#crusades era yusuf/nicolò

[cookiemom6067]

podfic of @xjane's "The road to Malta" with cover art by @hoax1918!

[zairaalbereo]

Nicolò and Yusuf as ‘Sea Riders’ (but make it crusades era).

Inspired by Ludwig von Hofmann’s “Reiter am Strand” ca. 1890 — (look at that and tell me it’s not Nicky!) Ludwig von Hofmann was a German artist (1861-1945), and he sure liked his nude riders… (Seriously, there are dozens…) Looking at his art, I couldn’t help but imagine Nicolò and Yusuf riding and playing in the surf like a pair of boys.

And that’s why you have Yusuf, too… 😘

PS: Happy birthday TOG fandom!! 🥳🥳🥳

If Netflix won’t give us flashbacks, we’ll make our own.

[negotiumcrucis]

guys, guys, GUYS!! the lovely CuriousCat wrote me the softest Crusades Era omegaverse Joe&Nicky story with lots of delicious whump + doting alpha Yusuf + preggo!Nicolò... simply *chef's kiss*

Please do yourself a favour and go check it out!! 💖💖💖

[non-un-topo]

Rating: M

Relationships: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolò di Genova

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Trans Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani, Trans Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Gender Identity, Crusades Era Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani & Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, No actual SA occurs, Canon-Typical Violence, POV First Person, just trust me though, Melodrama, gotta tag for that because i'm a dramatic person

Summary:

At first, there were only names. Yusuf of the Kaysanites, pious and sure and cunning like my merchant father before me. Yusuf, a strong, godly name, given and taken by no one but myself. It was the name with which I carried myself to my new life, to the walls of al-Quds. I could not have predicted, at the time, the violence that would befall her. Her, that was the land that was holy, and her, that was me. A merchant’s daughter from Mahdia, who carried an old sword and a new story.

[the-heart-of-leo]

AO3 First Lines

Rules: post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to ao3. if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics.

(I dislike tagging people but if you want to do this, go ahead! Also, I might end up using the first paragraph rather than the first lines as I tend to start my writing simple. I’ve also listed warnings pertaining to the fic)

1 - The Improbability of a Long Life -  Stranger Things/The Old Guard crossover

Eddie knew he thought about death more than the average teenager. Not in a goth ‘life is misery and death is the only escape’ kind of way but in the ‘if the party dies, what’s a good plot point to let them come back’ or, if he’s feeling bit evil, ‘how cool of a player death can I come up with’.

2 - The Stars in Their Eyes - The Sequel to ‘For Want of a Home’. The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky, Omegaverse Crusaders Era Fic, Non-graphic/implied rape and non-grapic/implied forced breeding toward the end of the fic

Al-Quds was burning.

Even now, with the sky as bloody red as the bloody sand beneath his feet, he could see the smoke rising up behind what was left of the walls.

Al-Quds was lost.

Yusuf sat on his knees and stared up at the smoke, the dark stain of it cutting into the sky as the city glowed in its fiery death. The air stank with the smell of blood, of smoke, of burning flesh…

3 - What is Lost and What Can Be Found -  The Old Guard/Diabolik fic that I probably should update sooner rather than later... as such, I can’t give any real warnings at the moment

Nicky hated interrogation rooms.

They were always cramped, cold, and incredibly boring, no doubt in the hope that when the security officer finally came around to ask their questions, their suspect would be eager to talk if only to break the silence.

Airport interrogation rooms were somehow worse. Smaller, duller, and made all the worse by the inconvenience.

4 - Before the Fall -  Waves/Wolf/Diabolik Kenzarelli crossover - Majid/Gabriele

Getting stabbed was one of the worse experiences Majid had ever had and that was saying something.

The wad of bandages pressed to his stomach and taped in place were doing a decent enough job of keeping his blood in his body but it did nothing for the pain.

"Your dad's a fucking psycho," he hissed at Gabriele. He pressed a hand over the wound to try and keep the bandage tight against his body, to staunch the blood more. "Who the hell just fucking stabs someone! He didn't even say anything!"

5 - For Want of a Home - The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky omegaverse Crusaders Era fic

The fabric was a deep burgundy, stuffed, quilted, and lined with beaded gold edging with tassels at the corners. It was a work of art and far more expensive than anything Nicolò could ever afford. Still, he gently ran a finger over the stitch work, following the line as it crossed over stitches until they formed a diamond in the fabric.

It was so soft…

It could be used as the floor of a nest or maybe even the ceiling if he found a way to hang it up so that it acted as a tent... but that would be so wasteful, not to feel the soft fabric, not to wrap it around them to keep the safe and warm and...

6 - The Sun and the Rose -  Lawrence of Arabia, Soul mark AU, has a graphic rape scene in later chapters

His soulmark was fairly small, only as big as the length of his thumb, but he always thought it beautiful in its simplicity. Gracefully arching lines wrapping around an empty center that made him think of blooming flowers — roses to be specific. Something beautiful and fragile that Ali never tired of seeing.

It was a shock to see the familiar design, pale on his dark skin, reflected in contrast on the sleeping man’s chest. The dark lines against skin still pale thanks to the unflattering uniform, so different from the pale pink, almost scar-like lines marking his own breast.

Lawrence was a confusing creature. Passionate, kind, and foolish in his determination and will. A creature the desert both loves and loathes…

And the one the desert has decided his soul belongs with.

7 - Of Truth and Blood - Lawrence of Arabia, Mild Ali/Lawrence, Character Injury, Past rape, trauma concerning everything really

The blood was spreading.

Ali was sure of it now.

It was on his side, easily hidden by his bisht, by the table, and now by the dim candlelight as the power had finally gone out. The dried blood on the filthy white thawb did a good job of covering most of it and, he was sure, no one else noticed it but him.

Aurens certainly gave no indication of being injured.

He never did.

8 - Persistence of Memory - Power Rangers: Dino Charge/Shattered Grid, Implied Koda/Phillip, Character Death, Character’s unhealthy coping habits

Once something is broken, it can never be put back together exactly as it was.

That was the warning they had all been given when the multiverse was reinstated and when those who had been lost had found a way to return. Those whose power was stolen were given their second chance as well as something close enough to home to return to. The Solar Rangers, their purpose complete for now, had disbanded and joined their first families where they belonged.

For the most part.

9 - Propriety, Modesty, and the Lack Thereof - Power Rangers: Dino Charge, Koda/Phillip, Short fluff, play fighting turned fade to black times.

Prince Phillip had been taught many things growing up as a royal: proper etiquette, modesty, propriety, manners – whatever you wanted to call it, it was how he was raised. Always be well-dressed in flattering but neutral colors, always been well-groomed, to never raise one's voice, always present one's self as being in control: someone trustworthy and regal.

Princes did not rough-house. They did not allow themselves to be manhandled, carried, dragged, pushed, pinned, or any other thing that would insult the dignity of his station.

Which only made the embarrassed flush of arousal worse.

10 - Flowers Bloom in the Scars Left Behind - Detroit: Become Human, Simarkus, Kinda slowburn romance, a year in the life kind of deal, too many pairings to name, drug addiction, etc

It had been a little over two years since Simon had last celebrated a Christmas. His former owner, Amy, had loved Christmas and Halloween and any other holiday that required decorating the house. As soon as it became socially acceptable (and sometimes not), she would start setting things up.

To be honest, Simon had enjoyed it too.

At Jericho, there was no reason for celebrations, nothing to decorate or to decorate with. The holidays were a melancholy time for them all, bringing with them memories that were a mix of good and bad, depending on their previous lives.

[giotanner]

THE OLD GUARD after the Crusaders and the fundamental break and their deep bond Nicky asks Joe to fight again but together against the abuses and the crimes they'll meet on their way - Joe x Nicky fan comic 7/?

Please if you want to support my work REBLOG ME it's really important 🙏🏻✨

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[prose-n-scripts]

"Do you think we'll dream of each other, now?" Nicolò asks unexpectedly. "Like we do those two women?"

It startles a real laugh out of Yusuf. "Who knows? Sometimes, Nicolò, I think I must have dreamed you entirely."

After escaping the fall of Jerusalem together, Yusuf walks away from Nicolò in order to return home and move on with his life. It works for a while.

Fifteen years later, Nicolò shows up in his dreams of the two immortal women.

Read lessons exquisitely crafted by kaydeefalls on ao3!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy TOG Mini Bang! I had the joy of collaborating with the incredible @kaydeefalls for this absolute behemoth of a crusader!era slow burn fic. It is tender, thrilling, introspective, poignant in parts, and breathtaking the whole way through. Thanks for collaborating with me, and thank you to the mods @theoldguardevents for organising this!

[laviejaguardia]

ooooo que es Ojos así (fic)??

Hiii this one's an oldie I got stuck in and haven't found my way back to �� it's a J/N crusades era divergence based of Ojos así by Shakira. The idea is that they kill each other but revive in different places and not meet again for centuries and don't dream of each other. The last thing Nicolò saw before dying was Yusuf's dark eyes and they haunt him on his way to redemption around the world.

I got stuck because I want to write Joe's pov too (I love me some balance) but I'm lacking a song or clear inspiration for his journey 😔 snip under the cut!

They were the last glimpse he got before death took him. They were dimming as well, brimming with contempt and rightful anger, the man dying along with him from his broadsword. And yet, they weren’t furious. The man before him didn’t feel the righteous rage Nicolò himself nurtured as he had attacked the city. They were… resigned, perhaps? Of death, of the situation, of life itself? They held regrets, too many to count.

Nicolò couldn’t know for sure. All he could think was that instead of God granting him a reliving of his happiest moments flashing before his eyes in the instants before he died, like some people said it would, all he could see were those dark eyes. Their unfathomable depths, oceans filled with waves of emotions Nicolò himself did not know the names of.

Was the man reliving his life as Nicolo had been denied? Was that why his pupils flickered like the night sky on a clear night, filled with stars, each one a memory or possibility snuffed out by the edge of Nicoló’s broadsword?

The last thing he feels is the weightless feeling of falling.

[maghrib-genova]

Nicolò x Yusuf circa 1099 (Crusade Era)

(Aka Joe and Nicky as Alberto and Luca from Disney/Pixar movie "Luca")

[linaxart]

The Old Guard Big Bang 2021 - 1/3 - @oldguardbigbang2021

Fic: No Arabic by @gamebird (read on ao3)

Working on this was a lot of fun, specially all the research. So thankful I got this author to pick up my pitch hit 🥺 The fic is absolutely lovely so please go read it!

⟨don't repost. click to enlarge. reblogs appreciated 💕⟩

[ID: a digital drawing of Nicolò and Yusuf from The Old Guard. It's set in the crusades era and they're walking a path together, looking dirty and bloodied in their battle gear. Nicolò is counting with his hands, a could of numbers surrounding him as Yusuf looks at him while holding a jug under his arm. The background is broad strokes of a desert with sparse vegetation and some low mountains in the far back. End ID]

[cookiemom6067]

Podfic of "lessons exquisitely crafted" by @kaydeefalls

"Do you think we'll dream of each other, now?" Nicolò asks unexpectedly. "Like we do those two women?" It startles a real laugh out of Yusuf. "Who knows? Sometimes, Nicolò, I think I must have dreamed you entirely." After escaping the fall of Jerusalem together, Yusuf walks away from Nicolò in order to return home and move on with his life. It works for a while. Fifteen years later, Nicolò shows up in his dreams of the two immortal women. (In which Yusuf needs time to come to terms with destiny, and Nicolò to make peace with himself, before they can meet on equal ground.)

[zairaalbereo]

First Kiss - Anno 1099

It’s when Nicolò, like an idiot, steps in between Yusuf and his final opponent before that man can so much as swing his sword, that Yusuf knows. Nicolò is swaying on his feet, bloodied and exhausted, but eviscerates the man whose skin is as pale as Nicolò’s own with a vicious move. The man falls, and Nicolò turns around, searching for Yusuf, first with worry and then with relief, and Yusuf knows. He doesn’t think, doesn’t hesitate. He grabs Nicolo by his shirt collar. Nicolò’s eyes widen—impossible eyes that change their colour like the sea.

There’s a pause, as if the whole world is holding their breath with them, out here in the desert. As if it’s waiting for the wind to pick up, for the sea to rise and the sun to break through the clouds. But it’s only them. Only Yusuf and Nicolò.

And Yusuf knows.

That Nicolò is his everything. That he is all. That he is more. More than Yusuf ever dared to dream. More than he can comprehend. Maybe more than he deserves. His heart is running away from him, trying to escape his chest, and Nicolò is looking at him with his sea coloured eyes. And Yusuf realises that Nicolò knows, too.

He pulls him closer. Nicolò. Nicolò, who is kissing him back like a drowning man breaking the surface. It’s not just him, and Yusuf wants to weep with joy. Maybe the earth is shattering. Maybe the sky is crumbling. It doesn’t matter. Because it’s not just him. They are in this together. For as long as the world will have them.

Inshallah.

Find it on ao3

A little bonus to my crusader era drawings of them. Thank you so much for all your kind words and Happy “Tales Through Time” Release Day! I think I have to draw 1930s Joe next... 👀

[youneedasoultraveller]

Is the popular headcanon that Nicky was illiterate, stupid and barbaric fitting in the stereotypes about Southern Europeans / Mediterraneans ? I’m guessing it’s from the American part of the fandom that’s choosing to not respectfully write Nicky since he is white while being virulent towards anybody that doesn’t perfected and accurately write Joe because he is MENA.

Hello!

Mind you, I am neither a psychologist, a sociologist nor a historian, so of course be aware these are my own views on the whole drama.

But to answer your question, yes, I personally think so. It definitely comes from the American side, but I have seen Northern Europeans do that too, often just parroting the same type of discourse that Anglos whip out every other day.

There is an abysmal ignorance of Medieval history – even more so when it concerns countries that are not England: there is this common misconception that Europe in the Middle Ages was this cultural backwater full of semi-barbaric people that stems unfortunately not only from trying to (correctly) reframe colonialist approaches to the historiographies of non-European populations (that is, showing the Golden Age of Islamic culture, for instance, as opposed to what were indeed less culturally advanced neighbours), but also from distortions operated by European themselves from the Renaissance onwards, culminating in the 18th century Enlightenment philosophes categorising the Middle Ages as the Dark Ages.

Now this approach has been time and time again proven to be a made-up myth. I will not go into detail to disprove each and every single one misconception about the Medieval era because entire books have been written, but just to give you an example: there was no such a thing as a ius primae noctis/droit du seigneur; people were aware that the Earth was not flat (emperors, kings, saints, etc, they were depicted holding a globe in their hands); people were taking care of their hygiene, either through the Roman baths, or natural springs, or private tubs that the wealthier strata of the population (and especially the aristocracy) owned. The Church was not super happy about them not because it wanted people to remain dirty, but because often these baths were for both men and women, and it was not that in favour of them showing off their bodies to one another. Which, you know, we also don’t do now unless you go to nudist spas. It was only during the Black Death in the 14th century that baths were slowly abandoned because they became a place of contagion, and they went into disuse (or better, they changed purpose and became something like bordellos). And, lastly, there was certainly a big chunk of the population that was illiterate, but certainly it was not the clergy, which was THE erudite class of the time. It was in monasteries and abbeys that knowledge was passed and preserved (as well as lost unfortunately often, such as the case for the largest part of classical literature).

So what does this mean? According to canon, Nicolò was an ex priest who fought in the First Crusade. This arguably means that at the very least he was a cadet son of a minor noble family (or a wealthy merchant one) who was part of the clergy. As such, historically he could have been neither illiterate nor a dirty garbage cat in his daily life.

Let’s then talk geography. Southern Europe (and France) was far, far more advanced than the North at the time and Italy remained the cultural powerhouse of the continent until the mid-17th century. Al Andalus in the Iberian Peninsula, the Italian States,  the Byzantine Empire (which called itself simply Roman Empire, whose population defined itself as Roman and cultural heirs of the Latin and Greek civilisations): these places have nothing to do with popular depictions of Medieval Europe that you mainly see from the Anglos. Like @lucyclairedelune rightfully pointed out: not everyone was England during the plague.

Also the Middle Ages lasted one thousand years. As a historical age, it’s way longer than anything we had after that. So of course habits varied, there was a clear collapse right after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but then things develop, you know?

Anyway, back to the point in question. Everything I whipped up is not arcane knowledge: it’s simply having studied history at school and spending a few hours reading scientific articles on the internet which are not “random post written by random Anglo on Tumblr who can hardly find Genoa on a map”.

Nicolò stems from that culture. The most advanced area in Europe, possibly a high social class, certainly educated, from Genoa, THE maritime superpower of the age (with…Venice). It makes absolutely no sense that he would not be able to speak anything past Ligurian: certainly Latin (the ecclesiastical one), maybe the koine Greek spoken in Constantinople, or Sabir, or even the several Arabic languages from the Med basin stretching from al Andalus to the Levant. Because Genoa was a port, and people travel, bring languages with them, use languages to barter.

And now I am back to your question. Does this obstinacy in writing him as an illiterate beast (basically) feed into stereotypes of Mediterranean people (either from the northern or the southern shore)? It does.

It is a typically Anglo-Germanic perspective that of describing Southern (Catholic) Europeans are hot-headed, illiterate bumpinks mindlessly driven by blind anger, lusts and passions, as opposed to the rational, law-abiding smart Northern Protestants. You see it on media. I see it in my own personal life, as a Southern Italian living in Northern Europe for 10 years.

Does it sound familiar? Yes, it’s the same harmful stereotype of Yusuf as the Angry Brown Man. But done to Nicolò as the Angry Italian Man (not to mention the fact that, depending on the time of day and the daily agenda of the Anglo SJW Tumblrite, Italians can be considered either white or non-white).

Now, the times where Nicolò is shown as feral are basically when he is fighting (either in a bloody war or against Merrick’s men) or when Yusuf is in danger. Because, guess what, the man he loves is being hurt. What a fucking surprise.

Nicolò is simply being reduced to a one dimensional stereotype of the dirty dumb angry Italian, and people are simply doing this because they do not seem to accept the fact that both he and Yusuf are two wonderfully complex, flawed, fully-fledged multidimensional characters.

So I am mainly concentrating on Nicolò here because as an Italian I feel more entitled to speak about the way I see the Anglo fandom treating him and using stereotypes on him that have been consistently applied to us by the Protestant Northerners. I keep adding the religious aspect because, although I am an atheist who got debaptised from the Catholic Church, a big part of the historical treatment towards Southern has to do with religion and the contempt towards Catholic rituals and traditions (considered, once again, a sign of cultural backwardness by the enlightened North).

I do not want to impose my view of Yusuf because there are wonderful Tumblr users from MENA countries who have already written wonderful metas of the way Yusuf is being depicted by non-MENA people (in particular Americans), especially (again) @lucyclairedelune and @nizarnizarblr.

However, I just want to underline that, by only ever writing Yusuf as essentially a monodimensional character without a single flaw, this takes away Yusuf’s canon multidimensionality, the right he has to feel both positive but also negative feelings (he was hurt and angry at Booker’s betrayal, allegedly his best friend, AND HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE – and I say this as a Booker fan as well).

I have not been the first to say these things, it is nothing revolutionary, and it exactly complements what the MENA tumblr users in the TOG fandom have also been trying to say. Both of us as own voices people who finally have the chance to have two characters that are fully formed and honest representations of our own cultures, without stereotypes or Anglogermanic distortions.

And the frustration mounting among all of us comes from the fact that the Anglos are, once again, not listening to us, even telling us we are wrong about our own cultures (see what has happened to Lucy and Nazir).

What is even more frustrating is that everything in this cursed fandom – unless it was in the film or comics – is just a bloody headcanon. But these people are imposing their HCs as if it were the Word of God, and attacking others – including own voices MENA and Italians – for daring to think otherwise.

I honestly don’t expect this post will make any difference because this is just a small reflection of what Americans do in real life on grander scale, which is thinking they are the centre of the world and ignoring that the rest of the world even exists regardless of their own opinions on it.

But still, sorry for the length, hope I answered your question.

[negotiumcrucis]

birth among the ruins

Yusuf/Nicolò, a/b/o, Crusades-era, Explicit, 8k

He does not feel like dying anymore, but it is a close thing. The heat continues to crawl beneath his skin, and his undershirt feel itchy against his chest and groin. He wants to strip completely, but he has neither the strength nor a desire to be seen.

His legs have begun to shake, threatening to cramp.

“Do not move,” Yusuf’s voice is rough against his ear. Nicolò tries to remember if Yusuf had shouted as he finally took him against the cavern floor. Nicolò surely did, and his throat feels almost raw now, his lips parched. The past hour was a blur of pain and pleasure and he realises the shame still burns almost as badly as the fever. “I do not want to hurt you.”

Nicolò can’t help snorting and he hides his face in the crook of his arm.

Not too long ago, Yusuf had killed him in every way a man could kill another, and now he is trying to prevent him from suffering an agonizing, slow death. He did not have to. Yusuf should have left him to fend for himself. Maybe the heat fever would have taken him for good this time. That was the whole reason he had come to the Holy Land, after all. To seek absolution for what he was. To die fighting in the name of the Lord.

Read @ AO3.

[oldguardbigbang2021]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020), The Old Guard (Comics) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationships: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolò di Genova

Characters: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani, Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Andy | Andromache of Scythia, Booker | Sebastien le Livre, Quynh | Noriko, Nile Freeman, James Copley, Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani's Mother Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Period-Typical Racism, Period Typical Attitudes, Canon Temporary Character Death, Temporary Character Death, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Canon LGBTQ Male Character, Ancient History, Pseudo-History, Crusades Era Joe | Yusuf al-Kaysani & Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Blood and Violence, Torture, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Killing, Drinking & Talking, Blood and Injury, Explicit Sexual Content, Origin Story, Big Gay Love Story, Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani is an Incurable Romantic, Bottom Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Top Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani, Kama Sutra, Immortal Husbands Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Sailing, References to Shakespeare, Shakespearean Sonnets, Action & Romance, References to Mozart, Michaelangelo - Freeform, Nicky has a roman nose, Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani and Nicky | Nicolò di Genova Acting Like a Married Couple, What Happened in Malta (The Old Guard), That Time In Malta, Language Barrier, Fun facts about history, so much research, so so much, Depressed Booker | Sebastien le Livre, Darts, farming, Nile Freeman is So Done, Longest meet cute story ever, Betting, All the Bets, You can do better than that, No Beta Series: Part 1 of You Can Do Better Than That Verse Summary:

Nile just wanted to know why Nicky, Joe and Andy kept betting each other about every damn thing. She makes the mistake of asking and they take great delight in weaving their tale with far more detail and diversions she ever thought possible.

She learns it is the phrase "You can do better than that" that produced many lively bets and challenges over the centuries. We go on a journey with starting with Nicky and Joe betting they can kill the other better, then evolving to basic survival techniques. Meeting Andy and Quynh brings an added challenge because after you live for a couple centuries there isn't much you haven't mastered. The bets continue through time with learning art in the renaissance, poetry with Shakespeare, music with Mozart and ends when they discover the english translation of the Kama sutra.

AKA living forever is boring so betting livens things up.

[fuckyeahisawthat]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolo di Genova Characters: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani, Nicky | Nicolo di Genova, Original Characters Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, Backstory, Crusades Era Joe | Yusuf al-Kaysani & Nicky | Nicolo di Genova, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Siege of Jerusalem, Violence, War Summary:

Yusuf al-Kaysani is no soldier, but he will fight to protect the people and places he loves. That is how he ends up on the walls of Jerusalem, facing an invading army.

Nicolò di Genova is no priest, but he’s starting to suspect God’s will has very little to do with why he’s in the Holy Land.

---------------

I’ve already written several posts about the siege of Jerusalem and about the idea of Yusuf as a civilian who could have left but chose to stay. Apparently my brain won’t let it go, because I’m now several thousand words deep into a fic.

This is the first multi-chapter thing I’ve written in a while, and while I can’t promise the speediest, most consistent of updates, I do have the whole thing roughly mapped out and it has really grabbed my attention in a way I haven’t felt for a longer piece of writing in a while. I guess it does feature several of my Eternal Preoccupations (political violence, civilians in war, connection and loneliness) so I probably shouldn’t be surprised.