#but plenty gets killed or poisoned to no one's benefit

[eatfreeordie]

Locally the most common food waste may be wild edibles. In Spring, our local hills are completely covered with different types of mustards, mallow, wild radish, chickweed … probably hundred of tons of edibles leaves, roots, seeds and flowers.    Some are crops in different countries but here…I estimate that we probably have over 100 “non-native” wild edibles that we either spray with chemicals or uproot then throw away. Meanwhile we have people who can not afford organic food in Los Angeles – heck, some can not even afford food. Food waste may be a trendy term but nobody is looking at the obvious. We are surrounded by it!

Pascal Baudar

[dirtytransmasc]

Spider being blessed by Eywa is cool. But what if it doesn’t stop at his lungs. Every time that Spider gets sick or injured, Eywa blesses him again and his body changes accordingly.

Spider broke his leg or arm? His ENTIRE Skeletal structure hardens to the point that it’s as strong as any Na’vi

Spider gets severe sunburns or chemical burns? Tougher skin and stripes start becoming visible on his body and face

Spider loses his balance and falls from a tree? He begins growing a tail for balance

Spider gets food poisoning? He can now eat foods that would have killed him before

Spider gets Conjunctivitis (pink eye)? Gets a cavity? Ear infection? His eye color turns yellow, his canines grow and sharpen, his ears become pointed and he can now move them to focus on sounds

Nobody knows what is happening. Jake hasn’t had a stable pulse and blood pressure since the changes started. Norm is panicking as everything he knows about Pandora and Human biology is turned on his head. Max checked out long ago, because he knew this would remain a mystery for as long as he was alive. The kids, even as they grew older, weren’t as fussed with it but were excited because now spider could properly play with them without getting hurt as much. Every day, Spider gets stronger & faster, gaining small improvements every now and then, and he loves it. He’s becoming more like the Na’vi with every change and he’s happiness shows - He’s more confident, more vocal and has higher self-esteem.

A few years later, everyone thought the changes had stopped. Spider hit puberty and the only thing that was alarming about was how fast and tall Spider was growing. Like, his growing a foot every YEAR. Naturally, everyone is concerned but not about ANOTHER change to his anatomy - they were concerned about where he was going to sleep, since he can’t even fit in his bed and soon he won’t be able to fit in the shack. Other than the extreme growth spurts, the Scientists think they can handle everything else that comes their way.

Until one evening during eclipse, Norm notices something about is different with Spider. Then the realisation hits him. Spider is GLOWING?! Spider has developed bioluminescent markings, but also his veins? After a tireless night of examining this new change, Norm and Max have come to the discovery that Spider has Brain and Nervous system has changed. The glowing veins? New nerves running throughout his whole body capable of performing tsaheylu. They centre around both of spider’s palms as well as the back of his neck.

Nobody is sure how this change could have occurred since nobody has seen or treated Spider for any kind of brain or nerve damage. Spider has had plenty of concussions but they haven’t resulted in this kind of change. Regardless, Spider is ecstatic because know he can connect with Eywa and tame an Ikran. It’s like a wish has been fulfilled at long last for him. Jake’s blood pressure has returned to that of years past, Norm has decided to check out like Max did years ago, and the kids (especially Kiri) are super excited for Spider to complete his rites.

And Mo’at? She knew all about this since the beginning. She has seen every Atokinira land on Spider throughout the years, just before his body started to change. She has kept to this to herself, for reasons that even she is not sure of (though seeing her son-in-law panic over a human child growing a tail or literally glowing is an amusing benefit), but settles to just see how happy these changes have made Spider and her grandchildren.

I love this, I love it so much

both spider being a little hybrid, and everyone collectively losing their shit. max and norm are fried, they have no idea, and their entire view of life and science has gone out the door. jake needed to be prescribed the na'vi equivalent of blood pressure medication cause eywa help him he was about to be put on his death bed by spider and his changes. even neytiri is stressing.

then there's mo'at and her malicous compliance; no one ever asks her what she thinks is happening (they ask questions, but never the right ones, so she doesn't give them the answers they actually need and only the ones they seek. so long as it doesn't put the boy in danger, she plans on causing chaos), so she never tells them what she sees, she's rather content on watching as everyone loses their collective shit.

[naomi8645]

DRDT Secrets Theory

SPOILERS

The only characters whose secrets we don't know are Teruko, Levi, Veronika, Hu and Min. Theories below.

,,You only took on your talent to distract from your incessant need to harm yourself for fun."

Had it not been for the 'for fun' part, this would be difficult to figure out. The only one who fits the bill for this secret is Veronika. She's evidently an adrenaline junkie (even her bio used to mention she likes skydiving) and is the only person from the aforementioned characters to always have her arms covered.

,,You always treated the competition with ruthlessness, but poisoning them to win was a bit too far, wasn't it?"

Most definitely Min. She had to compete with many others in order to get accepted into Hope's Peak, through taking an exam. Her bonus episode made it clear she most likely wasn't number one in terms of raw scores, so it's possible for her to have resorted to underhanded tactics.

,,You were quite the hopeless child. Dying once wasn't enough, so you attempted suicide 3 times."

There's plenty of evidence that this secret belongs to Hu.

In this scene, she pretty much calls herself useless unless she can help others.

I believe this is also foreshadowing of her secret.

There's also the fact that Nico used the wire (Hu's custom weapon) in their attempted murder. Considering how adamant she is about defending Nico and only she could have given them the wire, she definitely had a role in the murder attempt.

This doesn't make sense at first because there's no benefit for her to be an accomplice, as she would be executed alongside everyone else. However, if Hu is actually suicidal, it's possible she tried to help Nico escape at the cost of her (and everyone else's) life.

Her secret quote 'I deserve to pay for what I've done, but even then I still want to live.' implies her character development, should this be the case. I believe she'll come to regret risking everyone's lives, including her own, as referenced by the quote.

More foreshadowing.

,,This killing game is all your fault."

I strongly believe David's lying about this being Xander's secret. Given the secret code in the anniversary post (picture with Teruko reaching out for an unknown person's hand), it most likely belongs to Teruko. As for Xander, his bonus episode confirms the 'blaming yourself for the death of your family' secret to be his.

,,You're a murderer, and you hold no remorse."

By process of elimination, this is Levi's motive and he's the culprit of the second case. This is where David lying about Xander's secret comes into play. As Xander's actual secret hasn't been connected to him, I believe Levi will claim it's his own upon eventually being accused. Then, Eden will try to defend Levi, convinced he's telling the truth because of the conversation they had at the start of chapter 1, when she learns about his family. David will eventually be cornered into revealing the motive he received as Teruko's, and Levi will be confirmed as the blackened. If this is the case, it will lead to character development for Eden, possibly becoming more cautious about trusting others.

Additionally, I noticed a pattern with the motives. So far, 8 characters form 2 cycles in which one person received the next's secret.

Arturo (received J's motive) -> J (received Charles') -> Charles (received Eden's) -> Eden (received Arturo's, which makes this come full circle)

From here, we can conclude:

Teruko -> Rose -> Whit -> David

This can only work if David received Teruko's secret.

The remaining 8 characters are divided into pairs of two who received each others' motives.

Nico - Ace (confirmed)

Xander - Min (most likely, and it would make the most sense plot-wise)

Hu - Veronika (based on my theory)

Which leaves Arei and Levi, therefore confirming the culprit.

That's basically all I have. I can't wait until I eventually get proven wrong.

P.S. :

In the second picture, Charles is referring to Ace. This feels like foreshadowing somehow.

[extinct-fish]

Reaper's Bride Drabble

Previously in my drabble

“I’ve got nothing to hide, so just feel free to barge in. Make sure to close the door on the way out, of course.” “Jeez. That open, huh?” “Yes.” “Aren’t you worried about-” “‘Someone taking advantage of you?’ Not a bit. I am the god of death, and if someone dares try to abuse me in some ways, their souls are mine to eat.” “I thought only Ammut ate the souls?” “Oh, every god of death eats souls,” Ryoji laughed, “It just so happens that the soul is in the heart, and each of us are able to rip out hearts.” “Damn. Okay, yeah, I gotcha,” Makoto sighed, “Sheesh, how can someone so sweet be so deadly..?” “Well, many things in nature are poisonous, but look beautiful,” Ryoji shrugged, “Pipevine Swallowtails are poisonous due to the pipevine plants they fed on as caterpillars, but are still beautiful.” “Is that a compliment for yourself?” “Oh, no, that wouldn’t apply to me. I’d say the butterflies share a similarity with mortals far more than they would share similarities with me.” “Then what would you compare yourself to?” “Hmmm… Probably a bumble bee.” “A bumble bee?” “I’m not benefiting humanity, nor am I detrimental. I’m mostly sweet and patient, but provoke me and you get stung.” “Sounds about right. Though plenty of people would say you’re a wasp.” “A wasp?!” Ryoji seemed offended. “Well, people often say death is cruel, detrimental, yet a crucial part of life,” Makoto answered with no change of attitude. “Is that how humanity views me?” Ryoji sighed with disapproval. “Well, some people do. I think you’re more like a honey bee.” “Why?” “Well, you’re sweet, you’re protective, and frankly, people benefit from you a lot more than they think.”

“Oh, Yuki-chan,” Ryoji smiled.

Ryoji then continued showing Makoto around, with Makoto meeting various personas. A couple of shadows did inflict dizziness spells on Makoto, which ended up causing Ryoji to catch him a good portion of the time. At the end of the tour, the two headed to the library, where a good view of the snow could be seen.

“I knew the snow would come soon.” Ryoji mentioned as he lit the fireplace with magic.

“How did you do that?” Makoto asked, bewildered.

“Oh? It’s just fire magic. I just cast a small agi on it.”

“Hm.”

Makoto then walked over to the fireplace, noting the carpet’s texture. In his entire stay, he never wore shoes, which he thought was strange, but didn’t mind. He sat down, finding that the carpet was much comfier than he initially imagined.

“Watching the flames is better when you’ve got someone with you,” Ryoji mentioned as he walked over to Makoto.

He plopped himself down next to Makoto, turning his attention to him. Makoto looked at Ryoji quizzically, noticing that Ryoji patted his lap.

“What?” Makoto asked.

“Come lay your head on my lap,” Ryoji invited.

“What if I don’t want to.”

“Then that’s fine. You just let me know what you want,” Ryoji smiled sweetly.

Makoto sighed as he just laid his head on Ryoji’s lap. There was an interesting scent he noticed: Ryoji smelled of Almonds. It was a peculiar scent, not one he expected. From the looks of the man, he’d most likely smell of mints, perhaps funeral lilies, roses, or like the rain upon a graveyard. Almond was not on his list of scents that he expected from Ryoji.

“You smell like almonds…” Makoto commented.

“Ah, that could be the cyanide,” Ryoji chuckled.

“CYANIDE?!” Makoto shot up.

“Yes. The body produces cyanide as a byproduct of metabolism. Even after death, it produces cyanide.”

“But- why do you smell like almonds if your perfume is cyanide?!”

“I naturally smell like that, Yuki-chan. Plus, Cyanide is also found in almonds, hence the almond-like smell.”

“Wait- seriously? And we’ve been eating poison nuts this entire time?”

“Well, mortals also treat the almonds by boiling it, so naturally, trace amounts of cyanide are still present but not enough to kill.”

“I see…”

“You smell of life… and mint.”

“Why mint?”

“You tell me, it’s your natural scent.”

“Wait- I smell like mint?”

“Yes. Spearmint to be exact. My sense of smell is usually for telling how dead a person is, but as a side effect, I can smell people’s natural scents from here.”

“Huh. And here I thought you couldn’t get any weirder.”

The response made Ryoji laugh.

[axewchao]

Sharp Yellow Eyes

A redraw of something I made back in January of 2020 and never posted. I've been switching back and forth between the old and new version in tabs and GOD it's so satisfying to see… =w=

Nothing quite like waking up in the void and seeing this standing before you, am I right? :'D …noseriouslyyouneedtorun—

The old version came with a story that I still really like, so the new one gets it too!

"I can't believe it... It's really you-!!"

Dalex could only stare in confusion at the figure standing before him. For a moment, he thought it was Ludwig, but the tone of the younger Koopa's voice made it very clear it was not.

The figure let out a faint giggle, like a fan meeting their idol for the first time. Dalex was used to that sound; he'd heard it plenty of times when someone approached any of the Koopalings and he happened to be nearby. However, hearing it this time sent a chill down his spine, and he wasn't sure why.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Dalex began noticing other things. Things that he always associated with Ludwig, but seemed... wrong on this Koopa. His hair was big and spread out away from his head, but looked unkepmt, like he hadn't bothered to tend to it for days or even weeks on end. The toothy grin was the same, but showed more fangs. It reminded Dalex of his friend Makani, only this guy didn't have braces. His tail was crooked, like Ludwig's, but was bent the other direction, pointing up instead of down. Like it'd been broken and just left alone.

Last but not least were his eyes.

They were the same golden eyes Dalex knew, but instead of being round, warm, and welcoming, they were sharp, cold slits. They were glowing as they locked on to him, and for a moment, Dalex felt like he couldn't look away. Not because he liked them, mind. Rather, it felt as though looking away would lead to something bad. He didn't want to find out what that "something" was.

"You're here! You're actually here-!! A real live Poison Koopa, right in front of me!!" The figure giggled again, and took a step closer. By instinct, Dalex took a step back. He did not want this Ludwig-lookalike getting near him at all. "And here I thought I'd never get to meet one, let alone you..."

"Uhh..." Dalex was at a loss for words. Sure, he knew Poison Koopas were hard to find, but... Nevermind. He needed answers. "Who are you? And where am I?"

"Let's just say I'm... a friend of a friend." The other Koopa waved it off, not even blinking. "And where we are is not important, neither is how you got here. What matters is that you're here, and we can finally talk about you, Dalex."

Dalex's tail stiffened. "How... How do you know my name?"

"I hear things through the grapevine, that's all~" The Koopa chuckled, his grin somehow getting wider. "But you don't have to worry about that; your name is all I know about you." He stepped closer. Again. "Though I will admit, I am curious to know more. Is it true that your venom takes a mere ten minutes to kill someone?"

"What-??" What kind of question is that-?!

"Or maybe it takes longer? You clearly have Boom Boom genes... Perhaps being a hybrid has weakened it somewhat? That's been my main hypothesis; hybrids always have a detriment to counter a benefit. But who else would know the truth other than the man himself? Hmm??" The Koopa placed a hand on his chin as he stepped even closer. Dalex took three steps back. "Tell me."

Dalex held up his hands. "Back up. Why is my venom so important to you-??"

"Is it not obvious? I want it."

Dalex fell silent once more. After a few minutes- which felt like an eternity- he cleared his throat. "...Excuse me?"

"Your venom, Dalex. I want it." The blue-haired Koopa's eyes grew even more intense, if that was even possible. He visibly shivered, "Just thinking about it is so exciting... The perfect weapon, and it's right in front of me...! I know how kind you are, Dalex. So if you'd be a dear and donate some of of that lovely venom to me, I'd greatly appreciate it~!"

Dalex shifted, legs tensing as he mentally readied himself to run. "I'm gonna say no to that. It's mine. And with that-!" Without giving the downright creepy Koopa a chance to respond, he took off. He had no idea where he was going, or how he was going to get home, but anywhere was better than spending one more second with that guy. Whoever he was.

The figure blinked, then chuckled, that toothy grin never falling. "We'll see about that, Dalex. After all... Kooky Von Koopa always gets what he wants. One way, or another..."

[fymagnificentwomcn]

I still have plenty to say on the topic, so bear with me, the original link is here, it would be too much there I think.

Anyway thank you Sol @palaceoftears for these tags that succinctly sum up the main point of the original post, let's bring them as starting point here:

#joanna you ate this!!! missed reading you#truly love how deeply you analyzed that confronting suleyman IS confronting the system!#also the freeing aspect because like freedom doesn't have to mean happiness?#yes ofc hurrem wouldn't be happy knowing ultimately suleyman didn't love her & her children over himself#but it's still freeing to not live yout whole life brainwashed lol?#like I never get how ppl that loves her watch her going from 'i'll kill the sultan' & 'don't treat us as animals' to dependant on suleyman#and just go 'happy ending :D' about it#mahidevran sultan#hurrem sultan#sultan suleiman#magnificent century#muhtesem yuzyil

You know how much I dislike Surrem, but I absolutely get people shipping it without getting it like "happy in love" (huge kudos to my sis Tisha) since it's an extremely complicated, mutually toxic relationship, while yes they do love each other at same time. But they are both each other's heaven and hell simultaneously throughout the whole show, with Hürrem being in worse position due to power imbalance. Power imbalance that never fully goes away. He might also be dependent on her in emotional way since he himself comes to belief she is the only person who would never betray him (because she truly had least benefit in it). Don't be fooled though, if she had e.g. crowned Bayezid in S3 as Sah intended, he would have shown her no mercy. /I once mentioned a bit about them, also historically here./

And LBR she got mistreated by him (please, he told her to kill herself for him, and the goal was not to determine whether she had poisoned Mustafa truly) multiple times before S4, it was only because of the topic covered I mentioned S4 stuff, especially related to how he screwed her kids.

People think of stuff in "tangible" categories and why stuff like mere "awareness" (without leading a revolution or whatever lol) seems to have little meaning.

Which is again one of the main themes of the show - to give voice also to those who lost and as such do not have the "but we won, we were happy, we lived" defence always acting for them. Bah, even controversies or discussions surrounding them. They are losers, not even worthy to talk about, and put on sidelines. We often discuss what motivated the "big figures" who got to become rulers, even if we do not approve of their actions or criticize them. Rarely we talk about "losers". Which is what Mustafa's letter stressed - people will deem me as traitor, while your name will be written in golden letters because of all your victories. This alone will make your name remembered. And even considering that Mustafa was lucky in that people generally did not believe him to be a traitor, with Bayezid it was much harder because yeah he did openly rebel and it's not something we can deny. But some jump to conclusions like 'he was insolent and one day decided to rebel for no reason' (yes, I've seen such takes) is very simplistic. I do not even approve of a lot of his actions there since while I get his anger at Suly and Selim I hate how he involves plenty of soldiers in a fight without a chance to succeed as long as Suly ass lives, but damn takes like above truly erase what brought him to such point. Because he was the prince with bigger support at that time. He could have waited for his father to die soon and easily taken the throne. /And historically - yes if you actually dig up sources, he didn't wake up and decide to attack innocent cookie pacifist Selim lol/. Show! Bayezid telling Defne that he would be labelled as a "rebellious prince" for future generations with obvious evidence backing it up means a lot because even though he IS one, there is so much more to this story and what bought him to this point, starting from his father's attitude to him since he was a kid.

And damn I do need to stress the need for the critical approach to SOW (which does not preclude stanning the characters/getting interested in historical figures ofc)? Maybe not here, but I still see TikTok shit on “The big 5” introducing feminism to Ottoman harem. There is no revolution we can talk of in any case, but truly, where is feminism involved in Haseki institution? It only privileges one woman over others. The others are still required to serve them, which is why we had the Hürrem/Gülnihal and Nurbanu/Valeria stories. And what it ties with what Sol says once Hürrem tries to kill Gülnihal - her parents' ghosts appearing to tell her It's not revenge. It's not what you promised us. Meanwhile, the men are still in power, with a person like Suleiman having unlimited agency. More.. the man selects the woman he gives those privileges too. And even if he grants her freedom (if HE pleases so), it has little actual effect because we all know she is still forbidden to leave him and would have lost her kids anyway if she had done so. Thus said, the moment when show Hürrem slams the door to Sulyass' stupid face is one of my fave Surrem moments without a doubt and one of fave H moments in general ahsmshs. / BTW One day I will finally talk how Westerners focus more on say legal marriage when it that system having multiple sons was more ground-breaking because even free brides from noble families who did not have children had little power and agency. /

There is plenty of irony involved, just as Mahi finally freeing herself from attachment to Suly once he rejects her freedom to which he is entitled by the System. Bah, only he has the power to do so regarding his women. It's all only at his own discretion.

It is precisely what I also mean by "taboo-breaking" and the questioning Mahi does of Suleiman and the way he (as Sultanate) operates. In that world mere questioning could break the taboo. We do not know what future lay ahead for anyone, but damn what he kept doing was neither just nor wise according to the very norms of the times themselves. Yes, Mustafa was the most promising and fitting candidate for the throne and he did not betray his father, so Suleiman removing him from "open succession" was not even why this method of succession had been established in the first place and demanded from princes assembling their own support, also ensuring that he would be easily accepted to prevent discord and rebellions. Mustafa did it too well, the horror. And that him wanting to do something (also as he himself stated, since he got privilege of being the prince and be able to rule, he should not sit idly, but use it for good purpose and the people) only brought him troubles because of Suly ass own ego only shows again the problems with this system and being centered on one person so much. Suleiman violated a lot for his own agenda, centered around himself, not the future of the state. This is what Mahi is criticizing and stating it to his face when he tried to paint his son as a traitor to present himself as just and acting for the state IS taboo-breaking in itself. Asking the question instead of dismissing it all as "fate", as Mihrimah tried.

Mahidevran tries to awake Mihri, who while rich and "still in power play", is very similar to her in many ways (also with the one big sin that has weighted on them silently). They all lost. Even Selim. Getting Mihri's brother (Hürrem's son) on the throne did not mean triumph and happiness for her. Heck, even Selim is a walking wreck. It's not even about sides because SS truly managed to destroy everyone's lives, not only one side's, so in the end it's not even favoritism. All for him to go with his beautiful words, a show-off victory, and his beloved throne (while saying something else in his monologue). Mahi telling Mihri to stop holding her father blameless IS the moment making someone else's eyes open and maybe do not let actively go for something that will not help anyone out at this point, like causing discord between Selim and his son. These are small things that are important for the theme and how mental freedom is also of value. Same with awareness. Nobody expects revolution or claims something. And we are at a particular point when Mahi already lost Mustafa and says it already in the context with him gone. She won't resurrect him with her words ofc LOL. And Mahi truly didn't have to do this, just take popcorn and look at Hürrem's kids & other descendants fighting even more.

You can precisely see when SS decides how to dispose of Bayezid when Mihri says she will never forgive him and will be dead to him if he executes her brother. The lightbulb over his head in this moment lol. So her continuing to hold him blameless, while putting everything on Selim and Nurbanu is buying his shit and rules of the Sultanate. Mihri might have power, so she can stir things up in attempt to still "win", but.. they all lost. Her acceptance of it and stating it out loud before leaving Topkapi again has meaning. One might continue to have power and live in palace (unlike Mahi), but they all lost anyway. Mere meddling that can cause only chaos to still try to win is meaningless and can ony be harmful. As such, Mahi's words can have at least some impact.

Mahi and fate as Sol's post with Plami's commentary also has this delicious tidbit with mirror - most likely Hürrem would have never ceased to hunt down Mustafa after Mehmed's death because she had decided on eliminating him long before that and kept carrying out the plan via concrete & repeated actions. However, Mahi still questions herself on that because she can never know. And even if it changed nothing, it still tormented her and polluted her conscience. Because culpability is still there, regardless of "system" and circumstances" and whether it has any tangible effect or not. Same with Selim still being culpable even though SS wanted Bayezid executed. He still chose to do so anyway. Bah, he is actually very self-conscious and states clearly that he won because unlike the others he was able to kill his brother.

Similarly, Mustafa, Cihangir, and Bayezid also made their choices. Mustafa could have axed Suleiman and it would have been hard to blame him for this in the situation it boilt down to. Actually, he was the one with biggest support at that moment, so rules of the Sultanate definitely allowed him to dispose of an aging ruler who began making a multitude of mistakes. He had the biggest power at his disposal if he wanted to. Moreover, Musti also chose to invite the member of the opposition faction because she was his sister, despite said sister openly declaring her standing on the opposite side and speaking to him "with her mother's words" last time they met. Once more, instead of rules of Sultanate and how the system expected him to act, he chose familial bonds.

Then again, Bayezid did have Selim on his knees in front of him and chose not to kill Selim, despite Selim never promising him any change or begging for mercy.

They both died, but they also could have chosen differently and compromised their conscience and values in the process.

Yet the opposite choice to adhere to the Darwinist rules and get the throne at any cost is not something mechanic that promises happiness or safety, either. Actually, it can make you painfully blind. We see Hürrem deciding blood will be spilled only of her enemies once she learns her son is going to end up on the throne. When she meets with the witch after Mustafa is dead and the throne for one of her sons IS a certain thing.. it's not what she wanted to hear, starting from her own imminent demise from natural causes. Same with her trust in the "human face" of the Sultanate aka Suly ass:

The "right, sultana?" is an ironic call-back to the beginning of the episode when she uses same words about Suly's power to exclude herself from the matter of Mustafa's death.

Also let us note the use of the word "destiny"😱 .

Also, Hürrem did not come back to ponder her preceding conversation with the witch earlier, as she had another proof of herself not interpreting it correctly - when she assumed Nazenin's baby would be the one the witch predicated as the Sultan. Nurbanu was after all pregnant with Murad at the same time.. so no, the witch was not mistaken, Hürrem was simply so caught up in her own vision of how it would go (also with Baye taking the throne) or assumed the witch to be mistaken, so she didn't notice it was about her grandson.

Another interesting thing is that the witch also predicts Mihrimah's future and that while her physical illness will pass soon, the spiritual pain will soon start and persist.

Because even if we "win" in that we survive, it does not need to bring happiness with it. At all.

It doesn't work like this either (Mihri talks about sacrifing Musti and Cih), while we are at it. There are no simple mechanisms like that! And how Mihri adopts her mother stance and calls her out that only one of her sons can survive according to the Darwinist rules (which is also what Rüstem advocates in any circumstances, only for him there is no support for Bayezid really... any can go) is just irony at its finest, and it stems also from her feeling of guilt - I already tainted my conscience and went again familial bonds, so let it at least mean victory for my favourite brother. She is now quick to accept one of them will die, she just wants to ensure it's not Bayezid.

Another of Hürrem's children that do adopt her "survival no matter the cost" agenda (and no, it's hard going for that to "pacifism" agenda shortly after getting what you wanted), and to a bigger extent, is Selim obviously.. Selim states to Bayezid that he will live because he is capable of killing his brother for his own survival. But we know what sort of life this is (and that he won't live long from history). He might later quote his mother to Mihrimah and convince himself that since nobody is innocent under this dome, so only the deserving win, but outside that, he does call himself a "brother killer" and does consider it a burden. /And Selim being his mother's son is another fascinating topic, since he was like.. her least fave and yet he is the one most alike her and who most absorbed her views and agenda.. to later emerge as sort-of third unexpected faction /.

Neither Mihrimah nor Selim ever found peace after adhering to the System's rules of fratricide. Bah, they cannot even be a family again as the only surviving members.. instead they openly accuse each other of being brother killers. Judging by history, they will eventually learn to co-operate, but nothing will be the same ever again. There is no moral victory in it for sure. Selim does not claim it any point. Actually, he is the one to point out that: We all lost. Innocence died and nothing will be as before. We can accuse Selim of many things, but he is a pretty self-conscious character indeed.

The others might be dead, but they did adhere to their principles and values due to choice.

The power of reflection or questioning is also tied to to the concept of choice as what makes us a human. MC never promises us happy ending (how it could, we all know the ending point), but the mere presentation of choice, of humans trying to create something positive, like Mustafa, Bayezid, and Cihangir deciding not to fight against each other as expected, is meaningful.

Instead we got nobody truly winning or benefitting from what happened LBR. It cannot get worse than that, really.

The whole issue again reflects what I said earlier in that post on how Erdogan historical propaganda works. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but there is no questioning at all. Instead we have normalization of violence and presenting it as something necessary, and that there is no choice or alternative to what happened. The sultan killed his brothers, but he had to. It was necessary, it was automatic. There is even no person behind it, but a robot always doing the right (even if brutal) choice because "it was like that".

And to some up the great ironies of life, we can remember that Mahi who lost it all... survived them all, so she won the Darwinist game in the end despite being rejected by System multiple times:

[sayitwithsarcophilus]

I saw someone talking about "I appreciate the ecological benefits of a diversified lawn, but I live in tick country and high grass is a Very Bad Idea," and it made me wonder what lawns were like in their area. Mowing itself does not kill weeds! And even if they were talking about letting the non-grass plants get big enough to flower so the pollinators can actually benefit from them, there are plenty of fun plants that are either naturally low-growing (I'm defining "low-growing" as "shorter than a pulled-up crew sock") or can be mowed down to that height without injuring them.

This list will focus on the temperate zone because that's the only place I've lived.

Sweet alyssum: this is a garden flower, so you probably shouldn't expect it to stand up to too much foot traffic, but I have seen it in lawn mixes. It's a cute, obliging hardy annual adapted to a variety of temperate climates, smells good, self-sows, and is attracted to pollinators.

Wild violets/Johnny-Jump-Ups: Yuri flowers! Many species of cute little pansy-shaped things found all over the temperate regions of Eurasia and the Americas. Adapted to a wide variety of biomes, although many of them like some shade. Some are edible and I haven't heard of any that are dangerously poisonous, but look up your specific species before you start chomping.

Clover: Red clover is pretty and useful but probably too rangy if you need to keep your lawn below the top of your socks. White clover and hop clover (the tiny yellow ones) are more compact. Bees love it.

Vetch: There are hundreds of vetches out there, some of them way too big for our purposes, so we'll focus on the little weedy ones. These guys are members of the bean family (closely related to lentils and fava beans) with pretty sweet-pea-like flowers in a variety of colors. The most common variety where I live is fuchsia, but there's also a tiny species with pink and cream flowers. Being legumes, they're nitrogen-fixers.

Speedwell: Several species of low-growing plants of the genus Veronica with little blue flowers. Add some variety to your lawn's color palette.

Prunella/Purple Dead-Nettle: These are technically two different plants from two different genera, but apparently the plant I've known since childhood as Prunella looks more like Purple Dead-Nettle? Well, neither of them are toxic, so there's no great practical hazard to mixing them up. These are members of the mint family (but don't smell minty), modestly attractive in an herby kind of way, hardy and adaptable but easier to weed out of where you don't want them than mint proper tends to be.

Mint: Mint can get a bit gangly, but once it's well-established it doesn't mind being mowed - and it does smell wonderful after being cut or trampled! Potentially invasive.

Wild strawberries: If the wild strawberries native to your area reliably bear fruit, congratulations! Mine do not. But they're picturesque little plants anyway.

Chickweed: A sprawling plant with long gangly stems and tiny white flowers. Edible, and one of the traditional seven herbs in Japanese New Year congee.

Oxalis: Cute little shamrock-looking plants (although they're more closely related to starfruit than clover). Wild specimens can have green or dark red foliage. There are cultivated varieties with more spectacular flowers.

English daisies: tiny little daisies. The wild variety has white single flowers with yellow centers, but I've seen the cultivars (bigger fluffier flowers in various shades of pink as well as white) also do well in a lawn.

Buttercups: buttercups like wet feet, and add a cheery touch to any particularly moist or poorly drained parts of your yard. Some of the wild species are potentially invasive, so keep an eye on them for possible unseemly expansionist tendencies.

All these plants will give your lawn a picturesque charm, feed the butterflies and bees, and (hopefully) camoflage the dandelions and plantain.

[detective-noire-in-ff14]

Shadows of Kugane

It felt icy in the office. It was the kind of day that a hot drink was desired, but after two unfinished mugs lined the desk, there was little chance the Miqo was going for a third. He shivered slightly, perhaps prompted by intuition to the soft thud of the elevator as it fixed itself to his floor, followed by a hollow knock at the door. “Come in, it's open.” As she entered, the slender figure looked behind her before locking her sapphire gaze on the man. Her gaze was not the only striking attribute; lips lined with a plum gloss that caught the dim light. Her ivory skin warmed against the fire, and her auburn hair framed her features. She was high-born, but all he could think was, why is she here?

D’rynn shook himself free from the stupor. “I don’t get many visitors. Please take a seat,” he said as he stood. Once she sat, he followed suit, bringing out a pen and a piece of paper. The Woman explained the situation, “I didn’t know who else to go to. Our mutual friend said that if he didn’t meet me in three days, I would be in danger and needed to find you.” The Raen chewed on her bottom lip. “It was four days before I could book passage to the Mists; the doorman pointed me to you here, which would make six days since he had gone missing.” D’rynn paused her, “Who went missing?”

Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, “I promised I wouldn’t cry, that not a tear would be wasted until I knew he was… was…” D’rynn interjected, “Let’s start with something easier; who are you... Miss?” The lady returned to her learned form before answering curtly, “Saiko of the Ruby Sea.” The Miqo was deliberately slow in an attempt to draw her into providing more information but had closed herself up like a fan. 

D’rynn pulled a navigation pad from the desk. “Where did you start from?” Saiko replied quickly, “Kugane, the market district. I talked briefly with Hancock.” she was interrupted by the man, “Hancock sent you? Then it is troubling. I've never known him to need outside help.” she nodded, “Just so. He said he needed an outside pair of eyes—someone who could walk in both shadow and light.” D’rynn scratched his chin. “I imagine they sent you with a fee for my services. My contracts are upfront cost and supplies with compensation upon completion.” She glanced at the designer purse in her hands clutched to her breast. He didn’t notice how she was dressed provocatively, within a sultry black and red dress that clung firmly around every curve. His mind focused on the paperwork he had to get drawn up. “How long have you been traveling? You said six days in total?” She nodded slower this time. Standing with a pose to benefit her feminine features. “I was told you men only want one thing from a lady.”

D’rynn chuffed, “Let's get this over with lady. What do you get in the purse? Because we both know you would sooner kill me than share a bed.” She pouted, “Now, why must you be like that? I have no reason to threaten my hero at the moment. Besides, how would I get out of here alive?” The Catte smirked, “So you noticed the security system, but I’m not letting you off the hook; empty the purse on the desk and keep your hands out. I would hate to explain to the janitor why there is a mess.” Saiko dumped the contents, revealing a petite revolver with one shot. D’rynn could tell a potent poison was laced on the slug—no need to disguise the smell when it is coming from a barrel. The raen gave a playful, innocent look, “Oops? How did that get in there.” Her smile turned coy. “Are you going to punish me?” She said with nearly a moan.

D’rynn shook his head, “Why is this gun here if not for me? Who did you expect…” He snapped his fingers together, “You were hoping he would be here already. You gave him plenty of time.” He rotated around the desk, revealing his revolver angled from his hip towards Saiko. She smiled with a sway of her hips, hands wrapping her body, “Is that a gun in your hand, or are you just happy to see me?” D’rynn gave a dry smile. “You would have charmed him, he was always a sucker for a lady in black, but I got perfection waiting for me at home.” He raised the gun, “How about you tell me what is going on?” She pouted again, “You are dull, all talk and no play.” She sat back down and crossed her legs. “Everything I said was true, but I doubt I need to tell you that the best lies are.” He tilted his head, “Now that we have the basics out of the way, Why do you want Kouske?” Her gaze puzzled, “How did you know it was him?” D’rynn sat, putting his feet on the desk, his pistol leaning against his knee. “Because Miss Saiko, he is the only one that would want to sleep with a viper.”

“You know, Mister Lutar, you are a sharp catte. A credit to the race, but let us not pretend you can keep me here. I could go to the Medbay and get an absolute scandal saying any number of things, and the law would require you to prove your innocence. Meanwhile, I can go and keep looking for our friend and make my quick money.” She penned with her index finger at the desk. “Or you come with me and find him. I’ll pay you the usual finders fee.” D’rynn leaned back into his chair, his eyes catching the plushy fox at the base. “I want the money upfront. You leave here without a noise, and I’ll meet you at the crystal.” Saiko placed a finger on her credits strewn across the desk. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

D’rynn picked up the plushy and ran his fingers across the head, “I have got me a real mess.” He placed the precious toy on his desk. “Trouble comes in pairs; the best I can hope for is that home, and all who make it will be there when I get back.”

[ear-worthy]

Bitches With Beards Podcast: Culture Over A Bottle Of Wine

One of the enduring strengths of podcasting is its ability to narrowcast to groups that are typically ignored -- or sadly, denigrated -- in our society. Of course, that freedom and flexibility comes at a price with conspiracy theorists pouring out of their disaster dungeons to podcast about the fake moon landing, the fluoride in our water mass poisoning, the linkage between pizza crust and pedophiles, and the Moms For Liberty pet theory -- secretive racial messaging in To Kill A Mockingbird.

On the whole, podcasting's hug of lifestyles, hobbies, passions, and beliefs has a multitude of benefits. One of those benefits is the Bitches With Beards podcast.

Let's begin by learning about the podcast from the co-hosts, Max and Daniel.

"Have you ever had an opinion but are worried it will get you canceled? Max and Daniel aren’t, so that’s why they started a podcast. Join us each week as we discuss everything that the rainbow light touches, whether it’s Daniel's latest read, Max’s latest recipe, or just the latest binge-watch."

Here's their marvelously distinct tagline:"We’re the podcast that attempts to break down culture with all the elegance of two Coastal Grandmas. But in truth, we’re just a couple of Bitches With Beards!"

I discovered this podcast from their social media about a month ago and began listening with no idea what to expect. In a sentence, the podcast far exceeded my expectations.

Bitches With Beards reminds me of the earlier days of podcasts when two friends began a podcast to discuss everything from politics, culture, and society. That simple objective was the fuel for many podcasts in the late 2000s.

What's so ear worthy about Max and Daniel is that the two friends are sharp-witted, smart-minded, and an absolute gas to listen to.

Even without listening to one episode, I knew the co-hosts had wit to spare. Their episode names read like a New Yorker cartoon caption. Some examples of their episode titles include:

Silver Alerts and Silver Screens, The Lion, The Bitch and The Closet, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Nothin’, Julie Newmar!, Old Culture Buffet and Bitches With Blonde Ambition.

Max and Daniel describe themselves as professional homosexuals, and their podcast is upfront and in your face about their gay lifestyle. While the audience may be overwhelmingly gay men, I think the show holds plenty of interest for anyone who enjoys witty repartee, cultural observations that have thought behind them, and a strong sense of equality and fairness.

For an indie podcast without the cash hoard of a Spotify or Amazon, Max and Daniel have produced a show with excellent sound quality. I love their intro with the heavy bass riff and synth instrumentation. The music has a cool, rhythmic tempo, and the co-hosts use music to separate their segments within an episode to keep listeners grounded, and the show organized.

One of their episode segments is aptly called, "What's new in the Gayborhood?" Stories include a report on how the India Supreme Court refused to legalize gay marriage, or a report on the Japanese government's efforts to restrict the rights of transgender people.

So who are Max and Daniel?

I asked them via social media and their response was:

"Max is a media producer with almost 20 years experience working on socially facing projects, helping marginalized communities. After all this time telling other people’s stories, Bitches With Beards is his first time fronting his own project and is proud to be a member of the podcast community. A Londoner living in Washington, DC, Max is obsessed with American culture and loves nothing more than to get lost in some Americana. His major passion is the silver screen and could talk endlessly about the first century of cinema."

"Daniel is a landscape historian for a federal agency, with one foot entrenched in the worlds of design and the other solidly in history. Discussions of culture and the implications on society are part of every working day. In his spare time he is a voracious reader, music consumer, researcher of Queer DC, a cocktail enthusiast."

One common theme throughout the podcast is drinking and testing various alcoholic drinks. It's not a drunk fest or bros guzzling beer. It's more like a wine tasting with some info paired with the grapes. The boys test various mixed drinks, and that is part of their cultural curiosity.

When discussing culture and the arts, Max and Daniel are dilettantes with wide-ranging tastes, strong opinions that don't sink into harshness, and keen observations about movies in particular.

They began their podcast in February 2023 and have already produced 40 episodes, which is remarkable productivity for an indie podcast with two friends chatting. They've been reliable and consistent with their episodes, which is always a driving force to gain more listeners.

The co-hosts do attempt that delicate balancing act of satisfying loyal listeners while attracting new listeners, often inventing new ways to explain their podcast in the opening and offering listeners a list of their topics for the episode in the beginning of the show.

Regardless of your lifestyle, I think you'll enjoy Bitches With Beards. It's a show that exemplifies podcasting's strengths as a medium -- its ability to niche broadcast, its lower barriers to entry than TV, movies or books, and its showcasing of people we don't know YET.

I'll end with the co-hosts' own self-declaration of purpose: "Max and Daniel are best friends and professional homosexuals who like nothing more than to discuss the culture over a bottle of wine. In their heads they have all the elegance of two coastal grandmas, but in truth they’re just a couple of BITCHES WITH BEARDS! Pour yourself a glass every Wednesday. Cheers!"

[more-than-a-princess]

The real risk wasn't burning the place down or even harming herself: it was poisoning him, if not the rest of their friends, by her valiant attempts at preparing a meal. She hadn't committed murder in the simulation, but she would've been terribly effective at it if she'd served self-prepared food to anyone, whether she intended to kill them or not. "While a fire would be impressive, I am not sure it would be glorious," Sonia countered with a concerned look. "If we did not have the kitchen in the Hotel Mirai, we'd have to live off whatever rations we have in our cabins until a ship brought in more food supplies that do not require cooking."

And besides, the wine would likely be sacrificed to the flames and she couldn't have that. The alcohol, or what was left of it on Jabberwock Island, was essential for her getting through the day without nightmares, or overwhelming feelings, or feeling much of anything at all. Alcohol dulled her senses and emotions and now, Sonia relied on it: some things hadn't changed with The Tragedy after all. She accepted her glass with a smile: maybe that was the smallest of benefits of what they'd experienced. Coupled with age (or at least, Japan and Europe's legal ages, though aristocratic families hardly put any stock in either), Gundham didn't seem to be bothered by pouring her alcohol. A part of her wondered if the Gundham before the Tragedy, the one who had attended Hope's Peak with her, would have been scandalized to know just how much underage imbibing she'd done back then. A larger part of her felt compelled to stay silent, in fear of anything attributed to her person that might make him despise her.

But all of her hesitated when he did: when prompted about his parents. And when he'd asked her in turn about hers. The corners of Sonia's mouth twitched: this was no royal ball or important party full of politicians she needed to be both effortlessly charming and intimidatingly intelligent in front of. No amount of beauty and brains would erase the fact she'd caused mass genocide. But nevertheless, it felt awkward to be so open, so raw, about her family in front of Gundham: as a teenage girl, living a life as normal as she could muster, she'd spent plenty of time daydreaming of what it would be like if Gundham Tanaka was her boyfriend. And if she took him home to Novoselic Castle to meet her family. And if, just maybe, one day he'd ask her if he could stay.

"Your mother must have been a wonderful person who loved you very much," She began, taking a long sip of wine. Beyond that, she could not presume anything. But he could have said nothing of her and Sonia would have guessed as much: if only due to the fact that most mothers on Earth were likely kinder and gentler than her own. Queen Valentina of Novoselic had once, after all, been Valentina Borghese, the youngest of five children of one of the country's most prominent Dukes and had, according to her uncle Lorenzo, a desire to prove herself since she was in her mother's womb. "And I would not have minded questions: I do not doubt she would have been respectful about it. She did raise you, after all."

But what to say about her parents? Sonia watched Gundham add a variety of spices to a pot from her seat on a nearby counter. Surely he'd asked in earnest, and without knowing what it was really like to be royal. He never put her on a pedestal though, and she kept that in mind as she exhaled, setting her half-empty wine glass beside her.

"I think my father hated parties," She began. It seemed wrong, somehow, to just say he was nice and handsome and he shared the same color eyes as she did and they only lit up properly when he was with his daughter. "He'd greet everyone and pose for the photos of course, but I think a lot of the gossip and conversation topics between aristocrats and overly greedy politicians bored him. And ceremonies, well, he was either invested in them or wished he was elsewhere. I think he was happiest, as King at least, visiting the various cities and towns in Novoselic and just talking to people. Everyday people, about their lives and what brings them joy and what they wished they could do or have to improve upon it. It didn't matter of their manners weren't immaculate or they were unrefined: I think he liked it that way."

"When I was young," She continued, idly rambling as Gundham continued to cook. Food took time to prepare, and it wasn't as if there was anything else to entertain him with. "If he was taking me along for work, he insisted on bringing me to hospitals, to orphanages, to homeless shelters and schools. He thought the most important things for me to learn were to understand that Novoselic was only as strong as its most infirm and struggling citizens, and that the children of Novosonian orphanages and schools would one day be my peers in governance and leadership. Listening to and supporting them was more important than perfect posture, or how to pour a cup of tea, or how to waltz without stepping on my partner's toes."

And those weren't even the fondest of her memories with him: he'd taught her both refined and unrefined hobbies, and the only times she'd ever broken his heart was the day he'd accepted the fact that she had zero musical aptitude, and the day she'd aimed a pistol at his forehead and fired. He hadn't needed to say anything, Sonia thought as she fiddled with the stem of her wine glass. His eyes had revealed the depth of his pain.

"My mother, in turn, was in many ways his perfect complement," Sonia said as the pot of water began to boil. "She adored being the center of attention. She loved tradition, and perfection, and maintaining a standard of royal life that the world expected of us. Appearances mattered, and first ones more than anything to her. My father ran the country and she ran the family. In theory, it should have been harmonious."

She sighed, setting down the glass once more, this time just one swallowful left as she watched him add the dry pasta. "I guess I'm a bit rubbish at talking about my family. I think I am so used to doing it with the intention of being overheard and published. It is odd, to do so without anyone besides you listening. But was there something specific you wished to know?"

"Perhaps I shall do just that." Gundham mused aloud, as he allowed Sonia to turn on the lights. He wasn't quite so familiar with the kitchen, thus he didn't know all of the switches' locations, so he was grateful for the help. There were a lot of places on the island he'd yet to visit, he realized, since he'd been trying to work himself to death in order to stave off those moments of solitude. "That does sound nice, and quite frankly I do not mind re-reading the classics."

The breeder nodded his head, as he grabbed the apron. "Yes the meat goes in the sau-" He also broke off, as he blinked at the sudden sound of her laughter. The moments in which he'd heard her genuinely laugh had been so rare, since they'd woken up from that simulation. He couldn't help the natural chuckle that left his maw in response. The sound of her laughter was so beautiful and infectious. "It seems to the only animal themed one. I am glad you enjoy it."

Gundham grabbed a pot and poured in some water, setting it on the stove to boil. He also pre-heated the oven. "That is all the support I need then. I would not want you to harm yourself, or to burn the facility down in a glorious blaze of hell fire. Fuhahaha!" He was a bit surprised that she'd failed a simple egg and toast combination, but seafood was more understandable. His Mother had given him food poisoning with some undercooked fish as a child, and she'd felt awful afterwards.

'"But of course. It is my pleasure." He popped the cork with a resounding noise, and he poured her a healthy glass of chardonnay, before pouring some for himself. He hesitated for a moment. He'd always been a light weight, and he already felt so hot. Was this really a good idea? Yet, he felt so flustered around her at the moment, that surely it would calm his nerves. He took a large gulp and tried not to make a face, though he let out a small sound that sounded like perhaps a groan. His face flushed a bit more.

Ground beef was placed into a frying pan with a resounding sizzle, and Gundham began to add various spices. He nearly dropped the oregano at the mention of his Mom, his heart doing a painful sort of somersault. "I.." He choked out, before grabbing the wine and chugging the remains of his glass in one fell swoop. The liquid managed to take his edge off a bit. "I would love to tell you about her... but it is difficult." He took a steadying breathe, turning back to the pan, in order to make sure the meat didn't burn.

A few moments later, he began. "I was born to an angel and a demon. My Mother was an angel. She was kind to all, whether towards creatures, mortals, and even.. my Father who did not deserve such. She always tried to see the good in others, but she tended to be naive. She always asked everyone so many questions, really wanting to know who they were, or perhaps she was just nosy. She was clumsy and always unsure of everything she did, including cooking. I know.. she loved me very much. It is good... that she didn't meet you. She would have asked you even more questions, given how I feel about you." He said a bit bitterly, knowing it was a lie. He wished his Mother could have met the woman he loved more than anything. It took him a good few moments to realize what he'd uttered, his brain catching up to the wine. His face turned crimson and he focused far too intently on mixing the spices and tomato sauce in another pan. Feelings was vague enough right? It could be... feelings of friendship.

"I understand if you do not wish to speak of your parents due to what we did.. but would you tell me a bit about them? If you are able to do so." Partly, he wanted to distract her, but he was also curious, as to what kind of people raised such a wonderful daughter.

[thoughtsareclouded]

Naruto Fanfic Recommendations (Masterpost)

There are a variety of ships (some with none). All of the stories have happy (or at least bittersweet) endings. They are not ranked in any particular order, but they are organized by ships (or lack thereof). See the titles for links.

UPDATED 26/12/2022

No Ships

Some Crimes Are Okay If You Mean Well (By Team Kakashi)

The Cure is Toe Beans

I can’t let them see me cry

After a Year, the Consequences Remain

Would You Eat Them with a Fox?

Brother, I let you down

Two Can Keep A Secret

I Died For A Second There

QUIET NAMES

Read Between the Lines (Naruto/Supernatural crossover)

Brightness in the Dark (Naruto/Supernatural crossover)

(you are) the very air i struggle to breathe (Naruto/Yuri!!! On Ice crossover)

Since When Are There Two Potters? (Naruto/Harry Potter crossover)

Dancing the silence down to morning

The Strength of the Wolf is the Pack

trust has no place for secrets

Please, write back

A Thousand Years of Light Between Us (Naruto/Harry Potter crossover)

Lost on the Road of Life

My Fine and Distant Future

Burst the Dams and Start Again

Kurama Apologizes

Ghost Story

Not in the job description

heat wave past noon

KakaIru

Lying is the best policy

Growing old is getting old 

Forgiveness

Howling for You

match made in heaven...?

more important

For as Long as You'll Have Me

Into The Woods, Dark and Deep

Hold Me Close

The Hitai-ate

ANBU in the Bedroom 

Full Moon Bay

Pride, Prejudice, and Plenty of Sex

Lose Control

A Forked-Tongue Tells Many Lies

She's a Big Boy Now

Reclamation

Equilibrium

Killing Me Softly

Careful Words

Mission gone Wrong

Earth Shaker

i lie awake (and pray you don’t lie awake for me)

Mine

Among Him, Bliss

Thought and Feeling Interwound

killing me to love you

The Butterfly

Craving You

Make It Rain

Always Only One Night

But we’re really NOT married!

Hide and Seek

By Blood, Bound

Ebb and Flow

You’re so Pretty, Sensei

Four First Dates

The Demon on your Shoulder

Son of the White Fang

Blood

After the Storm 

Runaway

KakaYama

More Than Puppy Love 

The Heart Honks Three Times

Worthy 

The Journey to Matching

Not That Kind of Confession

Silver Screens Won’t Show Us Here 

making up for lost time

Control 

hold me down. 

Presents

Circadian

Reunited and United

A New Leaf for Yamato

Of Second Chances and Secret Weapons

One disaster less

without restraint.

Hunter's Moon

abuse of power.

3 for the price of 1

happy accidents.

Irresistible

I Spy On The Sharingan Eye

We’re Soulmates

Watchtower

Benefits

Waiting

Saving You

There’s no way he would love me

Beside you (in my bedroll)

In The Blood

KakaGuy/KakaGai

Good Morning!! 

So Screwed.

The Copy-Wheel Curse

Soak

Somewhere Between Retribution and Recovery

either sweet nothings, or nothing sweet

Tatters

Boudoir (feat. Sukea)

Mine and Yours

The Great Green Beast

Testing My Patience (And My Strength)

Love Genius

Delayed (or, Why Kakashi Is Never On Time)

Training Cues

In Camera (feat. Sukea)

The Past is Just That

Love Genius

Camouflage

KakaNaru

More than me

Gentle hand on black fur

Death is Highly Underrated

So take this heart, put yourself in it

Plush

Stamina

H. 

got you (and your monsters too)

Out of Time

Popsicles (Extended)

Perfectly Wanted

avoidance means eventually

A Bit of A Surprise

Remember Me

Lesson No. 3 (or, the one where Kakashi is utterly destroyed) (part 3 of a series)

KakaObi

we’ll make it work

Proper Fuck

Too Close For Comfort

It’s not so bad, and I can’t see at all

Dirty Little Secret

The Promotion

Lord Sixth’s Birthday

A Week in Kiri with the Hound

heat lightning

poisoned at the roots

The Art of Seduction

Catalyst

Surprise

I See You When You Hide

Kamui Blues

Neon Green

Courtesy

Obito for Breakfast

Whipped

A Week in Kiri with the Hound

heat lightning

poisoned at the roots

kintsukuroi

SasuNaru

I’m too young to feel this old

Fragile in Design

lassitude

Breaking him down 

The Trouble with Dating a Werefox

Clone Trouble

Break the Seal

Sharingan vs Shadow Clones

your life is full of turmoil, spoiled by fantasies of who you are

Always Leave a Note

ShikaNaru

Time and Again

YamaGuy/YamaGai

Can’t Steal, Can’t Give it Up (also features KakaIru)

Polyamorous

Savour (multiple ships)

Black and White and In Between (KakaYamaIru)

Intervention (KakaYamaIru)

Birthday Break (KakaYamaIru)

Love Heals Most Scars (KakaYamaIru)

I Love Him, But I Still Love You (KakaYamaIru)

Under the Persimmon Tree

Indulgence (KakaYamaGuy/KakaYamaGai)

Gai Loses a Challenge (KakaYamaGuy/KakaYamaGai)

Tell me I’m yours (when you open the door) (KakaYamaGuy/KakaYamaGai)

Room for Two (KakaGuySukea/KakaGaiSukea - Sukea is a separate person in this fic)

Firebrand (Kakashi/Minato/Kushina)

To Reach This Point (KakaObiRin)

A Little Motivation (KakaObiRin)

talk so pretty (KakaObiRin)

Incremental (KakaObiRin)

One + One is...? (KakaYamaReader)

unconventional (KakaYamaAsu)

How We Get to the End (KakaYamaObi)

The Excavation (KakaYamaObi)

Morning Meetings (KakaIruGuy/KakaIruGai)

Double Trouble (KakaIruSukea)

Tenzou and the Wild Goose Chase (KakaYamaIru)

Original Characters/Reader Insert

The Bug Collector

One + One is...? (KakaYamaReader)

A Helping Hand

[inukag]

I recently saw what you said about Kikyo not doing anything positive for Kagome after realizing Kagome's kindness after she healed her and I agree so much. That went nowhere because it feels like Kagome was the only one doing kind things for Kikyo even though she has little to no reason to feel compelled to help. She could've definitely apologized the way she treated her at the beginning of the series.

Yeah, that’s one of my main beef with Kikyo’s character arc. She does a lot of bad things early on in the series that are just... completely swept under the rug. Kagome’s feelings towards Kikyo are only portrayed as “jealousy” when she has plenty of other valid reasons to dislike Kikyo, that Rumiko never brings up after a certain point. And when she does mention it, like in the Mt. Azusa arc when Kagome mentions that Kikyo used to want Inuyasha dead, all we get is Inuyasha saying “she’s not like that anymore” and Kagome agrees. It feels cheap. 

I get that Kagome is the protagonist, so it makes sense that she’s the one being challenged and tested throughout the series. But at some point when Kagome constantly saves Kikyo, always has to “learn to respect Inuyasha and Kikyo’s past” and we don’t get a single scene where Kikyo does the same for Kagome, it feels very unbalanced. Some people will argue that Kikyo is the mature one because she “stopped trying to interfere with inukag and just minded her business” but.... not actively causing harm is just the bare minimum and ignoring the harm that you’ve already caused is not a sign of growth or maturity, in my opinion. It’s also easier for Kikyo to “get over” the negative feelings she initially had for Kagome, when Kagome has been nothing but kind to her from the beginning. 

People also sometimes try to argue that Kikyo helped Kagome by giving her an arrow to fight Naraku when they were looking for the last shikon jewel shard, but she only did that because she was weak (after almost getting killed by Naraku on Mt. Hakurei) so she couldn’t go fight Naraku herself. Or people argue that she helped Kagome by giving her the bow from Mt. Azusa... when really all she did was give her the directions to get it, and then she died so she wasn’t going to use the bow anyway. 

I don’t even care about Sesshomaru, but I can recognize that he “redeemed” himself better than Kikyo did. He tried to kill Kagome twice at the beginning of the series, but then he directly saved her life twice later on. He constantly tried to fight Inuyasha to steal Tessaiga from him, but at the end he willingly broke Tensaiga to give Inuyasha meido zangetsuha. He’s not a good person at the end of the series, but his wrongdoings are balanced by acts of “good” that directly benefit the main people that he wronged before. 

I feel like Rumiko’s mindset towards Kikyo is that, well, Kikyo is the one who objectively suffered the most, she is doomed to a tragic fate while Kagome is the “lucky” one for being alive, and she wasn’t a bad person before being resurrected as a vengeful revenant, so that means she doesn’t need a redemption arc. But I disagree with that mindset because good people can do bad things and still need to redeem themselves for it. Just look at how Sango apologized for stealing Tessaiga from Inuyasha, and how she apologized to Rin for almost killing her (AND risked her own life by giving her poison mask to Rin to make up for it). 

Also causing hurt to other people because you’ve been hurt is wrong, even if it’s something we can empathize with. Again, Sango is a good example because she suffered a lot too but she doesn’t use that to excuse her wrongdoings. Or Inuyasha, when he transformed into a full demon and slaughtered a bunch of human bandits, he immediately tried to prevent that from happening again by working on mastering Tessaiga. Kikyo “wasn’t really herself” when she was first revived, but neither was Inuyasha when he transformed, and that didn’t stop him from taking accountability for his actions. 

I don’t think Kikyo needed to explicitly say “I’m sorry” to Kagome, but any positive actions towards her would have been welcome. I also feel the same about Koga, but since Koga’s character is not very important to the overall story and he’s mostly treated as comic relief, I’m not as annoyed by it. I’m more bothered by Kikyo because I think she’s extremely interesting as a character and if Rumiko had tried less to make her look good, she would have ended up being a better character.

[pianocat939]

snake fruit cookie x reader who is trying to poison the dragons, longan knowing this decides to send snake fruit to watch over reader whose actual motive is to help snake fruit cookie (possibly yandere reader? I dunno)

I'm trying something new this time, I'm going to write in 1st person in Snake Fruit's POV.

I wouldn’t say this isn’t dark but some of this stuff might be out of pocket.

Tw: Implied murder, Mentions of poison + drugs, Snake Fruit gets shot by a Tranquilizer, Drugging, Kidnapping, Stealing, Snake Fruit is both in character and OOC

Rat Poison

To hell with that bastard. I slither across the path of the village. The civilians are loud and obnoxious, easily letting me slip through the shadows. It’s funny really, so unaware of the terror that is soon to come. Speaking of terror...That dragon is such a spoiled brat. Parading around their status of being lucky enough to be born as a dragon. It’s agitating.

Fortunately, I’ll soon be able to take my place as a dragon soon enough. The only thing left to do is for me to absorb a plentiful amount of power. Which will come in due time. 

I find myself in front of a pharmacy; the potent smell of herbs makes me want to gag. It seems to be in business today, although there are no customers. Perhaps there’s an event going on, which explains the crowd gathered around the plaza. I maneuver around to the backside of the building, scouting for an alternative entrance. I can’t let myself be caught after all.

Normally I wouldn’t be such a creep, but with my current mission, I have to be secretive about my identity. Apparently, there’s a cookie that’s trying to poison the dragons--including Longan dragon. I honestly think they’re quite stupid for thinking there’s an open chance to poison such creatures. But then again, it’s not impossible.

I find a small window high up on the second story of the building. I can easily climb up there by calling nearby snakes. I look around for nearby onlookers before communicating to my fellow serpents. 

‘I need to get up on this wall. Help me.’

A few moments later an abundance of snakes gather around me, waiting for my next order.

‘Pile on top of each other, there should be enough of us for me to reach the window.’

The reptilians slowly stack on each other, building a ladder-like structure for me to climb. 

‘Also keep a lookout for other cookies, we can’t let ourselves be caught.’

I gather energy into my tail before springing up onto the ladder formation, gripping the wall for support as I scale the tall building. I successfully reach the small glass opening, peering into the space below. 

A cookie is mixing liquids and chemicals into a concoction, it seems that they’re making poison. Their movements are precise and skilled, expertly stirring ingredients into the disgusting liquid. I hope you choke on rat poison. The thought runs through my head, making me smile in amusement. As you know, they’re a toxicologist (a scientist in poison). Ok never mind that was a horrible joke.

I’m curious; I wonder why they want to kill Longan Dragon? Perhaps they know their motives for destroying all cookies? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s their motive. It’s the basic but self-explanatory explanation of someone’s purpose for murder.

I won’t deny one thing though: I want them to succeed. It’ll make my path to achieving dragon hood easier. Much easier. Yet I don’t want them to take over either. If they can make poison lethal to dragons, then I don’t even want to imagine what dark plans they have cooking in their head. 

Ugh, this dumb cookie benefits me but also doesn’t. So annoying. 

I’ll have to kill them after Longan dies. That way, I can proceed with my plans smoothly and uninterrupted. Yeah, that should do it. It can’t be too demanding to kill them, especially with the numbers I can easily gather. 

If I were, to be honest, they’re kinda attractive. I mean, those eyes look pretty and that face is cute and- what the hell. I shouldn’t be thinking like this. They’re my enemy. I can’t be down bad for someone I have to murder soon. 

I back off from the window, questioning my existence while doing so. Time to leave. I drop down from the snake-made tower, motioning them to dissemble as I touch the ground. They slide away, returning to their dens.

I’m tired. I’m gonna return to the palace.

——————————————————

I enter my living space, yawning and flickering my tail. I flop onto my bed, exhausted from my recent trip to the town. I should get paid for this. My eyes feel heavy and I don’t have the energy to think. My sleep-deprived self really needs to get some rest. 

Before I close my eyes I notice some of my trinkets are out of place. Where the fuck is my glass dolphin? I slowly stand up from my bed, heading over to the small shelf I keep my items. Nothing else seems odd, remaining exactly where I put it. 

“Whoever has the AUDACITY to steal my dolphin sshould get ready to be sslapped! Sslapped very harshly!” I angrily seethe, frowning at the empty space; where my beloved glass child resided. 

‘Fellow snakes, did anyone break into my room today?’

They come out from their holes, staring up at me. ‘No, not that we’ve noticed at least.’ 

I snap my head towards the group, the hard frown still plastered on my face.

‘My kin, are you on drugs? CLEARLY, someone stole my Penelope!’

‘First, no we are not on drugs. Second, who’s Penelope?’

‘PENELOPE, MY GLASS DOLPHIN.’

I leave them in the bedroom, powerfully moving towards the lounge/living room. I check my books and possessions, scanning over each corner. “Even my favorite book has been sstolen!” 

One snake approaches me, poking my robes with its tail. 

‘Homie, there’s something I think you should know.’

‘What Nico? That you caused the local animals to die by burning some weird shit outside?’

‘Naw man. I think we were all drugged by some sleeping gas because I remember chilling in the sun when I suddenly felt dizzy and fell asleep. I was one of the first ones to wake up, and I noticed everybody, and I mean everybody was still asleep. That’s when I noticed some of the furniture seemed to be messed with.’ 

I stare at him, eyes wide with confusion and shock.

‘You are one of the creatures Longan Dragon needs to abolish.’

‘Sweet.’

——————————————————

“I think thiss ‘Y/n Cookie’ broke into my chamberss.” I declare, looking up at my master. Their eyes gleam in the light of the throne room, like a diamond on a wedding ring. They’re sitting on their throne, giving minimal attention to me.

Longan Dragon slightly smirks, as thought, they’re amused by my little scheme, “And why do you assume this?”

Annoyed, I glare at them, my tail swishing side to side in fury. “Well, ssome of my thingss have been stolen. Things that I favor most. Surely they want to cause trouble.”

“Alright, I believe your accusation.” They wave me off, going back to their ever-so-boring activities. 

I really need to get paid to deal with this shit.

——————————————————

A couple weeks after the break-in incident I find a sickly Longan Dragon on their throne, breathing shallow and on the verge of unconsciousness. They look up at me in need, reaching out to me with what little strength they have. I approach them, asking, “What happened? You sseem very unwell.”

They tug me closer, words airy and raspy, “Poisonous gas.”

My eyes widen, realizing my vulnerability in this situation. I need to escape. I immediately dart off, uncaring if Longan Dragon dies or not. I’m not dying today, especially by that maniac. The halls are long and wide, but I manage to get outside in record time. I probably inhaled some, but being outside is the best option.

I cover my mouth, contemplating to whether escape by swimming in the ocean or stay here and have a higher chance of dying. Both are just as bad. I then hear a giggle, making me flinch in fear. I look behind me, horror filling my heart at the sight in front of me.

It’s Y/n Cookie, holding a tranquilizer.

They smile wickedly, purring, “Dearie, it’s time to go home~” 

I shake my head frantically in response, not wanting to accept my fate.

I yell, “No. No! I’m not getting murdered today! Not when I’m so close to my goal.” Why? Why does nothing ever go right for me? I feel the dart sink into my neck, piercing my body.

“Aww, you look so cute curled up like this. I can’t wait to have you all. To. My. Self.”

——————————————————

I wake up in a bed, my tail chained to a bed post. I look over to my kidnapper, terrified at what’s going to come next.

“You know, Penelope is really pretty. Just like you~” They laugh, holding Penelope in their hands.

I hope you choke on rat poison.

——————————————————

I think this is the fastest I’ve ever written something. This only took 3 hours. Which ended up pretty good...Minus the out of pocket things added into it.

Also….

I’M FINALLY DONE. Now I can prepare for my October inbox event.

- Celina

[mikuni14]

@italianpersonwithashippersheart @leconcombrerit

I must say that the reason why I waited until the finale to judge Phee and Jin's behavior in episodes 10 and 11 was because it seemed too stupid and ridiculous to me (especially Phee). It's very possible that the original script for these two characters was different, it's very possible that, like in Only Friends, business and branding decided about the finale 🙄 What's interesting is that I think they could have kept PheeJin as the couple™ AND kept the integrity and credibility of these characters AND "punish" them both.

Only now, after the finale, do I start to wonder how much of Phee's behavior was actually about Non. And was Phee ever truly in love with Non, and how much did he like him as this sweet, quiet, obedient boy (you can see that Phee has a type 😎). Yes, he agreed to the "espionage operation", but it is clearly visible that he quickly lost interest in it. Moreover, he became interested in Jin even faster, and it was not a "fake interest to obtain information", because if it were, Phee would have continued a relationship with Jin for the benefits. No, he "broke up" with Jin because he started developing feelings for him. And you can't catch new feelings when the old ones are still there, so Phee was no longer in love with Non and it had only been a few weeks (?). Evidently both Phee and Jin only had a crush on Non because they became attracted to each other too quickly and too easily.

It doesn't really bother me that Phee fell in love with Jin, that he wants to be with him, that he didn't want to kill anyone. What pisses me off is his hypocrisy and the fact that Phee didn't have to do most of these things. Phee became interested in going to the cottage only when he found out that it was to say goodbye to JIN. Any revelations about Non's horrible fate make no impression on him. And really, I find it very difficult to accept how easily he chose "friends" over Tan, and that he did it after he already found out about their involvement in what happened with Non.

And what really pisses me off is that Phee, like all morally superior people, judged the bullies leniently and the victim who takes revenge for his wrongs harshly. He never once attacks ANYONE, even when he finds out what they did to Jin and Tee. He ONLY attacks TAN. And he immediately shoots at him, given the choice between stunning him and killing him, he chooses the latter!!

In fact, Phee had plenty of options to stop it all, he could have not been involved at all, he could have been honest with himself and admitted what he really wanted. And the fact that he went to this house to "get everyone high and get information" - I don't even want to comment on how stupid it seems in hindsight, because HOW could they do that??? So why did Phee go there? Because I guess it was just to meet Jin. What's even more spooky is that he wanted to meet him, he initiates sex again, and at the same time plans to poison him and extract information from him? As a result of a drug that causes fear? So this trip could have turned into a nightmare at any moment, because how would Tan and Phee know that they are the most afraid of Non? After all, they could have been afraid of something completely different, something worse for them. Fortunately, we know that Tan had a different plan from the beginning (what a king, love him for that), but Phee was exceptionally stupid, which suggests that he didn't think about it at all because he had a different goal, not related to Non.

Idk, it all just doesn't make sense 😑

@leconcombrerit This is a very interesting point and you're right, Jin is brooding at their movie premiere, but after Phee shows up, he comes back sweet, with hearts in his eyes, and then Jin is gloomy again, but this time because of Phee. So, as in the case of Tee, the appearance of a new romance was enough for the remorse, thoughts about Non and the dark mood to disappear ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

How funny it is that throughout the entire series I didn't share or sometimes even understand the dislike of many viewers towards Phee and Jin, only to hate them literally in the last minutes of the finale 😁

I liked Phee and Jin's dynamic from the beginning and I liked this relationship more than PheeNon's. Phee, both in the present and in flashbacks, was a great character for me, very much my style, and I also had a lot of sympathy for Jin. I was also convinced that Phee was on his path of revenge/searching for answers, and that Jin didn't upload the video.

I was so confident in my opinions that even when Phee spilled the beans to Jin, I was convinced that he wasn't that stupid and mean and that it was all part of some bigger plan. Likewise, until the end I was convinced that Jin was wrong and he was not the one who leaked this video, also based on Fluke's words (who said to Tee for some reason that he "knows everything, INCLUDING the video").

So when the finale brought confirmation that yes, Phee was a fucking snitch, that he sided with his "friends", and that yes, Jin actually released the video like an absolute piece of shit, all my sympathy evaporated in the blink of an eye. Poof! 🥳

I understand Phee's concerns and his refusal to participate in Tan's plan, but that's not the problem, it's HOW he did it. Phee isn't trying to protect the group AND TAN, who is also his friend ffs! NO! Phee is constantly confrontational, aggressive, escalating violence, doing everything against Tan, treating him like HIS worst enemy. He openly accuses Tan when everyone is agitated and someone has a gun, provoking Tan (Tan, who according to him is a dangerous murderer!) without thinking about what he might do. Phee accuses him, Tan takes control and manages the situation so that Tee confesses what really happened with Non, so , you know, a big deal right? That's what it was all about, right? And what does Phee do? He ends the scene by pointing his gun at Tan. When Tan says "you wanted to know the truth about Non, now you know" how does Phee react? He punches Tan. I'm absolutely surprised and appalled that after 3 years of friendship with Tan, watching the nightmare that is his life, saving him, when it comes to choosing, Phee comes so easily to choose "friends", without offering Tan a single bit of kindness, a kind word, extended hand. As if their friendship, their cause, their shared past, Non, didn't exist, didn't matter.

THE MORE BAD HE FINDS ABOUT THE BOYS, THE MORE HE HELPS THEM AND THE MORE HE IS ON THEIR SIDE. This is something I just cannot understand at all! In addition, Phee shot Tan even though he had a camera stand right next to the gun, used successfully many times in the series! 😆 He could have hit Tan unconscious, he didn't have to kill him!! And, what really pisses me off, he shot Tan in defense of Tee!!! Then he helped Tee and Jin, people who ruined and led to Non's death with their choices and actions. I don't know how much more you can insult his memory!

The ending itself is the final nail in the coffin for Phee and Jin's reputation in my house 😎 As I understand it, the final scenes are their hallucinations. And these hallucinations are nice and normal, they have a nice life, they fulfill their dreams, they have a career, they go to college - everything that Non and Tan don't have. In their hallucination there is no room for reflection, for regret, or for any discomfort. They are selfish even in hallucinations that show their real feelings. They still have the nerve to analyze Tee, the only one on whom the events of this house left any impact. I'm not surprised that Non himself appeared in Phee's hallucination, since Phee didn't find a place for him 😏

Their hallucinations, the earlier ones, are also interesting. As much as I loved Jin's hallucinations, it's telling that even in his guilt, Jin still made everything about himself. HE is the victim in his visions 🤷‍♀️ In the same way, Phee wakes up from his visions because it is he who decides which Non is real and which is not. Which means that Jin, instead of feeling bad for what he did to Non, feels bad for imagining "what if it were me." And Phee's guilt is not deep enough to allow Non to dominate his visions, as it happened with Tee, for example.

So in the end, I'm sad to say that as someone who really liked Phee and Jin, that after the finale - fuck them 😈

[eisforeidolon]

Hellers wouldn't in a billion years wish something that orrible (a bullet hitting Jensen or anyone else). We weren't the ones wishing death on a pregnant woman (Daneel) or wishing a man would set himself on fire (Misha) or insulting a teenage girl with a very mysogynistic slur (Kathryn). And so much more, and so much worse. Say and think what you want about us (not sure I really consider myself one tbh) but there're clear limits we don't cross that the more extreme (and not so extreme) JP stans had never have any issue crossing. They're not "no better than hellers", they're a lot worst. Doesn't mean hellers don't have their issues too, ofc.

Not gonna lie, I was pretty tempted to just delete this as a too obvious troll ask. Instead, I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and assume you've been fandoming from inside some sheltered and skewed bubble that's completely dishonest about what its worst members have been up to.

One OTT Jared stan said that about Rust and was promptly reported by other Jared stans. I'm not sure if the Danneel one was stans or extreme tinhats, which is a slightly different issue - and considering that group also suggested ways Gen could abort Odette, well. To be fair, I don't remember or didn't see the comment about setting Misha on fire, so I can't speak to that context either.

That said? To this day, MULTIPLE hellers still send messages direct to Jared about how they wish he'd died in that car crash. They just did it again recently when he tweeted about the Queen dying. Not to mention the previous instances spanning years back of wishing he had/would kill himself when he had mental health issues. Again, not even just on their own blogs, but tagging him on platforms he uses, hoping he'd see.

It was a heller that threatened to poison the water supply at Jensen's brewery and burn down his house. It was hellers who wrote just as derogatory and misogynistic things as were said about Claire's actress about the actresses that played Anne Marie and Amara for their characters being close to Dean.

That is what I can remember seeing with my own eyes just off the top of my head. I don't keep receipts and I've got work to get done tonight, so I'm not going to dig to give you further blow by blows of every inappropriate, gross thing that side of the fandom has done. I suspect someone who does keep receipts might come along and help out on that count, because there is plenty more.

So I'm just going to reiterate that you are so patently, obviously wrong it was a huge stretch to even take you seriously.

[lumilasi]

A character designed together with my friend/mostly by my friend @mad-hatter-rici, though unlike Chiyuri who I consider “joint-custody” character, she fully belongs to her! I just wanted to post her ref after finishing it, given she’s part of my Telepaths story. Also I’ll have access to it then even when I’m not on my laptop, in case I want to draw her traditionally for example. 

Her bio below (also based on what my friend told me)

Name: Rouna

Nicknames: Oneechama (Youko)

Age: Unknown, somewhere around 200

Height: 184 cm

A Chimera with a mission to extract revenge on those who betrayed her clan & find a way to potentially resurrect them

Role: Member of Amalia’s sect

Family: Niece Youko, sister Shika

Love interest: She has a “friends with benefits” type of thing going on with Angus Jaeger, a doctor/Reverence Demon working under Amalia’s GF Belladonna

Friends: She’s fairly polite and cordial with everyone she works with, but doesn’t particularly consider anyone a close friend.

Rival(s): She also has a friendly, playful rivalry with Angus, given they’re both pretty much among the most intelligent people in the group, the two mad scientists with plenty of knowledge about poisons due to their powers.

Powers:

She is very skilled in necromancy, specifically resurrecting beastly creatures she’s killed as zombie servants. She does know other spells and curses too.

Rouna can excrete poison from her nails, lips, and her snake tail’s bite. She can also exhale this poison in gaseous form.

Rouna is very agile fighter, and good with different sort of blades; she’s also fairly stealthy given her background as an assassin.

She can use her tail to see behind her and sense danger

Weaknesses:

She is naturally weak to light magic, which can render her spells useless, and even damage her zombie warriors. As a Chimera, her blood is her major power source, so if she loses too much of it she’ll become powerless, even if physically she’d still be perfectly fine. (so basically no, it is not just case of anemia, anyone with blood would suffer from losing too much of it lol)

Personality:

Rouna is very calm and collected person most of the time, not showing her emotions openly. This often makes her seem distant and cold to others, although she does remain polite and cordial with everyone, sometimes even teasing them lightheartedly. She is very protective over her niece, and would do anything for her sake. She can be a bit touchy about the subject of her sister, Shika, not liking her being mentioned randomly. 

While Rouna isn’t searching for a relationship, too focused on her own goals, she doesn’t mind satisfying her physical needs with someone she finds attractive/intriguing enough. This works with Angus, given he’s not expecting it to be a relationship either, as he in turn is more focused on his own research.

While Rouna seems mostly fearless, she is probably the most cautious/fearful towards their Master, Hanzoku, having a far better understanding of what he is and what he is capable of than anyone else. She also sometimes ends up in his cross-hairs, with her experiments not always matching with his twisted-but-existing moral code. (she doesn’t show her fear openly of course, but it is there)

BG Story

Rouna was one of the 12 children of their village’s chief. One of her sisters, Shika was banished from the village due to being against their father’s experiments on their other siblings (giving them a lot of blood and different beings to devour, as Chimera’s abilities base on the blood they drink), which had led to the deaths of 5 of them already. 

The village had a pact with other nearby human/other spirit & mythical folk ones to protect their secret home from threats, but the Chimeras end up being betrayed due to bias and fear towards their kind, the clan getting wiped out apart from Rouna and his niece, Youko. (and the banished Shika) 

Rouna spends the next years providing for her niece as an assassin, until a woman named Amalia Marek approaches her, offering her a chance to take revenge on the traitors, and perhaps find a way to resurrect her clan. Rouna agrees to it, mainly to have a safe place for Youko to live in.

Fun Facts:

Rouna is a good cook, and often aids their actual chefs despite not being part of the sect (Taiga’s) who are usually responsible for day-to-day things such as meals.

To relax, she likes to polish her weapons and is often seen doing it sunken in thought, typically spooking most onlookers.

Despite being her aunt, Youko prefers referring to her as a big sister.

She’s really good at yoga and can do even the most difficult of poses.

While she seems very in control of her emotion usually, her tail tends to give away what she’s feeling if its more intense (such as fear and anger)

While Youko’s friendship with the corrupted Moth spirit Chouma is a bit peculiar to her, she does not mind it given he doesn’t seem like a threat to her niece. She also isn’t bothered by the fact Angus also has a bit of a physical thing going on with him. (It’s different in nature from theirs, though)

While he seems pretty cold and uncaring outside his sister, Angus tends to be among the first to defend Rouna, whenever she ends up on Hanzoku’s bad side. Not out of any sort of emotional attachment however, but simply because he finds punishing her over her antics a waste of time, given they don’t typically hindrance the group’s goals. (Also Youko’s crying is tiring)

She keeps getting called “scary” by Yoruga, another moth spirit within the group. Rouna can tell however, that peculiarly this one is not actually scared of her at all, despite not even being corrupted.