#father figure dying

[milkywayscap-blog]

When the world caves in

Jiànhóng gasps for air as he brings himself and the kids' heads back above the surface. He doesn't hear the hunting party anywhere near their location. He climbs out of the water and makes sure all the children are okay before climbing to a hidden cave. He steps into the cave and travels to the deepest part of the dark cave. Jiànhóng huffs as he hides in the cave with the snakelets still in his arms. Sweat and water run down his face as he leans his head against the cool stone of the cave with the chilling air blowing into the cave. He holds the snakelets closer as the small children nuzzle in his embrace. The fluff of his coat warmed the children. Jiànhóng didn't care if he had just betrayed 'The Immortals' Demise'; these children did not deserve to be slain. However, there is a chilling irony to it: a man who has killed so many immortals is laying his life down for those very same beings. "I'll protect you three, I promise," Jiànhóng whispers as he moves to cover the snakelets from the harsh wind. A bounty would most likely be on his head by tomorrow morning at the latest and late this very night at the earliest. But he was dead set on keeping these children safe.

The gods above must have graced him as he, and the snakelets whom he finally learned the names of, had gone undetected for weeks at the time. Bai Tian, Bai Yu, and Bai Lian were their names. The three were triplets and the hunting party had slaughtered their village. When they had told him this he couldn't help the guilt that ate him up inside... One of the women he had slain had begged and screamed for him not to as she had children to take care of. But he had simply beheaded the woman without even a second thought for her or her offspring. He had a look of guilt on his visage as he froze, "I'm sorry for your loss kiddos..." Jiànhóng mutters as he ruffles the hair of the youngest triplet, Bai Lan. Bai Tian frowned as she watched the older human man she noticed his hesitance and the way he froze slightly at the mention of their mother. Not wanting to think about it she busied herself with another book Jiànhóng had gotten. He had been taking care of the snakelets since that night but he knew it was only a matter of time before the other hunters came and finally caught up to them. "How about I teach you kids how to handle some weapons, eh? I'd feel better knowing you all know how to defend yourselves and each other." Jiànhóng says as that sentence grabs all of the adolescents' attention.

Jiànhóng rasped as he felt the weight of Zhìmíng's dao as she and him clashed once again. Memories flashed through both of their minds of distant memories. But one especially stood out... It was their practice spar from when they were children. It flashed through their minds as the two sliced and parried at the other. Only one thing was on their minds. This battle was only ending with one as the victor and that was set in stone. Jiànhóng had the snakelets hide as soon as he noticed signs of 'The Immortals' Demise' in the area. The kids were in way shape or form ready to fight off the group let alone Zhìmíng. Zhìmíng noticed that Jiànhóng kept glancing over at a certain place in the home. She immediately changed her intentions toward the possible hiding spot. Zhìmíng was just about to slice through the wooden door when Jiànhóng lunged in front of her. Her twin daos sliced through his right arm like a knife through butter. Jiànhóng shrieked as he felt the blades go through his right arm. Blood splattered across the swords and the wooden closet door as his arm fell to the ground. He heaved out gasps and cries as the wound continued to bleed out but he did not drop his other emeici. He clenched the emeici in his left hand as he tried to strike the woman in the side. He didn't care if he was going to die he wanted to keep those kids safe. Zhìmíng gave Jiànhóng a disgusted look at the fact that he would lay down his life for those monsters. Bai Tian covered her little sister's eyes as her younger brother looked on in horror. They saw the scene from just the crack in the floor as they looked up. Blood seeped into the floor, though it was not Zhìmíng's, it was Jiànhóng's blood that seeped into and painted the floors red. Bai Yu covered his mouth as he and his older sister looked on in horror. Bai Tian had covered Bai Lan's eyes and ears. The older duo heard their adoptive father's screams of pain as they heard a squelch and a yell of pain, "My eye... My fucking eye...!," Jiànhóng holds his right eye socket with his left hand as he shakes from the pain and he feels his body start to lose the ability to hold itself up. He steeled himself as he waited for Zhìmíng to come closer. She was always a cocky bitch, she felt the need to gloat in the face of her enemies even if their master had always told her doing so was dangerous. But it seemed like she forgot as she leaned closer to Jiànhóng's face. Jiànhóng huffed as he drove the emeici into the woman's neck. She let out a startled gasp as she dropped one of her dao in shock, in turn, to quickly hold onto her neck wound. Zhìmíng snarls as she finally slays Jiànhóng. His lifeless body crashes to the floor. As the triplets keep themselves from screaming or gasping all they can do is listen. "To think he would lay his life down for them..." Zhìmíng scoffs as she feels the emeici in her neck. "He really has fallen." She mutters as she walks out of the house. The woman snaps off the rest of the emeici as she heads back to her party for medical attention.

The children sit there quietly. Still in shock, they see their father's lifeless body gazing at them from above the floorboards. The house is now eerily quiet as Bai Lan lets out a sob. She buries herself in Bai Tian's chest as the older girl looks at Bai Yu... tears glistening in her eyes...

[inky125]

Little drawings for his friends!

[identitty-dickruption]

for real what the fuck are you supposed to write in a father’s day card to the man you would rather never talk to again

[silvermeww]

okay, when was someone going to tell me that

oh, idk, steven started at 19, burgh has a younger sister, clay actually isn't born american, skyla's whole fam thing and ELESA IS 15???? (even younger than skyla like wtf???)

(also the 'alder' at the bottom is supposed to be drayden lol)

and that's not all

say hello to:

viola being 18??? 'black whirlwind' korrina, RAMOS MEETING AZ'S FLOETTE AS A KID, genderfluid and apparently also age-fluid olympia, CLEMONT?? AND HIS WHOLE THING DOWN TO BEING 12 OF ALL AGES???

(you know what, marlon being 30 definitely makes sense with the hippie vibes)

wikstrom SAYING that he only wears that suit in pokemon battles but i've never seen his casual wear, malva being pr for flare lol, drasna selling dragon merch + great family lore if you want to know, siebold having to third-wheel lysandre and sycamore while eating (move aside malva, you're not the only elite 4 dealing with this) and 20?? YEARS OLD?? DIANTHA????????????

(way too many men in kalos are getting ladies, c'mon)

ethan being into history is such a neat detail hmmm, idk much of the frontier brains ngl, and we've finally got the region for looker and it's... hoenn??? you know what, makes sense with his chaotic vibes so i'll take it (throws away unova taped to a rock behind my back). also he's abolsutely cheating we all see that he's just relying on knowing us as protags, should've known smh

(um i think someone said that 'caitlin' should've been anabel but idk)

oh and the last one is charon, if we care about how much of a loser he really is. forget about birch and the poochyena, this guy is the lowest heh. imagine being charon (please don't).

(when the protags of johto are the same age as clemont lol) (yeah i know there are years between those events just let me have this)

and last but not least:

aaron 🤝 valerie: wanting to be pokemon (and ig gotta toss in shauntal with the ao3 writer gift heh, don't know if they would commission her or stay away), bertha's description???? i love flint just saying, cynthia 👀👀 is absolutely doing something illegal 👀👀, roark is WHAT??? (child labour laws in sinnoh must be lax ngl), maylene as well???? fantina watching scary movies is something i'll have to incorporate into my worldview and bryon?? are you okay??

so yeah. credit goes to @/KuroBlitz96 on the twitter/x for having this up, i'm just here to project sheer surprise at this massive dump of ages... my thoughts on pokemon have completely turned on its head once more lol (this is fine)

[serpentface]

HOSPITALITY AND GIFT ECONOMY IN THE HIGHLANDS: A POST.

Rites of hospitality are of key importance and taken very seriously in this cultural context, especially given the frequency at which individuals will be traveling (as herders, or along intra-Highlands trade routes). These rites exist as the concept of 'Shiab's peace', a divinely mandated contract of hospitality under the watch of Shiab, goddess of the hearth and of travelers. This is invoked with a standardized verbal exchange with a member of the household- the prospective guest will greet with “I would ask Shiab’s peace of you”, the host, if accepting, will respond with “You will have Shiab’s peace here.” While not explicitly an oath, it is understood as such and ascribed the same profound significance (both social and spiritual consequences for violation).

A potential host can refuse (though usually doesn't, hosting is an honor and can be a power play), but the mere request for Shiab's peace imbues temporary spiritual protection on the asker- one’s most loathed enemy must at least be allowed to leave unharmed, even if denied guest rite. (This isn’t a get out of jail free card, a request for Shiab’s peace is a request for hospitality, not mercy, the goddess will not be protecting you if you attempt to use it in the midst of combat or etc).

Once mutually invoked, the expectations of Shiab’s peace are as follows:

The host should provide for the guest’s basic needs generously within their means, and allow them to stay for a night and provide them a place to sleep.

The guest and host much each provide their names and titles, though the guest is under no obligation to explain the reasons for their presence and cannot be asked.

The guest must accept all food offered (and gifts, though this is not specific to Shiab's peace and rather part of a wider practice in the gift-economy).

The guest must ask for nothing, and take nothing that is not offered.

The guest is under full protection of the host, and vice versa. Theft, assault, or murder committed under Shiab's peace is a grave broken oath and one should expect very severe consequences (both supernatural and mundane, should others find out).

The guest (unless offered continued hospitality) must see themselves out after sunrise the following morning. They cannot be made to leave early.

If a guest is offered continued hospitality, they should offer to participate in any needed chores (the host can accept or decline at their discretion).

The protection of Shiab's peace continues until the following sunrise after the guest leaves (ie a host cannot pursue their leaving guest to steal from them)

Shiab's peace is universal and transcends conflicts, and once invoked cannot be violated under any circumstances. Members of a rival clan or of a tribe yours is at war with, a foreigner you're suspicious of, etc, are all fully under protection (and under their full expectations as a guest).

A guest that violates their expectations can be made to leave, as they have broken the oath and are no longer protected. (in practice, many hosts will let MINOR violations slide unless the guest is like, really annoying or godawful)

The host, in practice, will usually be the wife of the household (if present), as the wife is considered the owner of a family’s home, land, and property, and has final say on how resources are used and given. The host is expected to provide the guest food and drink and a place to stay for one night, and supply any other obvious basic needs (ie: if the guest’s clothing is worn or wet, they should be given fresh clothes). These gifts should be generous within one’s means, and in practice will usually be a square meal, mead/wine/murre, multiple rounds of tea, and a breakfast the following morning. A host that does not provide expected basic needs within their means is in violation of Shiab’s peace and has broken their oath, and should expect consequences.

A guest is not literally oathbound to practice ideal social etiquette, but it's a cultural expectation (ie, the guest should finish all their food and save some bread for last to scoop up anything left in the bowl, not a hard requirement but good manners). They are fully expected to accept any and all gifts offered. A guest should neither take nor ask for anything not freely given (all basic needs should have been met by the host to begin with). It IS acceptable for a guest to imply further needs in conversation, so long as they do not directly request them: ie mentioning in conversation that their leg is hurt and they can only hope their travels do not make it worse, as it would take days of rest for it to heal (“I need to stay multiple nights, can we work that out?”), or mentioning that their pack khait has gone lame and cannot carry their supplies, they fear they will have to leave both animal and supplies behind (“Will you lend me a pack ox/khait?”). These roundabout requests are still at least expected to be Truthful in nature (and all of this is happening under the watch of a deity, there may be consequences for lying).

Hosts may give extra gifts at their discretion- these can either be charitable, or indebting. A charitable gift will be given with further verbal declaration of Shiab’s peace, which establishes it as an act of goodwill and that the guest is not in the host’s debt. An indebting gift will be given with no declaration of Shiab's peace. The guest is obligated to accept either.

Indebting gifts are a part of the wider political and economic structure of the Highlands, a separate (though linked) practice to guest hospitality. The vast majority of the economy relies on trade of goods, with an additional dimension of this gift economy. Being able to give gifts is a display of wealth and power, establishing one’s family or clan above another in a social hierarchy. The most powerful are able to give the most extravagant gifts, and will have many other clans/families considered perpetually in their debt if the gift cannot be met with one of equal or greater value. This debt is immaterial- it is not actually Expected to be paid (it’s better for the gift-giver if it ISN'T), rather it establishes/reinforces one's place in a power structure and regulates the conduct of the gift receiver (it can be evoked to call in favors or settle disputes). A debt held by a single person translates to their immediate family, while a debt held by a clan matriarch/patriarch translates to their entire clan.

Cattle raiding is both a practical means of resource acquisition and a part of this wider political schema, and often figures into the gift structure. Stealing cattle and then giving them back as a gift is a power play, it declares ‘our men are better than yours (they’ve stolen the cattle successfully) and we are wealthier than you (we don’t even need them)’, while also settling the score and dissuading retaliation. Stealing cattle and then giving MORE (or different, higher quality) cattle as a gift is a massive power play, declaring much the same things to a greater extent, dissuading retaliation, AND putting the theft victim/gift recipient into the debt of the thieves.

Power structures within tribes are passively enforced by this gift giving structure- the ruling clan of each (which in practice usually controls the best agricultural land and largest herds, and is most involved in trade) will provide gifts to all clans subservient to them (and particularly generous gifts to potential rivals), keeping them indebted and lower in the social structure. Ruling clans who lose the ability to afford to give gifts, or find themselves indebted, will often be usurped (not strictly as a result of their debt, rather that losing ability to stay on top of the gift system generally occurs in conjunction with a diminished material power/wealth).

These combined practices result in very complex, often aggravating political power structures, but reduce the frequency of open conflict between clans within a tribe (which are frequently at odds), providing other avenues for power/material acquisition and for the settling of scores. Most open conflicts occur between clans within separate tribes or entire tribes (less likely to have secure power structures enforced by gift/trade), though practices of raiding and combat-sport provide some levels of tension release via less-violent score settling.

Other dimensions of the gift economy are not directly indebting (in not establishing a power structure), and considered paid via mutual partnership. Alliances between clans of different tribes are usually established in continued gift-giving (declared explicitly as gifts of allegiance), with the implied payment being mutual material support (supplying warriors, sharing grazing land, open trade, etc), which is usually reinforced with binding oaths. Marriages also involve gifts. A bride price is fairly standard (which is a straightforward payment for property and assets the wife's mother will be passing into her son-in-law's care), and a husband who cannot supply one is considered in his mother in law's debt (and may not gain full integration into the family until this is paid). But as supplement to the bride price, members of each family will freely give gifts with no expectation of the value of their gifts being matched (declared as such by being specifically described as a gift of marriage), as a means of further allying both families and a show of goodwill.

[kayvsworld]

tbh ur posts abt tony r giving me a new appreciation for the character i didn’t have before…….. like maybe ur converting me to mr stark standom………

!!!!!!! beautiful and wonderful to hear.....as someone who was recently converted to being a card carrying member of the bonky brigade.....take the second look it may surprise you...........

[good-beanswrites]

Hear me out:

Kotoko adopted Es, and Fuuta went ballistic.

Rip Fuuta... he can never catch a break... Asdfsdf thank you for this, it was a blast thinking of all the ridiculous ways this could have played out! (One possibility I toyed with was Fuuta's competitive instincts take over, he fights her for Es, only to realize too late "*I* don't want to be responsible for a whole child WAIT") It's a similar format to the last one, with a knock-at-the-door reveal, but I still think it works 😂

“Don’t fuck with me, Es.”

“I would never.”

Lying brat. Fuuta knew they would every chance that they got. It was the reason he was so relieved that Es decided to find somewhere else to live after Milgram’s end. Fuuta had nothing left to fear from his former warden, but the others’ suggestions that Es become his new roommate still made him shudder. Three interrogations in a closed space with the rude kid were enough for him, thank you very much.

However, it wasn’t all a relief. He couldn’t help feeling concerned about who they’d gone to live with. Given how cryptic they were being, Fuuta would have been convinced they walked into the woods to find a furry family of Jackalopes or something to raise them –except, they showed up for this walk with clean clothing and internet access. 

“I don’t believe you. You’re fucking with me right now. Why can’t you just tell me who it is?” 

“It isn’t any of your concern. Hey, I thought you swore to stay out of others’ business. You turned over a new leaf and all that?”

“Tch. I meant other people’s business. You’re different.” 

If Es had vanished off the grid like some of the other prisoners, Fuuta wouldn’t have cared. But they were here, near enough to arrange some lame meetup, which meant they were going to remain in his life for a while longer. And that meant, as the model citizen that Fuuta was, he felt responsible for ensuring they didn’t get themselves kidnapped by some creep. 

He asked, “how much do you know about them, anyway? I mean, what kind of person can house a random weird kid on incredibly short notice? That’s definitely suspicious.”

Fuuta pulled the mask up on his face as they turned down a more crowded street. He knew people were going to gawk at his eye anyways, but it still helped him feel like he was blending in. With his thoughts on the injury for a moment, he was glad that bitch Kotoko was one of the prisoners who had gone off the grid. Good riddance.

“I promise, she’s fine. Not weird with children at all. In fact, she’s really good with them, which is why she could help me on such short notice.” They muttered, “but it’s not like I’m that young…”

“That’s still not normal. Is she some old housewife or something?”

“Ah, are you trying to do the interrogation this time? Actually, I’d say she’s around your age.”

“It’s just you two living alone? I’m still worried about Milgram coming looking for us again – can a girl like that really protect you?”

“Is everyone supposed to live with a big, strong man, like you?”

“Wha–!” Fuuta’s cheeks burned red. “That’s not what I –!”

“I’m only teasing. It’s cute that you care about me.”

That only agitated him more. “It’s not cute! I’m being realistic! One of us has to think about your safety while you’re just distracted by some pretty girl.”

“What makes you think she’s pretty?”

“Well, why else would you be so careless in deciding to live with her?”

All of the sudden, he saw it in Es’ eyes: that spark of mischief that Fuuta had come to loathe. He could never tell what they were plotting, but it was never a good sign.

Es held up their hands in mock surrender. They put on a ridiculous, overdramatic voice. “Ah, you caught me, Fuuta! I’m hiding her identity because she’s the most beautiful, capable woman in all of Japan, and I want to keep her all to myself!” 

He groaned, but they weren’t deterred. “She’s got everything, I couldn’t risk you falling for her! She’s quite capable of defending me. She’s very strong, with protective instincts much like your own. She understands our situation like no one else could. She’s got intense eyes, and you wouldn’t believe her singing voice. She enjoys deep conversations, she’s a dog person, she –”

“ – now you’re being the creep! Just shut up, I get it already...”

When they finally had the decency to pull it together, they reassured him. “It’s all true, though. So there’s no need to worry about me. I’m in good hands.”

Good hands, his ass. In only a brief conversation, the caretaker had gone from sounding a little suspicious to sounding way too good to be true… meaning she was extremely suspicious.

“Maybe someday I’ll introduce you, if you’re lucky...”

He turned his eyes away. “At least let me run some background checks on her first.” 

(He would just stalk her on social media, but that still counted.)

“You’re just going to stalk her on social media. That doesn’t count.”

“Eh? I have legit methods!” He hid deeper under his mask.

Even after the topic was dropped, after he and Es parted ways on an awkward goodbye, Fuuta was left thinking about this mystery woman. It took a bit of digging (and maybe a tiny bit of social media stalking) but at last he found where Es lived with this stranger. Contrary to what they may believe, he had turned over a new leaf. There would be no more hiding behind screens or letting others do the confrontation for him. Now that he was a changed person, he’d do the healthy and normal thing with this information: he’d march on down there himself and confront her like a man. 

He made it all the way to the front door with his chin high. He knocked with confidence. 

Then he began to shift nervously. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the woman’s description out of his head. Sure, he was here to check on Es, but if someone happened to check him out at the same time, it was only right to be prepared… He straightened his shirt collar. He ran his fingers through his hair. He wondered if he should have covered up his eye to look more presentable.

The door swung open. 

The surprise on Kotoko’s face was nowhere near the amount on Fuuta’s.

“Oh, for fucks sake –!”

From somewhere behind her, Es’ laughter rang out.

[thefriendoforatioisdead]

THIS EPISODE MADE ME FEEL SO SOFT AND SO ANGRY AT THE SAME TIME ! Lada and Earn are being the cutest most adorable couple ! They are never leaving the honey moon phase that's for sure, ten years for now they're still going to be that adorable

On the other hand WHAT IS WRONG WITH LADA'S MOM ????? How can a parent watch their child is such pain and be like ''fantastic ! my plan worked !'' She clearly needs to resolve her issues with how dependent she is on her relationship with her daughter. Even when she gets caught, and Lada literally CUT TIES WITH HER the only thing she's crying about is how her ''work'' of turning Lada in exactly what she wants is ruined....I swear if she gets a redemption arc as well I'm losing my marbles !

[orcelito]

Considering the. Ahem. Ways this year has gone, I've not been thinking about it all that much, but. I did start this year with the motto of Year Of Unfucking My Life. With a few goals involved in that.

I got an official adhd diagnosis, as well as a diagnosis for PCOS. Other diagnoses in progress. Gotten adhd meds and birth control to regulate periods. I've gone back to school and I'm keeping up with it better than ever before. I've even been working on practicing driving, something I've been largely neglecting since I first got my driving permit, um... 11 years ago...

I just need to actually Get my license. And I need to get it before the end of the year. If I can accomplish that, then I'll say the Year Of Unfucking My Life was successful.

[cometrose]

uhh kagurabachi theory uhhh the divine blades are made from human souls hence why they are “alive” and kunishige used the remainder of his soul to form enten which is how nobody knew about it for years and how it has the abilities of the goldfish. The blades abilities are dictated by the soul used to form it.

[guess-i-do-art]

LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY MIND LOSING MY FUCKING MIND

[atopvisenyashill]

not an f&b aegon ii fan, not a hotd aegon ii fan, but a secret third thing (a fan of the aegon ii that only exists in my mind)

[ta-bajna-cerna-okybaca]

Now that I finally got to play TWST diasomnia chapter 1 myself, I'm gonna need everyone who said Malleus was a baby throwing a tantrum for no reason to pay me 2000 dollars each

[yuriwarrior]

[ID: an image of a kid smiling, holding a single Uno card, labelled as "Roy, just existing." Across fromj the kid is someone else, with three +4 cards, and one +2 card in hand, each labelled differently. The labels are "his bio dad dying:", "Brave Bow dying:", "Ollie dying:", and "Lian dying:" END ID]

[mylifeiscomics]

Am I ovulating or…?! 😆👀

[groves]

literally the best thing about joel and ellie is they’re both batshit fucking insane actually