#and hand out great reward or severe punishment

[niaerinisms]

One of these I will replay The Cursed Heart and write an essay on why it is a groundbreaking masterpiece, especially in the way it utilises and subverts fairytales, and how I genuinely think it’s within the top 15 Choices books series of all-time

[hazelfoureyes]

Ok I need a Lucifer x Reader fic based on Griftwood by ghost pretty please ( just listen if you haven’t heard it you’ll understand)

Listen, I went the opposite direction I think you wanted? Lol gonna work on brevity and get more snack sized smut out on weekdays and entrees on he weekends

[Warnings/Promises: snack sized, Lucifer x GN!AngelReader, lil smut smut, Fuck Sera, Luci corrupts absolutely, all hail dat dick, sacrilegious as fuck]

🫸🏼minors DNI🫷🏼

Lucifer avoided the heavenly embassy for obvious reasons. The vast halls, the empty and useless pews, it was, in a word, 

“Creepy,” He hissed. 

He was surprised to find the reception desk manned. Very rarely did heaven actually send anyone down to hell. Oh, wait.

You were stunned already to see Lucifer, so when he poked your nose you let out a tiny squeal.

“Oh shit! You’re real!” Lucifer took a step back, “Sorry about that! Not used to an … actual person.” He gave a little bow, “Forgive me?”

The fact is no one wanted to go to hell for desk duty, so the job was actually a punishment reserved for the most misbehaved. You had to intentionally set fire to Sera’s robes to get that severe of a scolding. She was reluctant, but it had been threatened (promised) to you last time you (intentionally) caused trouble. Rumors were abuzz about Lucifer, and you just had to see for yourself what the Great Big Boss of Hell was like.

Rosey cheeks, bright sharp smile. He didn’t look as scary as you had imagined. You expected a seven foot eight inch tall behemoth with fire pouring from his mouth and blood stained horns.

The devil, the real one, looked quite sweet.

A tiny existential crisis washed over you. Maybe there was a reason they didn’t want people down here. Why they made it sound oh-so-terrible.

“You still in there?” He leaned over the counter, tapping at your forehead. Your hands flew up, capturing his finger and bringing it down.

Warm. 

He froze, a little shocked you would touch him. Your smile went crooked, cheeks blushed. 

“Uhhh you good?” He pointed with his free hand to where you still gripped his finger. You nodded, a hum of confirmation. The blush rose up until you were fully red in the face.

The realization struck Lucifer like heavenly lightning, “Oooh, I see what’s going on here.” A wicked smirk taking you by surprise. “Did you want to meet me, little one?”

You broke out into a sweat, “Yes.”

Lie! Why didn’t you lie?!

He leaned over the counter, “Did you do something bad to get sent here?” Was there fire behind his eyes?

Uneven breaths, “… yes.”

Lucifer’s knee came up and over as he crawled onto the desk, “Should the King of Hell reward you for such bad deeds?” His eyes had gone red now, your hand still on his finger.

Your knees began to shake, “Y-yes.”

His face was inches from yours when your legs gave out, both of you falling to the floor.

Horns tall, yellow pupils dilated as he straddled you. “I think you’ll find I’m a generous ruler.”

It made sense. As Lucifer bent you over the reception desk and fucked you from behind, you could completely understand why they made this job posting sound horrid. Heaven would be empty if every winner could freely interact with Lucifer. You’d damn humanity too, if that was the cost. His hips snapped against your ass with divine determination, sweet praises on his forked tongue. 

The sounds of your gasps and his skin on yours echoed through the pristine white and gold halls. Like a pastor giving his sermon, he made the most delicious promises as you bent at the altar. 

Could heaven hear you? Your chants of “God, Oh God,” shifting to, “Lucifer! Luci—fer”, when one of his hands came down, fingers stroking your heat?

“What do you pray for, my curious Angel?” He growled, a flame you couldn’t see licking past his lips. “I’ll grant you anything”

Your cheek was sliding across the marble, small line of drool smearing on your face. Claws raked down your back, the stimulation making you shake.

Your fingers reached for his thighs, failing to take purchase. Lucifer took both of your wrists in one hand and held them at the small of your back for leverage. Your legs bent up, toes curling as you came around his sweetly punishing cock.

Taking a few deep breaths, you rolled your hips back against him, “More.”

Lucifer laughed and lifted one foot onto the desk to add more force behind his thrusts, “Say please.”

am I too horny? No. No, the cardiologist is wrong.

╭──────༺♡̶༻──────╮ Masterlist ╰──────༺♡̶༻──────╯

∰ Summoning the Horny Little Deer Cult (general tag list): @cxrsedwxrlds , @nonetheartist , fizzled-phoenix , @tsunaki , @janchei , @wettiny-in-smutland , @moonmark98 , @hoebihoeshi , @fjorjestertealeaf , @pansexual-opera-house , @ive-no-idea-what-to-call-this , @roxxie-wolf , @polytheatrix , @lorddiabigmommymilkers , @backinthefkingbuildingagain , @harley2223-blog , @coffee-colored-hopeless-romantic , @poinappel , @midnightnoiserose , @spookieroz , @missmidorima , @phobophobular , @ivebeenthearchersstuff , @downbadforfictionalppl , @xx-all-purpose-nerd-xx , @sleepylittledemon , @aether-th3-enby , @dontfuckbutimfab , @surusurusuru , @breathlessaura , @aperfectidiot , @certainlygay , @jth12 , @star-kujo-platinum , @ivebeenthearchersstuffn, @rubyninja1 , @simphornies , @mariaclarade-la-cruz1 , @whateverlololo , @alleystore , @readergirlstuff , @berry-demon , @simplyonehellofanotaku , @chirimeimei , @fairyv-ice , @olive-frog , @thonethatflies620 , @tiredkiwiii , @ilikemyteawithmilk , @whateverlololo , @xixflower , @i-am-nonbinary-bean-deal-with-it , @psipies , @howabouticallyou , @a-case-of-attachment , @multifandomfanatic02 , @watereddownmilk , @raynerrold , @crazii-saber-wolf , @valkyrie-expeditions , @bontensbabygirl , @sillyb0nez , @oo0lady-mad0oo , @jazzmasternot

[lucarionite9364]

titan havik…titan havik and his silly stupid ridiculous arrogant attitude being a TEASE !!!

Chat, lemme cook for a second-- (this idea is great and so are you!)

Magnificent Maelstrom

Titan Havik x fem! reader

WC: 2,645

CW: SMUT! Mentions of violence, blood, bodily harm. Oral (M & F receiving), bitingg, scratching, creampie :3, uhhhh Havik is the warning tbh.

AN: Thank you Tan for the request,, I had fun writing this. <3

“VICTORY IS MINE!” You hear crowds cheering out as you roar your triumph in the pit. You throw your arms up as you circle around your dead opponent. Many of the Havik clones are throwing their arms at you in applause. Only one Havik catches your eye in particular though.

Lord Havik, the man he is. You hold his gaze on you. That crazed look he has on his face just looking at you covered in your foes blood is wild. It’s like lightning shooting through your veins. He knows exactly what drives you crazy for him. 

With a final show of glory, you turn to your deceased enemy and plant your foot firmly on his back, yanking your greatsword out from his side. You throw your sword into the air and watch as it lands mere inches away from your Lord. He doesn’t flinch. You know whether you strike him or not, he is never afraid. 

Climbing the wall of the arena, you take your spot next to Lord Havik. Takeda comes up to slap you on the back. “Nice job in the ring! I knew you’d win.” He laughs to himself as Kenshi comes up. “He bet on the other guy.” Takeda looks offended that his father would rat him out so easily. You elbow him in the side. Maybe a little harsher than expected, but he deserved it. 

“Oh please, as if I’d lose to the nobodies they give us in the ring.” This might have turned into petty squabbles had Havik not interrupted. He lightly traced his hand around your neck making you shiver. “You did well, my little hurricane.” 

He growled that last part in your ear, making your knees grow weak. Totally not the fact you just kicked ass in the ring. “Perhaps I should reward you.” The rasp in his voice never ceases to send heat straight to your core. Your mind couldn’t wander very far before you heard your telepathic friends stifle a cough. You glare at him, “How many times have I told you not to read my mind Takahashi.” 

You could punish him, but he’s already being punished enough by Takeda’s insistent pestering about what he heard in your mind.

You roll your eyes and turn your attention back to the ring where a significant increase in severed limbs has occurred. Everyone’s focus was on the ring as the next fight was to begin. You’d like to think Lord Havik knew that you want to keep your relationship on the down low. So why did you feel his fingernails creep up your back? Trying to keep your composure while he massages your neck slowly is more difficult than it sounds. 

You swiftly move to catch his wrist, in doing so he lets out a low huff of amusement. You lean over toward him so you can keep your voice quiet. “I’m starting to think you do this on purpose to test me.” Your mind clouds once more as you feel his breath creep down your face. 

“Your reactions fuel me, my dear.” You don’t even have to look to know he has that arrogant smile on his face. Not that he can make any other face. It’s the intention that counts you suppose. 

“The chaos in the ring should intrigue you more, shouldn’t it, My Lord?” “Oh yes, but the madness you yield has far more interest to me.” You feel him gently squeeze your ass from behind. You can only stifle your groan and hope neither of the other two heard you. 

You feel a presence prod at your mind. Since you can feel that it’s there, it must be Takeda. “That’s it.” You break free from Havik’s grasp and yank your greatsword from the stone ground. “Takeda, you’re a deadman!” 

You hear him laughing hysterically as he runs, and you chase after him. 

Kenshi and Lord Havik can only watch in amusement as Takeda uses his ropes to swing away from you. You tried throwing your sword at him only to narrowly miss. 

. . . . . 

Later, you enter the Citadel. The room with seemingly no beginning or end. There were fragments of cobblestone pathways everywhere. In the sky, or down below, there were walkways and obstacles in every part of the room. Is it even a room? A dimension? That doesn’t matter as you approach the man you’ve been looking for.

Titan Havik is observing a reverse waterfall with great interest. He always does, it seems to calm him, even if ‘calm’ is the opposite of his whole being. He held his mace on his shoulder. He was rarely seen without the sharp object in hand, you thought. His attention diverted as he heard your approach. He gazed upon you with pure arrogance, like he knew you would come crawling to him eventually. 

His bludgeon dissipated into the air as he made his way toward you. He reached out an arm to touch your face, but you swerved under his hand going behind him. His expression dropped slightly. “My Lord, you have been such a tease today,” you keep walking backward. “Do you really think I’d give you what you want after that performance?” Your smirk rivals that of which he wore earlier.

“Would you really deny me? Your ruler?” His voice is almost husky enough to make you give up then and there. You remained strong. His words, however, did bring a smile to your lips. “If you want me, come and get me.” At that, you took your last step off the edge of the walkway. 

Falling, you can’t see the nigh primal look in his eyes as he licks his teeth in anticipation for the chase. You quickly grab a floating stone to break your fall. You land on the path underneath just in time to see Havik break through the path above to get to you. 

“My hurricane, you can’t run from me in here.” You feign a pout, “Oh? But it makes my day that much more fun.” Expecting you to run away from him, you surprise him by heading straight for him. You slide between the gap in his legs and spring off the edge of the platform and leap on the larger floating rocks to move upward. 

Due to your many games of cat and mouse, you knew it was only a matter of time before he played dirty. As you jumped to the next stone, you didn’t see that he threw his arm at your leg until you tripped. Now in free fall, you see Havik follow you stone path to catch you in the air. He firmly lands on the next platform, but not without a sickening crunch indicating he broke his leg. 

You hear the limb snap back into place and his skin sealing itself together. As you're in his broad arms, you start nibbling on his exposed neck. He openly groans into your touch. “Now who’s being a tease?” He tilts his head toward you and leans to start licking your face. 

His unusually long tongue makes its way to your lips and parts them with ease. As your tongues dance around each other, he sets you back on your feet, roughly grabbing onto your chest. You moan into the sloppy makeout session. As he exits your mouth to give you air, saliva covers your lower face. 

You smirk and wipe your face on your unsleeved arm. You let your hands roam across his broad chest as you kiss your way down his torso. He looks down on you as you get on your knees before him. His hand makes its way to your hair to caress the soft strands as you start undoing the cloth surrounding his pants. His hand balls up into a fist, pulling deliciously on your hair. 

“Now will you serve me?” He asks, already knowing the answer. “Yes, My Lord.” You purr as you pull down his pants. You’ve seen him before, but his size still marvels you everytime. 

You grab the base with one hand and slowly lick a stripe up his shaft. The fist in your hair tightens as he groans. Wanting to tease him one last time, you swirl your tongue around his tip, occasionally dipping into the slit. “Your cruelty knows no limits, you maelstrom.” He grits his teeth as you lower your mouth on him.

You suction your mouth on him as you bob your head up and down. Just for added measure, you cup his balls and gently squeeze. You look up to see his dazed expression as his tongue lolls out from his mouth. 

You know you’re doing good when he plants his feet and thrusts all the way down your throat. You gag around him which makes him want to thrust harder. He grabs the back of your head with both hands and sets his own pace, using your face as his fucktoy. He knows you love it though. 

As much as you can’t breathe, you want to pleasure him. You hollow out your throat to allow for more room to take in air between the onslaught. You roughly grab onto his thighs and drag your nails down his leg in desperation. Clawing at anything to keep you grounded. 

You can feel his pace grow erratic as his hips stutter. He roughly pulls out and you heave in a large breath. As you regain your focus, you see blood creeping down his chiseled thigh from where you grabbed onto him.

You could feel yourself soaking through your pants from how wet you were. He pushed you to your back on the ground, laughing lightly as he could see your arousal. He knelt down over you, rubbing the spot between your legs that felt oh so good. But the little friction you got from that is nowhere near enough. 

You squirm as you undo the top of your pants, allowing him to pull them off of you with a harsh tug. You kept wiggling as you saw him stroking himself. You only wanted him inside you at that moment, but he had other plans. It seems like being a tease would bite you in the ass. Literally.

He dips his lead lower and puts a bite mark right on the inside of your thigh. You yelp in surprise. He has to pin your hips down, but not before ripping your panties off you. You shiver as the oddly cold air of the Citadel hits your lips. 

“Look at me, my dear,” He glares into your eyes as he says one more word. “Payback.” His tongue dives straight to like a thick line up your slit. Being the worst tease he is, he harshly sucks on your clit.

You can’t help but moan out as his teeth hit your sensitive bundle of nerves too. “Ahh, Havik!” You barely whimper his name, but to your surprise he stops. His gaze soured into a stern expression as he brought two fingers to gather your slick. “That is not my title.” You realize your mistake and quickly correct yourself. 

“I’m sorry My Lord! Please, don’t stop.” You have a pleading tone in your voice. He seems to like your answer as he pries you open with his two digits. Moving them in and out, scissoring them open to loosen you up. 

Your breathing increases in intensity. You feel the knot in your stomach tighten as he continues to suck your clit and finger you. You tangle your fingers in his hair, surprisingly soft, and tug on it. He growls out into your pussy as he keeps up the pace. 

“Lord Havik, I’m. . . I’m gonna–” “Let it out.” He commands, and you do as you're told. You yank his hair tighter as you shove your pussy into his face. Feeling your slick and release mix with his saliva as he continues to lick every last inch of you. You let go of his hair, but he doesn’t stop licking you, helping you ride out your orgasm. 

After he is done, he leans up to give you a sloppy kiss. You can taste yourself on his mouth as you bring your hands to wrap around his neck. You feel his still hard cock bumping your leg. Even after that strong orgasm, you still can’t help but want more. Want him. Need him.

He pulls away from the kiss and looks down on your disheveled form as he positions himself at your entrance. He pushes into you only to miss and slide up your soaked cunt. The tip nudged your clit sending a bolt of pleasure up your spine. 

Growing frustrated, he repositions himself and pushes all the way into you in one thrust. You can feel the breath being knocked out of you. You moan out at the intrusion, never being fully ready to take him. The stretch was a little painful, but the pleasure overtook that feeling as he pulled out and pushed back in with force. 

He started with a harsh pace, not giving you any time to adjust to his large size. You can feel yourself squeezing his shaft and you get impossibly wetter as he abuses your sopping cunt. He takes one of your nipples in his calloused fingers and pinches it while teething on the other. 

The thought that someone can find you splayed open underneath your Lord never crossed your mind as you moan every time he thrusts into you. He brings his unoccupied hand down to rub circles into your clit. His thrusts falter for a moment as you rake your sharp nails down his muscular back. Leaving bloody trails in its wake.

He loved the scars you left on his body. He wore them just as proudly as his battle scars. Letting people see the things you do to him, whether they knew it was from you or not. His thrusts lost their pattern and became erratic. He was close, and you were too. However, he was dead set on making you go first. 

He bit into the sweet spot on your neck. That coupled with his endless thrusts and toying with your clit cause you to let go for a second time. Your juices came gushing out all over his lower abdomen. He stopped playing with your clit, but his thrusts picked up till he finally threw himself over the edge. 

You locked your legs around his back to make sure he couldn’t leave. Your body heat rose three times as his hot cum was shot into your womb. He lost control of his groans as the bite on your neck drew blood. He had his hands holding your hips in such a grip you thought it might bruise as he finished spilling into you. 

You almost blanked as the please was too much. Were it not for the fact he’s holding you up, you would have slumped over already. He stayed inside you for a little longer. Growling out into your ear, “You drive me mad. You are the anarchy I crave.” You feel warm tears well up in your eyes. You can’t tell if it’s because you’re overstimulated or his words meant more than he realized. 

You breathlessly confess, “You are the disorder to my disarray. Nothing is better than the great turmoil you bring to my life.” You plant one more kiss on his exposed teeth before you groan as he pulls out of you. You shudder as you feel his cum drip out of your spent cunt. An idea, good or bad, sparks your hand into motion. You make a show of scooping his cum from between your legs and bringing your fingers to your mouth. 

You made sure we watched every second of your display. His voice drops to a growl as he speaks, “We have time before the next battle in the arena.”

[hitomisuzuya]

Maid outfit. Scummy Scaramouche. Scaramouche x fem!reader. Smut. Scara receiving. Degradation. Dom!Scara.

I am typing this in the dark on a Greyhound bus.

Scaramouche's breath hitched in his throat when he saw you. He licked his lips as you bowed. "Welcome home, Master. How can I serve you?" You said, blushing shyly.

He could already feel his cock hardening to strain in his shorts. He had taken great care in picking out the maid uniform. It clung to you in all the right places, your breasts practically spilling out of it. His fingers itched to get his hands on you, and shred the uniform off of you.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Master," You said, keeping your eyes directed away from him, fidgeting your fingers like you had done something wrong and was afraid to tell him.

"Oh?" Scaramouche purred, curling a finger underneath your chin to make you look up at him. You nodded, turning your cheek into his hand.

"I hope you can forgive me, but while I was cleaning earlier, I knocked something over and broke it," You explained, wrapping your arms around him. You nuzzled your cheek against his neck.

The way you always showed such submissive affection to Scaramouche sent him reeling. And it was twice as a good that you wearing a maid uniform. "I see," He smirked down at you. "You must be severely punished for this."

You nodded. He groaned when you licked at his mouth submissively, his cock throbbing in his shorts. "Please use me as you like, Master. I'll do anything to make up for it," Oh, it was definitely fun to talk to him like this.

Scaramouche put his hands on your shoulders, pushing you down onto your knees. "Down on your knees where you belong, slut. Beg for forgiveness while you suck your Master's cock."

"As you wish, Master," You said, smiling up softly up at him. You nuzzled your cheek against his hip, feeling his cock against your cheek.

He let out a soft sigh of relief when you unbuttoned his shorts and took out his cock. You kitten licked your tongue over the head of his cock, wrapping one of your hands around it.

Scaramouche let out a hiss of pleasure when you gently squeezed, precum leaking onto your tongue. His indigo eyes were hazy with lust, filled with a domineering stare that made your panties dampen.

"I deserve to be punished, Master," You said, sucking on the head of his cock, playing your tongue in his precum. "Forgive me, please. I don't even deserve to have you cum down my throat," Your eyes were filled with such desperation. He thought it was an intoxicating look for you.

Scaramouche groaned feeling your tongue flatten on his cock, making it throb on your tongue as you licked up his entire length. His hand found the back of your head, his fingers combing appreciatively though your soft hair before grabbing a handful of it.

"No, you don't, but I'll be kind enough to ruin your throat," He pushed your mouth closer to his cock, poking the head against your lips.

"How fortunate I am to have such a kind, and generous Master," You opened your mouth for his cock, moaning as he pushed it passed your lips and into your mouth.

Scaramouche enjoyed watching you drool while he made you choke on his cock. Tears stung in your eyes, moaning as you gurgled while you adjusted to breathe through your nose. "Start sucking, slut," He hissed, moaning when you immediately obeyed.

You are always such a good girl for him.

You looked up at him with such adoration in your eyes. He almost came right then, the look was so deep and endearing, like there wasn't anything else in the world that you would rather be doing than sucking him off.

Scaramouche held your head in place, using your mouth and throat like you had so sweetly asked him to. You were sucking him off so well that he couldn't help but praise you. "What a good whore, serving her Master so well," He pushed his cock into your throat again, "How about a reward, yes?"

Your expression turned eager, moaning happily from hearing Scaramouche's praise. You flattened and lapped your tongue over the vein that bulged to the surface. Every moan you vibrated on his cock made it throb with the promise of cum spilling into your mouth any moment.

His thrusts into your mouth turned sloppy, moaning as his eyes rolled closed in bliss. He couldn't wait to see cum spill from the corners of your mouth. He'd been nothing but hard the entire time he thought of your wearing the maid uniform.

"Fucking swallow it all, slut," Scaramouche groaned, his hand tightening on your hair. His cock throbbed needily on your tongue, his knees nearly buckling when you rested his cock into your throat and coughed. The feeling of your throat spasming on his cock made cum gob in ribbons into your mouth.

You swallowed obediently, sighing happily around his cock as his hand stroked through your hair. Once he pulled his cock out of your mouth to drink in the sight of your lips shiny with his cum, he swore he felt himself falling deeper in love with you when you looked up at him and said, "Will you please cum inside of me next, Master?"

[dailyadventureprompts]

Villain: Duke Sabrian, the Trueborn Bastard

The barred windows of the carriage let in only cold mountain air and the endless procession of crucifixes marking the road up to the Duke's castle. You idly wonder if he's picked out which ones he'll nail you and your friends to once you've told him that you've failed.

Though he styles himself the gallant exemplar of everything the noble warrior class could be, Duke Sabrian is in truth the embodiment of all the failings of his social order: brutish, bloody-minded, and blind to any plights beyond his own. More than a decade past Sabrian fought a war against his own sibling to seize control of their duchy and since then has ruled from an isolated mountain fortress fearing reprisals from the people he subjugates.

As long as the Duke rules things will continue to get worse, and it's only a matter of time before the party and those they care about get caught up in it.

Adventure Hooks:

Exhausted after delving their first dungeon the party are shaken down by a group of the duke's men, who are better armed and carry the threat of reprisal should the party draw steel on them. Perhaps it's better to give the toughs what they want and live to fight another day... say after finding out where the guards get drunk so they can trick/charm/beat the location of the stolen treasure out of them.

Countess Ledrick has a problem. Despite being one of the mercenaries who helped win Sabrian his throne she was never formally sworn in as one of the duke's vassals when she took over her lands and is widely regarded as little better than an upjumped brigand. Now a large shipment of tribute heading for the Duke's council has gone missing on the borders of her land, and it's only a matter of time before the blame comes to rest on her. She'll need all the help she can in recovering the lost treasure which just might be the party's ticket to a position in her court.

While out in the market a couple of the party members are approached by a woman in a hood doing her very best to try to seem inconspicuous. Through smiles and whispered pleas she begs them to help her hide from the guards, palming them a small handful of jewels in the attempt. If the party gives her aid she'll eventually introduce herself as Mina, keeping most of her story to herself but letting slip that she stole something precious from Sabrian and that she needs their help getting out of the duchy and into some neighbouring lands. It'd be an arduous journey, made even more arduous when in the next town the party discover posters and criers proclaiming that the duke's wife Minerva has been kidnapped, promising a great reward for her return and a terrible punishment for those who made off with her.

Background: While many born into the nobility feel confined by their station, Sabrian always knew he was made to rule. He was one of those people who excelled at the standards he was expected to meet, for whom the path of life is not only a straight line but part of a larger destiny that gave order to the world.

The problem was that Sabrian was the younger son, and his older sister chafed against noble life as much as he suited it. Sabrina was high minded, well read, and was possessed of several strange notions. The first being that those who own and govern the land owed something to those that lived upon it, the second being that her name was Solace, not Sabrina. The third was that she was not a woman, simply a person. The fourth and perhaps most outrageous was that she they would not be taking a husband, nor even a lover for the purposes of producing heirs and rather than just handing over their claim on the duchy to their well deserved brother like so often happened when the noble family tree refused to branch they would instead be creating some kind of made up of council made up of their vassals the elected mayors from the duchy's largest towns.

Sabrian wasn't having any of it, his sibling had clearly gone mad and was denying both of them (but mostly him) their birthright. After years of arguing, petitioning their mother on her death bed, and an outright threat of banishment from the now ascendant Duke Solace, Sabrian went out, raised himself an army, and went to war with his softhearted kin. The fighting was worse than anyone could have imagined, the people rose in Solace's defence and Sabrian had to resort to brutal tactics to put them down burning villages and farmland in the drought of summer and marching his followers over the ashes towards their next target.

Solace's head was delivered to him in a basket the same day he took the throne, and for the decade since Sabrian can't hold court without remembering the reproachful look in his sibling's dead eyes.

Further Adventures:

Knowing the common people hold no love for him, the duke governs from an ancestral bastion high in the mountains, a cold and lofty perch quite suitable for an unassailable tyrant who thinks himself above all. His remoteness and unwillingness to bother has paradoxically allowed his vassals the ability to govern their lands the way they see fit, which leads to a patchwork of graft, neglect, and personal ambition. In recent years Sabrian has sought to curve this independent streak by putting more and more resources behind his personal guard, who are now commanded by a former bountyhunter famed for her ruthlessness.

Increasing isolation gives the party a chance to rally together a resistance against the duke, but such a coalition might be built on shoddy foundations. A sizeable minority of his underlings feel hard done by him and might turn if given the right encouragement, though they may prove untrustworthy. Solace's old supporters have been ruthlessly hunted and will be mistrustful of newcomers, especially those that fought under the usurper. Minerva's clan are powerful nobles in their own right in a neighboring territory, and once they have their daughter back would be happy to throw their support behind the party's plan to oust the useless tyrant, provided the party are willing to play ball with them.

Sabrian has been unravelling, retreating from public life, executing his servants an courtiers for suspected treason, even keeping his formerly loving wife locked in a tower for the better part of a year. In the ten years since he married Minerva to secure her parent's support for his usurpation he has been unable to father a child, no matter what healers he turns to or what concubines he lays with. The inability to produce an heir was one of his primary reasons for going to war with Solace, and now he is failing in that exact same noble duty. This rather ironic fate was delivered unto him by Litirenn, god of farmland and cultivation, as punishment for burning one of the god's shrines during his rampage through the countryside ( along with the shrinekeeper who was an outspoken proponent of Solace's reforms. The god is going to be watching the party's actions closely if they set themselves in opposition to the duke, giving them a nudge now and again, ensuring the land rises to support them, that kid of thing.

Art 1

Art 2

[majorasnightmare]

STAYING ON MY ISOBEL BULLSHIT now with Dark Urge flavoring

i think possibly the best variation of Isobel and the Urge is the one where Minthara is present to grill you about it, because it really brings a LOT of context to the forefront of that scene that otherwise would go unquestioned

like firstly minthara has zero qualms about the Actual Killing so the killing of isobel is just like, a Non Thing, but what minthara does is question the CIRCUMSTANCES and force you to explain yourself for them, when otherwise thats something that just doesnt get discussed! you focus so much on the fact of the killing that you barely notice the scene surrounding it, which is so utterly fascinating regarding how the Urge works.

Minthara questions "why here? why now? in the middle of the shadow curse, trying to fight a powerful enemy, when allies are beneficial, if at the very least to put warm bodies between us and them?" all of which are valid points! minthara questions what the benefit is to turning all of last light into zombies *now* is, especially when you have to fight you way through them, and doesnt understand what the point is in indulging it *now* of all times. Which is certainly something to consider when you examine HOW the isobel urge scene goes down

The earliest possible scene is sceleritas visiting you in camp to give you a target for the Urge, a first in the playthrough, which happens BEFORE you go to last light but while youve spent some time in the shadow cursed lands. He provides you an image of her to recognize her, and informs you that itd be really great to kill the shit out of her, but reasons WHY are sparse. Up until that point, the Urges were random, sudden, things youd resist or indulge in the moment. Kicking a squirrel suddenly, resisting tearing off the wings of a bird, welcoming a bard into your camp or being rude but having not a single hint of bloodthirst until you wake up covered in gore. durge even says as much in an optional dialogue in the underdark, when spaw tries to scare you off before you find their village

"The Urges don't give warnings" is a rule that durge has intuited through their interactions with the Urge, where their understanding is that the Urge is sudden, seemingly random, without prior signs or warnings of any kind, least of all verbal. And here Sceleritas is giving you basically an assassination target. And true to form, when you actually MEET isobel, the Urge is the worst its ever been, requiring several boxes of dialogue to go through before its able to be successfully resisted, a struggle visible enough in your expression that Isobel can tell when you've succeeded. This is FAR from the usual Urge experience for a post lobotomy durge, this is premediated and *intense*, your Urge dialogue being short clipped maddened ramblings of ripping and maiming, completely different from your fantasies of cutting of Gale's hand (which bears durges typical macarbe prose)

Succumbing to this Urge also rewards you with the Slayer form, a first for Bhaal as durge didnt have the Slayer beforehand, despite being Bhaals chosen. Killing Isobel is so important to Bhaal that he gives you what he considers his greatest gift and most powerful expression of his domain (though it can also be used as punishment, as seen in the Orin cutscene where she learns her heritage)

Why does Bhaal want Isobel Thorm, of all people, dead SO badly? He isnt even this bad about GORTASH, chosen of his sworn enemy Bane and one of the reasons why his Dark Urge chosen falls from grace in the first place? The Urge compels you, overwhelmingly, to kill Isobel as soon as you see her. It goads when you fight Marcus, saying he shouldnt kidnap her because you need to kill her *now*. You cant have any dialogue with Isobel without one of the first things the Narrator says to you is that your Urge wants to kill her SO badly. If you mention it to her, you get MULTIPLE dialogues where your only options are succumb to the Urge or resist it, with the succumb options being things like "stab you! kill you! maul you!", essentially just barking out murderous nonsense as the Urge overtakes you, and its physically sickening to boot. Resisting THIS Urge over all others FEELS godawful, its nauseating and painful and even though there isnt a check to resist it, the description emphasizes just how hard it is for you to commit to resisting this Urge. The Urge doesnt act like that at any point in act 1, or even the rest of act 2 for instance. Talking to Steelclaw and forcing yourself to remember essentially triggers another squirrel incident, this time offscreen. And resisting the Isobel Urge means any long rest after has the chance to trigger the Companion Urge scene, which Sceleritas claims to be your Urge trying to cope with the lack of bloodshed but which overall feels like a punishment. As far as ive gotten into Act 3, so far this is the ONLY Urge that behaves like this. Theres SOMETHING about Isobel SPECIFICALLY. The reward is the greatest its ever been for Durge, and the punishment is uniquely bitter, and theres no room for gray areas, even as Minthara concisely points out all the reasons attacking Isobel is a Logically Bad Idea.

To kill Isobel, your Urge makes you unto an animal, disregarding your own safety and well being, and even your own long term goals (you have to kill ketheric no matter what ending your after! you have to kill ketheric even if you want to please bhaal! to become his chosen and slay the world in his name!) and it doesnt make a lick of sense. Sceleritas asks if you arent fond of piles of corpses anymore but it doesnt even matter if you tell him your waiting for a better timeframe to slaughter everyone, the fact you didnt do it as soon as the Urge demanded it is worthy enough of punishment to try and kill your closest companion.

Overwhelmingly it feels less like the typical instinctive Dark Urge borne into your blood and more like a Divine Mandate that you are punished for rejecting. Blessed with the purest expression of Bhaals power, losing yourself to an animalistic frenzy, forgoing common sense or strategic thinking or even *plans on long term appeasing Bhaals goals*, putting EVERYTHING at risk because theres a strong chance the shadow curse will just PERMAKILL YOU as per the curses lore, all for a SINGLE kill. Bhaal wants Isobel Thorm, specifically, dead by YOUR hands, and her death is worth more to him than the slaughter of Myrkuls Chosen, and worth risking the completion of the worlds death to him. The entire situation casts doubt on the nature of the Urge (up until then a randomly occuring "instinct" that could be embraced or resisted but ran the risk of striking when you werent prepared leading you to act on it, but overall something that did not overwrite who you were as a person or your decision making abilities, as durge remained macabre-ly poetic as per usual and could balance it against perceived pros and cons strategically) which in turn casts doubt on your entire HISTORY as the Dark Urge prior to your tadpoling. Combined with the knowledge that Bhaal blesses his killers with murderous euphoria better than any drug high, and the description of Orins slayer punishment as "No more Orin", the Urge to kill Isobel makes one wonder just exactly how much control Durge had over themselves beforehand and if the Urge is truly as innate as Sceleritas (and the Absolute in the optional wall crack dialogue) seems to indicate

After all, if the Dark Urge is you, and you are the Dark Urge, why would Sceleritas go to the trouble of informing you beforehand? Why would the Urge pick your closest companion when you dont kill a stranger whos keeping you alive long enough to slaughter the world? Why would you lose yourself and start babbling madly when you talk about the killing Urge? Why does the Urge sicken within you so similarly whenever your kind or compassionate?

What the fuck is UP with Isobel Thorm?

[kaliade]

Twisted Wonderland Headcanon- The Villains Were Right

  I’m really, really into Twisted Wonderland right now and you all have you suffer for it.  If you don’t know what Twisted Wonderland is, it’s a gacha style Disney game with Twisted versions of the Classic Disney Movie villains all attending an all boys college called Night Raven College (herein referred to as NRC).  There the Great Seven (the Disney villains) are revered.  There are 2 different ways of interpreting NRC’s reverenace of the Seven that I’ve seen so far. 

1. The Villains were villains and this is a school for villains so no one cares 2.  The Villains won instead of failing in their respective movies and thus are still respected.

I propose a 3rd option.  The Villains were in the right even if their actions were seen as extreme.  Allow me to elaborate.  Beware, Spoilers ahead!

The Queen of Hearts In my re-telling/re-imagining, the Queen of Hearts is the uniter of her kingdom.  The Rose Queendom did not always follow a single ruler, instead being made up of a bunch of smaller kingdoms that were in a near constant state of war.  This war state would represent the madness that keeps getting brought up in regards to her.  The Queen of Hearts managed to untie the entire area of what would become the Rose Queendom under her banner.  The 800+ odd rules of hers were her way of uniting several cultures.  Feeding the flamingos while wearing pink?  That’s from one group who believed the similar colors would make the animals stronger.  No eating hamburgers on Tuesday?  One group had a religious observance on that day that forbid it.  And yes, the Queen did sentence many who broke her rules to be beheaded, but that was mostly because those breaking the rules were rebelling against her in an attempt to break the kingdom apart.  This is the main part where I think the Queen’s a bit extreme in her punishments, but my version of the Queen of Hearts was a traumatized general who definitely had PTSD as well as other mental health issues.

Scar United the hyenas and other downtodden folk against his brother King Mufasa.  Mufasa was giving positions based on blood ties and, in essence, racism by not allowing certain animal species to hold rank or even employment.  The hyenas were banished.  Scar saw that things were going to go bad with the spark of rebellion just waiting to be lit.  Wanting to save his kingdom, he allied with those who the Lion King scorned and banished.  Scar was successful in defeating his brother and took over as king, even saving his nephew Simba from being kidnapped by Mufasa’s loyal retainers to make the prince a puppet ruler.  He was aided in this by a meerkat and a warthog that had found the injured cub and taken him in.  Both meerkat and warthog were rewarded for their actions.  Scar ruled fairly over the Savanna until Simba, who had been taught how to be a ruler by his Uncle, was ready to take over.  Scar then retired and enjoyed the life where he didn’t have to make decisions that could affect the whole country, even if he did stay in the palace to act as a source of wisdom for his young nephew.  His extremeness comes from being the killer of his brother.

Ursula Triton’s sister who left after being treated horribly by the tailed merfolk (Basically like Azul was)  She does learn her magic and to create contracts and, yes, did start out as she is in her movie.  A scam artist, power seeking, etc.  Then her sister-in-law dies at the hands of humans (see the Little Mermaid prequel for details)  As much as she despises her brother, her nieces need a female role model.  Triton is busy and grieving and takes little notice of his sister’s return until he eventually does and she’s banished again, but now the mermaid princesses know her and have heard stories about what she can do. This is also a turning point of Ursula.  She’s been bitter this entire time and being treated kindly by her nieces and getting respect for the other merfolk with how she was helping the princesses made her change her tune, slightly.  She still makes deals, but the consequences of the deals are less eternal servitude and more indentured servitude with a stated end date.  This brings us to the Little Mermaid movie events.  Ariel still falls for a human prince but this time she knows her aunt has the power to give her legs and there’s less screaming all around from Sebastian and Flounder.  Ursula is hesitant on giving Ariel what she wants.  She remembers how her sister-in-law died.  So, in order to keep the existence of merfolk quiet, her price in her niece’s voice, which she also uses to test the human boy her niece is in love with.  Triton does find out, but the man has mellowed over the years, especially with his many daughters asking why he’d so mean to their aunt.  He is angry, but the siblings do talk it out and he appreciates Ursula looking out for his daughter on land.  There is no stabbing of the giant cecaelia or any stealing of a trident and Ariel eventually works out a treaty between the merfolk and the humans after getting her voice back form her aunt after Eric proves he loves her.

Jafar Took over Agrahbah because the sultan was an  idiot and the princess nearly caused a war with having her pet tiger attack her suitors.  It was the only way to keep his home safe.  After the princess was nearly tricked into marrying a street rat with a genie at his side, Jafar deposed the sultan and his daughter.  Life in Agrhabah grew better under his rule as he made several advances using magic to bring comforts to his people.

Beautiful/Evil Queen (Trigger Warning:  Rape allusions, Abuse, Assisted Suicide) Married to the king less than a month after his first wife died of mysterious circumstance,  Grimhild age age 17 became the new Queen and stepmother to a 5 year old Snow White.  While she didn’t spend much time with the girl, leaving her rearing to nannies and tutors, the Queen did not have any animosity toward the girl.  No, her hatred was focused on the King, who liked his women beautiful and young, the younger the better and they didn’t necessarily have to be willing.  Grimhild put up with this, trying to help the girls as much as she could with her potions but having no actual power to stop her husband.  Then Snow turned 14... Before the king’s eye could turn to his daughter, a prince from a nearby kingdom visited and was besotted by Snow.  Grimhild became enraged, not because he did not look at her like that, but because the man was in his 30s!  The king agreed to betroth Snow and the prince.  Fearing for the girl, the Queen sent her loyal huntsman to take the girl out to the woods to gather wildflowers for a gift for the prince.  In truth, she ordered her huntsman to take her into the wood and get the girl to run away on her own or make her.  After scaring the poor child with tales of what awaited her and what her mother and stepmother had suffered through, Snow fled into the forest and came upon the dwarves, who took her in and protected her in exchange for some housework and cooking.  The Queen would later, after events, give them royal fiat to mine magestones and sell them at high profit with the royal seal.  Unfortunately, Snow fell ill one day from the plague and never recovered, dying at the age of 18.  Nothing her stepmother or the dwarves did could save her.  Grimhild, taking pity on the girl’s suffering and inability to heal her, offered Snow poison to make her miserable death easier, which Snow accepted.  (Meaning assisted suicide) Now, while Snow was safe with the dwarves, the Queen decided enough was enough and with the help of the castle staff, who were also sick of the king’s ways, poisoned the king and took over the kingdom.  Snow came back home after a year, but she missed the dwarves home and would visit when she could.  The prince that was courting her never made it home and no one (save for an eagle eyed huntsman and a viciously protective queen) know what happened to him...

Hades (Admittedly my weakest of these) The Titan Class Phantoms are phantoms of half-gods that attacked Olympus.  Hades, being the only god who didn’t have residence of Olympus, was the only survivor and managed to trap them in Tartarus.  He set himself, and his descendants, to watch over the gate, which did eventually come to be more like a curse than a true calling.  Due to his connection to death, it was very difficult for him or his descendants to accumulate Blot.  Their magic tended to have a life draining effect which is why the family prefers to use tech over magic.

Maleficent The only one out of the whole bunch that I do not blame her canon counterpart for her reaction.  Listen, you are dealing with the Fae, a ruling Fae to be precise.  THat shit of not inviting her to a christening (which  for the sake of TWST i’m renaming a Naming Ceremony), which for a royal is a very big, public event, is just asking for a curse.  Seriously.  And if we take the fact they invited 3 light aligned fae to the party but not the dark fae, then that adds another layer to the situation.  In short, that could have been cause for war with a human nation, let alone a fae one.   So yeah, not much change in this one for me personally.  Maleficent was in the right. 

[isadomna]

The Death of Galswintha

Brunhild’s elder sister, Galswintha, arrived in Frankish lands as Chilperic I of Neustria’s betrothed in July of 568, trailed by even more treasure and finery than her sister had been. At Rouen, Chilperic tripped over himself to provide an even more spectacular reception than his brother had given Brunhild. He marched his army more than one hundred miles west, so they might meet his new bride ‘near the curved bed’ of the river Seine as she disembarked from her ship. Rather than being greeted by a palace hall full of nobles, Galswintha was welcomed by Chilperic’s entire army on bended knee, swearing an oath of allegiance to their new queen. Chilperic never did anything in half measure. And Galswintha was married not in the great hall of a converted basilica, but in the cathedral at Rouen.

Less than six months later, though, a third wedding would take place. No cathedral this time, just a handful of nobles quickly assembled in the great room of a royal villa. A week before this third wedding, King Chilperic and Queen Galswintha had been fighting. As she stormed and raged, messengers were seen riding out from the palace at all hours, delivering missives and pleas to her sister and her mother. Galswintha had caught Chilperic in bed, again, with the slave girl Fredegund. The queen was furious that ‘he showed no respect to her at all’; she was distraught over ‘the insults which she had to endure’. She wanted to return home. Was it truly so unendurable? Yes, to be made a fool of like that. And Chilperic had such a temper! She would return home, even if it meant leaving her enormous dowry behind. One morning, soon thereafter, the palace woke to a horrible scene. Galswintha had been found dead in her bed, strangled in her sleep.

Chilperic did not once address his subjects on the matter of Galswintha’s untimely demise. There were no searches for her assailants or rewards offered for their capture. No one was ever questioned or punished, not even the guards who had been posted at the door of the royal bedchamber that night. It was Fortunatus’s friend Gregory who stated plainly what the whole of France was thinking: ‘Chilperic ordered Galswintha to be strangled… and found her dead on the bed.’

Just months after Galswintha’s wedding, Brunhild had received word that her father had dropped dead, presumably of a heart attack. When the next message arrived, this one from Galswintha’s terrified nursemaid, it was reported that Brunhild went into shock. In less than eighteen months, Brunhild had lost her homeland, her father and now her only sibling. At the news of Galswintha’s death, Spain falls into even greater lamentations, and her grieving mother ‘collapses in distress, her knees giving way’ and faints. The enraged mother of the murdered princess was still a major player in international politics; after the death of King Athanagild, she had married his successor.

The few tears Chilperic reportedly shed shortly after Galswintha’s murder may have even been genuine: he was sad that things had come to this. It was nothing personal; Galswintha was simply no longer useful to him. But Fredegund was. Chilperic was obviously incredibly attracted to her. And his attraction also solved several problems. A low-born woman came without the complications of a powerful family; she would be happy with whatever meagre morgengabe he gave her. Three days later, arrayed in the brightly dyed linens and jewels of her predecessor, Fredegund stood at the altar, smiling up at Chilperic.

Galswintha’s murder has been portrayed in art numerous times throughout the centuries since, and the blame always rests on Chilperic, so much so that illuminated manuscripts and paintings portray the king of Neustria himself, wearing his crown and grinning rakishly, wrapping a cloth around the neck of his sleeping wife. In some versions, Fredegund looks on. Whether Fredegund really urged him on or not, she knew people would always assume that she had, cleverly disposing of yet another rival for the king’s affections.

Source:

Shelley Puhak, The Dark Queens: A gripping tale of power, ambition and murderous rivalry in early medieval

[scenearcee]

I never even thought about the fact that I accidentally paralleled the Simulanka event in a NeuviFuri fic I wrote several months ago 😭😭

~~~~

“…This feels like torture. He has no use for me, he was a priority victim of my lies, and yet he continues to be a benevolent figure to me. I don’t understand, not one bit, why he sees anything in this shell of a human being that could have been…” Tears well in her eyelashes, falling down her masked cheeks. “I pretended to be the one thing he hated most for centuries, I played a false opera and danced across the stage as the people of Fontaine were dying. He condemned my sins in front of the entire nation, and yet he still seeks my favor. Is this my punishment? Is he doing this on purpose, disingenuously to toy with my mind? To give me reward, only to take it away once I feel peace?” A tidal wave of sobs ripples forth, as if an ocean during a thunderstorm. She clutches the tulle on the skirt of her gown, letting her feelings spill to the kind stranger standing before her, absorbing everything she has to say. The guilt in her eyes is overwhelming, agonizingly apologetic. “I’m a traitor. I deserve exile, and yet I am tortured instead. Sometimes, I wish that I died with Focalors, so I didn’t have to keep living like this.”

A painfully familiar sting bounces through Wanderer’s chest, and he puts his hand on her shoulder to both get her attention and steady himself. Visions of his past flashing through his mind- Irminsul, swords, electro energy coursing through his veins. His breathing is labored. “... No you don’t. I know you think you do… but you don’t. Like it or not, there’s people in Teyvat who treasure you, and they’ll be a pain in the ass until you turn yourself around.” His eyes lock with Furina’s, which are poised in shock and anxiety. “I tried to erase myself from Irminsul, I made an attempt to destroy my own existence, and it was mostly successful- until Lord Kusanali, Aether, and Paimon fought tooth and nail to make sure I was still kicking. As annoying as it may have seemed, these people went to great lengths to give me a good life, and you aren’t any different. Your god went to great lengths to keep you safe and alive. Your loved ones here in Fontaine will push for you, whether you like it or not. It’s clear to anyone with a pair of eyes and ears that you don’t value yourself enough. I’m not the first to say it, and I definitely won’t be the last either. Furina, your life does matter to people. Your happiness is contagious, and there is no benefit in wishing you were dead. No matter how torturous this attention from the Iudex may seem, you are loved, you are being loved, and your walls are too fortified to let any of that in.” His gaze softens, and the heavy solemnity releases from his lungs like the lid being taken off of a pressure cooker. Their eyes lock, and the skin under his eye forms a crack as if he were made of porcelain, if he were fragile and breaking under pressure. Waves of reassurance ebb and flow from the eyes he is staring into, just a few inches away.

Furina removes his hand from her shoulder and interlaces his fingers with his. A whisper of a smile tugs at the corners of her lips, which are still covered with translucent fabric. “Oh believe me, Wanderer… I’m fortunate enough to know that I am cared for, and I’ve been there with the Traveler and Paimon. If anyone knows how to be an annoying hero, it’s those two.” She gives his hand a squeeze, and her smile manifests itself. “...but I appreciate your insight, and I think I’m ready to go home for the night. This was nice, thank you. I… I treasure your friendship.”

“Then I won’t dilly dally about getting you home, Miss Furina.” He scoffs and rolls his eyes with a smirk as he guides her out of their darkened hiding spot. Laughing together, holding hands and interchanging jokes as they walk out together, TOGETHER. Facing the world, starting with this crowded dance floor, headed to the front entrance, the massive double doors that led them to this party in the first place. That is, until a certain blonde with a silver fairy comes into their line of sight. Into their path of walking.

~~~

me when I write a neuvifuri fic but I'm also a scararina shipper and left in some crumbs

anyway I accidentally predicted that Wanderer is just a caring dude that wants to keep others from feeling the same way he did and he's more than willing to be there even though he didn't have someone until it was too late

[slinket]

Smutmas Day 31 Part 4 of 4

Holy shit, 10 mins till midnight, I did it.

This one is a spinoff of part 3, you need not have read it, but they happen the same night.

Prompts:

19-Don't make me take you home and punish you

27- What would people say if they knew you were such a slut for me

28- On your knees

29- Fucking is a reward but you haven't been a good girl yet.

NSFW, Dominis because duh.

The New Years Eve party at the Three BroomSticks was underway.  Young and old wizards alike were crowded together, ready to bring in the new year.  Everyone was filled with spirits as midnight approached, friends and lovers together, drunken antics at an all time high.  MC had convinced Ominis to accompany her to the party, and after setting a few rules, he obliged.

It’s not that Ominis didn’t like to have fun, he just loved control.  He needed it.  Loss of control was the only time he really felt his blindness.  So, setting up rules for him and his girl to follow were there to keep them both happy and safe.  Nothing too crazy.

Drinking is allowed, but we don’t get drunk.

Stay within hearing distance.

Don’t be obnoxiously flirting with other men.

Easy enough, keep them both safe, within range of each other incase something should happen, and Ominis wouldn’t spend the night filled with jealousy.

They were both having a great time.  Drinking, dancing, and laughing.  As the night went on, MC continued to drink though Ominis claimed they had hit their limit.  She liked feeling tipsy, it made her feel free, and more outgoing.  She felt brave when she drank.  She was surrounded by friends and her boyfriend, so she felt perfectly safe breaking one of Ominis’ rules.

She snuck off several times to get another drink, hoping Ominis didn’t notice that she would be out of range.  She didn’t want him to hear her ordering another drink.  He knew though - somehow he always knew what she was doing no matter how sneaky she thought she had been.  When she got back to Ominis, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side.  She threw her head back and drank, while Ominis admonished her.

“I think it’s time we get going, clearly you’ve not been listening to me and I don’t like it when you're too drunk, I don’t trust these other people. 

“Come off it Ominis, I’m fine!”  She laughed and decided to push his boundaries.  Why not break all of the rules and see what happens.  Maybe she could get her dominant boyfriend to appear.  MC took his hand and pulled him towards a table in the corner.  She was happy and laughing, sitting herself down next to Sebastian.  She had stopped guiding Ominis, so he crashed into the table.

“Sorry Omi,” she laughed, clearly tipsy.  “Sebastian!  Leander!  Are you having a wonderful night?  Ominis is being his usual self, getting mad at me for no reason.”  

Ominis growled and leaned over to whisper not so subtly into MC’s ear, “Don’t make me take you home and punish you.”

MC hummed in response to Ominis, pushing herself up and leaning across the table.  She stuck her ass out, making sure it was pressed against Ominis’ lap.  She grabbed Leander and kissed him, doing the same with Sebastian, making sure she gave a loud ‘smooch’ sound so Ominis would know exactly what she was doing.  

“MC,” Ominis grumbled, he grabbed her hips and pulled her down off the table, picking her up from behind and walking away with her.  He placed her down, pulling out his wand to help guide him out of the crowded bar.  “Let’s show you what happens to brats who don’t follow the rules.”

MC pressed herself up against Ominis, smelling his rage.  She stuck her tongue out and licked at his neck, tasting the sweat collecting at his collar.  She allowed Ominis to guide her outside, the snow falling softly.  It wasn’t overly cold outside, but enough to help her sober up a bit.  He pulled her around the side of the building, pressing her back against the wall, his hands on each side of her head, locking her in place.

“On your knees.”  Ominis didn’t often make demands, but when he did, he expected them to be followed immediately.  

“Ominis, it's snowing, and I was just playing with you, let's just go back to the party.”

“You drank too much, and kissed two other men, I don’t take that as playing, so get on your knees, I won’t tell you again.”

MC sighed in defeat, placing her hands on his shoulders.  She let her hands run down his body, mimicking her own movement, letting Ominis feel when she had lowered herself to her knees.  She knew what he wanted, so she pressed her lips against the band of his pants, feeling how hard he was from bossing her around.

“No, none of that shit, pull it out and get it in your mouth.”

MC huffed, but did as he asked.  Ominis knew that giving blowjobs was not her favorite activity.  She had a small mouth, and was more than happy to lick on him as part of foreplay, but a full blowjob left her jaw in pain soon after beginning.

She flicked her tongue out to lick at him, before he pushed her hands off and held her head, forcing her to open and hold his cock in her mouth.  “I’m going to fuck your mouth, pretty girl.  That’s your punishment for breaking the rules.  You’re gonna keep that tight little mouth of yours open and take me until I spill down your throat.  You got that?”  

MC didn’t respond immediately, she knew to wait.  Ominis brought a hand to her face, cradling her cheek softly.  He loved to demand and control, but always made sure she was a fully willing participant, even if he considered something a punishment.  He whispered to her now, his thumb caressing her skin lovingly, “Ok my darling?”

Ominis felt her nod and moved his hand to the back of her head.  He let her start sucking on him, moving her head on her own, giving her some time to adjust.  He was fully aware that she would be in pain after satisfying him with her mouth, but that is the price she would pay for defying him.  

He moaned into the cool air, his breath appearing in the air due to the cold.  “Hands on my ass,” he told her, and when she obliged, he once again made sure she was ready to take him.  Her moan was all he needed to hear, and then he held her head still and began thrusting his long cock into her mouth.  Each time he pushed in, he moved a bit further down her throat.  When she gagged on his cock, he chuckled and pulled out to let her breathe.  “You love my cock, don’t you baby?”  Her hum always excited him more, her approval of his words and the sensation of the act itself sending shivers down his spine.  “What would people say if they knew you were such a slut for me?  Taking my cock, trying to be good for me.  But you were so bad tonight my love, so fucking bad.”

Ominis didn’t hold back any longer, he full on started fucking her mouth, pushing himself all the way inside.  He hit the back of her throat, but encouraged her to open up for him because he she hadn’t reached the bottom of his cock yet.  He felt her swallow, her throat pulling his cock down and he roared, both of his hands holding her head as she gagged and coughed, spit dripping out of her mouth and down into the cold street.

“I love hearing you gag, Merlin I love it so fucking much, take my cum you naughty slut, swallow every drop for me.”  The heat of his orgasm quickly flew through him.  Shooting directly down into her throat, she gagged again, taking swallow after swallow since Ominis would allow her to pull back.  When he had spilled the final rope of cum into her, he swore, letting her push back.  MC leaned further over, breathing heavily and coughing onto the ground.  

“Don’t you spit anything out MC.  Cough all you want, but that cum better stay in your belly.”  Ominis leaned forward, resting against the wall. 

When MC could finally speak, she looked up at her lover, “Omi, I’m so wet for you, need you to fuck me.”  She was whining, hanging herself off his body.

“Oh darling, fucking is a reward, but you haven’t been a good girl yet.  You took your punishment well, but you still need to earn my favor again.”  He pressed his lips to her forehead, smiling at her as he pulled his wand out again, grabbing her hand and leading them back to the castle.  If you ignored the cheers of the new year being shouted into the streets, you could hear MC begging Ominis the whole way home to play with her body.

[puppyexpressions]

How to Stop Your Puppy from Biting: Simple Tips for a Happier, Bite-Free Life!

So, your new puppy is a bundle of joy… with razor-sharp teeth! Biting is totally normal for puppies—it’s how they explore the world. But when those playful nips turn into painful chomps, it’s time to step in. Here's how to guide your puppy away from biting, with love and patience.

1. Why Do Puppies Bite?

Puppies bite for several reasons:

Teething: Their gums are sore, and biting brings relief.

Exploration: Puppies use their mouths to investigate new things.

Play: Biting is how they interact with their littermates, and they don’t know human skin isn’t as tough!

Understanding the "why" helps you respond effectively.

2. Redirect, Don’t Punish

When your puppy starts to bite:

Offer a Toy: Keep chew toys handy. Swap your hand for a safe, puppy-friendly toy like a teething ring or plush toy.

Praise the Right Behavior: When your puppy chews the toy instead of you, shower them with praise and treats.

Punishment can confuse puppies and damage your bond. Positive reinforcement works wonders!

3. Teach Bite Inhibition

Puppies learn bite strength from their littermates. If they bite too hard, their siblings yelp, and the game stops. Mimic this by:

Yelping or Saying “Ouch!” When your puppy bites, let out a sharp “Ouch!” and stop play immediately.

Pause, Then Restart: Give your puppy a moment to calm down before resuming play.

This teaches them that biting too hard makes the fun stop.

4. Don’t Reward Biting

If your puppy bites during play or petting:

Stop Interaction: Calmly withdraw attention. Stand up, cross your arms, and turn away.

Avoid Yanking Your Hand: This can trigger their chase instinct. Stay still until they release.

Consistency is key—don’t let biting earn them attention!

5. Help Them Through Teething

Teething is uncomfortable for puppies. Give them safe ways to soothe their gums:

Frozen Treats: Freeze a wet washcloth or give a frozen carrot.

Special Chews: Offer teething toys made for puppies.

A happy puppy with a cool chew is less likely to gnaw on you.

6. Teach “Leave It”

Teaching commands like “Leave it” or “No bite” gives you control in high-energy moments.

Use Treats as Lures: Hold a treat in your fist and say “Leave it.” Wait for your puppy to stop pawing or nipping, then reward them.

Practice Daily: Reinforce this skill often—it’s a game-changer!

7. Stay Calm and Patient

It’s easy to get frustrated, but remember: puppies are babies!

Be Consistent: Mixed messages confuse your puppy. Set clear boundaries and stick to them.

Celebrate Progress: Every small victory is a step closer to a well-behaved adult dog.

8. Seek Help if Needed

If biting persists or escalates, consider:

Puppy Classes: Group training can teach essential skills and socialization.

Professional Trainers: They can address specific behavior challenges.

There’s no shame in asking for help—it’s all part of raising a great pup.

Final Thoughts The biting phase won’t last forever, especially if you guide your puppy with patience and consistency. Your pup is learning how to navigate the world, and with your help, they’ll grow into a gentle, loving companion.

[eldritch-spouse]

I read that little thing you wrote about Breg with an S/O who comes just from sucking him off

Soooo... How would uhh, maybe Patches, Mervin, Nebul, Belo and Vesper react to their partner having the same little thing? ;3c

Patches almost wants to make a little remark about who really is the quickshot between you two, but he's likely too turned on by the sight to even speak. Truth here is that the dullahan himself is the one that's usually more likely to orgasm from giving you oral, as a mere brush to his own cock will probably be enough to get him off at some point, so seeing the exact same level of enthusiasm from you has the magic caster lightheaded. Can... Can he film next time?

Mervin is just waaay too cocky about it. As a demon of pride, this is very "up there" in terms of flattery. You like the taste of him that much, huh? Finally, someone who recognizes how desirable he is, you're the least bit reasonable it seems. Go ahead, come your little brains out, he's just going to gloat and flex about this for the rest of his life- It's not big deal! It's the biggest deal ever, he's turned on enough to explode and he's going to fuck you so god damn stupid you won't walk for days.

Nebul sees this as a lack of general control from your part. If there's one thing you'll learn quickly within catching Nebul's eye, it's that he takes great satisfaction from controlling your orgasms. Meaning you're not to come unless he gives you permission to. This instance, while definitely amusing to the undead, warrants both rewarding and punishment. First, he'll commend you for enjoying the act of service so much, as all pets are meant to love pleasuring their owners, so it's good you take that much gratification from sucking him off. Then, he'll have to put you in your place for being a selfish little slut.

Belo has no idea how to react. He feels so guilty when he gets oral attention from you, because clearly, it should be the other way around. Whatever did he do to deserve this sort of privilege?? At first, he's not even sure why you started moaning so loudly around him, but then he takes his hands off his face and sees it- And if he hadn't orgasmed already before, he sure does then. Knowing that his deity takes as much pleasure from the act as him, from making him feel good, it's just too much for that bird-brain to compute, he comes hard and he babbles like a fucking idiot.

Vesper is beyond delighted! In a way, you have no choice but to get turned on while giving him oral, because his precum already has potent effects of aphrodesia, but to have you actually come from it? Oh, you really are made for him. The Icon pets your hair and coos about how perfect you are, encouraging you to hump at him and ride out another orgasm as a reward. What a cute, precious little thing you are- He'll make sure to let you service him for as long as you need to, perhaps being a little mean and enhancing his pheromones so you have no choice but to orgasm even harder, several times.

[blackrosesmatron]

||

This post will be a study of how LeBlanc is nearly the personification of Clan LaSombra, and how I accidentally drew inspiration from it for her character!

The Black Rose also bears some resemblance to the Sabbat, but that will be covered in another post at a later date (or possibly today if I can't stop hyperfocusing on it).

This will be a very lengthy post, so please be aware of that!

"The Lasombra exist for their own success, fighting for personal victories rather than solely for a crown to wear or a throne to sit upon. They believe that might makes right, and are willing to sacrifice anything to achieve their goals. A clan that uses spirituality as a tool rather than seeking honest enlightenment."

For this, I must clarify that I'm basing my LB on her current lore, which provides very little information except for her primary goal of preventing Mordekaiser from coming back. As shown in her short story and through both Samira's and Rell's stories, she is more than willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goal. No sacrifice is too great for her to make.

In addition to the canon part, delving into my Headcanons for LeBlanc, she aspired to be more than just an ordinary individual (or a 'nobody' as she refers to herself prior to joining Mordekaiser's forces). She believed she deserved more than what life had offered her in the past. The LaSombra clan is known as Social Darwinists, which aligns quite well with my views on the Matron and how I portray her (or at least how I hope to portray her).

❝Our clan has a long heritage of leadership in a very primal and pure sense. We do not soil ourselves with the petty details of reckoning every little scrap; we command and seize.❞ — Unnamed Paladin

"Lasombra are fiercely predatory creatures, and the Lasombra mindset is defined by an embrace of darkness itself. The Lasombra firmly believe that power is best held by the most worthy, and that the primary test of worthiness is acquiring said power. As a result, they are predatory, backstabbing, power-hungry and unapologetically arrogant about their position."

I still owe a proper post about LeBlanc's way of manipulating others, but she does employ multiple tactics to gain the upper hand over others and maintain a power balance in her favor. This applies not only to interpersonal dynamics but also on a broader and more significant scale, such as her influence over the politics of Noxus and other regions.

She is not beyond betrayal, she is extremely power-hungry (which is why she decided to 'serve' Mordekaiser in the first place), and she is not the least bit humble about the status she has acquired for herself over the centuries.

In summary, she will do anything one can imagine to seize power for herself and is unashamed of her actions.

"Several thousand years ago, a tribe of proto-Maasai people were ordered by a pale spirit to produce a child for him. This child was trained to lead by having every member of the tribe obey him, and he was trained to be loyal by extensive gifts and rewards from the Lasombra Antediluvian. The experiment failed, and Lasombra punished the tribe by wiping out half of its population. Before rerunning the experiment, Lasombra was visited by his child's playmate, Ontai. This shaman-in-training offered his life to Lasombra – in life, death, and beyond, with no price asked. Lasombra, disturbed by the offer and Ontai's already impeccable honor, tested the shaman's resolve by demanding he slaughter his tribe. Ontai obeyed, and a shaken Lasombra called off the execution and embraced Ontai, renaming him Montano, and bringing him to the Mediterranean. Thereafter, Lasombra was always uncertain whether his childe's unswerving honor had gotten the better of him."

Another part that will be solely based on Headcanons alone, as we have no information on LeBlanc's background—specifically, who she was prior to becoming the Matron of the Black Rose.

In a previous post, I mentioned that in my headcanon, LeBlanc hails from a small, nameless village that has been forgotten by time. Somehow, she managed to join Mordekaiser's forces and quickly grew closer to him. However, this closeness didn't come without a series of challenging tasks meant to test her resolution, loyalty, and her physical, magical, and mental prowess. She was willing to carry out any order from Mordekaiser, no matter how heinous, including wiping out entire villages or kidnapping individuals like the Yordle who studied the stars. While she deeply regretted kidnapping Veigar, she continued to showcase her abilities and determination, steadily climbing the ranks until she achieved the privilege of being part of the Iron Revenant inner circle.

Just like the original LaSombra, Mordekaiser remained uncertain about her loyalty until the very end—or most likely he was certain he never truly had it in the first place.

"Lasombra naturally seek power and authority to prove themselves better than others; (...) While the Lasombra focus on the practical matters of administration and leadership [of the Sabbat]. The Lasombra operate under the metaphor of "shadows". They do not stand in the limelight, preferring to manipulate others to their own ends while doing as little as possible to make themselves a target. This is not done solely out of fear, but because many Lasombra have domineering and superior personalities that necessitate having someone beneath them. This role is usually filled by mortals; (...) Those who find themselves under the control of a Lasombra can expect a demanding and unrewarding experience. Their domitor will use any and all tools available to ensure loyalty, such as the Blood Bond, coercion, physical intimidation, and unapologetic use of Dominate. The wise Lasombra will judge just how much of this force is necessary; too little and the servant is untrustworthy, too much and the servant is spineless and afraid to act when they need to act."

LeBlanc is canonically a figure who prefers to stay behind curtains, pulling strings and letting others do the dirty job. Or when she does it herself, she does it disguised as somebody else. It is a risk too great for her personally due to Mordekaiser's sigil on her, but it also works best for her when people do not know she even exists in the first place. In short, she isn't stupid enough to make herself a target.

Now, let's delve into LeBlanc's relationship with her own Cabal: The Black Rose.

With the exception of serving the Black Rose not being a rewarding experience, as there is always something to gain (although it often happens that what one gains from being part of the Cabal does not equal how much they give), all else applies. The Matron will use different methods to ensure loyalty from those who are proper members of the cabal and a different set of tactics for those who are unaware that they work for her.

The only thing she is against is mind-controlling a person, as she is well aware that Mordekaiser himself expects to strip the Pale Sorceress of her free will as soon as she dies. She cannot bring herself to do it to another.

"The Lasombra went to the Sabbat, the Ventrue to the Camarilla. And finally, the Ventrue deduce their claim of rulership over all Cainites through their lineage from the first of the Third Generation, while the Lasombra claim leadership over them as the Clan who first managed to slay their Antediluvian founder. With the Lasombra defection from the Sabbat, many Ventrue delight at the opportunity to lord over a clan they have struggled against for centuries, but the Magisters themselves see this as an opportunity to turn the Ventrue's arrogance against them. They become advisors, bodyguards, and regents to Ventrue Princes, dethroning the weakened Tremere and slighting the undervalued Toreador without directly threatening the sceptre that the Clan of Kings holds so dear; the Lasombra know that you don't need to sit on the throne to control the kingdom."

Despite her pride, LeBlanc does not see a problem in 'serving' another, as she did with Mordekaiser. As long as she can see it as beneficial to her in the long run, she will let the other party feel like they are in control, while she is the one actually pulling the strings and dictating the direction of where things are heading. Her personas often play the parts of advisors and lovers mainly, but if the need arise, she doesn't mind creating a new one for a more physically demanding task.

At the end of the day, she lies down knowing she is the one controlling the Empire and the regions beyond it.

"Lasombra pride themselves on doing things with style and elegance."

Her personas will not always be 'tidy,' 'clean,' or 'elegant,' but LeBlanc herself will refuse to show her face while dressed in shabby clothes. Her personal image is quite important to her, so if she is to show her own, she will do it with style and elegance.

---

Quite possible I'll be making another post solely on LB as a LaSombra, because I feel like I forgot to cover a few points. I'll do it once I remember what those points are XD

All the informations quoted in this post can be found here.

[sleepingdeath-light]

pomegranate cookie + fem s/o smut hcs ; 18+

requested by ; anonymous (17/09/22)

fandom(s) ; cookie run

fandom masterlist(s) ; hub | specific

character(s) ; pomegranate cookie

outline ; “Hi, can you please do an Pomegranate Cookie x female reader NSFW headcanons? (If it's alright of course)

Have a nice Day/Night ^^”

note ; this was requested before my request rules for smut were set in stone

warning(s) ; sexually explicit content, dominant!pomegranate cookie, use of sex toys, dumbification kink, overstimulation, pet name kink, oral sex, lingerie & leather kink

minors and ageless blogs will be blocked

first and foremost, pomegranate cookie is a strict dominant who falls solidly into the strict category — she’s firm with her rules, fair with her rewards, and unrelenting with her punishments (though, of course, she’s always mindful to do plenty of aftercare and discuss your boundaries/hard limits before you even get into the bedroom — she’s mean, yes, but you’re still her girlfriend and she doesn’t want to actually cause you any harm)

she doesn’t have many toys beyond the bare minimum (a few dildos to suit several separate purposes, and a vibrator or two), but rest assured that she knows exactly how to use them in order to make you seeing stars — bonus points if you give her permission to overstimulate you because she loves being able to make you into a dumb, drooling mess

when it comes to pet names in the bedroom, she’s not particularly bothered about what you want to call her so long as it denotes her authority over you (so ‘mummy’ and ‘mistress’ are both equally alright in her eyes, but she won’t propose anything herself) — and if you ask her to call you something other than your name in the bedroom then she’ll probably default to something along the lines of ‘pet’

she generally prefers to give oral rather than receive it, but she’s certainly not opposed having you go down on her if you make it clear that it’s something you enjoy — and she’s equally up for sitting on your face as she is having you kneel between her thighs (either way, though, she’s going to be mostly clothed and controlling the pace because she likes emphasising her dominance over you wherever she can)

and when it comes to eating you out, pomegranate cookie much prefers to take her time with you — to go slowly and do everything with great intention until you’re sobbing and burying your hands in her hair and begging her to please just let you cum

she can definitely appreciate the idea of you dressing up for her in the bedroom and she’s equally as fond of sheer/lacy lingerie as she is full leather sets — as long as it shows off your body in a way that’s just tasteful enough then she’s happy to entertain it (and always careful to fuck you in a way that doesn’t damage your clothing unless you’ve made it clear that that’s something you want from her)

[fallen-shamans-spirit]

The dainty amulet feels heavy at Yorgrim's side.

As he digs through the ruins of the Lockwood Estate, mist pools at his feet, dripping off of him like sweat. The only thing he can truly feel is the cold, a familiar sensation.

He traverses the difficult terrain until he finds his mark, the dip in the ground that will lead him to what was once the basement. He makes his way down.

It's odd, coming to the very place that you were slain. The tree that crushed his physical form is still exactly as it was when his rites were spoken. He touches the bark, and somehow, this is still rough against his fingertips.

He holds the pendant in the palm of his hand, careful with the dainty-looking charm.

He takes a knee before his own corpse, closing his eyes.

They open only when he feels an icy hand caress the side of his face. Though cold, it resembles the caring touch of a mother, as it urges him to face the figure before him.

A hooded woman of an ethereal beauty smiles upon her faithful servant of the mist.

"You've done well by me, My Mistwalker." Her voice is supernaturally soft, as if even her words are made of the fog she rules.

Yorgrim holds out the necklace by the chain, the berries of belladonna shimmering with an aura of silver. She moves her hand away, and with both hands, she pulls down the hood of her eternally wind-swept cloak. She bows her head, waiting for her faithful servant to do as he should.

With great care, he slips the silver chain over her head. As it settles around her neck, the lantern light behind her grows brighter. The mists around her stronger. The air of the room even colder. She smiles upon her soldier.

"Devotion of this result deserves reward, My Mistwalker." She cups his face in both hands.

"I only wish to fix what I have broken." He replies.

"I may be able to fix that for you, my boy. There are many ways to strengthen your bonds to the mortal realm."

Her hands move from his face to his shoulders.

"This may hurt a bit."

She drags her finger down his exposed shoulder. The cold that spreads from her fingertip is searing in its severity. It branches, stopping and starting over and over across his back and his biceps, taking the form of script. He grits his teeth in agony, and yet he makes not a sound. He endures yet another punishment for his misdeeds.

His Maiden cups his face once more, and to his forehead, he receives a kiss from death herself.

"It is time you move forward, My Mistwalker." She adjusts the pendant at her neck, smiling softly, "You've done me a great service. I will see to it you are continually rewarded, my warrior."

She brushes a strand of hair behind his ear, and suddenly, Yorgrim can feel a change in his attire, much more cloth than before.

"Farewell, Yorgrim. I will see you in the mist."

She dissappears.

And Yorgrim is healed.

[majorasnightmare]

curious how would you rank the 9sols bosses so far

okay so this is just my opinion up to the cortex center cuz im currently getting my ass beat 💜 BUT ive done all the optional shit so far !! so heres my ranking

1: LADY ETHEREAL

MADOKA WITCH ASS BOSS FIGHT. THREE PHASES OF HYPE.

the entire leadup through the "hot springs". the reveal of what happened to the soulscape team. the way the background ost changed. the fucking CHANTING in the last platforming section broken up by her singing??? GOD.

the boss fight itself?? LUNACY. i love how its so aggressive and rewarding and how the first phase teaches you her moves so you can keep up as she ups the intensity, how she makes shadow clones for all the members of her team for her phase 3, its such an INTENSE fight that never feels unfair, i ALWAYS feel like im right on the brink of "getting" it, and visually its just gorgeous. i feel like nine sols peaks right here but im not even upset because GOD what a TREAT!!! ITS SO BEAUTIFUL my first three runs i died just from looking at the scenery!!! quite literally one of the best boss fights ive gotten to experience period, im gonna miss it when im done

2: Jiequan

super saiyan ass FREAK i LOVE him

another intensely punishing fight that has FANTASTIC buildup, they rly do a great job of making you HATE him, between locking you in prison and threatening shuanshuan. his whole EVERYTHING is so cool and interesting, the transmutation forges is such a kickass concept its going to live in my brain forever now. his ideology is genuinely nuts but entirely consistent with his life experience and i enjoy that he spends several cutscenes just in the nude because hes That Bitch. he has such an aristocratic bearing even despite being batshit that it rly sells the vibe of fighting a corrupt nobleman even tho that concept doesnt even really apply with the current state of affairs in game.

his boss fight was the closest i got to frustrated, its such a punishing fight but as a tutorial for unbounded counters its REALLY rewarding. figuring that out and successfully applying it in fight was so rewarding, especially because i had gotten the rest of his moveset down, so finally mastering counters felt like the last keystone in a nearly completed arch. his phase 2 super saiyan shit was so fucking funny even tho his teleports fucked my shit up crazy hands style.

frustrating but enjoyable!!

3: Xingtian

SORRY CHIYOU BUT HE WAS COMIN AT ME WITH AN AXE

as a rare Capra Demon DS1 defender, i always enjoy boss fights that make use of cramped arena space to make you aware of your spacing!! another hyper aggressive fight that doesnt let you get breathing room, forcing you to make it yourself. not particularly hard but fun nonetheless! and aesthetically VERY cool

4: Goumang

evil bird lady kinda hot!

the buildup here is what rly sells it, the entire greenhouse area is so delightfully disturbing and the jiangshi soldiers are REALLY cool!! the fight itself is pretty repetitive and the jiangshi combatants dont have enough in their kit to be really engaging, but props for making you manage two reviving enemies at once, keeping you from being able to "check out". i mean you can still check out anyways like i did by only killing one and getting the other to half, and then finishing it off while the first one revives before smacking goumang around, but the intention was to manage both bosses at once at i give it props for that

5: Kanghui

a glorified mob of enemies fight that earns bonus points for having the pipe refill station right outside and being existentially horrifying! i enjoy the detail that he despite being horrifically transformed, he keeps his familys ring on, as some tie back to the person he used to be. sorry about your everything buddy! however, cloud piercer s into mob quell talisman explosion

only took me a few tries and that was mostly cuz i was surprised by his blood spear explosion

6: Yingzhao

WHAT A BOSS DESIGN!!! WOAWG

not a lot to talk about here! i enjoy the fucked up centaur look, and a really good "proper" first boss fight (as opposed to the miniboss mfs youve been fighting up until then)

his phase 2 caught me completely off guard but IS genuinely pretty cool! i enjoy monsters that take the idea of a horse mounted spearman and fuse the soldier and horse together, which is like an entire CATEGORY of Cool Boss Designs. yingzhao earns bonus points for having metal plates that mimic an armored skirt on the back end of the horse

7: The Varying Enemy-Turned-Minibosses Scattered Throughout the Levels, And Also Baichang Technically

not a lot of memorable fight design going on here, just a higher intensity version of typically already annoying fights. The level design starts contributing more memorable details, like making sure all the archers are taken out in the factory, or finding and destroying a shield generator before actually getting into the fight (or finding the light switch in the mines), but overall its Just Some Guy with more health and a more aggressive moveset. the designs have all been really enjoyable so far tho and ive liked looking at them, but i HAVE cheesed several just out of boredom

8: Sky Rending Claw

what a nothingburger ass fight. much like yanlao himself, its very much a boss fight that overstays its welcome and wont get itself into the grave. yanlao himself has some of the better parts of the game under his belt, with a katana zero-esque meat grinder section forcing you to sprint your way through a killbox while he tries to snipe you (with bangin tunes in the background) that doubles as the defense mechanism for a vault containing a civilizations worth of treasures, and a genuinely funny bit of banter earlier where he tells old man anecdotes to babble on stalling for time until xingtian activates, but the sky claw section was just such a wet fart. the moveset was repetitive, the boss itself was dull and boring looking, the framing was done better literally a section ago with going through the vault, and my main reaction to all of it was "more?? theres MORE i have to do before you die??? ugh"

a thematically appropriate sendoff for yanlao but overall one that i could have done without. its giving "this could have been an email"