#[ will there be a difference between a dragon's and a human's emotional responses

[avalior]

a proper thorough version of this is on the way, but kalec here is canon divergent from ‘war crimes’.

[iceinwhb]

Whb iceberg.

We start from curiosities, data that we can realize at first sight and descend to the murky ones. I clarify that I will also attach non-canon theories.

• In hell, a hundred years have passed since Solomon disappeared, while, on earth, since 931 BC.

• Not only Solomon, but also God and Lilith.

• Satan has a barcode on his arm, and sleep with his eyes open.

• Death does not exist in Paradise Lost, because of Gamigin.

• Beel left Abyssos since Solomon's disappearance.

• Orias will never stop consuming souls. Youth is never eternal, and by obtaining Levi's soul, it would only stop it for a while.

• Satan has confirmed that he has lost his home.

• Angels can also be humanized.

(Theory)

• Ark Academy and whb are connected.

• Solomon also had to drink human semen to stay in hell.

• Demons are infertile. Except for kings, because they have enough power not to use Lilith.

• All six deadly sins are needed to defeat Lucifer.

• Demons and angels can change shape. It influence their emotions.

• Bael tries to be a copy of Beel. He must follow the shape-shifting, from hair dyeing to limb mutilation, because he made a deal.

• Minhyeok is no longer human. Due to Mc's deal with Satan, nothing can kill him while it is in effect.

(Theory)

• Gamigin and Serenade will never see each other again. Since they reside in different realities.

(Theory)

• Beel wants to eat Mc.

(Theory)

• Morax's skill. Absorbs wounds, even if they are fatal.

• Beel has eaten angels.

• Solomon can possess the bodies where his soul resides.

• In hell, crimes of all kinds can be committed, without being punished. This also applies in heaven.

• Bael's comic. He almost died for impersonating Beel. Still can't explain what happened.

• Solomon has all the filias. Even the most questionable ones.

• Angels have orgies.

• Christmas cards. It's sexual abuse.

• Leviathan is the first, and the one who has forced Mc the most to have sex.

• Beel has died thousands of times because of angels.

• Death lines. Canonically they die in battle.

• The Glassyalabolas filia.

• Solomon knows what happened to Lilith and God.

• Fruit of the tree of knowledge.

• God and Lilith are dead.

(Theory)

• The real Gamigin committed suicide.

• Ronove is going to take the fingers from Mc's corpse.

• Leviathan was going to end Solomon's lineage.

• Kamikaze angels.

• Jjok was abandoned in the forest to die.

• Buer, Morax and Marbas have died hundreds of times.

• Satan has anger problems that can kill Mc.

• Mammon and Valefor could kill Mc by accident if they apply the wrong force.

• Angelification is so painful that it breaks a demon's mind.

• Mc has a high probability of dying if ignores where may or not be in Paradise Lost. This implies that Lucifer can kill anyone with just a voice command.

• Demons were the first to experiment with angels.

• The massacres of the angels. This includes the demonic, angelic race and the near extinction of dragons.

• Andre's past. (He carried his twin's head for days.)

• The archangels will never get the punishment they deserve.

• Leviathan and Orias' constant abuse on the farm.

⛧✃✃✃⛧✁✁✁⛧✃✃✃⛧✁✁✁⛧

Does anyone else have any interesting or shady data?

It took me a day to gather information in my head, but that's it! I appreciate knowing that the shape-shifting is different, between angels, and Beel's camp.

Edit: Yeah, as soon as I realize my man is a walking red flag, it's confirmed that Levi baby never tries to have a forceful response from Mc, or tries to get her to ask him first.

[dragon-ascent]

Hey uh... *tugs at your shirt* my mother said that you can tell me about how Morax/Zhongli is mischaracterised with attributes from a western dragon and what attributes he'd actually have as an eastern dragon if it's fine with yours... (please say yes I love hearing people yap)

Tell your mother she brought you to the right place! Keep in mind I'm not the messiah of dragon mythology; but everything is nonetheless based on medium-levels of research & informal conversations with Chinese friends of mine. Still, feel free to take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Let's start with traits belonging to many Western dragons, which people tend to mistakenly attribute to Zhongli when it comes to his portrayal in fan work or even discourse:

Cruel & domineering: I see this a LOT especially with like, Morax/Rex Lapis portrayals where he's this arrogant man asserting his dominance over his nation (or even his partner!!!) in quite forceful ways, even taking human sacrifices in exchange for peace. Pls guys, he wishes not for dominion, but he cannot watch the common folk suffer. Also, there's a difference between being dominant and being domineering! Yes, he's established his dominance, but with absolutely no arrogance or cruelty.

Brutish: I know Venti seems to say that he's a blundering, brutish buffoon in his voicelines, but in CN he simply says the Geo lord is a blockhead who doesn't understand human emotion - which at the time is fair! Zhongli was still learning about the intricacies of humanity, learning while ruling. More importantly, there is no mention of him being a brute in the original line, and nothing in the in-game text pertaining to Liyue history supports the claim. So, if you see someone claim he doesn't care for humanity, kindly punt them on my behalf.

Self-centered: A pet peeve of mine, really. Although many Western dragons are seen as selfish and greedy, putting their wants above all, we see that Zhongli is the exact opposite. He puts his people before himself, always focusing on protecting the land, even if it means he will have to make choices that will hurt him, such as having to seal his close companion Azhdaha (and possibly even slaying Guizhong with his own hands, but that's another can of worms which I won't get into because canon has not touched upon this yet).

Now, there are some characteristics of Western dragons that can be applied to him since they're common traits in Eastern dragons as well:

Being unforgiving: Western ones might be more vicious in this regard, but it's mellowed into his duty as the God of Contracts. We know that there is no mercy for people who breach contracts, regardless of whether they are friend or foe. In this regard specifically, we can say that he is indeed unforgiving.

Cunning tactician: Yes! Zhongli is a master strategist, outwitting foes and coming out on top. Yes, we hear about his sheer strength warding off adversaries, but he also uses his wit to his advantage. You can read one such story of his in the teapot furnishing description for the item "Dainty Fists."

Now let me highlight some Eastern dragon traits, some of which are canon to Zhongli's personality, and some of which I feel should be more popular when it comes to creating fan content of our beloved Li:

Wise: Even at baseline, I think we can all tell that Zhongli is a wise and philosophical individual. His wisdom is the result of the accumulation of millennia galore, and most of his appearances in-game involve imparting valuable advice or knowledge to other people. Besides this, it's important to note that before his 'death,' he was responsible for carrying out administrative tasks for the nation (as mentioned by Keqing). He provided commercial & fiscal suggestions every year during the Rite of Descension based on his own observations throughout the year, analyzing the best way forward for the next year to ensure a thriving nation.

Possessive of art & knowledge: While Western dragons are often portrayed hoarding gold and other worldly things, Eastern dragons have an appreciation for art & literature, collecting precious stories and tasteful artifacts that reflect civilization's progress. This is something Zhongli does, too, purchasing wonderfully-crafted items made by the people he's nurtured for centuries, and listening to stories.

Love of humanity: Eastern dragons LOVE humankind, as opposed to their Western counterparts. They even transform into humans of different cultures to try and understand them firsthand. Zhongli is known to shapeshift - I hope to write some pieces soon where he briefly assimilates into other nations' cultures to get closer to them! But other than that, it's safe to say he's taken on various human forms within Liyue itself to get to know his people on a deeper, more personal level.

Bonding with the special someone: Now here's where I get a bit more self-indulgent. Eastern dragons, when they find a human they really really like, will introduce this lovely soul to their vast aforementioned collection of art. The dragon may like to share stories with this beloved person, and even calligraph new ones together. Zhongli loves telling stories of course, but just think how wonderful it would be to sit with him, brush in hand, as he tenderly guides you to create a narrative together on carefully-maintained parchment saved for this very occasion - perhaps outlining anecdotes of his, or even adventures of yours. Things he'd like to immortalize on paper. This sharing of art is a very special thing for dragons to do, so it's practically a once-in-a-millennium activity for them!

[nolongerapileofashprobably]

Okay so my genuine thoughts on the final scenes of Totk

So having Link go through the final ‘dungeon’ and wind up exactly where we started the game, with those rocks we ACHED to break bc it was instinct, only to get that satisfaction after EVERYTHING and to see that Zelda’s fate was foretold millennia ago. Turning into a dragon WAS her only choice. And for good reason.

Ganondorf’s fight. WOW. That was genuinely so beautifully done. He ALSO dodges how Link does. To have Ganondorf dodge something, the entire action moving in slow motion, only to then have LINK do the same the next move?? Poetic cinema people. And the champions arriving 🥹 only to then have them all fucking thrown to the side when he takes in his doubles to regain his own strength? Absolutely insane and hands down my favorite boss fight in the entirety of the Zelda series. Yeah. That’s how much I enjoyed it as a player.

Can we also just talk about how concerned everyone got and how they yelled his name when he was taken from the underground??

And THEN the final fight with Ganondorf swallowing a secret stone and becoming a dragon. It brings Zelda’s sacrifice to light. She did it out of selflessness and love. He did it out of selfishness and hatred. GOD do I love characters that juxtapose each other. Zelda is a girl who was given the responsibility of a power she never wanted while Ganondorf is a megalomaniac who sought the destruction of peace because of his own selfish desires. Seeing the difference between them in that final fight as two dragons… it was EVERYTHING.

Zelda’s dragon form was tiny compared to Ganondorf’s dragon form. She protects. He attacks.

It’s so beautiful to see how Zelda, who isn’t mentally awake, first instinct are to save Link. She quickly maneuvers so she can not only juke out Ganondorf, but also then save Link who was flung into the air in the process. Link clutching onto her dragon fur? Or whatever?? And understanding that while the sages are all still underground, he is not alone in the sky. She’s going to be by his side this entire time.

For someone who was alone the majority of the last game… this was so fucking emotional and beautiful to see.

Them lowkey explaining calamity Ganon by also using dragons this game was a really nice consistency touch btw I was digging how focal dragons were to the entire game this time around.

And then the final bit. That SCENE. Rauru and Sonia channeling their power through Link, who was incredibly confused before he realized what they must be doing, and got SO determined. Turning Zelda back and even getting his own hand back in the process??? Insane to see. Zelda was so so loved by Rauru and Sonia despite only spending a short amount of time with them. And that just makes my heart hurt when we consider what actually happened.

And when Link falls unconscious, which is completely logical when you think about the fight he just went through, the altitude he was at, and channeling enough magic that it reversed the effects of an all powerful secret stone???? Yo he went through a LOT!

And he wakes up, already on the alert bc man is freefallin only to then realize that Zelda is back and she’s also falling. And she’ll hit the ground a lot sooner than he would at the rate they’re going.

Link couldn’t reach Zelda in the beginning of this entire thing. But this time? This time he not only reaches her hand, but he pulls her in close, shields her head as best as he can, and prepares them to hit the water. Once they do, he carries her out of the water. Gentle, oh so gently, laying her down and kneels over her as she begins to wake up.

And one of the first thing Zelda does as she wakes up is to take him in and looks him over to see if HE’S hurt. Just like she did in the beginning of the game. And everything click. They won. He defeated Ganondorf and she was granted the impossible by Rauru and Sonia to turn back into a human.

And Zelda IMMEDIATELY rambles on about everything. About how much has happened. How much she has to tell him.

And finally. Finally. She looks at him and smiles so fucking gently that it drives me INSANE with how much she obviously adores him, and says, “I’m home, Link. I’m home.”

Because home is right there. Right by his side. In this Hyrule that they’ve been rebuilding together. The one they lived the past half decade ish together in a house Link bought and traveled across Hyrule no matter what the issue was. In the Hyrule where she is so beloved by everyone.

Zelda is home.

[bokettochild]

The Chain and Magic

Your magic reflects you more than your body.

Wild's magic screams Death to most people. Unnatural, Broken, Wrong. This thing should not be here. This is a thing, his magic doesn't label him as Hylian anymore, he's not exactly Hylian anymore anyways, so why would it? Instead, magic users see a hylian but their magic will scream at them that that Thing is dressed as a hylian but it is Something Else piloting a hylian.

Four's magic also says Broken. Shattered, pieces, not quite right. He's confusing because he's in pieces, but the pieces don't fit together anymore. They look like they could, but once you look closer you realize that they're just slightly Off and while you could force the pieces together, it still wouldn't Fix him

Twilight's says Darkness. Warmth and love and darkness. His magic feels like a person holding you while you sleep. It's got a dangerous side to it, but not scary. Like, yes, he is a big doggy, he will watch over you but yes, he will bite if you pull his tail, so just don't pull his tail, okay?

Sky's is terrifying. He's pretty and he's sweet, but magic users take one look at him and wonder why a god is standing in front of them and if he's going to smite them? His magic says Strength, Courage, Protection. Once you know what he's protecting, you avoid that thing like the plague lest you upset him

Time's magic is Twisted. His is Wrong in ways that make magic users flinch. He's not like Wild, where his magic says "I shouldn't be here" or Four who says "I'm not all myself, I'm many of myself" Time's magic screams "I am more than myself but I cannot tell where I end and where the foreign begins". To magic users, Time is like a human centipede, or Frankenstein; there is just pieces of him and other Things all sewn together by magic in a mess that Should Not Be. It's kinda gross, for magic users, to be around him honestly

Hyrule's magic is strangely tame in comparison. He's fae, he has fae magic. Yes, the Triforce adds some weird crap, but he's just like, super powerful Fae. He is like a troublesome child someone dared to let drive a car; he has resources to end the world, and while he's not inherently bad, you're not sure if you can trust him not to do it "for fun". Like yes, Hyrule is responsible, but that fae part of him is always screaming for trouble.

Warriors' magic is Dangerous. Unlike Sky who is Blatantly Can Kill You, Wars' magic feels like a sleeping dragon. It's not going to hurt you. Yet. It's strong, but it isn't doing anything right now. Get him on the battlefield though and he is Dominating, Magic is surging and threatening and screaming. He has two settings, sleeping and Kill You and there's nothing in between.

Wind's magic is the quietest. His magic is soft, a whisper. It's not because he's weak by any means, but more because his magic is soft and natural and it's just... the wind. The waves. Granted, it can get violent, but unlike the others, Wind has excellent control over his magic because He Has To. the wind needs to keep going even when he's in shock, it has to stay steady even if he's angry, he Can't let it get too strong because it'll blow the ship into danger. Wind's magic is reminiscent of a dancer, fluid and graceful, controlled, but strong.

Legend's magic on the other hand is the most ungodly combination of what the actual crap? Where Time's is like someone took so much and stuffed it together, Legend's is like a house with many windows, and each time you look in a window, there's something different. His magic isn't blatantly Wrong, but it does flicker in and out as New Things. Monster magic? yeah, he's got that. Hylia's magic? Oh, yeah, you can sense that when his emotions are running high. Dream magic? dude is steeped in the stuff, but you have to look to find it. Death magic? Oh yeah better believe it. you touch that lightning scar that runs all over his left side and it's like Death herself is holding your hand. Dude's magic is screwy, but not Scary. His magics are all kinda only see-able by those who are similar, so it chameleons around with people so they can't ever sense anything strongly unless their magic is the same. In which case Oh! Same! Friend! Magic users (ahemHyruleahem) love him to death because he just feels Familiar, but if they could see how Much and Many magics there is, they'd be a little scared.

[himboblackdragon]

Catalog of LBFaD drama name origins

Mythology -> book -> drama

Dongfang Qingcang / 东方青苍: The origins of this name are hotly contested, and to be honest the only hypothesis I remember is the Azure Dragon of the East. East being "Dongfang," and the dragon itself being alternatively called "Qing long" and "Cang long." (x)

Haotian Tower / 昊天塔: The tower where DFQC was imprisoned in, in both media. There's no Haotian Tower in mythology, but "Haotian God" is one of the names of the emperor of heaven. (x)

Ninth You / Jiuyou / 九幽: One name for the mythological netherworld, the capital city of the Moon Tribe in the drama. The capital city of the devil tribe in the book. (x)

Sansheng / 三生: The name comes from the "Three Lives Stone" (sansheng shi 三生石), which represents a lot of things in Chinese tradition, but probably the most salient being a rock in the underworld near the Oblivion River. In the novel universe, the rock is graffitied with the names of the ones the dead passing by wished to see most. The stone seems to have transformed into human form in the first book of the series, succinctly titled Sansheng, which tells the love story between Sansheng and Moxi, the novelverse God of War. (x)

Siming / 司命: A folk god, and usually male, who oversees human fates. In the CLJ novel she is responsible for writing the Fate Books. (x)

Xirang / 息壤: Mythological self-expanding-and-growing soil. Although it plays a key role in the book, it only appears in a throwaway line in the drama, when Changheng suggests building XLH a new body out of it. (x)

Mythology/literature/history -> drama

Chengying Sword / 承影剑: One of the ten famous swords of China, in historical and literary tradition. From the Spring and Autumn Period. (x)

Chonghua / 重华: Chonghua is the given name of a legendary emperor of China. (x)

Haotian Matrix / 昊天阵: "Haotian God" is one of the names of the emperor of heaven. (x)

Hellfire / 业火: A Buddhist concept, the fires of karma. (I'm pretty vague on what it actually is and where it exists.) In the book, DFQC's powerful fire is usually just called "raging flames" (lieyan 烈焰), and it's red instead of blue. (x)

Liyuan / 澧沅: Li and Yuan are two of the four big rivers that flow through Hunan. Coincidentally, also the names of two of the four rivers that flow into Shuiyuntian, that flooded when DFQC broke the pearl. (x)

Love Tree / Seven-Emotions Tree / 七情树: The name "seven-emotions tree" comes from the phrase "seven emotions and six desires," (qi qing liu yu 七情六欲). The exact emotions and desires this refers to differ based on school of thought. (x)

Lord Dong / 东君: A deity often paired with Yunzhong-jun as one of the two primordial gods. Seems to be a sun deity. His name literally means "Lord East." (x)

Lord Yunzhong / 云中君: A god from mythology, often paired with Lord Dong as one of the two primordial gods. Sometimes interpreted as a woman. (x)

Oblivion River / Wang Chuan / 忘川: A river in the land of the dead. To cross it, you must first drink a soup that makes you forget your past lives. (x)

Qu Shui / 曲水: Literally "winding waters," the name of Xiao Run's pageboy might come from the upper-class drinking game "Qu Shui Liu Shang" 曲水流觞, in which players "wait by a winding stream and compose poems before their cups full of rice wine float down to reach them." His nickname Ququ'r is phonetically very similar and means cricket. (x x)

Return to Ruin Realm / Guixu Zhi Jing / 归墟之境: "Guixu" was a place far to the east, that every body of water eventually emptied into. The characters break down into "return (to)" and "ruins." The "Zhi Jing" makes it "Region of Guixu" or "Guixu Area." (x)

Tai Sui / 太岁: A folk deity, but not necessarily evil. (x)

Xuanwu God / 古神灵玄武: Xuanwu is a constellation representing a tortoise-snake spirit. (x)

Xunfeng / 巽风: His name most likely comes from the "xun" trigram of the Eight Trigrams, of which the element is wind, or "feng." (x)

Yingzhao / 英招: Legendary creature that has the body of a horse, the face of a man, stripes like a tiger, and wings of a bird. Not like our waddling ball of fur at all. (x)

Yunmeng Lake / 云梦泽: One of the largest lakes in China in ancient times, now mostly nonexistent. (x)

Book -> drama

Bone Orchid / Gu Lan / 骨兰: It has more of a dried-vine aesthetic in the book.

Chidi Nüzi / 赤地女子: The god of war of the heavenly realm, in both media. DFQC's nemesis and the object of A'Hao's obsession.

Dayu Battalion / 大庾兵: Only mentioned once in the drama, along with the Tieyu Battalion 铁羽兵, as forces that Shangque has mobilized in response to Xunfeng's insurrection. Dayu's the name of DFQC's adorable (to me) pet sky/sea serpent.

Destruction of Heaven / Ruins of Ten Thousand Heavens / Wan Tian Zhi Xu / 万天之墟: A formless place where Siming can be found, in both the drama and the book. The book series further specifies that the Destruction of Heaven sits above the Three Realms and the Endless Desolate City (无极慌城 wu ji huang cheng) below.

Dieyi / 蝶衣: Ronghao's loyal right-hand woman is also present in the book.

Fairy Execution Platform / Zhu Xian Tai / 诛仙台: Where Changheng is to be executed after talking back to Yunzhong. In the book this was a platform over a mass of the book equivalent to evil qi/suiqi, which XLH was cast off from, almost getting eaten alive by the evil qi.

Fate Books / Mingbu / 命簿: The combination of these two characters seem to be an invention of the novel, and are records of the destinies of living people collected and administered by the land of the dead.

Fate Tree / Mingge Shu / 命格树: "Mingge," in both the novelverse and in the Love You Seven Times drama, are the stories high immortals (in CLJ's case, Siming) write to direct the fate of mortals. I'm not clear on the distinction between mingbu and mingge in the CLJ book.

Lucheng / 鹿城: In the book, a militarily important city of the Jin Dynasty, although the drama has styled it more into the Tang Dynasty, some thousand-plus years later.

Ronghao / 容昊: In the book, the wheelchair-bound master of the demon commerce city who's later revealed to be Chidi's obsessed student. We're not given the first character of his name in the book; it only ever calls him A'Hao.

Shangque / 觞阙: The name of the prime minister of the devil realm in the book, horrified by DFQC's erratic behavior while his body is being partially controlled by XLH. Show!Shangque's personality likely came from Dayu, Book!DFQC's overpowered flying serpent who follows him around like a loyal dog.

Shuofeng Sword / 朔风剑: "Cold northwest wind" sword, it's Chidi Nüzi's weapon in the book and the drama. It stays in sword form in the book, but becomes a geographical feature and a seal in the show.

Thousand Dreamland / Thousandfold Illusion / 千重幻境: A realm of endless very similar illusions that Ronghao/A'Hao tries to trap DFQC in to prevent him from finding XLH, in both media.

Xiao Lan Hua / Orchid / 小兰花: Our heroine!

Xie Wanqing / 谢惋卿: One of Chidi Nüzi's mortal incarnations in both media. However, in the book she is a general who's betrayed by the man she loves, an ordinary mortal, while XLH and DFQC watch.

Misc

Changheng / 长珩: Changheng's not in the book, but the book does have a troublemaker by the name of Changming 长命 who is DFQC's biggest "love rival" (he's like ten years old), and I wonder if the "Chang" part of Changheng's name comes from Changming.

Flying Fairy Pavilion / Life-Ending Pavilion / 飞仙阁: A reference to Xie Wanqing's real identity as the Fairy God of War. Also a euphemism for death.

Haishi / 海市: Conceptually, comes from the demon/nature sprite city, yaoshi 妖市, in the book. For the drama they got rid of the demon part and called it Haishi, Sea City.

Tongyun / 彤云: Xie Wanqing's maid, and an actual word that refers to red clouds or "dark clouds before snow." (x)

Xiao Run / 萧润: I'm not sure the Run part of his name is a reference to anything, but the Xiao is probably there to make the Xiao-lang wordplay work. (x)

Yannü 盐女 and Cangyan Sea 苍盐海: The "yan" is the same as in "Yannü." Which came first, I wonder? (The "cang" is the same as in Dongfang Qingcang.)

Sans Data

I do not know any special origins of, or was too lazy to look up:

Black Sash ���杀斩, Bone-Devouring Spikes / Frost-Salt Nails 噬骨霜盐钉, Cangyan Sea 苍盐海, Changle Street, Cloud Shadow Mirror 云影镜, Danyin 丹音, Dark Pine Forest 暗松林, Dream of Nine Serenities / Jiuyou Dream 九幽一梦, Eternal Flame 长明火, Evil Qi / Suiqi 祟气, Firefly stone 奇幻流萤石, Fountain Palace 涌泉宫, Four-Water Pearl 四水宝珠, Fuju Cave 弗居洞, Glazefire 琉璃火, Granny Tie 铁婆婆, Green Flame Wine 绿焰酒, Hall of Divine Waters / Shenshui Ting 神水厅, Heart-Hidden Pin 藏心簪, Hidden Treasures Shop 藏珠斋, Jieli 结黎, Jinling, Jingyiya Teahouse 静逸雅轩, Karma Jail / Karma-Spanning Abyss 渡业渊, Liufang Pavilion 留芳阁, Night-Stream Building 夜溪楼, Northern Sea / Beiming 北溟, Primordial spirit 元神, Qingchuan 青川, Ranxi Flower 燃犀花, Shaking Light Peak 摇光峰, Shuiyuntian 水云天, Shuyu Forest 漱玉林, Silent Moon Palace / Jiyue Palace 寂月宫, Silver Lake 银湖, Soul Transformation Cauldron 化魂鼎, Soul Transformation Grounds 化魂墟, Southern Fairyland / Extreme South Fairy Continent 南极仙洲, Spirit Lock Gate 灵锁门, Spirit-Shattering Abyss 碎灵渊, Spirit Stones 灵石, Tianji Mirror 天极镜, Universe Pills 无极乾坤丹, Wind Prison 风牢, Wind Warriors, Wuqi 巫芑, Wuxian Clan / Witch-Salty Clan 巫咸族, Xilan 息兰, Xingluo 星落, Xishan 息山, Xiyun 息芸, Xuanshuang Whip 玄霜神鞭, Xuanxu Realm / Mysterious Realm 玄虚之境, You Jade Ring 幽玉戒, Yujing 玉京

Much thanks to sassybluee's Reference for Fic Writers.

This post is subject to change. Additions, corrections, and discussion welcome.

[horizon-verizon]

I’ve always disliked Rhaena. She was a terrible, neglectful mother to her daughter and an abusive, cheating wife to Androw Farman.

*EDITED POST* (11/25/24)

Response to this post HERE.

The same guy who killed what seems to be a teenage girl because his wife came to hate him and wouldn't allow him to accrue more power or esteem through her position yet also wanted her to become politically subordinate to her out of jealousy and a fragile ego? Sure, let's go through this.

blankwhiteshield says this:

You can have an irredeemable and evil character that the patriarchy still suppresses and affects the psychology of immensely, rendering her a bigger monster. The commentary on the destructive capacity of static social constructs is not lost as a result. A character can turn into the devil of the story due to a world that ceaselessly strips her of her humanity, as well as as a result of the choices she actively makes.

And Rhaena was never actually evil or abusive or anything like these things at all, esp BEFORE she's forced to marry Maegor, etc.

Her History (and a Pseudo-Summary of Later Explanations)

I perceive Rhaena to have been sensitive in her youth and then grew more bitter from the slights & abuses against her. The hurt becomes the hurter. It started as ner needing to be away from people towards the end of her life, especially when they expressed they didn't want her around and they had been with her intimately (romantic, familial, or platonic).

Though she started shy and always preferred to be either alone or with close friends, it is that reservedness that makes her value her bonds with a select group of people that makes their dismissals or betrayals hurt that much worse. Thus her lashing out, her brooding, her solitary runs, and her cold "bloodthirstiness" against Androw after she realizes he killed all her remaining friends. All ways for her to collect her perenially crushed dignity.

She marries Androw just to be close to Elissa and she never mistreats Androw until Elissa leaves. Then she lashes out, because this is already on top of all the other betrayals that happened before she ever met either of them.And it's still not abuse; she kept mainly to herself and ignored him, talked harsh when he insisted on interacting when she clearly wanted not much to do with him.

It's very easy to accuse her of flagrant abuse when you erase context or leave shit out. She ticks off 3 of 8 behaviors of emotional abuse (in italics):

threats

insults

constant monitoring

excessive jealousy

manipulation

humiliation & ridiculing

intimidation

dismissiveness

But if every argument or insult between any sort of relationship doesn't have insults or some level of dismissiveness, and then humiliation when these things go unaddressed properly for some time, I'll eat my hat. You'd be lying. Are all relationships (platonic or otherwise) abusive, then?

And we know that it would have continued. The details we get, she:

continued to accuse/suspect him of helping Elissa run away and steal her dragon eggs

said that the "wrong Farman" ran away

laughed after her ladies laughed when he requested to replace a man named Bullock as the garrison commander

mocked him when she said how he couldn't stay on a dragon even if he tried after he declared they'd go together to the dying Alyssa

...but also does this or the women making fun of the man (more on that later) merit MASS femicide and killing kids for your own growing self-loathing AND does Rhaena's actions actually have terrible wide-range consequences for those outside of her small group?

(Reminder, femicide is different from just killing a woman. Femicide is killing a person because they are a woman and you wish to display dominance in destroying a woman & instilling their inferiority or subservient position to oneself, to punish her for straying from that role. Again, I explain how Androw falls under a femicidal person.)

Of course, Elissa left bc Rhaena already was in her state of bitterness and to kickstart her sailor-captain-adventurer dreams. However, if we argue that Rhaena shouldn't have put down a grown man's self-esteem and hurt both her lover & daughter so she could feel more in control...shouldn't we hold Androw Farman accountable for his crimes in response to those put-downs and slights?

I think that the strength of Rhaena's writing is how human she is and is allowed to be by the narrative while showcasing how she pulled others into her misery with no coddling nor outright subtextual disgust.

In Rhaena, we get the raised question of what do we do with a victim who's BOTH fallen into darkness and then faces more of the similar thing they resented or has pushed them into the darkness? We also see the beginnings and consequences of female Targ abuse. I think we can appreciate Rhaena as a layered female character with many faults developed from abuses or ignoring those abuses, exacerbated over time while being the center of a story within a major one. Something we don't get often enough for women.

In Rhaena, we're getting a very detailed look into non-ideal motherhood, womanhood, and victimhood--from her and those she hurt. But a very real one.

She clearly has loyalty to her own family and house, cares about her kids as a mother (look below), but also seeks out any sort of compensation or some sort of justice for the suffering and sidelining that came from being a woman, and a woman in the wrong place of history AND being a female Targ. And subsequently, we see how being a woman onto oneself AND having real happiness can be antitheitcal, bc her position even as a princes and dowager, bc she doesn't have enough ability to protect herself from the actions of her male family members--inclu Jaehaerys--is designed to be a vulnerable one.

She is quite literally our first account of what being a female Targaryen princess/royal family member is like (Alyssa Velaryon does not grow up royal or a Targ). She foreshadows & heralds the exclusionary/oppressive fates of Targ women, especially under war, and shows us the one way a woman (does not or cannot) deal with the fallout & decisions of others.

(Check out the quote way below of her criticizing her mother's decision to marry Rogar despite Rogar having abandoned Aegon when he battled Maegor above the God's Eye).

We remember that her brother Aegon was named heir over her despite her being the oldest child of Alyssa & Aenys. She did not complain or protest at this because she grew up in this patriarchal society and lived more or less privileged, surrounded by a lot of so-s-so--to great female friends as a princess and expecting to become Queen Consort one day, with the new family she grew with said husband. She is also the one to give her siblings Jaehaerys and Alysanne the eggs of the dragons they have while they are still in their cradles.

That all ends with her uncle usurping her husband, which is ironic because, again, she is the oldest AND she wanted to leave to protect their twins. So we should understand that at one point she came to the idea that her life could have been totally different if she had been Queen/heir apparent, as a succession crisis still occurred.

Then she's forced to marry that same uncle who she probably believes betrayed not only his rightful king but his entire family through the murder of her brother-husband, the "marriage", threatening her daughters, and killing her brother (Viserys). And of course, Maegor would have raped her through the entirety of their forced marriage. Later on, her mother aids Jaehaerys in further passing her over for another son--yes partly for the survival of all her surviving kids, but again it's not so much Alyssa as much as the passing over after all Rhaena was forced to give up (below). Alyssa and Rogar explicitly planned against the possibility of her becoming a regent for one of her daughters (as they both were thought as Aegon's heirs) ["The Year of the Three Brides -- 49 A.C."]:

I don't know if she, in real-time, understood that this was the reasoning behind Rogar & Alyssa's thinking, but either way, she looks like she observed that she was being treated as more of a threat than someone Alyssa gave birth to and someone who would have done anything for her family. Her claim became the thing her family used against her. And she became more and more resentful of the exclusion and "subtle" betrayals/sidelining.

And was it truly Alyssa's fear, or Rogar's, that Rhaena would come back to wrest power through her daughter? Who is the one to try to kidnap Rhaella and force her to "confess" that she is Aerea after he failed to get Aerea or convince the others to back his plans to usurp Jaehaerys? Rogar!

More likely, he convinced Alyssa that this was the case so he'd be more in control and isolate/distance Rhaena from her family. She saw through him before anyone else! ("Prince into King"):

Her and Jaehaerys, his making it clear that she would not gain Dragonstone based on her own autonomous claim to the throne but on his permission as king--have their own sort of betrayal, even though he had his own pressures to show others his strength and authority he could be a "tough but fair" king. Again, she didn't ask for the throne, but the thing that would be given to who is the next in line to the throne.

At this point, Aerea was Jaehaery's heir presumptive (not "apparent"). Jaehaerys had no children and Rhaena had just come from the machinations of the Lannisters--her moving into Dragonstone and being recognized as one with a claim would have given her more power against those seeking to use her. Plus, again, her daughter was considered Jae's heir. Hence, when Jae took that last dignity/remnant of something that could-have-been from Rhaena, she sought to claim back her own daughter...especially since she might have known that Jae would just eventually sideline Aerea if/once he had kids. (From her perspective)

Jaehaerys took her asking for Dragonstone as an indirect challenge to himself (not that she was opposing him so much as her doing it at all reminds others that because she is the eldest of Aenys' children, others around them could advocate or use her despite her being female....just as Rogar tried to when he tried to usurp Jaehaerys), and I think Rhaena was offended by his even thinking to suspect or throw out a hint of accusation. As well as his extra pains to make sure she was his subject and not his equal or peer in the full eyes of everyone. There is where she'd feel humiliated simultaneously.

Yes, Jaehaerys was trying to solidify his place in a time when people doubted him right after defeating Maegor, but it is not about him so much as him distrusting her and wehat it says about the layout of the situation that had him so distrusting of Rhaena in the first place. surely, her being his older sister he would know she was not going to do anyhting unsavory, right? With her history. Doing it purposefully in front of "outsiders" and potential betrayers (Rogar and the other courtier & nobles) looking for any weaknesses--as if she were not family, as if she weren't the one who gave him his egg as a baby as if she'd actually care enough to try to usurp him. Why not talk to her beforehand, get her into a conversation about their plans going forward so he could broadcast his own control?

BECAUSE they were at a juncture in royal Targ history where a woman's claim and thus Rhaena's claim both was still a doable and concievable prospect (Rhaena was just 3rd Gen royal Targ!, 2nd royal-born) just enough leg: for being older, aready having children of her own, being a conssumate rider, and having already had others say she should be the next queen. Even with her already or quickly eschewing said claiom for her peac of mind. Jaehaerys saw her as a threat and treated her as such...when he's the one who's occupying a seat that should/could have been hers. And he knew it, which is why he was bound to have as much control over his female relatives, evident from how he sent his own mother Alyssa to essentially decay under a man who disliked her and ided, then Rhaena with Dragonstone (slight loss on both ends), then obviously with Alysanne, then his own daughters, then waht he did to Princess Rhaenys. This is just the tip of the state of things b/t him, Alyssa, and Rhaena, Alysanne included. It's not about what Rhaena doing ito him so much as he didn't want to lend any room to her...social prestige over his own prestige so the public thinks of him more as a ruler than her.

Thus also strengthening the idea of her symbolic outcast-enemy status to the public. For all Rhaena's self-retreats and brooding, she had much to brood about.

In other words, kinda like Maegor (for it would remind her of Maegor, I think) Jae chose power over family...or really, he was very shortsighted when it came to a problem like this, chose to take advantage of his female relatives while also excluding them from most political decisions and chose the easier, exclusionist way (bc against, he continues this into his death, alienating most of his female family members but also opening the way to the Dance through that exclusion or sidelining).

With Alyssa, his mother becoming his regent and marrying the man who would have usurped him through his connection to Alyssa, I also think that he saw it better for him to consolidate power away from his female relatives bc they could marry men who'd compete with him.

Even with Alysanne, you can see where he reaped the benefit of her intellect, or would have ignored some of her claims and demands if she hadn't been the right kind of insistent (the drinking water of KL).

Her Marriage & Androw's Character

She definitely "cheated" if you define cheating as going out for a partner whilst having another on a monogamous relationship despite only marrying them for security, but I don't really feel she should be shamed in the same way we should shame Robert Baratheon, Aegon II & IV, Aerys II, and just ASoIaF men in general for cheating. I do not care that Cersei cheated on Robert multiple times, she cheats for feelings of safety and affirmation, to have bodily autonomy; he does because he can and feels like it's his male-given entitlement.

Even if Robert didn't abuse Cersei, I wouldn't care about her cheating versus his cheating because Cersei, while she definitely has her ego, cheats to reaffirm the autonomy ignored since childhood AND to try to use her lovers to her own political advantage during her marriage to him. That and how the marriage itself is an arrangement for politics, not for love or intimacy AND women are expected to not practice the same sexual freedoms men do, not even allowed to have their own lovers without ruining their reputations and social value. She also might (and this is a big might) have stayed faithful or devoted to Robert (or at least would feel some guilt in her affairs) if not for his clear preference for Lyanna AND his philandering throughout their marriage. It comes from a need to have the power men have in her society. Again, Robert cheats on Cersei because he just feels like it and thinks he's entitled as a man/king and feels Cersei is second fiddle to a dead girl who wanted nothing to do with him but he'd never accept that if he had known and likely still would have cheated on if they married bc cheating in general for him is a right. Cersei is from the thought that she should have that kind of power, that entitlement, and though she does not, she will claim it and also do it for her kids' sake....too bad that her classism and cruelty far outstrip her own perception of her capabilities.

The other thing is that Rhaena was very likely a lesbian who could sleep with a man if she was "asked nicely" for politics if the husband was pleasant enough, and/or if it benefited a relative as long as it also didn't ruin her autonomy, esp after Maegor. People of the same sex cannot marry each other even in Dorne, and they can't openly live together as a couple. And if she wasn't lesbian, she'd still be a bisexual woman who got her most important and most positive relationships from those with women. When that happens, romance, sexual desire, and platonic love can and often blur. Especially when there is no safe room to really explore/reflect on those feelings in one's youth or adulthood.

And of course, she fell in love with Elissa and wanted to be close to her.

What exactly could she have done except use marriage as her cover? Yeah, that's unfortunate for Androw, who probably thought that she was in it for him and romance (he wasn't very bright, too), but his feelings don't invalidate or erase the conditions I've described nor do they really compare or level with Rhaena's position as a wlw woman. The condition of entrapment for a woman like Rhaena. Esp with her history of family abandoning her, she probably felt she needed to "ensure" being close "enough" to Elissa through marriage to her brother.

Rhaena says this of why she married Androw ("A Surfeit of Rulers"):

I do not think their marriage was ever a real one, in terms of romance or having a close bond ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal"):

Though they began as pleasant acquaintances, she always had stronger love and care for his sister, not him. Rhaena knew that she'd be pressured into remarrying even after Maegor's death to shore up Jaehaerys' (really Rogar's authority and stake in Jaehaerys' rule) own power through connections to specific families. This is why Rogar was angry when she married without his permission.

He even was already choosing people of his own family to arrange a marriage b/t her and them for his own power! ("The Year of the Three Brides-49 A.C."):

So her rationale & goals in marrying Androw: If she had to be married, she would choose the guy who she thought wouldn't make things difficult and oppressive for her, which includes marrying a guy far beneath her powers and rank PLUS an easygoing guy. Remember how she rails at Rogar for basically consigning her mother, Alyssa Velaryon, to death instead of just being happy with the male child she managed to birth to him before? Her disapproval of Jaehaerys for dismissing her with Dragonstone, his castigation of her threatening Franklyn Farman even though he's the one who told her he would just throw out Aerea if she ever appeared just as he did to her. Maegor's forcing her to marry him and raping her for months, the fear she could have lived with all those months.

She did not marry him to love him nor hurt him intentionally, but she married him to avoid marrying a man who could drag her into heated political conflicts and to be closer to Elissa without it causing too much suspicion/to keep female intimacy without suffering patriarchal violence. Androw was placidly kind (in the beginning and what she thought) and didn't ask as much from her as other noblemen would have. Until later...

Androw became (or failed to hide that internalized envy and inferiority complex) the very sort of man she tried to avoid, incel-like. Here is a quote of him and his justification for killing all her friends ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I"):

Meanwhile, these are descriptions of Androw as a person both before and a little after his marriage to her:

A lot of emphasis was placed on his:

his lack of really wanting adventure, the opposite of his sister whom Rhaena loved and preferred just as a companion (their incompatibility, not just his inferiority and lack of appeal) -- his incompetence as either a warrior or a "learned" man. going back to the inferiority part, let's be real, how much appeal does a person with no talent NOR any ambition have? If you don't have talent, at least have intelligence or curiosity or ambition. If not the last one, at least some of the others. And he's illiterate so no discussions about stuff they could read, has no hobbies to speak of or that we see. It's not just Rhaena who sees no appeal in him; apart from seeing that he is powerless in Dragonstone bc Rhaena shows her indifference to him, others around Androw have not been his friend or whatever for ALL of his life. Again, he's not that impressive of a person.

And he never seemed to really care or notice this (or expressed such) until people began to really mock and disregard him on these things alone and he was outside of his own birth home, where he'd not really experience people making fun of him probably bc his brother and father would not have allowed it, or he wasn't so much in people's view for them to dwell on his shortcomings.

Mark that part about him spending his time in the room with the Painted Table with the map of Westeros. He started to dream of conquests or those masculinized activities of power and domination.

The women weren't just mocking him without observing a legitimate change in him, as cruel as the book (written by male maesters) tells us they were about it. They were mocking him bc they see him try so hard to grasp power when he has little to no qulaification and has put no real energy when he should have, has enjoyed actually being a kept man before but now wants to act "tough", how ill-suited he is to it--too obviously try to show he's the "boss", the "man"--for not understanding/accepting who has the real power (Rhaena); AND probably bc they are so used to seeing a man have all the power and are enjoying the reversal, their advantage over him.

While one may think that it's understandable and justified for him to want more respect or power in a place where people constantly denigrate him...

again, it was beyond obvious he wanted power bc he wanted respect that he seemed to have never noticed was never there until he moved away from his father's protection--but he had multiple opps to learn to read, ride horses, , etc. and even IF he had some mental disability, he expected others to believe he COULD lead bc he was male. He expected that Rhaena WOULD want more kids and care to allow him her body because he was her husband/a male. Neurodivergent or mentally disabled people do not get an automatic pass for misogyny. (Rhaenyra ruled Dragonstone for years, was beside Viserys for some years before her DRGSTN rule and observed him/the council and at least was appointed a leadership role, so yes she was at least bare min "qualified" in Westerosi standards except for her gender) AND

what he does to get revenge and get back control doesn't match the wrong(s) and was itself misogyny-motivated AND again, he was already turning to the feudalist hypermasculine ideal of violence against women and children as a way towards "dignity"...something that Aemond will grow up as part of his male, princely entitlement in his own mass/spree murders and subjugation in the riverlands.

Mind you, he decided to kill only the women around Rhaena, not any of those men who the maester said also mocked him.

Here are 2 quotes about that ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I"):

And this is what he says to her after she is hugging the corpse of her cousin and youngest companion, Lianna Velaryon:

So why is he an incel? Because he feels he is entitled to her time, body, and company even to the moment where he kills all her friends for being her friends and not "respecting" him, though they were never a real couple; like Rogar to Alyssa (who had been castigating her until he finally insults her in front of the council when he proposed usurping Jaehaerys), Androw wants to be the lord to his wife instead of the husband to her "over"-lady. He wanted that traditional, patriarchal dynamic, and what's so absurd is that he expected it after all those months of being married to her...instead of thinking about that before marrying her, when she had been a Queen Dowager and showed her personality at his home island.

Now, this is not to say Rhaena should have let her daughter splash shit water on his head without suitable punishment since he hadn't done anything at that point to either her or Aerea to warrant such anger that the book tells us. It's saying that:

she already grew to distrust men of her not being able to deal w/the sexism...once more, we need to remember that Maegor raped her & threatened her child's life

her distaste for him grew because she couldn't stand his Elissa-like face

there may have been some words b/t them when they fought the two times they fought she could never forgive (we don't know for sure bc we aren't privy to that from the book but it is a possibility)

she suspected him of helping Elissa take Dreamfyre's eggs bc she knew that he was likely to help his own sister, they weren't close themselves, she and Elissa were on the rocks, AND he probably was already showing signs of jealousy at their bond...too eager to establish something she could never have with him

and as a result, she withdrew into her circle of women, those she had always been able to find some sort of substantive emotional support and less unpleasant surprises -- thus her further distancing from him and refusal to really castigate her people from disrespecting him

he either developed an inferiority complex after being mocked OR he always had one but it really got triggered when Elissa's absence made him more aware of how others thought he was out of Rhaena's league and disrespected him on his own lack of those qualities that his society expects of an aristocratic man

Add the boiling pain and betrayal above and you have a person who can't tolerate their husband, another person asking things of her or who w/could.

Retrospectively, I also headcanon that Rhaena felt this envy growing in him whenever they were together and this was one more reason for her to separate herself from him. That he made some sort of demands from her to treat him more like Andal women are expected to treat/think of their husbands as their masters or directors...despite her outranking him (if not in powers but in the title), their seemingly non-close relationship, and his seemingly being fine enough with that to even agree to marry her in the first place.

Androw wasn't a helpless child. He seemed content until they had to leave Fair Isle on his own brother's orders and was more exposed to others' thoughts of his subparness. Despite the rank, Rhaena can't do much for a person who doesn't attempt to self-improve (it's told the maester was the one who tried to get him to at least be more learned). And she felt she shouldn't have to, bc again he wasn't a kid and she probably felt she gave/worked enough for the wrong people.

Rhaena as a Mother

Apparently, or maybe, Rhaena was never a child person. However, remember that this is the same woman who:

begged her brother-husband to run to Essos to take their kids away & protect them from Maegor, specifically stating she prioritized the girls' lives over his claim, the latter of which she had already said she prioritized over her own life

laid her life on the line to protect her two daughters from Maegor by disguising them and voluntarily entering KL/the Red Keep to be married off to him, even with no expressed protest....also accepted the chance she'd be tortured

in her forced wedding, saw that her kids were taken nonetheless and let go of any thoughts of really going against Maegor while they were hostages -- and thus had to live as hostage herself to her uncle for months

spent an entire year or so on Dreamfyre looking for Aerea when she ran off with Balerion or in a sort of guilt-desperate state...in spite of her condemnations of Aerea taking & bonding with her father's "killer" AND before that, yes "raged" but also not being able to sleep after Aerea's disappearance

Adding to how she has spent a long time apart from her own kids for their safety AND was already less inclined to want to interact with kids in general, her kids may have become "less" her own while she brooded over her other family. now you've got a very complicatedly angry and emotionally repressed person as a parent.

Yes, she eventually stifles Aerea in her anger at her siblings and mother, hatred for Rogar and refuses to even consider how the girl feels about her leaving what she thought of as home. Only to ignore her most of the time unless it is to yell at her for her disruptions and troublemaking. And her other daughter tells her that she might not have been a great mom, but she was glad to be her daughter if only to become a septa and "serve" the Mother (one of the Seven).

These are valid conclusions and worth being frustrated with her. I just hope that we're not looking at her as if she were an evil entity for the sake of being that way or because she was "just" selfish. I happen to think she was in the wrong time with the wrong people and no idea of how to get them to really acknowledge her own crap, so she chose to cope by ignoring them and barrel over her own emotions.

She seemed to already have the sort of inclination or predisposition where she compartmentalizes her feelings until the danger passes or when she's insulted. And the more times she gets insulted or put into danger, she claims up and tried to maintain her dignity. When someone asked her why she didn't cry over Aegon's death, how she "coldly" goes through the wedding when Tyanna insults her and brings out her kids, how she talks to Franklyn Farman, how she sullenly warns Jaehaerys about trusting the admiration or regard of the other lords as if she knew he wouldn't listen, and how she points out Jaehaerys' anxiety of her in the same tone.

So with each thing, she became more and more withdrawn while also seeking to keep what she thought she could keep close to her close even if they themselves began to either feel suffocated by her or felt they were losing pieces of their own life (Aerea [being heir presumptive and life built at KL] & Elissa Farman [her dream of being a seas-sailing adventurer]).

And a huge motivation for Elissa to leave Rhaena would have been Rhaena's private hurting her. Why stay & put off your dreams when the person you love has changed so thoroughly as to even (maybe, I headcanon) take it out on you? I don't hate Elissa for leaving Rhaena to start a new life...just for taking the eggs to do it when she knew that it would put Rhaena in a mess with her other family and even could disgrace her in the public eye.

All of Rhaena's self-suppression would come out, built up and vitriolic. And it's important to trace its development so we don't add to that dismissal or misjudge and simplify her.

I also find it fascinating how alike and different Aerea and her are and how they respond to the isolation both experience. Aerea, like Rhaena, grew up expecting to have one of the highest ranks and/or positions of power available in Westeros. Aerea also felt abandoned by her mother when she expresses to Alysanne how she did care her mom's friends died. Aerea also had many friends/acquaintances and was happiest around them. She, like Rhaena, regarded Elissa Farman as one of the most important persons to her and their loneliness, even with Aerea being the one to actually beg Elissa to stay while Rhaena let her leave the second time asking. Both are stubborn and become more and more sullen. And both mistreat others in their loneliness and trying to feel more in control against a relative: Rhaena against Alysanne and Jaehaerys by wanting Aerea back and Aerea throwing poop on Androw as well as pranking and harassing others. Aerea learns from Rhaena, but she eventually just does what Saera hopes she could have done and takes a dragon for her own freedom...tragically ending with her own painful death. While Rhaena did not die as painfully, she does die pretty much alone and miserable in her attempts to get back control. A little less sympathetically as she had more power over Aerea still refused to listen and communicate with her kids, but similar in intentions and thematically. It's also funny how like Jaehaerys she acted here, pushing away a daughter for her own selfish ends to never see them again. At the same time, it was only a matter of time before Aerea was pushed away and out of KL when Jaehaerys finally had children to become his heirs, as many expected and hoped for. As I said in the first section, Aerea was just Jaehaerys' heir "presumptive", not his "apparent" and he seemed very glad to foist her onto Rhaena. What sort of disappointment would Aerea have had if she had stayed and Jaehaerys had kids? Yes, they didn't know that Jaehaerys was fertile and would go on to have many children, but even Maegor would have had kids (if it weren't for Tyanna) the ever-present plans of a monarch and their subjects include children to be their heirs. Whether or not Rhaena felt and anticipated this and acted either for herself or for both her and her daughter or how much she really thought about her daughter's future for its own sake, I believe that it's cool to think about the probability that Aerea would eventually inherit Rhaena's frustrations of being passed over and abandoned, rejected on account of her gender.

Rhaena was a complicated woman. She already didn't have patience with kids but loved her own. She loved her family and was fiercely loyal, but after some abandoned her, she also always tried to claim some dignity for herself and forgot what it was like being a child and/or helpless in the process. Needed a partner who was either as bold or bolder than her, yet used her rank to overpower them into staying with her despite knowing sailing was her dream.

Comparison to HotD!Alicent

Why the comparison? Because I feel someone might bring this up if they took the time to brave my ridiculously long post AND HotD's Alicent also goes through sexual abuse and neglect or abandonment by family. Both's bad problematic behavior toward those they love or have loved comes directly from their abuses, some that stem from societal and familial misogyny. Both do not really consider their friend's/partner's (Rhaenyra and Elissa) needs or desires to feel less lonely or to make power moves. And Alicent of HotD is told to be wlw by some fans, if not lesbian.

However:

HotD Alicent is not well thought out as a character and has more internalized misogyny than Rhaena. Rhaena does not hurt her lover nor wife from wanting to deny her own womanhood, Rhaena has shown to be quite the opposite of a misogynist (threat to Rogar).

HotD!Alicent empowers her male relatives to hurt more people because she feels she has to as a woman basically totally succumb to patriarchal ideology even in her sending that damned note to Rhaenyra, while canon!Rhaena has been trying to keep and get power for herself in spite of the men around her.

Rhaena is not a simple queerbait wlw character, her relationships with women are not queerbait: her sexuality is believable as presented and her relationship with Elissa Farman is obvious because of the background information for both, how they got together, how Rhaena came into her own, why they were attracted to each other...it all is well written, coherent, consistent, and comprehensive.

She is smarter than HotD!Alicent and more aware of the motivations of others around her, and the politics around her as well.

Finally, Rhaena's core motivations remain clear and consistent. No compromising of self-respect while searching for constant, mutual love from her peers.

In other words, Rhaena's life and psychology are written way better and comprehensively than HotD!Alicent's AND she has way less internalized misogyny than Alicent.

Quotes

#1 ("The Sons of the Dragon")

#2 ("The Sons of the Dragon")

#3 ("The Sons of the Dragon")

#4 ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I") & ("Jaehaerys and Alysanne -- Their Triumphs and Tragedies")

#5 Rhaena & Jaehaerys about Dragonstone and Aerea ("A Time of Testing"):

#6 And then we have this moment of Rhaena seeing her daughter again after Maegor's gone ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I"):

#7 Her against Rogar and the Succession ("A Surfeit of Rulers"):

#8 Finally, what she says to Alysanne when she suggested taking Aerea back to KL ("Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I"):

[yupuffin]

Is Neuvillette weird for being able to taste subtle differences in flavor of drinking water from different sources?

Last week, I discussed how Neuvillette's purported ability to detect minute currents and waves in water has basis in real life, in the form of the mechanoreceptive "lateral line system" in fish. Now, I'll address his remarkable taste for water!

In terrestrial animals, such as humans, taste and smell are often described as separate senses afforded by different parts of the body (the nose and the mouth/tongue, respectively). However, they are both forms of chemoreception -- the ability to detect chemical stimuli. Chemoreception works by intercepting particles of substances dissolved in water. This is because, put simply, water readily dissolves and conducts a wide variety of substances -- much, much more so than air, for example. This is one major function of mucus in your airways and saliva in your mouth -- they serve as a watery medium with which to intercept particles that can then be detected by your chemosensory systems, resulting in you experiencing a particular taste or smell!

So you can imagine that fish, which live in water, have excellent chemoreception -- and you'd be right! Water constantly passes through a fish's mouth as it breathes, so fish get constant updates, so to speak, on tastes and smells in their surroundings, be they of food, predators, potential mates, or even just the conditions of the aquatic environment.

Indeed, sharks, infamously, excel at detecting the smell of blood in seawater, down to concentrations as small as one part per million. Salmon are also notorious for their extraordinarily keen sense of smell, which studies have shown is how they find their way back to the streams where they hatched; they can literally tell where to go, years after the fact, based solely on how the water "tastes." And those are just the well-known examples!

So it's certainly not a stretch of the imagination to conclude that Neuvillette, as the Dragon Sovereign of Water, a being with a lifestyle that is presumably aquatic, at least in part, would be able to readily determine the differences between samples of water originating from different sources.

But wait, there's more!

Neuvillette also claims that the can perceive emotions "dissolved" in water, much as how he can detect differences in taste. Believe it or not, this is not unprecedented in real life, either! At least, not exactly.

As stated above, chemoreception helps fish -- and other aquatic critters! -- find potential mates. This is accomplished via pheromones, chemicals secreted to elicit a social response in others of the same species -- for example, triggering an alarm response, or indicating readiness to mate.

Some kinds of sea slugs, notably, are known to detect pheromones using a chemosensory organ called a rhinophore.

(Photograph by Simon Dollock.)

Rhinophores are like antennae that extend into the surrounding water to add a dimension of directionality to a sea slug's chemoreception. They are often textured or branched to increase surface area, thereby increasing contact with the surrounding water and hence the animal's capacity for chemoreception.

Sound familiar?

I'm a firm believer that the blue sections of Neuvillette's hair are actually rhinophores. 🤣

Granted, I'm not aware of any sea slugs that specifically have bioluminescent rhinophores, but that doesn't mean they don't exist... 🤔🤔🤔

[teecupangel]

Consider:

Not a specific story idea or pitch. An overarching umbrella idea with a common set of rules, like Yew Branches.

Desmond Miles has come unstuck from reality.

Of course, there are many versions of Desmond Miles, and many have ended up on other worlds, in other stories. AO3 can attest to that, you can attest to that. The Eye makes such a handy button for throwing Desmond headlong at the barrier between realities until he breaks through somewhere interesting.

What unites this Desmond, these Desmonds, all under one theme, is that he doesn't travel alone. Whether he ends up in Westeros, in deep space, flying dragons in a war with France or trying to take down the Shinra corporation, he always arrives with a companion.

A *small* companion. One might even say, a toddler-sized companion. Because they are, in fact, toddlers.

ie, imagine that whenever and wherever you try to cross Desmond over somewhere after the Eye, he ends up with one or more other characters from the AC canon as toddlers dragged along in his wake.

Rules for the companions:

- They always start out somewhere in the age range of 2-5

- only people who at some point handled a piece of Eden can be companions

- They don't start out remembering their entire first life, but gradually remember it as they grow older, at about the age they experienced it. ex, Ezio would remember the hangings when he's 17. But once they reach the age where they first made contact with a piece of Eden, they remember the rest of their former life all at once.

- Desmond instinctually pings as "safe" to them, even if they have no idea who he is

.

But yeah I don't have a specific story idea I'm throwing your way

I was just sitting here thinking man

it would be really interesting if in all the various let's crossover Desmond with other properties fic

he wasn't alone

and then I thought, I know, let's make him responsible for small children he has a pre established emotional attachment to in dangerous environments

that will be fun for everyone

If you add in ‘pre-established emotional attachment’ then we’d be cutting off any character after the Desmond saga. Although…

To be completely honest, Desmond would be dumb enough to form an attachment to a random baby he finds next to him because of his own sucky upbringing and you did specify that this could have crossovers so just imagine (on the top of my head)…

Desmond taking care of a very curious and prone to wandering around baby Altaïr while trying to wonder where the hell all these weirdass creatures are coming from? Oh… and apparently there’s this dude who has this weirdass dagger that can control time for a bit but Desmond and Altaïr are immune to it? “Also… who the hell just calls themselves ‘Prince’? Do you not have a name?! Altaïr, don’t touch tha-! Ah, crap.”

Really, really, reeeaaaallllly out there idea: So Ezio’s voice actor also voices Sonic in most games… how about Desmond and Ezio being stranded in one of the Sonic games and Desmond is still human so he’s super confused at what the hell is happening but Ezio seems to like the blue hedgehog who really goes fast which is nice, he guess?

Put Desmond and Ratonhnhaké:ton in Hamilton! Like, it acts and feels like they’re in the right timeline for the American Revolution but there are no Assassins or Templars and Desmond can’t even find Ratonhnhaké:ton’s village so he doesn’t know if Ratonhnhaké:ton even exists in this world. Hell, Davenport Homestead is just a goddamn empty field that Desmond got after asking around and now he’s building a homestead, he guesses??? Then comes the singing! Just singing coming from different places at different times like it’s the goddamn musical episode of Scrubs and Desmond and Ratonhnhaké:ton are just there going “What. The. Fuck.”

It would be so easy to push Desmond and baby Edward into a Pirates in the Caribbean crossover and, yeah, it would definitely work but… if I may… Desmond wakes up stranded in a small boat with baby Edward in his hands. The first ship to find them? the Revenge… being sailed by Captain Bonnet… who was kind enough to let them stay and be part of the crew. Also, Bonnet just being awkward around Edward because baby Edward thinks something is terribly wrong, that this isn’t the Bonnet he knows but that’s weird because he doesn’t know any other Bonnet. He only knows Desmond will keep him safe. Then they get first-row seats of Thatch and Bonnet falling in love and… well… they’re definitely not in Black Flag, that’s for sure. XD

You know, I was thinking of maybe one of the Joan of Arcs movie could be a good backdrop to punt Desmond and baby Shay in it. Then I realize… how can I make Desmond just go “fuck it, I’m done. I’m just done with everything. We’re going to live as hermits.” and I realize that throwing him into something that has fantasy-bullshit in it would be fun. Like… Jeanne d'Arc video game… complete will all those monsters as the backdrop for the Hundred Year War XD (and maybe, just maybe… Desmond gets his own transformations as well much to his chagrin)

Desmond having to deal with baby Arno while there’s a freaking rat plague in A Plague Tale: Innocence and joining forces with Amicia and Hugo as they run away from… well… pretty much everything. (look, it’s not set in French Revolutions but I kinda like the idea of Desmond and Amicia interacting. Otherwise, go Les Mis I guess?)

Desmond becoming a better father to Evie and Jacob Fyre while he’s in some kind of gothic-inspired setting like maybe Dishonored or Bloodborne? Dishonored would be entertaining because he would definitely be the stabby-stab-stab option that even Corvo goes “… maybe tone it down a bit?”.

And now, for something different: Desmond waking up in the middle of the desert surrounded by dudes in black robes and a baby in his arms that he’s pretty sure is named Bayek but he doesn’t know why he knows that’s the baby’s name. Then he finds out he’s in Egypt and he’s being interrogated by these people called the medjays if he knows anything about a curse and someone called Imhotep and he’s just confused. Then he finds out he’s in freaking 1926 and apparently there’s some mummy dude who can do the nine plagues (really? Like why? How???) and he gets sucked into this whole deal for reasons he doesn’t even understand.

Now, it would be easy to, you know, push Desmond and Kassandra to something like Disney’s Hercules or maybe 300 but, if I may suggest, throwing them into the world of Ubisoft’s Immortals Fenyx Rising? Hey, it’s made by the people who made Odyssey so Kassandra would be in her element and Desmond would be the tired dad just trying to stop his daughter from flying into the goddamn sun… literally. (And if you’re itching for a Percy Jackson x Assassin’s Creed AU with Desmond in it, there’s one in AO3 :))

Look. I was bound to make a God of War crossover idea and it was either Kassandra or Eivor. I had been contemplating a The Last Kingdom crossover with Desmond and Eivor but that’s mainly just me being a Harry McEntire fan so GoW crossover with Desmond and Eivor it is, with Kratos now having to deal with being a single dad to Atreus AND helping Desmond be a single dad to Eivor who may or may not like kicking Atreus for some unknown reason.

Of course, this doesn't just have to be crossovers.

You can have something like:

Desmond being the single father of Ezio and Ratonhnhaké:ton while the Third Crusades is happening and it's really hard not to get sucked into that, especially when Ezio brings Altaïr to their little house just a few weeks after his demotion because he looks 'lonely'

The entire plot of AC3 gets derailed because Desmond is there with a baby that Haytham is pretty sure is his father having been reincarnated

The angst potential of baby Arno growing up knowing only of papa Desmond and uncle Shay and getting his memories of Shay killing Charles Dorian later on.

Becoming part of the Alamut Assassins and having to go "No, Eivor, stop kicking him!" every time his adopted daughter sees the new recruit. What was his name again? Basil? Was it Basil? Desmond is pretty sure it's Basil ("It's Basim." "Yeah, sure, whatever you say, Roshan.")

Elijah being able to resurrect his supposed father but now has to deal with the fact that he apparently has three younger brothers and, seriously, being a Sage did not prepare Elijah for the strange family he's supposed to be a part of

[anonymusfanficwritter]

The border of our hearts

Chapter 01 - Awaited

In Snezhnaya “Ruvlov” was a word reserved for only one person in the nation. it was a title, a name, a symbol for Sneznayans, the lady or the lord protected the nation, as per 500 year old contract between a mortal and a great cryo sovereign. in the time of need the power bestowed upon that brave soul transcended the death itself - every first born of the lineage descended straight from the first one is able to use the primal cryo power. with time a word meant to just describe this source of power and circle of rebirth, “Ruvlov” became something…more.

She looked just like him, she knew, everyone around her knew. Like as if he was skinned and his flesh sewed onto her face. Her Father, Rodion Ruvlov laid in a pool of his own blood just a room away. The power was transitioned, she felt that. The pain was excruciating to the point she lost consciousness, but after she awoke it was like the never lasting winter made home in her heart. No pain, no emotions, no…interferences for The Great Plan. The only thing left now was to proclaim oneself, to walk into the Zapolyarny Palace and show everyone how capable she truly was, was that what she wanted? Was the reason she trained every day, till her hands were bloody from sword fighting, her legs numb and broken from dancing, her brain damaged for the purpose of bringing pain to people opposing her nation. her nation, home, responsibility to it, that flows in her blood, the duty that she had to carry on alone till the day she dies from her child's hands, just like her father did. her father - awful man, cold, stern and unloving, to her or her brother, finally dead just like every other ancestor. And the worst thing was - she was starting to understand why he was like that, will she become the same? 

The girl looked at herself in the mirror, horror af a view, truly. Dead eyes, blood on everything that can be seen and no expression or remorse for her doing. That what the cryo power truly is, it protects one’ emotions, heart, the human vulnerability that Ruvlovs can not have, but for them it's not a suppression of emotions - its eradication, locking in the dark corner of consciousness. 

“ siostro*?” Andrei’s voice came through a heavy oak door, she didn't respond at first, she didn't know how. how was she supposed to talk with her brother after she wasn't the same person anymore?

the door opened revealing a young boy, almost same age as her, one could say they were almost twins, and yet that would be a mistake.

only the oldest child could become a Ruvlov, hold the legacy of the cryo dragon, and so Andrei being younger six months did not inherit the traditional Ruvlov looks. he had his mothers eyes - yellow like gold from shneznayan’s mines. he was supposed to be the one, the legitimate child from aristocratic lineage not her. and yet here we are.

“Andrei. Why did you enter?” it sounded more harsh than she intended, but that was not something she could help with. Her brother stood in the doorway looking at her, he wasn't sure what changed in her but it was apparent that something did, the room felt colder and the storm behind the closed window seemed to still. 

“ So you did it?” he started “ You killed him, so now…” his eyes turned from her to the closed door of the side room, a strong smell of blood started to linger, as if someone was just done butchering a pig.

“ I need to go to the palace, take care of our father while I'm absent.” it wasn't a request. 

The girl walked to her room, the room that she will not miss. Small den wasn't meant to be occupied by anyone, at night it was difficult to sleep, feeling Sneznaya’s harsh winters. Undressing her soaked clothing, her body didn't shiver like it used to ,and yet it was icy cold to the touch. She opened her closet and looked at one dress different from others she owned - it was a beautiful piece of art, white like the first snow, a present from Pierro for “ when she will be ready”. It wasn't long, the perfect length to comfortably run or jump, no sleeves, top was cut in shape of a hearth. In that she left Ruvlov’s mansion. she should have been freezing, bare shoulders and knees and yet her skin didn't even bloom. People looked at her, understanding, knowing what that march meant - she was the one, the one they awaited. Some kneeled, some started to pray, others turned thay gaze not to look at something so pious,but she just kept walking. Ascending towards the palace of ice, guards opened the gates for her arrival, light steps made little sound in those dead facades. Finally she stood, in front of her archon, the archon she was supposed to serve. To cherish and protect. 

“ Like my father now there is me, Ruvlov graces my name and ice flows within my body. I swear to you and to Snezhnaya to serve, like my ancestors before my birth. I give my life and soul to you, My Lady.

“The promise of 500 years befalls us again…” Tsarica looked at the young child, it was the first time she stood there as not just a girl, but a warrior, a weapon she was bred to be. something in the Archon’s heart saddened, so young and knows the hardships of this world already. like with each of them she hopped this one will be last.

 “... and no matter what comes to be, Cryo sovereign will come to your aid, that i declare.”

Ruvlov’s Icy gaze fell on a man standing close by, from now on they were destined to work together, to make sure The Great Plan will succeed, mabe out of all her predecessors she will be the successful one .

glossary:

siostro - sister

[pandathezodiacmaster]

Okay, so I was thinking and thought what if Tissaia de Vries from "The Witcher" and Alicent Hightower from "House of the Dragons" as friends is an intriguing crossover to me. Tissaia, a stern, disciplined, and highly intelligent sorceress, oversees the training of young mages at Aretuza. On the other hand, Alicent Hightower is an astute and politically savvy woman who marries into royalty and becomes an influential player in the politics of Westeros.

1. Intellectual Stimulus: Both characters are highly intelligent and would provide each other with mental stimulation. They could have enlightening conversations that span a range of topics from arcane lore to political strategy.

2. Intrigue and Politics: Tissaia and Alicent would likely find common ground in their understanding of political maneuvering. Tissaia’s experience in navigating the complex relationships between mages and rulers could prove valuable for Alicent, who is no stranger to court politics herself.

3. Feminine Power: As women in predominantly male-dominated worlds, they would probably share experiences and strategies for maintaining their authority and navigating societal challenges.

4. Tea and Wine: I can picture them having regular meetings where they enjoy a cup of herbal tea from the Continent or a fine wine from the vineyards of the Reach. These gatherings would serve as safe spaces where both could relax and share insights.

5. Complex Morality: Both characters have nuanced moral compasses. While they each make decisions that might seem questionable, it's always done with a greater goal in mind. They would respect each other's difficult choices, perhaps offering a sounding board for ethical dilemmas.

6. Skills Exchange: Tissaia might share some magical knowledge with Alicent, particularly spells for protection or even mundane applications. Alicent, in turn, could offer Tissaia advice on social graces and diplomatic tactics, areas where Tissaia could improve.

7. Emotional Reserve: Both women are fairly reserved when it comes to showing emotion, so their friendship might not be overly expressive but would be deeply rooted in mutual respect and understanding.

8. Secret-Keeping: Given the sensitive and often perilous nature of their respective roles, trust would be a cornerstone of their friendship. Both are adept at keeping secrets and would value this trait in the other.

9. Mutual Support: Tissaia, often burdened with the weight of her responsibilities at Aretuza, and Alicent, who navigates the dangerous waters of royal politics, would find in each other a support system that understands the immense pressure each is under.

10. Realism and Pragmatism: Neither are romantic idealists; both are grounded in a harsh realism bred from the worlds they navigate. This shared worldview would enhance their bond, as they'd never have to sugarcoat realities for each other.

Certainly! Here are 10 more reasons that would make Tissaia de Vries and Alicent Hightower great friends:

11. Shared Disdain for Ignorance: Both Tissaia and Alicent have little patience for ignorance and would likely bond over their mutual appreciation for knowledge and learning. They might even collaborate on educating others in their respective areas of expertise.

12. Strategic Partnerships: Given Tissaia's influence among mages and Alicent's influence at court, they could forge strategic alliances that would be mutually beneficial. Whether it's pooling resources or sharing information, this alliance would amplify their individual power.

13. Personal Growth: Their different skill sets and viewpoints could serve as catalysts for personal growth. Alicent might teach Tissaia about the subtleties of human emotion and manipulation, while Tissaia could offer Alicent a broader understanding of magic and its possibilities.

14. Artistic Appreciation: While neither is particularly artistic in the conventional sense, they both appreciate the finer things in life. They might enjoy discussing art or literature, appreciating the depth and nuance in these forms of expression.

15. Crisis Management: Both women are experienced in handling crises, whether they involve magical mishaps or political intrigue. They would be there for each other in times of great difficulty, offering both practical and emotional support.

16. Motherly Instincts: While Tissaia is a mentor to young sorceresses and Alicent is a mother, both have a nurturing side that they usually keep hidden. This shared trait could make their friendship even more personal and meaningful.

17. Shared Experience of Loss: Both characters have faced significant loss and betrayal in their lives. These shared experiences could provide them with a level of empathy and understanding that they might not find elsewhere.

18. Exclusivity: Neither woman is known for having a wide circle of genuine friends. The exclusivity of their friendship would make it all the more special, as they would be carefully chosen confidantes for one another.

19. Judgment-Free Zone: Given their complex and often morally ambiguous choices, they would offer each other a rare judgment-free space to talk openly about their actions, decisions, and the rationale behind them.

20. Legacy Building: Both are conscious of the legacy they'll leave behind, whether it's in the magical community or the annals of royal history. This shared long-term vision could be a cornerstone of their friendship, as they help each other shape how they will be remembered.

Their friendship would be multi-faceted and layered, driven by a combination of mutual respect, shared interests, and complementary skills. It would be a relationship neither would enter into lightly, but once established, it could prove to be one of the most enduring and rewarding friendships for both women.

[cebwrites]

Unwelcome (Sabo's Tattered Invitation)

a/n: a lil smth smth for @raptures-finest teehee :3 and thanks to @skylerfox26 for the translations!!

oc x canon, oc-centric (not the same OCs) word count: 1.3k

It was a beautiful, quaint little thing.

Rio would have nothing less than perfection for that goofy doe-eyed kid and their daughter. They could be just as hard to please as their hubby about particulars of the smallest details as the wedding planners were loathe to find out. Well. They were getting paid more than fair also courtesy of Katakuri's treasure hoard so that should've been enough to cover any therapy costs needed.

What mattered was that Andy and Koala were happy and having the best day of their life. Rio even pulled Noire and Alto aside to help with the weather of all things. Absolutely nothing was to go wrong on today of all days.

What did darken the reception's doorstep, however, was something that Andy begged and pleaded for - Rio's initial response was an immediate and firm no, he could hear how uneasy Koala was over the phone in the conversation that ensued after, how Ace pleaded to vouch for his brother.

Despite all odds, Andy wore the two of them down. Sabo was allowed entry like an unsightly old toy dragged on the floor by a toddler to a fancy dinner if only to placate them and reduce the parents' headache.

When Dragon's dog walked in beside Fire Fist himself, taking the plus one of what would usually go to Yamato, Deuce on Ace's other arm, Rio downed another glass of wine. Ace at the very least had the decency to look sheepish under the warning look they shot him when he waved.

Keep him on a tight leash.

They'd send the Spade pirates home with a doggy bag and an extra bone for Yam as compensation. Right now Rio would have much preferred the rowdiness Kaido's son brought as opposed to the "guest" Andy personally wanted there.

Strawhat Luffy, of course, was banned altogether. Ace could vouch for one brother but he was fully aware of the chaos that the other brought, and no one here wanted to deal with the Marines' armed militia or some secret villain this island actually housed ruining the function.

Robin was allowed to bring her hubby because Koala wanted her there and Brook of course supplied the music for the night at Andy's request, both men openly sobbing at different points of the evening over "young love" - but three Strawhats were already more than Rio was willing to swing normally.

Andy and Koala had gotten them to sit down for a short forty-five minutes to eat and Rio even played the piano with Brook's accompaniment on the violin, stealing a kiss or two from their captain's table, letting Alba fix his dress shirt while they talked about where the kids would go from here with Violet, watching Katakuri and Kaku both flounder at social interaction under a little teasing.

From scrutinizing the catering's plating and flower arrangements clipboard in hand, to yelling at Ace for being faced down in his hors d'oeuvres. All of this between keeping a close eye on the happy couple, Rio would consider the night more or less a success.

As the festivities died down and Rio slipped away for a smoke, that damn toy finally crept out from the shadows. Sabo cleaned up nice in his freshly laundered three-piece with that ridiculous top hat and cravat he insisted on wearing everywhere but Rio saw right through him.

Buttons for eyes hanging lose on old thread, fabric thinned from being put in the wash one too many times, bits of stuffing trailing his every step. It was so worn and battered you'd think they'd let the family dog have a go at it before coming here.

Someone with no face in the mirror desperately cobbling together a human veneer.

"You've been avoiding me all night."

"Yet you still can't seem to take hint, can you?"

Sabo's expression pinched at the utter lack of emotion in that response, teeth set so tightly against each other he might just reset his jaw. He wasn't even worth looking at.

"Why."

"What?" Rio turned with their eyebrows knitted in the way that Sabo could recognize as annoyance. Okay, he could work with annoyance.

"I mean why are we always like this, why couldn't we just sit down and have a nice, normal—"

"I avoided you because I wanted to have a pleasant evening without any of this "nicety" nonsense," Rio flicked their gaze below to light up another cigarette, "you know I'm the last person that wants you here, so I don't understand why do you keep pushing."

When their eyes met again hers were once again cold and as Rio turned to leave. Losing that inch of expression that he managed to eek out from them, even if through irritation, Sabo felt his stomach hit the floor.

"I don't get why you keep running away from me, why do you hate me so much? Anything I do isn't enough for you, so just tell me how I can fix this! Why—Why did you abandon me?!"

Sabo laid chase. He was losing important ground, what exactly that was supposed to mean he couldn't quite parse right now. In a mild state of panic, he grabbed Rio's arm in an attempt to get them to stay. Instead, he felt the reflexive flinch, saw the look in her eyes, right before Rio yanked it away.

Oh.

"Rio, I-"

"Stop trying." They punctuated their words with a step back up the stairwell, until they stood at full height again.

"If you pulled your head out of your ass for as long as it takes you to lie to yourself non ti illuderesti che non ci sia una buona ragione per cui sei qui. You are here, because of whatever good graces luce dei miei occhi Constantine still has for your presence."

Rio always towered over Sabo even back when he was young and they still had a good relationship but little else made him feel as small as how he did in this moment right now as they walked him back to the railing.

"What you will not do, Sabo, is stand here and pretend that you are the most put upon man in the world because I won't waste my night listening to you blow smoke up everyone's ass.

We did our best to keep you out of Dragon's reach because she knew he'd turn you into a monster and we lost everything. I didn't have my future go up in flames just for you to destroy Andy's happiness on a selfish whim, quindi non puoi sederti qui and whine to me about being left behind."

For the first time in—fuck, forever, he guessed—Sabo saw what genuine anger looked like on Rio's face.

But for all the guilt and regret that he regularly tamped down beginning to swirl and spiral inside of him, the central emotion that maybe even protected his mind from the rest of those heavy feelings was confusion at one particular word.

""We"?"

Rio's gaze took on a frightening chill, like they'd accidentally exposed something precious and unfathomably raw, before it slipped back into that usual blank slate.

Just behind the shape of their shoulders, Sabo barely made out the glow of Haki in someone's eyes before an unbelievable pressure threatened to crush him. Rio simply turned with a passive raised hand, "I'm fine, Kat. Lets go back for dessert."

Sabo couldn't see her face anymore but he could almost hear how exhausted Rio was. And with a few clicks of their heels down the stairs, Sabo was left to catch his breath alone.

Slumped against the balcony while his best friend and the love of his life enjoyed the rest of their wedding.

[thatartiststudios]

Due time for another fic update:

Chiron led them to a quiet corner of Camp Half-Blood, away from the curious eyes of the other campers. As they settled, a sense of shared uncertainty hung in the air. Callum, feeling a responsibility to explain, took a deep breath.

“We come from a place called Xadia,” he began, his voice wavering slightly as he tried to steady it. “It’s a world filled with magic, where humans, elves, and dragons coexist. Rayla and I are... different. She’s an elf, and I’m a human mage, which means I can do magic.” He paused, searching for the right words.

“But Xadia is not a part of any world you might know. It’s a mystical realm, a land of wonders and dangers.”

Rayla, her violet eyes uncertain, added, “Our world is divided, torn apart by ancient conflicts. But we come from a part of Xadia where different races try to live in harmony, despite the challenges.”

Piper, her eyes thoughtful, interjected, “I’ve heard of a few magical places that aren’t on regular maps, but Xadia... it’s something entirely new. Annabeth mentioned hidden realms and parallel worlds, but this is... incredible.”

Sadie, her natural curiosity piqued, asked, “Magic, elves, dragons... sounds like something out of a fantasy book.”

Callum nodded, offering a small smile. “It does, doesn’t it? But it’s real, in our world at least. Our arrival here is as much a mystery to us as it is to you.”

Carter, ever analytical, chimed in, “Could there be a connection between our worlds? Some sort of cosmic overlap?”

Callum shook his head. “We don’t know. Our journey here was unexpected and unexplained. One moment, we were in Xadia, and the next, we were falling through the rift.”

Rayla, her grip on Callum’s hand loosening slightly, said, “We’re lost, far from home and without a way back. But we’re not here to cause trouble. We just want to understand where we are and why this happened.”

Piper regarded them with a mix of sympathy and curiosity. “You’re not alone in being far from home,” she said softly, thinking of her own adventures beyond the mortal world. “We’ll help you figure this out, together.”

Chiron, his wise eyes filled with understanding, spoke up, sensing the newcomers’ need for clarity.

“Camp Half-Blood is a haven for demigods, people with powers like yourselves,” he began, his tone gentle yet authoritative.

“It’s a place where young individuals with divine parentage come to learn about their heritage, harness their powers, and stay safe from the monsters that hunt them in the outside world.”

He gestured toward the diverse structures of the camp around them. “Our camp is divided into different cabins, each representing one of the Olympian gods and goddesses of our world. Each demigod here is a child of one of these deities. We train, learn, and grow together, forming bonds that often last a lifetime.”

Piper, always attuned to emotions, added, “We’re a family, in a way. We understand each other in ways nobody else can. It’s not always easy, but it’s home.”

Chiron nodded in agreement. “Indeed, we are a family. And as a family, we help and protect one another. You will find friends here, people who understand the challenges you face and the uniqueness of your abilities.”

Callum, his curiosity piqued, asked, “Are there others like us here? From different worlds, I mean?”

Chiron’s expression softened. “Your arrival is unprecedented, but this camp has seen many extraordinary things over the centuries. We’ve welcomed demigods from various cultures, time periods, and even realms. Your presence, though surprising, is not unwelcome. We’ll do our part to assist you in understanding the situation as best we can.”

The camp fell into a hushed awe as the rift in the sky opened once more, releasing a small, disc-like hologram device that floated gently to the ground. Intrigued, the demigods and magicians, along with the newcomers from Xadia, gathered around the mysterious object. Among them was Leo Valdez, the skilled mechanic and member of the Argo II crew.

With a faint hum, the hologram projected an image of a man in a black suit and a white mask adorned with a spray-painted spade symbol over one eye hole. His voice echoed eerily, filling the air.

“Greetings, young heroes. I am The Collector, and I’ve selected you—Carter, Sadie, Piper, Jason, Callum, and Rayla—to participate in my next game.”

The campers exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity mixing with a healthy dose of wariness.

The Collector continued, his tone cryptic yet commanding, “You will face three challenges, each in your respective domains, thus earning you a key. Once you have all three keys, you shall be rewarded for your hard work. Now, for your first clue: ‘The ruins of a city that once towered in the shadow of a great king’ in Egypt.”

Carter and Sadie exchanged a glance, recognizing the reference immediately.

“That’s Thebes,” Sadie said, her voice tinged with concern. “We’ve got to go there.”

A thoughtful expression crossed Jason’s face. “We can use the Argo II to get there quickly,” he suggested, looking at Leo. “But it might need some repairs first.”

Leo grinned, his excitement palpable. “No problemo! I’ll just need a bit of help, Jase. Let’s head to Bunker 9; I’ve got some tools and gadgets that can speed up the repairs.”

Next Part

Also for @booksandfairytales who enjoyed the last bit so much!

[ancientcosmicsecrets]

The Book Of Leviathan

A Controversial Book of Dark Philosophy and Magic

The Satanic Bible is not a book that you would find in a typical library or bookstore. It is a collection of essays, observations, and rituals that express the worldview and practices of LaVeyan Satanism, a religion founded by Anton LaVey in 1966. LaVeyan Satanism is a form of atheistic Satanism that rejects the existence of supernatural beings and advocates for rational self-interest, individualism, and hedonism.

The Satanic Bible was first published in 1969 by Avon Books and has since sold over one million copies. It is considered the most influential document in modern Satanism and has inspired many other books, groups, and movements that share its philosophy and aesthetics.

The book is divided into four sections, each named after a biblical figure associated with Satan: The Book of Satan, The Book of Lucifer, The Book of Belial, and The Book of Leviathan. Each section contains chapters that cover various topics related to Satanism, such as ethics, psychology, sexuality, magic, and ritual.

The Book of Satan challenges the traditional moral values of Christianity and Judaism, such as the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. It advocates for a life of indulgence, pleasure, and vengeance rather than abstinence, sacrifice, and forgiveness. It also praises the virtues of pride, strength, and wisdom rather than humility, weakness, and faith.

The Book of Lucifer explains the core principles and beliefs of LaVeyan Satanism in more detail. It discusses love, hate, responsibility, stratification, and aesthetics. It also clarifies some common misconceptions and criticisms about Satanism, such as its relation to crime, violence, drugs, and animal sacrifice.

The Book of Belial deals with the theory and practice of magic and ritual in Satanism. It defines magic as “the change in situations or events by one’s will, which would otherwise not occur.” It distinguishes between two types of magic: more extraordinary and lesser. More fantastic magic is using ritual and ceremony to focus one’s emotional energy on a specific purpose. Lesser magic is manipulating and persuasion to influence others for one’s benefit. The book also provides instructions for three types of rituals: those for sex, compassion, or destruction.

The Book of Leviathan contains four invocations for different aspects of Satan: lust, compassion, destruction, and the self. It also lists the nineteen Enochian Keys (adapted from John Dee’s Enochian keys), which are supposed to be magical words that can summon demonic forces. The book ends with an epilogue that declares, “Hail Satan!”

The name “Satan” has a long and complex history in various religions and cultures. It originates from the Hebrew word “satan,” which means “adversary” or “accuser.” In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), it is used to describe anyone who opposes or challenges God or his people. Sometimes, it refers to a specific angel who acts as God’s prosecutor or tester. In other cases, it relates to human enemies or nations that threaten Israel.

In the New Testament (Christian Bible), Satan becomes more personalized and demonized as the ultimate enemy of God and humanity. He is identified with the serpent who tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), the dragon who fought against Michael and his angels in heaven (Revelation 12), and the beast who will rise from the sea in the end times (Revelation 13).

He is also called by various names, such as Lucifer (Isaiah 14), Beelzebub (Matthew 12), Abaddon (Revelation 9), or Antichrist (1 John 2). He is depicted as a fallen angel who rebelled against God out of pride and envy (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28), who was cast out of heaven along with his followers (Luke 10; Revelation 12), who rules over the world of darkness and evil (John 12; Ephesians 6), who tempts people to sin (Matthew 4; 1 Peter 5), who accuses them before God (Job 1; Revelation 12), who deceives them with false teachings (2 Corinthians 11; 1 Timothy 4), who torments them with diseases and afflictions (Job 2; Luke 13), who binds them with death and hell (Hebrews 2; Revelation 20), and who will be ultimately defeated by Jesus Christ and thrown into the lake of fire (Matthew 25; Revelation 20).

In Islam, Satan is also known as Iblis or Shaitan and is considered a jinn (a type of spirit) rather than an angel. He was created from fire, while humans were made from clay. He refused to bow down to Adam, the first human, when God commanded him to, claiming he was superior. As a result, he was expelled from paradise and became the enemy of God and humanity. He vowed to mislead and corrupt them until the Day of Judgment when he will be punished in hell. He is also the leader of the other jinn who followed him in his rebellion. He whispers evil thoughts and suggestions into people’s hearts and tries to make them forget God and his commands. He has no power over those who believe in God and seek his protection.

In Judaism, Satan is not seen as an independent or evil being but as an agent subservient to God, who performs a necessary function in his plan. He is typically regarded as a metaphor for the yetzer hara, or “evil inclination,” which is the natural tendency of humans to pursue their desires and interests, sometimes at the expense of others or God’s will. The yetzer hara is not inherently wrong but can be used for good or evil depending on how it is channeled. It is balanced by the yetzer tov, or “good inclination,” which is the natural tendency of humans to seek God’s approval and follow his laws. The role of Satan is to test and challenge people’s faith and obedience to God and to provide them with opportunities for repentance and growth. Satan has no power over those who resist his temptations and choose to do good.

The Satanic Bible presents a different perspective on Satan and his role in human history and society. It does not worship Satan as a literal or personal being but as a symbol of rebellion, freedom, individuality, and self-empowerment. It rejects the idea of absolute morality and authority imposed by external forces, such as God, religion, or society. It embraces the concept of relative morality and authority determined by one’s own will, reason, and experience. It celebrates human nature and potential in all its aspects, both light and dark, both constructive and destructive. It advocates for a life of self-fulfillment, pleasure, and mastery over oneself and one’s environment. It practices magic and ritual to express one’s emotions, desires, and goals and influence one’s reality according to one’s will.

The Satanic Bible is a controversial book that has provoked many reactions from different groups and individuals over the years. Some have praised it as a liberating and empowering manifesto that challenges the status quo and offers an alternative way of living. Some have criticized it as a dangerous and immoral document that promotes selfishness, violence, and chaos. Some have dismissed it as a joke or a hoax with no serious value or relevance.

Whatever one’s opinion, The Satanic Bible remains a fascinating and influential work that reflects the views and values of its author and his followers and the cultural and historical context in which it was written. It also raises many questions about the nature and meaning of Satanism, religion, morality, magic, and human existence.

[monsoonxskies]

Can I say this?-okay-

I FREAKING LOVE YOUR TRANSFORMATIONS OF CHARACTERS TURNING INTO WEREWOLVES,DEMON LIKE DRAGONS, GASTER BLASTERS- and ETC!!!

You are very talented but I got a question to ask cause I’m working on a sketch of a transformation of my oc turning into like a dragon and I sometimes messes up on the sketch so have you even like sketch your favorite character or a new human oc or oc turning into a dragon?

Thanks and have a great day/night!

(Sorry if I was rambling- and I sorta of had this in my mind for awhile and I didn’t had the guts to ask cause of how shy I am-and sorry again if this sorta of sounds cringe or bad-I just woke up-)

So sorry for the delay with my response! I planned on answering rather quickly but my college schedule didn’t allow it, haha- I appreciate the compliment! And I’m glad you enjoy my content! : D

Assuming you mean to ask how I like to start sketching out my transformation pieces- Theres a couple main things to keep in mind:

Try to figure out what form you’d like to have your character go to first! Before I ever drew any Demon! Luca transformation art, I designed his full demon form and experimented with partial forms!

You’ll often notice with my transformation art that I tend to default to a certain partial form. When you do this, the most you need to worry about getting across is the emotion! I tend to go for fear and pain, but there’s a lot of different options!

Don’t be worried about things not making sense anatomy-wise! Transformations aren’t always pretty or predictable, so awkward middle stages sometimes have the best effect on the piece. “Ugly” mid-transformation characters are oftentimes the most beautiful in this type of art!

Furthermore, with anatomy, I like to figure out where the common points are between human and animal anatomy. The feet is where these kinds of studies are most important in my opinion, as it’s where some of the more drastic and difficult to understand changes take place.

Feel free to let me know if parts of this don’t make sense- I’ll gladly illustrate what I’m talking about in a separate post!

As a final thing, I’ll show the general process I go through while sketching out my transformation artwork:

First, I start with general guidelines. I use a circle for the head, crossed lines to indicate facial feature placement. I use a line to map out the curvature of the back, and I use a box to map out the chest. You want it to taper a bit towards the bottom to show the end of the rib cage. A horizontal line represents the hips, then I use circles for joints and lines for the limbs themselves. Arms are mapped out the same way.

Next, I start putting in the major details. This involves actually drawing out all the limbs in full, sketching where the hair is going to be, mapping the facial expression, etc. With the face, I put the nose where the lines intersect, put the eyes along the horizontal line, and put the mouth in the center of the vertical line, under the nose.

Finally, I add the rest of the details. This is ultimately just refining the sketch to make it nice and readable. I usually erase my guidelines and initial sketch work here so none of that interrupts the details of the final piece.

Hopefully this helps you a bit! It all comes down to a lot of practice and experimentation to really figure out what works and what doesn’t, but you’ll definitely get there! I always recommend studying art from your favorite artists and seeing what you can incorporate into your own style! I’ve definitely got inspirations of my own that have really built up my style to this date ^^

[adamwatchesmovies]

How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

If How to Train Your Dragon 2 isn’t as good as the first, it’s only because the original offered the kind of first-time visual spectacle that could never quite be duplicated. This is a more mature film whose evolving relationships enrich the vivid world that’s quickly becoming a favorite. It’s got plenty of adventure, plenty of laughs - and a surprising amount of romance too.

Set 5 years after Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and Toothless met, dragons have become as much a part of Berk as its human villagers. While exploring and charting unexplored islands, our hero encounters Drago Bludvist (Dimon Hounson), a warlord who is building an army of dragons.

If the first movie was about showing us how different Hiccup was from his father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), this sequel is about how much he resembles his mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett), who we meet for the first time in this film. Then, the story takes him further by showing us how he is his own person. At this point in his life, Hiccup is no longer a boy. He’s an adult who hasn’t quite accepted all the responsibilities that come with being the son of the village chief. It’s clear that someday, he will lead Burke. He single-handedly changed human-dragon relationships completely through his willingness to listen and empathize. We can see those qualities, as well as Hiccup’s understanding of the fire-breathing reptiles in his mom. What ultimately makes him grow into his own is the villain, a man who actually has a lot in common with him.

Now that we’ve learned about this world and we’ve met the dragons, we're able to explore the characters. Some of the movie’s best scenes have nothing to do with Drago or the titular creatures. They’re romantic scenes where we see the chemistry between Hiccup and his fiancée, Astrid (America Ferrera), or between Stoick and Valka. The chemistry between the actors is so good you forget you’re looking at living drawings. You just see them as living, breathing people. That’s quite a feat.

By comparison, the film’s villain does not get a whole lot of development, but that’s sort of the point. Ever-hopeful, Hiccup believes Drago is simply misunderstood and that a hand extended in friendship will transform him. It worked with dragons, after all. Maybe he even thinks himself a little bit better than all the adults who warn him about the warlord, that they just don’t understand something that he does. After all, Hiccup and Drago have a lot in common. They’ve both been scarred by dragons but their time with them has ultimately made them stronger. The truth is they might’ve been friends once upon a time but somewhere along the way, the two became mirror opposites. Just as the giant dragon in the first movie couldn’t be reasoned with, Drago also can’t be reasoned with. That might sound like a cliché, but it isn’t, not in this movie. It’s a lesson Hiccup will have to learn before it’s too late.

Ultimately, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a very different kind of adventure. Rather than boiling down to a boss that needs to be beaten up/killed, it’s a battle of wills and beliefs. If that doesn’t necessarily sound visually dynamic, you’ve figured out the film’s only flaw. While there are plenty of gorgeous scenes, the soundtrack is just as good as the first, the jokes are hilarious and rewarding, the character designs inspired, the emotions rich and the action scenes are rousing, the finale is not the same kind of jaw-dropper we saw in 2010. Is it a big deal? Only if you demand the movies be on the exact same level. If this was a standalone adventure, it would easily earn itself a 5-star rating. Because it’s a sequel and those have different expectations thrust upon them, I’m going to give it a 4.5 - but only because we’re rounding down with extreme prejudice. (On Blu-ray, May 27, 2022)