#They're his sisters and he will always feel he should have been first choice. (Also the Targaryen arrogance/way is quite embedded in him)

[mermaidslabyrinth]

My OC Rhagerys Targaryen with the two people who he would do anything and everything for.

His younger half sisters, Baela and Rhaena. They mean the world to him. They are his weakness but also his strength to keep going. He is their big brother and has been taught to protect them at all costs.

The way I see the three are as the sun, moon, and stars. Rhaena is the Sun. Along with her dragon Morning. Baela is the Moon. Along with her dragon Moondancer. Rhagerys is the Stars. Along with his dragon Starsong. Each are present in one another's lives but in such different ways that people forget that they're connected to one another. That in some way they always will be.

This gorgeous artwork was done by the wonderfully talented @lonelymagpies. They did such marvelous job. The hair, the clothing, the jewels, their looks.

Also a special thank you to @dr-aegon. They reblogged a post mentioning that lonelymagpies was doing commissions. So, thanks to them, I was able to have this artwork created.

[callme-naomi]

pt 2. of the arranged marriage series. Can be considered as a prequel to the earlier posted part.

Nanami's POV here.

Reader's POV.

It was just one casual day when you came home in the evening from your friends' house when your sister ran over to you, all excited.

"Y/N, Mother's calling for you!"

Curious as to what could get your older sister so excited, you went to your mother, who had some news for you.

"We've finally found a match for you!"

You had known this day was meant to come, and in your age, very soon. After all, this was what you had been prepared for all your life - being the diligent wife and bring honor to the family name.

As your mother described ahead, the match they had found was the courtesy of a family friend who had told the young man's family about you. Today, they had asked your parents if they can come over for a meeting, to which your parents said yes.

You had no idea who this man was, but you trusted your parents. If they're happy - which they were - then you should have no problem.

While it was exciting to have the prospect of marriage, and being the bride and hence the center of attention of the entire family, you had a slight nagging feeling in your heart that what if this man didn't turn out to be what you had imagined.

What if he turned out to be like the other men you had heard stories of in your social circle? The cousins and sisters and friends just complaining about how their husbands love to ridicule them or order them around, and how they were sweet at first but now...

But you still had the final say. If you didn't like this man, you could say no.

What you and your family knew about him, seeing your family hadn't known of them and vice versa before this friend's recommendation, was that his name was Kento Nanami and he was just one year older than you were. Coming from a well-off family, he had gained a proper education and was now working for one of the most prominent companies in Tokyo as a manager*.

His parents were looking for a match for their only son, and had no specific demands except for what every traditional housewife must have - good cooking, should housekeep, be diligent and hardworking and all that.

Two days after these news, the Nanami family came to your house, a three member party - the parents and the son himself. Kento was a tall man with a serious expression, quite like his father but unlike his mother, who was extremely jolly and was what you could call a social butterfly.

With formal greetings and polite exchanges, your mother sent your sisters to serve the guests while the families began talking to each other with an air of formal respect. While initially the two of you made no particular talk, you unable to hold his eye contact for more than a minute, after a while the elders left the room for tea in the garden, leaving the two of you in the room.

"I was told," he began, his voice gentle and warm, "that you had a degree in [degree name], and I've found it quite a unique choice. What persuaded you to do it?"

"I've always had an interest for the subject, ever since high school. It also fascinated me."

"I see. Would you like to pursue further studies in it? i don't object if you want to."

"I haven't thought about it much yet, honestly. But thank you." You looked down at your hands folded neatly in your lap.

"Your mother mentioned these flowers were your handiwork," Kento continued and you raised your head to meet his gaze, his hazel eyes looking at you with interest. "They are nice. Is gardening your hobby?"

You had absolutely no idea how matchmaking worked, and you knew it definitely had nothing to do with gardening, but thankful for the conversation, you responded, shyly telling him of your interests, which then morphed into a light and nice conversation.

You liked him. He was handsome, very polite, and your family already liked him from the beginning. While he looked colder, his conversation with you and the way he made you feel comfortable was what convinced you.

When your parents asked you if you would like to proceed, your answer was immediate. Yes.

And while you were terrified you might have been too awkward or straightforward or funny or [insert overthinking], you could breathe again when you were told it was a yes from both sides.

And on the eve of your wedding, while it was a bitter truth that it hadn't been love at first sight for you yet - you just liked him as a person - thanks to the fears eating inside you, you wanted to trust him and believe that he might be your dream come true, and that with him, you'll finally have the happy life you could only dream of in your household.

You told yourself that all you had to do was do what you were taught, be a good housewife, and it will all be good. Don't give him a chance to be mad at you.

You, sometimes, couldn't even think of how you would live a married life, but when he came to take your hand on your big day, a small smile on his face, you thought, maybe you could learn to live with him.

******

On your first meeting, you learned that he could do his own work around the house. He had said that with his job, it was a skill set he needed to learn, and even since he was a teenager, it was his nature.

On your second meeting, you learned that he was ambidextrous, and that he used to be the top kid back in school, though he was highly introverted.

On your wedding day, you learned he had relatives in Denmark too.

On your first day as his wife, you learned that he was habitual of waking up early, and going for a jog. You learned that he also likes strong tea.

On your second day, you learned that he is really strong with mathematics, and that he really loves reading. And you discovered that he could be a really nice person, who also happened to know how to do household chores.

You learned the store from where he got his groceries and from where he has his car repaired and serviced at.

You learned the types of outfits he liked - a suit or a dress shirt with slacks - and would always keep a check if he had enough clothes.

You found out that he's a foodie, and while he doesn't usually show it often, he loves all sorts of foods, especially bread.

You learned the different types of bread just so you could go and bring some for him when he comes back after a tiring day at work.

You learned that he loves to read books, and he also has a liking for poetry, so you memorized poems to recite to him on your days free.

You learned that he liked to stay in when it rains.

You learned his favourite color to grow flowers of that color.

You learned his favorite perfume to buy for him - and to spray some on yourself.

Every day, you'd find something new to learn about him.

You learned that he is a strong drinker (and while at first he was embarrassed about it, you didn't mind, rather you began bringing him his favourite brand)

You learned the magazines he liked to read, so you would always save them instead of using them.

You learned that his dream destination was going to Malaysia, and Kuantan specifically.

You learned that he always wanted a cat, but never got one because of his father's dislike of cats.

You learned how his ears would go red whenever you complimented him.

You learned how he would immediately smile when you began talking in his native dialect.

You learned the sound of his footsteps and the moment they came, you would run to him.

You learned the way his arms would feel when they protectively came around you whenever you felt down.

You thought you could learn to live with him. And in all those days, you thought you learned the things you needed to know enough to be a 'good housewife'. But now, that you think about it...

You had learned to love him.

*I just imagined he might be a manager, with his work experience and capabilities, I find it suiting him that he is at least a manager - a high post - and with a good pay. So, there is no canonical reference to this - this is my imagination.

Again, nearly all of this is my imagination. His parents, his education, his job - it's all my opinion.

[bonefall]

since squirrelflight isn't sparkpelts mom, or brambleclaws mate, whats the context (i think squirrelflights hope) where sparkpelt calls her a mouseheart for sticking up for brambleclaw

I think a lot of people forget that the context in the book was not great to begin with, since we collectively remember it from Moonkitti's video where she's making a point that Sparkpelt is acknowedging Bramblestar's mistreatment. It's part of her argument, demonstrating that even cats WITHIN the Clan can see that Bramble is treating his wife poorly.

But people who haven't read the book (or haven't in a while and half-remember it) construct context backwards from that, and think it was Sparkpelt trying to tell her mom to stop getting pushed around. It's not.

The context was; Sparkpelt wants Bramblestar to nonsensically start a war with ShadowClan because she thinks they poisoned Larksong.

She's not thinking straight because she's stressed. She's blaming ShadowClan because they'd previously poisoned SkyClan, and believes the motive is that they're angry with Bramblestar for trying to keep the peace. Yelling at her mother is supposed to be an example of irrationally lashing out.

It's also, probably, another opportunity for the writers to torment Squilf tbh. Sparkpelt screams at her that she's being a coward for defending the things Squilf had to BEG Bramblestar to do, so that Bramblestar can step in and tut-tut her with, "don't call your mom a mouseheart when ACTUALLY she's a bitch." Then he turns around to cry that his whole family hates him and he's actually the saddest little ducky in the kiddie pool. Lmaoo

So anyway. Squirrelflight's Horror.

Yep, Sparkpelt's no longer Squirrelflight's daughter; these two are Apprentice and Mentor.

And, yep, Squirrelflight broke it off with Bramblestar after OotS. They never get back together; Sparkpelt's mother is Jessy. But, in the very beginning of this book... she starts to feel bad for him, a tiny bit of the love they had re-sparks, and they're courting again.

Not "mates," but the equivalent of dating.

...Much to the chagrin of Squirrelflight's children, as all three of them have disavowed Bramblestar. Fallenleaf and Jayfeather awkwardly try not to get involved, and Lionblaze probably ends up in a argument with her as he tries to forcefully warn her about what a stupid choice she's making. They both dig their heels in because they are a lot alike, and Lionblaze's explosive confrontation only made the situation worse.

And tertiary effects: Toadstep takes his mate's side, but his mother Daisy (Squilf's best friend) and sister Rosepetal, (Squilf's first apprentice), choose to support Squirrelflight in whatever she does. Squilf's grandchild Hollylark and her apprentice, Sparkpelt, are... cautiously optimistic.

Sparkpelt's relationship with her dad has always been extremely strained. She wants to love him... but she's been involved in his little "tests" before. Squilf was always the one who PROTECTED her from them, an emotional rock during the storm that was her adolescence. Squilf knows what she's doing. She's aware of what she's getting into. She wants her dad to be happy. She knows he hasn't been happy since Jessy left him.

They All Know This. Yes?

So... she should be glad, right? That the people she loves are going to make each other happy? Maybe this will... you know... fix him. And her kits can be born into a happy world where their grandfather isn't so... frustrating.

Or, maybe she can just, HOPE, y'know? Maybe things can be okay after all? Just once?

Hollylark meanwhile is like, "Sure babe it's all gonna be fine! Nothing terrible is going to happen, hahahahahahahaha" as xey purchase 14 fire extinguishers, an insurance plan, and consult the Clerics on the best god to pray to. Alderheart solemnly tells xem that if there was a god who could help, he would have worshiped them long ago.

Leafpool sighs, "at least try goldenflower."

Squirrelflight's Horror's purpose is to set up the events of TBC. Bramblestar's controversial choices here, getting his entire Clan wrapped up in an abusive game he's going to play with his ex-wife/sort-of girlfriend, and ultimately leading his Clan into a controversial battle that gets Leafpool killed, is why no one caught that he was replaced by a cruel impostor.

But most of all, it's about Squirrelflight. It's her going on trial to defend Fire Alone as an ideology in the modern era, it's setting up how her worst enemy will kill to hurt her but how her allies support her, and it's her finally rejecting any love she has left lingering for someone who has proven that he can't treat her well, so that she can focus on all the people who do.

Her heart WILL lead her to make some rash, destructive choices, but nothing she's ever done out of compassion will be something she apologizes for.

SO the change of context around Hollylark's poisoning and death.

For one, Hollylark is now something more interesting. Xey are a Nature Spirit, one of the new entities in BB that I'm still solidifying the rules for.

Other examples of Nature Spirits: Brokenstar, Star Flower.

They're quite rare, and typically born of bits of nature that were beloved for generations before being destroyed.

Hollylark was born because one of xeir moms had a magic misfire. So xey're extremely weak compared to those two.

Fallenleaf has no idea yet how exactly she did this... or, even, how far her own powers extend.

Over the course of this story, Fallen is also having a tiny realization of her own that she can't stay in ThunderClan. She's a God, now, with Sol trapped inside her chest.

Bramblestar WILL be trying to drag her into the conflict, and she has to stand firm and argue that her powers can't be used for politics... or...

this part she does not say, knowing that saying it out loud would only make Squilf double down like Lionblaze's big fight with her did,

Or for Bramblestar's stupid drama.

Of her siblings, she's carrying the least pain about Bramblestar's treatment. She dropped the secret, and then vanished into an adventure that took her from this life for a thousand moons.

Everything still feels very far away, in a sense. Like she's still a distance away from the Hollyleaf that she once was.

So... Bramblestar feels small. This all feels small. Petty.

Beneath her.

So, whatever happens to Hollylark... it feels like a cold rainstorm. If she'd felt somewhat numb and dazed before, reality HITS her.

She couldn't SAVE her child. She has NO IDEA what her powers really are, or their limits.

This causes Fallenleaf and her mate, Cinderheart, to leave the Clans in search of those answers. To find out what Fallenleaf's role, as the new God of Autumn, should be.

But that's Cinderheart's Travels. One of the BB books that doesn't have an equivalent canon book lmao.

And back on Hollylark.

My current thought is that Sparkpelt should end up a LOT sicker from the prey-poisoning, while Hollylark is the one who's less affected by it.

In my head, Hollylark through this SE is in a sort of role where xey're not giving a ton of xeir own opinions, clearly just trying to support Sparkpelt and the kits. Xey're unbelievably stressed out, but xeir response under pressure is to fawn.

So the context of Sparkpelt snapping at Squirrelflight would be that she's physically sick. She's tired, terrified for herself, her kits, and in her state, she's taking it out on Squilf.

Instead of blaming ShadowClan, though, I'm thinking it would be more relevant for Sparkpelt to be angry that Squilf is "Making Bramblestar so upset."

If she's going to be making accusations that are emotional and don't make any sense, Squilf should be noticing that Sparkpelt is being sucked right back into being the self-conscious, terrified child she used to be. Before she had a mentor to rely on.

She hates that Squirrelflight is "upsetting" Bramblestar, blaming her for his actions, in a way that she used to do to herself when she was young.

And at first, Squilf is going to ACCEPT that, and APOLOGIZE... until something happens in front of her to make her realize that if she did that, she would be saying that the toxic impulses she had to train OUT of Sparkpaw were "correct."

A recognition of herself through Sparkpelt before her. And a realization that, no matter what happens, she NEEDS to be there for Sparkpelt because she still needs someone in her corner.

I'm still working out the non-Trial parts of Squirrelflight's Horror, so this is still getting shuffled around. But next,

Bramblestar barges in to "defend" Squilf.

What I like about the original context is the way that Bramble takes a fight between Squilf and Spark and makes it all about himself. I think it's intriguing and telling that he takes the opportunity to guilt trip Squilf again.

And what I'd like to do with the idea in the context of BB, is have Bramble try to force himself into this very personal moment like he's both a hero of Squilf AND hurting sooo very much to do it. Like it was a favor he was doing her, to cut through his immense pain at being undermined and betrayed, to "stand by her side."

And Squirrelflight sees this and feels sickened.

How could she EVER apologize to Sparkpelt for making Bramblestar upset, when he's so callous he'll BARGE in to "save her" from his sick daughter?

Something he MOCKED her for, once, before she chose him over Ashfur?

She's not fully ready to FINALLY purge herself of Bramble, no, but it's one of the last steps. Apologizing to Sparkpelt seemed like the correct thing to do... until Bramblestar reminded her where their guilt comes from.

MOSTLY, I'm unsure of how to resolve this scene. I know I don't want Squilf to stand up for Sparkpelt yet though.

And I want that to bug her. She was such a swirling whirlwind of guilt, shock, and offense, that she did nothing. Caught between too many emotions, she froze.

So Bramble could either storm off like he does in-canon, OR, have Hollylark finally push in to tell them that they need to leave and cut it early.

At some point, perhaps as an ending to this scene or later, I do want Hollylark to express frustration at the way Bramblestar is changing Squirrelflight, and how she just stood back right there

Xey're wise enough to realize it's not Squilf DOING it, but can't help but feel a crushing disappointment that she's THIS old, THIS wise, been through SO MUCH because of this guy...

"I LOVE you, but it's not just about you either. Can't you see how he's finding aaaaall these ways to drag everyone in, just because he wants to get at you?"

And especially Sparkpelt. She needs all of her allies right now, most of all the very mentor who taught her she didn't deserve to feel the way her dad often makes her.

But Squilf did not push back for her. It was only one moment... but it was an important one. And she lapsed.

She can't let that happen ever again.

As for Hollylark, I know that I need to kill them before the end of this book. Like canon, xey're gone before Squilf has her trial. My current thought is that xey sacrifice themself in some way in order to save Sparkpelt's life, perhaps deciding to "take their pain onto myself" and dying in her place.

And that's the context, so far. I've got the Trial pretty solidly mapped out, but the reworked politics and interpersonal stuff are still a WIP. I know the beginning and the end, but the middle's still loose!

[mogruith]

OC Deep Dive Tag

Thanks for tagging me @majorasnightmare!! This was a really awesome thinking exercise. It took me way longer than it should've to finish (work has been a lot lately) but I finally did it.

No pressure tags for @susann-noir @nemo-of-house-hamartia @mystxmomo @autisticdrizzt @twilight-sanctuary @albweado @moonshine-over-troubled-water any OC of your choice.

Phobias and Other Fears

Being alone. Or being far from his sister for extended periods. He's had his twin sister by his side his whole life and they've always looked out for each other. When she's not near him, it's as if he's lost a sense or a limb. He's managed this a few times but he absolutely hates it. Stagnation. Improve or perish. Climb that ladder, boy. For like actual phobias, I feel like I should mention his fear of Lolth but I think it's eclipsed by his anger. That said, spiders get the side-eye. But I'm not sure I'd call it a phobia.

Pet Peeves

Slow decision making and waffling. If you need to draw out a plan and take the time to do it, that's one thing. If you are indecisive, Coranzan is going get impatient and try to take over. Yes, he's kind of a dick. Additionally, talking down to him/being patronizing/dismissive.

3 items you could find in their bedroom

Coranzan keeps very little besides his armor, high-quality clothing, and a couple instruments - but those are boring things to list. There'd be items that allude to his vanity - an elaborate grooming kit, scented oils, and white dye that Z'ress uses to paint on Coran's forehead markings. Bonus: You'd also find a box of silver and moonstone knickknacks collected by his sister and donated to him. She tends to get sticky fingers and then gives some of the Eilistraee-adjacent items to him as something of an offering as a lay-worshipper. As they're seen as gifts from Eilistraee, he wears or keeps them until he can find a temple to offer them.

First thing they notice in a person

Probably a common answer but eyes are the window to the soul. Although he grew up avoiding eye contact, he has discovered the power in keeping his gaze locked on another's. Whether he's searching them to detect if they're enjoying a story he's telling or if they're lying, it's been beneficial skill.

On a scale of 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance?

I'd say something like a 7-8 or so. Pretty high pain tolerance but not absurdly so. I think it kind of came with the territory of some of his past work.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Fight for sure. Coranzan is fairly good at assessing the field and determining a path forward in a time-sensitive situation. It's not always the best or the safest path but it IS a well-reasoned path in a dire situation. The big picture/large scope planning belongs to his sister.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

A big family? No, at least he's not aware of most of whoever might exist outside his immediate family. But connected to his immediate family? Absolutely. Besides being tied at the hip with his twin sister, Z'ress, he's also very close to his parents. His parents' faith were inspiration to his path of becoming a Cleric of Eilistraee. He also has a grandmother who has managed to survive long enough to still be in his life and an uncle on his father's side that they're close with.

What animal represents them best?

The only animal I've ever thought about is night-singing birds like blackbirds and nightingales: I feel like Coranzan liked hearing them at night when he first came to the surface and became really fond of them. Also, I feel like we've all envied a bird's ability to fly away from whatever situation they're in.

What is a smell that they dislike?

The smell of exhaust and lubricants from machines and mechanical constructs like the Steel Watch. Coran hadn't encountered very many of these kind of creatures before, but encountering so many in Baldur's Gate resulted in a strong dislike of the smell.

Have they broken any bones?

Coran is a pretty nimble person but also has a tendency to go pretty hard on whatever new skill he's obsessed with. So I'll say he's probably broken a bone or two in his time but he's pretty good at avoiding it usually.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

A stranger would likely get the aloof version of Coranzan. Unless he needed something of that stranger, then he'd turn on the charm. The aloof version of Coran would be quiet with constant studying looks, and intense eye contact. This would probably come off as intimidating to some, especially given he's obviously drow. The charming version of Coranzan would be all smiles and definitely trying to get you to forget that he's drow. He's all compliments, winks, and friendly taps to the shoulder/arm. A stranger's opinion will certainly vary based on what side they get but either way, he is a rather pretty face and that lets him get away with a lot among strangers (depending on their view of drow, ofc).

Are they a night owl or morning bird?

Night owl. Fuck the sun. Despite having been on the surface long enough to adjust, he is uncomfortable under it. Sadly, surfacers operate around the gods damned sun, so between that and Coran just generally not able to sit still for long, Coran doesn't get a lot of rest.

What is a flavour they hate and a flavour they love?

First of all, Coran is terrible at cooking and probably hates anything he's made in the field, to start. But broadly flavor-wise, Coranzan hates spicy/picante flavors (which hurts me deeply in my soul), and prefers earthy flavors. On the surface, he's come to appreciate the herbs and spices that can be added to those earthy flavors though.

Do they have any hobbies?

Song collecting (by ear), dancing (not just the Eilistraee-type stuff), reading different cultures fables, journaling/letter-writing, and some kind of skill-based strength training activity in rotation: think bodyweight progressions, gymnastics, rock-climbing.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

Surprises in general? Coranzan can roll with the punches and pivots easily, at least with regards to pleasant things. A BIRTHDAY party in particular would be really unexpected. By now, everyone's seen the lore bit about how drow men don't celebrate their birthdays. Coran's birthday was celebrated vicariously through his sister's birthday (given they're twins) and in private, they would celebrate together. But someone ELSE in on this? He'd probably have a very strong emotional reaction to it - primarily feeling really bashful about it to start but very quickly LOVING the attention lavished upon him suddenly.

Do they like to wear jewellery?

Yes - although most of my images of Coranzan do not show any jewelry (he removes everything when "on duty"), he likes to wear a lot of silver rings and piercings along his ears.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Neat handwriting - Coran writes a lot and eventually writes some of his stories and songs in an ornate style for his collections. He then hands these off to his sister for border decorations. A series of these are kept in a folio he keeps around.

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

Pride and inadequacy occupy his mind in the quiet moments. For the most part, he feels he's pretty accomplished given how he started as a dirt-poor drow male in Menzoberranzan with no prospects. But then again, comparatively speaking, he hardly amounts to anything and has spent so much time attempting to accomplish the bare minimum (in his mind) - it sometimes feels like he's behind.

Do they have a favourite fabric?

First off, Coran would rather NOT be wearing a lot of clothes (or any at all if he can get away with it). But when he does, it has to be something lightweight and comfortable for him to tolerate it (you can imagine how much he hates wearing heavy armor). Mix that with the fact that he's a bit of a peacock when it comes to clothes, so he'd prefer fancy silks if he can get his hands on them. When he does, he takes meticulous care of it so it lasts.

What kind of accent do they have?

Coranzan was born in a pretty dirt-poor part of Menzoberranzan, so his baseline accent was Deep Drow. He's now spent somewhere around 130-ish years out of Menzoberranzan - split between the Undermountain and Waterdeep. So his Common is decent enough but a slight accent remains - he spends much of his time conversing with his family and other drow, so he can go a long time without speaking Common on the surface, depending where he is in his life. As a side-tangent: He can imitate the noble sound of High Drow to a limited extent and sometimes borrows the phrasing of that dialect to imply a noble sound in theatrical story-telling. Although he has a very good ear for the sound, he hasn't been around it enough to speak it enough to pass for a noble - the result of is a rugged take on a noble sound that can be endearing to some or hated by others. Shout out to @mystxmomo for their awesome discussion on Drow dialects to get my head straight on some of that (although I'm inserting some of my own minor stuff here).

[coff-in]

We can have Toxic!Siblings Graves x Y/N (Andrew and Reader Romantic) (Ashley and Reader platonic)

Y/N would have been the babysitter when they were just kids, it wasn't by choice obviously, as Y/N's parents were working all day and couldn't leave a child alone all day, while Mrs. Graves simply couldn't. He wanted to take care of his own children.

So they decided to make Y/N a full-time babysitter for the Graves family, she gets food and isn't left alone while the Graves Siblings are taken care of, everyone wins :D (Sarcasm)

Their relationship was a little tense at first, Leyley was a pest to Y/N, calling her several names and accusing her of stealing her brother, which resulted in the two fighting all the time.

Even so, she didn't understand why Leyley still insisted on staying close to her, she didn't know that for Leyley, Y/N was the closest thing to a mother she had.

While for Andy, he found it strange to obey someone who is only 1 year older than him, but he liked the idea of someone looking out for him.

Until the infamous box day arrived.

Andrew felt so overwhelmed by that day, that he started to become more clingy/protective towards Y/N, as she was the only one who was understanding of his feelings, who became his safe haven and he was afraid of losing that. .

It got to the point where he and his sister created false rumors about dating/friends so that Y/N wouldn't abandon them.

The two siblings didn't know that Y/N knew that they killed Nina, she just didn't tell them because Mrs. Graves (out of a minimal maternal feeling) threatened her by saying that she was also an accomplice, since she should be taking care of them.

Because of this, as time passed, Y/N began to behave colder/aggressive/distant towards most people, especially her parents. Since they were responsible for her being practically abandoned and for practically selling her childhood to be a "mother" of two brats that no one wanted to take care of.

Until we reach Chapter 2, after sacrificing Mr and Mrs. Graves, Y/N received an amulet from the Demon that is capable of entering the dreams and memories of others while she sleeps. Then she accidentally manages to see the memories of Andrew and Ashley that they made with her behind her back.

note from coff-in: GOD THIS IS SO YUMMY!!! i love how long and detailed the ask is as it gives me something to build off of (which is always welcomed, i’m not always the creative i want to be). thank you so much for requesting! i think my characterization of andrew and ashley was a little wonky. i tried watching playthroughs of the game to see how they talk and think but i literally get too flustered to look at them whenever they're on screen, hahaha!! more Ashley focused than what you migh've hoped for but i tried my best to keep her interactions and thinking platonic and andrew's romantic. this was a wonderful idea and i have to thank you again so, so, so much for requesting. please enjoy!!!

[fem] reader-insert, reader is older than andrew by 1 year

Like a worm to an apple, they've carved their way into your life.

[reader] fucking hates the Graves siblings, hahaha!

Okay, maybe she doesn’t hate them, but [reader] definitely has a strained relationship with Andrew and Ashley. I don’t think that the quarantine helped them out much either. [reader]’s parents not only abandoned her and left her to become a parent of kids not that younger than her, but they actually sold her off. They probably heard of the quarantine from Mrs. Graves and decided that it sounded fun, I guess.

Ashley mellowed out her hatred towards [reader] as they grew up together. I don’t think we’ve ever seen Ashley interact with someone she sees as a friend (besides Andrew). I think she’d be very possessive over them. [reader] is her friend! She should be focusing on her and Andrew and no one else!

She and [reader] probably share clothes in the quarantine since [reader]’s clothes would all be at her home (wherever that would be…)

Andrew’s fucking living the dream. The rumors he and Ashley spread of them and [reader] worked to keep [reader] close but I don’t think that [reader] actually dated Andrew. I mean, if the boy you babysat during your childhood killed a little girl and got away with it, would you date him?

The quarantine has given him and [reader] that forced proximity that he hopes would work to get her into his arms. (And maybe under the sheets, too…? Hehehehe!)

He would go to [reader] during the night to sleep in the same bed during his nightmares. I think he would also go to Ashley for comfort from his nightmares, too, since she was actually there when Nina died (I’m pretty sure that’s what the nightmares were about) but this is just a personal thought/headcanon of mine.

Overall, they’re both clingy, possessive and kinda obsessive over [reader] and she hates it. Their relationship changed once they killed and cannibalized their cultist neighbor. With Nina, [reader] didn’t really have a choice… she wasn’t there in the room when they killed her in that box and Mrs. Graves didn’t allow her to tell the authorities to rightfully send these fuckers to jail!

“You’re an accomplice” my ass, [reader] thinks to herself.

But now? Sharing a meal with the two people she despises the most next to her parents, made with the blood and flesh of another human? Yeah, she can’t possibly say that she’s an innocent party now.

Once the gang pulls up at the hotel [reader] is ready to leave the Graves’s asses. This is her chance at freedom now! She doesn’t need to babysit them anymore, they’re fucking adults now!

Her chances are dashed once the hitman comes over to try and kill them. I never mentioned the demon and the vision trinket but I’m sure [reader] tries to block it out from her mind as much as possible. Kinda hard to do it now that she knows that yes, the trinket does work, and yes, there are actual fucking demons that exist in their world.

At the Graves parent’s house, [reader] probably wouldn’t do too much there. Obviously she can’t talk Ashley out of sacrificing them and Andrew is more-or-less aboard with the idea. [reader] just kinda stands out of the way when it comes to the bondage and actual killing/sacrificing part. I think [reader] would sleep with Ashley in the basement much to Andrew’s chagrin.

“[reader]? Are you okay?” Ashley looked at [reader]���s side profile as they lay on the floor next to each other. “You haven’t said much since we got here.”

[reader] stayed quiet. In all honesty, she was probably disassociating at that moment. Looking back at her memories in hopes of finding a piece of happiness lost somewhere so she can grab it. This whole fucking ‘adventure’ has been a total shitshow… 

“If it’ll make you feel better, we could kill your parents afterward.” Ashley offered carefully.

“Why the fuck would we do that…?” [reader] didn’t look at Ashley and continued to stare at the ceiling. She tried to focus on the cool concrete of the ground, the darkness that covered the walls, and their victims sleeping just upstairs.

“They weren’t any better than our parents, were they? I heard our parents talking when you were younger… you’re another child that wasn’t wanted. Just like me and Andy!” She smiled at [reader] as she got up to sneak towards the staircase. “It’s something that’ll bring us together! We’ll be orphans and friends! Unwanted children to the very end!”

When they finally sacrifice the Graves parents, everyone is shocked that the demon decides to give [reader] a trinket of her own. It’s a simple trinket in the shape of an eye with three stars dangling from it. It looks very similar to Ashley’s trinket.

That night (or day, I guess?) [reader] wanders about the demon/dreamscape and finds the memory of Andrew and Ashley spreading rumors. (You mentioned that it was on accident, so maybe she was trying to avoid looking at Ashley’s respective vision for the route you wanna go down). I mean, it’s not too hard. Who knows where any of those doors that litter the place will lead?

“Did you know that [reader] my friend?” Ashley would tell other students during lunch at school. “She’s my best friend even, so I don’t need you guys to sit with me or anything!” The other classmates give her demeaning leers and skeptical stares as Ashley turns away to find you in the cafeteria.

“What a fucking weirdo… there’s no way [reader] would be friends with her.”

“She’s probably lying about it.”

“I could see her and [reader] being friends… doesn’t she babysit her and Andrew?”

“Isn’t [reader] dating Andrew? Someone said that Andrew and [reader] were dating…”

What the fuck? What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck?

Anger starts to boil up in [reader]’s veins as they replay that interaction in their mind. They’ve been pulling the fucking strings from the start. They’d been slowing sinking their teeth around her neck until she was trapped in their jaws, unable to escape the hell of their design.

What. The. Fuck!

----

coff-in

[juniperhillpatient]

Why is Kataang a NOTP for you?

Honestly? Part of it is simply preference. I don't think they look good together. I don't think their chemistry works romantically for me on a subjective level. And I won't deny at all that at the end of the day, shipping is really just about taste & they're just not to my taste & it's okay if other people feel differently.

Anywho thank you for the ask I'm assuming you want to know in good faith so I will share my reasons. Fair warning if you like the ship you should probably stop reading now because I REALLY don't & I'm gonna be totally honest about why:

I don't bring this up often because it's been debated to death in this fandom but since you asked: I hate that Aang kisses Katara & she doesn't want him to then suddenly with no buildup or discussion she's kissing him in the finale. I think it sends the wrong message & I am aware that I'm a big believer in "media doesn't have to have a moral" but that's also something based on context. Avatar is a kid's show & it often DOES have clear moral messaging & it bothers me that that's the message being sent to little girls who watch the show. How often do we have to watch the pretty girl being the prize for the heroic guy?

Now, before anyone wants to fight - yes, I've seen the people who take the dislike over this narrative choice WAY too far, calling Aang a rapist & a horrible person & saying that it's an abusive relationship & all sorts of ridiculous things. That's not what I'm saying. I just think it was a bad call to have something like that happen & then suddenly without any discussion, they're apparently "endgame." It's a bad writing choice, it's insulting to Katara, & it bothers me the message it sends.

That specific caveat is a big reason I hate the ship but it's not the only reason. Throughout the entire show, Aang's feelings for Katara are made explicitly clear. He has a huge crush on her & it comes up often. Katara's feelings for Aang are shown to be much more like a big sister. We get a few instances where it's slightly hinted at that maybe she wants him to like her, but not even that she actually has romantic feelings for HIM. In the cave episodes, it's more about how it hurts her feelings that he says he doesn't want to kiss her. And that's the most I can really think of for evidence that Katara actually has romantic feelings for Aang, prior to the finale. MAYBE the dance episode? But even that I personally interpreted as feelings of friendship.

I'm not saying no one should like the ship. If you like it great! More power to you. I don't get the appeal & that's fine. The first time I watched the show I was fully 100% expecting a "friendship isn't a downgrade" dynamic where Katara & Aang ended the show as close friends & he put his romantic feelings aside & moved on. That was what it felt like everything was leading up to for me & I was very disappointed & surprised to be proven wrong in what felt like a very, very random kiss at the end.

Side note for the Zutaras: I fully expected Katara & Zuko to get together also tbh lol. I'm not mad that they didn't, I don't really ship it, it's just not my cup of tea but I'm not against it the way I am Kataang. I just got the vibe that that's where the story was going because of the way they sort of SEEMED to have a romantic storyline with everyone always thinking they were boyfriend & girlfriend & the vibes between them. Also the whole sun & moon thing. Personally, I think evil women are better & Zuko is the wrong fire sibling for Katara BUT that's unrelated. Anyway, that's what I mean when I always say I'm not a Zuara but I do believe in their beliefs. I don't personally care about the ship but I think they are correct when they say it was hinted at by canon. That's totally unrelated to my dislike for Kataang because again, I prefer Katara with a girl (or Jet) if it's MY preference BUT I thought I'd throw that out there because I'm guessing a Zutara shipper sent this ask & it'll be Zutaras reading this post & well, I am a Zutara ally lmao

Anyway, I hope this post doesn't open a can of worms. I don't want to argue with anyone about this. It's just not that serious for me. If you like the ship that's great! I'm not stopping you! But since I was asked I'll be honest about my reasons that it gives me the ick. Thank you for reading this far if you did & a virtual high five to the fellow haters haha

[lonelychicago]

inspiration saturday! 🎄🦌

tagged by the lovelies @hippolotamus @daffi-990 @spotsandsocks @the-likesofus @thewolvesof1998 @hoodie-buck

okay so, i have a few ideas for holiday fics and i haven't really decided which ones to write. so... here's a christmas moodboard for inspiration and the options, if you guys could vote ur favorite i'd love u forever and ever.

1. it's chris and eddie's first christmas without shannon and also away from texas. it has to be perfect— they have to choose the perfect tree but the cute, stupidly hot guy selling the trees is really not helping.

buck's been working extra shifts at the station and now also selling christmas trees on his free time since his sister is in town asking for his help to hide from her psychotic husband and can't currently find a job. he meets the most adorable kid ever and the hottest dad he's ever seen. they flirt, they bicker a little bit and buck thinks that's it. he won't see the guy ever again... until he shows up at the toy drive they're hosting at the station and accidentally stands under a mistletoe. what other choice does buck have but to kiss him??

2. buck and eddie are exes. they haven't seen each other in years. until sophia invites buck over for christmas and some feelings reemerge. their love might not be dead after all.

3. buck gets dumped on christmas eve and eddie being the amazing friend he is, he tries to cheer him up. christmas has always been better with them together anyway, who needs a stupid girlfriend?

4. buck ends up in a coma and somehow, his neighbor eddie ends up on the hospital bed next to him with buck's entire family thinking they're dating. when buck wakes up with amnesia and he thinks eddie's his boyfriend, things get a little bit more complicated. eddie finds it really hard to not tell the truth when he hasn't ever felt this at home before.

tagging (no pressure): @buddierights @monsterrae1 @rainbow-nerdss @prettyboybuckley @heartshapedvows @spaceprincessem @messyhairdiaz @eowon @exhuastedpigeon @malewifediaz @jeeyuns @eddiebabygirldiaz @bigfootsmom @devirnis @disasterbuckdiaz @wildlife4life @jesuisici33 @tails89 @jamespearce9-1-1 @giddyupbuck @maygrantgf @housewifebuck @911onabc @911-on-abc @bekkachaos @athenagranted @pirrusstuff @gayedmundodiaz @watchyourbuck and anyone else who wants to do it! <33

[borderlineacademia]

putting sinners spoilers under the break so yknow

k I just saw the movie sinners and it is permeating my brain space. now, I have a letterboxd, and I have a spoiler-free review there, but I have some more thoughts, and so im going to put them here. these aren't all my thoughts but they're all im thinking right now.

First of all, music being the thing that brought everyone together. yeah. uh huh. yeah. everyone keeps talking about the dance scene. and I will too. that felt like pure Magic. the way they were able to show that music transcends time, and genres, and people, gold. pure gold. I was sitting in my seat, laughing and crying like a crazy person.

Secondly, the technical aspects of it all. I saw this movie in IMAX. that made a fucking difference. im sorry I don't normally say that, and I don't normally have that mindset. but that made a Fucking Difference. like even the stylistic choices made in this movie, IMAX and film made the most sense. I know it's cool, and trendy nowadays to shoot on film (hell I should know I am a film photography supremacist) but it being on film Added to the overall tone of the movie.

Thirdly, the foley artists did their big one with this. and Ludwig Göransson did his big one with this score. having good sound is always important in a horror movie, but at no point did I feel like I was being assaulted with sound, even with the (VERY FEW BUT STILL THERE) jumpscares. from the soundtrack to the score, everything was perfect and beautiful.

Fourth, the storytelling. the movie took place over the course of One Day. even so, it felt like it was paced thoughtfully. also so many aspects of mythology, and the history of storytelling being mentioned and brought into the story as a whole (GRIOT MENTIONNNNNNNN) and then the usage of the blues to unite essentially the evolution of music (which is really the evolution of storytelling).

Fifth, the casting. I heard that Jonathan majors was supposed to be one of the twins, but I just don't think it would have read so emotionally had they not been identical twins. I don't have a twin. Now, I do have a sister (that is literally my life) but not a twin. and every time twins are in media, there is always a bond that is a little otherworldly. so having it be Michael b Jordan as both, and making them TWINS makes so much more sense, in terms of the emotional punch of this movie (also you can Def tell who is older from jump). Hailee was cast near perfectly, and does what she's supposed to narratively. MILES CANTON OH MY GOD I COULD LISTEN TO YOU SING FOR HOURS (and you're a phenomenal actor I hope I see you in more stuff plz). Also the Michael B Jordan train. I wasn't on it. but I sure as hell am now.

Finally, the sheer AMOUNT of Black Boy Joy that is in this film is enough to make me cry. There are obviously the actual scenes (namely sammie spending time with stack in the car is coming to mind) but it's also the essence of this movie, and I didn't even realize how much of that Black Joy went into it until I thought about that interview that Ryan Coogler gave about film, and about the different kinds there are, and about the film he used to make this camera. He just got to geek out about it, and he loves what he does. And the amount of joy and love he put into it, you can feel it.

tldr: Ryan, you will never read this, but I cannot thank you enough for thes movie. I feel inspired, and I feel rejuvenated. This movie is a work of art. For real.

[zalrb]

PLL 3x19 Review - As Per Anon Request

Glasses! But no glasses. I hate his eyes.

I was like, Aria's outfit is OK today and then I saw the boots

I mean sure.

I guess. I don't know if anything will seem more ridiculous to me than Mona sending messages through the radio at the exact right time or messages being passed to Emily via milk carton.

"Why's Ezra's mom calling me? We're not friends." No, you're a sixteen year old girl, Aria.

Spencer, you didn't even cut the stem off the carrot before putting it in the blender?

I don't know, man, Spencer and Glasses who isn't wearing glasses have an energy.

"STOP QUOTING MONA." "That's Winston Churchill." Same scene:

But Glasses matches Spencer energy. Way more compelling than whatever Spoby is.

LMAO Strip Quiz? Omg, it should've been them.

"You're his father, right?" Yeah but I need space. Dickwad.

"Well for starters, I have a police record." CRIME IS IN THE BLOOD. IT'S IN THE BLOOOOOOOOD.

I'm so over this storyline.

I just feel like they would've been more interesting

Spencer taking off her bra first is a bold move though because then there's really nowhere else to go but her pants and then presumably her top before her underwear. You know, if they played this out all the way.

"That hasn't changed but you have!" Actually, Spencer is acting exactly like she always has. I get that she's meant to be out of control but she's not that different from what she's usually like except that she looks sickly now.

"YOU DON'T HAVE A MONOPOLY ON PAIN SPENCER" when did it become about this? Spencer's not acting nearly as out of control as she should be for Emily to get this way.

"THIS IS THE NEW ME." You're legit not that different. The first time you and Toby broke up or whatever, you kissed Wren. You've taken shortcuts with work before i.e. stealing your sister's essay. Like you're not being Spiral Matt Saracen who actually did a 180 for a few episodes

Aria should be more freaked out that her adult boyfriend has a son.

"I never ASKED you for your help." Every time I see Caleb he's angry about something.

Like he CONSTANTLY looks at Hanna crazy

it's hilarious because he's talking about how he went looking for A out of love for her. Can you LOOK like you love her? Like, you two are the Forwood of PLL, look at her like Tyler would look at Caroline.

Hair!

Of COURSE Wren is here.

Look at Tyler trying to act vulnerable.

How the hell did he end up in foster care?

Aria having narrative weird sort of tension with two brothers and she's NOT the Elena of PLL? Please.

Lmao, this is not heartwarming. Caleb was living in vents because you couldn't get your shit together and he somehow ended up in foster care and you also abandoned him with a babysitter when he was 6. AND you showed up late to this coffee date. You're a terrible person, Caleb's Uncle-Daddy.

The thing about Hair's hair is it's updated 90s white boy heartthrob hair

and that's why Hair's hair hairs.

All of the men have crazy ass eyes on this show but his hair is hairing

I like how Flashback Loser Hair's hair is just Caleb's hair.

Why is Glasses built like Clark Kent.

Lmao Spencer screaming at Mona is so funny because conceptually, I understand why Spencer is having a break but I'm still like ... ... Toby?

ELENA???

And for no other reason than he reads and is there.

This stresses my millennial ass out because if this was Final Destination she'd be decapitated

Emily, hurry UP.

WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING BONES BY MS MR? THE ONE GOOD MUSIC CHOICE THEY'VE MADE.

So. Let me get this straight. HAIR IS IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE HE WAS IN AN ELEVATOR THAT DROPPED. AND ARIA GETS NOTHING??? NOTHING?????? NOTHING?????????? N O T H I N G ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Oh, she will never stop pissing me off.

HE'S IN A NECK BRACE GODDAMMIT.

And his hair still hairs. Damon could never.

Aria's STUPID fucking boots. Go. HOME.

I don't think you understand, I got my hair braided today and my braider wanted to talk about PLL since I'm watching it now and I just kept ranting about how Aria pisses me off. Oh no! She's stuck in her own bedroom! Stuck in her own basement! Wahhhh! FUCK. OFF.

Also how could Hair just disappear in a crowded as hospital in 20 seconds? Because A is a supernatural entity.

[beloved-daydreams]

You know, I've wanted to talk about Taryn for a while because I genuinely think she's such an interesting character (and is SEVERELY underrated my god), so here are a couple of things I sometimes think about in no particular order: (and if I'm mistaken about any of those feel free to tell me!!!)

1) In The Cruel Prince, when Vivi brought Jude and Taryn to a shopping mall in order to cheer them up, Jude noted how Taryn is like a chameleon. That if they had to return to live in the human world, she wouldn't be able to adjust as well while Taryn probably could.

2) Despite people often portraying Taryn as a jealous/envious person (which I believe is partly true of course) that part of her has never seemed that big to me and I'm actually more inclined to say she was often on a fine line between being very driven and very desperate. Just like how Jude wanted to find her place in Elfhame, Taryn wanted to find her own through marriage. (Which, I'd like to add, is a totally valid wish in her situation even if it's not considered to be the more "girlboss" choice to make, out of all the things she has done/chosen to do, I don't think this is one if the things she should be shamed for.)

3) Although she accepted Locke's unfair conditions in order for him to take her as his wife knowing that Jude would inevitably get hurt, I believe she has always felt guilty about it deep down which is ALSO why she was so SO persistent with Jude in TCP. She wanted Jude to stop defying the fae because she didn't want her to get even more hurt than how much she already had (+ knowing that the reason Jude's being targeted in the first place is her fault, which is why she felt so responsible in making her stop her defiance.)

4) I'd also like to acknowledge how humiliating this deal with Locke must've been. People always think about how embarrassing it was for Jude but can you imagine how desperate you must be to let your "boyfriend" date your sister? Taryn saw him as a lifeline, as a way to survive and get some sort of power in Elfhame, and while she definitely didn't do it the right way, let's not pretend that she enjoyed it. Who would enjoy having a man play with you and your sister? This is pure disrespect NOT only towards Jude but also towards Taryn, which I find sad. This "relationship" was abusive and unequal from the very start.

5) Additionally, I think deep down Taryn always knew/understood that Locke doesn't especially care about her. It has been hinted at multiple times in the story that Locke didn't actually care which sister he would find that night he came to look for one of the twins and I don't even believe he properly knew how to differentiate them. Near the beginning of TCP there's a scene where Jude's and Locke's eyes meet (at that point Locke and Taryn are already "together") and he smiles at her, possibly because he might believe she's Taryn, and Taryn seeing that their eyes met, tries to get Jude to forget about it. So she HAS in fact noticed that Locke can't differentiate them at that point yet she keeps "dating" him. Why? Well...

6) The sacrifice line in The Wicked King, when it says Taryn looks more like a sacrifice than a bride. I think this was the "goal" all along. Taryn's whole thing is that she keeps making herself small and pleasant and "fitting into the picture". She is also shown to be more like Oriana than Madoc, Oriana who is known for being very careful and making the most "safe" decisions for her well-being and Oak's (+ always warning Jude and Taryn to not go anywhere during the revels and to not interact with the fae because they're humans and weak, and it would be dangerous for them). Taryn is doing the same with Locke, she wants security and some amount of power like Oriana who chose to be with Madoc for her and Oak's safety. Plus, again, Taryn obviously wants a place where she can belong. So ultimately she is "sacrificing" herself to Locke for that freedom.

7) In the lost sisters, Locke tried to make Taryn take pleasure in cruelty by making her dance with that fae boy then stealing her away and making her see how heartbroken that made the boy feel. And it did work somewhat but I believe the reason why Locke and Taryn didn't work out well together in the end is because Taryn is capable of feeling guilt. Locke and Taryn are shown to be similar in the aspect of "being good at telling stories" except Locke likes to make stories happen around him for his entertainment (Drama, basically). I don't think Taryn has that in her just because of that night in the lost sisters, in fact, that might've not even been the cruelty in itself that gave her pleasure but the power she had and was capable of having over a fae for once, instead of them having power over her.

8) Another reason why Locke and Taryn didn't work well together is because Taryn was unequally putting way more effort in this relationship than Locke was. In TCP when Jude and Locke are "dating", he gives her a tour of his estate and it's all mostly empty because no one gives enough of a shit to renovate any of it. Yet in TQN, when Jude is pretending to be Taryn, we see how his estate has changed for the better. Almost each empty room has been filled with furniture and the wardrobes have beautiful clothes in them. Showing how all of this has obviously been done by Taryn. Plus, why did the servant give "Taryn" (Jude pretending to be Taryn) a fairie fruit for dinner? Is it because Locke has made her eat some in front of his guests and Taryn complied to be seen as the "fun/pleasant" wife who does everything her husband tells her to? So maybe, just like how Jude was poisoning herself to build an immunity against poison, is it possible that Taryn was doing the same with faerie fruit? To build an immunity so she can still be somewhat aware of herself during Locke's maze/garden parties?

9) I think in the end, Taryn is more similar to the Ghost which is why they ended up hitting it off. Both of their thing is "being in the shadows/fitting in". Moreover, the Ghost does feel guilt for killing Oak's mother seeing how uncomfortable he got when Jude uncovered that. Plus he's half-human, so that will be easier to bear for Taryn instead of that bullshit Locke was telling her about "fae loving in a different way" to make her comply with his real-life sized drama club.

Overall, I like how layered all of this is if you look for it BUT I wouldn't say any of those conclusions/assomptions are especially difficult to reach if you're careful. I'm just kind of tired of female characters being seen as one-dimensional compared to their male counterparts who will get "understood" much more easily. My very hot take about TFOTA has always been that the truly gray character/problematic female character of the story is in fact Taryn and not Jude. Since Jude is the protagonist and we're always seeing her pov it's not hard for us to understand or be compassionate with her. Despite her actions being "morally gray" in-story, from the readers' pov, I believe the truly problematic female character here is Taryn since we can't actually see the inside of her head. All we get is pieces of information we have to put together.

[wawamouse]

Oz Sentinel AU

It came up recently during a writing session, and I was thinking about how Sentinel AUs aren't as popular these days but it would be cool to make one for Oz. (Some posts on Sentinel AUs if you're not aware of what it is: x, x, x

Now, obviously since I have that Oz (Miguel/Chico) brainrot, and while the common fanon of Sentinels is that they're 'good' people, I think it would be intriguing to explore a world where Sentinels* exist… and some of them are in prison!

(*I'm not big into the Guide part of Sentinel AUs—I like the idea of Sentinels having a person in their life who can help guide them, but the AUs where being a Guide is something that's in one's DNA like a Sentinel has always been kind of a meh idea… not as exciting as the personalised, free choice of the dynamic. Similarly, I'm not that keen on the Bonded aspect when it takes place before any significant relationship development (i.e, could be a special occurrence later on, but has to be a thing that is emotionally forged, not pre-established).)

My first thought with this trope is that both Chico or Miguel would make an interesting choice for Sentinel, because on one hand, you have Chico who imo runs El Norte lowkey (as a constant presence in the gang with its revolving leaders, you could make an argument that he indeed acts as a protector of his tribe) but then you have Miguel who's like the ousted charismatic leader, and if his powers activated at an early age, maybe in an instance of wanting to protect his single mother or some other back story, it could very well feed into that early cocky Miguel attitude and misguide him. He'd be good for zoning out as well, and then when he's ousted as leader of El Norte… well, what's a sentinel with no tribe? (hint: he eventually finds purpose in protecting his tribe of two…)

So that said, I lean toward the idea of Miguel being a Sentinel. Maximise that angst potential, oh yea~

Some further thoughts/possibilities for discussion (feel free):

Oz and maybe especially so Em City are specially designed to house Sentinels (along with regular humans bc hey, this is still Oz, so we have to have bad ideas!). Idk, maybe something about the walls dampen their heightened abilities. Something something.

Miguel definitely goes berserk in the Hole, which is supposed to help with sensory overload but due to his specific fears and anxieties, definitely does not!

Not Miguel/Chico, but I think other Sentinels in Em City would include Kareem Said (obviously), Dino Ortolani (went feral), Nino Schibetta (helped him amass such influence), and Jefferson Keane (but he only comes online with his powers after he has his come-to-Jesus moment with Said). Of the staff, I like the idea of Sister Pete being a Sentinel, too.

Like I said, I'm not a huge fan of the idea of Guides being an ability, so I think in an AU where Chico still plays the guide figure of this trope, some of that connection begins when Miguel is still leader of El Norte and Chico is actually, idk, aware enough of what's up with Sentinels (beyond the pop culture of it?) to be able to see when Miguel is on the verge of zoning out. And this helps him a lot coming off the heals of the riot, which became a huge sensory overload by the idea and made him catatonic for a while after in the hospital (where he meets Chico!)

There would be another layer of tension, then, in Chico's disagreements with Miguel in early seasons (even with his powers dampened, Miguel is still a bit overpowered, so surely that should help him raise El Norte's reputation!? Why is Miguel squandering their opportunity and hanging back?).

BUT, I think it could also potentially bring an angle of understanding/concern that would do a fix-it of sorts between them that would soften the whole Trying To Kill Miguel angle… Sure, at first he's irritated and disgusted by Miguel wasting his abilities, not being El Norte's Sentinel basically and letting Oz completely neuter him, but maybe he's also wary because he was there when Miguel got thrown into the Hole following the scuffle with Glynn and he knows the guy can get unstable and overwhelmed without something to ground him. HE's trying to mitigate that! But Miguel needs to step up, too! Maybe culturally influenced(?), Chico still has great respect and admiration for Sentinels which means that when El Cid comes in and wants to try and use Miguel as a weapon instead, since he seems to suck so bad as a leader apparently, Chico starts to be like :\ "wait El Cid, no…" and starts coming around to Miguel's side a bit, at least to check on him! His rationale being more like "well, it's no good if we break his brain" because at this point Miguel's, yup, in and out of Solitary, per the canon timeline.

I could see either Chico swooping in to help stabilize Miguel, ultimately, instead of trying to kill him, because his being unimpressed with Miguel's perceived ineffectiveness lessens the more that he can see Miguel is agitated and affected by all that's going on around him. Especially when he LOSES his boxing match? Like come on! That should be impossible with his strength. (Maybe also, Sentinels have an increased susceptibility but also increased tolerance to drugs? Like he can handle more long term but it fucks him uuuup and leads to a greater likelihood of sensory overload, depending on the drug). Instead of running away from Oz, Miguel has Chico flipping on El Cid to help calm him, or maybe he still runs away and Chico meets him in a dream in the spirit world that he begins to walk through more frequently in his stressed out state, or maybe Chico runs with him and out of Oz, Miguel's Sentinel abilities are full force, which helps them totally escape :P

OR, we follow the entire canon timeline and Chico steps up as a calming force for Miguel near the end of the canon timeline especially, after infrequently helping him at other points, and when he ODs, he dies, but Miguel bonds with him to bring him back, because he's the only guy in Oz that Miguel really has left in his mind. And once they're bonded, there's an added protectiveness between them going into post-canon, where Miguel is basically a Sentinel with no tribe or territory, per se, just Chico :)

Further thoughts/elements: Sentinel!Miguel being grounded mostly through little taps and touches that give his enhanced sense something to focus on, with this manifesting in him reaching out for Chico when it’s getting to be too much :3c Chico saying Stop, don’t touch me when he’s losing his shit being related

Grounding sex lol

Miguel most likely to zone out when he’s hyper focused on sound or sight, especially where there is none in the Hole or if it’s lockdown and maybe he’s starting to notice everything around him in a claustrophobic sense.

[ameliesopp]

1: I absolutely love your marquis fic 😍😍😍

2: could you do one where the readers mission to kill the marquis goes wrong

Hey lovely, thanks so much!

Here you go - I don’t love this but eh it’s what came out💀🫶

(Fluff and angst)

Of course I do - Marquis de Gramont x fem!reader [oneshot]

"Can't say I'm not disappointed."

Vincent has his hands in his pockets as he turns around to face you.

Your hand holding the gun is shaking a little, you need the second hand to stabilize it.

"I'm sorry", you say softly.

"They gave you my name."

"They did."

"Why?"

"I didn't get a reason", you say softly.

He scoffs.

"And you said you'd do it?"

"You know better than anyone that I don't have a choice."

"Who are they gonna kill? I thought you didn't have family", he asks, calm as ever.

"We don't have the time for this, Vincent."

Your voice is trembling, you're close to tears.

You don't want to kill him. You really don't.

"Don't you think I at least deserve to know who I'm dying for?"

Vincent tilts his head as he comes closer and you swallow.

"My sister. She's still a kid, Vincent. A kid. They'll kill her and you know it. I can't let them do that."

"Of course not."

He's still coming closer, so you take a step back.

"That's close enough."

He doesn't stop. Every step makes the room feel smaller than before, your chest tightening like a noose around your heart.

"But we both know you're not gonna shoot me, right?", he says smiling.

He's close enough for the barrel to touch his chest.

"I have to", you say indignantly, tears forming in your eyes.

"Are you going to?"

"Yes!"

"Hm."

He musters your face, the trembling lips, the twitch in the cheeks, the tear clouded eyes.

"I don't think you are."

"I'm so sorry, Vincent, you know this is the last thing I wanna do, but-"

"Then don't", he says, almost laughing.

"You know I can keep you safe. And your sister, if I have to."

"No. You can't."

"You should have come to me first."

"They already have her. Otherwise I would have."

"Hm. That is unfortunate", he says. "Well, it's been fun, chérie, but you know I can't just let you shoot me."

"You also don't have a choice", you say, your gun clicking.

Your finger hovers over the trigger.

He swallows.

The cold metal feels heavier than usual in your hand.

Then you hear another click, this time behind you.

"I'm gonna have to ask you to drop the gun."

You freeze, a chill running down your spine.

You close your eyes for a second as tears run down your cheeks.

No. No,no,no,no,no.

"Drop it!", you hear again and slowly open your eyes again.

Vincent places his hands on yours. As shaky as yours are, his are completely steady. Warm and safe, as always.

He looks almost like he feels bad for you.

"I'm sorry, chérie."

"No, you're not", you whisper, voice cracking. "You're the reason this is even happening. I should have never slept with you. I should have never talked to you. I shouldn't have fallen for you. They know. They know and that's why they asked me to do this. It could have been anyone, but they chose me."

You swallow as you it dawns on you how you've been manipulated.

"They don't want you dead. They want me dead. They knew I wouldn't be able to do it. That someone would come save you. And that I'd probably die in the process. Or I'll get killed because I failed. Either way, I don't come out of this alive."

You chuckle a little at your own stupidity.

"I'm so naive. This is my punishment for getting involved with you."

"It's a warning", he says softly. "They're using you as an example."

But he doesn't look happy about it. In fact, he looks quite devastated.

He swallows heavily as he comes up to you to gently cup your face and wipe your tears away, his touch immediately soothing you.

"You should have run away with me when I asked you to", he whispers as he leans his forehead against yours.

"I couldn't leave her behind", you whisper back, more tears falling down your face.

He sniffles as he gently strokes your hair out of your forehead.

"We'll find a way to deal with this. And I'll try anything I can to make sure she is returned home safely. You're both getting out of this alive. I promise."

"How?", you ask through your tears. "They'll kill her as soon as they hear you're not dead."

"No. They need her to make sure you don't disappear.  I'll figure something out."

"Why would you do this for me? I just tried to kill you!", you say indignantly, wiping your face, and he swallows again as he gently caresses your cheeks.

"Because I love you."

You almost forget to cry as you look up at him with big eyes, your breath hitching in your chest, the chaos of the situation suddenly fading into the background. Suddenly it's just you and him, alone in this moment.

"You...you love me?", you ask when you've regained your composure.

"Obviously."

A soft smile tugs at the corners of his lips. "Otherwise you'd be long dead, sweetheart."

[esseastri]

For the curious, my Rook list:

Revira Thorne, mage, elf, romanced Davrin. She was a lightspeed story-mode run that Lisa and I did together so we could avoid spoiling each other, and we both accidentally fell in love with her.

2. Tetalya Mercar, mage, human, romanced Lucanis. Her playthrough is actually finished, as she was supposed to be my personal Canon, but. I love her, but I should have gone with my gut and not done Shadow Dragon first... I just didn't really connect (note her wearing all the Crow apparel... sigh).

3. Vida de Riva, mage, elf, romancing Lucanis. I just finished Weisshaupt with her, and she is rapidly becoming Canon, as she should have been because let's be real, my canon was always going to be a Crow. I am predictable. I, um. Am obsessed with her. To an embarrassing degree.

4. Thova "Laidir" Durwindor, rogue, dwarf, gonna smooch Harding. She's not actually a Lord of Fortune, her faction is Inquisition Agent, it's complicated because I love making shit up for backstories. She is my self-indulgent delight.

5. Renan "Aldwir" Devarin, mage, elf, romancing Bellara, possibly. Also deeply Not Canon. Just entirely Not Canon. She's an Inquisitor, but like hell is anyone else tracking down Solas while she still draws breath, so now she's Rook.

6. Dovari Thorne, rogue, dwarf, is romancing Harding. She's on the big city Choice because I have no self-control, a LOT of Feelings about both Dwarves and Wardens in this game, and a deep need to get her to Weisshaupt.

7. Descence Laidir, mage, qunari, will eventually romance Taash. This pic does not properly show off how teal they are. They're not even out of the tutorial yet, but I am OBSESSED with their design.

8. Sabina Ingellvar, mage, human, gonna kiss Emmrich. She was never meant to exist. I blame ek johnston and my sister. Help me.

9. Serasio de Riva, warrior, human, will either romance Neve for the city Choice drama (betrayer of his home! for LOVE!) OR he will kiss Bellara as originally planned because she deserves some romantic nerd to come sweep her off her feet. I have no idea which way it'll go, but I do know: Boy Pretty.

10. Evithali Aldwir, mage, elf, will romance Davrin and then send him on the distraction team because she's for the Nightmare Difficulty run and the Nightmare Runs always have Terrible Decisions in them. I will be remaking her on the PS5 when I've got a free slot though, no way I'm doing nightmare on PC, so this might not be her final form. We shall see. But she is Last on the list, gotta do all my easy and normal plays first!

[astrylx]

Supernatural S.5 Ep.1 - Sympathy for the Devil - Liveblog

I've decided I quite like this all in one post format for liveblogging, especially since it clogs down my dashboard less and it's probably less annoying to people going through the Supernatural tag when they don't have to see multiple of my posts.

Before I get into my actual liveblogging, I want to just discuss Supernatural. I am nearing the end of my initial journey, as my plan is to focus on up to season 5. I will probably end up finishing the whole show, just not with the same level of care or enthusiasm, or critical thinking as I have approached the rest of the show. I have been recommended by people that if I'm doing a first watch, I should finish the show though.

I've been quite enjoying Supernatural so far. I could poke at flaws I've had with the show, because they definitely exist, but I don't feel a need or a want to. So far, the show is mostly solid. Yes, it's full of typical CW-ness, but as I've watched CW shows before, it's easy to ignore. For someone who has always had a fondness for paranormal and reads religious philosophy and theological textbooks for fun, this show has been good at feeding into my type of nerdiness. There are moments where I will sit there watching the show like "Yeaaaaa that's not right," but there are also moments where I can go on a rant about how intrigued I am by directorial and writing choices from a mythological or theological perspective. It's nice. As much as I enjoy lore aspects of the show, I do always come back to Dean and Sam. The scenes that shine the most are the scenes that focus on their relationship as brothers. It's so impactful to see, and I adore it. There are a lot of times I see my relationship with my own sister through them in ways not many pieces of media I've seen have been able to capture. I'm really hoping that continues throughout the show.

I could say more, but then this would feel more like a Supernatural review and not a liveblog so!

Liveblog Starting HERE! -----------

I like that how instead of a time skip, we are opening directly where we left off in the S.4 season finale, with Lucifer exiting the gate. I love the framing of the light bursting through the church doors as Sam and Dean try to escape.

Oh I absolutely love the switch to the Looney Tunes cartoon with the devil, it reminds me a lot of analogue horror techniques! How did Sam and Dean get on a plane though? They got transported to a plane above where they were?

Them switching through the news stations all giving bad news reminds me a lot of how it feels like to check the news today. I can't tell if Dean is upset with Sam or not. I don't like that I can't tell.

Oh no. The house is covered in wreckage and blood. Cas and the Archangel fought. I'm assuming Cas is in a lot of trouble. If he's alive he's injured, and I wouldn't be shocked if Heaven is punishing him.

I love a good Chuck jumpscare!

Cas exploded? I mean I know he's not dead but like- And that means Jimmy is gone too, doesn't it? That makes me very sad. RIP Jimmy you deserved so much better than you got. You didn't even want to continue being a part of this, you only did it so that your daughter wouldn't have to.

I hate Zachariah, he makes me so uncomfortable. Also don't wink at Sam, don't call him Sammy, no don't DO that. I will slap you. Didn't you daddy raise you better? (I know the answer is no)

Dean is bleeding? Oh he uh- made the- thing I don't know the word for that Anna and Cas did. He called Cas his friend... My heart. :(

Dean saying "say this is any other hunt." The thing is, though, it isn't. It's different on so many levels. And, not to be an asshole, but y'all caused it. Dean started it with the first seal breaking and Sam ended it with the last. Yes I get why to get their head in the game they have to treat it like a regular hunt, but I fear if they do they're not going to be fully prepared.

This dude in the bed is gonna be the vessel, yes no? I thought it was supposed to be Sam but I guess I was wrong. I don't like being wrong.

OH GOOD LORD NO- NOT SOMEONE WRITING WINCEST FANFICTION! I AM! UNCOMFORTABLE! Supernatural show writers it only gets worse when you acknowledge it stop acknowledging it for my sake this is the second time in like 5 episodes. SAMLICKER??? WHAT?? MORETHANBROTHERS.NET??? I'm choking rn. Genuinely, I starting coughing. The way she's pressing her hand to his chest I am uncomfortable. "And you're- not what I pictured-" icanticanticanticant.

THE MICHAEL SWORD?? OH NOW THIS IS GETTING GOOD- I have a feeling Michael will be connected to the Winchesters in some way further because 1) the sword they're supposed to get and 2) Michael's connection with Jacob, Isaac, and Moses. I already know he will be important in general to the lore of the show because of his role in theology.

BOBBY!! I'm actually a Bobby Superfan.

Sam blaming himself for everything. I just want to hug him. I wish I could tell him he was wrong, but I really can't. Bobby's reaction- I was not expecting that I was not expecting that. The way he moves from standing higher than Sam to on his level and in his face. The look in his eyes. The words he's saying. "I want you to lose my number" I hope you don't mean that Bobby, I really hope so.

I am once again seeing parallels with John. The rebuking of the father figure directed at Sam as Dean stands there and watches. Not that I'm blaming Dean or anything, just pointing out what I see.

See, more reasoning that I've been seeing a deeper connection with the Winchester family and the demons. John had the sword? I mean that's fucking insane but I'm also not surprised at all if you catch my drift.

BOBBY IS POSESSED? I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT BUT IT MAKES SENSE! NORMAL BOBBY WOULD NEVER HAVE TREATED SAM LIKE THAT!

MEG! IT'S MEG! I LOVE MEG! I MISSED HER SO MUCH! MY NUMBER 1, I WAS HOPING FOR YOUR RETURN!

I feel like we completely brush over how much Dean is basically assaulted in this show. Meg just now kissing him is far, far from the first time. I don't see anyone talk about it, and I really think it deserves to be mentioned.

Bobby fighting the demon off- I love him- I think he's going to die though.

HE KILLED HIMSELF- HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF SO HE WOULDN'T KILL DEAN.

Bobby already knows what it is like to kill someone because of a demon. He killed his wife. He views Sam and Dean like his children. He can't hurt them. He'd rather die himself than hurt him. He will take the demon out, even if it means killing himself, to protect them. My heart-And Dean doesn't even have time to grieve right now because he has to protect himself.

Dean is the Michael Sword? Okay, Wasn't expecting this, but WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE WINCHESTERS BEING CONNECTED? WHAT DID I SAY? And that's also why the angels want him.

wait

wait wait

i get it

Dean is meant to be the vessel of Michael, isn't he? That's why the angels want him. That's why he's the Michael sword.

I WAS RIGHT! I WAS RIGHT! I FEEL SO PROUD!

Castiel here to protect Dean and Sam yay! Very happy to see it! God is protecting Castiel? Is that what I'm hearing?

Sarah being the name of Nick's wife and who Lucifer is taking the form of is so interesting to me, with Sarah being the Matriarch and all.

The way Lucifer is talking to Nick- And Nick said yes...

I'm glad Bobby didn't actually die. I was expecting him to.

Bobby telling Sam he's not cutting him out- I love him I love him I love him. Bobby Singer Supremacy.

This scene between Dean and Sam hurts me so much I genuinely can't find it to add anything to it, I know they're going to end up going separate ways here. Everything is changing here. I feel so much for them both.

Okay. Well. That was. A lot. Um...

[changingplumbob]

hey, 4-6, 28, 43, 44 questions for Reece 👀

resource

*does warm up arm stretches*

My boy Reece!

What is your sim’s ethnicity?

Reece is your basic average white person with no culture (I feel like I can say this as I'm also a basic average white person with no culture [also being white is not a culture and if someone says that they're probably a racist to some degree]). In my lore his family is from France way back when (obviously anyone who has strong ties to a European country is not a basic white person) but I haven't had much chance to do much with this fact. It'll probably come into play more when he and his siblings get around to having kids (because let's sing ALL the french nursery rhymes)

Does your sim have any nicknames?

Yes but also no. Samir has called him Blondie since way back when they first met (yes Samir likes blondes). Now he's a YA Samir has also started to call him Gorgeous, this is a good pg choice if they are around others. When they're alone and Samir is feeling romantic he calls Reece a good boy. When they woohoo he also calls him REDACTED and REDACTED because Reece does enjoy his kinks.

Outside of his relationship though he does not have any nicknames. His family have never shortened his name when talking to him, and all his friends call him Reece. Some people's names don't get the nickname treatment, like Devin or Adam.

Do they have a job? If so what is it?

He is applying for University at the moment. He may be a happy forest hippie but he is a genius. He will be doing a biology degree (just like his older sisters Charlie and Keira) and it looks like he'll be able to get into the distinguished degree.

I think his ideal job would be a forest ranger. Using his smarts to make sure the local flora and fauna is maintained you know. But this is not an option in game... If you know of a mod that adds this career though let me know! His second choice is to be a doctor (yeah he's so stupidly brainy the medical field is his second choice)

Does your sim like books? If so what’s their favourite one?

He wasn't always a fan of books, he's been an outdoor lover since childhood, but now that he's a geek he does like to read a bit. For non fiction he'd go with a book talking about plants. Fiction... he is a fan of werewolf romance novels. I do not read them so I can't tell you his favourite but it'll be whatever one has the most steamy parts.

Bonus: There is a 100% chance that Samir will lightly restrain Reece and read him the steamy bits with sporadic kisses until Reece is begging for woohoo. Maybe I should make this a scene in their next chapter? I don't know how the screenshots would go but it would be fun!

What is a wish your sim has?

General gameplay would have me believe he wants a kid. Plot wise he wishes that they can figure out what happened to Samir's parents so that Samir can heal (as much as you can heal with your parents having being butchered). He has already achieved the Inner Peace lifetime aspiration and is working on the Zen Guru one.

What is a flaw your sim has?

He gossips all the time, probably about things he shouldn't (but he's not telling anyone Samir is a werewolf unless Samir says it's okay). He is indecisive, he often thinks of many choices and options but will be slow to take action. This is where Samir's tendency to be rash can balance out their efforts.

That was fun, I love you really Reece!

[casino-lights]

7, 12, & 17 for Lidia ❤️❤️

god I love writing codex entries. especially for crows. they're all so unserious. thank you for the ask!!!

7. someone describing a time your OC hurt them 

House Valisti is one of the more unremarkable Crow Houses, certainly. At least here in Rialto, they have neither the reputation of House de Riva nor the success of House Cantori. Still, if the rumors are true and there is a Valisti in Treviso, I do hope your husband has taken the liberty of hiring more guards for your grounds. Though I am loathe to recall it, the Santuono affair in Antiva City left unmistakable scars upon my mind and I shudder to think that your city may now be home to the same Valisti I encountered that night. Though my hand trembles as I put my memory to the page, you have asked many times and I do not wish to deny you the tale any longer.

The night of Santuono's ball, a woman whose face I did not see but whose delicate voice still lingers in my nightmares accosted me as I was enjoying a moonlit walk in the gardens outside the ballroom. The evening meal had not sat quite right with me, I must confess, and my husband remained indoors, so I made the foolish mistake of leaving alone. I was held at knifepoint and interrogated as to the identity of the man I had been dancing with before the meal, and any details he revealed in our conversations, but none of what I had learned about him seemed to satisfy her. She made me vow, on penalty of death, not to speak with him or his associate again, and not to tell a soul at the ball that I had spoken with her. She left as quickly as she arrived, but she sliced a small V into my palm, deep enough to bleed but not to scar, and told me it was a reminder to never cross House Valisti or make her regret her mercy.

I do not know what occurred at the ball after that. I gathered my husband and we departed immediately. I never saw Santuono that night, nor did I cross paths with the gentleman the assassin was asking about. A pity, as he was as handsome as he was charming, and my husband and I had been quite eager to meet him in our suite that night.

- From a letter sent by Lady Amanti of Rialto to her sister in Treviso.

12. your OC overheard while drunk

A letter in Viago's crisp hand:

Teia,

I will not "look after" Lidia. I am already "looking after" Illario. I cannot be in two places at once, and I will not be putting them in the same room. I encountered Lidia last night after two bottles of wine and she had some choice words about him. "I should have slit his throat when I had the chance and saved myself the trouble" was uttered more than once. It seems the two of them share the trait of repeating themselves incessantly while drunk. She also stated that she intends to "strangle him the second he fucks up again" and said that "he doesn't deserve the air he breathes, the food he eats, or the water he drinks." Additionally, she called the First Talon "a cowardly old hag who would rather pit her boys against each other than see them succeed, because the second they stop competing with each other they'll see it was her they should have been fighting all along." She then looked me in the eyes, worryingly sober for the briefest of moments, and said, "this is why the Talons are always at each other's throats. If their leader turns her own House into a cockfighting ring, what example is there for the rest of us to follow?"

Whether these are her true feelings or simply the nonsensical rambling of a drunken woman, I leave to your judgement. I put her words to paper only as my plea to have someone else watch her, if she must be watched at all. We really should just loan her to Rook and be done with it.

Yours,

Viago

17. a description of your OC’s family by a future historian

The resurgence of the Dellamortes is a fascinating subject. Caterina Dellamorte lost all five of her children and six of her eight grandchildren to a rival House, as we know, and it was thought to be the end of the family entirely when Lucanis Dellamorte was presumed to be an abomination and Illario Dellamorte was disgraced. However, following the Battle of Minrathous, they seemingly began working as a team, each taking on different responsibilities within the leadership of the Antivan Crows. Of particular interest, especially when studying the way the family resurfaced after near-total extinction, are their wives. Lucanis' wife, once known as Rook, was a legend amongst the Mourn Watch and brought several of her Nevarran traditions to Antiva. Perhaps even more strangely, Illario married an elven woman, Lidia, due to her surprise pregnancy with their first child. No records of previous marriages between an elf and a human have been found in the Dellamorte family tree, so it seems Illario was the first to risk their bloodline and reputation in such a way. Despite all odds, the name Lidia Dellamorte is revered amongst the Crows alongside such legends as Andarateia Cantori, the Demon of Vyrantium, and - though he remains a controversial figure in Crow history - Zevran Arainai. The Dellamorte family currently flourishes in Antiva, and all members trace their lineage directly back to either Illario or Lucanis. Thanks to their wives, both elven blood and strong magic now run in the Dellamorte blood, and those who descend from one of Illario's two children usually bear pointed ears while those from Lucanis' side of the family tend to have strong connections with the Fade.

- From the foreword of The People's Royalty: A Study of Antiva's Dellamorte Family.