#despite the female or dragon aspect

[moeblob]

10/10 is Lon'qu Day so here we go, a 10 out of 10 family.

[jinxekkotimebomb]

The reason Farcille appeals to me as a dynamic is because it's really refreshing and unique for a fantasy series. They're two girls who found each other and became close on their own terms, not just because they like a man, or through a man. Marcille is Falin's first friend. Marcille is the only one besides her own brother, who bothered to try and reach out to Falin despite her absurdities, and try to understand her and not judge her because she's different. Falin felt she didn't belong and wasn't normal, and Marcille struggles with similar feelings.

Their bond is an important and vital aspect of the series. Laios and Marcille both wanting to save Falin after she sacrificed herself against the red dragon. Marcille having attachment issues alongside Falin and having to learn to be independent and less clingy on her. Furthered by Falin herself realising she needs time alone after being saved at the end of series as she knows she has mostly relied on Marcille and Laios her whole life. Falin wants to become her own person and find her identity outside of the both of them.

I just love how Falin and Marcille love and care for one another but also realise they were initially co dependant and try to improve themselves without each other and don't trap each other down by what they want. It's just refreshing seeing two female characters in a fantasy series have such a strong bond with each other (regardless if you see them romantic or not). That isn't just tied around their worth with men around them. It feels realistic and it's relateable.

Falin is a really personal character for me and I love the way the series handles her connection with Marcille and her brother Laios. The way it also recognises her issues and flaws through other characters and it ends with her taking control of her own life. Dungeon Meshi has so many themes which can appeal to many different types of people, it's why i started loving this series so much. It's so comforting seeing platonic, romantic, familial bonds being explored in unique, real ways.

Anyway the point of this thread was just to explain why so many people love Farcille as a dynamic. It feels natural but also a refreshing relationship between two women who love and care for one another without their worth being tied down by male characters. Falin and Marcille, Laios and Falin's sibling dynamic, Kabru and Mithrun are all really refreshing dynamics Dungeon Meshi actually takes the time to explore and develop across it's story. Not many manga really develop relationships in this way, it's why i love the series!

[distort-opia]

There's a fascinating aspect of Ellen's character that I've seen some people touch on before, but now that it got into my head I need to go through to it too-- her nature not being of human kind. It's actually one of the very first things Orlok himself says: that Ellen is not human, and he reasserts it later. But then what is she?

"Almost a sylph," Knock says of Ellen. "His little changeling girl," Ellen says her father had described her as, when she wandered off into the forest as a child. "You mustn't be caught up in her fairy ways," Harding admonishes Anna. Hell, in the 2016 script, when the Hardings accompany Ellen on her walk along the sea shore, she and the children dance in a circle while Ellen cries out "round and round the fairy ring". Furthermore, there's more than one explicit reference to Ellen loving the sea in the scripts. Prior to the sea shore walk, Ellen fervently asks Anna to go there, because "it calms her". Later on, Anna herself says that "she loves the sea so". While this didn't make it to the movie in such direct terms, we still see Ellen looking out windows and yearning, again and again... visiting the sea twice, having a seizure in the water itself. "Look at the sky! Look at the sea! Does it never call to you? Urge you?" she cries to Anna.

It's clearly an intentional implication on Eggers' part: that Ellen is some kind of fairy-like nature elemental. The term sylph originates from the works of Paracelsus, and described as a female air spirit, though over time water has been conflated with it too. Changeling also refers to a child kidnapped by supernatural beings (interestingly birthed by the Devil or a water spirit among others, in German mythology) and replaced with... something else. And we could leave it at that-- Ellen is not entirely human. She was born with witchy and fae-like characteristics, an attraction to the wind and the sea.

When she called out in the dark, it's possible Orlok answered also because he recognized this within her. But. There is a type of female nature spirit in Romanian folklore (which ultimately pervades the mythology of Nosferatu) that has specific parallels and a particular relationship to the Solomonar, the kind of sorcerer/supernatural creature Orlok was in life. It feeds into the overarching theme of destiny and fate so beautifully. I find it all very interesting, but I got pretty long already, so I'll put the rest under the cut.

Female nature spirits can be found all over the place in European folklore, and Romania is no different. They can have many names, though the most popular one is probably iele, a name that is literally derived from the female plural "ele". Iele are fae-like feminine spirits associated with the winds and the sky, often seducing and luring men away. What attracted my attention though, is the variation/subtype of vântoase (root word vânt = wind) or the associated vâlvă. In some accounts [1], this supernatural creature is a marked human who was born with the capacity for their spirit to leave their body at night and then go towards the sky, where they wrestle with other vâlve or balauri (which are a Romanian mythical equivalent of dragons, alongside zmei). Their fights are said to be what cause storms, and rains, and other catastrophe-related weather events. When put in contrast with Ellen, the similarities are obvious... especially when it comes to her affinity for nature and her spirit "wandering off". It also must be emphasized that these spirits are not inherently evil: they can do both good and bad, bring luck or misfortune, aligning with Ellen saying that "her spirit cannot be as evil as his [Orlok's]" and that all her life she has "simply heeded her own nature".

But the thing is... a marked human born with powers is also what a Solomonar is: children able to control the weather, ride balauri or zmei, control and turn into different animals-- who are then recruited by the Devil into the school of Șolomanță/Scholomance. Although despite this demonic current association, initially Solomonari were also more of a neutral figure in Romanian folklore. They are theorized, among other hypotheses, to be a later version of Geto-Dacian ktistai, who were selected from priests or kings (Orlok is a count, a prince or voivode) and might've worshipped Zamolxe, a Geto-Dacian God associated with the sky as well as immortality (Ancient Dacian is what Orlok speaks; Zamolxe is written within Orlok's heptagram sigil; on his coat of arms, sigil and coffin there's Dacian wolves as well as balauri-- a serpent-like creature with the head of a wolf which is on the Dacian flag). Some Solomonari were believed to be protecting villages from calamity, and influenced the weather in order to grow crops more easily. But of course, when Christianity spread in the region, things from Pagan times began to be associated with the Devil, hence why the Christian Orthodox Abbess we see in the Nosferatu movie calls Orlok a "black enchanter". More importantly for us though, the Solomonar was also said to leave their body at night in a trance, riding up into the sky to fight the weather spirits. Orlok's Shadow, that we hear so much about, is an integral part of a Solomonar's powers: the ability to project one's spirit away from their body. Them riding balauri is a metaphor for them taming winds, summoning vântoase.

So. Vâlvă, vântoasă, ială and Solomonar share quite a lot of characteristics, don't they? A source I found made the comparison directly, which is what set me on this path [1]. Humans born with powers-- one typically male, one female. But the male one is schooled and part of a cult or hierarchy, taking control of the nature element, while the vâlvă/vântoasă/ială is the nature element.

Yet the expected dynamic between summoner and summoned is so deliciously subverted with Ellen and Orlok! Orlok definitely recognized someone of his own nature in Ellen. Someone born with magic, essentially. Someone not of human kind. But Ellen's power is something Orlok's kind traditionally controls. A Solomonar tames and summons the winds (vântoasele)... and don't we see Orlok's spirit call to Ellen more than once? Orlok asserts his influence through the lilac-scented lock of hair, latching onto Ellen through it. He trespasses in Ellen's dreams, brings her spirit to him in the Castle when he feeds on Thomas, and we see her naked and on top of Thomas too, eerie and with blood spilling out of her mouth (very female-spirit-who-preys-upon-men coded, which is even more directly spelled out later in the scene where Ellen provokes Thomas into having sex with her). All along, we see Ellen overcome by seizures and trances, writhing under Orlok's Shadow. This is the power he has over her.

Hah. But Orlok is not just a Solomonar, Ellen is not just a spirit of the wind, and here's where I think another fascinating layer comes in. In the movie, ultimately, Orlok is a strigoi. The strigoi is a Romanian folk creature that can be vampiric, though that's not always what it does. It's a troubled spirit that rises from the grave to prey upon the living (especially their loved ones, to whom they return to first), by eating/killing their animals, poisoning their crops, drinking their blood and creating all manner of disaster. One can become a strigoi in many ways, including a life of sin, suicide, being cursed by a witch, etc. But importantly, there's also two types of strigoi-- the alive strigoi, and the dead strigoi [2]. The alive type is a sorcerer who in life already slips into these evil behaviors with intent, while the dead type rises from the grave and mindlessly feeds upon their loved ones and their village (the revenant we see killed by the Romani vampire hunter in the film). Orlok is a mix of things that make him unique, much like how Dracula was described as atypical multiple times in Bram Stoker's novel. He was a sorcerer and a Solomonar in life (an alive strigoi, something a source from the 19th century asserted-- that Solomonari were strigoi), who was then risen from the grave by a witch (becoming a dead strigoi). As a result, he has retained all his mental faculties and his magical powers.

But the enchantress who calls upon Orlok as a strigoi is partly an air elemental. She caused him to rise from the grave, and that is how she asserts her power over him. Yet she's of the air, of the wind, of the sea... all the things a Solomonar is a master of! So I think this is a contributing factor to the Covenant Orlok makes with Ellen. When they first meet there is not only recognition of someone similar to himself ("You... You..."), but also of a specific connection between what the two of them are. He immediately seeks a Covenant with Ellen, and then when she breaks it, comes after her in person. When they first talk and Ellen rejects him, he says "You will submit."

As Eggers pointed out too, there is a huge need for possession on Orlok's side. It's left ambiguous if he wants to own her or destroy her or if he loves her... To me, this added aspect illuminates a big part of why Orlok also resents Ellen ("You are my affliction"). It isn't just that a woman has him in her thrall, a man and a Lord who wielded great power in life-- but also that she is air, a vântoasă, the element of his dominion. It's so delicious how there's a bidirectional supernatural element between them... Orlok may feel he is owed possession of Ellen, with the deeper layer of the male sorcerer taming the unknowable chaotic female elemental. But Orlok is a strigoi risen from the grave by Ellen as an enchantress, hence she is owed possession of him as her summoned Creature. So there's two tethers between them, each connected to a different aspect of their natures; Orlok is holding one end, Ellen is holding the other. (To be honest, my headcanon is that when we see Ellen levitate, that's not Orlok, it's her air-related power. She levitates upwards in the very first scene of the film right as Orlok says she isn't human, as if it's a manifestation of that. When Orlok feeds on Thomas and she is there in spirit, we see them levitate; except it's Ellen we see fall down to the ground, while Orlok and Thomas are shown to have always been on the ground. And in every scene with Orlok in person, it could be that she gets on her tiptoes progressively to get closer and closer to his face; but it also looks as if she's floating upwards.)

This ended up a way too long honest-to-God essay, but I just adore all the complexities of this movie. You can tell how much Eggers researched, how many details and references he wove into the story, all meant to connect but kept ambigous enough that multiple theories are possible. While the association between Solomonar and strigoi and vampire was something Stoker did too, that Murnau did too, none of them thought to take it as far as creating a connection to Ellen steeped also in folklore. The vampire has a supernatural hold over his bride, but now so does she. The Enchantress summons the undead Strigoi, the Solomonar summons the Vântoasă. How much more fated can you get?

I'm supplying two more in-depth sources I used below as downloadable pdfs, but fair warning, they're in Romanian:

[1] Mituri pluviale românești în context universal, Silvia Ciubotaru

[2] Șapte Eseuri Despre Strigoi, Marineasa, 1998

[coralinnii]

I love the villain scorned by the world feat: Malleus genre: drama, hurt/comfort, romance note: part 3 continuation of Being Reincarnated into a New World as the Bad Guy AU Malleus ver, not gender specific reader, no pronouns used, villain/ess!reader is human, insecure villain/ess!reader, use of non-canon characters, 1.6k word count

I'm scared that people aren't gonna like how the villain/ess!reader is portrayed but I wanted to write people who are hurt and are afraid, cuz that's what being alive is like, to sometimes be afraid. So, hope you enjoy!

There are requests with more specific topics or aspects of the story so they may get their own story post. I'm not ignoring you, I'm more story pacing ^^"

In one night alone, you’ve met your ex-fiancé and your former friends while you were with the fae that has asked to marry you. Then, said fae went on to antagonize your ex-fiancé who was a prince and low-key threatened to ruin him, his lover and those who supported the couple. 

You were not built for this stress

In his defense, Malleus only did it because your former fiance started to mock you and your family over a crime that was proven false. You certainly weren’t ungrateful enough not to thank Malleus for his assistance. The powerful king simply smiled.

“This is but a mere glimpse of the things I would do for you, should you finally accept my proposal” 

“T-this is not a decision you can rush” 

You were hesitant and gave excuses to refuse the dragon king but he made efforts to rebuke your reasons one by one, destroying whatever obstacles that kept you from saying yes. Soon, it came down to one reason, your real reason. 

You were scared

Not of Malleus, he has never done anything to warrant fear from you. But rather, his status as a “route target”. 

Before the arrival of the heroine, you were friends with the other route targets and even felt happy enough to be engaged with the prince despite having only platonic feelings between each other. But the moment they all met her, your world became hers. 

Your former fiancé grew irritated with you, then full out ignoring you. It was no better with the others as well when you expressed your worries to your mutual friends. Rather than consoling you or hearing you out, they took the heroine’s side and started ignoring you as well, calling you delusional and unreasonable. 

Everyone changed (or perhaps you changed and this was how it was meant to be) and you were left ridiculed and soon villainized by those you felt close to. The look of disgust on their faces whenever you attempted to just speak to them, it hurt you.

Would Malleus be the same? Be kind to you then break your heart when the heroine comes in? You suffered because of it the first time but if it was Malleus…your last and maybe closest person in your life since reincarnating to this world… you don’t know how you could come back from that. 

So you started to give up on your happy ending, refusing to answer Malleus’ proposal, avoiding to engage with the heroine at all, even escaping the party and retreating to your old hiding spot… in the royal garden. 

Alone with your thoughts, you berated yourself over your cowardice as you hid in the tall rose bushes. Gently, you fidgeted with the rose petals and you reminisced about the past. You met Malleus here, didn’t you? 

You were so clueless over your future. Back then, you still held hope that your fate was not predestined, that you could be content with stepping aside for the heroine and live happily with them. Yet despite your conflicted feelings, you managed a smile as you recalled one fateful night in the garden. It was the night that you met with your closest friend… 

“Lord Malleus!” 

…Did you say that out loud? 

You looked around in confusion to see if you were truly alone as you thought and to your surprise, you saw beyond the tall hedges the very fae you were just thinking about and the person who called him…

The female protagonist. 

“Do you like flowers, Lord Malleus?”

Your heart clenched painfully as you saw your worst nightmare come to be, the female lead with your friend(?) and they were alone in the gardens, where you realized where the player was supposed to meet Malleus in order to enter his route. Was the baron’s daughter aware of this? Did they meet like it was meant to be? Should you stay…or run away? 

You could. Your engagement has been annulled and your family was cleared from accusations of treason. You haven't accepted Malleus' proposal so nothing is holding you or your family back from leaving this kingdom forever and starting a new life away from here. No need to follow this cursed story to the end. No need to ever see your ex-friends or the protagonist ever again. 

No need to see Malleus again. 

Just run away.  

Malleus internally thanked the elders and Lilia for their lessons to conceal his emotions, or he could have done something as drastic as burning this garden to ashes due to the annoyance he felt at this moment. He noticed your escape from the party and assumed you wanted some fresh air so he left you on your own. But soon, the party attendees bore him and he soon ached to be by your side once more. So, he made his way to the one place he immediately thought of when thinking of you, the royal gardens. 

It was his curiosity borne from boredom that brought him to the gardens that day. He found himself attracted with your kindness and obliviousness to his true identity. He found you charming, a delight and later an optimist when learning of your situation. He knew right away who you were, the child from a noble family betrothed to the young prince of this kingdom since young but that piece of information did not bother him…at first. 

But you were turned from charming to tempting as time went on. He craved your attention, envisioning your smiling face with each letter he received from you via his attendant Lilia. He couldn’t count how many times he wanted to visit you personally but couldn’t. He was sure that if you knew his identity, you may cease your correspondence with him in fear of a scandal between the kingdoms. He at least could appreciate your tactfulness. 

But he was greedy as any dragon fae would be once he heard your engagement was annulled. He may curse the foolish prince for his actions but Malleus suppose he should count himself lucky that your ex-fiancé was a fool. If he were a decent man then he may have to declare war by stealing you away. 

But Malleus encountered another greedy individual, and she’s standing right in front of him. 

“Do you like flowers, Lord Malleus?” The baron’s daughter asked, fluttering her eyelashes cutely. 

“This garden and its flora has its charm” Malleus curtly replied, he can’t hate this garden afterall. He met you here. 

“So do I! I guess fae and humans aren’t so different, huh” 

Well, that’s a stretch of a comment. He couldn’t comprehend this human’s agenda. Constantly surrounded by young men, Malleus assumed she had better ways to spend her time, and not waste his. 

Wait…was she reaching her hand to him? 

“My wish is for humans and fae to get along. Wouldn’t that be great?” The female lead sweetly said with her best smile, stretching her fingers to reach for Malleus’ crossed arms. 

To dare attempt to lay hands on him without his permission. No one would fault him for burning this woman’s audacious hands off, right? 

“King Malleus!” 

The dragon fae’s pointed ears perked up at the sound of his name. He turned immediately to the source, knowing exactly who just called him. 

“My dear human” he responded back with a smile as he saw you walking quickly towards him. 

In spite of your nervousness, you walked up to the duo and looked to share a gaze with the tall dragon fae before cautiously moving to hover your hand on his arm. Malleus did you one better and guided your hand to firmly rest on his arm, with his large hand kept over yours. 

“Good evening, lady” you nodded your head at the heroine who seemed displeased with your presence but curtsied back, as is custom. You barely gave the woman’s much of your attention (your confidence may waver if you did) and turned directly to face Malleus.

“King Malleus, I had planned to retire early tonight and leave this party” you looked to Malleus, taking a deep breath before speaking once more. To let yourself be selfish and fight for the only man that mattered to you now. “Would you like to leave…with me?”   

“Aren’t you being rude?” The female lead argued, barely hiding her annoyance with you. “Not only did you interrupt a conversation, you’re shamelessly asking Lord Malleus to leave-“ 

“Where would you like to go, my dear human?” Malleus’ deep voice interrupted the baron’s daughter, not that Malleus cared as his striking green eyes focused solely on you. 

“If you’re willing…perhaps your manor’s garden?” You shocked yourself with your boldness, but you kept at it. “I much prefer your garden above all others, especially during our dates” 

Whoosh

Your senses couldn’t keep up with the sudden shift as you were suddenly lifted by Malleus who quickly scooped you up into a bridal carry. You and the female lead both had looks of shock by the fae king’s sudden actions but Malleus paid attention to only one of you.

“I had made the false assumption that all humans were charming” Malleus’ eyes glinted a bright green, you compared them to gems, as he smirked amusingly at you, his fangs peeking from his lips. “But only you could evoke such feelings of greed within me"

Ignoring this world's protagonist, Malleus began to shroud the two of you in specks of green lights, a sign that you were going to be magically whisked away at Malleus' whim.

But before you did, you managed to meet the female lead's eyes which were filled with nothing but indignant rage. She looked ready to destroy you and everything you love, but you steeled yourself. Instead of flinching under her glare, you smiled at her while wrapping your arms around the dragon king's neck. Without a word, you made your decision.

I'm not giving him up

[bbygirl-aemond]

my brain: rhaenyra being too emotionally and physically wounded from the traumatic stillbirth of her only daughter is a central part of her character within the book. additionally, her ability to wield immense power and present a substantial threat despite not actually taking to the battlefield herself represents a unique perspective of girlbossing that does not rely upon forcing a female character into masucline roles in order for them to be strong. there are many members of team black who fit the girlboss fighter trope already (rhaenys, baela, nettles, alysanne blackwood, etc.) but rhaenyra was the only one who broke this mold while being a force of nature in her own right. in turning rhaenyra into a sword-wielding, dragon-riding girlboss and robbing her of the physical and mental scars caused by her miscarriage, the showrunners are therefore fundamentally losing some of the most unique aspects of her character and eliminating the gendered dimensionality of team black

also my brain: pretty sword for a pretty girl 🥰

[blackenedsnow]

If you had watch the Og Dragon Ball series, I was wondering if you could write headcanons for Yandere King Piccolo with a female reader? Maybe the reader works for Emperor Pilaf and he takes an interest in her or something like that.

yandere king piccolo x female reader ; headcanons

WARNING: Yandere behavior, psychological manipulation, implied threats, stockholm syndrome elements

PAIRING: King Piccolo x Reader

NOTE: Thank you for this cool request! I hope you enjoyed this! Take care, and feel free to send more fun prompts my way! <333 I had a lot of fun with this, sorry if it's too long </3

King Piccolo is not someone who typically spares a thought for individuals unless they serve his conquest, but you?

You’re different.

Perhaps it’s your intelligence, the way you keep Pilaf’s chaotic operations running smoothly, or how you face him with a defiant spark that most wouldn’t dare.

Whatever the reason, you’ve unknowingly captured his attention.

The moment he notices you, he claims you in his mind.

He doesn’t ask for things—he takes what he wants.

Pilaf, despite his cowardly nature, tries to keep you at his side when he sees Piccolo taking an interest.

Pilaf’s protests are silenced with a single glare, and within moments, you’re no longer Pilaf’s assistant—you’re Piccolo’s possession.

It’s not even a negotiation. Piccolo simply informs you that you’re leaving with him, his tone brooking no argument.

Piccolo’s obsession manifests in possessiveness.

He expects obedience from you, but there’s a twisted respect buried beneath his demands.

He finds your stubborn streak amusing (and oddly endearing) but will squash it if it gets in the way of his plans.

Any attempt to escape is met with swift and decisive action.

You belong to him now, and he’ll ensure you understand that, whether through manipulation or force.

Anyone who dares to harm or threaten you faces his wrath.

While Piccolo may be ruthless and cruel to his enemies, his protectiveness over you is absolute.

He justifies this to himself as guarding his “property,” but there’s a subtle undertone of care that he doesn’t fully acknowledge.

You may not be able to leave his side, but you’ll never have to fear harm from anyone else as long as he’s around.

The more time he spends around you, the more his fixation warps.

He finds himself wanting to keep you closer, to learn more about you, and to control every aspect of your life.

He’ll demand you tell him everything—your thoughts, your fears, your dreams.

He doesn’t understand why he cares, but it frustrates him when you hold back.

Piccolo becomes jealous of anyone who knew you before him.

Even casual acquaintances are seen as potential threats.

Your resistance intrigues him, even as it infuriates him.

You’re not like the mindless followers he commands—you challenge him in small ways, and that keeps his interest sharp.

However, if you defy him too strongly, his patience has limits.

His punishments aren’t physical but psychological—he’ll isolate you, destroy things you value, or remind you just how powerless you are against him.

Piccolo isn’t soft, but his obsession manifests in odd moments of tenderness.

He’ll brush your hair away from your face while you sleep or sit silently beside you when you’re upset.

He won’t acknowledge these acts, dismissing them as inconsequential, but they reveal the depth of his obsession.

If you ever show gratitude or warmth toward him, even out of fear, he’ll take it as a sign of your submission—and it only fuels his possessiveness.

Despite his fixation on you, Piccolo never loses sight of his ultimate goal: world domination.

He expects you to support him in this endeavor, whether as a confidant, a strategist, or simply as a silent companion at his side.

In his mind, your role in his empire is non-negotiable.

He sees you as the only one worthy of standing beside him when he rules the world.

Over time, you might find yourself walking a thin line between terror and fascination. King Piccolo’s presence is overwhelming, but there’s something about his power, his unwavering confidence, that draws you in despite yourself.

Piccolo notices this, of course, and he exploits it mercilessly.

He thrives on the knowledge that you’re starting to accept your place beside him, even if it’s out of fear or necessity.

Even if his plans for domination fail, his fixation on you won’t falter.

You’re his—body, mind, and soul—and he’ll stop at nothing to keep you by his side.

[marciaillust]

Recently in order to detox after work I've been playing yakuza like a dragon and woooooo its such a step up from yk1,yk2 and y0 the biggest shock for me is how much im enjoying the side missions? previously they felt really flat and goofy but now they are still able to retain that trademark yakuza weirdness but they have a lot of heart too. And idk if im misremembering or if i never paid attention to that but people from the side missions now.... introduce themselves? was that a thing previously? regardless of if it was, now i notice it and it furthers the sense of connection and intimacy in the side missions, like im really helping a "person" and not just "man with glasses" or what have you im also really loving the cinema minigame and the enterprise running minigame, sometimes i dont push the main story for sessions on end because im running a cookie shop......... but its soooo fun! though i will forever miss the dance minigame from y0....... i know i know people hated it! but I LOVED IT!! I love rhythm games and that one was so weird and quirky i havent seen anything like it before. And the songs from y0 were bangers. I used to have y0 on my laptop just so i could pop it open occasionally JUST to play the music game. It was that good for me......... THE KARAOKE IS SHIT! I have no idea why they do nothing to improve the interface (though i gotta admit this one is the best one yet) and it doesnt feel or sound satisfying at all......... also 3 songs at best. And they made the MVs so serious.... i mean its fine ig....... the characters are having an introspective moment........lowkey bakamitai..... but you gotta give me some Judgement swag. Some 24-h Cinderella! Come onnnnnn!! Speaking of things that dont impress me... the game is soooo lowkey sexist it's so eyeroll inducing. Like you KNOwwwWW there were no women in that writers room. There are only two female characters with only real plot importance and when they meet each other they start insulting each other in such a. oh such a specific way that tells you all you need to know "shut you you uggo" "ha ha, don't frown like that or you're gonna get wrinkles!" "you're not pretty when you grimace like that" "you're so old it's surprising you look this good" "watch out or youll get wrinkles and no man will want you!" like. like. head in hands. head in the fucking hands. then again yakuza was never known for its uh "normal" portrayal of women so it's not like i had huge expectations. the funniest part tho was when (spoilers!!) nanba comes back to the team during that one fight and I was thinking "aw! they're a team! they're nakama! hell yeah! the four of them against the world!" AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING HAN JOONGI (antagonist that got added to your team 5 mins ago) SO THAT YOU CAN DEFEAT THE BAD GUY WITH YOUR 4 MAIN GUYS THEY REPLACE SAEKO (the only woman on the roster). I was pissing myself laughing! That's cartoonish!!

the core fighting mechanic is also pretty whatever i'd say. It feels hilarious to me that sometimes I put the game on auto mode so i can scroll my phone or go make tea? a good shouldn't make me want to do that ig. but im thankful they have the auto mode nonetheless

despite the unimpressive aspects the game is just swimming in sauce. It's goofy, it's got heart, there's some fun minigames, the ingame music is made out of some stellar bangers, it all somehow keeps me coming back for more. I want to see how the big intrigue folds out too! the mystery got me good! Also do not. get me started on Zhao. I- listen. LISTEN. He was made for me in a lab ok he is like the perfect. man shaped thing I wanna dip him in milk and throw him against a wall. He would make a beautiful splat sound. Nepo baby discount dollarstore majima bedazzled shoes wearing teenager looking ass!! ARGH!!! ZHAOOOOOO

[witchthewriter]

Big three and mbti type of Bloody Ben?

From what I've heard about book Ben - I love him. A quiet and shy boy who wants a female ruler & fights for her in a completely savage way! UGH!

Also, I'm torn because who we thought was Bloody Ben turned out to be a guy named Davos Blackwood?! He will always be the best option for Ben tbh...

𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑩𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅'𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒆

Benjicot Blackwood, known as Bloody Ben by his men, was the Lord of Raventree Hall and the head of House Blackwood during the Dance of the Dragons and during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen.

𝐌𝐁𝐓𝐈

𝑰𝑺𝑭𝑱

This is a capable, can-do personality type, with a wealth of versatile gifts. Though sensitive and caring, Defenders also have excellent analytical abilities and an eye for detail. And despite their reserve, they tend to have well-developed people skills and robust social relationships. Defenders are truly more than the sum of their parts, and their varied strengths shine in even the most ordinary aspects of their daily lives.

In all areas of his life, he is dependable and considerate. He's comitted to protect those around him. He has a down to earth demeanour. It puts people at ease. These people aren't afraid to weather the tough storms if it meant fighting for their family and beliefs.

𝐒𝐔𝐍

𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒐

As a fixed sign, Scorpio holds the qualities of being a sustainer, being able to apply profound powers of concentration to projects, and discovering hidden truths. As a result, those with the sign of the Scorpion prominent in their charts tend to be magnetic, highly sensitive, intuitive, creative, and secretive at times.

𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝑨𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

Aries Moon individuals exude independence and courage, radiating a powerful light that guides them through life's challenges. Their innate bravery propels them into leadership roles and encourages them to carve their own paths. The question often arises, "Why are Aries Moons so intense?" The answer lies in the fiery essence of their emotional landscape. Aries Moon individuals experience feelings with depth and intensity, from the peaks of happiness to the valleys of despair. Their emotional honesty is admirable and vulnerable, showcasing their strength and need for connection.

𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆/𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓

𝑨𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔

Ben has a really interesting way of presenting himself. Going by the books, Ben is young. Around eleven years old and quiet. However, when it comes to war, he DOES NOT HOLD BACK. The Aquarius Rising mindset is actually far more affectionate and kind than people give them credit for. Aquarius is represented by the water bearer, after all, and that shows up in Aquarius Risings’ daily life. They are continuously showing up for the people they care about, taking the time to hold the woes and stresses of their kinfolk.

[aleksanderscult]

Hello, I started following your blog pretty recently and I agree with most of what you think. I felt so confused when I finished the books and came on tumblr to see everyone hailing malina as the perfect relationship and I was glad to know that I wasn't the only one who disliked him.

I wanted to ask you something, im not sure if I saw this on this blog, but someone said that zoya is an example of toxic feminism in YA fantasy. Which checked out to me, but it also felt that bardugo added misogyny, feminism and toxic feminism in the SaB series.

Misogyny since alina had to face sloot-shaming in every book (almost entirely by Malyen ugh 😒). I felt that she really tried and suceeded to be feminist with genya, since she actually stood up for herself and had many facets to her personality. She also wasn't an important character just because of her beauty or anything super superficial. Genya IS a strong female character, and she wasn't 'broken' by the king, despite the foul things he did.

But zoya.. my god, I really wanted to like her, but I just couldn't. She is mean and hot headed to the point where I really don't see any redeeming factors to her. I always liked 'mean girl character who isnt as shallow as she seems' in fantasy novels, but she didnt exactly have a redemption arc either. If the darkling had warned her about expanding the fold in the first book, she would have fought for him. I think she isnt a strong female character, but just a girl who is a bully and decided to help mc since the antagonist hurt her specifically. She doesnt even think of the other casualties of novokribirsk. I think the 'break nikolais heart, I'll comfort him and make a magnificent queen' part was a joke, but still....

Please excuse my yapping. I haven't read crooked kingdom and nikolais duology, so I don't know if the characters had any developement since then, so please ignore any innacuracies of this text pertaining to that. Do you have any thoughts on this?

(Do you allow emoji annons? If so, can I be 🎀 annon?)

(Of course I do! You can use any emoji you want and ribbons remind me of coquettish things 😍)

Genya in S&B was my favorite version of her. She was traumatised by the King's abuse, that's true. But she wasn't solely that.

(Here's a meta about that version of her that I once did)

She was very brave, vengeful, intelligent, politically aware, had a sense of humor and was kind. There were different aspects to her personality and wasn't solely "the victim" as many fans of the Grishaverse like to portray her. But in Nikolai's duology Bardugo either forgot how to write complex situations within a court or just doesn't know how to (or it doesn't suit her 🙃).

She threw all the blame to the Darkling (as if he was entirely at fault for her sexually abuse), forgot that Grisha were serfs meant to please and serve the royal family (hence why the Darkling gave her to the Queen) and also forgot how it was the Queen who withdrew her protection and allowed her husband to abuse her. Also, a slight amnesia to how Genya herself decided to stay and take revenge. Essentially, the character became Leigh's mouthpiece to remind the reader that the Darkling is a heartless motherfucker that is undeserving of redemption. How banal.

Now about Zoya. Zoya is the typical female character that we encounter in media nowadays. A girlboss that kicks ass, is rude, has no sensitivity and threatens everyone. Again, cliché. But Leigh broke her own in-universe laws when she gave Zoya the protagonist's role.

Meaning:

The narrative with Alina as a protagonist: "You can't have feelings for your enemy!! You can't be independent! You need to depend on your toxic, childhood friend and...what is this? Power?? You took three amplifiers?? WELL SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR POWERS THAT KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND STRONG!!"

The narrative with Zoya as a protagonist: "Take the amplifiers, take the power to turn into a dragon, let's also have a Saint in your head giving you advice and guess?!? You just got promoted into a Queen and soon enough you will marry the love of your life!! Kudos!!"

That's basically what happened.

It would be an amazing end if only:

- Otkazat'sya didn't hate the Grisha's guts.

- Zoya had the qualities of a leader and a Queen instead of being handed the throne on a silver plate from an illegitimate son who failed in his job.

- The author didn't break her own rules just to prove and show how "awesome" her protagonists are.

- The same author didn't copy paste the storyline of Daenerys Targaryen into Zoya's (somehow she needed to appear cool and sympathetic)

- Half of the fandom didn't hate the primary protagonists now than they ever did before.

So basically Leigh infuriated the fandom even more about Alina's fate when she gave Zoya everything.

And about your question if the characters had any development in the later books after the trilogy. I've got some bad news, my friend. 🥲

[22degreehalo]

I think, to me, House of the Dragon s2 has the same base conceptual problem as the Barbie movie: it wants to tell an aspirational story about women succeeding in ways that real women usually aren't able to, by means of a fantastical setting, but also wants most if not all of its messaging to be relevant to real-world women.

To overcome that conflict - to spend so much time making the character 'relatable' while also putting them into an intentionally and purposefully unrelatable position - you have two major options.

Firstly, you can tie in some sort of inherent 'essence' of womanhood: that a woman in that position would be kinder, more generous, and more nurturing than a man would.

House of the Dragon season 1 didn't especially try to do this, but season 2 sure did. Suddenly, characters started telling us that Rhaenyra was the kindest and most peaceful contender for the crown, despite absolutely nothing in season 1 indicating that that was an especially tangible aspect of her personality. It's not clear when or why she started 'valuing the common people', as Mysaria puts it; she simply does, because she is Rhaenyra.

Unfortunately, the most basic possible plot elements of the story struggle against this characterisation: this is about a bloody civil war. If Rhaenyra were truly peaceful, she would not be going to war at all, and if Alicent were the same, she would never have goaded Aegon as she did, or gone along with Otto's plans. Not only does this heavily constrict the action of the story - the two must continually Not Do Things to show how peaceful they are, even as the other characters and audience alike scream for some sort of action on their part - it threatens the very premise of this 'aspirational' figure: Rhaenyra can't claim the throne merely because she deserves it, just like men have done before her, because that would not be Peaceful Enough. So instead, the writers concoct the prophecy - already loosely relevant to Rhaenyra at all - so that her grasping for power can be considered generous and good. Rather than standing her ground and having faith in herself, she instead becomes a passive receptacle for men's dreams (her father's and the original Aegon's alike).

In Barbie, this conflict is less obvious; however, when we consider the next problem below, it becomes quite jarring how much the Barbies' superiority is treated as ultimately inherently kinder than the Kens', without much real evidence. Any action the Barbies take is portrayed as good because it is non-violent, unlike the Kens, despite being intentionally hurtful, deceptive, and cruel.

The second and much more concerning way to find harmony between a high-ranking, high-status female character and the real-world oppression women face? Simply ignore all other oppressions rather than misogyny, and ignore any privilege the aspirational female characters have.

In both Barbie and House of the Dragon, the main character is treated by the narrative as an underdog, despite all evidence to the contrary. Barbie is a member of the elite, of an oppressive class who intentionally keeps her lowers underfoot. That isn't a malicious reading; the Kens are explicitly and intentionally compared to real-world women on multiple occasions (e.g. when it's joked that they might "someday" be able to become Supreme Court Justices). Rhaenyra at least has Aegon and his immediate family to compare herself to, as the currently-reigning king rather than the ousted 'true heir', but she is to literally every single other citizen of Westeros (and possibly Essos, too!) a higher power.

Despite this, House of the Dragon repeatedly shows an unwillingness to consider Rhaenyra's actual, practical power. Other characters gush over her kindness to the smallfolk, but when Rhaenyra comes on to a servant who repeatedly refuses her, is nonetheless treated as the victim due to her gender. And then again, when she begins a relationship with a servant, it's never considered for a second that there might be some abuse of power or coercion, merely because they are both women.

In Barbie, this cognitive dissonance is even stronger: the societal oppression of the Kens is treated as positive, merely because they resemble our world's oppressor class. In this sense, the movie posits an extremely simple, gender essentialist understanding of privilege: Women - inherently and regardless of their material or other circumstances - are victims, and Men are villains at worst and pathetic privileged crybabies at best. There is no room for any greater examination of discrimination; the secondary-character Asian Ken is treated just as much as an oppressor to the (white) Barbie as any other. Womanhood, it seems, is defined by being an underclass, even in a world in which by definition they are the rulers.

But nowhere in House of the Dragon does this mis-match of aims become clearer than in Alicent. Season 1 does well to show the ways in which she, despite being among the heir to a powerful noble family, is nonetheless oppressed on the basis of her gender: she is coerced to marry a man far older than her and to bear him many children regardless of her wishes, and may only wield true power in the realm when her husband is indisposed.

However, that oppression is still contextual - not absolute. Where Season 2 errs is in treating that oppression as fundamental to her entire character and plotline, despite she in truth being a proactive and significant mover of the events of the story.

When Alicent gives up Aegon's life to Rhaenyra - when she is told that she has not sacrificed anything, but must do, and she hesitates and agrees, because only with this will she finally be 'free' - she is treated by the narrative as a woman who has been so thoroughly controlled and degraded she has been driven to extremes. She is presented as a war-torn victim; somebody grasping at this one, limited, terrible piece of leverage in an attempt to save herself from the Hell she has had thrust upon her. For many women in real life, that would be an understandable and harrowing story, but for Alicent, it is simply not true.

Alicent is, in fact, a powerful political operative within Westeros. She had the ear of the King for many years, and attempted to use it to turn him against Rhaenyra and her children. She is the mother to the current reigning king - now barely into adulthood - and has had his whole life to mould him into whoever she wishes he could be, which - again! - she mostly seems to have used to convince Aegon that Rhaenyra is a threat who must be put down. She was not heavily constrained or controlled by the king, and did not fear him; nor did she fear her son, who she on multiple occasions slapped (an entirely ordinary mode of discipline for the time period). When her husband died, we got an entire episode of her conspiring and manipulating to take advantage of her family's position as the first on the scene so as to place Aegon on the throne, despite his lack of will or foreknowledge, in order to further their own ambitions and protect themselves.

Alicent is not merely an innocent victim of the patriarchy, however much the writers would like her to be in order to make the feminist statement they wish they could make. She is in fact far more responsible for this civil war than Aegon himself is, and arguably maintains a high level of influence and control over him even after he was crowned; certainly, once he was badly injured and disabled, it's easily apparent that she has more power than him, something Alicent herself admits when she attempts to defend his life to Rhaenyra.

Misogyny, unfortunately, does not justify her actions. She is simply in too different of a position from ordinary women for that to make any sense at all. If the writers had committed to the aspiration nature of the show and presented her as a powerful woman using everything at her disposal to get her way, just like men have done both within that universe and in our own, they could have told a compelling and unique story. The attempt to simultaneously craft a traditional feminist narrative of persecution and triumph despite the odds, instead, falls horribly and discomfortingly flat.

[keepittoyourshelf]

Sometimes it really is all about sex.

Let’s talk about morally gray characters again. I just finished playing Dragon Age: Inquisition in prep for the Veilguard release and Solas is literally the textbook example of what morally gray character is. No spoiler warnings because the game is fucking ten years old, already.

TLDR is Solas is one of your companions (romanceable if you’re playing a female elf) who actually turns out to be an ancient elven spirit of some sort that is actively working to undermine your efforts. He was responsible for creating the Veil, as an act of revenge against his fellow elven spirit-gods for killing his bestie Mythal. This unfortunately had unforeseen consequences of cutting the elven people off from the Fade and ensuring that they were no longer immortal. He’s now working to reverse this mistake, despite the fact that doing so will essentially destroy the player’s world and wipe out all non-elves. Or something to that effect.

If you play the Trespasser DLC (highly recommended since I don’t think Veilguard will make much sense otherwise, and you will not get the full impact of the Solas romance if you pursue that path), you’ll get to talk to Solas at the end and he is genuinely regretful and remorseful, and not just for how this will affect his friend/lover, but how it will affect all people. This is despite knowing the cost. He knows the cost, is fully aware of it, is remorseful about the pain and suffering it will cause, and yet is willing to move forward anyway.

Another example I’ve referred to before? Kaz Brekker. Think of how fucked up what he did to Pekka Rollins re: his kid was. Disregard how fucked up Pekka was in turn, because two wrongs don’t make a right, right? Kaz didn’t care. Kaz has never really cared who gets hurt so long as it’s not people he actually cares about and he achieves his ends. It’s literally anything goes. We as readers can still “cheer” for him conscience free because ostensibly the people he’s acting out against are all pretty much trash human beings, but you have to think that statistically innocents are caught in the crossfire, and yet Kaz dgaf. No explanations, even though they would make total sense in context without actually justifying the actions he takes (because they are wrong), just revenge. We as readers aren’t necessarily expected to like what he does. But we should understand it.

Lestat de Lioncourt is the same way. It’s obvious in the books, but quicker and easier to digest via the TV show that’s currently airing on AMC. Lestat is straight-up a petty, jealous, vengeful bitch (though he never beat Louis the way it’s shown on the show, so take that aspect with a grain of salt). Lestat also suffered a seriously abusive childhood and his experience of being turned was tantamount to rape. He doesn’t always go after evil-doers, though later on in the series he goes after them almost exclusively, with the occasional slip-up. Yet we still love him and cheer for him. Is it because he’s handsome and charming and witty? Yeah, mostly. Does he make excuses for what he does? Not really. He might explain his motivations, but he doesn’t excuse the evilness of his actions. He knows they’re wrong and does them anyway.

Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 is another great example, though his morally grey status can be considered arguable depending on whether or not you Ascend him (and consequently doom 7000 presumably innocent souls, including children). For those that have played, you know Astarion’s past is as traumatic as it gets. That in itself explains away a lot of his attitude, though I personally believe he was a sassy dick even before all that happened. The way he manipulates Tav and the other characters though, all of that is motivated by self-preservation as a result of his past abuse. If you explore his romance path, you talk to him enough to know that he knows what he’s doing is wrong, and he’s regretful for it, to a point. He’s definitely not regretful about every mean thing he’s done though, that needs to be made clear. Does he offer excuses? No, not a one. He explains his motivations though, and he’s sorry for whatever pain it causes insofar as it relates to Tav (either as a friend or a lover), but everyone else can pretty much fuck off. So yeah, he’s not free of his asshole status just by virtue of being abused, but it does explain his actions enough to let the player still like him and romance him in spite of it all (if the hair alone wasn’t enough to make you turn a blind eye, that is).

This is all leading up to me once again explaining that RHYSAND FROM ACOTAR IS NOT MORALLY GREY. He never has been and he never will be. What is the difference between him and anyone I’ve mentioned above? Chapter 54 in ACOMAF really says it all. Up until that point, Rhysand was the villain. Feyre could not in good conscience explore her attraction to him because he was the bad guy, and head of the bad guys. Literally everyone else in that world thinks of him as evil and is fearful of him. This is by Rhysand’s own design for, well, reasons. Until Chapter 54, where he deconstructs, in practically bulleted-list format, every single bad thing he has been shown to do in the books up until that point. This is needed because since Feyre is narrating, she’s not privy to his inner thoughts and can’t possibly know he’s not really evil, and thus cannot justify fucking him. Killing kids and innocent people? He was under the influence of Amarantha. In order to save the majority, a small minority had to be sacrificed. Let me give a tip here: If someone is saying they do something bad for the greater good, they are 1). Most definitely not morally grey and 2). Quite possibly a nazi. Abusing Feyre mentally and physically? Necessary to keep his cover, so he could continue to protect the majority for the greater good, or undermine Amarantha, which he never really managed to do in the 50 years he was held captive, or whatever. Sometimes he did it because he could find no other way to be near her because even then he was So In LoOoOvE. The whole point of that fucking chapter is to show the reader that there were good/romantic motivations behind bad actions, which in SJM-speak equals good. Unless you’re Tamlin, in which case you are still evil. Why does this need to happen? So SJM can write mid-level smut guilt free.

Chalk it up to religious guilt or societal pressure, but Kaz, Solas, Astarion, Lestat, and others have shown time and time again that you can do bad things and still be considered good enough to justify romantic interest, or friendly, if that’s your bag. The line in the sand really comes in having awareness that what you did was bad, not really caring about it, and most importantly, not needing to completely erase a bad past based on one or two actions/statements/beliefs (or because they’re just good looking). Even if you do not romance them, you can at least understand some of what they do, even when it is bad, because of their history, their obvious remorse, or just their fucking charisma etc.

One could argue that Chapter 54 would not have been required if SJM didn’t think we needed to read Chapter 55 guilt-free, or at least without being able to so easily equate Rhys with Ted Bundy (a handsome, charming psychopath). Rhysand does not express remorse over the acts themselves, so much as he expresses remorse over the fact that the fact that he did them, for whatever reason, could prevent him from getting what he wants. The reader, by virtue of Feyre’s limited and biased POV, is not given permission to let Rhys into their hearts and hoohas until we know that he was forced to do bad things. Bad things that never, ever would have happened otherwise. So it’s okay that she wants to have sex with him.

Solas, Lestat, Kaz, Astarion - they all do bad things. They all know they are doing bad things. Not everything they do is bad (that’s an important point to make), but when they do bad things, they do them with full knowledge that they are bad things, and that good people will suffer. Sometimes they care, sometimes they don’t. The reader cannot say unequivocally that they are either good or bad, because their actions can be understood when looked at in context of their history or their motivations. They cannot be entirely excused. I.e. A wrong thing done for the right reasons is still a wrong thing. It’s still murder even when it’s done in self-defense, and you always have a choice. You never have to do something. The distinction is whether you are willing to do a wrong thing to avoid something you don’t like happening (I.e. you or someone you love dying, or feeling intense pain). However, that doesn’t make murder suddenly not murder. A reason is not a justification. You just choose to do it for a reason. If you don’t (and are doing it for fun) then you are just evil, and most definitely not morally grey.

The key difference is that the reader (via Feyre) is told repeatedly that Rhysand is no longer bad for having done wrong things because he did them for the right reasons. He is no longer the villain he was in book 1 by virtue of Chapter 54 in book 2. Solas is still the villain (and in fact is the main antagonist of Veilguard); so are Kaz, Lestat, and Astarion, depending on who you ask. When other characters in their respective worlds offer their personal opinions on said characters, some will be favorable, some not. We are at least allowed the opportunity to see a different POV and make that choice for ourselves. There’s continuous ambiguity. The ambiguity is the literal grey area.

This is not the case with Rhysand and this is why he can never be morally grey. We are told he was the noble hero all along, he is literally retconned as such (much like Spike was in BtVS, because Buffy-as-heroine could never justify living someone like him otherwise). He was reformatted so much, in fact, that he’s actually thought by some to be deserving of being king of all Prythian. Not just other characters, but by the reading audience at large. His bad things are no longer bad because he did them for the right reasons (or that dogwhistle of a statement, for the greater good).

How do I know this? Because Rhysand is consistently juxtaposed, by SJM’s own hand, by virtue of Feyre’s narration, with Tamlin. Over and over and over again. Now, technically Tamlin has also done bad things for the right reasons (protecting Feyre, helping his subjects) but he remains the villain. If another character tries to say Rhysand is bad (I think Tarquin does, but I could be wrong) they are either wrong or just don’t understand or are under emotional duress and are incapable of seeing the truth. Tamlin does not deserve to have his actions looked at in context (the way we do with Solas, Kaz, etc) because….well, I don’t have a good explanation for that, because SJM herself hasn’t offered one, other than repeatedly showing every other character in the book saying he’s a bad guy and doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. Purely by comparison’s sake, there is literally no reason in a fact based world where one can say without question that what Tamlin did to Feyre is worse than anything Rhysand has done. They both physically hurt her. They have both confine her without their consent. You know what Tamlin has never done though? Touch Feyre sexually against her will. He didn’t engineer situations where he mentally abused her just so he could be near her. That’s not romantic, it’s sociopathic. Fantasy is fantasy, sure, but you can’t defend that even in context of an alleged “fantasy morality” because we are humans and can only look at these things on the context of lived human experiences. There is no situation in real life, anywhere, where mentally or sexually abusing someone is justifiable for any reason, ever. Bottom line, all arguments to the contrary invalid. Any time someone comes out against Rhys, they either retract their statements, are reviled themselves (hello Nesta) in the narrative, or just in the fan community itself.

I haven’t read the third Crescent City book because I finally reached my limit for bullshit, but from the discourse I’ve seen Bryce has been getting a lot of hate for thinking Rhysand is a dick, or something to that effect. Right or wrong, it’s at least more evidence of SJM and the audience’s own bias in favor of Rhysand….and that’s really who these screeds are directed at. The audience. Rhys defenders are wrong when they say he is morally grey. He is not when other characters aren’t allowed to voice opinions against him without having the narrative over-emphasize their own faults at the same time. The text must remain objective and somewhat open-ended. SJM is as biased a writer as they come.

So I guess you could excuse all the word vomit here and just say that actually being considered morally grey is predicated on multiple opinions (it doesn’t necessarily need to be multiple narrators/POVs, but the audience needs to be presented with an alternative opinion in a way where it’s not immediately dismissible). SJM has never shown any indication that that will happen, because even when opinions other than Feyre’s are introduced they either echo her sentiments or we have someone else shooting them down in response, or the character in question is repeatedly shown to be flawed themselves.

Moral of the story? Stop wasting time on SJM and play Dragon Age: Inquisition or Baldur’s Gate 3 instead. Story is better, there’s so much room for interpretation (which makes replay/re-read value increase) and the dudes are just hotter. Sorry not sorry.

Even if Solas does look like an egg. He’s a hot egg.

[gatheredfates]

ALAICE DEVERAUX

Nicknames: Not applicable. Age: Twenty-one. Nameday: Twenty-Seventh Sun of the First Astral Moon (apparently I gave her my birthday, so that might change!) Race: Duskwight Elezen. Gender: Cis female. Orientation: Straight? Profession: Lady of the House of Deveraux and Dubois, last remaining survivor after the Dragonsong War; apprentice baker and occasional confidant to Firelight Trading Company.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS

Hair: A light blue, leaning more into teal. She tends to style it in loose curls around her shoulders. Eyes: She is heterochromatic! One eye is teal, the other is a steel grey. Skin: Pale with a silvery undertone; it tends to reflect whatever light hits it, rather than possessing it's own distinct colour. Tattoos/Scars: None of any note.

FAMILY

Parents: Lord and Lady Deveraux, dead by Alaice's sixteenth year. It is said that Lord Deveraux attempted to defend his wife from the dragons before he was engulfed in flames. No remains of her mother have been found. Siblings: Not applicable. Grandparents: Not applicable, more unfortunate souls lost to the war. In-Laws and Others: Alaice has a child from her first marriage, a daughter called Alyna. Her husband, Draeir Dubois, died under mysterious circumstances in the months preceding the Ishgardian/Dragon peace treaty, bringing no end of speculation from gentry and smallfolk alike. Some suspect his desire to expand his house beyond Foundation's spires drew ire from the High Houses and he was made an example of. Others suspect a more... intimate cause. Without a murder weapon or obvious intent, none can deduce a proper suspect.

She is particularly close to @riftdancing's Siyoh Mari who, whilst not understanding a lick of Ishgardian gossip, will happily entertain the confusion over a cup of tea as Alaice dramatizes. This leagues better than Elandervier who told her she'd 'rather chew on a voidsent's ass' and leaves at the very mention of anything to do with the city. She has an extremely complicated relationship with the other Elezen due to their mutual upbringings, trauma and reconciliation.

When Firelight is conducting business in Ishgard, she can be seen at its patriarch's side helping him navigate the intricacies of the city. Pets: Unless you count the many birds that have taken residence in her gardens, not applicable.

SKILLS

Abilities: Alaice is ice-aspected to a dangerous degree, and it's an element she has always tried to keep under wraps for fear of heresy and expulsion from the Holy See. As a result, the magic is unpredictable and emerges as a by-product of extreme situations/emotions. Only a select few people know she possesses such an ability. Hobbies: Like all ladies of her standing, Alaice was given a proper education including tutelage in deportment; music, song and dance; needlework and painting — among other gentle pursuits. She has a particular affinity for bird watching and, in the advent of her husband's death, has sunk herself readily into her little business as a baker.

TRAITS

Most positive trait: Alaice possesses a remarkable capacity for trust despite her confinement and husband's abuse. Worst negative trait: Her naïvety. As a woman constricted by the societal expectations of Ishgardian women, Alaice knows scarce little about the world around her — or even Ishgard proper. It is something she is working constantly to undo.

LIKES

Colours: Blue, white, silver, gold and shades of brown. However, given Ishgard's proclivity to the cold, any colour that can break through the sheen of snow is a welcomed addition in her eyes. Smells: Anything floral and/or citrus. These are not necessarily smells she will wear, but remind her of a time before the Calamity when the climate of Ishgard was better suited. She's also partial to vanilla, almond and loves the smell of rain. Textures: Knitted wool and smooth glass (or ice, though she tries not to think too much about it), the gentle prick of pine and the grooves in wood and stone. Drinks: Champagne, white wine and mead. She's also discovering some enjoyment of red wine, stay tuned if she gets more extreme!

OTHER DETAILS

Smokes: Rarely. She smoked recreationally after her parents died, a sort of 'dare' from the other ladies in her company, and took it up in secret as a way to release anxiety in the early days of her marriage — away from the prying eyes of her husband. Alaice quit after becoming pregnant with Alyna and hasn't taken it back up due to associating it with those negative experiences. Drinks: Semi-regularly. Much like smoking, she quit entirely when she got pregnant and tends to only partake as a social nicety. She can acknowledge where she was falling into unhealthy patterns when she was married and tries not to go back to those places. Drugs: Not applicable. Mount Issuance: Not applicable. Alaice was fed on the indoctrination by her husband that is not a lady's place to traverse, but that men should come to her. If she is needed for Firelight Business she will be escorted by their couriers, but she has no vehicle of her own. Been Arrested: No. Being a suspect was traumatic enough. Why would she kill her lord husband?

Tagged by: @eriyu — at least for this one! I'm going to try and do one character per tag. Tagging: @thefreelanceangel, @hythlodaes, @piyopikamika, @sealrock, @thevikingwoman & @yloiseconeillants! If you'd like a chance of being tagged, you can like my permanent interaction call here!

[lrlamauthor]

Are your characters from Dragonfall a certain gender/sexuality, or are they just simply queer?

Arcady is nonbinary, uses any pronouns, and I never share what physical sex they were assigned at birth (I don't even know, really). Readers use she, he, or they for Arcady depending on their interpretation despite the fact everyone is reading the same words on the page. Some read the relationship as more Achillean and others don't, for example. No one is misgendering Arcady, but it's still fascinating, and was my hope and goal setting the book up the way I did, even though I knew the narrative positions might be confronting for some.

Sorin uses she/her pronouns. Everen uses he/him pronouns. Everen is the only male dragon and was raised among only female dragons who reproduce via cloning themselves, so most dragons are canonically sapphic. #lesbiandragons

It's set in a country (Loc) that's so open and accepting of gender and sexuality that if anything, heterosexuality is probably the least common. You default to they/them to strangers until they tell you otherwise, no matter how they present. Gender roles, fashion etc is fairly mutable. People shift presentation or pronouns without any issue or judgement. You can go to a healer and have your hormones shifted pretty easily. So most characters are bi, pan, trans, or under the queer umbrella.

Anyway, read Dragonfall if you like the idea of a book about dragons and gender that is set in a world that's the right wing's worst nightmare. (Though there is a lot of class dividing, still, so that aspect would be right up their street, I suppose.)

Thanks for the ask, anon!

[velvet-vox]

My top 30 favourite female villains of all time (10-1)

First part (30-21)

Second part (20-11)

Please, first read part 1 and part 2 linked above, don't click "Read More" without having read the first two posts in their entirety.

Number 10: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

It's a tale as old as time.

For those of you who have been sleeping for 100 years, Maleficent is the main villain of Sleeping Beauty, and one of the most iconic Disney villains of all time.

However, before I go on to explain what I like about Maleficent, I'd first like to get a weight off of my chest:

I believe every single version of Maleficent after her first on screen debut heavily mischaracterizes the character, and makes her appear quite dull and boring in my opinion.

I'm not just talking about the versions of the character who deviate so much from the source material that they might as well be considered OCs (aka live action Maleficent and Descendants), no, I'm also referring to versions of the character that try to adhere to her original SB characterization but fall flat because they forgot something or changed a key aspect by accident/will without realising how that would throw off the entire character's equation.

The only alternative version of Maleficent who's mostly true to the original character is the one from The House Of Mouse and that's it.

Let me get something out of the way: Maleficent is an incredibly difficult character to write, and a prime example of why simple pure evil villains are as hard to write as complicated ones.

For starters, the crow that Maleficent carries around in the movie isn't just an accessory, but an important part of her character put there by the animators to fulfill a storytelling requirement:

Diablo gives Maleficent someone to bounce off her dialogue with, but not just that, Diablo is someone who Maleficent can open up with, he allows us to see a softer side of the draconic fairy, and opens up a lot of inferable depth and nuance for the character;

It's truly the small details that really make up Maleficent's character, things like her bored expression while she's sitting on her throne after she captured Philip, or the fact that, apparently, in the 16 years where Aurora was gone she couldn't sleep calm nights, small things like that add up to make Maleficent's character.

I know that this feels more like a critique of the modern Maleficent rather than a tribute to the character, but there's a good reason for it: her original debut was so good, that it speaks for itself, especially that final battle.

Like, girl shoots lightnings from her sceptre, creates a forest of thorns and turns herself into a dragon all the while the most epic gothic score in all of Disney plays at full bombastic strength, and the dragon's sound design is made up of the most weirdly fitting object noises and like...

That's PEAK.

I remember a younger me thinking this was the greatest action scene in all of animation before I saw the Kung Fu Panda movies, and I still hold it in high regards despite those and other movies'existence.

Unfortunately, I think Maleficent truly peaked when her career began; she started off with a bang, and then anything following that were just smaller explosions; but still: one of my favourite Disney villains of all time, and one of my favourite villainesses ever.

Number 9: Black Heron (DuckTales 2017)

I guess this is a spoiler to DuckTales fans for the male villain list, but thinking about it for a while, I really couldn't keep the couple separated, not when Black Heron is just that much of a b##ch in her own right.

Black Heron is a villain of the DuckTales reboot of 2017, who started out as a one time only threat before transitioning to a much bigger role later on in the show.

What I really love about Black Heron, is the level of unsubversive subversion present with her; in a way, she's actually even more of a twist villain than her romantic partner is.

When you first see her episode at the start of the series, you think she's just a "Villain of the week" meant to just serve as a threat for Scrooge, Webby and Beakley to bond over.

Her plan in this episode is rather silly, and it makes you underestimate her greatly, though it doesn't take away from how much of a threat she really is. At the end of it, she disappears, but there is room open to the possibility that she isn't dead.

She was a pretty fun One Time Baddie, and it'd be nice to see more of her.

She's absent throughout the entirety of season 2, and you forget about her existence; at this point, if you weren't fully enamored by her first appearance like I was, you probably are just like "Ah! Ok." when you see her again.

Then, she reappears in season 3, where she shows up a lot more often and plays a major role now.

And here... Is when you start to realise something about Heron.

As the story unfolds, it finally hits you: "Wow, this character really has zero redeeming qualities.", which is, rather astonishing, considering every other recurring villain of the show had at least one moment of humanity, but it's okay, since she really isn't the main focus of any other episode anyway.

Then, the show ends; this character's story ends in a very casual manner, but it's fine, since she was just a side villain, and it was a pretty good conclusion to her arc anyway, so you aren't bothered by the suddenness of it all.

But, as you sit back... and think about the show again... you come to realise that all of the bad events that happened throughout the show are kinda her fault too.

The twist with Heron is not that she's evil or a villain, the twist is that she is pure evil and tied with her boss for the main villain of the show.

And when I say that she's pure evil, I mean that she's really evil for the sake of being evil in the purest form of its meaning, as in that's the only reason behind her actions.

This may surprise you, but there are actually very few pure evil villains whose main motivation is doing bad: Big Jack Horner wants all the magic in the world. Chancellor Palpatine wants to become Emperor. They both fundamentally want UNLIMITED POWAA, but unlimited power is still a different motivation from evil for the sake of being evil.

But Heron, really seems to be doing what she's doing just to do evil; she doesn't even care about her squad's objectives, she just views them as a way to inflict as much damage as possible.

And that's what makes Black Heron so cool: it's extremely hard to make this type of motivation for villains work, but Heron makes it function effortlessly; I'd like to go more in depth on why that's the case, but I think I've made this section lengthy enough.

But what really pushes Heron over the edge into truly amazing villain territory is that she technically won in the end.

She got what she wanted.

Her main objective was to make someone snap and embrace their worst self, and that's exactly what she did.

How villainous.....

Also, her and her partner? Actually Disney's greatest villain power couple, screw concept Magnifico and Amaya, unless Shego X Drakken is that good, this is the only villainous duo I'll ever truly need in my life.

Number 8: Mane Girl (MARVEL) (Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur)

BEHOLD!

You thought my tastes weren't weird enough yet?

Check this out!

Mane is... a very peculiar addition to the Marvel/Disney series of Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur, and the main antagonist of one episode.

Mane is, quite frankly, one of the most creative takes on an arch nemesis I've ever seen, and is tied with Dark Vlad from Wakfu for favourite one-shot villain ever.

This was the show's most talked about episode before season 2 came along, and for good reasons: this episode tackles the prejudice that African Americans face for the way their hairs look.

Without talking too much about the episode itself (there's already plenty of great analyses on YouTube), where the episode truly shines for me is with the inclusion of Mane as a living representation of Lunella's self hatred coming to life in order to harm her.

I don't know how many fans of Mane there are out there or if she's secretly the star of a hidden cult inside the fanbase, but for me, this is my favourite character in the show and I'm so obsessed with her.

In fact, I was even thinking of making her my new profile picture on this site too, since I already use her for my Reddit and YouTube accounts, so that I could officially brand her as my version of Tamatoa.

First of all: the animators did a stellar job bringing this delightful mass of strings to life; her body fluition and every single face she makes is immediately iconic, WHERE ARE MY MANE MEMES AT.

Second things second, Mane is the textbook definition of a dumb idea executed perfectly, which is my favourite type of idea: somehow, she manages to be the most personal threat Moon Girl ever faces in the first season despite having almost zero buildup and barely being on screen for more than 5 minutes; it may even be a stretch to call her Lunella's nemesis since she's not very evil (despite attempting to take over the town), but when you think about it, Mane is just her version of Venom, aka an antagonist accidentally created by the hero due to a flaw in their character.

I truly believe Mane could have been the main villain for an extended arc in the show, as the way she executes her schemes in this episode almost make her look like an S tier super villain, and the action scene at the end of the episode is super epic and also my favourite fight scene of the whole season: the music, the animation and the story all come together to create such an impeccable work of cinema, brilliantly showcasing the interior struggle that Lunella has to go through in order to overcome herself.

I'd honestly be down to doing a 1 hour long analysis of Mane on YouTube if someone asked me; I doubt I'd ever make it for real, due to me already struggling as much as I do to realise my ideas, but I wouldn't be OPPOSED to it.

I wouldn't say this is my favourite episode of the show, but it's definitely the one that impacted me the most, and honestly, this description perfectly fits how I feel about Mane herself.

I don't even think you need to be of colour to love it as much as I do: the themes of self hatred and body shaming make it universal to pretty much every one who wants to check out the show.

Oh, and with that said, check out the show, but not on Disney plus, don't support the company, go on Streaming Community or any other pirate site that you can find.

If you are a fan of Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls, Amphibia, The Owl House, The Ghost And Molly McGee, or any of the other great Disney Channel shows, you should like this one too; just be aware that this may be the last truly great Disney animated series before Corporate shuts down the Creative side of things on there too.

Number 7: Jacqueline de Bellefort (Death On The Nile)

While I was a big fan of the 2022 Death On The Nile movie when I first saw it, after reading it, the book is just so much better.

Reading the book after watching the movie is like looking at the moon while the sun is rising: you just can't see the moon anymore.

Though much like our titular couple, that love for the movie is still right there, it's just hidden under the sun's light.

Back to the point, do you wanna know what is the main highlight of both the book and the movie alike?

But why?!? It's Her of course! The mad lad herself:

Jacqueline de Bellefort!

I just love Jackie so much, my brain immediately activates whenever she is just mentioned, she's one of those characters who immediately jumps at you when they pop up.

She's the reason why I still like the movie despite all of its flaws, and why I picked up the book in the first place.

She's just so energetic; especially in the book, you can feel that this is not a character, but a real, living person, which is exactly the feeling that Agatha wanted to give when writing Jacqueline.

What makes Jacqueline better than most other murder mystery twist villains, is one writing decision from Agatha that differentiates her from her peers:

She's insane and antagonistic from the get go.

The very first piece of description that we get on her in the book is that she pierced a guy's hand with a pen because he was bullying a dog and refused to stop.

The contrast between her personality in the prologue and the rest of the story is quite literally night and day, and the lengths that she is willing to go to scare the woman that stole everything from her are quite impressive, if for entirely different reasons.

The insanity makes her so entertaining, that she kind of has to be the villain, otherwise all of that chaotic energy would be wasted, but that's fine, since the twist with Jackie is not that she's the murderer, but that she had a different motivation from the start.

But what is more manic than anything else about Jacqueline is the way she talks, her speech pattern is so erratic that it always keeps you on the edge of your seat; all of Jackie's lines and facial expressions both in the movie and the book are so interesting, they do a great job at making you wonder what the character is feeling at all times and if they are genuine.

Speaking of expressions, I must give my greatest compliments to Emma Mackey for her performance as the character; it's sad to say, but I truly believe that if the movie wasn't so centered on Poirot and she had more screen time, this would have definitely been her performance of a lifetime, the one that immortalises her.

I unfortunately haven't seen the Poirot or 1978 renditions of Death On The Nile and their respective takes on Jacqueline de Bellefort, but I'll still give a shout-out to Emma Griffiths Malin and Mia Farrow performances as the character in case they are someone's favourites.

I highly recommend reading Death On The Nile to anyone who's willing to sit through a detective story.

The movie, despite not being quite as good, can still give you a fun time in my opinion, and Jackie's existence and impact in it definitely enhances the viewing experience of the third one.

Before reading the book, I feared that Jacques (movie) was a rather simple character and not-that-good of a villain, just someone I saw too much into; but after ending the book, I'm extremely confident in saying that Jacqueline de Bellefort is a terribly overlooked character, and one who should definitely be talked about more for the great villain that she is.

Number 6: Julith (Dofus)

Skip this part in purple if you find it boring.

And here, we arrive at the character who's solely responsible for restructuring this top 10 into a top 30, because that's exactly what happened:

Originally, I already had written down all of the top 10 villains that I loved before watching the Dofus and Totò Sapore movies, and while Vesuvia was shockingly great but not enough for me to consider her one of my favourites, Julith, as many other villains from the Wakfu franchise, completely blew it out of the park for me, and therefore, I knew that I had to rewrite this list in order to include her.

The problem was that Halojack, who was previously at number 10 before I moved everyone down a spot to make space for Julith, is a character that's too important for me to disregard as just an honourable mention, therefore, I expanded this project into a top 20.

And then... I also really wanted to talk about Gothel, and at that point the blame is on me for overworking myself (I blame the Other Mother though. Stupid spider b###h).

Julith, titled "The Butcher Of Brakmar", is the main antagonist of the movie Dofus - Livre 1: Julith (2015), based on the animated series Dofus: The Treasures of Kerubim, taking place in the Krosmoz, an extended universe created by the French company Ankama that also includes the likes of Wakfu and other projects.

This franchise (the "Wakfu" franchise, just so we can all have an easy point of reference) is notorious among the fans for almost consistently writing great tragic antagonists, the best of which dunk all over the competition due to the amazing execution of their concepts, and Julith is not an exception to the rule.

While Julith is not my favourite villain in the Krosmoz, I must admit, I'm seriously astounished by how much complicated and multilayered she is with her limited screentime;

By comparison, the main villains of the first and second season of Wakfu are just as much complicated as Julith is, with the main difference being that the formers had multiple episodes and a lot of extra scenes in order to develop, while Julith only has a two hour long movie in which she's not on screen for even half of it, and yet somehow, the movie still manages to convey just how complicated and faceted she is while still making it totally believable at the same time:

Julith is a truly complicated character,

She's a caring woman, a wrathful villain, a heartbroken wife, an ex-warlord, an innocent victim, a cold blooded terrorist, and a mother, all at once.

Our perception of who she is changes constantly throughout the story's runtime as more information and backstory is revealed about her, and the writing does a great job at adding up her new layers with her previous scenes without contradicting or downplaying just how awful the actions that she took were.

Julith's fashion sense is immaculate: this screenshot doesn't do justice to how beautiful she is, her cape is so multitasking it's insane.

Despite falling short of my top 5 by one spot, I admittedly think that, out of all the remaining villains, Julith is the most consistent when it comes to the quality per quantity ratio.

All of the next villains have some very good appearances/portrayals mixed with some poorly written ones: Number 5 has different writers handling her in the comics, thus, she ends up getting some less than stellar moments as a result; Number 4 has some weak moments here and there; Number 3 already had some people second-guessing her legitimate quality before a certain story arc in which she was brought back in stained her legacy forever; Number 2 is........ Number 2, and Number 1 has many different interpretations of various levels of quality, both good and bad.

Julith has no major problems or noticeable writing hiccups: she only has two appearances, the first one in the Dofus movie and the second one in the Wakfu manga, and she's a well written character in both instances (jury is still out on the manga, as it has yet to finish as of now).

She has a very simple but incredibly memorable design (as shown by the fact that she won the Tumblr Krosmoz sexy woman event), an incredibly inspired power set, a rich story with deep themes, and a huge impact on the life of two of the main characters.

I also think that her movie is the best way to get into the Wakfu franchise, as, despite the fact that I largely prefer that TV show over this movie, a common problem for people who want to get into the franchise is the massive amount of filler episodes present in the first season.

The best way to watch the movie is to write f2movies on your browser's research tag, click the link of the green F inside a black square, and write the name on the movie on the research engine of the site.

I HIGHLY recommend watching at least the first two seasons of Wakfu; this franchise has, at least in my opinion, one of the best rogue's galleries in all of fiction, and the very best villains of this bunch are in my opinion some of the greatest of all time.

Number 5: Azula (Avatar The Last Airbender)

When it comes specifically to the female category of these types of ranking, I feel like a lot of people would agree that there isn't a single more picked up candidate than Azula from Avatar The Last Airbender.

With Azula, here, we're talking about the literal poster child for well written, complex female antagonists.

And with that said, I'm just gonna come out and say it: I'm kinda disappointed.

When I first heard that Azula was an evil teenager, I, you know, actually expected her to be really fricking EVIL, or at least on par with Hama; like, an actual psychopath who takes pleasure in causing pain.

Not just the most accurate portrayal of a child soldier I have ever seen.

There's not a single action that Azula makes throughout ATLA that I couldn't see any other Fire Nation general doing.

Even locking up her two best friends and attempting to kill her own brother are things that I could easily see Zhao pulling off.

I know that this makes me sound like an Azula apologist, but can you blame me?

Like yes, Azula is pretty evil, but considering how much some fans like to parade around this aspect of her character, and the fact that Azula is one of the most popular female villains of this century, I was rightfully, you know, expecting more "Evil".

Is this what the golden standard for what an irredeemable evil child looks like?

Pathetic.

Now, let's set aside all of the years of misconceptions that I've heard before actually sitting down and watching not blue Avatar for the very first time in my life;

With all of that said, is Azula actually overrated and is she not as good as she's made up to be?

No.

Not at all.

I came into Avatar as someone who had spent years consuming analysis and video essays for the show despite having never watched it, I already knew what to expect from Azula, including most of her story beats.

And yet that alone could not have prepared me for the astronomical levels of quality that I was about to witness.

This list was always going to be entirely subjective, it was never even a question, but if there is an opinion that I want to express and pass off as a fact, then I'd say that until someone in the upcoming 75 years rises up to the challenge, Azula is THE female villain of the twenty first century.

I don't think any other character quite reaches the same level of iconic that she has, and even if you don't know who Azula is, I still stand by this statement.

I'm not sure what I can say about Azula that hasn't been said already in one of dozens upon dozens of video essays; all of her scenes are just that brilliant and well constructed.

I love The Beach, like anybody else does, and I find her introduction scene extremely memorable.

I guess the best thing I can do is point you to some of those videos, so that they may gush over Azula for me.

Sage's Rain

Rockotar

Hello Future Me

But despite all this praise, one may ask: "Why is she only number 5? Doesn't she deserve number 1 or 2?", and to them I say, one thing that I didn't mention during the number 5 segment of my male villain list (because I was too busy writing poetry and fangirling over him) is that the character I was talking about there had been my favourite male villain of all time for 10 years.

Let me say that again: 10 YEARS.

If I had watched Avatar when it was intended to and not relatively recently, Azula would have been my favourite female villain ever for a comparable period of time.

But alas, with the passage of time, came new baddies or I (re/)discovered some old ones that altered my brain chemistry more than Azula did, so, just like HIM, she fell off in autisticability.

With that said, even when contrasted with Julith, if I tried to make this list more objective, Azula would have definitely been number one or two, as she has by far the best and most consistent writing out of any character present here, with really only the Other Mother and Jobu Tupaki competing in that regard, but even then, they don't have to keep it up for two seasons of TV show like she has to.

She really could be summed up with perfection... if she hadn't massive problems in the comics that I'll be briefly touching upon.

Yeah, this is what I was talking about when I said that Julith was the most consistent character left.

I would like to give my two cents to the conversation, but I think that would be an annoying side tangent, so instead, I encourage you to check out some comics discussions on your own free time.

TLDR: Azula is the goat-bear and go watch Avatar, but the one with Asians.

Also stay AwAy from the comics.

Number 4: Magica De Spell (Duckverse)

(I know that the image on the left belongs to the old DuckTales TV show, but I never saw it, so with that image I'm actually referring to comic book Magica, and not her 90s counterpart)

I remember when I was little Magica De Spell was my favourite villain ever: seeing an Italian sorceress being the number one archenemy of a famous Disney character filled me with so much pride; Flintheart Glomgold doesn't exist in Italian comics, we have Rockerduck in his place, and although I loved Rockerduck just as much as Magica and wish he got represented better in the Reboot, I can't deny that Amelia Che Ammalia (that's her Italian name) had always been my favourite DuckTales villain.

Growing up though, I unfortunately lost touch with the comics and their characters, and so Magica became a forgotten memory, a relic of the past, a lost artifact of an era now gone, waiting to be undug from her prison of dirt.

... And that's exactly what the Reboot did for me.

Hearing Magica speak in the Italian dub was the best moment of my entire life: no offense to Catherine Tate, she gave her best, but those who haven't or cannot watch the Italian dub of DuckTales 2017 don't know what they are missing; the Italian accent provided by Ludovica Modugno is just immaculate, and it makes the character 100 times more hysterical than she already is.

In general it's just great seeing the impact of Duck comics on our country, where characters like Fethry and Rockerduck are much more popular than they are anywhere else.

However, I'd be lying if I said that the Reboot version of Magica De Spell was perfect.

I think there's a big tone issue with DT17 Magica, the show after the first season seems intended to fit her in a "Villain of the week" archetype, probably because that's what she was in the comics, but it undermines its efforts to do so because the show writers keep playing up the "realistic portrayal of an abuser" angle that they introduced with this version of the character, making it sometimes hard for me to take her with the levity that I'm probably expected to.

I also have some grievances with the niece OC herself; despite Lena being in my top 5 favourite Duckverse characters, I don't like how the two get glued together even after the season 1 finale, it feels demeaning to both Lena and Magica alike, I thought it was fine in Friendship Is Magic and Nightmare On Killmotor Hill, but at Phantom And The Sorceress is when I draw the line.

Magica's best post season 1 episode is the one where Lena's absent and she teams up with the other villains, as it removes the tonal problems that she had with the "realistic portrayal of an abuser" angle and treats her with the level of respect befitting of her character, even if at this point in the story she lost all of her powers.

That said, the thing that really sours my opinion of DT17 Magica, is her onscreen relationship with Scrooge McDuck, or lack thereof, which ultimately leads to Magica lacking some depth that her comic book counterpart has.

You see, in the comics, Scrooge's and Magica's dynamic is far more intense and complicated, because, although Magica is the villain, most of the time, Scrooge goes to way further extremes than her, making him not exactly a paradigm of goodness.

I could go on and on about the way their rivalry is done in the comics; just so you know, the Number 1 dime there honestly feels like a character of its own, similar to the Lost Arc in the Indiana Jones movies, it's this mysterious embodiment of Scrooge's and Magica's obsessions, driving them against each other, and in return towards insanity, though at least Scrooge has his family to distract him from time to time, Magica, instead, has nothing else to do except try to steal this golden coin over and over again.

The relationship between these two is so interesting, that's why I'm so upset.

Anyway, most of you may be asking why I'm bashing on Reboot Magica so much when I apparently like her more than Azula, and the reason is, in other aspects, 2017 Magica is peak.

The Shadow War 2 parter is amazing, that goes without saying, and some sequences where the character is in centre space go really hard.

I don't think neither comic book nor show Magica are better than Azula on their own, but together, they make for a much more complete package.

Comic book Magica is the much more compelling and nuanced character, while DT17 Magica has some of the character's best moments in history, so together they balance each other out.

Also, Magica gets one extra point for being Italian, because we love bias in this house.

Before I move on to the final three characters, one final warning: I'm going to spoil the s##t out of these last ones, especially number 3 and 1, so in case you don't really know the characters that I'm going to be talking about, I suggest you to maybe check out the series in question by yourself before reading this, or if you need an incentive, then look them up once you're done with this post.

Actually, I encourage you to look up every single character mentioned in these three posts, because I genuinely believe all of these stories deserve to have more people take a closer look at them, even the ones that I've barely talked about or that I've randomly name-dropped.

Finally, some last minute honourable mentions:

Ambessa Medarda (Arcane): I'm going to keep it brief with Arcane spoilers, but if I were to re-do this top, I would have put her at number 30; also I would remove Jinx from the honourable mentions since I thought that she was going to fall deeper into her villainy during season 2, instead, her character went into a direction that I didn't expect.

Also, shout-out to my silly little mew Maddie, she's so worthless yet so funny at the same time, she is as close to the primal definition of "serve cunt and die" as a character can possibly get; I guess this is kind of a major spoiler, but honestly, it's better if you go into Arcane season 2 with zero expectations for Maddie whatsoever, trust me, it's for the better.

Agatha Prenderghast (ParaNorman): Very recently, I've rewatched my favourite Laika movie ParaNorman, and this time around, I've realised something about it that I always knew on a subconscious level, but I hadn't quite realised yet: the villain kind of slays.

The movie honestly wouldn't be a masterpiece without her; she's such a well constructed character and the animation of her final form was the thing that I remembered the most about the movie for good reasons.

Dare I say it: Aggie's vengeful form is the peak of stop motion animation, and probably one of the best animated characters I have ever seen; maybe even the best, to be completely honest.

I'd put her into the honourable mentions: I don't have very clear thoughts on her, but she's very cool.

Honestly, just go and watch ParaNorman. I'm not even going to make a sales pitch for it, the movie is ten times better if you go in completely blind.

It's a masterpiece, and even if you end up disagreeing with this statement, I'm still sure the movie's heartfelt message is going to stick with you for a while.

Princess Audrey (Descendants 3): So, back in October, since I had some free time in my hands, I decided to marathon all three of the Descendants movies one after the other, which meant that was the first time I ever saw the third DE, as I had watched the first two back when they released; imagine my shock, while watching the movie, in realising that the song from that Miraculous animatic that I kept replaying over and over again actually came from here; I was like "Wait, is this the movie where that song's from?!?"

Anyway, Audrey as a character is closely tied with Harry for my favourite in the series; while watching the second movie after the first, I straight up forgot she existed, which made it even funnier when she became the main villain of the third one.

She's a character whose traits seem intentionally designed to garner my attention: spoiled, bratty teenage girl? Mean cheerleader? Forgettable background character turned main villain? Check, check.

Unfortunately, she's not as well written as the villains of the first two Descendants movies, but much like Kai from KFP3, if there's one thing that I can definitely give Audrey credit for, is that she is definitely the biggest threat that our protagonists have ever faced throughout their journey.

So yeah, she's cool, very stylish, and I'm such a sucker for wasted potential that I can't help myself from putting her at number 24 if I were ever to re-do this list.

And... yeah, that's enough. I need to talk about what carries Audrey so high.

Queen of Mean... Is a completely different experience.

When it comes up at the beginning of the story, it feels like you are watching an entirely different movie all of a sudden. Not because the music style has changed dramatically like in Evil Like Me, no, this is still a Pop song, but because of the story that it tries to tell and dark themes it goes into.

This song, gives me the same vibes, as BIGGERING, and HELLFIRE. (except way toned down, let's just say this is baby's first fall from grace villain song)

As if the jumpscare of learning this song comes from this franchise wasn't enough, this song being in the movie and coming out of nowhere gave me massive tonal whiplash, of the best kind though.

I really hope somebody has made an in length analysis of this song, because I'm this close to making one by myself.

Sofia Gigante (The Penguin): So, ever since the Penguin's episodes were beginning to air, I started to develop feelings for Sofia, but I never allowed them to blossom because I was afraid she was going to be a disappointment.

She never disappointed.

As you can imagine, I have so many thoughts about Sofia, I'm probably going to be rewatching the show during Christmas to solidify my opinions on her, but for now... I'd say she's my new number 8.

All in all, probably one of the best modern female antagonists.

Also I guess now is the perfect time to reveal that I've never watched Trolls 3 or Hazbin Hotel, so no, Velvet (Trolls 3) and Velvet (Hazbin Hotel) were never candidates for the list for this, and this reason alone.

As to why I'm revealing all of this now instead of establishing it in the intro segment of part 1, well...

It's entirely because of how they are named.

So, because I've been hearing the songs of Trolls 3 more times than I can remember, and because Velvet (HH) is inadvertly responsible for the names that I use online (it's a weird story), I thought that I'd pay tribute to both of them by putting the link to their songs down here, with my respective favourite cover for each.

Mount Rageous (original scene)

Mount Rageous (annapantsu)

Respectless (original scene)

Respectless (literal version)

And yeah, the Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2 and Queen Grimilde from Snowhite are not here because I don't care enough about them, in case you were curious.

Number 3

Harumi Jade (LEGO Ninjago)

Harumi IS gaslight gatekeep girlbossery personified.

You don't know what being a hater means until you've finally met Harumi.

For the longest time, I was fine with Azula discourse describing her as an evil teenager.

Then I sat down and watched the entirety of the Oni Trilogy in a short amount of time, and going back to the Azula discourse, all I could think was: you think Azula is an evil teenager?

LOOK UP HARUMI! THIS IS AN EVIL TEENAGER.

In case you don't know, Harumi Jade is a character first introduced into the eighth season of LEGO Ninjago, "Sons of Garmadon"

...

AND SHE'S MENTALLY DERANGED.

While I think that Julith, Azula and even Magica are on average written much better than her; to me at least, the highs of Harumi's are not only some of the biggest highs of female villainy, but also some of the greatest peaks of antagonism in general.

Like, Harumi doesn't blow up a planet, she doesn't conquer a dimension, she doesn't succeed nor try to reshape the entire multiverse in her image, but the ludicrous amount of batsh#t insane stuff that she pulls off despite literally being an absolutely normal 17 year old with no powers is such that it makes all of these higher than life baddies look uncreative by comparison.

And I really need to highlight this: Harumi does some of the most absurdly cruel s##t I have ever seen a villain do in a children's cartoon, I swear to god her laundry list would make many Batman villains do a double take, including THE Joker.

To give you just an idea on who we are dealing with, her very first major crime on-screen, after organising an heist in the intro of the episode and starting a cult/terrorist organisation/biker gang off screen, is to steal another priceless artifact, while blowing up the royal palace with at least twenty guards still inside it, and to burn her adoptive parents, the Emperor and Empress of Ninjago, ALIVE, meaning that in one fell swoop, HARUMI COMMITS:

Murder

Grand Larceny

Arson

Treason

Terrorism

Patricide

Matricide

Regicide

And More,

Right after being introduced, IN THE VERY FIRST EPISODE OF THE SEASON.

And while she arguably never hits the same heights of scale x absurd cruelty ever again (emphasis on "ARGUABLY"), she somehow still gets worse right after that.

Do you know Lord Garmadon?

Father of Lloyd Garmadon, one of the most important characters in the series?

Back in season 4, after/while completing his redemption arc, he sacrificed himself in order to save Ninjago and died, going to the Departed Realm and forever marking himself as a hero for doing so.

Well, fast forward to some time later and skipping over a lot of her atrocities, Harumi resurrects Lord Garmadon, and uses him as a puppet to physically and psychologically torture his son with.

And then, as if that wasn't enough, once she has fulfilled her goals and taken over Ninjago city, to consolidate her position of power, she manipulates Garmadon into adopting her; meaning that she and Lloyd have now unofficially become siblings, and she uses this newfound family dynamic with Lloyd to torture him even further, saying that HIS father prefers her, more than he prefers him, and earlier into the episode, before revealing this information, SHE WAS STILL FLIRTING WITH LLOYD, TO GASLIGHT HIM INTO HARMING HIMSELF EVEN FURTHER.

SHE IS SUCH A TERRIBLE PERSON!!!!!!!!!

DID I MENTION THAT SHE'S 16/17?

She also fricking wins in the end, because she's just that much of a girl boss.

There's no other character in this list who I can point to for the line: "She did everything wrong".

Don't get me wrong, Harumi is a very complex and tragic character too; I know that I've been painting her as some unredeemable monster, but she's also quite sympathetic.

It's just that, unlike with characters such as Azula or number 2, to me, personally, the most interesting thing about Harumi is that, despite having way more support and chances to grow than these other characters, that still didn't stop her from becoming a complete and utter monster.

This girl's ability to dodge every single safety net given to her is unmatched; it'd be one thing if she was given an olive branch once or twice, but the story and characters give her chances upon chances to scram, AND SHE STILL CHOOSES EVIL.

However, it'd be wrong to say that Harumi is a perfect character without any flaws.

I'm not going to say them, I just hope to have hooked someone into watching the show for themselves, but they are there, even if they can be explained with some leaps in logic.

... But I think it's time to finally mention Crystallized.

You see, season 16 of Ninjago, named Crystallized, is notorious amongst fans to be... "Not that great".

Some of the characters, unfortunately for the viewers, have been mishandled, and Harumi, as you can imagine, is one of the characters to end up on the bad side of the writing coin.

This season damages Harumi.

..... Which is why I never watched it!

Listen, I went very in deep when making this list, I bought the book of Death On The Nile just to see if it improved my opinions of Jackie, but LEGO Ninjago is not a franchise that I'm as closely attached to as Wakfu, Kung Fu Panda, and DuckTales;

I'm pretty well informed about the lore, I remember season 1, 4 and 5 pretty well, I saw some pieces of season 2, 3 and 7, and I watched season 6, 8, 9, 10 and 15 in full, and I constantly keep up with Dragon Rising news, but that's about it.

I only watched the colloquially good stuff, and I don't go out of my way to check out the rest, so when I tell you that season 16 of Ninjago fumbled Harumi badly take it with a grain of salt.

I saw some people that I trust saying Harumi was good, and I decided to check her out to see if the voices were true. She delivered, but I also heard about her mishandling in season 16, and I peaced out from watching that.

With stuff such as Ralph Breaks The Internet, Kung Fu Panda 4, The Incredibles 2 eccetera coming out often in the last couple of years, I started to get increasingly more burned out by follow-up to stories that end up subtracting some of the impact from their original tale;

I think Harumi is an extremely cool character and I really didn't want to ruin her for me, and since LEGO Ninjago isn't an hyper fixation of mine, I'll hopefully never have to sit through Crystallized and instead I'll skip directly to her iteration in DR if she ever makes a comeback in that (only if she's good though, however, with the current quality of DR, I'm sure the writers would handle her just fine if they were to use her).

If you know a lot about Ninjago lore and have seen the most important story beats of the previous seasons, I'd honestly recommend giving season 8 a try, though I'd probably ask a long time Ninjago fan what they think of it, as the emotional impact of the Oni Trilogy is dependent on how many seasons of Ninjago you consume I'm afraid, cause you really need to get attached to the characters in order for the story to hit you quite as hard, noticeably Lloyd and Garmadon in the particular case of Harumi.

Also, now that I've done the Harumi entry, I guess now it's the right time for me to reveal that no, unfortunately I haven't seen LEGO Monkey Kid, sorry Lady Bone Demon fans, she's cool, but I haven't experienced her in the show.

By the way, LEGO writers are surprisingly good at writing female villains.

Obviously, Harumi and Lady Bone Demon are the two obvious standouts (at least to me) for different reasons, but there are some other solid ones there too (I never saw the show, but I saw a compilation of Lady Bone Demon scenes, and I'm already sold on the character hype).

I've already talked about Brainfreezer in number 30, but then there's Naare from LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, Crooler from LEGO Chima, the Spider Queen, many versions of LEGO Harley Quinn, the spectacle of a character that is Queen Whateverwannabe but also smaller characters like Ultra Violet....

Oh right.

Aspheera is there too.

REVENGE!!!!!!

Number 2:

Doll (Murder Drones)

(I chose this picture because loving this character is like staring at a loading screen waiting for something cool to happen, except it's just a picture and it's never gonna change).

If you've seen my male villains list, you know that number 2 is the spot that I reserve for the "I really wish I could put this entry as my number 1, but I can't, because objectively and subjectively, they don't deserve it" entry.

I don't care: Love is Love, Obsession is Hyper Fixation, and True Love is Pure, Unfiltered, Rage and Hatred when it isn't reciprocated.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show or this blog, Doll is a side character in the indie series Murder Drones, made by Glitch, who, depending on your personal view point, may be considered the show's side antagonist.

Simply put, there hasn't been a character who has impacted my personal life quite as much as Doll.

The very existence of this blog hinges on her and the impact she had on me, and if even sometimes I despise how much I'm still mourning her wasted potential and fumbled (insert every single aspect about the character that you want here), I can't help but still think about her all the time.

I don't know what else to say that I haven't already said through the massive amounts of reblogs and analyses I've made for the character, but I'll try anyway:

I love how much I'm still discovering about Doll; it may just be the messy writing, but my perspective on Doll has changed drastically over time, to the point where the character feels entirely different from how I viewed her a couple of months ago, every single day, I'm discovering something new about her that I never considered before, or I'm revaluating a previous notion that I had about her, she's like a pit with no bottom, a tunnel with no end; she scratches the same hitch that number 11 did for me, that being of a weird yet complex villainess, and I appreciate her even more for it.

And yeah, Russians are cool.

There's no better way to show my love for Doll than to put the link to my so-called "Master guide" of Doll media here, I hope other Doll fans who haven't seen it before can get a kick out of it.

However, it's at this point that I must open an entirely unrelated, yet necessary side tangent.

You see, I assume many people who are going to read this post will use it as a sort of "recommendation guide" for cool shows/movies/games to consume, and they expect the villains placed higher on the list to be more worthy of the hype compared to those who ranked lower.

Now, if you are looking for who I think the objectively best villain in this list is, it's probably Azula. The Other Mother, Jobu Tupaki, GLaDOS and Julith are close seconds for me, but if you preferred either of them over Azula, I wouldn't be surprised. Jacqueline is underrated, and totally worthy of much more hype, but she's not THAT good. You can definitely prefer/not prefer all three versions of Magica over Azula, that's up to you. Number 1... is also up to you, and although Harumi is clearly not on the same level of quality as Azula, Harumi's best moments are so good, that I can imagine them being what puts one over the other in some people's eyes.

Ultimately, what I'm trying to get at, is that I can see arguments to be made for all the aforementioned characters to be the best female villains of all time and people buying it, it's entirely within the realm of possibility.

Doll?

OH, LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES, SHE'S AWFUL.

I'm not joking when I say that what puts Doll so high is sheer hyper fixation alone: this, even more than Halojack, is the reason why the whole top 30 is completely subjective, and should only be viewed as a random person expressing their love for their favourite characters on the internet.

Disregarding the idea that, depending on your interpretation of the character, she's not even a villain, even then, she's not a character to be excited about.

The show hyped her up, accidentally or intentionally, and the pay off was abysmal.

NEVER, watch Murder Drones expecting it to be an amazing show, you will be disappointed; the show, much like Doll, is great at getting you hooked, but much like her, it fails to provide any significant payoff for that initial hook.

Other than that... it's a pretty fun show, give it a watch.

With that said, I still LOVE Doll, and I feel like my attraction to the character is still going to impact many years of my life to come.

And yet, despite all that, there's a character that I still like even more.....

Number 1

Number 101

It's Cruella De Vil, baby! (101 Dalmatians franchise)

You don't understand.

I love Cruella De Vil.

I LOVE HER!!!!

I'm a massive fan of the 101 Dalmatians franchise, which is weird, since it's the only one of my hyper obsessions that I can keep a secret.

I've consumed almost every major piece of 101 Dalmatians media (and by that extent Cruella content) that exists. The only things I have yet to check out are the 90's TV show (which I plan to correct as soon as possible), Disney's Twisted Wonderland, Cruella's Chills book, the tie-in videogames, and those obscure comics.

And as you can all well imagine, the reason for my hyper fixation comes from my deep obsession for this puppy skinning psychopath.

You better believe I've listened to Selena Gomez's cover of Cruella De Vil on the ride back from my birthday.

If you are a female villain, you can have the most well written backstory ever, you can have 100 shades of depth, you can have as many great scenes as you want, but if you can't bring me as much unfiltered joy and weird autism juices as this psychotic fur obsessed maniac, then you clearly aren't worthy of my praise.

Most of the characters that I've covered up to this point had very big ambitions and larger than life goals to go along with it.

Some wanted power; they wished to rule over something, to be obeyed, to subjugate, and would go against the competition in order to achieve that.

Others wanted revenge; those who wronged them, the societies, the individuals, and the world alike needed to feel the full force of their wrath, and if an innocent happens to be in the way and gets hurt, that was his mistake.

Others were just broken, and acted out on it; they tried to fix themselves, or the world around them; their brokenness, source of pain and sorrow, meant that they had to change their current predicament, by any means necessary.

Some others, wanted Nothing, but to impose their view of the world on everybody else.

And most were a combination between all four and more.

Cruella?

She couldn't give a shit about any of that, she just wants to skin some Dalmatian puppies and wear them as a coach. She doesn't have any big dreams of grandeur, weirdly enough she doesn't even care about money: she is perfectly fine in her own little world, living her own little adventures, and trying to make her coach, at any cost necessary.

I'm admittedly someone who likes to complicate classic pure evil villains a lot, explaining why they are actually complex and have a lot of depth; but with Cruella, I actually don't do that.

This is not to say that Cruella doesn't have depth (I would never say such a thing), but I don't feel the need to explore the character in depth to feel comfortable with them in the same way I do with other baddies.

And I really like that; it brings me comfort to have a character that I can enjoy in the same way as anybody else does, as it makes me feel way less alien about my favourite type of characters, and I don't get that a lot.

And I think it's fun for me to also have a villain who I don't need to deepen and just have as a one dimensional unredeemable asshole.

The reason why I almost never talk about Cruella to anybody except people that are close, is because she's a deeply personal character to me, in ways that not many would understand.

I relate to her a lot, in the sense that I can also get invested too much into my silly hyper fixations that I forget about the morality of my own actions.

I know this sentence is going to get me many concerned looks, but it's the truth, it's how I feel, and there's nothing I can do about it.

I don't condone any of her actions though, I just empathize with her more than others since we are so similar.

Anyway, Cruella has such a weird place in mainstream culture, she's super popular but you'll be hard pressed to find anyone other than me who considers her their favourite Disney villain.

She's kinda like The Penguin of Disney villains - and the Joker too, except her movie went into production first, so he's the one who ripped from her and not the opposite - much like the Penguin, every version of Cruella De Vil is different, to the point where the character almost becomes a blank slate for the artist to tell the story they want to tell.

For example, did you know that Cruella was originally meant to be the main villain of the Rescuers Down Under, instead of Madame Medusa? And she was meant to have a jacket of crocodile skin?

And that her book version is quite different from her movie version?

It seems that as early on in the character lifespan, she was always meant to be different, like it was hard coded into her that she was a character bound to be changed, while still remaining the same at her core.

Because, to be completely honest, what's more memorable than Cruella herself is her fashion design.

In that sense, the 101 Dalmatians franchise is much more similar to the Alice In Wonderland one than anything else, where the iconography of the series is more important than the actual canon; that being 40s London, dalmatians, its art and fashion design, the number 101, Cruella De Vil's styled clothing and mannerisms, eccetera.

Speaking of her career, unlike Maleficent's, who peaked early on and then was never quite as good as her very first on screen debut, Cruella's career, in my opinion, only improved after her very first on screen debut, and it's still getting better to this very day.

One day, it could be fun to rank all of the different versions of the character in their own separate list, but for now, here are my opinions on almost every single iteration of Cruella:

One Hundred And One Dalmatians:

Starting off with a controversial opinion, the Cruella De Vil from the original 1961 movie is actually one of my least favourite iterations of the character, which is a bold take, since it's the version who popularized the character in the first place.

While I appreciate the original 60's movie for having some of the most iconic moments in her entire career, I must admit, I feel like she's not as interesting of a character as she is in some of her subsequent portrayals or in her original book version.

More than anything, I appreciate this movie's take on Cruella for being an incredibly solid foundation for the character, and if it didn't exist, then most likely there wouldn't have been all this many talented artists taking their own short at their unique take on the character; art is a very important thematic element throughout the 101 Dalmatians franchise, but it definitely wouldn't have been as recurrent if the 1961 movie didn't exist to establish its presence.

The One hundred and One Dalmatians:

Now, the original book version is about as good as the final movie version, however despite the two portrayals being very different from each other, I think book Cruella is slightly better than her movie counterpart; you see, the way that I would describe how book Cruella differs from her movie counterpart is that book Cruella feels like a character written by Tim Burton;

She is very similar to the leader of the witches in Roal Dahl's Witches, almost described as a supernatural force and has a lot of unique lore details that are absent from the movie, like the fact that she only eats food with pepper in it, including ice cream, and the fact that her skin tastes like salt, hence why the dogs cannot bite her; the only thing holding book Cruella back is that she doesn't have that iconic and absolutely deranged car chase sequence at the end of the movie, otherwise I'd say that with full confidence that movie Cruella is a downgrade compared to her book counterpart.

But honestly, "downgrade" is an over exaggeration, the movie version is very good in her own right, and just as important as the book, so I'm definitely glad for its existence regardless.

Also shout-out to Cruella's husband in the book, Mr De Vil, since he needs more recognition within the fanbase. He's a character that doesn't exist in any other version of the story, but he's interesting regardless: he's kinda like the protagonist of Helltaker but with none of the wits and muscles, he apparently just summoned Cruella from the depths of hell to be his wife in exchange for his skills and then just allowed her to step all over him.

One hundred and one Dalmatians 2 (Patch's London Adventure):

One of the best direct to DVD Disney sequels, and my personal second favourite after The Lion King 3/2, already this sequel gives an interesting continuation to Cruella's character at the end of the first movie, and that's by making her deal with aftermath of her crimes and introducing the character of Lars, this polkadot artist who has an interesting dynamic with Cruella; the best way I've seen anyone describe their dynamic is that it's as if Gargamella fell in love with someone who loves the colour blue, and I think its a rather accurate description.

Once Upon A Time:

Sympathy for the De Vil is peak television and I won't accept any rebuttal about it. While her time on the show was short (thankfully), Victoria Smurfit ate her role as the character, and from what I've seen, this is definitely the darkest version of the character, being a cold hearted serial killer with a lust for blood and harming others. This version of Cruella is so violent, that is actually one of the very few versions of the character to die, which I don't exactly love, but it's definetely an interesting change of pace.

Once upon a studio:

Cool background cameo. Love the little faces that she makes.

Funko Pop Cruella:

I don't like my Funko Pop Cruella very much. She's too angry, and I feel like they could have used a way better pose for her, like when she smokes the cigar, though I bet Disney is trying to not remind you of that.

LEGO Brickz Head:

I prefer the constructible Cruella figure over the Maleficent one, even if the latter has the foldable horns. It has to do with variety: the bricks you use for Cruella have way more different shapes and colours that help keep the construction process fresh.

Simpsons:

Straight up, Cruella was a last minute change to the episode, since they couldn't use Maleficent for god knows whatever reason and had to redesign all of her scenes. They didn't even bother to change her lines, how is modern Simpsons so stupid!?

Twisted:

10 out of 10 cameo. It's so good that, despite it being a single line of dialogue, I could write an entire essay talking about its huge importance for the overall narrative of Twisted, and its brilliant understanding and use of Cruella. Team Starkid did such an amazing job with this musical, there's so much heart, care, and two Ds poured everywhere. Twisted is an impeccable theatre production, I encourage everyone to at least check it out for free on YouTube. I promise, it's going to be one of the best Disney movies you'll ever see in your life, especially since Disney won't gain a nickel from it.

Disney Mirrorverse:

This game, is a travesty; one that does not deserve to be forgotten by time, but that instead should go down in history as one of the greatest atrocities ever committed by the gaming community.

I played this game, A LOT, in fact, I was a member of the number 1 ranked Italian alliance in the game, and let me tell you, it was a slog.

And yet, it still has a pretty good version of Cruella De Vil... conceptually. I really like her gameplay, and the trick that you could pull off early on by hitting the enemy with a second heavy attack just as the first root effect expired to give them a second root was so satisfying to pull off (I gave it the name of "Coyote Timing")

But what I really LOVE about this version of Cruella is that she does something with the character that I always wanted a Disney property to do: make Cruella a crime lord.

Every new version of Cruella has always been slowly adding mobster features to her, but this is, as far as I'm aware, the very first version of the character that has made the full jump to the role of Kingpin of her respective universe, and just for that alone, I'm glad for this game's existence.

Descendants:

Descendants is great because it's cringe, and it fully embraces it.

This series knows exactly what it is, and isn't ashamed of it in the slightest.

Some context for those who aren't in the know: Descendants is a Disney Channel's original franchise, that kept its cultural relevance thanks to its extremely catchy songs, focused on the offspring of the most popular Disney villains+some other character, who in this universe exist in the same time period and live close to each other.

The franchise takes many creative liberties with the characters that it chooses to adapt, with a very divisive track record of success; however, it then comes as no surprise that a character as suited for drastic changes as Cruella was left mostly unharmed by the transition into a new interpretation of the villainess.

AND YET, despite Cruella being the most fitting character for dramatically different reinterpretations, she's arguably the non-original Descendants character that changed the least out of everybody, because all classic Disney characters, from the Beast to Lady Tremaine, have even a small changes applied to them, but Cruella

It'd also be reprehended to not mention her son Carlos, played by the talented Cameron Boyce, who unfortunately died sometime ago during the production of the third movie. My condolences to the family.

Carlos is my second favourite OC relative of Cruella, though from what I've seen of Cruella's niece in the 90s animated series, I doubt he'd remain as such if I watched that show; though one thing that at first I didn't like about Carlos in the movies is his relationship with Jane:

On a first look I thought the two didn't have much chemistry because they were too similar, but as the relationship progressed, I realised that wasn't the case and I started buying it more and more, because Jane is that christian household kid who has a massive rebellious phase once she grows, while Carlos is a street rat with a hard past and a soft heart that grows up to become the emotionally stable adult, so him and Jane are actually a pretty decent ship.

Cruella:

Cruella is a complicated case, in that this movie has two different versions of the character simultaneously: Estella and the Baroness, and each of them is great in their own separate ways; Estella is a pretty engaging and complicated protagonist, even if she does suffer from not getting enough backlash by Jasper and Horace for her villainous actions, and the Baroness is a deliciously psychotic antagonist that's more in line to the typical Cruella characterisation than Estella; the scene where she's torturing Estella and she doesn't even recognise who her mother is is hysterical and insane at the same time, truly a deranged woman.

I feel like what really carries this movie for me is the vibe though, this punk rock style is absolutely stunning, and once again, if there's something more immortal than Cruella herself is her aesthetic, and this movie brings that to a whole new other level.

So yeah, I like Cruella, it gets a pass for me.

I don't know what else you expected me to say; it may just be because I have consumed way more Cruella content than the average person and therefore I feel like I know the character better than anyone else, but Cruella De Vil hasn't been the same character for decades, and this being the second most recognizable version of Cruella after the 1961 movie one doesn't ruin her character, especially when 80% of all Cruellas out there are unredeemable b###es;

Evil versions of Cruella still exist and are still going to exist in the future; this movie's popularity and income mean nothing, grow up.

Cruella De Vil (book):

My favourite part was the beinning. One detail that I particularly liked is that they added Cruella's necklace from the book. For those of you who don't know this, in the original Dodie's book, Cruella wore a black skull necklace, that wasn't added to the movie's final design, I enjoyed that it popped up here of all places.

As for the rest... If you think Cruella (2019) is bad, don't read this book, it's even worse, despite me getting some ironic enjoyment out of it.

Cruella's motivation for skinning the Dalmatians here is to make her mother, who has been neglecting and spoiling her since birth, who has manipulated her (Cruella) into giving her (the mom) all of her (Cruella) father's possessions when that's not what he would have wanted, and who's probably responsible for the death of Cruella's husband, proud.

The best part is at the end when the writer reveals to us that apparently, she has been writing the entire story while inside Hell Hall, with Cruella by her side screaming into her ears what to write, and... yeah, the mental picture of that is very funny, especially with all of the implications present in the passage.

Trust me, if this was a Cruella centric post, I could keep going, and Going,

AND GOOOOOOIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGG,

But unfortunately, I need to restrain myself from going overboard.

While all these different interpretations of the character are great and all, there's one version of Cruella De Vil that I wanted to highlight and talk about the most,

The rendition of the character that singlehandedly made me obsess over her and the franchise that she's from, and turned her from a character that I rarely think about to my absolute favourite female villain of all time and one of my life icons;

The version of Cruella De Vil that I'm talking about is none other than the one from 101 Dalmatian Street, the show who Disney desperately tried to put under the rug yet that didn't stop it from gathering a small fanbase around it, with myself as an outskirts member of said fandom.

I had written down a passionate piece about this show's version of Cruella a couple of years ago; I'm not going to translate it, you can do that on your own, because I wrote a new one that you're just about to read, but here's the original one anyway:

Già lo sapevo che avrei posto questa come la mia versione preferita del personaggio, ma ammetto di aver vaccillato un po' quando ho visto la versione di Once Upon a Time, ma l'aver rivisto vari episodi della serie e non solo il finale, mi ha convinto di nuovo che la versione di Crudelia del quale mi sono innamorato per la prima volta è ancora la mia versione preferita; Questo è davvero il culmine della storia del cattivo e della sua follia, nonché una celebrazione; sebbene lei appaia in carne ed ossa un solo episodio, lei riesce a rimanere impressa nella tua mente anche più di altre cose riguardo la storia, e la ragione per cui riesce a installare questo effetto è poiché la serie ha un tono così comico che quando Crudelia fa il suo debutto ruba lo show e lo fa diventare qualcosa di completamente diverso. Una lettera d'amore finale davvero degno del personaggio e di tutto il franchise della "Carica dei 101", e possa questa serie essere un giorno trattata con il giusto rispetto che si merita.

Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatian Street feels like the climax of the character's personal insanity, the show does an amazing job at celebrating the huge impact that the character has had on pop culture by making the first part of the season finale play out almost entirely from her perspective.

But I have a lot to praise even before that:

I love how she was built up all throughout the show as this looming threat, from her shadow appearing every time in the background of the intro song, to the cameos of Hunter and his centric episodes, to the times where Cruella's voice is heard but her physique is not shown, to... JUST THE WAY CHARACTERS TALK AND BEHAVE ABOUT HER, gives out to the viewers the feeling that this character embodies Impending Doom, and that's exactly the last note that the episode right before the series' finale leaves you with.

The first three quarters of the final two episodes of this show are some of the biggest tonal whiplashes any animated property has ever made me experience; Cruella comes suddenly, with a lot of foreshadowing, but oh boy I was not prepared for what would happen next.

I'm not joking when I say that Cruella in these two final episodes feels more like a Slasher villain; she relentlessly tries to break the puppies down, so that she can come inside their house and kill them.

THERE'S ONE SCENE, WHERE THE DALMATIANS ARE DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT, AND SHE JUST CREEPILY LAUGHS AS SHE SCRATCHES THE WALL RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, FOR NO OTHER REASON BUT TO TERRORIZE THEM.

It didn't give her any tactical advantage, she gained nothing from doing it, she just did because she wanted to instill fear in their hearts.

I'm not going to reveal much else, since I want to keep some of the surprises a secret for those who got curious, however, there's something that happens in the last episode that I want to talk about:

In the first part of the show's finale, Cruella manages to capture all of the Dalmatian puppies, including the adults; this is the closest she's ever gotten to making the coach of her dreams, so how does she celebrate the news?

BY WALKING UP TO THE PUPPIES' PARENTS, TELLING THEM THAT THEIR FUR IS TOO HARD TO MAKE A COACH OUT OF SO SHE'LL TURN THEM INTO BAGGAGES INSTEAD, AND PROCEEDING TO FORCE THEM, BY LITERALLY PULLING THEM FROM THE EYELASHES, TO WATCH HER SUPER MEGA PUPPY SKINNING MACHINE BOOTING UP, AS IF TO SAY: "OH YEAH, I'M SKINNING YOUR CHILDREN AND WEARING THEM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME, YOU CAN ONLY WATCH POWERLESS AS I KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND YOUR HEAD STILL BEFORE I KILL YOU TO AND TURN YOU INTO SOME SECONDHAND CONTAINERS FOR MY OTHER ACCESSORIES", AND THEN LAUGHS MANIACALLY.

Inconceivably evil; if these 101 dalmatians were humans - which is probably how they feel to the audience by this point due to how much time the show has spent on several of them anyway - this would have been one of the darkest things a villain has ever done in the history of ever.

And now, it's impossible for me to go on without also mentioning Hunter, Cruella's nephew, who helps her in her schemes (side note: Dalmatian Street came out before the second season of The Owl House, so no, our poor little miao miao hasn't copied anything from that show. If anything, the opposite happened).

Simply put, Hunter is fantastic, and Cruella's treatment of him is exceedingly cruel; ever since he was a child (and he still is a child by the end of the show), Cruella forced Hunter to undergo a very rigid training designed specifically to turn him into the perfect "Hunter", the one who would be bring her the dogs that she was seeking; she made him learn the language of dogs, so that he could manipulate the dalmatians into falling for a very cruel trap meant to optimise the quality of their fur, but then, once he failed and fell into the trap himself, she vocally abused him in a very terrifying manner, even making him cry during their first physical encounter.

That's even worse than what Carlos and the other Hunter have gone through; Cruella straight up treated her nephew as an animal, no different from the actual puppies that she was hunting down, and it's no surprise that he ends the show still being a bit mentally damaged.

If possible, watch the show one episode after the other, as the finale hits harder if you have seen everything from beginning to end.

Nowadays, I definetly enjoy Cruella more as an idea rather than a character, but this iteration still remains one of my favourites.

She is proof that to be a great villain, you don't need to be powerful, complex, or to have great goals;

Sometimes, to be an amazing antagonist, you just need to want something intensely, and be willing to do anything to get it.

[shintin]

Gunpowder Dreams

Chapter 10 (Plan)

↳ Vash the Stampede x Female Reader

They didn't know a wounded man would show no mercy when they took the best thing he ever had away from him. What did they say? Don't poke the dragon if you can't take the heat; if you do, expect the flames.

Genre: explicit smut, toxic relation, romance, angst (Mafia au).

Warnings/Tags: +18, NSFW, Alternative Universe/Modern Setting, no spoilers from manga and anime, dominate Vash the Stampede, sexual situations, dub-con, graphic violence, gore, angst, toxicity, gunplay, manhandling, cunnilingus + fellatio, creampie, fingering, unprotected sex, multiple orgasms, hair pulling, too many smut scenes, emotional trauma, and etc.

Song Recommendation: Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?

Note: Sorry for the delayed update. Unexpected events in life took place. I hope with this smut chapter, I can earn your forgiveness.

Chapter Index - Next Chapter

The darkness suffocated you; unsettling dreams bled all over your mind and prevented you from finding rest. You only had your dreams to give you peace, but now they had vanished, leaving you unsure how to get them back.

All you saw when you closed your eyes was Knives.

You kept getting cut over and over and over, with a knife in his hand, and Vash shot his brother in the leg and outside, the wind sang, but its high-pitched and off-key melody made it difficult for you to ask it to stop. The blood on your skin drained the warmth from your veins, leaving you freezing. The floor beneath you seemed to engulf you as you lay on your back. You could taste the clotted blood in your mouth, throat, and heart.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Yet another delightful adventure in the land of perpetual misfortune.

With a sigh, you turned in bed, your eyes adjusted to the darkness, and when you blinked, you realized the leather couch in front of the windows was empty, with rumpled sheets tossed aside. Despite the house having millions of rooms, he chose to sleep on the couch. You weren't sure why he kept you in his room or why he preferred the sofa over another room. You didn't seek answers or dwell on it. Having him in the room brought comfort, but he was absent right now.

Once again, a sigh came out of your lips.

Being in Vash's presence was like a rollercoaster ride. He was so used to solitude that each day spent with him brought new revelations. These discoveries weren't entirely negative; in fact, most of what you learned about him was endearing and harmless.

Just last week, you stumbled upon him in his office, listening to vintage vinyl records. While you had seen his collection of records before, stacked high alongside old books and artwork, but seeing him simply sitting and listening to the music was a new experience altogether.

He didn't even notice your presence when you walked in that day. He sat completely motionless, staring at the wall, and you later realized he was listening to a Johnny Cash record. You discovered this when you peeked into his office hours after he had already left.

Your curiosity got the best of you as you couldn't help but wonder why Vash kept resetting the needle to listen to that one particular record. You were determined to find out which song it was, and it turned out to be a tune called "You're My Sunshine."

You had yet to share with him what you had witnessed that day, as you didn't want to disturb his comfort in his own space. However, some of you wanted to unravel his past, uncover both the good and bad aspects, and lay bare all the secrets so you could be done with it because you believed your imagination posed a greater threat than any of his hidden truths.

But you were not sure how to make that happen. He wasn't exactly known for his communication skills.

The previous night, you had feigned sleep as you watched him enter the room, cautiously lighting a small lampshade to avoid waking you up. He silently took a seat at the table, unloading his firearm and arranging the golden bullets on a cloth. He leaned over and cracked open the window slightly, hoping to dissipate the scent of gunpowder, but the bold wind had other plans. It audaciously swept in and playfully tousled his golden locks, eliciting a bittersweet smile from you that carried a tinge of pain. Yes, even smiling hurt. But witnessing him find solace was a rarity; now, you were fortunate enough to experience it twice.

With a revolver clutched in his gloved hand, he diligently used a bore snake to clean the barrel. You recognized the process because, when your father still had remnants of his humanity, he had taught you how to assist him in maintaining his firearm. However, you were only a child back then, unaware that cleaning the gun meant he had likely used it to take someone's life.

Men and their guns. They all use them for destruction, and the man before you had even used it to make you—

As the old memory resurfaced, a blend of anger and shameful emotions welled up, stinging the back of your eyes. You closed your eyes tightly, unwilling to witness Vash's sinful ritual any longer.

As you glanced around the dim room, your sleep-riddled eyes scanned from the couch to the shadows cast by the furniture. The filtered sunlight seeping through the covered windows faintly illuminated the space. Amidst the shadows, a phantom-like silhouette took shape that wasn't there, with light blond hair, chilling green eyes, and a mole beneath the right eye—a vicious ghost.

Your grandmother used to say that if you dwell on the thought of the devil long enough, he will appear at your doorstep.

The floorboards made a creaking sound to your right, seemingly originating from somewhere in the bedroom. Your head swiftly turned in that direction, and you took a sudden, sharp breath. The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end like a frightened dog backed into a corner. You held your breath, being cautious not to make any noise in case the sound repeated. Silence enveloped the room, an eerie stillness. Your fingers tightly gripped the duvet on your lap as your heart raced faster.

There was an intruder in the room. But how? How the fuck did Knives manage to evade the guards again?

After another creak, a distinct footstep echoed through the room. You cautiously rose from the bed, but as you stood up, a wave of dizziness nearly caused you to fall. You managed to grab onto the side of the bed, trying to steady your spinning head.

You made your way over slowly, masking the nausea coursing through your body. Your chest rose and fell rapidly, breaths coming in quick succession. With measured steps, you pressed your back against the cold wall. Despite your attempts, a trembling breath managed to escape. Your chest heaved as you took rapid, shallow breaths while the echoing footsteps reverberated from an unfamiliar location.

You stood frozen, your back melding into the wall as if you were one with it, rendering you immobile and unable to hide. However, you refused to become a victim once more. Determined, you knew you had to find a sharp object. With urgency, you sprinted towards the wooden nightstand by the bed, frantically rummaging through the drawers in search of a knife, a gun, or any means of defense.

But you suddenly stopped.

One of the drawers contained a collection of origami made from napkins, which you had previously crafted. It struck you as odd that Vash had kept these seemingly insignificant origami pieces while discarding the plates he used to bring you donuts.

With hands trembling, you shut the drawer and turned your attention elsewhere in search of a weapon. However, in your state of unease, you accidentally collided head-on with something solid.

Something human.

Male.

You heard him sharply inhale, felt his hands stabilize your body, and sensed the blood draining from your face, leaving you weak and lightheaded.

"Vash," you exclaimed, struggling to catch your breath. You went through the familiar motions, just as you always did. Your heart skipped a beat, then raced uncontrollably, your breath became shallow, and your palms grew sweaty. No matter how many times you encountered him, he consistently evoked the same response from you: a mix of fear and excitement. You couldn't quite explain why it excited you.

Something had to be amiss with you. It wasn't ordinary for fiery warmth to surge through your veins in such conditions, leaving a tingle in its wake.

He refused to release his grip on you. You could hear the rapid, forceful thumping of his heart in the quiet space between you. He remained incredibly still and tense as if he were struggling to maintain control over his own body.

Your heart was giving out. "It was you—"

"What are you searching for?" he whispered, his words strained as if he struggled to breathe. His eyes, an unusual shade of blue, captured your attention even in the darkness—they were stunning, crystal clear, and had a penetrating quality that was somewhat unsettling. His hair was thick, a lustrous hue of gold, and his physique appeared slender and unassuming, yet his grip conveyed effortless strength.

"I thought someone was in the—" you trailed off, abruptly stopping your words. Vash stood before you, clad in nothing but a towel. A TOWEL! The embarrassment swept over you, and you wished you could simply disappear, perhaps even roll under the bed to avoid the awkwardness.

The voice you heard came from him. He had just stepped out of the shower, appearing as if he had hurriedly done so because of you. Water droplets cascaded from the tips of his hair onto his shoulder blades, trickling down towards his chest and well-defined abdominal muscles.

Vash maintained a deliberately neutral expression, his voice unaffected as he assured, "He won't return to this house again."

For a brief moment, it was hard to fathom that you were still standing there, gazing at Vash, who was wearing nothing but a towel. It wasn't easy to take the situation, or even yourself, seriously.

"You kept those origamis."

There it was. A flash of anger. In and out. Vash's eyes flickered with intensity, then settled. He shifted his gaze towards the wall, remaining silent for a moment. "Yes," he murmured, his voice calm and composed.

"I didn't intend to rummage through your belongings."

He said nothing.

"I was searching for something sharp to defend myself against the person hiding in the room." The words slipped effortlessly from your mouth. What surprised you even more was the need to vocalize them, to reassure Vash that you hadn't invaded his privacy.

"I couldn't care less if you get bored and snoop around my stuff," he stated dismissively, walking past you without making eye contact. "My mother used to craft origami. They reminded me of her." His voice was chillingly cold. You observed as he opened the drawer, clutching the towel around his waist with one hand, and crushed all the origami in his wet fist. " But she's dead now, so it holds no significance anymore." With that, he returned to the bathroom and flushed them down the toilet right before your astonished eyes.

You couldn't quite understand why you felt a pang of hurt, considering those napkin origamis held no particular significance to you. However, witnessing him collect and preserve them in the drawer beside his bed stirred something tender in your heart. Unfortunately, as always, you couldn't shut up and ended up ruining the moment.

However, you were now aware. This man would go to any lengths to eliminate anything that could be perceived as a weakness.

He emerged from the bathroom and proceeded towards his walk-in closet, disregarding your gaze. You continued to watch him as he dropped his towel, exposing his bare buttocks to your view. You gulped as a hot sensation enveloped you, and your eyes shamelessly roamed from his butt cheeks to the muscles of his thighs, finally settling on his calves.

Who did sculpt this man?

 Vash had everything going for him in the looks department. He was hot as sin, with a stunning body and killer charm. You almost drool, but when he caught you stealing a glance, you hastily averted your gaze, pretending to be engrossed in the fantastic sheets.

Sheets? Seriously? Huh!

"You know, it's pretty rude to be snooping on people, love."

Embarrassment flooded your face, heating your cheeks, as you were caught in such a juvenile act. Suddenly, you felt utterly clueless about what to do with your hands. Your thoughts raced, overtaken by self-reproach. What the heck was wrong with you? The overwhelming urge to hide and disappear consumed you. You sprinted to the bathroom, securing the door with two locks. Leaning against the door, you slid down until you sat on the cool, black-tiled bathroom floor.

Stop grinning, stupid girl!

*

Another day in the never-ending circus of misery.

The gentle afternoon sunbeams lazily brushed against your cheeks, almost as if teasing you. Squinting your eyes, you peered out the window. It was chilly outside, yet the usual forecast of rain seemed absent for the day. The Gods above were like twisted demons, mocking you by making such a gloomy day appear this beautiful.

Ugh! Why—

No!

Wait a damn minute!

Vash stood in the yard, and you were aware of this because you could see him from behind the curtain. He wore a tailor-made shirt that hugged his figure, a black shade so deep that it nearly dazzled. His shoulders were embraced by a charcoal gray coat, fifty shades darker than coal, while his golden spiked hair contrasted the somber autumn surroundings. Black pants adorned his legs, accompanied by black leather gloves and matte black boots.

He appeared flawless, particularly amidst the grimness of the dirt and decay, encompassed by the dreariest hues this scenery could present. He stood as a striking figure, his eyes adorned in shades of deep blue and turquoise, casting a captivating silhouette against the backdrop of the setting sun in a stunningly beguiling manner.

He could be glowing.

That could be a halo around his head.

This could be the world's way of making an example out of irony.

Vash possessed a beauty that surpassed even your most attractive ex-partner. He was far from being human; every aspect of him was extraordinary and unconventional.

He looked around, his eyes shielded by purple round sunglasses, and a gust of wind momentarily revealed the holster strapped to his right leg as his coat flapped open. He didn't even step into his own yard without his gun. The irony!

The men surrounding him appeared to be awaiting instructions, anticipating something, and you couldn't tear your eyes away. A strange thrill coursed through you, being in such proximity yet still distant. It felt like an advantage, being able to observe him unnoticed.

He was a strange, strange, unhinged man. You weren't sure if you could ever forget what he had done to you, the way he had made you feel, and the intense desire to bring harm upon him. The urge to despise him indefinitely lingered within you, but it was gradually weakening. He had abducted you, callously exposing you to danger, and vanished while his brother subjected you to repeated torment. Yet, he also took it upon himself to mend the shattered fragments afterward, carefully gathering and reassembling them—as janky as it was. You wanted to harbor hatred towards him but found yourself at a loss as to how to do so anymore.

You had no clue about who he truly was—actually, you never had much knowledge regarding how he spent his days unless he was in your company. Even now, you remained clueless about his purpose for being there.

He eventually uttered a few words to the men, and they nodded in swift agreement before running around. You retreated entirely behind the curtains, making sure to stay hidden. You positioned yourself at an angle, ensuring he wouldn't catch sight of you even if he happened to glance in your direction.

Vash removed his glasses and ran his hand across his face, briefly covering his eyes before his hand settled on his mouth as though he held something he couldn't bring himself to say.

Suddenly, he seemed tired. His eyes appeared somewhat … sorrowful, although you were convinced you were just reading him wrong. You observed him as he observed those around him, paying close attention to notice that his gaze lingered on the red Geranium flowers, fighting to survive in the harsh weather. You attempted to decipher Vash's expression as he stared at them, but he was always careful to keep himself completely neutral. He remained like a statue in the wind, doing nothing more than blinking.

A stray dog headed straight toward him. Suddenly, fear gripped you. You felt concerned for the poor creature, a weak little animal that had mistakenly wandered into the wrong place, searching for morsels of food to stave off hunger for a few more hours.

Your heart began racing in your chest, pumping blood too quickly and forcefully. A sense of impending doom washed over you, leaving you with an unexplainable feeling that something dreadful was on the horizon.

The black dog dashed straight into the back of Vash's legs as if it had impaired vision and couldn't see its path clearly. It panted heavily, its tongue hanging to the side, seemingly unsure how to retract it. The dog whined and whimpered slightly, leaving saliva all over Vash's impeccably fine pants. You held your breath, anxiously awaiting as the golden man turned around.

You half expected he might draw his gun and shoot the dog directly in the head, having witnessed him do such a thing to a person before. However, upon seeing the dog, Vash's countenance underwent a transformation. His flawless facade fractured, revealing cracks in his otherwise perfect demeanor. Surprise elevated his eyebrows and widened his eyes if only for a fleeting moment, providing you with ample opportunity to take note of it.

He looked around, his eyes shifting as they surveyed his surroundings before he gently scooped the animal into his arms. You felt a sudden desperation to witness his next actions, and your anxiety heightened, making it difficult to catch your breath.

You had witnessed the extent of Vash's capabilities when it came to harming another person. You had observed his callous heart, his emotionless eyes, and his complete indifference. His composed and collected demeanor remained unshaken even after he took a life without hesitation. Now, you could only speculate about what he might have in store for an innocent dog.

You felt an urgent need to witness it firsthand. You had to dispel the notion of him being a good person from your mind, and this was the perfect opportunity. It would serve as evidence that he was sick, corrupted, completely in the wrong, and would forever remain so.

You had to see what he was going to do to the helpless animal when a familiar voice called out from behind you, causing you to freeze in your tracks.

"Having an absolute blast, aren't we?" Bradd remarked sarcastically. "This room conveniently provides the ideal windows for our top-notch boss surveillance operations."

You quickly turned your head, giving him a sharp glare. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and shrugged nonchalantly upon noticing your reaction. He proceeded, "I knocked on the door multiple times. However, it seems you were so absorbed in your mission that you didn't notice, and I had to come in without an invitation."

Bradd moved until he stood beside you, and his presence tightened the knot forming in your stomach. T There was an ice-cold fortress shrouded around him, as palpable as the tension in his shoulders. It felt as though he was creating a distance between you, as if you were about to be sent off to war, and he believed he would never see you again.

On certain days, you resented him for assisting the twins, but deep down, you couldn't deny the truth that he was a good man. He had become your emotional support in recent months, and you had started to understand his character. He belonged to the category of men who prioritized only their own family, and anything beyond that circle? Held no significance to him.

At the moment, you were an outsider who had disrupted their usual order, akin to a parasite, just as he had described.

You turned your head, and your eyes widened at the sight of Vash crouching on the ground, using his hands to feed something to the dog. The trembling, bony body of the animal was nestled inside Vash's open coat, seeking warmth after enduring the cold for so long. The dog wagged its tail vigorously, briefly making eye contact with Vash before diving back into the cozy refuge of his coat. You heard Vash laugh, a sound you had rarely witnessed. It was a laughter that seemed to transform him into a completely different person, the kind of laugh that put stars in his eyes and dazzled his lips.

You realized you had never seen this side of him before. You had never glimpsed his teeth, so impeccably straight and white, an embodiment of perfection.

A flawless, flawless exterior for a man with a black, black heart.

It was almost inconceivable that the person you were staring at had blood on his hands. He looked soft and vulnerable—so human. His eyes squinted from his wide grin, and his rosy cheeks bore the marks of the chilly weather. Even his dimples were visible, adding to his overall charm.

He was undeniably the most breathtaking sight you had ever encountered. And yet, you wished you had never laid eyes on him, for something within your heart was tearing apart at the seams. You struggled to comprehend the image before you, as you desperately needed him to be wicked so you could revert to hating him. However, he defied your expectations. You didn't want to see Vash like this. It felt wrong, yet in some inexplicable way, it also felt right.

You believed that the revelations had ended, but you were mistaken once again. This realization left you pondering the extent of what remained unknown and how much more you would discover about Vash in the days and months ahead.

And it scared you.

Because the more you uncovered about him, you found fewer excuses to distance yourself from him. The image you once had of him was transforming right in front of your eyes, becoming something that terrified you in ways you never could've expected. Amid so much uncertainty, all you could think was that it wasn't the right time. It wasn't the right place. Not when there were still so many problems around.

If only your emotions could grasp the significance of perfect timing.

You released a sigh, frustrated with your own indecisiveness. Although you couldn't ignore your physical attraction towards him, you struggled to let go of your initial perception of his character. It wasn't easy for you to abruptly shift your perspective and view him as anything other than a manipulative monster. You required time to adapt to the idea of accepting Vash as a normal human.

"The dog," Bradd interrupted, returning you to the present. "Nicholas used to take care of that dog, but we hadn't seen her around for quite some time until a few days ago," Bradd explained. "Seems like Angelica has taken a liking to Vash as well." Bradd glanced at you from the corner of his eye, and you found yourself perplexed, trying to comprehend why he continued to smile at you even after he averted his gaze. Flustered and feeling strangely embarrassed, you scrambled to find something to say.

"Is there anything you need from me?" you inquired, keeping your gaze fixed on Vash as he affectionately rubbed the dog's head and chuckled, trying to avoid eye contact with Bradd.

"Hm?"

You shifted your attention to Bradd. "You're here. Did you come for small talk?"

"Oh," Bradd responded, scratching the back of his neck while sporting a smile. The creases forming at the corners of his lips and eyes revealed his age. You wondered whether he had a family and if they were aware of his association with mafia freaks.

"I came to see how you're doing and to let you know that Vash wants to meet you in the living room. If you need to change, I'll wait here to accompany you. I know you've likely become familiar with the layout of this house through your very successful attempts to flee, but I still want to ensure you don't wander into the wrong rooms," he said, winking.

You bit your tongue to refrain from responding with more sarcasm than his.

*

Vash couldn't hide his surprise when he walked into the living room. As you glanced up, you finished the remaining Vodka in your glass. "Apologies for once again getting into your alcohol," you said to him, and he blinked in response.

"You're feeling better."

You nodded over your shoulder. "I was thirsty, and the drinks were there while you ran late."

"Yes," he replied, speaking slowly and cautiously.

"So I had a few shots."

"I can tell," Vash remarked, remaining stationary near the stairs, his gaze fixed upon you. He didn't utter a word but slowly advanced into the living room, removing his coat and delicately placing it over an armchair. He retrieved a gun from his holster and another from his back, deliberately positioning them on the table beside your empty vodka glass.

"I want to hurt your brother, Vash Saverem," you blurted out abruptly. It startled you to realize how much you had transformed over the past few months. You felt like an entirely different person—more audacious, hardened, and, for the first time, willing to acknowledge your anger. It was a liberating experience.

"Are you—" he shook his head, then apologized, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

You looked up, feeling the weight of Vash's stare. He appeared captivated as if intrigued by your words. If he didn't fully grasp your meaning, you were prepared to express it differently. "I need revenge," you stated firmly, or that's what you thought.

He took a seat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and intertwining his hands. A wide, amused grin spread across his face, radiating a genuine sincerity that struck you like thunder. Something pricked at your eyes and weakened your knees. "How do you plan to accomplish that, love?"

"I've got plans."

"Is that so?" He leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms over his chest, and couldn't help but maintain a constant smile.

"Yes," you replied, growing increasingly irritated. Vash didn't seem to be taking you seriously, likely attributing your seriousness to being drunk. While you were indeed drunk, you were also very, very serious.

Vash waited, observing your annoyed expression, and nodded once, signaling you to continue.

A familiar, intoxicating buzz settled in your stomach, amplified by the alcohol swirling within your empty belly. Beads of sweat formed on your forehead, and your mouth felt parched as if you had swallowed sand. "Your brother—"

"You can't even speak his name yet talk about revenge?"

You attempted to conceal your surprise, but now you found yourself uncertain why you hesitated to utter his name. Perhaps it was because you feared that he would suddenly materialize, much like summoning a devil by speaking his name.

You slid your empty glass towards Vash, indicating that you wanted him to refill it. Vash glanced at you, and what looked like concern was clouded in his pretty eyes.

"If you want me to mention his name, hand me the bottle," you declared, snatching the vodka bottle from his grasp before taking a large gulp. The taste made your face contort, reaffirming your belief that alcohol tasted like shit when it wasn't mixed with something. You'd die on that hill. However, you did appreciate the burning sensation as it traveled down your throat, spreading warmth throughout your body.

"Knives," you said the name, taking a deep breath. Remembering the adage that fear of a name only heightens fear of the thing itself, you decided to defy that fear. So fuck him and his name! "Are you content now?"

He let out a snort. "Do you honestly believe that you can simply stroll out of this room," Vash said to you, "knock on Knives' door and shoot him in the head?"

Yes. "No."

"Liar, liar, pants on fire," Vash said softly, and you glared at him. "My brother isn't here," Vash continued. "He's gone to deal with a business complication elsewhere."

"He's not here?" you questioned.

"No," Vash responded, his smile fading. "And that's precisely why I wanted to speak with you." He picked up a larger glass from the table and poured himself a whole serving of Bourbon, likely his preferred drink. He downed the bitter liquor in a single gulp, then refilled the glass. He pressed the glass against his lips with his gaze fixed on you. "I need you to be gone until he returns," he said, closing his eyes as he swallowed the entire contents of the glass.

"What?" Your heart picked up so quickly that you thought you might be experiencing a heart attack.

"You heard what I said."

"No," you declared, shaking your head. It's often said that you can't repeat the same mistake twice; for the second time, it becomes a choice rather than a mistake. Therefore, this was your decision.

"Bradd will help you. It's up to you whether you want to return to your father's house or forge a new path for yourself. If you opt for the latter, I'm ready to offer my support—"

"I JUST TOLD YOU I WANT TO GET MY REVENGE!"

"How?" Vash scrutinized you intently. "How do you plan to reach my twin? How will you confront him?"

"I already told you I have plans!" you exclaimed, clenching your fists. "But I require your help," you whispered, filled with both fear and a glimmer of hope. You caught Vash's gaze from across the table. "What if I exploit Knives' vulnerability?" you asked, raising your eyebrow slightly.

"That seems unlikely."

"Why do you think that?" you said, feeling desperate. "Even if there's the slightest chance—"

Vash sighed and ran his hand through his hair, disheveling his perfectly spiked hair. "He doesn't have any weaknesses. If there were any, I would have discovered them long ago. You wouldn't be making such statements if you knew him like I do. Hope will only break your heart all over again."

You dug your nails into the leather that you feared it might rip. However, you resisted the urge. You were well aware of the threats you had heard and your chosen path. "I am an outsider," you found yourself saying. "Maybe I can perceive things more clearly than you—"

"Love��"

"Dammit, Vash! I have to give it a shot. You have to understand—"

"This is not good for you," he avoided eye contact. "It's dangerous for you to believe anyone could harm Knives."

You stared at his resolute and unwavering profile while he focused on his hands. "In the worst-case scenario, I might end up dead. You have nothing to lose, so why won't you allow me to pursue it?" you whispered.

He rubbed his forehead. "I have numerous conflicts to deal with in the coming days," he said, his voice tense. "I have meetings to attend and negotiations with people even worse than my family." He took a deep breath, the air feeling constricted. A weighty silence hung between you. "I understand that you are now afraid of even your own shadow," he continued, his voice filled with concern. "You struggle to sleep, and I know my presence makes you uncomfortable. However, I can't leave you alone anymore. I've lost my trust in Knives. So, I'm granting you your freedom once again. But this time, I'll ensure you truly are leaving. I'm making this decision for your well-being."

"Oh." A pause. Was he sleeping on the uncomfortable couch because he was worried about you?

"Yes," he said—another pause.

"Or," you said to him, "I remain here, and you use me for whatever plan you have involving my father—"

"I don't have any plans regarding that," Vash replied melancholic.

"Fortunately for you, I have made plans, and in exchange, you will allow me to seek revenge against your brother, I mean Knives. I am prepared to face the consequences on my own."

Vash fought a smile but couldn't hold it back. He glanced downward, letting out a small laugh, before locking eyes with you. He shook his head.

"What's so funny?"

"My lovely girl."

"What?"

"I've been waiting for this moment for quite a while now."

"What do you mean?"

"You're finally ready," he remarked. "You're finally ready to fight back."

Shock surged through you. "Of course I am," you replied. In an instant, memories of the unbearable pain and the horrifying fear of being brutally attacked flooded your mind. You hadn't forgotten any of it, but you realized that if you wanted to find peace, you needed to momentarily set aside your animosity toward Vash. Because now that you were prepared to fight, you felt a sense of empowerment like never before. You marveled at how different you felt and how different you knew things could be. You had a lot of things to do, so many scores to settle, and a big revenge to exact.

Everything had changed. The child you once were had succumbed to her foolishness. It was your turn to engage in this game on your terms, and you were not afraid of cheating.

No matter what lay ahead, there was no going back for you now. There were no other choices. "I forge forward or die."

Vash burst into laughter, his expression bordering like he might cry.

"I will cause hurt to your brother," you declared, "and I will make sure he learns not to threaten me."

He was still smiling.

"I will."

"I know," he said.

"Then why are you laughing at me?" you asked, puzzled.

"I'm not," he said softly. "I'm just wondering," he said, "if you would like my assistance."

"What? You agree with—" You blinked rapidly, unable to believe what you just heard.

"There are three things you should know about me, love," he said, leaning his elbows on his knees and interlocking his fingers. "First," he began, "I hate my brother more than you could comprehend." He cleared his throat. "Second, I am unapologetically self-centered and make decisions primarily based on my interests in nearly every situation. And third," he paused, looking down and chuckling softly, "I believe death would be a reward for despicable people like me or your father." He lifted his head. "I've always told you," Vash said, "that we would make an exceptional team. From the moment we met, I've been waiting for you to be ready to acknowledge your anger and strength. I've been waiting patiently all this time."

"That's why you wanted to use me to hurt my father?"

"Does that bother you?"

Your jaw dropped. "What? Of course, it bothers me! Wouldn't it bother you?"

"No," he said casually. "I would feel honored to have assisted."

Words eluded you. You couldn't tell if it was the influence of alcohol or a newfound courage that ignited within you, urging you to let your inner fire scorch others as well. "If that's the case," you declared, your gaze fixed on Vash's face, "then I want to bestow an honor upon you, Mr. Savrem."

He raised an eyebrow. "You want to use me?"

"Yep," you exclaimed, emphasizing the P. "We can hit two birds with one stone."

Vash took hold of his glass and reclined against the couch, looking at you as though he no longer recognized you. Good. When something is subjected to intense pressure, it becomes distorted. It forms sharp edges that can inflict deep wounds.

He lightly tapped his finger against the crystal, and the sound reverberated through the quiet living room. The crackling of the fireplace was the only other sound present.

Vash crossed one leg over the other. "Elaborate," he demanded.

"Do you—like, do you just like men?"

"Why? Are you trying to seduce me?" Vash asked in a relaxed manner, drawing your focus toward him as he sipped his Bourbon and peered at you over the rim of his glass.

His gaze was probing and studious, yet you offered no reaction. Your facial muscles remained steadfast as you replied, "That's what you desire, isn't it?"

A sly grin appeared on Vash's face, accentuated by the dim lighting and the flickering shadows, giving him a sinister look. However, you didn't even flinch in response. He no longer had the power to intimidate you. You had witnessed him kneeling before you.

"Is this a part of your grand plan?"

"Yes," you replied, contemplating how you wished you had a bigger mouth to accommodate more alcohol. It was essential to muster courage for what you were about to say.

"Nothing will hurt my dad more than seeing everyone talk about his beloved daughter fucking his enemy. And about your brother," you stated, taking a deep breath. You couldn't believe those words had come from your mouth. Your ears grew warm, but you had to press on because Vash didn't even flinch and needed him to take you seriously. "He has a vulnerability, and it's you," you continued, and he lowered his glass, tilting his head to the side as his eyebrows furrowed. Encouraged, you pressed forward, "He cut me because he believed you cared for me, and I am growing in you." You let out a mocking laugh, "So, you are his weakness. He doesn't want to share his little brother, and I want to do the exact opposite."

"You didn't tell me anything about this detail."

"There was no reason for you to be aware of it then. However, now I want you to pretend that you have succumbed to my seduction. I know you are skilled at acting, so it shouldn't pose a challenge for you," you said, taking another swig and wincing at the burning.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't fuck you," he stated, finishing the remainder of his whiskey.

The words felt unpleasant on your tongue, but you forced them out anyway. "I don't want a relationship, and If you are interested in the buttholes—"

"For fuck's sake! I've been with women as well. So, let's put an end to this discussion about holes!"

"So, if you're not exclusively interested in men, what's holding you back?" you rushed out. He tilted his head, patiently waiting. "From fucking me," you stated plainly. "You didn't hold back before. What's preventing you now?"

He remained quiet for a moment. "Because I couldn't bear the guilt," he whispered, gazing at you contemplatively. "If it were to happen again, the outcome would be vastly different — you're already aware of that."

You folded your arms. "Would it, though?"

"Yes," he said firmly. "Do you think if I were to pin you against a wall, you would resist initially only to succumb to pleasure eventually? Or do you think you would fight as if your life depended on it, only to end up mentally checking out from the trauma?"

You swallowed, the truth leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.

"I will never claim to be a good, kind, or even honorable man. There is little of that left in me, and the truth is, it was never truly there to start with. I was born with a blackened soul. However, there is a distinction between those who are needlessly evil and those who do wrong in the hopes of achieving something good. I'll leave it up to you to decide which category I fall into."

You realized you didn't need to think about it at all. Trauma had a tight hold on you, but all you wanted Vash to do was hold you tighter.

You downed the remaining Vodka in a single gulp, relishing in the burn as it traveled down your throat. The clock ticked, approaching eight PM. It was the perfect timing since the household staff would soon be present to serve dinner. Why not put on a performance for them? You were confident that at least one of them would discreetly inform Knives about everything.

Adrenaline got steadily released into your bloodstream, akin to injecting heroin into a vein. Rising to your feet, you approached Vash, causing his muscles to tense up as you parted his crossed legs and settled onto his lap. Almost subconsciously, his hand swiftly grasped your waist to hold you. No matter how much he pretended otherwise, it was clear that men were all the same. Their dicks dictated their every decision.

"You'll end up getting hurt," he cautioned, his voice taking on a deeper tone as the words slipped out quietly and deliberately.

" Maybe I need another pain to wash away the one I'm experiencing now," you stated, unreservedly running your hand between your legs, provocatively stroking his crotch through his pants, all while maintaining unwavering eye contact with him.

He took a deep breath. "You're toying with fire," he croaked, shifting his gaze from your face to your hand resting on his groin.

"Then let your flames consume me, Vash," you urged, intensifying the pressure of your hand against the fabric. "Imagine the retribution we will exact upon the men who ruined us."

He tightly shut his eyes, tilting his head back as his lips parted. You reached out and touched him once more, this time with gentle tenderness. You felt his thumb caressing your side. Good.

You wished for Knives to witness this moment, wanting to prove something to the deluded man who thought he owned you. The only person with the right to claim your body was the one you granted permission to. You would allow Vash's hands to explore every inch of your skin, followed by the touch of his mouth. You would let his tongue lick your pussy until you were sated, right before he fucked you until you no longer knew your name.

You would let him because you said he could.

Vash drew you closer, pressing his body against yours and pinning your breasts against his chest. Your breath faltered as you felt the warmth surround you, his arm encircling your waist tightly, firmly locking you in place.

You liked the way he felt pressed against you. The softness of your body molded against the hard ridges of his. It felt... pleasant. Satisfying.

"We can handle this, Vash. Approach it like a business," you whispered in his ear, sensing his breath leaving him and his heart pounding against your chest.

Vash locked eyes with you briefly, and as you leaned in to kiss him, he placed his forefinger on your lips. "No need for kisses. This is not about making love. It's strictly business," he asserted.

As you were about to part your lips to speak, you were interrupted by his soft lips gliding rhythmically against your neck, reminiscent of water swaying the rocks beneath a cliff. A moan rose from your throat, and you immediately grasped the back of his neck, urging him to press his head closer to your skin.

He emitted a low, primal growl, his self-control slipping away. His other hand entwined itself in your hair, adjusting the angle of your head to gain better access. He sank his teeth into your flesh, skillfully exploring with an unrestrained fervor.

You clung to him tightly, pressing further into him. Shuddering with the feel of his hard cock digging into your stomach, his size only fueling your desire. He wasn't small, and that was precisely what you craved tonight. Something that would silence Knives' voice with pleasure, leaving you breathless and thoroughly gratified.

His tongue wrestled with your collarbones, skillfully swiping and lapping while his teeth playfully nipped at them. Another moan slipped free, bouncing in the air until he matched it with his groan.

The grip on your hair tightened, tilting your head back, allowing his lips to roam freely along the sensitive area where your neck and shoulder met.

You gasped as his teeth grazed your skin, a subtle warning before he sank them in. The sharp pleasure rolled your eyes to the back of your head, followed by a long moan.

"Fuck," he cursed, his tongue flicking against your neck as he emitted a primal groan. "That voice drives me wild."

You felt your eyelids flutter as you succumbed to the pleasure his tongue and teeth were drawing out of you. His hands ventured lower, and soon, you felt a firm tug on your jeans. The button popped open in seconds, accompanied by the low purr of your zipper being undone.

On a low growl, Vash inquired, "Is your pussy wet for me like before, love?" as he playfully nipped at your neck. It stung a little, causing you to wince in response to the slight pain. However, his tongue glided over the bite mark, soothing the sting.

"Yes," you whispered, pleasure overpowering the lingering pain. His hand smoothly slid down the front of your jeans and underwear, his fingers gradually moving lower until the tip of his middle finger teasingly dipped inside you.

A low, guttural growl arose from you as he realized how truthful you were being. "Fuck, love, that's it. If you want our plan to succeed, you need to be louder. Don't you want everyone to know we're fucking?"

Suddenly, two fingers delved inside you, skillfully curling to hit that sweet spot. Your vision blurred, and a scream of pleasure erupted from your lips, becoming your sole response. It was the only thing you could do at that moment.

With instinct, you tilted your hips, grinding against his hand. He withdrew his fingers partially before driving them back into you again. And again, until he fucked you with his fingers, leaving you with nothing to do but hold on tightly, your nails digging into his shirt.

You let out long, husky moans that emanated from your throat, obediently filling the space precisely as he had requested.

"You certainly know how to make a scene," he whispered into your ear, punctuating his words with a sharp nip. The heel of his palm pressed firmly against your clit, sending waves of pleasure through you. With his skilled fingers, he elevated your arousal, causing the orgasm to coil deep in your stomach. Then, he rubbed you just right, causing your knees to quake from the intense pleasure.

"Oh," you moaned, your breath coming in irregular, breathless gasps.

In a dark whisper, he asked, "Will you scream when you come on my hand, love?"

You thought you nodded, but you couldn't be sure, for in a matter of seconds, your head jerked backward as your climax escalated, building up to an intense peak.

"Let me hear it," he encouraged. His fingers glided out, only to plunge back in, this time with the addition of a third finger.

You bit your lip as you tumbled over the edge. A cry rushed out, the sound wavering in pitch as deep-seated pleasure engulfed you. Shamelessly, you pressed against his hand, surrendering to the relentless waves of ecstasy.

"So vindictive," he murmured, his voice tinged with satisfaction. Breathless yet possessing a heightened hunger, he took out his hand and lightly brushed it against your lower lip, spreading your arousal. "You've made quite a mess on my hand, love. It would be rude not to clean it up."

While maintaining eye contact, your tongue darted out, the tip sliding across his finger. He smiled wickedly, prompting you to open your mouth wider. Soon, you tasted your own familiar flavor, but it didn't last long as he withdrew his fingers and licked the remainder himself. You never expected such a simple and primal act to make you ache for him even more than you already did.

His hot breath tickled against your face, causing a shiver to run down your spine. As you closed your eyes, you couldn't help but bite your lip when you felt his hands slip into your shirt.

"Vash," you said in a hushed, breathless voice. His warm breath caressed your neck as he leaned in closer. Gentle lips delicately grazed the edge of your ear. Like a cascading waterfall, a torrent of chills raced down your back.

"You're such a good, obedient girl," he remarked. The aroma of smoke mingled with hints of mint and wood enveloped you. The thought of him being delicious and the desire to have him in your mouth crossed your mind.

As if reading your mind, he reached up and placed his hand on the back of your head, his fingers entwining in your hair and drawing you impossibly closer. In a moment of impulse, you did something foolish. You drew his lower lip into your mouth, savoring the taste of him and the feel of his lips against yours. Suddenly aware of your behavior, you let go of his lip, attempting to pull away.

He was like a drug, and similar to the actual substance, he led you to make idiotic decisions.

He held onto you tightly, using his hand to press your forehead against his own forcefully. "I explicitly said no kissing. Right?" His grip on your hair was firm.

You nodded in response.

In return, his tongue traced your chin, descending towards your neck once more. You let out a soft, unintentional moan, and as soon as he noticed your body's response, he nibbled on your skin. He completely consumed you, sucking and licking your body in a way you'd never experienced.

He was leaving hickeys all over your skin, and you found yourself powerless to resist him, just as you were powerless to deny the pleasure that ran through your veins. Another low growl pinged through his mouth, serving as a mere indication of his following action.

He gripped your waist and lifted you. "You're such a good fucking girl," he praised, leaning against your chest before biting your breasts through your shirt and bra. He held you against the wall, his body pressing tightly against yours.

Gasping for air, your feet touched the ground as you struggled to hold up your head, desperately inhaling precious oxygen. He firmly held your cheeks with his large hand, growling against you.

You inserted your hands between your bodies, traveling towards his muscled stomach and firm chest. With force, you roughly pushed him away.

"Wait, please stop," you gasped, feeling a haze of confusion clouding your mind. The heat of the moment had left your pussy pulsating and your senses overwhelmed.

"What did I tell you?" he demanded with a sharp tone. His piercing blue eyes locked onto yours, captivating you in a hypnotic grip. It was difficult to avert your gaze when you felt like a helpless prey entrapped by the eyes of a predator.

"What?" you whispered, still feeling lightheaded.

"You're toying with fire," he reiterated slowly, his voice rough with gravel. Your mouth opened, but the words remained trapped, unable to get out.

His lips brushed against your cheek, tracing a path along your jawline. "Think about the prying eyes behind these walls. Let's stick to your original plan and provide them with something to gossip about," he concluded, punctuating his words with a sharp nip on your earlobe. Your body reacted, arching involuntarily as sweat drops formed on your skin. " I know you want me."

"No," you denied in a whisper. "You're wrong."

He raised his head, a smug smirk gracing his lips. "So, you're going to be a bad girl tonight? Lie to my face and act like your pussy isn't aching to be filled up with my cock?"

A flush of heat spread across your cheeks, a blend of anger and embarrassment. "Not everything revolves around physical attraction," you retorted after a moment. "Maybe my body wants you, but up here," you tapped your temple, "it's a different story."

He nodded slowly, studying your face with a pensive gaze. Stepping back, he left you feeling a sense of emptiness. It was akin to a dark veil encasing the sun on a scorching summer day—a sudden, chilling coldness that seeped into your bones.

He seized your hand and yanked you away from the wall. He twirled you around until you stood in front of one of the mirrors next to the fireplace. You watched him from the reflection as he pressed his body against yours, his warmth soaking into your very being. Your gaze fixated on the mirror, your eyes meeting and colliding through the glass.

He lowered himself gradually, bringing his mouth close to your ear, never breaking eye contact. "If you've had a change of heart, I won't push you into anything and will stop right now," he whispered in your ear, eliciting sparks throughout your nerve endings. His voice carried ominous promises and dangerous new beginnings.

You swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in your throat. The word "No" teetered on the edge of your tongue, like a delicate ballerina dancing precariously at the tip, dangerously close to falling off and breaking her ankle. Because if you said no to this man, you'd spend the rest of your night—week—possibly longer, regretting it.

As he desired, a sense of recklessness and impulsiveness descended upon you. All you yearned for was to surrender yourself to him. You were dying to deny him, yet you had to fight your body from turning and pulling him into you.

Perhaps, just this once, to piss off Knives, you considered giving in.

You rolled your lip between your teeth, and he watched you closely, studying every gesture as if trying to interpret a cryptic language concealed within the contours of your body.

"So you think it'll work?" you inquired, your voice husky and uneven. His mouth remained close to your ear while his gaze remained fixed on yours.

He nodded slowly, his expression serious and his gaze penetrating. "Yes, love," he whispered. You closed your eyes, resignation taking over your body. You couldn't deny the truth to yourself anymore. Even if he doubted the plan's success, you still wanted him to have you tonight.

Noticing the shift, he trailed his hand over your stomach. You stiffened under his touch, feeling goosebumps rising on your skin. His fingers gripped your shirt, gradually lifting it up, parting the material at a painful pace.

"Does it hurt you when I touch your scars?"

Your eyes widened. The man, bearing his own soul's fractures, would never perceive your scars as repulsive.

"Just get it over with," you snapped, frustration emanating from his intentionally slow progression.

A malicious grin appeared on his lips, and even the mirror couldn't diminish the cruelty behind it. "Poor little thing," he jeered. "You miss having a man inside you? Were your fingers not enough to satisfy you? Have you fantasized about me while touching yourself?"

With just a glance, he possessed an uncanny ability to steal the air from your lungs. When his words accompanied that piercing gaze, it felt like you had no lungs at all.

Your shirt fell to the ground.

"What if your men come in?" you whispered, your voice barely breaking through the palpable tension in the air.

He grinned—a mischievous smile that conveyed his indifference if someone did. "What do you think they'd do?" he asked, his fingertips lightly brushing against your scars.

Goosebumps emerged, a tangible reaction from the electricity dancing across your skin wherever his touch landed.

"Do you think they'd watch?" he asked. "Do you think they would relish the sight of your naked body? Maybe they would get off on witnessing your dripping pussy or the rise and fall of your chest as you climax. I even think they would delight in watching your eyes roll back when my cock fills you so fully you can't fit any more of me inside you."

A shot of fear jolted through your heart, forcing the muscle into overdrive. Yet, despite this, your body still reacted more illicitly. Just like his words, you felt a renewed throbbing between your legs.

Would you be comfortable with a stranger observing? You doubted it. But there was something about the way he described the scenario that made you wonder if he would allow it to occur regardless.

"Are you comfortable with others seeing us undressed?" you challenged, breathless while staring at your shirt on the wooden floor.

Vash's fingers traced along your spine, moving slowly and purposefully. Their touch felt scorching, like searing lava against your flesh.

"No," he murmured into your ear. You observed him as his gaze descended, fixating on your chest. The band of your bra tightened, pressing uncomfortably against your skin before loosening. The black cups that held your breasts released, leaving you fully exposed. Your nipples were painfully erect.

When he caught sight of your hardened peaks, his tongue drifted across his lower lip as if he was salivating at the sight. "Do you want to know what I would do?" he questioned. "I would allow them to watch. I would let them watch me fuck you. They would watch as my cock fills every one of your holes and watch you cry with intense orgasms. And then, I'd fucking kill them. With my cock still wet from your cum, I would slice their throats for daring to lay their eyes upon us."

The fear within you constricted, forming a sharp tip that seemed capable of bursting the fragile balloon of sanity you clung to.

"You're insane," you gasped.

This time, he chuckled, his deep laughter sending a shiver straight to the apex of your thighs. "You were aware of this, and yet you asked for it," he murmured absentmindedly.

His focus pulled away, and his hands explored your stomach, delicately tracing the lines of your scars as if he found them captivating. Eventually, he cupped your breasts, his large hands making them appear smaller, barely contained within his grasp. He was a monster. Inside and out. Yet, despite all logic, you couldn't ignore the fact that other than your panties, your jeans had become wholly soaked, too. It seemed impossible for the body to experience both hatred and desire simultaneously.

He forcefully squeezed your breasts, causing you to scream out of pain.

"Be a good girl and scream louder," he ordered before relinquishing his hold on your breasts and moving his hands towards your jeans. You were swamped by confusion and a sense of dread. You knew this was all so terribly wrong. Yet, you couldn't bring yourself to stop him as he hooked his thumbs on either side, pulling your jeans down. First, he assisted you in removing your shoes and effortlessly slipped the jeans off, setting you completely free.

You remained clad only in your wet black panties. Swallowing hard, your heart raced as you surveyed your reflection. Vash, on the other hand, remained fully clothed, his eyes examining every angle of your undressed form. He looked as if he couldn't decide, unsure where to begin.

You resisted the impulse to cover yourself. The act of hiding felt more humiliating than standing nearly bare before an attractive man.

"You need to undress as well," you insisted. There was no way you were going to be the only one left vulnerable and exposed.

Finally, he came out from behind you and stood directly before you. It felt more real when you were not looking at them through a glass mirror. Yet, you couldn't pretend that your pussy wasn't weeping for him and that you were not anticipating the feel of him inside of you. You weren't a victim this time, as you were the mastermind behind this ill-advised situation.

"If you want that, love, then you'll have to be the one to do it," he declared with a raised voice. He regarded you skeptically as if he doubted your willingness to undress him. And there was no doubt in your mind he understood the effect that look had on you. The jerk was well aware of your inability to resist a challenge.

You reciprocated the same level of respect he had shown you. Slowly and delicately, you undressed him, purposefully grazing your fingers against his skin, earning your own shivers and growls of impatience.

You took off his shirt and stared at his scarred and rugged skin. His scars still caused him pain, evident by his reaction when your fingertips brushed over them, causing him to tense and bare his teeth. It wasn't physical pain; these scars had already healed. Yet, they resembled icebergs—seemingly formidable and commanding on the outside, yet concealing something far more significant and menacing beneath the surface. They had the power to sink someone to the depths of their darkest desires, much like the Titanic. These scars wounded him deeply within, and you were genuinely curious about the stories behind each one.

In the areas without scars, there were tattoos. The most notable tattoo was a giant maze extending from his neck to his right arm. You didn't know, but he had a few small tattoos here and there, too.

"You didn't cover any of your scars with tattoos," you quietly observed, running your finger along the maze lines. The tattoos intentionally avoided the raised skin, as if deliberately respecting the scars.

"I don't hide from my failures," he asserted. However, his physical beauty extended beyond his failures. His body was filled with well-defined muscles, strong without being too bulky. His physique made it clear that he could kill you with his pinky without looking like he took steroids for breakfast. And if that alone didn't turn your knees to jelly, the thick veins roping from his neck, down his robust arms, and into his large hands were enough to unravel you.

He was… fucking phenomenal.

He observed you with great care, his eyes burning with intensity as you examined him. He was nearly vibrating beneath your slow perusal, so you moved on and resumed your torture. It took a total of zero seconds before he was bristling with the need to fuck you. You felt so much power in your fingertips, and you couldn't help but wonder how much more powerful you would be if he had a feeling for you.

With every inch of his skin revealed, you grew shakier and wetter. It seemed unjust for someone to possess such flawless allure despite the visible imperfections and scars. If anything, the evident signs of the hardships his body had endured only made him that much more edible.

You choked on air as you lowered his pants, his hard cock jutting out from the confines of his pants. So this was what accepting death via dick looked like.

Once he was completely undressed, you took a big step back and examined the reflection in the mirror. Your gaze fixated on his muscular thighs, firm and shapely buttocks, and sculpted back that had enticed you since that doomed morning. You couldn't help but fantasize about running your hands all over them. And then there was the most gorgeous cock you'd ever seen.

You wanted to run away. Far, far away. To put as much distance as possible between yourself and this man. It was clear to you that he would bring about your downfall after tonight. You could taste it on your tongue.

"Are you scared?" he asked in a low, dark voice. His gaze bore into you, his expression inscrutable.

"Yes," you responded honestly. His smile, almost breathtaking, nearly weakened your resolve. It felt unnatural how strikingly beautiful he was. Without a doubt, he was the embodiment of darkness. Now, more than ever, you were convinced he was the fucking devil.

"You ought to be," he warned, his voice tinged with menace. Without thinking, you took another step backward, but he made no move to impede your retreat.

"Get on your knees, love," he commanded in a sinister tone. You hesitated, uncertain whether to obey or search for the common sense you seemed to have misplaced somewhere along the way into this living room and make a swift escape.

"Don't test me," he growled, his face dropping into a stern expression. Lowering his jaw, he glared down at you with an intimidating gaze. The threat in his face frightened you, causing your juices to dampen your thighs.

You dropped to your knees with a jolt, the impact causing pain. It was exactly what you both desired. He tilted your head back forcefully, making you gaze up at him. His cock brushed against your cheek, serving as a forewarning of what lay ahead.

"You enjoy being a naughty girl, don't you? You like the thrill of testing me because you get off on the fear I instill in you. You're a silly little girl toying with danger," he taunted, his face contorted into a cruel snarl. Tears welled up in your eyes as he held your head firmly, burning just like the inferno of ire and lust in his eyes.

"Tell me, love, have you ever been fucked by a man like me?"

"Better," you hissed, feeling the dormant resentment towards him resurface. Something very dark and dangerous shuttered over his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, and instantly, you recoiled inward. It was a lie. You both knew it.

Good girls don't lie. That was the first thing you learned when you were put in a religious school as a child. The second lesson was not to trust the devil and his influence. However, they forgot to mention the crucial advice of not provoking him once you had fallen under his sway. Perhaps that was considered basic common fucking sense.

Your lip quivered as you scolded yourself for your foolishness. Feelings of bitterness and mistrust simmered just below the surface. You couldn't fathom why you entertained the idea of allowing Vash to dominate and have his way with you without putting up a fight.

"Open your fucking mouth, bad girl. Right now, or I'll make you gag on my cock," he demanded, his voice dripping with threat.

This time, you obeyed. The moment your lips separated, Vash forcefully thrust the tip into your mouth, pushing it deep down your throat. He hissed through his teeth, accompanied by another feral growl.

You whimpered and then gagged as he pushed his dick deeper. It felt like rigid steel wrapped in smooth fabric, but the sleekness did little to alleviate the pain. He was too thick and too long for your mouth.

Tears instantly flooded your eyes and streamed down your cheeks as he continued to penetrate you forcefully. As a reflex, you grasped onto his sturdy thighs, attempting to create some distance. However, he swiftly seized both of your hands, clasping them together in one of his while maintaining his grip on your head with the other. He held your bound hands high against his abdomen, giving the appearance of a woman kneeling in prayer, worshipping the very embodiment of evil.

"Suck it. Now," he growled.

You complied with his command, hoping he'd ease up. You sucked hard, creating a hollow in your cheeks while running your tongue smoothly over the prominent vein on the underside of his length.

"That's it, love," he exhaled, granting you a momentary respite. However, within seconds, he pulled you back towards him, taking control of your movements as he guided your head back and forth while you continued to suck him with your mouth.

He murmured words of encouragement and let out deep, pleasure-filled groans as he became increasingly assertive. Every syllable and moan that left his lips fueled your growing desperation to satisfy him.

"Let's see. Your high school sweetheart, Eren Yeager, he was better than me, huh?"

Your eyes widened in confusion, unsure of how Vash knew him and fearing this conversation's direction. "I highly doubt he was better than me. Who else?" he emphasized the last word by thrusting deeper into your throat, causing you to choke. After a few seconds of struggling, he relented. "Satoru Gojo, Cloud Strife, that boy Zuko..." he continued, listing off every man you had gone on a date with. Admittedly, the number wasn't significant, but it felt a lot considering the peril in which you had just placed their lives. He abruptly jerked your head back, granting you a brief moment to catch your breath as he uttered, "I will enjoy killing each and every one of them, love."

Before you could even form a response or take another gasp of air, he resumed choking you with his cock. Your vision began to blur at the edges as he thrust deeply into your throat. No matter how much you gagged and fought against him, he only became harder and more aroused.

"What if I cum in your mouth, and you swallow it to make your father proud?"

For a brief moment, you glared up at him, your hatred burning brighter than any trace of desire. He smiled, or rather revealed his teeth, as he noticed the anger reflected in your eyes.

"You want it, but you won't damn well receive it. You haven't earned that privilege just yet."

Without any warning, he forcefully yanked your head back, his cock popping free. He gripped your chin firmly, raising you until you were on your tiptoes.

"Vash, please," you whimpered, your vision hazy from tears and your chest constricted from the lack of air. Uncertain of what you were pleading for, whether it was your own life or the lives of the innocent men you had unknowingly condemned to death.

"That's such a good girl," he praised. "I love it when you're scared and begging."

Just as you believed you could finally inhale, he swiftly stole your breath again. His lips closed tightly against yours in a captivating kiss, electrifying your senses. Your nails dug into his chest, provoking a deep growl from him as he dominated your mouth with his own. He claimed he wouldn't kiss you, but the energy between you crackled and exploded, causing both of you to drink from each other fervently. The kiss ignited sparks of fire and filled your tongue with the mingling flavor of bitter whisky.

Poison had never tasted so good.

As your tongues battled for control, he firmly grasped your waist and yanked you upwards. Your legs naturally wrapped around his trim waist just as you felt the cool glass pressed against your back. The mirror's chill threatened to send shivers curling for epilogue through your body, but the heat radiating from his body against yours was scorching hot.

A sudden, piercing bite of pain on either side of your hips caused you to gasp into his mouth. With a quick, forceful pull, he tore your panties away from your body, leaving the shredded fabric caught somewhere between your bodies.

He withdrew and positioned the head of his cock at the entrance. "Spread your pussy for me, love," he commanded.

"No!" you shouted. "There's absolutely no way I'll let you fuck me without a condom!"

"Why bother? You already have an IUD, so clearly, my spawns won't have any chance of impregnating you," he retorted, his tone laced with heavy sarcasm.

"How the hell do you know that?" you exclaimed, swiftly hitting his chest.

"Milly."

So the nurse examined you, checking if Knives had raped you or not.

"I don't want your STDs!" you spat out angrily.

"Who the fuck do you think I am?" Vash demanded, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"A manwhore!" you said.

He pushed you closer to the mirror while glancing between you and his reflection. "I haven't been with anymore since Nick!"

"Oh, C'mon! You fucked a girl on your birthday!"

"I didn't," he said, then relaxed his hold, letting you free.

"But Bradd—"

"I helped that abused waitress to run away," he said quietly.

You tried to speak up and ask him to just fuck you, but the anger on his face silenced you. Just as he was about to move away, you halted him and obeyed his instructions.

You spread your legs and, grabbing his cock, guided it into your entrance. It was belittling when he knew you weren't supposed to want it. And as a consequence of offending him, he was going to make you show him how much you wanted him. By spreading your pussy and inviting him in.

Gods, you hated him.

His hands tightened on your hips painfully. You knew that you would wake up tomorrow with bruises shaped like handprints, and a part of you dreaded that. The imprints left on your skin would make it impossible to forget what happened.

"Do not ever label me as a manwhore," he warned just before he forcefully brought you down onto his awaiting dick.

"Ah!" you cried out, your hands poised to push him away from your chest. He was too much, stretching you wider than you'd ever been. Your eyes rounded into giant saucers as you whimpered in response to the extreme pressure.

You sensed his grith slipping through your fingers as he worked himself deeper. "Stop! It's too big," you gasped.

"Well, tough luck for you," he cooed mockingly, his tone husky and tight. "This is the consequence of being a naughty girl, isn't it?"

When you remained silent, he forcefully pulled you down on his dick harder, causing you to let out another pained whimper.

"Answer me," he barked.

"Yes!" you exclaimed, breathless, as you tightly shut your eyes in response to the invasion.

"Will you behave now?"

"Yes," you mewled desperately. The pain was morphing into something much more intense and breathtaking.

He slid out and then eased back in with a gentler but still angry motion. It felt as if your body was on the verge of exploding. This wasn't natural to be so goddamn full.

He withdrew until only the tip remained, and then he slammed his entire length inside of you. It went so deep that you felt it all the way up to your throat.

You cried out, your voice cracking under the swell of emotions welling up in your chest. It didn't feel right at all.

"Damn, love, I can barely fucking fit."

Perhaps that's why it felt as if he was ripping you apart. He began with deliberate and powerful movements, forcefully thrusting before pulling out at a painfully slow pace, only to slam back inside you once more.

You felt your body starting to yield, eagerly taking him in as he ravished you with each thrust. He widened his stance, using the mirror for support, causing your stomach to tighten in anticipation of the damage he was about to exert on your organs.

Shockwaves scattered throughout your nerve endings as he quickened his pace, roughly fucking you against the mirror while loud noises you never made in your life fell from your lips.

The pleasure was blinding, and the sight of him moving in and out between your fingers heightened the strong desire stirring in the pit of your stomach.

He let you down, swiftly turned you around, and wasted no time before thrusting back inside you. You closed your eyes and pressed your palms against the mirror to find stability.

"Look at us in the mirror," he demanded roughly. It required significant effort, but you pried your eyes open and let them wander over the mirror. It was too much— watching him drive himself inside you so deeply.

Your eyes were partially closed, and your face displayed undeniable bliss. Then, you caught a glimpse of him in the mirror, and your gazes met. A torrent of emotions washed over you, causing your heart to sink, and you quickly averted your eyes. It was the most euphoric experience you ever had.

Your eyes met his again, and a sly smile spread across his face. He leaned in, his lips gently skating across the crook of your neck as he watched you slowly come apart at the seams, all the while maintaining a mischievous grin.

"Now, confess, have you ever been fucked by a man like me?"

You nibbled on your lip and shook your head, resisting the temptation to roll your eyes in sheer exasperation.

He abruptly halted, causing an involuntary, embarrassing scream to leave your lips. He pushed your back down to readjust your positions, and the moment he hit that particular spot, your legs trembled uncontrollably.

"Oh my God," you moaned, unable to prevent your eyes from rolling back this time.

"That's right, love. I am your fucking God," he growled, and then you felt his teeth sinking into your neck.

Your stomach tightened as an orgasm built rapidly, threatening to overpower you. It felt as if a furious Poseidon resided within, conjuring a destructive tsunami that seemed poised to engulf you.

The mirror began to shudder from the force of his intense thrusts violently. It seemed as if it could shatter at any moment, yet you were unable to bring myself to care. Just as you were on the brink of reaching climax, he pulled completely out.

You whimpered, feeling the sudden emptiness almost as if it were painful. "What—"

He took a step back and gestured towards the floor. Your knees wobbled, your balance disrupted by the sharp pleasure throbbing between your thighs. "Get on your hands and knees," he instructed.

You didn't protest, primarily because the absence of the orgasm was distressing, and your legs could barely bear your weight any longer. Frustration welled up, evident in the tearful corners of your eyes, but you suppressed your snarky remark. You knew that he would only escalate your punishment further.

You expected him to enter you once more from behind, but instead, he swiftly slid his hands between your legs and gripped you from underneath your hips. He lifted you, causing your knees to lose contact with the ground, and you had to quickly catch yourself to prevent from falling face-first.

You felt his warm breath fanned across your pussy just moments before his teeth latched onto your sensitive clit. You yelped as pain and pleasure mingled. However, he wasted no time in lavishing attention on your throbbing bundle of nerves, skillfully using his mouth to suck while lapping at your dripping cunt.

He hummed, sending delightful vibrations resonating through your core. "You taste so fucking good," he murmured before teasingly flicking his tongue against your sensitive clit. You gazed up shamelessly, observing him feast on you from behind. You adjusted your head to obtain the best view of him on his knees, hungrily devouring your pussy as if he were famished.

The impending orgasm resurfaced, now even more imminent than before. You were unable to grind back into Vash's face like you desired, leaving you utterly defenseless against the relentless assault of his tongue.

"Vash, please," you begged, your eyes crying with pleasure.

"Do you want to come?" he asked; his voice was breathless and unsteady.

"Yes," you pleaded with a groan.

Vash pulled away, and in frustration, you screamed, pounding your fist against the floor. Overwhelmed by fury from being denied for the second time, you struggled against his grip, thrashing in defiance. He chuckled at your futile attempt.

"You motherfucking ass—"

He abruptly halted your outburst by seating himself inside you, causing his balls to smack against the sensitive nub. You choked on your words, this angle allowing him in far deeper than before. He seized your hair, forcefully pulling your head back, making you look directly into the mirror in front of you. From this angle, you could witness him vigorously fuck you.

"You want to cream all over my cock, love?"

You nodded your head frantically.

He responded with a smile. "Have you been a good girl?"

Once again, you nodded unsteadily.

"Then fucking say it," he urged, calling out your name.

As his gravelly voice pronounced your full name, you instinctively clenched around his cock.

"I'm a good girl," you breathed, too far gone to feel anything but blinding lust. He molded his body against your back, spearing through your tightening pussy. The hand in your hair slid down to wrap around your throat, exerting a firm grip, while his other hand splayed across your stomach. Your vision became hazy, and finally, the tsunami of orgasm crashed through you.

You emitted an ear-piercing scream that nearly rattled the mirror. Vash's name spilled from your lips in a frenzied chant as your entire world exploded into myriad fragments.

"Fuck! That's it, love. Your pussy is incredibly tight. Milk my cock," Vash managed to say through gritted teeth. He concluded with a growl, his hips trembling as he slammed into you for one last time, filling you with his cum until there was no room left inside of you. Your combined fluids trickled down your thighs as you lay on the floor, panting and breathless. Your body convulsed with aftershocks, even after the biggest orgasm you had ever experienced subsided.

You couldn't fucking breathe, let alone move or form coherent thoughts. None of it felt normal. Not a single bit.

Your breath hitched, and your teeth clenched from the feel of him sliding out of you.

Disregarding Vash's presence, you hurriedly scrambled to dress yourself.

As you approached your shoes, a muttered "shit" caught your attention from behind. Turning around, you found Vash staring at his phone, his face etched with a serious expression. He was dressed in nothing but his black boots and loosely fastened pants, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of the well-defined V disappearing beneath the fabric. The glow from his phone emphasized the muscles flexing against his smooth skin, with scars and intricate black tattoos only enhancing his raw allure. The veins coursing through his hands and arms were visibly bulging, and if you weren't already leaning against the mirror, his overwhelming presence would have caused you to collapse. That masterpiece of jagged scars and rugged edges had ravished you completely, leaving you breathless.

You closed your eyes and leaned against the glass, seeking respite. Suddenly, you felt the warmth of Vash's hand on the back of your neck, causing your eyes to snap open. You realized he was pulling you closer, resting your head against his chest and draping his shirt over your shoulders. Assuming that this would be the last time you permitted his touch, you allowed him to slip his hands beneath your knees and neck, hoisting you effortlessly into his arms.

Exhaustion had enveloped you so entirely that his words, "Let's bring you to our room," evaded your weary ears.

Taglist: @julk4e - @lune010 - @beanibon - @emptybrain01 - @changingchances @awkwardchick87 @enchantedforest-network

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DA: dogguard Veilguard opinion (crossposted + expanded from twitter)

I only know about dragon age through osmosis, my friend is playing it while I sit in, and so far my major criticism of VG is that the game is flanderizing its own characters at breakneck speeds and the banter feels incredibly weak DESPITE that aspect being one of the more signature traits of DA

regardless of how the journey ultimately goes, it's an experience that I'm taking notes on as a game/narrative designer for MushRush since you will be carting around a similar number of fantastical companions

read more has more scattershot, but specific thoughts; contains spoilers up to after having JUST finished recruiting all of the companions

disclaimer: I don't know shit about DA LORE, so I'll probably misspell locations, etc., I don't care enough to correct any of it.

the early game has real "shaky first draft" issues where characters repeat themselves or say nothing insightful or at least entertaining. it's gotten better since after the mayor in d'meta, but there have still been some instances of dialogue triggering that makes rook come across as hilariously unobservant such as them noting there are "a lot of undead" in the necropolis you pick up emmrich in. dead bodies in MY NECROPOLIS???

another part that sticks out to me is that the female characters are getting shafted hard since they are all (mostly) introduced before the male characters, so the "1st draft writing pains" get assigned to them

however, neve is unfortunately the Worst Companion so far, followed by harding (will elaborate on her later).

I still don't have a grasp on what neve's companion hook even is- even AFTER letting minathrous get dragon nuked. all I got was "neve is sarcastic and dry and job-oriented, followed around by sprites???" which is a shame since a mage detective should BE ENOUGH but she doesn't have the GRIT of a noir detective or the clever observations of one who is more holmes-aligned. her room does more to characterize her, which is good for the art team but a shame to the writers (even as they try to pepper in more interesting traits about her through other characters)

so we have to fall back to what the game DOES tell us, such as approval/disapproval, of the 2 instances of her showing disapproval, we couldn't figure out WHY she disapproved. (1st was doubting varric could convince solas to stop fucking up everything, 2nd was for leaving the mayor in his fucked up town)

my friend and I formed several theories for something internally consistent:

-neve doesn't like it when you assume the worst of people (tall ask considering what solas was actively doing, but it's a BELIEF) -neve doesn't like it when you doubt/question authority/authority figures -neve believes the gods truly override people (my friend joked "SECRET CHANTRY GIRLIE??") -neve doesn't like that we are "being mean to a man" (this is a joke I made) -neve is a contrarian because when you only have two characters, someone HAS to have a different opinion (this is purely meta and still poorly executed)

whatever it is that makes neve tick, we're probably not going to find out since she's HARDENED or w/e because we chose birdbatman over her (my friend was aware of the effects of the choice locking out Neve/Lucanis content, but debated over the choice because of the LORE, the tipping point occurred when I asked if they cared about Neve content which was an obvious NO)

TL;DR: we are currently getting more mileage/chuckles out of "NEVE DISAPPROVES" during choices than from anything the game intends, UNFORTUNATELY

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next up is harding, harding is a perfectly normal character with some obvious insecurities and now having to grapple with magic. unfortunately the writers have tipped their hand that they care more about harding's LORE ties with the titans/gods than as a character

the most awkward handing of this is when we did harding's personal sidequest of trying to get a handle on her powers (perfectly fine!), but then it just abruptly STOPS because we help some random fucking guy in the forest

the real nail in the coffin came when she (essentially) went "solas seems sad tho )8", despite being the same character that hated she didn't shoot him to stop the inciting incident. I personally would have appreciated if she had more doubts/expressed conflicts about her action/inaction, about it but as-is, the exchange feels WAY too much like the writers taking shortcuts to make solas grey (or god forbid, "GOOD", ACTUALLY). varric is already running interference, having harding do it too just tells me they're willing to throw other characters under the bus to accomplish this annoying goal.

as an aside: when this conversation occurred I said something to the effect of "Harding, no!! Don't make us throw you into the basement with Neve!!!"

----

returning back to the point of how the female characters seem to be suffering a lack of writing effort compared to the male ones- bellera is a noticeable example of this.

her characterization is purely fixated on magictech (fine), she gets more character as soon as emmrich gets introduced (not bad in a vacuum), but despite being present with harding and neve, the most conversation she seems to have is that she can cook different foods and neve wants in on some of the cooking. again it could have been "1st draft" pains, but given how fixed the party is at the start, they should have something more going on, ESPECIALLY since harding and bellera disagree with neve on how the mayor and d'meta was handled! bellera supposedly had people she cared about in this town and she glosses over it fairly quickly. also there's a relative lack of reaction to harding (or neve)'s injuries from the solas event.

----

character flanderization as mentioned WAY back at the start, this problem is (too) quickly made apparent with lucanis

I thought the mention of the coffee (WRT to dealing with spite) was intended as a throwaway line and something that would stay confined to the sidequest, instead it comes up in the banter as well, in addition to him being the demon of whatever (and now having a literal demon, har har). the 'most' interesting banter so far is when bellera asks how lucanis's situation even happened, and it's not BAD but I felt there was flavor missing to the exchange

since both characters are noted to be the "good" cooks of the companions, I thought it could hint at how lucanis's favoring of cooking is NOT out of niceness but because he doesn't trust other people to it since he is 1) a fucking assassin ("he stabs people", I don't care, poison exists and he's the grandson of the crow mafia), 2) was force-fed something that saddled him with spite

like I know there's more parts here, but SURELY something spicier and/or more natural than just the point-blank answer, the man was betrayed and landed in prison for a year AND is supposed to be operating on a lack of sleep because of spite, he can be a little snippy about how his bodily autonomy was violated

----

the last recruits:

davrin (at this time) ends up being on the upper end of characters since he's the MOST GROUNDED/NORMAL. he's fine and closest to what neve was probably intended to be, skeptical, has a dry sense of humor, but can trip up rook (our rook didn't recognize that a name davrin held a grudge against is historical). it probably helps he has assan to bounce off of so he can tread closer to have a 3rd dimension of personality (it's TOO early to tell)

emmrich is a professor of necromancy, he's polite/nice but also has no problems with magicking skellieboys into servitude, I'm hoping this old man has some spice going on. also it's a crime he puts on his human face when he has a SKELLIE FACE. COWARDS. I'll forgive it a little since at least he still gets to be OLD, instead of some freakishly smooth bishonen.

taash is a horse girl(TM) but for dragons. they also have hints of relationship with a controlling mother, I have no expectations of this. I'm hoping this isn't another lucanis flanderization situation but that's probably a different game.

the lords of fortune thing is bullshit however, "yeah we steal items but return cultural artifacts" that better be a PR thing purely b/c rook is in the room, otherwise, holy shit I'm dying. like, writers, I could understand some cultural favoritism, but ALL cultural artifacts? what the hell are you talking about??

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now a main plot writing quibble, just to round it out:

the treviso occupation is driving me insane that they really said with their full narrative mouth that the place with NO military but an ASSASSIN'S GUILD couldn't figure out how to deal with the MOST hierarchy-based military occupying them??? like I get that wouldn't instantly (or permanently) end it, but it just feels absurd!!! what kind of assassin guild doesn't know how to kill ONE GUY, especially when he gives speeches in open areas!

it's just such a HARD SELL that the assassin guild can be so bad at assassination short of some 5d chess backdoor dealings involving the mindrape potions that the antaam were apparently cooking up while avoiding having it traced back to them or something

as for the minrathous/treviso choice, it feels like a missed opportunity to have the macguffin knife be what actually drives the dragon off

like, I KNOW that rook/the player is the center of the world, but you don't LOSE anything by tweaking that detail either, it just comes off as ridiculous that "3" (1) people really would make a difference

anyway, thanks for reading, that was a mountain, we'll see how DA:VG continues

if there's additional DA LORE you think would season my experience (baffled/piss me off/etc.), feel free to comment!