#and i'm enjoying rank court so far

[ghost-in-the-corner]

I'm living for the post-Buzzfeed puppet show era

[cannellee]

TOKYO REVENGERS OMEGAVERSE ☆

୨୧ alpha! tokyorev x omega! reader (pairing : hakkai, takemichi, shinichiro) PART 2

— top 3 pathetic men of tokyorev (trio of simps)

a/n : yes, I needed to rank them after seeing a girl on tiktok rank her favourite pathetic shōjo male leads... my turn ! (nothing great but it had to be done😔)

MY MASTERLIST: ☆

𐙚. N°3 : ALPHA! HAKKAI

there could have been so many options for n°3 but hakkai just seems right. my man is afraid of omegas!! so nervous and shy and for what ?!

the contrast between his enormous build, strong scent of a powerful alpha and the restlessness he has whenever he's talking to you is insanely cute. you can't help but laugh at him and he has no choice but to simply blush at how humiliated he feels !

what do you mean this gang member can't look at you straight in the eyes ? yes, hakkai is pathetic like that. but that's what makes your relationship this precious ; hakkai doesn't act all big and scary with his omega to try and assert dominance. instead, he trips over his words and flinches each time you initiate skinship.

courting is so long and tough, hakkai doesn't know what to do and where to start. should he ask you properly for what type of gifts you enjoy ? does he assume by himself ? do you even want to get courted by him ?

god, he's so unsure of himself. you'll have to guide him throughout your relationship, assure him it's okay to touch you and that he's not hurting you. he knows you're weak and fragile and hakkai's biggest fear is to bring harm to his lovely girlfriend.

he still can't realise he has a girlfriend. he's literally on cloud 9 and does everything to keep you with him. yes he's an alpha, and yes his demeanor changes when you're here. he becomes rather submissive in order to please you better.

also, hakkai is soo jealous. he literally can't bear the thought of any alpha laying their claim on you and ends up becoming overly protective. he's constantly on edge, worried sick about your safety to the point that he already has stalked you a few times... just to make sure you were okay of course !

please don't misunderstand him :( he loves you so much but he just has troubles expressing his overwhelming affection for you...

                                    · · ୨୧ · ·

𐙚. N°2 : ALPHA! TAKEMICHI

professional crawler, on his knees at any minor issue, ready to beg for the forgiveness of his omega. he listens and obey, even when you're wrong, he does as you say!

he admits his mistakes almost instantly and is afraid of upsetting you. he lets himself be scolded because his adorable omega has all the rights in the world when it comes to him!

takemichi borderline worships you, his precious girlfriend who happens to love his far from perfect self... what did he do to deserve such a pretty omega by his side ?

the smallest signs of affection from you are taken as the biggest gifts on his part and he literally can not get tired of it. he asks for more, shamelessly. tell him to do embarrassing things simply to get a peck on the lips and he'll comply in a second! he doesn't feel any shame.

boy is so eager to please :( his friends often make fun of him for how down bad he is, but he honestly couldn't care less.

he talks about you 24/7, everything reminds him of you : sends you pics of a beautiful blooming tree "y/n would love to be here!", he orders your favourite pastry whenever he walks past the shop selling it "I'm gonna buy it for her, I hope y/n will be happy to see I've got her favourite one!", he notes down the places he discovered and think you might like, that way he can bring you there with him on a date next time! and he also makes sure he restocks all your makeup supplies before they're even gone... he's the best!!

he's so desperate he'll try to sniff any lingering pheromones of you he might have on his sleeve after you leave, rolling his eyes when he successfully catches your scent.

he's such a hopeless alpha. you'll ask him how he managed to survive without you for this long and he'll simply answer that he never truly felt alive until he met you. so cheesy but insanely real:(

he melts whenever you're here to comfort him, you're such a reliable mate and takemichi feels so grateful for your devotion towards him. he swears he'll take care of you just as greatly as you do !

                                    · · ୨୧ · ·

𐙚. N°1 : ALPHA! SHINICHIRO

now how can we talk about pathetic men without even mentioning shinichiro. he is the og loser. gets no bitches like takemichi but his case is more severe.

meeting you was a blessing and having you fall for him was a miracle. calling this man a simp is an understatement, he is committed.

he already had little shame, but his dignity is nowhere to be seen if his omega is involved. he's so desperate to keep your relationship going that he's ready to risk everything just to satisfy you.

he buys you everything, gets you a gift and flowers each time you meet up. he asks for your kisses like a high on hormones teenage boy who never felt the touch of a woman, even though you've been together for a few weeks.

he's experiencing everything for the first time with you, which is why he's so eager to touch and feel you. to him, you're the sweetest, prettiest and most perfect angel...

shinichiro doesn't care about your social roles, you're the one leading your couple : shinichiro listens to you. his job is to keep you safe and happy, he has no limits whatsoever and smiles like a fool each time you talk to him. also, he lives for your praises!!

he has the worst pickup lines. he wants to impress you but fails miserably each time which is why he's 1st on this list. he just can't catch a break : he literally begged to take you out on a date the first time and somehow kept embarrassing himself out of stress. and it's you, the omega, who had to appease this big alpha that he was doing fine and that you liked his clumsy side.

when the both of you weren't dating, he would spend his time fantasising about you and bonding with you. he dreamed of biting your nape and actually becoming your alpha for real. he feels weak in the knees now knowing he successfully made you his.

his omega is everything to him and he's careful to be the most attentive and the first to fulfill all of of her needs without delay!

[the-travelling-witch]

summary: i'm back on my "'i have more knowledge on x topic than all your advisers together, i just couldn’t progress through the ranks for one reason or another, so you should definitely make me your concubine, so i can gossip about your minister of finance’s stupid proposal while wearing expensive shit and fine dining and then we slowly fall in love' royal au" bs again, so have some rambles because there are a lot of possible constellations here

characters: shouto :: kenma :: inui/koko :: al-haitham/kaveh x gn! reader

general masterlist

𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐎

You could practically feel the daggers being glared into your skull. This entire meeting so far, the prince’s closest adviser had narrowed his eyes at you, a gesture which you only returned with a coy smile.

Really, just because it wasn’t common for a royal concubine to attend a meeting concerning safety measures at the upcoming masquerade ball, there was no need for such hostility.

Then again, maybe the adviser was so foul-tempered because of the physical position you found yourself in. But it wasn’t your fault they hadn’t prepared another seat for you or that Shouto was notoriously unbothered with social etiquette. So, if the prince ordered his concubine to sit on his lap instead, who were you to argue?

You doubted he glared at you because he was aware you had been investigating him or that you knew he and his fellow spies were planning an assassination attempt on the royal whose arm was currently lazily curled around your waist.

Surely, “concubine” was not exactly the title you had had in mind when agreeing to work as an intelligence agent on the Todoroki court but considering the former crown prince Touya had basically gone up in smoke after an attempt on his life, placing yourself right next to the prince where an enemy wouldn’t expect might not be a bad idea.

Besides, since you had taken the prince up on his offer, you had been able to enjoy many luxuries you could previously not even dream of. Delicacies practically melted on your tongue, the material of your clothes was of a quality so fine it was like dressing in air and the library held rare books you normally couldn’t get your hands on just like that.

You also had to admit, pretending to be Shouto’s lover wasn’t exactly torture either. Not only was he as handsome as they come but he was also very well-mannered towards you even in private. The clumsy side only few got to see when he let his guard down was also quite adorable.

So, to say you were quite comfortable where you were and had no intention of giving up your spot any time soon was an understatement.

“Your Highness is it really necessary to bring,” the adviser paused momentarily as he gestured at you, “this person to a meeting such as this? How can we be sure they are not working for an opposing kingdom, relaying our security measures to the enemy?”

You caught yourself before a snort escaped you. Seriously, how was nobody onto this guy before you came around?

“I have no doubt about their loyalty to me and the kingdom,” Shouto said, tone even as always, yet his hand around your waist tightened. “Besides, their safety might be compromised just like mine, so this information should be shared with them as well.”

“That’s right,” you goated, a sharp grin on your lips as you reached backwards over your shoulder to run your fingers down Shouto‘s neck as you held eye contact with the adviser. “I’ve shown my devotion to the prince in ways you never could.”

Soon you’d watch the light drain from his eyes as you ended his miserable life but for now you’d find amusement in how they widened in indignation.

𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐀

“Your Highness! I must ask you to stay in the medic’s quarters!” Said medic was fussing around you as you pulled the outer layer of your clothes back on. “I dressed the wound and used a minor healing spell but you need to rest! A-and your medicine—“

“I can rest in my quarters too,” you sighed, already halfway out of the door. “Someone will come pick up the treatment later.”

The medic was still stammering long after you already set out towards your room, trying not to put too much pressure on your side. You didn’t think it’d be that big of a deal but apparently the monster’s claws that had grazed your skin were laced in some sort of venom, the pain of which left you wheezing when you received another blow to the stomach.

Half stumbling, half falling into your room, you reckoned whatever spell the medic had cast hadn’t done much to rid your body of the poison, especially if you remembered how he had floundered once you first drudged into the infirmary. No wonder you had gone behind your parents’ backs to employ someone who actually understood his craft.

“Whoa what happened to you?” Kenma lifted his head from his magic-driven game board at the sound of the door opening. His sharp amber eyes studied you from head to toe, taking in the ripped clothes and collection of bruises and scratches. “You look like death chewed you up and spit you back out.”

“Thanks,” you retorted just as sarcastically, working to rid yourself of the rest of your armour, wincing when you strained the area around your ribs. “Must be the poison.”

“Poison?” Immediately, Kenma had perked up, already rounding the table, his game forgotten. “What poison? And where? And why didn’t you lead with that?”

Usually, the guy tried to make himself as small as possible, hoping to blend into the background. But whenever you dragged in yet another weird and wonderful ailment from out in the wild, your shy healer found himself in the habit of becoming a little bossy. Other royals might take offence if their concubines used that kind of tone but you had to admit you didn’t really mind.

“Well, it’s not like you gave me much of a chance to explain,” you laughed, pulling your shirt off and letting it pile up with the rest of your things, then wriggled your eyebrows at the blond. “So, where do you want me?”

“You are the worst, even when you’re dying,” Kenma rolled his eyes before a warm hand settled on your bare back and nudged you towards the bed. “For now, just lie down. And tell me exactly what the hell happened to you.”

Without any resistance, you settled down and watched as Kenma got to work. It was fascinating each time, even if you didn’t understand much of it and you were the one having to be treated. Whenever he focused on something, he adopted this no-nonsense expression, lips tightened into a line and eyebrows drawn together. You didn’t even want to start thinking about the way your skin tingled where his fingers touched you, well aware that the reason for it wasn’t the magic Kenma used.

“I told the doc someone would pick up my medicine later,” you spoke up once your healer had finished his work and both of you were just lingering within the same space.

As always when you told Kenma something he didn’t want to hear, he made one of the most expressive faces of disgust a human could muster.

“I’ll make sure to trip on the way,” he shrugged and you were aware he might actually do it too. “I didn’t spend all this time healing you just so that idiot can poison you again with whatever concoction he came up with this time.”

“Just what would I do without you?” Brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes, you didn’t miss how Kenma, the guy who used to flinch at people coming near him, leaned slightly into your touch.

𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐈 / 𝐊𝐎𝐊𝐎

The golden light of the sinking sun illuminated the balcony as birds chirped their last songs of the day. In the midst of the flowers blooming across the railing and the castle walls, three people sat around a table filled with fruits, cheese and many other delicious foods, eating and laughing together.

“But to come back to your Minister of Finance’s proposal,” Koko, who seemingly hadn’t taken his eyes off the kingdom’s budget sheet, spoke up. Splitting off a few of the coins from the stack in front of him to visualise the share he was thinking about, he offered his insight. “I think we should use a cut of the newly allocated funds to strengthen the army’s equipment. The knights could do with new armour, especially considering the neighbouring kingdom has been less than friendly lately.”

“What new funds are we talking about?” You inquired, not having been privy to the meeting prior this day. 

“The party we sent out recently was more successful than we expected them to be,” Inui clued you in with a small smile as he studied what Koko proposed.

“Ah, the expedition that was my idea and that I equipped with the right tools. In that case,” you said, a mischievous glint in your eyes, before you made the stack of coins levitate over your outstretched palm, “I think we should use it to build a magic tower. It would help more with defence than equipping the knights, considering what fun things I could do with one.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Koko scolded, reaching over the table to snatch the coins back. “How should we justify the King’s concubine wishing for a magic tower?”

While you shrugged, Seishu took your hand and answered much gentler than the black haired man. 

“I have to agree with Koko. Not because I doubt you could do a lot of great things with such a tower but because we already had a lot of trouble explaining why the lightning only struck the enemy’s side in the last battle,” he sighed, giving you an understanding look he knew had you giving in already. “The public doesn’t know we have a magic user on our side and word of construction would spread fast. Don’t forget why you went into hiding in the first place.”

“Yeah yeah, I understand, no magic tower. But, how about,” you leant back in your chair, tossing a coin you had hidden up your sleeve before Koko could retrieve it, “one or the other magic tome? Nobody would even notice. Just say it’s for a new necklace or whatever else concubines usually get.”

“Are you suggesting we commit fraud?” Koko levelled his accusatory gaze at you.

“I don’t know, am I?” You innocently asked, batting your eyelashes at him. “It would be for the good of the people, after all.”

“How is you getting a new toy good for the people?”

“I could make the grains grow faster or whatever the people usually pray for,” you shrugged. “I’m at least granting their wishes.”

“I thought you were interested in necromancy recently,” Seishu laughed knowingly. “I’m no expert in the field but how is that helping with making the crops grow?”

“I’m sure a walking dead body or two would scare off the crows,” you said as seriously as you could. “It might also scare off thieves, now that I think about it.”

Koko just looked at you, horrified, while Seishu laughed at your nonchalance. When the former regained his senses, he reprimanded you again. 

“We are not using tax money, so you can experiment with the undead and unleash them on the public!”

“Eh, it was worth a try,” you relented before popping another grape in your mouth.

𝐀𝐋-𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐌 / 𝐊𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐇

You were well aware of the whispers that filled the halls of the castle when you weren’t present. 

Kaveh was probably a more conventional concubine to take, considering his innate kindness and striking beauty. Clearly, when he waltzed into the room beside you, it was like the sun was rising before everyone’s eyes. Yeah, he was probably an expected choice.

Al-Haitham, on the other hand…

It wasn’t exactly his physique which raised people’s questions. Moreso it was his gruff temper and apparent boredom with most topics, burying his nose in a book and brushing people off with less than a single word at times, that made your staff shake their heads at your appointment.

Not that it mattered much what other people thought.

What did matter, however, was that your country’s infrastructure had improved significantly since you made your peculiar choice of companions. After most critical meetings concerning upcoming construction, your subordinates believed your return to your chambers meant you just had to relieve some pent-up stress. Yet, those “steamy” nights were spent hunched over maps and graphs of your nation, pointing out the flaws in your advisers’ proposals and redoing blueprints of planned buildings.

Perhaps nobody else in the castle was aware of it, but Al- Haitham and Kaveh were a genius strategist and brilliant architect respectively, responsible for the projects the public praised you most for. And that had been the nature of your relationship in the beginning. They patched out your advisers’ proposals and you made sure they were compensated accordingly, unconventional as the methods may be.

Though, you supposed, after working together for a while, the titles you had given them may not be so wrong anymore. Long nights spent agonising over the ideal location for a new project had turned into quiet evenings lounging around your quarters, enjoying fine wine and lingering touches. Having the two around had become a great sense of comfort to you and running into them between meetings and stacks of paperworks waiting for you made a spark of fondness flutter in your chest.

However, running into both of them at the same time also meant the unlikely pair were probably bickering. This time, you could actually hear them before you rounded the corner.

“I’m telling you, if we use this type of wood-”

“It would rot under the environmental influences faster than you could complete construction.”

“Why, you…!”

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you exhaled ready to calm down the situation somehow. Then, you came face to face with them and had an entirely new idea on how to mediate. Haitham had his arms crossed as he regarded the blond with an unimpressed expression, the pose accentuating the way his biceps and triceps flexed. With Kaveh turned away from you, you had a clear view of his back, as always exposed by the flowy robes he wore.

Sure, they might not be the most usual concubines you could’ve chosen, but that didn’t matter.

“Strategy meeting in my quarters, now. Royal orders.”

© the-travelling-witch 2024 - do not repost, translate, copy or edit; do not copy into an ai

if you like my content, reblogs, comments and asks are always much appreciated ♡

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i think @ryuryuryuyurboat was interested in the idea? have some incoherent rambles then jsjsh

[namazunomegami]

emperor!sukuna x imperial concubine!reader

a/n: part 2 of my self-indulging mess. I had a lot of fun writing him and his drabble got finished way before I developed the whole plotline for Geto lol. I'll try to complete Gojo today or tomorrow and Toji is in the works yaaay!!

Also, I'm so surprised my Geto drabble got so many notes in such a short time!! I wouldn't expected people to be remotely interested in my writing but now I'm getting confident.

And finally, I can guarantee that this reader is gender neutral.

Likes and reblogs are appreciated <33

wc: 674, I know, I know, Geto got the princess treatment from me but sometimes less is more <333

cw: historical AU, scheming, mentions of pregnancy, mentions of sudden infant death syndrome, betrayal, accusations of abortion, execution, nudity, mentions of poisoning, suggestive

credits: i used a colored manga panel instead of a fanart but I have no idea who did the coloring so feel free to help me credit their work. And again, my precious @notveryrussian did the proofread, luv ya mwah <33

MDNI PLEASE! I'm gonna find you and kick you in the butt if you do. If you’re not comfortable with dark content or anything mentioned in the warnings just scroll, there's nothing wrong with that.

His mandate of heaven is very different from Gojo and Geto. Sukuna is a ruthless tyrant, he enjoys crushing any nation he deems either threatening or undeserving to even exist next to his borders. His palace is a snake pit, full of betrayal and backstabbing. Executions are frequent and he needs no valid reason to sentence someone to death, he enjoys the bloodshed and the sight of lifeless bodies. You can’t survive that place acting kind and humble. Sukuna specifically torments his concubines physically and mentally for the sheer enjoyment of it.

His court is probably the most competitive. You need to be as ruthless as he is, you need to become a schemer. One of his high-ranking consorts takes you under her wing. She lets you spend leisure time with her, and somehow, she ends up telling you way more sensitive information than she should. She once managed to give him a child, but the infant sadly died days after they were born. She complained about how hard that pregnancy was and that she’s afraid of going through it again, even though she’s attached to him. And not long after this conversation, she fell ill. Retching out everything she ate, her stomach burned and ached. She was so weak her cycle was two weeks late. She trusted you enough to have you fetch her a specific herbal tea to ease her pain and grant her some dreamless sleep.

And that’s the moment you decide you’ll use everything you know about her to cast her down and take her place.

You accuse her that she’s pregnant but wants to abort her baby. Your story is so intricately constructed from all the details you knew that his officials are on your side without hesitation. She watches you horrified, desperately telling him that nothing could be so far from the truth. Sukuna decides to believe in your words and orders for the consort to be executed. Finding pure joy in how she wails and begs for forgiveness. At the execution, he studies your face, every little detail and reaction and you were aware of that. It’s time to impress him. Your face is still, you don’t even flinch when her head is severed by the neck. The eunuchs come for you at night.

He loves and loathes this tradition at the same time. The servants want to protect him, so they deliver you stark naked to ensure you won’t carry any weapons. Fools, as if a weak and trembling creature like you could ever hurt him with a mere dagger or a sharpened hairpin. Yet it makes you look like an offering. A sacrificial lamb. Maybe because you are.

Some primal instinct tells you to balance your inner strength and innate fear of him. Pull back your shoulders, straighten your back, don’t even think to conceal your private parts. Let your fingers quiver and the sheer dread in your eyes seep through. He mocks you. Almost laughs at you while sitting comfortably on the intricately carved shelf bed, wearing a loose bright yellow robe, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. There’s no reason for him to not do this though, he’s a god, the son of heaven, therefore, everything about him is perfect.

The first thing he asks you is if you’re satisfied with your pathetic attempt to improve your position. You don’t dare to tell him that you feel the guilt rotting your insides. He confesses that he was poisoning her meals, he wanted to watch her wither away slowly and enjoy her suffering, but you ruined his plans. He might spare you, you’re a stupid little thing, you couldn’t have known. He warns you that you need to do so much more if you want to be on his good side. You need to be absolutely despicable to earn his praise. Though you feel content having reached your goal and getting to spend a night with him, somewhere deep down you hope you can leave his chamber in one piece or, at least, alive.

[spacient]

I fully love Dimension 20 and the way Brennan Lee Mulligan can tell an incredible story. Of course, the full cast of characters makes a huge difference in where a story can go, and there was no better cast than those they found for the Mentopolis side quest.

I've seen all the main seasons with the Intrepid Heroes, and I've seen a hefty chunk of the side quests. Here's my top 5 ranking for anyone asking:

A Crown of Candy -- absolutely BRUTAL. For such a whimsical setting, it's Game of Thrones out there. The Politics are messy, the war is dangerous, and The Hungry One has seized my appetite. Special mention to Matt Mercer for coming in on the prequel Ravening War side quest. That being said I have no idea if I can ever fully rewatch this.

Mentopolis -- whole opposite end of the spectrum in being the most cartoonish of all the series. I have never laughed as hard and as continuous as I have watching episode 4 of the series. Underneath all of the humor and tropes of a noir, it was incredibly philosophical. Also, I'm a big sucker for murder mystery. If ACoC wasn't as strong as it was, then this would be the #1.

Fantasy High -- a fan favorite. Such a fun romp and an easy-in to watching any DND campaign. The dice really do tell the story here. Shoutout to the sequel Sophomore year, it really fleshed out the world and characters far more. Maybe a little higher on the list than it deserves, but fight me this is my list.

A Court of Fey and Flowers - more politics dressed up for tea. Aabria Iyengar knows how to set a mood, and she knows exactly how to let her players drive a story in the setting she creates. There's something so special the way all of the players stay true to their characters even when it comes to making a difficult decision. They all came in knowing the assignment. Also, it sure is nice to see Brennan enjoying himself as a player #GiveThatManABreak

The Unsleeping City -- Heavily character driven. The concept of a fantasy world veiled around us at all times is heavily appealing. Another very philosophical season, and a season that isn't afraid to let characters have a little conflict with one another. The sequel shows the characters have incredible growth as well. Again, maybe a little lower on the list than deserved, but I can't justify lowering ACoFaF.

A special mention to Starstruck Odyssey for just barely missing the top 5 ranking. I really enjoy the shenanigan seasons.

[imaginespazzi]

niviiiiii where you at my love??? need your game recap and your crashout over ur wifey being back on the court!!

48 hours later, and now that I can remember the game for more than just Azzi because really that's all I could think about on the actual day, I do have actual game thoughts:

Thank god I had that cloud of happiness about Azzi coming back because if I didn't, I think that game might have actually killed my soul because quite frankly, I didn't think that game was great by any stretch. And listen I love my alums, I love seeing them, love their support etc. etc. but please for the love of god, they can never come to a game against a real opponent and they needa stay so far away from the team during March/April.

The one thing I did enjoy: SARAH FUCKING STRONG. She was just so good and she really just does everything on the court at such a high level. AND THE THREES ARE FALLING! Like everyone should be really scared because Sarah is the real fucking deal.

Thank god Paige lowkey had a good second half because if she'd kept playing the way the she did that first half, the discourse would've been unbearable and I wouldn't have even stepped into defend her like girlie was doing her best *not* to beat the allegation from ND last year. But as always, when she wasn't contributing scoring wise, Paige did everything else. Grandpa should've let her get that double-double.

I like that Ice seems to be becoming consistent with what she does

Thank god for KC in the first half! That's that veteran experience bleeding through where despite the rims apparently being closed for UConn, she found a way. Hopefully that translates to a higher ranked opponent.

We need more from Ash but I do like that she's being aggressive

JANA GIRL LAYUPS!! Please for the love of god truly nothing irritates me more and I'm assuming by the looks he was giving her, Geno's gonna get on her ass about it.

KK continues to give us that spark off the bench but she's still making some freshman mistakes.

Speaking of sparks, Morgan has a definitive impact that won't show up on the box score, but you see it when she steps on the floor every game.

Allie baby I fear you're gonna have to wait your turn and that might not be till next year

AND FINALLY AZZI FUDD!! Man I was just so happy to see my girl so happy to play and she could've score 0 points and I would've felt like she'd scored 50. Gonna add another anon here because I think they captured it pretty well:

Like obviously she didn't do anything otherwordly but immediately you can tell she's moving well and the fact that she was willing to make shot after missing is a great read on her new mentality. AND THE DEFENSE. I remember Azzi saying that's what she took most pride in, in HS, so if we can get that defensive minded Azzi + her shots start falling, well...Geno might faint out of love for her lol.

Overall with opponents like this, it's all about how you beat them and we didn't do it particularly beautifully but like I've been saying, this is a young team and it's early days. I think the Bahama's will be a great test for them and especially if they get Ole Miss, I think we're gonna learn a lot.

[mudandmire]

Ghost

Azriel made a deal with the Mother ten years ago: his service in return for Eris's life. Azriel leaves no impression on the world anymore, no footprints or sounds. The only thing he leaves behind are rivers - endless erosions of blood through the stone he bore the day Eris died. His obedience, in return for Eris's survival. There is no other way.

Yet the decade passes, and The Autumn Court is falling into turmoil. In the midst of the heatwave drying out their crops, trying to discover who wants him dead, and delicately balancing his bargain with the Night Court and the unpredictability of his volatile father - Eris finds an even greater secret. One he probably wasn't ever supposed to know.

AH first chapter is here!! I'm ✨terrified✨ This is for all the lovelies who inspired me, but also those who were so so kind and liked my little pet project. I have little experience being in such a forward, loving community, where every praise you have is shared. I adore it, I'm working to be more like y'all because there's nothing like kindness shared ❤️

I have no idea what I'm doing 🫠. I am Completely Obsessed with this idea - it's taken over all my thoughts at work, too, so that's fun. Hope you enjoy a lil snippet from the chapter :D

...

The woods hang their breath; fog in the trees, swirling through the limbs of pines. The flurry comes down faster collecting in the strands of Eris's hair and in his sooty eyelashes.

At his side, his blade weighs heavy. The two males continue to talk over the body sprawled in the snow. Their voices ring from far away, lost to the near silence the forest has collected around them in this little clearing.

Azriel makes to take a step toward Eris, but jerks back like a string being pulled taut. He shifts to right the strain, casting a narrow-eyed glance to the barren branches, as if something sits there—watching.

"Would you stop running your mouth and get the knife?" The second male points a long, pale finger to the bag in the snow, having been shucked off in relief when they made it to the clearing.

The knuckles on his fingers are raw, a ruddy red color from dragging a body through the cold. Azriel's shadows follow his gaze, the rage filtered through them that he has no allowance to feel. He watches him; finds the aspects of his face and the clothes he wears and documents it. The male isn't all that impressive, and apart from having the same pointed ears high fae have, he would've easily mistaken him for a lower rank: a farmer, perhaps.

White flakes catch on the dark, muddy brown strands of the fae's hair. He brushes at his runny nose as his beady, dark eyes scan over the clearing.

They sweep over where Azriel is standing, and continue on.

"Got it!" The second male shouts, echoing through the still silent woods. Not a bird calls back. Not a single scamper of little paws through the crunch of snow and twigs answers.

Foolish fae, they should know better than to trust a silent wood. Azriel thinks to himself, the shadows chittering in agreement.

The first male rubs his hands together, the friction faint, his breath pooling like great clouds in front of his narrow face. "Fucking finally." He says, and pulls out a crumpled, awkwardly folded piece of paper from his pocket. "Now, give it here."

He passes the knife over. An unassuming silver shine that catches the watery light, it's hilt wrapped in worn leather. It looks like it would be lost in an armory and never found again.

Azriel feels the muscles along his shoulders tense, his legs stiffening in the snow as if being rooted to the earth. He's much more comfortable with the knife in the second males hand—a little bit awkward, unaware of consequences tied to the blade like a red ribbon.

The shadows go shrill, piercing through the muffled drone of Azriel's thoughts. They bring forth the accompanying jolt of his heart—the twist deep in his stomach as he catches the mad glint in the males eyes as he holds the knife aloft.

"Ten thousand gold marks, Lachlan." He whispers, nearly to himself. There's a sheen on his thin, pale lips from how many times he's licked at them. "And we've got it."

A smile, crooked and strangely excited, grows on Lachlan's face.

Foolish, the shadows whisper, delighting in the wait just as much as Azriel is. Unwise creatures—their spilt blood will be refreshing.

The second male pauses, just enough for Azriel to catch it and take it as his cue.

…

Tag list -

@c-starstuff-man0 @futurehunt @chunkypossum @somnolentsoul

(please please lemme know if I missed you or you want off or if I did it wrong fanks :])

[irregularcollapse]

please read roger federer’s retirement tribute tweet for rafa if you haven’t already, it’s so tender and romantic and I thought about your tennis buckies the entire time 💀😭

thanks to you i read it while on duty at the circ desk and teared up in full view of the library wewwww!!!

the letter:

Vamos, @ RafaelNadal! As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional. Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge. I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype. We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud. I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies. I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties. And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career. Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next. Rafa that! Best always, your fan, Roger

like holy moly it's just so sweet i'm verklempt

[chrystal-ink]

Shadow x Fem Reader

Regency au part two Dream

No content warning in this one mostly just set up.

-Enjoy

Your carige ride home was spent in a dizzy haze your mind reeling from the events of the night. The excitement of your first ball and the sudden reappearance of your childhood friend had left your mind scattered and you needed to pick up the pieces.

You couldn't recall much after your dance with Shadow, just saying a simple goodbye before making your swift getaway into the crowd. Your mother, who had accompanied you that night, with her impeccable timing, was ready to retire for the evening meaning you didn't have to make up an excuse as to why you needed to leave before the ball was technically over.

Unfortunately your mother had seen you dance with the Viscount, and she was more than pleased.

"oh it is delightful that you two have reunited after all this time, and what a lovely couple you would make. I should invite him for tea, or perhaps dinner. Do you know what food he prefers? Perhaps I shall ask his mother maybe she will know. Do you know if he will call upon you tomorrow? Well he must with the way he was looking at you as you danced."

"Momma, perhaps you should hold off on planning the wedding until after I have secured a proposal." You interjected, tired of your mother's chatter.

"Oh come now darling, you know it is much too soon for him to propose, you must court him for two weeks at least." Your mother responded, completely missing your sarcasm. "I suppose if one is passionately in love an hour can feel like a lifetime, in which case a proposal may not be far away at all."

"Momma, tonight was the first time I've seen the Viscount in eight years largely because he has ignored me or any attempts I have made to rekindle our friendship. I sincerely doubt that he is in love with me. He mearly wants to make amends for his past actions."

"Well then he has apologized has he not?"

"No he has not."

"And would you accept said apology should he choose to do so?"

"I am not sure, that is the problem. He hurt me so deeply when he left I do not know if I have that kind of forgiveness in me."

"Well I'm sure both of you will come around eventually you were so close as children I doubt much has changed since then."

"Many things have changed since then, he is a viscount now he is responsible for his family's legacy one that has been tarnished no thanks to his cousin, not to mention he is a very high ranking member of the court, a court that could outs him over the slightest hint of scandal. He does not have time to worry about matters such as finding a wife let alone apologizing to me or anyone else he has wronged."

It hurt you to say those things but you knew it was true, it was by the grace of her majesty that the Robotnicks kept their place in society. Nobody knew why. rumors spread throughout the ton on the circumstances which allowed them to keep their ranking. Many thought it was bribery some said it was manipulation, others suggested an affair with the queen was what kept the Robotnick name safe from further scandal. You weren't sure which rumor was worse.

"Young lady the circumstances surrounding you two may have vastly changed, but your heart has remained as loving as ever, no matter how much you try to deny it. And as for the viscount if he is wise then he will apologize in due time, but only you can decide weather he is worth the forgiveness."

Your mother though odd in her own ways, always knew what you needed to hear even if you didn't necessarily want to hear it. Feelings had reamerged, ones that you had suppressed long ago, they were neglected and begged for attention, and they weren't going to leave you alone without a fight.

"Thank you Momma for the kind words, I wish to reflect in silence for the rest of the ride home."

"Of course my darling, try not to grow too worrisome you two have time to work things out."

The rest of the ride home was silent only the only sound that could be heard were the horses trotting guiding you and your mother home.

💎

Sleep did not come easily to you that night, your mind buzzing with questions.

Why should Shadow reappear now of all times?

Could it have anything to do with your coming out this year?

What has he been up to for all these years?

What is this mysterious fluttering in your chest, and why do you only feel it when you think of him?

Your mind flipped rapidly through these questions until a restless slumber overtook you.

💎

You were back at the ball, only it was different this time. The crowd around you was replaced with an eerie emptiness. Your dance card had only one slot on it and Shadow's name took it's place.

The music began and he was nowhere to be seen. You ran about the ballroom calling his name but he could not be found. Finally you collapsed on the floor in despair tears falling from your eyes and crashing onto the dancefloor.

Suddenly you felt a warm presence around you. It drew you into it's embrace and held onto you as you sobbed.

The presence whispered in you ear. "No need to cry now, I'm here, I will always be here, no matter how much time has passed, I promise I will not leave you again."

You turned to the presence unable to make out it's face until it reached out a hand to dry your tears.

"Shadow"

He didn't respond in words he just looked into your eyes as he removed his gloves placing his bare hand on your cheek. Instinctively you leaned into his warm gentle touch leaning closer and closer to his face until your lips were mere centimeters from touching.

You gasped immediately torn out of your dream and into reality. Your heart was racing as though you had been running and a cold sweat had seeped through your nightgown.

The morning sun had begun to peak through your curtains as you steadied yourself. Slowing your breath you had only one thought that went through your head.

What on earth was that?

Before you had time to absorb the shock of your dream your mother and your ladies maid burst into your bedroom.

"Good morning my dear, you shouldn't be in bed at this late hour, not when there is so much to do today! Lilly be a dear and draw her a bath will you she looks completely disheveled from last night."

"Yes madam" Lilly said before quietly leaving to get your bath prepared.

"Oh darling there is so much to do we are woefully under prepared for this season and we didn't even know it, we will be taking gentlemen callers in two hours, after that we must go to the modiste to get you a new wardrobe, and then we shall promenade with the Rose family this afternoon after tea."

"Mother we just bought me a new wardrobe for the season why must we return to the modiste, how many more dresses could I possibly need."

"It appears that the reemergence of the Viscount has been proven to be quite beneficial to you, we have been receiving invitations all morning. Balls, Banquets, Teas, all sorts of events all wanting you. And then this arrived."

Your mother handed you a copy of the Ton's gossip column. You heart began to race again as you read the words.

"Queen Elise pronounces miss Y/N L/N as her diamond of the season"

[freak-attorney]

Random Ace Attorney headcanons!!! :D

Feel free to leave ur own in the notes or if u agree/disagree!!

(Also please keep in mind that I'm basing these off of the first trilogy since that it all I've played so far!)

Feel free to ask/request any other specific headcanons from me :D

Phoenix Wright

Barely passed the LSAT

Used to have panic attacks in court (is now in therapy)

Always has a hair tie for Maya

Has learned how to do Pearl's hair for her

Filipino/American

Chronically online

Finds millennial humor funny

ADHD undiagnosed

Bisexual

His hair ALWAYS has traces of gel in it

He's a dog person but loves cats

His suit is always a bit wrinkled

Survives on red bull and microwave dinners

*finger guns*

Love language is physical touch and acts of service

Falls asleep at his desk every night during a case

Needs 5+ alarms to wake up in the morning

Uses concealer to hide his eye bags

Doesn't floss

Sleeps like a starfish

Has sweat stains on several shirts

Naturally wavy hair but he straightens it

Miles Edgeworth

Always hours early to a case because he's very anxious about being late

Sometimes wishes he had a different career (outside of law) but never even considered it an option until recently

Very argumentative over silly things, eventually apologizes with a small gift or note

Love language is gift giving

Enjoys parallel play.. like he enjoys just having someone in his office while he's working even though he doesn't acknowledge them

Has good stamina from always using stairs over elevators

Can cook very well, enjoys cooking for others

Autistic (late diagnosed)

Has a collection of fidget toys that only a few people know about

Chronically OFFline

Enjoys animal crossing and other peaceful games

Has excellent hygiene

Started dying his hair grey as soon as he found one strand of grey hair

Makes a photo album for Franziska for her birthday each year

Has a blanket that he's slept with for 10+ years

Keeps every trinket that Pearl or Maya might give him

Has fresh clothes and toiletries at the office in case he sleeps there

Prefers gold over silver

Is a cat person but is okay with dogs (he thinks dogs are messy)

Has an ironing board in the wall of his office

Probably gay or somewhere on the aroace spectrum

Wears a full face of makeup to court (gatekeeps his sweat proof foundation)

Sleeps curled up in one corner of his bed

Maya Fey

Loves to do cartwheels (can't actually do a proper cartwheel)

Tries learning Japanese on DuoLingo (can't keep more than a 5 day streak)

Taught Pearl basically everything she knows

Love language is quality time

Is very good at rhythm games

Has "childish" interests like Sailor Moon, Hello Kitty, My Little Pony, etc.

Enjoys older arcade games like Galaga, Frogger, and Mappy

Wanted to be a veterinarian at some point but is a bit too squeamish for that

Is ALWAYS late even if she plans to be early

Sleeps with a night light

Has a collection of rocks that Pearl gave her growing up

Loves abstract art

Hugs very tightly

Since Mia's death her last words to anyone close to her when they separate for any amount of time is "I love you" just in case

Is naturally unorganized but started keeping a planner when she started working with Phoenix... she sometimes forgets the planner exists but she TRIES okay??

Dick Gumshoe

Love language is gift giving and acts of service for SURE

Would gladly give someone his umbrella in the rain knowing he'd get soaked

Doesn't know how to cook because he doesn't have the resources but he'd like to learn

Forgot to put water in his ramen once and almost burned his apartment down

Doesn't always shower because his water gets cut off

Smells pretty rank but Edgeworth gifts him nice body sprays sometimes

Always makes sure Edgeworth is up at a reasonable time for a case/trial even though he really doesn't need to

Always chewing gum

Dream car is a Jeep Wrangler

Demiromantic

Memorizes little details about people to give them good birthday/holiday gifts

Gets very excited about fortune cookies

Loves buffets

Gives the BEST hugs

Is scared of thunderstorms and terrified of hurricanes

Really appreciates small gifts like keychains or trinkets

Lets Maya and Pearl paint his nails

Has really large and calloused hands

Sleeps all snuggled up hugging a pillow

Used to collect magnifying glasses

Bites on his pencils/pens

Franziska Von Karma

Sapphic.

She wears press ons

Stalks the social media accounts of her clients

Sleeps in a grandma nightgown

Has two planners: one physical and one on her phone

Really wants a pet rabbit

Has so many decorative pillows on her bed and arranges them every morning

Hits people next to her when she laughs

Quietly gives gifts for holidays/birthdays without making it a big deal

Casually gives super expensive gifts

Plays Genshin

Forces Edgeworth to watch reality TV with her (Say Yes to the Dress, My Strange Addiction, ANTM, Jersey Shore)

Really likes horror movies but can't handle too much gore

Classically trained in ballet

Enjoys photography

Watches the Kentucky Derby every year

Basically raised Miles when Manfred didn't

Knows how to sew but doesn't have the time

Collects Monster High dolls

Likes dogs but LOVES cats

Finds dumb people really attractive

Needs complete silence when doing paperwork or she can't concentrate

Autistic (undiagnosed)

Doesn't plan on ever getting married

Probably one of the only characters that gets proper sleep

Prefers pleated skirts over pencil but wears them in court to look professional

Hates the texture of chiffon fabric

Always wearing a different pair of earrings

Has a couple small tattoos but covers them well

Has the sharpest eyeliner known to man

Fluent in a few languages including Mandarin Chinese, French, and Italian

That's all for now!!

[cuckoo-on-a-string]

Promises Three: Subtle Dreaming

Dark!Morpheus x (female)reader, fantasy/medieval AU, 18+

Master List

Dream of the Endless had been promised a bride.

Chapter track: Rainbow - The Temple of the King - Algal the Bard

It has been... a rough couple weeks. But I'm back! Hope you enjoy! Your comments and questions mean the world! Special thanks to all you lovely rebloggers! I'm still trying to figure out how to respond without essentially reposting half a dozen times, but I see you, you make my week!

Subtle Dreaming

A knock on the door disturbed her work. It was an hour past midnight, when all but the youngest servants and ardent lovers had retired to their beds with heads full of dreams, a time a wandering mice and cat’s work.

But she wasn’t surprised, even less when she opened the door of her windowless chamber to find a young lady in her nightdress, wrapped in a shawl with wary hope in her eyes and a candle in her hand. Alis Everard. The youngest of a large family, and the only child still unmarried – and a child she was, barely thirteen, and of all the reasons the bard hated the king of Meiren, summoning such young suitors for his Endless guest might be the greatest. Her face hadn’t quite lost childhood’s rounded cheeks, and the seams on her nightgown had recently been let out after a growth spurt.

“I see your father is impatient,” the bard said. Wrapped in her own shawl over her own nightgown, she felt more than ever the noble’s equal. After such a long life, she understood better than most how little rank protected one from life and how much a peasant’s child was like a queen’s. She was the girl’s elder by far, but she’d been young once, and what youth didn’t go sneaking down corridors in the dark during their first trip to court?

“He bid me seek your counsel. May I come in?”

Stepping back, she ushered the girl into her sparse little room. “Of course.”

Once the girl was through, she moved to close the door, but a slippered foot darted through the gap to block it. “Not so quicky!”

The foot neatly kicked the door back open as the bard released it, and a young woman – who was, at least, properly a woman – swept by in a dressing gown of satin and a riot of chestnut curls. “I enjoy midnight jaunts, but not being spied on one.”

The bard did her very best not to smile, but failed entirely. She knew this late guest as well. Eilwyn Alder. The third generation in her family the bard had befriended, and she sat next to little Alis on the bed with the casual grace of someone entitled to it.

“My grandmother sent me for your thoughts, though I’m sure she’ll collect them for herself tomorrow. But I am a dutiful granddaughter, so here I am.” She blinked doe eyes as the door finally fell shut, poised and perfect coquettish grace. “So, what news? Or will I lose my beauty sleep for nothing?”

Pulling out a stool from beneath her tiny desk, the bard said, “I haven’t spent an hour in his presence, and I’ve had a long ride, so forgive me if I haven’t yet taken the full measure of the king’s guest and his schemes.”

Alis wriggled on the bed, twisting her hands up in her shawl. Her eyes bounced between shadows, looking for threats like the Dream Lord’s nightmares might crawl out of the walls to exact vengeance for some imagined slight. Not that they couldn’t, but the bard assumed Lord Morpheus had better things to do with his time than torment one overwrought teenager who didn’t want to marry him.

“What if he eats his bride on the wedding night? Like the Lindworm?”

Eilwyn scoffed, and the bard donned a gentle smile, even if she couldn’t keep the laugher from her voice.

“He’s Endless, not a dragon.”

“What does that mean?”

“Means you’d be better off with a dragon.”

The child curled into the corner of the bed, sinking into the blankets with her shawl swallowing the lower half of her face. Looking for comfort where her companions’ mirth had failed. The bard reached over to pat her knee, taking the opportunity to change the subject. “Honestly dragons aren’t so bad. One of my patrons is a dragon, you know. I was attending my yearly visit to his lair when your great, worried, noble parents called for me.”

A whisper of a promised story lured Alis’s eyes away from visions of doom. She glanced at Eilwyn, like she’d confirm the tale. The older girl gladly took up the role of expert.

“Everyone knows that,” she sniffed.

“Is it…” Alis mulled over the idea, confusing herself with her own bevy of questions. “Is it a… nice dragon?”

“These days he is. But he wasn’t always.”

The hook snared Alis’s attention, and her posture softened, though she didn’t leave the corner of the little bed. In fact, she made herself more comfortable, settling like a kitten, and a stab of rage that anyone thought this little girl ought to be considered as a wife seared through the gathering strands of the bard’s story.

She took a blanket and settled it over the child as she began to speak, shielding her from a king’s machinations, a world too big for little hands, and prying eyes.

.O.O.O.

Dream of the Endless retired to the chambers the King set aside for his use, though he had little use for them at all. He would not sleep. He had no intention of entertaining in the parlor, or writing missives at the richly appointed desk. There was no book on the shelves he did not already possess, and he left the food prepared for him to grow cold and stale on the table.

He did sip the wine, and in the darkest hours he found his amusement in wandered the sleeping minds of the castle. Boredom drove him. Cruelty, even. Vengeance called for the king to atone for his wounded pride, and the decade since the human’s error only gave Dream time to image new and wondrous torments. He wanted to watch the king’s schemes crumble in the dread nightmares prowling the would-be suitors’ dreams. He enjoyed the seeds of hate planted in parents’ hearts, the doubt in subjects who’d been nothing but loyal until this gathering.

The king’s story would be a horror, a kind of tragedy that left wounds in his lands and subjects the turn of generations would not heal. These seven days would be the fuse, a prologue to terror and loss. A lesson none would soon forget, lest they bring such punishment on their own loves.

He drifted, savoring the fears he would shape to his own ends. Until words snared his attention. A half-heard tale of a dragon spinning through recent memories of a soft touch and a smile in the face of inescapable dread.

He found a young mind loosely tethered to the Dreaming, caught in the tides running between the conscious and subconscious, where words and images of the Waking cast strange reflections in the fading thoughts before sleep. She led him to a plain, simple room deep in the castle. A place for high-ranking members of staff, perhaps. Utilitarian and uninspiring. Not a place this noble child belonged. But she was not alone, and as she dozed, Dream borrowed her senses.

Voices. One he recognized. The bard the king so detested. He knew her as he knew all dreamers, and he sensed his sister’s touch upon her.

She spoke of him.

“He’s the Prince of Stories. A bride market is beneath him. This is how political unions for picky lords looking for pretty faces are arranged, not how one of the most powerful creatures to ever live seeks a partner,” the bard said.

She was not wrong, of course. The story weaver spied the loose strings in the tale, the ragged ends that did not match, though she had yet to understand the pattern he wove.

“Whatever he wants, it isn’t love or a warm body in his bed. There’s something else. I just have to figure out if that something is a danger to any of you.”

So, loyalty did grow in the king’s court. Just not to the monarch. Dream felt the peace the bard’s presence brought the dreamer half-snared in her sleep. A quiet, sure thing. The confidence children had in oak trees their parents and grandparents climbed when they were young.

The other voice in the room did not speak as a child. This one was old enough for caution, and it worried for the old oak as well as those who sheltered beneath.

“To us, I should think.”

Did the bard not fear him? Had she stood outside as the storyteller for so long she’d forgotten she could be part of them as well?

“Whatever happens, dear, I’ll survive it.” Her only worry was for those she perceived as in her care. The children of children she’d watched grow. A touch carried through the dreamer’s skin and into their subconscious, a kind voice leading her back to the Waking. “It isn’t time to sleep yet. You must return to your room…”

The fragile link collapsed, and the bridge between the servants’ quarters and the noble guest room dissolved.

Lord Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, sat in his darkened chambers in the court of a damned king, and thought as he sipped from his wine that he would enjoy seeing the bard at work. He must amuse himself for seven days, after all, until the time of the agreement ran out, and she was a surprising creature.

The most surprising he’d seen in some time.

[scyllas-revenge]

How to Lose A Captain-General in 10 Days???

Tell us more please! Why would anyone want to lose such a man???

(I do really enjoy that movie. Super charming!)

Ha! I'm not sure if the WIP will ever coalesce into a real fic, but the name does have a lot of potential XD

The idea was that Denethor is trying to set Boromir up, and Boromir wants nothing to do with the idea. The woman, meanwhile, also hates the idea of an arranged marriage, even to someone as high-ranking as Boromir. So when they're forced to meet and start courting, they both decide to be as horrible to each other as possible to try and escape the arrangement. Hilarity ensues, etc. etc.

To be honest, that idea might end up absorbed into my matchmaker fic WIP, which also involves trying to set Boromir up against his will, poor sap, except this time he falls for the matchmaker herself. The setup to both WIPs are similar enough.

Here's a snippet of the very little I've written so far!

“You act as though courting will be a full-time job.” Denethor set down his wine goblet stiffly; from his expression, Boromir suspected his father was harboring a headache to rival his own. “You need only determine that the girl is amiable enough, of sufficient breeding and able to navigate the court of Minas Tirith.  Then we can plan a quick and efficient wedding. As our coffers are being drained for the war effort, we will forego the usual pomp and extravagance. You will wed her, bed her, and be back on the battlefield in a matter of days, hopefully with a child on the way.” “I did not know you were such a romantic, Father.” “This is no laughing matter, boy! You cannot delay producing an heir forever.” Denethor’s face was now so sour it was a wonder his dinner didn’t curdle on his plate before him. Boromir grimaced. “You were far older than me when you married Mother.” His father’s jaw tightened in warning, but Boromir forged ahead. “Surely you did not approach your courtship with her in so callous a manner—” “Enough!" Denethor pushed his chair back and stood. Boromir watched warily as he paced the length of the dinner table, back and forth, his cloak snapping about his legs impatiently. “I met and wed your mother in a different time. We have not the luxury of such sentimentality any longer. You will meet with Lady Maura tomorrow, and your wedding will be announced within a week.” “A week? Do you expect me to determine our suitability in so short a time?” “Luckily, I have already done so. The girl is of an excellent family, wealthy and of spotless reputation in Minas Tirith and beyond. She is in possession of impeccable manners and is of excellent health to bear you a strong son. You will find no fault with her beyond some rather unsightly freckles.” “You should take up poetry, the way you speak of her," Boromir snapped, though his heart was sinking.

[anneapocalypse]

Anon here, I really enjoyed your post about Vivienne! This is probably nitpicky but I thought mages could marry? Alistair's banter with Wynne: "Mages aren't forbidden to marry or anything, are they?"

Good question! So this is a more complicated answer. Alistair's dialogue with Wynne does indicate that mages are legally not barred from marrying. It is worth noting that they're talking about Ferelden. It is possible that the law is different in Orlais, particularly for nobility, as titles and inheritance are handled differently in Orlais than they are in Ferelden.

But so far as I know (and it is possible I'm missing something on this, as the canon on Circles isn't always 100% consistent and some of that can be taken as different Circles simply having different rules and norms), there is nothing in Chantry law that explicitly bars mages from marrying.

It's just really, strongly discouraged.

Here's that full banter between Alistair and Wynne:

Alistair: So tell me, you have any children? Grandchildren? I don't know, great grandchildren? Wynne: What would make you think I have any children at all? You have to know I've spent most of my life in the Circle of Magi. Alistair: You just seem like the grandmotherly type to me, I don't know. Wynne: I suppose I'll take that as a comment on my demeanor and not my age. Alistair: Mages aren't forbidden to marry or anything, are they? It's not such an outlandish question. Wynne: Isn't it? What sort of man would marry a mage, do you think? Alistair: How about another mage? There are just as many men as there are women within the Circle, as I recall. Wynne: That sort of union is... not encouraged. Although that does not stop us from seeking out each other's... company from time to time. Alistair: I... all right, suddenly you don't seem quite so grandmotherly to me anymore. Wynne: Good. I would hope not.

While we don't know exactly what Wynne means by "not encouraged," it's not hard to imagine that most clerics could and would just... refuse to officiate a mage marriage. It's not hard to imagine that a Circle could simply refuse access to any cleric who would be amenable. With the Circles having such control over the mages' lives and movements, "not encouraged" is going to be as good as "forbidden" in most cases.

There is one Circle-approved mage we're aware of who married and had a family: Wilhelm Sulzbacher, who served as a healer for the resistance during the Orlesian occupation, and after the war was over received that coveted title of Court Mage, which for him seems to have conferred the privileges of going on expeditions to the Deep Roads (where he found Shale), and eventually settling down in Honnleath where he could start a family and tinker with his golem in relative peace. Wilhelm's situation seems to be exceptionally rare.

I can't think of any other mages in canon who have been granted that amount of leniency by the Circle. And I can't think of any mages we know of who are married to one another and live in the Circle as spouses. This seems to corroborate Wynne's statement that such unions are highly discouraged.

For a high-ranking noble like Bastien, marrying a mage would bring countless other problems. Bastien's affair with Vivienne was already a scandal; bards were sent to make an example of her. Marrying her would have been a scandal on a whole other level.

Additionally, under Chantry law mages are forbidden from holding titles or land. If Vivienne were to marry Bastien, she would probably still be subject to restrictions on any inheritance should he die before her (as he was always likely to do based on their age difference). This is less of an issue as long as Bastien has a living heir, which he does. But if, for example, Laurent were to meet an untimely death following his father's death, and had no heir of his own, it would ordinarily be typical for the title and holdings to pass to Bastien's wife--that's how you get a dowager, a widowed noblewoman whose title and holdings derive not from blood inheritance but from her late husband. This would be a big problem if said wife was a mage. And that's to say nothing of the possibility of more mages being born into the family if Bastien and Vivienne were to have any children. So while it may technically be legal for Bastien to marry Vivienne, if scandalous, it causes other legal problems down the line to the point that any noble who cares about the security of their family line is just… not going to do that. It's not worth the risks, especially when having someone on the side is in itself just completely socially acceptable in Orlais. Marriage is about alliances and inheritance, not love, as Vivienne herself says.

(Irrelevant fun fact: Bastien's daughter, Calienne de Ghislain, was the late wife of Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons. In 9:20 Dragon, following the death of Emperor Florian, Calienne arranged the murder of Celene Valmont's mother, Clarisse, and was subsequently killed by Celene's father Prince Reynaud, though she stabbed him with a poisoned stiletto before she died which later resulted in his death.

TL;DR Bastien is Gaspard's father-in-law. Also, Prosper de Monfort was Clarisse Valmont's cousin.)

[lyinginbedmon]

Fey and Archfey Familia

With two adorable little nephews running around, I've been on the search for something they can call me that isn't aunt, uncle, or kinnie (which I swear to god is legitimately the Best option I've found so far, yes they are actually that bad). I've sort of slipped into the role (partially by accident, partially very on purpose) of being construed as a changeling fey creature amongst the branches of the family tree.

Well, I've fleshed that idea out a little more and I'm giving it freely to any nonbeenies with little relatives to use.

Why?

Nonbinary people aren't a new thing by any means but cultural acceptance of us is still quite unsteady, and one of the most common questions (and thinly-veiled accusations) is "what are we going to tell our children?"

In answer to that, this approach uses a sense of whimsy and fantasy to help children understand that people who are different are perfectly fine and welcome and even healthy to have around in their family gatherings. In a nutshell, we're the weird ones in the family, and that's not only okay it can be really hecking cool.

It's not inspired by any one tale of fairies or pixies or whatnot from any one culture, and in places intentionally borrows from several to further the theme of friendly cooperative integration where appropriate.

What?

Fey and Archfey Familia (and other spellings & capitalisations of the same, I personally enjoy "fae" but use "fey" here for ease of child reading comprehension) are the visible emergence of ancient supernatural phenomena in a human bloodline. For some of them it's the result of long-forgotten pacts and contracts, for others its the result of distant intermingling, for others its just a spontaneous jerk reaction of nature re-asserting itself against the overwhelming human presence (a signal perhaps to say "don't forget, we're not leaving").

This phenomena manifests with individuals who, though seemingly human at first blanche, go against the grain of conventional human society in odd ways. Sometimes these are small clues you could blink and overlook for years at a time, and sometimes they're more overt, like a blatant eschewing or uncommon mixture of physical characteristics.

Most are joyful, even revelling in this differences that mark them out from the rest of their erstwhile family, though many similarly face difficulties with mental health and medical support. Cultures rarely thrive amidst colonists, and fey-kind likewise struggle to exist living amongst the civilisation of poor neighbours.

Importantly, though different, these fey are relatives within the bloodline. They are no less related to their kin than a relative who skipped the big ears gene or who goes to a different church. Some may describe themselves as changelings, implying they aren't truly related, but the actual practise of replacing children with fairies is a relic of myth.

Fey vs Archfey

Individuals are distinguished as either Fey Familia or Archfey Familia. There's not any concrete rulings on who gets to be what, but the Archfey Familia are usually the "elder" fey in one way or another, often those whose nature became more apparent further back than their peers.

It's important to note that whilst "archfey" has traditionally referred to an individual atop the court hierarchy, Archfey Familia are only such within their own clan (that is, every family may have one but they're not lord above all amongst their kind globally, which is reserved for the rarely-seen Archfey in Ordinary).

Every family can have multiple fey and archfey across multiple domains, without restriction. It can however be said that families more welcoming to good neighbour relatives tend to host more good neighbours amongst their ranks.

Domains and courts

Family fey are usually (though not always, more Fey Familia in particular tend to be non-court than Archfey Familia) attached to a particular domain or court of wisdom. This may be stories, or space, or the animal kingdom, etc. Different individuals in the same family are under no obligation to spring from the same source, nor adhere to the same presentations or courts.

This typically confers a degree of responsibility on the fey to educate and encourage curiosity in a given subject of study, but some are occasionally a little too caught up in their fixations to actually spend time teaching them. Though historical prejudice has cast the fey as trickster and even malevolent spirits, they were usually educators and helpers, though occasional misunderstandings did happen.

Essentially it's a signal to tell younger relatives "hey, here's someone you can talk to about X", providing a clear social function with which children can engage. Functionally, it serves to cite the relative as demonstration that it's okay to celebrate and enjoy things, and to show and exalt that enjoyment even into adulthood. It can also imply a sense of unity, by identifying a common pursuit amongst a group of relatives.

[pub-lius]

lafayette throws it back at versailles not clickbait (lafayette pt. 2)

im not gonna lie, this is my favorite part of lafayette's life to talk about. he was so teenage boy i love it. anyway, if you missed out on part one, here's the link. @thereallvrb0y and other esteemed guests, i hope you enjoy

Court Life

Lafayette was presented at the Court of Versailles on Saturday, March 26, 1774 when he was 16. I'm not gonna go super in depth about how the court works (but it is very interesting, i recommend learning about it), but i will tell you that Gilbert was the biggest black sheep, which was unideal because the court was already judgmental as hell.

Several different people described how awkward Lafayette's demeanor was, and it made a lot of people think he was just rude. Lafayette said this was only made worse "by the gaucheness of my manners which, without being out of place on any important occasion, never yielded to the graces of the court or to the charms of supper in the capital." -Mémoires

The Comte de Ségur was a close friend, who recognized that Gilbert wasn't just an asshole, and he was deep down a very passionate person. (Ségur experienced this first hand when Lafayette tried to duel him over a girl that Ségur didn't even know).

His awkwardness wasn't helped when he danced with Marie Antoinette and, well... "...the Queen could not stop herself from laughing." -Correspondance entre le Comte de Mirabeau et le Comte de La Marck

When I say Lafayette was very passionate deep down, it wasn't actually... that deep down, and he still proved himself to be his rebellious teenage self in what I like to call the Comte de Provence Incident.

The Comte de Provence was the brother of Louis XVI, and, obviously, held a major place in court. Like the king, he had a little entourage of men who followed him around and did whatever he said. This was a position that offered a lot of opportunities, but you didn't just. insert yourself into it. You had to be invited. And, at the time, The Noailles family was trying to find a permanent place for Lafayette at Versailles.

So, in 1775, the Maréchal de Noailles tried to get Lafayette in this little entourage, and had to introduce him to Provence, an opportunity for which came in the form of a masked ball before Lent (in France, this is just a lame Mardi Gras).

This would have gone fine if Lafayette wasn't completely determined to fuck shit up. so.

Lafayette and Provence were talking (wearing masks, this is an important detail), and Provence started bragging about how good his memory was. Lafayette responded by saying "memory is a fool's intellect". Provence was like "uhhh wtf" and just assumed that Lafayette didn't realize he was the King's brother, so he said "do you realize who the fuck you're talking to you little shit" (obviously not a direct quote, it was in French.) And. Lafayette responded. just being like. "yeah lolz"

So, he didn't get a place at Versailles.

Which is kinda stupid! He should not have done that! Because at this time he was really trying to get a rank in the French army, and he could have had a better opportunity, but whatever because he was granted a command for a full company in Metz.

Uh oh, suspicious shit is going on

While in Metz (not really doing anything important), Lafayette met Comte de Broglie, who was the ambassador of Metz. Broglie was suspicious as fuck and had a career of weird secret projects under the crown, including a plan to invade England.

Broglie had heard of the American cause (which was, at this point, pretty far along and going to shit). He thought that Washington was replaceable, and that he could lead the rebel forces, and then colonize them for France. Not! Good!!

When Broglie met Lafayette, he was like.... this kid is. dumb as fuck. So, he introduced him into his circle, therefore introducing him to Revolutionary ideology. Little gullible Gilbert saw Broglie as like an idol, and since Broglie was a Freemason, Laf decided to become one too. This was significant because being a Freemason is the reason Gilbert met Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburg. If you're like "hmmm Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburg, that name rings a bell", you're a nerd, and its because he was King George III's younger brother who was weirdly supportive of the colonies' rebellion.

Along with Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburg and Broglie I guess, Gilbert was introduced to the ideals of Abbé Guillame Raynal, who preached anti-monarchy, anti-clergy, and anti-slavery rhetoric. So, basically, Lafayette was radicalized and became a blue haired liberal.

Eventually, Broglie and "Baron" Johann de Kalb (he's in Duty and Inclination in case you were wondering) to go to America woo!!!

Side note on de Kalb, he's not evil like Broglie, though he did know about the plan. He ended up legitimately helping the revolution, so shout out de Kalb

Lafayette convinced his buddy Ségur and his brother in law, Vicomte de Noailles, to go with him. Together, they all visited Silas Deane, who is a fucking dumbass who kept giving French people paid commands without permission from Congress *foreshadowing noise*

Lafayette used all six of his sweet wholesome cinnamon roll twink braincells to create a plan to get out of France without getting caught, and the author of The Marquis; Lafayette Reconsidered, Laura Auricchio, has a very good take on Lafayette's character shown in this instance:

“Although he often described himself as a man of action, Lafayette was more deliberative than he let on, and he habitually watched and waited before determining the best way to proceed; once he chose his course, however, it was almost impossible to steer him away.” -Laura Auricchio

So, the pact to join the American Revolution between Lafayette Ségur and Noailles was made in October 1776. Lafayette was optimistic, as always, but still expected nothing but obstacles, the most formidable of them being from the Noailles family.

First things first, they met with Deane, as I mentioned, with de Kalb translating. They signed a letter of agreement on December 7, 1776, which completely overlooked the fact that Lafayette had 0 qualifications to be a major general. Then, Lafayette bought a ship named La Victoire. The Gang (tm) met continuously in secret.

Then, Lafayette sent two letters, one to Adrienne, and the other to duc d'Ayen, explaining his departure and expressing his regret, especially since Adrienne was pregnant and raising their young daughter.

Quick breakdown of the Lafayette kids: Henriette du Motier de Lafayette was born on Decmeber 15, 1775, making Lafayette a girl dad from the beginning. Adrienne was pregnant with Anastasie Louise Pauline du Motier de Lafayette when Gilbert departed, and she gave birth to her on July 1, 1777. You can tell which two were born after the Revolution just by their names: Georges Washington Louis Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette (born December 24, 1779 after Lafayette's visit back to France), and Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier de Lafayette, known as Virginie (a reference to Virginia), (born on November 2, 1782, after Lafayette returned home after Yorktown).

Lafayette's disappearance was... a massive scandal. And you may be thinking "why? like yeah he's rich but clearly no one likes him, who cares where he goes?"

The king. The king cares where he goes. The main reason being that France was not openly at war with England aaand Lafayette may or may not have met King George III. Personally. Like a few weeks before he left. Aaaand the British government might just assume that a nobleman of such high status, that they knew personally, leaving to join the colonies' rebellion is an act of war. so. the king cares a lot.

D'Ayen panicked and wrote to Louis XVI telling him that Lafayette was gone like the good bootlicker snitch he is, and Louis issued orders for Lafayette's arrest. He was almost caught a couple times, so he had to travel in disguise (this is why people talk about him dressing up as a woman, tho we can't really prove or disprove that), but La Victoire set sail before they could catch him, and Lafayette embarked on his first very seasick journey across the sea.

This one is a little short, because if I had gone into as much detail about how everything works, it would be unnecessarily long, and the next few will likely be unnecessarily long because they are about the Revolution *eagle screech* so yeah, look out for that

[smileygoth]

1. Christina (Original Character, Month of Darkness 2024)

Here we go again! I have literally no idea how this one is going to go because I haven't seen all the prompts for the month yet! Also a quick disclaimer: this is likely to end up a bit of a mash-up of Original Characters (played in non-canonical games) and canon WoD characters, so please excuse any discrepancies with canon. And that's the last time I'm going to say 'canon'! Hope it makes sense in the end and enjoy!

CW: nothing to worry about this time.

Image is of the fabulous Threnody in Velvet, found on Pinterest.

PS: Christina is MY longest-played OC and if you say bad things about her I will fight you. As her. And don't let her clan fool you - she packs a punch! ;)

PPS: If you enjoy this, the masterlist will be going up on my Contents page!

‘God, I never thought I’d get bored of parties.’

Christina tapped her manicured nails against the rim of the glass she was holding and gazed out of the window at the city beyond. London was lit up like a Christmas tree at night, a myriad of pinprick colours blazing in the darkness, the buildings only vague shadowy shapes behind the lights. It was beautiful – much more so than the sterile, postmodern function room she was standing in, and the amorphous figures in marble and granite the current artist in favour called sculptures.

The man beside her laughed politely. ‘Very funny, Keeper.’

She turned her head far enough to cast him a disdainful glance. ‘I wasn’t joking.’

He looked uncomfortable, and changed the subject with faltering tact. She turned back to the view outside the window, tuning him out. He was one of the many Ventrue who populated the city, probably heading up one of the financial corporations in Westminster. He was probably powerful, important in some way to the Prince, if he’d been invited to this particular gathering. But luckily for her, being Grand Keeper of Elysium for London meant she didn’t have to pretend to listen to him. Eventually he’d figure out she wasn’t listening and he’d go away. Shame – he was rather attractive, and if he’d actually had a smidgeon of personality she might have had a bit if fun with him. But she supposed that a personality wasn’t high on the list of priorities for Ventrue when they chose their childer.

In theory, being Grand Keeper of Elysium was a job that any self-respecting Toreador ought to jump at. And she had, when it was first presented to her. London was such a busy, large and socially important city that one Keeper of Elysium wasn’t enough – it needed several, one to each carefully sectioned-out area. The job of the Grand Keeper was to oversee the other (lesser) Keepers and make sure no one of them stepped on another’s toes. No date clashes for parties, no favouring one Keeper over another for official Court meetings (unless the Prince commanded otherwise, of course), no conflicting interests, no territory grabs, no repeated themes or squabbles over special guests. Fun, right?

No. After the first six months of managing the other Keepers’ diaries, mediating arguments and slapping down terrible ideas, the Keepers had learned how Christina worked and had started falling in line. The Prince of London did not like dissention in the ranks, and so everyone in the Court worked to make sure that – on the surface, at least – everything ran smoothly and everyone got along. So now all Christina really had to do was occasionally liaise with the Keepers to keep an eye on things, and go to the parties they threw.

The many, many parties.

Night after night of socialising, smiling, always looking her best. Night after night of representing the Court. But never was the party her own. No, she didn’t get to throw parties any more. She was far too busy for that. So the socialising was never with people she cared to talk to – never really with people at all, just vampires and ghouls and the occasional other supernatural creature who for whatever reason was invited. The Prince liked to keep alliances with their neighbours – the ones who would even consider such a thing, at least. The music was never to her taste, or the artwork, or venue. She had cycled through her extensive collection of evening dresses and was wearing some for the second or third time, not that anyone had noticed (not that she’d care if they did). She’d gone through so much eyeliner and lipstick in the last couple of years that she ought to have taken out shares in the companies.

And she was so, so bored.

What I wouldn’t give to have a Sabbat attack on this insipid, sterile fucking party, she thought sourly. Hunters to set fire to the building. A bunch of professional thieves picking the wrong group of rich snobs to rob. Anything to shake things up a little!

The Ventrue had wandered off, as she had expected. She sighed heavily and let her focus switch to her own reflection in the mirror. She looked lovely, as always. It’s really come to something when I’d rather be on the sofa at home in jeans and a t shirt, she thought. Watching one of Martyn’s stupid horror movies while he eats his weight in popcorn. She smiled faintly at the thought of her faithful ghoul and what he might be doing with his free evening while she was stuck here. Truth be told, they hardly spent any time together any more.

Another figure loomed in the reflection, another male figure in a sharp suit approaching her from behind. She swallowed a groan and turned to face them with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

‘Good evening, Miss Barr,’ a familiar voice greeted her. She knew who it was before her eyes reached his face.