#have the dragoon husbands

[picmurasaki]

Happy New Years!

It's the year of the Drago(o)ns!💜

[aloeverawrites]

Merlin spoilers.

I feel like Arthur’s destiny was to marry Gwen and we’re not ready for that convo. Like she’s the one who was implied to lift the magic ban. Her. She brought magic to the land not Arthur.

And Merlin was their biggest shipper and helped them get together.

So I’m just saying I think the narrative and is could pay Gwen a little more attention bc she’s literally everything.

[wyrmwinds]

It’s important to note that even though Foulques lives in standard Ava canon hes still very much like. A sidequest ARR NPC who is absolutely not qualified for the shit going on in the MSQ and it shows. He’s Ava’s trophy husband. No one recognizes who he is he wasn’t even an official scion. He’s just kind of along for the ride, it’s not like he has anywhere else to be at this point.

His essential role in the story is to be a tsukkomi.

[akelafang]

Consort Merlin who doesn't fully retire his Dragoon alias after the magic reveal. He claims Dragoon is his crazy old uncle or something who pops in for visits. He tells off noblemen and the council, makes fun of everyone he doesn't like, causes chaos then leaves. Now instead of using Dragoon as a way to perform magic without getting caught, he uses it as a way to speak his mind without his opinions reflecting on Arthur.

Arthur knows and is exasperated but enjoys watching his husband have fun and let loose while disguised as an old man.

[yanderes-galore]

I was surprised by how much I liked your platonic!Rhaenys Targaryen short, since I don't typically request platonic yanderes ☺️ Could we get a concept for platonic!Rhaenys, please?

🕊️ anon

Sure! I said Rhaenys Velaryon on the title to distinguish Rhaenys (Aegon I's wife) and Rhaenys (Corly's wife).

I'm so worried I butchered her character... so I'd appreciate feedback to write her better! For now, just put down little thoughts I had. I love her... just wish I knew how to write her.

Yandere! Platonic! Rhaenys Targaryen/Velaryon Concept

Pairing: Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Overprotective behavior, Violence, Blood, Murder, Isolation, Death, Paranoia, Major canon character death mentioned, Fear of loss/death, Dubious companionship.

Rhaenys seems like she'd be fiercely protective of those she cares about.

More specifically... those she views as her children or something similar.

Related to her directly or not, Rhaenys is devoted.

She seems like she'd be a very attentive mother, aunt, grandmother, etc....

She is shown to care for her family.

She loves her husband, she loves her children, she loves her dragon.

Rhaenys would keep her obsession on Driftmark with her.

You could be related to her... or even a young servant she felt protective towards.

Rhaenys seems like one of the more moderately intimidating yanderes.

She isn't quite as kind and peaceful as Viserys, but she isn't hungry for violence like Daemon.

She's in the middle, often planning tactically to take on situations.

While she would be caring... she can be stern.

Rhaenys would love a Dragonrider obsession.

If you're not... even then I can still see Meleys being just as protective of you as her rider.

Rhaenys would keep her obsession in Driftmark, although... if the Dance started... she'd tolerate keeping you at Dragonstone with Rhaenyra.

Rhaenys feels she plays a big part in your life.

She'd be very caring whenever you're around.

I also imagine Rhaenys would want a say in your betrothal partners.

After all, she's quite the protective one.

Rhaenys can be just as fierce as her dragon, Meleys.

She's often calm, yet always planning how to keep you safe and happy.

She views herself as a guardian to you, after all.

You have your freedoms, yet Rhaenys expects you to stay where she is.

Be that Driftmark or Dragonstone, she wants you in sight.

If you aren't, not even Corlys can sway her from searching for you.

While you have your freedoms, Rhaenys knows how to give you your punishments too.

She'd never hurt you, but I can see her discipline you by isolating you in your chambers.

Y'know, like being grounded?

It's humiliating how she treats you like you know no better...

But it gets the message across in her eyes.

If you ran from her or left to join The Greens, Rhaenys will not hesitate to use Meleys to find you.

She will drag you back home kicking and screaming through dragoon fire if she has to.

You will not aid The Greens or run from her in any way.

Rhaenys likes to treat you as one of her children regardless of your relations.

She dislikes Daemon speaking with you, seeing him as a poor influence due to how impulsive he is.

She worries when Corlys suggests taking you on ships to learn the seas, wanting to keep you with her at Driftmark.

Even during the war, Rhaenys keeps a close eye on you.

She's careful with you, especially when she loses Laena and Laenor.

In fact, Rhaenys would just get worse when she loses her son and daughter.

Before then she was always protective yet loving towards you.

Yet when she loses her children?

The older woman clings to you... scared to lose you.

Even more so when she thinks Rhaenyra killed Laenor.

Similar to Rhaenyra, I can see Rhaenys having some trust issues after the deaths of her children.

She doesn't betroth you because she's scared to lose you.

If you are female, she'd be scared to lose you in childbirth.

If you are male, she'd probably be scared to lose you in the war.

Either way, Rhaenys is a bit paranoid of losing you too.

Whenever you're with Rhaenyra, Rhaenys is close by.

However, despite the Laenor incident, she eventually knows she has to trust Rhaenyra with you for your safety.

Oh, if anyone did hurt you?

Gods forbid if you were killed?

Rhaenys promises Fire and Blood with Meleys for revenge.

Does it go against orders? For once, she doesn't care.

You mean too much to her.

If Rhaenys is platonic over you, I bet even Corlys is to a degree.

The two are quite a healthy power couple... Rhaenys would probably get him to help with your care in Driftmark.

Rhaenys would keep you out of the war for as long as she can.

She's seen children die, Rhaenyra's especially.

No one can convince her to send you out to fight.

Be that commanding a fleet or riding a dragon... Rhaenys will stay against it.

If you're a servant she doesn't have to worry about that.

Rhaenys may originally be wary of you meeting Meleys, but Meleys is aware of how much you matter to the queen who never was.

The large red dragon often greets you with a trill, gently caring for you with Rhaenys in sight.

This shared care Rhaenys has with her dragon is what allows Meleys to risk anything to protect you both.

Rhaenys doesn't flinch at the deaths of those who cross her.

Any who cross her or you are fed to Meleys.

She takes your well-being very seriously.

Rhaenys always gives you advice and life lessons, she's lived a long time after all.

She warns you to be cautious and to come to her for issues.

Rhaenys always wants to know where you go.

You aren't even sent anywhere to be a diplomat.

It may be selfish... but Rhaenys can't lose anymore of what she loves.

She'll do anything to keep you under her care, including lock you in Driftmark or Dragonstone until you learn it's for the best.

[whats-9plus10]

Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart commentary and extras.

This is what I gathered during my first watch. Hopefully, I'll be able to upload the audio bits like I did for seasons 1-7 eventually! I'll catch all the little details then 💛

Let me get this out of the way. They did not answer the most important question of all.

In the past, Doc and Jackson have said that what they say in the commentary isn't necessarily canon. What is canon is what's in the actual show, not what they explore outside of the show because they're always changing their minds. Sometimes they disagreed while answering questions. Take that as you'd like.

Jonas didn’t abandon The Monarch after the plane crash intentionally. He assumed he died or he ran away before he got there. They hinted that Jonas downed the plane himself.

When asked if Jonas loved Rusty they say he’s a bad person, the villain of the show, and a monster. Jackson thinks he might have been a boy adventurer himself. They compare him to baby boomers forcing their children to live the lives they wanted themselves.

Does Rusty have the other twin killed when only one dies? Jackson says only when they witness the death. He referenced Ice Station Impossible. Brock has done it before.

Ritchie Valens refused to join The Guild and Red Mantle and Dragoon’s (Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper) initiation was to kill him so he wouldn’t tattle.

Doc says the second sons are the ones who succeed in The Guild, not the first sons, because they’re most likely to become evil and that’s why Dean was chosen as The Guild’s successor.

Doc described two episodes he would like to do: 1. "Heads in the water." Which is the heads of characters bobbing in the water after a crash for the entire episode. An all dialog bottle episode. 2. An episode that starts off like a regular Venture Bros episode. Then a henchman dies and everything pivots. 21 calls his wife and says “Real sorry but your husband died in service” (Doc put on his 21 voice here). We then see the wife and daughter (from another marriage) and follow them in their lives.

What is The Monarch's favorite ABBA song? Doc thinks Waterloo and Jackson thinks Take a Chance. They riff as Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend for a few seconds.

Gary's a big Sneaker Pimps fan.

Rusty doesn't have a middle name. If you ask Rusty he'll say the S stands for sexy or science or SUPER science. Rusty’s favorite musical is Starlight Express or RENT (Jackson disagreed). He's never actually watched them but he likes the advertisements.

Brock Frog is the guy that "brings in bagels". A 3rd generation Italian American from "bricklayer stock." He fell out with his dad because he wanted to bring bricks into the future. He teamed up with Professor Vigo Dale, who screwed him out of half of the company after Brick Frog gave him all of his brick ideas.

Mantilla has the ability to make things invisible by touching them but claimed it was teleportation. “It’s all bullshit…and she had money from her past”

Mantilla has been "garbage picking" from The Monarch’s trash, such as Dr. Mrs.'s costume ideas in season 3 that she had thrown away and their wedding invitation.

The guys in the warehouse with Jefferson were all roommates in the 90s.

We would have had a full episode of Force Majeure and Jonas Venture's rivalry.

We would have had another episode of Billy and Colonel Gentleman "John Wicking" after Mischa was found dead right before a doggy costume contest.

Matt Berry was supposed to voice Force Majeure.

Why does The Monarch hate Doc so much? Jackson says “Obviously it (the thought that Debra left him for Rusty) bothers him a little more than he said.”

They called Gary's hair “the popular millennial cut” and made him "half Glen Danzig half Wolverine."

Doc has drunk his own urine multiple times because they pee in bottles in the Astrobase. "Recently".

During the last scene in the movie when everyone is talking, Gary and Hatred were talking about a loofah. Hatred asked Gary "Ah...you use a loofah?". Dr. O was talking about intermittent fasting.

24 made a guest appearance in the "Fan Questions" extra for a few seconds.

They refused to answer the questions about Scare Bear and what Rusty and Billy were doing in the time machine in case they're able to continue the story.

They made a joke about telling people just enough in the commentary to get them excited and want more. (A “joke” haha)

During Prom, Pete and Billy would have studied the Push It video extensively. Pete would’ve entered the dance floor and “boxed it out” to make space. Billy would’ve walked in the circle nonchalantly. Then they would have recreated the entire dance.

[mydaddywiki]

Mark Phillips

Physique: Average Build Height: 6′ 0½″ (1.84 m)

Mark Anthony Peter Phillips CVO ADC OLY (born 22 September 1948) is an English Olympic gold medal-winning horseman for Great Britain and the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal, with whom he has two children. He remains a leading figure in British equestrian circles, a noted eventing course designer, and a columnist for Horse & Hound magazine. He also remains a leading figure in British equestrian circles and serves as Chef d'Equipe of the United States Eventing Team.

Phillips was educated at Stouts Hill Preparatory School near Uley, Gloucestershire, then at Marlborough College, then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in July 1969, retiring at the rank of captain in 1978. Alongside his military career, Phillips became a champion equestrian. He continued to style himself Captain Mark Phillips, as it is usual for retired cavalry captains to keep using their rank if their civilian job involves working with horses in racing or equestrian sports.

Twice married, Phillips first married Princess Anne on 14 November 1973, together they have two children. They separated in 1989 and, eventually, divorced in 1992 after years of marital strain with reported affairs by both. These problems came to light and entered the public eye when Phillips fathered a love child in 1985. In 1997, Phillips married an American Olympic dressage rider, divorcing in 2012 due to Mark's infidelity, together they had a daughter. Now it looks like he's banging another American equestrian. Damn… I need to get into horses so he could get into me.

[thousandfireworks]

Authors whose books you have to avoid because they are problematic.

Abigail Hing Wen.

Alex Aster.

Alice Hoffman.

Alice Oseman.

Alison Win Scotch. ‘Terrorism is never acceptable. Not in Israel.’

Allie Sarah.

Amber Kelly.

Amy Harmon.

Annabelle Monaghan.

Anna Akana.

Aurora Parker.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Brandon Sanderson. Islamophobic.

Carissa Broadbent. Said that hamas is doing violence against innocence.

Chloe Walsh. Siding with Israel in the name of humanity.

Christina Lauren. Believe that Israel is the victim. A racist, also Islamophobic.

Colleen Hoover.

Cora Reilly. Travel to Israel despite criticism.

Danielle Bernstein. Islamophobic.

Danielle Lori.

Deke Moulton. Said hamas is terrorist.

Dian Purnomo.

Eliza Chan.

Elle Kennedy.

Elyssa Friedland.

Emily Henry.

Emily Mclntire.

Emily St. J. Mandel. Admiring Israel.

Gabrielle Zevin. Wrote a book about anti-Palestine. Mentioned Israel multiple times without context on his book.

Gregory Carlos. Israeli author. A zionist.

Hannah Whitten.

Hazel Hayes. Reposted a post about October 7th.

Heidi Shertok.

Jamie McGuire.

Jay Shetty. ‘Violence is happening in Israel.’

Jean Meltzer.

Jeffery Archer. Wrote a book with a mc Israel operative (mossad) in a positive and anti terrorist light.

Jennifer Hartman. Liked a post about pro-Israel.

Jen Calonita.

Jessa Hastings.

Jill Santopolo. Said that Israel has right to exist and fight back.

John Green.

Jojo Moyes.

J. Elle.

J. K. Rowling. Support genocide. Racist. Islamophobic.

Kate Canterbery.

Kate Stewart.

Katherine Howe.

Katherine Locke.

Kristin Hannah. Support Israel. Shared a donation link.

Laini Taylor.

Laura Thalassa. Islamophobic.

Lauren Wise. Cussed that Palestinian supporters would be raped in front of children.

Lea Geller. Thanked people who supports Israel.

Leigh Dragoon. Islamaphobic and anti Asian racist rants on Twitter and threads

Leigh Stein.

Lilian Harris. A racist. Blocking people who educates about colonialism in Palestine and call them disgusting.

Lisa Barr. A daughter of Holocaust survivor. Support Israel.

Lisa Kennedy Montgomery.

Lisa Steinke.

Liz Fenton.

Lynn Painter. Afraid of getting cancelled as a pro-Palestine and posted a template afterwards.

L. J. Shen. Her husband joins idf (Israel army).

Mariana Zapata.

Marie Lu.

Marissa Meyer.

Melissa de la Cruz.

Michelle Cohen Corasanti.

Michelle Hodkin. Spread false rumors about arab-hamas. Islamophobic.

Mitch Albom. ‘We shouldn't blame Israel for surviving attacks or defending against them.’

Monica Murphy. Siding with Israel.

Naomi Klein.

Navah Wolfe.

Neil Gaiman. Suggested Palestinians unite with Israel and become citizens.

Nicholas Sparks.

Nic Stone. Talked nonsense that children in Palestinian refugee camp are training to be martyrs for Allah because they felt it was their call in life.

Nyla K.

Olivia Wildenstein. Blocking people who disagree with Israel wrongdoing.

Pamela Becker.

Penelope Douglas.

Pierce Brown.

Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Rebecca G. Martinez.

Rebecca Yarros. ‘I despise violence’ her opinion about what's happening in Gaza. Blocking people who calls her a zionist.

Rena Rossner.

Renee Ahdieh.

Rick Riordan.

Rina Kent.

Rivka (noctem.novelle).

Rochelle Weinstein.

Romina Garber. ‘These terrorist attacks do nothing to improve the lives of Palestinians people.’

Roshani Chokshi. Encourage people to donate to Israel.

Samantha Greene Woodruff.

Sarah J. Mass. Her book contained ideology of zionism.

Stephanie Garber. Promoting books by zionist author (Sarah J. Mass)

Skye Warren.

Sonali Dev.

Talia Carner.

Tarryn Fisher. Said ‘there was terrorist attack in Israel.’

Taylor Jenkins Reid. Posted a video about genocide.

Tere Liye. Rumoured to have ghoswriters to write his books and never give credit to them.

Tillie Cole.

Tracy Deon.

Trinity Traveler (Ade Perucha Hutagaol). Rumour to wrote book about handsome Israelis.

T. J. Klune.

Uri Kurlianchik.

Veronica Roth.

Victoria Aveyard. ‘Israel has the right to exist.’ quote from her about the issue.

V. E. Schwab. Shared a donation link and video about Israel.

Yuval Noah. ‘Israel has the right to do anything to defend themselves.’

Zibby Owens.

[r-yui]

FFXVI Spoliers | Analysis of Terence's personality

because this character has very little screen time but he’s one of the few persons that Dion cares and loves.

This is all based on ENG dub though.

Tent scene: Terence brings a report to Dion. When Dion looks very worried about his father and is about to ask Terence, he was quick to answer before Dion even finished asking. Actually, this is the scene that makes me start to think that these two have something going on, either close friends or childhood friends or more than that. I mean Terence dared to speak before the prince finished his line lol. It shows that even as a lover, Terence surely respects Dion as his prince. He draws the line, but that line may not be clear cut. If Dion needs support from his lover not his subordinate, Terence can cross that line for him.

Kiss Scene: You can see that Terence reaches out his hand to touch Dion's waist very smoothly like he knows since forever that’s his place to grab oh gawd. But when the kiss’s over, he clings to Dion’s waist and refuses to let go until Dion pulls Terence's hand out himself. From this scene, Terence clearly (and somewhat outright intensely) wants to show his love, and does not want to lose Dion. He might be the one who gets jealous easily.

Scene after meeting Joshua: Dion asks Terence if he believes in him. Terence was about to say "I.." (about to tell his feelings), but closed his eyes and again replied, "We Dragoons...", confirming that Terence had somewhat made the line between love and duty so blurry.

Farewell scene:

(1) Dion - When talking about a medicine girl, Dion didn't even meet Terence’s eyes and kept talking over the shoulder with him, until Terence had to pull his shoulders so Dion could face him directly. It shows that Dion may not be good at expressing his personal/romantic feelings (including making facial expressions/trying not to show weakness which apparently showed when he  held back his tears), but when Terence left, It’s Dion who turned and looked at Terence’s back longingly.

(2) Terence - oh my how cute it is he's taller than Dion even though he bent his knees. Terence pulled Dion's shoulder to talk to him directly, stripped of the prince-container rank thingy and called Dion by name, and cried. He no longer hides his feelings. At this time, Terence was desperate to not leave Dion and he might have known that Dion wanted to break up with him. Still,  Terence never disobeys Dion's orders and Dion knew this. His act of pushing Dion and walking away without turning back doesn't mean he stops loving Dion, but it shows that he is very straightforward and determined to follow his prince’s orders though it damn hurts.

Sometimes I think that even though Dion isn't dead (Please don't die, please have Dion episode in the DLC.) Both of them may not still get back together. Dion must have been overwhelmed by his own guilt, probably thinking that he didn't deserve love from anyone (seriously, nobody blames you. Your dragoon troops are loyal to you. The people didn't blame you. Your cute husband still loves you. The whole guilt is stuck in your edgy dragoon brain).

[scotianostra]

On April 14th, 1972, 52 years ago today, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards topped the UK charts with Amazing Grace.

Almost fifty years ago an Army pipe major approached his regimental music director and asked him to make an arrangement for a spiritual hymn that went well on the pipes. The Pipe Major was Tony Crease, the tune was Amazing Grace and The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were about to take the popular music world by storm

One of the band’s top fans was the late BBC disc jockey Alan Freeman. He said: ‘I don’t see it as the pop sound of the 70s but this record is the greatest.’

Amazing Grace topped the singles chart for 5 weeks, the RPM national singles chart in Canada for three weeks, and rose as high as number 11 in the US. It also topped the charts in Ireland and South Africa. In 2007, Universal records released a new album by the group, Spirit of the Glen, some of the album was recorded at a military base in Basra, my friend’s husband played in the band, which went on to be awarded a Classical Brit award.

It is also a controversial recording as it was a bit of a first, blending the pipes with military brass band instruments. It was a new sound, odd as that seems today. There was something of a controversy at the time; the Pipe Major of the regiment was summoned to Edinburgh Castle and rebuked for polluting the pipes with Sassenach metalwork.

In 2007, Universal records released a new album by the group, Spirit of the Glen.

Many artists have performed the song over the years, checking out my go to place fortunes, Allmusic, they list over 1,000 recordings – including re-releases and compilations! Some of the most well artists who have sung versions are; Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers, The Beatles, Jeff Buckley, Rod Stewart, Boy George, Aretha Franklin, George Jones, Grace Kelly, Glen Campbell and Elvis Pressley.

[val-the-protoss-simp]

I ONCE AGAIN FORGOT ABOUT THIS DAMN BLOG

CURSE MY ADHD AAAAAA

ANYWAY

Part three of this ask, the Nerazim

Part 1/3 the Tal'darim

Part 2/3 the Khalai Part 3/3 the Nerazim <- you're here

Anar. The oldest of N&N babies. Nothing much to say about them aside from that they're a reclusive phase smith (or the Nerazim equivalent to one) They’re good at what they do and they know it, which can lead to them coming off as rather arrogant and full of themselves. They also have your average "oldest child syndrome" and tend to parent their siblings, who are adults and literally hundreds of years old in most cases, which once again is something that often makes them look patronising.

Elyon. A very underdeveloped character for now. I keep putting their writing off because I don't feel like I can portray their story adequately just yet. Yet. They're half Khalani, half Nerazim, the oopsie baby of Zhakul and Tali and because of this mixed heritage, they struggle to “decide” who they want to be in a world where the Nerazim and Khalai society haven't really integrated yet. In a world where not many mixed protoss exist just yet, they fel like they don't really belong in either society and grow up shy and reclusive because of this.

Their end game was to become an Alyssar. Because this little bean is, like, so hungry for knowledge. You know how humans are inherently hungry for money? Elyon’s like that, only with information. Anything is fair game, from knowledge about botany, philosophy, terran theater plays, the way plasma based engines work, molecular structure of a sandwich, etc. They don't necessarily want to do anything with it, like become a doctor or a politician or even a scholar, they just want to have it, to know, to understand. Eventually a few centuries down the line, they move their ass to Ehlna and join the other Alyssar. 

You could also argue it's a coping mechanism. Elyon will live for centuries, like all protoss, but their terran family won't. The grief that strikes them when Jake passes away (and Zhakul's visceral reaction to it) as well as the horror of seeing Harper get older and older in front of their eyes while they stay young, frightens them. So they occupy their brain with other things just so they don't have to think about this, and learning about crop rotation and quantum entanglement seems to be the thing!! 

Elyon also keeps their cords uncut despite frequently feeling the societal presure to do otherwise. This is mostly because it's the only way they get to feel close to one of their fathers, Talizun, who is a previously mangled zealot currently enlosed in the shell of a dragoon. They especially begin to rely on this bond after Jake's passing.

Nanzak. A very tall, very lanky middle-aged protoss lady. (middle-aged for THEIR standard. So she's like 600 years old) Very quiet, reserved, may come off as cold, unfriendly or even mean to others, but really she just likes her peace and personal space.

She's a performer and a dancer originating from a nomadic tribe deep within the midnight deserts of Shakuras. I really like the idea that a sense of family and tribes is very strong within certain Nerazim communities and Nanzak comes from one. The desert tribes have a different outlook on life, which then takes shape in their customs and culture. She'd be considered sort of an outsider in the more urban areas, mostly because she sticks to her tribe's customs and doesn't want to mitigate it whatsoever. She's proud of who she is, very secure in her place in life and society and if someone doesn't like it, that sounds like a them problem. 

She's absolutely and irrevocably in love with her short husband, who she has like seven kids with (something very usual with the the protoss, since most have like two to three offsprings in life IN TOTAL) Speaking of-

Narzul. As mentioned previously, he's Nanzak’s short husband and a complete opposite of her when it comes to personality. He's social, loud, kind of a joker, open and curious. Also quite clumsy compared to her (everyone is clumsy compared to her)

He's a very skilled medic who was travelling all over Shakuras in his youth to quench his thirst of curiosity and that's how they met. They've been together for like four centuries now, have seven kids and are absolutely that couple in public that is way too comfortable with PDA. You know the one. He also absolutely will start talking about his wife and how much he loves her and how cool and perfect she is every chance he gets and won't shut up for hours. Your fault for asking.

After Haven and Shakuras boot up their diplomacy programme, he eagerly joins as the protoss's designated medic. Mostly because he's very very curious about terran medical science and wanted an excuse to to eagerly study it. Now he can do that while there's also so many terrans running around that he can talk to about their whacky boddies?? It's like a dream come true! (he WILL ask about your bowel movements nearly every morning buckaroo you better get used to it) which eventually leads to him being curious about different aspects of terran culture as well.

He also has a role as a sort of an emotional anchor (???) during the time Zhakul is expecting Elyon. This is an unplanned baby that neither Zhakul or Jake feel like they're ready for and are lowkey (highkey) panicking about it, especially Jake, who doesn't feel like he could ever be an adequate father figure to anyone ever. Narzul helps midigate that in a way only a wise old man that's seen it all can do.

Ulzea. The one thing I can say about her is that she’s very pink in my head. And that’s about it fjdvikjbvf

Funny how she’s existed for about *checks watch* fourteen years and there’s barely anything to say about her (even her name, Ulzea, was recycled from a different character that I renamed last year) This is because she was never really a person to begin with. I make it no secret that this entire AU is based off of my frequent daydreaming from when I was a teenager trying to cope with an unfavourable family situation. The thing with daydreams is that they make for an excellent distraction and are a good tool for coming up with ideas, but they make terrible stories when they’re put on paper, namely because of their overly long, complex and often nonsensical narratives that are more aimed to the be self-gratifying to the daydreamer rather than be fully realised, balanced stories.

But I digress. Ulzea is a victim of this. I think the best way to describe her would be that she’s to Zhakul what Vorazun is to Artanis during the events of LotV, that being that she acts as an exposition dump whenever he needs to listen to some Nerazim lore. Ulzea is worse than Vorazun, given that Vorazun is still, you know, a character of her own with her own personality and growth and so on. Ulzea never had this.

The reason why I never talked about her is because she’s essentially been written out of Zhakul’s story because of this. She was more of a narrative device for me to arrange my headcons about the Nerazim rather than anything else, which I achieved by having her dumping this information onto Zhakul, who only just got to Shakuras after living with terrans for some sixteen years and had no idea how to be a protoss. She’s just no longer needed as a character because Zhakul learns of his heritage in a more organic way, but recently I’m thinking about bringing her back if not for any other reason that she’s pretty (also because Zhakul just. Needs more protoss friends who are close to his age)

Uszadar. One of Narzul and Nanzak’s several babies. He lives in the more rural parts of Shakuras, specifically around the crater where the Xel’laga Temple is situated, but due to his lifestyle tends to be mostly nomadic. 

I have a terrible habit of fixating on small features and details in media that regular people don't tend to give a shit about, which is also a case here. I love the kakarus. I have loved them since I first played Brood Wars at the ripe age of six. They were my favourite critter in the entire game and stayed as such to this day as well. I always envisioned them as, like, flying mounts for the protoss because kiddie me was obsessed with dragons, dragon riders and the 2002 Dinotopia miniseries that featured the skybax. So big flying lizard-thing mean alien ride too, yes? 

Anyway, the joys of having my own AU means I can do whatever I want, so I say the protoss ride kakarus. It's mostly something done in the more rural parts of Shakuras because the more urban areas just use modern technology for the transport of cargo, people and messages. At this point it's the equivalent to how us humans keep horses. Something that used to be widespread and important for the function of society is nowadays mostly a hobby. Uszadar is mostly on the practical side of things, still utilising kakarus for transport and to reach the more rural parts of Shakuras, as well as doing conservationist work for the species, preserving their natural environment as well as studying them both in the wild and in captivity. 

Meaning that, yes, he's a horse girl. 

Zeredar. Once again, this is one of Nanzak and Narzul’s babies. She was originally gonna die during the second invasion of Shakuras but then my friends convinced me to let her live (boo) so she continues to unleash herself on the rest of the world. I see her as someone with a very dry sense of humour, which often makes her come off as rude or mean. She’s also the kind of person who can keep an absolute deadpan expression while telling the most hilarious joke you have ever heard. She’s also very dramatic and sassy, something she gets from her mother.

Funnily enough, however, I also see her as a fairly cheerful person, similar to how her father is, despite what her sense of humour may suggest. It’s a bit harder to see this side of her, you have to get to know her better first, but under all that sass and sarcasm, she has a generally positive outlook on life and people, doing what she can to see the best in everyone and everything. She’s very proud of her work and is confident in it's quality, similar to her oldest sibling, and is also a very confident person overall.

The injury she suffered during the invasion doesn’t slow her down one bit and she continues to find beauty and happiness in her life regardless of it.

Zhakul’s mothers

Yeahhhhhhh…they don’t have names ifgvidhvvd

I’m pretty sure you can see a trend by now aaaaaaaaaa

They’re just as old as him, turning 14 years this year, but unlike him, they're are barely concepts. Which is fine in the case of this particular story, given that it’s not about them and they more or less exist so Zhakul can have certain aspects of his backstory set in place, like that he’s related to Vorazun through one of them, or that he eventually decides to walk in their footsteps as an elite member of the Matriarch’s personal Shadow Guard.

They were fully dedicated to their duties and very happy as only a couple, never intentionally trying for a baby. Which is partially the reason for why Zhakul is born when they’re fairly old, being in their early 700s. They both loved him very very much and would happily claim that the few years they got to spend with him before their untimely deaths were the happiest years in their long lives.

Both of them die a few months before the events of WoL. With the zerg invasion beginning anew, many protoss colonies were evacuated as a safety measure, including the one they were escorting. This was during the time the Dominion was kicking its Hybrid Program into overdrive and needed, um, material, to be able to build these guys from. I see you know where this is going. The ship on which the protoss were being evacuated on got seized by Dominion secret forces, resulting in a great loss of life, which included both of Zhakul’s mother. 

AND SPEAKING OF-

Zhakul!! My baby, my little innocent bean, precious cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure. Oh, how good it feels to torture him-

Um. Anyway.

This is the oldest OC I have. Period. He was conceptualised in summer 2010 when Wings of Liberty first came out and I played through the campaign for the first time. I fell in love with this game all over again, and came up with Zhakul as a way to organise my thoughts on it because I just could not stop thinking about it. Many things in the AU changed, he mostly remained the same. From the day I first imagined him up until now, he underwent very minor design changes and very small changes to his overall story. This is because he is perfect and has no flaw-

The only other character I can think of that I am more attached to other than him is Jake (who is also nearly as old as Zhakul) who he is essentially attached to the hip to and an integral part of his story, just like he is in Jake’s. They meet shortly after Zhakul is rescued by the Raiders from Castanar, where he was held captive and experimented on. The story of how the Raiders dumped him on Haven is a bit long and I think I already spoke of this on this blog anyway (???) He then integrates into terran society and becomes a part of Jake’s family, almost being like his adoptive brother but not really because he’s an alien being raised by humans. Still, he’s loved just as much by them.

He continues to suffer from terrible anxiety and rather intense ptsd episodes from when he was held captive and experimented on, which was something his terran family did their best to help him with, but there’s only so much therapy made for humans, by humans, can do to help an alien, not to mention when said alien struggles with trauma as heavily as Zhakul does. This eventually results in him severely hurting Jake in one of his episodes by slashing his chest open, after which he panics and runs away from Haven to Shakuras.

(How does he get to Shakuras? No idea. Its been a plothole for the past fourteen years.)

There he gets a bit of a culture shock because he’s been living with terrans for the past sixteen years or so and has no idea what it means to be protoss. Essentially, he’s a terran in protoss skin and I remember that one of my favourite things to think about was how confusing his learnt mannerisms would be to everyone else (like how protoss tilt their head instead of chuckling meanwhile us humans do it when we’re confused. I imagine this lead to quite a few SituationsTM)

A lot of stuff happens here. Zhakul originally only ran away for the sake of running away but eventually figured out the protoss will surely be able to offer better help than terrans? So he gets it into his head that he will go to whatever equivalent of therapy the Nerazim have and then come back to Haven, because more than anything he yearns to be with his family and with Jake. A lot of things happen here, namely events that include Dal and Tali, showing that him that he cannot deal with his issues by burying them deep inside him and pretending they’re not real, but rather by admitting to himself that they happened and learning to accept it and let go. 

A lot of Zhakul’s story is about trauma, coping with it and about healing from it. About learning that your past does not define you as a person and that it’s on you to decide who you are, not other people. The past cannot be erased, so why continuously dwell on it? Mistakes are made, relationships are broken and lost, but being forever attached to all of this and pondering how it could have been different is pointless. What you can do is learn from it, change your future, put effort into being the best version of yourself that you can be, for the sake of yourself and those around you.

He does eventually come back to Haven to make amends, but what happens is once again long and convoluted and more focused on Jake rather than him, because the gremlin human also needs his own character arc. They end up leading a pretty interesting life together, full of adventure and other various shenanigans, but writing about that would end in a much longer essay than this is already. Anyway, Zhakul is my baby and a personal favourite, the One That Started It All and my favourite punching bag.

[sjofn-lofnsdottr]

— B A S I C S

Name: Bellinor Lanverlais

Nicknames: Dusk, which is the name he goes by in almost all circumstances. The vast majority of people don't know his actual first name.

Age: 39, I'll tick him over to 40 when Dawntrail starts. Happy birthday?

Nameday: 21st Sun of the Second Umbral Moon

Race: Elezen, Wildwoodishgardian

Gender: Dude

Orientation: Pansexual, polyamorous

Profession: Gunbreaker, will still do DRK and DRG things occasionally. Also a carpenter.

— P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: Blondie blond blond with some white highlights that he doesn't want to think about but luckily blend in pretty well. He also has a beard. He will never shave it.

Eyes: Dark Green

Skin: Light skinned, but does look like he goes into the sun occasionally. He promises he goes into the sun occasionally.

Tattoos/scars: Nope!

— F A M I L Y

Parents: Extremely alive. His father is named Bernon, and he was a pikeman in the Ishgardian military until he and his wife deserted left, and he is currently a maverick Wood Wailer who should probably hand in his badge. His mother is named Gwenolie, she was a chirugeon in Ishgard, which is how she met Bernon in the first place. She retired completely upon reaching Gridania ... as far as Gridania knows, at least.

Siblings: His twin sister, Orianne. Her nickname, of course, is Dawn. She's a botanist most of the time, unless she feels like the Scions are not doing a good enough job keeping an eye on her brother. Then she's a lancer who recently picked up reaper, since it's hard to feel like you're pulling your weight when your brother and his boyfriend bro are both extra special dragoons, you know?

Grandparents: ALSO VERY ALIVE, although they're all getting on in years. Gwenolie's parents are Lionnet and Aurelle Tirauland. Lionnet is a (mostly) retired chocobo trainer, Aurelle is a retired knight. Bernon's parents are Ciceroix and Iliette Lanverlais. Ciceroix was also a pikeman in the military (now retired) and Iliette is a retired archer.

In-laws and Other: It's kinda funny this asks for in-laws but not ... partners? Farron is Dusk's almost-husband, which makes Farron's semi-adopted dad, Bjalla, Dusk's almost-father-in-law. Farron also has two kids, twins, named Sverre and Kara, who seem keen to adopt Dusk. The twins live on the First. It's a whole thing. And Estinien is ... <waves hand vaguely>.

Pets: Dusk and Farron are currently raising two amaro babies, which probably count. Their names are Eo Lad and Sul Lad, and they're adorable. There's also Duck, of course, but he's not a pet.

— S K I L L S

Abilities: He has an excellent memory for names and visuals. He is an excellent carpenter. He's also usually pretty good in social situations.

Hobbies: He enjoys woodworking, playing piano or cello, or painting when it's Hobby Time.

— T R A I T S

Most Positive Traits: Kind, determined, resilient.

Most Negative Traits: Sore loser, has a very difficult time telling concise stories, tends to hide when he's Not Alright from most people.

— L I K E S

Colors: Greens and blues.

Smells: Sawdust, and the way super cold, crisp air smells.

Textures: I have never thought about this question, and I do not intend to start. He probably likes when he runs a hand over something he's sanded and it feels perfect, though. Does that count?

Drinks: Likes finding new teas to try. Also a closet wine snob.

— O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Not tobacco! :D

Drinks: As mentioned, he is into wine. He usually stops drinking once he feels himself getting tipsy, but ... not always.

Drugs: don't worry about it

Mount Issuance: His chocobo Pike, of course. He also has an amber draught chocobo named Lance.

Been Arrested: Uhhh unless that one time in Ul'dah counts, nope!

I was tagged by @alixennial, thank you! I don't want to tag every single FFXIV mutual I have, so uh ... if you're one of them, do the thing if you want. :P

[dustedbooksandreadingnooks]

On the Road Day 1(late) of Glamtober

Krystdraga doesn't travel with Keathan much anymore, but when he did he was always fretting over them. If Keathan didn't insist on walking themselves, he surely would have carried them and all of their research to their destination and then some.

I hope to make another trip with him somewhere, someday. When- When things have calmed down, a little. Just the two of us, seeing the scenery, I don't even care where we're going. I'm sure the garden will manage without him! -Keathan Bael'al-adar Krystdraga belongs to my lovely husband, @candycryptids

Shader is Fairy Shiroxo Neon Lights Glam items/mods listed under the cut

Krystdraga/Sebastian, Paladin: Hair- Roe port for Leyawiin by Mournblade Head- Skull eyepatch (Dragoon blue) Body- Wolf Cuirass (Midnight Blue) Hands- Deepgold Gloves of Fending (Shadow Blue) Leg- True Linen Skirt of Fending (Metallic Gold) Feet- Wolf Sabatons (Shadow Blue) Earring- Purple Triteleia Earring Main hand- Carnage Sword Shield- Emperor's New Shield Fashion Accessory- Knapsack Keathan, White Mage: Hair- Valhalla by Moon, gold accessory Body- Whisperfine Woolen Coat (Ceruleum Blue, Pastel Blue) Hands- Hempen Shortgloves (Rose Pink) Leg- Striped Cotton Slops (Rose Pink) Feet- Pagos Boots (Qiqirn Brown) Earring- Purple Triteleia Earring Main hand- Halonic Priest's Crook Face Accessory- Gold Spectacles (Modded to look like the Varsity Flatcap glasses)

[invisibletinkerer]

Dragoons

Final Fantasy II introduced the iconic character class of the Dragoon.

(As an aside, "dragoon" is actually a mistranslation. The Japanese word is 竜騎士, meaning "dragon knight". A dragoon is, historically, a particular kind of soldier who has a horse to ride for transport, but does not ride a horse in battle. That makes him more mobile than a foot soldier, but cheaper than a cavallerist since he doesn't need a trained war horse. Quite unrelated to how the term is used in English-language Final Fantasy games! But "dragon knight" sounds so generic, and I kind of like the sound of "dragoon", so I still use it.)

The dragoons of FF2 aren't really much like what the class is known for later, either. The trademark "Jump" command doesn't exist yet, and Richard's default weapon is a sword, not a spear. His armor in the original NES game is a generic knight's armor, with a helmet that covers his whole head. The WSC version (published in 2001) has changed Richard's armor into something that looks a lot more like Kain's, with a dragon themed helmet that leaves half his face bare, but that's a retcon after the fact.

What distinguishes FF2 dragoons is that they ride dragons (specifically wyverns). That's their whole gimick! I'm sad that this was dropped in the other games, although I guess it'd be hard to implement in a battle system. FF5 does feature wyverns prominently, but there's no particular connection to the dragoon class.

The playable dragoon character's name in FF2 is Richard, a name that is used in FF4 for Kain's late father, who was also a dragoon. It's a neat reference, but I have seen fans try to twist it into the two Richards being one and the same, and sadly that doesn't work at all. (Even disregarding the fact that the two games, like all main FF games, take place in completely different worlds.)

In FF2, the dragoons and their wyverns lived on the island of Dist, but were massacred by the Evil Empire before the game begins. Richard is the last surviving knight (because he was out of commission while inside Leviathan!). The other two survivors are one wyvern and her egg, and a widow named Elena and her unnamed son. Elena's husband and the boy's father was a dragoon named Philip. Richard does promise to take care of them - presumably to join their family, since they are the last of his people. But he dies during the story before he can make good on that promise. So even if the boy was Kain, as I've seen suggested, the dragoon father he would have remembered would have been Philip, not Richard.

That said, I like Richard. I can imagine it's one of those names that come up again and again within the dragoon community.

[lyledebeast]

There's no day like Bisexual Visibility Day to write about my favorite closeted bisexual and the numerous ways he hides behind his children. Of course, I'm talking about Benjamin Martin from The Patriot, but there is possibly a bit of this going on with his oldest son as well.

There are two kinds of eroticism in this film: a heterosexual one oriented wholly towards creating a family and bloodlust, which intriguingly only happens between men. Benjamin and Gabriel would, if asked, vehemently deny that there is any "lust" of any kind involved in their attacks on British soldiers, that all they have in mind is saving or avenging their family members. This interpretation, on Benjamin's part, overlooks that Gabriel is already safe when he is splattering himself with another man's bodily fluids while screaming primally in the woods. On Gabriel's part, it ignores that the visual parallel director Roland Emmerich creates is clearly between Tavington and the nameless British soldier Benjamin rapes kills, not between Tavington and Anne. The dragoons are gathered around campfires when the militiamen surprise them; setting Tavington on fire instead of butchering him with a hunting knife is clearly an option, just not the one Gabriel chooses.

The Patriot does not give us much in terms of historical accuracy to be sure, but by god does it provide extremely anemic heterosexual intimacy and extremely virile violence. The idea of Anne and Gabriel kissing is so racy it can only happen offscreen. The prelude to Charlotte and Benjamin's only onscreen kiss is her sighing "Very well" and looking at him expectantly. How this is going to escalate into child-making is hard to imagine. But the way Tavington and Benjamin leer at each other before charging on foot on the battlefield? The way Gabriel slowly withdraws his knife from Bordon's body and stalks towards Tavington with it as ti drips the other man's blood?🔥🔥🔥

There are two factors that contribute to this odd juxtaposition of sexuality and violence. One is that, in typical American fashion, The Patriot presents the idea of husbands and wives who have multiple children together fucking as taboo while absolutely glorying in graphic war violence. At the same time, Tavington is not just hot because he's immodestly dressed in two short scenes. He's hot because he's a vibrant, memorable character. The audience is going to feel some kind of way about him, even if that feeling amounts to wanting him to die a painful death. His bare skin is not only jarringly unexpected but jarringly sexual in contrast to the tepid romance scenes. The same goes for his adversaries in the film. Benjamin has more screentime with Charlotte than with Tavington, but she clearly exists for him mostly as a place to stash his children, those already born and those he'll have in the future. A prop is not sexy, not matter how much bare arm and cleavage is on display. Much stronger feelings, and more compulsion to act, are evident on both sides in Martin and Tavington's scenes, even if that desire is laced with a fair amount of hatred. Charlotte gives Martin children, but Tavington gives him satisfaction.

To recap, violence between men is sexy; sex between men and women is insipid. Tell me the director is gay without telling me the director is gay.

[meepsthemiqo]

okie here my out

I had this idea in the bath. Not that its relevant in any way, just telling you because.

I found this au fic in my notes app ( I'll post it below) and I thought: whoa, what if I changed Meeps' canon to incorporate this? Just...swap out Estinien for Charibert?

It would majorly change up things for Meeps for ARR (for which I have no head canons) and might get rid of her amnesia. And change up some stuff for her family.

Here is my thinking: instead of getting amnesia and wandering off from her family, she is captured by Ishgard. She is then given to the Inquisition and thus, Charibert. They don't kill her, she is used to keep the Ixal under control, who revere her as Garuda's living vessel. They DO kill the rest of her family, ie: her mother and sisters, to stop the Ixal from replacing her. What the Ishgardians don't know about is Elidibus and baby Fae’a. Meeps, still ignorant to Elidibus's power, thinks he and Fae’a were killed in the massacre.

In her grief in the following years, she convinces herself she is in love with Charibert who *kind of* treats her nicely. She's just trying to cope with her situation.

When the Ixal summon Garuda during ARR, she is locked away as punishment, even though she had nothing to do with it.

She is rescued later during the events of the Vault along with Aymeric.

She still has Marie and has a tearful reunion with her son and Elidibus post HW when they realise each other are still alive.

Mini au fic this is inspired from below

In order to keep the Ixal under control, Ishgard proposed an "alliance". Their priestess, the vessel of their goddess, Garuda, would marry the Ishgardian Azure dragoon. The "alliance" was said to keep the ixal safe. They were allowed to go about their business and ishgard would protect them from Gridanian aggression. Meanwhile, their priestess would aid in keeping Ishgard safe from dravanian attacks. And what better way than the uniting of the two peoples protectors? The incarnation of the ixali goddess and the legendary azure dragoon of ishgard who wields the power of the Great wyrm. The reality of the situation was less idealic. Although the couple indeed was bonded in the eyes of Ishgardian law, it was no more than a ceremony to please the public to disguise what would be more accurately described as political imprisonment. The Garuda priestess was no more than a way for the Ishgardian ruling bodies to eliminate the threat of a primal summoning against them, whilst gaining a powerful weapon to wield against the dravanian horde. Her husband being no more than her designated executioner, should she ever summon her goddess without the permission of her jailors. Affections between husband and wife were severely discouraged for this reason. Yet it was made expressly clear, on the off chance that an "accident" should occur and offspring was produced, that such an abomination to the Ishgardian church would be put down immediately.