#blame Corvus

[staticymaticyyourlifeisatravesty]

Decided to do Lilith's relationships with her father:

I imagine it's fairly good, especially on the surface, but beneath Lilith tends to feel like she can never amount to what her father is, so she doesn't even try to. She knows she can't be perfect like him, and she hates that people expect her to be, even Sanguinius though he's more subconscious about it.

Before Sanguinius was found, I imagine she had a fairly good relationship with him. She knows she is very much loved by him and definitely was taught how to hunt. I imagine the issue was the fact she needs blood and before being found Sanguinius didn't truly teach her that it was bad, that it was simply just a part of her. The problem came when he saw the revenant legion after the Emperor came.

That was when it began to change and for awhile in her early teens Lilith had a bit of delayed puberty as a result of her diet being somewhat fucked by the fact she just wanted to make her dad happy, and tried to suppress her hunger because she hated seeing the look in his eye when she fed or spoke of it. A look that he hadn't had before. Suffice to say it didn't work great for her, and she nearly killed someone after being hungry for nearly a week. This was also when more of her feathers were coming in and she started getting weird looks for it.

I imagine that Sanguinius eventually caught on and felt horrible for making her feel that she had to repress her hunger to make him happy. During her teens it was likely difficult because she saw how regular people outside of the Blood interact with her father and seeing how they all saw him as being perfect, it often made her own issues worse. Especially when she was in her 'ugly' stage and had feathers that hadn't fully come in yet, and she had that awkward gangly teen look because she had a massive growth spurt and hadn't filled out yet.

So que her feeling hideous next to him due to how he was perceived. It's likely a few of her 'big' brothers helped her during this time and were the ones to tell Sanguinius how Lilith was truly feeling because you bet your ass Lilith inherited her dad's awful habit of just repressing shit. This has result in Lilith blowing up at her father a few times in tears when he tried to get her to talk to him. This is also how they found out she was a pysker because she accidentally set fire to a tapestry.

In her late teens she starts to get the same otherworldly beauty that her father has, and has her feathers properly come in. By this point her relationship is better with Sanguinius, mainly because the two idiots were sat down by either Fulgrim, or Jaghatai and taught how to effectively communicate. Jagh also does wonders for her self esteem by teaching her that it's okay that she's not perfect and is the sole reason why she's not constantly striving to be perfect like her father.

The fact she's not a huge fan of Karash can sometimes make her father and her butt heads, but Lilith insists that she's only taking from those willing. (She is, the fact those blood thralls are all women is vastly unrelated). She'll drink the stuff, especially if she knows they're gonna be in the warp for awhile or she's going to be with her uncles for awhile she'll drink it. Largely prefers not to. Doesn't bother around Konrad, because Konrad frankly encourages it.

I imagine as a young adult, she has a fairly good relationship curtsy of her uncles realizing that the both of them are horrible at admitting their emotions and deciding to intervene. Loved him greatly, though she was spared the black rage. Instead after Sanguinius' death, Lilith permanently cries blood instead of water. Suggested to be her taking the sorrow of all the lives lost and the betrayal the heresy left behind.

Dead Father in the warp and current old lady Lilith that doesn't look older then thirty five, have a pretty good relationship though Sanguinius, despite being dead, sometimes is concerned about her methods. Lilith denies any and all lessons from Konrad. Konrad's spirit begs to differ and is immensely proud that she has learned the fine art of carving bones.

[jemichiart]

A clever trickster or an ill omen, ravens have always left a strong impression on human imagination. I've had ravens hidden in the background of my art many times, but it was about time to make a proper illustration of one. ^^

If you'd like to have this black bird as your companion, this artwork is available as many kinds of prints and items on: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/158962509

[raayllum]

Sometimes it hits just how tonally different The Dragon Prince is from virtually every other kids show on TV and I lose my mind. I'd argue something like Infinity Train gets closest with its emphasis on psychological horror and morality, or even Transformers: Prime (if you know, you know) with its severe focus on war (aka one of the more lowkey episodes is a main character having a suicide bomb forcibly strapped to their chest). Steven Universe Future and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaeceous/Chaos Theory are also probably honourable mentions.

All of these shows have mature content in them, which isn't different from more popular shows like Owl House, She-Ra, or even ATLA, but often times in aforementioned three that content is presented in lighter ways and/or interrupted by bathos (this is true for She-Ra in particular). Most of TOH's heaviness is reserved for S2 Hunter or S3 Luz; ATLA has some episodes that particularly emotionally heavy (The Southern Raiders, Zuko Alone, the Southern Air Temple) or are quite hitting in exploring themes of colonization (Imprisoned, City of Walls and Secrets, Northern Air Temple), but a good deal, I'd say even the majority, are also pretty fun shenanigans, too. To be clear as well, a lighter tone is not a Problem never mind a negative (ATLA has a very strong thematic point to its own about the sanctity of children and childhood amid the horrors of how imperialism strips it away), but it is a tonal difference.

And it's not as though TDP doesn't have episodes where there are fun shenanigans (Callum and Rayla's initial exploration of Xadia in 3x02 is nothing but fluff, Soren and Corvus are a more gay comedic duo in 6x02) but the series more or less operates like "What if every episode was The Southern Raiders?" due to its consistent emphasis on grief and morality. They use words like kill and death and murder all the time.

From the pilot / opening episodes

and to when characters are having breakdowns because they murdered someone (and we're still supposed to like them) or have done horrible things, with the show's heaviness ramping up particularly from S4 onwards.

When loved ones die (and the show has a body count of 20+ named characters who have died, six seasons in, some even being children) the show depicts mourning in all its stages and ugly glory. The sadness, the anger, the revenge, the desperation, shifting blame and cognitive dissonances, thinking you had moved on only for that wound (which never fully healed) to be ripped wide open again.

Characters get tortured by being electrocuted or having their blood frozen in their veins or beaten up (5x08). There are successful assassination attempts (1x03, 3x02). People, even children younger than the main cast of characters, are put on trial with the death penalty (4x06, 6x09). Within the first three episodes, a character is running down stairs and tripping over dead bodies.

Sometimes three different characters in one episode will be having a breakdown or dealing with something absolutely devastating to their emotional state (2x08, 3x07, 6x01, 6x09, 7x01). The magic system is a trolley problem on steroids. Do you kill a monster to feed starving kingdoms, or to save yourself, or to save someone you love? What makes it a monster? What if the monster isn't a monster? What if you have to kill a child? What if it means killing your child? What if it means killing yourself?

There are two characters who canonically have cannibalized other people, one being a blood-drinker / vampire variant.

This doesn't mean the show isn't fun or funny. One character consistently thinks bathroom humour is funny (while being one of the most tragic characters in the entire show). The characters cheer each other up, take care of each other, are goofy, etc. The show is ultimately hopeful.

But the emotional weight afforded to the choices the characters are making, even good-intentioned ones with unforeseen disastrous consequences, the way show focuses on their emotional processing (or lack of) is very unique in the landscape of western animation, especially to this degree, I think. Never mind the increasing amounts of blood. Nor does this make the show inappropriate for children! Tiny me was morbid as fuck at 7 years old, I would've loved it, and I know many kids from ages 7-12 who do in my work as a tutor. But when people say "TDP isn't like most kids shows," I think what that means is sometimes lost in translation in conflating it with what people usually say aren't 'just kids shows,' when TDP... really, really isn't.

The show begins with assassins sent by a grieving mother to execute a father and his child in revenge for the father killing her partner and child, and it never lets you forget it.

[meangreennunseen]

Another silly comic. I blame Primarchs as girl dads posts by @toto-the-cactus and the one they posted recently for both Magnus and Corvus. So I had to give sad little daughter to Corvus. She's still very young, bit confused and overhelmed, but nevertheless has a spirit 😂

I swear to Omnissaiah, at this pace I will give kids to everyone.... Also I had to reference that meme of Emps hitting his horny sons with a flip flop, because that shit's funny.

[moodymisty]

I seen Gillamen and Vulkan with their pregnant so but what about other Primarch?

Like Lion El Johnson, Corvus, and Horus around their pregnant partner who is near time to give birth to their child?

[ 𝕸𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖞𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖞'𝖘 𝕸𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙 | 𝕬𝖔3 ]

Author’s note: I saw Corvus, I write Corvus. It's kind of short but I hope you like it.

Relationships: Corvus Corax/Fem!Reader

Warnings: Tokophobia, pregnancy, Not much else really

Corvus was far from pleased about being so far from Deliverance. Terra was a planet that didn’t bring him much joy or fondness, beyond it being the heart of the Imperium, and the place of his creation.

But he grits his teeth and bears it, because he has to.

He has to for you. You’re heavily pregnant now, and the growth rate and pain of carrying the child of a primarch has begun to take its toll. Beyond what Deliverance can assist you with. Terra has the best that is available, and so he bears it.

He doesn’t have to carry around a being you weren’t meant to carry, so he does it in silence.

“I would’ve done the same, if I was in your position.”

Sanguinus’ face has softened expression slightly after Corvus’ surprise declaration. He had vaguely known he had someone at Corvus' side, but the idea of them actually being able to have biological children was much more of a surprise.

Food for thought, Sanguinus kept to himself.

“Baal is my home, but I can’t deny that what Terra has created far outweighs what my smaller planet could provide. I don’t blame you for bringing her here.” Corvus doesn’t find much usefulness in the statement, but he somewhat appreciates the attempt at sympathy. His hands shift on the massive ornate railing that overlooks more of the palace.

Corvus nods at him, but it doesn't take a keen eye to notice that he isn't much in the mood for more conversation. Sanguinius decides to keep it brief and let him return to his ailing beloved.

“Tell her I say hello and I wish her good health, yes?" The angel clears his throat in an attempt not to laugh. "But avoid telling Guilliman about this until he's in a better mood, he’ll pop a vein in his forehead.” Corvus rolls his eyes not at Sanguinus himself, but the fact that what he said isn’t out of the realm of reality. He leans up off the railing, and nods to the other primarch.

“I will.”

Corvus with a slow gait enters the room, only to see you standing and reaching your hands towards the massive, vaulted ceiling.

“You should be in bed.” He says, and you sigh. Not even a moment before he's already reprimanding you.

“I know. I just wanted to stretch a bit.”

Corvus turns his gaze from you and to the bed, where your raven, caws softly and hops around on the blankets; Eagerly awaiting your return to it. As he gifted the bird to you young, it’s more of a pet than anything. It has served it's purpose as being your gift, his way of asking for you at his side. If you want it to just be a companion, then that's your prerogative.

You slip back into bed moments later, and Corvus comes to your side. The raven knows to behave better around him, and decides to plop itself close to your hip and fluff it's feathers with a contented warble.

“How are they?” He asks, though from experience you know he’s referring to you as well as your child.

“The same. I think they’re asleep now, I haven’t felt them move.” Corvus puts a hand to your belly, and indeed doesn’t feel anything until you move, and the baby kicks his palm. He catches your wince. he doesn't say anything, though you end up doing it for him.

“Corvus,” You say, looking at him. “I’ve never felt this bad in my entire life. I still have a bit left, I don’t know if I can keep up at this rate.” He sighs.

“I know.” He looks away from you for a moment, though his hand still stays firmly on your stomach.

Perhaps this is the punishment he gets for daring to be selfish, he thinks to himself. To see the one person he loves in pain because of him. Though he thinks of a recent happening and softens expression a bit, and you call him on it, a curious smile on your face.

“What?”

Your raven picks at your hair in an attempt for your attention, and you scratch his wing before he hobbles away.

“My men have asked about you, since we left Deliverance. They seemed worried you were close to death.” The ones who stayed back haven't been updated on anything since he's left, and while there are many Raven Guard on Terra, it's much harder to communicate with his men that are now so far away. You laugh, rolling to your side and facing him to take the pressure of your back.

“Well, I feel like it.” Corvus, his hand still on your belly the entire time, leans in and kisses your forehead. He wonders how you can be so morbid yet cheerful at the same time.

“Rest some more. Then I might have you speak to my sons so they know you’re still in good health.”

They’ve become more attached to you as time has gone by, and while some hesitate to trust or welcome you, many have begun to open up and allow you in. Perhaps they've realized that you offer more than you impede; Or they've simply acquiesced to Corvus' desperate desire to feel human.

You grip Corvus’ larger hand softly, squeezing his fingers before speaking.

“Let me at least eat first. I’m starving.” Another curious aspect about this whole thing; Your hunger is near never ending. Corvus dares to crack the slightest smile.

“Fine. I’ll have the serfs bring you something.”

He sees your satisfied smile, and leans in once more to gently kiss your lips. Once he pulls away he gives your raven a scratch on the head, before leaving.

[tagedeszorns]

It's Marine Meat Monday again and I'm back with a canon-guy: Navar Hef of the Raven Guard!

I love the mutated Raptors so much! The smooth with the rough, as they say.

If you want to know more about how and why there are almost possessed-looking Raven Guard Marines and how Corvus tries to blame the Alpha Legion for that (but let's be honest - just look at him now. It's his gene-seed!), you should absolutely read "Deliverance Lost" and the short stories with the Raptors.

[baatarthefirst]

Viren Was Right. There, I said it.

Now Don't Get Me Wrong...

when it comes to 'who started it?', the humans of TDP are responsible for their fair share of troublemaking.

But I don't think Xadia gets it's fair share of the blame. Let's look at Avizandum.

Apparently, while we only see humans doing something stupid and Xadia retaliating; the Dragon King would pick fights then squash the humans he provoked. The fact glossed over because our boy Zym was sad that his dad's being disrespected. But is it a wonder that some humans feel like they always have a knife to their throat?

Now, personally, I don't like Viren. The guy was manipulative and foolish and just rubbed me the wrong way; and still did up until his death (It was a good death, I'll admit it). But, Viren wasn't completely wrong with his constant spewing about "the threat to humanity".

'But that doesn't count, the humans started it'...yes, and no. See the humans did kill King Avizandum and 'destroyed' his egg. Okay. The Dragon Queen got revenge by ordering a hit on King Harrow and his son. Dept paid, but Janai's forces have had to been gathering since before the assassination. Why? Because getting 'justice' wasn't enough.

The dragons are crossing the border, scaring humans who are just going about their lives in peace. Soren gets the blame for the town being set ablaze, and he should. Corvus warned him not to start he can't finish but why was Pyrrah intimating them? Why is it okay for Pyrrah to just fly around intimating innocent people? Seems like she's picking a fight. Soren gets the blame for starting the whole mess, but he should really get blame for taking some pretty obvious bait.

Then we have these elves attacking Amaya unprovoked. This wasn't retaliation for the outpost on the Xadian side of the border, it hadn't even been discovered and sacked yet.

Little side tangent, why does Amaya get grief for killing Janai's soldiers, when Janai doesn't catch flack for killing Amaya's?

The soldiers didn't abandon the outpost, they were attacked. And they're nowhere to be found. It's not hard to figure out what happened to them.

Now back to why Viren was right in his reasoning, if not his planning. When given the option, why did Janai try to stop Amaya's plan to blow up the Breach?

If she was just protecting their borders, then Janai should have lit the charges herself, as that would cut off the armies best/only known route to Xadia.

Xadia wanted a war. Xadia was starting a war, even though most of the humans wanted no part in it, and Viren was right to be afraid. He's stupid in his actions (we know where Soren got it from) but the signs were there.

[sorinethemastermind]

Big Feelings Time (again)

In which Corvus tries to be there for Soren, and confessions are shared. #Sorvus

 Corvus had always known that there were some scars you couldn’t see. And he had also known that being good at hiding them didn’t mean they weren’t there. He hadn’t stumbled blindly forward, not knowing what the future might hold. He had known that Soren was scarred. And yet he was still the most beautiful person he had ever met, inside and out. Scars and all. 

 But knowing all of this hadn’t prepared him for any of it. Because knowing and seeing are two different things. And Corvus hated feeling so helpless.

  “I’m so messed up, Corvus.” Soren had said, once he’d calmed down enough to speak. He’d muttered it into Corvus’ chest, leaning into his embrace. “I feel like… like I’m coming apart. Like I’m in pieces.”

 He’d tried to pull away then, sniffing and wiping at his eyes. “Sorry. That’s stupid. I'll be fine.”

 And Corvus had pulled him back in until he stopped being silly and admitted that he was not fine. And then he’d told him that that was okay, because of course he wasn’t fine. 

 “I don’t want you to see me like this.” Soren had admitted, but Corvus had just shaken his head and held him closer. He’d tried to ask him about Claudia then, assuming that’s what this was. And then was when he found out about Lissa.

 “She- she asked about Claudia.” Soren had said after, leaning his head against Corvus’ shoulder as they sat in the supply room. “And Vi- Dad.”

 Corvus could hear the pain in the word. Didn’t know what it meant that he was using it again, whether it was a good sign or a bad one.

 “And I didn’t know what to say. So I just… I just ran away. I ran away, Corvus.”

 He’d tried to comfort him. “You don’t have to be ready to talk to her yet.”

 “I used to dream about her coming back.” Soren had said, sniffing again. “I used to think it would fix everything. But it’s all too broken now.”

 There wasn’t anything Corvus could do to fix it either, he was slowly realizing. He’d known, of course, on a logical level, that Soren’s family would always be a part of him. But with the goofy grin he always wore, sometimes it was easy to forget. It seemed like everyone else had, at least. So he’d offered to bring in the rest of the supplies, because even if he couldn’t do anything else, he could do that. And he had seen what must have been her there, standing by the crates, offering a kid some food out of one of them. 

 And he’d felt foolish when the irrational surge of resentment had swum up inside him, because why hadn’t she been there for her child when he needed her. Except Corvus knew that was stupid. He was only just beginning to scratch the surface of what Viren had been like, he couldn’t blame her for leaving. What might it have been like for her, if Viren had done this to his own son?

She didn’t know that he knew Soren, only that he was a crownguard like her son, so while she did try to ask after him, it was easy to dodge her questions. And after that they didn’t speak. Now, carrying in the final crate of supplies, Corvus found the door to the pantry ajar. 

 He hurried forward, wondering if somehow she could have found Soren, but it was just Ezran. He looked up as Corvus entered, his big eyes worried. He didn’t sound it, though. He sounded almost cheerful as he turned back and continued saying to Soren;

 “-so that’s why I think you should really stay in the lodge and help Opeli out a bit.”

 “I’m a Crownguard.” Soren was trying to say. “I’m not even supposed to leave your side. I’ve already-” “Soren.” Ezran said, his voice suddenly firm. “Stay inside and help Opeli. Please?”

 “...Okay.” It wasn’t like he could argue.

 “Thank you.” Ezran smiled at him. “And Corvus will stay with you.”

 “I think that’s a wonderful idea, King Ezran.” Corvus said quickly, even as Soren was opening his mouth to object. “Opeli can use all the help she can get.”

 “Yes. She really could.” Ezran dusted off his knees as he rose to his feet again. “I’ll be safe, Soren. Don’t worry. There are more guards here now, and Aanya will be with the next contingent. We’re safe here. Just rest.”

 As he walked out of the room he brushed by Corvus and added, softly; “Make sure he actually rests? He needs it.”

 Corvus nodded seriously, waiting for the door to swing shut behind Ezran before sitting on the ground beside his partner.

 “When I imagined us being together, it was never like this.” Soren said softly, after a moment. 

 “You imagined us being together?”

 “You didn’t?”

 “I did.” Corvus admitted. “Often.”

 Soren smiled, but only for a moment before his brows furrowed again. “I always pictured it sort of… peaceful. Cause you’re so peaceful. But I’m all…” And he waved his hands chaotically in the air before letting them fall back into his lap. “And now you’re just stuck picking up the pieces.”

 “You’re not in pieces.” Corvus told him. “And if you are, then I don’t mind helping you put them back together. Isn’t that what partners do?”

 “But maybe you don’t… maybe you don’t want to be-” Soren looked away, wouldn’t meet his eyes.

 Corvus’ heart thudded in his chest, but he took the other man’s hands in his own, forcing him to look him in the eyes as he said; “I love you, Soren. I love every piece of you. And I will love helping you put them back together, if that’s what you need me to do.”

 “You…” Soren’s eyes widened. 

 “I know it’s… it’s only been a few, well, days, really.” Corvus said, barely able to hear himself over the hammering in his chest. It felt like his heart was trying to burst through his ribs and spill out onto the floor. Not that he wasn’t already exposing it enough right then. Years of carefully built walls came crumbling down as he continued, breathless. “But it hasn’t been just days for me. I didn’t stay at the castle for Ezran. I stayed for you, Soren. Because you needed me. And you are the… the most…”

 “I love you too, Corvus.” Soren’s voice was raspy and choked with emotion. 

 And Corvus felt like his smile was too wide for his face, and Soren was beaming at him, his eyes sparkling with a million unsaid things. But they all somehow found a voice when he said it again, softly;

 “I love you.” And then again louder. “I love you!”

 “Soren, people will hear.” Corvus said, some last semblance of sense waking in him. 

 “I don’t care.” Soren said, leaning forward to kiss him. “Because I love you.”

 “But I didn’t mean to make it about me.” Corvus began. “I just wanted you to know that I’m here-”

 “Oh, shut up and just let me kiss you.” Soren teased. 

 So Corvus did.

[jelzorz]

204.

The plan is straightforward. There’s no time to go searching for Lissa, and honestly, Opeli cannot blame Soren for not wanting to, so Lujanne’s clever tricks will have to do, but...

She is still doubtful. Soren and Ezran have both promised her that Lujanne won’t fail, that her illusions are fool proof and there is no one in the world who could produce one better, and she believes them. It’s Claudia that she worries about: Claudia, who has always been clever and prepared for even the most unexpected turn of events. Claudia, who holds more bitterness about her family than even Soren; Claudia, who has not been known to forgive.

“It’ll be fine, Opeli,” Soren tells her. He is saddling up with Terry while Corvus and Ezran are gathering supplies for their stand against Aaravos, which is another thing again entirely. (She wonders quietly if she will ever be allowed to go back to being a cleric and if she will ever recover from the sleepless nights and the ever-present anxiety of fretting over the fates of her wards. The answer is likely not). “We’ve faced worse than her before. You should be more worried about Ezran.”

“He'll be receiving a lecture next, believe me,” Opeli says drily, “but you’ll have to forgive me for my concern. The last few days have not been easy. For anyone.”

Soren snorts at that. “You’ve got that right," he mutters, wincing as the stitches she put in his hairline pull tight. He adjusts the billet strap on his stallion and mutters an apology when the horse brays under his touch. “We’ll get her,” he says firmly. “She’ll listen. She has to.”

“Would you, if it was you?”

Soren pauses at that. He looks away. 

Opeli clicks her tongue. “She’s dangerous, Soren, and Terry may have earned our trust, but it will be the two of you and an illusionist dressed as your mother against a mage under the influence of an entity like Aaravos. Don't pretend this will be easy."

"I'm not," says Soren. "But we have to try."

"I know you do. Just... Be careful."

In spite of everything, he smiles. "Here," he says, reaching into his collar for Hat. He's been skittish since the attack on the castle, Soren has told her. He won't stay with anyone but him—and very occasionally, her. "Hat can't come, obviously. Keep him safe for me?"

Opeli lets herself chuckle, if a little ruefully, as she lets the little glowtad clamber up her arm and under her hood. "Of course." And then she adds—

"She did love you. Lissa, I mean."

Soren blinks. "Oh, that's right. You would've known her. It's funny—you've been one of us for so long that I keep forgetting you must've known all our parents too."

"Not as well as you might think," says Opeli with a snort. "I was little more than a child when she had you. I hadn't even taken my vows. But... she was at the temples every day, thanking the Five Sisters for you and your sister long before she was ever there to pray for your health. She loved you. She'd be proud to know how far you've come."

Soren swallows. Then he turns away. "Why'd she leave, then?"

"I don't know the answer to that any more than you do," says Opeli quietly. "But I hope that knowing is worth something."

Soren says nothing for a while. Then he takes a breath and mounts up. "It is."

Opeli twitches her lips at him. "Be safe."

He smiles back. "I will."

[uncxntrxllable]

❝ Because sometimes shit doesn't need to be thrown — you know he's literally a demon, right? ❞

♘ ― ❝ why don't you encourage him? ❞

[staticymaticyyourlifeisatravesty]

I feel I should put this here, that Lilith and Sanguinius had a great relationship and he was an excellent father before the Emperor came. It was just after the Emperor showed up that things started to go downhill from there, especially once Sanguinius reunited with his legion.

I don't think Sanguinius at first even realized just how different Lilith's blood thirst was to that of the blood angels/revenant and had treated it the same way he did theirs. As a result Lilith ended up getting a lot of Sang's insecurities by accident, as well as a few of her own because suddenly in this new place, her mutations aren't as accepted as they were with the blood. It's also a part of why she took so long to reach her full height/ had such a long adolescence. She wasn't feeding as she needed which caused her to become rather weak, and sickly.

Probably during this time, Sanguinius wasn't very able to notice that was something was horrifically wrong because like Sanguinius, Lilith is very good at hiding things if she doesn't want it known, along with the fact she started wearing veils around the same time she stopped drinking blood, or rather stopped drinking it as often as she should have been. Really she was only drinking enough to keep herself from falling into a coma. Probably wasn't that good of a fighter and likely some Luna Wolves noticed that she was weaker, but didn't know how to approach it.

Meanwhile the Emperor was using her to see if it was possible to get her to not be able to drink blood, or if it could be used to control her. Which is how she ended up in a coma for nearly six months and also when it was realized she was growing far more feathers then usual. I imagine it wasn't until Jaghatai came along that things really changed because Jag just saw a young teen suffering and nothing more. Like I imagine he asked her to remove her veil and when she did, he saw just how sickly she looked. He may not have understood much gothic at the time, but he definitely almost immediately tried to bring her back with him.

He's also the one to make Sanguinius fully realize that something was really fucking off. Sanguinius kind of knew, but the Emperor had pretty much been placating him by saying that He was taking care of her. Suffice to say he was not and Sanguinius was both not happy at all, and blaming himself because he should have known something was wrong.

Jaghatai is pretty much responsible for the woman Lilith became. He basically became her new mom, because even though he was just learning how the Imperium worked and getting used to his new status, he was not going to just stand by and allow Lilith to continue on. Or Sanguinius for that matter. She really started blossoming underneath both him and Sanguinius. Probably earns himself the nickname of Ibu, which is mom.

There's particular reason why I choose Jag for it, it could have easily been Vulkan considering Vulkan was found before Sanguinius. However, Jaghatai feels like he has the most common sense of his brothers and he's also from a nomadic tribe like Lilith. Also the most likely to not take Emps at his word, aside from maybe Corvus. (I realize Sang is probably also in this category but the man believed Emps when he said that He didn't kill Amara even tho he 100% did, so Jaghatai gets to be the one with the braincell, because Corvus is one of the last to be found)

[charms-cat]

Spoilers for season 7 (ep 2 onwards)

Callum in ep 2

I actually hated that Callum sided with Rayla about Runaan. Y'all, why were they acting as if Runaan didn't assassinate Harrow? Y'know, the king of Katolis and Ezran and Callum's father? As if Runaan's crime was spilling tea on Harrow's robes and not literally killing him.

And, while I don't actually blame Runaan for it (since he was ordered to assassinate Harrow), Ezran was right when he said, "Everything changed the day you killed my father." With the king dead and the only heir to Katolis gone, it was the perfect power vacuum for Viren to seize control, which then led to a whole domino effect of the elves vs. humans + allowing Aaravos to slowly gain power and, later, his freedom. Ntm, when Ezran finally found out he was now king, he was still 10 years old and wasn't even told directly that his father was dead. He just figured it out when Corvus called him "king."

Yet, despite that, Callum and Rayla give Ezran no grace period to actually forgive Runaan. Ezran barely had a day, let alone a week. (I'm not counting however long it took them to arrive at the lodge bcs Ezran had to prioritise his people first.)

I understand it's very sad that Runaan and Ethari were separated for so long... but jfc. Callum and Rayla acted like Runaan was already sentenced to life imprisonment and will never see Ethari again so we gotta free him now, guys! 🥺 At that point, you gotta wonder if they actually believe that Ezran can forgive Runaan or if they themselves think Runaan is forgiveable. It was potentially only one more week of absence after two years of Ethari already thinking Runaan was dead.

One week, compared to the literal years that Ezran will never have his father again. [I'll expand on this in the last point]

It's not like Ezran was even being unreasonable?? Runaan undeniably did kill Katolis's former king and, as their current king, Ezran had both the right (as the wronged party) and his duty to his people to actually address the man who did that?? But, no, it's just too much for Runaan to pay for the crime that he actually committed. Let's just break him out after giving no time for Ezran to understand Runaan's actions or position; said action being killing his father.

BTW, the Banther Lodge is closer to Xadia and the Moonshadow Forest so it's not like they lost any time by travelling there.

TLDR; why the fuck were Callum and Rayla acting like Runaan was being wrongfully imprisoned or that Ethari would die if he didn't get the news of Runaan's survival ASAP?

Side note: absolutely fucking hate the "choosing your love interest over your long time friend" trope so I'm extra salty about Callum's decision. I can't believe he just left his five-years-younger brother, who has to deal with being the king of a destroyed kingdom at 12 years old and who was enraged at meeting their father's assassin, to defend said assassin. Brother of the year award for you, Callum! 🤡

Runaan's "redemption"

I binged the entire season so maybe I'm misremembering it, but did Runaan actually redeem himself to Ezran?

Don't tell me one or two "I'm so sorry" speeches was enough for Ezran to forgive his father's assassin... what in the friendship-is-magic is this?? Especially after Runaan escaped Ezran's imprisonment and then just... never returned for his rightful judgment. It's giving off the vibes of, "he already said sorry. You have to forgive him now!"

LMAO FUCK YOU KARIM

He got what he deserved 💅

Seriously. He got offered a second (Janai), third (Amaya), fourth (Miyana), and fifth (destroying the Sun Orb) chance for remorse and he still said, "fuck y'all. If I can't have what I want, then I'm not interested." Rest in misery, you POS.

Zym can talk??

Zuko once learned from the dragons and recovered the true meaning of firebending. Now, he is the dragon. Poetic /s

Harrow/Pip Soul-swap

I. Swear. To. God. The creators debunked this theory years ago (before we even got S4). They said that the soul-swapping/Harrow secretly being alive would have "lessened the impact of his death."

So ig it just... doesn't matter anymore? "Actually, all your theories were right. Haha, gotcha!"

Either this was a hasty plot twist that they decided to shove in at the last second OR they were scared/upset/mad that people were actually piecing together the clues that they gave us and decided to "debunk" the theory so that we'd stop talking about it and ruin the "plot twist" later.

My guy, if you didn't want us to figure it out, don't give any clues. That would be like putting out a bowl of spaghetti and then getting mad that we guessed that we're having pasta for dinner.

[youruinedmylifebynotbeingreal]

The Corvus Birthday Party Spectacular: Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Note: This doesn’t fit the “Matching Scars” prompt for Sorvus week terribly well, but there is a brief discussion of the eyebrow scars so I figured it was as good a day as any to post this!

The room went silent.

Apologies were tumbling out of Corvus’s mouth as soon as he pulled his fist back.

“Soren! Are you okay?” Corvus asked, hands fluttering around Soren’s face, afraid to touch him. His eye was already bruising.

There was more silence.

Suddenly, Soren burst out laughing. Corvus stood there staring as Callum and Ezran (and Bait) rushed up. Everybody else slowly started chatting again.

“Amaya tried to warn me,” he wheezed out between guffaws of laughter.

“I did,” Amaya signed. Gren translated with a chuckle.

Soren went to wipe a tear of laughter from his eye - and he winced. The adrenaline was fading, and he was starting to feel his developing black eye.

Corvus caught the guarded wince. “Soren, come here,” Corvus said, gently grabbing his arm and bringing him closer. Corvus grabbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted Soren’s face towards him, inspecting his left eye. He slipped the hand to Soren’s right cheek, moving his face to and fro.

Soren’s pulse raced. “Oh, I’m fine. Not the worst thing that’s happened to me at a birthday party,” he joked. The others gathered around laughed.

Corvus frowned. He knew that hidden beneath every self-deprecating joke Soren made was a story that made Corvus want to, ironically, punch Viren in the face.

“No, we should clean you up and get some ice on that,” Corvus insisted, grabbing Soren’s hand and beginning to drag him out of the room. Soren’s face turned red - he blamed it on all of the attention currently on him. He loved being the center of attention, but hated when people worried about him.

It definitely had nothing to do with Corvus holding his hand.

Gren and Amaya side-eyed each other. Corvus saw them start signing back and forth, but he was too focused on Soren to pay attention to their gossiping.

“We’ll be back,” Corvus announced, dragging Soren out of the room, the others staring after them.

…

“Where are we going?” Soren asked. Corvus still hadn’t let go of his hand.

“The kitchens for ice. Or maybe the infirmary? Maybe both.”

Soren shook his head. “The kitchens are fine, there should be a first aid kit there.”

“And then I can easily get you some ice once we have you patched up as well,” Corvus grinned back at him. He caught sight of Soren’s eye and his face fell, turning forward again.

Soren caught the change in Corvus’s demeanor and squeezed his hand. “Corvus…”

The man shook his head, needing to focus on his current mission: helping Soren feel better.

They reached the kitchens. Corvus reluctantly let go of Soren and pulled out a stool to place it by a counter. “Sit.”

Corvus started digging in the cabinets, looking for the first aid kit. He didn’t think any of his armor had cut Soren, but he didn’t want to take any chances. He found the first aid kit and brought it to the counter next to Soren. He grabbed a clean rag and poured some of the cleaning solution on it.

“Corvus, really it’s not that big of a deal…”

“Stay still,” the man said, grabbing Soren’s chin again, maneuvering him so he had a better view of his eye. His very clear, very pretty, very blue eye with that adorable little chink in his eyebrow. So reminiscent of his own, but Corvus thought Soren wore it better. Corvus cleared his throat and got to work, gingerly wiping the area down. He needed to focus.

Soren tried not to react but couldn’t help his wince. Corvus’s face somehow got darker.

“Soren, I’m…” he shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”

“Really, it’s fine. I should’ve respected your boundaries, I just…” Soren shrugged. “I wanted to celebrate you.”

Corvus couldn’t find it in himself to be too mad at Soren.

Just a little mad.

Corvus knew the man looked for any chance to be happy and celebrate. He should’ve known Soren was smart enough to figure out when his birthday was. He hated the thought that he’d discounted Soren’s intelligence like so many people usually did.

“How did you even find out my birthday?”

Soren shook his head fiercely, forcing Corvus to back up. “Nope, not gonna happen, I have been sworn to secrecy.” He mimed locking his mouth shut with a key and threw the “key” across the room.

Corvus put his hands on his hips and lifted an eyebrow. “Anybody who knows my birthday was also sworn to secrecy, so we can see how that turns out.”

Soren pursed his lips, refusing to budge. Corvus shrugged and went back to wiping at Soren’s face. He knew Soren would crack eventually.

“Okay, I’ll start listing people then.”

He listed names of his family members that Soren didn’t know and the man had no reaction. Then he moved onto names Soren did know.

“…Amaya, Gren…”

And Soren’s lip twitched. Corvus grinned.

“Ah, I see.”

“What? I didn’t say anything!” Soren protested.

Corvus put the rag to the side, satisfied that any scratches around Soren’s eye would not get infected. He stayed close, inspecting his work. “No, I know exactly what happened. You were your usual charming self -”

“You think I’m charming?”

“- and you convinced Gren that you knowing my birthday was a good idea because I deserve a party. Am correct?”

Soren’s jaw dropped. “Well, kind of, but not exactly.”

“And Amaya refused to say anything and didn’t even want it to be known that she was in the vicinity of this conversation?”

Soren burst out laughing. “Wow, you’re good.”

Corvus shrugged, but a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I mean, analyzing people and my surroundings is kind of my job.”

That made Soren smile and start laughing again. Corvus was momentarily mesmerized by Soren’s laughter when he realized that he was still mere inches away from Soren’s face. Soren realized it at the same moment. His eyes flicked down to Corvus’s lips and -

Corvus pulled back and turned away. Soren frowned.

“I’m - uh - I’m gonna go get you that ice,” he said gruffly.

Corvus made his way into the cooling cellar, which helped to cool his warm face. He hadn’t realized he felt flushed until the cold air hit him. He grabbed an ice pack, filling it with ice, trying to remain focused.

He felt awful. But he knew Soren also felt bad for violating his privacy. Maybe they could just call it even and any future birthday celebrations for Corvus could be planned well in advance with Corvus’s participation.

He made his way back up to Soren, who he found tapping his foot against the rung of the stool and fiddling at a loose stitch on his shirt. Soren always seemed to be in motion. It was strangely endearing.

Corvus shook the bag of ice to get Soren’s attention.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, not looking up but reaching out a hand for the ice pack.

Corvus shook his head and moved closer to Soren. “No, I can help you place it.”

Soren finally looked up and met Corvus’s gaze. The other man’s eyes were rimmed in red. Corvus had never seen him cry before, and he felt something twist at his heart.

“What’s wrong?” Corvus asked, growing concerned. “Did I… did I hurt you that badly?”

“No, Cor, I’m the one that hurt you,” Soren responded. Corvus flinched at the nickname, but didn’t think it was the right time to mention that. “I don’t deserve your help.”

After all Soren had been through, he was crying about Corvus?

Corvus couldn’t help but laugh, causing a bewildered expression to appear on Soren’s face, which just made Corvus laugh more.

“Why can’t people laugh like that during my comedy routines…” Soren mumbled, looking away again. Corvus stopped him with a hand at his chin, forcing Soren to look at him. He noticed a stray tear making its way down Soren’s cheek and he wiped it away. Usually he didn’t like eye contact; but with Soren, it wasn’t so bad.

“Soren. I need you to know I mean this when I say it: you deserve the world. You have the best of intentions, always. While you didn’t go about this in the best way, your heart was in the right place. It always is.”

Soren sniffed and looked away. Tonight was probably the most he’d ever heard Corvus talk all at once.

He liked it.

“I’ve been apprehensive to celebrate my birthday ever since I started training in the military,” he continued, letting go of Soren when the inexplicable warmth in his chest became too much. Soren immediately missed his touch, but didn’t move a muscle for once, afraid of spooking Corvus. He never really talked about his past. “Not for any particularly dark or sad reason. It’s just, growing up… my family loved birthdays. Kind of like you,” Corvus grinned. Soren couldn’t help but smile back.

“So, when I left and didn’t have anyone around to make me feel like celebrating, I just… kind of stopped,” Corvus said with a shrug. “It just wasn’t that big of a deal to me. I’m sure if I’d told Amaya I’d wanted to celebrate, the Standing Battalion would have. But it didn’t feel right without my family. I still get cards and gifts from them. They don’t know that most of the time, to me, my birthday is just another day.”

Soren processed all of this new information about Corvus that he’d have to file away to analyze more later. It seemed like, maybe, he and Corvus weren’t so different after all.

“So, when my birthday passed and I was without my… family for the first time, did you treat me the way you would’ve wanted to be treated back then?”

Corvus tilted his head, thoughtful. Soren’s intelligence shone through yet again. “I honestly hadn’t thought about it that way, but yeah, I guess so. I also just really wanted to make you smile.”

Soren blushed, looking down. They really were similar. “That’s also how I felt planning this party for you,” he explained.

“And I appreciate it. I really do. I haven’t exactly made it easy on you to get to know me. After knowing you and working with you for so long now, I really should’ve seen this coming,” Corvus said dryly, with a dramatic sigh and a shake of his head.

Soren shrugged. “You may be a quiet and private man, but…” he struggled with how to word this next part. “You… I don’t think you always need words. You say more than you think you do with your actions.”

Corvus was quiet, trying to figure out how Soren could read him so well.

The quiet made Soren feel itchy. “So is your birthday a part of the reason your favorite season is fall?”

Corvus’s head snapped up. “You remember that?!”

Soren nodded. “Of course. I try to remember everything you tell me.”

Corvus fumbled for a response when Soren caught sight of the ice pack in Corvus’s hand and Corvus followed his eyes.

“Now that we’ve had this… heart-to-heart, can I finally help you ice your eye?” Corvus asked softly.

Soren could only nod in response.

Corvus slowly approached him again, tilting Soren’s head up. He gently placed the ice pack over Soren’s quickly blackening eye. At the contact, Soren flinched away.

“It’s so cooold,” he whined, attempting to bat Corvus’s arm away.

“That’s the point,” Corvus deadpanned, pressing the ice pack down slowly but firmly.

After a moment, Soren felt the ice start to do its job, and he let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes.

Corvus felt his mouth go dry. He knew he should move his hand from Soren’s face. He knew he should back away. It felt too intimate, like an invasion of privacy.

The wild part was, Corvus wanted to hear Soren make that noise again.

He wanted to know how Soren reacted to everything in life. And that scared him.

Corvus realized that, for someone who didn’t usually like people touching him or touching other people, he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of Soren tonight. He quickly replaced his hand on the ice pack with one of Soren’s and stepped back. Soren seemed none the wiser to Corvus’s personal panic.

“There is one good thing about this,” Soren said whilst standing up.

Corvus raised an eyebrow.

“We know I’d make a very cool pirate!”

Corvus’s face went expressionless.

“Get it? Because it’s like I have an eye-patch?”

“Yes, Soren. I get it. Ha ha.”

“Okay good. Now, me matey, let’s get back to your party! Arrr!”

…

The pair made their way back to the party. They reached the door to the party room and paused.

“And you promise you’ll go to the infirmary tomorrow to make sure it’s not serious?”

Soren rolled his eyes. “I’m the youngest person to ever join the Crownguard. I think I know when I have a concussion.” He saw the frown growing on Corvus’s face. “But yes, as a birthday gift to you, I will make sure it gets checked out by a medical professional.”

“Good, because as the birthday boy, anything I say goes.”

They smiled at each other, neither of them reaching for the door.

“Shall we?” Corvus asked.

Soren nodded, but they both seemed hesitant to go back in there. He grabbed Corvus’s hands in both of his, savoring the warmth after holding the cold ice pack. Reveling in their shared calluses, Soren’s from his strict training and workout regimen and Corvus’s from a mixture of training and practicing his cello. Awed by how they seemed to fit so well together.

“I… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to show you just how grateful I am to have you in my life,” Soren said softly, staring at their hands between them. “I’m not always great at talking about my feelings or how I’m struggling with things.

“Ezran and Callum have been teaching me about Big Feelings Time, so I’m trying to get better at it. But you always somehow seem to know when I need cheering up, even if I don’t realize it.” Soren’s gaze shifted up from their hands to Corvus’s face. “I hope, in some way, I can eventually repay your kindness and friendship. Starting with giving you an awesome birthday.”

Soren took a deep breath and brought Corvus’s hands towards his lips. Soren glanced towards Corvus when he heard a sharp intake of breath. His eyes were glued to Soren’s mouth.

Soren gave a chaste kiss to Corvus’s knuckles. “Happy birthday, Chain Man.”

The charged moment was broken. Corvus couldn’t help but groan and burst into laughter. It seemed like he’d been doing a lot more of that since moving into the castle.

“This will be my first birthday party since childhood. Let’s see if it lives up to my expectations.”

Soren, for once, was the one to initiate the end of a touch. “I think I’ll open the door this time.”

…

Author’s Note:

I’d initially been going for “local gays are obliviously pining after each other but all their friends know” and then it just. Progressed. If I was comfortable writing kisses they definitely would’ve had their first kiss here lmaoooo

[ravenladycorvus]

"So you also help your primarch and keep things running when she's indisposed? Samesies." Inyotep says with a short laugh before idly gesturing towards a distracted Magnus whose presently reading a cheesy romance novel.

@crimsonqueenmagnus

"Don't blame me, my primarch can be stubborn but she have a good heart, so I understand that she can't do things on her own sometime" Arthur said as he looks at Corvus who is sleep peacefully in the couch after he convinced her to take a break. "Man I wish razor here ..." He muttered quietly

[thatartiststudios]

I'll Give You My Life (From Now Till Forever)

Chapter 7: One, There's No One To Blame

The air around the camp was heavy with the weight of decisions yet to be made, and as Callum poured over the map with Ezran and the other war council members, Rayla stood a few paces away, her arms crossed. The discussion had turned to a critical mission—a distraction operation meant to buy time for the main force to reposition. It was dangerous, a mission likely to draw the enemy’s full attention.

“I’ll go,” Callum said suddenly, breaking the tense silence.

Rayla’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “What?”

“We need a mage for this,” Callum continued, addressing Ezran and Corvus. “The spell to mislead their scouts needs to be precise, and I’m the best option. I’ll take a small group, set the decoys, and draw their forces away.”

Ezran’s face showed his concern, but before he could respond, Rayla stepped forward, voice sharp. “No way. Absolutely not. I’ll go.”

Callum turned to her, his brow furrowed. “Rayla, this mission needs magic. My magic.”

Continue on AO3

[raayllum]

There's a chessboard in his dreams.

It doesn't show up often, but Ezran's dreams—or nightmares, he supposes, in this case—have always been reoccurring and strange. They're just more vivid and more violent, now that Aaravos is out. (Everything is worse now that Aaravos is out, now that Runaan is out, but Ezran doesn't blame his brother for either of them. He's not angry. Really.)

The chessboard isn't the one he grew up playing, coaxing his brother and dad and Claudia into games, the pieces painstakingly hand etched and with only the white ones painted. These ones are glossy, almost like glass, each piece having a perfect mirrored reflection of each other, like light and shadow.

And they're not knights or rooks either—but they are pawns.

The inside of the prison reflects the chess board, too, the glossy inside of a pearl even though it'd been smashed to pieces. It's what convinces him that this isn't real, that it's just a dream. (It can't be real. He won't let it be real.)

"Ah, King Ezran," Aaravos greets, seated in one chair behind the white set pieces. White always moves first—which makes sense. This game started centuries before Ezran was born. "How nice of you to join me."

Not that any of them have much of a choice, but Ezran takes a seat and grits his teeth. His crown always feels heavier here, even before he sees the way Aaravos picks up his pint-sized Callum and twirls him between his fingers.

"Are you and your dear brother fighting again?"

Yes, but—"Put him down," Ez growls out.

Aaravos raises a brow, but sets the game piece down on one of the white squares, next to a matching Rayla piece. "Not in the mood for games today, are you?" The Startouch elf steeples his fingers together, and nudges one of his frontline pieces forward across the board.

Then it's Ezran's turn, and he knows there's no point in delaying the inevitable, as he picks which piece to move forward.

The chessboard itself Ezran of the war maps he's been looking at lately, moving troops and people—sending his brother and their best friend off to dangerous locations, because they don't have a choice if they want to stop Aaravos and his corrupted Sun army. Ezran, as king, having to treat those he loves most like pawns.

"Your brother wouldn't sacrifice you for anything," Aaravos croons, once they're halfway through. Ezran's temple pounds, his figure of Aunt Amaya having already felled. His piece of Prince Karim is backed into a corner with nowhere to go; Aaravos has lost only small figures on his end—Opeli, Corvus, Barius—pieces he was never that interested in controlling in the first place. "How sad you can't say the same."

"Shut up!" Ezran snaps, because how dare anyone insinuate he doesn't love his brother? Because he does—no matter what, Ezran loves his brother—but he just doesn't love the way Callum does. His brother never does anything halfway; not magic or his fiery temper or his fiercely protective nature. He loves like an explosion, a super nova, a tidal wave.

Ezran has never loved like that. It's not in his nature. It's what makes him a good (miserable) king.

Ezran slams a piece down, not really looking, but knows in an instant he's made a mistake, because Aaravos grins, wide and sharp, like a cat about to eat a canary.

"Hm, not your best, little king," he says, and bumps a glossy monster-pawn up to where Callum lies. "Checkmate."

Ezran wakes up, clammy and hoarse, his throat tight and heart racing. Bait grunts from somewhere near his hip, the glow toad still asleep, and Ezran is careful not to touch him lest he wake him, and stares at the ceiling of his war tent instead.

He exhales, slowly, and gets out of bed to wash his face.

Tomorrow, he will be thirteen years old. He will give speeches at the crack of dawn and command troops and he and his brother, who's acting as one of his generals, will try and muddle through a conversation without arguing.

Ezran scrubs at his eyes and can't quite fight back the tears. But for tonight, in the privacy of the dark, he can be a little boy who's tired of losing.

He's so tired of losing.