#grief and devotion

[lotus-pear]

mourning black and the death of ideals

[illuminatedquill]

This scene is darkly amusing to me considering that Sabine is putting on a big act that she’s in a rush to get back home (to her and Ezra’s comm-tower) just to do this:

Jai Kell states at the ceremony to Governor Azadi that Sabine had been present, albeit briefly (“She was just here”, he mutters to an annoyed Ryder).

I’m assuming she went there to greet everyone and catch up with the people who mattered but when it came time to kick off the event, she skipped out.

Sabine has poured so much of herself into keeping the memory of Ezra alive, despite everyone else moving on. But the price is that she has turned into a ghost in her own life. Trapped in that tower, locked inside by her own regret and grief.

The more superstitious folks of Capital City whisper amongst themselves that the old comm-tower that stands alone in the tall fields is cursed.

Some say that a mad woman lives there. Explosions go off randomly every now and then; strange, bright lights emit from the rooftop balcony that shoot off into the night sky, as if desperately searching for something. They say that an army of loth-cats keeps watch against curious interlopers, hissing and snarling at any who dare come close.

Others think that there is a ghost haunting the comm-tower. One brave soul got close enough to see with a pair of binoculars into the dilapidated building: they saw a ghostly figure wrapped in a shroud, sitting on the balcony during a cold night, watching a pale blue holo-recording of a young man. The howl of a nearby loth-wolf scared them to their senses before getting closer but they remembered clearly that the shrouded figure’s eyes were overflowing with grief and sadness.

The last of these tall tales reach Azadi’s ears. Only he knows the truth. When asked by the more curious citizenry, he always takes the time to correct them: there are two ghosts that haunt that place, not one.

Sabine of the Day: "eye-roll"!Sabine

Submit YOUR Sabine of the Day!

[myfakeplasticlove13]

You know I didn’t want to, have to haunt you, but what a ghostly scene

[flwrkid14]

When Obsession Meets Devotion, Tim and Danny learn to exist only for each other

Tim and Danny have days where they simply can't be apart for longer than 30 minutes, as if the physical distance between them burns. Sometimes, holding each other close isn’t enough—they crave something more visceral, like the overwhelming need to open each other’s ribcages, to crawl inside and be surrounded by the warmth of their partner’s heart—where they can truly find comfort, heart against heart, soul entwined. It's not just about closeness; it's about being inseparable in every possible way.

On certain days, there are times when Danny's Obsession screams at him. If he goes too long without seeing Tim, the need to care for, protect, and keep his beloved safe becomes impossible to ignore. His Obsession surges, pulling him toward Tim, begging to feel his pulse, his breath, to know that Tim is right there with him. It’s not just a want—it’s a primal need to make sure Tim is okay, that he hasn’t slipped through his fingers like everything else in his life. The distance feels unnatural, as if something fundamental is missing, and when he finally finds Tim, the world rights itself again.

For Tim, there are days where he feels a gnawing pit of anxiety in his chest, a voice reminding him of everyone who’s ever left. Those days, he seeks out Danny, fingers trembling until they brush against his skin, a silent question, needing reassurance that Danny isn’t going anywhere. The touch grounds him, reminds him that here, in this moment, Danny is staying. He’s not going to leave, he’s not going to disappear like so many before. On those days, Danny’s presence is more than just comforting; it’s survival.

There are days when words fail them both, and all that’s left is the quiet. In that silence, they hold each other, Tim’s head tucked under Danny’s chin, Danny’s arms wrapped protectively around him, and for a while, they let the world disappear. They don’t need anything else—just the steady thrum of each other’s heartbeat, reminding them they’re not alone. They’re together, and that’s all that matters.

For Danny, his need to care for Tim runs deep, more than just an Obsession—it’s a compulsion. And for Tim, his fear of being left alone draws him ever closer to Danny, making their bond something unbreakable. There are days where they can’t help but exist only for each other, as if the rest of the world fades away, and nothing matters but them.

It’s a reminder that even with the ghosts and the danger and the past trauma, sometimes all they need is each other. And that’s enough.

[little-pondhead]

Classic "promised-at-birth-to-the-Ghost-King" story, except the contract never states how, exactly, the King is to use the offered soul. Usually, one would be offered as a bride or sacrifice. But with Pariah Dark sealed away, his retainers got a little lazy in the last few millennia. They just made some generic contracts and practically handed them out like candy.

When Danny took over as king via conquest, that included all the weird and messed up soul contracts the previous retainers had signed. And since ghost magic was a thing and seemed to have it out for Danny personally, many of these contracts updated their terms and conditions as soon as that crown hit Danny's head, reflecting the new King's subconscious desires and personality.

This caused many issues with those still around to profit from these contracts. Some people lost their power, some gained more, and some were unbound and kicked to the curb. A few special people found themselves dropping dead after their less-than-ethical abilities disappeared.

Danny was unaware of the chaos he had unintentionally caused for quite a while. It was only brought to his attention when a letter arrived on his desk one day with a copy of someone's valid contract enclosed. The new changes have been highlighted, and a separate note is attached.

It seems that in exchange for blessings of near-immortality for her infant son, a mother had offered Pariah Dark both their souls in order to ensure her child's survival during harsh times. (The souls were to be collected upon death and were to be used as soldiers in the King's Army.) The mother's soul had returned to the Keep decades ago and was recently assigned to tend to the gardens, while her son seemed to have grown into a fine gentleman and was still alive. He used his mother's gifts to serve his country and loved ones well, it seemed.

At first, Danny didn't see what any of this had to do with him. If the mother was already a part of his kingdom, and the son would be eventually, why was a letter about the whole thing showing up before him?

Then he read the revised contract, which bore his magical signature. A signature that overruled the power of Pariah and binding it to him.

'...and as such, in return for the abilities stated above, [Mary Pennyworth] and [Alfred Pennyworth] will fulfill the conditions detailed below, upon pain of Ending.

[Mary Pennyworth], when returned to the Kingdom of Dark Kingdom of Stars, will work as a lieutenant in the Skeleton Army caretaker in the Gardens of Pluto.

STATUS: COMPLETED

[Alfred Pennyworth], when returned to the Kingdom of Dark Kingdom of Stars, will work as a general in the Skeleton Army caretaker of the King and his Court.

STATUS: PENDING'

Danny had to re-read the contract several times to understand what it was saying. He now had a caretaker? What did a caretaker do? Was it like a ghost parent? Could this guy ghost-ground him??

He sighed and pressed the speed dial on his phone for Tucker. Time to find out who the hell this Alfred Pennyworth guy was, and how to break a magic contract when it wasn't even fulfilled yet.

Meanwhile, Alfred had just found the original copy of the contract amongst his mother's belongings after it glowed and drew him in. The paperwork cleared up a lot of mysteries he'd always wondered about himself, even if he disapproved of his mother's methods. Nonetheless, he smoothed out the aged paper with dark green ink, noted the fresh (sloppy, a teenager?) signature, and began preparing to meet this supposed new King and his Court.

It wouldn't hurt to make introductions before he died, after all.

[satoruxx]

who do you think would be more devoted, satoru, suguru or shoko?

oh em gee hi nonnie :333 it's been a milennia since i got a sashisu ask so i'm VERY sorry for the novel !!

well.... i think they all have their moments but most devoted would probably be suguru. AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY !!!!

i just think suguru tends to be very selfish when it comes to love. not like.. in a bad way... but to him love means that he has already given himself to you completely. he expects it to be understood that his love runs so deep he physically cannot fathom letting you go. suguru has always been extremely loyal to what's his—whether that be his morals or his friends. i think he puts a lot of value into making connections. so for him, when it comes to love, i think he would be very steadfast in it—often finding it difficult to disentangle himself from those emotions. and i feel like that depth is what makes him the most likely to become obsessive over devotion. (like... cult leader suguru would become so fixated on the idea of devoting himself to you that it can start becoming almost parasitic) basically, suguru could absolutely devote himself completely to you, and in a normal relationship that translates into extreme and fierce loyalty. but any kind of toxic or twisted dynamic and that's turning obsessive and probably too emotionally dependent.

satoru is definitely devoted but in a very generous way. he can love you so deeply but be alright with letting you go. to him, that's the biggest act of love he can commit. he sees a lot of drawbacks in letting you be with him, so he would much rather devote himself from afar and let you live a life he probably cannot give you. in other words, his emotional investment in you may not always come across as fully attentive because his perception of dedication can be too focused on what he deems is best. satoru's devotion plays on a fine line between his loyalty to you and his loyalty to his own ideas. he has such a strong connection to his own ideals that once he perceives something, he will always do what he feels is best in that situation. the problem is that might not be the most pleasant thing for you—but if he thinks you're better off with someone else he will let you go. (see i don't think suguru would be able to do that. suguru will never be able to give you up.)

shoko's devotion is the most subtle, but i think it would be the most stable. it might take her a while to get to that stage (i don't think it's as easy for her to fall into obsession compared to the other two) but she will be dedicated to you. shoko may not be the most expressive, but she is the most emotionally grounded. she has always shown consistent loyalty to things she values, so i think her devotion to you would be dependable and pretty nurturing. i also think she has a very mature perspective on her relationship with you, and she'd be more concerned with creating and maintaining that bond. so basically... i think she'd be the most consistently devoted if that makes sense.

so yeah, suguru is the most intensely devoted, but his devotion is easy to become entangled with other emotions. satoru is devoted, but it's more external. he tends to do things for you that he feels is right. and shoko is the devoted in the most stable way.

[lale-txt]

one of my favorite genre of 2D men must be "husband who just really, really loves his wife"

[thewordfortheday]

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” 

(2 Corinthians. 1:3-4)

Jesus alone can provide solace to the hurting heart.

“Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”(Thomas Moore) This moving statement reminds us that meeting with God in prayer can bring healing to the troubled soul.

Sometimes we can be so preoccupied with inner sorrow that we isolate ourselves from the One who can offer consolation. We need to be reminded that God’s comfort and healing come through prayer. As we confide in our Father, we can experience peace and the beginning of healing for our wounded hearts.

[dchuntress]

[pulledrounder]

Mitski, "I'm Your Man" // Donna Haraway, The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness // Andrew Kane, "How to Be a Dog" // // Soccer Mommy, Your Dog // "this is the last time i beg for devotion" by violenttradwife // Anne Carson, Preface to Hekabe from Grief Lessons

[strryhaze]

rosemary kennedy

true compass, ted kennedy / irene from red velvet, gq magazine / if your hands are full of fire, l.a. johnson / would’ve could’ve should’ve, taylor swift .

[boymanmaletheshequel]

I see…

- I see Lady Persephone when I devour a delicious palm full of juicy and gemmy pomegranate seeds, or cleanse my face with pomegranate skin

- I see Lady Persephone when I mourn the loved ones I lost, the memories I have of them, and the ones I one day will lose, and as I seek them and their love from the afterlife

- I see Lady Persephone in the Lily of the valley that spring from the cold spring dirt after a rainy day, and in the mushrooms that pop out of the soil to bring new life from nothing

- I see Lady Persephone in the animals that are taken by a busy road, and i also see her and her compassion in those who are sent to fetch them, to spend their time and energy to make the effort to put them to rest with closure.

- I see Lady Persephone when I think about my own fate, and how I have become rather comfortable with it. I’ve loved, I’ve lived. if death were to come for me now? I can say I’ve lived a life worth living.

[shrews-art]

White chrysanthemums for grief, lavenders for devotion 🌸

[myfakeplasticlove13]

This has no theme I guess

or maybe it does

But it’s just that’s it’s november now and it’s cold and lonely without you and time doesn’t move like it’s supposed to and I don’t know what to do

[sexy-sapphic-sorcerer]

Recall the tale of Icarus.

Choose to be Icarus.

Linda K. Hughes, Text and Subtext in "Merlin and the Gleam", p.166 /// Alfred Tennyson, Merlin and the Gleam /// BBC Merlin, The Last Dragonlord (2x13) /// Natalie Wee, Patroclus Dreaming /// Hozier, I, Carrion (Icarian) /// BBC Merlin, The Wicked Day (4x03) /// Hozier /// Natalie Wee /// BBC Merlin, The Disir (5x05) /// Alfred Tennyson /// Hozier /// BBC Merlin, The Diamond of the Day: Part 2 (5x13) /// Natalie Wee /// Alfred Tennyson, The Passing of Arthur /// BBC Merlin, The Diamond of the Day: Part 2 (5x13) /// Hozier /// Alfred Tennyson /// Natalie Wee

[thepersonalwords]

I raised you so high that every other man on earth is now doomed to live in your shadow.

Ranata Suzuki