#dueling gauntlet

[yugiohcardsdaily]

Gauntlet Launcher

"2 Level 6 monsters You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; destroy it."

[thedragonagelesbian]

how am i supposed to sleep under these conditions*

*thought about cyrus for too long and got excited

[sleaze4sleaze]

New fashionsouls 4 Mary + new weapon

[sw5w]

The Blast Doors Open

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:52:11

[gabriel-seths-pr-assistant]

Do space marines wear any normal clothes, like something a baseline human in Imperium would wear but made for their size? I'm new to warhammer and in most art of them I have seen they are either in armor or naked in underwear.

Yes, Space Marines do have "normal" clothes for everyday use.

They will often use their power armour for formal occasions since it's more impressive and intimidating — one of my favourite Gabriel Seth moments is in the short story Know Thyself by Andy Smillie when an Inquisitor pays the Flesh Tearers a surprise visit and Seth is literally not wearing pants:

Seth knelt in the Reclusiam’s centre, naked save for an ashen tunic that draped his broad frame.

Seth has to send two battle-brothers to distract the Inquisitor while he scrambles into his power armour to make a good first impression. 😂

However, as I have mentioned earlier, wearing power armour for extended periods of time creates an ungodly body odour. So when they're not in a combat AO, Astartes wear various types of formal, military, or casual clothes.

In general, Astartes are warrior-monks and will often wear monastic robes and habits (which can be quickly shed for a duel or close combat like Jedi in Star Wars:)

However, some Chapters also follow the fashions of their homeworld.

Here are some descriptions of Astartes clothes from the canon:

Ultramarines

Ultramarines are culturally inspired by Ancient Rome and often wear tunics or togas when performing administrative duties among mortals:

— Marneus Calgar.

Messinius was garbed in simple clothes: loose trousers, boots and a tunic that left his massive arms bare. He enjoyed the freedom of movement they gave him. So much of his life was spent enclosed in ceramite, he enjoyed being free of it.

— The Avenging Son.

They spoke in Guilliman’s library, his most sacred sanctum. Guilliman had removed the Armour of Fate, though it physically pained him to do so. Like Maxim, he wore a tunic and trousers. The primarch’s clothes were ultra­marine blue to Maxim’s forest green, and unlike Maxim’s heavily embroidered garb, Guilliman wore no decoration besides the buckle stamped with the ultima that fastened his belt. As usual, he sat at his desk, working while he talked.

— Godblight.

However, Ultramarines also have more formal wear:

Sicarius left his former quarters a short while later. He had donned a gilt-edged red cloak and light carapace breastplate over his training fatigues.

Prabian wore fatigues and light training armour like Sicarius, but he also had a small combat shield strapped to his left arm and wore a sheathed gladius at his left hip. A soft blue cloak with a silver trim swished in his wake.

— Knights of Macragge.

War Hounds

We also get descriptions of formal wear from the Great Crusade era, specifically the War Hounds (early World Eaters):

He looked at Dreagher again. Like Khârn, the man was dressed in white, bands of blue glittering across the high-collared tunic, boots and gauntlets a dark ceremonial blue rather than functional shipboard grey. The Emperor's lightning-bolt emblem gleamed at his collar and shoulder. His dress matched Khârn's own: the formal garments with which the War Hounds symbolised they were about their most solemn business.

— After Desh'ea.

Dark Angels

Dark Angels embrace the ascetic warrior-monk aesthetic to a very high degree:

— Will of Iron.

Space Wolves

Like most Fenrisians, Space Wolves wear furs and deerskin leather clothes:

Arjac moved to the other side of the throne to Fenrir so that he could see the vid-feed from the frigate approaching the space hulk. Like the Lord of Fenris, he was not in his armour, but dressed in a hide tunic and leggings, his arms banded with leather totem cords hung with fangs and bones, his thick belt riveted with iron honour badges. His freshly shaved scalp shone with the speckled starlight from the display. He dragged his fingers through his thick, newly trimmed beard.

‘It’s your pack, you choose the marking,’ growled Ullr. He was out of his armour too, but unlike the grey robes of Gaius and his companions he wore hide breeches tied with thongs from ankle to knee and a fur-lined jerkin that left arms and chest exposed.

— The Wolftime.

Blood Angels

In Dante, Dante himself dresses casually in red and gold day robes while doing office work. In Devastation of Baal, Dante also asks the assembled representatives of the Blood Angels Successor Chapters to attend a meeting in their day robes:

Erwin looked around, his curiosity piqued by the diversity of men who staffed his brother Chapters. As a last symbol of peace (although Erwin thought it more to save space) Dante had ordered that they attend in their day robes. These were almost as varied as their wearers.

— Devastation of Baal.

Blood Drinkers

The Blood Drinkers' homeworld, San Guisiga, is described as a hot, volcanic planet criss-crossed with lava rivers. In addition, a mutation of the mucranoid geneseed organ causes the Blood Drinkers' skin glands to atrophy, giving them very dry, itchy skin. As a result of the hot climate and skin irritation, the Blood Drinkers wear loose trousers and tend to go shirtless:

Chapter Master Caedis worked in his chambers. He was stripped to the waist; baggy, blood-red trousers on his lower half, soft black boots on his feet and a black tabard hanging between his legs – the manner of dress all Blood Drinkers affected when out of their battle-plate. The battle-barge was warm, the way the Blood Drinkers preferred; warm as the volcanic halls of San Guisiga, warm as blood.

— Death of Integrity.

Novamarines

The Novamarines, an Ultramarines Successor Chapter, lean more towards the battle-monks aesthetics:

Like him, he wore a bone-coloured habit, a deep-blue tabard hanging down the front displaying the Chapter badge: a skull surrounded by a stylised starburst. A silver sash embroidered with many campaign markings, the honours of a Deathwatch kill-team veteran, crossed the brother’s chest.

— Death of Integrity.

Entertainingly, in Death of Integrity, the Novamarines invite the Blood Drinkers to a formal dinner before embarking on a joint campaign and then fret among themselves about what to wear when welcoming the other Chapter, discussing the symbolic value of different attires. They finally decide on wearing their armour because they want to show the Blood Drinkers that the Novamarines are ready to follow the other Chapter into battle.

Iron Snakes

The Iron Snakes are heavily inspired by Ancient Greece, which also shows in their clothing:

Barefoot and dressed in a loose white chiton, Priad stood on the marble deck of the observation platform at the summit of the Chapter House's fortress.

— Brothers of the Snake.

Raven Guard

Agapito was dressed in black trousers and a sleeveless tunic. His arms bulged with muscles studded with the silvery wink of nerve shunt ports. His pale skin was shadowed by subcutaneous black carapace.

— Lord of Shadows.

Unnumbered Sons

His wargear was held in a makeshift armoury Daelus had set up at one side of the room. He left his armour on its stand and dressed himself in a loose tunic and trousers, pulled on his boots, and belted his bolt pistol around his waist. It was freezing in the station, but he didn’t feel it, and besides, nowhere was as cold as those millennia on board Cawl’s vessel. It was good to be out of his armour for a while. He had a loathing of confinement.

— The Great Work.

Areios had a few inches on the Firstborn Messinius. Neither of them wore their armour. Messinius was dressed in simple robes, Areios the off-duty uniform of short-sleeved tunic and trousers common to all the Unnumbered Sons.

— Throne of Light.

Knights Errant (early Grey Knights)

Clad in a long chiton of unadorned grey over a tan bodyglove with plastek-seals over his armour interface sockets, he was armed only with a few gardening tools hanging from a leather work belt.

— Luna Mendex.

Night Lords

In the Night Lords omnibus by ADB, the Night Lords are described as wearing robes or traditional Legion tunics (those of them that can still remove their armour, that is).

I hope this gave you a fair idea of how Space Marines might dress when they're not wearing armour. 😊

If others have more examples, feel free to add them!

[gracefireheart]

Once again, did some fanart of @lenny-link TF2 x SU AU, but tried making more fusions! :]

First one is Andalusite [Heavy + Medic] (who I've drawn before already), second one is Iolite [Cheavy + Medic], and the third one is Ametrine [Demoman + Soldier].

[Below the keep reading line, I'll show off the fourth fusion I drew as well, but ended up just-- disliking to hell and back o(-( Also, some notes and such about each fusion]

First off, here's the fourth fusion I did, which was Cat's Eye Tourmaline [Scout + Sniper]. (Side note: I picked out Tiger's Eye as Sniper's gem)

After looking at Steven's fusions with other gems (since Scout's a half-human half-gem in this AU fusing with Sniper who's a full gem), I did notice that basically all of them (besides Obsidian) had some kind of oddity to them. Like Smokey Quartz has three arms instead of four or just two, Rainbow 2.0 is the first gem with male pronouns and has a tad bit strange legs, and Sunstone isn't as humanoid as the other (non-corrupted) gems and fusions.

So I wanted to show that off here, but uh, I just ended up giving up on it in the end o(-( Mostly 'cause I had no clue how I wanted to color them based on the Cat's Eye Tourmaline gem, but also 'cause the overall design ended up leaned a bit more towards Sniper's design than I intended it to do.

Anyways, onto the notes for the other fusions.

Andalusite [Heavy + Medic]:

The duo that imo would probably fuse the most out of the TF2 crew, whether for battle or to just relax together (like reading a book or whatever). So with that, Heavy and Medic would have had plenty of time to refine how their fusion would look like, and making sure both of them like how they look together.

For their fusion weapon, I was thinking about them either having something like Garnet's upgraded gauntlets (the ones with spikes jutting out of it's knuckles), or letting the gauntlets have claws or something.

Iolite [Cheavy + Medic]:

I mostly did this one 'cause of one of the drawings in Lenny-Link's original piece, which made me thinking of Lapis and Jasper fusing into Malachite and all that, which lead me to this. I wanted the design to 1. Make it look chaotic due to the two people that are fused here, but also 2. Make it lean a tad more towards Cheavy's looks to make said guy think that he's the one mostly in control of the fusion, only to have Medic take over take over and do something to trap the fusion and/or get them the hell away from the TF2 crew. Something something angst idk lol

Decided to make Cheavy a [blue] Topaz. Since Heavy's a Topaz as well. I don't have any other reason than that :') Also, I placed his gem on the side of his right shoulder.

The eye goggles change color depending on who is in control. If the two weren't fighting for it, it would be one eye blue and one eye magenta. But since they are, whenever Cheavy's in control, the eyes are blue. And whenever Medic's in control, the eyes are magenta.

Ametrine [Demoman + Soldier]:

Originally, I was going to have them be a Morganite, but decided on Ametrine instead as it fit their color scheme more. Also originally, I was going to give them a knight helmet, but I wanted to draw their hair, so I instead gave them a bandana covering their possibly one eye. Possibly.

Assuming Soldier's helmet (with or without the horns) is Soldier's gem weapon like Jasper's helmet, I thought it would be neat if their fusion weapon [(horned) helmet + sword] would be something like a Morningstar, which they would be able to duel-wield without much trouble.

I've got other lil' ideas as well for this AU, like how Jeremy/Scout was the one that gave these gems their nicknames (Spy, Sniper, Engineer, etc.), how Medic grew a fascination for the organic lifeforms of Earth and how exactly they healed/was able to treat their wounds, and how- instead of Spy being all dead and gone Rose Quartz style when Jeremy was born- Spy is a lot weaker than he should be due Jeremy getting half of his gem. But uh-- I don't wanna go too overboard when this ain't even my AU :')

Either way, I'll probably go and relax a bit before drawing some regular TF2 stuff. But I might do some more fanart for this AU whenever I feel up for it. 'Cause genuinely, I love this AU sm <3

[novaursa]

Legacy (high heart)

- Summary: Tywin was the man who saved you from Robert's wrath. He was also the man who doomed you.

- Pairing: targ!reader/Tywin Lannister

- Note: Be aware of one time jump at the end (back into the past).

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: the judgment

- Next part: the dawn

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround @luniaxi

The crowd gathered to witness the trial by combat. On one side of the arena stood Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain That Rides, a hulking brute of a man clad in heavy armor, his expression obscured by the darkness of his helm. Across from him, Prince Oberyn Martell stood poised, his lithe figure exuding confidence as he twirled his spear, its tip gleaming ominously in the light.

You sat with Tywin on the raised dais, your seat elevated to overlook the proceedings. Despite the warmth of the day, a chill crept through you as you clutched your hands tightly in your lap, trying to mask your growing unease. To your left, Cersei sat with a smug smile, her gaze flicking between Tyrion, standing silently below, and the arena, where her chosen champion loomed like a mountain of death.

Ellaria Sand stood with the rest of the spectators, her dark eyes fixed on Oberyn. She radiated both confidence and worry, her hands clasped tightly as she watched him move with the grace of a dancer.

The announcer’s voice echoed through the courtyard. “This is a trial by combat. The gods will decide the guilt or innocence of Lord Tyrion Lannister.”

Tywin’s face was a mask of stoicism, his piercing gaze fixed on the combatants. When he leaned slightly toward you, his voice was low and sharp. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I couldn’t stay away,” you replied softly, your voice trembling ever so slightly. “I had to see this through.”

He said nothing more, his focus returning to the arena.

The duel began, and Oberyn darted forward with the speed of a serpent, his spear striking out in quick, precise movements. “You killed her children!” Oberyn’s voice rang out, clear and cutting as he danced around the Mountain. “You raped her! You murdered her!”

The Mountain swung his massive sword with brutal force, but Oberyn evaded each strike with practiced ease, his movements a blur of agility. The crowd murmured in awe as the prince’s spear struck again, grazing the Mountain’s exposed flesh. A faint hiss of black liquid followed, the telltale sign of poison.

Ellaria’s voice cut through the tension. “Elia! Say her name!” she called out, her hands clenched tightly as she urged him on.

Oberyn pressed his advantage, his spear slicing through the air. “You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!” He repeated the accusations with every strike, his voice rising in a crescendo of righteous fury.

The Mountain faltered, his movements slowing as the poison began to take its toll. Blood seeped from his wounds, staining the sand beneath him. The crowd erupted in cheers, sensing Oberyn’s victory.

But then, it happened.

In his fury and determination to extract a confession, Oberyn stepped too close. The Mountain, with a final burst of strength, lunged forward, grabbing Oberyn by the ankle. The courtyard fell silent as the massive knight pulled the prince down, pinning him to the ground.

“ELIA OF DORNE!” Oberyn screamed, his voice desperate as he struggled against the Mountain’s crushing weight. “You killed her—!”

The Mountain slammed his gauntleted fist into Oberyn’s face, silencing him mid-sentence. The sound was sickening, a sharp crack that echoed across the courtyard. The Mountain struck again, and again, until there was no sound left but Ellaria’s piercing scream.

Your breath caught in your throat, and before you could fully register the horror before you, Tywin moved. He stood abruptly, shielding your view with his broad frame, his hand gripping your shoulder firmly as if to steady you.

“Don’t look,” he commanded, his voice cold and unyielding.

But you had already seen enough. The blood pooling on the sand, the lifeless body of Prince Oberyn, and the Mountain, staggering but victorious.

Ellaria’s scream tore through the silence, raw and guttural, her hands reaching out as if she could pull Oberyn back from the abyss. “No! No!”

Cersei’s smile widened, her satisfaction evident as she glanced toward Tyrion, who stood frozen, his face pale. “The gods have spoken,” she said softly, though her voice carried the venom of triumph.

You swallowed hard, trying to suppress the bile rising in your throat. Tywin’s hand remained steady on your shoulder, his face as unreadable as ever, though his lips pressed into a thin line as he returned his gaze to the arena.

Tyrion’s voice broke the silence, trembling but laced with bitter humor. “So much for justice.”

Cersei’s gaze snapped to him, her smile faltering as she stood. “You will pay for what you’ve done.”

Tyrion looked up at her, his expression weary but defiant. “I did nothing but exist, dear sister. And that, it seems, is my greatest crime.”

Tywin raised his hand, silencing them both. “Enough. This trial is concluded.”

As the crowd began to disperse, whispers of horror and awe rippling through the spectators, you remained seated, your hands trembling in your lap. Tywin’s grip on your shoulder tightened briefly before he let go, his voice low.

“Return to your chambers,” he said. “There’s no more for you to see here.”

You nodded numbly, rising on unsteady legs as Ser Barristan stepped forward to escort you. The image of Oberyn’s shattered face lingered in your mind, a haunting reminder of the cost of vengeance and the cruelty of fate.

The corridors of the Red Keep seemed longer and darker than usual as Ser Barristan Selmy walked beside you, his ever-watchful eyes scanning the shadows. The clinking of his armor was the only sound that accompanied your footsteps, though you moved silently, still reeling from what you had just witnessed. The gruesome end of Prince Oberyn Martell replayed in your mind like a nightmare you couldn’t shake, the sickening crunch of bone and Ellaria’s scream echoing in your ears.

“You’ve been quiet, my lady,” Ser Barristan said softly, his voice breaking the silence. “Are you alright?”

You glanced at him, his weathered face lined with concern. Barristan had always been loyal, an unwavering presence of honor in a world full of treachery. “I’ve seen far worse, Ser Barristan,” you replied quietly, your voice steady though a shadow of exhaustion crept into it. “Under my father’s reign, such sights were common. His justice was… cruel.”

Barristan’s expression tightened, his mouth forming a grim line. “Cruelty is something no one should grow used to, my lady. Even the strongest heart has its limits.”

You offered a faint smile, though it didn’t reach your eyes. “Perhaps. But survival often demands otherwise.”

He nodded, but the concern in his gaze didn’t waver. “If you need anything, my lady, know that I am here.”

“Thank you, Ser Barristan,” you said sincerely. His loyalty was one of the few things you trusted implicitly in the Red Keep.

The two of you continued in silence until you reached your chambers. Barristan opened the door, allowing you to step inside. A nursemaid was gently rocking Damon, your son, in a cradle near the hearth. At the sight of you, she rose and bowed her head.

“You may go,” you said softly, your tone leaving no room for argument.

The nursemaid hesitated for a moment, glancing at Damon, but then nodded and quietly left the room. The door clicked shut behind her, and you exhaled, crossing the room to where your son lay. Damon’s tiny face was peaceful, his silver-golden hair catching the firelight as he stirred slightly in his sleep. You scooped him up carefully, holding him close to your chest. His warmth was a balm to your frayed nerves, his steady breathing grounding you.

For a moment, you allowed yourself to forget the horrors of the day, focusing solely on the precious life in your arms. “You are my light,” you whispered to him, your lips brushing his forehead. “And I will protect you, no matter what.”

As you turned to sit by the hearth, your gaze caught something out of place on your writing desk. A piece of parchment, its edges slightly crumpled, lay atop your neatly organized papers. You frowned, your heart skipping a beat as unease crept over you. The note hadn’t been there earlier.

Moving carefully so as not to disturb Damon, you approached the desk, your free hand reaching for the note. The script was uneven, the letters crooked and hurried, as though written by an unsteady hand.

High Heart.

Your breath hitched, and you turned the note over, finding nothing else written. The words alone sent a shiver down your spine. High Heart—a place whispered about in old tales and riddled with superstition. It was no place for the faint of heart, and it had been where you were heading before you were captured and taken to Harrenhal. The memories flooded back, the ambush, the desperation to avoid the main roads, and the fleeting hope that High Heart might offer you answers before you were snatched away.

A sudden tapping at the window startled you, and you turned sharply, clutching Damon closer. A raven perched on the sill, its beady black eyes fixed on you. It tapped again, its beak striking the glass insistently. You stared at it, your heart pounding, before it let out a sharp caw and flew off into the night, disappearing into the darkness.

Turning back to the note, you read the words again, their meaning sinking in. Someone—perhaps something—wanted you to return to High Heart.

Your grip on Damon tightened as you whispered, “What game is this now?”

The room was silent save for the crackling of the fire, but the unease lingered, the note in your hand feeling heavier than it should. You placed it carefully into the folds of your gown, determined to keep it safe. Whatever this message meant, you would uncover the truth—though the thought of what might await you sent another shiver coursing through you.

The soft glow of the fire in your chambers danced across the walls. Damon lay in his cradle, his small chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm as he slept. You sat in a chair near the hearth, the note tucked away in the folds of your gown, your mind preoccupied with the day’s events. The omen from the trial and the cryptic message lingered heavily in your thoughts, leaving little room for rest.

A knock at the door startled you. Before you could answer, the door opened, and Tywin entered, his stride deliberate and his presence commanding as always. Dressed in his usual black and gold, he seemed wearier than usual, though his sharp green eyes betrayed none of the exhaustion etched into the lines of his face.

“My lord,” you said softly, rising from your seat. “Is everything alright?”

He closed the door behind him, his gaze briefly flickering to Damon’s cradle before returning to you. “The Mountain is dead.”

The words struck you like a cold wind. “Dead?” you repeated, disbelief evident in your tone. “How?”

Tywin stepped further into the room, taking the chair opposite yours. He eased into it, his posture as straight and composed as ever, though there was a heaviness to his movements. “Poison,” he said bluntly. “From Martell’s spear. It seems the Prince of Dorne knew what he was doing.”

You sank back into your seat, the weight of the revelation pressing against your chest. “And Tyrion?” you asked hesitantly.

Tywin’s expression hardened slightly. “He remains in the dungeons for now. Justice will be served in due time.”

Your lips pressed into a thin line as you straightened in your chair. “Justice?” you echoed, your voice carrying a sharp edge. “This isn’t justice, Tywin. This trial was nothing but a setup orchestrated by Cersei. You know that.”

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze narrowing. “Cersei’s actions are irrelevant. Tyrion is responsible for his own predicament.”

“Is he?” you shot back, your frustration bubbling to the surface. “Tyrion has been fighting against Cersei’s accusations his entire life. She wants him dead, and this trial was her way of achieving that.”

Tywin’s jaw tightened, his voice dropping to a steely tone. “Be careful, Y/N. You tread dangerously close to questioning my judgment.”

“I’m not questioning your judgment,” you countered, your tone softening but still firm. “I’m questioning whether this is truly about justice or about satisfying Cersei’s thirst for vengeance.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the crackling of the fire the only sound between you. Tywin’s gaze bore into yours, and for a moment, you wondered if you had overstepped. But then he sighed, leaning back in his chair.

“This is not a conversation for tonight,” he said, his voice losing some of its edge. “We’ll speak of it tomorrow. For now, I need rest.”

You studied him carefully, noting the faint weariness in his eyes. “Even you admit to needing rest?” you teased gently, a small smile tugging at your lips.

He smirked faintly, a rare expression on his otherwise stoic face. “Even I am mortal.”

The tension between you eased slightly, and you allowed yourself to relax. Tywin stood, crossing the room to Damon’s cradle. He gazed down at his sleeping son, his expression softening in a way you had only seen a handful of times.

“He’s growing strong,” Tywin said quietly, his voice almost tender. “He’ll be a fine heir.”

You rose from your chair, moving to stand beside him. “He’ll need a strong family to guide him,” you said softly, your gaze fixed on Damon. “That includes Tyrion.”

Tywin glanced at you, his eyes searching yours for a moment before he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “You’re relentless,” he murmured, though there was a hint of admiration in his tone.

“I have to be,” you replied, your voice steady. “For Damon. For us.”

He nodded, his hand lingering on your cheek for a moment longer before he stepped back. “Come,” he said, his tone more commanding. “It’s late.”

You followed him to the bed, the familiar routine of sharing the space with him no longer feeling strange. As you lay down, Tywin settled beside you, his presence solid and steady. For a brief moment, he reached over, his hand brushing yours in an unspoken gesture of comfort.

The firelight danced across the room as the two of you lay in silence, the weight of the day still heavy but eased by the rare moment of affection. For now, the questions and the fears could wait. All that mattered was the quiet peace of the present.

The darkness of Maegor’s hidden passageways wrapped around Tyrion like a shroud, the damp, musty air pressing close against his skin. He moved carefully, his mismatched eyes scanning the narrow path illuminated only by the faint glow of the torch he carried. Jaime’s words echoed in his mind as he navigated the labyrinth: “Go, brother. Before Father wakes.”

But it wasn’t just escape that lingered in Tyrion’s thoughts. It was the pull of something unfinished, a need to see—to confront—before he disappeared into the night. He hadn’t chosen this passageway by chance. The secret knowledge of the Red Keep, long whispered among its denizens, had led him here.

The passage ended abruptly, revealing a faint outline of a door. Tyrion pushed gently, the hidden mechanism creaking as the panel slid open. He stepped carefully into the dimly lit chamber. The fire in the hearth had burned low, and everything seemed muted. He stopped, his gaze falling on the bed where Tywin and the reader lay. The Lord of Casterly Rock, formidable even in sleep, lay on his back, his features stark in the flickering light. Beside him, Y/N’s form was turned slightly toward Damon’s cradle, her expression peaceful in her rest.

Tyrion hesitated, his thoughts swirling. How often had he been dismissed, disregarded by the man who now slept soundly mere feet away? How many times had he begged for approval, only to be met with disdain? And now, here lay the child Tywin always wanted—a perfect heir, untainted by deformity or disgrace.

The faintest sound drew his attention, a soft cooing from the cradle near the bed. Damon was awake.

Tyrion’s heart twisted as he moved closer, his steps quiet and deliberate. The child’s violet eyes, so eerily familiar yet strikingly unique with their flecks of pale green, stared up at the ceiling. Damon waved his tiny hands, his golden-silver hair catching the faint firelight.

Tyrion crouched beside the cradle, his torch set carefully aside, and looked at the boy. He studied him in silence, noting the fine features of his face, the unmistakable blend of Targaryen and Lannister blood. Damon blinked, his gaze catching Tyrion’s for the first time. For a brief moment, the child stilled, as if recognizing the stranger before him.

“Well,” Tyrion whispered, his voice barely audible. “So you’re the one he waited for.”

The boy gurgled softly in response, his small fists curling and uncurling as Tyrion leaned closer. “You’ll never know the man he truly is,” Tyrion murmured, bitterness creeping into his tone. “To you, he’ll be a great father, a legend. But not to me. Never to me.”

Damon let out a soft coo, his tiny hand reaching toward Tyrion as if to grasp something unseen. Tyrion’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he hesitated before reaching out, allowing the boy’s fingers to wrap around his own. The gesture was small, insignificant even, but it felt like a tether to something Tyrion could barely comprehend.

“You’ll have everything I never did,” Tyrion continued, his voice cracking slightly. “You’ll be the heir he’s always wanted. You’ll never know what it feels like to be hated by your own father.”

He paused, the weight of his own words pressing down on him. The boy’s hand tightened around his finger, and for a fleeting moment, something softened in Tyrion’s heart. “Perhaps that’s for the best,” he said quietly. “The world is cruel enough without that burden.”

The sound of a faint rustle from the bed made him freeze. Tywin stirred, his brow furrowing slightly, though he didn’t wake. Y/N shifted as well, her hand moving instinctively toward the cradle as if sensing her son’s wakefulness. Tyrion pulled his hand back gently, standing and retreating a few steps.

He lingered for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on Damon. “Good luck, little brother,” he whispered, his voice tinged with both sorrow and resignation. “You’ll need it.”

With that, he turned, slipping back into the shadows of the secret passageway. The panel slid shut behind him, and the room returned to its quiet stillness. Damon let out another soft coo, his small hands waving in the air before settling back into the cradle. The fire crackled faintly, its light flickering over the figures in the bed, none the wiser to the visitor who had come and gone in the night.

The wind whipped through the trees as you urged your horse forward, its hooves pounding against the dirt road. The night was thick with shadows, the sky above shrouded in clouds that blocked out the stars. Every sound seemed amplified—the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the creak of your saddle—as you pressed on, driven by a pull you couldn’t fully explain.

High Heart. The name echoed in your mind like a drumbeat. You didn’t know why you had to go there, only that you must. The dreams had started weeks ago, vivid and unrelenting. A man with white hair and an empty socket where one eye should have been appeared each time, his voice smooth and commanding.

"Come to High Heart," he had said in your dreams. "I must show you the truth. You must see what is hidden."

The urgency in his voice was impossible to ignore, and so you had left the safety of your hiding place, traveling alone through the Riverlands, avoiding main roads, and keeping to the shadows.

As you approached a clearing, you slowed your horse, scanning the area. High Heart wasn’t far now; you could feel it, a strange energy tugging at the edges of your consciousness. But as you moved forward, the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end. Something wasn’t right.

The sound of snapping branches reached your ears, and before you could react, a sharp voice rang out from the darkness. “Halt!”

Your horse reared slightly, and you pulled the reins tightly, your heart pounding in your chest. From the shadows emerged a group of men clad in crimson and gold—the colors of House Lannister. Their leader, a man with a scar running down the side of his face, stepped forward, his sword drawn.

“Well, what do we have here?” he sneered, his eyes narrowing as he took you in. “A lone rider in middle of war? That’s a bold move, my lady.”

You straightened in the saddle, your expression defiant despite the fear coiling in your stomach. “I am no one of consequence,” you said, keeping your voice steady. “Let me pass, and I will trouble you no further.”

The man’s smirk widened as his eyes swept over you. “No one of consequence?” He tilted his head, studying your face more closely. The firelight from a torch one of his men held flickered, catching the pale strands of your hair that had slipped from your hood. His gaze sharpened. “Silver hair… violet eyes…”

You cursed under your breath, instinctively tugging the hood back into place, but it was too late.

“A Targaryen,” the man said, his tone dripping with disdain and triumph. “Well, well. Looks like we’ve caught ourselves a dragon.”

The men around him murmured in surprise, a mix of awe and malice in their tones. The leader stepped closer, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. “What’s a former Targaryen princess doing riding alone in the Riverlands? Running from something, perhaps?”

You straightened in the saddle, refusing to let him see the fear that threatened to overwhelm you. “I am no threat to you,” you said firmly. “Let me go, and you won’t regret it.”

The man chuckled darkly, his companions exchanging amused glances. “No threat? You’re the last of the dragons—a relic of a dead house. Lord Tywin will be very interested in meeting you.”

The mention of Tywin Lannister sent a wave of dread crashing over you. You clutched the reins tightly, your mind racing. “You have no right—”

“Dismount!” the man barked, his tone sharp. One of his soldiers grabbed your horse’s bridle, forcing it to still. You had no choice. With trembling hands, you swung your leg over and slid to the ground.

As soon as your feet touched the dirt, the man’s soldiers seized you, binding your hands tightly with rough rope. “A Targaryen,” the leader said again, his smile growing wider. “Lord Tywin will be pleased. I hear he’s got quite the interest in your kind.”

You kept your head high, refusing to let them see your fear. As they dragged you toward their camp, your thoughts turned to the dreams. What had the man—Brynden Rivers—wanted to show you? Why had he called you to High Heart?

Whatever the answer, it was lost to you now. The dreams that had driven you here felt like a cruel joke, and as the Lannister soldiers laughed and jeered, you couldn’t help but wonder if you would ever learn the truth.

In the distance, the wind howled through the trees, carrying with it a faint whisper. “Not yet… but soon.”

You shivered, unsure if the voice was real or a figment of your imagination. Either way, it offered little comfort as you were marched toward Harrenhal, toward Tywin Lannister, and toward an uncertain fate.

[pukefactory]

Hello!! May I please request a Wildberry cookie first meeting fic with a quiet yet polite and kind-hearted reader? Reader is not much of a talker at all, and is very quiet, only speaking when spoken to. However she is super polite and kind to everyone she meets! And she meets WB while she is outside at a party in the HB kingdom?

· · ⎯⎯ ˖𖤐 PRETTY WITHIN THE SILENCE 𖤐˖ ⎯⎯ · ·

𖤐 Summary: Wildberry Cookie Approaches You At A Party And You Both Bond Over Being More Reserved Individuals

𖤐 Character(s): Wildberry Cookie (Cookie Run Kingdom)

𖤐 Reader Pronouns: Non-Specified

𖤐 Genre: Short Story, SFW

𖤐 Word Count: 938

𖤐 Warning(s): None - Completely Safe!

𖤐 Image Credits: @Devsisters

The party at the palace had long since abandoned anything resembling order.

In every direction, Cookies were clinking berry-juice glasses, diving into ridiculous bets, roaring with laughter. The Hollyberry Kingdom knew how to celebrate. Loudly. Excessively. The sound of clashing goblets and stomping feet thudded in Wildberry Cookie’s chest like enemy fire. He stood like a sentinel near the grand steps, arms crossed, face stoic, watching for the slightest sign of disorder. Or danger.

So when he spotted someone sitting quietly beneath the shadow of a flowering trellis, far from the din and cheer, he paused. Not in suspicion. But in… confusion.

You sat with your hands folded neatly in your lap. Not sipping anything. Not laughing. Not dancing. Just watching. A soft, thoughtful presence, like a candle in a room full of bonfires.

You glanced his way, meeting his eyes—then immediately gave a tiny, polite nod.

He blinked.

You looked away just as quick, but not out of fear. It was a courtesy. You were still. Grounded. Impossibly out of place—and yet somehow, you seemed comfortable here. Comfortable in your silence.

Odd.

Wildberry approached with the weight of metal boots thudding against the palace tiles. He rarely approached anyone outside of duty. Yet something about you—your stillness, maybe—invited scrutiny. Or perhaps, strangely, it invited peace.

“…You are not from this kingdom,” he said, low and certain.

Your shoulders lifted slightly in a quiet chuckle, barely audible beneath the rustle of nearby flower garlands.

“No, sir. I’m visiting,” you replied gently, your voice soft as twilight and laced with perfect manners. “I was invited. I hope… I’m not intruding.”

Wildberry stood tall, arms still folded, red cloak catching the warm wind. He scanned your small plate—untouched—and the empty spot beside you where no juice cup had been placed. You hadn’t accepted any refreshments. You hadn’t joined in any of the revelry.

“…Not a fan of parties?” he asked, though his tone barely lifted from neutral.

You tilted your head thoughtfully. “They’re lovely. Just a bit loud. That’s all.”

“Hm.” A pause. “You’re… different.”

You smiled, unsure if that was meant as a compliment. “I try to be polite.”

“You succeed,” he replied bluntly. Then, after a beat, “…May I sit?”

You blinked. “…O-of course. I mean—yes. Yes, you may.”

And so, the knight of gauntlets and stone-slab silence sat beside you beneath the trellis, his colossal frame carefully lowering so as not to crush the delicate latticework. A patch of calm bloomed around you both like mist parting.

You weren’t sure why he’d chosen you to sit with. But you didn’t ask. And Wildberry found that… refreshing.

Most Cookies who noticed his armor wanted to test his strength. To duel. Or they wanted gossip about the Council. Or they wanted to ask if he really punched a geyser in half (he had, reluctantly). But you sat with your hands still in your lap, content to exist beside him.

And so the silence stretched. Soft. Companionable.

Until—

“…You speak only when spoken to,” he observed.

You blinked. “I do.”

“Not out of fear?”

You smiled faintly. “No, sir. I just… like to listen.”

Another pause. Wind brushed the tops of the trees like a hush across piano keys.

“Hm. I respect that.”

You glanced at him sideways, watching the way his crimson sash moved with the wind. He looked out of place here, too—taller than every Cookie in sight, built like a fortress, carrying centuries of duty in the curve of his shoulders.

“…Do you like parties?” you asked softly.

“No.”

“…Then why come?”

“To protect Her Majesty.”

You nodded. Of course. Duty.

A quiet giggle escaped you before you could stop it.

Wildberry’s brow twitched. “…What.”

“I just think… it’s kind of funny.” You gestured toward the distant chaos where Hollyberry Cookie had slung her leg over a table and was now dramatically challenging Royal Margarine to a juice-chugging duel. “You’re a guard. But she’s impossible to guard.”

Wildberry gave the faintest snort. A breath of a laugh. “That is… accurate.”

The moment passed like soft thunder.

You didn’t push the conversation further. You didn’t ask him to explain himself. You didn’t make assumptions. And strangely, that was what made him keep speaking.

“Most who meet me,” he said, after a long pause, “either fear me or challenge me.”

You looked at him carefully. “You don’t seem like someone to fear. Or challenge.”

He looked at you—really looked—and something changed in his posture. A small tilt of his head. Not a bow. Not a guard stance. Something quieter. Something like respect.

“…Thank you.”

You beamed at that. Gently. Quietly.

It was the first time in hours that Wildberry Cookie felt… not on duty.

Just present.

When Hollyberry Cookie came stumbling down the steps several minutes later, tipsy and laughing and hollering for “her favorite knight,” Wildberry stood quickly, regaining his posture and dignity like a cloak being pulled over his shoulders. You stood too, dusting imaginary crumbs from your clothes.

“Duty calls,” you said with a polite nod.

“…Yes.” He hesitated. Then added, “Will you be staying in the Kingdom long?”

You tilted your head, surprised by the question. “A few days. Maybe longer.”

A pause. Then, gently, deeply: “…I hope to see you again.”

You smiled at him—not brightly, not dramatically. Just honestly. “And I hope to see you, sir.”

Wildberry Cookie bowed his head. Not because he had to. But because, for the first time in a long time, someone had spoken to him not as a knight. Not as a bodyguard. Not as a threat.

But as someone kind. And quiet. And worth sitting beside.

[poppyseed-cheesecake]

The way your hair stuck to your face, wet from sweat and flattened by the very helmet you'd just taken of wouldn't leave his mind for days.

Your eyes wide with excitement, cheeks red from exhaustion and a smile so dazzling it made the sun seem dull. That was you, after winning first place in yet another tournament.

Briefly, you scanned the crowd, and when your gaze found his, you pressed two gloved fingers to your lips before extending them to him, high up on his podium.

He could see his favour, wrapped around the steel wrist of your gauntlet, from all the way up here. You won for him. For your prince. His knight.

But his admiration of his most prized subject was rudely interrupted, when a nobleman patted him on the back.

"Highness, you must not let this knight compete anymore! None of ours stand a chance!"

The mans belly laugh drowned out the crowds cheering, and Xavier was forced to give this man the attention you deserved.

By the time he's finally gotten the man to leave, you and the other knights had already gone back to your lodgings.

Begrudgingly Xavier kept up the princely facade until he too, could finally excuse himself.

As the crown princes personal knight and undefeated champion, you were one of the few ones with your own room.

With renewed vigor he all but ran towards it, only slowing down whenever someone crossed his path to exchange dignified but quick greetings.

After checking his hair in a hand mirror he knocked, only to be met with silence. Two more knocks told him all he needed to know and he entered.

As expected, your steel plate was strewn about, clearly taken off without much care. No sign of you in sight. Ah, and there was your gauntlet, his favour still attached. A frown flashed over his face.

He gingerly removed his glove and caressed the inside of your chest plate. It was still slightly warm and a bit damp. You'd spend the night wiping it down and oiling it, no doubt.

There was no shame in it, when Xavier lifted his bare fingers towards his lips. Salt, oil and leather.

He moved further through the humble room, letting his fingers glide over surfaces as he passed by them.

The rough wooden bedframe, the simple beige sheets. Your nightstand, a wooden crate you'd perched a bowl with water on.

The cloth partition behind wich you'd stored a small wooden tub and a few scentless soaps. Notably, neither your gambeson, nor your spear and sword were to be found.

So you were at the training grounds. After all that, you still worked hard.

Xavier smiled. Of course you did. You always did. And it was all in his name.

Still, it was a shame, he would've liked to find you alone, to offer you a reward in private. If he did it infront of the other knights and soldiers you'd have to keep up a certain...image.

He could wait for you here, of course. You'd eventually return and he could have a word with you just like this. But he wanted to see you now.

And his legs moved before he could even consider anything else.

The training grounds weren't far off, he could hear them before he saw them. Grunts, cheers and the clashing of steel.

The closer he got the more he walked to the side, eventually hugging the wall. He wanted to watch a bit before the crown princes appearance inevitably made everyone tense.

It didn't take long for him to find you.

Your light blue gambeson was stained now, from dirt, sweat and a bit of blood. Despite its thickness, hiding your muscles no doubt rippling with every powerfull move, he could make out a faint dark patch on your back. The summer heat and your hours of fighting had made you sweat through all your layers.

You were in the midst of a duel, a young man, handsome, but not as handsome as Xavier, tried his best to hold his own against you.

Behind your sweat slick hair he could see you smile, you were having fun as you dodged a too wide swing of the lads sword, not even bothering to parry. Instead you stepped in and rammed four fingers into his unarmoured armpit. The lad dropped his sword, and a punch to the gut would've surely dropped the guy, had he too not been wearing his gambeson. Still, his knees buckled and the duel was over. Some spectators cheered, patting your shoulders with enthusiasm. You however, kindly stretched out a hand to the man, smiling, saying words of encouragement and putting another hand on his shoulder and -

Enough. Xavier couldn't take it anymore and he stepped out of the shadows, clapping, plastering his best princely smile onto his no doubt much prettier face.

"Bravo! As expected of my knight!"

The mood immediately changed. Knights and soldiers who'd been lounging about, enjoying the sun, having rowdy fights and undignified little wrestling matches, now scrambled to get up and make themselves presentable.

You, too, turned to him, hand still on that man. Your face however lit up when you saw your prince. With ease that would've made Xaviers knees buckle had he not been standing infront of a crowd, you oulled the guy to his feet. Using only one arm.

And then you turned to Xavier fully.

"Your highness! What a surprise."

While others bowed, you naturally stepped closer to him, ungloved your hand, wiped it quickly on your pants and gently took his.

In a practiced, comfortable motion you leaned down, your lips ghosting over his knuckles.

He wished you'd just kiss them.

But you didn't, when he tapped your chin with one finger, you straghtened back up.

Before you could take your hand back fully he slides a finger underneath your sleeve. It was bothering him. Why didn't you wear his favour.

From this close he could see the flush on your face better, your dilated pupils, your breath, still a bit heavier than normal.

You were beautiful. Would you allow it, he'd get on his knees right here, right now and -

No, everyone was waiting for him to speak.

"What's so surprising about it? My knight won yet again, and instead of in her room, resting, I find her here. Are you not exhausted yet?"

You smile, so so pretty. You are so so pretty. The others shouldn't be allowed to see this smile.

"I apologize. But you must know, your highness, this much cannot exhaust me."

He made a "Hmh." sound.

Xavier wanted to speak to you alone now, but you clearly still wanted to fight. But he didn't want any more of these people to have fun with you.

It was an impulsive decision.

"Then how about a duel with me."

A whisper went through the crowd, and he could see hesitation on your face. You knew he could fight, and you knew he was almost a match for you. But he was a member of the royal family and you were a low ranking noble.

Another finger teased the hem of your sleeve before sliding in, and another pressed into your palm.

Did he make this uncomfortable for you? Should he not have asked?

No, if he hadn't asked you'd have kept tousling wkth who knows how many men, he was confident he could satisfy your desire for a challenge.

It was time to make the decision for you.

Now fully taking your hand, he tilted his head to the side, mustering his most innocent expression.

"Ah, should I not have asked? I suppose you knights would feel uncomfortable with me here..."

Of course, your head shot up.

"No! Not at all! I just...please wear a helmet."

The smile on his face was genuine.

"As you wish."

////////

Your posture was straighter now than when you'd fought the other man. You were taking him seriously. Xavier couldn't help but feel good about that.

The training ground had become quiet, everyone had gathered to watch the prince and his knight duel.

You held your longsword low in fools guard, no doubt hoping for him to take the bait and attack your wide open head and neck. If he did, you would go for his swordarm. Many a duel of yours had ended just like that. But Xavier had been watching you fight for years, so he knew not to do that.

Instead, he went up into wrath, taking slow steps to circle him. You followed, letting this dance begin.

Your eyes scanned him, his posture, his movement. It was thrilling in a way, being so closely scrutinized by you. Having your full, undivided attention infront of all these people.

After a few moments you realized he wouldn't take the bait and changed stances into wrath as well. This was a first hit duel afterall.

You couldn't afford to truly injure the prince, so this would have to do.

A lesser man wouldn't have noticed the way your smile changed. The way your foot shifted slightly and the muscles in your thighs tensed.

But Xavier knew you. And he knew that, if he wanted this to last, he had to act.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Had he not known your sword would've hit his shoulder. Now it slid down his own blade with an ugly screech. He could hear you chuckle and stepped towards your side just in time to dodge your knee.

Distance. Quick he needed distance.

This was how you fought, if your blade didn't hit your punches and kicks would. There was not a second of rest once you'd decided to attack. And now he was reduced to helplessly blocking and dodging blow after blow after blow.

You were relentless and clearly enjoying yourself.

If he weren't the prince you'd try to get him on the ground to grapple, but given his status you'd spare him that. Not that he wouldn't appreciate rolling on the ground with you. Tangled limbs, bodies pressed together -

Ah! He couldn't afford to daydream. You'd been steadily driving him backwards, when suddenly - dull pain in his side. At some point you'd loosened one hand from your sword, and now your knuckles dug into the soft flesh beneath his ribs.

Your face was close, and he realized - this was it.

His helmet hit your jaw, and the brief moment you were off balance was enough for him to kick against your leg.

Immediately you dropped your sword and gripped his shoulders as you fell, dragging him down with you.

It was a reflex, for sure, but you managed to roll on top of him. Your thighs straddling his hips. In the heat of the moment his hands dug into your sides and he cursed the thick gambeson from truly letting him feel you. Only moments before your fist hit his face did you catch yourself.

"Your highness!"

You scrambled to your feet, pulling him up quickly. He mourned the loss of your weight on him, but cheered internally when you frantically dusted down his once pristine white cot.

"I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?"

You fussed over him, removing his helmet to examine his face. Your rough, calloused hands turning his head side to side, lifting his chin and Xavier enjoyed every second of it. There was a red spot forming on your own chin, where his helmet had hit you.

As much as it pained him, he grabbed your wrists and removed your hands from his face.

"Please. It's my own fault for challenging you. I hope I wasn't too pathetic?"

"No! Not at all! Your highness, you've lasted much longer than even seasoned soldiers usually do!"

The earnesty you said that with made him chuckle.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Xavier looked around, the knights and soldiers had been watching with baited breath, and a strange silence had befallen them still.

"Now, may I steal you away? I did intend to reward you for todays victory."

//////

Your shirt was almost translucent from the water. You hadn't dried yourself very well after your bath.

Xavier sat on your bed and watched you toss the gambeson over a crate.

He could see the linen stick to your skin, your muscles rippling with every motion, the subtle peaks of your breasts -

You were entirely too comfortable with this. How you

could you hold casual conversation while you put on more and more articles of clothing. You'd asked for a meal, such a measly little reward, and insisted on washing up before.

Did you always act like this? Did your fellow soldiers and knights get to see this?

You plopped down next to him, talking about the man he'd seen you duel, how he was a new apprentice, eager to learn...all while lacing your shoes.

Why did you smile so much talking about him?

What did it matter if he had potential and why why where you so comfortable when he could literally see everything and -

Before he could stop himself, he'd pushed you down.

His arms caging your torso.

You looked up at him, wide eyed, questioning. No doubt, he had the same surprised expression.

"Your highness...?"

"I..."

Xavier could still go back, say he lost his balance, say this was an accident, apologize and -

And then what? Go back to how things were? Watch you tousle with countless men and women?

"I - I want to touch you."

Curses, that sounded stupid. Wrong.

"...Okay."

"...Huh?"

"Okay. You can touch me. Your highness."

"..."

Xavier swallowed. Hard. This was something he'd dreamed of for over a decade and now he just...got it? Could this be real?

Slowly, as if afraid to scare you away, his hand moved up, cupoing your cheek, stroking the soft, suntanned skin. You closed your eyes, nuzzling into his touch and the arm holding him up buckled.

He all but fell onto you, barely catching himself on his elbow, his face pressed into the crook of your neck.

Xavier lay still, waiting with baited breath for you to push him away. But you didn't. Instead he felt your throat vibrate when you spoke.

"May I touch you as well?"

A choked groan escaped his lips and he managed to raise his head, dragging himself up far enough to press his forehead against yours.

"I would be delighted if you did."

[ducksido]

Hi! I hope you're having a lovely day. I was watching some "Avengers" movies (god, I can’t stop watching the one called "war" or something like that), and out of nowhere, I started imagining—how would the characters from Twisted Wonderland react to a Yuu (preferably male) who’s an Avenger? I was thinking you could take inspiration from different characters(? I mean, maybe a Wonder Woman (in this case, Wonder Man? 😓) dating Riddle, and Leona with Black Panther?? Sorry if I’m not making much sense. 😭😭

Riddle Rosehearts × Wonder Man!Yuu

Powers: Super strength, flight, indestructible bracers conjured from magic. Noble, principled, and terrifyingly efficient in battle. Vibe: You’re basically a walking justice manifesto wrapped in charisma and polite sass.

Riddle tries to scold you for breaking school rules, but the moment you disarm a rogue monster from the Ghost Camera event with your bare hands, he’s sputtering.

“That’s... not how we duel at NRC, Yuu! And also—did you just catch a bolt of lightning?!”

You: “You said to handle it without causing damage to the courtyard.”

He becomes lowkey obsessed with your sense of justice. You believe in rules because they protect the weak—his heart does a full 360. The Heartslabyul students are so confused when Riddle starts blushing every time you call him “your little rose.”

Leona Kingscholar × Panther King!Yuu

Inspired by Black Panther Powers: Superhuman strength and reflexes, enhanced senses, vibranium-clawed gauntlets, ancestral magic from a hidden jungle kingdom. Vibe: Calm, strategic, and a bit smug, with deep loyalty to your people.

Leona thinks you’re just another high-and-mighty noble at first—until you outmaneuver him during a Spelldrive match without even sweating. The audacity.

Leona: “Don’t think I didn’t see that fake-out. You trying to show me up?” You: “Just making sure the prince gets his claws sharpened.”

He finds you infuriating and attractive in equal measure. He respects strength, but he adores subtlety—and you’re both. You challenge his laziness and show him what it means to lead with grace. Over time, your quiet authority makes him soften (just a little).

Azul Ashengrotto × Iron Mage!Yuu

Inspired by Iron Man/Doctor Strange fusion Powers: Tech genius, magical artifact wielder, portal manipulation. A dramatic cape. Vibe: Snarky, charming, and too smart for your own good.

You run circles around Azul in business negotiations and smugly open portals like it’s child’s play. He pretends to be annoyed, but really? He’s obsessed. You two are the “too powerful for anyone else” power couple. Everyone is scared of you both.

Azul: “I’d offer you a contract, but I imagine you’d find a loophole I didn’t even write yet.” You: “Oh, Azul, darling—I invented loopholes.”

The Lounge thrives with your tech support. You built Jade and Floyd magical espresso machines. You made Azul a holographic customer tracker. He’s in love and terrified.

🐉 Malleus Draconia × Stormbringer!Yuu

Inspired by Thor Powers: Weather control, god-like durability, storm-born magic. Can summon storms with your voice. Vibe: Regal, intense, a bit dramatic—but charmingly clueless about Earth things.

Malleus stares in awe the first time you call down a thunderstorm during a Night Raven blackout. You stand in the middle of the storm, eyes glowing, and then say:

“Sorry, I was cold. Thought I’d make some lightning to warm up.”

He finds you fascinating. You're powerful in a way that’s natural to him. The others fear him, but you match his energy—no fear, only wonder. You talk to him like an equal, even when sparking with raw magic.

You two take midnight flights together, him with bat wings, you surfing clouds like a celestial.

Vil Schoenheit × Vision!Yuu (aka “Aesthetic Android” BF)

Inspired by: Vision Powers: Intangibility, flight, hyper-intelligence, and emotional evolution through data and experience. Elegant af.

Vil didn’t know what to expect when Crowley introduced you as a “foreign exchange student from a distant… timeline.” You glide into the room, composed, graceful, and glowing faintly with cosmic energy. You analyze NRC like a poetic computer:

“The beauty of this place… is data arranged into visual harmony.”

Vil's ego was ready to scoff—until you proceeded to walk through a wall, save a Dorm Spelldrive match mid-game by phasing through the field, and then compliment his foundation by comparing it to nebula shimmer.

You’re logical, well-spoken, and slowly learning emotion—especially love. Vil finds himself constantly surprised when you’ll suddenly say things like:

“Statistically speaking, I find myself recalibrating around you, Vil. I believe this is what humans call… affection?”

He is NOT prepared for a boyfriend who phases through mirrors to bring him fresh tea during spa days. But he adores it. You remind him beauty isn’t just visual—it’s emotional, too.

Idia Shroud × Spider-Man!Yuu (aka “Neighborhood Chaos Gremlin” BF)

Inspired by: Peter Parker / Spider-Man Powers: Wall-crawling, web-slinging, spider senses, chaotic hero energy. Vibe: Nerdy, snarky, and charmingly awkward.

Idia has never met anyone who can beat him at games AND do backflips off the ceiling. You’re the only one in the entire school who can sneak up on him—by hanging upside down outside his window and tapping on the glass with a webbed hand.

“Hey babe! Wanna skip class and swing around the school? I found a cool mossy rock!”

He thought you were a hallucination at first. “There’s no way a real person just thwipped onto my gaming chair.” But then you offered him a home-coded arcade cabinet with your webs spun into LED wiring.

You two bond over tech, coding, and being the most awkwardly brilliant people in the room. You call each other dumb nicknames like “WiFi Warrior” and “Web Head,” and you cling to walls during romantic conversations just because you can.

When you get serious (like, defending him from a magical cyber attack), your goofy nature flips into “calm hero mode,” and Idia melts.

Kalim Al-Asim × Captain Sunshine!Yuu (aka “Yuu Rogers”)

Inspired by: Captain America Powers: Enhanced strength, speed, leadership instincts, a shield made from sunsteel. Glowing hope incarnate. Vibe: Sunshine protector who makes inspirational speeches and also loves hugs.

Kalim was already sunshine personified—but then YOU showed up.

You caught a falling chandelier on your first day with one hand, told Crowley “with all due respect, sir,” and then helped mop the floor. Kalim was starstruck.

“Waitwaitwait—are you a hero hero?! Like—defends the innocent and jumps off buildings and helps little kittens cross the street?! THAT’S SO COOL!!”

You both get excited about the smallest things—buffet tables, flower crowns, matching outfits. You're a “power couple” in the most literal way.

You give heroic speeches and Kalim claps every time. You protect others without hesitation. And when he gets overwhelmed? You kneel down and smile softly:

“You shine so bright, Kalim. Let me shield you when you need it.”

He’s sobbing. Jamil is quietly begging you to not encourage his chaos. You do anyway.

[clumsynymph]

“Don’t look up, I think we made the Sun cry.”

Synopsis: A single voice resounded in his mind. Was a soul’s fate still tied to his?

While thinking that he has reached the end of his tribulations, Il Capitano discovers the last ounce of cruelty Celestia bestowed upon him and you. [A Soulmate AU - Angst - GN!Reader]

a/n: I have yet to finish the archon quest (although I have read quite a few things about it and did watch the parts in which Il Capitano was) so there might be some elements that stray from the canon.

Warnings: There are spoilers for Il Capitano's story and the Archon Quest.

Word count : 1295

I do not consent for my work to be used in any way by AI.

Deafening Silence.

This was the very first thing that hit The Captain.

How long has it been? How long has it been since he last heard silence? How long has it been since the agonized screams of his companions had broken into his mind, merging with his soul? While knowing the exact answer to those questions, he was certain that mere words would never be able to convey what he has been through. He had always refused to ask those questions, never wanted to. Even now, guilt ate away at him because he had dared formulate them in his mind. After all, those who suffered the most were his companions. They were the ones who were unable to know rest, stuck in between realms, agony taking ahold of them day and night. He merely carried them with him, listening to their pleas.

Now, they could finally rest.

Before his eyes, a dark canvas stained by thousands upon thousands of stars, some of them fell down, leaving beautiful golden strokes behind them before eventually disappearing in the horizon upon which sky and sea were woven. The Captain…

No, Thrain.

Thrain slowly got up from the sitting position he hadn’t even realized he had kept even after reaching the Night Kingdom. Nothing remained of the throne upon which he had been sitting but smoke. Smoke that eventually faded away in the seemingly infinite landscape. Where was the realm’s limit? Was there even such a thing as a limit in the Night Kingdom? 

One step at the time, he marched towards the horizon.

                 One step at the time…

He began to run towards it.

   Running and running until his unfeeling consciousness had its fill.

His gaze abandoned the endless sky and fell down upon the water beneath his feet. Piercing blue eyes stared back at him, his complexion still mostly hidden away by his helmet. He closed them and, without much thought, his hands -still hidden away by his gauntlets- reached up, took ahold of the helmet and stripped it away. The movement was just as steady as when he would duel. Yet, what he saw in the starry sea faltered his resolve.

Once more, those scars were starring back at him. Old, yet still putrid wounds inflicted to him in times past. Perhaps, his desire to hide them away from the world was partly caused by his own desire to ignore them. Yet, part of him did not want to put the helmet back. He kneeled down and carefully put the piece of armor on the surface of the water, hiding his face from his view. The same fate awaited his gauntlets and armguards. As he removed them, he revealed decay and old bruises to the curious yet voiceless Night. The soft clinking of the metal was the sole proof and reminder that he hadn’t suddenly gone completely deaf.

“They are not the only ones who can now rest, right..?”

A soft, hesitant, almost fearful voice resounded in his mind. Alarmed he turned around, seeking its owner. As he found none, Thrain couldn’t help but feel his heart clench. Was a soul left behind? Unable to reach the other realm’s shore… Was it stuck with him? Yet it didn’t sound as pained as his former companions’.

“You can hear me?”

A gasp had preceded the question, and a suffocated sob had followed it. His guard rose up. Was it another being stuck in the Night Realm? Was there a piece of the deal made by Mavuika that was left in the dark? Seemingly unfazed by his lack of verbal answer, the voice continued despite the strain.

“You know, I really thought that you had decided to ignore me…that was until I heard their voices and then, I realized that you were simply taken away from me ⎯ yet another fate awaiting you... I kept asking myself what we had done to deserve such a destiny. I thought that you would never get to rest, that you would never get to hear my voice because it was drowned in others’ cries…”

Realization dawned on him as your pained voice kept echoing around him…No, inside of his mind. As you let your heart pour down on him, he understood that his fate had been, in fact, woven to another’s. Such cruelty. Why had your life been entwined with his? You had tried to reach out to him, yet he never heard you. You, on the other hand, had to hear the agonized echoes that resounded in his mind. Could you even cut off your connection from time to time? Even if the issue was now resolved, you were stuck with a fated partner that would never wake up. One that was eternally sent to another Realm. You would perish long before him…

Your voice, which has stopped without him even realizing, resumed.

“Nameless Soulmate, please, don’t…You’re suffering as well…”

His frantic thoughts quieted down, leaving silence in their wake. Yet, his voice was the one that could be heard next.

“You’re kind.”

“You are too; I know it.”

Thrain’s eyes looked up, starring at the countless pale stars above him.

“Even if we are destined to never meet, I’m still happy I got to hear your voice, at least once in my lifetime.”

He could feel his heartbeat pick up, reminding him that the organ had been there all along, that it hadn’t yet turned to stone despite the long years and the curse. He wondered, what could your life have been like if he had met you back in Khaenri'ah? How would your eyes have sparkled then? What color were they? How soft would your skin have felt under his touch? Would you have kissed his, not yet corroded, face? What would have been the name of your firstborn? How would your face have lit up at the sight of the sea the first time he would have taken you there…?

A stray tear fell down his face.

And then another one,

                                               And another one,

And in the end, sobs erupted from his chest, his scarred fingers reaching out for his tunic, grabbing at it. All this time, he had never even considered the idea that a monster such as him could have a soulmate, that he would ever get to hear their voice…That this voice would sound so soft even after bearing the souls’ cries while thinking that its fated partner had forsaken it all along. Yet here you were. Despite every buried feeling that was slowly clawing its way back to him, he could still hear you trying your best to sooth him, reassuring him as you could in spite of everything that had happened. Although you had never seen him, you shared his thoughts and have clearly had a good indication of the state of his body, of his skin…You knew that you might never meet…And yet, you comforted him…

When he felt that his voice was steady enough, he uttered a few words.

A few words that didn’t seem to belong to the fearless Captain, First of the Fatui Harbinger or to Thrain the khaenri’ahn Commander.

They belonged to a soul that had shouldered much more than it should have. A bright and beautiful soul, one that had fought selflessly… One that had finally discovered that fate had blessed and cursed him at the same time by entwining his life with another’s…

“Thrain… That is the name that was given to me. What is yours...?”

Yet, he wanted to hold onto this bond, even if it were to never see the daylight. Now that everything had come to an end, perhaps he could bare his soul to you, even a little bit.

A stray star fell down.

Even your name sounded sweet as Honey.

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @star-rie , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 , @hairdryerducks , @hopeaha , @curiously-lazy , @ harriettesthings , @andrealux16 , @wacko-weirdo , @greatdonutenemy , @yougottobekittenme , @anxiousosaurus , @kinkforwings , @someweirdassnamee , @impracticalantlers

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 , PART 15 , PART 16 , PART 17 , PART 18 , PART 19 , PART 20 , PART 21 , PART 22 (You're here) , PART 23

In "Excalibur"

The black knight arrives as expected. Arthur this time lifts the gauntlet before any other knight can do so, much to Merlin's dismay, but at least he now knows what to do.

Kilgharrah: (watching Merlin arrive) Oh, until you finally deign to see me, young warlock.

Merlin: I'm sorry I didn't answer your calls. Many things happened.

Kilgharrah: (analyzes Merlin and realizes) Another old mind in a young body.

Merlin: (confused) What?

Kilgharrah: You are not from this time, are you young warlock?

Merlin: (sighs) I should have known you'd notice. Look, if you're going to give me the destiny and coin speech, I swear that-

Kilgharrah: I find it useless to talk to you about something you already have very present. However, I'm sure you didn't come here just to greet me. If so you would have come much sooner.

Merlin: (takes out the sword Gwen gave him) Arthur, the Once and the Future King of your prophecy, is going to duel with a wraith. It's not in your best interest for him to die, so I need you to reforge this sword so that Arthur won't die in combat-

Kilgharrah: I'll help you.

Merlin: I remind you that your revenge is with Uther, not with… Wait, you'll help me? 😧

Kilgharrah: You have a very strong argument. I can't deny that.

Merlin: And you won't try to convince me to free you in exchange either?

Kilgharrah: I don't want you to see my help as conditional, young warlock. I imagine that's why you've avoided coming to see me. I'll just ask you one thing. Where you come from, am I free?

Merlin: Yes… (Thinking) After you almost turned Camelot into ashes.

Kilgharrah: That's all I need to know. (Raises the sword towards him with magic) A sword forged with my assistance will have great power.

Merlin: I know.

Kilgharrah: Normally I'd say you can only guess, but in this case I know you are very aware, and yet there's still so much you don't know.

Merlin: I know that in the wrong hands this sword can cause great evil. I won't let that happen.

Kilgharrah: That's not what I meant. (comes closer) Do you know why you and Arthur are two sides of the same coin?

Merlin: (rolls his eyes) Yes, yes, the prophecy. We are the half that makes us whole. Arthur is my destiny. I already know all that. 😒

Kilgharrah: Indeed, but the curious thing about the sides of a coin is that, despite being literally glued together, they never see each other.

Merlin: (tired) I don't have time for this. Are you going to forge the sword or not?

Kilgharrah: (forges the sword) Hear my words, the sword must be wielded by Arthur and him alone. You must promise.

Merlin: I promise.

Kilgharrah: (returns the sword already forged to Merlin with magic)

Merlin: (looking at it wistfully) It's just as I remember it (looks up at Kilgharrah again, smiling) Thank you, Kilgharrah. (leaves)

Kilgharrah: Any time, young warlock. (Thinking) It is when the sides of the coin see each other that tragedies occur.

Time skip. Right after Merlin gave the sword to Arthur and just before he duels the black knight.

Merlin: (finishes putting Arthur his armor on) Ready, sire.

Arthur: (smirking) Won't you give me a hug?

Merlin: What?! 😳

Arthur: For luck, of course.

Merlin: (very red and confused) Since… since when are you so fond of hugs? (thinking) You were never this affectionate before...

Arthur: (opens up) I admit I didn't always like them. Wrong, I always liked them, but, as a prince, I'm not supposed to be affectionate. At least that's what my father always said. "Physical contact with royalty is a privilege, it cannot be given lightly" that was his phrase.

Merlin: (realizes, sad) The king doesn't… doesn't hug you much, does he? (Thinking) Now that I think about it, I don't remember a single time he did it.

Arthur: (thinking back) I think the last time he did it I was… 5 years old? Oh, don't look at me like that. I understand why he thought that was the best way to raise me, but it wasn't until recently that I realized… that's not how I want to live the rest of my life, or how I would raise my kids, you know? I don't want to deny myself the giving or receiving of affection, at least not when it comes to the people I care about.

Merlin: (understanding) That's why you hug Morgana more often now.

Arthur: And you. (Extends his arms) So? Will you give me my lucky hug or not?

Merlin: (laughs softly) As if you need it. (but he hugs him, thinking) I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me this and that you want to change. We've never... we've never hugged this much before... It's... it feels good. (melts in the hug)

Arthur: (thinking) I thought I'll never have you like this ever again... (pulls him closer) I don't want this to end. Gods, let me hold him forever. Please

Merlin: (thinking, scolding himself) Stop it! What will Arthur think? (gently separates the hug and says) There, you can go now.

Arthur: I don't think that's enough luck.

Merlin: (confused) Huh?

Arthur: I'm going to need this too (takes Merlin's neckerchief off)

Merlin: What?! 😨 What are you doing?! (He tries to get the neckerchief back from him) Give it back! Arthur! 😠

Arthur: (raising the nekerchief and dodging all of Merlin's attempts to take it from him) I need all the luck I can get, Merlin. And what's luckier than a favor?

Merlin: (very red, but pretending to be upset) Yes, but that's supposed to be with the favor of a lady! Not my-That's not how it works!

Arthur: Would you prefer that I ask a Lady hers?

Merlin: That's not... You don't need it! 😡

Arthur: I could die.

Merlin: (raises his voice in sudden panic) You are not going to die! (Composes himself) Sorry.

Servant x: (enters) Sire, they are waiting for you.

Arthur: I'll be right away. (puts the neckerchief around his arm) Merlin, help me, will you?

Merlin: (ties the neckerchief around Arthur's arm, blushing)

Servant x: (gives Merlin a knowing smile and then turns to Arthur) Your highness (bows and leaves)

Merlin: (sighs, thinking) Great... more rumors...

Arthur: Will you be cheering for me? 😏

Merlin: (snorts) You wish. (Softens his expression) But I'll be there. Just to make sure you don't ruin my neckerchief, of course.

Arthur: (starts to leave, but turns to Merlin) My lady (bows with a flirtatious smile and leaves)

Merlin: (in shock with eyes wide open) What the…? (turns red with fury and embarrassment) This clotpole is making fun of me! 😡

Arthur wins, of course. Merlin was definitely not clapping and cheering loudly and he definitely did not blush furiously when Arthur decided to give back his neckerchief publicly.

"He is taking this joke too far" is all Merlin can think when he gets back to his chamers, but he sleeps with a smile on his face and the neckerchief curled in his hand.

In "The moment of truth"

In Arthur's chambers. Arthur writes at his desk.

Merlin: (enters without knocking) Arthur!

Arthur: (startled, spills the ink with which he was writing on the parchment)

Merlin: Sorry... 😅

Arthur: (sighs, thinking) Some things just never change. (Says) Be useful for once and bring me another scroll, will you?

Merlin: (hurries to take out another scroll and gives it to him)

Arthur: (takes the parchment) Any special reason why you decided to burst into my chambers so suddenly or did you just miss me? (moves his eyebrows flirtuosly)

Merlin: (blushes) I...(thinking, freaking out internally) WHAT IS HE DOING?!😳😱😫. (Says, nervous) I just wanted to ask you if you could give me a few days off so I can visit my mother, sire. (doesn't look at him in the eye)

Arthur: (frowns, concerned) Is something wrong? You seem anxious.

Merlin: It is nothing, my lord. I just miss seeing my mother. I haven't been able to see her since I came to the castle.

Arthur: I see, that's understandable. (He puts the parchment aside and stands to look Merlin right in the eye, seriously) Now the truth.

Merlin: (thinking) Damn it! (sighs, giving up and says) I got a letter from her recently. The village I come from, where my mother lives, is being attacked by raiders. I promise I won't be gone for long, just until I'm sure she's save. She's my mother, Arthur. I need-

Arthur: I understand. You have my permission.

Merlin: (smiles) Thank you, Arthur (About to leave)

Arthur: Oh, take this (throws him a bag with supplies)

Merlin: (looking at the bag) What...?

Arthur: (Searches the room and grabs another bag) And this (throws it at Merlin too) and this (goes to Merlin and hangs the last bag around his neck). Yep, that's all, let's go.

Merlin: (confused) Go where, Sire?

Arthur: To Ealdor together.

Merlin: What? No! (Drops all things) Arthur, you can't come with me. The king will not allow it.

Arrhur: Did you really think I'll let you go alone?

Merlin: (thinking) I mean, you did came with me before, but no so soon! (Says) But, Uther-

Arthur: Don't worry about it. I'll solve it.

Merlin: But I need to go alone!

Arthur: Why?

Merlin: (thinking) Because I need to be able to use magic without you watching me! (Says) I…

Arthur: (thinking) I don't know how advanced you are at your magic, I'm not going to risk something happening to you... And I have to reduce numbers. (snorts) I know you think highly of yourself, Merlin, but I don't think you can take down a mugger patch all on your own.

Merlin: (thinking) If you only knew... (Says) You don't have to do it.

Arthur: True, but I want to.

Merlin: (smiles) I know and I really apreaciate it. Truly. But it's not just a matter of want. Ealdor is in another Kingdom and if there was a word that the Prince of Camelot went there- (thinking) The treaty with Cenred will be broken and it would be my fault again.

Despite Arthur never telling Merlin this in his other life, he knows Arthur going to Ealdor to help him played a great part in that to happen. He remembers Uther was furious with Arthur when he got back and throw him in the dungeons for a week. When Arthur finally got out he had several bruises on his skin. It was the first time Merlin ever consider killing Uther if even for a moment. Arthur never hold any of that against Merlin but that didn't make him feel any less guilty. He can't make Arthur go through that again.

Arthur: No one has to know I'm the Prince. Plus we could take it as a trip to Ealdor and I can finally meet your mother.

Merlin: (confused) Why do you want to meet my mother?

Arthur: Can't I meet my manservant's family?

Merlin: (shuts his mouth helplessly, thinking) Oh, well, at least it'll just be Arthur and me.

Time skip. Outside the castle.

Merlin: (yelling at Arthur) YOU BROUGHT YOUR KNIGHTS?! 😡

Knight 1, 2, 3 and Leon: (standing awkwardly a few meters away of Arthur and Merlin)

Knight 1: He's yelling at the prince.

Knight 2: I think the servant doesn't like us very much.

Knight 3: I feel bad third.

Leon: I'm not even surprised anymore.

[Welcome to: ✨breaking the fourth wall space✨

Me: Hi!😊 I'm the author of this crazy story! An I created this little space so the characters can break the fourth wall, without affecting the trama! They will mostly use it just to complain to me though.

Knight 1, 2 and 3: (to the author) Hey! when are you going to give us names?! 😡

Me: (to the audience) See? (to the nameless knights) Well, I would but, you see. Normally I just give names when they... last.

Knights 1, 2 and 3: (who literally die in the "Le Morte d'Arthur" part) What does she mean? 🤨

End of ✨Breaking the fourth wall space✨]

Arthur: (To Merlin, but raising his voice so the knights hear him) Of course! We are going to carry out a formal inspection of Camelot's border (looking at Merlin meaningfully), or did you expect the King to send his only Prince and heir to the border alone, Merlin?

Merlin: Oh... Oh, right!(nods exaggeratedly and turns to the knights smiling, then looks back at Arthur with too much enthusiasm) Then we better hurry, my lord. (He gets on his mare)

Arthur: (gets on his horse too)

Time skip. Merlin and Arthur riding ahead and the rest of the knights riding a few meters behind.

Merlin: (Just loud enough so Arthur can hear) Did you tell them?

Arthur: Tell them what?

Merlin: 😑

Arthur: Of course (pauses) not.

Merlin: Do you realize that technically we will be invading the territory of a neighboring kingdom? Not only is it a delicate matter, it could escalate into a diplomatic conflict! That's why I told you-

Arthur: Don't worry, I have a plan.

Merlin: (opens his mouth)

Arthur: (cuts him) Before you ask me what the plan is, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. (Turns to give a look at the knights) That way they will have no choice but to obey me.

Knights: (feeling a chill down their spine)

Time skip. After two days of travel, they finally arrive at the border.

Knight 2: Uhm… Sire? Isn't this the border?

Arthur: No, it's ahead.

Knight 1: I'm sure we've already crossed the border.

Arthur: Do you claim to know more than me, Sir Innprudence?

Knight 1: No, sire (shuts up)

[Knight 1: (to the author) Sir Innprudence?! 😡 That's the best name you could come up with? Really?!

Me: (laughs a little) He he, yeah, I forgot I already named you in part 16.

Knight 1: I prefer Knight 1 😒.

Me: Too late, I already changed it 😈.

Sir Innprudence: NO! 😭]

In the forest of Escetir, near Ealdor. Arthur stops and dismounts his horse, so the others do too.

Leon: Have we reached the border yet, sire?

Arthur: Actually, we are technically in Escetir.

Knights: WHAT?!😱

Arthur: Yes, we're on a deck mission. I'll explain. Merlin, bring the bags.

Merlin: (brings the bags)

Arthur: (To the knights) Do you see the village there? (points to Ealdor)

Leon: Yes, sire.

Arthur: This is my manservant's home village and it's under attack by raiders. Our mission is to slay them all and protect this village.

Knights: ...

Merlin: Oh gods 🤦‍♂️

Arthur: As you know, it would be catastrophic if they were to find out the Prince and the Knights of Camelot were here. So (takes some clothes out of the bags) We're going to pretend to be mercenaries. (throws the clothes at each of them) and we will tell the villagers that we were paid to defend them.

Sir Innprudence: And who paid us?

Arthur: Merlin, of course.

Merlin: What?!😨 Arthur, no one is going to believe that!

Arthur: Why not? This is your native village, your mother lives here. You have more than enough reasons to want to protect Ealdor.

Merlin: And where did I supposely get the money from?!

Arthur: From your benevolent master, of course. That pays you very generously.

Merlin: You are mad! Completely mad! (Pointing to the knights) THIS is MADNESS!

Leon: Sire, you know that I support you no matter what, but you do understand you are basically asking us to betray the king, right?

Arthur: That's only if he finds out, which he is not going to do.

Sir Innprudence, knights 2 and 3: (hesitating whether or not to inform the king of what is happening)

Arthur: After all, everyone here crossed the border, so everyone here would be in trouble if the king ever found out. Although, of course, I would not receive such a severe punishment because I am the prince and unlike others I am not replaceable.

Knights: …

Leon: Count on us, sire 😊.

Merlin: (shouts) NO! (To Arthur) You are not going to do this! 😡

Arthur: (with feigned confusion) But, Merlin, it was you who asked for my help strongly, don't you remember?

Merlin: (jaw drops at Arthur's audacity, thinking) This son of a- (says) That's not true! (To the Knights) I didn't ask for anything, I swear!

Leon: Don't worry, Merlin, we understand how things happened. (wraps an arm around Merlin) Surely you only asked him for money to hire the mercenaries, but his highness decided to come himself to defend the village for you.

Merlin: No! I didn't ask for anything at all!

Knight 2: (to Knight 3) He is the favorite for sure.

Sir Innprudence: (to Leon, making him let go of Merlin in panic) Don't touch him! Do you want to die?!

Knight 3: We better change.

Knights: (start changing)

Merlin: I'm not...! I didn't...! (tries to explain, but no knight listens)

Arthur: (smiling, amused) What are you waiting for, Merlin? (Points to his mercenary clothes so Merlin dresses him)

Merlin: (goes to Arthur and changes his clothes, thinking) Oh, you're going to pay for this Arthur Pendragon.

Meanwhile in Ealdor.

Kanen: (on his horse, grabbing the harvest sacks) What's this? Where's the rest of it?

Village chief: (on the ground, picking up the vegetables they made him drop) I only kept back what we need to survive.

Kanen: (mockingly) Survive? (threatenly) I'll be back in one week, farmer, and I want to see all of it.

Hunith: (Runs furiously to Kanen) You can't take our food! Our children will starve! I won't let you do this! (Tries to take the harvest sacks) You're not taking any of it!

Kanen: (hits her and Hunith falls to the ground)

Merlin: (arriving on his mare, shouts) Mom! (Furious, mutters a spell) Miere hors.

Kanen's horse: (gets upset, raising his legs, making Kanen fall off him)

Hunith: (hurries to grab the harvest sacks and runs)

Arthur and knights: (just behind Merlin, they get off their horses and attack the raiders)

Merlin: (gets off his mare and runs to Hunith) Mom! (cradles her face) Are you okay?

Hunith: (very surprised and happy) Merlin! What are you doing here?

Kanen: (gets up and rushes towards Merlin and Hunith with his sword, about to sly them)

Arthur: (blocks the attack with excalibur) Don't you dare... (Breaks Kanen's sword with excalibur) even think about it!

Villagers: (looking between fear and amazement)

Kanen: (seeing himself outmatched, decides to retreat) You will pay for this with your lives! (gets on a horse nearby) All of you! (Looks down at Hunith and smirks) I'll see you later, sweetheart.

Merlin: (about to jump beat Kanen up, enraged)

Arthur: (Stops him by putting an arm in front of him)

Kanen: (leaves with the raiders that survived)

Arthur: (Thinking, coldly) He'll be back with more, perfect. (Looks at the bodies lying there, thinking) 295.

Hunith: (hugging Merlin) My son, how good it is to see you, but you shouldn't be here.

Merlin: I came as soon as I knew what was happening (points at Arthur) and I brought help.

Arthur: (introduces himself) Nice to meet you, Hunith of Ealdor, my name is Arthur. Merlin hired me and my men to defend this village.

Hunith: Arthur? Like Prince Arthur?

Arthur: A very popular name, indeed.

Hunith: (smiles) I sincerely thank you for what you're doing, Arthur. You are very chivalrous for a mercenary. (sees the knights in the distance, who are helping the women and children) You all seem very chivalrous to be mercenaries.

Arthur: Uh... We get paid well.

Will: (approaches Merlin) You're still up to the same old tricks? I thought I told you we don't want your kind here.

Merlin: ...

Will: (confused) Merlin?

Merlin: (suddenly breaks down crying)

Arthur: (angry, to Will, ready to beat him up right there) What's wrong with you?! 😡

Will: (in panic, worried) I was kidding! Merlin, that's how we always mess with each other! I did not mean-

Merlin: (his crying turns into laughter) Ha! I got you. (Hugs Will) I missed you too, Will. (Thinking) I missed you so much.

Arthur: (coughs, definitely not jealous) Merlin, gather the villagers, I need to talk to them.

Merlin: (pulls away from the hug) Yes, right away. (about to leave)

Will: Wait. You let him give you orders? I thought you hired him.

Merlin: (in realization and smiles evilly) It's true. (hits Arthur arms) You! How insolent! Is this how you treat your employer? You gather the villagers!

Arthur: (About to yell at him, but remembers that Hunith and Will are there and stops himself) Sorry, I thought you might want to do it yourself. I'll do it right away. (Thinking) Wait until we return to Camelot, you dollophead.

Merlin: (thinking) Oh, this is going to be fun.

...

I know this kind of feels like a filler, but it's important I swear! What did Kilgharrah meant? Can Merlin save Will this time? Will the rest of the Kmights get to have names? Find out in the next episode of ✨"Merlin: the Mistress in denial" ✨

[terkmc]

G-Jitsu, grappling in spaaaace

While comparatively rare, melee combat in low-to-zero-G has proved a massive headache for early combatants in space, as much of the underlying principles of terrestrial martial art no longer work properly without solid ground and footing. For example, the turning of the hip crucial to throwing a proper punch of a slash instead results in the fighter spinning in place while in zero G, and direct strikes will often result in both the attacker and defender floating harmlessly away from each other. Early space melee combat was a messy affair and doubly so for unarmed combat, resembling wild flailing more than any proper techniques.

But as with almost everything else, time was needed for adaptation to take place, and slowly but surely various forms of dedicated zero-G martial arts started to appear, chief amongst them G-Jitsu. Originally a series of ad hocs techniques invented by station security and interstellar marines, G-Jitsu is a primarily grappling based martial art, anchoring the user to their opponent instead of the ground in order to do anything effective in space. Comprising of a vast series of grapple, throw, joint locks and close ranged strikes incorporating elbows and knees, G-Jitsu resembles old Cradle Judo and Jiu Jitsu preserved from the Vault, with the lack of gravity opening up a vast arrays of free form grappling maneuver impossible planet side.

G-Jitsu core tenet is often phrased as “Never Let Go”, representing its extreme focus on grappling and always having a hand on the opponent, as well as the importance of endurance conditioning. Spacing is almost non-existent in G-Jitsu, and a bout of G-Jitsu will almost always start and end with the fighters never being more than an arms length from each other. A G-Jitsu fight is a brutal affair, a long drawn out brawl leaving the loser with broken joints and shattered helmets, and the winner bloodied and bruised.

G-Jitsu is extremely popular among various space station security forces, allowing practitioners to grab, apprehend and force compliance through its various locks and holds, as well as Trunk security and marines, who are expected to sometime be forced to engage in melee combats inside the cramped corridor of a ship with gravity being a luxury.

Due to its spontaneous origin, there’s no central authority on what G-Jitsu actually consists of, although there is a list of almost universally agreed on basic techniques that forms a basic foundation, and there exists dozens of schools all claiming to be the original and true inheritor of G-Jitsu. As a side effect of this, G-Jitsu has no certification or quality control, making assessing the quality of any particular G-Jitsu training wholly dependent on word of mouth and reputation.

KAY

Kay deserves a special mention due to it being a formalized dueling ritual in what is otherwise a free form and unformalized martial art. Named after the original K1 Safety Tether used during early space combat, a Kay is a 1-on-1 duel between two combatants, willingly tied together.

The initiator of a Kay will initiate a challenge by locking eyes with their opponent, and tap on their tether system (commonly waist mounted) twice before pointing at the opponent. If this proverbial gauntlet throw is accepted, the challenged party will also tap on their tether system twice, and both will then launch their tether at the opponent. Once launched, these tethers are grabbed by the opposing party and looped around the waist before being reeled in, officially locking the two in a mortal struggle from which there's no retreat.

While mostly relegated to official competition or personal fights, the use of Kay has been noted to sometimes happen during active combat, almost always as a form of honor duel between fighters who have a history, and with a noted increase in frequency the closer one gets to the Karrakin Trade Baronies’s space.

[blasphemousclaw]

Do you have any overall thoughts and ideas regarding Hornsent culture? Because it’s very strange for me — spirits, spirals, crucible energy, but also the Erdtree/Crucible and influences of Gold are apparent. Marika taking notes lol. I’ve seen people point out that there are many hornless depictions of people in both the settlement and tower. Perhaps ancestors of the clan? Before their crucible blessings with the birds and… nude warriors? (horned warrior greaves description lol).

yeah I think its likely the Golden Order was influenced by many aspects of hornsent society! The most obvious similarity is that both societies are associated with gold…

and, while the hornsent worship the Crucible and the people of the Erdtree worship the Erdtree (duh), there is actually not so much of a difference between those two things! The Aspect of the Crucible incantations are considered to be “ancient Erdtree incantations:”

“One of the ancient Erdtree incantations. Creates a mighty horn on the caster's shoulder to gore foes from a low stance. Charging allows the caster to barrel into foes before delivering the final attack. This is a manifestation of the Erdtree's primal vital energies - an aspect of the primordial crucible, where all life was once blended together.” (Aspect of the Crucible: Horns)

They suggest that the Erdtree literally originates from the primordial Crucible, so its power is essentially a manifestation of the Crucible! And look at that, “horns” and “Erdtree” being used together in a positive context!

However, in recent times, the people of the Erdtree seem to have turned their backs on the Crucible, disdaining its manifestations (like horns) as primitive and uncivilized:

“A vestige of the crucible of primordial life. Born partially of devolution, it was considered a signifier of the divine in ancient times, but is now increasingly disdained as an impurity as civilization has advanced.” (Crucible Knot Talisman)

“Gauntlets of the Crucible Knights who served Godfrey, the first Elden Lord. Hold the power of the crucible of life, the primordial form of the Erdtree. Strengthen Aspects of the Crucible incantations. In time, the strength shown by these knights, and even their appearance, was seen as chaotic and deserving of scorn.” (Crucible Gauntlets)

Because of this treatment, some Crucible Knights seem to no longer be loyal to the Erdtree (most prominently, Tanith’s knight). But what’s interesting is that Messmer’s Black Knights still use Crucible incantations in their crusade against the hornsent! I think this is for the same reason that they still have traditions of ritual combat, despite the practice dying out in the lands of the Erdtree:

“An armament once used in ritual combat performed to honor the Erdtree—a custom that had somehow remained within the realm of shadow.” (Dueling Shield)

“A talisman patterned after shields used in ritual combat held to honor the Erdtree. Raises defense when HP is at maximum. The practice had died out by the age of King Consort Radagon, but remains of the arenas where ritual combat took place can still be found in every land.” (Ritual Shield Talisman)

(Ritual Shield Talisman vs. Crucible Hornshield)

The traditional armaments of ritual combat are the same ones used by the Crucible Knights, meaning ritual combat is associated with an EARLIER age of the Erdtree, one that was more friendly towards the Crucible. Since Messmer’s army left for the crusade when Caria and the Erdtree were still on friendly terms, I’m guessing that around that time, attitudes around ritual combat and the Crucible had not yet soured for most people. To Messmer’s army, the Crucible is probably still revered as the Erdtree’s primordial form, and the hornsent are “impure” not because they worship the Crucible, but because they are not blessed by the Erdtree.

There’s also a direct comparison between the hornsent inquisition’s golden barbs and the Golden Order in the description of the Golden Crux skill on the Greatsword of Damnation:

“Leap up and skewer foe from overhead. If successful, the weapon's barbs unfold to excruciate from within; else, additional input releases barbs in the area. There is something of the Golden Order in the sight of those fixed upon this crux.”

It’s definitely drawing a visual similarity between these two factions; the golden barbs remind me a lot of Marika’s crucifixion:

I think the description could also be hinting at both societies’ capacities for violence? In any case, I’m pretty sure the comparison is supposed to make us think that the hornsent and the Erdtree have more in common than they seem!

and lastly, yeahh it’s so interesting that most of the figures in hornsent art don’t seem to have horns (or they’re covered and aren’t huge and impressive)? That makes me think maybe the tower civilization is even older than the Crucible “bestowing” horns upon the tower folk… unless horns were less common back then, and they only began with very spiritually important people, blessed with “evolutionary gifts” from the Crucible? Maybe developing horns as a society happened as a result of cultivating the Crucible’s raw power over a long period of time?

[bathtubbbbbbbbb]

Can we talk about for a minute about the similarities/parallels between Ambessa & Vi? Like both of their main color schemes are red & black, they both have ‘the wolf’ motif going on, & they both wield duel hand held weapons — gauntlets & dual chakram.

Also a thought branching off from this — I feel like Jinx is much more of a lamb than a wolf if you’re comparing her to the different sides of Kindred — first she wields long range weapons, guns, comparable to bows, & she has excellent aim — & second she’s pretty apathetic in the face of death & very accepting of it, actively seeking out her own at times. When Vi & Powder find their dead mom although it looks like Powder had been crying at one point it’s Vi who visibly breaks down when faced with death.

Edit: OH & how could I forget both Vi & young Ambessa have red hair.

[linkspooky]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Analysis: Ryo vs Yubel

Time for more Duel analysis, a series where I overanalyze two characters standing around playing a children's card game. This is the first of a three part series where I cover what I refer to as the "Yubel Gauntlet", the four successive duels against Yubel at the end of season three. We're going to start with Ryo vs Yubel, while this duel may not be as revealing to Yubel's character as the later duels there are a lot of interesting parallels at play between these two characters if you dig a little deeper - MORE UNDER THE CUT.

In Yu-Gi-Oh duels are meant to be a clash of the two participants ideals. In the best duels we learn more about the characters participating from lots of factors, deck composition, play strategies and the dialogue in between turns. Duels in general are a pretty major focus of Yu-Gi-Oh! taking up a lot of screentime so of course writers have to use them as a vehicles for character and theme. There's a lot more thought put into duel-writing then meets the eye.

Ryo vs. Yubel is meant to be the ending to Hell Kaiser's tragic character arc, so there is a lot more focus on Ryo then Yubel. The most revealing duel about Yubel's character comes in the duel right after against Amon which I'm going to cover in the next post. That being said, there is a lot of interesting foiling going on in the duel itself. Foiling is drawing a comparison between characters to highlight aspects of a certain character, a subtle method of characterization to inform us of a character without directly telling the audience.

We're going to cover the foiling first before we get into the duel itself. Starting with a major foiling point between Ryo and Yubel, neither of them are really focused on their opponent. They're both instead focused on Judai, Yubel wants to execute Ryo to send a message to Judai and Ryo wants to duel the person in Johan's body because Johan reminds him of Judai the person he had his last significant duel before his mental breakdown.

RYO VS. JUDAI: THE KAISER AND SUPREME KING

There are a lot of immediate connections to be drawn between Judai and Ryo. Ryo gives Judai his first defeat, Sho puts both of them on a pedestal, and Ryo is probably Judai's second most important rival (the fandom has been arguing for 20 years whether Manjoume or Ryo counts as Judai's main rival so I'm not going to touch this). The most significant common factor between these two characters in season three however, is that Ryo's season two mental breakdown is an explicit parallel and foreshadowing for Judai's breakdown in season 3.

Judai and Ryo both go through what the fandom commonly refers to as "gifted kid arcs" (which is appropriate because GX is set at a boarding school and one of the biggest themes is the challenges faced when growing up). During season one Ryo is what is considered to be the top dog at Duel Academy. He's well respected by the student body, was told from a young age at the cyber dojo that he was going places, and widely considers himself and his dueling style to be "perfect".

Besides a tense relationship with his brother, he doesn't really have any flaws. The first hint that there's something deeper going on under the surface comes in the graduation duel against Judai. First in Ryo's irritation that Judai is imitating him and trying to duel a perfect duel instead of dueling by instinct like he usually does, and then in his speech to Judai at the end of the duel.

Judai: You really are great, Kaiser! You're perfect. Ryo: But at the same time this happens to be my limit. In a way, perfection keeps you from chasing your limits. Ryo: Yuki Judai, within you lies infinite potential.

This introduces Kaiser's main character flaw, his own obsession with perfectionism. While Kaiser laments the fact that chasing perfectionism is limiting in the end because once you achieve perfection there's nowhere else to go - he still genuinely considers himself to be perfect.

It is true that part of the cause of his breakdown is the intense pressure from around him including the adults puts Ryo under by putting him on this pedestal and expecting perfection from him had a really negative effect on Ryo's mental health. However, it is also true that Ryo let everyone's praise go to his head and developed quite the ego. This shows in his relationship with Sho which we're going to go into more in depth later. A conversation on my Yu-Gi-Oh discord was particularly revealing of one aspect of their relationship. Ryo has a hard time understanding Sho, because he has ridiculously high standards for Sho. Instead of accepting Sho for the person that he is, he tries to mold Sho into being more like him.

This is shown in one of the early flashbacks in regards to their relationship, Ryo gives Sho power bond his signature card, and then insists that Sho is not worthy of using it. Which is an incident that sabotaged Sho's confidence for a long time and made him feel unworthy of using the card (even Judai who is very happy-go-lucky and forgiving in season one got angry for Sho's sake over this). It seems like a lot of Ryo's actions in season one are done with the motivation of toughening him up, in essence making Sho more like him. He doesn't really recognize Sho's strength, that even though Sho has low self-esteem and loses a lot he also picks himself right back up and keeps trying.

This key difference is the cause of Ryo's tragic downfall in season two. Ryo is a prodigy for whom dueling has always come easy, he's never had to struggle the way Sho has, so he doesn't know how to handle losing. In a very relatable arc Ryo goes from being a big fish in a small pond and genuinely believing because he was succesful in high school he's going to be succesful in the real world, to shattering in his first real loss in the pro-leagues and realizing that in the adult world he's no one special.

The fatal flaw that leads to his downfall being that unlike Sho, Ryo's not used to losing, so he doesn't have the ability to pick himself back up again. To use a metaphor from real life, it's like when people who are gifted students in high school never learn how to study because the material comes easy to them who then crash and burn in their first year of college. They're not used to struggling with the material, and they don't know what to do when something doesn't automatically come natural to them. One of the greatest piece of advice I've ever received is that when learning a new skill like writing or drawing, you've got to start out by making bad art. Ryo can't make bad art, he doesn't know how to struggle.

He crashes and burns after losing once, and his losing streak and complete loss of confidence drives him to be desperate enough to duel in an underground arena.

Manager: The truth comes out - these dire situations fuel your losses. Manager: Tell me, you've get to consider that you might win I take it? Manager: Without seizing victory you cannot win, isn't that what dueling is about at it's core? Manager: If so, you have to win at any cost. Ryo: I have to duel my way. Manager: Then, you're welcome to lose.

Ryo then decides to double down on his own obsession with winning when his back is against the wall.

Ryo: I'm fed up. Ryo: I...I don't want to lose. Ryo: I don't care how... but I want to win and defeat you. Ryo: I've lied since that duel with Edo. Ryo: I duel by respecting my opponent, I thought winning or losing wouldn't matter if I did that. Ryo: But I was wrong. Ryo: I do crave it - I thirst for victory and I have to to steal victory from your hands - I will.

This is a direct parallel to the source of Judai's downfall which leads him to the Supreme king in Season 3. Judai becomes obsessed with winning no matter what the circumstances, only to win in his duel against Brron and still fail to rescue a single one of his friends. In the face of his loss Judai doesn't learn from his mistake. Even after receiving a lecture from both Sho and Austin he still refuses to admit what he did wrong.

Judai: I did what I should've done. Judai: And yet, just about everyone was taken away from me! Judai: Damn it! Damn it! What is it that I did wrong! Judai: The super fusion card. Haou: Yuki Judai. In order to defeat evil, one must become evil. In the world with the law of the jungle at work one must rule with power.

Judai and Ryo both develop an obsession with power so they'll never lose again. Judai develops the supreme king persona, while Kaiser develops the Hell Kaiser persona. Both have two duels against friends who just want to return them to their normal selves. Both are also fully in control when they fall into darkness, Judai is the supreme king and the supreme king is Judai, Ryo tells Fubuki that he wasn't possessed by a dark power he chose to pursue victory above all else.

They both become self-destructive in the aftermath of their mental breakdowns, in season three Ryo is looking for a final duel to die, and Judai becomes suicidal until the possibility of saving Johan is dangled in front of his face. Most importantly of all the cause of their downfall is the same in both cases, their own fragile ego. Neither of them can admit when they are wrong. Judai receives constant criticism before the duel with Brron and refuses to change his ways.

Judai: All this time, I've run on instinct, never second guessing myself. Judai: If I just tsand still now, I'm sure I won't be able to start running again. And I won't be able to get to Johan.

What worked for Judai in his first two years of school stops working in his third year, when his friends grow up a little bit but he's stayed the same person and he's introduced to more complicated situations.

The same can be said for Ryo, glorifying his high school days instead of growing up which is why he finds himself unable to survive in the adult world. Even going into the duel against Yubel, Ryo is just trying to recreate his final duel against Judai believing that he peaked in that moment instead of realizing that there's still room for him to grow and change.

RYO vs. YUBEL

While the parallels between Ryo and Yubel aren't as strong as his parallels to Judai, they're still there if you take a deeper look. As I said in the beginning, instead of facing each other both Ryo and Yubel are looking at Judai this duel. Both of them have an obsession with Judai, Ryo considers his duel against Judai to be his last great duel and is desperate to feel the same way he did in the graduation duel while Yubel's obsession with Judai has spanned two lifetimes and their ultimate goal is to reunite with Judai and to return their relationship to what it was before they were shot into space.

They're both also using this duel to teach a lesson to Judai, Ryo wants Judai to regain his confidence and not be afraid to duel anymore, and Yubel wants to make another one of Judai's friends suffer right in front of him to inflict pain on him.

Ryo: The blinding excitement I had back then... Ryo: I've only gotten that from Judai and Johan. The duel we had is far from over Johan. It doesn't matter who you are right now. If you have Johan's face and Johan's strength you're going to battle me. Yubel: All right... allow me to give you my love as well. I'll show you to Judai as you squirm and agony. Yubel: Sadness... anguish.. pain. Those are the expressions of love I've been taught by Judai.

Yubel and Ryo are both living in the past. Yubel wants to return to their past relationship with Judai, and Ryo is obsessed with his glory days when he was top dog at the academy thinking he peaked in high school (which is ridiculous because he's like nineteen at this point.)

Ryo: Even without a future, I have to live this moment for everything that it's worth. Isn't that right, professor? Cronos: I-it is, but...without a future?

The reason that both of them are stuck in the past is the painful trauma they've both endured. Ryo is put in an underground cage match where he is forced to wear electrodes and receives painful shocks every time he loses lifepoints, and told that he won't be let out of the cage unless he wins. Yubel is shot into space and endures years of torture from the light of destruction.

They were also both alone and without a support network when they were traumatized, Ryo was abandoned by all of his sponsors and far away from his friends at duel academy, in a dark cage where no one could help him. Yubel was in space and Judai eventually stopped hearing their cries for help because of the psychiatric treatments his parents put him through.

After their trauma Ryo and Yubel also develop highly masochistic tendecies. Ryo keeps dueling in the underground arenas and wearing the electrodes even after his first cage match. Yubel repeatedly insists they enjoy the pain that Judai inflicts on them, derives borderline sexual enjoyment from it, and their entire duel strategy involves negating damage done to their monsters and inflicting it on their opponents.

Yubel: I cannot be destroyed by battle. Yubel: After all, to me, attacks only show love. Yubel: Go on, attack me, Yubel: My suffering is your suffering, Judai! Yubel: Share it with me... Nightmare pain. Right now, we feel the same pain wrapped in a blanket of love.

These mascohistic tendencies and self-harming behavior were developed as unhealthy coping mechanisms. Self-harm can be a way of reclaiming your agency. If you're hurting yourself then you're in control of it, especially if you were victimized in a situation where you had no control or agency. Yubel insists the pain causes them pleasure, Ryo insists they enjoy the shocks the electrodes give them.

Ryo: This shock, piercing the skin and flesh... Ryo: It taught me that a duel is a duel in every sense of the word with one winner and loser. Ryo: Will you still be able to prattle on about your respectful duel until the end.

Unsurprisingly inflicting pain on themselves over and over again does little to improve their mental health and only makes them spiral worse. Yet they cling to their delusions that they're the ones in control, that they want this actually.

Ryo: Fubuki I am not lost in darkness. I am not it's prisoner. Fubuki: You mean... you haven't lost yourself in darkness. Ryo: The darkness that the light cannot reach. The things it's power can bring you. I merely wanted to learn what they are. Fubuki: Why would you want that. Ryo: To attain victory. EPISODE 89 Judai: If you hated my treatment of you so much, you could have focused your revenge on me. Yubel: Hatred? Revenge? What are you talking about. Yubel: I told you this is something I have worked very hard for, in the hopes it would make you happy. Judai: Make me happy? But all my friends were hurt, suffered and disappeared. Yubel: But is that not the nature of love? I wanted to hurt you demonstrate the depths of my love. Judai: Yubel is there nothing I can say to make you understand? EPISODE 153

Ryo and Yubel are both what you would consider bad victims who go on to repeat the cycle of abuse, and inflict the same pain they endured on others.

Enduring torture leads them to snap and pull a total 180 on their personality. Big surprise, torture is not good for your mental health. Notably they both flip from being a protector to their loved one, to harming the person they once protected.

While Sho and Ryo's relationship is complicated, Ryo in season one was willing to sacrifice his life to Camula in order to protect Sho. While in season two, he forces Sho to wear his electrodes and endure painful shock after painful shock until he passes out. Yubel once sacrificed their entire body to be Judai's protector, but in season three Yubel does everything they can to inflict pain on Judai, and engineers Judai's downfall to bring Judai down to their level.

Ryo mocks and belittles Sho who is only trying to save him the entire duel, and again shocks him half to death, then when Sho is passed out from the pain walks off and doesn't even bother to check if he's alright.

Ryo: I am the winner here. Let the loser depart! Sho: I respect you... Brother, back then... And even now.

Yubel is well... Yubel.

Yet, even though they're both bad victims who refuse to admit they're in a self-destructive spiral and all they're accomplishing is hurting themselves and others, the narrative is sympathetic and shows there is hope for both of them.

CYBER ART VERSUS CRYSTAL BEASTS

Oh right, we're supposed to be talking about the duel. Let's start with deck analysis, because the cards a duelist chooses and their battle strategy is always telling of their character.

To begin with, Ryo and Yubel employ the same basic strategy in their primary decks: get their boss monster on the field and then do anything they can to keep it on the field.

Aside from that the two of them could not be any more different. Ryo has one strategy, get Cyberdragon on the field with power bond, go for the one turn kill, and if that doesn't work play a card to negate damage or negate the damage of power bond. If Cyberdark gets taken off the field they have multiple strategies to get the components out of the graveyard and fuse it again - and if that still doesn't work fusion summon chimeratech fortress dragon in attack mode by fusing all of the cyber dragons in their graveyard.

Yubel's dueling strategy is the complete opposite. Ryo always goes for the one turn kill, Yubel summons zero attack monsters, negates any damage done to them, and then drags out the duel while chipping away at their opponents lifepoints. Ryo's strategy is offense is the defense, Yubel on the other hand believes defense is the best defense.

Once again when it comes to deck composition Ryo's deck has one strategy, get beat stick on the field, and swing for the one turn kill. Yubel on the other hand runs four decks in total, Exodia, Advanced Crystal Beasts, Sacred Beasts and Yubel. Ryo switches to Cyberdarks in season two but fails to master them resulting in the deck shocking him until his heart fails, and then just switches back to Cyber Dragon. Ryo's dueling style is symbolic of his greatest weakness: his belief in his own perfection leading to his own inflexibility and belief he can't grow. While Yubel's dueling style plays into their greatest strength, their endurance and determination.

Yubel burns up on re-entry to the atmosphere? Manipulate Cobra and Martin to harvest duel energy until they can reconstitute their body. Have their body destroyed a second time by Johan's sacrifice? Take over Johan's body, lure Judai into the dark world to rescue Johan. The duel with Ryo makes them suffer severe damage? Yubel already planned for that and manipulated Amon to appear at the ideal time so they could feast on the darkness of his heart. Take advanced darkness and dark rainbow dragon off the field? Yubel was planning for that and plays last trick and a card that ends the duel in a draw and accomplish their goal of yoinking super polymerization. Destroy Yubel's boss monster - Yubel has an effect that if it's destroyed by anything other than their own effect it just summons an even more powerful Yubel.

Yubel is also highly adaptable. In the duel with Amon they eliminate his path to exodia twice, and find a way to recover when their boss monster armityle is knocked off the field.

It is this adaptability that gives Yubel the edge over Ryo the entire duel. Ryo has one strategy and that is beef up their beatstick and go for the one turn kill, and Yubel's damage negation is the perfect counter to that.

Ryo immediately falls for Yubel's trap, underestimating Yubel due to their low attack point monsters and then swinging right into the damage negation.

Ryo: You mock me by putting out such a small monster. Yubel: As the duel proceeds you'll understand. Ryo: What? Crystal beasts are special monsters that are hard to remove from the field, but they have one weakness. The low attack points of the individual monsters. THe advanced dark combo to compensate. But.... a man with no future knows no feature.

Ryo employs the same strategy over and over again, summoning a strong monster, attacking into Yubel in spite of the damage negation. All he accomplishes is making it easier for Yubel to get rainbow darkness dragon on the field.

After which Ryo switches strategies to try to remove Yubel's methods of damage negation one by one and getting good old Chimeratech onto the field, and then blindly swinging for game while Yubel still has backrow.

At which point Ryo is only left with one strategy, doubling Cyber End Dragon's attack with power bond to beat over Rainbow darkness dragon. While this moment is considered an iconic moment, it's also symbolic of Ryo's complete lack of growth - he ends the duel the exact same way as his duel with Judai, quardupling his Cyber dragon's attack - except this time all he accomplishes is blowing himself up.

His duel with Yubel is perfect example of his hubris. Ryo focused on same strategies as he did in season 1, which caused Cyberdarks to lash out on him and give him heart attacks, each one more violent than the last. That epic moment where Cyber End Dragon is standing with 16000 ATK should be seen in a negative light. Two years apart and Ryo still ends up with the very same monster in the field with the nearly identical attack points, (SOURCE).

Ryo was never going to win that duel with Yubel however, because before Ryo even entered the duel they were resigned to lose - either by sacrificing themselves to purge Yubel from Johan or losing after dueling their best duel to inspire Judai. Either way he had zero expectation of getting out of their alive.

Which is the ultimate difference between Yubel and Ryo, Yubel wants to be saved, and Ryo turns away everyone's efforts to help him. Even though the two of them are in opposite circumstances, Ryo is surrounded by a support network who reach out to help him again and again and he chooses not to take their hands. While the person responsible for Yubel's trauma makes half-hearted pleas for them to stop, and ultimately in their final duel decides to put them down like a mad dog until the last possible minute.

Which leads to Judai's funniest quote ever.

Judai: Yubel, while you were enveloped in the breath of light becoming stained by evil, and alone burning with your need for revenge I was forging many allies. Judai: And they all taught me that real love is something so big and deep it contains the whole universe. The love in which you believe is just a self-satisfied assumption. Yubel: Assumption? Yubel: What's wrong with the assumption I made? Had I not convinced myself I was loved, then there would have been no way to bear all that hardship. And yet, they all stole your love away from me. Yubel: Hahaha, I see sob stories do not work on Supreme king Judai.

Damn Judai, why didn't you make friends while you were trapped in a satellite in space for ten years straight? Sounds like a skill issue to me.

Ryo has three consecutive duels where Samejima, Fubuki and Sho all plead with him to go back to his usual self. Sho again, agrees to wear the electrodes just to try to understand the pain his brother went through and bring him back from the edge.

Sho: I don't understand you anymore, brother. The way you are now, there's no way I can respect you. Ryo: I feel the same way. In a match there's no room for feelings like respect. All I want is victory. Yes, all I respect anything it's victory. Ryo: if I can win, I'll become ugly, even tainted. I don't care what anyone says about me! Sho: All I wanted was to bring you back to the way you were...

Even in season three, Cronos tells Ryo there's still hope for him to keep on living, and Sho begs his brother in tears not to kill himself in the duel against Yubel. Tellingly, the only one who cheers him on during that duel is Judai, who is similarly suicidal.

Which is why Yubel wins the duel, Ryo refuses any help and while Yubel clings to their idea that love is pain, ultimately what they want from Judai is empathy and understanding.

Yubel: When you forgot me I suffered. It's hot, it hurts, I'm in pain. Why? You know how much I love you. Why did you do this to me? Yubel: In that moment I realzied. That was how you showed love. Because you loved me, you hurt me and made me suffer. Because you see, the entire time I suffered I never once forgot about you. Yubel: I was so happy when you solved the mystery I laid out for you. That's why I decided I would fill all twelve dimensions with my love for you. Then, surely you would understand my love. Yubel: That was why I tried to fill all those around you, and the world with anguish and sorrow. And it appears I did the right thing. After all, you are here with me right now.

Ultimately, there is nothing Sho could have done for Ryo, short of knocking him unconscious and dragging him away from the duel with Yubel.

Judai gives advice to Sho who's struggling with the changes in his brother, that even if you don't approve of what someone you love is doing, you can still stay by their side and watch over them.

Sho: Bro what would you do? f the person you cared about the most was tainted by evil. And you couldn't bring him back. Judai: You just have to watch him. No matter how much he's changed, you still care about him right. So you'll have to watch him forever and ever. Sho: But then. Judai: Yeah, you might not help them at all... But, you can't just do nothing. That's why, if it were me, I'd watch him until the very end even if he didn't like it. That's the proof that I care about him.

This is the advice the convinces Sho to never give up on Judai even after he becomes the Supreme King, and Judai following his own advice is what leads him to ultimately save Yubel by fusing their souls together to watch over them for the rest of their lives. Even Sho sticks with his brother and forgives him over and over again, which leads to Ryo's salvation as well and eventually repairs their relationship.

Anyway, that's the end of this duel look forward to my next post where Yubel delivers one of the most iconic roasts of all time to Amon.