#despicably manipulative old trash men

[sharonisthebettercarter]

Billy Butcher is 800% Gerard Argent and I hate it.

TRUE--

[moonlight-mischief]

This is a warning post, and I just need to vent also. It involves someone I dated for almost 4 years, and known for 10 years. He and I never had issues, no fights, nothing. He was my best friend, whom I've known most of my life...

This is an Instagram screenshot of his new profile he created (his new picture involves him with a gun now, very professional and smart I know), he keeps blocking me when I try to reach out and ask what happened.

The day before he did all this.. he said our relationship was his sunshine, and what made him wanna keep going and that he loved me so much.

I don't know how a human being can crush someone like this and not explain why.. especially since he always preached about communication to others with me. We were inseparable.

Anyway, I copy and pasted my post I made from Instagram down below. I apologize if it seems harsh but I'm very hurt.

lmfao slept on my ass.

youre the one sleeping on people, you ghosting piece of shit.

this dude was my friend for 10 years and we dated for almost 4 years (4 this year) and outta buttfuck nowhere he ghosted me.

our relationship was a great one with no issues. it was like a fairy tale. people always said they wanted a relationship like ours. but i should've known this fucker, PAUL, not jac'quese(he's just going by his middle name to hide like a pussy ass bitch) is a liar. he's said so many lies, and manipulated me fully. i thought he actually loved me, but obviously not since he disappeared outta nowhere and refuses to speak to me while i've been trying my best to reach out. it's despicable.

he really had me fooled.

4 years dating is so very long, but to him it's nothing and he reacted to one of my messages by laughing. he's been laughing at my fucking pain this whole time. what kind of human wastes someones life for that long like that and laughs at it when they're trying to reach out to you and express how theyve made you feel and want to know what the fuck even happened??.

i should've known he was going to do this since he always ghosted girls in the past, but i thought i was different since we were really close friends, and i had literally witnessed all his behavior.

either way, i thought he changed, he kissed my ass and i fell for him.

obviously a trap.

he's a fucking whore that doesn't respect women one bit. he just uses them and tosses them aside when he's fucking bored.

this is why people say MEN ARE TRASH.

HE IS WHY.

like yeah, sorry for being in love lmfao

sorry for spoiling you, being your sugar momma. wish i could have that shit back lmfao

btw he always changes his name online to get with other girls and hide from the ones he has ghosted.

and he even went back to two old ex close friends that completely ditched us outta buttfuck nowhere and he always claimed he didn't care about them since they abandoned us so he'd never go back. well, obviously there's several lies this mf has been telling so lmfao

he's scum.

[effervescent7]

Lana Lex and the Affects of Abuse

The sad thing is it's been 20 years and people still don't understand grooming, gaslighting, abuse, or manipulation. They just make excuses to blame everything on either her or him and hate one or the other. Now I know I didn't have to. But I've read so much on Lana deserved Lex to hit her or the phantom pregnancy because she didn't realize he was evil, although he pretended to be good). Or she allowed Lex to manipulate her for all those years they were friends- she's so stupid. But if someone has known you since you were 14, and is seemingly a decent person, of course you aren't going to think them capable of certain behaviors.  Especially if they go out of their way to be overly affectionate or gentle with you.  They want to save the world based shared experience of seeing aliens kill others.  Trying to stop a disaster is not evil, and I’m surprised the alien research is read as evil at all after the events of the episodes Zod and Arrival, especially.

Or people ranting about how they have always hated the "angel in distress" or "perfect princess" or blah "cheerleader" and these are adults (and men even) being so obsessively immature and hateful of a 14-15-16-17-18-19 yr old character. Because they follow the cheerleaders are fake stereotype or expect a petite kid to be able to fight super-powered beings.  Victim shaming/ blaming is the worst IRL and in forums.

No, going after someone evil doesn't make you evil if they are just going to hurt and kill a ton of people anyway. If you think aliens are going to invade of course you will make a stupid threat which isn't half as bad as: the guy who killed his parents and abuses his son and wife and never got called out for it or stayed in prison. But I digress... I only got that angry because I read this hate. Yet no one trashed Lionel who took pleasure in abusing his son and throwing his wife to the ground. Or the fact that he's strangled his son before because of money.  Along with poisoning him.  And even forcing drugs into his food to get him institutionalized and brainwashed. His wife didn't abuse him, his son didn't abuse him, he was the abuser. Lionel pretends like Lex and Lillian were just crazy and he had to stop them. He's never told off by anyone for these things.  And people like to say he was never evil.  Or that Lana was the most despicable for trying to stop Lex in season 7.  Lex who's become someone that locks people in cages to experiment, then kills them after.  Except for people who also like to victim-shame Lex, saying he deserved it because he's going to turn out evil anyway. No one deserves abuse.

These views are toxic and forceful in not to even trying and understand abuse because they'd rather get-off on hate and feel good for using spiteful harsh language. Or even deny the abuse or events ever even happened to validate their own blind-views. I have knowm women who have been abused by a partner they thought they could trust, because they knew them for years.  It leads to a mental breakdown, which is what the character is meant to be going through and what people mock.  Just like I know children who are spiteful because they've been abused by their father or mother. People either change and decide to help others- or stay in their depression and cannot change. It's not their true nature, it's a bi-product of abuse. Lex's destiny represents continuing the cycle which is why he kills his father.  Compassion and context is really important when watching this show as much as any.

#antilex #antilana #lanalang #lanahate #lionelluthor #lexluthor #Smallville

[filmista]

🎀 Female Characters And Performances I l❤️ve 🎞

1. Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster, The Silence Of The Lambs)

-Starling, when I told that sheriff we shouldn't talk in front of a woman, that really burned you, didn't it? It was just smoke, Starling. I had to get rid of him.

-It matters, Mr. Crawford. Cops look at you to see how to act. It matters.

Why?:

She is perhaps my all-time favorite female character and of the first ones, that I think of when I hear the phrase “strong women” in reference to films. She doesn’t go around kicking literal ass but she takes pride what she does. 

She is driven and passionate about her work and even with obstacles, she believes in herself. Which isn’t to say that she isn’t vulnerable or scared at times, she is. But rather than beat herself up about it or suppress she eventually learns to overcome it. Or rather work around it and draws strength from it and in the end shows that real strength isn’t not feeling fear, it isn’t being emotionless or numb it is continuing in spite of it. 

2. Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl) 

“It’s a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless Automat of characters.” ― Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl

Why?:

Because she is one of the most complex female characters in modern literature and cinema. It’s incredibly easy to write her off as a female psychopath or a crazy bitch. While I don’t doubt that she might have mental problems, the film also shows us what might have caused some of her problems (the relationship with her parents, the pressure of living up to being Amazing Amy).

All of this aside, she’s just an incredibly fun and interesting character to watch. No matter what you might think of her morally. 

There’s a phrase in the book that goes if I remember correctly something like this: “Amy likes to play god when she’s not happy. Old Testament God.” And yes, she’s incredibly pissed off for a large part of the film and does loads of scary, crazy shit throughout the film... all motivated by her absolutely astounding smartness and cunningness. 

Personally, I wouldn’t say I agree with everything Amy does (I would be crazy if I did) but I do understand where some of her anger comes from and I even sympathize with her in a few instances in the film.

Point is though there should be more of these difficult, morally complex women in film. Sadly sometimes when women are unlikeable or difficult in a film we tend to as an audience dismiss them as “a crazy bitch”, or worse sometimes equate the actress behind the character to her on-screen persona. 

3. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver, Alien)

“Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away?”

Why?:

Instead of naming the obvious reasons which are her stubbornness and overall badassery, determination and courage. What I love about her is the fact that she’s not really always likable, she’s quite moody and cranky and even plain bitchy sometimes. 

She speaks her mind even when that doesn’t always make her popular with those around her. A not always likable female lead isn’t so unusual nowadays but Ripley really was one of the first ones in a big blockbuster. And she’s a cat lady.

Also if I ever get a cat again, I want to name it Jonesy or if it’s a black one Salem. 

4. Shelly Johnson (Mädchen Amick, Twin Peaks) 

“I’m a waitress in a diner. I’ve never been compared to a goddess before.”

Why?:

Okay, first of all, I’ll admit to having a small crush on Shelly (like probably many a Twin Peaks fan) but she’s more than just a sexy waitress. We all know she married an absolute piece of shit of a man, and when we see her at home she is almost always silent and completely submissive out of fear.

But then we see her at the diner, and she transforms: she’s charismatic, flirty, bubbly and just insanely loveable overall. What I think makes her a great character though is that there are also hints at rougher and darker edges.

In Episode 4 of season 1, after Laura’s funeral (after Leland falls into the coffin and sobs hysterically, which yes I thought was quite hysterical) we see her making fun of Leland in the diner in front of a group of admiring old men. There’s an interesting side to her that seems to want to bully almost, perhaps as a way to get what she is experiencing at home out of her system. 

5. Mademoiselle De Poitiers ( Helen Morse, Picnic At Hanging Rock) 

-Ah! Now I know.

-What do you know?

I know that Miranda is a Botticelli angel.

Why?:

Because she is for her time (which was not always easy for women) an incredibly sunny, optimistic and kind person. While everyone is telling the girls at the school off or being strict with them she treats them with respect and shows an interest in their “teenage world”. 

While she might seem like a conventional and quite traditional female character, I adore that she seems like she genuinely enjoys her feminity. You look at her and see a woman who you can tell simply loves and revels in flirting and romance and it’s incredibly charming performance to watch. 

6. Laura (Gene Tierney, Laura) 

“You forced me to give you my word. I never have been and I never will be bound by anything I don't do of my own free will.”

Why?: 

I think it’s a remarkable film for its time. Laura is portrayed (once she appears) as an incredibly charismatic, alluring and smart woman that values her privacy and independence and as loving and being successful in her career. 

The twist though is that for a seemingly very strong woman she has a very toxic friendship with a male friend who’s extremely jealous and possessive of her. He has ruined countless of her romantic relationships because no man is ever good enough for his Laura. 

Finally, she dumps him as she realizes his manipulation and stays with the man she’d fallen in love with, which might seem like a conventional ending but I love how Laura, in the end, takes control of her own happiness and by extension her life. 

7. Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon, Freeway)

I know there’s a lot of sick guys that get hard… thinkin’ about messin’ women up. Hell, that’s all you ever see on TV. But when a guy goes and does that for real like you were plannin’ on doin’ – I was just trying to scare you. You had your turn to talk! I think it’s only fair to let me get my two cents in. You’re absolutely right. Sorry. Please, go on. But when a guy goes and hurts someone who never hurt them… that makes him a criminal first and a sick guy second. It’s like being sick has to take second place to being crooked.

Why?:

Reese Witherspoon’s plentiful and colorful swearing, as well as her unapologetic aggressiveness. She’s a trashy and violent female character, and I always find it incredibly interesting to take a look at female characters that are perpetrators of violence and what motivated them. 

An interesting thing is also that she is supposedly a morally despicable, white trash and uneducated character but actually has a better understanding of and less twisted sense of morality than any of the characters that are supposedly well adjusted, refined and educated people. Some of her blunt, often shocking comments hit the nail on the head on several problems in American and general society. 

8. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren, The Birds)

“I thought you knew! I want to go through life jumping into fountains naked, good night!”

Why?: 

She’s my all-time favorite Hitchcock heroine. What I love about her particularly as a character is her spontaneity, her assertiveness, sass, and humor but above all her perseverance and genuine strength (though she’s occasionally prone to the dramatic sighing or shrieking women just sometimes did in older films ).

A delight for me in the film is that it turns a common romantic trope around: she is the one that first sets her sights on the man and consequently chases and gets with him.

She also consistently stands up for herself, point in case: the scene in the diner in which a local accuses her of causing the bird’s irrational and unexplainable behavior. I really believe she’s one of Hitchcock's most underestimated heroines and in my opinion also written with a depth that proves he was not a misogynist as is so often believed.

9. Wendy (Shelley Duvall, The Shining)

“You son of a bitch! You did this to him, didn't you! How could you! How could you!”

Why?:

While controversial just like Tippi Hedren’s performance in The Birds, I absolutely love Shelley Duvall’s work in The Shining and I think her performance is often very wrongly looked down upon. 

Personally, I always thought film Wendy was stronger than book Wendy her performance is often dismissed as hysterical, over the top and she’s also called a dumb character very frequently. 

In contrast to Nicholson’s performance though she’s pretty calm. What I love about the performance is the very subtle and slow changes in her attitude. People often find her a weak character, because she stays with her abusive husband I don’t think however that it is that unrealistic.

People in real life sometimes also tend to stay in these relationships until something drastic happens that forces them to really evaluate the situation. Her husband has moments where he convincingly plays at pretending to be the “nice and good husband” and so she chooses to buy it. 

However once in the hotel, as Jack becomes increasingly mad she realizes her husband was never a good man, to begin with, and that she has reason to be very, very afraid of him and Duvall absolutely illustrates that fear brilliantly. At this point, instead of walking on eggshells as she did initially she realizes she and her son must simply get away from that man if they are to live. 

I see how some people might not like her a character, it does feel like she screams a lot sometimes, but I find it incredible that even in her fear she still soldiers for herself and her child. 

10. Ana (Isabelle Adjani, Possession)

“We are all the same. Different words, different bodies, different versions. Like insects! Meat!”

Why?:

Very simply put, Adjani’s utterly crazy and unhinged performance. It’s also a fantastic depiction of a slow and finally full blown descend into madness. What I love most of all is that while it may easy to dismiss her as a “psycho, hysteric” kind of female character she is not completely that there’s more nuance to it. 

The film shows that the unhappiness in her marriage and the hints of abuse in it played a huge role as well. A showcase of the fact that love can sometimes truly drive us mad and make us lose ourselves. 

Some fictional ladies that didn’t quite make this particular list, but might make appearances on another one: 

Thelma  (Geena Davis, Thelma & Louise)

-It’s not like I killed anybody, for God’s sake!

-Thelma!

Grace (Brie Larson, Short Term 12)

-Grace, you are a line staff. It's not your job to interpret tears. That's what our trained therapists are here for.

-Then your trained therapists don't know shit.

Celine (Julie Delpy, Before Trilogy)  

“I always feel this pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood, and without making it look like my whole life is revolving around some guy. But loving someone, and being loved means so much to me. We always make fun of it and stuff. But isn’t everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?”

[lesmotsincompris]

Thoughts on GoT S07E05

Here we go again.

This was the worst episode I’ve seen in a while. There was nothing offensive about it, except for the quality of the writing. The characters were all cardboards, the geography was tossed in a blender, and it gave me this odd feeling that a lot happened and very little happened at the same time.

More under the cut.

Field of fire

As it happens with so many other characters, the show writers clearly have no idea what to do with Bronn anymore. He insists on being paid, but what is this payment he demands? Didn’t we see him with Lollys Stokeworth a few seasons ago? And, more importantly, why we should care about this when so many other characters and subplots don’t get the attention they deserve?

Tyrion seeing the destruction and a burned Lannister army would have been a lot more effective if the writers hadn’t dropped Tyrion’s inner conflicts for two seasons. If this moment works at all, it’s only because Peter Dinklage can act.

Show!Daenerys has become one of the most despicable characters to ever grace our screens. I honestly don’t know what we’re supposed to think about her at this point. Wasn’t she supposed to be a hero or something? She claims to be different than Cersei and Aerys, but she does the most Cersei and Aerys thing to do. She says she doesn’t want to kill anyone, but does it without remorse as soon as they refuse to meet her friend Ben D Nee.

(is “bend the knee” the new “where are my dragons”? Only time can tell, but yes)

In today’s episode of “D&D are onanists who love their own creations no matter how bad they are”, we see the return of the “break the wheel” speech (and later “wars to come” too, oh well). What is "breaking the wheel” supposed to mean? Unless Dany wants to turn Westeros into a democracy (aww, her friend Ben would be so sad) then she isn’t bringing anything new, just maybe a lighter version of the thing they already have.

I can’t help but siding with Randyll and everyone else who didn’t bend the knee to this pyromaniac queen. I hate the show for making me side with Randyll, he’s a disgusting trash and doesn’t deserve that. Nor a touching moment with his son after everything he did with Sam. Fuck the show.

(Though I guess stealing that sword healed Sam’s trauma last season?)

Dragonstone

In the books, Barristan doesn’t reveal himself to Dany until he’s sure she doesn’t have the Targ madness that her father was famous for. Varys and Tyrion forgot to do that, so now they’re surprised that she’s not the reasonable queen they assumed she would be. Varys is given bits of Barristan’s conflict on staying silent while a horrible king does horrible acts. The scene could work in isolation, Varys’ erratic characterization this season doesn’t help.

It’s great that Varys and Tyrion are concerned about Dany, because they should be. Yet what is the solution the show finds for our favorite tyrant queen? Double down on mansplaining! As much as I hate show!Dany I also hate how the show frames Tyrion as this reasonable man that must infantilize her for her own good.

What should I do? I just hate everybody! Is it too late to start rooting for the White Walkers?

Maybe Tyrion and Varys can ask Jon and Jorah to help mansplain Dany? She’s such a feminist icon that it takes four men to convince her to stop being murderous and stupid!

Why is show!Jorah still a thing? Why the stupid greyscale plot if nothing relevant came out of it? Why are Jorah’s creepy feelings for Dany still framed as romantic? What can he possibly accomplish in this story? Why isn’t anybody bringing the fact that he’s a slaver and that’s why he left Westeros?

That episode of How to Train your Dragon feat. Jon was a nice moment in isolation, but too fan-service-y and too heavy-handed for me to truly appreciate it. At least the CGI dragon can act.

It’s just so stupid that Jon would wait all this time in Dragonstone, didn’t he had better things to do?

Wait, didn’t Jon know Bran was alive? Then why Dany said he had lost “two brothers” a few episodes ago? Also Jon saw Bran post-sack of Winterfell, going beyond the Wall. If this was such a dangerous idea that he assumed Bran would die, why didn’t Jon try to stop him or something?

Also what was Jon’s non-reaction upon learning Arya is still alive? So much for “his heart’s gonna stop”. Yeah, Sansa, it stopped so now he’s dead and can’t emote.

Bringing a White Walker on tour around Westeros wins the Turn Around Moat Cailin Award for "Your setting doesn’t work like that".

King’s Landing

Apparently one simply walks into King’s Landing. Davos and Tyrion arriving like they did is stupid, but even more stupid is Gendry being there this whole time when the show itself established a very good reason why he left.

Hey, remember that time Tyrion burned Davos’ sons with wildfire? Davos remembers it too, glad he doesn’t feel a thing about it.

HEY SHOW, THE ROWING JOKE IS OUR JOKE, YOU DON’T GET TO MAKE IT.

How did Davos know where to find Gendry? How did Tyrion know where to find Bronn? Daily Westeros twitter account, is that you?

Tyrion and Jaime meeting again loses a lot of impact when so much of each character and their dynamic together was cut from the show. Peter Dinklage and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau make it work, but it’s still a lesser version of what it could be because the characters are lesser versions than what they could be.

Lena Headey can also act, though the baby Lannister makes no sense at all. Why are they doing this? Will this accomplish anything for the story? Maybe the shock value of seeing another pregnant woman/baby dying on screen?

Old Town

With this episode the Old Town plot is over. It was a complete waste of resources, time, and good actors.

It’s a cheap trick to cut Gilly when she’s revealing an obvious Rhaegar info, but I’m glad they did it because now I can properly prepare to see this absurdity when it comes full force.

Annulment is not divorce. You need a good reason for it and it’s usually retroactive—in this case, it means Rhaegar’s previous marriage doesn’t count and his previous children are bastards. It’s also not something that can be done in secret, much less if you’re the crown prince and every aspect of your life matters to the people you’ll rule one day, especially when they directly affect succession. 

Rhaegar didn’t seem to care a lot about Elia, but he also didn’t seem to care a lot about Lyanna as well. He was a prophecy-obsessed dude and the prophecy made him believe he needed a third child (that Elia couldn’t provide). The prophecy doesn’t require this child to be a trueborn, especially if it means that the other two will become bastards. I can’t see why Rhaegar would bother with this, so I’m pretty sure it’s not happening like that in the books.

(and isn’t it much more poignant if Jon is still a bastard, but not even Ned’s bastard?)

Why is this happening in the show? Because D&D create the exact kind of fantasy that GRRM criticizes, and everything in the story, from a dragon having a Twilight-esque imprint on him to being the true heir to the crown, conspires to reward the white male lead purely for being the white male lead. I guess we should call him Jon Snowflake by now, because he’s so special and unique.

Fuck the show.

Winterfell

Again my least favorite part, though Dany and Prince Ragger certainly tried.

The Bran bit was cool, and actually makes sense with the kind of powers I expect him to have. I’m only writing this because I feel it’s the last time I’ll compliment anything about show!Bran.

The conflict between Arya and Sansa makes no sense, except within the pattern of women always being catty to each other. The Northern Lords had a very good point when they questioned Jon’s absence and Sansa did defend him. But show!Arya is every bit the heartless psychopath that dudebros on Reddit say she’ll become in the books (spoilers: nah she won’t), so she isn’t happy unless someone is drowning in their own blood. Sansa is evil for not wanting to behead anybody that insults Jon with a good reason.

It almost seems like the show will let Sansa be right this time, but Arya says all that bullshit about Sansa wanting the post for herself, despite no evidence on this, and Sansa is just silent. So it’s framed as if Arya was right. Once more I hate everybody, though to be fair I hate show!Arya most of all.

To make this even worse, Littlefinger is tossed in this stupid conflict. Ever since the stupidity of the Sansa Marriage Strike I can no longer believe in Littlefinger as this evil mastermind and clever manipulator. He’s just a dumb douche that follows Sansa around and tells people he wants to bang her. Please, writers, put this character out of its misery.

Better yet, put me out of my misery and end this damn show. 

Eastwatch

After wasting a lot of time with Gendry and Davos bonding and Gendry and Jon bonding, we’re ready for our Ultimate Bro Trip - All the Extras Edition.

Jon, Davos, Jorah, Gendry, Tormund, Sandor, Thoros, and Beric join in this super fun brotrip beyond the Wall. It’s great that none of these people is a King in the North that has more important duties and could be easily replaced by anyone else that can swing a sword.

It’s also great that all the women are busy with violent murder, because otherwise one of them might be there to spoil this dickfest.

Oh, well, fuck the show.

Extra notes

There’s a difference between acknowledging a plot hole and actually fixing it. Somebody should tell D&D that difference.

The Westerosi Teleportation Company had a 20% discount voucher for followers of the Daily Westeros twitter account, so the teleporting networks were especially busy during this episode. No, writers don’t need to show every little second of characters traveling from point A to point B, nor they have to be perfectly accurate with time passing in different plotlines. But such blatant disregard for basic logic shows me they care very little about the quality of their story. It’s par for the course, actually.

Two more weeks to go, and may R’hllor have mercy on our souls.

[ioncewasgoodatwriting]

After the After

*This is a rough draft! Spelling and grammar issues will be fixed with time. Also updates will happen... eventually

The sloping hills of the Dead Zone laid out before Milo. His horse breathed deeply, trying to suck whatever clean air was left in this disaster zone. Coming upon the edge of the Seira’s land, a high wall, lined with an ever-burning fire came into view. A moat, made of lava greeted Milo with a powerful blast of heat. Reaching the gate, Milo waited for the fiery gate opened,  laying across the lava moat. It’s rocky surface immune to the heat below made for a safe passage into the kingdom. The guards greeted him as soon as he crossed, circling him with high held heads and powerful muscles.

“What news have we got from those weak kindlings?” one guard sneered.

“Yeah, have they asked us to surrender again? They think we are cowards?” the other added.

“Sorry lassies, but this news in confidential, only for the Queen to know,” Milo said, undaunted by their exposed and burnt skin.

“Well be a party pooper why don’t ya? All men are party poopers,” the guard remarked, smacking the hind quarters of Milo’s horse. In surprise, the horse leapt forward, racing across the packed ash road. Milo kept the horse going, headed towards the main tower at the center of the mountain, the guards laughing behind him.

The horse, used to this daily trek, climbed up the rocky mountain, to the entrance at the top. The lava fall blocked the entrance along with the largest and meanest of the guards. They silently glared at him, asking with their eye, Why are you here?

“Hello, ladies. I have arrived with news for the Queen from Suruat,” Milo explained.

The guards huffed, using their metal spears to created an opening in the violent molten rock. Milo dismounted and walked inside. Another guard inside greeted him with a cold stare, following behind him as he walked the polished rocky floors. The castle inside opened up to him, revealing beautiful decor made entirely of polished lava rock. Fire was the lighting, making the room hot and Milo sweat. Great, iron doors filled with lava were the last set of defense for The Queen. They opened at the guard’s command and the great keeping room of The Queen unveiled itself to Milo. Even after all these visits, Milo was awestruck by the beauty and danger of the room. He walked across the bridge surrounded by magma in front of the thrown. He bowed before the Queen, kissing the birth rock on stool before her.

“Oh Queen of Fire, I have news from Suruat,” Milo said, still on his knees.

The Queen, decorated in red, orange and yellow with a crown of fire looked upon him. Her orange hair, a symbol of her power over the kingdom flowed down, rooted in the magma that surrounded her throne.

Her fiery gaze looked upon him, “What might this news be?”

Milo opened the scroll he had brought with him, and read it allowed, “Dear Queen of Seira, I have a mild annoyance with your subjects. There have been a significant amount of thievery from your subjects, from food to clothes. My economy is suffering due to your lack of supervision. I kindly request that this behavior be punished immediately. Yours truly, Damek,”

The Queen’s hair caught ablaze in fury. Her throne caught fire as she stood up, glaring at Milo with a heat intense as the sun.

“How dare he say such things of my subjects! We are the explorers of the world and are the reason the sun stays in the sky above his head! My subjects would never steal such trash from him or his despicable kingdom,” She said, voice echoing throughout the halls. She rushed down the stairs, past Milo, and across the magma to a shelf cut into the rock. She pulled out a slab of rock. Writing each letter with a forever molten lava, the fiery red stood out against the dark rock. An impulsive letter, with visually angry symbols was presented to Milo, after she had finished.

“Give this to him and shove it up his ass,” She said, fire lapping at the edges of her dress.

Despite her older age, she still had the spirit of the volcano in her, keeping her impulsive and fiery nature alive and well.

“I apologize on behalf of Suruat. I know it is difficult for King Damek to write a letter that isn’t offensive to you,” Milo apologized.

“Well he should! He is a dimwitted lollygagger of kindling. I hope his whole kingdom drowns in a flood!” She yelled. Milo looked at her terrified. She saw his fear, and calmed her fire.

“I’m sorry, Milo. I understand it is Damek I need to yell at, not you. Please forgive me,” the Queen apologized.

“Oh, your Majesty, it is quite alright. I didn’t mean to bare a letter to you of such offense,” Milo replied.

“No, no, it’s Damek’s fault. Oh he is such a bucket of water! But enough about him, I have news that I want you to spread across the land; the heir to the throne is soon to be born!” The Queen exclaimed in delight.

“Oh! That is absolutely wonderful! I’m so happy for you,” Milo congratulated.

“Haha yes. I’m so excited! The kingdom is preparing as we speak!” The Queen continued.

“Yes yes! I am so happy to hear the news. However, I must part. My wife is waiting for me at home,” Milo said.

“While I will never understand why she chose a man to marry, I am glad she chose you,” The Queen replied.

“Haha I am too. Thank you, Your Majesty for your good news and time, I will see you as soon as I get a letter back from Damek,” Milo called, leaving the room with the guard.

“Well then I’ll see you next year!” She called after him, laughing at her own joke.

Milo left the fiery kingdom and trotted his horse through the Aquene Forest. He came upon his house as the sun began to set. His quaint house, made of molten rock and tree held his beautiful wife, running around with whichever new hobby she had now.

“Honey, I’m home!” Milo called.

His wife tumbled out of tree in excitement to greet him. She jumped into his arms, her warm skin touching his.

“Hello dear! I’m so glad you’re home! I have good news!” She said, holding his face.

“What is it? You finally decided to put on some shoes?” He said, pulling up her foot to inspect if there was a shoe.

She laughed and kicked her foot away from him, “Heavens no! You’d see me dead before I wore shoes! No honey even better!”

“Well tell me!” Milo urged.

“Guess!”

“Hmmm, you finally built a molten rock house in the tree?”

“No...but I wish! Keep guessing!”

“You found a new hobby of skiing?”

“No! You’re so silly, there is no snow around here for anyone to go skiing on!”

“Fine, you didn’t burn the bread today?”

“Why would I not burn the bread? Who’s house do you think this is, Milo?”

“I’m out of guesses,”

“I’m pregnant!” Milo looked into his wife’s eyes and kissed her.

“Oh honey! That is such good news! The best news I ever heard!” Milo said, spinning his wife around.

“I already have morning sickness, you don’t need to make me throw up anymore!” She said laughing.

He set her down and loving gazed at her, “When did you find out?”

“Today! I was walking by the old oak and it spoke!” She said, using her hands to motion and act out the scene, “He said, YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TWINS!”

“Wait, twins!” Milo exclaimed.

“I know I was just as surprised!”

“Well double the trouble and double the fun! Let's get ready for these new additions!” Milo said happily.

The night went on and both were too excited to sleep and began building a nursery in their half treehouse, half rock house. They fell asleep in eachother’s arms, on top of the crib they had began to make for their babies. Milo awoke at the sun beating down on him, his wife lay next to him, deep in sleep. He looked up to see the sun had cross almost half of the sky.

“Oh, shoot!” Milo cursed, getting up.

He kissed his wife, lifted her into his arms and took her to their room. He left her a note saying, Dear my sweet darling, Sorry to leave you so suddenly, I was late to delivering Edna’s note to Damek, I should be home as soon as I deliver it! Love you so much! PS. Don’t tumble too much, the babies will be born with as many broken bones as you!

He left the note on top of the candy stash she got into each morning. He mounted his horse and rode off towards Suruat. The Dead zone, a vacant and scorched land, void of life separating the two opposing kingdoms. As he rode along, Milo felt the sense of worry for the kingdoms; another war could easily break out again, and he was the only one able to prevent it. He sighed and kept along, his trusted steed setting the course for Suruat.

He arrived to a great wall of thorns, held together with mud and straw, a great tree full of homes within its branches. He approached the wall and soon the thorns parted into a hole for passage. His old home greeted him with fresh smells of plants and wood. The people worked around the tree, gardening and clothed fully. A guard the same height as him lead to the tree.

“O’ tis a wonderful day my laddy, I’m a utterly pleased to see you again. How tis your wife and home?” the guard asked in a proper manner.

“It is a lovely day, and I’m flattered by such a comment, John. The wife is good, we are expecting twins! The Great Old oak told her just the other day!” Milo replied.

“O’tis that a bucket full of good news! The King himself is expecting as well, The Great Tree is preparing a bud as we speak! We are preparing in advance and have arranged and projected into our schedules the birth of our new Prince!” John blabbed.

They reached the trunk of the massive tree and with a series of pullies they arrived at the top of the tree, and just as John said, there was a bud forming at the top of the tree. Milo stared in amazement as he continued towards the King’s palace. A great house built of all kinds of woods loomed about him, smelling strongly of herbs and earth. The grand doors parted to a living ecosystem within, manipulated to achieve the desired decorations of the King. Upon a living throne, the King himself sat, eating glorious fruits and foods. He saw Milo and stood up, welcoming him in an embracive hug.

“O’loyal Milo! How it is so good to see you! Did you send my letter? I made sure to think it over and make it as understandable as possible for the... Queen,” The King boomed.

“Yes I did, and sadly she did not take too kindly to it I’m afraid. I have not read your return letter, but it is still on fire with her anger,” Milo explained, handing over the molten rock letter.

The King gazed over it, huffing and sighing at it’s contents, “It’s sad she didn’t even proofread this.”

“She is rather impulsive, that is how things are done in their kingdom, your Majesty,” Milo replied.

“Well, caution and accuracy is much better than rash impulsive decisions. She should really have more control over her subjects! I can’t have them ruining the birth of the new Prince!” The King said, “I shall write her another letter. It will be done by next week. I want to make it thorough and completely understandable to her. Milo, do me a great favor and deliver this as soon as it’s done, but only if she is in an understanding mood.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” Milo said, bowing to the King, “I must be going, Sir. I also have twins I must prepare for.”

“Oh! What a lovely omen! I’m so glad to hear you and a woman were able to get along so good. Although I don’t understand how you do it, I applaud you on your patience for her,” The King congratulated.

“Yes, thank you, Sir. You know how love works, it can overcome any obstacle,” Milo said, leaving.

The months passed and all three parties prepared for their offspring. Each kingdom was happy and elated for the new coming of the Royal family. Milo and his wife were elated as well for their two new additions to arrive. Milo’s wife grew very larger, proving that the Old Oak was right; there were to be twins.

However, the night before all the young were due, the Earth shivered, shaking the kingdoms and Milo’s home. The shiver turned into a full shake as the both the tree and the volcano of each respected kingdom developed a deep crack. The King of Suruat and the Queen of Seria were enraged by the devastation to each of their life-giving palaces. Their subjects congregated and murmured, worried if the births of the new Royal family would be affected by this deviation.

Milo and his wife, while having experienced the earthquake, didn’t experience too much trouble; their house built strong and sturdy with rock and wood held tight. The birth of their babies was soon, but the earthquake worried Milo.

“Honey, I need to go check in on the kingdoms, they might be having issues with this earthquake,” Milo explained.

“Well your kingdom probably is devastated, since you know how Seria is with earthquakes; excited and joyful as lava shoots up and covers everyone.  I understand with their new Royalty on the way this might be different, be careful please” His wife responded.

Milo rode back towards Suruat. A massive crack upon the side of the tree made him stop in his tracks. He stared at it for a long time before reacting and galloping towards the entrance to the Thorn Wall. He was let in, but was welcomed to a melancholy atmosphere and destroyed homes and crops. The people of his kingdom cried and cried, holding each other. This was not the looks of a town who was to have a new King. Milo rushed towards the palace, reaching the King’s quarters to find him holding the bud, opened, but empty.

“Your Majesty? What...happened?” Milo asked cautiously.

The King turned around, “It’s that evil witch’s fault! She had to have a part in it, she's having a baby at the same time and then mine is missing! She wants hers to be the center of attention and not mine! I plan to declare war on her immediately!” The king boomed.

“Sir, let me deliver a message first, there must be some misunderstanding. Please, wait before we call for war, she and you both know that the Royalty is born at the same time. While she is impulsive, she would’ve left a trace of fire if she or one of her subjects had come,” Milo reasoned.

The King sat there a moment, holding onto his anger still, but after thinking, he sighed, “ Okay, go tell that Queen my baby is missing! And if she has it, I will, by force take him back!” The King screamed and Milo rushed out the door and galloped to Seria Kingdom.

He arrived to fiery chaos, The Queen herself rushing around, helping to restore the kingdom. Milo dismounted and tiptoed around the fire towards the Queen.

“Your Majesty Edna! I came to see if all was okay in the kingdom and with a message!” Milo called, running towards her. She turned around and picked him up by the neck, engulfing in a fiery rage, “WHERE IN THE HELL IS MY BABY??” She screamed.

“I don’t know, please....hack....both babies are missing...” Milo stuttered as his neck burned.

The queen set him down and looked him deep in the eyes, “What did you say?”

Milo gasped, “Both Royal babies are missing, Damek thinks you stole his baby.”

“Why on earth would I want his baby? It would burn up to a crisp,” She replied, “So both babies are missing? Great. How is the Royal family to continue, who will rule the palace?”

“Maybe the babies, wandered off, or were disrupted by the earthquake and ended up somewhere else,” Milo tried guessing.

“Milo, you realise if both Royalty are missing or were affected by the earthquake, and aren’t in their respective kingdoms soon, the land will fall apart,” Edna said quietly.

“Your Majesty, I will take it upon myself to find your baby, and Damek’s. You and your subjects can repair your kingdoms while I do so,” Milo offered.

“Milo, from being of the land of Suruat, you are a good person. I commend you on your loyalty to both kingdoms. But, if you don't find the babies, all hell will break loose,” The queen said.

Milo left, and rushed home to his wife. He worried over the fate of the kingdom; with both Royalty missing, it was hard to say what future lie ahead. The kingdom’s fate began weighing heavily on Milo. He came close to his house to the sound of moans in agony. His wife lay on the ground, panting and in mid-labor.

“Honey!�� Milo exclaimed, jumping off his horse to hold her in his arms.

“Just...urgh...Help me,” She panted.

Milo sat beside her, holding her and trying to help her, but things weren’t going well. Milo picked her up and rushed her to the Great Old Oak.

“Please, Oh Wise One! We need help!” Milo pleaded.

The tree moved with the wind and branched covered the both of them. A soft whisper crossed Milo and his wife’s ears, These babies cannot be yours, they much save the kingdoms, they are destined to. With a violent gust the leaves lifted and Milo and his wife held to two small babies; a girl with dark brown hair, and a boy with bright orange hair.

“Dear? What did the old oak mean? Saving the kingdoms, what is going on?” Milo’s wife said, scared and holding tightly to the little girl. Milo looked at his wife’s terrified eyes, and looked at his newborn children, crying and taking their first breathes. His heart ached as he knew what had to be done.

“The kingdoms don't have their Royal Heirs, the earthquake may have killed them. Both the Volcano and Tree of Life have a deep cracks in them,” Milo explained.

“What does he mean by they aren’t ours? Of course they are ours! I just had them and it's the only way a boy could have red hair like mine and a girl to have brown hair like yours!” Milo’s wife began to cry.

“Honey, I know we’ve sacrificed a lot for our kingdoms, but these babies must take the place of the Royal ones,” Milo said solemnly.

“But it will never work! They are the wrong gender! There can't be a Fire Man and there can't be an Earth Woman! How could they accept them?” Milo’s wife cried.

“Honey, we have to. They have to believe us, I’m so sorry,” Milo said, lifting both children into his arms. Milo’s wife stared at him, tears running down her face. Milo got the family on his horse as they rode home. Milo’s wife held onto her daughter, tracing fingers along her face. Milo looked back at her, seeing the motherly love conflict with her loyalty to the kingdoms. Milo looked back at his son, seeing his small face, and thinking about how delicate he was, almost considering keeping his children to himself. They arrived home and Milo reached for their daughter.

“Wait, please. Let me see my son,” Milo’s wife whimpered.

Milo hesitated, but traded children with his wife. She helf him close to her heart, and touched his face. Her tears, made of flicks of fire, streamed down onto their son. His orange hair caught ablaze. Milo and his wife, too desolate to notice, cried and held their family together for the first, and last time. Milo took the son into his arms, and with both babies secur, he rode off away from their empty home.

Riding first to the land of Seria, he came to a rebuilding castle. The deep crack in the volcano lacked lava or heat, sending steam up into the air. The queen herself helped her subjects still, lifting and building new homes of molten rock. Milo approached the Queen.

“Your Majesty, I have found the Royal Infant. The great Old Oak had taken them in, protecting them from the earthquake,” Milo explained, handing the orange haired boy to the Queen.

“This can’t be the royal baby, it’s a boy. Milo, I’d expect you to be smarter than this,” The Queen said, handing the child back.

The Queen reached for the baby girl, but her heat hurt the brown haired baby, it's skin began to scorch as it screamed. Milo instinctively lunged the baby away, hold it protectively to his chest.

“No! No, you have to have the boy, this girl is unable to stand fire,” Milo said.

The Queen taken back glared at him, “This is a mistake!” She boomed.

“No! It's not! I promise! Look, this child’s hair is ablaze! He is meant to be with your kingdom” Milo reasoned.

The Queen stared at him hard, but lifted the orange baby into her arms. His hair instantly grew and was as fiery as hers and he giggled loudly. His eye’s opened, filled with the lava. Her eyes fell onto his and love worked it’s magic.

“While I do not understand how this could be, I accept that this is the Royal Lava Princess, erm... I mean Prince?” The Queen said, looking the baby over.

“Please, take good care of him,” Milo said, turning away and riding off, trying not to show his tears as he had to leave his baby behind. The Queen looked on at him in confusion, but was distracted by the infant boy’s laughter.

Milo rode, his daughter in his arms. Her brown hair and skin had already begun to heal from her burns. Milo rode across the Dead Zone, unaware that his daughter caused grass and saplings to grow in their path. Milo reached the thorn wall and sighed. He looked at his daughter and her eyes opened, revealing deep green eyes. His heart shook in his chest with a powerful urge to keep her, but his kingdom’s wails of sadness reminded him of his duty. He rode into the kingdom, and as he step foot, the detroyed grassed and crops sprung up in green, fresh life. Flowers grew around his horse’s feet and his people’s eyes filled with wonder. The King, seeing this miracle rushed down to Milo.

“You have found my baby boy!” The King boomed as he rushed over to Milo. Milo dismounted and held the baby out to the King. The King saw her green eyes and brown hair, falling instantly in love. He picked her up and held her close.

“What a beautiful baby, he is just what this Kingdom needed in their new leader,” The King boomed. As he looked deeply into her eyes, her hair, similar to her brothers grew long and full of flowers. She giggled and sent a surge of Spring through the kingdom. The King looked at her in confusion.

“Wait...Milo... this here child is a girl. You should know this is a kingdom of men, and no woman could ever be of the Earth. They are of fire,” The King said, looking at Milo confused.

“Your Majesty, I was just as confused, and so was Queen Edna, but this girl can’t live in fire, and as you’ve seen, this girl has the power to bring Spring, a power only Royalty possesses,” Milo reasoned.

The King looked at him hard for a long while, and looked at the girl.

“We need our Royalty, and if this baby is the one destined for it, I guess we will be having a Princess,” The King huffed as the kingdom eavesdropping around him gasped. Milo sighed in relief, but felt a pang of pain as he realised he was giving up his daughter, forever.

Milo left the kingdom and headed back towards his home, sad and empty. His wife lay on their bed, looking up at the ceiling with a blank and depressed stare. Milo wrapped his arms around her and they held each other as they cried.

Five Years Later

The Seria kingdom, long since rebuilt and fiery since the earthquake, only bared the deep crack in their volcano as a reminder of the event. The New Prince, a boisterous five year old, ran around the kingdom, setting everything ablaze. The women of the palace, still getting used to a boy being in the kingdom learned to warm up to him as he had as much spit fire as any of them. With the young girls of his age following him around in amazement, he created small volcanoes all around his kingdom. The Queen looked on in wonder, still in awe over how their heir could be a boy.  She eventually learned to accept this, especially after the kingdom grew with fun and laughter from the Prince’s mischief.

Milo, with a letter from Damek arrived, opening the gate. For the first time the young Prince got to see the outside world, and Milo. Still being young, he was unaware that he was different from the women, so seeing a man was very confusing.

“Prince Conley,  it's the messenger!” The girls squealed around him. The ran behind the older women, watching in wonder the mysterious messenger. Conley looked at him in wonder.

“Why don’t you go talk to him, Prince Conley? You’re the Prince after all,” A young girl whispered in his ear.

Conley summoned up his bravery and went up to the horsed messenger. Milo looked down, seeing his son for the first time since he gave him away. His lava filled eyes gazed at him in wonder. Milo tipped his hat to the young Prince and rode up to the Queen. Conley followed behind