#and then Anna becomes King and it's like there's another person taking his burden

[ridiasfangirlings]

What if the only way a King can 'abdicate' is that a relatively powerful of his clansmen take all the power until consume them at the point of not leaving even a phisical body, then the King is 'free' and the slate gets to choose someone else. What if in S1 being Kusanagi, Anna and Yata the only suitables, Yata sacrifices himself for Mikoto, but holding the power is harder than for a King, so even if casualties are avoided thanks the evacuation there's still heavy damage on the island

I feel like Mikoto would be really against this one, since it would be basically sacrificing the life of one of his people in order to save his own. Especially after losing Totsuka, I think Mikoto would decide that he'd rather just let his Sword fall and (hopefully) have Munakata kill him than make someone else sacrifice themselves in his place. The only way I could see this happening is if for some reason Munakata wasn't able to play his part in that plan, like maybe Colorless manages to successfully waylay Munakata somehow and Mikoto reaches a point where his Sword is falling and the choice becomes either let one of his clansmen take the power and die or let the Sword fall and everyone dies anyway. Like maybe AU where Colorless actually does manage to do some damage when he stabs Munakata at the end of S1, like imagine Colorless uses his powers a bit more and manages to actually badly wound Munakata. Munakata still attempts to go after Mikoto and they fight but he's got a lot of blood loss going on and he ends up collapsing just as Shiro appears with Colorless trapped inside his body. Mikoto takes the opportunity to kill Colorless but when he turns towards Munakata he finds Munakata just lying there collapsed in the snow. Mikoto's Sword is already starting to crumble and he sighs, like great the one time I need you and you're asleep.

Mikoto looks back up at the Sword of Damocles and this is pretty much just a shit choice all around, he knows that once the Sword falls everyone in the vicinity will be destroyed and his clansmen are too close to escape – even from where everyone's evacuated onto the bridge it's still too close. Mikoto walks through the deserted school, trying to decide what to do next and maybe that's when he comes across Yata and Fushimi, who were never dragged off by Kamamoto and were continuing their fight. The imminent destruction of Mikoto's Sword has started destabilizing the landscape and say Fushimi's been knocked out by a bit of crumbling building, when Mikoto comes across them Yata's shaking Fushimi desperately trying to get him to wake up. Yata looks up to see Mikoto, who's staring at him in surprise before telling him he needs to get out of there. Yata stares at Mikoto's Sword and even he knows what that means, just shaking his head like 'M-Mikoto-san...', totally unwilling to believe it. Mikoto reaches down and takes Fushimi's sword, handing it to Yata like 'sorry to make you do this.' Yata shakes his head and says he can't, Mikoto says someone's got to or they're all dead, Yata and Fushimi too. Yata looks down at Fushimi and then drops the sword and holds out his hand instead, saying that Kusanagi mentioned there was a way Mikoto could 'abdicate' if someone strong enough was there, right. Mikoto says Yata doesn't know what he's asking and even though he's scared Yata's like '...yeah. I know. But this is for everybody, right?' Before Mikoto can object Yata grabs his hand and suddenly they're both enveloped by red light.

Back at the bridge everyone sees this huge explosion, not big enough to be a Damocles Down but still something that clearly causes a lot of damage. Awashima runs to the end of the bridge, trying to keep her men back while Kusanagi's keeping the Red clan members in check too. That's when a figure appears walking out of the destruction, everyone moves to see what's happening and Mikoto appears, with Munakata slung over his shoulder and Fushimi in his arms. Both are wounded by alive and Mikoto himself seems unharmed except for a few scratches. Awashima and the alphabet squad run forward to take Munakata and Fushimi while Kusanagi walks over to Mikoto, looking clearly shaken as he realizes that Mikoto doesn't seem to have any King power inside his body. Anna appears from behind him, staring for a long moment before she clutches Kusanagi's pant leg and whispers Yata's name. Kusanagi's hands drop to his sides as he realizes what must have happened, Mikoto walks past him with fists clenched, not saying a word.

In the aftermath I feel like this would make things even more of a mess than canon, because now the Red clan still doesn't have a King but Mikoto's alive (and an obvious target for enemies). Mikoto's just pissed that someone else took his risk for him, feeling very much that he still shouldn't be alive but Yata didn't die for him to give up. I'm sure Fushimi wouldn't ever let him forget who died for him either, like just imagine Fushimi waking up and learning that Yata died to save everyone – or at least to save Mikoto, in Fushimi's mind, and Mikoto telling him that Yata was looking at Fushimi there at the end is no comfort at all. And then Anna still becomes Red King and for Mikoto this is like some cruel joke, that all his important people are taking on the burdens that should have been his and he's too weak now to do anything about it.

[earnestly-endlessly]

Hey! I hope I'm not bothering you, I just found your blog and I love it sm, and I saw you sometimes do cherik fic recs. Do you have any Canon divergence aus/fix it, preferably after Cuba, that are 30k or longer and have a happy ending? If not thats okay! You don't have to answer this. Have a wonderful day!

Hi anon, thank you so much. I’m happy you both like my blog and my recs. You are certainly not bothering me, and feel free to send me an ask any time. I have plenty of recommendations for you. Some of them diverge a bit from your request because I couldn’t help but recommend them as well. I will put a note on those who diverge from your request. As always, I only recommend fics I have personally read and enjoyed and I sincerely you love them too.

-Canon divergence aus/fix it, post Cuba, 30k or longer, with a happy ending cherik fic recs-

Not Half As Blinding- keire_ke

Summary: Cuban beach AU. Charles discovers that death does, in fact, solve everything.

Lay down beside me (so still and so soft) – C-Gracewood

Summary: A different take on the events of the film.

Rumor Has It – blueink3

Summary: "Did I hear the doorbell earlier?"

"Yeah, but I'd steer clear if I were you. It seemed a little tense. I don't know what's going on, but there's a kid out there who looks freakily like the prof."

Nearly six months after Cuba, Charles' life is turned upside down for the second time. Though he's slowly learning to adapt to the first, he's not sure he can handle the second. Luckily for him, there are a few people out there more than willing to help.

Forward Momentum – AsYouWish

Summary: Six months after Cuba, Charles and Erik find themselves thrown fifty years into the future, where they meet their older selves, the Avengers, and a world that's very different from their own. Faced with the pieces of their broken relationship, an unparalleled adversary, and dealing with Tony Stark on a daily basis, Charles and Erik do their best to adapt while trying to find a way back home -- and to each other.

When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immovable Optimist – ToriTC198

Summary: "You are always trying to save me, Charles." Erik mused aloud. "Ever since you dove into the ocean and dragged me out. Did it ever occur to you that I might not be worth saving?"

A genuine smile broke out on Charles' face as he brightly answered, "No, my friend, not once. I have every confidence you are well worth saving. But, I never truly believed I could save you. You are not the sort of man who someone saves. The choice to be a better man has always been yours to make and I hold no illusions that I can make that decision for you. I simply have faith that one day you will save yourself. I only hope I am still at your side to witness it."

What if Erik and Charles had been able to find a middle ground in the end?

Take the First Option – ShowMeAHero

Summary: When Erik becomes unbalanced, Emma presents him with three options: go back to Charles for three months and learn to deal with whatever he has going have going on, lose his Brotherhood, or let Emma control his mind.

He really only has one choice.

Virtue to Which We Aspire – varlovian

Summary: Nine months after Cuba, Charles is found by Erik's Brotherhood in the smoldering ruins of an abandoned CIA base, exhausted but alive. As the only known survivor of the CIA's vendetta against mutants, recovering Charles' memory of the incident—which he admits to having forgotten—just became paramount.

But the harder they push, the closer Charles gets to breaking point. When he finally cracks, the X-Men and the Brotherhood will learn the truth, but it comes with a price...

Some doors, once opened, cannot be closed.

Some minds, once broken, will never be the same again.

The Waking of the Red King – rustingroses

Summary: When Charles' heavy injuries on the Cuban beach conspire to leave him in a coma and living in fantasy of his own making, Erik, the man who once threatened to divide the mutant cause, finds himself desperately trying to hold everything together. First of the Red King trilogy.

Wake Up and Smell the Pancakes –  Ayra Sei Ethari

Summary: In one universe, Erik left Charles. In another, he stayed. So what happens when the two Eriks get switched? "At first, Erik thinks he's dreaming. Then he realizes that this is Charles. Who is not paralyzed. And kissing him.

Rage and Serenity – MagickMaker, TheFangedGoblin

Summary: After Charles is shot on the beach, he is rushed to the hospital and paralysis is prevented. Ridden with guilt, Erik finds that he cannot leave him. He helps him heal, and eventually, Charles learns to trust him again. But when they set out to rescue Emma from the CIA and accept her onto their team, tensions rise. Will love keep Erik and Charles together despite their differences?

No Yesterdays on the Road – pocky_slash

Summary: It's been two months since Cuba and things are settling down for Charles, Erik, and the beginnings of their mutant school. Right up until Charles disappears, that is. Faced with the possibility that a bitter Emma Frost has kidnapped Charles, Erik is forced to team up with Moira to hunt down the remainder of the Hellfire Club. From there, they hope to locate Frost and retrieve Charles, without killing each other along the way.

(Or: Erik and Moira Drive Across the Country and Talk About Their Feelings.)

What Can We Do Without You? – SwoopSwoop

Summary: Charles and the boys were holding onto a secret more dear to them than their own lives when Charles disappears into the night; Erik is betrayed and finds himself returning to Westchester in the hopes that the government was just trying to trick him. All the while the boys are stuck in the middle, left guarding the secret from the man they are most afraid of finding out who is weaselling his way back into their lives alarmingly easily.

Note: Includes Mpreg, but don’t let that discourage you from reading it because it’s a really great fix-it.

Survival Instinct – Lindstorm

Summary: It’s been months since Charles pulled Erik out of the ocean, and Erik is beginning to wonder how many more times he can choose Charles, and still keep his vow to kill Shaw. Cooperating with the CIA is straining Erik’s patience. When a fact-gathering mission goes wrong and Charles is kidnapped, Erik is left trying to hold their mutant band together while Raven and the rest of them fall apart. No one can foresee how the mutant Charles meets in captivity will challenge all his assumptions about his own power, and twist Charles’ telepathy out of his control. In the race to stop Shaw's nuclear ambitions from coming to fruition, Charles makes a crucial misstep. Erik’s decision between Shaw and Charles takes on unexpected ramifications when [spoiler deleted].

Needles (Series) – Skull_Bearer

Summary: AU where everyone's born Dominant or Submissive

Once a Dominant and Submissive pair is born, they are linked to each other, no matter how far apart they are. This link doesn't actually tell the Dom or the Sub each other's thoughts, but it does allow them to know how the other's doing and serves as a reassurance that there's someone meant for them out there.

Another one of the reasons that Erik hates Shaw so badly is because Shaw managed to break Erik's link to his Sub. Now Erik doesn't even know if his Sub's alive because breaking a link like that can kill a Submissive.

Meanwhile, Charles hates himself for not yet having telepathy strong enough to contact and help his Dom, especially after feeling the pain his Dom was forced to go through. He truly believes that his Dominant is dead. Hopes it, some nights when he remembers how his Dom was forced to suffer. It's better than to think of his Dom still being forced to bear that pain.

And then Charles pulls Erik from the water

Time to Grow – zarah5

Summary: In which you'll find chess dates which aren't dates (or maybe Charles is wrong about that). -- Based on First Class, this turns (slightly) AU during the beach scene.

Note: This fic is less than 30k words but it’s such a fandom classic and just a great read if you love your fix-its.

Faults for Fixing – beren

Summary: Charles sees the events of the missile crisis and subsequent weeks when he uses Cerebro to touch the mind of a mutant with the power to see the near future. When he wakes up he is determined that he will not allow them to happen and he will not lose the people he loves.

Note: A bit less than 30k words long but another great read.

It’s like one of us woke up – kaydeefalls

Summary: "You came here for me," Charles said, meeting Shaw's gaze levelly. "So let's not waste any more time."

Canon!AU in which Charles and Erik do find Shaw in Russia.

Note: XMFC fix it, but the events in Cuba don’t happen. 

Afterlife – Anna (arctic_grey)

Summary: A year after Washington, Erik wakes up in excruciating pain as sudden awareness washes over him: Charles is dead. Erik has to adjust to yet another future: no extinction, just a world without Charles. But the death of his former friend leaves Erik weak and his powers drained. His quest for answers leads him back to Westchester, where Erik has to face his past with Charles and put together the puzzle pieces of what happened to the man he once cared for.

The Burdens We Long to Carry – arcapelago (arcanewinter)

Summary: When mutant-supporter and ally President Kennedy is assassinated and all pro-mutant progress is dismantled, Charles is no longer so confident that he's on the right side, and extends his hand to Erik after a year of animosity. They settle tentatively into their old partnership, but not everything is the same as it was--and not everything can be. When Hank develops a metal frame to move the lower half of Charles' body for him if he wants it, Erik offers the use of his mind and his ability in order to make it work. Both find out what they're willing to do for each other, and neither knows if it'll be enough to keep them together.

Other Futures Than These – midrashic

Summary: In which Cuba doesn't break them apart, but that doesn't mean that their futures are tied together. (Except that it does.)

A Days of Future Past AU where only one person can defeat the Sentinels and save the future: the man whose imprisonment and torture created them, and Charles Xavier's ex.

The Winter of Banked Fires – Yahtzee

Summary: Charles Xavier has returned from the dead -- but is lost within his own mind. Rogue has cast aside her own power and doesn't know where she fits in the world any longer. The production of synthetic Cure means mutantkind itself is newly at risk. And Magneto, turned human against his will, is in despair until the day he feels a familiar consciousness tugging at his own --

Set after X-3 (with much desperate fix-it applied), during XMFC, and every time in between.

[prototyp013]

In defense of Queen Anna

I have noticed a bit of disturbance in the fandom about Anna being the queen at the end of Frozen 2 and I thought I would put in my two penny worth of wisdom.

There are quite a few people who say that Anna did nothing to deserve to be a queen. I will try to tread lightly here, because I do not mean to sound passive-aggressive, but...HAVE YOU PEOPLE WATCHED FROZEN? Because there was literally nothing more Anna could have done to deserve to be a queen.

Before I start, I want to acknowledge one thing. Yes, the ending was rushed, yes, it had quite a few flaws, yes, it was also very confusing, because it the last scene was supposed to be the coronation day, then there is no way Elsa wouldn’t be there but if it wasn’t there was no point in Kai announcing Queen Anna to the crowd. On that, I think we can all agree that adding 5 or 10 extra minutes to the movie to give it a wholesome ending would kill no one and would spare the fandom of a lot of hate. Queen Anna is not to blame though.

Now, let’s see what Anna did to deserve to become a queen. First of all, she was born a princess, she is first in line when Elsa is queen. She had exactly the same qualification Elsa had to become a queen. Like, what did Elsa do? (and please, don’t even try to accuse me of hating Elsa, because you literally cannot be further from the truth). She was born the eldest child. That is literally it. Nothing more. She didn’t have to pass any kind of test or do anything. She probably had some education, but if real life is anything to go by, so did Anna, because it is absolutely illogical that a king, who only had two daughters, would give all the education to one while completely neglecting the other. It was 19th century. Elsa could have died any time from whatever reason and Anna was heir apparent, so unless Agnarr was a completely incompetent idiot, he would never put all his money solely on his eldest daughter. This needs to be realised. In terms of qualifications, both Anna and Elsa are on the same level to become the queen.

We actually know that Anna did study quite a lot. When they entered the ship, it was Anna who knew there had to be a hidden compartment, not Elsa. When they met Mattias, it was Anna who recognized her father’s personal guard, not Elsa. So Anna basically knows more about their kingdom than Elsa does.

When Elsa freezes the kingdom, Anna doesn’t think twice before rushing in to save it. Was it wise? No, it was reckless and impulsive, but she was barely 18. Not sure about you but I did a lot of stupid stuff even when I was 28. At any rate, she doesn’t think about her personal safety, about her needs, she only thinks about the good of the kingdom. And her beloved sister. And it is ultimately her sacrifice that saves both Elsa and their kingdom from eternal winter.

In OFA, we learn that once again, it was Anna who basically kept Elsa sane all those years, when she felt alone and thought of herself as a monster. But Anna never gave up on her. Because that is what Anna does, she never gives up, she always thinks about happiness of others, and she does everything to ensure the safety and well-being of her loved ones. And Arendelle is one of her loved ones.

In Frozen 2, it is so well portrayed. She was ready to venture through the Dark Sea to save both Elsa and her kingdom. When she thinks Elsa is gone forever and Olaf dissipates, she doesn’t give up. She takes the burden of saving her people. both Northuldra and Arendellians on her own shoulders and does what needs to be done, despite the fact that her heart was crushed into million pieces. But as the best queen possible (because, let’s be honest here, how many monarchs actually cared about their people instead of their own power and gain?), she doesn’t think about her woes and problems. She focuses on what needs to be done and then just does it.

Also, i would like to acknowledge another beautiful moment, in the movie, when she gets to the bridge and is confronted by Arendellian soldiers. At that moment, she tells them Elsa is dead. The soldiers know she is the queen now, because that is how it works. Once the old monarch dies, the heir apparent becomes the new monarch immediately. As a queen, she could just order the soldiers to step aside. They have to obey her, otherwise they can be charged with treason. Anna, however, doesn’t order them around. She reasons with them and asks them politely. If that is not the best queen ever, I don’t know what is.

If we were fair, we could look at what Elsa did to deserve to be a queen, except for being born the eldest child of the king. Nothing. She did save Arendelle from the flood wave and that is a HUGE deal, but she was already the queen for 6 years then.

Hence, I would conclude that saying Anna does not deserve to be queen because she did nothing to deserve to be a queen is as far away from the truth as possible.

[greenjacketwhitehatdocmui]

Frozen Age-Swap AU

Mind you, it’s something that I may never get around to, but...

Okay, this takes place as an AU of “6 Times Elsa Has Felt Beautiful” and “A Little Pre-Dinner Show” with my OC, Daniel Antonini.  There’s the twist that Anna is 3 1/2 years older than Elsa, so by the time of Frozen, it’s Anna’s coronation, with Elsa as the beautiful, yet enigmatic princess.

Things happen pretty much like they did in the first movie.  Though, I’m sure that the dialogue was a little different when Anna falls for Hans.

Elsa:  “You can’t just marry a man you just met!”

Anna:  “Why not?  I mean, this is my coronation.  And another thing--I’m keeping the gates open.  I mean, I never understood why Papa closed them in the first place.”

(Cue the Elsa freeze moment.)

After that...eventful...coronation, people are genuinely grateful that the Eternal Winter is over, but there’s the question of Anna’s fitness to rule.  After all, she basically handed the keys to the kingdom to Hans, who then tried his own tricks.  So, hating every paper-laden moment, every bloated meeting with self-important personalities, Anna throws herself into showing that She Can Do The Job.  And Elsa’s there with her, supporting her through long days of royal minutiae.

Anna tries to see Kristoff every week.  She really does.  Neither sister wants the other to feel overwhelmed with the burden of duty. 

It’s then that Daniel, my OC, is invited by Anna for his experience with diplomacy and negotiation.  He also acts as a neutral sounding-board, offering advice where he can and never taking offense if Anna finds another way.

Daniel’s assistance buys Anna some breathing room.  Her weekly outings with Kristoff become much more relaxed as they open up to each other, regardless of their stations in life.  And, of course, she can spend more time with Elsa outside of wrangling with paperwork.

It isn’t long before Anna notices that Elsa and Daniel are Getting Along.  She makes excuses to give the two of them a little bit of Alone Time.  Nothing scandalous happens, of course--she’s still reticent about doing more than holding hands and he’s keenly aware of any improper behavior that people might be looking for.

(And through this gentle, understated courtship, Anna is wondering when those two are going to snog, for Heaven’s sake--until she realizes that she has her own house that she should be looking after with Kristoff.)

Over the years, Kristoff has actually been adjusting to life in the castle.  It takes a few nudges and hints, but the Royal Ice Master and Deliverer comes into his own without losing the core of what he is.  He’s still Anna’s Mountain Man and Reindeer King, though his pungency has been...somewhat tamed.

Whenever Anna and Kristoff are on their outings, Elsa is in charge.  When they come back, they see Elsa and Daniel running the place like clockwork.  And for a moment, Anna thinks that Elsa would have made an excellent queen.

And so, one day, Daniel gently broaches the subject of officially courting Elsa.  In response, Anna merely plops a jewelry box in his hand and smiles.

Daniel:  “Um, sorry.  What?”

Anna:  (beaming)  “I give you my blessing...to make Elsa happy.  I’ve already reserved a nice table for you at the best restaurant in town.”

That same night, over dinner, Kristoff fumbles with the engagement ring and it lands right in Anna’s lap.  There is much happy crying as she accepts his earnest, clumsy proposal.  An hour later, Elsa shows off her engagement ring and the sisters hug and sob in happiness.

It isn’t a dual wedding.  Anna’s is first, of course, as queen.  Despite Elsa’s efforts, her own wedding is just as ornate as Anna’s, though several months apart.

And they lived happily ever after.  And I don’t think that I could ever write this.

--Doc

[thelittlehansy]

Hans : when the Empath turn Bad ?

A little recap of post i make on my blog : 😁

1-How i think Hans is not a narcissist

2-How the king of the southern isles is one after reading the tropes on tv tropes.

3-Hans family works like a real life Narcissist Family and the tool used.

4-The sign of narcisisct father / son relationship and how many sign the princes of the southern isles show ?

5-What is narcissist abuse generally

6-How many sign of narcisisct abuse can we catch on the " A Frozen heart"

So basically this is what we learn in "A Frozen Heart" if we study how Hans family works :

1- Hans has a Ndad

2-since he is kid he is submit to narcissist abuse with his brothers.

3- Hans at 20 years old is view as sensitive weak a little mice by his brothers he have a different reaction that his brothers to the abuse he got throught dont like to fight back.

4-he hates violence despise it , is someone diplomat and had always tried to find a peaceful solution to problem with his father and brothers.

5- for the sake of affection love and respect he buy into his father morality and abandon his own and began to act more like them. A decision he makes i think when lars propose him to go in Arendelle.

6- he is someone who is dealing with trauma and has life all his live in hyperviligence.

How empath are made 4 reasons :

Source : psychology today

10 traits of empath :

1. Empaths are highly sensitive

Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually open, and good listeners. If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, they’re there for you, world-class nurturers. But they can easily have their feelings hurt. Empaths are often told that they are “too sensitive” and need to toughen up.

Hans is a good listening the last two sentences is the reasons why Hans is bully in the book.

2. Empaths absorb other people’s emotions

Empaths are highly attuned to other people’s moods, good and bad. They feel everything, sometimes to an extreme. They take on negativity such as anger or anxiety which is exhausting. If they are around peace and love, their bodies take these on and flourish.

We dont know but yeah it is what i was talking when i said empath mirror too.

3. Many empaths are introverted

Empaths become overwhelmed in crowds, which can amplify their empathy. They tend to be introverted and prefer one to one contact or small groups. Even if an empath is more extroverted they prefer limiting how much time they can be in a crowd or at a party.

Hans is an extroverted Thats Hans at the start of the book After leaving the party of his mom he go at the Dock to have his time alone that he said he wants so much. But then who would not with his bully brothers 😂

Also i m sorry i know this was not mean to be something but Hans did leave the party full of people prefering getting to know Anna better in place with no people 😂 its so fun how you can look at stuff in some way that where never mean to be take in that way. On the book we discovered this is his initiative he propose Anna to go see the garden 😁

4. Empaths are highly intuitive

Empaths experience the world through their intuition. It is important for them to develop their intuition and listen to their gut feelings about people. This will help empaths find positive relationships and avoid energy vampires. Read Five Steps to Develop Your Intuition to learn more.

Hans is ENFJ he works with his intuition on the book he did say that he was going with intuition and i think how he suceeded keep his plan all along prove that he can be very intuitive

5. Empaths need alone time

As super-responders, being around people can drain an empath so they periodically need alone time to recharge their batteries. Even a brief escape prevents emotionally overload. Empaths like to take their own cars when they go places so they can leave when they please.

A frozen heart told hans like to go at the Dock he like having moment for himself and only thinking. Something that his brothers dont do busy to admired themselve in the mirror of the castle 😄

6. Empaths can become overwhelmed in intimate relationships

Too much togetherness can be difficult for an empath so they may avoid intimate relationships. Deep down they are afraid of being engulfed and losing their identity. For empaths to be at ease in a relationship, the traditional paradigm for being a couple must be re-defined.

Dont know but well intimidate relationship dont seems to be his stuff.

7. Empaths are targets for energy vampires

An empath’s sensitivity makes them particularly easy marks for energy vampires, whose fear or rage can sap their energy and peace of mind. Vampires do more than drain an empath’s physical energy. The especially dangerous ones such as narcissists (they lack empathy and are only concerned with themselves) can make them believe they’re unworthy and unlovable. Other vampires include The Victim, The Chronic Talker, The Drama Queen and more.

Yes ! Hans is the victim and target of his father and his brothers so i think we got that one too. Mention also that Hans dad has succeded into making him beleive he is worthless and a disappointment.

8. Empaths become replenished in nature

The busyness of ever day life can be too much for an empath. The natural world nourishes and restores them. It helps them to release their burdens and they take refuge in the presence of green wild things, the ocean or other bodies of water.

Hans love going at the Dock when he need time close from the sea (reveal on a frozen heart )

9. Empaths have highly tuned senses

An empath’s nerves can get frayed by noise, smells, or excessive talking.

Dont know !

10. Empaths have huge hearts but sometimes give too much

Empaths are big-hearted people and try to relieve the pain of others. A homeless person holding a cardboard sign, “I’m hungry” at a busy intersection; a hurt child; a distraught friend. It’s natural to want to reach out to them, ease their pain. But empaths don’t stop there. Instead, they take it on. Suddenly they’re the one feeling drained or upset when they felt fine before

Well thats dont seems like Hans 😄but let give him the credit to wanted to help people. Like being the 13 sons and not be able to help seems to be a big deal for him and he really didnt like doing this stuff for his father in the book.

Also :

- he is really good with emotions

- he is a good listener

- Dont be the monster they fear you are its like he knows how she feel inside same for Anna its like he feel her loneliness that could explain how easy it was for him to seduce Anna.

- he know very well how to read people we saw that on the movie confirm on the book. Hans know if he cant trust poeple ( duke men) and when poeple are lying ( dungeon scene with elsa on the book)

He does have traits empath have and that could even explain some of his actions.

Here is also an another post i made in my obsession of Hans analysis 😁

How many of this more than 30 traits Hans shares with empath.

[sugar-petals]

02 | Cinder → pjm

↳ sequel to cygnet (m). 

SUMMARY: You have rescued Prince Jimin from the lair of robbers. But your carriage encounters a group of Prussian knights on the way back to Bavaria.

¬ PAIRING: jimin × reader ¬ GENRE: smut, angst, historical au  ¬ WORD COUNT: 8.7k

¬ WARNINGS: rated m | fingering | oral sex | sub!jimin | femdom | brat taming | cum play | ruined orgasms | punishments | assault mention | brief scene with gore

¬ A/N: The last part! That means it gets sexy 💛 Cygnet & Cinder pt.1 linked in m.list.

Some curious peasants gather behind them, trying to see past their heavy armors. The brigade kneels when you exit the carriage and beckon the tall soldier Meinhard, heading the group, to lend Anna a hand when she steps down from the coachwoman’s seat. She still limps. He has recognized her riding into the courtyard from afar already.

“It’s a pleasure,” Meinhard bows, “to see you back at Hohenzollern castle, Y/N. We will contact Queen Luise to send the doctors.”

You shake hands, both grips firm. 

“I wish we would have met under different circumstances. Is the brigade well?”

“They are,” Meinhard affirms, patting his chest armament. Polished and sturdy as ever. You miss wearing it.

“And the Queen? I hope we don’t disturb her.”

Meinhard looks pale now. In the background, other members of the brigade gather at the other end of the carriage and usher out the Prince.

“It hasn’t been easy since the King is dead. But now that you’re here. It might really cheer her up. Come, we will have something to eat and drink.”

The hall is clad in jet black banners. So is the silhouette on the throne at the other end of the room. It is so unlike Palace Linderhof. Everything, just about everything. You approach with hastened steps, passing the royal guard and Baronesses who seem to recognize you. Bowing to the Queen on the black carpet, thick and ample with the Prussian eagle imprinted on it, feels like a trip to the past. Luise emerges from the throne to step down for a greeting.

“It seems like neither of us is in good condition, Milady,” she says.

“We meet unlike the way we parted,” you stop before the throne. 

The nodding Queen’s garments are heavy on the carpet. Being eye-to-eye now, you see her tired eyes waver. Her hair has greyed almost entirely.

“I can’t believe the entire kidnapping scenario, it, just repeated itself!”

“Your doctors are skilled. I am sure they can do something for the Prince. Thank you for welcoming us so courteously.”

It had been a risk. The path to Hohenzollern was long enough, too.

“The brigade will take care of your carriage.”

“Thank you, my Queen. I hope we do not burden you. Meinhard said there are problems with the relations to Austria, too.”

“This room should not be black as it is for months. The King has passed away when the New Year began. I’m glad you’re here. The feeling is different.”

You remember. It was a long period of illness that had haunted the King ever since.

“There’s nothing wrong about grieving for as long as needed, your Majesty.”

“All the Counts and Margraves and Baronesses, everyone is telling me, Queen, you should do something enjoyable! Maybe they’re right. But I still never felt well since New Year’s Eve. And Austria is a lost game.”

“There’s a reason why you’re Queen and they are margraves,” you shrug. “Their advice might be well-natured, but I think— you need more time, Luise. Don’t pressure yourself too much. Or let yourself be pressured.”

You squint down the hall where the royal guard and nobility of Hohenzollern stand and converse.

“That is very true,” the Queen looks down on the rings adorning her hands. “All this tragedy is taking away my common sense.”

You shake your head right away.

“No ruler is perfect. Even the Duke Leopold.”

“You’ve been at Altfried Castle, Y/N?”

“Mostly for archery.”

Now, the Queen looks genuinely surprised.

“I’ve never seen you touch an arrow in the years you were here.”

“I know. The entire stay was very, I guess, unlike myself.”

She hums, thinking. The Queen’s gaze wanders over Cygnet at your belt.

“You did take up sword fighting again, did you. This blade is familiar.”

Almost by instinct, your fingers graze over the hilt.

“If it lightens up your mood, I can ask one of the margraves to test his fencing skill against Cygnet.”

“Maybe another time,” she wipes a grey strand out of her face. “I’m rather concerned that the King of Bavaria is currently falling into the same state as I am since his son is gone.”

“Meinhard has been smart enough to send a knight out to spread the word that the Prince is safe here.”

“Not a herald straight to Castle Linderhof?”

Again, you shake your head.

“Rumors and chatter travel faster than horses, your Majesty.”

The eyes of the Prussian nobles in your back feel all too palpable now. Luise seems to notice.

“I will lend you my best stallions regardless. For you, Anna, the Prince. Three of the fastest I have. You’ll be back with Albrecht in four days.”

“One stallion is enough. Only the Prince needs one. We have two horses already.”

The Queen crosses her arms. 

“Friedrich and Gretchen are slow, swordmaster.”

“They are the horses Anna and I cherish. They might be scaredy-cats, but we stick with them. They always bounce back.”

“At least a fourth horse for other things you have to carry, Y/N.”

“Good idea, my Queen.”

Because there is something of utmost importance to transport. Your barrel. 

“The Palace must be worried sick about Jimin.”

“I will take care of it, Luise,” you adjust your cuffs. “We depart to Bavaria as soon as the Prince feels capable.”

A large gathering of nobles and locals blocks the entrance of the Palace. You have to use your bow to keep some handsy peasant boys jeering at bay.

“Oh look, the Prince’s babysitter! Back in town! Saving her reputation!”

Shooing them away draws even more derision in the crowd. Other people, more enthused, throw bouquets that you wish they would rather lay down at the gate. Gretchen becomes all jittery already, flicking her ears back and forth with every pack of flowers or hats tossed by. 

You gaze across your shoulder about every five seconds to see whether Anna and Jimin manage to get through the cheering masses. Some people tug at the Prince’s clothes and laugh. You even see some servants from the Palace kitchen doing it. One of them, wearing an apron, even tries to smack Jimin��s butt from an odd angle, and almost hits the horse instead. Others, concerned, try to touch his bruises. He spurs his horse, but even more citizens flock to him.

“Prince, Prince! What happened!”

Nothing hardly moves forward until you whistle, making both Friedrich and Jimin’s horse go faster, parting the people. Even the fourth horse with the supplies and cargo finds its way, and you can be glad having secured everything in place twice. In the distance, the hysterical nobility in their best gowns comes down the center alley of the Palace garden.

The throne room is more packed than the coronation and opera ball were combined. Blue and white banners are pulled up on all sides. Murmurs oscillate from all sides. The jester cackles, sizing Jimin up.

“Why is the Prince wearing rags? Has he turned scatty? Where are his muscles?”

“Those aren’t rags. This is clothing that fulfills what it must do,” you grit at the jester. “The Duke of Altfried has let me customize them for fights. I passed them on in good honor. He was cold.”

Jimin brushes off the doctors and servants gathering around him trying to put him into a heavy purple coat with fur and pearls.

“And I’m not a Prince who’s only there to look good.”

A guilty silence spreads in the room.

“I want to wear these things,” he points at his trousers. “It doesn’t take me two hours to arrange back and forth. All that sewing and buttoning and draping and stuffing and lacing. I don’t want it.”

The servants look disoriented.

“Fine, but we’re having a festival—”

“I don’t care about your celebrations! We just arrived here! Didn’t you want to know what happened?”

The anger in Jimin’s voice makes Anna, close behind you, almost gasp out, alongside the nearby Princess.

“You have to care,” Albrecht makes his way through the mob, comes to take the Prince aside. You are close enough to hear what he says to Jimin in a low voice. “Play along. The entire palace is here.”

“Dad...”

“We’ve heard the stories of what occurred days ago. They only want to see you and talk about it. What do you think being a monarch is like. ”

“Walking around on heels and indulging gossip?”

“Very wrong,” Albrecht’s face goes into a deep frown. “Being King comes with responsibility and keeping your head up high.”

“It’s all I see you do. Heels and cake. Heels and fucking cake! And gathering people just to laugh at me. Everyone here looks dressed up like you’ve been enjoying your time while I was gone!”

The King, more and more disgruntled, lowers his voice even more, all while the Prince grows increasingly red in the face.

“Jimin. I am rather worried about our alliances if you approach the throne this way after my death. You’re not making a good impression to the people as a rag Crown Prince already. The jester... has a point.”

You can feel your heart drop just by watching Jimin react.

“Didn’t you just say it’s not about looks? All you think about is that since I came back. What’s wrong with you, father!”

“I was worried. You’ve seen how I cried when we came down the alley. And I am happy to have you back. I sent every soldier I had to get you.”

Jimin points at you, fuming.

“Then why did Y/N find me first? She didn’t even know about most of the things that happened!”

Albrecht looks defensive now.

“There is a reason why I had selected her as your personal guard. She feels when you’re in danger even kilometers away.”

The entire room is in chaos. Jimin is boiling with blank fury. 

“She left me, she left the Palace, she went to Baden-Württemberg! She wasn’t my guard anymore. And still cared more than you did, father!”

Alarm on the King’s face. His gaze shifts to you now, too.

“What has Y/N accomplished other than plunging you into misery and bragging about being first in line?”

Loud discussions in the crowd. Anna growls something behind you, now almost as angry as Jimin. Before she can speak up, you lean back towards her, stern.

“We’ll open it. Get the cargo, Anna.”

You take off the lid, displaying the content of the barrel for the masses to see. The people closest to you give immediate way, screaming. The throne room crowd becomes dense at the edges when the nobles at the center stumble backward.

When the King and Queen look at you incredulous, you turn the vessel upside down to let its content slump down on the marble ground. Two heads with two arrows each in them roll out first. And then, Steinburg’s chopped off hands. Terrified shrieks in the audience. The jester cowers behind the musicians.

You place the empty barrel firmly on the floor. 

“I’ve sullied my blade for scum like this, my King and Queen.”

“It reeks, put it back!” the jester squeals. 

Instead of doing so, you scan the rows of onlookers.

“Kitchen assistant! Come here.”

A blonde young man steps forth. Hesitant, and hunched over. He wears an apron with mittens stuffed inside the front pocket. He is the boy from the handsy crowd at the gate.

“Me?”

“Preserve these in your beer. Of the mediocre kind.”

“What!”

“I want to keep a daily reminder that nobody will lay their hands on the Prince. Now pick this shit up. Do it fast before I add you to the collection.”

Natasha plays the flute with ease so enviable that apart from the audience, even some musicians peer with intent. They find it quite outrageous and fascinating at once how the young lady taps her feet. The festival guests dance around the maypole chanting to the rhythm of the waving flags, wielded by the clarion players who seem quite content with their new task. A string quartet under an oak tree engages in a bubbly tune, with young boys from Linden town letting tambourines jingle for the finale of each song. Only few clouds in the sky.

The czarina, settled at a swan-shaped statue fountain and comely as ever in her light blue gown, watches some villagers hand out pastry and drinks. She hardly gifts you a glance, which comes as no surprise, and rather seems to have spare gazes for King Albrecht’s storytelling at the other end of the garden that constantly sends claps and cheers over. Enthused as always. The same stories, as always.

Opposite to you, Jimin sits at the pond on a blanket. With a simple beige tunic on, he chews up every bit, you stuffing him with apple dumplings and plenty of currants. May weather. A few pigeons already strut around the alley hunting for leftovers. It’s almost as if all springs and summers of Bavaria converge in one place. Manifold flowers gleam in full bloom between trees and marble statues. Jimin’s mouth is already sticky with crumbs and apple juice. 

He looks more vibrant. Fresh. The bags under his eyes have faded. He licks off your fingers and can’t help loosening the tunic around his collar bones so you can have a look at his newly gained pounds, and a muscle, trained from fencing, here and there. You indulge in ogling without much second thought, and in feeding him until—

The Queen Therese, clad in poufy vestments that resemble much of what she had worn at the last coronation, approaches. The dancers have dispersed on the field and in the forest behind the Palace already. Time passes fast at Castle Linderhof. Only the czarina still rests at the fountain while the King sits close. Natasha is nowhere to be seen. 

“Your father needs to have a talk about some things,” the Queen addresses Jimin. To your surprise, she not only turns to him. “Y/N, you will join in, too.”

Only reluctantly does the Prince rise from the blanket and pat his tunic, removing crumbs. The alley seems less bright and sunny with its roses when you walk across, eventually reaching the fountain. Too sunny.

Albrecht seems to struggle with the words when he addresses you. His beard looks more deformed than usual. He’s been twirling away at it for the entire festival despite being engaged in telling stories.

“Now that, well. Yekaterina is here,” he begins. “And we had a good time celebrating.”

Jimin shifts from one foot to the other. Not a good sign. Battle stance. The czarina looks at either of you from the corner of her eye in the meantime. The Prince keeps his head down.

“Dad, just say what you want to say. It’s about the marriage, isn’t it.”

A sigh. The King folds his elaborate blue coat to one side where it cascades down his shoulder.

“The situation is. With you, Y/N. We have to stick to either the royal lineage. Or make a political arrangement. You don’t, see, fulfill either case.”

And there it is.

“My King,” you try to cut his sermon short. Jimin ruffles his hair, frustrated already. But Albrecht continues.

“The Princess has chosen the former. The lineage. She married in the same rank, the Prince of Saxony. It is a favorable union. He’s a nice person, too. For Jimin, as you know, the Queen and I thought about the alliance with Russia. And Yekaterina is still interested.”

Jimin raises his glance to meet the King’s. He’s trying hard not to glower.

“But I am not.”

You step closer toward the King.

“Does the Prince have to marry in the first place?”

Diplomacy. 

“Geez! He will inherit the crown of Bavaria,” Albrecht says, earning another scorn from Jimin.

“Not if my sister becomes Crown Princess instead.”

Stillness at the fountain. The Queen is the first one to react.

“You reject the throne, Jimin?”

The answer is more than a firm yes seeing how hardened the Prince’s face has become.

“It’s gotten me in nothing but trouble. My sister wants it more than I do. Isn’t it!”

“The Princess is an ideal heir,” you agree. “I have no doubts she can rule Bavaria just as well. She’s said so many times that she wishes she could do it. Saxony is not a bad alliance.”

The King twirls at his beard again.

Now, the Czarina speaks.

“What trouble, my Prince?”

Accent-free German. You feel a cold tingle run down your spine at how sultry her voice is. Jimin, however, doesn’t respond. Instead, he shoves back both sleeves of his linen garment, revealing scabs and dark blue spots. Both the King and Queen wail out at the sight.

“That trouble,” Jimin says. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

“Is this from the ambush?” Yekaterina rises from her seat as if to inspect Jimin’s wounds up close. But he tugs down his sleeves just in time.

“It was worse than that. They did unspeakable things.”

You can see how the czarina’s curiosity in his scabs slowly changes into a realization.

“The robbers did what?!”

“Exactly what you think,” Jimin steps back from the fountain.

Yekaterina, on the other hand, turns to the king.

“Why didn’t you tell me? That’s disgusting! I’m not touching him.”

“Czarina, please,” the Queen takes her by the arm, as gentle as a feather, but to no avail. Yekaterina brushes off Therese’s hand.

“He’s weak. He even left his jewelry with the robbers. He’s walking around like this!”

She points at the Prince’s vestment as if it were a potato sack left in the kitchen corner. Albrecht seems all the more indignant.

“Czarina!”

“Look at his nanny having to take care of him like a baby. Sitting around on a blanket having a picnic. Pathetic. It was a mistake to believe the letter. I thought he was a valiant Prince.”

“Jimin is a valiant Prince!” the Queen stutters, tries to appease the Czarina Romanova anew. “You have seen him slice the apple!”

“He left his own family. That is treason in Russia.”

“Yes. I did,” Jimin gestures, “but I’ve changed my mind.”

Yekaterina rolls her eyes so blatantly, you have to suppress an all-too-familiar puking reflex.

“I saw that,” she taunts.

The King butts in with his most pacifying tone.

“Well, see it like that. This isn’t Russia, czarina. We have different standards.”

“But if we marry, it might be. Our empire is growing. Bavaria has good resources. It has the strength that Russia embodies, too.”

You tap your foot twice.

“That hubris is concerning. The czarina is beautiful. But foul-mouthed toward the Prince! Do you think he will be happy? You think Bavaria will last as it did with an alliance like that, my King?”

Albrecht strokes the back of his neck. Yekaterina gathers all of her bouffant dress and pushes Jimin and the Queen aside. Judging by her direction, she’s headed toward her chambers in the North wing.

“Wait!” Therese exclaims and tries to follow, but the Czarina is adamant in her walk.

“I see I’m still not welcome. Forget your alliance, this is war. I want a carriage to Moscow in two hours.”

The orange tint of dawn spreads on the valley like the blanket both of you share. Cinder leans close to the oven next to Cygnet, both sheathed. Jimin lies at your chest. Warm and cozy in the light of the oil lamp. You rake through his hair with your fingers, then, a wooden comb from the nightstand. Between its tender strokes through his locks — the Prince's kisses are blissful. He's hooked at your bottom lip.

The hooting owl at the window settles with her family in a tree nest close by when you hear the last servants leave the corridor. Your chamber is silent until he finally speaks.

“I never thought you’d go to Altfried Castle in those two years.”

“We had a lucky streak. The Duke was kind enough to shelter Anna and me.”

“I hope they treated you well there,” the Prince caresses your arms.

“He’s taught me a lot about when to play fair.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry I was so angry at you.”

“I didn’t behave,” Jimin sighs out, “like the most reliable either.”

“Don’t say that,” you put aside the comb. “I was in the wrong about that.”

“Should have put more pressure on mom and dad,” he speaks in a sunken voice. “With cancelling the wedding, and such.”

“You did now. Don’t beat yourself up.”

“I get why you had something against me going to Saint Petersburg. The people aren’t so nice there as I thought.”

“Bavaria values honor. Russia is about power. You’ve heard her.”

The owls are bustling outside.

“I wish I hadn’t. She will resent us so much.”

“The feeling is mutual. But let her sulk forever. You see what happens when someone tries to appease the Romanovs. It’s better to be straightforward. I wish she would respect you, too.”

“And you?” Jimin looks up now. “She called you names as well.”

“That’s part of a swordmaster’s life. Steinburg did, too.”

“The disgusting—”

“He had his schtick to call me your harlot.”

“He said that?”

“His moment of glee was rather short.”

Jimin grumbles.

“I’ve heard that he was behind the conspiracy at Hohenzollern as well. When the Duchess Walthilde was kidnapped.”

“It was an ambush back then, too,” you nod. “I’m not surprised. Steinburg has been notorious. He must have been filthy rich as well. Sold Cinder on the market. Probably other weapons, too.”

“Couldn’t hate him more.”

“The merchant who bought the sword from him was a lousy fighter.”

He sits up, arms crossed.

“Did you see him use it?!”

“Yes, against me. Was the first and last time he would wield it.”

“Oh, right. Anna said you had a duel at the castle. You won it back just like this?”

“As I said,” you laugh. “He was lousy. An easy defeat. I was stupid enough to pay him 210 mark even after I won.”

“210! I will ask the King to reimburse this!”

“Not necessary,” you shake your head. “Can’t complain about my earnings since I’m part of the royal defense again.”

“Part of the family, you mean.”

“If you think I am—

“You are,” Jimin leans back down to kiss your cheek. “They can say what they want.”

“Then that, too.”

Jimin lies down completely again. You pick up the comb once more. And continue brushing.

“There’s a specific reason I ran away from here before the robbers caught me.”

“I figured. Your parents.”

The Princes’ eyes are downcast in the lamp’s shine now.

“I didn’t think my family felt whole after you left.”

“It wasn’t really leaving,” you bring the comb down the sides of his hair. “Leaving means dignity. I climbed down the tower and got shelter in Linden town. I sent a herald to Anna, she came with the two horses, we rode to Altfried Castle. It was the least appropriate goodbye.”

“That sounds graceful compared to what I did.”

“What happened, my Prince?”

Again, you cease to comb.

“It was with an empty food carriage. We had a banquet the day before. I didn’t feel well.”

“Oh...”

“They had delivered bread and potatoes. I sneaked into the vehicle at dawn. I didn’t even know where it was going. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. We had a huge fight, dad and I. During the banquet.”

“What was the fight about?”

His tone sounds stern enough to be alarming.

“You.”

The comb slips from your fingers and lands on the mattress.

“I don’t... want to stay here, Jimin. This place is not good for us.”

“I know. Me neither. But I don’t think they’ll let us go.”

“They can’t force us. And the King already knows that I don’t like being at the Palace.”

“But where should we go to? Saxony? I don’t know a place where they will accept us when we split with mom and dad like that. The fight at the banquet drove us apart enough already.”

“It’s not a split,” you exhale. “We just have to get away from all of this for some time. I left the Palace, then you did. Actions speak volumes about where your priority is.”

A sentence from the Golden Lesson. He had still memorized it.

“Yeah. It’s not here.”

The Palace is the last place where you want to linger.

“Now we have a chance to leave together before they start with their marriage thing again. I don’t want it. I’m not a Crown Princess. Much less a Queen. It’s not me.”

“Me neither. Crown Prince. King, I mean.”

“They probably try to kick me out anyways. You’ve heard what Albrecht said.”

“The lineage or alliance thing.”

Annoyance flashes across his features at the mere words.

“Yes. They’ll try to get rid of me soon enough. Anna overheard a conversation of the equerry this morning. The Queen is packing for a journey to Austria.”

“Really, what? Austria?” 

Jimin looks panicked.

“She is looking for ‘suitors’. I didn’t understand it at first, either.”

“They want me to marry Austrian royalty now!”

“Not too loud, my Prince!”

“I loathe them.”

“I don’t like the Austrian nobles either.”

They had plunged Queen Luise into more grief than necessary with their endless claims to Hohenzollern.

“My parents, I mean. Don’t care about what goes on in Vienna. I need to get away from Albrecht, he’s behind this. I hate him.”

The oil lamp flickers much like the eyes of the Prince.

“We can’t go to Saxony. But maybe, back to Hohenzollern. They have treated us the kindest. I thought we were welcome there.”

“I never thought about this.”

“We can— keep her good company. Luise”

Jimin negates fast. His voice is fragile.

“Therese... will want to get me back.”

“Then she will fail trying.”

Applause from the small round. Luise signs the document with a telling smile. One servant comes to pick up the scroll on swift feet after the seal wax has dried, leaving the throne room empty except the three of you. You catch Jimin mustering your brigade armor about every other second while Luise rises from the table.

“Off to Saint Petersburg it goes,” the Queen remarks, and screws tight her ink cartridge.

“You’re a blessing, Luise. Really.”

“I’ve been friends with Prime Minister Dmitriy for almost two decades,” she shrugs, assorting her writing feathers with lenience on the table. “He will understand.”

“He will?”

“According to him, the Czarina is having a lot of tantrums since the question of an arranged marriage came up.”

“Well, I can understand that,” you reply. All too well, in fact. “Just hoping that she didn’t really mean war when she said it.”

“Let that be my worry, Y/N. Hohenzollern has always had better ties to Russia than Bavaria.”

Jimin’s exasperated look only affirms the Queen’s statement.

“And— what do we do about my parents?” he brings forth while you turn toward the end of the throne room that opens into the royal garden. A bit languid, and Luise follows. You still feel a bit stiff in the armor, but you can feel how it melts onto your body already like it used to do.

“They’ll show up here,” Luise says. And you know it. Sooner or later. "But they won't complain when they see that you've found a purpose here."

"A purpose?" Jimin asks, catching up on the way outside.

"The brigade, Y/N will be busy recruiting soldiers again. It's like when she started. And we have more good news."

"Oh?"

"Natasha will spend half the summer here. I heard you're fond of her."

The youngest in House Romanov. You haven’t heard of her in ages. But the image of her dancing at the maypole festival is vivid in your mind.

"Natasha!"

"Yes. She wants to familiarize herself with Germany. A very inquisitive, headstrong girl."

"She really persuaded her parents, didn't she."

"Quite so. Well. The Premier minister does have, you see, interest in stronger ties to our county."

Jimin looks completely caught off guard. You're not surprised. Bavaria's relationship to the czar family had been dealt far too many blows.

"The entire House of Romanov?"

"Yes. Natasha had an easy time requesting to stay here."

"I like her," you reply. The garden terraces open up around you now, and Jimin steps into the pathways between apple trees framing the area. He is off to pick up some of the fruit in no time, while you walk toward the main terrace of the garden with the Queen. 

"Don't teach her archery all too soon," Luise twinkles from the corner of her eye. "You can do the melee with the Prussian Barons first. There are some Margraves who want to challenge you for fencing, I heard."

"Cheers, I take that one. It will be entertaining, surely."

In the distance, Jimin wanders about collecting apples, and you complement Luise on her new bright yellow gowns that blend into the garden landscape almost seamlessly. 

The onset of a late afternoon brings two knocks on your chamber’s door. Still feet. And waiting.

"Come on in!"

A second later, Jimin's head peeks through the frame. His hair is neatly led out. Natasha, prancing around as always, had teased him until he let her brush it in the morning. 

Jimin coos.

"Not climbing today.”

You beckon him across the room from your seat. He sways over in his far-too-long night blue gown, giving him the semblance of the water nymphs in childhood fairy tale books.

It catches his eye almost instantly— the weaving loom. Not too large, just wide enough to fill one corner of your chamber with it. Jimin seems to already guess what you're doing.

"I'd weave it," you let your digits glide through the nimble threads, "for your birthday if it wasn't in October."

The Prince, however, is hypnotized. He didn't hear.

"That looks complicated."

You tilt your head from side to side. Chuckling a little.

"Anna showed me. And nothing is more intricate than fencing anyways."

He keeps on pacing around the loom, eyeing its frame and the colorful yarns splayed out before you. The freshly polished brigade armor perched at the other side of the room doesn't seem to faze him just one bit for once.

"Is it something like a banner?"

"Almost."

"Hm. That pattern looks familiar. Coat of arms there?"

He points two digits at the loom's end where an outline begins to form, made from suave yarn.

"Similar to the neckerchief, you see. It's like a scarf."

Frozen. Jimin seems to be struck by lightning.

"Oh!"

"It's just... Made with the Hohenzollern emblem. New home, new coat of arms."

You twirl the threads anew for the next row, striking a flaxen tone in the pattern. A step on the pedal of the loom lifts the frame for you to glide the sliding shuttle through. It doesn't come very far. The Prince puts his hands around your torso from behind.

First, you can only hear him sniffle, however silent, and you think he might have a cold. But then, he starts to tremble. 

The Prince is crying.

"I don't deserve this," Jimin sobs, making your shirts’ collar feel damp already by rubbing his eyes against it. "Why do you do all this for me!"

The sliding shuttle goes back to its former place among the resting bowl of yarn. You turn, facing the Prince with earnestness.

"Hey. Cause I want to. Simple as that."

Jimin sniffles.

"Really?"

"Swordmaster's promise. Okay."

"But—"

"I don't care if you feel undeserving. I do what I do. With all due respect, my Prince."

The loom chair creaks a little when you lift from it. Jimin doesn't let go from his hug for a minute, or more. You take time rearranging his gown crease by crease so he can walk properly despite the long hem. Most of the chamber servants still aren't used to finding clothes for him each morning. The overly decorated ones he rejects, while the casual gowns in stock don't really fit his small build. Therese has already requested a tailor.

"It's just. I still can't grasp these things. That we're here."

"Believe it or not. We have a spot to settle."

"I, I like it here."

He eases into your touch more than ever now.

"Do you remember our first meeting?"

"'Course I do."

The Prince's feet are slack while walking, so you guide him up-close toward the bed to sit at the soft edge.

"I don't think we ever had a better mock duel than that one," you say, sitting down just an inch next to him.

"True."

You do recall the second time at the ball, where the Czarina would cast the fateful apple. Looking back, this duel seems far away compared to the first one, even if you had met at Hohenzollern half a decade ago. 

"That was back when I enjoyed tournaments."

"I was a little hellbent," Jimin wipes his nose, descending into your lap. 

"Oh, you wouldn't believe how much prejudice I had myself."

"Yeah, I know."

"Haughty Prince Bavaria coming all the way just to prove his fencing skill."

"I wasn't that bad!"

"You weren't."

He wasn't.

In fact, the Prince had won your favors in the duel under Queen Luise's watchful eye. You had led the brigade since years of earlier adolescence. Plenty of hands-on experience. Nevertheless, Prince Jimin had been a passionate opponent trying to claim his spot first in line. He had been daring. Rebellious. Things turned out different. He lost, but you had gifted him a mentorship. It surely wasn't the dire consequence he had feared when you pinned him to the ground at the unrelenting tip of Cygnet. King Albrecht approved. A guard for the Prince was an ideal compensation for his loss. 

"Was it the footwork?"

"Yes. That impressed me."

It really did. You had to make him your disciple. Even Luise agreed that it was almost inevitable given how eager Jimin was. The Prince's blade, Cinder, forged in the Alps, had been compelling, his stance elegant, his face a refreshing sight. Almost rare. His body sculpted and so unlike everyone at the brigade.

And so, you left Hohenzollern Castle, and headed toward the bustling heart of Bavaria. Linderhof Palace had been too beautiful not to stay. The Prince's parents had been kind.

"We both had better reputations back then, I guess."

"Sure did. But we weren't as happy."

The glance you level at him conveys more than just a simple 'Don't you think?'. Jimin, albeit still teary-eyed, looks more determined.

"I want to be as happy as when we first crossed blades."

You shake your head right away.

"Don't be a square, my Prince."

And he's incredulous.

"What do you mean?"

"We will be much happier than that."

Now, the Prince looks so bashful that even the red light of dusk from the windows feels like a faded color by comparison.

"A lot of promises tonight, Y/N."

"Yes, that's my second one."

"Did you drink wine today, eh?"

"Don't you tease. Bodyguards don't chug booze. Always alert."

"Who knows. Luise has one of the best vineyards and vintners of the county."

"If you don't believe me, you can have a taste and judge for yourself."

You fondle at the sides of his garment, delighting in the blush.

"A... test?"

"Yes, a test."

"Fair enough. Let me see how drunk you are, swordmaster."

Pressing his torso against yours elicits a soft curve to his spine. Your grip is tight on his waist. Jimin doesn't spend much time just exploring your lips with his. His nervous tongue dares a much steeper dip the more you lean in. He does twirl around, as if searching, probing. Jimin is needy. 

Your bodies calibrate already. They're used to it, from training. Your hands preoccupy themselves with massaging his upper arms. To release the last bit of tension. To soften them up. Jimin keeps on circling his tongue against yours, not leaving out an inch to send a gentle tingle down your neck. He knows how to please. You explore his mouth with your tongue all the more fervent and look him in the eye. You’re yearning, too. 

When he withdraws to catch a breath, you have to take several seconds not to stumble over your own words. 

"Is the test over?"

"A kiss is not enough, my honorable dame. If you allow."

“Indeed?”

“I want to do more than just prove myself.”

His tone piques your interest all the more now.

"I'm listening."

"Cinder... is not the only proper sword I have. I'm applying for lessons, Y/N."

His eyes are like gleaming coals in the rays of sunlight from the horizon.

"Sounds like a nice blade to fit my taste."

"You can claim it yours if you want, Master."

"Not spending a single mark on it, I tell you that."

Jimin laughs with his whole body. You are glad to see him relaxed.

"Gotta be thrifty now that you blew out the entire budget."

"Hey, you brat. That was more than worth it," you recline into the mattress. The silky pillows give you a warm greeting. Jimin makes sure that his blue robe doesn't tangle any more than it already does around his ankles when he slides toward the center of the bed himself.

"What are you in the mood for, then?"

He scoots even closer, settling on a pillow himself. His profile is stark against the sun.

"I've heard you crook a finger nowadays, my Prince."

"You want to see if that's true, don't you. Might be a little awkward, still."

"Hence the lessons."

"Right."

“Then prepare yourself, disciple.”

After loosening its cord just enough, you shove down the hem of your pants a little. Jimin rebalances on the pillow, now leaning toward your face. Another kiss. The test is indeed not over. And gladly so.

His right hand, and of course, he takes the more trained one, snakes down your belly. Nowhere near as nonchalant as it would during practice with sabers, gripping handles and blocking attacks. Jimin couldn’t be more on edge. 

"First part of the lesson is dancing."

"Dance?"

"Keep on moving. Stay fluid."

"Yes, Milady."

Jimin loosens his wrist before tracing around. He finds the right spot between your labia waiting for him, continues the movement. The touch of his fingers comes as a sentiment of deep, pleasing relief to your abdomen.

"You dance well, Prince."

"Just following the instructions."

"You want a second trick, hm."

He doesn't have to answer. The stimulation between your legs is just enough to reply.

"The clo—Agh! So good."

"Could it be removing some garment?"

"Yes, Jimin."

The night blue gown soon hangs off the edge of the bed, grazing the floor. It almost looks like a waterfall bumbling from the mattress. Your own pants soon join. Jimin is careful to remove them without doing away with the cord, or crumpling up the underwear.

"Alright."

"That was elegant."

"Stop flattering me, master."

"Have all the reasons to."

Jimin knows what you mean given that your gaze has wandered south on his body's delicate map.

"I, uh," he fumbles around your loins again, resuming what he started, mumbling along.

"Shh."

You reach where the sun tangents his hips yourself now, weighing and stroking. It is easy to pump up and down given how subtly curved and much like a saber's handle his cock is. Jimin didn't lie about proper.

He's whimpering.

"Do you... like how it feels?"

"You're in good form, Prince."

He's candid in the dusk illuminating the window. You stroke him more.

"I was— worried."

"I know, Prince. No more need to. We take it easy."

He emanates a sweet scent for you to take in. Since your joint arrival at Hohenzollern, he has found and frequented the bath behind the garden chapel a lot after training when most of the regulars were busy having a meal. Maybe it’s the smell of apples, too. 

"Sword's got stable grip."

Shifting close, you begin rubbing his shaft between either of your legs. He's warm. Flustered. And pliant under your guidance. The arousal peaks with him fondling across your pubes. But Jimin, after a series of rubs, gently brushes off your hand from his cock.

"Y/N. The last thing I want is knock you up. Your armor can’t fit a baby bump."

You have to catch yourself.

"Goodness. Jeez. Y—yes. Yes, right."

"That's not for us."

“Sorry. I got carried away. Your dick is so pretty.”

“It belongs to you now.”

His hands linger at your thighs. Jimin’s cheeks are tinted with deep blush.

"Maybe another kiss is for us," you say, spreading your legs further and slowly tugging him in by the neck. 

"Oh yes, my dame. Oh yes."

Prior to kneeling between your legs, Jimin pushes his hair back. It obstructs his eyes yet again when he leans down, putting either lip tightly around your clit. He's sucking and licking against it, calmer now. You take it as your task to hold Jimin's bangs out of his face yourself in the meantime. The waves of heat sparking from his mouth couldn't be any more soothing.

"Tastes like apple," Jimin mumbles into you.

"Oh, really?"

"Apples in May. Something like that."

There it is. The infamous eyebrow play again. You’ve missed it.

He goes on licking. Never ceases to lift his bottom lips from your labia. You exhale from what feels like beyond your diaphragm.

"Not, not too much, Jimin. Slow down."

"Am I doing it wrong?"

"No, no, I just... We haven't even started. Don't do the eyebrow thing. You drive me fucking wild."

"What, my eyebrows? Don't get it."

"You never noticed?"

"What's up with them?"

"They do this, this sexy thing when they go up."

"Um, like that?"

He's wiggling and cocking them up.

"Don't! Jesus Christ!"

He really is a brat.

"Maybe you can let my hair fall down again."

You deem that a very good idea. Especially since Jimin has more space to thrust his head in reverse. Your brain turns mushier by the minute Jimin's tongue starts to dip, leaving wet traces wherever it ventures. You pull him in further at the nape of his neck. 

"You're beautiful, Prince," is the only coherent phrase that your mind barely constructs. The way he bobs his head is like a perpetual nod. “I love it when you serve me.”

"Too good," he murmurs between sucks, fully taking in your taste, your warmth.

"You are too good. Who are you kidding. Fuck, Jimin."

His hands are slowly roaming around your abdomen.

"I've lost two and a half years with you," the Prince nips alongside your inner thighs now. "Got no chance to mess around. You can't imagine how many times I need to do this to make up for that."

"We took mighty long."

"I thought about this every night."

"Tell me."

He stops, props himself up. With a wet chin. And still, a high-strung voice.

"It was— So indecent. Dirty, almost."

"Huh? Loud sex in the barn?"

Jimin laughs.

"Not that indecent!"

"Not?"

"Filthy in a way, ah, it was really... fucking like rabbits. You were rough with me, and. And I liked it."

His tone is exasperated from going down on you, but still laced with tempting.

"You call that dirty? I've heard stories at Castle Altfried, nothing compares."

"I can imagine."

"Someone admitted to masturbating underneath a banquet arrangement. Hidden by just the tablecloth."

Jimin huffs out.

"Yikes! Perverted."

"One maiden said she had sex with one of the local knights in the church. They could hear the priests rehearse while he came inside."

The Prince scratches his head.

"That'll be a, uh, holy baby."

"The Duke himself was rumored to own something like a torture chamber where he could be strapped to furniture."

Jimin almost stumbles over his own words.

"To, torture chamber!"

You shake your head with vehemence.

"Not exactly one with spikes and gadgets. I asked the Duchess about it. She said it's just for playing around."

"What playing around could that have been?"

"Something," you twirl at his bangs, "like we did during training. Making you sweat a little more for a lesson."

The Prince understands almost immediately.

"Endurance training? Didn't do that in a whole while."

"Many things to catch up with."

"Is it that endurance gives me your favors, Milady? You were liking it when I was hanging off your window."

Oh well. You really did.

"I like it when you're honest about what you want."

And he does have your favors.

"Tell me yours, I tell you mine."

"I want just one thing served on a silver plate."

The Prince seems to ponder for one second more after he opens his mouth to speak.

"Commitment?" he thus asks, and makes sure to meet your eye even through the curls in his face.

"That's the golden plate, not the silver one. The silver plate is for your cute ass."

Jimin can't help but flush again.

"You can pinch it."

"I'll make an entire picnic out of that. That's not going to be just pinching."

"Are you sure you aren't the perverted one, Y/N?"

Jimin twinkles.

"I admit to it," you reply.

"So is there a bronze plate also? You sound like you have many of those."

"Bronze plate's for your cum."

"Freshly served?"

"All milked out. Mixed with my spit."

"You want to—"

Yes, you do.

"Lay down, my Prince. Keep your hands above your head."

Swift, Jimin reclines. You can see how bulging his neck veins are.

"Fresh out the bath," he says, splaying his hands against the bed frame.

"You smell good."

Once Jimin holds onto frame properly, you level above his crotch. His stiffening cock responds to your hands working the base and perineum, and your mouth propping at its tip after carefully aiming to take him in at the right angle.

"Oh shit—"

The Prince almost jolts up. Not only does he smell good. Jimin tastes just as nice. Panting, making his hands tug against the frame where he holds onto it, all you hear is his blissed out sighing.

“Keep your hips still, Jimin,” you scold, cock half in your mouth. “Naughty Princes get punished for moving.”

Slicking your lips down his perky shaft comes with an overly sloppy, awkward noise. You look up to meet his eyes seeing if you haven't thoroughly embarrassed yourself, but his lids are shut.

You figure sloppy isn't a bad thing. Making use of the saliva pooling between your lips, you suck in Jimin's cock a bit deeper. Letting it rest on your tongue for a moment makes the Prince fidget. Hollowing your cheeks out only fortifies your suction on him, and make the tremble of his legs palpable under your torso. He fights hard not to move his hips. 

The throbbing between your legs is still heated. You reach with one hand to stimulate, the other pumping Jimin's bubbly dick hard. Rubbing him comes with more sighs and commentary until your tongue becomes sticky at its back. Pre-cum. You can't blame him for being the early bird.

Little curses.

Outside, the sun melts into the horizon line.

Much as if Cygnet would call you to find a good manual hold, the jerking hand eventually transfers into a smoother rhythm than before. You have to be careful not to bite down on him given how unpredictable your jaw has become, so loose. Knowing that Jimin is all too close, you decide to have some fun edging him through it.

"How's it going over there, disciple," you pop off. And let your nails dig into his balls. 

"Ah!"

"I've seen and heard a lot of things in life but a Prince without proper grammar?"

Delivering another firm squeeze brings back a spike of pleasure jolting through his limbs.

"Nnh—!"

You keep on squeezing. He's whiny. His hips buck. You can feel that he's on edge, too far, with steep highs and lows of his ribcage. 

Bit after bit, after a final firm caress stopping short just before his peak, Jimin's cock eventually spurts out a milky thread over his stomach. Almost like a fountain. The rest of his cum only leaks out ruined in scarce bits, making Jimin beg, and whine, and groan his soul out. 

“Look at you, brat,” you flick against his balls grinning, and go on milking out his jizz. “How do you like that. Your hips moved.”

“Shit...! Oh god...”

Licking off parts of it from his stomach gives you the satisfaction of tasting him once again. Hot, and even stickier. He's left such an adorable mess. You leave gentle strokes alongside his torso.

"My wonderful Prince," you smile, watching Jimin in his afterglow. Exhausted, faint, but happy. “You like punishments, do you.”

A nod. He drools. Your gaze is fiery.

"We have to— work on endurance," he says. "So much about you defeating me."

"Got the elegance down already. We're only getting started."

"Can you," he brings his hands down toward your arms. "Kiss me hard, please."

You lean over, letting a trickling bit of semen melt into Jimin's mouth. Letting it smother all over his lips is twice the delight feeling how plush they are. Jimin's fingers sneaking, then dipping into your core comes at the guidance of your own hands, making the kisses even sweeter to taste.

The wave of heat following his soft rubs opens your mouth wider for Jimin to twirl his tongue in until your shivering body fades into the pillows where he hugs you. The last bit of stimulation brings you over the edge devouring the taste of his mouth and biting down on his lips hard until your orgasm subsides with slower contractions. Jimin has licked your mouth clean now. He is jittery at your chest. Clinging. You pull the bed’s yellow blanket over and whisper to him. Ruffle his hair. Cling back tight, and breathe in the apple scent of his skin. 

"That was delicious," you kiss his forehead. “You royals astound me every day.”

The little treats are spiked with bright decor, almonds, and cream. Jimin balances four of them on his porcelain plate, maneuvering through the queue at the buffet. The people step aside wondering how the Prince of Bavaria could walk around with just a simple ensemble of gauze and strangely ruffled hair.

"You're not wearing the armor?" he asks, settling back at the table next to you and Natasha. "The entire brigade does!"

Indeed— your belt is empty, too. Cygnet's missing weight at it makes you fond, but maybe, a bit uneasy. You're still getting used to it.

The people around carry plates to their own tables set up in the chapel's yard while you cast the Prince a gaze a little smug, tempting him to guess. He sits down on the swirly metal chair confounded enough not to put his meal down, staring at you, then the treats with a bland expression.

"Well, uh."

In the meantime, Luise converses with the Russian Prime Minister and Duke Leopold at the adjacent table. A few maidens pass by, carrying giant baskets with flowers and mugs with juice. Jimin is still guessing until Natasha wildly gestures toward the yard where a few violin players rehearse.

"Y/N dance with Prince!" she points. Now, Jimin seems to realize.

"Right!"

"Have you ever seen the brigade dance in full gear? That looks hilarious."

"Oh yeah. I figure they'd be slower and bump into everybody," the Prince finally puts his plate down. But before he can take a bite, Natasha slips from her own seat and starts teasing him. The Prince ends up with even more ruffled hair, attracting the confused stares of the musicians.

Natasha builds herself up and proclaims: "Look! Prince is fluffy puppy!"

In the meantime, you cut the quarter loaf of bread on your plate into generous pieces, then butter them up.

"I'm afraid we got ourselves a bully, my Prince," you chuckle, and make sure to end with a wink toward Natasha.

"Happens," the Prince says, and eventually indulges himself eating. "I'm rather worried about my dancing steps."

"Might be a little rusty, you mean?"

"The last celebration was two months ago. Might need some time."

Natasha plops down on her seat, playing with the new woven scarf she had so nonchalantly removed from Jimin's neck.

"I mean, that’s fair,” you say. “I like fair!"

"Me, too.” 

“And hey, we can just do fencing steps anyway."

Thank you for reading! 🍎

Do not repost, translate, or modify my works. © submissive-bangtan 2017-2019. All rights reserved. 

[audarkmist]

Texts

@jewish-privilege

Thank you for taking the time to write this out. I searched for Jewish texts timelines. The Talmud Yerushalmi and Babylonian Talmud were finished around your given times. I know you said Jesus taught the Mishnah which had to have been made before Christ. I then realized I was thinking all this time I was thinking of the Kabbalah (when I said the old different one). I think this is the one that is not read as much then (but don’t get me wrong it’s interesting)? 

The Kabbalah was also completed in segments finished later on. It is the ideas that had been circulating early on. It was all transmitted orally at first so that’s the reason it is so old. I actually tried to read the Kabbalah once. I started feeling like I was reading about another plane of existence. I was not sure what to think just thought it was interesting. 

By the way the bible records the ancient Pharisees as the ones who wished and brought on the execution of Christ. It does not mean all Jewish people want him dead or even apply to modern Jewish people. In the past there was a time of corruption from power.

Verses.

Bible verses about the corruption of the time (it’s also mentioned outside of the bible).

Mark 12:38-40 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and he places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Mark 3:2-5 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Luke 12:1-2 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known”.

Matthew 23:1-8 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 

Bible verses on their intentions to kill Christ.

Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him [some versions say kill]. 

Mark 3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him .

Luke 6:11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke 20:19-20 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 

John 18:12-14 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

John 19:14-16  Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus.

Bible verses on some the Pharisees who did want to protect Christ (the actions of a few bad apples do not count for the actions of all as others wanted to help). 

Luke 13:31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.

I have another Tehilim. 

Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Matthew 22:41-46 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

God the son taking on flesh.

God is a spirit who can do anything. “The truth that it is only God the Son who became incarnate is taught, for example, in John 1:14, which says ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ In context, the Word is God the Son (cf. 1:1, 18, and 3:16). Thus, it wasn’t the Father or the Holy Spirit who became man, but God the Son”. The word of God is the son of God and also in essence the very character of God. Feel free to read more about it here.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 14:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father [the will, the words, the essence of the will of God. In human terms “his walk and talk are in Christ”]. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us [notice the plural] make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

The Holy spirit is in the Old Testament or Torah. Isaiah 32:15 till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. 

Rosh Hashana.

I did a quick search seeing it refers to the "beginning of the year" and “symbolizes a number of subjects, such as the Binding of Isaac whereby a ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac (like Christ was sacrificed ! That’s awesome. What a parallel)”. 

Islamic texts.

The Quran and Hadith and texts literally calls for the execution of the Jewish people... I thought all the wars in Israel against Syria, Turkey and Pakistan was because there are those who want the Holy land and have no concern for Jewish people. The only Muslim person I have ever met I asked him “How do you feel about Jewish people?”. He said “I don’t like them. They did terrible things in my homeland”. I was like “Seriously?! You can’t generalize. It’s also a complicated issue”. I left it at that. 

Muslim: Sahih al-Bukhari Book 53 Hadith 392

While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews" We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle." Source.

Muslim: Sahih al-Bukhari Book 56 Hadith 791

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The Jews will fight with you, and you will be given victory over them so that a stone will say, 'O Muslim! There is a Jew behind me; kill him!' " Source.

Muslim: The last words of Muhammad before he died. Sahih al-Bukhari Book 23 Hadith 414.

Aisha said, "The Prophet in his fatal illness said, 'Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying."' Aisha added, "Had it not been for that the grave of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying. Source. 

Feel free to check and double check. I mean even a context for these would not justify it for me. Well you let me know how you feel about these after doing your checks research. The worst is against Jewish people after all... 

In contrast in the bible Jesus said He wanted God the Father to forgive all those who wronged him. 

Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Romans.

I mentioned before all the verses that pointed to the execution of Christ in the bible. I know the Romans played a major role (as previously shown in the bible). It’s a history in which Jesus wanted all those who wronged him to be forgiven. 

Nazis.

That’s exactly my point. They dehumanized and felt racially superior. 

Catholics.

Catholics are Christians the same way Christians are Jewish people. I’ve seen people say “Christian and Jewish are the same thing both Abrahamic”. It’s the same of Catholics “Catholics and Christians are the same both believe in the Christ”. So the day you start calling Christians Jewish is the day I call Catholics Christians. I hope now you understand why I emphasize the difference. 

Country.

I’m not from the USA. I am from the West. Persecution is rising in the West. It’s starting with dramatic restrictions.

Lauren Southern is a female self proclaimed Christian Canadian Youtuber. She had seen many articles going around claiming Jesus Christ was gay. It made her want to do an experiment to see if this is a double standard only against Christians. She wanted to know if there was Christian oppression while others get a pass. In her pursuit she took to the streets to hand out flyers saying “Allah is gay and accepts homosexuality” (which is in a video on her Youtube). It wasn’t the nicest thing even though when she felt offended by the articles she thought there might be a double standard. Well it made some people upset enough to call the cops so she stopped handing out flyers concluding the experiment. She thought it was done there until she tried to travel to the UK. The moment she arrived in the UK she was detained and told “You do not have the right to remain silent”. Interrogated for hours they were asking her “how strongly she holds to Christianity”. She said she believes so they banned her from the country permanently. 

Judaism.

You’re right I don’t know a whole lot about Judaism other than the Torah (and the little bit of the Kabbalah). Jesus was executed in it just shows his historical foundation even in Jewish texts. It seems I must have misrepresented some things such as the information on the Talmud. I learned something. 

One thing I have known about the messiah. The one who came to forgive the sinners or to mend the broken that all “may have life and have it abundantly”. 

God bless. I hope for you to have life more abundantly. 

[musesoftheminds]

The Crossover Review

Well, It’s been a while since i’ve been on tumblr but I can say that I am completely and utterly moved by this crossover episode that discussed racism, social reform, family and second chances.

Second Chances:

As i’ve discussed thoroughly on twitter with my reviews. The major arch of this final season is redemption. We’ve seen our protagonist plunge into the darkness of life and just when all hope seems lost she emerges clearly damaged but alive. This is where we find Olivia Pope.

Olivia is physically and metaphorically ‘suiting’ up to combat the day just like she use to when she was a gladiator and Chief of Staff only she’s clearly burdened by her past but nevertheless she faces herself in the mirror something she has failed to do much of this season. This moment echoes Olivia’s own desires to face herself in the mirror and for once not be frightened by what she sees.

As I was discussing Olivia’s moment with herself @cj_tvguy brought up an interesting tidbit that I caught, this parallels to Defiance, only this time the outcome is far more severe and real. Their is no family, no gladiators, no job, no jake -there are no obstructions this time to excuse Olivia’s behavior or inability to work within. It’s been over a couple of months since Olivia left the white house and finally for the first time we see her alone. Interesting thing about karma is that David was fired after defiance and became a school teacher, oddly familiar to Olivia’s own circumstances but the good news is that David went on to become The Attorney General.

Annalise came to Olivia Pope (The Gladiator, The Fixer, The Powerhouse) for help on changing this world and Olivia clearly struggles with agreeing to this fight as she feels she is no longer the person Annalise needs her to be, but after  viewing each case thoroughly, Olivia looks into the person behind the lawsuit and finds Annalise’s extensive history. Because this show always does best by displaying Olivia’s thoughts through her clients we see Olivia refuse Annalise and call her a ‘hot mess’ because of her past she refuses to give to Annalise a chance but midway through the hallway of Annalise’s hotel room she turns around and goes back to her room and tells Annalise she will help her under one condition.

Why does Olivia agree to help Annalise? Because she sees herself in her? Because she would like a second chance if someone offered it to her? Maybe those improperly imprisioned deserve to have a second chance?Perhaps it is all of those things that drove Olivia to agree. Now, while Olivia projected and was the harshest to Annalise (herself) she did agree to help and that requires being active, no longer hiding in the darkness of one’s fear. Taking on this lawsuit requires facing her past, her present and her future- Olivia will have to encounter those she loves and those she’s wronged in order to do some good.

The first person Olivia goes to for help is Fitz. As I said, Fitz was cold and emotionally distant from Olivia keeping obvious boundaries with her, rightfully.  Olivia has to understand the ramification of her actions; consequences that has went unattested too. Boundaries had to be placed in order for Olivia to understand the damage she has done, and for this I commend Fitz for helping and supporting Olivia but remaining at a safe distance. 

The White jacket is a reminder to both Olivia and Fitz of their shared value to save the world. Changing the world is something fundamental to Olivia and FItz’s core values-it was how they first connected and fell in love~ by this calling to help and scope the world into something real and true. Olivia wearing white is her subtle way of trying to be the person Fitz fell in love with  but the problem is that Olivia is no longer that person and Fitz is no longer the same man. Shonda has effectively destroyed our preconceived ideas regarding  olitz and has created something with a possibility of a real future.

This episode was a testament to Olivia’s strength and will to not simply survive but to actually and finally live. No one trusted or believed Olivia to be sincere when she began fighting for this social reform lawsuit, those who claim to know her all saw this as a tool to once again regain power. Mellie, Jake, Quinn, Abby, they all looked at Olivia’s past (the same way Olivia looked at Annalise’s) and saw that she was once again aiming to reclaim her throne, they judged Olivia not based on her actions or merit but her sins and past.

Every step Olivia made was a step towards reform. Agreeing to help Annalise was a form of helping Olivia as she had to confront pieces of her past (mellie, quinn), her present (annalise ) and her future (Fitz and Ophelia)

 Past:

Olivia knew agreeing to help would require humility and facing those she’s wronged. Olivia meets with Fitz first and though he’s distant he supports and agrees with Olivia and sets up a meeting with Mellie and of course, Mellie made sure to have Jake’s trifling ass in on the meeting, but Mellie quickly refuses to support this case with a lame excuse of it not being the “right time.”

Olivia holds a private conversation with Mellie and ask that she reconsiders and not punish innocent people because she has wronged her but Mellie refuses and tells Olivia that if she goes up against the white house she will now be an ‘adversary’ to the white house. Olivia remarks that it wouldn’t be her ‘first time’

Olivia could have easily left with her tail between her legs and went back to her teaching gig but she opted not too instead she chose to make an active decision to remain firm in her beliefs and in many ways prove them and herself wrong but man did they put baby girl through the ringer. Mellie calls her dog to use QPA to destroy Olivia and leak that she was actually fired, in other words the more Olivia tried to do the right thing the more resistants she had.

With Jake going to Quinn on help of ruining Olivia for good, I felt much anger and annoyance but then again Quinn has a right to be upset with Olivia considering she could have killed her and her child and not to mention the innocent lives she took. But Quinn and everyone else has been so focused on Olivia that she’s forgotten the person she once was, what QPA’S mission statement was about. With Quinn clearly in opposition of her, Olivia faces Quinn and reminds her about why she took over QPA. As Olivia walks away from Quinn she’s clearly shaken by the encounter but it doesn’t deter her from continuing to walk this path. It’s coming down to those final moments where Olivia must decide, who she is, where she is going and who she wants to be. 

Present:

Do you see how toxic that white house is? How toxic mellivia is? It’s a clear juxtaposition of Olivia and Annalise’s scenes and melivia. Mellie only liked what Olivia did for her which goes back to what Maya said ‘why are you worried about Mellie, she isn’t worried about you?’ Olivia and Annalise are a true representation of black girl magic and sisterhood; you call each other out on the others hypocrisy but you also uplift and encourage the other to excel. When Annalise was at her lowest, Olivia was at her highest, like the gladiator she is, Olivia took off her shoes and got on the floor with Annalise. Olivia has no idea how inspirational and powerful she truly is. When Michaela told Annalise about the women with power and who has a seat at the table, chills formed over my body, and I was as giddy as Michaela when she saw Olivia Pope. That’s the thing about Olivia, she has no idea just how valuable and magically she is, young black girls look to her as inspiration, someone who represents them in the world. I just wish Olivia knew how profoundly remarkable she is.

Olivia and Annalise were complete and utter magic to watch on my screen. Truly breathtaking capture of two alpha females both equally accomplished and fatally flaw, claw and scratch to reach the pinnacle that is the Supreme Court. Like many we judge others based on their outside appearance, and Olivia did the same to Annalise. In regards to Annalise, Olivia was most ruthless as Annalise created the perfect mirror to Olivia’s self.

The salon scene is a powerful moment of tv, just real brutal honesty. And for the first time we are seeing Olivia act like a person, with big rollers in her hair she’s vulnerable, with her armor off she’s laughing and conversing with the black hairstylist and Annalise until her secrets out and now she’s exposed to Annalise that she is in fact the reason why Mellie refused to support them. Both women read the other and Annalise scalped Olivia as she highlights Olivia’s own wealthy upbringing (rowan remarked this his daughter went to school with kings and queens) and attempting to think they are the same because she has black skin when Olivia has had every advantage to excel when others like Annalise had to work. But the conversation is true and real, black people and particularly black women are the most cruel to one another as we find each other to be our competition instead of seeing them as an ally. And we all have encountered a black person who acts superior to others of their own kind. Olivia is siddity and arrogant and we often criticizes Fitz’s upbringing for being rich, wealthy and white but we don’t acknowledge others own entitlement *mellie*

I thought I lived but watching Olivia Pope channel her Whitley Gilbert was the greatest  thing I’ve ever seen. She is so unapologetically bad and bojuee that I simply can’t. Olivia disrespected the mega bus, and bragged about her siddity ass unlimited platinum credit card and called Anna Mae a ‘broke ass’, my ass trying not to laugh at Olivia’s disrespectful ass

Why is she like this? Why do I love her as much as I can’t stand her? I just...I don’t know. Did anyone notice that this was the only time we really saw Olivia spit fire with fire? The fight was beyond brutal yet what Olivia needed to see and know about herself. Shonda is unraveling the very fabric of Olivia Pope and leaving only her core. Well done Shonda.

Olivia and Annalise were complete and utter magic to watch on my screen. Truly breathtaking capture of two alpha females both equally accomplished and fatally flaw, claw and scratch to reach the pinnacle that is the Supreme Court. Like many we judge others based on their outside appearance, and Olivia did the same to Annalise. In regards to Annalise, Olivia was most ruthless as Annalise created the perfect mirror to Olivia’s self.

Olivia had no idea who Annalise was, Marcus spoke so highly of the top defense lawyer of Philly and Olivia knows nothing of her or about her. What Shonda has done is actually truly brilliant as she has exposed the parts of Olivia  character that are questionable and has forced not only Olivia but ourselves to view how we treat one another and ourselves. Do we know about our black brother and sisters making the country better, or the discoveries black people have found? Marcus paints the story clear, we must come together and support one another otherwise we all fail.

 Projection and deflection are powerful tools Olivia has in her arsenal that she uses in times of strife and difficulty, every time Annalise opened her mouth, Olivia would judge her and say all the things she wishes to say to herself, yet as the episode progressed we saw Olivia listening more and acting less. When Annalise recommended that she be a part of the interview and Olivia opted to share the spotlight, yes. There’s enough room for them both to shine and excel, Olivia learned a thing or two about humility and while the world was targeting her and those she loved were rooting for her to fall she soar. Olivia didn’t lie, she wasn't spinning, she owned her truth as it is her greatest weapon and changed the story back to what matters~those improperly imprisoned.

Future:

Our past is everything we was. Our present is everything we are. Our future is everything we can possible be.The more we run from our destiny the closer we are to it.

Olivia and Annalise’s first time meeting was near identical to how Olivia and Fitz first met. And as Annalise saw through Olivia’s crap, Olivia became enraged and swarmed to FItz’s office venting about Annalise and how she needs to return back to Philadelphia almost eerily similar to how Fitz told Cyrus to fire Olivia for exposing and seeing through him. Or the countless times Olivia attempted to handle and fix Annalise with Annalise mirroring FItz’s own words when Olivia tried to handle him. While this episode reintroduced us to Olivia it also reintroduced Olitz in a way that has my heart fluttering and my stomach bubbling at the possibility of them.

The more Olivia fought she failed; Mellie, Quinn, the media, “Annalise” (herself) all  attempted to break someone who was honestly trying to do the right thing. Broken and down on her luck she’s clearly conflicted and upset and questioning why she even agreed to help until he walks in.

When Fitz begins to ask Olivia what’s wrong she shuts him down and he moves to leave but Olivia begins to speak and it’s there that she tells Fitz that she’s trying to be someone she no longer is, that she is no longer the person he ‘loves’ but Fitz differs again questioning Olivia as to who she is? And more importantly where in the hell is Olivia Pope?

Once again paralleling when she asked Fitz the same question (2x11). Being an outsider isn’t new to Olivia, she’s been hated by the media and others and she always sailed through the storm yet this time she can’t because she feels ineffective without her white house, and her gladiators. Those customs were such important pieces of the Olivia Pope armor that she doesn’t know how to define herself outside of them. She’s anchorless, simply floating without a sense of direction until Fitz reminds her of the person she’s always been.

When Olivia first came to Fitz for help, she told him that she needs his help to change the world and that he created this institute to make a difference and while it seemed as though Fitz wasn’t listening he very much was as he uses Olivia’s own words to inspire her to fight and remember who she is.

Saving a person doesn’t always require an emergency event. Sometimes a person just needs to see someone with a gentle heart, a pretty smile and a dash of hope to remind them of who they are. Power does not define a person’s ability to achieve. The white house is the biggest illusion power, the levels of deception of personal gains that come with acquiring that office is not something to be proud of or to gloat about. Olivia was always strong and powerful, she made the white house, the white house did not make her~it is why Mellie, Jake and Quinn worked so aimlessly to bring her down. One black woman is more fierce than an army of men. The trauma and emotional suffering she endured were not to prove her worth and strength, it was a warning. With the guilt and regret weighing heavily on her, Olivia was never truly herself until Fitz dusted her off and encouraged her to continue this pursuit of justice. That’s the thing, sometimes we don’t get what we want but we always end up getting what we need, and what Olivia needed was faith that all of this wasn’t for nothing, and that she wouldn’t have to do this alone. 

 Olivia tries to maintain her poise, but it has proven more difficult with each passing. Their eyes met and you can see her heart breaking and healing at the realization that despite everything she has said and done, he still sees her. For the first time in a long time, Olivia felt a tangible sensation she swore was lost long ago.

Hope.

When the time came for Olivia to meet the supreme court judge, she had the envelope to blackmail him into submission but she didn’t. With the folder in her hand Olivia gave the judge everything she had on his file, this time Olivia’s going to be honorable with hopes that the judge will be as well. 

Ophelia and Olivia:

 Annalise, bringing her family to D.C to watch and support her was an honest and true representation of family and more importantly of a black family something Olivai hasn’t felt nor seen since she was twelve. When their practice got cut short because Ophelia wanted Annalise to eat, Olivia saw the moment as ‘weak’ and a ‘distraction’ from the real goal but Annalise calmly and effectively told Olivia the importance of family. What is the point of this without sharing the glory with those who love and support you? This is something Olivia needed to see with her own eyes; representation, family. Rowan’s hold on Olivia is so deeply embedded in her DNA that she viewed a parents joy and happiness for their child as a sign of weakness...It’s honestly sad. 

While Annalise was busy fighting the supreme court, Olivia too was fighting her own demons; family. Something she has denied herself for years. Ophelia accidentally spilled her soup on Olivia and quickly took her to restroom to help Olivia clean up the mess physically and metaphorically, call it mothers intuition but Ophelia looked at Olivia and saw right through her facade, how she’s on the tv cleaning up the man president’s problems and the female president’s problems but while cleaning everyone else’s mess she forgot about herself. Ophelia’s words mirror Maya’s but Olivia wasn’t ready at the time and she didn’t view Maya as being a mother. Clearly moved by a mothers love, Olivia grabs Ophelia’s hands and tells her ‘she’s just being a good mom.’  Take care of you first; Olivia has been the mother taking care of everyone else that she has neglected herself and now like Ophelia she’s the one with the mess.There is an attention to hope, restoration and redemption that is radiating.

By no means is Olivia magically healed, baby girl still has more work to do on herself as we all do, but as the episode comes to an end, I believe Olivia and Annalise took something from the other that rings true to the value of black girl magic. Olivia began to listen and see human contact as a strength and Annalise learned to find strength within to overcome.

As the episode comes to an end we find Olivia with her back turned talking to Fitz on the phone, we haven’t seen her smile and laugh this brightly in some time and notice the subtle change in wardrobe as the story progressed. Though Olivia has her work cut out this was mostly certainly a promising first start as Olivia begins to repair herself and her relationships. 

My heart is still soaring from this episode.

Until Next Time...Muse

[dishonoredrpg]

Congratulations, MINI! You’ve been accepted for the role of THE HIEROPHANT with the faceclaim of ANNA SHAFFER. Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Reading this through from start to finish, and sipping at my coffee -- I felt genuinely at peace. I knew right from the start you pinned down The Hierophant’s character, right from the very first sentence: “When you are brought into this world, a screaming and writhing ball of fury, your mother wails over and over: “I’m burning. I’m burning. I’m burning.”” Boom. Immediately hooked, no hesitation, no doubt. What followed was an in-depth dissection of human anger and rage and what happens when you let a pot boil over. I am fully prepared to let Kithri burn all of Tyrholm down when the time is right. In fact, I welcome the flames.

Please review the CHECKLIST and send your blog in within 24 hours.

OOC INFORMATION:

Name: Hey there! I go by Mini. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Age: I am 24! Timezone/Activity Level: I live in New York, so my time zone is EST. I work full time, but my hours are steady and I have evenings/weekends free. One of the things that excites me about this group is the promise of it being writing-heavy, and so in order to produce quality replies I would say that I will certainly be able to get posts up a few days during the week. I am also almost always at least mobile on Discord, and I am really committed to character development — I am frequently around to talk plotting or headcanons. Overall, I just intend to be an active presence! Anything Else: Nope!

IN CHARACTER INFORMATION:

Skeleton: The Hierophant. Name: Kithri Barwin (Pronunciation: ki as in “kiss,” -three, bar-win) Faceclaim: I did send in the message asking after a couple different possible FCs for this character, and I’d say of those that were approved, Anna Shaffer and Jodie Comer are my preferred FCs. I struggle to choose between the two, but I would say that Anna is my first choice, and Jodie is my second. When it comes to Anna Shaffer, I think that her look fits the vibe of the character in a big way. Generally, I almost feel like she fits into the world you’ve created better. I really love her and think she would suit the role nicely, my only hold up for her is that she looks so nice in all of her Witcher resources, and I’d like to have a FC that has range within their resources. But, I can also easily see her fitting the image I have in my head for the character. I’d have to boost her age a bit, probably 3 years — putting the character again at around 31. The thing that I like about Jodie, particularly in The White Princess (which would probably be the source I’d largely draw on for gifs), is that she does an excellent job of portraying this barely-contained rage in her face that I think translates very well to this role. Again, I’d have to boost up her age a bit for the appropriate range — I’d say I’d probably still play the character at around age 31, so 4 years older than Jodie. Really, I’d be happy with either one of them — whoever you see as being more of a fit! Age: 31 Details:

The first line of the skeleton, “you consider the day you celebrate your thirtieth year alive a victory over everything else,” immediately hooked me. What I get from this character is that every moment they live and breathe is something that they view as something that ought to be worthy of awe and admiration; and yet they are met with nothing more than a passing interest, and treated by many as a party trick. They are gifted and captivating, until they are no longer interesting to the people of the court. I also see the “arrogance” perceived in this character as being a huge coping mechanism — what choice do they have but to be proud of their power and the fact that they are living when no one else will recognize it? How can they not be proud, when they feel in their blood and bones that there is so much more power in them than is “appropriate” to display? And what is the point of this power, and the inevitable total consumption that it brings with it, if not to use it? Why do they have to look at their ever-growing scarification, and feel time ticking, if they receive nothing in return? I think for this character, the final straw was the utter dismissal of THE EMPEROR when they asked for the chance to fight at Koldam and show their true power. This was the final sign that neither Septimus nor his son would ever view them as having any more value than being court entertainment. Tyrholm and its King have given them nothing. And if they will not allow this character to embrace their power, then they will burn for it.

On a personal note, I can say that what really draws me to this character is a huge opportunity to play outside of my comfort zone and love doing it. I LOVE fantasy/medieval-type groups, and I tend to gravitate towards noble-class characters, or characters who are political animals. (I am a classic Margaery Tyrell applicant, basically.) But I am so in love with a character who is not only not invested in politics, but seems to almost entirely disregard it as being nothing more than a burden. I also love that they appear to increasingly wear their heart on their sleeve, and both emote and vocalize their disdain — I can only imagine what trouble they might find themselves in because of it. Furthermore, I can only imagine what trouble they might want to create.

And lastly, I did some research into THE HIEROPHANT tarot card. I am very interested in the idea of this card being the counterpart to THE HIGH PRIESTESS, which I’ll discuss further in the plot ideas section. The Hierophant traditionally represents traditional values and institutions, spiritual wisdom, and conformity. I view this character as being a clear representation of the card’s reversal, which represents personal beliefs, freedom, and challenging the status quo.  

BACKGROUND:

Below is Kithri’s backstory. This is my first attempt at writing second person POV for a bio, but I wanted to keep in the style of the skeleton!

i. ignition.

When you are brought into this world, a screaming and writhing ball of fury, your mother wails over and over: “I’m burning. I’m burning. I’m burning.” When you are brought to her breast to suckle, she shrieks and pushes you away and claims “it hurts.”  

Your mother cries for four days until her voice deadens to silence, and her teary eyes go unseeing. The midwives explain to your father that childbed sickness took her, and that it was the fever that burned her, but he does not believe them. He explains precisely two things to the women: one, that you are not his child, and two, that you murdered his wife. On the first, he is unquestioningly right. You do not carry his features, nor do you particularly look like your now-dead mother. Your face belongs to another man — who, your not-father does not know. It only matters that the memory of his wife has been tarnished, and the only piece of her that he might go on to have has not even done him the kindness of bearing her eyes or smile. On the second, the truth is complicated. You were unborn and your mother lived, then you came into the world and she died. Without you, she may have lived on. But is that murder? Your not-father assures you that it is.

He raises you, because he fears and loves the Undying God and knows that you must be his burden to achieve a blissful afterlife. He gives you his surname, even though to do so pains him. He allows you to call him father, even though he cringes every time you say it in your tiny, childish voice. You do all that you can to persuade him to love you, but it is all for naught. You are bad, and there is nothing you can do to be good. It becomes easier to lean into being bad, because then he at least has a reason to look at you. You are loud because it is the only way to avoid being ignored. You whine and cry and begin to throw tantrums until your not-father threatens to throttle you, or to toss your small body into the fireplace that you tend to gravitate to so often; as if it is the comforting skirts of an ever-absent matronly figure. It does not stop you. You beg to be seen, and will take whatever punishment comes with it.

One day, you are so angry and cry so much that it has no choice but to pour out of you: fire leaks from your burning fingertips and crawls up your throat from the black despair of your gut. For the first time, you see that your father does not simply hate you — he fears you. When it happens three more times — the fire finally unleashing itself from your mouth on the last occasion — you can hear your not-father crying to the Undying God for mercy as you pretend to sleep. Despite the tight squeeze of your eyes, you can feel the way the embers from the nearby fireplace pull towards you with something like a magnetic force  — inching closer and closer,  as if to give your fingers a soothing lick.

You are six years old when your father saddles the horse and tells you that the two of you will be going on a trip — a long journey from your home in Koldam to a place called Tyrholm that you know nothing about. You are misguidedly excited. The ride is long and arduous, but you enjoy the forced embrace of your father’s arms around you while you sit in front of him on the horse’s saddle. He mutters often how hot your skin is, but the comments rush over your small head. He brings you to a city much larger than the home you came from, and takes you to an inn where the people do not know you and give you ignorant, kind smiles. He whispers to the husband and wife who own the inn while you eat a hot meal, and later chastises you for your nosiness when you ask him what they spoke about. As you are drifting off to sleep, you think you hear your father remark with a sense of uncharacteristic pleasure: “we are a long way from home.”

When you wake the next morning, your not-father is gone.

ii. blaze.

Your father’s abandonment causes a tantrum unlike any you have had before, and in your grief you nearly burn down the inn that he has left you to. The woman who runs the now-damaged property coughs smoke from her lungs as she grabs you by your wild hair and promises to make you regret what you’ve done. Her husband is more empathetic, and wrestles you from the murderous woman’s arms as he attempts to soothe his wife: “she’ll be dead before long, sweetling — do not test the Undying God’s mercy by killing her yourself!”

The wife yells more at the husband, and the husband tries again to calm his wife, but all you hear is that you are dying, and the revelation leaves you feeling chilled for the first time in your life. With fear coursing through your veins, you run from the couple. You run even as the innkeeper attempts to take some of the gold coins your father had paid him to toss at your feet. You run even as the innkeeper’s wife screams for the guard. You run until exhaustion claims you, and you sleep that night in a cramped alleyway amongst the muck.

When you wake, you realize that you are truly alone. You do not know the way back to Koldam, and even if you did, you cannot simply walk back. You have no coin with which to purchase passage back to your home — and even if you did, you know with a too-mature sense of realism that nothing awaits you there. You are as good as an orphan, though perhaps that has been the case since the moment your mother breathed her last breath.

You survive on the streets in spite of the stink of death that clings to your skin. You steal to eat when the charity of strangers fails you, and sleep under porches and in hidden shadows. There are brief instances when merciful strangers allow you to sleep amongst their livestock, and even briefer occasions when a bleeding heart takes you under their roof for an evening. No one will hold on to you for long once they have an inkling of what you are. Slowly, you learn what that is. The inferni are the stuff of childhood nightmares, and now you are more horror than girl. For a long time, you strive to ignore the feeling of fire under your skin. For a long time, you wait to die. Despite this, you continue to live.

When the fire inside of you can no longer be denied, and when you are no longer convinced that every day you will die tomorrow, you start to play with the magic — just a little bit, and just to see. You watch as fire dances on your fingertips, and flows from your lips. You feel the way glowing torches and roaring fireplaces call out to you. Slowly, carefully, you find that you can bend the flames to your whim. You sense the innate control you have over the fire, even despite the cautious voice that whispers it controls you.

Over time, dying begins to feel an awful lot like growing power.

iii. wildfire.

You become the topic of whispers in Tyrholm, and you cannot deny that you like it. They whisper that you ought to be dead by now, and they whisper that you could burn a stable and all its horseflesh without blinking an eye. In all your years in the foreign city that has reluctantly become home, you have caused outright destruction only a handful of times, and nearly always by accident. There are few over the years who have cared enough to know your name, and your tendency to hide in plain sight means that you have evaded the notice of the guard.

You have never destroyed a stable with your burning hands, but when you hear the rumor, you know that you assuredly could. But what is true does not matter to the mundane civilians, who view your magic as something that can never be tamed. You have always craved attention, and you endeavor to feed off of their fear if it is all they will allow, but it does not taste nearly so sweet as the awe and reverence you not-so-secretly hope for. You think that if you could only show them all what mastery you have over the fire that flows from your body, they might realign themselves accordingly. Just as you did with yourself, you can slowly show them what you can do, and gradually reveal your power. Beyond the fears of conflagration, there is a beauty to what you can do; your very existence is something to behold, if they would only look your way.

If you cannot convince them to be wonderstruck by what you are capable of, you do not know what other options you have. You are uneducated and without a trade; too short-tempered to be a serving wench and too proud to be a whore. If they cannot see your beauty, whatever time you have left will comprise much of how you have lived so far: a street urchin on the brink of starvation, equal parts hungry and angry. Your very survival depends on a change of their hearts. You know that in order for them to be awed by you, you must act as if you are awed by yourself.

This forced arrogance is your downfall.

You bring too much attention to yourself too quickly, and the guardsmen that the innkeeper once threatened you with as a child finally arrive, albeit nearly twenty years later. You suspect at first that you will be brought to the cells and charged with disobeying the confusing laws on magic set forth by Septimus, but instead you are brought to Castle Tyrholm. Bizarrely, you are told that you will be brought before the King. You assume that this must be because he wants to deliver the punishment to you himself; to make an example out of you in front of his court. You expect to be thrust onto your knees before his throne, and instead find yourself ushered into the reception hall sometime after the King and his nobleblooded guests have eaten their fill. The occupants, Septimus included, stare at you. You stare back. A miserable beat passes, and then the King demands:

“Entertain us, mage.”

You waver for a moment, unsure of what to do, but decide ultimately that if your eternal fate is to die, you would rather do so showing them all some small piece of what you are capable of. You don’t approach the extent of your capabilities, but you allow a fraction of your true power to escape in a pretty dance of flames that causes gasps to erupt amongst the blue-blooded guests. When you tire yourself, you expect to see condemnation on the faces that surround you. The sound of applause is foreign, and you unabashedly revel in it.

You are offered a position at court that evening, and you do not hesitate in taking it. A part of you knows that it is not an offer, but a demand  — you are just too clouded by the heady haze of appreciation to mull over the consequences of that difference.

iv. inferno.

Six years elapse at the King’s court, and you have long-since known that it is not the hub of reverence you had hoped it could be. Not for your kind. Regretfully, it is not even a place where you feel at all accepted or appreciated for who you are. You are not exactly feared by the nobles who occupy the court, but it is not because what you are and what you are capable of does not frighten them. They view you as something wild that the King has broken; a dog on a very tight leash that does tricks for food and shelter. Their laughter is sometimes uncomfortable as they watch you perform your magic in the court, but they are nonetheless comfortable enough to laugh at all. Their applause is sometimes stilted when it is too clear that you are angry as you put on your little show, but they clap when Septimus claps anyway.

You would not dare bite the hand that feeds.

For all the scars that mar your body — the mark of death on your skin over and over again — you are still alive, which seems to impress nearly no one. The only magic that amazes is the work of the necromancers: they give the miracle of life, whereas the miracle of your life resonates with none but you. You are desperate to prove that you are so much more than the other inferni who have come before you, but you have no platform beyond court jester with which to do it. You feel an untapped power swirl in your gut. You grit your teeth and try — unsuccessfully — to ignore it.

When the King’s son prepares to lead the fight against Koldam, you ask — beg, really — for the chance to travel with him. You have no love for the son of Septimus, but you think it may be your only opportunity to show the full extent of your capabilities. Selfishly, secretly, you also have some desire to have revenge against the place where you were born. If your not-father is not dead, then he is old — but you nonetheless dream of him wearing a poor man’s armor while riding atop that same horse he’d taken you to Tyrholm on, burning in your flames.

When you are categorically denied and encouraged to return to your courtly duties, you understand that you will never be seen as you wish to be. You will never be on the same playing grounds as the Court Necromancer, who commands the respect of Septimus himself. There is no more hope to grasp at — there is nothing salvageable in the King’s court. Him and his kind will bid you to be their clown until your fire burns you from the inside out, and you finally die: a legend amongst inferni, and yet not at all remembered by those who beheld you.

At last, you realize the undeniable truth about what must be done. You decide then that if you have to burn up entertaining the nobles, you think it is only fair that they should burn too. For those who are left behind in the wake of your flames, you think your smoldering ghost will tell them the truth they have all so earnestly ignored —

—  a mage is not to be underestimated; an inferni least of all.

PLOT IDEAS:

The first four points I have listed are not so much general plotting ideas as they are specific expansions on the character connections the Hierophant has, with some general ideas I have about how I might develop that dynamic over the course of gameplay. The second four points I have are more general plot concepts that I would be happy to explore with whomever. I am also totally down for  doubling up — that is to say, any of the specific character connections can also fulfill the general plotting ideas.

THE HIEROPHANT AND THE HIGH PRIESTESS: As mentioned above, something that grabbed my interest in reading about the hierophant tarot card was the fact that it is the natural companion of the high priestess. Taking from the skeleton, I imagine that part of the reason Kithri finds necromancers uncomfortable to be around is because they are difficult to read, whereas she is expressive almost to the point of her own detriment. I also imagine that Kithri would experience a profound jealousy towards necromancers, given that they receive not just respect, but reverence. Given the role the High Priestess serves in the court, I believe that she would be the ultimate representation of everything that Kithri resents. I think challenging Kithri’s perception of what necromancers are and what the specific motivations of the High Priestess really are presents a good opportunity for character development. Depending on the route chosen by a prospective HP player, I can see Kithri finding herself manipulated into fighting the inevitable battle fully on the priestess’s terms, or perhaps finding an unexpected mentor. I also think this dynamic will put Kithri on an interesting journey into learning more about necromancers in general, and potentially finding some common ground through their shared — albeit differently expressed — magical capabilities. THE COURT JESTERS: After reading through the sample application for The Star, I immediately thought that Armel could have a really interesting dynamic with Kithri — and much to my excitement, Hierophant was included on the Star’s connections! I think that Kithri is really desperate for some sign of no-strings-attached kindness, or even a basic acceptance of who she is. Despite that desperation, she is heavily guarded and has a wall of defensive arrogance that would certainly shut people like Armel out. I think it’s interesting that the two essentially occupy the same position at court, and despite their different circumstances and upbringings, they’ve arrived at similar emotions and motivations when it comes to Septimus. I think it would be interesting to see Kithri start to learn trust and friendship — I think she could really benefit from having a confidante, especially as whispers of revolution spread. TO KOLDAM, WITH LOVE: I imagine that Kithri’s motivation for knowing what happened in Koldam is incredibly personally motivated. It was her home once, and though there isn’t anything about it that she looks back on fondly, there is nonetheless a lingering connection there. Although her prime motivation for coming along with the Emperor was having the opportunity to display her full abilities outside of the suffocating confines of the court, I think she also wanted an opportunity to have some revenge against her birthplace, which she likely wholly associates with “rejection.” I think the dissonance between the way the victory has been perceived and discussed by soldiers and the evident difference in the Emperor has clearly caught Kithri’s attention, and she feels as though she is owed some information on what really occurred in Koldam. I think this desire to know has the potential to push Kithri out of her typical tendency to be subjugated by the ruling class and brood. Seeing her in a position to gain the confidence to demand answers, even from a Prince, could certainly alter the way she is perceived by the nobles who view her as a trained monkey. THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY: I found it very interesting that despite the fact Kithri and The Fool are on a similar side politically, the character connection situates them as having more of an antagonistic dynamic. I would love to explore Kithri’s feelings on being treated by The Fool as some kind of threat to the order they have established at court — I almost think that rather than cowing her into submission, it might empower her to know that someone recognizes just what all she is capable of. I think that as an overarching plot, this character interaction could be a great way to demonstrate that just because there are people who want Septimus gone, it does not mean that they are all allied or have the same ultimate end goal. I think this character interaction would provide a great opportunity to further develop what Kithri really wants to happen in Tyrholm. Will she stay committed to the idea of burning down the throne room, and the noble class with it? Or will she be swayed into falling into a political agenda? POLITICAL PET: As Kithri interacts with other revolters, I think it would be interesting to explore how she fits in with their political agendas. Kithri is not a politician, and I think she does not put much stock into what comes after Septimus is no more. Personally, I think this lack of foresight is not her being short-sighted — she just knows that the chances of her living long enough to see what happens after she shows Tyrholm what she’s capable of are minimal. Why should she care about what happens after she’s dead and gone? She squarely falls into the burn it all down camp, which differs from many of the characters who seem more motivated to find a suitable candidate to replace Septimus. Will Kithri pose a problem as the plot develops, and a coup is planned? Or is there a possibility that one of the revolters can convince her that acting in accordance with their plans will also give her the justice that she seeks? I’d love to play it out. LOW BREEDS FROM LOWTOWN: After being abandoned by her father, Kithri spent her life prior to joining the court in the streets of Lowtown. I’d love the chance to further develop Kithri’s history in Tyrholm through interactions with other characters who have come from this humbler background as compared to the noble characters in the group. I imagine that Kithri would feel more of a natural kinship with people from Lowtown as compared to the noble class, though she ultimately has still felt rejected by and large. Individuals from Lowtown would be more likely to see a less harsh version of Kithri. Because she defines herself so wholly by the fact that she is an inferni, I think it could be cool to explore a more human side to her. BEAUTY IN HORROR: I would really love to explore the dynamics that Kithri has with the other inferni present at the court. I found it interesting that in the skeleton, it ends with: “you’ll prove you are not a hound to be leashed — no mage is. You’re a powerhouse, and they won’t forget it.” This to me suggests that Kithri is not simply disgusted with her own treatment at the court, but is overall angry by the way mages have been treated by Septimus. Despite the fact that she may not be on the same side as the other inferni at court, I nonetheless imagine that there might be some commonality amongst the handful of them present that is worth exploring. Do they avoid one another? Do they have respect for one another? Do they feel at all like they can confide in one another? Kithri wants some kind of acceptance or validation, and so I think she might be open to fostering relationships with others who might understand what it is to be inferni — even if the other inferni might not have her best intentions at heart. HONEY & WILDFIRE ARE BOTH THE COLOR OF GOLD: As a final plot point, I would love to explore some opportunity for Kithri to show kindness or general soft-heartedness. So much of her is consumed in anger and rage, but I think she is still capable of acts of tenderness and empathy. Beyond that, I think she still desires some kind of a connection. Her life has been defined by her early abandonment, and I think it would be great for her long-term character development to have interactions where her rough exterior is gradually broken through. Whether this be through a romantic encounter or intimate friendship is to be decided by plotting, and I would absolutely love either!

CHARACTER DEATH: If it makes sense plot-wise, and given the caveat that you would ask first, I’ll say that I’m willing to have Kithri killed off!

WRITING SAMPLE:

***I do acknowledge that depending on what FCs other applicants may use, Kithri may not be the oldest inferni in the group — but based off the age suggestions set for the inferni skeletons, and for the purposes of the writing sample, I’m writing as if she is the eldest inferni at court. I hope that is okay!***

For all the profound hatred Kithri had built up in her heart towards King Septimus and his court of tittering noble fools, there was always a blip during her little performance where the utter loathing  she had towards the King and his retinue briefly slipped away. In the moments immediately preceding her entry into the reception hall, she seethed with barely-contained rage: she was not a trained dog, and by the Undying God, she would not do their little dance for them again. Kithri would pace before the large ornamental doors, grit her teeth and clench her fists, and glower at anyone who dared to meet her gaze. Just before she was escorted into the rowdy room by an apprehensive guard, she would allow herself the fantasy of lighting the hall ablaze, and settle herself with the knowledge that she would make good on the reverie one day. As she stepped inside the hall, the candles which lit the spacious area all suddenly extinguished; and the air filled with the scent of smoke and the gasps of her audience.

It was in that darkness she’d created where a shift occurred in Kithri: the rage did not disappear, but instead retreated to the recesses of her consciousness whilst the forefront became consumed by the fire she worked to conjure. A mind which was usually overwrought by powerful emotion and nonstop thinking became hyper-focused on the flames that leapt from her hands and bent to her whim; and for the duration of her performance she allowed herself the momentary pleasure of reveling in what she could do. With what was just a fraction of her true power, she could amaze any and all who were lucky enough to be seated in the room — their delighted murmurs and shocked exclamations were not lost on Kithri’s ears, even as the crackling flames glowed purple-blue with extreme heat. She was reminded of a time when she believed that all it would take to earn love was to prove that there was beauty in her abilities.

The rancor never stayed away for very long.

When her display of magic ended — which did not so much reach a natural conclusion, but instead finished when Septimus opted to cut it off with a sudden burst of clapping — the mage was thrust back immediately to her bitter reality. The momentary empowerment fled, and she was left with only her hatred and resentments, which clung to her skin like a plague. On some nights, in the moments after she re-lit the candles that gave light to the hall, she found herself staring at the occupants of the room: perplexed to find that they looked discomforted by her presence, when she had been so sure that they had been enamored by her only moments earlier. On others, they continued with polite applause even after she had finished, but the return of her own disgust made it impossible to enjoy the noise. No matter their reaction, she almost always exited the hall with some immediacy following the show of magic — she could not bear to linger around Septimus and his ilk any longer than was strictly necessary.

With a stiff and perfunctory bow, the mage had started to make her way towards the doors from whence she’d came when one of the King’s perfumed courtiers leaned over towards him and remarked: “your mage looks terribly old for an inferni — I thought that they all died before reaching adulthood.”

Kithri could not see the King smirk from her vantage, but she was certain that she could hear it in his voice as he spoke. She paused before the doors, glaring at the wood as if it were responsible for her continued presence in the reception hall, rather than the King who spoke at her back.

“Most die young — mine is a rarity. She is not without her own damage, unfortunately...they do all destroy themselves in the end. Mage, come back here. Show us the scars you’ve collected.”

A chill ran down Kithri’s spine at the request, and she felt her stomach sink as she slowly turned on her heel and made her way back into the heart of the room. Coming to a halt in the middle of the space, she uttered in a tone too icy to be appropriate: “they are covered by my clothing, Your Grace.”

Guffawing, the King waved a dismissive hand at her, and bid: “undo the damn buttons, girl!” Septimus looked about at his retinue, and commented with a sneer: “talented with the flames, this one is, but a bit soft in the head.”

Despite the King’s command to partially undress and display the consequences of her craft, Kithri did nothing for a long moment. She did not trust her hands to move from her sides without flames erupting from her palms and consuming the King — and she was momentarily unable to convince herself of any strong reasoning as to why that was a poor idea. Her wandering eyes caught sight of Septimus’s son seated nearby his father, and she remembered. The young heir sought, for some reason, to cut himself in his father’s image — she would be dead on his orders only moments after Septimus burned. Her death may have been an inevitability, but Kithri refused to die on anything less than her own terms. When she at last unleashed her power, it would not just be Septimus who suffered for it.

Only after repeating an internal chant of in due time in due time in due time did she at last allow her trembling fingers to unclasp the buttons which cinched her sleeves taught against her skin. Pushing up the fabric, Kithri revealed her forearms. The flesh was mottled with scarring: some marks were white and smoothed over with age, while others were raised with an angry-red newness. Kithri could feel the heavy thrum of her heart in her chest as she saw courtiers lean up from their seats to have a better view of her destroyed skin, and inhaled sharply through her nose when the King callously demanded: “I want to see the neck — undo those buttons as well.”

Burning fingers mechanically moved towards her neck, and the forced expression of indifference on Kithri’s face began to tip towards a more telling anger as she pulled apart the fabric concealing her neck. Not unlike her arms, the mage’s neck was similarly covered in scars at all different stages of healing — some were still tender to the touch, so much so that she visibly grimaced as she turned her head and agitated the healing tissue. Similar to the oohs and aahs the mage had earned with her performance, the occupants of the hall ogled her disfigurement with equal intrigue. Kithri endured the forced humiliation for what felt like an eternity before she found that she could trust herself enough to speak, and lifted her eyes to meet the King’s gaze. In her peripheral, she could see the necromancer lingering close by Septimus — she knew that the ancient woman had been watching just as closely as all the others in the room, though Kithri suspected it was not her scars that interested the discomforting woman. She hoped against hope that the elder woman thought the same thing she did: all of this should be burnt to rubble.

“If that is all, Your Grace — might I be excused to my chambers?”

Seeming to have lost interest in his pet, Septimus grunted his affirmative response. Kithri all but ran from the room, and when the heavy doors shut behind her she allowed her expression to melt into one of complete and utter contempt. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the bard — Armel — looking at her. Whatever his expression carried, be it amusement or empathy, she took it to be a mockery.

“Go on, then,” she hissed. “Have a look! And dream something horrible about it tonight.”  

ANYTHING ELSE:

Here is a mock blog for Kithri. I’ve filled it with some inspirational posts that fit my understanding of the character. I also have headcanons and a playlist below.

i. headcanons. One of the only creatures in Castle Tyrholm that Kithri shows any outright affection to is Nuria, a nasty tabby cat that serves as a ratter in her quarters within the castle. The cat is missing an ear and is otherwise scarred from numerous fights with other felines and animals within the keep, and has a tendency to hiss and scratch most who come near it. Nuria is sweet with Kithri, which may be because the two are kindred spirits. Kithri uses a gentle hand with the cat, and feeds her table scraps she brings back from the dining hall. As a result of the frequent use of her magic, Kithri often has a smokey, scorched scent clinging to her. Her hair is frizzled at the ends from the extreme heat it is often near, and the majority of her clothes are singed around the wrists. Speaking of her clothing, Kithri often wears dresses and other garments that are long-sleeved and have a high neck. She is not ashamed of the scars she bears — or at least, if someone were to ask her if she was, she would vehemently deny it — but she does not believe that the effect of her magic on her body is anyone else’s business. Kithri has accepted that her scarring is an inevitability of her magic, but she does still suffer some pain from their development across her body. She dutifully applies healing salves to the afflicted areas nightly. She knows that it will not make the marks disappear, but it does afford her some relief from the tenderness and discomfort that comes with newly developed burns and scars. Not unlike the chill that comes from having a sunburn, Kithri often feels cooler than most despite the fact that her skin is warm — or even hot — to the touch. Kithri struggles with sleeping at night, which is largely attributed to racing thoughts and powerful emotions that she struggles to control. Because of this, she has a tendency to sleep during the day time — not for extended periods of time, but she is good for a daily nap or two. It helps that she has a limited interest in interacting with others at the court: she has no qualms with spending her day sleeping rather than out and about. Kithri identifies as bisexual, and has had sexual encounters with both men and women. Sex for Kithri is largely transactional: it is more about lust and release than emotional connection. There are very few sexual memories she looks back on with any sense of nostalgia or affection.

ii. playlist.

I have a playlist posted on Kithri’s mockblog, but I figured I would also just list out the tracks/relevant lyrics here for ease: Prologue: Firebird Suite: The Infernal Dance – Igor Stravinsky. i. Motherless Children – Steve Miller Band (Father do the best he can when the mother is gone, but there’s so many things he just don’t understand) ii. Arsonist’s Lullaby – Hozier (When I was a child, I'd sit for hours, staring into open flame. Something in it had a power, could barely tear my eyes away) iii. Bravado – Lorde (I’m faking glory, lick my lips toss my hair) iv. My blood – Ellie Goulding (And God knows I’m not dying but I breathe now) v. Let the Flames Begin – Paramore (I give it all my oxygen, to let the flames begin) vi. Already Dead – The Pretty Reckless (I’m cold, already dead) vii. Seven Devils – Florence and The Machine (I don’t want your money, I don’t want your crowd, see I have to burn your kingdom down) viii. The Wild One – Suzi Quatro (I’m a red-hot fox, I can take the knocks, I’m a hammer from hell. Honey, can’t you tell?) ix. Destruction – Joywave (Oh my god, there’s no one who can set me right. I’ve been sent to torch the palace down in broad daylight) x. Whore of Babylon – Zheani (I’m naked, dancing frustrated, the brighter flame has you faded) Epilogue: Concerto L’estate RV 315 (The Four Seasons: Summer.) – Antonio Vivaldi.

Thank you so much for reading through all of this. I appreciate your time, and hope for the opportunity to take part in what I think will be a really amazing group! If you opt for another applicant, I would love any feedback you have!

p.s. - i’m just gonna leave this display of Kithri Energy here:

[mistleto-3]

Awakening: Part 8

When another crisis looms, Mikoto has to learn to navigate a world of Kings as a regular man.

AU in which Mikoto and Tatara survived the Colourless King incident.

Pairing: Mikoto/Tatara

2,430 words. CW for canon-typical violence, mentions of depression and other mental health issues.

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AO3 | Ko-Fi

It was almost eerie how suddenly the opposition to Homra’s return died down after the failed kidnapping attempt. Not so much as a pebble was thrown at the bar’s windows from then on, and the disquiet rumblings of the people who stood to lose out if the Red clan rose again evaporated overnight. It seemed they had quickly realised it was wise to hold a healthy level of respect both for Homra’s new and old Kings, and whispers travelled quickly that people shouldn’t be fooled by rumours of Mikoto’s decline from power, or the unsuspecting appearance of the new leader.

Much to the relief of the clansmen, especially Izumo, attempts could be made to start getting back to normal. Once all the graffiti was cleaned up and repair works to the parts of the building that had been damaged by vandalism were finished, the bar finally reopened and at last, some semblance of normality resumed. Mikoto, Tatara and Anna moved back into the apartment on the first floor, the bar was once again populated with its clansmen during the day, and even Izumo’s regular after-hours visitor began dropping by again for the first time in the better part of a year. Tatara was glad of it – Izumo had been through as rough a time as anybody over the past year, nearly losing his two best friends and spending six months the other side of the world, it was nice to see him reunited with his old flame, who was once again back at the bar more evenings than not.

A few weeks after Anna’s kidnapping, Seri sat as she normally did on one of the barstools, but this time she seemed distracted. She stared off into some middle distance as Izumo spoke to her, her eyes unfocused, clearly not absorbing a word he had said.

“Seri-chan.”

Silence.

“Seri-chan~?” Izumo teased in a sing-song voice, and she blinked, fixing her eyes on him.

“Eh?”

“You sure are spacin’ out. What’s wrong?”

She folded her arms. “It’s nothing. I am glad the situation involving your clan has settled down. Not only is it busy lately, if problems were to arise it would be intolerable.”

As she spoke, Izumo set down a cocktail in front of her.

“You’re thinkin’ they’d behave improperly in front of the princess who decided to take action, aren’t you? Our group’s been actin’ decently lately.”

Seri slid the drink towards her and stirred it with the straw, mixing in the generous scoop of anko Izumo had added to it. “Is that so?” There was something forlorn about her expression as she spoke though; something was clearly weighing on her mind.

“That’s how it’s been with our King, but how is it for you?”

She sighed. “The Captain is…”

A creak on the staircase interrupted her, and she turned to see Anna peeking into the room, dressed in a lion kigurumi. There was a moment of silence as the two women regarded each other, caught off-guard by one another’s presence. Anna’s eyes were wide, like a deer in headlights, and she seemed slightly mortified.

“The dignity of a King…” she mumbled.

“Ah… um… don’t worry about it…” Seri replied awkwardly.

“Oh, Anna. What’s the matter?” Izumo asked.

“I was… thirsty…” she shuffled back a few steps towards the door she’d just come from, as though wanting to make her escape, but before she could, Izumo said:

“I see. Come here and sit down.”

“Nn…” Anna made an uncomfortable noise.

“Right now, Seri-chan is not the Lieutenant of Sceptre 4, but the private Awashima Seri-san. This is also not the red territory right now, but Bar Homra. You two don’t have to brace yourselves like that,” Izumo said lightly.

Anna lowered the hood of her onesie and sat down on a barstool, her cheeks flushed pink, as Izumo poured her a glass of milk and slid it across the bar to her.

“That you’re worrying about your dignity as a King is unexpected,” Seri remarked.

“I just thought I shouldn’t show any lame sides in front of a Blue.”

Seri giggled, but the laughter fell a little flat. “You’re worrying about the Blue King.” It seemed more of a projection than an observation.

Evidently Anna wasn’t the only one who had noticed that; Izumo furrowed his brow. “…You mean the burden of killing a King?” he asked.

Anna supposed Izumo’s description was a little off; it was more the burden of saving a King. The act of killing the Colourless King must have been difficult in the sense of the physical strength it must have required, but Reisi was a pragmatic sort of person, and he understood it was necessary. Anna didn’t imagine him losing much sleep over taking a very dangerous person off the streets. What would have been much heavier on his shoulders was the pressure of knowing what would happen if he failed – the death of his friend, and the potential for a cataclysm.

And then there was all the unrest of this past year; Homra had dissolved, so all the thuggery and misdeeds that Homra usually took responsibility for dealing with fell onto Sceptre 4’s shoulders, and now they were also in charge of protecting Mihashira Tower, and on top of that, the Gold King’s conspicuous absence was drawing more Green clan mischief out of the woodworks. Now that Anna was King, she insisted of being kept abreast of all this, and it wasn’t surprising if Reisi was beginning to struggle under the weight of everything that had been piled on him recently.

Seri was quiet for a moment.

“…Sorry,” Izumo said eventually, lighting a cigarette

“Why?”

“It’s Homra’s fault all this mess started in the first place.”

Seri shook her head, but the mention of her King seemed to have brought whatever was eating away at her to the surface, and she admitted: “…The Captain’s Weismann level is out of order. And if it’s found out among the other members…”

“You’re worried about him.”  

She nodded.

“Even if ya say his Weismann level has become unstable, if ya think about how it was in Mikoto’s case, I don’t think it’ll be like that soon. But if there’s anything I can do, tell me anytime. I want to be helpful.”

At the way the pair of them looked at each other, the way they leaned forward a little over the bar to close the distance between them by a few inches, Anna slipped wordlessly off her seat and shuffled back over to the staircase, leaving her empty glass on a coaster. She was glad they were spending time together again – they seemed to make each other happy. But still, what Seri had said about Izumo raised alarm bells; Anna had never imagined Reisi as the kind of person to struggle to control his powers. He always seemed so collected, and far too proud to ask for help.

Anna climbed the stairs back up to the apartment, but instead of going to her own bedroom, she pushed open the door to Mikoto and Tatara’s room. The lamp was on, and Tatara was asleep with his head on Mikoto’s arm whilst Mikoto was still awake, reading a novel on Tatara’s e-reader. As the door opened, he looked up, peering over the frames of his reading glasses at her. (Since he’d lost his Kingly powers, his heightened senses seemed to have dimmed to that of a regular person, and he’d eventually found himself squinting to read. It had still taken Tatara months of badgering to get him to go for an eye test, though.)

“Anna?” he said softly.

“Awashima is downstairs.”

“She’s been here more often recently.”

“I overheard her saying something…”

“You eavesdropping again?” he said with a soft smile.

“She said Munakata’s Weismann level is unstable.”

Mikoto’s smile vanished.

“…Can we go see Basashi?” The ulterior motive was barely disguised in her voice, and Mikoto nodded, not questioning the lateness of the hour.

“Go get dressed.”

She nodded and turned to leave the room as Mikoto set down his book and reading glasses on the bedside table, then extricated his arm from under Tatara’s head. Tatara stirred and looked up at Mikoto sleepily, letting out a little questioning noise from the back of his throat.

“Anna heard something about Munakata, wants to investigate, so I’m going with her,” Mikoto explained.

“Heard what?”

“Problems with his Weismann level.”

Tatara furrowed his brow. “Okay, be safe.”

Mikoto nodded. “We won’t be long.”

Tatara leaned up to kiss him goodbye, then settled back in against the mattress as Mikoto got up to throw some clothes on.

He met Anna a few minutes later in the hallway.

“I don’t want Kusanagi to worry…” she said, glancing down at the staircase to the bar.

“We can go through the fire escape,” Mikoto suggested.

“Or out the window.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I can use my fire wings. We’ll get there faster.”

“…Alright.” Mikoto clearly couldn’t help but be a little dubious, but he allowed Anna to take the lead nonetheless, following her to the window and watching her throw it open and climb out onto the ledge. Glowing wings unfurled from either side of her spine, and she stepped forward into the open air as the wings beat to keep her aloft. She turned to face Mikoto, encouraging him to follow her, then gestured him to turn so his back was to her. Then she wrapped her arms around his chest tightly and lifted off, carrying him with her. It was sort of surreal, seeing the preternatural strength of a King in the body of a 12 year old girl, but Mikoto supposed it was something he would have to get used to.

It seemed like no time at all before they slowed, the rushing of the cool night air around them dying down as they approached Tsubaki-Mon and finally touched down in the grounds. Then Anna led the way to the stables, letting herself into the building with Mikoto following behind. At the sight of her, Basashi whinnied a greeting, shaking his head as his coat turned from bay to white, and wings appeared at his shoulders. Anna picked up a carrot from a bag of them by the door and offered it to him, stroking his velveteen muzzle as he snorted a thank you.

“So what did you wanna do?” Mikoto asked.

“Use my marble to find out about Munakata.”

He nodded, but just as Anna reached into her pocket to fish out a marble, the barn door swung open with a bang, and Saruhiko burst in, a mixture of irritation and shock in his expression.

“Y-you!” he spluttered, looking so exasperated he might explode as he stared between the two Reds.

“I wanted to see Basashi,” Anna said simply.

“To hell with ‘I wanted to see it’!” he snapped, ushering them both with flapping arms out of the stable and towards the gates. “You can’t just do as you please! Kings have their territories and trespassing is a breach of the agreement, and you,” he said, looking at Mikoto, “should know better than enabling this!”

Mikoto couldn’t help but smirk a little, partly at the comedy of it all, but it was also nice to see Saruhiko seeming so comfortable. When he was in Homra, he’d always seemed so uptight around Mikoto, as though he made him nervous, but it didn’t seem to bother him so much now. It seemed being in a clan where he felt he fit in better was doing him good.

“Besides, a kid shouldn’t be out pretty much unprotected in the middle of the night,” Saruhiko continued. There was something of Reisi in the way he lectured that amused Mikoto.

“I am fine. Even in the night, even if I was by myself.”

Saruhiko clicked his tongue. “…Maybe, but… Kusanagi-san and Totsuka-san have got to be worrying about you being out this late.”

“That’s okay. Tatara knows where we are, and we left through the window with my fire wings to not make Izumo worry,” Anna said.

Saruhiko rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger. “You… What the hell are you using your King powers for… You don’t follow the agreement; you act unreasonably. Last generation and this generation too, why is the Red King like this...” Saruhiko muttered, and Anna looked a little downtrodden by his criticism.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Mikoto said simply, lighting a cigarette.

“Who said you could smoke on Sceptre 4 grounds…” Saruhiko began, then trailed off with a sigh, seeming to realise it was pointless as he looked from Mikoto to Anna. Whilst he and Anna were never close during the time they were both in Homra, they didn’t have the same animosity that Saruhiko had towards some of the other Red clansmen.

“…You really have become a King, huh?” he said.

“Yes.”

“…So what did you come here for anyway? I’m guessing it wasn’t the horse in the middle of the night.”

“Right now, Seri is a the bar,” Anna began, taking a red marble from her pocket and lifting it to her face to peer through it at the main building.

“The Lieutenant?”

“Yes. Because she seemed to be worried, so we came to check out the situation,” she explained.

“Is this about the Captain?” Saruhiko asked. “…What does that person look like to you?”

Anna stared for a moment, concentrating, before she lowered the marble and slipped it back into her pocket. “I don’t really understand it,” she said finally. “But right now, there is something huge weighing on him. And it’s not just one thing; on top of that, lately the surroundings have been astir. Noisy. Bustling. It feels like just before a storm happens.” She focused her gaze on Saruhiko. “If a storm comes, things will be even worse for that person. That’s why at that time, Seri and Saruhiko will become his support.”

Saruhiko clicked his tongue. “Simple clansmen becoming a King’s support?”

“It happens more than you think,” Mikoto interjected.

“If you’re talking about Totsuka-san, that’s different; you two…”

“Not just Totsuka, and not just for me,” Mikoto interrupted.

Anna nodded. “I don’t know what I would do without the support of my clan. You are able to become it for Munakata.” Then she pulled her hood up, looking at Mikoto.

He inclined his head. “We should go.”

Anna bowed politely to Saruhiko, and as she turned to leave, she added: “And Misaki is doing fine.”

“Not interested!” Saruhiko snapped, then stormed back towards the building.

[arkus-rhapsode]

Fairy Tail Chapter 530 Review

It’s a chapter all about Anna… joy let’s dive into, Neo Eclipse

Okay I have an issue with this cover and mainly it’s lucy. Why is she in a sexualized pose? The Phantom Lord arc was actually an arc where she was beaten and tormented and it wasn’t BDSM fanservice. It was actual torture. Easy way to fix this would be to have Natsu and Gajeel in the foreground staring down, then have the robotic castle in the mid ground, and then Makarov and Jose Staring Down in the Background. But on to the Chapter.

We open on Crocus years ago during an eclipse. That was when the eclipse gate opened and Anna appeared in this time line. But she seems to missing some kids.

Okay that’s pretty funny.

Actually here’s a question Toma sees all this but in the GMG arc he never noticed that Lucy looked like Laya and Anna. You think he’s remember seeing as they did something unbelievable and crossed over time. Oh wait, I’m trying to use logic but this poorly timed retcon doesn’t allow for that.

So Anna and Layla catch up and explain the situation. Layla explains how she didn’t want Lucy to bare this burden. Y’know hearing this talk about Lucy and it coming from 2 characters that look like her, makes really angry at the fact Lucy has gotten almost NOTHING to do this arc. I mean christ, it’s not like Lucy’s a main character and these 2 have been flash back only characters who served their purpose in the narrative.

This is weird… Like time travel itself is already tricky and now your trying to see to make a contradiction as if all this is pointless but not pointless. Or is this following the multiverse theory that altering tie makes another universe- And I’m going to stop asking questions.

Oh now you go searching for the flying children, great care taker.

Also again with the king, why did you include this, seriously retcon you’re a pain in the ass already, just please stop making more holes.

So cutting back to the present, Anna explains how in this era there is an anomaly that she discovered…

That was caused by her travel? I guess it makes sense as the plan was to use the dragon slayers to beat Acnologia and this rift in time was a product of crossing time.

Okay Jellal is right how did anyone not notice. Oh wait Anna hid it.

So this rift in time is apparently so strong nothing can exist near in it and in this era of stronger magic nothing can compare to this abnormal magic. Hey Anna, here’s an idea, why didn’t you ask the king for help? Yeah they fear Acnologia too and they know that you’d be on the up and up. Why didn’t you ask for their help with this, it’s essentially a hole in time I don’t know how bright you are Anna but with a whole kingdom working together could probably figure out what this thing is faster and kill Acnologia faster.

The Hole is also apparently very small so you can’t find it easy.

So that’s the plan. Totally not the ending goal of Rave Master.

Or the other option is the dragon slayers, the ones were brought here to beat Acnologia in the first place.

Okay this is where I make a few people scratch their heads on what I say next, this makes sense but I don’t like it. You’re probably curious why I’m so down on a flash back chapter even though having flashbacks are a great way to develop characters. Hell, if you all remember my big break out in the reviewing world was the Irene flashback chapter which I praised the fuck out of. Well, lets compare Irene and Anna. Anna is a character that had no build up that it was possible to be here, only appeared in flash back, and we knew nothing of her character. Irene was a spriggan who were the big villains of the arc, had a presence, and build up before her flash back. Irene’s flash back added to the world and made her as a main villain have more depth to her, Anna being retconned into the present was something that was so easy to explain that the text explanation she gave of how she got here was honestly enough, we didn’t need to see more of it because essentially it would be padding. Another thing that bothers me is with this time spent on something so simple we didn’t need to see it, we’re taking away time that could be spent on characters that do need it, like Lucy. I mean Anna and Lalya are characters who’s stories have been put to rest, we don’t need to know more about them when all it’s doing is reiterating what we already know and won’t impact us anymore in this point in the narrative, whereas characters like Lucy who have gotten almost nothing this arc are still left with nothing. So this whole sequence and back story make sense, but it still is pointless.

Speaking of Lucy, we cut to Magnolia

Oh look Gray is coming to terms to not wanting to endanger Natsu’s life. I’m gonna silently cry for this scene and all the greatness it could’ve had if the whole END and Gray relationship wasn’t botched.

WHAT THE HELL! YOU CAN JUST OPEN IT?! WHAT WAS THE POINT OF TARTAROS?! I mean the whole point of END not being revived sooner is because the magic in the world is so great that END can’t exist but apparently you can open it. I wouldn’t be as mad if not this chapter actually unintentionally made a reason why this is stupid and that’s how we spent so much time talking about this Era having a lot of more magic than in the past. We know in the past END was around, he knew Igneel, meaning he can live in a world with magic just not in an abundance like now.

Okay I complain about Lucy doing nothing, but Gray’s sin this arc is he’s an idiot. He’s not telling his friends about something potentially dangerous. Look Gray has kept to himself before he’s left some characters out of the loop like with Ultear but this isn’t something personal he doesn’t want to drag his friends into but this is the fate of the world he’s not telling them.

We return to the only good thing in this climax, Natsu vs Zeref

The fight continues but Zeref has come to realize that, hey he can’t die.

Yep you heard right people due to all the shit that’s happen to him he’s going to use the power of time to re make the world where he was never turned immortal. Y’know I sound like a broken record but RAVE MASTER! Seriously this is just Lucia’s goals and motivation from Rave, getting screwed over in this world so he considers it a wrong one and wants to go to a world where none of this happened and will use the power of time to make it happen. You can’t get anymore like Lucia at this point Zeref.

Oh god just dye your hair blond and call yourself Lucia at this point.

Again Natsu is sounding like the smart one here, good on ya! Also he seems to be turning into END, well I guess that choice was really pointless as the ones who decide who natsu is are his friends. Also Mavis was a key to neo eclipse. SO Mavis was a way of accessing a power that’ll open the way to using a magic that manipulates time? Well guess we should call her SInclaire now (take a shot if your playing the Rave Master Drinking game). Now Zeref’s master Plan actually does make sense. Unlike Anna’s flashback this actually makes sense of another way to get rid of his curse, as we know, Zeref only hedged his bets on END killing him, still doesn’t mean he can. SO having this back up plan is rather interesting.

As for the next chapter being called “Pegasus vs Black Dragon”, I had a rant for that but I think it best be saved for next time.

Post Chapter follow up: This chapter was weird for me. I can’t really put the Anna stuff as good or bad. It’s doing development but it only treading over already know ground. While it makes sense, we really didn’t need this and just kinda wastes time. Another thing I can’t judge is Zeref’s master plan. It makes sense for his character but it also seems so hollow. Like this is the weakness of having a villain group that’s under developed, we don’t know if he’s been lying to everyone, saying that he needed Fairy Heart to destroy Acnologia or he told them all and they were on board with this. Actually that would be interesting like maybe Irene wanted this new world so she could never become a dragonor maybe August wanted a world where he could be raised by Zeref and Mavis or Brandish who might want in this new world her mother alive.

On the negative side Anna is still negative. I went on a long rant about how she shouldn’t be this teacher because it is ruining the bond of Slayer and dragon, which is sill true but I was still open that from chapters on I wouldn’t be as down on her as I was then. But now, her problem seems to be how her existence is literally causing more holes.

Another thing on the negative is the main characters. Gray you’ve become a fucking idiot. I mean wow. Some people say this is to make Natsu look better but it really doesn’t. While Natsu is still the best thing just for verbally slapping around zeref, my attention is more drawn that Gray is acting very dumb. Lucy as well with this is still doing nothing. This is the final arc, have her do something, now some say Lucy is doing something, she’s the emotional support for the team. I hate that excuse. While Lucy has been the emotional support at times she wasn’t soley just that, she was the heart of Fairy tail. While, she cared for everyone she was still active in fights, coming up with plans, discovering things on her own etc. But now all she’s doing is sitting on her ass either crying or waxing friendship which isn’t Lucy. Lucy doesn’t have to just fight someone to be considered, “something” she could be the one who figures out how to save natsu when he was dying or she could make a way to use the book of END, that would be doing something. But all she’s doing is “emotional support” which is something all characters in this team should have but nope lets just diminish Lucy to just that.

Final negative point is that opening of the book. It doesn’t make sense and what hurts it even more is it makes a way that explains why END can’t be summoned. If he is, you are again lessening Tartaros’s story and it’s END plot.

Good points, Natsu is again the best things this chapter for pointing out this bullshit and trust me that’s a breath of fresh air. Also Yes I’m glad END is still around as a lot of people speculated END was no more thanks to the seed crap.

Another good thing is what Fairy Heart is. Most expected it to be some world ending nuke but actually it’s a way to access time. That is really interesting.

Final Verdict: 4/10

There are some things that aren’t bad but just padding

More misuse of characters

A legit interesting turn

Not bad but not good

[ridiasfangirlings]

Hello yes I love you, you bring me joy everyday. As a trans man with awful dysphoria and lack of self confidence I love reading your FTM scenarios. I haven't seen one for Mikoto or reisi yet, can ya boy get trans!Mikoto and trans!reisi plz? I love you

Mikoto I think it would be interesting because in some ways theissues other characters might face, particularly in regards to theirfamilies and things like access to testosterone treatments and such,would probably be less of a problem for him since his family ismostly absent and he’s apparently stinking rich. I think initially hewould probably just consider it for a while, like he’s always beentold he’s a girl but Mikoto’s never felt that way. He doesn’t sayanything to anyone though, I imagine Mikoto really just taking hisown time with this and he doesn’t see the point in sharing histhoughts with anyone else. But then maybe really the whole time hedoes have this feeling of dsyphoria that’s ever present, one thatfeels better to him when he’s able to present as male and maybe evenstart having treatments to the point where when Kusanagi meets him inhigh school even the teachers aren’t quite aware that he’s trans,most of them assume that it’s some kind of typo that he’s listed as afemale student in the roster. Most people would probably assume thenthat it’s easy for Mikoto because he doesn’t have to worry aboutfamily disapproval or being mocked or abused (the way I think, forexample, trans!Fushimi would be) but at the same time I could see himconstantly dealing with the feeling that his body isn’t really hisown, that even when he’s on these treatments and getting closer toappearing as the man he knows he is there’s always this small feelingin the back of his mind that his body isn’t really his own. I alsocould see this becoming almost worse somehow when he becomes RedKing, like first his body never felt like his own and now even hissoul has this power residing in it that can’t be contained and it’slike he’s being torn apart in every way, red tearing up his soul anda body that keeps rebelling against him and won’t bend to become whathe knows it should be.

I also wonder in this case if anyone in Homra would even know thatMikoto’s trans, like so many of them see him as this amazing manlyguy and how that would feel to a Mikoto who isn’t actually ascomfortable in his own skin as everyone thinks he is. I think Totsukaand Kusanagi would probably know, and likely Anna too. Imagineshortly after he meets Anna Mikoto has his Kagutsu nightmare againbut in this dream he looks like a girl and it just adds to thefeelings of despair in the dream, that even destroying everything hestill has to be this person who isn’t himself and never has been, andthen he looks up and sees Anna watching him. But after they wake upAnna never says anything about Mikoto appearing female in the dreamand never treats him as anything less than what he identifies as, forAnna Mikoto is always Mikoto. Kusanagi and Totsuka would likely besurprised when they find out, like of course it’s not somethingMikoto bothers much to tell people and then maybe one day the threeof them are hanging out and like fall into a river or something,their clothes get soaked and Totsuka and Kusanagi take their shirtsoff to dry. Mikoto takes his off too, totally not giving a shit aboutthe fact that he’s got an obvious binder on underneath. Totsuka andKusanagi are staring though, Kusanagi probably being the one to askif Mikoto’s a girl. Mikoto just lights a cigarette and says ‘no,’ andTotsuka and Kusanagi exchange a momentary look before Totsuka smilesand probably says that King shouldn’t be smoking here while Kusanagiprepares a lecture because Mikoto’s going to injure his rib cage withthe way he’s put on that binder and has him hold still so Kusanagican fix it to make it more comfortable.

Munakata, I think he would remain his usual confident self the way heis in all things, like he knows from a young age that there’ssomething different about him and it’s not just that everyone excepthimself seems to think he’s a girl. I feel like he’d be more likelyto keep it to himself though, like Munakata is aware that it may beconsidered 'unnatural’ that he is a boy when he appears to be a girland he doesn’t want to burden his family with such things. Oh butthen imagine like Taishi figures it out somehow, that the little'sister’ he always found unknowable has this secret and Taishi’s theone who encourages Munakata to tell the rest of his family how hefeels (I can imagine young Munakata taking Taishi’s old clothes andwearing them too when no one’s around, just to feel more likehimself). Munakata’s parents are supportive of him but I think they’dbe a little out of their depth, like Munakata is aware even from themoment he tells them that his parents think this is a phase he willgrow out of. Munakata doesn’t argue the point though, just remainspolite and dutiful and does what’s expected of him even if it meansoccasionally wearing a skirt and playing the part of a girl. Hisparents sometimes talk about it amongst themselves, like they knowthat Munakata’s different in other ways – they can’t quiteunderstand the talents that child has or how Munakata’s mind is soquick, how he’s not a normal child at all and maybe they just chalkup his claiming to be a boy to that, like this is another part ofthat child we can’t grasp because he’s so far beyond us. Munakataknows they mean well and is pleased that they support him at least,even as he knows that none of them really understand his feelings.

So Munakata I think transitions later than Mikoto would, waitinguntil he’s in high school or later before he starts really presentingas a man in earnest. He feels more confident and capable when hepresents as male, like I don’t think Munakata would have quite asstrong dysphoria as Mikoto might but when he’s dressed as a girlMunakata always feels as if he’s putting on some masquerade and hedislikes it. Also in contrast to Mikoto I think Munakata would findawakening as a King refreshing in a way – where Mikoto sees hispower as another thing not right with his body for Munakata this islike a breath of air that he’s been waiting for, confirmation thathis abnormality has nothing to do with him being trans and everythingto do with him having the ability to be King. Like for Munakata hefeels relief, because all his life he’s felt that he should bestriving for something or that something was missing and he alwaysassumed it was because he’s trans, that he is different from otherpeople because his true gender is not the one he was assigned atbirth, and now he feels more that being trans is just another facetof himself and it’s the King part of him that was the difference, themissing thing, and he feels more at ease. By the time he becomes headof Scepter 4 I think Munakata always presents as male and no onereally knows about him being trans (except Mikoto, who recalls a girlnamed Munakata Reisi from high school, and possibly Fushimi who isvery observant but doesn’t say anything because acknowledging itwould indicate that he cares and ew caring about things). Munakata Ithink would be more confident in himself then, that all his questionshe’s always asked himself have finally been answered and he feelsfirmly convinced now that he has indeed always been a man, and aKing, and he resolves not to doubt such things again and that if thebody he was born in displeases him he has the ability to mold it intoone that truly reflects himself as he was meant to be.

[choiceschoices]

530 Reaction/Review

Wow! A surprising amount to think about this chapter! I saw the spoilers and wasn’t expecting much to happen but I had a lot of specific thoughts through this. Lots of incredulity, a few nitpicks, and one or two compliments!

Oh I see. The kings had no idea why they kept that gate. Concrete plan.

LOL okay I’ll try to remember they were dragon slayer kids so maybe smashing through that much castle and rocketing through the sky was okay by them. Those poor kids got turned into meteors. Remind me how they forgot about this? 

Haha the book says “To Offspring”. Again Anna we wonder who you left behind...

Kudo’s to Layla for using her own life force for a plan she found difficult to believe...

OH WOW SHE FULLY HAD NO IDEA WHY SHE DID IT. FFS. 

If anyone can think of a single reason Layla shouldn’t and doesn’t deserve to know please clue me in. My guess is Mashima wants to keep the plan vague so he has the ability to change it later.

Wait whaaaaa? You .....didn’t open it at the right time? So not only did you not understand why you were sacrificing life force but you didn’t even know why you were doing it now? 

..................

Cause looking after a book was like....so debilitating. 

Yep, two seconds later: 

(For the sake of not just complaining: Good job on Layla for having good intentions even if they’re unfounded and little Lucy is super cute there)

I just realized--Layla didn’t have to open the gate now??? So she had plenty of time to track down all twelve keys? Which she was dumb enough to let wander off in the first place???

Well at least it seems Layla didn’t know she would die for this. Poor lady. Tries to help her daughter have more space on her bookshelf and then makes it 100 times worse by dying on her for a vague plan to kill a dragon that wasn’t even hurting anybody.

I’m surprised Anna apparently hadn’t designated a time to arrive. Had she just said “when the ethernano is strong?”

If Lucy needed to be freed of this responsibility than Layla had plenty of time to get all the keys and open the gate later, no? Opening the gate (apparently at her leisure) probably only took her a few days, assuming most of that is travel time to Crocus. Forget burden--this could have been a lovely mother daughter weekend trip to visit the king, fulfill a family legend, and meet an ancestor.

Okay. I’ve been distracted by my impending college graduation so I can’t always follow the story too closely. Remind me why we’re going to such lengths to kill a dragon that has hurt no-one for 400 years? Revenge for his crimes against the dragons? 

No. No it was not. Your plan is really weak for relying on far too many uninformed people, assumptions, and hope. Like kings who don’t clean out their basements, the blind responsibility of the next dozen generations, Acnologia MAYBE not killing everyone while you skip forward...

Acnologia has to go down SOMEHOW but it’s still my guess that Anna will not survive and nakama power will defeat him. I’m still picturing a group unison raid of pure friendship power.

Which is why she soon abandoned the Dragon Slayers to focus on her ‘throw Acnologia into this tangerine sized bit of space’ plan. She’s real lucky all five children decided to continue pushing their slayer skills. They had every right to quit. What if Gajeel decided to persue his singing instead of slaying? 

Anna really lucked out all the slayers had “I need to get stronger complexes” and made something of themselves (eventually). They had every right to behave like actual abandoned, homeless children and become selfish, uneducated thieves and bullies. At least a few of them should have had to do horrible things to make money. You’d think someone sleazy would have taken advantage of their power for evil. At least one probably aught to have died one way or another.  

La la la....lets enjoy the view and talk about how we can’t talk about the plan. I mean personally I would have insisted the king send out some men to find where those shooting stars landed and get those integral and delicate parts of my plan back but HEY that’s just me.

Oh yeah no stop-- you should verify that he does that! Come ON. 

This is a nitpick but how could you possibly know that?

“I am just a human who knows relatively nothing of the infinite mysteries of the past and future but I know that this thing that exists should not exist.”

★★★★★Cool! I’m down for time travel having consequences!★★★★★

Hehe, Anna Heartfilia, mover of space anomaly black holes. But no, another nitpick--she’s got magic maybe she really could move it.

Except for those five....do I even need to say it? 

Anna seems to have forgotten about the Plan A she spent all that time cultivating but you know what, I’m down for trying this first. It’s stupid but it’s morally better than supercharging some innocent children and pointing them in the direction of the monster. 

No other choice...Wendy’s like RIGHT THERE guys.

Bad. Their plan is bad. Nobody needs me to explain why.

It COULD work. Maybe. If you have pure dumb luck. 

★★★★★Finally a reasonable question. See was that so hard? Lucy skipped a LOT of questions lately THANK YOU.★★★★★

Oh, what the heck. :) Do it because you can, guys, if only because I just plain want to see what happens when you do. I guess I don’t know why they haven’t already taken a peak given I don’t think they heard Igneel’s warning not to do the thing. 

DANG IT this is just more blatant irresponsibility on the part of the past generation (I really need a team name for Anna, Zeref, Igneel, and Layla. Team Dumb Luck maybe). Anna and Zeref leave their gate just lying around and Zeref and Igneel don’t put a lock on the darn book. Anna abandons children and Layla doesn’t know why she’s doing this. How did these people accomplish anything. 

First off, DO WHAT? WHAT WILL OPENING THE BOOK ACCOMPLISH?

(and I feel like opening the book is a serious invasion of Natsu’s privacy but whatevs.) 

Most importantly: Uh oh. Looks like Zeref is hankering to reset things and Gray doesn't want to stop him.

I’ve already seen people emotional that this is a bad thing for Gray to do, especially since it would mean their ships never met. To which I say...fine, whatever, people have a right to care about shipping if they want to but REALLY?

Gray may think that he just has confidence in Natsu not to let it happen. But I have no problem with him also not wanting to stop it, maybe even actively hoping it will.

Because really, who on earth wouldn’t be seriously tempted by the possibility that time would be reset and your FAMILY wouldn’t be brutally KILLED. I say so-what if Gray’s been happy with FT: he went through a serious trauma and lost everything, suffered a lot over revenge against Deliora. He’s taking a big risk here, being selfish, but I don’t blame him for one second. 

People will undoubtedly argue that A) he shouldn’t sacrifice the happiness people have built together and that B) he wouldn’t want to lose Juvia. My reaction is:

A) Sure there’s happiness in the world now but there’s also been a lot of hurt. Gray himself has suffered deeply. I don’t care how happy he is now--loosing his family like that is never going to stop haunting him. And he knows that Zeref and Acnologia have hurt lots of other people too. Hundreds have died over the centuries. His friend Erza was a tortured child slave because of his influence. Does Gray know that Lucy too lost family because of the plan to defeat Acnologia? Gray must be thinking right now that maybe everyone could have less trauma if things get reset.  

B) The inevitable Gruvia talk. (Just for the record, I myself dislike Gruiva a lot. But I’d probably put money on it becoming cannon by the end to please fans.) And even if Gray is in love my opinion stands. I haven’t met the love of my life yet but even if I had...I think I would still be at the very least tempted by the chance to go back and save my family. The sacrifice would be simply not knowing that this timeline had even happened. I wouldn’t even know they existed--and indeed might simply hope to meet them again. Perhaps only if I had already had children and couldn’t bear to risk them erased would I choose not to reverse the pain. 

This is complicated...resetting 400 years could make even Gray himself just never be born. But...chance at happiness....saving THAT many people...

I can’t fathom how Zeref knows any of this, especially to when time would reset. But DAMN if this doesn’t sound appealing. The damage wrought by both Zeref and Acnologia on HUNDREDS of people would simply never have happened. Sounds too good to be true to me. I mean I don’t want all of FT erased as a conclusion but it really might be a nice thing to do for the greater good.

Someone should tell Anna there may be TWO back up plans.

Everybody who’s already died over this won’t. They might take issue with that statement. 

Also what’s up with you right now are you melting?

Anyway, in conclusion maybe they should hear Zeref out on this one. Natsu’s friends decide to screw him over. The characters from 400 years ago are still terrible planners and have no follow through. I’m loosing track of how many eclipse/neo/time/mavis things are in play. For now I’m on Gray’s side as he keeps this secret. Characters, as is now par for the course, make strange decisions because the plot must go on. 

At least you can’t call any of this boring :) (Besides some rampant lack of payoff)

[withickmire]

More Than Memory

Fandom: Deltora Quest Characters: Jasmine, Doom, Lief, Marilen Summary: Jasmine finds Doom’s diary, unaware that reading something so personal is forbidden. Notes: Based on a prompt from @dragonloverdoran, who requested Jasmine reading Doom’s diary. They are my favourites, so I was excited to fill this! Prompts are open. AO3. FFN.

--

"Where is it?" Jasmine hissed, as she rummaged through the endless pile of papers, books, and assorted oddities that Doom kept on his desk. She had never spent much time in her father’s room, and she had been surprised by how easily he had handed her his keys. They had been in a meeting in the library, when Doom realized he had forgotten his pen. Marilen kept a drawer full of writing utensils, but Doom, bound as he was to his strange paranoias, always insisted on using his own. How he had left it behind, Jasmine did not know.

Marilen had taken over Josef’s title the month prior, and had called upon Lief and Doom to review her early days as librarian, and to present some of her ideas for change. Jasmine had gone along to the meeting to support her friend in her endeavours, but quickly tired of the conversation, of which she could offer nothing. So, when Doom had risen to return to his room, she had offered to go in his stead.

She sighed and stepped away from the desk. She had found nothing, and Doom had only one pen; stylized and beautiful. Doom inhabited one of the palace’s smallest bedrooms, which was appropriate, as he seemingly never used it. The desk was lively in its disorder, but the only other furnishings were a wooden chair, a small wardrobe and a tightly-made bed. Jasmine had once overheard two palace guards jokingly wonder if Doom indeed slept at all. She had not been meant to overhear, and so she had pretended she had not. Still, she could not blame the guards for their jests.

“Ha!” She finally exclaimed, spotting the pen’s shining silver cap on Doom’s bed spread. She crossed the room and snatched up her prize. She tucked it into her pocket, and was about to return to the library, when something else caught her eye. A book lay at the end of the bed, near where the pen had been. It bore a battered black cover, and was thicker than many of the others she had sorted through. It stood out sorely on the plain bed. Books hardly ever appealed to her, but this one called to her. The spine crackled like a fire when she opened it. It was not as thick as she had initially thought: the pages were swollen with water damage from long ago. The words were written, she realized with some surprise, in Doom’s strange and tell-tale hand. She very rarely saw his writing laid bare like it was, without a code or a trick to shield the true intentions of his words.

She flipped through the early pages quickly. They were stiff and difficult to turn; sometimes sticking together. Reading was not where her strengths lay, and many of the words were blurred with stains and age, so she caught only bits as she scanned the pages.

—thought that I was alone, but I was mistaken. There are many who wish to join—

—king is lost to the seduction of darkness. I must tell no—

—boy is of strong will, and yet he is delicate. I fear the truth will destroy—

—three continue to be of interest, but they draw too many eyes. I do not believe they can survive—

—time has come.

It was like a story Doom had written about himself, she thought. Not quite a history, but an account of his own life as he lived it, beginning some time before the Resistance formed. He had recorded his thoughts into a book. What a strange thing to do. Jasmine peered again at the ominous final sentence. It was written at the top of the page, and no other marks had been made on the sheet. Frowning, she flipped through the next few pages, but Doom had left them blank. She was about to close the book, when she found another entry towards the middle. The page was blank, except for one sentence scrawled on the centre.

It is time to start anew.

She turned the page. The writing had started up again. She flipped back. Doom, it seemed, had used paper as a barricade to separate the most recent era of his life with the one that had come before. The first half of the book was written mostly in short sentences and hastily added dates, the second half was filled with sprawling paragraphs. To her delight, she found that her mother’s name made frequent appearances. Jasmine stared at the words, sounding them out slowly in her mind and using her finger to trace the text. Keeping track of the word placement helped them make sense in her head. There were some words she could not read, but she could guess their meaning well enough. She picked one of the earlier passages and began to work through it.

There is not a day that goes by where I do not think of you. How could I have ever forgotten you, Anna? I must make up for all those lost moments. It is good for me, I believe, to think of you. It helps; you ground me now as you did then. But it is hard. Remembering your death hurt like I had lost you twice over.  But even in my darkest moments, I have the memory of your smile. A smile that I would kill to see again, though I know that I cannot even do that. I failed you, did I not? I have failed you both.

Her eyes burned. Life in the Forests with her family had been hard, but so filled with love and laughter that it had rarely seemed to matter at all. Looking back at what was lost hurt like a blow from a fist. A fat tear dropped onto the page, blurring the last few words of the paragraph.

But you remember, dear heart, how clever Jasmine was. You remember those hours we would spend devising riddles and word games, and how she would solve them faster than we could think them up. Nothing has changed. She is remarkably bright, and so brave. This is not the life that we had hoped for her, but you would not believe how well she is made for it. Truly, we cannot take credit for the person she has become. But you would be proud— so proud— as I am. You would love her, as I do.

Jasmine shut the book quickly, and sat on the edge of Doom’s pristine bed. Doom had never spoken like that to her, and she did not know how she felt about his words. She swiped a knuckle across her wet eyes.

“A true annal is kept as the event occurs, not afterward,” Josef had once mournfully informed her, long months before his death. “Sadly, so much of our recent history is unaccounted for. I fear that the Deltoran Annals will never be what they could.”

Jasmine had not particularly cared to be involved in such a conversation, and so had not paid much attention to Josef’s woes. But was that not what the first part of Doom’s book had done? As she held Doom’s book in her hands— stories about a man who had great influence on two kings and aided in initiating a new Deltoran era— she wondered if any of Josef’s fears would have quelled, had he read it. As painful as it would be to read, it was an important text. The Annals would be more meaningful for it. Jasmine tucked the book under her arm and made sure that all three of Doom’s locks were in place before she went back to the library.

When Jasmine returned, Marilen and Doom were in deep conversation. Lief looked   up with a grin as she shut the door behind her. His face, changed as it was by burden and scars, was so beautiful and bright that Jasmine forgot her task for a moment. But even in my darkest moments, I have the memory of your smile. She sat beside him and took his hand. Filli, who had remained nestled lazily into Lief’s lap, chattered a brief hello and returned to his nap.

“Were you lost?” Lief teased quietly, as she took a seat beside him. Jasmine took his hand and gave it two tight squeezes and he bumped his shoulder against hers. Doom had used such pretty words to write about her mother, and she hoped that she would one day learn express her love in a similar manner.

She rested the book on her knees. Marilen caught her eye and smiled, but did not interrupt Doom as he reviewed a catalogue of texts aloud. Jasmine pulled her hand free from Lief’s and rolled the pen across the table, and he tapped twice with his fingers as he read; a sort of recognition. When he had removed the cap, she slid the book over. He looked down it for a moment, as if not really seeing it before his eyes. When he looked back up, his face terribly pale. Jasmine drew back, alarmed.

“Where did you get that?” His face was stone, but his eyes were dark and dangerous.

“It was on your bed,” she said, immediately defensive. “You should get a second pen, Doom, I am sure that—“

“Did you read it?” He interrupted. His knuckles were white as he gripped the book.

Jasmine hesitated. Something was wrong. “Parts of it,” she said finally.

“Congratulations on your continued successes, Marilen,” Doom said tightly, and rose to his feet. Marilen twitched, startled by the abrupt action. Some of the colour had returned to Doom’s face, but his lips were a tense line on his face. “I have business elsewhere.”

He turned and left the library. Jasmine watched him go.“I have upset him,” she said with a touch of wonder. She and Doom had had a quiet understanding for nearly three years, and she seemed to have damaged it somehow.

“Go to him, Jasmine,” Marilen insisted with a gentle urgency. She turned to Lief, who said nothing, though his face glowed with warmth and love.

Hesitantly, Jasmine got up followed her father. He was a fast walker, and she had to move quickly to catch him. The hall was empty, and he must have heard her footsteps, yet he did not stop.

“Doom!” She called. She darted in front of him, forcing him to halt. He made a sound of annoyance and turned away, leaning one hand against the wall.

She was embarrassed, although she could not say why. And, anyway, why should she be? She had done nothing wrong. “I wanted to help,” she hissed fiercely, to cover her odd sense of shame. “It is just a book.”

“It is not,” Doom did not raise his voice, but he spoke with a terrible harshness.

“I do not understand,” Jasmine’s words were laced with desperation. The idea of hurting someone she loved without knowing how was frightening.

Doom took his hand from the wall, and ran his fingers roughly through his hair. “It… it is my diary. Diaries are private, they are not meant to be read. You had no right to.”

“It is a book,” she repeated stubbornly.

“No,” he gave Jasmine a curious look. “You have never heard of diaries?”

“I have not,” she was still trying to understand. “Do you always write your thoughts down?”

“No. Endon kept a journal, when we were boys, and I always dismissed it as a waste of time,” Some of his anger began to abate, and he shook his head with a wry smile. “After the Shadowlands, I used it like a tool: I could not forget something if I wrote it down.”

She thought of Doom after his escape, a stranger in his own body, desperate to have something to call his own. “Why are you still writing in it?”

He was silent for a long moment. “I am keeping my memories are safe.”

“You have just told me things that you never have,” Jasmine said slowly. “This is different from the diary?”

“Yes,” he told her firmly. “I am choosing to tell you this.”

Jasmine stepped back. She remembered Doom’s face after Dain’s betrayal; bloody, and twisted with anguish as he called out her name in the Forge.  “And you write in the diary now, so that you will never forget anything,” something unpleasant occurred to her. “Do you mean you would not want to?”

He looked at her with narrowed eyes, uncomprehending.

Jasmine lifted her chin high, and pretended her heart was not pounding. “Would it not be easier if you never remembered who you were? If you had truly forgotten about Mamma, and about me?”

“No,” Doom’s voice was level, but Jasmine could hear the intention behind it. “I would rather die.”

There was no passion in his voice; there was no need for it. He spoke a simple truth. She had known it in her heart, but it was good to hear him say it.

“I am sorry,” she told him truthfully, although apologies tasted bitter and strange on her tongue. “I thought it should be in the library.”

“You did not know,” he said firmly. Apologies and forgiveness were not his way, either.

The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. “You are wrong; you did not fail her,” she said, twisting her hands together awkwardly. “And you did not fail me.”

He stared at her for a long time, his face almost infuriatingly blank. “I do not always believe that,” he told her finally. “But I am trying to learn.”

She nodded; it was good enough, for the moment. “You should go back to Marilen. She values your opinion, and you were not finished.”

Doom looked back towards the library. “Will you come?”

“I am sure I have other matters to attend to,” she said loftily, searching her brain for an excuse that would not force her to spend any more of the day slouched in the library.

“Surely,” he mocked her without malice, and Jasmine ducked her head to hide her smile.

Doom pocketed his diary. “If you ever have questions for me, all you must do is ask them.”

“But will you give me answers if I do?”

He raised his eyebrows. “It depends on what they are.”

A fair trade, Jasmine watched as her father turned back towards the library. She walked towards the stairs, suddenly desperate to be outside. She mostly understood Doom’s desire to keep his writing private, but one of the sentences she had stolen from him still fluttered around her mind.

But you would be proud— so proud— as I am. You would love her, as I do.

[rickhorrow]

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 11

with Jamie Swimmer & Jesse Leeds Grant

The Washington Capitals are the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions, beating the Las Vegas Golden Knights in five games. A team that has been on the cusp of greatness yet unable to get over the hump for so long has finally come out on top, giving Washington, D.C. its first professional sports championship since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1992. Caps Owner Ted Leonsis was quick to state that the team’s parade is going to be huge. “I think it’s going to be a lot bigger than everyone is expecting,” said Leonsis. “My goal is to create something that elevates and unites all of the people in our community, so people think happy thoughts about Washington, D.C.” While Alexander Ovechkin and the Caps get to celebrate their triumph, the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals was nothing short of spectacular. The expansion franchise came into the season at 500-1 odds of winning the Cup, and they almost did. Had the team won, Vegas sportsbooks would have had to pay out around $5 or $6 million in wagers. Despite the loss, the Golden Knights cemented themselves in their new city, gave people in the desert a reason to like hockey, and gave the popular destination yet another tourist draw. For Washington, the “happy thoughts” generated by the Caps’ win will also smile on regionally-based businesses like Edelman Financial and EVERFI, who stand to benefit from the positive publicity.

Team shops at Oracle Arena sold 10,000 NBA Championship gear items in the first hour after the Warriors' NBA Finals sweep. According to Rank + Rally, which operates Warriors Team Stores, team shops sold 5,500 New Era hats, 3,500 Nike men’s T-shirts, and 1,000 Nike women’s T-shirts with NBA title themes. The Warriors hosted a Game 4 watch party at the arena, and fans were able to buy championship gear immediately after the game. Rank + Rally is the retail arm of Levy Restaurants. It reported per cap retail sales were 76% higher for the Warriors' sweep of the Cavaliers than they were for the watch party when the Warriors beat the Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. After the title was secured, the shoe companies also got in on the congratulations. Under Armour "released a new ad to celebrate" Stephen Curry, a brand endorser. Meanwhile, Nike spotlighted Kevin Durant with a video that "celebrates Durant’s journey, from his childhood in Texas to his second consecutive championship." Now, of course, the NBA spotlight returns to LeBron James and where he may take his free agent talents this summer. Stay tuned. (As if you'll have a choice.)

Even before the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals yet again, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors publicly stated that they would not visit the White House were they to win the series. According to the Akron Beacon, players from both teams have continually voiced their disapproval of the current president since he came into office, with star players LeBron James and Kevin Durant and Warriors Coach Steve Kerr being some of the most politically outspoken people on the topic. “The president has made it pretty clear he’s going to try to divide us, all of us in this country, for political gain,” said Kerr. “So it’s just the way it is.” As opposed to the situation with the Philadelphia Eagles, where President Trump canceled their celebratory visit within 24 hours of the event, the Warriors and Cavs made their respective stances clear before the title was even awarded. Warriors guard Stephen Curry said that he had “no interest in going” a year ago when they won; the Cavaliers pushed up their White House date two years ago to visit before Barack Obama left office. As long as the president continues his divisive dialogue, the obligatory White House visit for champion teams, once considered an honor, will just be a burden for many.

Heavyweight contenders are expected to shine at this week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. According to Golf Channel, heading into the week, FedEx St. Jude Classic champion Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth sit as the title favorites, with Justin Thomas and Jason Day not far behind. Patrick Reed is attempting to become the first player since Spieth to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year, while for Tiger Woods, this June marks the 10-year anniversary of his most recent Major win. With the USGA receiving over 9,000 entries to the 2018 U.S. Open, the competitiveness of the field is expected to be up, with fans around the world eagerly awaiting the four days of action on Long Island. Coverage of the tournament will reach more than 150 countries and territories through both domestic and international broadcasts, showing how big this Major has become all across the globe. It’s also testament to how truly global the game of golf has become.

This year’s rendition of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is estimated to provide a positive economic impact of around $120 million to Long Island. According to the USGA, the $120 million expected will be primarily driven from the 200,000-plus attendees expected and 8,000 hotel room nights booked in the area during the week of June 11. This year’s tournament should turn out similar impact numbers to past U.S. Open’s – Erin Hills in 2017 delivered $120 million for Wisconsin, Oakmont in 2016 provided $120-135 million to Pittsburgh, and Chambers Bay in 2015 resulted in a $140 million boost for Washington. As a whole, these impressive numbers have been driven by the golf industry’s continued growth. The $84 billion industry is up an impressive 22% in the last five years and impacts nearly two million jobs across the country, “supporting $58.7 billion in annual wage income.” Many people forget that this “country club sport” is actually a major economic driver nationwide, and significant source of jobs, consumer spending, and tax revenue.

Justify won the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, becoming the 13th horse to pull off the feat. According to Newsday, a crowd of 90,327 "rocked Belmont as jockey Mike Smith and trainer Bob Baffert tried to let the ultimate New York moment sink in." Just before post time, Burger King "announced another partnership with Baffert," just as it had done in 2015 with American Pharoah. Total betting on the Belmont this year was $79.7 million, according to the Daily Racing Form, a 68% "gain on handle for the race last year but short of the amount of money bet three years ago" when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. However, total handle of $137.48 million on the 13-race card was "slightly better" than the 2015 card and a 46.6% "gain on the total handle for last year's 13-race Belmont Stakes card." The $79.7 million figure this year was the "third-best of all time for the race." Handle on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness "set records this year." Justify’s Triple Crown win at the Belmont Stakes also drew an 8.1 overnight rating for NBC, down 34% from a 12.3 from 2015, when American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. The big question now is not when America will have another Triple Crown winner, but how racetracks nationwide might be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting last month, Delaware has become the first state outside of Nevada to launch a full-scale sports betting operation. According to the Wilmington News Journal, Delaware’s casino industry has struggled to stay profitable in recent years, prompting the state to move quickly and efficiently to make sports betting accessible across the state. The state is holding onto hope that the legalization of such activity could provide a lifeline to its three casinos – Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway. Within the first three hours of allowing sports betting, the three casinos combined for nearly $170,000 in wagers. While such a number might be “routine” in Las Vegas, it was a very big deal on the East Coast. The casinos now have the flexibility to extend their hours to bring in more business, hoping that the legalization of sports betting will not only help their personal business, but will bring an economic boost to the entire state. Next up, presumably, is New Jersey – which could have begun taking sports bets as early as this weekend if its governor hadn’t balked like a spooked horse in the gate.

Sports injury leader Embody awarded $800,000 Catalyst grant. Michael Francis, PhD, Embody Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder, led the Norfolk-based company’s effort to compete for a Virginia Bioscience Healthcare Research Corporation "Catalyst" grant. There were over 25 applicants and the top 10 scored proposals were invited to present in March. Francis gave the top ranked presentation along with his collaborators Dr. Anna Bulysheva of Old Dominion University and Dr. George Christ of the University of Virginia.  In April, Embody was awarded an $800,000 grant to advance development and animal testing of their microfluidics extrusion platform for collagen fiber production. In addition, the company will be able to develop an Internal Brace 100% collagen suture and advance the product through animal testing under this work.  This is an incredible opportunity to fund and fast-track a new product which will be the first resorbable collagen internal brace on the market. As the NBA and NHL enter the offseason and the NFL revs up for camp, this could mark a huge step forward for the recoveries of athletes and others suffering traumatic injuries alike.

Roland Garros is planning to add a new retractable roof to the Court Philippe Chatrier by 2020. According to the New York Times, the planned $414 million renovation goes beyond a roof – the majority of the existing structure will be demolished and rebuilt before a roof s put in place. Demolition work is set to get underway next month following the conclusion of this year’s competition. The reconstruction work, which will be “extensive on three of the four grandstands, must be completed in time” for the French Open to begin on May 26 of next year. The roof itself – “made up of 11 wings of canvas-bound steel – will be put in place” between the 2019 and 2020 editions of the tournament, with the first-ever night sessions coming during the 2021 French Open. The eventual goal is to insert LED lights on retractable poles around all the courts at Roland Garros, rising at night to light up the courts and sinking back into the earth during the day. While it becomes a more daunting task as he ages, it’s not inconceivable that now 11-time champion Rafael Nadal will celebrate his 13th French Open win beneath the new roof.

As FC Cincinnati prepares to join MLS in 2019 as the league’s 26th franchise, team owners are getting ready to write some massive checks to finance the transition. According to JohnWallStreet, the club will privately finance the majority of the proposed $212.5 million, 21,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in downtown Cincinnati. The city and state have committed $34.8 million and $4 million, respectively, to help cover infrastructure costs for the project. Goldman Sachs could loan Managing Owner Carl Linder III and co. the necessary capital to build the stadium, as the New York-based investment bank has provided funding to four MLS clubs that have built new stadiums in recent years (LAFC – $180 million, Orlando City – $120 million, D.C. United – $100 million, fourth is undisclosed). On top of the cost to build a new stadium, FC Cincinnati will have to pay a $150 million expansion fee – a number that continues to increase by $10 million per year. The rising cost is not expected to plateau anytime soon, a sign that bodes well for a growing league.

11.Less than 24 hours before the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles were scheduled to take a trip to the White House, President Donald Trump canceled their visit. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, President Trump cited the team’s intent on sending a smaller delegation of players as one of the reasons for canceling the visit. A source close to the team noted that “fewer than 10 players planned to attend” the celebration of their Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots at the White House. Trump also reignited the national anthem debate in cancelling the visit. “They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country,” said Trump in a statement. “The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.” Trump failed to note, however, that the Eagles had no players kneel for the National Anthem this past season.

12.Discovery has signed a massive 12-year, $2 billion deal for the TV and online rights to the PGA Tour beginning next year. According to SportsPro Media, the U.S. media giant is planning to develop a Netflix-style video service to deliver the coverage to consumers across the globe while also showing tournaments on its regular list of TV channels. In signing the deal, Discovery will now control the rights to more than 140 tournaments annually, including about 40 PGA Tour events. This marks the latest step in Discovery’s push to become a major player in global sports broadcasting, coming three years after it agreed to pay $1.5 billion for the European rights to the 2018 and 2024 Winter Olympics. Discovery could look to sublicense select tournament rights in certain markets, allowing various major broadcasters to hold onto their current PGA Tour rights. The deal excites the PGA Tour, which recently opened offices in London, Tokyo, and Beijing and is looking to expand its brand internationally.

13.The reboot of the XFL just gained some serious credibility with the addition of Oliver Luck. According to SportsBusiness Journal, after serving as a key figure in the NCAA over the past few years, Luck will become the CEO and Commissioner of Vince McMahon’s XFL. “I love college sports, but this is a special opportunity,” said Luck. “I have a real passion for football and the opportunity to collaborate with Vince is awesome.” The new XFL is planning to begin play in early 2020 with eight teams competing in a 10-week regular season. Though host cities for franchises have not yet been selected, the league recently sent out RFPs to 30 cities. Luck has extensive experience working in entrepreneurial roles within sports, having been the first President and General Manager of the MLS expansion club Houston Dynamo before playing an instrumental role with the World League of American Football, serving as Frankfurt GM in 1991 before pivoting to serve as the NFL Europe President. Boosting the fledgling league even more than Luck’s experience, however, is his sterling reputation and the widespread respect he’s earned.

14.Cleveland Browns quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield was speculated to have a tough time signing endorsers due to his on- and off-field incidents in college, but that has not proven to be the case thus far. According to Crain’s Cleveland Business, before playing a single game with the Browns, Mayfield already has endorsement deals signed with Nike, Panini America, Leaf Trading Cards, Bose, New Era, PSD, and H&H Sports. Mayfield has been building his brand since leaving Oklahoma, from convincing the Browns that his antics are a thing of the past to starring in “Behind Baker,” a 10-episode series on Facebook Watch that followed the quarterback leading up to the NFL Draft. Mayfield is represented by a team at Waterhouse Hayes, Los Angele; they have taken a proactive approach to getting their client a list of sponsors before the season kicks off, as opposed to the “wait-and-see” approach that other brands are taking with him. Mayfield will clearly be front and center in the Brown’s just-announced edition of “Hard Knocks,” if the trailers HBO released over the last few days mirror the upcoming show.

15.New York Yankees minority shareholder Peter B. Freund is preparing to expand his stake in professional sports with his $100.6 million offer to buy League Championship side Aston Villa. According to the London Times, Aston Villa fell into “financial turmoil” following their playoff loss to Fulham, which would have seen the side promoted to the EPL had they won. Club CEO Keith Wyness was recently suspended after a disagreement with owner Tony Xia, “who is understood to have taken umbrage at his most senior employee’s advice to settle a $5.6 million tax bill owed to U.K. tax authority HMRC to avoid a winding-up order.” Freund has been looking to purchase an English soccer club for some time now, adding to his already-lucrative portfolio at Trinity Sports Holdings. The company also has a deal in place with the U.S. Soccer League “to enter new club Memphis City in the league next year.”  The cross-pollination continues – albeit with more zeros attached.

Tech Top 5

Syracuse partners with Twitch on esports class. Syracuse University is teaming up with Twitch to launch a new course focused on the rapidly evolving world of esports. The class, called Esports & Media, will trace the historical roots of competitive video gaming to the current multibillion-dollar industry. Offered through the university’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse will debut the class in the fall. “With the growing interest in and popularity of competitive gaming—not just in terms of participation, but also broadcasting and marketing—we made it a priority to offer our students a holistic look at esports and media,” says Olivia Stomski, director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center and a professor of practice in television, radio and film. Twitch is the world’s leading social video service and community for gamers where 15 million community members gather each day to watch, talk, and chat about shared interests. Twitch’s video service is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem, as well as adjacent interests including the creative arts, vlogging (IRL), traditional sports, and more.

SportsCastr unveils cryptocurrency. SportsCastr, a livestreaming platform that enables fans to act as sportscasters during live sporting events, is launching a cryptocurrency. FanChain will power a decentralized sports entertainment ecosystem and reward fans for producing content. Backed by former NBA Commissioner David Stern, NFL Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis, and Syracuse University men’s NCAA basketball coach Jim Boeheim, NBA All-Star Steve Smith and more, SportsCastr’s FanChain will create a decentralized sports entertainment ecosystem to connect a fragmented landscape, aligning the interests of fans, athletes, teams, leagues, and media entities. Fans rely on social media for authentic reactions during sporting events, and market research shows that younger demographics prefer receiving commentary directly from other fans versus on traditional broadcasts. The shift toward digital-first distribution platforms allows for commentary from fans to be integrated directly into sports live streams through SportsCastr, opening the door for cryptocurrency-based incentives and solutions.

Catapult launches wearable technology with AI. Catapult has announced the launch of PLAYR, the innovative new wearable designed to enable amateur footballers to prepare, perform, and recover like the world’s best. As the game’s premier provider of athlete monitoring technology, Catapult has worked with the leading names in football – including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Leicester City – for more than 12 years. Consisting of a SmartPod, SmartVest, and the SmartCoach app, PLAYR gives users the ability to track key performance metrics, access advice from real Premier League coaches, and benchmark themselves against peers and pros. Combining performance data and sports science insights, PLAYR is set to transform the way aspiring footballers understand and improve their performance. The hero of PLAYR is SmartCoach, an extension of the sports science knowledge Catapult has brought to the professional game for the past twelve years.

Univision to deliver tech-infused World Cup coverage. Univision Deportes will infuse its coverage of this year’s World Cup in Russia with technology ranging from augmented reality to teleportation. With tech, the sports network is promising to “own the Spanish-language conversation.” Incorporating teleportation technology, Univision will be bringing prominent players and coaches into the studio, virtually, for in-depth interviews. Univision began doing this for last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Spanish-language sports network will also be making use of augmented reality, an increasingly popular tool for many broadcasters and leagues. Univision will use AR to enhance game breakdowns and analyst predictions. “Univision is the ‘Home of Soccer’ in the U.S., bringing the beautiful game to fans with passion and expertise that no one in America can match,” said Juan Carlos Rodriguez, President of Univision Deportes. “We’re excited to deliver award-wining commentary and super-serve fans with around-the-clock insight and entertainment—making Univision Deportes the home of ‘the game around the game’ throughout the tournament.”

Sportradar strikes U.S. gambling deal with Sportech. Sportradar, a global sports data company that has partnerships with the NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL, has teamed up with U.K.-based betting house Sportech to deliver commercial sports betting solutions in the U.S. The deal comes less than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could make their own decisions on the legalization of sports gambling. The agreement will allow Sportech to offer Sportradar’s sports betting product portfolio – including pre-match and in-play betting services, content, trading tools, and risk management services – to its network of 90 licensed operators in states where sports betting is declared legal. In addition, Sportech said it has plans to deploy Sportradar’s turnkey sports betting platform in Connecticut should the state pass legislation.

Power of Sports 5

Bucs General Manager raises $130,000 for cancer research. Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht shaved his head for a good cause, raising more than $100,000 during the team’s annual “Cut for a Cure” fundraiser. Licht challenged Bucs coaches, players, and staffers in the fundraiser, and they topped his goal with $123,000 in donations for pediatric cancer research. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, saying he didn’t like odd numbers, then added $7,000 to the total. “Cut for a Cure” benefits children and families affected by pediatric cancer. Participants included Buccaneers players and front office staff who either shaved their heads, or cut or color their hair, as a way to solicit donations for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Licht put forth a challenge for the Bucs to raise $100,000. When they did, he decided to get a on the ‘buzz’ and shave his head. This is the sixth year the Bucs hosted the event.

Indiana Pacers hold 10th annual charity softball game. The Indiana Pacers held the Annual Caroline Symmes Memorial Celebrity Softball Challenge for the 10th straight year this week, and Pacers Forward Myles Turner helped bring about a win for the Pacers in his first year as a team captain. The charity event, which has become a staple of summer in Indianapolis, pits the Pacers against the Colts, with a large contingent of local media taking the field as well. This year's teams, Team Turner and Team Mathis, each brought impressive rosters to the table for the event, which benefits the Indiana Children's Wish Fund, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Indiana. "It was something that I wanted to do," said Myles Turner when asked about taking the reins as one of the faces of the event. "It's something that really goes on for a great cause, I work really closely with the Make a Wish Foundation and they work very closely with the Indiana Children's Wish Fund, so I'm happy they work hand-in-hand together."

ECHL teams donate over $3.6 million. The ECHL has announced that its member teams donated more than $3.6 million to charitable and non-profit organizations during the 2017-18 season. The Premier “AA” hockey league and its teams have contributed over $30 million to charity in the last seven years and more than $49 million in the last 13 seasons. “Once again this season, the ECHL’s 27 teams made a significant impact in their market,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. “These efforts are driven by our commitment to the ‘Declaration of Principles.’ In short, we believe in our ability to improve lives and strengthen communities globally through hockey. We believe that living by these Principles will provide a healthy, balanced and enjoyable experience for all and inspire impactful service beyond the rink.” The financial contributions are in addition to the thousands of appearances by players, coaches, team personnel, and mascots at schools, hospitals, libraries, and charity functions throughout the year. The total includes over $228,000 for cancer awareness and prevention raising the total raised through “Pink in the Rink” and similar events the last 11 seasons to more than $3.6 million.

Carson Wentz launches food truck. Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz has announced the launch of a charity food truck in Philadelphia. The truck, named Thy Kingdom Crumb, which is green and features a crown and bible scriptures, will operate through the AO1 Foundation. Wentz founded AO1 in 2017 with the mission of “uplifting individuals and communities around the world by demonstrating God’s love for His people,” according to its website. Wentz also has plans to launch an outdoor camp for youth and a sports complex in Haiti through AO1. In a promo video, Wentz said, “The longer I’ve been in the city of Philadelphia, the more I’ve seen and the more connection I’ve felt with this city. I wanted to find a way to make a difference in this area and the community. What better way than to provide free food?”

Sports 4 Life grants $450,000 to boost girls’ sport participation. The Women's Sports Foundation and espnW announced that at least $450,000 has been awarded to 64 organizations across 18 states through Sports 4 Life, an initiative to increase the participation and retention of African-American and Hispanic girls in youth sports programs. The grants are expected to serve about 14,000 middle and high school girls. "Even more than we believe in the power of sports, the Women's Sports Foundation believes that all girls -- regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, zip code or family income deserve equitable access to the lifelong benefits of sports,” Deborah Antoine, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation, said in a statement. Since Sports 4 Life was co-founded by the Women's Sports Foundation and espnW in 2014, it has awarded 200 grants totaling more than $1.1 million and reaching more than 50,000 girls nationally.

[beaulahmae]

City of Dale, 20th of July, 2942 T.A.

“BARD!”

Everyone rushed to the King of Dale, who was laid out on the floor.

Thranduil helped him sit up. “Are you well?” he asked, as Daeron checked his jaw.

“Never mind me; I’m fine.” Bard held his jaw as he addressed Daeron and Turamarth.  “You two need to go find him!”

He was surprised when the Guards froze, looked at each other, and then at Thranduil.

“You heard me; that’s an order!” Bard was becoming angry. “What the f—“

“Bard,” Thranduil said, quietly, as he helped Bard stand, “they are not disobeying your order.  They cannot abandon their post; it is a very serious offense in my Kingdom.”

“Bullshit!  That’s just some stupid technicality!” He gave his husband a look that would brook no argument.  “I refuse to pretend to be helpless, when you know damned well we’re not!  This is a child we’re talking about!” He turned to the three Guards.  

“We’ll stay here, and Ruvyn will guard in your stead.  You know I’m a capable fighter, and Thranduil’s one of the fiercest warriors alive today.  Now, get your arses out there, find Bowen, and do whatever is necessary to calm him down.”

“Where do you want us to take him when we find him, My Lord?”

“What do you mean ‘where?’” Anna was frightened. “He’s just a child, My Lord!  Surely you can see how upset he is!”  She started to cry, and her husband put his arm around her.

“She’s right, My Lord.  That boy has taken too much on his shoulders.  He hardly sleeps or eats, and all that has taken its toll.  And now, he probably thinks he’s going to punished.”  Daffyd sighed. “Bowen is not well.  He needs a break from all this, or we may lose him altogether.  Please, give the boy whatever he needs.  We’ll see to his brother and sister.”

Bard nodded his agreement. “We’re going help him, not punish him,” he promised the weeping woman.  “This incident is under Seal, no one will discuss it with anyone but those in this room.  I want you to keep Ellyn from getting upset, until we know exactly what’s going on.  Anna, go back and tell her we’re seeing to him; he just needs a little time.    Daffyd, I want you to go home, in case he goes there.”

The King of Dale addressed the two Guards. “It’s chilly out there from the rains, and the boy could get sick, but I’m afraid if Bowen sees a lot of strangers in uniform, he’ll go further into hiding.  I’ll give you two hours to find the boy on your own, then I’ll have to sound the bells and send every able-bodied person out to join the search.”

Thranduil nodded his agreement. “When you find him, we will trust your judgement as to what to do with him.  Lord Bard and I will visit Ellyn for a few minutes, then go back to the Castle to await word.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder filled the air. “Leave your armor and swords here; the last thing we need is for one of you to get struck by lightning.” Bard ordered. “We’ll get it back to you.”

Daeron and Turamarth saluted, and out the door they went.

Thranduil put his hand on Bard’s arm.  “Are you well?”

“I’ll be fine,” though Bard was rubbing and working his jaw. “If it hurts later, you can take a look.”

“I’m so sorry, My Lord!”  Anna came over to beg forgiveness.

“Don’t worry about that.  All I care about is finding him, so we can make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”  He looked at the older couple.  “Now remember don’t tell his Mam: we’ll just say he wants to calm down a little.  Daffyd? Get Powell out of this weather.  Tell him to leave the carriage out there and wait in here, until we’re ready to leave.  Take your carriage to the Castle and fetch Ivran, then go home and see if the boy goes there.”

“Right away, My Lord.”  When the man opened the door, they all saw another flash of lightning, followed by a loud clap of thunder.  The rain was now a downpour.

“Oh, the poor boy…” Anna clutched her chest. “What if –“

Thranduil stepped over. “Come Mistress.  Do not let your mind go to dark places, until you must.  I am sure Ellyn is worried, so we will put on a brave face and help her.” He put her hand in the crook of his arm.  “I have faith in my Guards, as does King Bard.  Whatever is amiss, we will make sure young Bowen comes to no harm.”

The Elvenking led the way back to the patient’s room, to find Elénaril sitting on the bed, holding Owena, with Maddox snuggled against his mother.

Thranduil went over and kissed her hand.  “How do you feel, Mistress Ellyn?  Are you in pain?”

“No, thank the Stars.  They’ve been taking good care of me.”

“My Mam’s really, really sick.” Mad looked up at Thranduil, with sad eyes that pierced the Elvenking’s heart.  “But she says Daffyd and Anna will take care of us.”

Thranduil stroked the boy’s head.  “I am sorry she is sick, child.  Your Mam must love you a great deal to make sure you will be looked after.”

Elénaril got up with the baby, and held her hand out.  “Maddox, would you like some juice?  I think I know where we can find some cookies to go with it.”

The boy looked up at his Mam, who smiled.  “Go on, lovey.  I’ll just talk to Lord Bard and Lord Thranduil for a few minutes.”

“Do you want me to bring you one, Mam?”

“I’d love that.”

After they left, Bard came over.  “Ellyn, I’m so sorry.  I really am.”

“Please, My Lord.  I don’t have time to lament my bad luck.  I need to spend what I have left making sure my children are all right.” She gave him a sad smile.

“Can I do anything?”

“Yes, if you would.  I can’t…” she held up her hands.  “They’re so weak now, but I want to write letters to my children.  I want them to know I’ll be thinking of them throughout their lives.”

“I will send someone over, to write whatever you dictate.”  Bard took both her hands in his.  “And I will keep the letters and see that they get them personally.”

“If you would, My Lord.  Anna will have so much to do and I don’t want to burden her –“

“Nonsense, Ellyn!” Anna protested.  “‘Tis no burden, you know that! I’m happy to do it.”

“All the same, I want Lord Bard to keep them and give them out.  This way, they know their King is looking after them.”

“I’d be honored, good lady.  Would you be willing to allow Princess Sigrid to help with this?  She is eager to be of use, and her handwriting and spelling are good.”

“That would be nice.” Ellyn looked out in the Hall.  “Where’s Bowen?  Has he settled down?”

Bard smiled and rubbed her hands.  “He’s taking it hard, but we’ll make sure he’s all right.”

“I know he’s angry and upset,” Ellyn’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s all been so hard on him; too hard.  He’s such a good boy…”

“I know he is, Ellyn.” Bard smiled.  “I have some people looking out for him, so please, don’t worry.”

As Thranduil watched his husband reassure this sick woman, with such compassion and consideration, he thought about the conversation he had with Bard earlier.  This was what he loved so much about his Bowman: his genuine, easy manner that can calm and soothe the turmoil within him, within anyone.

In this moment, he felt honored to be Consort to the King of Dale.

@dailythranduilproject