#and has intense feelings about these two elves

[marudol]

kabru and the dungeon lords

kabru is a very critical character to dungeon meshi for a thousand and one reasons, and not merely for his status as the point-of-view character in the story's b-plot. kabru represents the compass by which dungeon meshi's world works. he has big-picture motives that involve the entire world, much grander than the original a-plot of "let's save falin."

he is our classic hero, a character who suffered great personal tragedy and must ensure that no one suffers the same fate. as such, he is a great parallel for dungeon meshi's most integral characters:

the dungeon lords themselves.

🚨manga spoilers ahead.🚨

thistle

picture this: you are a child, separate from anyone else in the world who looks like you due to circumstances beyond your control. you are taken by pale-skinned adults who try to treat you well; who clothe you, feed you, and put a roof over your head.

it is not enough.

who am i describing - kabru, or thistle?

kabru-thistle parallels focus on their shared past as trans-racial adoptees. their shared experiences are not a universal one to all trans-racial adoptions in the dungeon meshi universe: the floke twins are treated well by their gnomish foster (grand)parents; allowed to be children while they are children and treated as adults when they are adults.

not all trans-racial adoptees are given the same courtesy. kabru was raised by an elf who infantilized him, even once he was fully-grown. milsiril did not always know what kabru needed from her, so she defaulted to treating him the way she would treat an elf his age rather than understand what his age meant as a tall-man.

by contrast, thistle was raised by tall-men. freinag saw thistle as a son and so he and delgal thought themselves as brothers. but as delgal aged and matured, thistle remained stagnant. eventually, delgal's relative age surpassed thistle's- but no one could even conceive of that, because thistle's numerical age made the tall-men around him treat him as an adult rather than a teenager.

they both feel immense responsibility for the tragedies suffered by their people. kabru explicitly believes there must be a "reason" he survived utaya and that the reason was to destroy the dungeons to ensure it never happened again, and thistle IS the reason the golden country survived their war, and why eodio made it to adulthood all.

kabru and thistle are characters pre- and post-accomplishing their goals. kabru has yet to assume total responsibility; thistle already has.

they must save them- they must protect them all.

[🩵]

marcille

once upon a time, a child lost a parent before they were ready to, and the trajectory of their life changed forever. desperate to understand, the child grew into an adult and dedicated themself to preventing their personal loss from happening to anyone else ever again. as a result, they looked downward into the dungeon's depths.

they will find the answers they seek.

who am i describing- kabru, or marcille?

marcille and kabru stand as important secondary figures to laios, our main protagonist. in the words of another excellent post, they are the heaven foils to laios's earth. where laios is grounded and thinking about the here and now, they have both identified big picture problems plaguing their world and pursue these goals with intense fervor.

however, these goals have been diverted by censorship. marcille cannot access information about historical ancient magic through traditional means and the elves won't tell kabru what happened to utaya's dungeon, so they both decide to go and do something with their own two hands.

entering the dungeon is a step towards their grander goals, which are both rooted in opposition to long-lived supremacy. critically: the solutions they come to are vastly different.

marcille's solution is very fantastical - "fixing" everyone's lifespans by making EVERYONE long-lived (though her original solution seemed to be more grounded; being a lord gave her the chance to indulge in the full fantasy).

on the other hand, kabru wants something more concrete and based in the real world. he wants to use the dungeon as a means to an end before destroying it entirely, whereas marcille wants the dungeon to be the end. hers is a magic idea borne about by escapism, while kabru wants to solve a societal problem with something tangible to improve the lives of the shorter-lived without resorting to the fantastical.

(note the similarity in these compositions!)

kabru and marcille are aiming for the heavens; they have chosen to act as stewards to bring about a better future for as many people as possible.

but eventually, they must crash back down to earth.

[🩵]

mithrun

a long time ago, a dungeon lord met their maker and the demon ate its fill, but failed to breach the surface. carnage and destruction was sown in its wake. in the aftermath, a survivor dedicated himself completely and utterly to the cause with no room for reproach.

the dungeon will be conquered. and if he has it his way, it will be conquered by his hand.

who am i describing- kabru, or mithrun?

if thistle represents kabru's past and marcille represents kabru's present, than mithrun represents one branch of kabru's future- and a rather bleak one.

mithrun has suffered great tragedy at the hands of a dungeon and, as a result, dedicated himself to be what he believes is his one remaining desire: to finally be consumed entirely. he thinks he has nothing else to live for, so he runs himself ragged every single day just to inch closer and closer at a chance to kill himself while pursuing his goal.

this great fervor is one that kabru artificially mimics long before meeting mithrun. kabru is willing to die for his goals. he does die for his goals. he thinks he is going to die without a chance for resurrection when he sabotages the canaries, which is why his 'last' thought is "it's up to you now, laios!"

remember: kabru believes his survival has to serve a purpose- his survival must have been 'worth it.' in order to make his own survival palettable, kabru dedicates himself entirely to the dungeon's destruction without long-lived intervention as a means to avoid repeating utaya's fate. kabru self-deprives, fails to care for himself, and he is constantly killed in pursuit of his goal to conquer the dungeon before people like the canaries can. while kabru has desires, he only indulges in the one that has guided him for over a decade.

functionally, he and mithrun are identical when they first meet.

kabru has purposefully deprived himself of his desires beyond ensuring another utaya doesn't happen again, and mithrun is proof of what happens when you follow that to its logical conclusion. however, over the course of their week together and the final arc of the story, kabru makes the choice to divert from mithrun's fate.

kabru looks into the eye of his ultimate goal, and in the culmination of his arc, ultimately refuses this destiny.

what do you want, kabru? are you hungry, kabru?

kabru indulges. instead of blindly following through the dungeon's destruction and sacrificing what he wants for the greater good, he wants, and he befriends laios instead of ending his life. he leaves mithrun's fate behind...

...and senshi- one of the most steadfast representatives of dungeon meshi's thesis- sets mithrun on a path where he, too, can learn to chase after newer, healthier desires.

[🩵]

laios

one day, a child was hungry for the answer to a question: "what is wrong with me?"

there is no satisfactory answer. a mother and a sister believe nothing is wrong, but everyone else in their small world disagrees. those eyes, that personality- something must be wrong.

but there is no recourse.

so, these children endeavor to focus on the world around them in ways that won't hurt them. one chooses to study and love humans, because humans are beautiful and complex and amazing. the other chooses to study and love monsters, because monsters are easier to understand and always obey one simple rule: eat or be eaten.

they double down on their interests soon enough. monsters have hurt one child enough, and humans can't get enough of hurting the other.

you know which one is kabru. you know which one is laios- dungeon meshi's fabled narrative foils.

laios and kabru are as textually close to being explicit foils as humanly possible. the first sentence of kabru's page of the adventurer's bible says it perfectly: "in every possible way, he's a contrast with laios. laios loves monsters, while kabru has an endless interest in humans" (56).

in basic terms, a foil character is a character with traits that contrast against another's, typically the main protagonist. this contrast serves to highlight the themes of the story, and we see that illustrated perfectly with laios and kabru.

where kabru has denied himself care, laios gives it to him without thinking. where laios believed no one could ever want to be his friend, kabru proves him wrong. the nature of nourishment and human connection are both critical foundations to dungeon meshi's story, and the main character struggling with human connection while his foil struggles with nourishment is no mistake.

kabru wanted to be laios's friend all along. the b-plot of dungeon meshi is driven by kabru's unconscious desire to understand and ultimately aid one inscrutable laios touden. the reason they cross paths at all is because kabru wants to meet him! he takes a chance when toshiro appears and sees his chance through.

but kabru doesn't realize it until he's already said it. he betrays himself, completely unaware that his supposed interest in the touden siblings skews a little more to the right than he could have possibly known.

killing laios would have been the ultimate preventative measure. he was yet to be dungeon lord, and with the canaries intent on handling marcille, kabru could have dealt with him right then on that cliff. but kabru doesn't take the opportunity because he doesn't want to.

he'd rather befriend laios than see him dead, and he takes the chance by the sleeve and doesn't let go until he is listened to.

and in the end, kabru is rewarded for his leap of faith: laios puts an end to the demon. laios has ensured that another utaya will never happen again.

laios saves the world.

all because kabru allowed himself to be selfish.

[camille-lachenille]

I’ve been rotating the potential of elves coming back wrong from Mandos, like missing chunks of memory, or with some traits of their personality completely changed, bc try as they want, the Valar just can’t get Elves right when healing them. And I was thinking about the many, many fanons about Lindir’s backstory.

So I mashed the two ideas together

Finrod died in… extremely traumatic circumstances, to use an euphemism, and the Valar found they couldn’t heal him while he kept these memories. So they erased them. Only, whoever did the erasing went a little too strong on it bc they didn’t know how to dose their power for an Elf. And Finrod got re-embodied a little too soon, and was lost bc he didn’t know who were these people around him calling him by names he didn’t know, in a language he didn’t understand.

He knows two things: he likes singing, and he wants to get back home, over the sea.

So Lindir smuggles himself on a ship leaving for the War or Wrath, and just kind of bumbles his way through the whole thing without understanding what it happening. Círdan and Gil-Galad recognise him, so they take him under their protection and set him in charge of the women and children in a refugees camp bc Lindir can’t fight but he sings the best lullabies and loves kids.

At some point, Lindir befriends Elrond, who feels strangely familiar in many ways, and he ends up following him around like a happy, singing shadow. Elrond is put into the secret of Lindir’s real identity and he starts working even harder in his healer studies.

Over the centuries, Elrond manages to help Lindir recover some memories from his first life, though only the happy ones. Lindir forgot Barahir and Beren, forgot all the grief and loss he felt after the passing of Bëor and his other mortal friends, hence the reason why he is so confused by mortals in FOTR. He still loves singing, and regains his taste for jewellery and clothes, and Elrond is only too happy to indulge him.

Eventually, Lindir meets Galadriel, and even tough he can’t reconcile the faint memories of little Artanis clinging to him with sticky hands with the lady in front of him, they become fast friends and Lindir spoils Celebrían rotten bc he’s an uncle!!!

And when time comes to Sail, Lindir follows Elrond like he always has since the end of the First Age, but this time he remembers the family waiting for him in Valinor, even though he still struggles to think of them as his family.

The first thing Elrond does when he sets foot in Valinor, after kissing Celebrían silly, is to walk straight for the Ring of Doom with Lindir and a gaggle of Very Angry Relatives in tow to scream at the Valar with the whole power of the Voice he inherited from Lúthien and trained with Maglor, until the Valar fix Lindir. Galadriel gets to do her scary show too, as a treat.

It takes some time but then the Valar manage to put the memories back into Finrod and he’s as fixed as he can be. He also gets intensive therapy and Huan as a service dog bc 6000 years not being himself are a bit traumatising, but he’s mostly fine at the end of the day.

[mothiir]

i am foaming at the mouth waiting for more of the aeldari/diplomat fic. the way you write the alien perspective is So! Good!!! please tell me you have more writing/headcanons for the xenos factions, i love those silly space elves and space robots!!

i will be working on my next taleath/diplomat fic soon, but here are some headcanons to tide you over because GW neglects Eldar and half the fandom just boils them down to pointy-eared waifus rather than truly alien creatures, which bugs me. these are all 100% my own invention and based on nothing but my own perception of what would be cool.

Random thoughts on Aeldari culture:

since the vast majority of Craftworld Eldar live lives of carefully curated experience in order to avoid succumbing to their degeneracy of their past, it stands to reason that sex is a Big Deal for them. Romantic relationships between Aeldari can take decades to form — sometimes centuries can pass before a couple so much as hold hands. Even when things are moving relatively swiftly by Aeldari standards, there will be months of meditating beside each other, ensuring that they can stand to be in each other’s presence without losing their grip on their feelings. It’s very common for older Aeldari to serve as chaperones for young would-be lovers; they are tasked with ensuring things do not get too intense. When the pair do have sex, it is often intensely ritualistic. Since Aeldari are so psychically gifted, they need layers of protection and care to ensure they don’t give half their Craftworld a really awkward dream. No one wants to have a vision of their brother getting backshots for the first time.

Exodite Eldar - the ones that ride dinosaurs and haven’t had a lore update since about 2005 - view sex very differently. It is a gift from their mother planet, and meant to be enjoyed. They do not casually procreate, but this is because they believe it is their duty to raise strong children to benefit the collective. Arranged marriages are common, but always done with the consent of the children involved (the children in question are generally about two hundred years old — the Craftworld Aeldari think this is appallingly young). The fertile Aeldari are encouraged to procreate as much as possible, and families of ten or more children are common. Since the Fall, infertility is very common among both males and females, so those that cannot bear their own young will work to raise the young of those who can, freeing them up for more frequent pregnancies (since Aeldari children taken at least three decades to reach what we would consider prepubescence, the help is much needed).

Since Yvraine’s big song and dance about Ynnead, more and more Drukhari are defecting — some directly to Yvraine, some to the Craftworlds. Obviously, there are all sorts of problems with integration — including detoxing from literal soul addiction — but one of the more mundane ones is sexual frustration. Imagine going from shagging every time you feel like it to being told that even looking lustfully at another Eldar is considered a grave breach of protocol. Taleath has spent more time than he will ever admit meditating away a boner.

And the more NSFW stuff:

Yes, they have dicks. They look very human in that respect. Never mention this to them, because they will not appreciate it.

Most Aeldari will tell you that they could never look lustfully upon a human, as this would be equivalent to you looking lustfully upon an ape. You are utterly beneath them — you barely qualify as sentient to them — and sex with you would qualify as bestiality to them.

Most Drukhari will tell you that Craftworld Aeldari are filthy liars with a stick so far up their arse it’s a wonder they manage to get anything done. Yes, humans are totally beneath Aeldari — they’re mewling, miserable creatures with short pathetic lives and nothing to redeem them apart from how delicious they are when they die screaming. Or, even better, fail to die, and just scream and wail for mercy and — wait, what were you asking again?

Basically, Drukhari will fuck humans — not all Drukhari, not all humans, and we are going to have to play fast and loose with the definition of ‘fuck’ because a lot of the stuff that happens in Commoragh defies even my attempts at description.

Aeldari will not, in general, fuck humans. This does not mean that some do not want to. They just cannot acknowledge it without going against the deeply held taboos of their culture. The fact is that they will say it is because humans are disgusting and completely beneath them — which is, from their point of view, largely true — but that is an effective shield against the actual answer, which is deeper and more complicated than anything they really want to admit to outsiders: that the Fall warped every aspect of Aeldari society, including sex. The rituals they have prior to building a relationship, let alone prior to sex, are so intricate and long that a human could well age and die before the Aeldari even feels ready to admit their feelings. It just isn’t worth it.

BONUS: How to Tell If An Aeldari Is Crushing On You

Aeldari are creatures of bizarre mannerisms and a culture so alien that it makes the orcs look familiar. However, here are some signs to watch out for if you think that your Aeldari is harbouring some heretical feelings:

They occasionally refer to you by name instead of ‘Mon-Keigh’. (Note: if they start fondly referring to you as ‘little pet’ or ‘little prey thing’ I would advise reading up on your life insurance policy as this is not an Aeldari, this is a Drukhari, and only the Emperor’s Mercy can help you now)

You keep bumping into them. Normally you will walk into what you thought was a perfectly empty room, only to find them meditating. They will normally sigh, and declare something about not being able to be free of your pestilential species, and make to swan off. If you apologise profusely, they may graciously permit you to join them. This is the Aeldari equivalent of a blow job in church, so be try and be good.

They loudly state how annoying and loud all these humans are. Aeldari do not normally need to say this out loud; it’s a given. If they are saying it, they are trying to remind themselves of the fact they are meant to dislike you.

They mastermind a plot to save you from a minor inconvenience that leaves thousands of your kin dead or dying. They do not understand why you are upset at this. The others are just humans, yes? You are their human. That is the difference. (Contrary to what you might think, this is not a purely Drukhari trait. This is something all types of Aeldari will do. The only difference is that a Drukhari will try and fuck you after doing it, possibly as you cry out of guilt, and an Aeldari will try to hold you hand, which is their version of fucking)

[precambrian-sea-pancake]

Gonna infodump about my D&D character

(Sadly forced to keep things confidential because my party members follow me on tumblr…you know who you are 👁️👁️)

I’ve only had Gawain for a short time but OH MY GOODNESS I FUCKING ADORE THIS SILLY GUY!!

Also kinda shocked that the moodboard I made for him got that many notes. That’s a first…

Also please enjoy the drawing @hootbon made for me. I will never shut up about their art.

So…for what CAN post publicly…

Gawain is your token Lawful Good Paladin TM. Bonus points for being a protector aasimar I guess. (Though I might multiclass into a bard depending on how things go. It would fit him well. They’re my favorite spell caster.)

His personality is gonna be SO fun to play. Before I explain that, I should mention that he’s actually the youngest of the group at 24. The second youngest is the Kobold (Maran) who’s 37. So he’s a lot more naive and still understanding himself and the world around him. People often dismiss him due to that unfortunately. But, you know, imagine a dumb collage age boy and you get somewhat of an idea.

He’s a very sweet and compassionate guy, extremely extroverted and fun loving…maybe a bit flirty at times. Definitely cracks witty comments and one liners in battles ranging from something clever to “suck my dick” or something dumb like that. That doesn’t mean he can’t be serious, he absolutely knows when he should. Ironically he’s the most “normal” of the group, often being the straight man. Overall heart of gold and just wants to help people.

He has a bit of a rebellious and impulsiveness to him. As clever as he is, he’s mostly driven by his emotions. It’s always a “do what feels right in the moment” rather than logic. In general he’s just very emotional and struggles with hyper empathy. This also causes him to question a lot of the authority around him.

I’d also say he has that Disney Princess syndrome. Gawain is convinced that he has some grand destiny and is meant for more. He’s always wanted to explore and learn more about the world, meet new people and cultures, live a life of glory and adventure. Maybe he’s in over his head or maybe he’s not…we’ll see.

However, another big reason for doing all this is that he wants to understand who he is…more accurately WHAT he is. He was born to humans, raised by humans, and grew up in a mostly all human kingdom. So he grew up thinking he was one despite some strong differences between him and the others. Aasimar are VERY rare, and more like myths to most people, and others don’t even know they exist. So people either assumed he was blessed or cursed, some treated him like the messiah, and others thought he was a freak and dangerous. So yeah, he never felt like he belonged and wants to learn about himself.

Somewhere in his life he ended up becoming a squire and completed his training just before the start of the campaign…

And that’s all the backstory information I can post because my friends will see this.

I guess I can do a bit of trivia:

It’s still D&D lore, but the world itself is homebrew. Humans are actually not the majority race, far from it. Most humans live in a large archipelago with various human nations. I remember the DM said the estimated population of humans was 20,000 to 30,000. The two mainland continents are one dominated by dwarves and the other by elves, along with other races being far more common on the mainland. Not really about my character but I LOVE that detail. It’s somewhat relevant I guess since I said Gawain grew up in a human society.

The god he venerates most is Ilmatar.

His eyes reflect his emotions and power. When using any of his abilities or when under intense emotions (both positive and negative), his eyes will turn a solid gold color.

Prior to his training, he was a courier. His parents ran his town’s postal service and that’s one of the things that got him into the idea of adventuring.

He’s more of a cat person than a dog person. He likes both, but I feel like he’d go for the cat.

The first weapon he ever used was a bow rather than a sword. The specific sword he uses is an arming sword.

He is a wonderful singer, his voice is almost ethereal in when he sings (little aasimar headcanon of mine).

His favorite study is anthropology, but also really likes history and geography. He’s always collecting little souvenirs and trinkets from everywhere he visits.

He keeps a diary and loves to write stories and sketch things. A lot of story inspiration comes from his dreams, which are often very vivid…and he remembers them super well.

Neither of his parents have blonde hair, nor is it a recessive trait they had. It’s actually part of his aasimar traits.

He talks in his sleep because I think it’s funny.

If this wasn’t a medieval fantasy world, he’d definitely use Gen Z slang. Maybe even tell someone “L + Ratio” or “Skill issue” after besting them in battle. In that same hypothetical reality, his favorite band would be Starset and The Score.

He takes good care of his appearance and health, so he does enjoy certain beauty products. A spa day is his ideal day off.

He hates salmon. He thinks it tastes bad and prefers catfish. I don’t know why I even thought of that fact but it’s there.

[fuumiku]

They’re really interesting foils in many ways. I’ve always thought that Marcille & Mithrun have underrated dynamic potential. Give me the cringefail dungeon lords. Give me the elves with ears-centric metaphorical self-image issues. Give me the academic elites whose deepest strongest desires will always remain unreachable and the only option is to turn to the corrupt forbidden fruit of a demon pact. I am so so normal about Mithrun and Marcille

I wonder if the resemblance between captain Mithrun and general Hagreus aka Marcille’s fave in Dalclan is intentional… They definitely look very alike. It could represent idealization vs reality? Something something the romanticization of elves and their societal drama in their fiction vs a very real and imperfect product of their military system. The canaries certainly aren’t glamorous next to whatever Hagreus is the general of. I feel like she never had the opportunity to notice the resemblance herself bc within seconds of meeting him he was wrestling her on the ground but. If she had… She would so think he should have been his actor in the tallman stage play of Daltian Clan in that new extra comic hehe. I love the little details like Hagreus’ lips being drawn with extra details because they’re full and pretty while Mithrun’s lips are drawn with extra details because they’re chapped lmao.

This art is all silly and surface level but in my head mithrille is like so dramatic and I make up daltian clan level big plots with them gbdgd. I made a spotify playlist for mithrun if y’all interested, rn it’s mostly centered around cravings that consume and losing yourself and illusions inspired from his time as dungeon lord but it’s branching out. Varied vibes, levels of intensity and degrees of confusion and await you ✨ I would emotionally rant about Chainsaw Man ost lyrics and how they tie in with Mithrun and the winged lion’s relationship but this post is already a monster

I want more of these two please please please pleaseee just one or two interactions in the new canon content coming up… All they ever did was debate philosophy on desires and human self-fulfillment and try to murder each other, please… I never get to gush about them and I can’t shut up so if you want more thoughts I talk about them more below

To get a girl to peacefully accept arrest follow these simple steps: in private, ominously stand above her and forcefully interrogate her, while in public, tell her you’ve met before (untrue and also not a pickup line) and interrogate her with a thin veneer of decorum. If all else fails, threaten and follow through on said threat. My guy needs more than just physical therapy I’m afraid

Sorry if most of these were Marcille-centric with Mithrun standing there looking cool, if I were doing these more from Mithrun’s pov things would be like "She’s a bit much but I guess I don’t mind hanging around her." or "Oh you’re a half-elf? -insert elven supremacist rethoric-" or "I have to keep her from becoming demon stew." immediately followed by "Did someone say demon? Kill kill kill kill kill" since these are set prior to like really knowing another. Then things would be more like "huh she has bad tastes in novels but her magic research is pretty interesting" and "I’m lonely and don’t understand myself— Oh she loves talking about feelings? Oh shi-" That last one is an aspect of why I like Marcille and Mithrun’s potential dynamic lol. She’s very… Emotionally intelligent alongside being impulsive. You think you have no feelings because the world has beaten them out of you? Think again!! Marcille be upon ye! -In a therapy sort of way but mostly in a connecting with people and your own self through interpersonal relationships and talking kinda way. I just think a lively, upbeat, annoying friend way too interested in your personal life would do him good, the canaries are nice but like if Marcille went to prison and was a sort of extra new bunkmate I think that’d be interesting and fun to read is what I’m saying

Unlike Kabru she wants all the useless messy filler of his backstory, eating chips while listening. Like two chibi sets side by side, "me and my fellow canaries, name name and name-" "Hold on that’s too much info we have to compact this" vs "Then we were to sleep on the third floor of the dungeon, which had the look of a mausoleum, and name and name got into a fight over the campfire placement." while Marcille is like uh-huh what next what next while kicking her feet. She thinks of pre-dungeon pompous Mithrun and is like omg you went through a character arc and became better as a person- and then he opens his mouth and she’s like nevermind let’s keep working on that. She would also go "ew ur hair is greasy" and give him a full hair care treatment. What I’m saying is I need them to be forced to spend time in a dungeon together and become besties through a life or death roadtrip

Marcille is insecure about her ears, long, like an elf’s pride should be, but rounder, inelegant. Seeing Mithrun though, the epitome of beauty, with his half-cut ears make it a sillier thought. Not sure if Mithrun is the best person to reconnect with ur elven culture with but it sure is an option Marcille would so appreciate being around someone both cool headed and kind, I genuinely think they’d get along, like not that Senshi isn’t that too most of the time but I think Mithrun would be in a way that’s more refreshing to her. I’d be so curious about them discussing Dalclan, I doubt he’d have read it but she could make him read it, maybe post-canon with the excuse that they’re trying to find him a new hobby hah. He’d tear into the writing and everything but it’d be a fun time, I like to think that it’d make him a bit less prejudiced. Marcille @ Mithrun "👉👈 Soo maybe you don’t know these books they’re pretty recent having come out 50 years ago but…"

I’ve been in a Mithrun phase I want to make and read Mithrun-centric fics and angst so baaad. I razz him a lot here but he’s literally a traumatized military man that became obsessed with revenge due to bad coping and neglects himself in the process idk not much for him going on and some of it is because he has to work on himself, but hey no one’s perfect it all comes from a place of love and relating though I prommy. He’s the one ungodly angsty squeaky toy blorbo with brain damage rep I have don’t take him from me

[astarionsilverbough]

“Darling.”

And it’s Different, when it’s for him.

Because, you see - Astarion calls everyone ‘darling.’ Even Shadowheart (though for a while that one is a bit… cruel).

And everyone gets a different version of the word, of course - and variations of it for different circumstances and events. So far, Gale has the most variations of the term - Halsin’s kept count. They range from affectionate and fond to absolutely poisonous and sometimes dangerous. There are, by Halsin’s count, thirteen versions of ‘darling,’ for Gale (who, again, is Astarion’s best and most steadfast friend - though Astarion would wrinkle his nose at the term).

But when it comes to him?

When it comes to him, there are three. Three variations of ‘darling’ that no one else - not even Gale - gets.

1.) Utterly and absolutely… soft. Oh, but it’s so soft. Often it’s used only in private - in moments when Astarion can cup his jaw or slide into his lap and murmur it against his lips. Halsin can think of two times Astarion has used that ‘darling’ in front of everyone else: the first?

When they (‘they’ being Astarion, Gale, Shadowheart, Lae’zel and Wyll) had found Halsin broken and alone in the Underdark after he’d carved through the goblins alone.

It was the first time the two elves had seen each other in two hundred years and five months. Through the haze of drow poison and blood loss, Halsin had heard the sun.

“Halsin. Darling.”

Achingly soft and so beautiful. A calloused but gentle hand cupped his chin and Astarion - older and more magnificent than Halsin remembered - had swum into focus above him.

Oh, but how he’d fallen in love with the man all over again in that moment… The thrill of it had been just as intense as it had been the first time, when they were younger and more afraid.

That was the first time he’d ever heard the soft variation of ‘darling’. Two hundred years and five months after the last time he’d seen Astarion Ancunín, who was more magnificent than he remembered but smelled exactly the same and could outburn the sun.

The second had been -

“I have to do this alone, Astarion.”

The darkness was like ash clinging to his skin. Karlach had been throwing stones into the abyssal waters; Gale was pointedly trying not to listen while Shadowheart was watching them like a vulture about to clean a carcass.

And oh, how he’d been terrified. To wander the Shadowfell, nothing to go on but a glimmer of vengeful hope and the scent of lavender… would he ever see the sun again?

Would he forget what gold sounded like?

But then -

Astarion’s plush lips part and his brow creases, brilliant sunset eyes big and glistening. For a moment, Halsin expects - well. Nothing good, that’s for certain.

A foolish thing, to try and predict the heat of the sun.

A nimble hand slides over his chest and catches his chin. The next thing he knows, he’s being kissed with tongue and fang. Solar flares explode in his lungs and Astarion thumbs over his cheek.

“Come back to me, darling,” he says.

It is a command, gentle and easy. Soft in the way that inspires hope somewhere inside his bones.

Not a hint of worry. Trust him - he knows what the worried variant of ‘darling’ sounds like.

Speaking of which:

2.) Astarion trusts Halsin in a way he isn’t sure how to hold; he feels a bit like a child cradling a bird with a wounded wing in his palms. One wrong move and that wing could shatter and leave the little bird he seeks to protect incapable of flight.

He doesn’t use the worried variant of ‘darling’ when Halsin is about to or has already attempted something foolish or heroic (see: ‘darling’ variant no. 1).

Astarion’s concerned and slightly lilting “darling,” comes when they’re in situations and he needs Halsin to look exactly where he’s looking at that very moment. It is a precise and hard-learned code, one that Halsin is more tuned into than even the method by which nature forms the reality around them.

It starts immediately: they’re in the Underdark and Halsin is still aching from the effects of the drow poison and the blood loss, and he can feel Astarion’s presence like sunbeams on his skin.

But even as he’s so acutely focused on Astarion’s presence, he’s still aching from the effects of drow poison and the blood loss, and so when Astarion’s sharp and tense “darling,” comes, he looks around just a little too late.

The Spectator catches them by surprise. Somehow, they survive the fight.

Halsin is looking at Astarion with every snapping “darling” he utters, now.

But even as the worried variant of ‘darling’ is the command he exists by and the soft variant is the one that sends heat through his bones and burns them gold, the variant of ‘darling’ that Halsin adores the most is -

3.) Sheer, raw fury.

It has only been used with such enchantment once. So far, at least. Who knows what the rest of the eternity he intends to spend beside the moon-kissed elf will bring, but so far…

So far it’s just been -

“Be well, then, darling.”

And oh, the way it had seared across Halsin like a lash of flame! How it had made his soul twist and his heart stop, commanded still by the sheer weight of the viscerally vitriolic venom in the word.

There was to be no doubt, then. A mate he was, and a mate he would always be. Some part of Halsin was snatched away in that moment. It fused with Astarion’s shadow, and there it would stay until he was led back to the young elfling.

The compass to lead him home.

Because this variant of ‘darling’ - this horrible, wrenching barb of a thing - had been shot at Halsin after he had told a twenty-year-old Astarion that:

“I cannot give you what you seek,” after a quiet and heartbreaking:

“I love you. I’m - Halsin, I’m… in love with you.”

And he’s over a hundred and Astarion is twenty and even if he’s everything Halsin wants, it’s not time. Not yet. The seasons need more time to show Astarion what the world can offer. He needs to taste the fruits of many before he settles on his favorite.

So:

“Oh, my little star,” Halsin had said in elvish; “I cannot give you what you seek.”

It was like watching the winter freeze settle in. It was seeing the sea go black before a storm; it was the flicker of divinity in the pit of Halsin’s belly and the hunt at the height of the season. It was every perfect and horrible thing all at once and Halsin loved this creature more than the earth beneath his feet.

“You are so young - there is so much you’ve yet to witness, experience.” He’d taken one of Astarion’s hands. It had been limp, cold. He’d kissed it anyway and stepped back. “And I must go my own way for now. Don’t worry. You’ll see me again, little star.”

And it was silent then, the kind of silent that made Halsin’s skin pebble with gooseflesh.

Until:

“Be well, then, darling.”

A dismissal. Inelegant and so wrathful. A blessing lain on the path beneath his boots. The sun blazed so hot it carved itself into his soul and stole a piece of him away.

It has not rejoined him. That’s alright; he feels it whenever Astarion is near, and these days it’s rare when he isn’t. Halsin is his sword and shield, the crown on his head and the throne beneath him.

And when the word comes this time - “darling,” - it’s just for him, spoken against the shell of Halsin’s ear as a damp, fresh-from-the-bath Astarion settles over his thighs and slides his arms around Halsin’s neck. Heat lunges up Halsin’s spine and he frames Astarion’s slender waist with keeping hands. So lost in the taste of the man’s skin, Halsin barely notices he’s been talking at him until Astarion gently tugs at his hair.

“Halsin, darling.”

His ears perk up. That’s a new one - slightly exasperated, clipped and somewhat offended in a small, quiet way. A vulnerable way.

“Were you even listening to a thing I said?”

Stomach clenching, Halsin slides his keeping hands over Astarion’s flanks and scans his face. He’s pouting. This is a new face, a new variant. Halsin’s nerves align and he cups Astarion’s chin.

“Forgive me,” he says soberly. “I was lost in thought. Tell me what I missed - speak to me, lover.”

He jostles Astarion a bit and the elf’s expression softens just before he arches a brow and tips back with a shrewd, playful glare. Halsin keeps him supported with a big hand at the base of his spine and chases a hopeless kiss he doesn’t get on a whim.

“And what, pray tell, was so important it stole you away from me?” Astarion demands, fingertips guarding Halsin’s lips.

Halsin smiles against his touch. “You.”

And when Astarion’s expression changes, it makes Halsin feel like spring. Those sunset eyes go dewy and Astarion’s body melts against the strong plain of his own.

“You,” he mutters against Halsin’s lips, “are a menace, darling.”

And he’ll never tire of it - never tire of learning every cadence this man can shape. Maybe one day he’ll earn more variants than Gale - for now, he’ll settle on keeping the Different ones, the ones no one else gets to hold.

There is no greater honor.

[erendur]

Crack Silm Relationships I’d like to read about II

2. Daeron and Any Fëanorian but Maglor

This one is just because I would like to add even more awkwardness/drama to their family dynamics. We are told that Maglor is considered the best singer, “second only to Daeron”, so I would like to put them in the same room/family on a regular basis. I think they would behave like hostile cats. The Fëanorians would be torn between family solidarity (Maglor, our brother,  is the best !)and the fact that they have ears (they can tell that Daeron is objectively better). 

I think Daeron/Caranthir could be interesting. I think Caranthir is very depressed that his wife left him, and he’s a loner, so is being pretty miserable all alone in his castle with his snooty servants, and I want him to be happy. I think he is a bit overlooked among the Fëanorians, because he’s not tall and well-formed like Maedhros, he’s not a genius singer like Maglor, he’s not handsome like Celegorm, and he’s not like his father like Curufin. So I think he would like someone to hang out with him, be nice to him, and he would love a trophy husband. Daeron would sing to him and tell him he’s great. Daeron is the greatest singer, so Caranthir would finally have something to be super proud of. The other Fëanorians (minus Maglor) would also be super proud of the new genius family member (they like collecting geniuses, it’s a family thing), they would boast about him when Maglor is not around (and look super awkward when Maglor is around).

Daeron is in love with Lúthien, but it’s hopeless. He’s too Elvish and too clean for her tastes. So he should just leave and go somewhere where he can be better appreciated. He’s an artists, so he would be attracted to the fatal charm of the Fëanorian drama. He would spot the potential for great songs. Plus he’s pissed off at Lúthien and her dad, who never recognised him at his just value, so he “passes to the enemy”. He immediately recognises in Caranthir a fellow brooder, who also thinks he is under-valued. Plus Caranthir might be one of the least-good looking Fëanorian, but he’s still a Fëanorian (he’s hot). He’s got blazing eyes and amazing black hair, plus probably looks a bit eldrichty to an Elf who did not go to Valinor like Daeron, all things we know that Daeron is partial to.

Next thing you know, Daeron lets himself be pampered by an actual prince like he always thought he deserved. He writes songs about how great Caranthir is, and about how much the Arafinweans suck, which Caranthir always thought he deserved. Caranthir gets super intense at singing/music competitions (mad football/soccer parents energy), and nobody dares to utter even the mildest of criticisms against Daeron, even well out of earshot of Caranthir, because we all know how hot-tempered and prone to violence he can be. Daeron’s reputation, as a result, has never been better. 

Maybe the fact that Maglor is considered “second only to Daeron” is in fact because Maglor doesn’t have a proud, hot-tempered and stabbing-happy husband, so whenever people say nice things about Maglor, they immediately feel the need to add “but Daeron is better, of course”, no matter where they are in Beleriand and beyond.

3. Amrod and Amras and Amazon Wives

These are the two Fëanorians we know the least about. If they both make it to Beleriand, it seems that they just enjoy hanging out together in the woods and hunt, and somehow manage to survive all the way to the last Kinslaying. So maybe they are like proto-hobbits Elves, who are just happy to chill together as bachelors and out of harm’s way. Maybe they invent pipe-weed and waistcoats during the 500 odds years where they do not have much fighting to do.

But since they seem to be spending lots of time East, in the forest, and seem pretty good at fighting, I would like to give them Avari Amazon Wives. Maybe also twins, for the matching look. They would woo each other with their respective prowesses with bows. They would go on hunts together. I imagine the Fëanorians in general being interested in other varieties of Elves, and in not marrying other Noldor. So A&A could go on adventures in the East with their cool wives. Maybe have some more red-hair babies, if they feel like it. That’s it, I have nothing more on that. 

3. Curufin and a Dwarf.

We only have unions of Elves and Men, and nothing with Dwarves. But Curufin, we are told, befriends the Dwarves enough that the few things Elves know about Khuzdul all come from him (not Celebrimbor. Curufin). Which denotes a very deep level of trust and friendship there, since Tolkien wrote somewhere (yes, somewhere), that Dwarves keep that language Super Secret. They never speak or teach it to anyone, in fact they never speak it in front of non-Dwarves, preferring to learn and use other race’s tongues in front of them to keep it a secret. They even go as far as to keep their Khudzul names secret, and only ever use other non-Khuzdul ones with non-Dwarves. And yet Curufin managed to learn some of it, or at least to learn some things about it.

Of course Curufin is great at smithing, is probably super interested in Dwarvish techniques and maybe aesthetics. A Dwarf partner would also be interested on learning more about Fëanorian Forge Magic. They would have a lot of interests in common (well, they would have forge-work, but since they would be both super into it, that’s quite enough). 

Curufin is also his Father’s Son, so I don’t think he would care what anybody would have to say about his choice of partner, or be particularly prejudiced when it comes his choice of romantic interest. If someone is going to cross that interracial barrier in Middle-Earth, it’s Curvo. 

Crack Silm Relationships I'd like to read about I

Crack Silm Relationships I'd like to read about III

Crack Silm Relationships I'd like to read about IV

[ritens]

∞ Arisen & Pawn Character Introductions

Original template by @arisenreborn

Probably will come back to edit this at some point. I wrote it while numbed out of my mind from medicine.

♛ THE ARISEN:

NAME: Raures AGE: 123 (whatever that means) RACE: Elf PRONOUNS: he/him PREFERRED VOCATION: Magic Archer FAVORED GIFTS: fish, selfmade things FAMILY: no longer in the picture. They fell to the dragon.

POSITIVE TRAITS: gentle, keeps his word, patient, hard-working NEGATIVE TRAITS: stubborn, huge flirt, gullible LIKES: fishing, exploring and gathering materials for various craft projects. DISLIKES: rainy muddy days

1. What was their life like before becoming Arisen?

Rau lived with his parents away from other elves. They preferred a more simple but labor-intensive life among humankind’s common folk. Father was a hunter and taught Rau the way of the magic archer. Mother was a mender with a great knowledge of medicinal herb usage. Humans taught Rau archery and thief skills for wilderness survival. He also learned their language.

The family moved towns and villages every 10 years to conceal the aging differences between the two races, essentially avoiding the possibility of becoming chiefs or other figures with higher responsibility.

Raures became Arisen in an attempt at buying time for his parents to escape the burning village. The attempt was unsuccessful but the dragon deemed him worthy.

2. How do they handle being Arisen, and the responsibilities that come with it?

He is mourning the family he lost but even so he does his best to move forward and do what is expected of an Arisen despite his pawn’s chagrin. He doesn’t fully grasp what he’s doing, just feels like he has to.

3. What are their thoughts on Pawns in general?

Pawn rights activist. He finds all of them to be quite cute.

4. What's their relationship like with their main Pawn?

Rau opted to “adopt” an existing pawn to be his main instead of shaping his own perfect image of a pawn to avoid bias. The two have a lot of opposing opinions on matters and Rau has no idea that Lane already has a bit of his own will which he's maintained from master to master throughout his conscious life.

Raures sees Lane's episodes of fear and paranoia as normal pawn behaviour, but treats his companion with care and respect no matter what may come up. He is very fond of Lane and forbids the pawn from traversing the rift to other worlds to assist other Arisen who may call upon him. He doesn’t want Lane to end up as brutalized as he was when Rau first met him.

5. Do they have any interest in being Sovran? What are their opinions on the politics of the world in general?

He’s too much of a farmboy to care much about what goes on in the life of the rich and noble. The prospect of being Sovran seems exhausting to Rau, but if need be, he would take on the role. But avoid spending much time at the palace. It’s also likely Lane would hold him back from all this mumbo jumbo anyway.

6. Who are their love interest(s) and/or closest friends?

Rau’s closest companion is obviously his pawn. He doesn’t form lasting relationships with people aside from the local baker. And he indulges in short lived dalliances now and then.

7. What drew them to their preferred vocation? Do they have history with it? 

He keeps pursuing the way of the Magic Archer as a way to honour his elven roots but isn’t bound to just one vocation. Survival asks for many skills and he hones whatever he can.

8. Do they have any hobbies? Any way of relaxing between all that monster-slaying and traveling?

Suck and fuck. He enjoys fishing a great deal which is a rather fruitful hobby as it’s fun and it provides food. Rau has been making birch skin baskets and other tools since childhood. Originally picked up the craft to avoid buying these items in bigger cities as travel by oxcart often ends up being catastrophic. Now as an Arisen who is constantly on the move, he makes the baskets and leaves them as gifts for the villagers he happens to visit.

♟︎ THE PAWN:

NAME: Lane AGE: appears young adult RACE: human PRONOUNS: he/him PREFERRED VOCATION: Thief FAVORED GIFTS: soft warm clothes, bread INCLINATION: Calm

POSITIVE TRAITS: clever, creative, humble, observant NEGATIVE TRAITS: withdrawn, fearful, unreliable, low self-esteem LIKES: bread, Raures, afternoon naps DISLIKES: stale bread, being manhandled, loud people

1. What was their life like prior to being summoned by their Arisen?

Lane served many Arisen. His first was Amaury from Gransys who summoned him in the shape of their deceased brother. The pawn ended up a tad corpse-like in appearance and while it didn’t bother Amaury at first, it eventually resulted in them becoming uncomfortable once they accepted the fact their real brother is gone for good. By that time Lane had already developed his own bit of will, and sapped enough of the Arisen’s spirit to also develop Amaury’s negative emotions (and even a streak of their golden locks of hair). Lane ended up killing his own master out of fear during an argument.

He didn’t return beyond the rift afterwards and became a street rat who survived by using his strider->thief abilities to steal from people.

Plagued by aimlessness the pawn answered the summons of other Arisen in other worlds who would order him around, sometimes harshly and cruelly. But the pawn desperately desired a sense of purpose and so he went with the flow, ignoring his human aspects as best as he could.

2. What is their opinion on the Arisen? How do they view their relationship?

Lane was stunned when he first saw who had summoned him in Vermund. The face of his second Arisen from ages past in a different world. The first Rau had summoned him and made Lane his main pawn in a similar fashion. He was Lane’s favorite master. But, unfortunately, he fell in battle against the dragon.

As Lane learns more of this Vermundian Rau, he gets more and more determined to prevent the same outcome that his former master was fated to meet. Lane selfishly and desperately clings to Raures and does everything he can to get the Arisen to settle and let someone else take the wheel of the cycle.

3. Is there anything about the Arisen they find troublesome?

The pawn is very much bothered by the Arisen’s frequent visits to the Bordelrie though he won’t say a word about it. The Arisen does get treated to a cold shoulder for it though.

4. What is their specialization and is there any story behind how they cultivated that skill set?

Raures taught Lane elvish language as a bonding exercise. But now Lane uses the skill to listen in on conversations he has no business knowing about.

5. Do they have any thoughts on the politics of the world and their place in it as a Pawn - or how Pawns are treated?

He accepts things as they are for the most part but has his low moments where he wishes more people treated him as something other than a resource.

6. Does their journey with the Arisen change them in any significant way and how?

Though he himself doesn’t realize it, Raures helps Lane calm down and open up to the joys of life outside servitude. Lane learns what fun is, what friendship is and what it means to love unconditionally. He begins to stand up for himself.

7. Is there a reason they chose their preferred vocation?

Lane is a thief in the literal sense of the word. He had to get by while Masterless and he did so by stealing.

8. Do they have any hobbies or preferred past-times? 

During his time on the streets post-Amaury Lane picked up drawing with coal on cobblestones and has since moved on to other mediums and continues to hone his art skills. He usually scribbles sceneries and detailed drawings of plants, but lately has been toying with human silhouettes as well.

[maul-of-shame]

Yeah so, I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed when I see haladriel fans ally themselves with dudebros/gatekeepers when it comes to Elrondriel, and I'm saying this as someone who was crazy obsessed with haladriel back in season 1.

It's always about Sauron falling hard for Galadriel and not respecting Elven marriage, but they never consider Galadriel's thoughts in this. Of course, Elrond would never aggressively pursue Galadriel (and he'd never stab her), but why is Sauron's interest in her more acceptable when you always deny Galadriel's consent in all of this?

The show has NOT 100% established the concept of marriage between Elves, so it's all fair game honestly, for now it is.

They want the Dark Lord to hurt Galadriel, to ravage her, to be completely obsessed with her light, they want him to be 'in love' with her? Hey, that's okay, ship away, no worries.

But why, the bloody hell, is it so wrong to entertain the thought that maybe, just MAYBE, Galadriel and Elrond's friendship could very slowly turn into something more? Celebrían is not alive, Celeborn is very much considered dead, and the showrunners EXCLUDED HIM FOR TWO SEASONS.

Galadriel and Elrond have NO IDEA that there are books about their future!

Absolutely, and you’ve nailed so many core issues here. It’s honestly baffling to see some Haladriel shippers—especially those who seem to favor more, shall we say, “intense” or even abusive interpretations of their relationship—be so quick to dismiss Elrondriel as “unrealistic” or “absurd.”

Let’s be real here: the version of Haladriel that often gets depicted is rooted in an extreme power imbalance. Sauron, even as Halbrand, repeatedly manipulated, deceived, and betrayed Galadriel in deeply harmful ways, gaslighting her and exploiting her every weakness for his own ends. And yet, somehow, that’s considered “realistic” romance material while Elrond and Galadriel’s long-standing, respectful, and mutually supportive friendship is written off? It’s like we’re in a hall of mirrors here.

And you’re absolutely right about the portrayal of Galadriel in some of these narratives—where is her agency in this? If anything, the Haladriel dynamic tends to erase her thoughts, her autonomy, and her choices, reducing her to a passive player in Sauron’s “obsession.” She becomes this object of desire that he wants to conquer or possess, often in ways that strip her of dignity or choice. And yet, this is somehow lauded as deep and tragic? Galadriel’s willpower, her agency, her determination, and, yes, her capacity for forgiveness—they’re all key aspects of her character, but she’s not here to serve as a project for redemption or to absorb the darkness of others, Sauron included.

Her forgiveness, her trust, and her resilience are not infinite nor expendable resources to be used up by someone like Sauron, who betrayed her deeply and repeatedly.

On the flip side, the idea of Galadriel and Elrond developing something deeper feels like a natural evolution of a relationship that’s already grounded in respect, understanding, and shared history. They’ve faced countless battles together, watched each other’s struggles, and understood each other’s pain. There’s no manipulation, no coercion, no toxic dynamic undermining their connection.

Elrond, of all people, would never use Galadriel’s vulnerabilities or her trauma against her. In fact, he’s one of the only people she can be completely open with, knowing that he will always respond with compassion and understanding. Their dynamic is built on reciprocity, where both give and both receive equally. Isn’t that the foundation of a lasting bond?

And frankly, this whole argument about canon marriages—let’s address that. In the show’s current reality, Celeborn is gone, presumed dead, and Celebrían does not exist. In this context, the show itself is asking us to look at Elrond and Galadriel in isolation from the constraints of any preconceived familial obligations. They’re free to find their own path, and to argue that they somehow “shouldn’t” connect just because of some theoretical future relationship that neither of them knows about… well, that’s just projecting an in-universe fourth wall that only we are aware of. For all Galadriel and Elrond know, they’re free to act on what they feel in the moment, in this timeline, with their own choices.

In this world, the paths they choose aren’t preordained by canon; they’re being written anew, and they’re unfolding without the constraints of future in-laws or off-limits partnerships. So why is it so hard to accept that these two characters might explore a different connection?

And here’s where the hypocrisy comes in.

Some fans love to wield canon as a “gotcha” whenever Elrondriel is mentioned, as though they have the final say with a quick “but in the books!” Yet, the same “canon champions” often conveniently disregard the very lore they claim to defend when it suits their ship.

Case in point: Haladriel.

Canonically, Galadriel and Sauron are deeply antagonistic, and Sauron’s entire narrative is built around betrayal, deceit, and the ruination of Middle-earth. And yet, plenty of Haladriel shippers happily ignore these details, building a narrative where Sauron “falls for” Galadriel, becomes obsessed with her, or even wins her over—things that, in canon, would be outright impossible without dismantling both of their characters.

But for some reason, when it comes to Elrond and Galadriel, suddenly the canon constraints are iron-clad, and these same voices are quick to cry out that their relationship can only ever be familial.

Somehow, canon matters only when it’s about shutting down Elrondriel, while any liberties taken with other ships are just “creative freedom” or “interpretation.”

It’s hard not to notice how one-sided this critique is.

Why should only Elrondriel be policed with a rigid adherence to canon, especially in a show that has already diverged from the source material on multiple fronts?

If people are allowed to explore romantic narratives between Galadriel and Sauron—who, in any canon, have a dark and tragic, not to mention adversarial, history—then it’s more than fair to let others explore the very plausible bond between Galadriel and Elrond. In fact, this relationship actually has a foundation of mutual trust and care, something that could believably evolve into something deeper, especially given their shared struggles and intimate understanding of each other’s pain.

The truth is, Elrond and Galadriel don’t need a canon mandate to justify their bond; their connection in the show speaks for itself. They’ve supported each other through the loss, sacrifice, and turmoil of their lives, and their moments together are filled with warmth, respect, and emotional depth. Instead of being tied down by some external “expectation” or duty, they’re free to define their relationship on their own terms—something rare and precious in their world.

So, if the show gives us a meaningful, organic relationship between Elrond and Galadriel, it’s not only perfectly plausible—it’s beautiful. In the absence of their canonical partners, these two are allowed to seek comfort, understanding, and even love from each other, unburdened by any future that neither they nor we need to impose on them. And, frankly, those who so quickly jump to use canon as a weapon to dismiss this connection might want to take a closer look at why they’re so insistent on limiting it.

If people want to explore Sauron falling for Galadriel, go ahead and dive into that dynamic! I’m all for exploring any and every angle in fiction—just don’t act like it’s somehow “more valid” than Elrondriel or dismiss it as a lesser connection.

At the end of the day, it's all about narrative choices and creative freedom, and no one should be policing how others ship. But here’s the thing: when you hold up Sauron’s infatuation with Galadriel as something deep and meaningful, while at the same time dismissing Elrondriel as “implausible” or “unrealistic,” you’re supporting a double standard.

Sauron, who’s literally the embodiment of darkness and corruption, isn’t just casually swept into some healthy relationship with Galadriel. No matter how it’s framed, it’s built on a foundation of power dynamics, manipulation, abuse, and entirely warped motivations. We’re not talking about a romantic hero here; we’re talking about a monster.

Yet, somehow, this relationship is excused, even romanticized by some fans, as “compelling” or “tragically beautiful.”

Now, compare that to Elrondriel. The relationship between Elrond and Galadriel has been established within the show itself as something genuine, built on shared experiences, mutual respect, and a deep, almost unspoken understanding of each other. These two have been through hell and back. They’re scarred by loss, shaped by wars that neither of them ever wanted but still faced with dignity and resilience. Their relationship isn’t born out of “oh, they’re supposed to be together because they’re just characters with no other connections.” No, their connection is earned. It’s a natural progression that, in the context of this show, makes total sense. They’ve been each other's anchors through the darkest of times, and that’s not some fanfiction twist—it’s real emotional bonding. It’s patient, it’s steady, and it’s something that, in this context, could absolutely evolve into something more.

But that’s where the double standard kicks in. When we’re talking about Sauron and Galadriel, suddenly people are okay with this toxic, one-sided obsession where Sauron is a monstrous being trying to warp Galadriel’s light for his own gain. It’s as if some people are just waiting for Galadriel to be the one who “fixes” him, or somehow becomes the vessel for his redemption, the “gentle woman” who can heal the ultimate evil.

That is not the story Galadriel deserves.

She is not here to be anyone’s therapist, especially not Sauron’s.

That kind of dynamic is incredibly troubling, and frankly, it’s almost like saying, “well, let’s just ignore all the horrific things he’s done and make it about Galadriel being kind enough to heal him.” That's putting the entire weight of the narrative on Galadriel’s shoulders, completely glossing over the fact that Sauron’s motivations have always been driven by a hunger for power, corruption, and domination.

That’s not love. That’s an unhealthy obsession, one-sided and manipulative, and shouldn’t be romanticized.

On the flip side, Elrond and Galadriel’s relationship doesn’t revolve around either of them needing to “fix” the other. It’s about mutual healing, support, and understanding. No one is trying to change anyone here. Their connection comes from shared strength, pain, and a desire to do better for the world around them. It's not about finding a way to redeem each other or fix the broken pieces of the other person; it's about two people who, having been through hell, can look at each other and recognize something in one another—a quiet, unspoken bond forged through hardship, not through some savior complex.

I’m honestly so disappointed in the Haladriel shippers who’ve chosen to align themselves with the lore dudebros, just to “feel included,” after everything we’ve been through as a community.

It’s like they’ve completely forgotten what it felt like to be on the other side of all those discussions back in season 1, when we were all fighting for our ships, for more depth, for more nuanced portrayals of characters like Galadriel and Elrond. We were the ones standing up against the gatekeepers, pushing for representation, and fighting for the right to enjoy the story our way, without being told we didn’t “understand” or “respect canon.”

We were the ones who, despite all the hate and condescension, continued to argue for the inclusion of more complex relationships, of exploring things beyond the established norm. And now, to see these same people—who were in our shoes—suddenly cozying up to the very group of gatekeepers they once condemned, all to feel like they’re “part of the crowd” or “accepted” in the fandom, it’s beyond frustrating.

It feels like they’ve forgotten the fight, forgotten the passion we all had in season 1, whatever the ships, when it wasn’t about fitting in, but about standing up for what we loved.

We stood against the exclusionary mindset, against the judgmental and restrictive ideas that defined what “true” Tolkien fans were supposed to look like. And now, it feels like some are abandoning the very principles we fought for, just to avoid conflict or feel “validated” by the same people who’ve made us feel like outsiders.

I’m deeply let down by this, angry, saddened and honestly, it’s heartbreaking to see the shift in what was once a community built on inclusivity and acceptance of diverse interpretations, now so willing to compromise for the sake of comfort and belonging.

[lustsickforyou]

the two times you called each other for help

pairing: regulus black x fem!reader

summary: you and regulus have had a rocky past, something that connects the two of you in a way you could never expect.

warnings: parental abuse, blood, fights, crying, lots of angst

a/n: came up with this idea from a pinterest photo i saw, it’s also raining and thundering outside and was in the mood to write :) reader is pureblood and slytherin because what else would i write lmaooo

You and Regulus had a rocky past, but you had never known how much you could really relate to each other. You had both come from pureblood families, and the struggles that came with it were intense. The expectations both your parents had put on you were unreal.

At first you had talked to him in small passing moments, like getting sat next to each other in Defense Against the Dark Arts, or seeing one another in the hallway. Those little moments turned into conversations which led into friendships, and perhaps something more lied beneath that, you at least would like to think so. The way he listened when you would tell stories from when you were a child, and the way his pale fingers would rub your arm to comfort you.

He would talk about the priorities his parents had for him and their own life. That sometimes he felt as though they cared more about their reputation than their own sons. But you had never seen it so worse than you and Regulus’ fifth year. The summer prior his brother had left him all alone in the cold and empty feeling family home— well he called it a house. It never felt like a home to him. He showed up at your doorstep in the pouring rain, and you snuck him inside passed your parents and the house elves. He broke down crying, something you hadn’t ever saw him do. After that he was like a shell of a person, and the two of you rarely talked after that. Perhaps it was because he was scared that someone had seen him so vulnerable, he didn’t want that to happen again.

You missed him, but you didn’t push. He had made up his mind on his own to separate himself from you, and you tried your hardest to let him go. In fact you had started dating a boy who was a grade higher than you, someone your parents would approve of, of course— but it was nothing like what you had with Regulus. You found this new boy sort of boring compared to the dark haired boy with a permanent scowl on his face.

You walked into the Slytherin common room on your own, your friends off hanging out with each other on their free day. You decided to take this time to study, catch up on some work you had yet to complete. But just as you were about to pass the couches that sat by the fireplace, you looked up to see a dark figure sitting on one of the velvet green couches. You stepped closer to reveal Regulus, who had blood dripping from his mouth.

“Merlin, what happened—” you said aloud, which caused him to look up in a fright, only to sigh in relief when he realized who it was. Regulus only shook his head in response, and leaned back into the cushions with a groan. “Leave me alone.” he stated and you stood there in shock, he was pushing you away still. After a whole year and he was still acting like a child. “Right, well I’m not leaving.” you rolled your eyes, sitting next to him.

“Please?” he asked, leaning up and looking at you. “Since when has a please ever stopped me from doing something?” you teased which earned a small laugh from the boy, something so rare and yet so captivating. You stared for a moment, eyes looking into one another. The tension between you two could have been cut with a knife. “What happened?” you repeated your question now, much clearer but with a soft voice.

“Evan was talking bad about Sirius.” he shrugged, and you furrowed your eyebrows. “I punched him, and he punched me back. Landed me a cut right on my lower lip.” he reached up and pointed to it. You winced at just the sight of it, then grabbed the wet rag he had been attempting to clean himself up with. “Good to know you’re still defending your brother.” you said, gently wiping away the blood that spilled onto his chin. Regulus didn’t take his eyes off of you.

“You know— because it seemed as though you hate him now.” you pointed out and he shook his head. “I could never hate him.” he replied quietly and you continued to wipe the blood. “Does the same go for me?” you asked before you could even think about it. Regulus grabbed your wrist to stop you from your actions. You looked down at his hand and back up at him.

“I could never hate you.” he repeated, but replaced the last word. You nodded, his hand relaxing on your wrist but never leaving it. “Really? Because it seems as though you do.” you continued. “Never.” he confirmed and you smiled.

You had gotten in a fight with your parents, at this point you weren’t even sure what it was about anymore. They had always seemed to be angry about something you had done, and the second you talked back to your father he hit you across the face. You fell sideways, catching yourself halfway through the fall and your hand immediately reached up to hold your nose, the pain stinging and drawing tears from your eyes. When you pulled away you saw the blood on your hand. Your father tried to apologize, but you had walked away much to quickly to not even hear a single word that fell from his mouth.

You didn’t have anyone to call, not anymore. You and your boyfriend had broken up months ago, and the thought of burdening your friends with knowing what was going on at home made you feel sick. Then the thought popped into your head, the only person who ever truly knew you. Regulus.

He had shown up to your manor in the hills within seconds, waiting outside as he knocked on the door. Your mother was the one to open it, shocked to see who was standing there. He was unsure what to say, unknowing if she would be angry at his presence knowing if he knew what her husband had did to their daughter. They were a secretive family. He came up with a lie quickly.

“I left my sweater at school and Y/N picked it up for me, I’m here to get it.” he spoke quickly without her even having to ask. “She’s not taking visitors right now.” your mother said sharply and went to close the door but Regulus held it open with a strong hand. “I know what happened.” he stared firmly and she stared at him with shock, almost offended by the fact he was forcing his way in.

“I won’t tell a soul, but if you don’t let me in right now trust me— all of the sacred twenty eight will know what you did to your daughter.” he threatened and she scoffed. “As if any of them would care.” she laughed, mostly because she didn’t believe him. “You don’t think so?” he asked in a condescending tone. “The Y/L/N family— not so perfect as they hold themselves up to be.” he was completely serious. Your mother stood for a moment before stepping out of the way.

Regulus practically ran to your room, opening up the door to see the crimson liquid run down from your nose and onto your neck and hair. You looked up at him with a tear stained face. “I didn’t know who else to call, I didn’t mean to bother you.” you immediately apologized which broke his heart. Regulus moved to sit down next to you, tucking your hair away from your face to behind your ear, but his hand lingered. It stayed on the back of your neck. He used his free hand to grab your chin and study your face. He had seen cuts and bruises, him and Sirius had grown accustomed to it.

“Are you okay?” he asked and you nodded lightly, blinking your eyes and the wetness that had gathered on your eyelashes formed another tear that fell to your cheek. “Has he done this before?” Regulus questioned and you sucked in a deep shaking breath before nodding again.

Neither of you really had any choices, you were stuck with the family you had. The pureblood ran thick through your veins just as much as it did him, and along with that came being forced to join the Death Eaters. If you left, you would be hunted down for the rest of your life until you were killed.

“I’m sorry.” Regulus whispered. You nodded slowly, unsure what to say next. “How did you get inside?” you asked. “Your mother— it doesn’t take much to blackmail her.” he joked because that’s how he knew you coped, and of course it earned a laugh from you. “No it doesn’t.” you agreed, wiping the tears from your face and looking up at the ceiling. Regulus grabbed the wet towel from your hand, just as you did all that time ago, and started to wipe away at the blood.

“You should probably get some rest.” he decided when he was done, setting the now stained red towel on your nightstand and stood up to leave, he didn’t want to overstay his welcome.

“Will you stay?” you asked and it caused him to turn back, and he slowly nodded. Once you laid down facing away he crawled into your bed and under the covers just as you did. He molded his body against yours, a reassuring hand on your upper arm, and his thumb rubbed up and down softly. The two of you fell asleep holding each other, and Regulus couldn’t help but think how in a way, you two had saved each other.

[tolkiens-middleearth]

Fëanor and the Silmarils: like creator, like creation?

"The heart of Fëanor was fast bound to these things that he himself had made."

Art can take many shapes and forms, hold many different meanings, and tell many different stories. It can be appreciated for what it is on its own, or what it means within the context of how it came to be.

But despite the many different approaches to art, one thing is certainly true in general: there will always be at least a small connection between a piece of art and its creator, because without the creator it would not exist. This fundamental importance at least is the imprint of any creator on their creation.

Fëanor and his Silmarils are no exception.

”Silmarils of Feanor” by Nikulina-Helena on DeviantArt

With the Silmarils Fëanor undoubtetly left a markt on the world, and it's fascinating to explore some of the similarities between Arda's most famous elf and most famous jewels, but also the aspects where they are fundamentally different.

Uniqueness

Fëanor was a very exceptional elf. He was made “the mightiest in all parts of body and mind, in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and in subtlety alike”¹ and no other elf has ever been described in a way that could be compared to this. In a similar way there were no other gems created that were like the three Silmarils: they are exceptional as well.

Fëanor did not create the Silmarils in a vortex of course: without the Two Trees it's basically impossible to recreate such jewels. But even while the Trees were ailve it was very unlikely that jewels as these could be recreated. Even Fëanor said that “never again shall [he] make their like”¹. With Fëanor being gone as well, it's basically impossible.

Attraction

People have intense feelings for both Fëanor and the Silmarils. There is hardly someone that does not feel some kind of interest, attraction or love for them – or intens hate. They are basically impossible to ignore.

Fëanor has the love and loyalty of many people – first and foremost his father, but also his seven sons, and a large part of the Noldor. He was said to be "a master of words, and his tongue had great power over hearts when he would use it"¹. As a result he had a large following amon the Noldor.

Even Melkor has an eye on him and picks him as his main focus for the corruption he’s spreading among the Noldor. And he’s not the only Vala who pays attention to Fëanor, the others “mourned not more for the death of the Trees than for the marring of Fëanor: of the works of Melkor one of the most evil”¹ – and that is quite a statement. Even ages later, Fëanor comes up when Gandalf talks to Pippin about what or who he would like to see if he would use the Palantíri:

“Even now my heart desires to test my will upon it, to see if I could not wrench it from him and turn it where I would-to look across the wide seas of water and of time to Tirion the Fair, and perceive the unimaginable hand and mind of Fëanor at their work, while both the White Tree and the Golden were in flower!”²

The Silmarils are even worse when it comes to their power of attraction, everyone wants them: Fëanor himself of course, but the Elves and Valar want to see the Silmarils at festivals as well. Melkor obviously wants them, and once they’re stolen the sons of Fëanor want them back. Thingol wants them, Lúthien and Beren want them, Dior wears it, Elwing too, and eventually Eärendil. Almost noone is ready to give them up.

Disaster

What the Silmarils and Fëanor also have in common is for almost all people that come in contact with them to somehow end up involved in one disaster or another.

Fëanor already has an unfortunate start when his birth demands so much energy from his mother that she eventually dies. His father Finwë dies as well, protecting Fëanor’s Silmaril in their house in exil – an exil that Finwë had taken upon himself for the sake of being with his son. All of Fëanor's sons join him in taking the Oath, and end up suffering as a result. The Noldor that follow Fëanor’s rebellion suffer as well, and so do the Teleri that stand in his way. And while Nerdanel herself may remain unharmed, she loses all her son's to Fëanor's quest.

The Silmarils have that effect to some extent as well: once Melkor sets his sight on it, they are a major reason why he specifically targets Fëanor, they are also the reason why Finwë is killed when he tries to defend them against Melkor, and they burn Melkor when he steals them. In a way they become a curse for Fëanor’s sons who cannot rest until they get them back, they are the excuse for Thingol to send Beren to Angband which eventually leads to Beren’s and Lúthien’s death (they get better), it leads to Thingol’s death, to Dior’s, the fall of Doriath and to Elwing’s death. Their main redeeming quality is then that they help Eärendil get to Aman.

The distruction they cause is closely connected to Fëanor: the oath that he and his sons swore seem to be not unlike a curse on the Silmarils. And maybe it is only this powerful of a curse because in origin they are Fëanor's creation. Why else should they bring so much pain and suffering to whoever keeps them? Then Melkor’s desire, Dragon gold and a dwarve’s curse make it even worse.

Impact

Fëanor and the Silmarils both leave the world in a way. Fëanor is dead, and although one of the Silmarils can still be seen in the night sky, it can no longer be reached by the inhabitants of Middle-earth.

Fëanor and his creation, despite being now largely absent in Middle-earth itself, had a huge impact on Middle-earth. For Fëanor it can be said that without him, the Noldor probably wouldn't have returned to Middle-earth. He was the central figure in this movement. Without him, the history of Middle-earth would be drastically different, and we can only speculate what would have happened. The dominion of Melkor in Middle-earth? The early destruction of Beleriand through the interventing army of the Valar? It's hard to say.

The Simarils also left their marks of course. Many people in Middle-earth had been motivated to do something because of the Silmarils – includign Fëanor himself, his sons, Melkor, Thingol, Beren, and so on. Especially relevant is the impact of the Silmaril that Eärendil gets his hands on – without the Silmaril, he would never have reached Aman. Even in later ages, the light of the Silmarils continues to play a role: without its light, Frodo and Sam would never have been able to face Shelob head on.

The Silmaril's impact is Fëanor's impact as well, since he is their maker. In addition, he also has created many other things that lasted through the ages and had an impact on history – the best example after the Silmarils being the Palantirí.

Differences

I'm sure there are many differences to be found between Fëanor and his Silmarils, but I only want to point out what to me is the most important one:

Despite everything that was laid on the Silmarils, they were never corrupted. Their light was never dimmed, they never turned evil – they were made out of some unkown and unbreakable material, and hallowed by Varda herself, protecting them against all evil.

Fëanor wasn’t like that. There was no protection against Melkor’s subtle corruption after the Valar had set melkor free in Valinor, and Fëanor by his firey nature may have been especially receptive for it. Murder, lies, rebellion – “evil” on that scale hadn’t been seen before in Valinor.

The Silmarils couldn’t be corrupted, but Fëanor could fall.

(On a less serious note: my family’s questionable contribution to this topic was that if you take Fëanor’s ashes and press them into a diamond he becomes more similar to a Silmaril.)

FOOTNOTES

¹ J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien. The Silmarillion. ² J. R. R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.

[journalofimprobablethings]

Oh hey I started re-listening to Balance and I had forgotten that when they find the red robe in Wave Echo Cave that Justin asks about the robe's stats and whether he could take it and god can you just imagine if Taako had shown up at the Bureau wearing Lup's robe??

And then I wrote a thing about it.

--

Lucretia thought she was prepared for seeing her brothers again.

She's had time to build up her walls, to steel herself for what she knows will be a painful encounter. She's had a decade now of secrets and privately held regrets and memories, and she's become adept at hiding her emotions, learned how to school all the dismay and sorrow from her expression.

Even so, it takes everything in her to keep her expression neutral when the three of them walk into the room.

Magnus and Merle look in many ways like she expected--though older, ten years older; and she realizes she's never seen them age before. They've been in stasis for a hundred years, always come back each cycle looking exactly the same; but now Merle's wrinkles have deepened, and Magnus has new lines at the corners of his eyes and grey threaded through his hair, even though his body is barely thirty.

The joy and and intense sorrow she feels at the sight of them, with all the changes the past ten years have wrought, is so strong she doesn't think she can hold it inside her.

But what nearly undoes her is when Taako walks in. He looks exactly the same; elves don't age the same way humans do, or even dwarves--but for a moment she thinks--

She knows it's impossible, but for a moment, every signal is telling her brain that the elf in front of her wearing a red robe and carrying a familiar umbrella isn't Taako--it's Lup.

Then she blinks, and her brain recalibrates, and she realizes her mistake.

It's not that she has trouble telling the two apart--after a century living together, the twins lost the ability to fool the others unless they were trying very hard.

But she thinks she could be forgiven for the lapse, because the robe Taako is wearing isn't just any red robe--not some ironic twist, the universe mocking her with echoes.

It's an IPRE robe. Lup's IPRE robe.

And he's holding Lup's umbrastaff, casually slung over his shoulder like it belongs there.

Lucretia has spent any moment she could spare from her search for the Relics trying to find any trace of where Lup might have gone, and has come up empty.

Taako doesn't know what he's lost, hasn't even known to look--but somehow he's succeeded where Lucretia has failed. Clearly, at some point in their recent adventure--

He found Lup.

Or at least, he found Lup's things. What does it mean, that the robe and staff were left somewhere Taako could just pick them up? If Lup left the staff behind, does that mean--

With effort, Lucretia stops her train of thought, forcing herself to take a deep, even breath and push the roil of emotions down deep inside her. Later, she'll be able to sit and think through what this could mean.

For now, she has a part to play.

She straightens her shoulders and smiles, only leaning a little bit extra on her staff as she stands to greet them.

"Welcome, you three. Magnus, Merle, Taako. Killian has told me a lot about you and your...exploits."

She glances over at Killian, who is watching her with a sharp expression. She can't have failed to notice Lucretia's reaction to the robe when Taako walked in. Lucretia wonders what she knows about how Taako got it.

"I wanted to personally thank you for your help in retrieving the Phoenix Fire Gauntlet," she continues. "Thanks to you, an enormous danger has been removed from the world."

Magnus coughs awkwardly. Lucretia knows he's thinking about Phandolin, all those people he failed to save. "Yeah, we uh. We were happy to help."

"Does this thanks come in the form of gold?" Taako asks. "I think retreiving a super magic weapon is worth a reward, right?"

"Or a job? We were told there might be job openings here," Merle adds.

Lucretia laughs a little.

"We'll get to that in a minute," she says. She glances at Killian. "First, I--Taako, I would like to know where you got that robe? It's very--"

"Red," Killian finishes.

Taako looks down at himself. "Oh this thing? Yeah, I picked it up off some skeleton in a cave."

A yawning, empty pit opens up inside Lucretia.

"I figured, he was super dead, so finders keepers." He swoops the ends of the robe a little. "Stylish, right?"

The pit inside Lucretia yawns a little wider.

It's not that she hasn't considered the possibility--probability even--that Lup is dead. And just because her body is dead doesn't mean that she is gone.

But it's the confirmation--and Taako's cavalier description of his sister's bones--that nearly undoes Lucretia for the second time that day.

She grips her staff tight, and forces herself to keep her breathing even. She places one hand behind her back, so that the others can't see the tight fist she's balled it into.

"This was the cave where you first found the gauntlet?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

Lucretia exchanges glances with Killian.

"You all have visited Johann, correct? You've taken the voidfish's ichor?"

"You mean the fish poop?" Taako asks. "Yeah, we drank it. Not my favorite thing ever, I've gotta say."

"Yeah, it was super gross," Magnus puts in.

"Salty," Merle adds. "But I dunno, it had a kinda--"

"Oh my gods, do not--" Taako says.

"I'm just saying, it wasn't the worst thing I've ever tasted."

"Please stop."

Taako pinches the bridge of his nose, and Magnus busts out laughing. Lucretia has to steel herself against another wave of emotion as she watches the three of them banter. The familiarity aches.

She raises her voice a little to be heard over Magnus's laughter. "In that case, you've remembered the Relic Wars."

Magnus sobers instantly.

"The wars were caused by the Grand Relics: a series of extraordinarily powerful magical objects created by a group of magicians that we...refer to...as the Red Robes."

All three of the boys look down at Taako's robe.

"Oh," Merle says.

"Shit," Magnus says.

"Well," Taako says.

"It is very probable that the...the remains you found belonged to a member of that group."

"But that's good though, right?" Magnus says after a moment. "If one of them is dead--that's a good thing? Isn't it? They can't cause any more harm if they're dead."

Lucretia digs a fingernail deep into the palm of the hand behind her back.

"I'm afraid the harm the Grand Relics are capable of will long outlive the Red Robes themselves," she says. "But that's why we're here. We are doing our best to right the wrongs the Red Robes did. To remove the dangers they put into the world with the Relics. And we'd like your help."

"Sounds like a good cause," Merle says. "Does it pay?"

"It does pay," Lucretia says. "Competitively, if I say so myself."

"I'm in," Magnus says.

"Can I ask a quick question?" Taako says.

"Of course," Lucretia says. "I understand if you want more information before--"

"No, no, I'm--as long as the pay is good, I'm all on board," Taako says. "But I wanted to ask--"

He gives the robe a dramatic swish.

"Would it be in bad taste for me to keep the robe? It's just so comfy, you know? Great armor stats."

Taako gives her a shit-eating grin, and Lucretia's head swims for a moment at the image, one part of her brain telling her Lup, it's Lup, while the rest replies no it's not, it's not, she's gone, maybe forever.

She forces a small, rueful smile.

"Well, I can't deny that seeing a red robe around the Bureau regularly might cause some talk, some... discomfort. But we're not in the business of dress codes here. I'll leave it up to you."

"Great!" Taako drawls. "Can't wait to be the fashion talk of the moon!"

And Lucretia can't help but smile genuinely at that--he's still Taako, even after everything.

"Very well." She sets her staff carefully against her chair, consciously relaxes her shoulders. In her imagination, Magnus's hand rests firmly on her shoulder, Merle's a reassuring presence at her hip. The memory of Lup's voice whispers in her mind. You got this, Luce.

"If that's decided, let's get you three up to speed."

She gestures widely to the reception room, putting a little bit of the theatrical flair she learned from Taako into the gesture.

"Welcome to the Bureau of Balance."

[raayllum]

Regarding working on the video about arc 2, do you think people are upset with how ''slow'' the show is, some other plots being boring( their words, not mine) or that humans are the oppressed and that the Aaravos is the good guy somehow?

Most under a read more cause this got a lil long

I do think some of the arc 2 backlash is the perception that things are slower, and I would agree that for some characters S4 and S5 are paced slower (Claudia in S5 for example) than they have been since S1, I just disagree that it's a problem because character expansion is worthwhile and there are always new sides we're seeing or understanding to everyone throughout arc 2. I also think sometimes people conflate character development with "this character is doing things I want to see". For example, Soren at the beginning of S6 is more or less the same person he is at the end of S6, but his arc in S6 is widely praised. Because even though it isn't about change, there is a lot of emotional intensity, and that's fun to see. TDP has never been a show where emotional intensity is true for everyone all the time, though, and it's not as though Soren doesn't get those moments in previous seasons (S4 in particular has some pretty rough patches for him, emotionally)

so... Idk. S4 rips my heart out multiple every time I watch it, so the idea of it being less emotionally intense (even if S5 and S6 are undeniably more) in a bad way doesn't hold water for me, personally, but that's also just my own experience (which is, of course, all I can really draw on).

The main plot arc labelled as boring in Arc 2 is the Sunfire elf plotline. I like politics and worldbuilding and Janai as a character. I don't need it to be constantly connected to the main plot line because Viren's entire plotline as a character from 1x06 onwards (and even the bulk of 1x04 and 1x05) has no bearing on any of the entire main cast again until 3x03 (for Soren and Claudia)... so, two whole seasons? But that's Okay and Not Boring, presumably, because audiences were willing to accept a white man being a semi-protagonist / bc it was established early on, and when things shift to include other main characters - especially a Black, queer led plotline - that gets people's internal hackles raised, I suppose. There's very little criticism of the Sunfire elf plotline in S4 that doesn't feel like it's coming from a racist or queerphobic place, whether from disregarding Janaya's allegory and navigating religious differences (which you don't really have to do when you're Christian/raised atheist in a culturally Christian/agnostic culture), or even just hating Karim (who is a lot more like Viren) because he's an emotional Black man experiencing cultural grief (which the majority of a white Western audience cannot relate to, but Viren's entirely individual desire for power - esp taking power away from a Black family, is seen as far more sympathetic, for some reason).

As for "the humans are oppressed and Aaravos is the good guy" that's been a complaint throughout the show and isn't exclusive to arc 2, and it's one I've always thought was silly. By virtue of showing elves and humans working together as a good thing (all of season 1 onwards) the show implicitly condemns the expulsion of the humans and division of the continent until they finally do so in words from Ezran as a mouthpiece (6x07). It's not even so much debate over whether humans are oppressed (the system was unfair, but largely we see Xadia leaving them entirely alone after the expulsion, which again, was never justified in text in the first place) as it is a statement where even if you are oppressed or scared (and this goes for the elves too, and that half of them had to mutually leave their homes, which has been Completely unaddressed by the narrative outside of inklings at the Moon Nexus) that doesn't mean your ends justify your means. Given the state of global affairs, I don't think I have to explain why a traditionally oppressed people seeking to reclaim their perceived 'homeland' after centuries away by any means necessary, even if that means destroying the lives of everyone who's currently living there, makes "we're oppressed so it's okay" the ironclad argument people seem to think it is, and why challenging that view is routinely a worthwhile thing to do (it's also why conservative far right people love to have a persecution complex, too).

That said: none of this is stuff I plan to focus on the "in defense of arc 2" video. The goal of that video isn't going to be "you shouldn't have a problem with arc 2," because people are entitled to their feelings and trying to change them rarely works. The goal of the video is to talk about why I think choices were made, how the seasons fit with each other and arc 1, and why I think the choices the show made were the most effective for the Story the creators want to tell with respect to time constraints, etc. That's it and that's all.

[afanofmanyhats]

You've mentioned your dislike about the Bionicle timeline before. What's your take on it and what doesn't work about it for you? I'm curious to hear your interpretation.

The main issue is the fact that it's a ridiculously, laughably long time for people to stay alive. It takes me out of my immersion to remember that this whole storyline takes place over a period of time ten times greater than the existence of Jericho, but characters like Ackar and Kiina on Bara Magna and the majority of characters in the Matoran Universe have lived that whole time. I'm not opposed to immortal/long-lived characters as an idea, but the story needs to do something with that time scale.

For instance, in Tolkien's works, the ages of the Elven characters has weight in their characterization and relationships to the others. The Silmarillion highlights their horror and sadness as they realize their new human friends will age and die in what feels like no time at all to the Elves. In the Lord of the Rings, the lifespans of Elrond and Galadriel add extra gravity to their advice and foresight; they've lived longer than any of the main characters and know the threat of Sauron better than anyone. Their longevity makes them unique, provides diversity and contrast.

Meanwhile, everyone in BIONICLE ages the same way, so there isn't really a highlightable difference in how aging affects you. It's entirely subjective. Helryx and Artakha are all the same age as Takua, possibly even younger, but they're the ones noted for being ancient. I know Takua had several layers of amnesia, but his personality largely stayed consistent, so the fact that he was apparently an irascible scamp since creation makes him feel static. You're telling me he only underwent major personality changes in the last few years?

The ridiculously long timeline also makes the story feel static because it's frankly pretty sparse. Bara Magna has been a desert wasteland with a half-dozen tribes since the Shattering; the only major political shift occurred when the Skrall migrated to Roxtus less than two years before the '09 arc. The MU's timeline is more detailed, but the information we do have still suggests its development is relatively stagnant. The League of Six Kingdoms and the Matoran Civil War/Great Disruption happen back to back, but then the timeline's fairly empty for 75,000 years. All we have to go off of for the main markers is the Brotherhood consolidating power and Dume is active as a Toa. We don't get more detailed politics until the time of the Toa Mangai, and then things start happening with greater and greater intensity that feels natural.

All this to say: when you're making an expansive timeline, it helps to make it feel dense, especially the closer you get to the events of the story. Human history is intricately complicated, with even Dark Ages still providing us ample discussion through archaeology and the lack of written evidence. BIONICLE's timeline has great worldbuilding from a political and social development lens, but it's too stretched out. I'd say that cutting the timeline down to 10,000 years would solve a lot of the issues I discussed. Also reducing the ages of many of the characters, especially the ones on Bara Magna. It's hard to sell Gresh as young when he'd be old enough to remember when humans first started leaving Africa, you know?

[minecraftbookshelf]

ok so I know you’re writing and probably already thought of this but I’m case you didn’t: the differences in elven courting rituals and oceanic courting rituals, specifically when it comes to wedding gifts. if you have thought about this feel free to ignore but the way I see it

elves live a while,and probably know about the arranged marriages a decent amount of time before they happen, so in between wedding planning and normal life each half of the marriage is planning some extravagant amazing wedding gift like gardens of gold or giant tapestries and stuff like that

meanwhile ocean/swamp folk who don’t live as long probably have more personal gifts, even in arraigned marriages bc they’re still getting to know each other! but either way the gifts are more personal and specifically tailored to the other half

so keeping track we have Scott, panicking bc he has like zero time to plan a wedding and learn a language and make a wedding gift and so the necessary things for life in however little time he has, Jimmy, panicking bc he doesn’t know anything about scott, no one he knows knows anything about scott, and even when they finally meet scott isn’t exactly an open book! so Jimmy is trying to do the same things as scott (tjough his doesn’t need to be as extravagant) in addition to finding out who the hell he’s getting married to and also ruling a kingdom

AND (you thought I was done NO the adhdemons love this concept and filled the no-box fan void with fictional politics) you have Lizzie, Joel, Xornoth, and Iona, who also had to get gifts for each other

first I need you to know that I saw your url and had the immediate gut reaction of "oh same hat!" XD

Anywho

So courting traditions in general:

I don't have too much set in stone currently, lots of ideas and concepts though, because I'm half shaping the story around it and half shaping it around the story, because writing be like that (rip) but I do have a few things.

Rivendell is basically just Tolkein's elves partly isekai-ed into minecraft, lets be real. So I've yoinked the tradition from there of the bride-to-be's family gifting a jewel (usually of magical or historical or familial importance) to the groom-to-be as a sort of pre-dowry. Only because heteronormativity does not exist here it is usually a mutual exchange of gifts. Tapestries and other labor and skill intensive textile arts also play a role because of the importance of textiles in Rivendell culture (see the ask that I'm answering after this one for more details on that) And there is also just a general idea of "a demonstration of what you are bringing to the table" for the actual wedding exchange. Like the most intense and stressful art show where both your entire extended family and also your significant other/others's extended family will be judging it. (Exact form of art varies depending on the skills and interests of the elf in question; culinary, poetry, musical, metal working...the list goes on)

The Swamp has fewer actual universal traditions. Due to their recent (past few centuries) history they are basically two nations that mixed and mingled and also include a few different diasporas interspersed within them. Jimmy himself tends towards more Oceanic traditions, which include things like feats of bravery and provision. This will go both exactly as well as you think it will and genuinely very well. (Oceanic traditions tend towards dramatic and grand gestures and statements. Ability to protect and provide is a huge thing both in the Ocean and the Swamp.)

Also Jimmy absolutely panics and ends up asking a good dozen random citizens for advice.

You also have the added layer of this specific instance being an arranged marriage (which isn't especially unusual) between two empires (which is wildly unusual at their social level) That custom is, in fact, purely an Oceanic one. (Which is why Joel and Lizzie were the previous example)

Most/all of the other Empires don't tend to intermarry their royals because enough Empires don't use familial succession models that it renders it fairly unstable as an alliance technique. There's more context for the Oceanic take on it but that is a whole nother post/will be in the fics explicitly.

The point of all this is that both parties are kind of stressed and trying to figure out how to compromise/accommodate while not really having a fully applicable framework for this situation (on Rivendell's part.)

Rivendell barely has interacted with the other empires for generations let alone married them.

Xornoth and Iona actually had it fairly easy, outside figuring out how to navigate the religious minefield that is Xornoth's entire existence. It was a very matter of fact, business like courtship that Scott and Iona ran with all the stringent focus of a military operation (which it basically was) and not even Xornoth's tendency towards chaos could really do much in the face of that.

In the context of like, personal gifts Joel and Lizzie actually got off really easy because by the time they got married-married they'd technically been married for several years already.

[sincethewreck]

Katherine's Guide to Getting (into) Warhammer 40k*

*for people who want shipping in their grimdark space opera

What is it:

Warhammer 40k is a tabletop wargame with lots of teeny tiny expensive plastic miniatures, produced by the UK’s Games Workshop. There’s a lot of math and measuring and painting involved, but Games Workshop began putting out novels based in the setting more than two decades ago, which really helped flesh out the canon and individual characters and is my preferred method of canon consumption.

There are two ‘main’ settings for Warhammer 40k. One is 40k, which is the year 40,000 AD, where everything is grimdark and has gone to shit. The main human faction is the Imperium of Man, a horrible ultra-religious fascist shithole ruled by a probably-but-not-definitely-dead Emperor. He sits upon on the Golden Throne, a nightmare engine that powers the Astronomican, the means by which human spaceships can navigate the Warp, which is a nightmare dimension that is the only means of travel between the vast distances of space that make up the Imperium.

The time when everything was just starting to go to shit but was otherwise pretty great (for some people) is 30k (30,000 AD), when the Emperor was still alive and moving, along with his 20 18 genecrafted sons. With their help, he conquered most of known space after the Age of Darkness, a massive Warpstorm that broke the previous galactic civilization and fucked up all of space for thousands of years. Everything was golden (literally) and great until Horus (favorite son) was lured over to the side of Chaos and started a civil war which ended with the Emperor being trapped on the Golden Throne. Also, Sanguinius, the one with the pretty angel wings, died.

Among others. It was a pretty big deal.

Why should you get into it:

Both eras are pretty intense space operas. Plus, the canon is so large that there’s literally something for everyone. If you want elves, we’ve got elves. If you want empire expansion and exciting conquest, you can consume just that. Terrifying space bugs? Got them in droves. Space Wizards? Yep. Incest brother smarm? So much of that. Religious guilt, female characters, space battles at immense scales, people doing their best to keep hope alive in a horrible universe, people reveling in evil and trying to burn everything—you get the idea. Most people have a favorite set of space marines or primarchs or a faction and just follow that, which is entirely possible.

However, the canon is pretty much indecipherable without help. Remember how I mentioned that they’ve been publishing novels for more than two decades? Combine that with how most of the novels assume you’ve played the tabletop or read other novels, and it’s very hard to pick a starting point. Luckily, I’ve read literally dozens of them, and I’m here to help you. In all honesty, it’s because I want more fic for my ships, and that’s honestly not going to happen until more people get into the canon, so let’s go.

I have chosen six books that I think are good starting points for getting into the canon, based on three criteria. One, you can read it canonblind, and it will introduce the world, vocab, and at least two factions to you gently. Two, reading it early on and missing some stuff because you're new won't ruin the book for you. Three, the book is pleasingly well-written, and is enjoyable in and of itself.

You can use this like a reading list, but in theory, you should be able to get through any two or three of these and then feel safe launching into any Warhammer 40k novel. I have also listed each book's era, if you have a preference.

While this list is not extensive (I very specifically wanted to keep it short) I suggest looking in the comments to see books others will doubtless recommend once you feel you've got your bearings. My ask box is always open, if you want to hit me up with personalized recommendations as far as wanting more female characters, more books about a specific primarch, short stories, a specific faction etc.

Finally, I link to where you can purchase each book via Games Workshop’s site, which you should definitely do and not seek them out secondhand on Better World Books, or as pirated ebooks. That would absolutely be a very bad idea.          

What to read:

The Eisenhorn Series - if you want a long series with lots of interpersonal relationships and mysteries:

The single best entry point to Warhammer 40k. Dan Abnett began writing this so early into the novelization that he invented most of the vocabulary for the canon. The series covers Gregor Eisenhorn’s journey from bright young thing to grizzled old sadman as he is forced to make choice after choice that chips away at his resolve and morals. (& you can launch right into the Ravenor series after!) Read if you like: sad old men, heists, mentor/mentee found family. (40k)

Valdor: Birth of the Imperium - if you want that good lore and want to start at the very beginning of the founding of the Imperium:

Set just at the cusp of the founding of the Imperium, Constantin Valdor manages a threat and puts to bed the old world while watching the thing that will become the Imperium of Man begin to show cracks. Read if you like: female characters, diplomacy, the slow collapse of people trying to do good and justice, insights into genecrafting and whatever the fuck is actually going on with the primarchs. (30k)

Vaults of Terra (Carrion Throne/Hollow Mountain/Dark City) - if you want a female MC with politicking and detective work:

Luce Spinoza, an Inquisitor-in-training, is assigned the very great honor of serving on Terra, and also covertly surveilling her master. When a far larger conspiracy comes to light, she has to decide who she really serves. Why you should read it: excellent intro to what Terra is like by 40k, overview of some of the most recent events in the canon, Erasmus Crowl is the sort of sad old man that tumblr loves, solving a very intricate conspiracy. (40k)

Fulgrim: the Palatine Phoenix - if you want primarch content:

Early into the Great Crusade, a newly independent Fulgrim tries to prove himself by (almost) biting off far more than he can chew. Why you should read it: it’s Fulgrim everyone loves Fulgrim, that’s enough of a reason, his fall is far more striking if you see him being a precious valiant baby first. (30k)

The First Heretic - if you want inter-legion relationships and a focus on Chaos:

The Word Bearers legion and their Primarch, Lorgar, messily and brilliantly become disillusioned with the promise of the Imperium and the Emperor. Why you should read it: an easy overview of most of the major events preceding and going into the Heresy, fun with daemons, plenty of interpersonal relationships between Astartes and Astartes and Astares and humans.

Rites of Passage - if you want more of a civilian focus with no Space Marines and an older female MC:

After the mysterious death of her husband, Lady Chettamandey struggles to gain control over her Navigator house and prevent further damage to their economic status and general wellbeing. Why you should read it: discussion of the role of Navigators in the Imperium, house/family politics, a view of civilian life in the Imperium. (40k)