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blindbeta · 2 years ago

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Hello! I wanted to ask about a character I’m thinking of and if this portrayal is ok?

He’s a blind witch, born blind in one eye so his depth perception is pretty off. He doesn’t tend to focus on having only a single seeing eye though and focuses much more on how he and his friends absolutely suck at magic as a whole. His story revolves around him learning magic and proving that he’s stronger than what bullies give him credit for but I’m unsure of how this is because the bullies in question DO bully him for being half blind (is that the term? I’m sorry if it isn’t!) and his struggles aren’t necessarily with blindness as much as they are with being horrible at something almost everyone is good at.

Describing Blindness and Monocular Vision, the Spectrum of Blindness, Bullying, and Character Arcs for Blind Characters

[Contains discussions of ableism and bullying]

What is his level of vision in his sighted eye? Technically, blindness is measured with someone’s “best” eye with best correction. Best eye in quotes, of course. Someone with monocular vision is considered disabled, but not necessarily always blind. Therefore, if you want him be blind, he would be blind in both eyes. Because blindness is a spectrum, he can have different levels of vision in his sighted eye, such as blind spots, only central vision, etc.

You asked if ‘half-blind’ was a term. It isn’t necessarily a term and using it can cause confusion about blindness. In the case of your character, it may also imply that his blindness is because of his totally blind eye rather than both eyes. Total blindness is not the only form of blindness. Blindness is a spectrum. So ‘half blind’ could be a confusing term to readers trying to understand blindness. If this is confusing, perhaps this video explaining the spectrum of blindness might help. In it, the user draws a line with fully sighted on one end, followed by visually impaired, severely sight impaired, registered or legally blind, and with fully blind at the end. This spectrum is not a perfect explanation, however, as some people with monocular vision may identify as partially sighted. Some people with light perception may still identify as totally or fully blind, even though that is not technically the case. Some people who qualify as legally or registered blind may still say they are visually impaired, while some say registered or legally blind. Some say simply, “Blind.”

It is true that people with different levels of vision in their eyes often struggle to articulate their experience. This includes me. Your character might say ‘partially sighted’ or explain that he has some remaining vision in one eye. Many people describe it as “totally blind in one eye and something else in the other”. Obviously replacing ‘something else’ with a better description for their vision.

Of course, he can also simply be blind in one eye. He can identify as disabled, visually impaired, etc. Being blind in one eye and not qualifying as blind in the other can probably be a confusing experience, especially when it comes to identity and needs. It is a unique experience. Sometimes the character, such as on lists of blind characters, may be included due to blindness in one eye. Sometimes he may not. I hope this shows some of the inconsistency that comes with this experience as well. The character may also experience unique problems, such as anxiety about protecting one side.

There is a lot you could do with depth perception issues as well. This means judging distance is difficult. Things like steps, stairs, and breaks in the ground are also difficult to navigate. I rarely find good depictions of how a lack of depth perception influences a character’s life. It would be nice to read a story where that is portrayed in more detail.

Part of me wants to suggest the bullies not bully him because of blindness and part of me doesn’t because too many people believe it doesn’t happen. Watching episodes about blind folks in Avatar the Last Airbender and Star Trek doesn’t stop kids and even adults from bullying others. Sometimes the nature of ableism comes out as bullying, regardless of intention or level of knowledge about blindness. Sometimes ableism is perceived as bullying because disabled kids aren’t always directly taught about ableism until they’re older.

Instead, I will suggest being careful with how you portray it. Consider things that aren’t as commonly portrayed, from subtle social exclusion, to talking behind someone’s back. From thinking mobility tools are “weird”, to not taking what blind people say seriously. Notice that these actions can taken by friends, too, meaning discrimination in real life is not only limited to bullies.

However, it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it can be refreshing to see characters not be bullied at all or simply be bullied only because the bullies don’t like them, as opposed to because of blindness. Perhaps they bully him because he isn’t as good at magic and they wish to feel superior. Maybe they also struggle in some areas and want to deflect attention away from themselves. Maybe the bullies bully him, but they know enough not to bring blindness into it. Maybe there is another blind character who they don’t bully. Or perhaps he doesn’t get bullied or experience ableism at all, since this is a fictional world. There are many options. I think you can figure out how to portray this in a way that allows your character to struggle and triumph in the end.

I don’t have a clear answer on the bullying situation. Depending on how it is written, you may not have enough knowledge to be able to portray ableist bullying in a realistic and nuanced way. Additionally, it may be difficult for blind readers to read because sometimes stories like this focus on trauma for the entertainment and inspiration of readers who aren’t blind; that is an important aspect as well. This is where I run into one of the difficulties of writing this blog. I can only provide different points of view or things to consider. I can’t, as one blind person, give anyone permission to write a subject or tell them no. Sometimes the answer is that it depends on the writing itself, which is where sensitivity reading becomes more relevant. You could even simply redirect the bullying to other areas of his life or have him deal with casual ableism or nothing at all. Reactions to your work will depend on the care with which it is written.

Sometimes we need to see characters going through things many blind people go through and sometimes we want a little more escapism. I think there is room for these stories and even combinations. For example, Toph’s storyline included ableism from parents and some bullying from peers, but these were not present through the entire show. She had other problems and other goals.

But you weren’t here to ask about bullying. So far I think this sounds great if you can contemplate more about his blindness. I like the arc about improving in magic. As long as he is able to have his accommodation needs met, I would be happy to read about an arc like that. Not having accommodations while performing poorly at magic would be a difficult story to read.

I like arcs that aren’t entirely focused on being blind. It is nice to explore other types of stories than the ones we typically get, without erasing the character’s blindness. I think what you describe so far provides a good balance.

I hope this helps. If you have more questions, contact me.

I’ll add any opinions from notes or messages here when or if I receive them.

#blind characters #writing blind characters #ableism #bullying #describing blind eyes

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pearblossommina · 2 years ago

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ToG Read-A-Long, Empire of Storms, day 5

Ch 29

Lysandra x Aedion is kind of interesting. She could probably have anyone she wants, with the ability to make herself look like anyone or anything, but I get the feeling that her ability would still take a tole on her, mentally. Like if Aedion is attracted to her, is it just because of the way her body looks? And what do looks matter, anyway, when she can change it with the blink of an eye?

I don’t really think she’s attracted to him, but maybe there is something between them. If they’re going to be together, it will just have to be based on love, instead of looks. And just based on this chapter I wouldn’t say I get the impression they have feelings of love for each other… but… they were purposefully trying to draw Rolfe out to a spooky abandoned alleyway, so maybe it wasn’t the most flattering depiction of what a Lysandra x Aedion relationship would be like.

Idk, I don’t really ship it, but maybe I can be convinced.

Ch 30

Elide and Lorcan are so perfect for my headspace right now. They have all the tropes. It’s fake dating, it’s only one bed. It’s “oops, my clothes are all at the laundry”

“You better wash your clothes, too, why should I be the only one who is naked”

If these two aren’t fucking by the end of this, I’ll be so shocked

GET A MOVE ON YOU TWO!

what are we waiting for!

I’ve been going through hell for the last five books!

Need!

Romance!

Ch 31

"It would have gotten me out of Doranelle. And we likely would have had far more fun, anyway. I know what a bastard Whitethorn can be when it comes to training."

Well I’m certain she would still have fallen for Rowan, but this guy’s pretty cute too. Maybe he’ll volunteer to help Dorian learn about his magic.

If they’re still worried that Maeve can lay claim on Aedion they really should get him to take the blood oath. Either to Aelin or to Rowan. But he should oath himself to somebody, so that he has a reason to deny her claim on him.

“What about a chimney?” Har har, you know Rowan would never lower himself to do such a thing. Why even bother teasing me?

Lol

You need to get to a bed or he won’t go past first base, baby.

(We’re definitely going to get a scene change next chapter)

(SJM… I’ve been so good…. Where’s my treat….)

Ch32

Alright, I think it’s valid for Aedion to feel conflicted about meeting daddy for the first time. It really isn’t easy, with everything he’s been through. A lot of emotions in this one.

How did I know Rowan would still hold out on going further with Aelin…. Lmao

Someday.

Someday, perhaps. It’s kind of hard to make time for love and sex and being happy when all this big scary stuff is on the horizon. They need to kill all the bad guys and save the world. I GET IT. I’m just sick of it, lol.

Ch33

”Despite herself, despite what she'd done, she decided she wanted Rowan to call her milady at least once every day.”

You’re his QUEEN, not his lady. Also gross, lol, anyone remember when nerdy guys started using the word “milady” like it was a flattering thing to call somebody. I have an immediate averse reaction to this term, lol. EW. Please don’t, Rowan.

“This war would not be won on smiles and manners.

It would be won by a woman willing to gamble with an entire island full of people to get what she needed to save them all.”

Good for you, Aelin!!!!

You killed it at the bluffing game! Rooting for you!

Ch34

Good for you, Lysandra!!!!

I feel like she’s stronger than ALL of them, right now. What would they do without her, and her amazing abilities to turn legend into lifelike depiction with her own body!

#tog read along 2023 #empire of storms

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the-south-north · 5 months ago

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Those introductions: I think I'd leave, already knowing which house, insulting a friend–the dynamics here are nearly identical! The author definitely intended to parallel Draco & Harry to James & Snape. In book 3, iirc, Snape and Potter Sr.'s enmity is explicitly described as not unlike Harry and Draco's. They save each others' lives, which I suppose should mirror the way James saved Severus. As for Hinny, there is a years-long one-sidedness to their relationship, which does reflect jily. However, the parallels between James & Lily and Draco & Harry are much stronger.

First, we can run down some surface similarities:

James and Draco are arrogant, classist, bullying purebloods. They like names and insults and pranks–often cruel. They are socially and magically powerful. They are favored for their money, surnames, and good standings within their houses, which often protects them from consequences.

Lily and Harry are protective of their friends and sharp-tongued. They don't shy away from confrontation. They grow up in the muggle world and miss out on magical context: enchanted objects and spells, but also society and history. They're not morally perfect, but are a lot kinder than James and Draco.

James approaches Lily, is rejected (repeatedly) and fights for her attention, mostly in ways that made him look like an ass (pranks, insults, taking out his jealousy on Severus). Draco approaches Harry, gets rejected, and is a dick to him (probably to catch his attention. In the books, it's often Draco who initiates contact). Although Draco generally doesn't intend to actually hurt Harry, a lot of his conduct is quite cruel (digs at Harry's dead parents, the dementors prank, etc.) They're emotionally attached to each other in ways that absolutely mirror James' love for Lily. (Also reminds me of Severus and Lily; Draco betrays Voldemort, risking himself and his family, to save Harry despite their garbage relationship.) According to the narrative, James grows up and redeems himself enough for Lily to forgive him. This is questionable because 1. the details of James' maturation is completely glossed over in the series and 2. it's likely he never fully matured at all? as an adult, he endangers his family by sneaking out with the invisibility cloak. However, these points allow for interesting complexities! 1. It highlights the tragedy of lily and james' youth; 2. it's possible that james lied to lily about improving for her to agree to a relationship; 3. my favorite point, it presents lily as more complex character for her to turn a blind eye to james' sometimes dangerous antics (or deal with his faults in other ways, we don't really know). Point is, Lily forgives him in the end. In book 6, Draco does many dangerous, illegal things: casting imperio on Madam Rosmerta, cursing Katie Bell, attempting to kill Dumbledore, torturing people for Voldemort. Does Harry care? Less than he should. He gains an unusual amount of sympathy for Draco. He mentally separates Draco from the other death eaters. (Which I think is pretty justified. But, it is a sharp 180 from the previous state of their relationship, pre-sectumsempra. definitely not enemy behavior) Consciously or subconsciously, Harry avoids incriminating Draco in his statements other people; for instance, he obfuscates details about imperio on Rosmerta, letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts, and the astronomy tower. After both Draco and Narcissa lie to save him, Draco is 100% forgiven. Harry probably sees him in a friendly lens afterwards because nearly dying is his favorite bonding activity. Point is, Harry forgives him. Although I don't find the author's depiction of Hinny compelling, I do like Ginny. She has a lot of potential as a character. I am disappointed, but not distraught that she's developed a bit poorly because every book has limited space. Instead, we have Ron, Hermione, Malfoy, Sirius, Lupin, Snape, and Dumbledore. And Minerva and Luna and Fleur and I love them all ngl.

I only really have a bone to pick with her romantic development. There's little information that tells us about their compatibility. Why does Harry like Ginny? Does Ginny like Harry beyond his mythical hero persona? Do they understand each other? They get squished together in an odd way and lack emotional intimacy–especially for what should be the main romantic relationship of the series. And this is portrayed as awesome, great, love of their lives, get married have children.

Sidenote, I do love Ginny and Luna. They're sweet. Ginny protects Luna in a way that mirrors Ron and Hermione. Of course, linny doesn't have stronger canonical basis than hinny but I like it better (romantically or platonically or queerplatonically) because 1. Luna is objectively awesome and 2. i want someone would actually listen to luna. Did she get to explain nargles to anyone? did anyone even ask? and 3. they seem like a healthier variation of severus and lily. In summary, these books are gay and parallel narratives support this.

JK Rowling: I hate drarry shippers

JK Rowling: I wanted Harry to end up in a relationship that paralleled jily

JK Rowling: anyway here’s the scene I wrote of lily meeting james for the first time which parallels harry meeting draco for the first time and during which James repeats some of draco's dialogue nearly verbatim in a presumably intentional callback

#harry potter

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anyoneseenadam · 4 years ago

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Hii

Can you please write something for fenrys? first meeting maybe? And the bond clicks? Thank you 🥺🥺

pairing: Fenrys x reader (throne of glass)

warnings: implied smut, kissing and nudity, lil bit of blood and injuries but mainly pure fluff

a/n: fenrys is my fave and u can tell in the fic omg!! i hope you enjoy it cause it’s probs my fave one i’ve written yet :))) (i also made it a teensy bit ddlg but that’s just cause i want Fenrys to baby me lol)

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Shit

Fenrys pressed his hand to the wound in his side, feeling the slow pump of blood seeping between his fingers as he stumbled through the woods. He had won the fight. The other guy now lying in the dirt, however not without consequence. And he wasn’t entirely sure he would stay alive unless he could find a healer soon.

He stopped to lean against a tree, breathing heavily as he held himself together. He transformed into a wolf, moving faster, and trying to pick up a scent, any scent, that could possibly help him, when he caught the sweetest smell he ever had. It was a female, smelling like peonies and blackberries, sweet but with an underlying smoky smell. She smelled of long days in flowers fields and even longer nights beside campfires, evenings spent curled in hand woven blankets and mornings spent drinking dark coffee and eating sweet toast.

He whimpered and began running in the direction of the scent. If he wasn’t so focused on not bleeding out he may have stopped to consider why the scent was pulling him in the way it did. He would have considered the direction he was running into, the direction of his future, his past and his present. But he just kept up, going as fast as his injured body would allow, concentrating on the sweet smell and putting one foot in front of the other.

He felt the change almost immediately, the cold snow and rough bark being swapped for cool moss. The pine trees swapped for tall, oak trees teeming with life. The silence of a frozen forest swapped for the rustling of bushes as nocturnal animals moved silently under the guise of darkness. The chill of the snow-covered woods swapped for the warmth of a summer evening. He pushed between two bushes and found himself facing a clearing, in the middle of which stood a wooden cottage, the wood dark and the roof covered in more moss, flowers growing from every surface and ivy peeking out of the crevices in the house. He stumbled down the path to the cottage, turning back into a male and crossing a small bridge over a stream that separated him from the intoxicating scent he chased.

He let out what he could only describe as a bark, calling for the female that carried the scent he was growing addicted to, collapsing onto his knees, feeling his conscious fade as he held to the side of his stomach, searing pain replaced by fiery veins as his head swayed. He barely heard the door open, only noticing the scent get so much stronger. He attempted to look up, the movement making his head spin as he collapsed, the last thing he saw, a girl in the halo of the moon.

Fenrys awoke in a foreign bed. An unbelievably comfortable bed, but foreign all the same. He pushed up on his forearms, gritting his teeth at the reminder of his wound.

The room he was in was dark, not just in light source, but also in décor. The window was cracked open with lacy curtains half closed, there was a tall bookshelf sat next to a desk with leather-bound books lining it, and tall candles flickering and casting the room in a golden glow. The bed he was in was small, clearly just for one, but so soft. He had blankets surrounding him and copious amounts of pillows, some that appeared hand made. In fact, upon closer inspection, a lot of the room looked handmade. Art covering the walls depicting crying women or bloody scenes that he presumed had been done by the owner of this house, given the pallet and assortment of brushed he saw on the windowsill.

And then there was that scent. It was stronger here and he pressed his face into a pillow tentatively, breathing in through his nose as he picked up on the deeper undertones. Fresh picked daisies, melted wax, the pages of old, worn books and something he couldn’t describe. Something so intoxicating he felt tears spring to his eyes, his body reacting in an unheard-of way, so overcome with emotion from scent alone.

He heard footsteps approaching the closed door and hastily put down the pillow, sitting up straight and readying himself to fight whoever it was if they were an intruder. But when you entered he faltered.

Mate. The word clanged through him as he came face to face with an angel. You were wearing a dark brown broderie dress with white hearts lining the hem, your feet bare and toenails painted black. Your hair was falling around your face, messy and untamed, and you had dark smudges around your eyes, makeup that accentuated your features and made you look like a character from the scary books he read as a boy. However right now you looked more like a teddy bear.

He briefly remembered the tail of a witch he had read. An evil witch who lured men into her house with whispered words and sweet kisses, only to steal their hearts and use their blood to keep her skin young and eyes bright. This girl however was no witch, you had elegantly pointed ears and a graceful way of moving that only came from being Fae. He watched as you moved to his side, silent on your feet, putting a tray down beside him before moving an opening the curtains further, letting in more natural light.

“How are you feeling?” your sweet voice interrupted his thoughts. His mind coming to a halt as he heard you speak.

“I- er fine..?” His voice was rough, and you smiled, a reserved smile. Moving to his side and sitting at the edge of the small bed he was on, pouring him a glass of water from a small decanter you had brought through.

“(Y/n.)” you answered his unspoken question.

“Fenrys.”

He muttered a thanks as you passed the glass to him, noting the crystals that hung around your neck and adorned your fingers.

“Crystals?” he asked, and you looked down, playing with the rings you wore nervously.

“My mother taught me about their meanings, they’ve always helped me.” You bit your lip and Fenrys decided he would never meet anyone as cute as you again, it simply wasn’t possible.

“Me too, my mother used to carry them everywhere.” You smiled at him shyly, a beat of silence passing between the two of you as he listened to the birds outside.

“Can I see your wound? I want it make sure it’s healing properly.” You asked and he nodded, pulling the blankets down slightly, grinning as your eyes widened as you took in his physique.

“I’m presuming you’re the healer I have to thank for letting me see another day.” He flirted playfully but you shook your head,

“I’m not a very good healer I’m sorry, but I did stitch it up and it should do the rest itself.” You pressed gentle fingers against the skin surrounding his wound and he glanced down, seeing it was already practically healed.

“You still saved my life.” He said, completely serious and you looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

“I’ll let you rest.” You said quietly, standing to walk away and he smiled, feeling more at ease than he ever had since the war, watching his little mate leave.

He woke up again a few hours later, wound completely healed and puckering into a scar. Standing he stretched his arms above his head, not bothering with a shirt as he left the room in search of the girl that had occupied his dreams.

The rest of the house was alike your room, tall candles and worn books everywhere. He passed a kitchen filled with copper utensils and a living room with an old armchair, a half-filled mug left next to it, but still no you. He saw the front door was cracked open and wandered over to it, pulling it open and stepping into the fresh air, barely feeling the chill on his body as he found you kneeling on the moss-covered ground facing away from him.

You were muttering under your breath and as he got closer he saw you were cradling a small bird with a broken wing. He watched as you closed your eyes, the ground and air seeming to still as you called upon your magic, a soft white light flowing from your hand into the bird until its wing was healed and it could flutter away.

“I thought you said you weren’t a healer,” he broke the silence and you turned to him with a small smile.

“I said I wasn’t a very good healer.” You replied, standing with green stained knees, your hair now piled atop your head and lip gloss coating your soft lips.

“What are you then?” he came closer to you, unable to resist holding his mate, even if you weren’t aware yet.

“My mother said we were natural faeries.” You said, looking at him shyly, “we derive our power from the earth, crystals, sea water, dirt, fire, stuff like that.”

He hummed, “So technically you could have any type of magic?”

“I guess, but I’m not very good at magic,” you muttered, hands fiddling with your rings again as he wrapped his arms around your waist. “Fenrys?” you asked, all pouty lips and wide eyes.

“Have you realised yet darling?” he asked, and you bit your lip. He knew he could tell you, but he wanted to hear you say it.

“I- we’re mates I think.” You were practically shaking, and he didn’t know why he suddenly had this burning desire to scoop you into his arms and protect you against the horrible world that was out there. He nodded with a smile, watching as awe took over your stunning face.

“Can I kiss you princess?” he asked, and you felt your face heat up, looking down as he pulled you closer. “Have you ever been kissed before angel?” he asked, his face hurting from the grin that was spreading over his face when you shook your head.

He tilted your head up to his, looking deeply into your eyes as your breaths came out quicker. “Not many people can find our cottage, my mother put up wards when she got ill, our family wasn’t well liked by the king. You probably only got here because we’re mates,” You muttered.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked again, running a soft hand over your head, smoothing your hair away from your face as you nodded sweetly.

He smiled before leaning down and kissing you gently. Pulling away and feeling as smug as a thief when your lips followed his, pouting at the loss of contact so quickly. He chuckled at your put out expression and leaned down to kiss you again, deeper this time, his tongue slipping into your mouth when you gasped against his lips, quickly beating your own in a battle for dominance and taking his time exploring your mouth.

He laid you down that morning and took you for the first time in the soft moss. Then again in your even softer bed. Now you were sitting in his lap, eating strawberries of a bush you had in your back garden as he pressed dizzying kisses into your neck, both of you still as bare as the day you were born, Fenrys having forgot how much he missed skin to skin contact, when you suddenly remembered.

“Fenrys?” he hummed in response, completely enamoured with the feel of your soft skin against his rough calluses. “Why were you hurt last night?”

“I didn’t tell you my job did I angel?” he asked, the pet name making you giggle as you shook your head, “I work for the queen of Terrasen.”

You gasped, “But she was killed!”

“Oh angel, when was the last time you left this cottage?” he asked, worry coming over him as he realised you had been holed up alone for so long.

“Not since my mother died. She said the king was dangerous and that he would hurt me if he found me,” your bottom lip was wobbling and Fenrys quickly kissed it away, shushing you as it dawned on him just how innocent his little girl was.

“No baby, he’s gone now, the new king of Adarlan is a very kind man and the Queen of Terrasen is wonderful,” he promised, “Will you let me take you to meet them?”

You nodded enthusiastically, bouncing slightly in his lap making him groan. He nipped at your ear lobe and you squealed as he pushed you down. You could meet them another day, today he was too busy with his little mate.

#throne of glass #tog #fenrys moonbeam #fenrys x reader #fenrys moonbeam x reader

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anghraine · 4 years ago

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Consolidating (...at considerable length) some of the ideas from the Denethor+Faramir vs most Silm Elves discussion:

A. The basic issue is this: Tolkien depicts or references Denethor’s and Faramir’s special Númenórean abilities (non-exhaustively listed here and discussed here) virtually every time either one of them appears. And some of these abilities seem like they would have been awfully useful to the Elves of the Silmarillion, but for some reason, weren’t actually used by them.

The most notable has to do with lies and deception. Gandalf says it is difficult to deceive Denethor and “dangerous” to try—a statement backed up by Faramir’s interactions with Gollum in TTT, when Gollum squealed in pain when he tried to lie to Faramir, and was unable to wholly prevent Faramir from seeing information “in his mind.” It is clear in the Silm, however, that a good number of Elves can be deceived without setting off similar abilities, with a few exceptions like Galadriel.

So I’ve been wondering why that is, based mostly on LOTR.

B. There is, of course, the potential meta-reason that some of these specific abilities would probably break the plot of the Silmarillion, which is packed full of Elves, while nearly full-throttle Númenóreans like Faramir and Denethor are quite rare in LOTR, only show up infrequently apart from Aragorn, and are thus much less disruptive to the narrative as a whole. But that doesn’t explain anything in-story.

Various ideas came up in the general discussion, but I think they can be roughly divided into two types:

1. Most Elves don’t use these abilities because they choose not to, or

2. Most Elves don’t use these abilities because they don’t have them.

Under #1, it’s possible that Elves prefer not to use these kinds of powers for their own Elvish reasons. It may be that many of them simply don’t care for intrusive telepathy and similar abilities. It may be that there are taboos and protocols around it that fade by the Third Age, especially the later Third Age, but are very much in effect earlier on.

But the underlying assumption here is that they could have used the same abilities if they had chosen to do so, but are not (by and large). One of the questions that arises here is if all abilities of this kind have to be deliberately ‘activated’ to work, or if they naturally just happen and will only stop if controlled or repressed. If it’s the latter case and there are actual methods of control, it may be that Denethor and Faramir never fully turn off their abilities because they don’t know how. Who was going to tell them?

The Faramir-Gollum scenes might support this. Faramir is certainly trying to extract information from Gollum, but it doesn’t seem at all probable that he would deliberately inflict pain on him. It’s possible that some of this is just part of his being as far as he knows.

Meanwhile, there are also several possibilities involving #2. I think this one is, on the face of it, more difficult to accept (not-quite-full Númenóreans with greater powers than many Elves? bzuh?). But there are probably some ways it could work.

The first is relatively simple. It’s clear that Elves (like Númenóreans!) have different ranges and clusters of ability. An Elf being very powerful doesn’t mean they can do ALL THE THINGS. It means they’re very powerful at the things that they do (which might be many!). And there are some abilities that are very widespread, and some that seem to be less so. It may be that deception detection in particular is something that’s fairly uncommon among Elves as a strong ability. It’s not 100% assured that any given Elf has all the abilities of any given Númenórean.

The second possibility is a little more complicated. LOTR and Middle-earth generally (but esp LOTR) don’t operate on a hard magic system with clearly-defined rules. Galadriel points this out, and that the hobbits aren’t really distinguishing Elvish “magic” from Sauron’s “magic,” but they are in reality very different things. Elvish abilities are byproducts of their inner selves. Even outside of LOTR, Fëanor’s abilities (for instance) are inextricably tied up with his fiery spirit. The link between spirit or will or disposition and outwards ability is much stronger with Elves than with the other peoples of Middle-earth.

So it would still be the case that Elves aren’t doing some of these because they can’t—but it wouldn’t be a matter of power or arbitrary talent, but because of their underlying characteristics. It may be that things like what we see Denethor and Faramir doing require a temperament that most Elves don’t have (but Galadriel does, lol).

In that case, I would then wonder if Denethor’s and Faramir’s abilities are outgrowths of their dispositions. Their abilities seem to revolve around gathering information and commanding others; they’re described as “commanding” and they love information, so it makes sense that that’s how their abilities would manifest. Then again, it may be that Númenórean powers, though similar to some Elvish ones in outcome, operate differently.

Tolkien comes up with several ideas for where Númenórean specialness comes from in general. In some places, it was Númenor itself that changed them, and their decay in Middle-earth comes mainly from the loss of Númenor. In some places, their gifts have to do with their mode of living and thinking. In some places, it seems to be entirely hereditary; things run in particular families (like the kingly healing of Elendil’s heirs) and are reinforced by ~pure blood (um). And sometimes it seems like their gifts are, at least in part, literal gifts from the Valar which are gradually being withdrawn by the end of the Third Age. Or some combination thereof.

Regardless, the ancestors of the Dúnedain did not come by their abilities naturally. Either directly or indirectly, their size, their lifespans, their craftsmanship, their mental abilities, and more were given to them by other powers. Perhaps Elvish powers were the template for Númenórean powers, but it doesn’t work the same because Númenórean powers are ultimately coming from a divine source. That might even be why Denethor and Faramir are associated with wizards (i.e. Maiar) much more than Elves, which is pretty astonishing on the face of it. I mean:

“Ah well, sir,” said Sam, “you [Faramir] said my master had an elvish air; and that was good and true. But I can say this: you have an air too, sir, that reminds me of, of—well, Gandalf, of wizards.”

He [Denethor] turned his dark eyes on Gandalf, and now Pippin saw a likeness between the two, and he felt the strain between them, almost as if he saw a line of smouldering fire drawn from eye to eye.

???????????????????????????

The first quote is particularly interesting because it contrasts Faramir’s wizardliness with Frodo’s elvishness, as if those things are not quite the same, though Faramir is also briefly associated with Elves later on.

There’s also the issue of Elros; it seems extremely probable that most Númenóreans are descended from Elros at this point (in fact, multiple times over). The Stewards are explicitly so in multiple drafts of the Appendices. While it’s so remote that it wouldn’t make a difference in most cases, maybe part of what goes on with Númenóreans is that some of them inherit a fraction of Elros’s abilities, which ultimately derive from Elves, Edain, and a Maia. Maybe all these Númenórean-??wizardly??? types cropping up in time to fight Sauron is a sort of last hurrah for Melian’s blood among the Dúnedain, and what we see in Denethor and Faramir is the share they got.

Or not!

Anyway, this is a lot, and it’s not like the possibilities are even mutually exclusive, so maybe two or more are all operating at once, to make things even more complicated. Or maybe something altogether different is. But I think this is everything that’s come up so far wrt the (inverted?) disparity between Númenóreans and most Elves.

#there's also the aragorn stuff but that's slightly tangential to this #and it's enough of a monster post already #denethor #faramir #anghraine babbles #...a lot #legendarium blogging #húrinionath #jewel of the seashore #galadriel #gandalf #hmm ... i think it merits my catch-all númenórean stuff tag #team dúnedain #anghraine's meta #not sure it merits that lol but i'll add it #long post

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prime-pulse · 3 years ago

Note

-There is only a door- A DOOR- separating the two of them at the beginning. There’s just something about the person who’s hunting you being RIGHT THERE AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT that gets me every time (the faint horror movie tension sound effect in the background does NOT help)

-Nya, a trained samurai, hits Clouse right in the face, hard enough to knock him quite a few steps back, and all he does is shake his head and come after her again

-Nya proceeds to KICK HIM DOWN THE STAIRS AND YET AGAIN, HE IS ON HIS FEET IN SECONDS. LIKE ??? HOW RESILIENT IS HE???

-lmao all that and a roof tile is what dazes him

-BUT NOT FOR LONG BECAUSE GUESS WHO JUMPS LIKE 10 FEET TWICE AND THEN PARKOURS UP THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING

-and that satisfied little “hah!” when he catches up to her after running up a building is just 👌👌👌

-AND CHASES NYA DOWN WITH RELATIVE EASE

-HOW FAST IS HE??? IT’S A LITTLE SCARY

-aND JUMPS VERY FAR HE IS VERY DEDICATED TO THE CHASE

-CLOUSE, BUD, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A CONCUSSION YOU SHOULD REST

-AND THEN HE CATCHES HER??? HOW FAST IS HE I WANT TO KNOW

-lots of spinning during battle which is cool

-AND HE DOES THAT COOL MIDAIR FLURRY OF KICKS THING

-DID HE JUST PUNT HER OFF THE ROOF

-AND THEN HE LIKE,,,, SUPLEXES HER ONTO A DIFFERENT ROOF

-DUDE CHILL

-Their fighting is just so cool!

-In conclusion, Clouse is very dramatic (but we love him for it), and also not the person who’s bad side you would want to be on, and props to Nya for getting away because,,,, wow he just doesn’t give up on hunting people

YEAH THIS THIS THIS!!! Clouse is SO strong, fast, and cunning which I’m so excited to eventually get into in the SLG AU because he is LITERALLY not a man to be messed with. He did not hesitate to fight Garmadon on the wings of a PLANE, hundreds of feet in the air, because he knew he'd live if he fell through sheer confidence. (Only fitting he was taken out by his own magic.)

I couldn’t agree w this more. Nya is strong, she is fast, she is not a force to be reckoned with at ALL, and Clouse could take her head on with little to no issue despite being depicted as not all that strong. Makes me think what he’d be like if he were stronger, physically, but still kept his adeptness in magic. Thatd be scary. Like, scarier than evil Garmadon scary

#Rai rambles #not art #Ninjago #Asks

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earthnashes · 5 years ago

Photo

I was gonna simply wait and do ALL the headcanon for the Twili, including Midna, in one post, but I’m leaving for Baltimore in two days and I honestly don’t have the time so, here’s a post dedicated to Midna!

I know I already designed her for my headcanons and the timeline I’m working on but I figured I should tweak her design more and give her a more unique shape in terms of her body shape. Here she’s longer-limbed and has a bit more of a sharpness to her, and I’ve opted to flatten her chest a little more in exchange for wider hips. If anyone should have BIG OL HIPS and legs for days it’s Midna; like I dunno why but she strikes me as the type to just flaunt them bad boys. I could make them bigger but I think this works fine. O:

ANYWAY, onto the actual headcanon stuff!

-The first picture isn’t just a design tweak but to also show off a couple other looks my version of Midna undergoes. The first is her in her “deity” getup, the outfit and hair style she wears when super official matters require her to do so. As informal as she is she doesn’t don this getup often. I wanted at least one look of hers to draw most of its inspiration from her imp form and this is the one I decided would do it, particularly with her hair and helmet (which was turned into a crown).

The second there is of her in her “normal” outfit, the one she prefers to be in. Simplistic but elegant enough to at least please her council since she often forgoes the traditional wear of the previous outfit.

The final one is just to show off her markings and her tattoos (of which you can see on the far right in full) as well as just how long and wild her hair actually is. With nudity not being particularly a big deal with Twili, seeing Midna fully nude like this wouldn’t really put any of the Twili off. Midna rarely ever goes without at least a loincloth but when she’s feeling particularly lazy, she’ll at least let her mane fly in all its glory.

-Still on the first panel here but that wolf crest up there is something of great importance to the Twili. The Twili Wolf is a sacred animal in their culture, a creature who was once of the light realm before adapting to the Twilight Realm way before the Twili even inhabited the land, they are a symbol of survival, freedom, and power. Being part of the royal family, Midna has associations with the Twili Wolf, but hers runs far deeper.

Due to her adventures during the events of Twilight Princess, including merging her soul with Zelda and partnering with Link while he was in his wolf form, as well as her now immortal lifespan and immunity to light, Midna is now seen as a sort of deity among her people (a lot like Zelda is to the Light Realm actually). She’s long since stepped down as queen to her people, believing herself to be in charge for so long not being entirely fair to them, but that doesn’t stop them from seeking her out for guidance. It’s because of this association to being a sort of higher power that Midna still holds more political sway than the actual king of the Twilight Realm (not that he particularly minds to be honest)

-The two separate panels below the first depict Midna training both Zelda and Link to use Twili magic. I haven’t quite figured out how she’d come to teach either of them: in Zelda’s case I initially figured her parents would ask on her behalf but, I like the idea that Zelda seeks her out on her own better. At some point in the current timeline’s story, I’d figure the heroes would have to face the fact that they aren’t strong enough to fight off the incoming threat of a new demonic entity so they’d have to seek out ways to become stronger and overall more prepared, and in Zelda’s case that’d be to get a better handle on her magic and, in proxy, be able to harness the full capacity of her power. She’d probably choose Midna after researching about her or somethin’ but she approaches her and asks to be taught, of which the Twili is very apprehensive about at first. Eventually she relents thanks to Zelda’s persistence, and that becomes a catalyst for the two to grow closer. >:)

As far as Link goes, it’s probably the same deal but maybe Midna actually offers to teach him and isn’t persuaded to do so, if only because she feels more at ease around Link than she does Zelda at the time. For him, though, the training might be more around just teaching him basic spells since Link has absolutely no magic skill whatsoever... in fact he’s kinda bad at it. In addition to that I could see her being able to teach him new abilities for his wolf form he didn’t know he could preform, since that form is still a bit influenced by Twili magic. O:

---------

But uhhhhh.... yeah. A bit of a mouthful there but I hope it was worth the read! Thank ya’ll so much again for takin’ a looksie, more to come soon! <:

#nintendo #legend of zelda #midna #zelda #link #princess zelda #my art #Headcanon #nintendo headcanon #midzel #twili #loz #loz: a new mythos #Loz:NM #character design #character redesign #twilight princess #au

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lady-griffin · 4 years ago

Note

Who do you think will Katarina end up with?

Geordo

There are several reasons for why I think this.

He is the male lead and is considered in the character introductions at the beginning of each Light Novel, to be One of the TWO leads, while the rest of the cast are divided up as secondary to minor characters.

This is how the characters are introduced in the Light Novels 1-5.

Katarina and Geordo’s character introductions are untouched for the most part from novel to novel. But the way the other characters are introduced with each novel changes bit by bit.

From Alan and Keith being marked as secondary characters in the 1st novel.

To Alan, Keith, and Nicol being marked as secondary characters in the 2nd novel.

To the entire Harem (minus Geordo) being marked as secondary characters in the 3rd novel and onwards.

Now I don’t know the characters introductions beyond the 5th novel, but I highly doubt that they have changed that much or if at all.

Katarina and Geordo are clearly marked as being equal in character importance – the Female Lead and the Male Lead.

Though, in the actual events of the story, Katarina is clearly the MAIN character while Geordo is just one of the many characters who is rotating around her.

Geordo is the first character who we truly meet in the story (excluding Katarina). Signifying his importance to the story as a whole.

Not only that, but he is only the first character introduced as a romantic interest

OG Katarina immediately falling for him

Geordo proposing to Katarina

Geordo and Katarina being engaged

As well as the first Doom Flag -

Katarina realizes she’s in the game of Fortune Lover because of Geordo’s name and the fact that their engagement story is the same as from the game. Because of that, we learn what that actually means for Katarina who is the villainess of the original story. Or at least, what she thinks it means.

Being a romantic interest and a doom flag is a character position solely unique to Geordo and Keith.

While every now and again, Katarina will bring up that Maria, Alan and or Nicol are potentially “dangerous” to her and thus people she needs to keep an eye on for her safety… in all honestly, they’re really not.

Honestly, it kind of feels like the author(s) forget that the other characters could hypothetically be a ‘threat’ to Katarina and remember it randomly at times, and thus just insert it into the story.

Geordo and Keith are the true “doom flags” for Katarina. And even in that regard, Geordo and Keith are treated somewhat differently from one another.

Geordo’s role as a doom flag, is given a lot more attention than Keith as a doom flag. Now Katarina will insure her “safety” by telling Keith that she will never stand in his way of him being in love with someone, but that’s about it, as the years go on.

Katarina practicing her magic and getting stronger in that field to avoid being killed by Keith, is basically dropped as soon as it’s mentioned. As Katarina’s magic is quickly established as being weak, no matter what she does. So, that aspect of the story is a bit forgotten as the story moves forward.

But really, I think that even Katarina realizes that Keith as a doom flag is basically a neutralized threat, because of their close sibling relationship.

Geordo on the other hand, is still treated as a Doom Flag. Essentially all of her plans of escaping her doom, are basically plans that focus on Geordo turning on her and how to escape him specifically. Her snakes and even her sword-fighting (which is brought up less than the snakes).

So, one of the main premises of the story - the romantic and comedic tension of Katarina thinking her love-interests are potential doom-interests for her – is largely dominated by Geordo and Katarina’s relationship with him.

Though Keith is a close second in that regard.

Rivalry

While everyone is a rival, Geordo and Keith are the two main rivals (especially in the Manga).

We see this with their constant passive aggressive fighting and commentary towards one another, as well as being essential and core elements to the whole Harem and its dynamic.

Now, depending on which medium your engaging with, there are very strong arguments for Maria, Mary, or Alan being a third main rival character or if not that, at least being at a higher level than the others.

Maria

Maria is the original MC from Fortune Lover and is essential to Katarina’s fate…or at least in Katarina’s mind she is. That alone separates her from the others Harem Members.

Maria is also marked a being different the the rest, by being the newcomer to the Harem, and her and Katarina’s relationship (friendship and more) is a factor to the overall story.

All of that marks her as being if not a main rival, then certainly higher than others.

Mary

Mary get in the thick of it as much as Geordo and Keith do (especially in the novels). She is a constant thorn and wrench to Geordo and everyone else, but mostly Geordo.

Alan

Alan, because of his character design and popularity among fans, he gets leveled up and is given more attention as the story continues to progress and the anime clearly cements him as a main rival.

As shown in Vol 5. Geordo is the main rival to everyone and they’re all separated into groups into what their roles are in regards to breaking Geordo and Katarina’s engagement up and keeping them apart.

While really for comedic sakes, Geordo being the biggest opponent to everyone does, to some degree, tell us about his chances with Katarina (or at least I think so).

Kiss Scenes (LIGHT NOVEL SPOILERS BELOW)

In Novels 1-5, there are essentially 8 kisses that Katarina receives from the other characters (on her hand to her lips).

Out of these kisses, Geordo is the partner 6 times. Out of these kisses there are 3 pictures, that while not depicting the kisses themselves, do depict the moment just before. All of those pictures depict Geordo’s kisses.

Hand Kiss – Geordo (Vol.1)

There is a picture depicting the overall proposal scene, but not Geordo kissing Katarina’s hand or him about to.

Neck Kiss – Geordo (Vol.1)

There is a picture of Geordo hugging Katarina as they dance, right before he kisses her, but I didn’t really think it counted.

Water Kiss – Geordo (Vol.2)

This is absolutely a kiss scene. You can debate whether it’s CPR or something else, but the way it’s treated in the context of the story - it’s a kiss scene. Simple as that.

Neck Kiss 2.0 – Sora (Vol.3)

No picture.

Retaliation Kiss – Geordo (Vol.3)

No picture.

Confession Kiss – Geordo (Vol.3)

Basically, Katarina realizes that Geordo has romantic feelings for her in this scene. While she initially thought his Retaliation Kiss was just a dream of hers, a dream she was very flustered by, she is now more than aware of what is happening.

Waking Up Kiss – Keith (Vol.4)

Keith wakes up from his own Dark Magic Coma (so to speak) and thinking Katarina is just a dream, he kisses her, much to the shock of Katarina.

No Picture.

Retaliation Kiss 2.0 – Geordo (Vol.4)

Upset that Keith kissed Katarina in the “Waking Up Kiss”, Geordo also kisses her.

This scene in particular, especiall with the picture, I think really cements Geordo as the one who Katarina will end up with.

Simply because, Keith just kissed Katarina and there was no picture depicting it even though it happened a few moments/pages ago, but yet Geordo’s kiss (or about to kiss) is depicted. So, to me, this seems very telling.

[Update] Originally I brought up how Nicol kissed Katarina in Vol.8 that also had a picture depicitng the scene...but that was inaccurate. There is no kiss scene between the two in that moment.

Any others, I have no idea about.

I’m just going to stick to the novels I have read up to this point.

So, let’s get to my main point. Out of the 8 Kisses Katarina receives, in Volumes 1-5. It’s very telling to me that Geordo is the one doing the kissing 6 out of the 8 times. Plus, in the the first 5 Volumes, the 3 kisses that are depicted are Geordo’s.

In Ch. 17.5 we have our first bonus chapter, which gives us a special look into Geordo’s feelings for Katarina. So far, Geordo is the only one who has received this treatment.

Now that doesn’t mean others won’t, but I personally think that chapter is very sweet and romantic, so given that it’s Geordo’s chapter is another point for him.

In case, you somehow didn’t know, I love Ch. 17.5

Finally given how the story was supposed to end at Vol 2.

It’s very interesting to me that the last chapter, is from Geordo’s POV. We get to see his view on their relationship and his feelings for Katarina, as well as the water kiss scene.

Geordo gives a brief summary of each of the characters. More importantly he thinks about how is not pleased that everyone else is in love with Katarina and how he might lose her, but he does admit that he’s okay with things staying like this for awhile longer.

Largely because Katarina is so happy.

I genuinely do think Geordo has the best shot of ending up with Katarina out of all the characters.

Now whether I think that because I ship him and Katarina or whether I ship Geordo x Katarina because I think he has the best chance is difficult to say. Probably both.

Thanks for the question! :)

#Katarina Claes #Geordo Stuart #Hamefura #Bakarina #Destruction Flag Otome #Otome Game No Hametsu Flag #Gerald Stuart #Catarina Claes #My Next Life as a Villainess #Anonymous

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sullustangin · 4 years ago

Text

Not a disaster spy.

Note: I speak in lawful/neutral/chaotic alignments as seen in D&D. I’m not getting into good, evil, or neutral, nor “Dark Side” or “Light Side” activities.

There were more than a few reasons why I commissioned a piece of art that depicted some pretty gnarly scars on Theron Shan (and on my smug, Eva, but you don’t care as much about her, let’s be real). It’s part of a story I’m telling. It’s part of my headcanon. Also, it’s my own sort of protest against the habit of writing Theron off as a hot but inept spy. He’s an impulsive fool despite being intelligent, which is why he ends up in bizarre situations. He always gets hurt because of this (but he’s always magically healed up in time for any smut).

To be clear: Theron totally has issues due to his early life and an inability to play well with others; you can label him with attachment issues, intimacy issues, whatever keeps him a bit of a lonely character (which he admits). Personal life -- disaster. That’s canon, explicit and implicit.

What I object to are his skills and abilities being discounted because of that. His professional life is far from being a disaster. Director SIS Marcus Trant brands him as one of the best field agents, and long term, he ends up being operations manager for a covert base for an upstart independent government.

Reasons:

In the book Annihilation, Theron runs around in his boots and briefs trying to destroy the Ascendant Spear. Hot, funny, and strangely effective.

But why?

Because Jace Malcom and Marcus Trant were ok with sacrificing a few planets of people “for the greater good.” They let Ruan be attacked. They planned on letting Duro be attacked, because they wanted the Pub fleet to focus on the Ascendant Spear, the Empire superweapon. They watched a planet get wrecked and planned on doing it again. It’s war. It’s a lawful action, for the greater good. It complies with society’s expectations -- the Republic leadership’s expectations -- in a time of war. Lawful neutral, probably. Maybe lawful good if you squint and do the math about the Spear’s potential fatality rate, galaxy wide.

But Theron isn’t a lawful character -- he doesn’t just do stuff because society says it’s ok. That’s why he goes off and does impulsive stuff because sometimes, society is wrong. Theron is a neutral, leaning chaotic character -- he mostly follows the law, but also relies on his own intuition and gut feeling about what is right. Neutral characters balance what society says is right and what a person internally thinks is right. Chaotic characters -- like my oc smuggler -- don’t rely on society’s views at all; it’s all about her gut and moral compass. Theron at least considers lawfulness and order in his response, which is why he is (mostly) not a chaotic character. He has his moments, though - no character is pure. In contrast, Lana is a Lawful character in the context of the Sith Empire. She does things that her society approves of. She does like to think of herself as ‘her own woman’, but her behavior patterns are heavily informed by the Sith upbringing and training - she is Lawful but leaning Neutral on occasion due to her own sense of pragmatism. She does not go by her gut alone.

(Please remember I’m not addressing good/evil, Light/Dark side in this post.)

That’s why Theron ends up dehydrated with cramped leg and half naked. He didn’t want people to die "for the greater good” when he personally could stop it. So he and Gnost Dural fool Darth Karrid into participating at Duro, which means the Republic Fleet has to defend the planet, since its target is the Ascendant Spear. The only way that happens is that Gnost-Dural is tortured, and Theron has to manually slice into the nearly uninhabitable bowels of the ship. Hence the whole strip tease by the end of the incident.

Consequences:

In the example above, it’s mostly situational embarrassment for Theron, and the Jedi gets tortured.

In an earlier part of the book, Theron is beaten up to keep his cover and acquire important information (and loses a few teeth in the process) and leaps off a building and probably fractures a few things -- he dislocated a shoulder too. Still didn’t blow cover, and he is able get off Ziost with Gnost Dural.

Every SWTOR player knows about Rishi -- it’s easy to argue that Theron doesn’t give up Lana because that could burn his Republic ally. But if you’re playing Imp side, what’s stopping him? Flirting is nothing to this point. Why not burn all the Imps down? He could save his own skin, infiltrate the Revanites that way and save the Republic Fleet -- to hell with Darth Marr.

Because it’s not just “ooo rah Republic” informing his choices -it’s not Republic society saying it’s ok and lawful that makes him sit there. It’s his own moral compass that says it’s wrong to burn Jakarro and the operative, even if Lana did give him up. So he holds out under torture, even as Revan tries to make his descendant his ally.

Theron had been in SIS for about 12-13 years by the time we get to Rishi. We know he’s fallen from high heights and survived worse falls than leaping between buildings on Nar Shaddaa -- survived, not gotten out unscathed. He was a swoop racer for awhile -- that’s a risky hobby. As an agent, It’s reasonable to assume he’s been shot at with blasters and possibly slugthrowers (if he came across a Mando), stabbed with traditional blades or vibro-blades, got burned if he was in an industrial area or a hot engine room or a chemical lab -- the list goes on. After Yavin, we know that the one agent possibly more chaotic than he is, Jonas Balkar, ends up giving him a few broken ribs in the name of busting up an implants ring.

So Theron does have very real consequences for his decisions, in all likelihood. That’s what I wanted to reflect in the recent commission; although it happens shortly before the torture session on Rishi, it shows the viewer that this is a path he’s been on before, and not by accident.

Cutting here because boy, did I have a lot to say about what happens AFTER SoR in terms of alignment/characterization.

The KotFE and Beyond: Consistency Issues

Theron registers his approval and disapproval on certain decisions in later xpacs, and he often takes the more benevolent “light side” end of things -- whether that’s based upon his societal expectations or personal moral compass is not as clear. But he still does disagree with the Commander (one of the more obvious examples being storming out of the room if there are too many Pub casualties on Corellia when the player is Imp side). While it remains a touchy topic, the Traitor Arc does reflect his neutral-chaotic tendencies. He goes with his internal moral compass.

Electrocuting the Commander on Iokath was part of Theron gaining the Order of Zildrog’s trust. Theron’s smart enough and probably familiar enough with the Commander’s bio data to know how to make it happen and look bad enough without serious ill-effects. This is part of what he does as a spy, and there’s likely a guide on double agent sabotage somewhere in SIS -- how to look like you’re doing bad stuff without actually doing as bad stuff as requested. This is also part of what he personally believes to be a better path -- certainly not by Alliance “what to do when bad things happen” book, which was to tell his Commander.

Does Theron fail at Nathema? Yes; there is a major loss of war materiel (the Gravestone and the Eternal Fleet). But what would he have considered more important? The loss of the fleet or the loss of the Commander and others if the Fleet was unleashed? The loss of life or the loss of stuff? That’s where Theron’s neutral-chaotic alignment comes in.

It also does matter how the player views the entire situation -- Theron’s boss also has a say in ‘success,’ which is why Trant matters in judging Theron’s previous actions. At the end of KotET, some people had been miserable that they HAD to either be a ruler or a peacekeeper instead of just getting on their ship and riding off into the sunset for more class-specific adventures. By the end of Nathema, some people were mad about losing the weapons and the power. Some people were relieved that they weren’t so OP anymore; the writers had written story/character development into a corner, and ending the whole Throne/Fleet thing had to happen. (It’s still not fully out of a corner, in my personal opinion.)

Theron doesn’t get out of the Traitor Arc completely clean, no matter how many stans we write about it -- the writing is what it is. He assuredly gains a new scar. But it is player choice as to the severity of the failure -- and the consequences: Theron can end up married, still in love with the Commander, dumped by the Commander but in the Alliance, exiled, or dead. Those were the consequences for what he believed was the right thing to do -- this was probably his biggest leap into the chaotic alignment in terms of decision making, and this was the most dramatic spectrum of consequences.

As a side bar, the latter xpacs suffer from writing issues; there’s a lack of nuance compared to the vanilla stories and even Hutts and SOR. Although the writers did promise that characters would leave if there were enough negative actions, only Koth actually left because of something we did; Lana never leaves, and Theron leaves regardless of prior actions -- because he’s doing the double agent thing. (I thought the opening speech on Umbara was ill-fit for most classes, frankly -- the writing got better as we got closer to Nathema, but there are plotholes that make me fume.) Lana and Theron never leave because the player makes too many LS or DS decisions. I honestly wish that was a consequence, because not having a consequence for decisions hallows out both characters and makes them lackeys rather than the stronger, distinct characters they were prior to Popsicle Time. Lana never leaves no matter what. Theron ultimately remains gone by player decision, not by his own. Koth was at least granted that autonomy, for which I respect the writing for Koth.

Theron Shan is a good spy that accepts consequences.

Theron is good at his job -- the best at his job, around the time of SoR. Because of how Theron approaches the world, he takes risks so others don’t -- so others don’t get tortured, so other planets don’t get blown up. It doesn’t mean that he’s some inept idiot that fumbles his way toward mission success. He knowingly suffers for his choices that are a combination of by-the-book training and his instincts. He doesn’t complain about it, even when the player points it out on Rishi. It is the job. Spies do really, really strange stuff to keep their covers. He also doesn’t complain as he’s limping around after Nathema, nor does he object if he��s exiled or dumped. He knows what he did. He can live with it (if the player lets him).

Spies that remain alive and get back to their home nations without giving anything important up to the enemy are successful spies. We see this in pre-SWTOR media. Rishi is a success for Theron -- although he is exposed, he remains alive and uncooperative. The temporary Alliance between Marr and Satele gain massive amounts of intel, including Revan’s base on Yavin. Later, Theron is able to keep the Odessen base functional and secret. We even get to do some infiltration work on Zakuul -- the Alliance’s spies don’t give anything up while surviving and making it home with gains. He succeeds overall at Odessen. He fails at Nathema, though that failure is mostly interpreted by the player in terms of severity.

Few spies are perfect and survive to become old men. Even if Theron is killed at the end of Nathema, he did make it further than many; if we consider that Theron was about 37 or 38 at Nathema and he started SIS at 16, that’s upwards of 20 years in the field. That’s a long lifespan for an active field agent, even in real world estimates.

For those of us who let Theron live, then he still has potential for more spy escapades, though probably with some serious oversight. We can leave that to headcanons, since Lana and Theron have taken a step back in prominence since Onslaught. Theron will never be orderly like Lana; if you favor lawful characters, you will rarely see eye to eye with Theron. He is not a by the book spy, and even Trant complains about that. At the same time, the instinct, the skills, and personal conscience is there, which is why Theron is successful all the way up to Nathema -- and depending on the player, arguably still is.

Personal life -- sure, a disaster. No doubt. But as a spy? I don’t think disaster is an accurate assessment.

#theron thursday #theron shan #swtor #alignment #good spy

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sorry-apsalar · 4 years ago

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Does This Mean I'm a Girl Now?

Content Warning: this fic contains genderbending (sort of anyway) and gender dysphoria as a result of it, also multiple mentions of genitals as well as nudity in general.

My friends and I were discussing a thing that we were mildly salty about which brought on the topic about how we were salty in general over how a lot of genderbending stuff is portrayed. It often relies on stereotypes and gender roles which is really annoying and pretty shitty. Then my dear friend @itsladykit (I hope it’s okay that I tagged you, I just wanna give you proper credit for the idea) brought up the idea of a cis character getting magically genderbent and experiencing gender dysphoria because of it. Which I thought was a really neat idea but I wasn't sure if I was qualified to tell that tale but then they told me to follow my heart and write it and that's why this fic came into being.

Now I feel like I need to put the disclaimer that while I have personal experience with gender dysphoria, the worst of it was was back when I was a teenager, I've mostly grown out of it and I'm pretty sure most people have it stronger than I ever have. So if this isn't an 100% accurate depiction of dysphoria, that is why. I did my best though.

Also, Frender features in it mostly just because I was already fueled primarily by salt, might as well let my usual Futurama salt fuel me too.

“Wow,” Fry said as they looked over the naturally formed pool of bright pink goo. They’d been to a lot of different planets and seen quite a few different kinds and colours of goo but never one so pink. “It’s kind of pretty, don’t you think?”

“I guess,” Bender replied, disinterested. “I’m bored though so I dare you to jump in and see what happens.”

“Do not!” Leela snapped from somewhere behind them before Fry could even decide if he wanted to take that dare or not. “I don’t know what you guys found over there but don’t listen to him Fry because whatever it is, is probably dangerous.”

“Fucking killjoy,” Bender muttered so that only Fry could hear. He was right though; they were hiding out on a dumb planet with nothing on it to escape some asshole pirates which meant they had to just sit around and do nothing until Leela was sure they were free. It had only been probably an hour so far and Fry was already bored out of his mind. Leela had forbade them from doing anything ‘dirty’ in case they needed to get out in a hurry so the least she could do was let them investigate some cool pink goo.

So, feeling rather rebellious especially as the sound of Leela’s footsteps approached, presumably to investigate, Fry lowered himself to the ground so he could lean forward and stick in his hand in. The goo didn’t come up all the way to the lip of the natural pool, forcing him to lean a bit farther than he was really comfortable with considering the utterly unknown alien substance he would fall into if he lost his balance but if he fell Bender would catch him… probably anyway, so it should be fine.

The goo was pleasantly cool as it engulfed his hand, almost seemingly clinging to him and pulling it down. It was like sticking his hand in thick syrup fresh out of the fridge, a pleasant texture if a bit odd. Right away though his hand began to have that pins and needles feeling that came from laying on one’s arm wrong for way too long so he should probably…

The ground gave way beneath him, sending him into the goo. He didn’t even have time to yelp in surprise before he was fully submerged in it. He gasped instinctively, inadvertently breathing it in, making him choke and sputter.

He needed to get to the surface now! Except he didn’t even know where it was. He thrashed, trying to go in any direction but to no avail, the goo was too thick to swim well in and blackness was already eating at the edges of his vision. He couldn’t die like this! No fucking way! It wasn’t…

“…think it’s permanent?” Bender was saying from somewhere above Fry as he slowly came to.

“Who knows?” Leela replied from also somewhere above him. “For his sake, I hope not.”

“You make it sound like it’s a big problem.” Bender’s tone indicated that he disagreed.

“You don’t understand.” Leela was giving Bender her annoyed look, Fry didn’t even need to open his eyes to know that. “Though I guess I can’t really blame you for not understanding this, you’re a robot so it’s probably different for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Leela sighed. “Maybe you’re right, maybe it won’t be a big deal. Heck, maybe it’ll only last a few hours.”

As much as Fry enjoyed napping, the way they were talking was rather disconcerting so with a groan he opened his eyes and forced himself to sit up. Bender and Leela were standing to either side of where he lay on the ground. Bender was coated head to toe in bright pink goo, calling to mind what had happened last. That meant he’d jumped in after Fry and was probably the sole reason he hadn’t drowned. Now he was trying to wipe the goo off with a pink rag that might’ve once been white but it wasn’t very effective.

“Hey meatbag,” he said, turning his attention onto Fry. “How do you feel?”

“Uh… weird.” Fry was covered in goo still too. It clung to him and made him feel all tingly and odd, like his whole body had fallen asleep even though that wasn’t possible. And it smelled strange too and tasted bad. He turned his head to the side to spit as much of it out as he could, though it did little to rid his mouth of the taste. “I got to wash this stuff off,” he said as he stood up, careful of the probably slippery goo coating him and pooling around where it had dripped off him and Bender. “Thanks for saving me.” Was it just him or did his voice sound strange?

“Uh… Fry,” Leela cut in before he could turn to start for the ship. “The pink stuff kind of did something to your body.”

Oh no. “What?”

“Well, uh… um…”

“The most noticeable thing it did was give you boobs,” Bender finished. “I didn’t check your pants so it might’ve changed you down there too. You might want to look into it.”

Fry looked down at himself and… true to Bender’s words, his chest was quite different; his clothes soaked in the pink goo clung to him, highlighting the weird lumps on his chest. Boobs was what they were called, he had them now, big ones too. Or at least they looked big to him from this angle which wasn’t an angle he was ever supposed to see boobs from so how was he supposed to know?

“Does this mean I’m a girl now?” he asked as he looked back up at Leela and Bender. The strange thing about his voice was that it sounded more feminine and if it sounded that way to him how much more so was it to everyone else?

“Not unless you want to be,” Leela said with a reassuring smile.

“Uh… I don’t think I do.” He’d never considered it before even in passing but now that was forcibly faced with it, he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be a girl.

“Come on, let’s go wash this gunk off,” Bender said as he gave up on the rag, tossing it disdainfully to the ground before starting for the ship. Fry was more than happy to follow because who knows, maybe it would only last as long as the goo was coating him.

“All right,” Leela said, “I’m going to collect a sample of the pink stuff to bring back to the Professor.”

Undressing brought to Fry’s unfortunate attention that the goo had changed more than just his chest and voice. His hips were wider, his shoulders a little narrower – not by much, he’d never exactly had broad shoulders but enough that even if no one else was likely to notice he still did – and the other biggest change was that his dick was missing. He could explore what was there instead with his hands but… he didn’t feel particularly inclined to do so.

Which was odd, wasn’t it? In every movie or TV show he’d ever seen where a man ended up with a female body through whatever means, the joke almost always was that they were excited to touch themselves down there and play with their new boobs. It wasn’t even that he wasn’t into such things, while he did prefer men – especially if they were robots or aliens – boobs and vagina weren’t turn offs by any means. On himself though it was just… too weird.

With a sigh, he did his best to shake it off and stepped into the shower after Bender. There was only one on board the ship because it wasn’t exactly meant for everyday use, mostly decontamination and washing off dangerous chemicals which this probably counted as. There was enough room for both of them though so it was whatever.

“You owe me for going in after you,” Bender said, turning to face him. “It leaked into my everything and now I have to clean everything.” To demonstrate, he opened his chest compartment, revealing that it had been partially filled with pink goo, Fry had to pull his foot back to stop it from splashing on him. Bender then began taking things out to wash off too, including his cigar case, its contents most likely ruined. He gave Fry a pointed look as he put it back as if this were his fault, which it kind of was.

“Sorry, thanks for saving me though, I owe you big. But uh… you did dare me to jump in.” Not that Fry had meant to or would’ve if given the choice, not even he was quite that stupid.

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it. But whatever, I guess this is more exciting than sitting around doing nothing. By the way, in case you haven’t noticed yet, your dick’s gone.”

Fry had to hold back a groan; that wasn’t something he really wanted to think about. “Yeah, I know. How long was I in the goo before you pulled me out though?” Because surely a change this drastic couldn’t have happened in brief awful seconds he remembered.

“I don’t know, five, ten minutes. That stuff isn’t exactly easy to see through and it was a lot deeper than it looked. Which was why I had to jump in to find you in it.”

“How come it didn’t do anything to you?”

“I don’t know, maybe because I’m a robot.” That was kind of an ‘oh duh’, huh?

They were silent for a bit while Fry focused on making sure to wash all the goo off. He could probably safely step out now if he wanted to, the pins and needle feeling the goo had given him was rapidly fading, but the water was warm and… “What do you think of this?” He did his best to keep his tone casual. “Does it uh… change how you see me or anything?”

Bender scoffed as if Fry was stupid to even consider such a thing. “No, why would it? I’m a robot and I’m pan so I have double the reason not to care what your body is shaped like. It should be fun to play around with later though.” He winked as if his meaning wasn’t already obvious.

Fry wasn’t really sure about that but… that was probably just because he still wasn’t over the shock of the sudden change. When he was more used to it, it would probably be fun to experiment with so… “Yeah, maybe once we’re home and stuff.” Or maybe it would wear off before they even got there and thus it would basically be a non-thing, just another weird adventure that wrapped up quickly and left everything exactly the same as before. He could always hope, right?

“… and it’s permanent,” Professor Farnsworth finished, jerking Fry out of the bored stupor listening to the scientific explanation behind the exact mechanics behind the sex change had put him in.

“It’s what?” Hopefully Fry had just misheard something. He hadn’t exactly been paying attention after all.

“It’s permanent,” Farnsworth repeated. “It’s not going to wear off.”

“You mean I’m stuck like this forever?”

“Not necessarily. There’s of course the traditional transition methods you could take or I could use this,” Farnsworth held up the vial of pink goo that Leela had collected for him, “to engineer a substance that will have the opposite effect. And then it’ll be like this whole misadventure never happened except we’ll have the means to get rich off of selling this stuff. Of course we don’t yet know what all the risks it might pose are but that’s all the more reason to sell it to as many people as possible so we can find out.”

Ugh, Fry hadn’t even considered what other possible risks his inadvertent bath in the pink goo might’ve had. What if it was also super toxic and was going to eventually kill him? Or what if it drastically increased his risk of cancer other possibly fatal condition? … Eh, it was probably fine so… “How long is that going to take?”

“Hmmm…” Farnsworth held the vial up to the light as he studied it. “I don’t know. I should probably get to work on it.” And without any further word he was shuffling off out of the room. Everyone in the room, which was everyone employed at Planet Express because privacy didn’t exist in the modern age, watched him go.

“On the bright side,” Leela said from the other side of the conference table, “if he can make something that can do the reverse, we’ll have discovered something that can help a lot of people.”

“Assuming it’s safe anyway,” Amy added. “It could still be super toxic and deadly or something. So, congrats Fry, you get to be a guinea pig for a new way of transitioning. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t kill you in the end.”

“Uh… thanks, I think.” He’d rather not be a guinea pig for anything but seems he didn’t have a choice here so yeah, hopefully it was safe to use. But at least if anyone could make something that could turn him back to normal it was the Professor. So really everything would be fine. He just had to deal with this weirdness for a little while.

Looking at himself naked in his bedroom mirror was a mistake. His boobs were weird shaped lumps on his chest that hung there kind of like those ballast bags that hung on the sides of hot air balloon baskets but rounder and with nipples. How could something that looked like that be natural? Crossing his arms over them to try to hid them from view sort of worked but it also pushed them closer together which wasn’t a pleasant sensation. And combined with his hips, they gave him that ‘hourglass figure’ that was supposed to be desirable but didn’t look right in the mirror.

He couldn’t bear to look at his crotch for more a couple seconds because his dick was gone! That was weird and just plain wrong. Everything about his body looked wrong now and he hated it. He’d never particularly liked his body before – muscles would’ve been cool to have but weren’t worth the effort – but it had been utter indifference. Now looking at himself was an unpleasant experience.

He… wasn’t just going to just get used to or over this, was he? His body wasn’t supposed to be like this and thus he couldn’t feel comfortable in it while it was.

Eager to be done looking at himself, he stepped forward and turned the mirror around to face the wall. It would stay until his body was back to normal. All he could really do was hope that that would be soon.

In the meantime though he went to his closest in search out the baggiest clothes he had. Luckily everything he wore on a typical day was already baggy and a lot of it a size or so bigger than needed. Zipping up the jacket should help obscure his boobs too, maybe even completely, though probably not because his initial call had been right, they were on the larger side. But regardless it would be better than nothing.

Right as he was pulling on the jacket, the door opened behind him. “I don’t like this whole sex change thing,” he said as he zipped up and turned to face Bender as he entered. “Like I really, really don’t like it.”

“Why?” Of course Bender wouldn’t understand and well, honestly Fry didn’t either.

“I don’t know.” There wasn’t any solid logical reason for why he disliked it so much. “It just makes me uncomfortable. My body’s not supposed to look like this with boobs and… stuff.” And lacking of other things. “I don’t like it. So if we could pretend that it’s not a thing that would be great.”

Bender gave him a weird look before shrugging and moving on. “I swear you meatbags never cease to be weird. But if it really bothers you that much, I won’t mention your boobs or junk if that’s what you want.”

“Yes, I would like that, thanks.”

“That means we’re not going to fuck tonight though, huh?”

“Uh… yeah, I’d rather not.” That would involve exploring his new body and he couldn’t imagine that being fun.

“The things I put with for you. But whatever, let’s go watch TV then.”

Fry was more than happy to follow him back out into the living room. He could really use the distraction of both watching TV and of cuddling up with Bender.

True to Fry’s prediction he never got over his discomfort about his new body. Wearing obscuring clothing helped as did making sure to never look at himself in the mirror, especially without clothes, but it was still there. He could go for hours at a time without thinking about it but ultimately it always came back in one form or another and it was the worst.

Thankfully no one at Planet Express treated him any different. None of them even mentioned it after the initial buzz about it had faded. Sadly, such was not true for strangers; men flirted with him more which wouldn’t have been much of an issue if they weren’t flirting with him because of something he was uncomfortable with and wished wasn’t a thing. Bender put a jealous stop to a lot of that though which was much appreciated. And then there was everyone calling him she or her which sucked – he got called they or them some too which was better even if it still wasn’t right – most people didn’t care when he corrected them but it was still awkward that he had to.

But finally, just when it was starting to seem like he’d reached his limit and couldn’t take it anymore, upon arriving at work, Professor Farnsworth was there to greet him with some actual good news for once. The opposite of the pink goo was ready to be tested. The fact that Fry would be the first one testing it didn’t even matter to him to anymore.

It was in the pool out back where everyone else was already waiting because again, privacy wasn’t a thing anymore apparently, though honestly Fry didn’t even really care that much. But… “I’d thought it’d be blue,” was the first thing he said upon seeing it because it was bright yellow.

“Why would it be blue?” Farnsworth asked, genuinely confused.

“Because the other stuff was pink and it did this to me so it just makes sense for something that’s supposed to do the opposite to be blue, right?”

“That makes no sense,” Bender said. “Stop being stupid and go jump in already. And don’t almost drown this time because I’m not jumping in to save you again if you do, once was more than enough.”

“You say that but I doubt you mean it,” Hermes chimed in. “We all know you’d jump if to save him if you had to.”

Bender glared at him but Amy spoke up before he could say anything. “Yeah, you two have been dating for like a year now and were like totally in love for like ever even before you were official so don’t pretend to be a tough guy.”

“Just jump in already,” Zoidberg butted in. “I want to see what happens.”

“Yes, let’s just get this over with,” Fry said before anyone else could chime in with anything. He stepped forward to stand on the edge of the pool. “Can you guys like… look away please? I don’t want to ruin my clothes and uh… yeah.” He didn’t want them seeing him naked when his body was still like this even though logically they all already knew what he looked like but… he just didn’t want them seeing.

“Of course,” Leela said as she turned away. Thankfully everyone else soon followed suit with only a little grumbling.

Eager to have this over and done with, Fry quickly undressed. After tossing his balled-up clothes to the side, he sat down on the edge of the pool and slowly lowered himself into the yellow goo. It felt exactly the same as the pink goo had; cool and thick, quickly giving him that unpleasant pins and needles feeling. He had to force himself to submerge his head.

Fry was awoken by cold water being splashed onto his face. His eyes shot open to see who else but Bender hovering over him. “Hey Fry, I thought I told you not to almost drown this time.”

He didn’t remember falling asleep or unconscious and he certainly hadn’t intended to. “Sorry,” he said as he sat up.

Everyone had crowded around to loom over where he lay on the ground next to the pool. “How do you feel?” Farnsworth asked, adjusting his glasses. “Did it work? I can’t tell with all the yellow.”

“Uh…” Fry looked down at himself. … “It worked!” he said as he shot up to his feet. He was back to normal, how his body was supposed to be. His chest of flat, his proportions back to normal, and he had his dick back. Gosh, he never would’ve thought he’d feel so good while naked and surrounded by a bunch of people staring at him.

“Congrats on surviving another sex change,” Leela said.

“And on getting your dick back,” Amy added with an unhelpful thumbs up.

“Maybe next time think twice before deciding to play with a mysterious alien substance,” Hermes said.

Of course the Professor had something to say too. “Now we just got to wait a couple weeks and see if you randomly drop dead before declaring it tested and ready to sell.”

This was very quickly growing awkward with everyone standing around Fry and talking at him while he was butt naked and covered in experimental goo. “I’m going to go wash this stuff off now,” he said as he was already backing away. Also, now that his body was back to normal, there was something he wanted to do because he finally could again and the shower would be the prefect place to do it.

He’d learned an important and valuable lesson though: next time Bender dared him to play in an unknown substance, no matter how bored he was, he’d think about it a little harder before deciding to risk sticking his hand in. And to be more careful around alien goo in general.

#My writing #futurama #Frender #genderbending #dysphoria #gender dysphoria

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uraharasandals · 4 years ago

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Intellectual Discussion Time

[Edited 3.8.2020: ‘Dominant’ gene to ‘recessive’ gene]

In an attempt to procrastinate on my requests writing, and to pull myself away from college apps, I decided to present to you this issue that have been nagging me for a long time, and something that I felt Asagiri didn’t really address. (Or maybe it’s just me, and feel free to criticise or tell me off in the notes/reblogging)

[note that I haven’t read the light series at all so if there’s something revealed in those do let me know]

So within the BSD universe we see a lot of worldbuilding that resembles urban fantasy (i.e. a subgenre of fantasy that incorporates ‘supernatural’ elements in an urban setting; other prominent works in this genre include The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare), where there are organisations of ‘gifted’ individuals using Abilities, like the Port Mafia and the ADA.

But there are significant plotholes within this; 1) how abilities came about, 2) how are abilities ‘shaped’, 3) implications of having abilities and 4) the question of ‘where are the other ability users?’.

1) How Abilities Came About

The thing is, we don’t really see how abilities emerge? In other works, such as Katekyo Hitman Reborn, we know that their powers come from their rings. Other magical girl anime shows us that their devices/staffs/whatever gave them those special powers. In fact, a main theme in all of these fantasy anime was introducing the reason behind the emergence of powers in the beginning. You often see magical girl animes starting with the protagonist gaining a staff or a charm or whatever, and they learn how to use their powers throughout the entire show.

But here’s the thing in BSD; we don’t know how abilities came about. Whether it is a dominant gene thing, or whether it was from some kind of device or experiment or whatever. While we do know how characters originally without abilities gain them (in Kyouka, whose ability was transferred to her by her mother), it is assumed that all characters in the show are born with them. But then how did this come about? We know that the rest of the society consists of normal human beings without abilities (the clerks at the ADA is a clear example), so it must be an external factor causing the appearance of abilities in the beginning.

(I think there was something in the manga about Atsushi’s abilities; it revealed that someone injected him with stuff, or was it in Dead Apple? Anyways, if my memory serves me correct, we can say that Atsushi’s abilities came from experiments)

My theory concerning abilities have two strands of reasoning. The first one (spoilers to those who haven’t read the manga) is that it came about as experimenting from the war preceding the series. If you look carefully, a lot of the characters were involved in the war, either directly or indirectly; Yosano, who was an infantry nurse; Mori, who was a physician; Gide, a missionary soldier, to name a few. It is mentioned that abilities was a huge asset in winning the war, and that Japan had been actively recruiting ability users to help them gain victory. There is no explicit mention of this, but seeing as Japan has had a history of experimentation on others, it is possible that scientists have decided to ‘mass-produce’ soldiers with abilities in the war.

Another theory is the issue of a recessive gene. To put it simply, certain mutations in the human body results in different appearances, such as albinos or blue eyes. Likely this is the same in the BSD universe, except with abilities. This would explain the ‘original’ ability users who were born with their abilities. It is also possible that this gene may be more male-oriented, which would explain the unequal ratio of male to female ability users. (9, excluding Higuchi and including light novel and manga characters; there’s around 40 male ability users). It would also explain the Akutagawa and Tanizaki siblings; both brothers have abilities, yet their younger sisters don’t. [spoilers] It would also explain why both Tachihara and his older brother have abilities, despite him being the younger sibling.

2) How Are Abilities ‘Shaped’

While we know that Asagiri designed each character’s ability in accordance or inspired by the original author (I’ll probably talk about this in another post), the fact remains that within the universe, there is no knowing how these abilities are shaped, or why they are unique to each character. An example of an explanation tackling this would be Bleach; because their zanpakutou (i.e. the source of their powers) are different and responds to each Shinigami’s unique soul, therefore the abilities are shaped in accordance to the soul.

But again, there is no basis for how these abilities are shaped besides the link to their original writers. How are abilities like Dazai’s and Yosano’s considered ‘rare’ if all abilities are unique? And how are abilities classified even? From our own instincts we know that some troupes are overused, like element manipulation or animal transformation (looking at you, Atsushi) but other than that, I would say most, if not all, abilities are pretty unique. The only overlapping of abilities is Gide’s and Odasaku’s, and it is hinted that when two ability users fight each other, there is the occurrence of a ‘singularity’ -- which is again, never mentioned again.

3) Implications of Having Abilities

This is by far my favourite plothole to discuss. We know that abilities is not common in the BSD society; in fact, it is something that is considered unique. If that is so, how are abilities received by the general public?

From what we’ve seen in the show, abilities are treated like a skill, and hence could be weld for different purposes, making it resemble a double-edged sword. We see those who use it for evil/own purposes, such as the Decay of Angels and the Rats, but most of them use it for the better good, like the ADA. Some are even incorporated in higher government, like the Hunting Dogs, and the Gifted Special Operations Division.

But then if abilities are unique, how are they viewed by other normal, non-ability welding characters? I don’t think the universe is as flawless as to have other normal people simply accepting them as a daily fact of life, the continuous exposure of governmental flaws contradicts this. In fact, there are no opinions at all towards ability users during the whole series. There is no indication of fear towards them, and reception of powers differ depends on the organisation the characters belong to.

While there is not much normal people --> ability user reactions, Atsushi’s situation did reveal a glimpse into this plothole. It was mentioned that his parents abandoned him at a trash dump, and that he was constantly bullied and harassed at the orphanage. We don’t know what the reason behind his parents’ actions were, but we do know that he was locked up because of his ability to turn into a tiger. However, in the series this is played off as ‘because he couldn’t control his powers’, instead of actual fear towards the tiger.

Another example of ability user reactions was the one towards Yosano, though this is somewhat skeptical because of the context and situation. In the war, Yosano was able to heal the soldiers and make them able to fight again. Though it is assumed most of the soldiers were normal people, the situation they were in forced them to appreciate her abilities (imagine consulting a doctor who has to chop you up before they could heal you, would you appreciate thta?), so it doesn’t really reflect what the general society as a whole think of ability users.

4) ‘Where Are the Other Ability Users?’

In the series, we’ve only seen the ability users who have affiliated themselves with a certain organisation; the ADA, Port Mafia, the Guild, the Rats, etc etc. and we assume that this is true. Going by this logic, Asagiri is presenting the idea of ‘teams are stronger and safer’ which, going back to my third point, would likely mean that ability users may have been targeted at the beginning, which resulted in the rise of these organisations. But that is not the case; we have clerks working for the ADA with no abilities.

Another reasoning about this would be that someone decided ability users working in a team would be able to exploit their abilities to the full and have more freedom and autonomy. This logic, I suspect, is used by the Port Mafia, the Rats and the Guild.

But then there has to be other ability users. Atsushi, for one, was one of those individuals wandering around with no knowledge of abilities. From what was known about Akutagawa and Dazai’s background, it is assumed they are also picked up somewhere and groomed for the Port Mafia.

So then, where are these other ability users?

In the BSD universe, we are exposed to the knowledge of ability users throughout the globe. In Dead Apple, Kunikida’s briefing shows that there are ability users from Singapore and other places; the Rats, the Guild and Agatha Christie is also proof that ability users are spread all over the globe and that international ability users exist.

However, we aren’t really shown much exposure to these other ability users except in fights and their wars. What bothers me most is that the series made it seem as if the ability users belonging to organisations are the only ability users around, and that there are no others. You could literally depict a scene in which some rogue ability user misuses their ability and the ADA had to step in, yet aside from skirmishes with the Port Mafia and helping the police department, they don’t really show what happens when ability user confronts ability user.

The only time they gave us a hint of what happens when ability user confronts a lone ability user was in the OVA, where Kunikida confronts his old acquaintance. Though he was driven by his own ambitions, I’m guessing the majority of ability users who knew about their powers might be driven to use them for bad purposes and abuse them to their whim, especially when they don’t have organisations to take them in. Zettai Karen Children is an anime that explores the use of ability users in government and as a police force against ability users who misuse their powers; a few parallels could be drawn between these two works as well.

At any rate, there is no doubt BSD is an absolutely fantastic anime that I love to death, but I think these plotholes should be addressed and just,,,these are my two cents to the community :D

(Also sorry I wrote this at like 2am at night so if this is disorganised or doesn’t make sense,,,you know why)

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd analysis #bsd meta #bungou stray dogs meta

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black-streak · 5 years ago

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Waiting for the Worms

Prologue- part 1?

Read this first:

This story contains graphic depictions on drug use implying overdose, child neglect, starvation, outright violence and major character death.

Possible future chapters will include trauma, grave digging, claustrophobia, murder, emotional manipulation, and child abuse. Will add more if they occur.

Please take of yourself and avoid this if you have any of these triggers, this fic is going to be a Lot of angst before anything gets even remotely better.

~---~

The first time they switched, it only happened for a minute. Whatever magic in the universe that created the soulmate connection was benevolent enough to wait until the younger of any pair turned six before a first switch could occur. Just old enough to be able to speak and communicate with the world around them, but young enough to establish a fast bond. Of course, the first few swaps were always quick. Just enough to let you know your other half was out there and alive without adding unnecessary mental strain from such a new experience.

Marinette had only turned six just that morning when she came to in a boy's body, standing in a bathroom and looking down at a woman slumped in the bathtub, needle sticking out of her arm. She couldn't process what she was seeing, not really. Only doctors and nurses used needles, and they never left them in, so why did this lady have one? Did the nurse forget it there and she was too afraid to take it out herself? That's okay, Marinette was brave. She'd take it out for her.

Leaning over to grab the end of it, she blacked out only to awaken sitting up in her bed. Blinking back the confusion, she ran downstairs to tell her parents what she experienced, leaving out the woman with the needle. Her mama and papa needn't worry. She's sure the lady would be just fine once whoever that boy she woke up as took it out.

…

It took three years for a swap to last more than a few minutes for her. Her parents assured her that this was normal and the switches with her soulmate would get longer once they were both a little older, usually around ten. This time, it lasted over an hour. She was only nine and quite proud to be considered strong enough to hold a connection earlier than average.

Only, she woke up in an abandoned building.

This couldn't be right, he was in a home last time and that was only a few months ago. Maybe her soulmate just got lost and decided to take shelter for a while? The gnawing hunger said otherwise. Lifting her shirt, she could see the outline of her ribs and began to understand. This wasn't a mistake. He must've been starving for quite a while to be so thin. That much, she realized on her own. The pain of hunger struck up again and she felt tears well up in her eyes, not only for the tightness in her stomach, but for the misery of her poor soulmate.

When the pull to switch started to tug at her mind, she resisted, hoping the boy would go and eat with her family. It was almost dinner time and he deserved a real meal, even if it wouldn't transfer with him when he reentered his body. She prayed with all her might that at least this would offer him some small comfort. Surely he felt the tug too and knew she was holding back for him.

Marinette wished she could leave some sort of note, but upon scavenging the backpack she finally noticed beside her, she found it filled with only necessities. She couldn't fault him for that. His survival was more important.

Her strength wilting, she knew she'd let go soon, her last thought a hope that he enjoyed his time as her.

Coming back to her own body, she carefully hid any reaction and resolved not to tell her parents, not wanting them to know the horrible truth. For what could they do? They didn't know the boy's name, where he lived, or even how to find him. And if the sounds and words she had heard in the last few switches were anything to go off of, he wouldn't speak French either.

Based on her parents' behavior, they hadn't noticed. Perhaps they just thought she was feeling a little down and didn't want to talk. That was fine by her.

…

When she turned 12, something changed. Marinette had grown accustomed to waking in random places hungry, sore, and cold. Over time, the hunger was less, so surely he found some reliable source of food even if it wasn't enough to curb the ever present twist in his lower gut. He also seemed stronger over time, little bruises and scars starting to accumulate from what she could only assume were street fights. She considered herself lucky the swap never occurred during one of those.

This however? Was completely different. Enough to give you whiplash.

She found herself in a soft bed with plush blankets and down pillows, the room surrounding equally as lavish. For a moment she wondered if perchance they had a third soulmate who was much younger than them, but looking down at herself, the frame and scars and structure were all the same.

Not sure how to behave in this new environment, she simply sat there, unmoving, until a nagging in the back of her mind told her to check the drawer of the side table next to her.

Reaching in, she found a crisp, folded up piece of paper with her name scrawled across the top. A note from her soulmate. Opening it up, she thanked everything she had that she realized he probably spoke english three years ago and began studying it extensively. Reading his letter was slow going and took multiple tries, but she eventually figured out the jist of it even if she was clearly missing some of the more obscure words and proper conjugations.

He was thirteen and had been taken in by a man of wealth, Bruce Wayne. This was home now. She would wake up and not be homeless now. He was sorry. Something about her deserving better. His name was Jason. He was very sorry. A man named Alfred was a good person and trustworthy. She would like him. He hoped she liked him.

The letter, as convoluted and confusing as it was at times, broke her heart.

Shuffling through the drawer, she pulled out a notebook and opened it to a random page and grabbed a pen. She was embarrassed to say that her note was probably more confusing with its broken english, but there was no way he learned French while living on the streets, so she did her best to let him know that he shouldn't apologize. He had no control over his situation and that she hoped he found some reprieve in his time in her body. That she cared and was so very happy for him to have found a home. That it was wonderful to know he would sleep in such comfort with a full stomach and a warm blanket and people who cared for him keeping him safe. That he deserved to be happy and thrive without the fear of where he would sleep that night, when his next meal would be. That she was happy to be his soulmate, no matter what.

…

After that, they switched more sporadically. She learned that muscle memory was an amazing thing. Nothing quite like coming to while sparing with a full grown man. And not realizing that it was a spar and not some man trying to actually take down her soulmate.

The next time they switched, she found a note with profuse apologies and a brief explanation as to what was happening. That was how she began her training with him. She asked her Maman about getting into martial arts so she could keep up with him and continue his training if he got stuck in her body for more than a few hours.

Obviously her parents knew she had a soulmate and presumably his new parental figures knew he did too, but they made sure none of them could ever tell when a switch occurred. Letters were made detailing their usual reactions and attitudes and way of doing things. Letters were burnt to never be seen by another's eyes. Instinct is what helped them the most to hide their secrets. While Marinette had always been a generally open and honest kid, this was between the two of them and no one else needed to know their business. Especially with his new role as a vigilante in training.

…

When she turned thirteen, that training took a new meaning for them both. He had been Robin for half a year at this point, with only minimal switches during actual patrols, when she received Tikki.

Directly after defeating Stonehenge, she wrote out a long winded letter in near perfect english- written grammar rules would forever confuse her- to him despite his immense progress with French and placed it in a secure lock box they used in her home for communicating and instructed Tikki that upon sensing their switch as the magic being assured she could, to stay hidden until he finished reading it in its entirety.

Of course things don't work out that simply and they switch in the middle of an akuma attack. Looking back on the footage, muscle memory once again saved their lives, but she still feels horribly about how he got tossed into it. Tikki assures her that he was okay and read her note and wasn't angry with her. That she had been forced into this position in both their lives now, yes, but not at her.

She could only count her blessings that they both already had a background in fighting at this point. If her mentor took note of her easy transition into superheroism, it was easily chalked up to her martial arts classes, even if she had only been in them for about a year. If his mentor noticed his increased agility and critical thinking due to his time in her body fighting akumas and using convoluted lucky charms, he likely assumed it was his own guidance finally taking hold.

…

The last time they switched, Marinette was fourteen and in class. It was first thing in the morning, attendance already taken and lessons underway. By all accounts, Jason should have been asleep, what with it being around two a.m. in Gotham. Switching at this time wasn't unheard of though considering their lifestyles, so upon feeling the small tug in her mind that let her know she was about to be somewhere else, Marinette placed her tablet down and leaned back in her seat so he wouldn't accidently draw attention by tossing the tablet or falling back upon waking as her. Then she waited.

The first thing her disoriented mind picked up was the feeling of a metal bar launching into her stomach which… admittedly wasn't an entirely new feeling, though it usually occurred in her own body and not through his.

Okay, so a fight, she could handle this.

Her arms wouldn't move though.

They were strapped down, as were her legs and the metal was pulling itself away from her. So she wasn't launched into a steel bar or batted across the city. This was purposeful, she thought as the bar slammed into her stomach once more, erupting in pain without the protection of a magical suit. Despite the fear now coursing through her, she opened her eyes.

Or rather, attempted to.

One was swollen shut and as she became more aware, she could feel broken ribs, a broken leg and arm, the pulsing of half her face. As her one good eye opened, the room spun, but she could see a man in a swirl of purple and green standing over her body. Her soulmate's body. As soon as the world stopped, she came to focus just in time to see a crowbar swing down into her throat, cracking the windpipe. As she struggled for breath, the tugging came to the back of her mind once more, the strain on his body too much to hold her mind in place.

She pushed it back, focusing more on forcing him back into her mind than breathing at this point, ignoring the blows raining down on her.

She was numb by now anyways.

She could feel Jason trying to claw his way back, pushing against her will to switch back, but at this point, this body wasn't strong enough to allow a switch. She was stuck in him and he in her. Good. Jason had been through enough. She could endure this for him.

Distantly, she noticed the beating had stopped. Hopefully that meant Batman was here now and would take her away from this place. To a hospital or even to their personal surgeon, whatever their name was, she could never remember. It'd be over soon and she could rest through the pain until Jason's body was healed. Then they could switch back. When the pain was but a distant memory.

Smiling to herself at the thought, she managed a tiny smile, not hearing the explosions in the background until the flames were upon her.

And then she was gone.

#ml x dc #jasonette #maribat #please read the warnings #this is really dark #still only on mobile so no keep reading option that i know of #WFTW #part 1

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hellzeldagirlsfanfic · 5 years ago

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Cost of the Throne - Chapter 1

[Pervious] * [Next]

Court had been running for two hours and nothing had been done.

The (E/C) eyes of ten years old girl stared hopelessly at the nobles of north and west land, who had been explaining to King Harald that the drought that rocked the area for the last two years had reduced the barley crops and to half what t normally was. But the king didn’t concerned that one of the kingdom’S main export will be less for the next year.

"Will there be enough for us and Mallet?" the king asked.

Lord Albers, who was speaking on behalf of all of the Lords of north and west responded.

"We believe so my king but there won’t a lot left over to sell to the countries," he explained.

(Y/N) could understand what Lord Albers was hinting that. Quebel sold their alcohol to Mallet at the half of what it was worth whilst the rest of got sold normal price. If most of the stock had to be sold Mallet it meant that Lords won’t as much money as they normally would. (Y/N) didn’t care about Lord’s money problems they had enough money to support themselves for a decade it was the common folk she worried about. Knowing the Lords they would most likely raise the taxes to make up for their losses. That would make life even harder for them it was already.

It’s not like the common folks had easy to begin with. The drought had affected most of the agriculture centres, causing some crops to fail and nobility to take all the food they want.

The girl had already heard the gossip from the ladies of the court that the death toll had reached a hundred. Not to mentions the mine riots from earlier in the year which also result in about a hundred deaths. (Some say it was actually two hundred deaths).

"Good," the king replied, not moving an inch. "The alcohol that leftover can be sold at double the price," he ordered.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Lord Albers bowed after receiving the advice.

He filtered back into the sea of greedy and power-hungry nobles.

Court contained for another hour and a half with nobles telling King Harald their problems, like demon attacks on the people, the common folks demanding action to be took against the demons, food shortages, some help to be provided for drought and a long list of trouble that harm mostly the common people. With the king looking utterly broad and interested in the affairs of his people.

"If the peasants can’t defend themselves then someone stronger will take their place," the king cruelly stated.

(Y/N) gripped her mother’s dress tighter than she already was. `How could he be so heartless?` she thought. `It is those peasants who make you wealthy, who clean your clothes and bedding, cook you your feasts and lay down their lives for you,` she continued to angry think.

Her thoughts were stopped when a gentle hand rested on top of her head.

The girl looked up to see a pair of (E/C) eyes looking down at her. Her mother, Lady Guinevere Lous Lovelace, smiled sadly at her understanding angry.

Guinevere was the most beautiful woman at court. Her stunning (H/C) hair was always held up in an elegant hairstyle. Her dresses were gorgeous, suiting her figure and were the brightest of colours that compliment her skin and made her eyes stand out.

Most importantly, she was the king’s favourite mistress. And (Y/N)’s father.

Yes, (Y/N) was a royal bastard. Which the king acknowledged, giving her the surname Croft.

No one knew why the king acknowledged his bastard it probably on a whim.

So life for (Y/N) wasn’t easy. She was bullied by noble children that would get physical. Noblewomen would say horrible things about her mother and her in front of her. Not to mention the Queen wanted her dead and encourage her sons ((Y/N)’s half brother) to abuse her.

Finally court finished for the day. Soon as the king, queen and the princes left the throne room, the court began to talk as they also exited the throne.

(Y/N) felt a hand appeared on her head. It was lager then her mother’s hand and much more warm. The girl looked up to be greeted by the smiling face of Lord Oswin Lee Valles, her mother’s best friend and the one and only lover.

Oswin removed his hand from the brunette’s head after a couple of pats.

"Very thing will be fine," Oswin reassured. "I’m sure that the people will be fine. The rain will come soon," he smiled, always the optimistic.

But Guinevere was a pessimist and knowing the king on a personal level could guess what his response to things are.

"I’m not sure about," Guinevere mumbled. "But the people will suffer and it will most likely end in riots," She predictive.

Oswin grimed whilst (Y/N) started sadly at the floor.

The trio walked out of throne room they a group of noble ladies gossiping between them.

"Did you hear what those stupid peasants are saying?" One woman sneered.

"What?" Another asked in returned.

"They’re saying that the droughts are a curse from the gods for betraying Fortuna," The first woman snorted.

Women all laughed at the comment.

"They are really so stupid," one laughed.

"Ending our alliance with Fortuna was the best thing to happen to Quebel," Another said. "We are much richer now and don’t have to waste it useless war and our families don’t have to lay lives down for the," she added.

`We’re only riches because you work common people’s families to death,` the girl bitterly thought.

The brunette shook her head to get rid of the horrible thoughts. She then put on a happy façade. With a big smile, (Y/N) looked up at Oswin.

"Would you like to join me and mother for lunch at the gazebo?" She asked.

One of the many gifts that the king had given to Guinevere was a stone gazebo belonging to the king’s grandmother. The gazebo had been abandon after the queen’s untimely death. Guinevere often escapes there with her daughter. Not many people adventure down to that area of the garden since it had a lot of monuments from the old kingdom (like the stone gazebo). So mother and daughter spent many happy summers together at eh gazebo.

The man gave the girl an apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry but I’ve got some work to attend to," Oswin told her.

(Y/N) nodded understanding that the kingdom’s highest rank architect and man in charge of looking after all royal building, along with being the family head of Valles who owned the largest fleet of merchant ships in Quebel, might be a bit busy.

(Y/N) took her mother’s hand so she could begin to lead them to the gardens.

"Lady Lovelace," a voice addressed Guinevere.

(Y/N)’s heart down-dropped. The voice belonged to one of the king’s personal servants. He stood off to the side of Guinevere dressed smartly only paying attention to brunette woman.

"His Majesty wishes for your presence," the servant said.

The young girl let go of her mother’s hand then back up until she was Lord Valles` side. It didn’t matter that (Y/N) hadn’t spent any time with her mother in three months (The time during court didn’t count as they just stood silently). Even if Guinevere had promised earlier in the week that they would have lunch today if the king request (demand) her presence, she must go.

Guinevere to face her daughter to gave her a sad smile.

"Sorry, my flower but I must go," she apologised.

The woman bent down to kiss her daughter’s forehead then she left, following after the servant sent to retrieve her.

(E/C) eyes watch as her mother disappeared down the long hallway as she tried to fight back tears. The girl took a couple of breaths to stopped the tears spilling from her eyes.

Murmured and hush whispered started up from the nobles that were still left outside the throne room.

Oswin glance at each noble which quite them. He places a hand on her shoulder.

"I think I can make some time to have lunch," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you," (Y/N) whispered then gave the man a big smile.

Oswin guided the child out to the garden, down the overgrown pathway to the gazebo.

Guinevere had pay gardener to make the area around the gazebo look nice. The gardener had planted roses brushes around the gazebo.

(Y/N) enjoys a sunny lunch with Oswin. (Her father figure).

After lunch, (Y/N) went to her lessons. The king had pay for her lessons as she turned five, one of his wimps. He ordered that she etiquette, dancing, literacy and poetry, a bit of politics and Malletine culture and tradition. And that fact she didn’t learn about Quebelian culture, history and tradition greatly worried Guinevere but she reassured it was nothing.

Each day (Y/N) for three hours she would learn one of the topics. Today was Malletine culture.

Now her lesson had finished for the day she had nothing to do for the three to four hours until dinner. So, she was wandering through the vast hallways until she could think of something to do.

(Y/N) stopped at a painting that nearly stretches the whole wall. It depicting the unification of clans of Quebel and the battle against Mundus` first attack on the nation that would become Quebel.

The girl was so absorbed in the painting, she didn’t notice three sets of steps approaching her.

"Hey look, brothers!" A male voice yelled down the hallway. "It’s the little bastard!"

(Y/N)’s body froze up when she heard the voice. It belongs to one of her older brothers. It was Theodore, the second eldest of brothers and leader of the triplet princes. Theodore’s triplet brothers Tristian and Timothy closely following behind him.

The fear that had frozen her body up a moment ago melt away and she tried to flee as quickly as she could. There was a tug at her ankle sending the child tumbling down to the ground. Arrogant laughter left the three fourteen-year-olds.

"Awww, did the little bastard fall over," Timothy mocked with his index finger waving in the air. Hinting that he used his magic to trip her up.

(Y/N) looked over her shoulder to glance at the princes. Theodore in the middle of the group (as normal) with Tristian lending on his shoulder. Timothy stood slight in front of his older brothers wagging his index around with a triumphant smirk across his face.

The girl scrambled up to runway from her tormentors. But there was a painful tug at hair. She dragged to where her half-brothers were standing. She pulled into the centre of the boys.

"Where do you think you’re going little bitch!" Tristian growled.

Tristian must of the one holding her since she could only see Theodore and Timothy. She could see the hatred and disgust in their emerald green eyes looking down at her. (Y/N) didn’t know why they hated her so much though it might be due to their mother, the Queen.

Queen Diana was a jealous, childish and greedy woman. She came from an wealth and powerful Quebelian family, Mcbeths. She was spoilt from the moment she was born. Having the finest food, clothing, jewellery and makeup without lifting a finger. Diana had become arrogant after she married and became queen, she demands only the finest of items and would beat servants if she didn’t get what she wanted. The queen saw herself as the most beautiful (she was average at best) and all-powerful (she wasn’t). Diana never had the king’s favour as Harald found his queen annoying, making him seeking out the company other women. Diana needed to be centre of attention in court, so when someone like Guinevere who was actually beautiful, elegant, smart and threatens her `power`.

They also might hate her because their father paid attention. When I mean paid attention I mean he actually acknowledged her existence, unlike his triplet sons. Like twins and other triplets, only one was planned. Theodore was only born because the king’s adviser said that the king should have spare if something would happen to the crown prince.

More pain shoots through her head as Tristian started to swing her head side to side.

(Y/N) had learnt the hard way that crying and showing any sign of pain.

Then there was a sharp pain across one of her cheeks. The sting was a familiar presence on her body, one of her brothers had just punched her.

"Hey!" Theodore shouted. "Listen to us when we’re talking, bastard!" he yelled furiously.

(Y/N) wanted to answer back but that would lead even more pain and all of the princes being furious.

The blows continue on with the other boys joining in the abuse and (Y/N) let it happen. She hopes they would get bored quickly and some else to do.

"What do three of you think you’re doing?" A stern voice came calling down the hallway.

(Y/N) lifted her head from where it had fallen when Tristian threw her to the ground. Her (E/C) eyes landed on the looming figure of the Crown Prince of the kingdom of Quebel, Henry William Claude Rose-Griffiths.

The Crown Prince was known for his poker face and strict personality. He was risen by nannies and not his mother like his brothers. Harald had order the best education in Quebel which mainly focus on military, ruling and politics. The twenty-one-year-old was had a brilliant mind allowing him to win many wars from his father which lead him to become General of Quebel army and navy.

Henry’s cold emerald green eyes stared at his brothers as walked down the hallway to them.

The triple immediately stopped beating their younger half-sister as their older brother marched down to them.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" Henry ordered, staring at the triple unimpressed.

"We’re reminding the bastard of her place," Tristian stuttered out.

The unimpressed stay on Henry’s face as Tristian’s answered his question during this (Y/N) had slowly gotten up, using the wall near her for support.

"Reminding her of her place," The Crown Prince repeats the phase that Tristian said, missing out he swear word since swearing was beneath him. "You three are pathetic," he stated. "Those in power don’t go around reminding the people beneath. Your mere presence should put them," Henry told him.

The young girl knew what the oldest prince was talking about. His own presence demands respects from the people around whilst the king’s presence fills the room was terror and power. But the triple princes` presence was blearily noticeable, (Y/N) was only scared of them because they beat her up.

(Y/N) slowly moved away from the princes during their conversation. But the time Henry was finished belittle the triple she manages to slip around the corner before one of them notice she had escaped.

Dashing down the hall around the corner (Y/N) then came to a stopped at door a in the hallway. The extravagant craved door frame told her it was one of the lounges use to entertain dignitary.

"Where did she go!?" She heard Theodore scream from down the hall.

Panic filled her body again. So she quickly pushed open the door and rush through to ornamental fireplace. Her (E/C) eyes skimmed a crossed the obsidian mantelpiece decorated with gold accents. Her eyes darted right to left then up and down, scanning inch of the fireplace for something.

"Come on, come on, come on," She mumble repeatedly to herself as she heard triples` angry voice coming closer to the lounge she was in.

Then she finds what she was looking for, a tiny craving hidden behind one of the golden swirls. (Y/N)’s hand shot into the slit of her dress to grab a tiny tile. The tile was on a piece of string with a relief that matched the craving on the fireplace.

The girl quickly slotted the tile onto the craving. After a pain-staking moment for a sound of something click followed by a heavy groaning of something moving. The brunette moved back from the fireplace, taking the tile with her. She had stepped back to see the back of the fire area slide the rest of up. A smile of relief across (Y/N)’s face before she darted into the hidden entrance and closing it behind her.

(Y/N) stayed behind the wall for a moment clam down her panicking heart. During that time the triple princes had been in the lounge, continually yelling insults and cursing her whilst they search the room for her.

(Y/N) made an unpleasant hum before she walked through the small tunnel until the floor started to descend down. At the bottom of the stairs, the tunnel grew larger and made it easier for (Y/N) to walk through. The girl stopped once she had gotten quite far into dark tunnels. (Y/N) held her hand in front of her. With a deep breath, summoned the magic power deep within her to bring fore her bronze lantern. The lantern was already lit went it entered her grasp, revealing the large tunnel system that lay hidden underneath the palace.

The Cedar Labyrinth stretching the whole area of Cedarroot Palace with some stretching further than the palace.

The tunnel system was built alongside the construct of the palace. The labyrinth was built as an escape route if the palace was ever attacked, which had never had since Quebel had a strong army.

The tunnels were carved out of the rocks underneath the palace then was reinforced stone and decorated with white marble floors, tiles, columns and arches. Beautiful even if it had been forgotten for centuries. Dirty, dust and cobwebs had taken over the tunnels.

Mostly everyone had forgotten, mostly everyone.

The Valles family had never forgotten about their second greatest treasure – Cedarroot Palace being the first. The Valles had kept a detailed map of the Cedar Labyrinth which had been pass down generation to generation. Since Oswin was family head, he had given a copy of the map to (Y/N) so she could escape from her brothers and everyone who wanted to hurt her.

(Y/N) pulled said map out from of her pouches from under her dress. Oswin had also enchanted the map for (Y/N) so she wouldn’t get lost in the labyrinth and would always know a way out.

Thou at the moment (Y/N) didn’t know where she wanted to go. So she stood there in the dark a dirty tunnel with cheeks puffed up with air trying to think what she could do.

After a while of staring at the map, an idea finally popped into her head. An evil grin spread across her face. She would put flowers on her grandfather’s monument.

The monument was built and finish just before the previous king’s death and Harald had never given an order to tear it down but it was an unspoken rule that you should never visit the monument since Harald hated his father. From what (Y/N) could gather her grandfather was a kind-hearted man which made him weak in her father’s eyes. So once in a while, she would put flowers on the monument to watch everyone panic but only once in a while not to upset the king too much, or it would end badly for someone.

(Y/N) scanned the map once again to see which route would be the best to take to the garden that the monument hosted in. There many paths she could take but the best path would take her to pass the king’s office which he would most likely be there that moment. The king would definitely sense her if wasn’t extremely carefully but she would risk it because she didn’t want to walk so far for a little prank.

With the map and lantern, (Y/N) guided herself through the labyrinth until she got to the king’s office. Once she had gotten close to the office she slows down so she could focus on controlling concealing her presence s she walked passed.

(Y/N) slowly walked the stairs leading up to the king’s office, she could hear loud voices coming down from the passage. The girl stopped to listen to what it was saying but it muffled for her to hear. Curious got the better of her and she claimed the steps to the small hallway behind the hidden door. Here she could the loud voices better.

"But Your Majesty, if these droughts do continues the people will riot like it’s Prildo Ira. You must at least have some kind of plan to deal with the riots?" an advisor asked, stress laced heavily in his voice.

"Kill those who are rioting,"

Those words silence the room then filling it with a suffocating atmosphere. Even thou she couldn’t see the faces of advisors and one else in the room she knew their faces had gone pale with the look of horror spread across them.

"How would you achieve this, father?" Henry requested.

(Y/N) could tell by her brother’s tone that he only wanted to know what sic plan he was thinking of.

"Use the army," Harald said if he was stating something that was obvious. "Or I ask Mundus to send over some demons to deal with them," he added on as a second thought.

The silence continued on for a moment longer before someone coughed, probably the head advisor.

"Well then let’s get on to the topic that’s been the courts` mind, (Y/N)," the head advisor said.

Said girl’s heart missed a beat when she heard her own name.

`Me? Why do they want to talk about me?` her panic mind thought.

"What about her?" Harald asked uninterestedly.

"Many people are wondering what planning on doing with her," an advisor stated. "You are spending a lot of money on her so people are curious. Even Lady Lovelace doesn’t know and that Lord Valles has been trying to find out,"

(Y/N) could hear the disgust when the advisor talks about Oswin. No one in the king’s council like him as he embodied every about the old kingdom that they hated. But Oswin was powerful with mage which that could be only compared to the king’s.

`I shouldn’t be listening to this! I’m going to hear something bad`

"She going to be a gift to Mundus,"

The world seemed to stop for the ten year old.

`What…?`

A gift.

Her father was going to give to Mundus.

"Ahhh… I see. A concubine, that be a perfect role for her," another advisor mutter.

"Yes, it certainly would," the king agreed. "She’s the living image of her mother, the most beautiful woman in this land. I’m sure in a couple of years she will follow her mother’s path and become as beautiful as her, then I’ll give her to Mundus. If he doesn’t want her, one of you can have her,"

It was horrible. The worst thing she would hear she would in all of her life. Her own father is talking about her like she was a dog or a horse.

(Y/N) dropped her lantern and not waiting to hear the commotion that would follow from the office, she ran.

She ran as fast as her small body could take her. She ran as far as she could away from that room until she collided with the wall of the labyrinth.

An eerily silence wit the labyrinth’s air about the young girl. The girl pulled herself to her knees. She stays still for a moment before letting everything out.

The first tear slowly falls from her (E/C) eyes then another until they quickly one after the other. She a let out a heartbreaking cry. All the years of abuse, suffering and trying to be strong were all let out. NO one was there to comfort her in the dark, dirty and lonely labyrinth.

She cried for the longest time she could remember.

`I need to leave,`

That’s the only thing she could think of when she couldn’t cry anymore.

`I’m not going to be some monster’s gift!` she bitterly thought.

"But how…?"

***

The moon had risen for the night. Most of the palace had gone to bed but Oswin was still wide awake as he had documents to review. Reading by candlelight, Oswin read through the mountain of minutes from the different meeting that he couldn’t attend that day.

Oswin sat in his quarters’ lounge in the palace. He had just re-stock the fire warming up the room and giving the room a comfortable atmosphere. And with a glass of rum to help him relax, Oswin felt peaceful.

A series of loud knocks interrupted Oswin’s comfortable atmosphere.

Oswin knew who was at the door. There was only one person who would knock on his door like that, at this time of night.

So he immediately jumped up from his seat and rushed to the door. Stood there was Guinevere, looking with a panic look in her (E/C) eyes.

"Guin, what’s wrong?" he asked, letting her into his quarters.

"It’s (Y/N)," Guinevere said, worry laced through her voice. Oswin could tell she was on the vague of breaking down even though her voice was steady. "I can’t find her anywhere," she stated. "Ii and the maids have looked everywhere for her. I had Lu even wake up Lady Santoro to see if she attend lessons today, which she did," Guinevere told him as she paced back and for. "It’s not like her to miss dinner or not return to our quarters for bed,"

"Guinevere," Oswin called her name. He put his hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing. "I’m sure everything fine," he reassured her. He noticed tears swilling in her (E/C) eyes, so he moved to cup the cheeks of his best friend and only love. "I’ll find her. I think might know where she is. And I’m sure that she’s fallen asleep," he said.

Guinevere nodded her head to Oswin’s words knowing she could always rely on him.

The two of them stepped away from each other. Oswin went to grab his coat as Guinevere walked to the door.

When Oswin exited the room his friend was waiting for him.

He gave Guinevere one last nod of reassuring before they parted ways. Him heading to the nearest entrance to Cedar Labyrinth whist Guinevere absent-mindedly walked back to her living quarters back in the King’s Tower.

Once down in the labyrinth Oswin made his way to Lone Tower.

The Lone Tower was built along with palace and labyrinth as a prison for royalty if they had committed any crimes against the king or the kingdom. But the tower had long been abandoned at corner of the palace’s grounds. The only way to access the tower was through the labyrinth.

Oswin knew this is where (Y/N) would be. It was far away from the palace for no one to find her but not far enough for her to escape the palace its self.

Once at the Lone Tower, Oswin pushed open the door with a horrible groan. Even if the after a couple of centuries of abandonment the tower still looked grand. There was no expense was spared in decorating the royal prison. Gold leaf, ebony wood furniture and jewels everywhere but it was all covered in dust and cobwebs.

The man walked up the stairs to the top floor of the tower. There, on the top floor was Jannette, hugging her knees to her chest with her forehead resting on top her knees. Oswin hadn’t seen her like this since she was a toddler.

"(Y/N)," Oswin called out to the girl.

She didn’t move, she stayed in that position. Oswin moved toward her, kneeling by her side. He reached out for her, taking her face into his hands. He saw that normally sparkling (E/C) eyes were now dull and lifeless.

"(Y/N)!" Oswin gasped. "What’s wrong?" he asked.

There was a brief moment of silence before she gave an answer.

"He’s going to sell me,"

"What?" Oswin stuttered.

"He’s going to sell em to Mundus!" (Y/N) cried. "He’s going to give me to that monster like a piece of meat!"

Oswin was shocked at (Y/N)’s out bust but when he realises what she had said, angry fill his blood.

How dare Harald use her as a tool. That man didn’t give his own daughter the time of day. The only time that the king had inactive with (Y/N) was a week after she was born to acknowledge and give her her surname. After that, there was no inactivation, no birthday wishes or seasonal greeting.

Harald might act all-powerful and mighty at court but in the presence of Mundus, he became a little bitch. He would give Demon Emperor presents to stay in his good books.

"I don’t live anymore!" (Y/N) cried.

She didn’t want to continued living knowing that her fate was to be given away to a monster. Oswin couldn’t have it either.

Even if hurt Guinevere he would help (Y/N) leave this country.

Oswin moved to hug the young girl.

"(Y/N)," he whispered. "I’ll get you out of this country,"

(Y/N) stays still in the hug for a moment before she returns it. Oswin picked her up. (Y/N) buried her face into Oswin’s neck, he kissed her head.

"Let’s return to the palace now, " Oswin whispered again. "Your mother is worried sick about you," he told her.

"We can’t tell her about our plan," (Y/N) said.

"No, we can’t. Though your mother would never tell anyone but someone would notice her change in behave and investigate," Oswin said.he

(Y/N) quietly hummed as Oswin carried her out of the tower and back to the palace. When he reached Guinevere’s quarters he knocked on the door.

One of Guinevere’s maids opens the door. Her eyes open wide when she saw Oswin carrying (Y/N) in his arms. She quickly ushers him in.

Guinevere came rushing out of her once she was informed that Oswin had returned with her daughter.

"Is she alright?" the woman asked.

"She fine now but she heard something that upset her greatly," Oswin told her as he handed over the sleeping child to her mother.

Guinevere pulled a face of concerned.

"Did she tell you what she heard?" she asked.

Oswin shook his head.

"Unfortunately not," he replied.

The adults stood there, quietly letting their thoughts run wild.

"You should return to your chambers before someone catches you her," Guinevere said.

Oswin nodded his head in agreement then left the room.

Guinevere readjusted her daughter so she could place a kiss on the sleeping girl’s head. The woman then took her daughter to her bed-chamber. The maids helped undress the young girl into her nightwear for her mother so she could tuck her into bed.

Guinevere pulled the sheets up to (Y/N)’s chin.

"Good night my flower. I will always love and protect," She whispered as placed another kiss on her forehand.

Guinevere then quietly exiting the room.

***

A month had passed since the incident and Oswin hadn’t come up with any sort of plan to help (Y/N) escape from Quebel.

From her part, (Y/N) continued on like nothing had happened. Continuing to going to her lessons, behaving her best as normal and trying to stay out of trouble best as he could.

Though it seems that tonight she wanted an update as came to his office. Her large (E/C) stared at him from the other side of his desk.

"May I help you, (Y/N)?" Oswin asked.

"Do you think I could become a doctor in my new life?" she asked in return.

Oswin was surprised by the girl’s question. In Quebel only man could become doctors, women were discouraged from taking up any jobs.

"Why do want to be a doctor?" Oswin asked.

"I want to help people," (Y/N) stated. "I was reading this book from outside the kingdom," she started. "It`s about a female doctor who goes off the find a cure for a disease. She helps many people on the way to find the cure,"

Oswin listens to what the girl was saying. During her talk, he was reminded of an old acquaintance. He did mentions that a lot of places were in search of doctor it, they didn’t care what the gender or wealth.

"I might have an idea. Come back to me next week," He told her.

For that week Oswin got in connect with his acquaintance to arrange a way for (Y/N) to leave the country. The acquaintance told Oswin that the perfect place for the girl to hide was Prildo Ira.

Prildo Ira was a former kingdom that was loosely held together by the fact their still held some kind of loyalty to the former kingdom. Or it could be the fact that all the vulnerable land was taken when the royal family was assassinated and what was left stay together out of spite.

It was a rough country where the black market thrives but the everyday people live happily. It`s a good place for anyone to hide, it would be perfect for (Y/N).

So by the end of the week, Oswin had a plan for (Y/N) which she agreed to.

So the night after (Y/N) agreed to the plan, her and Oswin were walking through Cedar Labyrinth to the capital’s docks. Both of them dressed in hooded cloaks and normal peasant clothing.

To say that (Y/N) was nervous was an understatement. The young girl had never left the palace’s grounds in her life, so to leave the country altogether without her mother was petrifying but it was for a better future.

The two of them exited the labyrinth into the dock’s sewers then up the ladder to the dock.

The docks were mostly deserted apart from a lone light at the other end of docks.

"Captain Marsh?" Oswin asked.

"Yes," The Captain replied.

Oswin moved his hood back a bit to reveal his face to the Captain. The Captain gasp when saw he younger man.

"Lord Valles!" The Captain gasped loudly.

Oswin and (Y/N) shushed the older man.

"A-Are you the one that asked me here?" Marsh asked.

"I am," He confirmed. "I would like you to transport this young lady to Prildo Ira. Once at Prildo Ira’s docks a man called Fino will ask you `if the donkey is beyond the bayou` you must answer `Of course that’s where the demon isn’t`," He explained.

"Anything M`Lord. Valles family has done more for my crew and their families then any country or king," The Captain said as took the girl into his care.

"You’re too kind Captain Marsh," Oswin awkwardly laughed. "My family just wants to help your fellow countrymen," he told the old captain. His pale purple eyes turned to the (E/C) one of (Y/N)."Goodbye (Y/N). I hope your new life is happy, prosperous and find someone to love," he gave those parting words to her and placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Goodbye father," she said, failing to hold back the tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you for everything,"

Oswin held back the tears forming his eyes.

Then two of parted ways.

Oswin returning to Cedarroot Palace as Captain Marsh guided (Y/N) to his ship.

Once on deck, (Y/N) took one more look back on her home country before proceeding onwards to her new life.

#Vergil #devil may cry vergil #vergil x reader #devil may cry #devil may cry x reader

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downtowns-universe · 4 years ago

Text

The Lion’s Den

Characters: Chris, Jack

Words: 4050

With shaking hands Chris turned his key. The lock clicked. He realised he was surprised it still fit, even if there was no reason for them to distrust him.

Yet.

He entered as quietly as he could, listening for sounds that indicated someone else was in here. It stayed quiet. It appeared even the keeper wasn’t present at the moment.

Good, he thought, stepping from the hallway into the main room. This will make things easier.

The local hunters’ chapter was located on the outskirts of a smaller town, in a farmhouse owned by its keeper. Because of its remote location, there had been talks in the past about relocating closer to the city, but that would also mean increasing their visibility. And with an organisation such as theirs, secrecy was key.

The room hadn’t changed in the months he’d been away, he observed, shining his flashlight around. There was still the bar in the corner, comfy chairs in front of the fireplace, and the dart board that was mainly used for throwing knives. The walls were decorated with an array of different weapons, most of them too old to still be functional. There were a couple of picture frames, depicting hunters with their prey. They’d always made Chris uncomfortable: they did this out of necessity, not for pleasure. In the light of recent developments that feeling had gotten even stronger.

He’d spent many evenings here, talking to his fellow hunters. But recently he’d been avoiding the place. What if he acted weird, and they could tell something was off? He was a terrible liar. But in the long run, staying away would also start to get suspicious. He had to show his face every now and then. If he didn’t, they might come to check up on him – and who knows what they would find. No, it would be better if he interacted with them on his own terms.

Then there was also the matter of the deal he’d made. Dai expected him to be useful, to deliver information. Chris wasn’t sure as to what kind of information exactly, but he figured this would be the place to start looking. He’d already relayed everything he personally knew – the things he didn’t, he hoped to find in here. The chapter possessed records of its members, their hunts, and any known creature that had been spotted in this region, both past and present. These records were accessible by all hunters, but the keeper also maintained a personal collection.

It was this last category Chris was interested in. After all: what use would the data of one regional hunter chapter be to someone like Dai? But information about the higher-ups, the overarching structure? That would be sure to pique his interests.

He opened the door to the library as quietly as he could, and walked between the shelves to the back door. They had books on many creatures, neatly arranged alphabetically. Chris had spent some time reading up on them in the past, to prepare himself for hunts. He wondered whether Tharryn would be interested in these books, or if they contained information he already knew. Perhaps he’d even point out inaccuracies – he knew from experience that these books weren’t always right, sometimes they merely contained folk tales and remedies that proved to be ineffective when standing eye to eye with the creature. Because of this, some of the books had annotations scribbled in the margins, others simply had “DON’T DO THIS” scrawled across the pages in big, fat marker.

The door in the back of the room was locked, and he knew his key wasn’t going to fit. It would be great to have Jack here now, Chris thought while he rummaged in his backpack for his lock picks. He would have opened the door with just a flick of his wrist, and Chris would have called him a show-off. But all in all it was probably for the best that he hadn’t tagged along. He couldn’t risk him getting face to face with some hunters. Even now that the place was empty Chris still wouldn’t have felt comfortable bringing him here. As he knew from experience, Jack held a lot of resentment towards the hunters. There was no way of knowing what he’d do when faced with their hideout, and more specifically the photos decorating the walls. He might decide to burn it all down on a whim.

After some time trying, the lock clicked open and Chris slipped inside. He’d ended up in a small, windowless office, with just enough room for a desk, chair, and a filing cabinet against the wall.

It wasn’t locked. Good.

He started sifting through the files, making sure to remember how to put them back in the exact same order. He wasn’t sure what he’d find, since the hunters as an organisation were only loosely tied together, hard to get a hold of from an outside perspective. Of course, this was intentional, as secrecy was one of its core values, just as it was on Dai’s side of things. The less connections, the better. As far as Chris knew there wasn’t much of a central system of governing, since the chapters tended to disagree about many subjects. The keepers stayed in contact with each other and sometimes met up to discuss things, but mostly everyone just kept to themselves.

Chris leafed through a file listing addresses, and took photos of it. These must be the other chapters’ headquarters. He knew that if he would ever find himself in trouble far from home, the keeper would be able to direct him to the chapter closest to him. He had been using that system in his early days as a hunter, when he was still travelling through Europe. Such a list would be useful in mapping the hunters’ whereabouts, especially when there seemed to be no pattern to the way they behaved.

Chris put the papers down, suddenly realising that he was going about this all wrong. Sure, trying to understand the bigger picture and getting to know their enemy would be of value to Dai, but wasn’t it equally important to find out what your enemy knows about you?

He frantically started putting papers back into their folders, no longer interested in these files now that he’d gotten a hold of the list. Most of the other things appeared to be bills anyway. He needed to get out of this room, since he had no idea when the keeper would be returning.

When everything was returned to its original location, neatly arranged on the shelves, Chris pulled the door closed behind him and let out a sigh of relief when it clicked into the lock. No need to take his lock picks out again.

Back in the library, he moved to a shelf in the back, over by the window. What he needed now wasn’t being kept under lock and key, but instead accessible by any and all hunters in the area. Which might be even more dangerous, he realised.

No longer having anything to hide, Chris switched on the lights. If anyone was going to come in, finding him sitting in the dark would surely be strange. He took some files from the shelf and sat down at the small desk by the window, so he could see people coming, and started to leaf through.

These were the chapter’s records on all known supernatural beings in the area, both living there or just passing through. He had looked at them before, trying to find information on certain things he’d been hunting, but there was way more in there that he hadn’t seen. If there was a supernatural community out there, there was a big chance it had been recorded here. There were files on vampires, werewolves, the fae, and a few other creatures that had made their home in the region. Chris knew that, had they enough manpower, the hunters wouldn’t hesitate to make a move on these communities. But they were spread thin, and other jobs demanded their attention. Besides, it would be challenging to do without attracting attention, and to cover up what had happened to so many people.

After some digging he’d finally found the Natural file – the one he was most interested in now. He’d never really looked at this one before, since he didn’t consider Naturals to be a threat. But he knew there were those who disagreed with him. Some of the other hunters held some… interesting views on the supernatural. They were fanatics, who wanted nothing more than to rid the world of all things magical. They were but a minority, but dangerous nonetheless.

Other hunters were of the opinion Naturals shouldn’t be hunted since they were just human and didn’t pose a threat. In the bigger cities there were even deals in place between the hunter chapters and the Naturals’ organisation, to assist each other in matters of protection and secrecy. Hunts in the city sometimes required a touch of finesse that magic could offer.

Chris didn’t think the hunters in the north would be open to such an alliance. There had been attempts, but those hadn’t progressed past simply leaving each other be. The hunters were simply too proud to ever accept help, and the fanatics would never agree with the use of magic. Chris hadn’t even told them about his energy weapons – acquired via a friend who was into tech, together with his scanner. He didn’t know what their reaction would be and – more importantly – he didn’t trust them.

The file was comprised of a list of locations – meeting places that Naturals were known to frequent – followed by some names and even contact details of what Chris assumed were important figures. There were around a dozen of them, holding titles such as “faculty member”, “senior instructor” or “administrative director”, making him wonder just how many Naturals there were. Jack would probably know, or at least be able to make a well-educated guess. He snapped some pictures of them, both for his own reference and to hopefully give some insight into the extent of the hunters’ knowledge.

The file continued with reports of dealings the hunters have had with Naturals, or hunts in which they were involved; sometimes as a third party, sometimes as the target – Chris quickly skipped over those, once again glad Jack wasn’t here to see it. He leafed through the pages, trying not to look at the included photos, and only briefly read the description when it looked like a demon was involved. But nothing about it seemed to be of particular interest to Dai.

The last part of the file was less structured in nature, mainly consisting of loose photographs, scribbled notes and newspaper clippings with sections underlined in red. Some seemed to deal with strange happenings, others were seemingly unconnected reports, but Chris suspected that there was more going on behind the scenes. Perhaps the people involved were known to be Naturals, but he’d have to go over the list again to check.

He froze when he flipped through the next batch of photographs. It showed a group of people having a smoke on the steps in front of one of the buildings mentioned earlier in the file. Among them, second to the right, was Jack. He looked younger, like the photo was taken some years ago, but it was unmistakably him. Chris turned the picture around, checking for any sort of text written on the back. There was nothing, not even a date. He put it aside, quickly checking the rest of the pile. There were more pictures taken outside this building and other buildings mentioned in the file, but none of them contained Jack. The scribbled notes didn’t mention his name, as far as Chris could tell at a glance. Still, he made sure to take pictures of any notes that mentioned people by name, or otherwise indicated that the person talked about was familiar to them somehow.

Chris noticed that this information concerned him. He’d always assumed the hunters had no interest in the Naturals’ business, as long as it didn’t interfere with theirs. But this showed they’d been monitoring the Naturals, posting outside of their facilities – to do what, exactly? Spy on them? Gather information about their numbers, habits, whereabouts? But for what purpose? Were they planning something, or was all of this purely done as a precaution? And who exactly had been collecting this data?

He didn’t get to think on this for long, as he noticed a pair of headlights turning into the driveway. Someone was coming – probably the keeper, returning from some errand or possibly a hunt. Chris snatched Jack’s picture off the table and slid it into his back pocket. Then he gathered the materials and stuffed them back into the folder, this time not caring about putting it back like he’d found it: everyone had access to it, it wouldn’t draw suspicion towards him. He returned the folder, and switched it with the next one that was on his radar: the one on demons. He spread it out on the table like he’d been studying it for a while and quickly snapped some pictures, while footsteps were approaching in the hallway.

This file was much smaller, he noticed, and assumed that this was a good thing. The less they knew, the better. Once again, there were some pictures of individuals. On a glance, they all appeared human: it seemed like they hadn’t been able to catch any demons in their real forms on camera. The file also contained maps of different cities and towns nearby, with circles drawn onto them. Sightings, it read.

Just when he’d put his phone down, the door opened and a man stepped in. He was in his late sixties, his balding head covered with a trucker hat. He was wearing a denim jacket and muddy boots, like he’d been out in the woods.

“Chris!” he exclaimed, trying – and failing – to inconspicuously tuck the gun he was holding back into his belt.

“Long time no see!”

“Hey, Klaas,” Chris tried to smile despite his nerves.

“Yeah, I’ve been… busy. Thought it was about time to check in and compare notes.”

The keeper glanced down.

“About demons?”

He pulled out a chair, a worried look on his face.

“What do you need that for? Please tell me you’re not planning anything stupid.”

“I’m not. I’d be mad to try and take on a demon,” he grinned. “I’ve just… seen one.”

“Really?”

Chris nodded, rummaging in his backpack.

“Do you have a marker I can borrow?”

Klaas got up and procured one from a drawer.

“When was this?” he asked, still with an undertone of worry.

As the youngest hunter of the chapter, Chris was used to this by now. Klaas was seen as a father figure by most of the hunters, but mostly acted that way towards Chris.

“Couple of months ago – right here,” Chris said, circling the park where he and Jack had faced the demon that had started all of this mess.

“I hope you didn’t engage?”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” he grinned.

Klaas didn’t seem completely satisfied with this answer.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t seen him since.”

Which technically wasn’t a lie, Chris supposed.

He picked up the stack of photos and started to flip through them.

“I was just wondering if anyone else had spotted him. But I’ve been a bit… distracted.”

“With hunting?” Klaas asked, grabbing the both of them something to drink from a cupboard. “Or just life?”

“Bit of both,” Chris shrugged, studying the faces in the photographs.

“You know how it goes: you meet some people outside of the scene, you have less time for hunting – because what if they find out? And before you know it you have a…” he hesitated for just a split second, “…social life.”

Klaas smiled, sliding a glass filled with some kind of liquor across the table.

“You mean you’re seeing someone?”

Chris looked up.

“No! …Where’d you get that idea?”

“It’s about time,” the old man said, not looking up from his drink.

“I’m not – you know what, never mind.”

Chris directed his attention back to the file.

“This can’t be all. There’s barely anything in here.”

He leaned in closer.

“What do you know about demons in this area?”

Klaas looked at him pensively.

“This guy has really gotten under your skin, huh? What is really going on?”

“Nothing is “going on”! It’s just…”

Chris frantically searched for a story that sounded believable.

“He saw me, that night. The demon. He was coming right at me, but I managed to get away. It freaked me out, okay? I’ve been laying low and avoiding this place, just to be sure I wasn’t followed. Then I got… distracted and figured I would forget about it. But I can’t seem to shake it, so now I’m trying to figure out whether this one demon might have been connected to something bigger.”

“Everything we have on them is right here,” Klaas gestured. “I know you want there to be something more, some secret you’re not allowed to know – but there isn’t. There’s just not a lot of demons around here. They don’t have any meeting places close by, as far as we’re aware. And believe me: if I did know, I’d be telling everyone to stay the hell away from it.”

“Alright,” Chris sighed.

He picked up his glass.

“Let me know if you find anything.”

“You too.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Chris quickly leafed through the rest of the pages, which contained further information on what was known about demons. Most of it was rather basic: their magic resembled that of Naturals; they could disguise as humans; and were suspected to travel by portal, even though portal locations remained unknown. He then put everything back into the folder, slid it back into its place on the shelf, and picked out the one labelled “werewolves”.

He knew this was a risk, with Klaas here to watch his every move, but he was fairly certain there wasn’t anything here pointing to Jack. Unlike the one on Naturals, he’d studied this file before, in preparation for a hunt. On two occasions he’d even taken out a werewolf, which, looking back on it now, made him feel uneasy. Jack could never find out – or perhaps he already had, and had simply chosen not to comment on it. Chris wasn’t sure which option he’d prefer.

“Back to werewolves, huh?” Klaas commented.

Chris nodded.

“Haven’t seen one in a while. I’m starting to suspect they’ve moved to a different location.”

He pulled out one of the maps, and pointed at an area that had a lot of circles on it.

“I’ve found tracks here three months back, but there haven’t been fresh ones for a while now. They must know we’re watching.”

Again, not a lie – just simply omitting the fact that Chris had been the one to tell them they were being watched, and Jack passing on that knowledge.

“I was hoping someone else would know anything.”

“I think there have been some recent additions,” Klaas said, now also leaning over the table.

He picked up a file and procured some reading glasses from his pocket.

“Speaking of recent additions,” Chris grinned.

“What can I say, I’m getting older,” Klaas shrugged. “I’m just glad I only need them for reading, and not for shooting.”

“Fair point.”

“Ah, here it is. A hunter spotted a werewolf while he was tracking a crelor just south of here.”

“A crelor? Really? I thought they were rare around here.”

Chris didn’t know a lot about crelors, but he did remember they preferred large, dense forests, something the Netherlands didn’t really have.

“He said he’d been tracking it here from Germany.”

“The hunter is German? What’s his name? I know some German hunters.”

“No, he’s Dutch, actually. Guy I used to hunt with back in the day. But he moved away.”

“Do I know him?”

“I don’t think so. This was before your time.”

“Hmm.”

Chris looked back at the map.

“Where did you say it was again?”

“Right here.”

Jack had been running in that area, Chris knew. Because it was quiet out there, he’d said. But this didn’t exactly sound quiet to him. He should probably let him know. A crelor would probably not attack a werewolf, but a hunter sure would.

“Thanks, Klaas. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He gestured at the shelves surrounding them.

“I’m guessing you don’t have a lot on crelors?”

“I’m afraid not. I’d have to contact a different chapter. Or perhaps Ben could help out. I’ll ask him when he comes by again.”

“I’ll stick to werewolves for now, then.”

Chris downed the rest of his drink.

“I should get going. It’s late.”

“Wouldn’t want someone to get worried,” Klaas smiled.

“He thinks I’m at work,” Chris shrugged. “Which is technically true, I guess.”

Chris picked up his backpack from the floor.

“Thanks for the drink. I’ll try to come around more often.”

“Chris.”

He turned around.

“Yes?”

“Promise me you won’t go after that demon.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

After Chris had gotten into his car, he just sat there for a moment, taking a deep breath.

“So, did you find anything?”

He jumped, instinctively reaching for his gun, then realised it was still in his backpack.

Jack, over in the passenger seat, raised an eyebrow.

“You should really check if there’s someone in your car before getting in.”

“What are you doing here!?”

“Couldn’t let you go in there alone, now could I?”

“You followed me?”

“Nah, I stayed outside, waiting for someone to arrive. Looks like you had it handled, though.”

“They could’ve seen you!”

“That would be why I was invisible,” Jack shrugged.

“Come on, start the car, in case he’s watching.”

With shaking hands Chris turned the ignition and steered onto the road.

“You could’ve just told me – how did you even get here?”

“My car’s a little ways out, can’t be seen from the road. I’ll tell you where to drop me off.”

Chris stayed quiet for a while, angrily gripping the steering wheel, until Jack pointed out a small dirt road off to the side.

“I still think this was highly irresponsible,” he sighed when Jack got out of the car.

Jack turned around, leaning on the car door to look back at Chris.

“Why? The only reason I didn’t go before is because I didn’t know where they were. Also because I assumed they would all have fancy gadgets like you. Turns out they’re just…” he gestured, looking for words, “…some guys, meeting up in a barn.”

“They’re not–”

“Next time I could just go by myself. They won’t even know I was there.”

“You don’t know that! You do realise I don’t know everything about what happens in there either, right? There could be scanners – perhaps they installed them since the last time I visited. Or what about infrared cameras? You’re not invisible to those!”

“So what? They’d only see a heat signature anyway. It’s not like they’ll recognise me.”

“A heat signature that’s snooping around and then gets into my car! What were you thinking!?”

“There were no cameras, alright? Did you think I would just let you go in there, only to be caught on tape stealing from them? You might not know everything, but I do! It’s what I’m good at!”

Chris took a deep breath.

“I don’t care how safe you think you were: you had no reason to be here tonight. I know you’re trying to look out for me, but I can handle myself. I’ve been doing fine without you for years.”

Jack looked away.

“I know. But I did have a reason to be here. Not that you’d care.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”

Chris turned the car around. He’d ask about it later. Right now all he wanted was to get the hell out of here. Then he remembered something and lowered the window.

“By the way, I got you something.”

Chris pulled the photo from his back pocket and handed it to Jack.

“You’re welcome,” he said, and drove away, not waiting for a reaction.

#story #chris #jack #2021challenge

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bubbyleh · 4 years ago

Text

I See La Vie en Rose - Chapter 13

cw for kidnappings again at the end

Chapter 13: Tommy Plays the Discovery Game

Tommy: Hey I was talking to Gordon! Tommy: He “suggested” I take Joshua with me next time I take Sunkist to the dog park. Tommy: But I was thinking you could come too!! It’ll be fun! :D Tommy: And we met at the dog park!! But we haven’t been back in all this time! Tommy: You don’t have to, though, don’t worry! Tommy: I kind of missed talking to you, yesterday :( Tommy: It’s okay if you’re busy though!!! I totally understand! Tommy: Just Tommy: I’m starting to get worried?? Tommy: Maybe that sounds stupid :( but just let me know you’re okay?

Fuck, Tommy might be overreacting. He places his phone face-down on his desk. Darnold’s probably fine! There’s no way he isn’t! He’s just… doing something! Tommy needs to focus on work right now, not his boyfriend!

It’s the middle of the day on Tuesday, which means Tommy has a lot of prayers to answer. Weekdays are always busy, and he needs to get ahead of the curve before his date with Darnold on Thursday. Which is a big one, because they’ve been dating for half a year at this point! There’s nothing wrong with a little reminiscing during work, right?

They got together in the early autumn, and now it’s spring. The weather is much nicer than it has been, which means they can start going on walks again! That was so much fun, before it got all snowy and Darnold got scared of slipping on ice.

Tommy loves Darnold so much. He's dated before, yes, but none of his past relationships were like this. Just the act of holding Darnold's hand sends his mind spinning.

He glances at his phone.

Nope! Don't think about it! Darnold's alright, just distracted!

Tommy slumps back in his chair. The nagging part of his brain can’t help but tell him that’s not true.

☆○☆○☆

Tommy: How do you tell someone that their kid needs glasses??

Tommy: I found a test online and I gave it to Joshua and! The results are very bad!!!! :(

Tuesday ends. Wednesday comes and goes. Tommy doesn’t hear back from Darnold. It’s gone from “Tommy may be a bit clingy” to “Something’s wrong with Darnold”.

The exact definition of “wrong” here is what’s worrying Tommy. Maybe it’s a nice little wrong, like Darnold broke his phone. They don’t exactly have many other ways to communicate. In fact, that’s what Tommy’s choosing to believe! That everything is okay, and he’ll see Darnold when they meet up for their date.

Tommy: I love you

Or it could be a big wrong, the idea of which Tommy’s been trying to force out of his head nearly every other second.

The idea that something really bad could have happened to Darnold and Tommy wouldn’t know… is not fun.

Tommy: I miss you

Tommy watches the clock on his phone as he lays in bed, a small pain shooting through his heart every minute that goes by. He can’t sleep, he can only think about Darnold. His phone is open to their messages, and he’s just waiting for a response, a sign of life. Eventually, the time moves from 11:59 to 12:00.

It’s Thursday now.

Enough is enough. Three days without Darnold is too many! Tommy’s a little bit past giving the universe the benefit of the doubt, so he heads down to Darnold’s apartment early, fully expecting to find his boyfriend in the middle of a research bender or a similar activity.

But the apartment is dark and quiet.

Even after Tommy calls out Darnold’s name, there’s still no sound. Nobody rises from their kitchen table to greet him or rushes in from the bedroom with hugs and apologies. Every beat of silence only makes Tommy feel as though a knife is being twisted in his heart.

So he searches. The bedroom, the bathroom, but when he makes it to the kitchen, he stops. The scene is too familiar, and it’s not because Tommy’s spent time in there before.

The chairs are still pushed out in the same way, there’s still an empty bag of chips on the counter. The nerves grow stronger, buzzing with a fearful energy, and hoping for confirmation that something has changed at all in three days, Tommy opens the garbage can to see shards from a broken plate sitting at the top.

Darnold’s been gone for a bit.

Cool! Alright! Perfect! Just what Tommy needed today, to figure out that his boyfriend is now a missing person!

Tommy grips at his hair. This can’t be happening! Why didn’t he come by sooner?! He’s gotta be somewhere, right?! Practically everything in his chest feels like it’s ripping apart, ‘where’s Darnold where’s Darnold where’s Darnold where’s-’

Wait a minute.

He can do something about this.

Being a God of Discovery has its benefits, especially for finding things! If he can just figure out when Darnold left the apartment (with the amount of wards the Gods have placed on this place, there’s no way anything bad happened inside)…

The bed was unmade! Darnold had to have slept there before he left, he always makes his bed in the morning. Tommy would know, he’s been there.

...He was planning on coming back.

Aw shit. Tommy shakes that thought loose from his head. Can’t be sad now, gotta go find boyfriend!

Tommy holds a hand out, focuses on the bed, and thinks as hard as he can about Darnold. He’s not dipping too far into the past, so this should work. It has to work, it just has to!

There’s a blinding flash of light.

It worked!

The figure isn’t Darnold, not quite. It’s just magic swirling around in the shape of Darnold, retracing his movements. But it’s close, close enough that Tommy feels a pang in his chest just looking at it.

He just wants to reach out and hold him so bad.

Actually, something’s kind of weird about this. Usually the depictions are a nice golden yellow, like all of Tommy’s magic. But something must be fucky, because the figure is a reddish orange. Tommy’s used this on many kinds of people, but he’s really only seen this happen when he tracked other Gods.

Huh. Darnold must have a lot of influence on him.

The figure turns in bed a few times, clearly awake and struggling with that fact. It gives up, getting out of bed and heading towards the kitchen. All of its actions are mimed, since it can’t actually interact with the world, but Tommy watches it, follows it as it looks in the fridge, before shaking its head and heading for the front door.

It- Darnold slips on some shoes and a jacket, and then he leaves. He left.

Tommy’s gritting his teeth the whole time he tails it, but he also feels a bit dazed. Watching the past happen in the present is a lot, especially when one is fearful of the ending.

Darnold only walked a few blocks. He made it to the 7/11 they’d been to a few times, and damn it, did he really have to go on a midnight snack run?

He slips inside, which is impossible for Tommy, considering that the building is now under construction. It’s been a few days. He waits outside, waits for Darnold, when something in the alleyway catches his eye.

Some poor soul lost their phone. The case kind of looks like-

Something new is rendering into the scene, right above the discarded phone. Which usually only happens if it interacted with whatever Tommy’s tracking. As it takes shape, Tommy’s heart drops.

Skeleton.

Darnold didn’t even notice it as he left the shop. He was drinking his Powerade (Mountain Berry Blast, if Tommy had to guess), and he pulled out his phone. And just like that, while Darnold was distracted, the Skeleton reached out and grabbed him. Darnold tried to get away, he dropped his phone, and then they were gone.

Tommy’s hands cover his mouth.

No.

No, that…

That can’t be right.

But Tommy knows it is. He glances back down at the phone in the alleyway. Darnold’s phone. His hands shake as he picks it up. The screen is cracked and the battery is low, but Tommy can see the notifications still.

34 New Messages 8 Missed Calls Reminder: 6 Month Anniversary Tomorrow! Buy Flowers

Tommy has his own phone out in an instant. He doesn’t care who it is, he just picks the first contact that isn’t Darnold and calls.

“Ah, good morning, Tommy!” Coomer answers after a few rings. “Whatever could you need so late at night?”

“Things- things are bad!” Tommy’s voice cracks, tears welling up in his eyes. “Darnold’s in trouble.”

#hlvrai #half life vr but the ai is self aware #sodashipping #gods au #tommy coolatta #my writing #i see la vie en rose #for some reason i posted this before the link whatever #kidnapping cw #hlvrai gods au

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