division. Because that’s who she was when she lived--when she REALLY lived.