#blame sima

[angeart]

a cuteguy design

[darklydeliciousdesires]

La Dolce Vita - John Shelby/Cosima Changretta (OFC).

Bit more John n' Cosima for you, you beautiful people! I'm really feeling inspired in my writing of late, so yeah, you get to enjoy lots of work flying out of the DDD press! :D

Words - 2,214

Warnings - Each part will be adult only content, from swearing to eventual smut and violence. Minors DNI.

Part IV - Beatitudine

Cosima Shelby. By night, when out on the town with her husband, she was the quintessential gangster’s wife. Furs, pearls, diamonds; the young woman simply oozed glamour as she dripped in luxury. By day, she was much removed from such an image. On holiday, she was even more casual.  

“Don’t you blame me if you get sore feet, Sima. Ain’t gonna be my fault.”  

He might have given her a soft warning over her lack of shoes, but seeing his wife so carefree as she walked the cobblestone side streets of Cortona, the little Tuscan village she had been born in twenty-three years ago that coming autumn, all John could do was smile. 

Her hair was pinned up, only a few strands floating free at the nape of her neck, her face smothered in olive oil. “What are ya, a fucking salad?” he’d laughed after catching her rubbing her face in the kitchen staple, Cosima insisting that it was marvellous for the skin.  

“Angelo, ciao!” she called, arriving at the tiny bistro she’d been raving about since they arrived the night before, the owner opening his arms and greeting her warmly. 

“Benventua, Cosima! Stai bene?” 

She beamed, “Si, si.” From the tiny bit of Italian John knew, he gathered that Angelo had welcomed her and asked after her health, joining them and being offered a hand by the tall, potbellied man who shook it warmly. “Angelo, this is John, my husband.” 

“Ahhh, she is a married woman now! Welcome, John! Let me bring my wife out to meet you. Hey, Lucia! Cosima is here!” Every summer since her birth, the Changretta’s had returned to their home village, the family known well in Cortona. They were then joined by a woman of radiant good looks, wrapping Cosima in her arms, greeting John with the same warmth before they were shown to a table out in the small courtyard at the rear of the establishment. 

He had decided that after having no honeymoon at all, not even a blissful, post-marriage period that could be considered as such, they’d have it now he and his new bride were finally in that state of sublime happiness. Who cared that it happened to be five months on? They’d set sail for Italy from Plymouth just over a week ago, after John had dropped the children off in Small Heath, all under Polly’s care for the month and a half he and Cosima would be away.  

Taking a menu, he looked down at it in pure puzzlement, looking at his wife for assistance. She covered his hand with hers, ordering for them both. “I ordered a few things we can share, and a bottle of the best Chianti you will ever drink. Remind me to come back before we leave so I can buy a few bottles to bring home.”  

He wasn’t much of a wine fan, not being particularly cultured, but he had to agree that upon taking a first sip, it was of incredible, full-bodied flavour. Relaxing in the sunshine, just him and his wife, he felt like a completely different person. He’d never been on holiday before, save a few weekends away at Brean and Skegness as a child. The beauty of Italy was something he had never experienced beyond listening to his wife speak of the place she held so dear, and being there, he could see why. 

“Should we retire out here one day?” 

His question out of complete thin air made her laugh softly, hardly able to imagine that far in the future. “I think that’d be lovely. Blooming hell, I can’t imagine us as a little old couple, shuffling around.” 

“I can,” he smiled, knitting his fingers together behind his head as he closed his eyes to the warm sunshine beaming onto his face. “You’ll be beautiful, still, and continue to throw plates at me an’ all, just much slower.”  

“I might have to move onto smaller things when my joints ache,” she mused, her smile widening her pretty lips. “Egg cups, saucers, things like that.”  

The laughter they shared filled the space, John reaching for her, pulling her onto his lap. “I dunno what it is about you. You’re like two different people, and I fucking love both of ‘em.”  

Her heart skipped like a newborn spring lamb. “You’ve never told me that before.”  

He arched an eyebrow, her heart somersaulting again at his male beauty. “Well, I’m telling you now. And I don’t need to hear you say it to me, either. Don’t feel like you have to.” 

“But I lo-" 

“Ah, ah! Nope!” 

“But John, I-” 

“Nope!” He cracked an eye open, grinning at her pinched-up lips, Cosima leaning in until her nose touched his. “Stop it.” 

“I love you, you dickhead.”  

“Charming, ain’t ya?” he snorted, still laughing.  

She shrugged. “I have my moments.” 

“Ar, ya do, bab. Charming, and with proper dirty feet, too.” He reached down her leg, grabbing her ankle and examining the sole of her foot. “Look at ‘em! Blacker than a coal miner’s arse!”  

“I plan on having a bath once we get back, I’ll have you know. That tub is huge, too. Easily big enough for two.”  

Her wink had him laughing. “Gonna see how much water we can splash out onto the floor?” She nodded enthusiastically, leaning to kiss him. He eventually put her down, their food brought out shortly after, both very contently full as they strolled back to the guest house they were staying in for the near complete duration of their holiday.  

For the last week, they were travelling to Rome, but the three preceding it were being spent in the quiet surroundings of the small lake house set at the foot of the hills, the people who owned it living at the main residence and letting them come and go as they pleased.  

“Give us one of them mucky hooves, then,” John spoke, sitting at the opposing end of the big, claw footed bathtub, objecting the smell of the lavender bath salts Cosima had sprinkled in very liberally, but not the fact he got to share the hot water with her.  

He received a heel to the chest for his remark, snorting laughing at the look on her face as she sat mildly aghast. “Hooves, John? I have beautiful feet, I keep them all nice and soft, toenails always painted, too.”  

“I know, I’ve seen all the bits of dead skin you leave all over the pumice, you mucky wench.” Her other foot found its way between his legs, John shifting back. “Oi, less of your violence, woman. I’ve got plans for where I’m gonna put that.” he winked, Cosima bobbing her tongue out as her foot retreated from its press against his cock, John lathering the soap in his hands. “So, did your mom and dad mean for you to be born out here? Wanting the kids to all be Italian by birth, was it?” 

“That’s exactly it, yes,” she began, finger combing her hair idly. “Only Luca and I are, though. Angel came earlier than expected, so he was a baby in arms already when he took his first breath of homeland air. Papa always said he wanted us to be all born in the same place, but wasn’t too sad that Angel was born in England. He was just glad he survived, coming a month early.”  

He noticed that over the last few months, he could speak of her family and not notice the dark storm of contemptuous fury begin swirling within her. Simply, there was none left, or if there was, she was doing well to hide it. He did hope it was the former. “I know that worry,” he spoke, working the soap suds between her dainty toes, the deep red polish flawless. “Oliver was five weeks early, fucking tiny little thing, he was. Bloody made up for it in noise ever since, though.”  

“Hasn’t he just,” she beamed, thinking of the absolute chaos that was her eldest stepchild. “I’m not going to say I don’t miss him and his siblings, but blinking hell, I love the quiet!” 

John laughed, picking up the cutthroat razor to the side of the tub and nodding at her leg.  

“Promise you won’t cut me?” she asked, watching her husband frown comically. 

“Do it every day to me own face, darlin’. Ain’t gonna even nick the skin.” Taking the soap again, he lathered her leg while resting her foot on his shoulder, slowly gliding the blade against the short hair regrowth. “I wonder what our kids’ll be like,” he mused, rinsing the razor. “It’d be nice if the first one was conceived over here, eh?”  

“Feisty, I predict, if our temperaments are anything to go by.” 

He snorted softly. “You’re worse than me.” Immediately she scowled, John placing a loving kiss against the side of her foot.  

“And you’re a fucking wind-up merchant!” she attested, watching as he rinsed her leg and then started the routine again on the left one.  

“Ahh, ya wouldn’t love me if I didn’t have a bit of bite.” he remarked, snapping his teeth at her, hands working the soap over her leg. That was true enough, she thought. A boring, placid man was not for her. She quite enjoyed that his spark matched hers in illumination. Once he was finished returning her legs to silky smooth glory, he made his intention to be between them very clear, her hands travelling over the lithe muscles that flexed across his shoulders as he caught her lips in a kiss. 

If there was a better way to spend the late afternoon, she was yet to hear it.  

Their kisses swirled slow like honey, steam rising in the figurative and literal all around them, John feeling his skin break out into goose pimples at the pattered exploration of her fingertips. Deep groans rumbled his throat when she moved her kisses to the side of his neck, a soft bite eliciting a shiver, his hand moving between her legs to stroke until she was purring with desire.  

Reaching beneath her, he lifted her body, sitting back on his heels, bouncing her on his cock, hands grasping her shoulders before smoothing down her back sensually, sharing kisses gilded in embers and sugar, feeling drunk on her.   

“God, you feel so fucking good,” she moaned, her head tipping back, his lips gliding torridly over her throat. “I love you.”   

Despite telling her he didn’t require her to say it back, John knew in that moment he’d never tire of it, hearing his beautiful wife declare her love for him. “I love you too, sweetheart. So much.” His words punctuated her fluttered gasps as the head of his cock scraped deliciously against her sweet spots, rutting her deep, hands running down her slender back. 

The rise and fall of their bodies was akin the cresting of gentle waves upon a sea, Cosima absolutely blown away by the intimacy, the divinity of it. This was the kind of sex she thought only existed in novels, too perfectly passionate to extend to reality, her reality too, no less.   

How could he be this perfect? And to think, she had once hated him with the kind of torridness that was now only reserved for how he made her feel when he was balls deep inside of her. The all-encompassing heat of him and the moment they shared shook her to her very foundations, her bones sizzling in utter ecstasy as she rocked against him, his strong hands stroking paths of sweeping tingles over her soft skin. 

Her walls throbbed with the sweetest flush of pleasure, his cock evoking swells of molten bliss, Cosima grinding down on him faster, her nerves in symphony, the sounds of her bum pounding off his thighs filling the bathroom. 

“Right, gotta get outta this bath, love,” he spoke, clutching her tightly in his arms. “Bloody foot is going to sleep!” Tightening his arms around her, he stood up from the water, carefully climbing out of the tub and carrying her to the wall. It was a favourite of his, standing up sex, reminding him of the first time he’d had her like that back in the kitchen of their cottage.  

John Shelby; he truly was all about the nostalgia. 

Winding his arms beneath her thighs, he grasped her bum to keep her spread as he began to roll his hips against her, every last inch of his cock slipping into the sumptuous, saturated hug of her cunt, but slow. So slow. 

Each thrust had ecstasy sizzling through her veins, her cries feral, the physical of what she felt demonstrated by her nails imbedding in his back, tearing down, leaving raspberry swellings across his pale freckle-flecked skin, John thriving on her reaction to the sublimity of his fuck. 

It felt sharp-edged as it gathered within her, the coil tightening before it snapped, consuming bliss throbbing through her entire body as he spilled into her deeply, grunting with exertion, the culmination a sweep of liquid velvet pouring through them, ebbing away slowly, leaving them shattered, yet dreamy with satisfaction.   

Not that either could know it so soon, but it also left them parents to a brand-new Shelby, too. 

[popfishjr]

After Zhuge Liang's death, Jiang Wei continued serving Shu Han and eventually rose to the highest military rank of General-in-Chief 大将军。Between 240 and 262, Jiang Wei continued Zhuge Liang's legacy and waged war against Wei, but his campaigns were smaller in scale and duration, due to lack of efficient food and resource transportation (I kind of blame Guan Yu losing Jing Province for that☠️ sorry bro), and internal political bullshitting.

In 263, Wei lead a massive attack on Shu, and Jiang Wei lead his forces to defend against them. But while Jiang Wei was stalling Wei's main force of attack, another Wei military officer took a shortcut via Yinping and showed up at Chengdu unexpectedly. Liu Shan surrendered without putting up much resistance.

According to what I know, Liu Shan's daughter married to Zhuge Liang's son, Zhuge Zhan and had a son as well, but Zhuge Zhan and his son had just died while defending the last stronghold protecting Chengdu from Wei's armies.

Liu Shan surrendered and ordered Jiang Wei to do so as well, and with that, Shu Han fell.

In the following year, Jiang Wei instigated Zhong Hui (Wei military general) to launch a rebellion against Wei regent Sima Zhao. However, some of Zhong Hui's officers and subordinates refused to participate and started a mutiny, killing Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui.

[ca-suffit]

Why these people acting like knowing people's pronouns and respecting them is an "american thing" lmaoooo i'm not even USAmerican and I know to respect people pronouns because they exist in every damn language. Same with the reverse racism shit Sima pulled, she just wants to blame her being a transphobic racist asshole on "wow i'm ignorant in american culture" when you're on the internet you have the world at your disposition for you to learn stuff especially basic stuff like that. But what can we expect from someone who said she is IWTV fandom "for the relationships not the politics of the show" and that "she's not interested in that and doesn't want to be forced to care" in a reply to that grandma she's buddy with.

.

[loustat-0]

Hi Sima, I'm cool with spoilers . Can you give me more spoilers ?

Hi . I don't know a lot . But sure I won't gatekeep it . But please ask it in my DM because I don't want people to speculate and then when it turns out differently blame me for it . 💕 And some people don't really like direct spoilers . So they don't want it on their TL . So DM only

[persephinae]

OK SO, since none of you are listening to me and reading Dark Castle, I'm going to continue to Not Shut Up(TM)

anyway, here's my theories about what the hell is going on: (SPOILERS FOR ENGLISH COMIC)

I think she's in Purgatory. She died or is in a coma irl, and her spirit is here in this Shadow Purgatory, where she doesn't need to eat and she has no memories of who she is or where she comes from. She has no memories of what even the purpose of eating is, or if she really needs clothes at first.

It looks like she was a Knight of Ridissa (spelling? i forget how it was spelled).

Also, it looks like Numa created his kingdom by possibly selling humans to the fae? It's confirmed that he sells humans, although he limits himself to having his shadow imps kidnap murderers and other terrible people. I think he's selling them to the fae because of that old myth that the fae pay a tithe of people to hell. Since his land is confirmed to be a "between" kingdom, between the real world and something else, I think it's like a "between" place between the land of the dead, the real world, and faerie.

Also Numa is the son of a human queen and a demon prince, so he's like double royalty. His mother died trying to protect her half-demon son because she loved him, but he's hunting his demon sire. Not sure if his demon father really loved his mother or it was just a whim for him or bargain she had made with him, idk. But Numa is hunting him and I think he blames him in having part of his mother's death. (also, just throwing it out there, the human king she was forced to marry was a fucking asshole)

Also Numa I think suffers from an Inuyasha curse - every night he either turns into a human or turns into full demon, but it might depend upon the moon. It also looks like when he's one or the other, the human side wars with his demon side. But when he's just Numa, he's a calmer version of his whole self.

I think Numa hestitated to tell her anything about his world because it operates by fae rules - if he told her the true nature of everything she'd be trapped there forever. However, as he grew closer to her, he began to hesitate because if she remembered who she was or her name, she would disappear back to her own world. THAT's why he didn't want her to say her name. Not only was it dangerous for others to know your true name, but he was afraid she'd disappear forever. When she didn't he was truly stumped (but relieved).

So the big mystery(mysteries) -

Where are they?

What is this Shadow Purgatory?

Why exactly is Numa selling humans?

Why is he trapped there?

Will he be free once he finds his demon father and have his father take his place as lord of the land?

How is Numa cursed?

Who is Sima?

What happened to her?

If she DOES remember everything will she remember or be able to see Numa once she goes back to her world?

Is Numa's human self different from Numa?

Does his human self hate his demon self? (Numa already hates himself and thinks he's a monster, like this is double hating yourself lol)

EDIT: I FORGOT THE MYSTERY OF WHAT SIMA IS

She faintly glows and sometimes her eyes glow and leak power when she's close to remembering who she was

Is she a sorceress?

Is she a goddess or demigoddess??

[dailyunsolvedmysteries-movedd]

Baba Anujka

Anujka made a laboratory in one wing of her house after her husband died, and she earned a reputation as a healer and herbalist in the late 19th century. She was popular with wives of farmers who sought her help for health problems, and she earned a respectable income which enabled her to live comfortably. She produced medicines and mixtures which would make soldiers ill enough to escape military service, and she also sold poisonous mixtures which she branded “magic water" or “love potions”. She sold the so-called “magic water” mostly to women with abusive husbands; they would give the concoction to their husbands, who would usually die after about eight days.

Anujka’s “love potion” contained arsenic in small quantities and certain plant toxins that were difficult to detect. When told about a marriage problem, Anujka would ask her client, “How heavy is that problem?”, which meant, “What is the body mass of the victim?” She was then able to calculate the dose needed.  Anujka’s victims were usually men, typically young and healthy. Her clients claimed at her trial that they did not know that her “magic water” contained poison, but that they believed that she had some kind of supernatural powers to kill people using magic. Anujka’s potions killed between 50 and 150 people.

In the 1920s, Anujka had her own “sales agent”, a woman named Ljubina Milankov, whose job was to find potential clients and take them to Anujka’s house. The price of Anujka’s “magic water” fluctuated between 2,000 and 10,000 Yugoslav dinars.

Anujka sold her “magic water” to Stana Momirov in January 1924 for 2,300 dinars. Stana was a previous client and Anujka had provided her with herbal medicines on other occasions. Stana gave the mixture to her husband Lazar Ludoški, and he fell ill and died after a few days. Stana later married another man from the same village. A rich uncle of her second husband died under similar circumstances within a few months. The police questioned Stana, and she incriminated Anujka.

Anujka then sold her magic water in December 1926 to Sima Momirov and his wife Sofija, who intended to kill Sima’s 70-year-old father, Nikola Momirov. Their motive involved a family quarrel. According to their claim, Nikola was an alcoholic and abusive towards his children and grandchildren. Sofija heard about Anujka from a woman named Danica Stojić (or Stajić), and they contacted Anujka who sold them her magic water for 5,000 dinars. Sofija gave it to 16-year-old Olga Sturza, Nikola’s granddaughter, and ordered her to ensure that Nikola drank it. Nikola drank the potion, fell ill, and died after 15 days.

Anujka’s first trial was in June 1914 in Bela Crkva for providing poison for murders, but she was acquitted. She was arrested again on 15 May 1928 at age 90. Stana, Sofija, and Sima Momirov, Ljubina Milankov, Danica Stojić and Olga Sturza were arrested as well and charged with the murders of Nikola Momirov and Lazar Ludoški. 

Sofija and Sima Momirov defended themselves at the trial. They claimed that they did not know that the “magic water” contained poison; they believed that it was just water and the death came as a result of Anujka’s supernatural powers. Stana Momirov claimed that she only wanted the magic water to heal her husband from alcoholism and that she was not aware that it would kill him. During the trial, Anujka constantly denied charges, claiming that she never sold any magic water and that the whole case against her was fabricated by Ljubina Milankov, who wanted to blame Anujka for her own crimes. Sturza defended herself, claiming that she was still a child at the time of the murder and that she was not aware that the water would kill her grandfather; but Sofija testified that Sturza was well aware of the whole plot. Dr. Branko Vurdelja testified that traces of arsenic were found in the bodies of both victims.

The verdict was delivered on 6 July 1929. Anujka was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the role of accomplice in both murders. Stana and Sofija Momirov were sentenced to life in prison as the main perpetrators. Sima Momirov was sentenced to 15 years, and Ljubina Milankov to 8 years. Olga Sturza and Danica Stojić were acquitted.

Anujka was released at age 98 after eight years in prison due to old age. She died two years later in her house in Vladimirovac at age 100.

[xionghyouka]

Impressions on 代號鳶 so far (with spoilers)

Or, Ashes of the Kingdom as some may know it. Spoilers ahead up to chapter 8, turn back if you haven't gone so far.

As far as the bachelors and playable characters go, I like them, but the devs seriously needs to do something about their game balance because every boss battle past chapter 6 is a major cockblock that a goldfish like me has to invest a few weeks of trying to raise who I THINK is the right character to overcome the boss. (Based on my estimations, I think even dolphins would have a hard time because resources are so scarce and capped even when the player spends money to get more. LMAO)

That being said, I do like the game so far. The bachelors, well, everyone started out quite equal for me, but post chapter 6, everyone's been assigned a clear ranking.

Liu Bian

Bottom of the ranking, despite being the first to appear. His looks were quite nice (we don't get wavy-haired dudes everyday, yanno?), though I'm not into the whole childhood friends thing. After the shock of his 'death', he reappeared in Ch 6......and did nothing but cause trouble, throw tantrums and gaslight the MC. You reappear as a CULT LEADER whose members have done nothing but cause trouble and harm the MC, and you have the balls to blame her for feeling suspicious about you?? "If it were me, I would embrace you and believe you even if the whole world is against you." But she is NOT you, she has the nation and common people in her eyes, and in the meanwhile, you've been lying and concealing matters.

Even if you both are childhood friends of many years, MC is not obliged to blindly trust you. You both are descendants of the imperial clan; it should be ingrained in your bones that you cannot easily trust anyone, and Liu Bian, you fucked up real good. While there may be some leeway in understanding his character because being raised by another cult leader in his youth has probably caused a LOT of TRAUMA, it does not excuse the gaslighting. Dude has attachment issues and needs therapy, not a girlfriend. I also ranked him lowest because he has the weakest link to the MC at this point, he has nothing going for him other than the fact that he's her childhood friend.

Fu Rong

Guy who appeared next, and ranked third for me, quite close to second. On looks alone, he ranks second, not to mention he has risked his life to protect MC time and again. He was dangerously close to first; what's not to like? Her right-hand man, handsome, skilled, can tame birds and dogs, maybe he's super poor and cheapskate but it's okay, she holds his purse strings (his salary). And then the in-game missions and rumours had to drop lore that pretty much 80% points out Fu Rong is very likely the young master of Li Ba Hua, a nemesis organisation, and that he infiltrated Xiuyilou. His real identity is possibly Sima Yi, which in the political scheme of things, is another can of worms.

This means Fu Rong cannot be 100% trusted, but flirting with this danger is an attractive idea. Not sure where the game intends to go with him, so he gets 3rd place for now. Looking forward to the day MC discovers his identity! Though in some missions of rumour investigation, it seems like she already has a faint suspicion of Fu Rong's true identity...?

Yuan Ji

Warring States history has taught us not to believe those surnamed Yuan Jokes aside, he REALLY cannot be trusted. Ranked 4th not because I dislike him, we just don't vibe. A gentleman's friendship is fine and all between a minister and a member of the imperial clan, but there is no lows Yuan Ji will not go to in his political or military schemes (The way he tried to act innocent in Ch 8 LMAO ALMOST had me convinced IF I DIDN'T HAVE XU YOU). There has been no direct indication that he is involved, if at all, in the power struggle. But the Yuans are big on nepotism (we saw how that turned out in history LMAO); with Yuan Ji being the eldest son, and hints from Yuan Shu's or Xu You's conversations, it is more than enough to deduce that he contributes the most brains to the clan. But who doesn't like a schemer? I do, it's just unfortunate that he acts like such a green tea (he's been rumoured in-game to LITERALLY bath in tea for the nice scent, my god), I can't take him seriously 😂 I'm reminded of those scheming 2nd female leads you see in manhuas/manhwas whenever I see him, I just can't stop laughing.

I can't feel any romantic vibes hence his 4th place, but I did feel a masochistic vibe coming from him in Ch 8 ASDFGHJKL (gouging his eyeballs out? Ooh MC, I really like the sound of that 😈). Being offered the position of his wife so that MC can step aside as an obstacle and enjoy unrivalled glory as the future mistress of the Yuan Clan however? (Although this is just very likely Yuan Ji testing MC's resolve and trying to sound her out to see if she's someone he can scheme with) 🙄 Please, my gurl has GOALS and she doesn't need to marry to achieve them.

Zuo Ci

2nd place, believe in shifu and you shall be saved. I have surprisingly nothing much to comment on MC's shifu, other than the fact that I am weak for white-haired beauties and shifu's always got MC's back, and would never betray her, although he is also a hermit, so he would never get involved in the affairs of the mundane world, unless it involves their nemesis organisation Li Ba Hua. But shifu also dotes on MC and assists Xiuyilou as Xiuyilou has the same roots with Yinyuan Pavilion, the sect that Zuo Ci leads, so he considers it a branch of Yinyuan Pavilion and would pay attention to it.

Sun Ce

The immovable number 1 despite appearing last in the main story. I'm typically not into short-haired guys in ancient China settings (one of the reasons I like this era is because almost every guy out there has long hair, okay? XD), but somehow, he wriggled into my heart. His first appearance is super cute, dumbstruck in love at first sight, who could resist such cuteness after he looked so fierce? XD He's known as the 'Little Tyrant' but when he's faced with the MC (initially in disguise as Da Qiao), he turns all soft and silly. A guy so lovestruck and not afraid of showing it? He's a keeper. Earlier in the game, fans were guarded against him despite his frank personality because jealous little brother (jealous of who, I shall not comment😌) mentioned in his character story that Sun Ce can step over MC's dead body if she gets in his way no matter how much he likes her. In Ch 8 however, Sun Quan is forced to wear his 🤡 wig because after Sun Ce discovered that MC was actually Da Qiao, despite the fact that MC did deceive him (since she went undercover around his residence as Da Qiao), Sun Ce does not question her intentions, instead instantly deciding to side with her instead.

Some may think he's brainless or a fool in love for deciding without consulting his strategists, but let's not forget Sun Ce is known as the Little Tyrant. If he can choose to leave his liege behind and ally with MC instead, that means he has confidence in his ability to tide over the impending difficulties entailing his decision (not to mention it is canon that Sun Ce eventually leaves his lord, though not for the reasons he does in this game XD). In a world where friends today become tomorrow's enemies, Sun Ce's blinding sincerity is a rare gem to see. Personally, I also like how amongst the 5 men, Sun Ce's gallery is the only one we see with group chibis of his friends, subordinates and family as well (Though this is because every other guy is literally without family except Yuan Ji but we don't talk about going into a nest of snakes ASDFGHJKL), which makes me, as a player, feel like Sun Ce lets MC into his world unabashedly. In other characters' stories, you can also see how MC and Sun Ce complements each other's wits and cruelty, being good allies as they scheme together, and it's great to see Sun Ce helping take command of MC's army in one of his mini-events. Now this is a guy I can see MC standing shoulder-to-shoulder with, fighting together to stabilise the nation! (And, if I have Zhou Yu's character story accurately interpreted, this should be the canonical ingame history)

TLDR World hard and cold, Sun Ce's bazookas soft and warm

[fiirstnephalem]

OOC. Sima is in a mood and I am fully blaming @jonathancrane-scarecrows Hannibal for it currently!

[fantasyinvader]

Reading more into Romance of the Three Kingdoms...

Cao Cao was known to remove corrupt officials and promote people based on merit. People can make a case that Edelgard is meant to be like Cao Cao, as that's what she says she doing. However, one of the things the game says is that she'll allow the nobility to keep their lands and titles provided they submit to her, with those who don't being the ones she gets rid of. The thing is, Cao Cao was also known to hold his men accountable to the law, he wasn't going to make excuses for their actions if they broke it.

What Edelgard is doing is more akin to what the eunuchs and Dong Zhuo did. The eunuchs would get rid of officials who they didn't like or couldn't afford to bribe them, while Dong Zhuo got rid of anyone who spoke out against him on the grounds of being a rebel. In each case, they became the real power behind the throne rather than the Emperor and it doesn't matter how much “merit” anyone under them has since the reason for their position is corrupt.

(Not to mention, Edelgard attempts to loot the holy tomb before leaving Garreg Mach. Dong Zhuo did looted the Imperial tombs before burning down the capital and fleeing to a new location)

Which leads into the problem with meritocracy. When Cao Pi took over after Cao Cao's death, he did away with promoting people solely on merit. Cao Cao before had absolute power over Wei while using the Emperor as his puppet, and Cao Pi when he inherited that power used it to declare himself Emperor. When one person has absolute power, they can do whatever they want and not have to follow in the footsteps of their predecessor. In Cao Pi's case, he instituted a Nine Rank System that was left in effect until the Song Dynasty, helping stronger clans dominate posts in government and favored an scholar elite over the masses. The fact that the reforms Edelgard put into place in Hopes are outright said during her own route to favor the nobles with rewarding positions while keeping the commoners down, alongside the fact that Edelgard wasn't even thinking about giving a public education to the masses, it just shows how rigged her system is to the nobility. So long as they pledge to support her, they can keep their stuff, but if they refuse they meet Hubert on a moonless night.

The fact that Wei was overtaken by the Sima clan when their leaders died young and their replacements were even younger gives me even less faith in Edelgard's system. If you make a system that promotes ambition, people are going to go as high as they can using whatever means available to them. It can lead to sycophants who hide their inability with ass-kissing, or people who use and manipulate others for their own gain (just like Edelgard did).

And, you know, there's still the fact Edelgard uses the power of the state and violence to force her rule onto people. That's pretty much what hadou is all about, marking her as a non-benevolent leader that goes against Confucian thought much like Cao Cao was. Putting your ambitions or desires ahead of the well-being of others is not virtue, and Edelgard made it clear in Azure Moon she'd blame the commoners if they failed to rise up through her reforms. Yes, she can oppress the masses and favor the nobility through her reforms, but she blames it on the people she says she's doing it for. The fact that i the Japanese script of Flower it's flat out said in the open she consolidates power on herself, well, that was telling about what her true goals were and something Pat would not allow in his translation. It does fit in with old school Chinese strategy though. Of the 36 Stratagems, Deceive the heavens and cross the ocean, basically hide your real goals behind a fake one until you achieve them.

Blind loyalty is also something shown in a bad light in Kingdoms, leading to the fall of Shu. This is kinda the thing with the player, however, following Edelgard after the game constantly shows her lying or withholding information... that's not virtue, because that doesn't best serve them as a leader. Because you don't make them a good leader by doing so, you enable their bad behavior. That's we have stuff with the Mandate telling the people to oust leaders who fall into hadou, where they need to force their rule on the people rather than the people accepting their rule. The people need to keep the ruler in check.

This is something I keep running into. Three Kingdoms isn't some obscure text in Asia, even in Japan people know of it through pop culture. It's just like how The Water Margin (Suikoden) is known to them, in part because they've been writing fanfiction for it for hundreds of years. I feel like this is an element to Houses that can't be replicated in the West, as the story isn't as well known. Maybe people know a few things, but it's not part of the background radiation to their culture. Just like how Buddhism and Confucianism aren't part of our cultural foundations and instead are seen as exotic. It's like how we treat someone being ambitious as a gnood thing, whereas other cultures either view ambitions as a potential danger.

Edelgard is a mixture of various villains in Three Kingdoms. She's what the story was be speaking out against by the fact she's supposed to be the type of leader that the Mandate of Heaven would not support as she's not benevolent. She can dress up her actions as virtuous like Cao Cao does, but it doesn't make what she's doing right. After all, her betraying the player is the twist, and a quote associated with Cao Cao is “Better to betray the world than to let the world betray me.” She'll create more victims because she doesn't want to be a victim herself, even if her understanding of the world is wonky due to Agarthan influence.

[craftercat]

what do you think about the poison attempt on Li Shimin? I’ve seen people claim it was fabricated to justify the Incident

It's in both the OBT and the ZZTJ. Honestly the main reason people think it's fabricated is 'Li Shimin changed history' and I tend to just scoff at arguments based around this when there's no contradictions to believe.

However this incident has separate versions in the OBT and ZZTJ. In OBT it's done after the Yang Wen'gan incident in 624/5, and I think that makes sense. At that point the Li Jiancheng faction was at its most vulnerable and the Li Shimin faction at its strongest. As well, Li Yuan had promised to make Li Shimin the crown prince at this time. So Li Jiancheng definitely had a strong motive.

On the other hand, despite the attempt he somehow still retained his father's favour. And there's a time he prevented Li Yuanji's assassination attempt on Li Shimin, although he was in a different position, and perhaps he simply thought it then to be too risky and that he could wait until his ascension.

Perhaps the incident was done by Li Yuanji or a crony and blamed on Li Jiancheng, or Li Shimin just got food poisoning and blamed Li Jiancheng because he was already sure Li Jiancheng was out to get him. Like what I said with Wu Zetian and her baby daughter, people often blame those they don't like for bad things that happen to them. We'll never really know. But I personally don't really doubt the OBT account. There was an attempt in ZZTJ, and Sima Qian was stringent with the sources, and wasn't out to beautify Li Shimin, and was well aware of Li Shimin changed history arguments, so I find an attempt on Li Shimin's life plausible.

I'll discuss this incident in more depth in my Xuanwu Gate Incident articles, and I'll need a separate article to discuss the Li Shimin changed history claims.

[dangermousie]

I am going to add my own rant to this because oh boy is this topic near and dear to my heart.

I am someone who LOVES serious period narratives - book or TV. Was a history major, before that read Livy and Tacitus for fun in middle school. I got in trouble in 5th grade because we had to do a report on the favorite thing we read in the summer and I wrote that mine was Euripides' Alcestis and the teacher refused to accept it. My parents got me an edition of Demosthenes' speeches for a New Year's present in 6th grade. I read the entire 20 novel Les Rougon-Macquart cycle by Zola when I was a tween. I freaked all over Gorgani's Vis and Ramin at 12 and used to be able to recite bits by heart. I learned English specifically so I could read Edward Bulwer-Lytton's The Last Days of Pompeii. So basically NERD NERD NERD NERD NERDDDDDDDDD THE BIGGEST NERD EVER - imagine the most annoying snobby nerd possible, that's me.

The reason I bring this up (other than comment that my upbringing was like a wealthy Victorian boy orphan's) is that I am hardly someone who watches idol historicals because I don't like "heavier" stuff or have no interest in history. Some of my favorite cdramas are opuses like The Story of Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms (2010) and The Advisors' Alliance ie serious historical drama stuff or fantasy equivalent like Tribes and Empires or Eagle Flag.

And guess what? Every time I see someone bash idol historicals or complain that eg In Blossom did not have complex study of limits of feudal obligations, I want to roll my eyes so hard they fall out.

"Why do people who are not like me like stuff that is not like stuff I like" is a question one should stop asking once one hits double digits. It would be incredibly boring if everything was the same and only one genre. And it is likewise ridiculous to blame a work of a particular genre for following the canons of that genre. Oh no, a murder mystery has dead bodies!!! How dare people in a romcom have a meet cute!!!! etc etc

An idol historical like eg Wonderland of Love or The Wolf isn't going to have deep politics but a traditional period cdrama is likely not going to have much of a role for women or much romance. And if you think the latter has less merit, you should perhaps ask why are things considered traditionally directed at women less valued, to be looked down on? Why is exploration of love and other emotional relationships of less value than a narrative centering on politics and war?

I think a really good way to compare this is The Advisors' Alliance v The Secret of the Three Kingdoms, since both of those dramas cover basically the same period with largely the same characters - Cao Cao bringing the end to the Han Dynasty. The former is a very serious period drama (and is brilliant - if you haven't watched it, you must!) and the latter is an idol historical.

Here is Sima Yi in TAA (center):

And here he is in Secret:

If you want brilliant politics and some insane acting, the former winds hands down. But the former also has extremely limited roles for women (there are some of course, but they are secondary), and romance is also of course secondary. The latter does not have amazing politics but its exploration of grief, friendship under stress and of a woman (the last Han empress) finding softness and love instead of just grief and cause is wonderful; its romance between a very soft man and very bitter woman is excellent. And the acting is just fine even if not as epic as TAA. Why is one better than the other? If it's because one privileges romantic love more than the other, ask yourself why this is an issue for you.

Are narratives like The Double female wish fulfillment fantasies? Yeah. But so is a lot of actioners (or traditional wuxia) for men. So what? Something is either well-acted or not, something is either well-written on its own merits and its own parameters or not. Because something covers romance or allows female wish fulfillment in terms of narratives or hot men does not make it inferior.

My three favorite cdramas this year are in no order, Joy of Life 2, Tender Light and Eternal Brotherhood. None of them can be classified as idol anything. Last year my very favorite cdrama was Lost You Forever part 1, which was definitely an idol xianxia followed by A Journey to Love, which was an idol historical. So what? It's not the subject matter but how well it's made.

PS Some of what are considered classics also centered around love by the way. Fakhraddin Gorgani's Vis and Ramin? Is a hell of a love story.

More than the days the two worlds have been given, More than the stars that fill the vault of heaven, More than the seeds in every last location, More than mankind in every generation, More than birds’ feathers, hairs on every pelt, More than all words that scribes have ever spelt, More than your thoughts, and my anxieties, More than all faiths and creeds and pieties, I wish you joy for all eternity And wish myself your love and loyalty. May you find happiness, and may the light That shines from you illuminate my sight; A thousand times I wish, and wish again, That great good fortune may be yours. Amen

Looking down on "girl cootie" topics does not make one cool.

In Defense of the Idol C-Drama

(I will finally eat crow: after years of complaining about how everyone looked too goddamn young in historical, I guess I am now writing a defense of it?)

But I had some thoughts brewing in my head after some recent discussions with @dreamyklutzsblog and @silviakundera. And of course, caveat being people can enjoy what they enjoy, people can dislike what they want to dislike, what press my buttons may not press your buttons, etc etc.

Recently I equated the idol historical (but idol c-dramas in general, I just happen to watch idol historical the most) with the CW, and that actually got me thinking, why do I feel strangely defensive of this genre even though LBR, there are many idol dramas with plots and acting that I don't enjoy. I think it really to me boils down to one thing: I feel like idol dramas actually view the female audience as a marketable audience.

I, of course, do not want to speculate on the motives of IQIYI and Youku and Tencent investors, but it does feel to me that idol dramas target a female audience. Many times I've seen critiques of idol dramas as too "Mary Sue" or "wish fulfillment." But in a media space across international lines where the default target audience is men, it is refreshing to find a genre that is targeted towards women. Now does it mean that every single piece of idol drama is a feminist, unproblematic work? Of course not. Just like how Western genre romance does not operate that way. Nonetheless, I do find idol dramas tend to center the narrative around the FL.

Does it mean that I hate prestige dramas and will love every single idol drama that comes my way? of course not. Are there "bad" idol dramas? absolutely. Do I find that often people who criticize idol dramas don't get the point of idol dramas? yes.

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

Baba Anujka

Anujka made a laboratory in one wing of her house after her husband died, and she earned a reputation as a healer and herbalist in the late 19th century. She was popular with wives of farmers who sought her help for health problems, and she earned a respectable income which enabled her to live comfortably. She produced medicines and mixtures which would make soldiers ill enough to escape military service, and she also sold poisonous mixtures which she branded "magic water" or "love potions". She sold the so-called "magic water" mostly to women with abusive husbands; they would give the concoction to their husbands, who would usually die after about eight days.

Anujka's "love potion" contained arsenic in small quantities and certain plant toxins that were difficult to detect. When told about a marriage problem, Anujka would ask her client, "How heavy is that problem?", which meant, "What is the body mass of the victim?" She was then able to calculate the dose needed.  Anujka's victims were usually men, typically young and healthy. Her clients claimed at her trial that they did not know that her "magic water" contained poison, but that they believed that she had some kind of supernatural powers to kill people using magic. Anujka's potions killed between 50 and 150 people.

In the 1920s, Anujka had her own "sales agent", a woman named Ljubina Milankov, whose job was to find potential clients and take them to Anujka's house. The price of Anujka's "magic water" fluctuated between 2,000 and 10,000 Yugoslav dinars.

Anujka sold her "magic water" to Stana Momirov in January 1924 for 2,300 dinars. Stana was a previous client and Anujka had provided her with herbal medicines on other occasions. Stana gave the mixture to her husband Lazar Ludoški, and he fell ill and died after a few days. Stana later married another man from the same village. A rich uncle of her second husband died under similar circumstances within a few months. The police questioned Stana, and she incriminated Anujka.

Anujka then sold her magic water in December 1926 to Sima Momirov and his wife Sofija, who intended to kill Sima's 70-year-old father, Nikola Momirov. Their motive involved a family quarrel. According to their claim, Nikola was an alcoholic and abusive towards his children and grandchildren. Sofija heard about Anujka from a woman named Danica Stojić (or Stajić), and they contacted Anujka who sold them her magic water for 5,000 dinars. Sofija gave it to 16-year-old Olga Sturza, Nikola's granddaughter, and ordered her to ensure that Nikola drank it. Nikola drank the potion, fell ill, and died after 15 days.

Anujka's first trial was in June 1914 in Bela Crkva for providing poison for murders, but she was acquitted. She was arrested again on 15 May 1928 at age 90. Stana, Sofija, and Sima Momirov, Ljubina Milankov, Danica Stojić and Olga Sturza were arrested as well and charged with the murders of Nikola Momirov and Lazar Ludoški. 

Sofija and Sima Momirov defended themselves at the trial. They claimed that they did not know that the "magic water" contained poison; they believed that it was just water and the death came as a result of Anujka's supernatural powers. Stana Momirov claimed that she only wanted the magic water to heal her husband from alcoholism and that she was not aware that it would kill him. During the trial, Anujka constantly denied charges, claiming that she never sold any magic water and that the whole case against her was fabricated by Ljubina Milankov, who wanted to blame Anujka for her own crimes. Sturza defended herself, claiming that she was still a child at the time of the murder and that she was not aware that the water would kill her grandfather; but Sofija testified that Sturza was well aware of the whole plot. Dr. Branko Vurdelja testified that traces of arsenic were found in the bodies of both victims.

The verdict was delivered on 6 July 1929. Anujka was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the role of accomplice in both murders. Stana and Sofija Momirov were sentenced to life in prison as the main perpetrators. Sima Momirov was sentenced to 15 years, and Ljubina Milankov to 8 years. Olga Sturza and Danica Stojić were acquitted.

Anujka was released at age 98 after eight years in prison due to old age. She died two years later in her house in Vladimirovac at age 100.

[shatterpoints-and-fractures]

Canon: Cal Kestis is a caucasian human played by Cameron Monaghan

SDTCI: Cal Kestis is a Mirialan transmasc portrayed by Sima Liu

Legends: Ben Skywalker is a shorter than average redhead wielding one Lightsaber.

SDTCI: Obi-Wan “Ben” Jade-Skywalker is portrayed by Cameron Monaghan, taller than both his parents, and fights with the same detachable saberstaff that Cal has.

Mara nearly pulled her hair out when she saw his lightsaber.

She blamed Cal, who was as much Ben’s master as Ahsoka was.

She may have been right, and that might be because Ben’s namesake called his own saberstaff “a monstrosity”

[neixins]

定海浮生录 dinghai fusheng records, fei tian ye xiang (tl)

[ID: a series of images of black text on a white background (bolded text indicates lines that are highlighted light red), reading as follows:

1. “Xiang Shu will come and save me.” Chen Xing devoured the biscuit and tore off some jerky to eat because he was absolutely starving. He decided that “a wise man submits to circumstances”; since there was no use in him resisting, he would rack his brains to think of ways to slow down Sima Wei. When Sima Wei was travelling, he wouldn't respond to anything Chen Xing said. This time, he replied in a low voice, “He won't. He'll just think you left by yourself.”

2. A few crows were perched atop a tree. Chen Xing tried to activate his Heart Lamp a few times, but he didn't sense Xiang Shu. Maybe he was too far away, or maybe... he could only accept this helpless reality -- Xiang Shu wasn't coming to save him.

3. Both of them were thoroughly drenched. Chen Xing was overwhelmed with joy from the bottom of his heart; you finally came! I just knew you'd come! When he grabbed Xiang Shu's hand, all of his worries vanished without a trace, and he just ran with him in the rain.

4. “How did you know I was captured? I thought you wouldn't come!” “You're going to be the death of me!” Xiang Shu wiped off the water on his face and roared angrily at Chen Xing. Thunder clapped with a loud “boom”. Chen Xing didn't hear what he just said and smiled as he asked Xiang Shu, ”What? What did you say?” Xiang Shu, “My throat hurts! I'm not talking to you!”

5. Chen Xing asked Xiang Shu expectantly, “How did you know I was captured?” Xiang Shu casually said, “I didn't know you were captured.” Chen Xing, “Then why did you...” Xiang Shu, ”I thought you had run off by yourself again, so I gave chase to hit you!” Chen Xing, “...”

6. “Thank you.” Chen Xing said with a smile, “Although I don't know what you think of me, I thought you wouldn't come find me anymore.” “Why?” Xiang Shu asked instead. “Is that how you see me?” Chen Xing rushed to explain, “You're the Great Chanyu ah, you have your responsibilities, so you can't be blamed for going back... Xiang Shu, what I want to say is, if you don't mind..”

/end ID.]

[ofcarth]

“ there’s things i wanna say to you, but i’ll just let you live “ / @mcdeforyou​

                    that   sounds   vaguely   like   a   threat   ,   and   perhaps   from   any   other   lips   lilith   would   take   it   as   such.   but   this   mortal   girl   is   nowhere   near   as   powerful   as   to   mean   it   in   that   way.   and   worse   ,   she   is   frustrated   ;   the   intricacies   of   hell   escape   her   ,   as   does   the   meaning   behind   what   she   finds   herself   trapped   in.   her   mind   is   so   SMALL   ,   through   no   fault   of   her   own.   she   has   simply   not   lived   long   enough   ,   not   experienced   enough   ,   to   understand   the   weight   of   what   surrounds   her   ,   to   understand   the   depth   of   respect   owed   to   the   queen   of   hell.

                    soon   enough   ,   this   will   tire   lilith.   but   for   now   ,   she   tolerates   the   impertinence.   there   is   an   uncomfortable   adjustment   period.   much   of   humanity   has   disregarded   the   stories   of   their   creation   as   a   mythology   ,   or   something   they   worship   in   word   only   but   do   not   truly   believe.   and   lilith   blames   them   little   ;   the   proof   yahweh   leaves   behind   is   nebulous   at   best.   he   wants   worship   for   worship's   sake.   he   does   not   want   to   prove   himself.   and   time   works   so   very   differently.   though   the   eons   stretch   on   ,   there   are   moments   of   life   that   happened   merely   yesterday.   they   cannot   be   bothered   to   prove   themselves   every   year   ,   or   every   century.   

                    she   understands.   she   will   give   the   girl   time   ,   and   she   will   give   the   girl   answers.

                    lilith   stands   from   her   throne   and   smooths   her   gown.   “   i   suppose   i   must   make   time   for   an   audience   ,   ”   she   says.   who   best   to   answer   her   questions   than   she   who   was   there   in   the   beginning   ?   her   train   follows   as   he   walks   ,   a   silent   rustle   of   fabric    ---    lilith   expects   chloe   to   follow.

                    her   meetings   are   finished   for   the   day.   soon   ,   she   must   check   on   her   children   ;   sima   is   weighed   with   guilt   ,   healing   goes   slow   for   an   impatient   phen   ,   uri   grows   stressed   as   the   untrusted   flood   their   kingdom   ,   admon   sits   in   his   room   more   often   than   not   for   fear   of   the   freshly   fallen.   so   very   many   of   her   children   have   need   of   her   ,   and   there   is   so   much   to   be   done.   but   lilith   is   queen   as   well   as   mother   ,   and   whether   the   girl   likes   it   or   not   ,   she   currently   falls   under   hell's   jurisdiction    ---    at   least   for   now.   until   she   finds   herself   on   earth   again   and   the   lord   uses   her   without   her   consent   ,   without   so   much   as   explaining   his   plans   or   desires.   should   chloe   ever   come   face   to   face   with   the   lord   ,   she   may   begin   to   understand   the   TREPEDATION   and   hatred   with   which   everyone   speaks   of   him.   

                    yet   the   goal   is   for   chloe   to   never   experience   that.

                    humans   truly   do   not   understand   how   INSIGNIFICANT   they   are   compared   to   real   power.   with   luck   ,   chloe   will   develop   that   respect   slowly   through   interaction   rather   than   instantly   through   trauma.   

                    only   when   the   ordinate   door   of   lilith's   office   closes   behind   her   does   she   bother   to   check   whether   the   girl   has   followed.   “   i   imagine   you   have   a   list   of   questions   ,   then.   ”

norman fucking rockwell.