#but when it comes to ori? she totally is

[firstkeptdaughter]

“Letting someone see you that vulnerable, it’s a scary thing.”

There she is. Oriana. She still has the same eyes as she did nineteen years ago when Miranda held her in her arms, a frail, small infant back then. Looking into the young woman’s face is almost like staring into a mirror; they’re identical. Genetically. But Oriana looks different, regardless, with an expression in those otherwise identical eyes of someone who hasn’t seen the kind of things that Miranda has. Fortunately.

Miranda made sure of that, those nineteen years ago, by saving her sister from her father. It’s a decision she will never come to second guess.

Miranda instinctively smiles as she looks at her sister. And just, like Oriana did as a baby, she returns that smile in an instant. Her adoptive parents are with her, loving parents that Miranda carefully chose because Oriana only deserved the best. She’s done it. She’s given Oriana everything that she could never have. A normal family, a normal life, friends.

Then, she turns to leave. The movement feels as if one of two magnets attracted to each other were pushed back with such force to prevent them from touching. It took every bit of strength she had in her to leave Oriana. Memories of the moment when she, a sixteen-year-old girl, had to leave Oriana behind, come to the surface. It had been the most heart-wrenching decision of her life.

“It’s for the best”, Miranda asserted. “Oriana has a normal life. I’ll just complicate that for her. The less she knows about me, the better.”

She cannot hide that insecurity in her voice. Miranda wants to sound pragmatic, but she can’t. The desire to get to know the sister she had been watching over from a distance for nineteen years is palpable in her voice. Shouldn’t she? Miranda couldn’t imagine the happiness from even just one conversation with Oriana, but how selfish would it be? Once she became part of Oriana’s life, there was no return.

But, if she stayed, she would hurt Oriana sooner or later, wouldn’t she? She wasn’t like her sister. Miranda had a reputation for being ruthless and cold and in a way, it was true. As much as she loathed Henry, Miranda saw parts of him inside her. And she couldn’t let Henry near Oriana. That extended to the parts within her.

Yet, for some reason, her squadmate manages to convince her to talk to Oriana. With a few mere words. Normally, it takes a chain of well-funded arguments to convince Miranda of something, and even that could prove futile. But when Kaidan argues that Oriana should know she has a sister out there who loves her, Miranda merely nods. “You’re right”, she speaks, softly, her voice not resembling her usual tone one shred. It’s strangely tender.

It’s only when she returns, she notices that her cheeks are wet with tears. Had Kaidan noticed? Hopefully not. She wasn’t comfortable crying around people. It’s the reason why she has avoided looking into Kaidan’s face since laying eyes on Oriana.

“We’re done here”, Miranda declares, back in her usual professional, authoritative tone. As if she didn’t just go through one of the most meaningful experiences of her life. “Oriana is safe. My father won’t be able to track her down anymore.” She assured, with her back still turned towards her squadmate. With a subtle movement, she wipes away the tears from her face with the sleeve of her catsuit. Then she takes a deep breath and turns to Kaidan.

She’s about to tell him they should head back to the ship, but then Kaidan speaks up.

“Letting someone see you that vulnerable, it’s a scary thing.”

Damnit. She wants to huff, or roll her eyes, but she can’t. The lieutenant and his tendency to say such profound things in the rare moment where it has the capability to affect Miranda.

In any other circumstances, she would’ve shot back with a witty remark. Something along the lines of her not being vulnerable. But in those very circumstances right now Miranda isn’t able to come up with anything like that.

“I guess so..”, she hesitantly agrees, crossing her arms in defensiveness. “I’m not good with ‘vulnerable’. Typically I can solve my problems through more scientific approaches - or with a simple bullet.” She quipped wryly.

[kittenintheden]

Before Morning's Light

surprise early morning Oristarion bang because I felt like it, enjoy.

Rating: E Pairing: Astarion/Orianna (female OC) Word Count: 750 Content: 18+, wake up from dual nightmares and then bang the demons away

***

They wake in their shared bed in the Elfsong at nearly the same moment, both panting and fighting against their nightmares’ pull. Instinctively they find one another for comfort, hands entwining and bodies pressed tight until the shakes stop, until her heartbeat slows. They rest on their sides, embracing as best they can.

It’s very early morning, judging from the way the only light in the room comes from the yellowed and washed-out streetlamps on the street below, and as they catch their breath, they meet one another’s eyes. Bleary with sleep, steeped in the terror of a receding nightmare. An understanding sort of mirror.

Ori tilts her chin forward and kisses him, softly.

The thrum of fear and anger still pulses with nowhere to go, twining along their nerves and preventing them from settling back to rest.

Their eyes flick back to one another and a current passes between them.

Ori’s hands go to his waistband as his fingers reach up underneath the hem of her sleep shirt, their movements frantic and hurried as though this can’t happen fast enough, both uncharacteristically fumbling. She makes an annoyed hiss as she grabs hold of his shirt and yanks it up to give herself more room to work.

“Who tucks their bloody shirt in when they sleep?” she grouses in a whisper as she looks down. She can see the hard ridge of his arousal straining against his thin breeches and she needs it free immediately.

Astarion’s hand is fully under her clothing now, hooking his fingers beneath the waistband of her smallclothes and already pulling them down her hips with no mind whatsoever to whether he might tear the fabric. “Who doesn’t wear breeches to sleep at all?” he grumble-whispers back, bending her knee up to make it easier to get this stupid thing all the way down and over her ankle.

“Someone who plans for this exact eventuality. What in the hells is this fucking drawstring-” She pulls at it, trying to dig out the knot and prying a subdued groan from him as her nails scrape against the skin over his pubic bone.

“Get, would you get out of the-” He lifts her freed leg up over his hip and reaches between them to knock her hands out of the way so he can take over. It takes a few seconds for him to work the knot apart, and then he and she both shove them down, breeches and smallclothes together, over his arse and hips to free him. His cock springs up toward her, eager, and he thrusts between her legs without thinking, seeking her warmth.

He misses the first time, his desperation making him sloppy, and they both snipe quietly at one another until she puts a firm palm on his hip to hold him in place and rolls herself up to catch the tip of him, adjusting for angle, and gets him partway in. Then he thrusts up once, twice, and he’s inside.

They don’t even communicate the need before they each get a hand over the other’s mouth to muffle the debauched whimpering noises they make as they begin rutting with total abandon, her leg tight over his upper thigh and gripping for leverage.

Their bodies are teeming with adrenaline and nerves and need. It’s like they were already on the edge, their arousal hypersensitive and ready to burst. It’s pure, needy, unadulterated fucking, no artistry or thought behind it, only the base desire to rock and ride straight to the top.

Astarion comes first, his eyes slamming shut and his back curving with it, his moan trapped behind Ori’s fingers. His shaking free hand goes up under her clothes, flat on the small of her back as he pulses and continues to fuck into her as long as his body will let him. Close, close, close-

She cries through gritted teeth and behind her own barrier, shivering through her climax before she slows and they melt back down into the mattress beneath them. Hands drop away from mouths, chests heave for breath.

“Ohfuckohfuckohfuck,” Astarion whispers, eyes still shut, limbs going heavy.

Ori presses her mouth to his forehead, huffing out her breath. “That’s one way to exorcize our demons, I guess,” she breathes.

From somewhere beyond their privacy screen, they hear Gale groan, “By Mystra’s holy tits, would you two shut the nine hells up, you aren’t as quiet as you think you are. It’s not even daylight. Gods.”

 Astarion collapses into silent giggles against Ori.

“Sorry, Gale,” she whisper-yells.

[areyoudreaminof]

WAIT I forgot you’re the brilliant mind behind BOE Game Night ☺️ if the kids played it, how do you think it’d go? Who is left lying on the floor in shock?

Hmmm, good question. Let's check in on the teens and pre-teen and see how it's going.

Froggy shoved more cheese crisps into her mouth as she leaned back onto the sofa. She probably could have gone to bed a while ago when Ori did, but watching these two bicker was just too fun.

The pieces were scattered along the map in a catspaw. Nyx and Cricket were virtually two sides of the same coin, Froggy noticed. Both grabbed the larger continental landmasses in opposite hemispheres and inciting smaller land wars for resources. Neither one of them had gone in for a total invasion. Nyx could probably do it from the north, Froggy thought. Although if Cricket stopped trying to show off and be competitive, she could win with her navy.

All of the adults were gone for the evening and the children were left to their own devices at the River House. Froggy began the game as normal, and she and Orianna had paired up. The Land of Rainbow Pegasus held it's own quite well until Cricket colonized them when Ori fell asleep at the table. Froggy didn't mind. She preferred more sophisticated strategy games, like chess, anyways.

Froggy felt a little nudge in her mind, like an intrusive thought.

"No powers, Nyx!" Cricket snapped. Froggy just crunched into her cheese crisps. Crumbs scattered down her dress, but she didn't care anymore.

"I was just gonna ask for some cheese crisps," he said as he reached for her bowl.

Froggy kicked his arm away. "Nuh uh, there are MINE."

"Nuala made them for all of us," Nyx objected, making another grab. But Froggy dumped the rest of the bowls contents into her mouth. "Focus on your army up north, dummy.' she said as she exaggerated every single crunch. She could swear Nyx muttered, brat, under his breath.

"You can't help him," Cricket hissed. Her red hair was standing on end from a night of constantly running her hands through it in frustration.

"Focus on your navy," Froggy shrugged, "There, I helped you."

Nyx doubled over in hysterical laughter on the floor while Cricket launched a pretzel at her sister's face. Froggy caught it and popped it in her mouth, and Nyx howled.

"You guys are too loud!"

Ori stood at the door in her nightgown. Her wings were droopy and her hair was mussed. She dragged her little stuffed pegasi on the ground, filthy from love and use.

"We're sorry," Froggy said, as she patted the seat next to her. "We're almost done." Ori shuffled over and cuddled up to Froggy.

"We're not even close to being done," Cricket said. She swiftly moved a cluster of pieces of her navy towards a small peninsula.

"How come?" Ori asked as she peered over the table.

"Nobody has won yet," Nyx said, "do you need to go to the bathroom?"

Ori shook her head and pointed at Nyx's pieces, "Is this you Nyxie?" she asked, her silver eyes large and owlish.

Nyx nodded, "And Cricket is here and here," he pointed to several places on the board.

Ori picked up Nyx's bright red General piece, "How come you don't go here? You can make a circle like Ring Around the Rosy." Ori moved the piece to the northern plains, effectively trapping Cricket's largest army into a valley and stranding her navy on a barren shore.

For a moment, no one spoke. Froggy ran through her calculations again. She saw the northern attack but not the way Ori did it. How did she-

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Cricket shouted, her eyes bulging out of her head. Nyx began to laugh. Deep, wheezing belly laughs and screams as Cricket blinked at the board. "There is no way," Cricket said in a daze, "There is no way she did that. She is FIVE."

"Well, she is the General's daughter," Froggy said with a giggle. She grabbed Ori in for a hug, "and she has freed us from suffering!"

Ori hugged Froggy back, turning her innocent and sweet face up.

"Are there any more cheese crisps left?"

[nkn0va]

It feels a bit lonely being the only one doing alphabets so why don't you do one for a change?

Maybe with Orie? I think that'd be nice.

(I'll update the masterlist with this and the rest of the requests that came in since the last update tomorrow.)

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Orie's rather shy when it comes to actually showing affection, physically speaking. She shows it with words of reassurance and comfort and doing things for you. Favors, gifts whenever something reminds her of you, stuff like that.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

You likely either go to the same school as her or you meet one day from being regulars at the same cafe. You two just sat down next to each other one day and hit it off from there.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Fucking loves cuddles but she's far too nervous to go for them. When you do it she instantly hides her face in your chest and acts as the little spoon, allowing your warmth to soothe her.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Orie is very much a traditional gal. Very much wants to settle down and would be great at keeping a household together.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

It would really break her heart to have to do so. Even then she'd let you down as gently as possible, hoping you don't hate her.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

She's always had dreams of going down a traditional path for her life but the actual thought of getting married is enough to fluster her. Totally wife material, though.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

-If you are not an In-Birth she sees you as someone needing protection, if you are she can ease up on it. Regardless though, she probably doesn't have the heart to get mad at you unless you do something truly atrocious.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

She'll initiate a hug whenever you see each other after a long day once you're comfortable enough with each other or when you two say bye, but she'll never turn down an hug you initiate. Her hugs are soft, gentle, and warm, feels just like home.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

It takes her a while to say it for the first time. She confesses her feelings without actually dropping it, and really only tends to say it when she start feeling overwhelmed by how much love she has for you. When she does say it though it's heartfelt and genuine enough to make you stop in you tracks.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Orie trust you enough to to go and try starting affairs behind your back. If someone tries to flirt with you, they have to be pretty blunt for her to notice. When she does though, she butts in to try and diffuse the situation and clear up the fact you're taken.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Again, too shy to initiate physical affection. Her kisses though are amazing despite her inexperience. She's super gentle and inviting, feels like you two could stay that way all day if she didn't pull away after she realized what was happening and got embarrassed.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Orie is extremely patient and understanding with kids, she loves them. Would be nervous in having kids of her own though due to childhood trauma. Would be a fantastic mom, though.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Orie is an early riser by habit and principal. If she has nothing to do however, she'll enjoy staying in bed and watching you sleep. It comforts her, feeling the fact sink in that you're really here with her. You love her in such a special way.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Orie has a strict, normal routine and goes to bed at a reasonable time. She wants nothing more than to end her night getting into bed with you and falling asleep in your arms, though she'll sike herself out of strictly asking for it. Do go for it on your own though.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

She's a very straightforward, honest person. If you're not an In-Birth she obviously can't tell you about anything related to the Night but other than that she's more than willing to tell you whatever you want to know about her as long as you ask.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Extremely patient. Unless you did something abhorrent she could never be truly mad at you. At worst, only irritated that you didn't take care of yourself, procrastinated too much, or put yourself in danger.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Makes a conscious effort to remember everything about you she can. Which will end up being quite a lot, she's a bright gal.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

-The moment she first met you. She didn't quite realize she was in love yet, but something about you just felt...right. Like she needed to know you better, like she needed to get closer to you.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

In-Birth or not, she will be quite protective of you, though especially if you're not an In-Birth. If you are though, she can tone it down, instead opting to become your partner that you can always rely on to have your back in a fight as long as you do the same for her. Very chivalrous in that regard.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Will always work to do her part in the relationship. She cares a lot for what you have and will do her best to make you happy as much as she can.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

She can take the T section a little too far sometimes and end up self-sacrificing for the sake of her health. This is her first relationship, she really don't want to mess it up. Calm her anxieties, please.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

She does try to keep up a good appearance, however not nearly to an obsessive degree when she doesn't need to. She finds enjoyment in the simple pleasure of dressing casually for day out with you.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Poor girl would be so devastated if she lost you. First her parents, and now she lost you because she wasn't good enough to be there for you when it mattered.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Her squad in the Licht Kreis along with Wagner are hearing about you pretty quickly. Before you two get together, even. Mika and Kaguya are your self-designated ship captains. While Wagner doesn't support you nearly as outwardly, you earn her approval once your prove yourself, though she's super tsundere about it.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

She detests any sort of brutishness in a partner. Showing off to stroke your ego or looking down on others for any reason will NOT fly.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

If you get up late at night while you're sleeping with her to get some water or something she'll start slightly shivering in her sleep without your warmth and will not stop until you cuddle her again.

[darlingkirstein]

Can I ask you how you feel about the depiction of Valyrian culture in the Targaryen family, both in ASOIAF in general but more specifically in HotD?

tw / incest (it's the targaryens so yeah LOL)

sure! i love the targaryens so happy to! i think the targaryens are interesting because of how they're perceived as something greater than human — both in beauty and because of their command over their dragons. it's interesting because it enables them to get away with things that other houses are not able to do — particularly their practice of incestual marriages, which was a problem in the times of jeahaerys i/alysanne and aenys i/maegor i. marriage between siblings was typical, but the faith denounced it as an abomination, though this largely doesn't stop anything. maegor even says that the faith cannot possibly dictate those with the blood of the dragon — and though maegor is not representative of his whole family, this generally seems to be the attitude of the targaryens. jaehaerys and alysanne have no qualms with defying their parents/the faith to marry. so, their valyrian culture almost seems untouchable — no matter who disagrees, the targaryens triumph.

this is visible in house of the dragon, too, and it spreads into families outside of the targaryens as well since they've started marrying outside their house. even the non-targaryen marriages before were still related to the targaryens. the velaryons, like queen alyssa, and the baratheons, like orys and rogar and jocelyn, were connected to the targaryens. eventually, they have to start branching out to form alliances with other houses! so, the marriage of alicent hightower to viserys i is interesting to see!!! mostly because alicent does not seem to protest to the practice of sibling marriages — her children are married to each other and have children in these unions. so, i find it notable that these marriages persisted even when the influences of other families, like the hightowers and arryns, come into play. it presents itself as enduring and untouchable. in fact, when rhaenyra and daemon marry, it seems to concern the small council more for daemon's instability than it does for the incest involved. it's become so normalized in the family, an expectation that isn't worth protesting. people might remember what maegor did to the faith militant. the targaryens silence their foes.

in fact, later it is targaryens who begin to protest against sibling marriages — aegon v "egg" targaryen tries to avoid those marriages by betrothing his children to other houses, but they all protest and marry who they want anyways. his children jaehaerys and shaera were betrothed to members of the houses tully and tyrell, but rebelled against their father to marry each other anyways. this shows to me that not even the targaryens can control other targaryens from practicing this tradition of incestual unions. nobody seems to be able to fully destroy this practice, even as it grows less common. aerys ii and his wife rhaella were siblings too, and in the books, dany assumes that she would've been married to viserys or aegon, if she lived.

so it seems to be that the targaryens are portrayed as untouchable — except by themselves. in the dance of the dragons, it is targaryen versus targaryen that finally threatens the stability of the family/house. the transition from only marrying in the family was a deliberate choice for political advantage, not fully because of the influence of others — even if it might've aided them to make that decision. their culture persists through different conflicts, all the way until the total destruction of house targaryen. i think it is interesting how they seem to be above what other houses are — marrying a targaryen is the ultimate goal of a lot of people, like olenna and cersei, who discuss the targaryen princes of their time, olenna's betrothal to daeron and cersei's fixation on rhaegar.

this was a bit of a disorganized ramble so hopefully i answered your question — i really like discussing asoiaf/targaryens so feel free to ask anything else you're interested in!

[grapecaseschoices]

TAGGED BY @indorilnerevarine to do some MCs on this lovely picrew! [I was going to do my newest babus, my disenchanted mcs too but then I remembered I already did them here; so focusing on my OTHER brainrot with the Infamous kidlets]

Tagging: @galpal95 @ava-du-mortain @aylaaescar  @mt07131  @quinnorion  @narrativefoiltrope @wayhavenots @griffin-wood  @roxaro  @amlovelies @sun-teas @mistyeyedbi  @thee-morrigan   @thelittlestspider  @yes-prisoner  @karolinarodrigueswrites  @straightuppotato-art  @sunshineandviolets @sustainably-du-mortain @sohmiya @ice-knife @icanmakewords @eatingyarn @brother-genitivi @serenpedac and anyone else who wants to do this! [as always NO pressure <3]

[left to right; then top to bottom: Ori, Lala, Alana, Josnel, Hiyam

Summaries below:]

Ori Zhou: lead singer of Gains; will one day juggle during a show and thus giving a heart attack to Orion and causing Iris to roll her eyes to Mars as Rowan dies laughing and Devyn is left fretting over their expired bandmates; Victoria's unintentional sidekick and untentionally learning from Gina what they put Orion through; just wants his BFF back ... definitely made the wrong choice in choosing bus buddies. Lala Sandoval: lead singer of DramaWhore; exasperated and fond of their "little" brothers' antics [Rowan and Seven; but five seconds away from dropkicking the latter] and fond as well as smug about pushing Orion's buttons; lowkey fascinated by the way the new drummer makes them shiver and is looking to get under August's skin. Alana Carita: lead singer of Promised Promises; songwriter and guitar player; has the queerness TSwift fans wish TSwift had and with similar aesthetics; "whether you come as a lover or an executioner --" levels of going through it with Seven Lawless, nothing like realizing you've been in love with your EX-BFF AFTER she it makes clear that she hates you and you realize that you [REDACTED] her life ... just sapphics in love stuff; but at least she can have quiet moments with Rowan and August's hand to hold. When romance sucks, friendship will be the saving grace. Bethany Josnel Coleman: lead singer of The Notations; piano player and singer who is wondering if he should go back singing for the church choir -- he was prepared for drama, but come on!; Aren't they really here for the music? Is tired of having his ex-bf glare holes in his head almost as he is already tired of [REDACTED], take your own advice and leave him alone Seven; at least he finds some moments of peace with a certain loyal fan and her hot cute dad ... moments that most definitely won't be happening again!! [Totally unprofessional and dangerous to blur such lines ... right?] Hiyam Vinke: lead singer of the Vespas; triple threat: but according to ex-Seven that's because they're Obnoxious, Aggressive, and a POS; TEAM BLAKE BURN THIS SHIT TO GROUND [but away from my meteoric rise to success]; in it to WIN and NOT the sentimental hogwash that includes realizing that her parents neglect really DOES hurt her because her annoying fan and her dad keep rubbing their joy in her face [and because there is no Seven to buffer that emptiness] --- that is UNLESS said hogwash comes in the form of Orion's smile, heart-to-blergh-hearts with Rowan, .... and maybe one Victoria Valentine.

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S06E08

Another good episode. As a disclaimer, I’ve had a pretty specific idea of how this episode should be like, so I went in a little bit negatively predisposed. Also, these aren't in order. Sorry.

I remember the dead guy. He was in the episode with Meghan Ory’s character, the first one of the two.

“He’s dead. Are you happy?” Calm down, ma’am, you’re giving him reasons to be stupidly self-sacrificing.

Joe: Charlie no. Charlie: Charlie yes.

“We’re going to transfer all the inmates I’ve arrested out of the prison.” You’ll… what… now?

“I’ll find your killer and get rid of your drug problem”. And also fix your plumbing (oh, wait), clean your laundry, and create a gourmet menu for your prison.

Okay they did find a good reason for Rex to be in there. I'd still have preferred Charlie alone in prison and Rex investigating on the outside.

I hate this hairstyle. There, I said it. However, it’s more fitting to prison inmate Chuck than what Charlie has had all season so far as a cop. Which has actually been tolerable as an image despite not fitting the character, and I refuse to spend more time on that because I keep seeing it being commented on and when this keeps happening, I feel bad.

I think I know the actor who plays Charlie’s prison bunkmate but I can’t place him.

Charlie displayed a lot of badassery in this episode. Also, I think John Reardon did some good work acting wise in this one.

Charlie said “I love you”, “babe”, “you’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen”, “sweetheart” to Sarah, and all of that while he was undercover in prison and through the phone??? Who do I talk to about this? How was there not a better moment for this? It’s like they wanted to throw these words out in the open in the least romantic way possible.

The way I hate “babe” and yet every single couple I ship is using it… They’re lucky I’ve been desensitized since Castle.

And Sarah’s facepalm on the other end lmao. It’s obviously not the first “I love you” at least. I wonder what she calls him.

I liked the instrumental music for the prison scenes. It was very much on point.

Damn, they put him in solitary for 24 hours. This couldn’t have awakened any claustrophobic feelings from a) the freezer b) the cave collapse, c) the coffin he was buried in d) the containers that almost turned him into a pancake? Come on, guys. Also, do they or do they not have solitary in Canada? It can’t keep changing according to the season.

Sarah worried because her idiot almost died in prison. Charlie finally (I might pass out) having a moment of weakness? Saying that he misses Sarah and Rex? I did not think I'd live to see it.

Jesse saying that they'd pull out Charlie if it gets too dangerous… This is way too optimistic. Realistically, he would have gotten shivved before anyone could do anything about it.

Rex totally wanted to maul that guy for injuring Charlie. Once again, why can’t we see him baring his teeth? German shepherds have scary canine teeth, they’re not just cute and cuddly.

I liked Joe as a guard. And interrogating the suspect, getting a bit handsy with him.

Detective Jesse Mills. Doing interrogations. Detecting lol

Bringing back a bad guy from S1? Interesting choice. I barely remember the guy. And wasn’t that episode like a collective fandom hallucination or something? When Charlie mentioned the guy had killed a kid I was like, oh so we haven’t seen that case. That’s how much I don’t remember that episode.

“Lots can change in that time” Charlie, you’re squeaky clean, bud. You tried to be “bad” in S4 and lasted for like four minutes.

Also, in every show I’ve seen, once a cop enters prison, no one cares whether he’s a disgraced cop. They’d want to kill him either way.

Either they shot the scenes of the prison yard in one day or it was raining all the days they had those scenes. Very gloomy weather, it added a bit of extra grime to the episode.

“Do you want to read the letters with me?” Absolutely not. He wants to go back home, hug his girlfriend and have a hot shower to wash the prison off of him. Maybe this all happened off screen already. I don’t care. I didn’t see it so it didn’t happen.

I liked the episode. It didn’t go my way at all but it’s understandable. I wanted some more danger towards the end, as people were catching on to the fact that Charlie was a cop. Also, Charlie had way too much communication with the team, I know it doesn’t make sense for me to not want that, but it also doesn’t make sense for an undercover cop in prison to be able to be in touch with almost every member of his team throughout the episode. Did I want a Charlie and Sarah scene in the end? Absolutely.

Promo: That is a pretty lame promo for what should be a character centric episode. It looks like a complete filler, devoid of character moements. I hope it will be a character centric episode and not a filler NCIS episode (because Navy). Hopefully it’s just lousy promo editing and not a lousy episode. Interesting choice for Charlie’s dad. And I know people might hate me for this, but I’ll say it anyway. I did prompt a few storylines to an AI model about Charlie facing off his dad, and the AI would always, always have his dad call him Charles. Fucking hell.

There’s no way Sarah is not meeting Charlie’s dad, right? I need to be reassured.

Dude seems so dismissive of Rex that I hope Rex bites him. He should be allowed to bite family members who are being assholes.

[frigid-moon-fall]

Since the post about the PS1 version of the manor went well, why not take a closer look at the bedroom in the remake? We still don't know whose room it really is, but Hugo comes out of it when you first enter the manor, and Leon heads up the stairs when saying he'll be in his room, and he comes from its general direction in a hallucination of Rutee's. With it being simplified so much, it's really anyone's guess whose room it actually is. These are the sacrifices of streamlining.

Anyway, details! Both visible and invisible.

First off, the things that are easy to see from this screenshot alone.

The (currently open) curtain around the bed for added privacy

The books aren't kept especially tidy

There's a piece of paper left on the desk with something on it. You can't examine it.

There's a picture frame on a shelf, turned to face the wall. This is an entirely different asset from the one in the foyer, which just happens to be turned away from the player's view, so it's likely this is on purpose. Whatever the picture is of, it's good to remember that the picture in the foyer is of the whole Katrea/Gilchrist family, and it's displayed openly.

The tissue box on the bedside table lol

And now things that you can't see.

There's a towel hung up in the bathroom somewhere entirely off camera

The bathtub is way bigger than the camera angle implies

The full painting on the wall

Full details of the coats in the armoire (A big strong artist should totally draw Leon or Hugo wearing those)

Full details of all the rugs

(Edit: Full shot of the bathroom!)

And now you might have noticed that all of these are isometrically oriented sprites instead of the usual top-down textures you'd expect from a 3D environment that looks like this. That's just how TOD's remake does things for a lot of areas. I guess it makes the art style easier to keep consistent, but it sounds like a pain to keep the skewing effect looking good across all rooms that use it.

By the way, if anyone wants something similar done for other areas, let me know which and what parts of it you're interested in specifically.

Oh, while we're at it, let's make a useless list of observable features in the most likely candidate for Leon's room from the PS1 version. We really don't need to, but whatever.

A whopping five different sets of drawers that Ori!Stahn is too polite to snoop through

A giant table meant for one

Two potted plants, neither of which would be in the general line of sight of someone sitting in either of the chairs (90 degrees to your left/right doesn't count), sitting on either of the window sills, or laying in bed

One trash can beside the desk, and one trash can beside the bed (They are specified to be trash cans in-game. It is not a chamber pot.)

A clock or radio on the desk. I'd sooner guess clock from the two hands.

A useless little nook that only houses one of the potted plants

A Marian She is not a room fixture, sorry

Oh, you clicked it? Okay. Here's my theory of where Leon sleeps....

On this couch in the dining room because that's the room where he spends all his free time anyway

[bugeyedfreaks]

To Mojo Jojo: How many evil schemes do you make to try and defeat the Powerpuff Girls? (You made so many that I lost count)

Mojo Jojo: [rubbing his chin thoughtfully] Hmm. Interestingly enough, Mr. Powerpuff Girls Guy Number Zero Six, I too have lost count of the number of schemes I have schemed! My brain is indeed very large, and I am of course very intelligent, but the number of plans and plots that I have plotted and planned is quite a vast number indeed… so vast, I suppose, that if I were inclined to calculate the exact amount, I would have no choice but to consult–

Blossom: [swooping in with a grin] –an expert?

Mojo Jojo: [wearily] I was going to say my personal database, but it seems I have unfortunately summoned Little Miss Know-It-All.

Blossom: [beaming] Thanks, I sure do know a lot!

Mojo Jojo: The intent of my comment was to insult you, you know.

Blossom: I’ll take it as a compliment instead. So! To answer ppgguy06’s question, when it comes to the total amount of Mojo’s plans–

Mojo Jojo: Please. You may think you know all there is to know about me, your greatest villainous foe, but all you and your annoying sisters ever do is try to thwart my genius plots. You mean to have me believe the unbelievable notion that you have counted them as well? Ha! It isn’t as if you have some of log or record of–

Blossom: [proudly whips out a huge accordion folder bursting with papers] I own records logging every plan that Mojo Jojo has enacted upon the city of Townsville.

Mojo Jojo: WHAT?!

Blossom: Yep! I’ve kept track of every single stupid scheme of yours, from the massive plots to the petty thefts, outlined and detailed in full.

Mojo Jojo: Give me that! [snatches the folder and starts rifling through it, picking through each plan record and muttering to himself] Oh, and I see these records are rife with your usual smart alecky comments. Just look at this one. [clears his throat] “Mojo Jojo once again attempted to rob Townsville Jewelry Store early Friday morning, pursuing a plot to purloin all of the precious pearls he could plunder. Luckily, I (with additional support from my sisters) was able to cut him down to size with my usual super powered polish and charm. Seems like he’ll have a hard time trying to pry his way out of his latest prison sentence, or out of his new pair of metal bracelets for that matter.” And you took the liberty of entitling this plot of mine “Pearls Before Crime?”

Blossom: [shrugs] It had a nice ring to it.

Mojo Jojo: [going through the other plans] Ugh, it seems as if most of these are similarly named with awful puns.

Blossom: They’re awful plans, what do you expect?

Mojo Jojo: [grumbles at her comment as he continues looking through the files] I certainly did not expect this level of organization on your behalf, at least. Look at all that is included in these documents! Blueprints? Organizational charts? Photographs of the crime scenes?! Hmmmm. Seems like an awful lot of material to collect. [grins smugly] Obsessed with my evil genius much?

Blossom: You wish, monkey boy. I have files for every villain that we fight. As any good leader should, I keep track of all of our encounters with evil in order to detect any villainous patterns and form the best counterattack plans against our foes. Your plans tend to get a little more involved, so this file just happens to be larger than the others.

Mojo Jojo: [looking pleased with himself] Well, naturally…

Blossom: [shakes her head] But I think the wrong question is being asked here. What we really need to ask isn’t about the amount, but about how many of Mojo’s plans have actually been a success? And… hmm… let’s see… [takes back the folder and pantomimes pulling out a document, gasping in mock surprise at her empty hand] Wow, imagine that! None exist!

Mojo Jojo: Rrrrgh! You will not exist when I am through with yo– agh! [lunges at her, but trips onto his face as she gracefully swoops out of the way] Curses!

Blossom: [chuckles] Well, even though the question was originally for Mojo, I hope I helped, ppgguy06! Unfortunately the one thing I can’t help with is how terrible his schemes are.

[loregoddess]

Final (maybe?) batch of assorted Octopath Traveler II theories and observations before TotK drops (I promise I am not procrastinating something else ~ <3). Divided into sections based on topic, but there's no meaningful organization, it's more just a list of some of my other theories and thoughts.

As usual, major spoilers for everything including the endgame. I'm still not trying to argue for or against any particular theory, I'm just herding the stray thoughts in my head. So as usual, all theories are based on my own reading of the text, nothing's canon or word of god, it's all wild speculation and good fun.

Following sections include:

-Addendum to my "Temenos is related to the Alpates blodline" theory

-Theory about Roi and the bloodline of light

-Speculations on why Throne isn't the vessel for Vide

-Possible typo in one of Ori's Journal entries which might be causing a misunderstanding of what occurred during this one event

-----

Addendum to My Theories About Temenos (specifically that he's related to the bloodline of Alpates)

-I totally forgot to note that his name, "Temenos", is the Greek word for the sacred land around a temple (yes this is like giving a character the name Churchyard or something, like this is just the name for a type of land, but it's Greek so I guess it sounds fancy?) ahem, anyhow, odd name choice aside, if Temenos was related to Alpates, but not the main bloodline, then he is, in a sense, the "land" that surrounds the sacred temple (the relic mirror) in that he is blood-related but not the direct bloodline of Alpates.

-An argument against this theory: Both Hikari and Elena are canonically known descendants of bloodlines of light which may be related to the bloodline of Alpates, and both exhibit unusual light-based powers because of this. Hikari's "Shadow's Hold" becomes "Light's Radiance" when he is finally able to conquer his shadow self, and Elena is shown to have some sort of unusual power (discussed in detail later on). Alpates herself doesn't show any unusual powers like this, although she is able to "see" the Flames in both Throne and Temenos, suggesting she either has some sort of very strong spiritual power, or that her ties to Aelfirc allow her a connection to the Flame itself outside of what the average person is able to sense. The counter-counterargument to this would be that, after completion of Temenos's personal story, he learns the EX skill "Heavenly Shine" which is essentially an explosion of light, and the most powerful light-based attack in the game, which could be his version of Hikari's Radiance or Elena's mysterious magical powers.

-----

I didn't discuss it in my other post, but Roi could also potentially be related to the bloodline of light, if only because it's heavily implied that he and the Dark Entity are the same being. It could be that Roi was used by Harvey as an early attempt to find the One True Magic, but that Roi's blood wasn't "pure" enough, leaving the Dark Entity. It's also possible Roi has no connection to the bloodline of light, but that this lack of connection is what made him transform into the Dark Entity as a Harvey's failed attempt at creating the One True Magic. It could be that, by the failure of Roi, Harvey was able to come up with the methods to turn Rita into the Grieving Golem, a more "perfect" attempt at creating the One True Magic, since her blood is of the Lumina family line and either more pure or powerful than Roi's. There's also a handful of minor similarities between the Grieving Golem and the Dark Entity, and notably both repeat phrases they used when they were alive (the Golem's use of "my darling" when encountering Osvald, and the Dark Entity's repetition of the last words Roi spoke to Temenos).

It's interesting to note that, as far as Osvald and Temenos are aware at the start of their respective stories, Rita and Roi are both dead. For Osvald this is apparent, since his entire story arc begins as a vengeance quest and how Rita "died' is clearly shown. But this isn't as obvious for Temenos, as he only mentions that Roi was "killed" in his Crackridge Travel Banter with Agnea, which is...odd since Roi's body shouldn't have been recovered if it was used to create the Dark Entity, and yet Temenos is very much aware of the fact that Roi is no longer alive. How this came about is never explained, so it's possibly an oversight by the writers, but it is something interesting to note.

-----

I've been puzzling over why Throne is not the vessel for Vide in any way, despite the entire point of the Blacksnakes being Claude's attempt to foist the role off to his "best" offspring.

-One explanation could be that, since Throne was "chosen" by Aeber, the Flame she carries within her soul negates her blood ties to Vide.

-It's also possible there was Something going on with Marietta, her mother. Possibly Marietta had blood ties to one of the branches of Alpate's bloodline of light--although if this were the case, Throne should have been in a situation similar to Hikari, and she's clearly not.

-Actually, the fact that Throne does not struggle with the Shadow in any way, especially looking at how Hikari struggles with the Shadow due to his blood ties to D'arqest, suggests her blood connections to Vide are actually quite weak at best. It could be that Claude being biologically engineered (for lack of a better term) to be Vide's vessel was not hereditary.

-Throne is also shown to actively dislike violence and hates bloodshed. She's also the only Blacksnake stated to have not been raised by Mother, and Father was notably raising her specifically to kill him rather than to take over the Blacksnakes. So in a sense she was never raised as a "true" Blacksnake. That she was able to kill both Mother and Father, and then make her way to Lostseed and kill Claude could be more testament to Throne's personal strength and the fact that she was intent on ending the Blacksnakes for her freedom, to get away from the violence and bloodshed, rather than to wrest control of the Snakes by besting the founder. This would make her unsuitable as a vessel for Vide because she does not commit violent acts as a means of attaining power and spreading chaos, but rather to break free from a cruel structure of power and end the chaos caused by it.

-It's also possible that there is no actual need for a "right" vessel, but that Claude was meant to be a "perfect" vessel because he is functionally immortal, and would have been significantly harder to kill if Vide had used him to return. However, Ori's Journals suggest that it doesn't really matter who the vessel is, and considering that Oboro is able to sacrifice himself and become the vessel, this seems to ring true. Notably, Oboro as Vide's vessel is weak enough that Vide is sealed away by eight mortals chosen by the gods, rather than needing to be sealed by the gods themselves. I thought for a bit that Vide's revival might be connected to how Vados's murders were supposed to be a reversal of the order of prayers to summon a curse, but I haven't actually found any evidence to support this, since no dancer dies after Lucien is murdered, and a merchant would have had to die last (with Ori being strongly suggested to be the "merchant" of the Moonshade order) but it's more likely that Arcanette, the "cleric", is canonically the last death before Oboro's self-sacrifice (and he's the "warrior"). So it seems more like Vide's revival has nothing to do with sacrifices and the order of prayers, and that the vessel can be any person who has given up on the dawn.

(Although I will note that the actual facts about the gods are extremely fuzzy, especially taking what little we know about them from Orsterra into account, so it's hard to tell how accurate the legend of Vide being sealed as recounted by Temenos is when compared to however events may have actually happened. These same gods were somehow also responsible for sealing Galdera away in Orsterra without much consequence, but were nearly killed in Solistia while sealing Vide. The Kal also notably seem to have a cult around the Flame itself and no associated gods, so that brings into question whether Aelfric and the Flame are connected or not, and if they are then exactly how. Unfortunately there's nothing in-game to really explain or expand the mythology of the pantheon which Aelfric leads, and even trying to take the shaky lore from CotC into account does little to elucidate exactly how this pantheon works).

-----

Speaking of Ori's Journal's, there's been one entry in particular that keeps confusing me, and that being the entry in which Ori states that Harvey escaped alive...somehow. This is the quote I'm referring to specifically:

I found a nice, cozy place to conceal myself, and sure enough Osvald showed up. Just as predicted, the two fought it out, and I was able to retrieve the Book of Demons in the wake of their battle. There was one surprise, however: Harvey escaped alive.

What was that bright flash of magic? A glimpse of a force that may dwarf even that of the Book of Demons? That girl...Does she have some special power within her?

So, according to this Ori was camped out and saw the entire battle so she could snag the book, but then she says Harvey escaped which is...puzzling, since he very much appeared to be vaporized by his own magic. She also mentions a "bright flash of magic" which seems to be Elena's magic as per her blood connection to the Lumina family. I went and rewatched a playthrough of the post-battle cutscene, and I think I've found the "flash of light" Ori mentions. Here's a series of the best screenshots I could manage:

Harvey prepares his final spell and it begins to expand. Osvald is facing him, and Elena is passed out at the bottom center of the screen.

The magic continues to expand and gather in strength. We can no longer see Osvald but Elena is still visible.

As the magic reaches its peak power, we see several small lights appear in a circle around Elena at the bottom. These lights do not seem to match the magic that Harvey is casting since that is in a circle expanding from him, and it is Elena at the center of this circle of lights. After this the screen is awash completely in white before clearing to reveal...

Osvald holding Elena, both safe, with Harvey nowhere to be seen. (Screenshot lightened a bit by me bc it was really dark and hard to make out).

So I think the writers...actually just made a mistake, and that it was supposed to be Osvald who mysteriously survived due to Elena's mysterious magic. It would make more sense in context of what actually occurs during this cutscene if Ori's Journal had read:

I found a nice, cozy place to conceal myself, and sure enough Osvald showed up. Just as predicted, the two fought it out, and I was able to retrieve the Book of Demons in the wake of their battle. There was one surprise, however: Osvald escaped alive.

What was that bright flash of magic? A glimpse of a force that may dwarf even that of the Book of Demons? That girl...Does she have some special power within her?

If written this way, the discussion of Elena's mysterious power follows a note about Osvald surviving a direct blast from the Book of Demons, which would make the question of whether Elena's power is greater than the Book of Demons make more sense, as it would suggest that it had been Elena's power that was directly responsible for Osvald's survival. We also know that the Moonshade Order was watching several the the Eight Travelers carefully, and wanted a few of them out of the picture, and so it would have been convenient if both Harvey and Osvald had died in this moment, but it makes the most sense for Elena's power to save Osvald since, even if her memory is currently suppressed, she still loves him as her father subconsciously, and love is one of the key theme's of Osvald's story arc.

I dunno if any of this has merit, but I am inclined to think the writers just got the names switched while writing the journal entries, if only because this would be the only way to have the journal match the events we're shown in-game.

-----

There was one other thing about a recurring narrative theme in every characters' story that I wanted to note, but it started to get long enough that I'll probably make a separate post about it in the future at some point. Just...maybe sometime waaay in the future if I get distracted.

In any case, this about wraps up my shorter thoughts that I wanted to document. Again, I'm not trying to prove anything right or wrong, I'm just musing for the sake of musing.

Again, if you read all this, thanks!

[sabiraa-a]

"Should a woman cover her feet when she prays?"

Shaikh al-Albaani says:

"It is not permissible for her to pray with her feet uncovered, indeed it is not permissible for her to walk in the streets with her feet uncovered, because the feet are part of a woman's awrah based on Allah's Statement: “And let them not stamp their feet tó make known what they conceal of their adornment”. [Surat un-Noor 24:31]

This means that the feet used to be covered. Because of the jilbab that the women were commanded to cast down from over their heads, according to Allah's Statement: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments (jilbaabs) close upon themselves.” [Surat ul-Ahzaab 33:59]

And it is mentioned in the authentic hadeeth that the Prophet ﷺ said one day during a gathering in which there were also women: Whoever drags his garment out of pride, Allah ﷻ will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection. One of the women said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, then our feet will be exposed! He women lengthen (their garments) by a hand-span! She said: 'Then a wind will come and uncover (their feet): He is said. 'let them add another hand-span, ie. (a total of) orie cubit, and not go beyond that!' [Saheeh at-Tirmidhi 1731]

In this manner, the jilbaab of the Muslim woman - at the time of the revelation of the above-mentioned verse: {to draw their outer garments (jilbaabs) close upon themselves} - used to cover the feet since the socks that are widespread nowadays among both women and men were not widespread at that time. The woman used to cover her shins and feet with the long jilbaab that resembles the abaayah. Therefore it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to uncover her feet while she is on the street, and it is even more impermissible for her to pray with her feet uncovered."

[i-did-not-mean-to]

X - XOXO

Ah, it's the teacher AU.

@laurfilijames, @lordoftherazzles, @linasofia here is the monstrosity that has grown roots in my silly brain!

Words: 2 k (yes, I know, I am sorry)

Characters: Thorin, Fíli, Ori, Boromir, Legolas

Warnings: It's a Modern!AU, it has too many plot points, and it's entirely idiotic

“We have to do something,” Aude declared confidently, leaning over the rickety cafeteria table. “I can’t watch that poor man suffer like that.”

Boromir frowned; he was not the kind of young man who liked to meddle in other people’s love affairs, mainly because nothing could fool him into believing that he was managing his own very well so who was he to help someone else?

“I’m in,” Legolas hooted—he, on the other hand, was a kid who loved meddling and he was not above trying to give one of his favourite teachers a boost.

“Let’s say,” Aude interrupted his effervescent joy pragmatically, “we set the concert as a deadline. By the time we go on the excursion, I want melting gazes and seemingly accidental touches to be the standard. Are we agreed?”

Their little ragtag group of friends did not dare disagree with her when she got into one of her organisational moods and so, they simply nodded and started planning their devious machinations.

It had all started earlier that day.

While they had been a close-knit class for a few years, the teaching staff responsible for them had changed this semester—much to the chagrin of Boromir and Legolas.

Their new foreign languages teacher was a frightening lady, crackling with intensity, and her rather harsh methods had given them quite a jolt in the beginning.

Thus terrified by the educator who was unfortunately also responsible for the choir part of their annual concert, they had been considerably confused by the unusual reaction of their trusty, beloved English teacher when said Xanthippe had knocked on the door to inform them that choir practice would start a little late due to some unforeseen scheduling issues.

As the school was indeed much like a family and the teachers were known by their first names, the youngsters—first and foremost, eagle-eyed Aude—had had no qualms whatsoever to tease Mister Ori about his bashful blush at the sight of the newcomer.

After all, for the longest time, the rumoured dalliance between Mister Fíli—giving workshop classes—and their gym teacher Miss Rena had been the only source of gossip the voraciously inquisitive minds of the youngsters had fed on.

Consequently, it was totally unsurprising that they pounced on this new knot of tension like starved hyenas as soon as they got the first whiff of it.

“Boromir?” Aude leaned over while the flustered English teacher ran after the bits of chalk he had dropped in his nervous haste. “Your brother is in the theatre group, right? We need to have a meeting over lunch—I think Mister Ori has a crush on the dragon-lady.”

Grimacing as the extent of Aude’s plan dawned on him, Boromir thought that—by the time she and Legolas were done plotting—they’d have Miss Libby serenade their mousy, distracted, touchingly kind English teacher.

As he leaned back and gave Mister Ori a compassionate smile, he had to admit to himself that he couldn’t wait to witness the trainwreck those hellish women would bring upon as many poor, unsuspecting, soft-hearted men as they possibly could.

“They’re coming along nicely,” Rena sighed as she wiped the back of her neck with a soft towel. “I wonder if the new economics teacher will attend.”

“Hmmm?” Libby looked up from the piece of paper that had made its way mysteriously into the stack of lyrics she distributed and collected diligently at the beginning and end of every choir practice. “I think the headmaster has invited her personally, so yeah, it would be rather rude not to come and clap politely.”

“Politely?” her friend and colleague, who was responsible for the dance act, asked pointedly. “I am convinced of the talent and skill of my group. Do you have qualms about yours?”

“Not in the least,” Libby denied weakly. “Here, look at this, do you know what this is?” She held out the intruder amongst the bent and worn pages in her hand accusingly.

After taking a single look at it, Rena chuckled wryly. “Yes, I do, and so do you.”

Even though polite and supportive, Rena didn’t lose time pretending and dissimulating—especially not at this time of night, alone in the auditorium.

“It’s a page out of the play they’re putting on,” she muttered, inspecting the page more carefully now. “And there is a note in the margin saying ‘Meet me in the teacher’s lounge tomorrow at 15 o’clock. XOXO’. I wonder what that is about…”

“Well, it surely wasn’t meant for me,” Libby dismissed the whole thing frantically; already, she sorely regretted having shown this awful missive to her friend.

From day one, Rena had been a much-needed and trusted ally in Libby’s awkward navigation of a completely new school where everyone seemed to know one another from birth; thus, she merely ducked her head and didn’t contradict.

“Lib, it’s not from or for one of the students; they have no access to that room. Moreover, there is no other member of the teaching staff scheduled to be in the auditorium today. If it was meant for anyone, it was meant for you!”

Setting the piece of paper aside carefully, Rena stalked towards her friend on her long, nimble legs. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’ve interrupted class today.”

Scandalised, Libby denied having done anything even remotely disruptive.

“What grapevine? Did you hang out with Fí again? He’s one of the only teachers they had this afternoon.” Libby narrowed her eyes—at her previous post, nobody had ever taken such a vivid interest in the lives and proclivities of their peers, and she was not entirely sure that she liked being the subject of gossip.

“Oh no,” Rena grinned, “it’s much more interesting than that. So, the new economics teacher has complained to the headmaster—she is in that office all the time, I swear—that the class was being particularly unruly today. So, Thorin goes to check on the class while they’re walking over to Fíli’s and guess what he overheard?”

Libby waved her hand with as much nonchalant indulgence as she could feign.

“Apparently their English teacher has had a visit from—sorry for the wording—the Dragon-lady and the poor man—bless his soul—didn’t manage to get back his focus for the rest of the lesson. Isn’t that interesting?”

“I…” Libby started and then relapsed into petulant silence; those miscreants were lucky that she had not learned about this before choir practice.

“Do you deny it?” Rena was having entirely too much fun with this.

“No, I don’t. Now, dear, your petty narration does not explain how Fíli’s knowledge was imparted to you though, does it?”

“Ah,” the amazingly brazen Amazon purred, “we were having a little chat in the courtyard…about maybe joining the excursion. I surmise that you’ll be there to chaperone and hound the kids?”

Nodding tersely, Libby waited to see where her friend was going with this.

“Maybe, whoever wrote you this note also only wants to talk about the excursion?”

“As what you call ‘talk about the excursion’ seems to be code for another word containing the letters ‘e’ and ‘x’ in that order, I highly doubt that,” Libby hissed.

“I wish…” Rena grinned; she had much more knowledge than she led on, but—as a trained and experienced athlete—she knew that sometimes, one had to pace oneself if one wanted to make it across the finish line. “So, was it strictly necessary for you to go and startle poor Ori?”

Swallowing fitfully, Libby tried to mobilise the brusque façade behind which she habitually hid her own insecurities. “I had no way of knowing that he’d be that upset by a minor interruption; it’s not as if I knew him well—he seems to avoid me as much as possible.”

Hopping onto one of the props and crossing her legs slowly, Rena leaned towards her friend. “He’s a local boy, Ori, I mean. Fíli talks about him a lot.”

“Ah,” Libby interjected with a knowing smile. “Why are you telling me this? It’s highly unlikely that the one colleague who seems to profoundly and viscerally dislike me would invite me to a meeting, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think he dislikes you,” Rena jeered, “but—in the name of friendship—I’ll investigate a little deeper. By the way, do you mind him terribly?”

“Rena,” Libby sighed, “I would not have chosen his class to burst into if I did not enjoy his blundering, stammering sweetness at least a tiny bit.”

Nodding her head sagaciously, Rena gave her a provocative smirk. “I’ll see what Fíli can tell me about it…”

“Hey Thorin,” Fíli grinned as he passed the new economics teacher, a truly handsome lady, on the threshold of their headmaster’s office.

“We’ve come to sign up for the excursion,” he announced with a flourish, dragging Ori in by the sleeve of his sempiternal woollen cardigan like a reticent child.

“You’re too old and I am quite pleased with the results Miss Libby is achieving,” Thorin replied sternly. “I’d rather not overtax the woman in her first year at our school with having to oversee that many hormone-fuelled savages.”

Fíli laughed. “Fair,” he admitted, “but I’ve come to offer my services as a chaperone, yes, that is quite right. Me. I’ve even convinced our resident homebody to pack his seven cardigans in various shades of beige and join us. Wouldn’t the presence of the best English teacher be a monumental advantage?”

Thorin paused and pondered that assertion for a long, silent moment before nodding slowly.

“It’s funny,” he then said in a low, languid voice, “you’re not the first to volunteer for the least sought-after extracurricular activity of this year. Though the other two were ladies of course. Seems like we’re well-matched then—the poor students won’t know what hit them.”

“How so?” Fíli asked immediately, his face gleaming with interest and curiosity.

“The new economics teacher and Miss Rena have volunteered as well.”

“The gym teacher?” Ori squeaked, visibly cowed by that idea.

“Well yes, Miss Libby was the first to sign up and Rena thought that she had to keep an eye on the new girl for fear that she’d get cannibalised by our students.”

With a throaty chuckle, he turned his attention back to the papers on his desk, signalling that this interview was at an end and that he had other matters to attend to.

“Aren’t you off now? Care to go over to the bakery and have a coffee?” Fíli asked his colleague who was dragging his feet as they made their way back down the administrative wing of the school building. “I would very much like to know why the mere mention of the Foreign Languages teacher makes you break out in nervous hives; I’ve known you all your life, my boy, and I know when something is up!”

“Erm…” Ori stammered. “I found a note among my papers of yesterday that told me to come to the teacher’s lounge at 3.” “A note? Do you know from whom?”

Ori shook his head miserably; there had been no person who could have slipped a note pertaining to that kind of meeting other than Miss Libby. She had been in his classroom the previous day—she had stood so close to the desk that he had been able to smell her dizzying perfume and unfortunately, he had truly not paid any attention to what she had been doing other than crowding him.

Secretly, he so desperately hoped that it was indeed her who wanted to see him—even if it was about the class, or toilet paper, or the weather—but he didn’t dare believe it, especially as the note was signed “XOXO” which didn’t seem to be her style at all.

“Well, how about you see what it’s all about and I’ll wait in the bakery?”

Ori looked past his friend through the high window front to see the gym teacher sprint across the street to said locale and he understood.

“Yeah sure,” he acquiesced kindly, “see you later.”

Muttering to himself to be brave and firm, Ori entered the teacher’s lounge…and promptly collided with his most dreaded colleague.

@fellowshipofthefics I am so sorry for this whopper.

Lots of love from me though

-> Masterlist

[jewishzevran]

i’m back with a desperate hunger for more ori x anders 😭 1, 5, 11, 12, & 24 please 🥺

1. Describe their first date.

The first time they actually get to have a date, Ori asks Anders to meet her at the Skyhold stables. Totally in the dark, he agrees, and finds her there with two horses, loaded with full saddlebags. She still says nothing, but Anders follows her lead, and she takes him out into the surrounding forests. After approximately a 20 minute ride through the freezing cold, she stops. What Ori has brought him to, is her secret hideaway; a hot spring she discovered early into their stay at the Keep. She tells him she comes here to escape being Inquisitor, and the two of them spend several hours in and out of the water, and eat the picnic and drink the wine Ori packed.

5. Do they argue often? If so, what do they argue about?

Answered here!

11. How do they feel about nicknames/pet names? If they like them, what pet names do they use? If they hate them, why do they feel that way?

Both of them love pet names. Ori starts calling Anders vhenan immediately, and also several hebrew pet names such as kayim sheli (my life) and motek (honey). Anders uses my love most frequently but also favours darling. It becomes common for them to use names when in other company, and exclusively pet names when they're alone.

12. Do they have a difficult time when separated from each other, or are they fairly independent?

They mostly function well when they're apart, but they absolutely hate it. The first day is the worst, both of them sulk and are absolutely insufferable. They already feel they've lost enough time that more time apart is incredibly stressful, but on the other side of the coin, they've already spent so much time apart that it's not difficult for them to get through. Woe betide anyone who gets in the way of the reunion, though.

24. How do their personalities affect their relationship? Do their characteristics compliment each other, or clash often?

It's a little bit of both. They're both such intense forces that most of the time they compliment each other very well, but they are both the same side of the coin. When they align they're basically unstoppable, but when they clash it's a significant clash.

[questions here]

[sycamorre]

Okay but I am still obsessed with the idea of Vaela going to visit Ori back home. Partially for Ori herself. Partially to get a chance to chat with her brother some more. I still think about that from time to time

YESSS I think about this a lot, too. In fact, I have a few thoughts of my own:

Firstly,  I imagine that after the ball, Hester approached Vaela when Ori wasn't around and asked if she basically wanted to be pen pals. Because he's a dork and doesn't have fancy magic speaking stones. Basically the equivalent of "here's my number text me if you want to"  while trying to be smooth about it and probably failing a bit. But at the very least he is trying to make it low-pressure for her.

At some point Ori would get a hint of what was going on and would absolutely be a driving force behind Vaela getting an invitation to come down to the coast for a beach vacation and to meet the family. Hester would get teased endlessly and he would be hopelessly outnumbered by the girls.

I feel like Vaela would enjoy spending time with Oriana’s family. Her mom, Maia, would make Vaela something nice to wear as a gift, and the middle sibling, Asta, has a lot of similar tastes to Vaela and would definitely take her shopping.

At some point during this whole event, Hester would get the idea to take Vaela out on a walk and picnic dinner out by the ocean (but still within view of the city, since he's given a few light warnings from Ori just in case Vaela might not be super comfortable being totally alone with him just yet), right before the sun sets and the evening stars begin to come out. He would probably just want to talk and laugh with her, maybe dance again without a crowd of people around them. Or if she's feeling adventurous, he's got one cool Find Steed spell up his sleeve and they can go for a ride down the beach. And maybe if things go well, he'd extend an invitation for her to visit him whenever she wants in Tyados' capital city...

@zacksfairest

[demonslayerscript]

Episode 7 : Muzan Kibutsuji / 第七話『鬼舞辻無惨(Kibutsuji Muzan)』

＊Green-colored words are only in anime, not in original manga, and we usually call them “ani-ori(anime-original)".

炭治郎「禰豆子！深追いするな。こっちへ戻れ。こっちへ来い。禰豆子！」

Tanjiro “Nezuko! Fuka-oi suruna. Kocchie modore. Kocchie koi. Nezuko!”

Tanjiro “Nezuko! Don’t chase after him! Get back here! Come to me. Nezuko!”

炭治郎（鱗滝さんは言ってた。‘禰豆子は今、鬼だ’と。‘必ずしも自分が守らねばならない程、弱いわけではない’と。いいのか？任せても。二人を守ってくれれば、攻撃に専念できる…）

Tanjiro (Urokodaki-sanwa itteta. ‘Nezukowa ima, onida’to. ‘Kanarazu-shimo jibunga mamoraneba naranai-hodo yowai wake-dewa nai’to. Iinoka? Makasetemo. Futario mamotte kurereba, kogekini sennen dekiru…)

Tanjiro (Mr.Urokodaki did tell me… that Nezuko is a demon now. And that she’s not necessarily so weak that I have to protect her. Is it all right to let her handle this? If I have her watch over those two, I can focus on my attacks.)

炭治郎「禰豆子！くっ。禰豆子、俺は下に行く!! 二人を守ってくれ。できるな」

Tanjiro “Nezuko! Ku. Nezuko, orewa shitani iku!! Futario mamotte kure. Dekiruna.”

Tanjiro “Nezuko! Nezuko, I’m going underground! I want you to protect those two! You can do that, right?”

ーーーーー

炭治郎（沼の中!! そしてこれは…攫われた人たちの着物や持ち物か？何の罪もない人たちをこんなにも殺した!! 許せない… 許せない!!）

Tanjiro (Numano naka!! Soshite korewa… sarawareta hito-tachino kimonoya mochi-monoka? Nanno tsumimo nai hito-tachio konna-nimo koroshita!! Yuruse-nai… Yuruse-nai!!)

Tanjiro (Inside a swamp… And these are… Are these the clothes and belongings of the people who were kidnapped? Just look at all the innocent people they’ve murdered! It’s unforgivable! Unforgivable!)

一本角「ハハハッ、苦しいか、小僧。この沼の中には、ほとんど空気もない。さらに、この沼の闇は体に纏わり付いて重いだろう、ハハハハ!!」

Ippon-zuno “Hahaha, kurushiika, kozo. Kono numano naka-niwa, hotondo kukimo nai. Sarani, kono numano yamiwa karadani matowari-tsuite omoidaro, hahahaha!!”

One Horn “Getting hard to breathe, brat? There’s hardly any air inside this swamp. On top of that, the darkness coiling around your body must feel pretty heavy.”

三本角「地上のようには動けんのだ、ざまをみろ!! 浅はかに自ら飛び込んできた愚か者めが！」

Sanbon-zuno “Chijono yo-niwa ugoken-noda. Zamao miro!! Asahakani mizukara tobikonde-kita oroka-mono-mega!”

Three Horns “You can’t move the way you would aboveground! Serves you right! You should’ve looked before you leaped in, you damn fool!”

炭治郎（舐めるなよ!! 一体俺がどこで鍛錬したと思ってるんだ!! 狭霧山の頂上は、もっと空気が薄かった!!）

Tanjiro (Nameru-nayo!! Ittai orega dokode tanren shitato omotte-runda!! Sagiri-yamano chojowa, motto kukiga usukatta!!)

Tanjiro (Don’t underestimate me! Just where do you think I got my training anyway? The air was thinner on top of Mt.Sagiri!)

炭治郎（さらに、水の中でこそ力を発揮する技がある）

Tanjiro (Sarani, mizuno nakade-koso chikarao hakki suru wazaga aru.)

Tanjiro (Not to mention… there are moves that only unleash their full potential underwater!)

炭治郎（沼の中で、こんな角度の動きができるのか。でも関係ない!! 攻撃のために接近した所を斬るだけだ!!）

Tanjiro (Numano nakade, konna kakudono ugokiga dekiru-noka. Demo kankei nai!! Kogekino tameni sekkin shita tokoro’o kiru dakeda!!)

Tanjiro (So, they can move at angles like that inside this swamp? But it doesn’t matter! All I have to do is slash when they get near enough to attack!)

炭治郎（足場もない不安定なこの場所でも使える型。上半身と下半身の激しいねじりで強い渦動を発生させる）

Tanjiro (Ashibamo nai fuanteina kono basho-demo tsukaeru kata. Jo-hanshinto Ka-hanshinno hageshii nejiride tsuyoi kado’o hassei saseru.)

Tanjiro (The form that can be utilized even when there’s no sure footing… Generating a powerful vortex with a violent twist of my upper and lower body!)

炭治郎（匂いが来た！隙の糸!!）

Tanjiro (Nioiga kita! Sukino ito!!)

Tanjiro (Here comes the scent! The opening thread!)

炭治郎（全集中・水の呼吸。陸ノ型。ねじれ渦!!!）

Tanjiro (Zen-shuchu, Mizuno Kokyu. Rokuno Kata. Nejire-Uzu!!!)

Tanjiro (Total Concentration! Water Breathing! Sixth Form! Whirlpool!)

炭治郎（うっ…苦しい!! 早く上へ。禰豆子!!）

Tanjiro (U… Kurushii!! Hayaku uee. Nezuko!!)

Tanjiro (I can’t breathe! I gotta get out of here! Nezuko!)

ーーーーー

二本角（この女、強い!!）

Nihon-zuno (Kono onna, tsuyoi!!)

Two Horns (This girl is powerful!)

二本角（まだ何の異能も使えないようだが、それでもこの強さだ!! この女は恐らく、分けられた血の量が多いんだ!!）

Nihon-zuno (Mada nanno inomo tsukae-nai-yodaga, sore-demo kono tsuyosada!! Kono onnawa osoraku, wake-rareta chino ryoga ooinda!!)

Two Horns (She doesn’t seem to have mastered any morphing skills yet, but look how strong she is anyway! She must have gotten a huge amount of blood from him!)

二本角（女の動きが速すぎて、沼に潜れない。だが、単調な攻撃に慣れてきたぞ）

Nihon-zuno (Onnano ugokiga haya-sugite, numani mogure-nai. Daga, tanchona kogekini narete kitazo.)

Two Horns (She moves so fast! I can’t dive back into the swamp! But they, I’m getting used to these one-note attacks of hers!)

二本角（もげるほど首を蹴られても、内臓を破裂させられようと、鬼はすぐに回復できるんだ！）

Nihon-zuno (Mogeru-hodo kubio kerare-temo, naizo’o haretsu saserare-yoto, oniwa suguni kaifuku dekirunda!)

Two Horns (Even if she kicks my head clean off… Even if my internal organs explode, demons can regenerate in a flash!)

和巳「ああっ!!」

Kazumi “Aa!!”

二本角（よし!! その面(ツラ)に風穴開けてやる!!）

Nihon-zuno (Yoshi!! Sono tsurani kaza-ana akete-yaru!!)

Two Horns (All right! Now I’m gonna drill a hole right through your face!)

炭治郎「妹に触るな!!」

Tanjiro “Imotoni sawaruna!!”

Tanjiro “Hands off my sister!”

二本角（うっ、や…殺(や)られたのか？コイツに俺が…二人共殺られた！）

Nihon-zuno (U, ya… yarareta-noka? Koitsuni orega… futari-tomo yarareta!)

Two Horns (Did I just get taken out? Both of my other selves got taken out by this guy!)

炭治郎「お前たちは腐った油のような匂いがする。ひどい悪臭だ。一体、どれだけの人を殺した!!」

Tanjiro “Omae-tachiwa kusatta aburano-yona nioiga suru. Hidoi akushuda. Ittai, dore-dakeno hito’o koroshita!!”

Tanjiro “You give off a scent like rotten oil. It’s a horrible smell! How many people have you killed?”

二本角「女共はな!! あれ以上生きていると、醜く不味(まず)くなるんだよ。だから喰ってやったんだ!! 俺たち鬼に感謝…」

Nihon-zuno “Onna-domo-wana!! Are-ijo ikite-iruto, minikuku mazuku narundayo. Dakara kutte-yattanda!! Ore-tachi onini kansha…”

Two Horns “Listen! If women live any longer, they turn ugly and start tasting like crap! So, we killed them for their own good! You should be thankful to us demons―”

炭治郎「もういい。鬼舞辻無惨について知っていることを話してもらう」

Tanjiro “Mo ii. Kibutsuji Muzanni tsuite shitte-irukoto’o hanashite morau.”

Tanjiro “Never mind. You’re going to tell me what you know about Muzan Kibutsuji.”

二本角「ひっ！うう…」

Nihon-zuno “Hi! Uu…”

炭治郎「話してもらおう」

Tanjiro “Hanashite morao.”

Tanjiro “Talk to me!”

二本角「ひっ！」

Nihon-zuno “Hi!”

炭治郎「話せ！」

Tanjiro “Hanase!”

Tanjiro “Start talking!”

二本角「い…言えない…言えない…」

Nihon-zuno “I…Ienai… Ienai…”

Two Horns “I-I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you!”

二本角「言えない…言えない…」

Nihon-zuno “Ienai… Ienai…”

Two Horns “I can’t tell you! I can’t tell you!”

ーーーーー

鬼舞辻無惨「喋ってはいけない。私のことを誰にも喋ってはいけない。喋ったら、すぐにわかる…。私はいつも君を見ている…」

Kibutsuji Muzan “Shabettewa ikenai. Watashino koto’o dare-nimo shabettewa ikenai. Shabettara, suguni wakaru… Watashiwa itsumo kimio mite-iru…”

Muzan Kibutsuji “You mustn’t tell. You mustn’t tell anyone about me. If you do tell anyone, I’ll know right away. I’m always watching you.”

ーーーーー

二本角「言えない…言えない！言えない、言えない…」

Nihon-zuno “Ienai… Ienai! Ienai, ienai…”

Two Horns “I can’t tell you! I can’t tell you! I can’t tell you! I can’t tell you! I can’t tell you!”

炭治郎（骨の奥まで震えるような、恐怖の匂い）

Tanjiro (Honeno oku-made furueru-yona, kyofuno nioi.)

Tanjiro (The smell of fear is strong. He’s trembling all the way down to his bones!)

二本角「言えないんだよオオオ!!!」

Nihon-zuno “Ienaindayoooo!!!”

Two-Horns “I can’t tell you, all right?”

炭治郎（ああ、また何も聞き出せない）

Tanjiro (Aa, mata nanimo kiki-dase-nai.)

Tanjiro (Once again, I failed to get any information.)

炭治郎「禰豆子！…寝てる。���も止まっている。回復するための眠りか…」

Tanjiro “Nezuko! …Neteru. Chimo tomatte-iru. Kaifuku suru-tameno nemurika…”

Tanjiro “Nezuko! She’s asleep. She stopped bleeding, too. So, she’s sleeping in order to recover?”

炭治郎「ごめん。ごめんな。もう少し待ってくれ。兄ちゃんがきっと、人間に戻してやるからな」

Tanjiro “Gomen. Gomenna. Mo sukoshi matte-ite kure. Niichanga kitto, ningenni modoshite yaru-karana.”

Tanjiro “Sorry. I’m sorry. Wait just a little longer, okay? I promise to turn you back into a human again!”

炭治郎「和巳さん。大丈夫ですか？」

Tanjiro “Kazumi-san. Daijobu desuka?”

Tanjiro “Mr.Kazumi? Are you all right?”

和巳「…婚約者を失って、大丈夫だと思うか？」

Kazumi “…Kon’yakushao ushinatte, daijobu dato omouka?”

Kazumi “I’ve lost my fiancée. How can I be all right?”

炭治郎「和巳さん。失っても、失っても、生きていくしかないんです。どんなに打ちのめされようと…」

Tanjiro “Kazumi-san. Ushinattemo, ushinattemo, ikite-iku-shika nain-desu. Donnani uchinome-sare-yoto…”

Tanjiro “Mr.Kazumi… No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living. No matter how devastating the blows may be.”

和巳「お前に何がわかるんだ!! お前みたいな子供に!!」

Kazumi “Omaeni naniga wakarunda!! Omae mitaina kodomoni!!”

Kazumi “What do you know about it? A kid like you?”

炭治郎「俺は、もう行きます。これを…。この中に、里子さんの持ち物があるといいのですが…」

Tanjiro “Orewa, mo ikimasu. Koreo… Kono nakani, Satoko-sanno mochi-monoga aruto iino-desuga…”

Tanjiro “I’ll be on my way now. Take this. I hope you’ll find something of Miss Satoko’s in there.”

和巳「あっ…うう…」

Kazumi “A…Uu…”

和巳（ハッ…君も同じだったのか？そうなのか？）

Kazumi (Ha… Kimimo onaji datta-noka? So nanoka?)

Kazumi (So, you went through the same thing, too? Is that it?)

和巳「す…すまない!! 酷いことを言った!! どうか許してくれ。すまなかった…」

Kazumi “Su…Sumanai!! Hidoi koto’o itta!! Doka yurushite kure. Sumana-katta…”

Kazumi “I… I’m sorry! That was an awful thing to say! Please forgive me! I’m so sorry!”

和巳（痛ましい手。硬く鍛え抜かれ分厚い。少年の手ではなかった）

Kazumi (Itamashii te. Kataku kitae-nukare buatsui. Shonenno te-dewa nakatta.)

Kazumi (His hand was heart-breaking to see. Hardened by relentless training and so thick. It wasn’t a boy’s hand.)

炭治郎「その女性の方、お願いします」

Tanjiro “Sono Joseino kata, onegai shimasu.”

Tanjiro “I’m leaving that young woman in your hands!”

和巳「分かった。…分かった…」

Kazumi “Wakatta. …Wakatta…”

Kazumi “All right! All right!”

ーーーーー

炭治郎（俺だけじゃない。どれだけの人を殺し、痛めつけ、苦しめた。鬼舞辻無惨。俺はお前を絶対に許さない）

Tanjiro (Ore-dakeja nai. Dore-dakeno hito’o koroshi, itame-tsuke, kurushimeta. Kibutsuji Muzan. Orewa omaeo zettaini yurusanai.)

Tanjiro (It’s not just me. How many people have you killed, tortured and tormented? Muzan Kibutsuji, I’ll never forgive you as long as I live!)

炭治郎「あっ！」

Tanjiro “A!”

鎹鴉の天王寺松右衛門「次ハ東京府浅草ァ！鬼ガ潜ンデイルトノ噂アリ!! カァアア!!」

Tennoji Matsuemon (Kasugai-Garasu) “Tsugiwa Tokyo-fu, Asakusaa! Oniga hisonde irutono uwasa ari!! Kaaa!”

Matsuemon Tennoji (Kasugai Crow) “Next up, Asakusa, Tokyo! Rumors of a demon lurking there!”

炭治郎「えっ！もう次に行くのか」

Tanjiro “E! Mo tsugini ikunoka.”

Tanjiro “I’m heading to my next mission already?”

鎹鴉の天王寺松右衛門「行クノヨォオ!!」

Tennoji Matsuemon (Kasugai-Garasu) “Ikunoyooo!”

Matsuemon Tennoji (Kasugai Crow) “Oh, yes, you are!”

炭治郎「ちょっと待って」

Tanjiro “Chotto matte.”

Tanjiro “Hold on a minute.”

鎹鴉の天王寺松右衛門「待タァナイ!!」

Tennoji Matsuemon (Kasugai-Garasu) “Mataanai!!”

Matsuemon Tennoji (Kasugai Crow) “No can do!”

炭治郎「いやいや待って…ちょっとでいいから…」

Tanjiro “Iya-iya matte… Chottode iikara…”

Tanjiro “Come on, just give me a minute! Hold on! What?”

鎹鴉の天王寺松右衛門「イイカラ、サッサト行ク！」

Tennoji Matsuemon (Kasugai-Garasu) “Iikara, sassato iku!”

Matsuemon Tennoji (Kasugai Crow) “Just shut up and go already!”

炭治郎「ええ～」

Tanjiro “Eeee”

ーーーーー

炭治郎（街はこんなに発展しているのか!! 夜なのに明るい!! 建物高っ、なんだあれ!! 都会って… 都会って… おお… めまいがする…）

Tanjiro (Machiwa konnani hatten shite irunoka!! Yoru nanoni akarui!! Tatemono taka! Nanda are!! Tokaitte… Tokaitte… Oo… Memaiga suru…)

Tanjiro (Are the cities this advanced now? It’s nighttime, but it’s so bright out! The buildings are so tall! What is this? The cities… The cities… I feel dizzy.”

炭治郎「あ…あっち行こう、禰豆子」

Tanjiro “A… Acchi iko, Nezuko.”

Tanjiro “Uh, let’s go that way, Nezuko!”

炭治郎「うわっ！し…失礼しました！」

Tanjiro “Uwa! Shi… Shitsurei shimashita!”

Tanjiro “I-I beg your pardon!”

炭治郎「すみません… 山かけうどんください…」

Tanjiro “Sumimasen… Yamakake-udon kudasai…”

Tanjiro “Excuse me. A bowl of udon with grated yam on top please.”

うどん屋の豊「あっ、あいよ」

Udon’yano Toyo “A, Aiyo.”

Toyo “Uh, sure thing!”

炭治郎「こんな所、初めて来た……人が多すぎる」

Tanjiro “Konna tokoro, hajimete kita……Hitoga oosugiru.”

Tanjiro “I’ve never been to a place like this. It’s way too crowded.”

うどん屋の豊「山かけうどん一丁、出来上がり」

Udon’yano Toyo “Yamakake udon iccho, deki-agari.”

Toyo “Here’s your udon with grated yam on top!”

炭治郎「ありがとうございます」

Tanjiro “Arigato gozaimasu.”

Tanjiro “Thank you very much.”

炭治郎「ああ……あっ！」

Tanjiro “Aa……A!”

炭治郎（この匂い!! どうして突然こんな所で!! 家に残っていた匂いだ。鬼舞辻無惨!！）

Tanjiro (Kono nioi!! Doshite totsuzen konna tokorode!! Ie-ni nokotte-ita nioida. Kibutsuji Muzan!!)

Tanjiro (This scent! Why would I catch it here all of a sudden? It’s the same scent that was left in my house! Muzan Kibutsuji!)

炭治郎（こいつが、匂いの…）

Tanjiro (Koitsuga, nioi’no…)

Tanjiro (Is this the guy giving off that scent?)

鬼舞辻無惨「ん？」

Kibutsuji Muzan “N?”

炭治郎（こいつが!!）

Tanjiro (Koitsuga!!)

Tanjiro (It’s him!)

娘「お父さん」

Musume “Otosan.”

Daughter “Daddy?”

炭治郎「あっ」

Tanjiro “A.”

娘「だあれ？」

Musume “Daare?”

Daughter “Who’s that?”

炭治郎（ハッ！こいつ…）

Tanjiro (Ha! Koitsu…)

Tanjiro (He’s…)

無惨「大丈夫だよ。安心なさい」

Muzan “Daijobu dayo. Anshin nasai.”

Muzan “It’s all right. Don’t worry.”

炭治郎���こいつ!! こいつ!! 人間のふりをして暮らしているんだ!!）

Tanjiro (Koitsu!! Koitsu!! Ningenno furio shite kurashite irunda!!)

Tanjiro (He’s… He’s… He’s living here, pretending to be a human!)

無惨「私に何か用ですか？随分慌てていらっしゃるようですが…」

Muzan “Watashini nanika yodesuka? Zuibun awatete irassharu-yodesuga…”

Muzan “Is there something I can do for you? You seem to be quite flustered.”

妻「あら、どうしたの？」

Tsuma “Ara, do shitano?”

Wife “Oh my. What’s going on?”

娘「おかあさん」

Musume “Okaasan.”

Daughter “Mother!”

炭治郎（ああ… 人間だ… 女の子と女の人は人間の匂いだ。知らないのか？わからないのか？こいつが鬼だって、人を喰うって）

Tanjiro (Aa… Ningenda… Onna’noko to onna’no hitowa ningenno nioida. Shiranai-noka? Wakaranai-noka? Koitsuga oni datte. Hito’o kuutte.)

Tanjiro (They’re humans! The girl and the woman… Their scent is human! Don’t you know? Can’t you tell? That this guy is a demon? That he devours humans?)

妻「お知り合い？」

Tsuma “Oshiriai?”

Wife “Do you know him?”

無惨「いいや、困ったことに少しも――…知らない子ですね。人違いではないでしょうか？」

Muzan “Iiya, komatta kotoni sukoshimo――…shiranai ko desune. Hito-chigai-dewa naideshoka?”

Muzan “No. Much to my consternation, I’ve never seen this child before. He must have mistaken me for someone else.”

妻「まあ、そうなの？」

Tsuma “Maa, sonano?”

Wife “Oh, you think so?”

炭治郎「あっ！」

Tanjiro “A!”

男「うっ…」

Otoko “U…”

女「あなた、どうしました��」

Onna “Anata, do shimashita?”

Woman “Dear, what’s the matter?”

男「うっ…うっ…」

Otoko “U… U…”

女「あなた？」

Onna “Anata?”

Woman “Dear?”

男「グアア！」

Man “Guaa!”

炭治郎「やめろ!!」

Tanjiro “Yamero!!”

Tanjiro “Stop!”

女「キャアアアッ！」

Onna “Kyaaaa!”

ーーーーー

大正コソコソ噂話　-Taisho Secret-

炭治郎「ついに鬼舞辻無惨を見つけた。こいつを倒せば、禰豆子を人間に…。」

Tanjiro “Tsuini Kibutsuji Muzan’o mitsuketa. Koitsuo taoseba, Nezuko’o ningenni…”

Tanjiro “I’ve finally tracked down Muzan Kibutsuji! If I can bring him down, Nezuko could be human again!”

炭治郎「それにしても、浅草の人たちはおしゃれな格好をしていたな。禰豆子も似合いそうだな」

Tanjiro “Soreni-shitemo, Asakusano hito-tachiwa osharena kakko’o shite-itana. Nezukomo niai-sodana.”

Tanjiro “Anyway, everyone in Asakusa sure is stylish, huh? I bet you’d look great in an outfit like that!”

炭治郎「その間に、大正コソコソ噂話。うどん屋の豊さんは、浅草生まれ、浅草育ち。浅草を愛しているので、浅草でうどんを作っている…らしいですよ」

Tanjiro “Sono aidani, Taisho koso-koso uwasa-banashi. Udon’yano Toyo-sanwa, Asakusa-umare. Asakusa-sodachi. Asakusao aishite irunode, Asakusade udon’o tsukutte iru…rashii desuyo.”

Tanjiro “Now, it’s time for a Taisho-era secret! Toyo from the udon shop was born and raised in Asakusa. He makes udon in Asakusa because he loves Asakusa so much, I hear.”

炭治郎「スーツか！ちょっと大人になった気がするな。ああっ！任務に戻らないと！」

Tanjiro “Sūtsuka! Chotto otonani natta kiga suruna. Aa! Ninmuni modora-naito!”

Tanjiro “A suit, huh? Now I feel kind of grown up! I’d better get back to my mission!”

炭治郎「次回、第八話『幻惑の血の香り』」

Tanjiro “Jikai, dai-hachi-wa, ‘Genwakuno Chino Kaori’.”

Tanjiro “Next, Episode 8, ‘The Smell of Enchanting Blood’!”

(Continue to episode 8)

[starcrossedjedis]

Genuine question, apologies if I missed where it would be answered already: what is Catelyn Baratheon's ancestry, as in how is she capable of bonding with a dragon? Is it like far back Targ blood through her mother's family? Or, I know Rhaenys and Borros are related but I didn't think HE/his descendants have any Targ ancestry directly? Unless I'm just having a total derp moment rn lol. I love that she goes against her family and everything she knows bc she supports Rhaenyra as the named heir! She and Jace look cute

Hey,

thank you for sending me this 🥰

There's actually three (two and a half, really) possible answers to this 🤗

1. Orys Baratheon really was Aegon the Conqueror's bastard brother, thus making house Baratheon Valyrian by default. And with the whole "the seed is strong" stint they got going this is still Valyrian enough to be able to go claim a dragon.

2. Catelyn is a stubborn little thing who wants to do her part and is made all the more determined by Jace flat out for I ding her to take part in the Sowing. So she steals away into the caves as it is happening and bonds with Kairax, a she dragon the colour of the stormy sky over her home, that isn't part if the Sowing, because she is young and barely grown enough to be mounted.

But Catelyn herself is a petite thing too, so the dragon's size doesn't really factor with her. She also spent her formative years around dragon riders and the boys always used to take the Baratheon girls to the Dragonpit with them. And while this only server to cement her sisters fear of the beasts, for Catelyn is was quite the opposite, which left her a lot more comfortable around them than probably most outsiders.

She also caught a few snippets of Valyrian here and there - not a lot, as we see Jace himself doesn't really speak it, but I imagine that they all know what they need to speak with their dragon's much like any other rider would speak to their horse.

eg. "it's alright... hush... well done... come here..."

So wether it is a drop of true Valyrian blood somewhere in her veins or if she just profits from her adolescent dragon's curiosity and surprisingly gentile nature, in the midst of the Sowing Catelyn emerges from the caves on Kairax's back.

(Also - answer 2 1/2 - this my fic and my OC and I wanted her to have a dragon, so she gets one xD)

She is so elated and proud, but soon realises that this act of defiance also serves to further anger Baela, because Rhaena is still without a dragon and while she is still holding out hope to hatch an egg of her own, Kairax had been kept aside to be hers by Daemon and her sister.

So when Jace dies, Baela wastes no time to make it known that her betrothed's mistress is no longer welcome at Dragonstone and is expected to leave - without the dragon she "stole"...

And on that last bit, I love how Catelyn mirrors her mother's story in how they both so firmly held on to their childhood dream and idea of love against what the world was throwing at them.

Sadly for Catelyn though, her dream was never headed towards a happy ending and it's hard for her to get over knowing that even if Jace had lived, he wouldn't have chosen her and all she truly lost was the memory of a boy she loved and an uncertain, unhappy future as his mistress.

She broke with her family and all she's left with now is a broken heart and a ruined reputation...