#aka: she's not paying someone to be her lover-servant

[substantial-gains]

Surely those she drags along are paid well in some form?

"...No?"

Isn't her company enough? If they want to get a milkshake on her dime afterwards, then maybe, but she can carry her own things if they weren't just being friendly to be friendly...

The last thing she wants to do is unknowingly take advantage of another person's kindness after all-

[thebawdybaldurian]

BG3FicFeb Day 23

SFW: A peek into Tav’s younger days, as she prepares to become the chaotic, horny bard of legend.

NSFW: When Tav returns to Halsin, covered in fang marks, he decides to one-up his vampiric lover by unleashing his inner beast

SFW: A day in the life of Tav’s childhood

Background: Before she was known as Tav or Chardonnay Brandywine, she was Clataedre Calthrenis (aka Addy), a young high elf born to sorcerer parents.

Addy walked home from school beaming, holding a loosely bound stack of paper. ‘Best in the class, you have a real talent for writing’ was written across the top. She’d spent hours refining the class assignment, more engaged in this project than any other before. She did well in all her other studies, if she could manage to pay attention, but this was something she had actually enjoyed finishing. She couldn’t wait to show her parents the story she had written.

They were both in their study, as they usually were, pouring over arcane literature or experimenting with spells. They were two of the best Evokers in Neverwinter, meeting and marrying quite quickly while attending the arcane academy. It was more of a mutual arrangement than a romantic partnership, but they did manage to have one child, despite the lower rate of Elven births. Their daughter would be the culmination of their combined magical legacy. As such, she was expected to practice spell casting as often as she could, sometimes to the detriment of her other studies.

Her parents barely noticed when she entered the room, her smile still wide. “How was school, Addy?” Her father asked, carefully stirring a potion with a Mage Hand.

“My teacher liked my story the best out of the entire class,” Addy proudly held her work up.

“What story?” Her mother replied, forming a small ice crystal in her hand. She began manipulating it with her other hand, barely paying any attention to her daughter.

“The one I have been working on for a month.”

“Time better spent mastering your Thunderwave spell, in my opinion,” her mother continued her manipulation. “Honestly, what is that school teaching you? The sooner you are enrolled in the arcane academy, the better. You are grown now, you shouldn’t be wasting your time writing fancies.”

“I like this school,” Addy frowned, wishing they would show interest in anything other than magic. “They teach me a lot of different things.”

“No harm being well rounded,” her father added, finishing with the potion and giving it a sniff.

“Addy, Jorgan should have lunch prepared for you. Tell him to come in here so I can test this potion when you find him. You can start on your studies after.”

Addy’s shoulder’s slumped, expecting perhaps the slightest bit of pride from her parents. She’d worked so hard on this story and they didn’t even care. She went to find their sorcerer’s apprentice, who was little more than a glorified servant and test subject, receiving only the benefit of room and board with some magical instruction. She hated the young elf, only a few years older than her, who frequently gave her creepy looks and put in the least amount of effort in the meals he was forced to prepare for her. She found him leaned over the kitchen counter, talking to someone through a well hidden sending stone.

“I could probably finger you with my Mage Hand from here,” he whispered, clearly talking to some new love interest. Addy cleared her throat, letting him know she was there. “What do you want?” He sighed, hiding the stone in his pocket.

“Just grabbing my lunch,” she pulled the cloche off the plate that sat on the counter. It was some amalgamation of vegetables and charred meat. “It’s burnt,” she scrunched her nose.

“Fix it with a Prestidigitation Spell then,” he sassed her, slipping into the pantry to continue his lurid conversation.

“My father has a new potion for you,” she made a rude gesture at him, hoping the potion made his cock fall off, and took the plate up to her bedroom, her only sanctuary from both him and her parents.

She sat on the floor, fixing the meat with the simple cantrip, and ate while she re-read the story she’d written. It was an adventure about a halfling who find a magical artifact and travels all across Faerun. She’d stared at map for hours, picking out interesting sounding places for her heroine to visit. There was nothing she wanted more than to escape her house, escape Neverwinter, and escape the pressures of magic. She wanted to have fun, be known, be loved.

She eventually let out a long sigh, tossing the story into the pile of accomplishments her parents couldn’t care less about. She reached under her bed to grab her private journal, something no one would ever read. It was full of her dreams and desires and short little stories about the life she wanted to have. She began to write something new, something she desired more than anything.

‘I want to meet a handsome man who sweeps me off my feet, takes me on an adventure, and then marries me, giving me lots of children.’

She scribbled out the last bit. No, that was the fantasy of little girls and she was pretty much a woman now. She didn’t want any other child to have to live like she had, even her own. She couldn’t wait to get out of this house and never look back. She was supposed to begin at the arcane academy next year, but she knew in her heart she would hate in more than anything. She wanted to write, to travel, to be free, to finally be loved.

She’d met a young bard a few months ago, hanging up flyers for the local college around her school. They’d talked and flirted shyly, the bard giving her her first kiss, that had left her in a daze for a tenday. She could never have anything like that at the arcane college. Their fraternization policy was incredibly strict. She needed to explore everything, including herself, wondering how angry her parents would be if she enrolled in the bard’s college instead.

NSFW: Marking

Background: When Tav returns to Halsin, covered in fang marks, he decides to one-up his vampiric lover by unleashing his inner beast. (That story is already written for one of the last prompts 😄)

Content and Warnings: Female elf x male elf. Semi-public sex, marking, biting, oral sex, PIV sex, cum play, masturbation.

Tav and Astarion returned to the Elfsong Tavern, rejoining their companions after spending the night at Tav’s cottage. It was an unusually hot spring day, but Tav was wearing a long-sleeved dress and a silk scarf tied around her neck. Astarion had ravaged her the night before, leaving her covered neck to ankle in bite marks. She was a little sore and tired from their vigorous lovemaking/blood drinking session, but she’d loved every second of it. She was already sweating from their brief walk through the Lower City by the time they arrived.

She found Halsin out on the balcony, enjoying the warmer weather lounged on a wooden chaise, in just a pair of shorts. He would have prefered to be fully nude, sparing his companions the awkwardness. “Hello, my heart,” he grinned up at her, shielding his eyes from the sun.

“Hi, love,” Tav felt a hot flush spread across her body, the shorts leaving little to the imagination.

She could see the outline of his flaccid, but still thick cock, his balls resting on his thick, muscular thighs. His golden skin glistened slightly from the mix of sweat and body oil he applied to his skin to keep his body hair soft and supple.

“Join me,” he added, patting the chaise beside him, looking her up and down. “Though perhaps you’d like to change first? You must be sweltering.”

“A little,” she blushed, pulling at the scarf around her neck. She untied it, revealing the two bites marks on either side of her throat.

“You and Astarion enjoyed yourselves, I take it?” He grinned as she climbed onto the chaise next to him. He leaned over to kiss her neck, nuzzling against the tiny red wounds.

“A little too much, I think,” she blushed even deeper, unlacing the top of her dress so she could get some air on her chest. The top of her breasts had bite marks on them as well.

“I see,” he gently caressed his hand down her neck, giving one of her breasts a squeeze. He reached down for the hem of her dress, pulling it up to her knees as he kissed her. “How many times did he bite you?” He looked down at the marks that trailed up her legs as well.

“I lost count,” she blushed even deeper. “You’re not mad, are you? That he marked me so much?”

“Definitely not mad,” he glanced down at his growing arousal, already bulging out of his loose shorts. “Perhaps jealous he got to taste so much of your skin,” he pulled her dress higher, revealing the many bites on her thighs.

“You could as well,” she let out a quiet sigh as he bent down to kiss her thighs. He spread them apart, nuzzling and kissing the soft, unmarred flesh in between the bite marks. “Ohhh,” she let out a little yelp as he bit roughly into her inner thigh. He didn’t break the skin, but it would bruise her delicate flesh quickly. He reached up to tug on the top of her underpants, the scent of her own growing arousal too much for him. “Halsin,” she bit her lip, looking back to make sure she’d shut the door to that led inside. “What if someone comes out?”

“Let them,” he slid her underpants down, lifting her hips to get them off. “They can watch me reclaim you,” he pressed his mouth to her clit at once, sending a shock up her spine.

“Gods!” Her legs trembled as his tongue probed her, his hands spreading her thighs wider.

He licked and nibbled on her, letting his mouth drift down her other thigh for a moment to bit her there. He brought her to climax quickly, his hunger for her making her bite into her own flesh to keep her moans quiet. He left more rough bites on her outer thighs, nibbling past her knees and then left a few bites on each of her calves. She’d unlaced her dress by now, leaving it completely open in the front. He looked over her with a smile, watching as she rubbed her fingers against her clit. “I need to mount you,” she hissed, staring down at the cock protruding through his shorts.

The wet spot of pre-cum spread wide across them. He grinned and climbed beside her again, his cock spilling out of his shorts effortlessly. She straddled him quickly, rubbing her slit against him as she checked the door again. There would be no way to hide her riding his cock if someone should come out. “Fuck!” She arched her back as he guided himself inside her, eager to feel her around him. She’d already opened completely for his sizable member, not needing any slow warmup to begin riding his cock quickly and urgently.

His mouth went straight to her breasts, his wide mouth biting just above Astarion’s teeth marks. The chaise creaked underneath them, their sweat beading together and dripping between the wooden slats. She slowed her hips for only a moment, pulling her dress off completely, leaving her fully nude and completely exposed. Anyone looking up at a certain angle from the street below would be able to see them, but she didn’t care. She wanted him so much, his hunger for her making her want him even more. He moved up to her neck, sucking on her sensitive flesh, leaving hickeys up and down her throat.

“Gods…fuck…uhhhhnnn,” she pressed her face into his chest as she came again, muffling her moans against the musky dew of his skin. He bucked his hips with her, close to his own climax. “Wait,” she breathed heavily, slowly circling her hips around him as he grunted with need. “I skipped my tincture this month, so Astarion could drink my moon blood…you probably shouldn’t come in me.”

“Okay,” he nodded, moving her hips against him a little more. He knew her thoughts on children, and as unlikely as it would be to impregnate her given their Elven heritage and his perceived infertility, he would always comply with her wishes.

She climbed off of him, returning to her original position on the chaise, rubbing and circling her hands around her breasts, ready to take his seed all over her. “Yes, my big bear, come here,” she purred at him as he straddled her, keeping his hips high so he could fuck her tits. He took control of her breasts, pressing them together with the right amount of friction and allowing her to finger herself to a third climax. “Please…yeah…oh, cover me in it,” she begged, staring up a him looming over her.

He’d been so close before, it didn’t take long for him to spread across her neck and chest, his growl echoing across the neighborhood. Their companions inside, all occupied with other things, each raised a curious eyebrow, Astarion hiding a wide grin as well. ��Mmmmm fuck,” Tav squealed, vibrating from her final climax as he huffed above her. She reached her slick fingers up to slid his copious seed across her skin, drawing them up her neck to her lips so she could taste a bit of him.

“You are so beautiful,” he grinned widely, resting on his heels, watching as she slicked his cum all over herself. “You make me feral,” he leaned down to kiss her. “Do you mind if I transform and lick you clean?”

“Maybe later,” she teased, sliding her hand up his chest again, getting more of his scent on her. “I want to smell like you for a bit.”

He let out a low growl, kissing her deeply before returning to her side. They lounged in the sun for a bit, their fingers softly caressing each other’s thighs. Astarion eventually ventured out, curious as a cat as to what exactly they’d gotten up to out on the balcony. He grinned widely when he found the pair both glistening in the sun, fully nude. He could smell them both, his loins beginning to tingle. He hadn’t done anything other than kiss Halsin up until now, but felt himself getting closer to taking things further. “I didn’t know we had a nude beach going on out here,” he teased as Tav opened her eyes to see who was blocking her light.

“You’re welcome to join us,” she grinned, watching as his eyes drifted down her body, seeing all the new bite marks and hickeys Halsin had left on her. He leaned down to kiss her, Halsin’s scents heavy on her skin. It made him stir even more, his eyes glancing to Halsin, who was already blushing deeply.

“I can cover up,” Halsin sat up, reaching for his discarded shorts.

“No need,” Astarion smiled, unbuttoning his pants and untucking his shirt. “We might as well all enjoy the sun as nature intended.”

There was barely enough room on the wooden lounger for the three of them, Astarion making his way to the opposite side of Halsin as he undressed. Tav propped herself up on her elbow, watching as he stripped, his cock still flaccid, but excitedly pink. He had more self control than she did apparently. He climbed beside Halsin, stretching the beautiful pale of his skin out in the early afternoon sun. He propped himself up on his elbow as well, looking them both over. “We’ve done quite a number on her, haven’t we, druid?” His eyes continued to scan her glistening, but marred flesh.

“Indeed we have,” Halsin’s blush deepened. “I am pleased we can share her so throughly.”

“I was thinking,” Astarion pulled Halsin’s face towards him to give him a gentle kiss, only releasing his lips when he knew any longer would make him aroused. “We might soon share her…together. Once we deal with this damn brain, of course.”

“I’d like that very much,” Tav blushed, feeling an anticipatory pulse between her thighs.

As much as she loved their playful competition to own and mark her body, having them both, and seeing them together as well, stirred something deep inside her very core. Her nectar oozed from her just thinking about it, her thighs shifting to quell the sensation for now. They remained lounged in the sun together for while, before thirst and hunger drove the living elves inside. Between Halsin’s scents all over her and the thought of soon having them both at the same time, Tav grabbed a quick bite and then headed to a bath.

She was practically trembling by the time she climbed in, her fingers going to her cunt immediately. She finally washed her lover from her skin as she slowly fingered herself, her toes gripped into the edge of the tub as she braced herself with her feet. She thought about having both of them at once and watching them together, eager to see the stark contrast of their sizes. She caressed the fingers of her free hand across the marks of their desires, her hunger for them just as needful. She would face down the Netherbrain herself if need be, to allow herself more time with them. Each tender wound was a reminder of how much so wanted to give herself over to them completely. She loved them both more than anything.

She swallowed her moans, letting her other hand drift between her thighs as well, driving her towards yet another climax. Her joy couldn’t be contained, her voice crying out loudly, trying to form it into a song so her companions didn’t have to hear her a second time today. She continued to sing, her legs trembling against the tub, creating her first composition dedicated to her lovers. She quickly collected herself and dried off, finding a sheet of paper to write the notes down immediately. Astarion sought her out again, his superior hearing catching all of her song. “Perhaps we should stay at your cottage from now on?” he brushed up behind her, her robed frame bent over a table to write. “To spare our friends the opera.”

“Hmm, that would probably be best,” she chuckled, scribbling down the last of her notations. “Do you remember how the last part went?” She grinned, knowing he had likely heard it all.

He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face into her neck. He hummed the last part of her spontaneous melody, swaying his body with hers as he did. She scribbled down the final notes, setting her pen down and placing her hands on top of his. “I’m glad you have such a good ear,” she closed her eyes, still swaying with him in silence.

“Your voice still makes my skin tingle, every time,” he spun her around, holding her just as close and kissing her deeply. He led her in a simple dance, his body guiding hers as she picked up the steps almost instantly.

“You know, I was always the entertainment at those fancy balls, but I wanted nothing more than to dance with someone,” she looked up at him.

“I’ll happily take you someday,” he stopped his steps, dipping her into an even deeper kiss. Their impending fight with the Netherbrain so near, he couldn’t help but fantasize about a life with her afterwards, their chances of survival so slim. “Will you sing that song for me again…tonight?” He smiled at her when their lips finally parted.

“How about we write a new one?” She pulled him in for another kiss.

[doveriathegoddess]

What the NSR and the OFA Artists would do if they received gross/creepy fan mail Part 2: OFA Artists

Henrick

His older siblings/cousins might get ahold of said fan mail and call the police before Henrick can see it for himself. He has quite a big family and since he’s also the youngest he has quite the protective family members, so it’s understandable that they would quickly snap into action. Henrick on the other hand doesn’t really pay attention to what his family members are doing due to him playing his usual DND sessions.

Rosie

Congratulations! The entirety of Rosetta, Rosie’s servants/bodyguards, all the other Artists, her boyfriend, and her 2 older sisters are all coming after you for sending fan mail that was so horrendous. Rosie luckily is an innocent bean that she doesn’t really comprehend the content of the fan mail, but everyone else around her knows what’s up and they’re gonna make sure the issue is taken care of as quickly as possible. However it’s only rare that Rosie receives the weirdest of fan mail so for something like this to happen is a once in a lifetime scenario-

Prince Astral

He’s now a very traumatized boi :(

Now both his boyfriend (Sol) and girlfriend (Coraline) are out for blood while his older sister (Orion) uses her girlfriend’s flames to burn said fanmail. After the person who sent the fan mail ends up in the hospital under mysterious circumstances (aka getting jumped by Sol and Coraline), Astral spends the rest of the day with his 2 lovers getting the much needed comfort and affection.

CAL

He’s inside your house now, there’s nothing else you can do now-

Jodie

He’s a bit confused at to what he got, but once someone explains it to him then Jodie uses the fan mail as fuel for his monthly campfire gatherings as he and his district resident toast marshmallows over the flames and make s’mores. He gets weird stuff every now and then, but only on rare occasions would he ever get something worthy of being burned.

Burning Constellation

They’re actually encouraging it since they think it’s hilarious to look at. The band even goes through their fan mail during their streams, along with reading fanfiction about them and looking at the art they get sent. Overall they’re just having a fun time with their fans :D

[dholwrites]

Meeting the Family

AKA Junior meeting the Nijoh'ir's husbands

Summary: A late birthday gift for @nijohirjesyho

The former retainer doesn't realize that Nijoh'ir is joking when he calls Ameliance his wife. It only makes matters a little more complicated when he gets introduced to the Warrior of Light's actual spouse.

(ﾉ*ФωФ)ﾉ

“Junior! Here take this.” 

When Junior was called down from his room, he thought he was in trouble. Like another professor coming to complain that he isn’t paying attention to the lectures. What he wasn’t expecting was to be led to the waiting room. Nor that someone would thrust a mug of hot chocolate into his waiting hands by a friendly elezen. It’s a welcomed warmth to his cold fingers, especially with the freezing weather in Sharlayan. The man fussed over him like an affectionate but long-forgotten uncle, asking “have you eaten? Did you like studying here? Have you made any new friends yet?” 

In the midst of the questions, Junior racks his brain to try to remember if he knows the blue-haired elezen from somewhere. A former employer perhaps or maybe another retainer that he doesn’t recognize. Yet whenever he thinks he is getting somewhere, the elezen would pet his head and derail his thoughts. 

“If you keep shaking him like that, he’s going to lose what brain cells he has.” The miqo’te only realizes that someone is there when his ears pick up a rough voice snickering at his predicament. He whips around to find a hyur who has made himself comfortable on one side of the couch. His legs crossed and eating through the plate of sweets that servants would often bring out for guests. Realizing that he has finally been noticed, all he did is offer up a cookie with his mouth half full, “Want one?”

The only answer that would make sense now is that they are Ameliance’s guests. His foster mother has mentioned that she does talk about him in her circles. Perhaps, she is planning to introduce him?

The door swings open to reveal Ameliance. There is a grin on her lips. The kind that promised a mischievous plan. It’s big enough that even Junior couldn’t help but grow worried. He shuttering out an excuse that Erenville is expecting him at the library and rush for the door. Only to be seized. 

“Junior, darling,” She sweetly sings much like a siren would before drowning her prey, “Wouldn’t you stay?”

“I think I should leave you to your guest, Lady Ameliance.” She did not care for his excuses. In fact, she tightened her grip and hauled him over to the center of the room. Junior dragged his feet but found himself again in front of the strangers. 

“This is Haurchefant, Nijoh’ir’s husband.” Ameliance gestures to the other elezen, nudging Junior to greet him properly. The miqo’te goes bow only to freeze when her words register in his mind. Husband…? The Sharlayan doesn’t seem to notice his distress as she turns him to face the hyur. “And this is Ardbert, Nijoh’ir’s other husband.” 

Other… Husband? One moment passed, and then a second. The gears in Junior’s head are working overtime for him to understand the bombs that were just dropped on him. The only conclusion that he could draw now is… The Warrior of Light is married to three people! That is the only thing that makes sense. It explains why Nijoh’ir doesn’t live in this giant mansion despite being married to Ameliance. He must be dividing what free time he has between his lovers. 

Junior was fairly certain that he knew Nijoh’ir well, or at least a little better than the general populace since the Warrior did help him get to where he is. Yet here he stands, just now finding out that the other is married to another two people. 

In the midst of his thoughts, Junior didn’t realize he is being coaxed to sit in an empty seat while Ameliance and Haurchefant coos over his cute ear flicks. Ameliance petting the top of his head. It rises as he perks up and droops when he slouches, like the perfect way to read his mood. Ardbert on the other hand is more interested in the local sweets laid out and has already finished his share. 

The entire room snaps into attention when Nijoh’ir enters the room holding a small stack of papers. Junior watches as the husbands rush over to greet their love, sharing sweet kisses that would make people turn away with embarrassment.  

“We are adopting a baby,” Nijoh’ir announced to the group with the confidence of a natural-born leader. They had finally gathered around to see what was going on. The paperwork in his hands is now spread on the table in front of Junior. 

Before he could think, Nijoh’ir had already pressed a pen into the hand of the green-haired miqo’te. Just as he is seconds away from signing the paper without reading the small print, the man beside him rests a hand on his shoulder. “You’re baby.”

[hamliet]

On Privilege and Parallels: MianMian and SiSi, Wei WuXian and Jin GuangYao

Aka two minor characters who happen to be some of the only female characters who survive MDZS. Granted a lot of characters don’t survive MDZS, but it’s definitely lopsided gender-wise. However, no story is perfect. 

(brb crying forever)

Anyways, what struck me while rereading certain parts of MDZS after watching The Untamed was how these seemingly very minor characters actually have quite important thematic roles. On the surface, both MianMian and SiSi appear to be plot devices as neither really has a character arc and yet both play important roles in two of the novel’s turning points: Wei WuXian, Jin ZiXuan, and Lan WangJi saving MianMian essentially kicks off the Sunshot Campaign, and SiSi and BiCao’s stories turn the tides against Jin GuangYao. But these characters have a lot of similarities, and these similarities reflect on their respective foilings with the main protagonist and final antagonist (Wei WuXian for MianMian and Jin GuangYao for SiSi). 

In the cave, MianMian is targeted by JiaoJiao purely because JiaoJiao is jealous. After she survives the attempt to tie her up and use her as bait, she is then captured and JiaoJiao tries to burn her face off. Wei WuXian intervenes, getting his flesh branded in the process. 

And what’s worth noting is that we see this precise situation later on through SiSi. A merchant’s wife was jealous and had her face cut seven or eight times, leaving her scarred and unable to work. 

What’s thematic about this is that it relates to what Wei WuXian observes: society is always going to find a villain.

Instead of JiaoJiao taking her anger out on Wen Chao, or the merchant’s wife on the merchant, they target the objects of their respective partners’ affections. (It’s also worth noting that JiaoJiao is actually a mistress anyways, not Wen Chao’s wife.) In these situations, MianMian and SiSi have considerably less power than JiaoJiao or the merchant’s wife; regarding MianMian, she’s noted to be “the daughter of a servant,” regarding SiSi, obviously, she was a prostitute and we’ve seen how society treats a well-known and educated prostitute like Meng Shi. We can only imagine how they’d treat SiSi. 

Along these lines, Wei WuXian empathizes with Jin GuangYao towards the end of the novel, and observes much the same:

These stories and rumors were indeed familiar. Wei WuXian recalled how back then countless people told stories of him kidnapping a thousand virgins to his demonic cave at Burial Mound, ravishing them day and night to cultivate the dark path. He found it somewhat funny, Fine. No matter what, the things they said about me were definitely better than what they’re saying about Jin GuangYao.

Jin GuangYao was not the villain society claims he is; he did not build a temple to himself as they observe, but for his mother: a scorned prostitute who lived a life of sacrifice to give him a chance:

As one sect leader saw the features of the Guanyin statue, he first paused in surprise, then pointed at it for others to see as though he found something new and interesting, “Look at its face! Doesn’t it look like Jin GuangYao?”

Everyone mused after they looked, “It’s his face indeed! Why would Jin GuangYao make such a thing?”

Sect Leader Yao, “To declare himself a god with wild arrogance, of course.”

“Arrogant indeed, then, hahaha.”

Wei WuXian thought to himself, No, not necessarily.

Jin GuangYao’s mother was seen as the lowest prostitutes, so he decided to carve a Guanyin statue with his mother’s appearance, receiving the worship of tens of thousands.

But there was no use in saying all that. Nobody knew with more clarity than Wei WuXian that nobody would care and nobody would believe him. Anything related to Jin GuangYao would be given the most malicious conjectures and passed through the mouths of the crowd.

And that’s another parallel between MianMian, Wei WuXian, SiSi, and to a lesser extent Jin GuangYao as well (I’ll get into where he differs later). MianMian, Wei WuXian, and SiSi will stand up for what they believe is right, for the people they care for, no matter who stands against them. MianMian narrowly avoided the social implications of getting her face ruined, as Wei WuXian observes:

Wei WuXian, “It’s not like I had any other choice, right?... MianMian is a girl, and quite a pretty girl, at that. If she was blind in an eye or such a thing gets onto her face, it wouldn’t be able to come off for the rest of her life. How bad would that be?”

Lan WangJi spoke in a thin voice, “The thing on your body right now will not be able to come off for the rest of your life either.”

Wei WuXian, “That’s different. It’s not on the face. And I’m a man—what am I scared of?”

These are implicitly gendered as well. Yet she chooses to throw her reputation away anyways to shame her sect for their treatment of Wei WuXian. Nie MingJue even observes "The woman has much more backbone than the mob of her sect” after they again judge her on the basis of her gender:

“There’s no need for me to say anything. You know, deep down, and we know too. You fell for him back in the cave of the Xuanwu just because he flirted with you? You’re still arguing for him, calling white black no matter how irrational it is. Ha, women will always be women.”

SiSi too stood up for Meng Shi when all the other prostitutes were badmouthing her, when she was humiliated, and challenged the men who were gawking at the humiliation:

[they were] chuckling as they told the story of the poor old woman to their clients just like AnXin did. Only one of the ladies squeezed through the doors. She took off the gauze robe that was so flimsy to begin with, revealing half of her full, snowy breasts enwrapped by a crimson slip, her waist was exceptionally thin as well. She was more than eye-catching and everyone hurried to take a look at her.

The lady spat, cursing, “Keep on looking, you bastards! Do you have the right to look at someone like me? With each look you gotta pay—where’s the money?! Come, where’s the money?!”

As she cursed, she reached out and asked the bystanders for money. The crowd dispersed somewhat, and she threw the robe she took off onto the woman, the two of them staggering into the main hall...

She challenges society thereby, pointing out that if they’re going to gawk at a woman’s fate, they might as well pay up, because they’re the ones who employ the women in the brothel, they’re the reason they resort to this fate. Society is to be blamed more than anything or anyone else. 

But their fates differ. MianMian is able to marry a man who supports her in night hunts despite her lack of sect belonging; she finds belonging and happiness outside society (which is a theme). 

Luo QingYang gazed at her husband, smiling, “My husband isn’t of the cultivating world. He used to be a merchant. But, he’s willing to go night-hunting with me…”

It was both rare and admirable that an ordinary person, and a man at that, would be willing to give up his originally stable life and dare travel the world with his wife, unafraid of danger and wander. Wei WuXian couldn’t help feeling respect for him.

We’re not given a clear answer to SiSi’s fate, and I’m not going to assume it’s negative, but it’s worth noting that SiSi is literally saved by and yet locked up by Jin GuangYao, which is symbolic of both Jin GuangYao’s choices and how society treats women like her: they are forever categorized by a life they quite possibly didn’t choose. Their scars repulse people. 

The woman spoke with no shame in her voice, not at all trying to beat around the bush. Many of the female cultivators covered their lips with their sleeves, while the men frowned. Sisi, “After my face became like this, my days were different from before. Nobody wanted to spare me a single glance, let alone do my business. My original brothel kicked me out. I didn’t know how to do anything else, but I couldn’t take in any business at all, so I joined up with the older sisters. Their customers didn’t have high demands. If a job is up, I’d tag along with them. I could manage with my face covered up.”

At this point, some of the people couldn’t take it any longer. They let the contempt in their eyes pour out without any intent to cover it.

But Jin GuangYao, to whatever extent it matters--and Wei WuXian remarks that he thinks it does matter--saved Sisi even though he had to know not killing her would likely come back to bite him. He doesn’t stand up for people against society, but he does surreptitiously find ways to protect those who were kind to him.  

“Speaking of it, that SiSi used to be quite the well-known prostitute back in the days. With how old she is, I couldn’t even recognize her. What a fucking hag. It was quite the torturous death for Jin GuangShan too, hahahahaha…”

“Props to Jin GuangYao for thinking of such a way to kill his dad. A perfect match. Absolutely perfect!”

“It’s quite a mystery—why didn’t Jin GuangYao kill that old prostitute? Witnesses should be silenced. Is he an idiot?”

“Why should he be an idiot? He’s the seed of Jin GuangShan, after all. Maybe he’s a lover of affairs too. Maybe he’s got special tastes and has… haha, an unspeakable relationship with SiSi?”

“Hah, I think so too, but don’t the stories say? Because he engaged in incest with his sister-by-blood, Jin GuangYao was so shocked he somehow fell ill in an unspeakable way, so even if he wanted to, he couldn’t, hahaha…

This is exactly what doomed Jin GuangYao insofar as his choices are concerned: he both hated society that treated his mother terribly, knew it left him with little choice, and yet still chose to be a part of it. He chose to keep himself locked up instead of seeking a more meaningful life outside of society’s approval. 

The symbolism of SiSi being locked up for so long is what happens to Jin GuangYao as well. We see both him and Wei WuXian categorized by their parents: Wei WuXian is disparaged as a “son of a servant” and Jin GuangYao as the “son of a whore.” 

Wei WuXian, however, was given a chance, a chance that enables him to save MianMian from being forever categorized by her scars: he was found on the streets by Jiang FengMian. However horrible Madame Yu was to him (and she was), however he was rumored to be the illegitimate son of Jiang FengMian (which while it’s unlikely, the novel never directly gives an answer to), he had support and love growing up. He had cultivation taught to him, and he thinks this:

if Jiang FengMiang hadn’t take him back to Lotus Pier, perhaps he wouldn’t cross paths with cultivation his whole life. Then he would have never known that such a magnificent path existed in this world. He’d only be a head beggar who roamed the streets, fleeing at first sight of a dog, or maybe looking after cows and stealing other people’s crops in the countryside, playing his flute to pass his time. He wouldn’t have known to cultivate, and he definitely wouldn’t have had the chance to form a core. With such thoughts, he’d felt much better.

Take it as repayment, or take it as redemption. Take it as he’d never received the golden core to begin with.

Jin GuangYao did not have this. He grew up as a poor child in YunMeng just like Wei WuXian, but no one stood up for him save his mother and SiSi. When he found his way to his father’s house, as the actual illegitimate son, Jin GuangShan had him kicked down the stairs of Koi Tower instead of welcoming him. Madame Jin abused him physically as well as emotionally (Madame Yu’s, to our knowledge, was primarily verbal/emotional):

Blood streamed down from [Jin GuangYao’s] forehead, but aside from the wound from the fall, there was also an old wound from before, wrapped in bandages. It had been hidden only because he was wearing the black gauze cap. Now, both wounds gaped open...

Lan XiChen walked as he spoke, “Brother, I am afraid that you do not know. Our third brother really is in a terrible situation as of the moment... His mother never liked him to begin with. After ZiXuan-xiong passed away, she often hit him and scolded him.

Wei WuXian never fully fit in with society, and no one tried to integrate Jin GuangYao with it without removing the labels and boxes they put him in . He only achieved a place in society via lies and deception that just turned out to be another box, leaving him to be trapped in a literal locked coffin for at least a hundred years. He’s fully responsible for his choices that led to his tragedy, but it’s foolish to say that his circumstances did not contribute to them as well; take Wei WuXian’s word for it, not mine. Society is a monstrous, toxic creation in MDZS, and Jin GuangYao’s focus on its approval instead of on the people who loved him’s approval (Lan XiChen, even Nie MingJue) led to him doing monstrous things to vulnerable people who had no choice in their circumstances either (namely, A-Song and SiSi’s shunned prostitute friends). 

It’s still remarkable to me how often I see takes arguing that Jin GuangYao=bad and Wei WuXian=good, when, while everyone’s entitled to their opinion, the story’s themes directly contradict this. Both of them messed up, and Wei WuXian made better choices than Jin GuangYao did ultimately. However, Wei WuXian also was had support from a young age in ways Jin GuangYao never did, and the novel goes out of its way to point this out. It’s hard for servants, prostitutes, the disabled (Xiao XingChen), the disfigured, women, to find a place in a society that scorns them. It’s directly criticizing privilege beyond sociopolitical boundaries and points to the privilege in people’s experiences as well, emphasizing the importance of empathy in solving problems. 

Wei WuXian is warned numerous times that empathy is dangerous, yet he uses it more than once in the novel. Jin GuangYao asked Nie MingJue for empathy several times, and was rebuffed (though Lan XiChen did give him empathy to an extent... but there’s more to that which is a topic for another meta). Ironically, the one who empathizes with Jin GuangYao in the end, who understands him most, is Wei WuXian, because they were not that different in the end. 

[kadeuhq]

Accepted — Moon Ara

♦️  Moon Ara aka. Tempest looks like Seo Yeji (actor) ♦️  She was born October 01, 1989; making her 30 years old ♦️  This Air Elementalist is Bisexual and a Queen of Diamonds ♦️  They are an Actor at The Palace

Biography

Her mother was an 8 of diamonds when she died under mysterious circumstances when Ara was 16. Mother was a heart but changed factions to be with her father. Her father’s family did not approve and thought the infatuation would pass before it was time for her father to marry. It did not. Her father disappeared shortly after she was born. Her parents never married.

Her mother got a job sewing costumes for theaters. She became quite good, many theaters still use her designs. When there was extra fabric, her mother would make Ara a miniature version of the costumes. The actors thought it was sweet and would help her with the lines as she played pretend. She found the hustle and chaos and blinding lights of the stage so glamorous. But it was the stories that really drew her heart in. Going from rags to riches, or finding your star-crossed love…The idea of stepping into another life for a little while, of becoming someone else, was intoxicating. Who doesn’t like to escape reality every once in a while?

Her paternal grandparents did not want to have anything to do with her. That is, until her powers came in when she was 13. You see, her father’s side were all elementalists. They took her out of the theater and got her into the academy where she trained and honed her powers. Her mother encouraged her training, telling her it would help her become respected. That being accepted by her paternal family would help her make something of herself. All the while assuring her that once she graduated, she could choose to be anything or anyone she wanted.

When her mother died, her grandparents allowed her a small funeral but made it clear that any further mention of her was strictly prohibited. All that she was allowed to keep was one small portrait of the two of them that was made by an actor at one of the smaller theaters when she was 9 and a locket that had been given to her mother by her father. Her grandparents didn’t know that she had kept the necklace. They wouldn’t have let her keep it if they had known. Inside was a picture of her parents and an inscription of love and devotion. It was proof of a happiness that her grandparents had tried to erase.

As she was a bastard, her grandparents did not allow her to live with them. It would bring dishonor on their family, to be associated with such low breeding. They did, however, pay for a small one bedroom flat near the academy. She shared the room with her nanny, hired by her grandparents to make sure she attended her training classes. Her grandparents were very involved in her studies, telling her that once she graduated from the academy, she could take their last name and become an official member of their esteemed family, where her next goal would be becoming a part of the academy council. Apparently that was the goal they had for her father before he disappeared, and as long as she “proved herself”, she could take his place. She did not want to.

She had stopped wishing for her family’s love when she very young. She knew their lofty goals for her were not out of love. Her father had had no siblings. She was the only one left that could uphold her grandparent’s status. Unbeknownst to her grandparents, she had been spending many of her nights at the little theater that her mother had always taken her to. Thanks to all that training, her ability to manipulate the air had made her quite light on her feet. As long as she was back before dawn her nanny, and in effect her grandparents, were none the wiser.

Ara couldn’t help herself. The theater is where she felt closest to her mother. It’s where her heart was. She grew close to the other actors and staff, who had continued to let her run lines with them and assist where they needed extra hands. Her ability to manipulate the air proved to be quite effective in adding drama where needed. The actors found her charming and, knowing enough of her life, took pity on her.

The secrets continued until one night when she was 17. She had been granted an understudy position for a small part in a little play about faeries and dreams. The part was small, but she did have a few lines and got to take center stage for them. Her heart would not let her miss this opportunity, her mother’s encouragements playing in her mind. She let her guard down and stepped out onto the stage, into someone else’s life. For just a few moments. It was all she needed. That rush of adrenaline. The brightness of the lights. The fluttering of…something in her stomach that went all the way up to her heart. She was smitten, hooked. She could almost hear the click of her destiny locking into place. Her mother said she could choose to do whatever she wanted. She knew that she wanted to ride this high forever.

Ara was all smiles as she snuck back into her room, not knowing who was waiting for her inside. Her grandparents stood there, looking more angry than she had ever seen them. She hadn’t known that one of their closest servants had been in that theater and recognized her. They were furious. She wasn’t following the plan. She was one year away from graduating the academy. One year away from “earning their pride and respect”. They told her she was never allowed to go back. That she was not allowed to bring such dishonor to them again. They were going to bring in guards to watch the flat and escort her to where they allowed her to go. They locked her in her room that day, staying true to their word the next. Two armed guards escorted her to the academy and to each class. They switched out with another two who watched the door and the window all night.

Ara realized that she would be given no choices. She either did what her grandparents said or….what? Disappear like her father did all those years ago? Die, like her mother? She didn’t want to wait to find out. The only thing she knew was that she couldn’t give up the only thing that had brought her true happiness since her mother died. She had chosen.

The following day was the same as before. Guards took her to the academy and to her first class. What they didn’t know was her bag contained only her most prized possessions. Her portrait, a few clothes, and her locket. Before the training began, she told the guards she needed to go to the restroom, alone. Which they allowed, of course. They know what it means when a young woman takes her bag into the restroom with her. They would let her deal with the curse herself. They didn’t think she would be dumb enough to jump out of a 4th story window. But that’s the funny thing about air manipulation, it doesn’t take much to soften a landing.

She ran away. She ran and she never looked back. Her grandparents never chased her. Never tried to contact her, though they no doubt knew that she had taken refuge in that little theater. The staff had set up a little room for her and allowed her to stay and work with them. They gave her the room to be whoever she wanted to be. She stayed there for a few years, working her way up the ranks. Getting bigger and better roles. Eventually she made it to The Palace, all on her own, where she continues to enchant the audience. Where she, now a Queen, can sparkle and shine to her heart’s content.

Most know of her name and existence now. And now that old, little portrait is proudly displayed in her lavish home. She doesn’t speak of her family when asked in interviews. They wanted nothing to do with her when she was nothing, so they get no part of her life now that she’s something.

Personality

Ara is confident woman. She knows who she is, what she has to offer, and how much you want it. She’s captivating, she knows. Charm and elegance ooze out of every pore. Some, the jealous ones, call her arrogant. They would be incorrect. She’s confident. She knows what she wants and how to get it. She worked her ass off to get to where she is now, and she deserves to enjoy it. She knows.

She’s polite, of course. Gracious. To everyone. After what she’s been through, she does not look down on anyone based on their ranking. Life is already cruel, she has no desire to make it worse for anyone simply because they are not on her level. You’ll only ever get a dose of her venom if you deserve it. Be cautious you don’t get on her bad side, or you’ll find out why there’s that rumor of her being a tempest. Until then, you’ll get as much kindness as proper decorum dictates. She holds her friends and people she cares about close. She knows first hand how cruel and unforgiving blood can be, so she tries to be something brighter. Only those closest to her ever see behind the mask, when she’s at her most vulnerable.

As she is still a skilled air elemental, she’s a bit flighty. She doesn’t walk, not really. She glides across the floor. No one, and yet everyone, holds her heart. She loves to love and be loved, however it’s expressed. Her home has many trinkets and gifts from fan, admirers, past and would-be lovers. The only present she ever says no to are the ones with strings attached. She’s learned that lesson. Because of the lessons she had to learn, she prefers the tangible.

She lives by her golden rule: You can look, but you’ll need to beg if you want to touch.

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[janethepegasus]

Oh boy, another AU about Broadway shows! This one is an Evilious Chronicles AU with some Broadway shows!

Here we have:

Jeremy and Michael - Two foster kids that were found in a forest and raised by two people code named “Adam” and “Eve”. When they grew up as teenagers, their foster parents abandoned them, but then they came back and murdered them, the mother released “The Original Sin” , they split it into seven fragments and did a ritual that released these fragments out into the world

Squip - A man who made a deal with the demon of lust to hide his hideous looks to make himself more attractive. His good looks attracted every woman in the village, even wives fawn over him. But his one true desire is to create a hivemind of love, wanting woman having one simple goal, to make love with him.

Maria - (AKA i couldn’t figure out which Broadway main character should be gluttony so i just winged it and chose Maria from West Side Story :/) A woman that made a deal with the demon of gluttony to eat all kinds of food to satisfy her hunger. She’ll even go as far to eat her own servants.

Alexander - In a far away land, there’s a kingdom ruled by a prideful and stubborn Prince named Alexander, he owned all the kingdom’s riches, has a servant who’s always by his side, and he takes advantage over his own people for his own gain. Not only is he prideful and selfish, but also power-hungry, he will use his power to make his own ends meet (like let’s say...kill an entire population of men in a village all because Eliza’s in love with someone else?)

Laurens - He is Alexander’s faithful servant and will always stay by his side. A long time ago, he and Alexander met at a very young age and became best friends, but they were split apart due to their families not seeing eye to eye. Years later, he becomes Alexander’s servant, and he made a vow to always be loyal to him no matter what. This loyalty is tested when the kingdom was being attacked and people were storming the castle to find Alexander, so Laurens made the rightful sacrifice of him switching places with Alexander, letting Alex live but Laurens gets captured and executed.

Evan - A shy and gentle man who was born in a family known for their skills at making medicine, he gets married to a wealthy woman named Zoey, however Zoey is always stressed and depressed a lot, so Evan decides to give her “sleeping medicine” to relax her, but it’s actually poison. He decides to spread the word of his groundbreaking medicine and give it to everyone in the village, completely unaware that he’s actually poisoning them.

Jo - Jo is a simple worker at a shop on top of a hill, she always waits for a certain “man” to come home but he never does, so she decides to stalk him to see what’s going on. She finds out that he’s been hanging out with a woman, a young woman, and another man, she gets jealous so she decides to make a beautiful kimono of all the things those three have to impress her lover. (Which in reality, she kills them and uses their clothes to make the kimono)

Usnavi - He was once a simple peasant, trying to get money to support himself and his cousin (which he always calls his son), but after he made a deal with the demon of greed, he achieved so much, from being a simple store owner to a lawyer. He only works for people if they have cash to pay, he’ll even allow people to buy their way to being not guilty. Not only is he doing this just for the sake of his greed, but also for his poor ill cousin Sonny, wanting him to get better (he’ll even unite the Seven Deadly Sins if he have to). However, his practice of “buying out of jail” caused so many problems which ultimately lead to his house burning down and Usnavi held Sonny close as they get consumed by the fire.

Veronica - She went through a LOT in her life, from being raised in an abandoned house, living a life of crime, seeing her boyfriend commit suicide, but lets focus on the important thing here. She is sent on a mission to kill the man who took everyone’s fortunes and let maniacs run free, that being Usnavi, and confronts him in the burning house. She tried to make reason with him, offering him a chance to give all of his fortunes back to the people, but he refused. Inspite of all of her attempts to make reason, she has no choice but to shoot him, and there’s a lot more shit that’s gonna happen to her.