#i took their canon traits into consideration when i answered this

[anticidic]

So I found this around, can I ask for Dazai/Chuuya?

♥ Send a ship and I'll give you who:

- Gives nose/forehead kisses

- Gets jealous the most

- Picks the other up from the bar when they’re too drunk to drive

- Takes care of on sick days

- Drags the other person out into the water on beach day

- Gives unprompted massages

- Drives/rides shotgun

- Brings the other lunch at work

- Has the better parental relationship

- Tries to start role-playing in bed

- Embarrassingly drunk dancer

- Still cries watching Titanic

- Firmly believes in couples costumes

- Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas

- Makes the other eat breakfast

- Remembers anniversaries

- Brings up having kids

hey anon, you should totally tell me where you got this ask meme, it's adorable 👀

Gives nose/forehead kisses

Chuuya all the way for forehead kisses. Height differences be damned, he'd still reach up, grab Dazai's face and press a lingering kiss to his forehead. I think Dazai would be more mischievous and boop/peck Chuuya on the nose though, especially when it's real cold out, their noses are tinted red, and Dazai's teasing Chuuya about looking like a reindeer.

Gets jealous the most

Dazai, no question about it. Dazai already can't stop thinking about how to kill Chuuya daily, this man is not normal about Chuuya. Dazai has a kind of untapped jealousy though where he doesn't even realize he's jealous until it's pointed out to him because he's never experienced jealousy before. He'd be more lowkey and passive-aggressive about it though, getting all up in Chuuya's space and slinging an arm around his shoulders.

Picks the other up from the bar when they’re too drunk to drive

I want to be cheeky and say they'd both get drunk and have a friend pick them up. Chuuya's a lightweight, but Dazai also sucks at driving, but if Chuuya is buzzed out of his mind, he won't notice all the red lights Dazai runs and how he's going over the speed limit.

Takes care of on sick days

Chuuya. He's used to looking out for others, so he'd do it almost no questions asked, especially because he's getting a bit miffed about Dazai sniffling and sneezing everywhere and he doesn't want to get sick as well. Dazai and his total lack of self-preservation means Chuuya's picking up a sick Dazai, throwing him over his shoulder, and forcing him into bed and bundling Dazai in a lot of blankets so he can't move, but Chuuya will also make tea and run out to the pharmacy to get medicine.

Drags the other person out into the water on beach day

Dazai. Chuuya's almost like a workaholic now who really needs to take it easy, so Dazai would spontaneously drag Chuuya out. No ifs, ands, or buts. Or he'd trick Chuuya out saying it was an emergency, or word on the street is that Mori needed a favor done.

Gives unprompted massages

I think Dazai would try, and he'd suck at it, so then Chuuya shows him how to give a proper massage and where to massage, because Dazai's just making things worse. It would take time, but Dazai would eventually learn how to properly get the knots out of Chuuya's back.

Drives/rides shotgun

Dazai rides. He'd even yell it when he runs out the door.

Brings the other lunch at work

Chuuya. Chuuya would pick up on all the little quirks and terrible habits Dazai has about forgetting to eat, how picky of an eater he is, and how he'll even be too lazy to run to the convenience store to grab a bento box. He doesn't want Dazai passing out on him.

Has the better parental relationship

oof is it unfair to say neither? I mean, I guess technically Chuuya wins slightly over Dazai, because Chuuya at least acknowledges his parents even if he doesn't visit them. Dazai, we just don't know about at all. Under kinder circumstances, I can see Chuuya having the better relationship with his parents, no doubt. They'd be going to his parent's house for holidays and such. Dazai just kinda doesn't bring his parents up at all, and it's a topic they avoid altogether because it's a sore spot.

Tries to start role-playing in bed

Dazai. Chuuya would wonder what the hell Dazai is doing dressed up in a dashing suit, glasses and all, then it clicks.

Embarrassingly drunk dancer

Chuuya. Someone, whether a friend or coworker, would taunt him about getting on the dance floor to show off his skills, and he'd bite, stumbling his way over onto the floor to bust a move.

Still cries watching Titanic

Honestly, neither. Dazai would be more mechanical dissecting what's going on in the movie, and "Why did he think THAT was the right move?", and Chuuya would be touched by the sacrifice that happens in the movie, but he wouldn't cry.

Firmly believes in couples costumes

DAZAI. Dazai would love all the stupid costumes, and Chuuya's his victim. Dazai 100% loves Halloween.

Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas

Chuuya, no contest. He doesn't even do it on purpose, he just window shops for something nice, pays no attention to the price tag, and only finds out at the register, but he doesn't bat an eye. It's completely imbalanced, whereas Dazai gets Chuuya like, a new pair of gloves that may be real leather or faux leather.

Makes the other eat breakfast

Chuuya. He'd be not-so-subtle about self-care when it comes to Dazai. Dazai's diet makes him see red, tbh.

Remembers anniversaries

Both, but Dazai's more lowkey about it. He won't pretend to forget, but the big day will be coming up, and Chuuya's antsy and anticipating something any day now from Dazai, then he's crestfallen come morning of, thinking Dazai forgot, then Dazai surprises him by evening.

Brings up having kids

👀 I actually think Dazai would. Hypothetically speaking, this would happen way into the relationship when they've established an emotional connection and processed their traumas to even get to that level. But I think it'd be poetic for Dazai, the man who was adamant about taking his own life since he was a kid, now wanting to not only share his life with someone else, but raise kids on top of it. It'd take a lot to reach that point, but I think him bringing it up would really mean he's found someone worth living for.

[thevindicativevordan]

Do you have... Sigh... Do you have thoughts on Superman killing Zod in The Man of Steel and why Superman killing is a problem?

Actually I didn't have too much of a problem with that in Man of Steel believe it or not. At the time I thought Snyder's logic was dumb - Superman needs to kill in order to learn that killing is wrong? - but I thought that both the neck snap and Superman's lack of concern over the destruction of Metropolis were deliberate fuck-ups on Superman's part, and that the creators were cognizant of how both of those came across. Surely a sequel would be all about Superman grappling with the ramifications of both. Instead Snyder just moved the next movie's climatic fight to an unmanned area so he could blow shit up without the pesky nerds whining, and had Superman kill Zod again with nary a flicker of contemplation. That's when I accepted that Snyder just thinks superheroes killing is "badass" (something his rant about how stupid people who don't want Superman and Batman to kill are at Snydercon confirmed).

Now as for killing in general when it comes to Superman? I'm typically anti-lethal force when it comes to him... but I do recognize some gray areas.

Regardless of whether you like Doomsday or not, he's an iconic part of the Super-Mythos and it's a well-established fact that Supes goes for the killshot at the end of their fight. Against a genocidal opponent who can match him, where he truly does not have any other option, it's been canon for decades that Superman is prepared to use lethal force to end a threat. So it's something he has done in the past and most Superman fans don't regard Death of Superman as a massive mishandling of the character.

But here's the core problem with Superman killing: it's pointless. There's no real reason to do it other than to drag him through the mud. Ok so Superman kills a guy, there's only two real outcomes to that.

He agonizes over it and we get a storyline examining how he and others feel about it. That was the route Exile took, Superman had a mental breakdown over killing, and we got an entire omnibus worth of stories where he came to terms with it. Ultimately he accepted that it "had" to be done, but resolved to stick to his rule against killing going forward. So it was addressed and then Superman returned to his status quo.

He kills someone and decides to keep killing from then on. At this point he usually is going full blown evil as Batman and others with strict codes against killing are going to be obligated to stop him (Injustice), unless they too decide to abandon their moral codes (Justice Lords).

Reason those are the only two options is that otherwise Superman is probably going to be killing all of his Rogues at some point, given most of them are terrible people who don't shy away from escalating the stakes. Once he's done that - now that he's lost most of his cool enemies and the track record for making new cool Superman rogues is pretty dismal, considering the last one to really take off was Manchester Black - he has nobody noteworthy to fight and his sales are likely going to suffer until they bring all the cool Rogues back, defeating the entire purpose of killing them in the first place. Much as I hate to even bring him up here, we also have to take Batman into consideration. Nothing on Earth will ever compel DC to portray Batman in the wrong and anyone else in the right, so as long as Batman keeps his no-kill rule, any hero that crosses that line regularly is going to get a beatdown at Batman's hands. Doing otherwise just invites poking at the open wound question of "why doesn't Batman/someone just kill the Joker?" if DC allows another major A-Lister to employ lethal force at will.

But let's put aside the "real" reasons Superman doesn't kill, and ask ourselves a simple question: does it make sense for Superman to kill given who he is as a character? My answer is no. This comes back to Superman's defining trait, which isn't hope, but compassion. Superman cares about all life everywhere, even the most despicable villains.

He's not putting on a front, he really truly believes that there's a way to reach even the most despicable individuals with the right words, and he believes he can find them. Even knowing that for some cases that may not be true doesn't stop him from wanting to try. Killing his Rogues for Superman wouldn't just be a betrayal of his ideals, but an admission of defeat. Accepting that there's some bastards out there you just gotta kill would be him ceding the moral ground to Manchester Black, Magog, and all the other would be lethal successors who have tried to knock him off his pedestal. It's tantamount to Superman all but accepting the argument that he's an old fashioned relic who just doesn't work anymore, and what do you do with him once that's the case?

Besides people complain that Superman is overpowered and nothing can challenge him, having villains out there who resist his attempts to reform them is him getting challenged! That's Superman wrestling with a moral dilemma and paying a price for his ideals right there! Why would we want to get rid of that in exchange for him just smearing everything in his path? Give me Superman busting his chops to try to reach that lost cause everyone else has written off any day, I'm a sucker for stories like that.

[sodone-withlife]

i lost a friend (i lost my mind)

Criminal Minds Fic Part Three

| PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 |

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: character death, canon-typical violence, mental instability (I’m reluctant to name a specific disorder or condition)

Notes: cross-posted on Ao3, and this was my first whumpfic in this fandom so forgive me if it sucks. this is canon-compliant until after 12.01 The Crimson King

“What do I regret? I regret that we just took it as it was, that we didn’t look harder.”

Rossi thought about how he ended up in this situation, bulletproof vest on as he faced the one person he never expected to be at the other end of his gun, that he might have to take down.

He met the kid nearly twenty years ago on the Womb Raider case and immediately recognized raw potential when the kid told him about what he gathered from the dumpsite. They kept in contact even after Rossi went back to Quantico, and he spent the next year trying to get him to apply to become a profiler. The kid did eventually join them in Quantico, and he quickly proved to be a quick study with an incredible intuitive ability.

He ended up retiring a few months after the kid joined, but he kept in contact and they met for dinner a few times. While he wrote books, the kid became unit chief, all the while expanding the BAU to involve more than just a few profilers in a cramped cave that had been their office.  

When he rejoined the team, he watched as the kid—he’ll always be ‘the kid’ to him, no matter how good his glare got over the years—struggled to reconcile the failure of his marriage and his own feelings of being a failure as a father.

He watched as the kid obsessively hunted the Boston Reaper, turned to self-blame when seven people were found shot dead in a bus, as the kid realized the killer was in front of them the whole time, as he reacted to the news of Foyet’s escape.

He worried as the kid didn’t turn up when called, as they found him in the hospital after getting stabbed nine times, as his family were put into protective custody, as he walked into a confrontation unarmed and managed to save a child the day he returned from medical leave.

He watched as the kid obsessed and worked himself to the bone over the Reaper, as he stepped down and put Morgan in charge, as the team raced to find Foyet before he could get to the kid’s family.

He watched as he found the kid savagely hitting a dead body, as he found him later clinging onto the body of the woman he had loved, as the kid turned into a shell of himself while trying to be a good father for his son.

He watched as the kid tried to remain the unwavering pillar of strength for the team, as he was sent to the other side of the world away from his family for half a year, as he came back from Pakistan looking much too thin for a man his size and faced a wall of anger and betrayal.

He watched as the kid slowly found love again, as he tried to help Reid get through what he himself went through just over two years ago, as he tried to help his estranged brother get out of a mess of drugs and spikings.

He watched as the kid collapsed on the conference room floor and had to be rushed to the hospital, as George Foyet managed to kill him twice as he flatlined in the ambulance and in the operating room.

He watched as the kid tried to help solve Gideon’s murder, as he ended things with his new love.

He watched as the kid ended up on the other end of a serial killer’s obsession, as he hallucinated the whole team getting killed in front of him, as he nearly shot and killed Reid as he came in through the door.

He watched as the kid struggled to hide his terrors, as he tried to eliminate the threat against two of his teammates, as he tried to stop Morgan from doing what he had done six years ago in a frenzy that only resulted in the love of his life getting killed, as he was arrested at gunpoint in front of his son.

He watched as the kid tried not to let seeing the victim with his name carved into her forehead get to him, as he tried not to go out of his mind in worry about his son while he was stuck in a snowstorm, as he tried to keep everything inside in the months that followed, as he went through his daily life without really living.

Now, a memory of a conversation he had with Gideon rose to the forefront of his mind. Rossi hadn’t questioned it then, but now he wondered if Gideon saw this outcome, all those years ago.

He wondered if Gideon saw this when the kid came in all those years ago, absolutely smitten with his wife and yet hiding darkness deep inside him, when the kid easily slipped in and out of the minds of the worst humanity has to offer.

A year ago, just a day after Hotch was admitted into the hospital after being subjected to whatever torture Peter Lewis managed came up with, Prentiss had returned to the BAU. Hotch was going to be on leave for quite some time, given the nature of the drugs he had inhaled and what had happened when the team rescued him.

He remembered confessing his worries to her, that Hotch wouldn’t make it through to the other side with this one, that Hotch’s too-brilliant mind (brilliant not in the way that Reid was, but in the way that a prosecutor turned SWAT turned profiler’s brain was) would figure out a way to end it all, even though he was on suicide watch.

He remembered one early morning, a few weeks after Hotch had been discharged, when Prentiss was suddenly called into a meeting with the Director. He remembered seeing her sprinting back into the office, abandoning all professionalism as she stormed into the office next to his.

He remembered freezing at the doorway. It was bare of any signs of the previous owner: the heavy law books, the pictures, the awards, the small mementos from the team—they were all gone.

He missed the others’ reactions as they read the last words the—now former—unit chief left for them as he left the office and drove to Hotch’s apartment, only to find it completely bare with an envelope left on the door with Rossi’s name on it.

He remembered the days that followed, as Garcia and Reid desperately tried to search for the man who had completely dropped off the face of the earth, as Prentiss tried to fill Hotch’s shoes for the team.

He remembered JJ asking him about Jack and the pure, unfettered sadness that he let show on his face.

He remembered the horror saw in the others when he quietly told them that the ten-year-old had collapsed at school six months ago, soon after the DOJ fiasco, while Hotch was stuck in a blizzard in the middle of a case in Colorado, that Hotch didn’t make it to the hospital in time to see Jack awake one more time.

That Jack’s heart gave out on him while he was breaking every speed limit while driving Hotch to the hospital.

That Hotch was too late, just like he was too late with Haley seven years ago.

That Hotch spent the last six months hiding his grief and desolation, throwing himself entirely into work and doing the bare minimum in regards to his health.

That after a man, the husband of a murdered victim and father of a child who died of cancer just a few days later, committed suicide, he had forced Hotch to live at his place for two weeks so he could make sure the still-grieving father would wake up every day, alive and breathing.

He remembered hating that the straw that broke the camel’s back was of the Mr. Scratch nature.

He remembered wondering, not for the first time, how damaged affected Hotch’s psyche was.

Today, nine months to the day Hotch resigned from the bureau, he got his answer: incredibly damaged.

Rossi thought back to the profile they had given the Boston PD.

~~~

“The man we’re looking for is in his mid 30s to mid 40s and exhibits traits of both an organized and disorganized killer,” Rossi started, looking out into the Boston PD bullpen. “It is also highly likely that he fathered a son who is around 4-5 years old. He has recently suffered a personal tragedy, likely one that involved losing his son and wife in a way he feels responsible for.”

“The crime scenes itself demonstrate a high level of intelligence and control, but that control is shattered when it comes to the men,” JJ added. “We tracked their last movements, and it seems that these men all frequented BDSM clubs.” Everyone in the room got the unsaid message: the men were cheating on the wives.

“He may be using the men’s infidelity as justification for his actions,” she finished the thought.

“When we talked to the children, they said they remembered the unsub being very angry at the fathers,” Luke picked up from where Tara left off. “This, in addition to the level of overkill he exhibited and the smashed mirrors at every house, may be a manifestation of the unsub’s own self-hatred and of his desire to make others feel his pain and guilt.”

“The children also said that the unsub was incredibly nice to them and the wife and that he apologized before he knocked the kids out,” Reid interjected from where he was sitting at the side of the room. “This man has a fractured psyche: he’s able to exhibit care and consideration one moment, shoot a person in three vital regions the next, and then destroy a face post-mortem in a fit of angry self loathing. This will show in his day to day life.”

“We’d like for your officers to canvas bars and clubs in the area,” Prentiss instructed, “ and ask the workers if they know anyone who may fit the profile: again, male, 30s to 40s, may have recently suffered a tragedy, and may be acting erratically—asked for time off, mood swings, anything out of the ordinary.”

~~~

They had gotten it completely right, but, looking at the man playing with the child in front of him, Rossi still felt like they had completely missed the mark.

“Let the kid go,” Rossi ordered quietly.

“Dave, why are you calling him that?” came the quiet baritone, the dearly-missed voice inciting within Rossi a strange rush of familiarity and fear. “You know his name.”

It can’t be the kid’s actual name that he wants, look at the body language, it’s so protective. So what—Rossi briefly closed his eyes as a flash of grief overtook him.

“Hotch, please,” he finally said, placing his gun away and slowly moving around the man so that he could see the child. “Let Jack go, he doesn’t need to see this.”

That got a reaction out of the man, who looked up and shocked Rossi with the sheer depth of broken protectiveness that was in his expression. “He needs me,” Hotch insisted, his next words sending a bolt of shock through Rossi’s system. “He just lost his mother.”

Rossi kneeled down cautiously, mind racing. “Hotch, do you know what day it is?”

Hotch sent him a confused look. “It was Haley’s funeral yesterday,” he answered, breath hitching at the end as he looked away. His eyes locked onto the ballistics vest Rossi was wearing, noticing it for the first time. “Why are you wearing a ballistics vest? Is everything alright?”

Rossi’s eyes began to burn as he realized what was going on. “Hold on, I’m going to go get something, and then I’ll explain everything, alright?” he said, standing up and feeling relief at the responding nod. He quickly walked back into the living room where the others were waiting, only stopping to tell them to stay there before grabbing the case file they had brought with them.

“Come here,” he beckoned Hotch over, placing the file on the desk in front of the window in the sparsely decorated bedroom.

Hotch left the child on the ground and walked over, still confused. “A case?” he asked absently as he flipped through the reports with a focus that hadn’t been since eighteen months ago, when he was still with the bureau, before that fateful day.

Unseen, Rossi went to the child and quickly ushered him out of the bedroom, making sure that he got to one of the others before going back inside, making it back to Hotch before he looked up from the file.

“What do you make of it?” Rossi indicated the folder, tone even as he successfully hid the turmoil within. He watched with a pang as Hotch easily slipped back into old habits, verbalizing his observations and yet remaining utterly oblivious to the significance they hold to him.

Hotch paused, looking around. “Where’s Jack?” he asked Rossi, panic seeping into his voice when he realized the child was gone. He backed away from Rossi, who had stepped carefully towards him, hands up placatingly. “Dave, what’s going on? Where’s Jack?”

The situation was all too painfully familiar.

“Hotch, you know that isn’t Jack,” Rossi said carefully. “His name is Charlie Summers. Yesterday wasn’t Haley’s funeral. It’s November 2020, and you’re in Boston, not in Virginia.”

“What are you talking about?” Hotch looked at him as if he were crazy.

Rossi pressed forward. “Do you remember what happened eighteen months ago, when you were taken by Peter Lewis?” he asked as Hotch froze in his place. “He had you for a day. He had taken you to your childhood home in Manassas, do you remember that? He drugged and tortured you. We found you just in time, but you almost killed yourself.”

He watched as blood leached out of the man’s face, as he started rapidly shaking his head. “You were discharged from the hospital a week later,” Rossi pushed, hating every second that passed while he tried to pull Hotch out of the delusion. “And while you were still on medical leave, you sent in your resignation and asked that Emily Prentiss, who had come back while you were in the hospital—”

“Take my place as unit chief,” Hotch finished in a whisper, staring at the floor and shaking like a leaf. Rossi rushed forward, flashing back to the day Hotch got that devastating phone call as he caught the man and lowered him to the ground—holding and comforting him, despite the circumstances, just as he had done back in that hotel room.

A few minutes passed, filled with harsh breathing as reality set in.

“Why?” Rossi finally asked the once stoic and unmovable unit chief, now reduced to just another unsub—only he wasn’t just another unsub. He was the man who held the elite profiling team together as they went through hell and back, the man who had reignited Rossi’s dormant paternal instincts.

He wondered if it had been a good idea to ask that question when Hotch remained silent, placing his head between his knees and still shaking as reality continued to seep back in.

“His voice,” Hotch finally muttered, “He wouldn’t stop. Taunting, laughing, talking, talking about how people are ungrateful and should be taught to be thankful for what they have that the children don’t deserve—” he broke off with a whimper covering his ears with his hands.

“Hotch?” He didn’t answer, even as Rossi forcefully brought his head back up. His eyes were squeezed shut and he had bit deep into his lip, drawing blood. “Aaron,” Rossi tried, raising his voice only to get knocked onto his back when the aforementioned man reflexively shoved him away, causing him to hit the bed then fall to the ground.

Hearing the crash, the team fell back onto instincts and rushed into the bedroom with their guns out and ready, only to see Rossi staring helplessly at the once-proud man curling into himself in the corner and letting out painful, guttural cries as the last pieces of his mind finally shattered under the weight of the demons he spent his entire life fighting.

[raat-jaaga-paakhi]

krishna and rukmini for that otp thing? also, krishna and satyabhama? (sorry, i love her)

Big mistake, Jag. Medha is going to eat your head now, and you can’t do anything about it. [Under the cut because the OTP ship meme is long af. I took the liberty to not answer questions I felt were redundant or irrelevant, but this is still quite big.] Thank you, little brother, for bettering my mood. 

Krishna x Rukmini

Rate the Ship - Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How was their first kiss? – What, you expect me to write out a fairly NSFW scene here? Not happening, bro; you’re a minor.

Who proposed? – Rukmini. (Canon, lol.)

Who did the most planning? - …Balarama, for the wedding. Rukmini and Krishna both, for the…pre-wedding rituals (otherwise known as “abduction”).

Who stressed the most? – Balarama. Sigh. 

Rukmi stressed back there, in the outskirts of Vidarbh, trying to devise ways to disrupt the wedding and kill Krishna, so that he could return to Vidarbh as the crown prince after all. #missionfailure

How fancy was the ceremony? - Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big. Fit for a Goddess, and more besides. Perhaps not so much in ostentation levels, but the songs and revelry of the Yadavas in their new (and less than magical) headquarters reached the very peaks of the Himalayas.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? – Er, the bride’s family? 

Who is the one to instigate things? (yeah, they’re speaking of sex) - Both. They don’t really pay attention to who “started” it. As far as they are concerned, they don’t know where one ends and the other begins. (Yes, I did that. Fight me.) If you want me to be real mathematical and go by the average (and be less poetic, for the sake of the ship, Medha!), then: Krishna in private, Rukmini in public. The princess of Vidarbh is generally known as a considerate woman, and won’t traumatise you. It’s all very subtle, aankhon ki gustakhiyan type, only they do it so much better. They would laugh at the video: “amateurs”. 

Who is the stricter parent? – Neither really, but perhaps Rukmini, comparatively. Both of them have issues with authority. 

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? – Most of you will disagree hotly, but Krishna. At least publicly. You cannot trace his kids back to him, unless you feel mischief is a genetic trait. While temperament is influenced by genetics to a considerable extent, it cannot be said-- I will stop. 

Who is the more loved parent? – Haha, both. But the kids will choose their sides when they need something specific. Very situation-dependent. The Yadavas are opportunistic intelligent like that. <3

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? – Both if the law is stupid. Neither if the children were stupid. 

Who is more likely to suggest going out? – Krishna.

Who cleans the room? – Rukmini, I guess, speaking of just moving stuff around (you mean organisation, Medha) rather than actual “cleaning”. Krishna isn’t messy, but there is almost always an angavastra here and a signet ring there. 

Who is really against chores? – Neither, really. Both will do what is required of them.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? – Krishna, to a small extent. He does it for the time being, always coming back to sort stuff out when the coast is clear. (I took it as a metaphorical question, disregarding that it was categorised under “chores”, because I can be like that.)

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? – Rukmini would (bad childhood experiences), but that depends on who the guests are. Considering Dwaraka’s selectivity regarding such things, she doesn’t have much to worry about.

Who takes the longer showers/baths? – Krishna. It is a habit he cannot break (though he doesn’t take more than 25 mins) from his childhood days, bathing (read: playing) for hours sometimes, in the waters of Yamuna.

Who plays the most pranks? – Krishna, but it is nothing like his childhood days. Vasudev says he has been ‘tamed’. Balarama and Rukmini and Arjuna and Satyabhama and Draupadi and Satyaki and...well, people he’s closest to know how untrue that is, but after years of suffering, they let the older generation live in peace. Swarga knows the Kuru elders don’t get the same courtesy, and DwArAkA iS bEtTeR. 

-

Krishna x Satyabhama

Rate the Ship - Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs The one ship I hardly ever get to see as I wish. No published author has managed it. People are rather polarised on this particular ship, I think. For the best portrayals I have read till date, see @avani008, @walburgablack and @allegoriesinmediasres. 

How long will they last? - *shrugs* As long as they want to.

How was their first kiss? – Hesitant, careful, both wishing they could read each other’s minds.

Who proposed? – Satyabhama’s father, lol. Canonically, not a love marriage.  

Who did the most planning? – Satrajit.

Who stressed the most? – Satrajit and Balarama. They competed on stress (and animosity) levels.

Who is on top? – Does it matter, really? They’re good.

Who is the one to instigate things? – Satyabhama. 

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? – Again, Krishna, because Satyabhama is even laxer than Rukmini and someone has to maintain appearances before the people (read: Rohini). 

Who is the more loved parent? – Satyabhama, by that inch.

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? – Satyabhama is like “if they got caught, they deserved to learn the lesson”. Krishna often finds himself agreeing. (Now, whether the lesson is about breaking the law or getting caught is entirely dependent on the situation.)

Who is more likely to suggest going out? – Satyabhama in times of peace. Krishna in times of strife. [Otherwise Satyabhama is sure to put an arrow in someone’s butt... but the issue is not that. It is that Krishn would agree. Low tolerance for stupidity.]

Who is really against chores? – Satyabhama. 

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? – Satyabhama doesn’t sweep anything under the rug. 

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? – Krishna. (Nah, only in comparison. Satyabhama can’t be bothered. One time that Narada came to visit, she didn’t even come out of her bedroom. At least Krishna cares enough to say hi.

What are their goals for the relationship? – Reached.

[truetgirl]

A bard girl... Angelic... I made the model while screwing around and then went to make a backstory. Figured it’d be a little nothing. I’m putting it under the cut because some unknown thing in me hijacked my fingers and this came out.

It is an exceedingly odd way to grow up, being the child of courtiers to a regional noble. You aren't really noble yourself, but you certainly don't feel you have much in common with regular commoners, so your social circle, especially as a child, is very limited indeed. It would be odd enough if you'd turned out to be a normal human, let alone if you had a priest declare after your birth that you were a gift from the gods themselves. Let alone if your parents then used that auspicious omen to climb at court. My parents, advisors as they then became to our gracious patron, never had much time to spend with me. I spent many, many hours huddled in my room or in a private corner of the library, reading and fantasizing about a life of excitement and what friendship must be like.

Eventually, I took to writing. It was a natural step once I started to run out of books in the library. I wrote simply for fun at first, poetry mostly. But, as I practiced and refined my craft, I started to wonder if maybe, one day, I could tell stories like the ones that had kept me company for so many years. I began to seek an audience, to see what others would think of my work. It took some months, not being very well practiced at the time in talking to other people and having gained something a reputation around court as the strange, cloistered girl that was apparently some divine gift, but eventually I found a few other young ladies of the court to hear my first tale. It wasn't a groundbreaking story by any means, a tale of knightly valor and the slaying of beasts, but it was, to my delight, a crowd-pleaser.

Over the next few years, as I grew into a "proper" young lady at court and honed my skills of storytelling for an ever expanding audience, I attracted all kinds of attention. My parents finally seemed to have some time for me, I made friends among the various ladies in waiting to the higher nobility, I took up work in an official capacity as a chronicler by day and entertainer in the evenings, and it seemed I had even attracted the attention of the young heir to the house, a boy about my age by the name of Lanno.

I was uneasy with  Lanno's advances at first. I'd never received attention of that variety, and wasn't sure what to think or feel. When my mother found out about the boy's interest, she began to "encourage" me to at least act as though I reciprocated. My mother, ever the political climber, clearly saw the opportunity for our family to marry into nobility. Most of my friends were no help either, seeming utterly confused that I would be unsure about the advances of a promising and handsome young scion such as Lanno. Only my best friend, Trisha, seemed sympathetic to my uncertainty.

Trisha had been a companion even in my early, cloistered days in the library. Her father, being the court wizard, had encouraged her from an early age to pursue learning in any way she could. As such, we often ended up in the library together. We almost never spoke to one another until we were in our early teens. When we did start talking, it was because we'd both eaten through our usual sections of the library and wanted advice on good starting points in the others. Through her I gained an appreciation for history, and through me she learned the appeal of tales of chivalry and romance.

We'd grown closer since I began making strides at court and she'd begun officially apprenticing under her father in the arcane arts. We found solace in one another, an understanding we didn't seem to get elsewhere. And, much as when we were children, we shared our love of learning; but this time as teachers rather than readers. I taught her about the crafting of stories and the structure of poetry, and in return she taught me the fundamentals of magic her father had taught to her. Soon I found that by concentrating as she had showed I could make objects blaze with supernatural light. Trisha was shocked, as the small spell she had shown me could do many things, but it couldn't do that. After several theories, Trisha remembered that supposed omen of divine favor when I was born, and hearing her say it I believed for the first time that it may be true.

I asked Trisha what she thought I ought to do about Lanno's advances. She was unusually evasive when I asked directly, trying to avoid the conversation and talk of other things, refusing to meet my gaze, and seeming very nervous. When I insisted that I needed advice she answered, in the coldest tone she had ever used with me, that it would certainly be a fine way to advance me standing. She avoided me for about a week after that, and I couldn't understand why.

In any event, with seemingly nobody telling me I shouldn't reciprocate Lanno's advances and so many pushing me to do exactly that, I began to spend time with him. We ate meals together, he attended my performances, we would take walks of the grounds together, and all manner of other things.

This went on for a few months, and during that time Trisha did not speak to me at all. I wondered what I had done wrong, but I never had long to myself to think on it at that point, now that I was getting properly involved in court politics through Lanno. Soon enough, his parents and mine made official arrangements for us to be married. We never really fell in love the way I'd seen so many times in stories when i was young, but I just assumed that was because the real world wasn't so pleasant as those stories.

After nearly a year of my marriage with Lanno, things went wrong. At a state dinner it was mentioned to the visiting dignitaries that I had been declared a blessed child the day I was born. One of these visitors took the statement very seriously, and demanded proof. Panicked, I produced light like I'd learned when Trisha taught me about magic, but that was not enough. The visitor, some kind of holy knight apparently, insisted that any two-bit mage could do that. With no other way to prove anything and not even fully convinced I had anything real to prove, I fled the room in shame and fear of the man's anger.

Lanno came to find me in our room after dinner. He asked why I was so distraught, and I explained how I had never really believed I could be some heaven-sent gift. He was dismayed, so I tried to make him understand, and after several minutes of increasingly heated discussion he blurted out that I had better be what the priests said or this whole marriage was a waste. I pressed him on that, and painstakingly extracted an explanation from him about how he had only courted me because he and his parents believed divine blood would strengthen their family line. He also told me that most of the other courtiers only humored me and my performances because they had assumed earlier I was likely to be the next lady of the house and now knew for sure. Feeling a pain in my chest I'd never known before, tears pouring down my face, I ran. I ran from my own room with no idea where I was going until I arrived at Trisha's chambers.

Trisha looked at first glance as though she intended to turn me away as she had for the last year, but her face softened instantly when she saw the state of me. She quickly ushered me in and sat me down. She brought me some tea and, once I had control of my voice again and could hold back the tears, I explained what had happened. Once I had finished we sat in silence for a long moment, and then she leaned across the low table and kissed me. She was gentle, calming, and the contact with her made my heart leap for joy. All at once I finally understood that love like it was in the stories did exist, I had just been in the wrong place for it.

When we, much to my disappointment, pulled apart, she leaned her forehead against mine and confessed that she had been in love with me since she was old enough to really understand what love was. That she loved my stories and my poems and my fierce love of learning and my laugh and my eyes... That she hadn't been able to stand seeing me with Lanno, no matter how good for my future it would surely be. I could hardly think, but I felt myself say that I loved her too, and then leaned in for another kiss, drawing her into an embrace.

For a few perfect moments we sat there in each other's arms, but the moment was shattered as Lanno opened the door and found us there. Believing that I had been putting on a show to break things off in favor of Trisha, he called for guards to seize us both. We were accused of carrying on an affair, and while Trisha's father managed to use his considerable position as the court wizard to save Trisha, my position and that of my parents was greatly diminished, and they could not save me from being banished from court.

My marriage dissolved, life in tatters, and my best friend... Possibly the love of my life? Now out of reach, I set off. I've wandered ever since, performing stories for coin anywhere that would take me and discovering new ways to leverage the tiny bits of magic Trisha showed me via my creative flow. I have no idea where I'm going with this life now, and I cannot imagine it will ever be fulfilling without her...

PERSONALITY TRAITS

I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick.

I’m full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for every occasion.

I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I can’t help it—I’m a perfectionist.

IDEALS

Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I could use them to benefit the world.

Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my craft.

BONDS

The world is full to bursting with history and stories. If I can contribute to that great canon, then my life was worth something.

One day, somehow, I have to see her again.

FLAWS

I suffer from great anxiety both about my work and because I believe nobody could possibly respect me.

I'm good at appearing sociable but don't really understand the finer details of how it works.

[separatepath]

AU Life: Clan Traditions #1 - How Clans appoint their deputies

Spoiler warning: To avoid, skip over ‘Clan In Action’ sections!

Most to Least Democratic!

RiverClan (Democratic)

When the time comes for a deputy to be chosen, the leader will put out the vote to the clan. They will often visit a den or small group of cats at a time, and speak with each cat one-on-one to find out what they think and the traits required. This process will often take the whole day.

At the evening of the day after the previous deputy leaves, the leader will announce the new deputy, based upon who the people voted for when talking with the leader.

If the vote is equal for the top two or more candidates, the medicine cat has the final say.

This tactic requires the leader to be believed, and otherwise not manipulate the vote, however as this leader was previously voted in, this is highly unlikely and most of RiverClan will blindly trust their leader.

This changes in the following conditions:

When doubt is cast onto the leader’s/med’s decision. The elders must bring it up with the leader to reconsider in a talk that day or the day after.

When the leader dies at the same time as the deputy. The whole clan will go to counsel, led by the elders, and decide with majority vote, unless a sign from StarClan is given.

RiverClan in Action:

When Shellheart retires, the clan is surprised when Oakheart and Crookedjaw turn out to have even votes, especially since Oakheart was often viewed more favourably, meaning that opinions changed in private. However, Brambleberry chose Crookedjaw, feeling that he deserved it after all of the pain he went through with Rainflower. There was no surprise when Oakheart was voted in as the first deputy under Crookedstar, and one to remain for a very long time.

Leopardstar’s choice for deputy after the battle with BloodClan was Stonefur, and everyone knew that, and wanted him back. However, Stonefur made a public announcement that he no longer wanted to be considered, losing trust in Leopardstar after Mistyfoot’s fate. This was taken into consideration, although resulted in a longer deliberation than usual, ending with the clan voting for Blackclaw.

Once Hawkfrost perishes, despite Stonefur’s reluctance to take over, even though it would be under Reedstar, the clan votes for him anyway, and he becomes deputy so as not to let the clan down, as they chose him.

SkyClan (Democratic unless otherwise required)

When a new deputy needs to be chosen, the leader, senior warriors and elders will generally gather to decide on the best candidate. To do this they will listen to the opinions of the clan, and take this into high consideration.

Once this has been decided, the Clan performs the old Sorting of the Stones tactic from the past, which came to Echosong in a gift from Clear Sky. All cats of the clan, on the eve after the deputy leaves, will place a stone in the area which is marked for the candidate of their choice.

If a tie ends between two or more candidates, the leader has the final say.

This tactic requires the senior members of the clan to consider all of the other’s opinions equally, and not favour their own personal choices. It also requires all cats to answer honestly despite being known what they vote for.

The leader’s special control over the ceremony is due to SkyClan’s scattered past. Many cats come from different backgrounds and have different opinions, meaning that some may absorb into factions and not mix easily. The leader has to control this, and take control if necessary eg. if a deputy cannot be agreed. This is the only case where they do so.

ThunderClan (Dictated with counsel/Selectively Democratic)

In ThunderClan, the leader often holds most of the power when choosing their next deputy, as they are seen to be open and truthful, considering what is best for the needs of their clan and not hiding their intentions.

Before the choice of deputy is made, the leader will often call in the candidates, as well as a few other warriors, to hear their opinions. It is expected that all cats will be truthful in this phase, speaking of what truly happens within the clan and what they truly think, to aid the leaders decision.

On the eve of the deputy leaving, the leader will make the choice, but extremely close to moonhigh to allow them to talk. This leads to vigils starting late, and a late night for all of the clan.

This tactic incorporates the law of leaders being the ‘be-all-end-all’ of the clan, but also allows for some expression from members of the clan. One-on-one sessions ensures that the truth is spoken.

The leader will ultimately hold power of the deputy, and if needed can throw them out without hesitation, unlike SkyClan and RiverClan. However, if enough of the clan protest, they will be forced to accept them back as deputy.

ThunderClan in Action:

When the time comes for Tawnyspots to retire, Whitestorm visits Sunstar despite not being asked to tell him his opinion - to not choose Thistleclaw since Tigerclaw has changed so much. This influences Sunstar’s decision a lot, and he has only told Whitestorm that he would have made her deputy despite her having her kits, before they were lost. Whitestorm never told anyone so Bluestar never suffered over her decision.

When choosing the succesor after Lionheart, Bluestar took opinions of those who were preparing to sit vigil, but didn’t listen to Firepaw’s reserved thoughts. Her idealisation of her nephew overtook any rationale she had, using the more dictated side of the choosing.

Tigerstar and his supporters were never truthful with their opinions, swaying Bluestar’s decision and going against the general beliefs of the clan.

Whitestorm’s appointment was made at dawn of the next day, so it could not be excused of being just after moonhigh as it was way afterwards.

ShadowClan (Royalty/Dictatorship unless otherwise required)

ShadowClan is the only clan to have not accepted the law that requires a deputy to be chosen and not given the position due to their blood, if possible. They try to stick to leadership within one bloodline, through a kit from the first litter, chosen by the leader.

The Clan have no say in who takes leadership, due to not sharing the blood of the current leader.

This tactic is often met with stark disapproval from the other clans, viewing that ShadowClan has not stuck to the code, and will refuse to do so despite many moons passing. Apprentices from other clans are taught that this way is unfair and wrong, and ShadowClan’s crashes in the past are used as proof.

When there are no heirs, this rule is not applied, and the leader will choose a deputy themselves, from someone they are close to and trust. This is only used if all close family is exhausted, dead or too old. The Clan has no say over the chosen deputy. 

If the leader is dead and the current deputy is not a direct heir, the bloodline of leadership will change, if no heirs exist, to the deputies. If there is an heir, but they are a kit or apprentice, the deputy will become a temporary leader until this heir reaches warriorhood, at which point they go back to being a deputy.

ShadowClan in Action:

Cedarstar did not have any kin when he passed, and given that he made Raggedpelt deputy, he ultimately defaulted to becoming leader.

Raggedstar made Brokentail leader despite having not yet revealed that they were kin, making many cats question the motive until it was revealed.

When Tigerstar died, the cats worked their way back along Raggedstar’s lines. As Rowanpaw and Cedarpaw were still apprentices, Russetfur took over.

The leadership passed to Rowanclaw upon Russetfur’s death, but he refused, instead letting his mate Tawnypelt take over due to her relations to Tigerstar, and that their kits are still related to Russetstar.

WindClan (Dictatorship)

The most like the canon books. Leaders have all say in choosing the next deputy, and will only seek other’s opinions if they so please. They can change, remove or alter the deputy at any point, and the deputy will take over once the leader dies.

WindClan pride their tradition as being closest to StarClan’s chosen laws, as it is the only one that strictly adheres to both ‘the deputy must be chosen’ and ‘the leader’s word is law’, so they view themselves as superior to other clans in this regard.

I don’t think this needs an In Action!

[fearfulkittenwrites]

Their first walks on the Wayne’s garden - Chapter 2: Jason Todd

A glimpse into Bruce's relationships with his kids, seen through the first time he took each of them on a walk through his garden.

Or: Bruce Wayne actually tries to communicate and care for his children. Because fuck canon.

Word count:796

When he moved in, Jason also liked the garden. Just as he liked the enormous living room. And the fancy kitchen. The expensive dining room. The huge bathrooms. The only thing he knew he loved more than anything else was his bedroom. Oh, and the batcave. He loved the batcave. Jason’s enthusiasm brough the spark the manor had been missing since Dick left.

Mr. Hans, however, missed Dick dearly, even more so after the new arrival; the older boy was careful and minded the plants, respecting his hard work on them. He liked to listen and learn, and always greeted him with a smile. Jason on the other hand, was a ball of energy that couldn’t be contained, and he had smashed through rose bushes, getting spikes all over his body, more times than he cares to remember. Alfred was particularly upset when he ruined the white roses once. Jason made a mental note to keep away from those.

He couldn’t help it. When your whole life has been marked by the grayish asphalt from Gotham’s streets and the distinct smell of mold covered everywhere you’ve ever lived, having a mansion with such a beautiful garden, so colorful, filled with pleasant scents, well, that still felt like a dream. So he ran, and fell, and crashed into things, and was completly careless. Of course he did. For the first time in his life, he could. He could be careless. He could run just because he felt like it, not because he had to run from someone. He could crash into things, because if they broke, they’d be replaced. He could play. He could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and be safe while doing it. He could fall and get hurt because someone would help him up and tend to his wounds.

One saturday, before lunch, Bruce looked out of the window and saw Jason in the garden again, chasing after a stray cat that somehow found it’s way into the manor. He decided to join him.

By the time he reached the garden, the cat had already escaped.

“No luck catching it?” Bruce asked.

“No.” Jason pouted “I was hoping we could keep it.”

“I don’t think that would be the best idea. I have more than enough feline troubles with Catwoman alone.” Bruce looked down, hands behind his back.

“Speaking of her,” The boy started “I was thinking, maybe I’m ready to go out with you? The suit fits nice and...”

“You’re not ready yet, Jason.” The man cut him off “It took almost a year for... The previous Robin to be ready.”

“Yeah, but I’m not like Dick, I grew up fighting.”

“Jason, I said no.”

“Okay.” Jason pouted again “You’re the boss.”

Bruce breathed deeply.

“Come take a walk with me.”

“Where are we going?” Jason asked, causing the man to smile.

“We’re not going anywhere, Jay. We’ll just walk through the garden.” He answered.

“But... What’s the point in that?” He looked up, eyes a little narrowed due to the sun.

“Appreciating the flowers. What’s the point of spending so much money on it if no one sees it’s beauty?” Bruce said, looking ahead “Besides, don’t you enjoy spending time here too?”

“Yeah, but like, to run.” Jason answered “It’s pretty and it has space. So I like to run here.” They walked in silence for some time. The boy got bored and decided to go ahead of him, doing cartwheels and other stunts. It made Bruce smile, watching him being a child. All of sudden, he stopped and came back, walking next to each other again “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s okay Jason. I asked you to walk with me, not like me.” The child nodded.

“That makes sense.” He kicked a pebble on the ground “But it still isn’t nice leaving you all alone.”

“But you’re not leaving me all alone Jay.” He replied, looking to the kid next to him “You’re only a little distant, doesn’t mean you’re not here.” The kid looked up, and Bruce placed a hand on his shoulders as they walked “You are a very considerate person. It’s a good trait to have.”

“Thank you.”

Suddenly, Jason stopped again, and Bruce felt his skinny arms around his body. He was hugging him for the first time. It was over as quickly as it started, and he stared down at his feet.

“You are really nice. And you have a very nice home. Thanks for, y’know... bringing me here.” He dashed off before Bruce could answer, cartwheeling away from him, this time in a pace fast enough to signify he didn’t feel like talking anymore. Bruce let him go, not being able to contain the smile plastered in his face.

[4alarmfirecracker]

I've never watched OUAT - Should I watch it? How spooky is it? How gay?

Hey anon ♥ Ok, the answer I’ll always give is YES, YES and again YES. Because Swan Queen is one of my first OTPs (and because they are still a top ship for me). It’s not spooky as I remember it. It’s a family show.

Now it depends of you. Do you want canon ? Well there is three wlw canon ships. One is Mulan x Aurora (Mulan has feelings for Aurora but Aurora doesn’t, or you know the fact that Mulan waited too long and when she was about to say it, Aurora dropped the baby bomb that she had with I can’t remember his name. Eric?)

That face ? Kill me now. Poor Mulan. (Yep I love her and no one hurts my baby)

The other is developed for one episode (or is it more than one ? No idea !) it’s Ruby x Dorothy (yeah it took me 3 seconds to try to find her name back) (tbh I shipped Mulan x Ruby and it would have made more sense (and I think a lot of other people loves Mulan x Ruby more). Hell, even Merida x Mulan x Ruby would have made more sense. Bonus point, Mulan x Dorothy got a fairytale kiss)

Listen my babies Ruby x Mulan

Mulan x Merida

Ok and now the REAL canon ship that was developed during the entirety of the last season … Alice x Robin (Mad archer or Curious archer) (and bonus, it really felt like Alice was the main character of the last season) It’s a great story with a happy ending for them. Honestly I loved the last season and it’s in big part thanks to them (and Regina but let’s be honest all seasons are great thanks to her).

Ok and nowwwwww under the cut because it’s starting to get long … Swan queen = subtext = my love = eye fu*king all the time.

Go under the cut to know more … (How ouat starts = SQ + some problems ouat had + my love for Regina)

So once upon a time starts like this … A little boy called Henry knocks at the door of Emma Swan (blonde one). It’s her son that she gave up when he was born. He wants to bring her back to a town called Storybrook where we meet the mayor … Regina Mills (brunette/black hair). Plot twist … Regina is the adoptive mother of Henry who ran away from home because her mother is “the evil queen” (due to him having a story book with all fairytales in it and believing - truthfully - that all people in this town are part of the book). Now, the entirety of the story revolves around Emma (the main character at the start), Regina (tbh MY main character and the heart of the show + the main character at the end/second part of the serie) and the Swan-Mills family. The producer of the show clearly said ouat was about Emma coming to town and meeting Regina.

Look at that family portrait ! 

Anyway conflict happens between them for the love of Henry Mills (and eventually you know it all works out). Now, Emma is the first one to believe in Regina and her being good. There is magic (their combined magic has the same colors as the Ture Love™ spell. come on !) and everything that I love. Also … Perfect Enemies to lovers trope come on it would have been magistral (we still got the Enemies to Friends trope). At the end you can clearly see that Regina is the one who loves Emma more and Emma distance herself with a guy™. 

Well said Regina ! (that episode was dope !)

The fact with Swan Queen is … the subtext is really heavy and the parallels are numerous. They just … never got canon.

—————————–

NOWWWWW the only downside … 2 guys ! Killian Jones (pirate) and Robin Hood.

I’ll only speak of Captain Hook for all seasons except the last one where, weirdly (or not), I loved him (and also maybe the 3d one where he appears where he makes a good-ish villain that you like to hate?).

But all the other seasons I can’t stand him. He is typically the guy who wants Emma and when she says no to him several times, he pushes again and again until she says yes. He also has other non lovable traits but I won’t expand on it here. I think the only reason some people loved him with Emma was because he was somewhat good looking? And it’s not because he’s with Emma that I don’t like him because I really liked Neal. The fact is, Emma was a strong woman who becomes weak over the seasons because of him (to the point where I didn’t even like what Emma had become … a shadow of her former self).

Now the other one buggers me a little less. Except that the guy had a wife who died I think but who comes back and all that shit. Oh and also the fact that he is “predestined” to be with Regina and is her soulmate or things like that. But you learn about that before they even meet (or at the very beginning) ! Like whattt. It’s forced. And I don’t like being forced.

Now, Killian is just amazing in the last season (for reasons I won’t tell here because it’s really spoilery) I’ll just tell you he is really different and kind and considerate. Everything he wasn’t before.

And one guy I absolutely loved was Daniel ♥ Omg Regina x Daniel give me all the feels. (he is part of Regina’s backstory)

—————————–

Let’s end with some Swan queeeeen

And let’s end with the fact that OUAT, honestly, is the story of Regina and her inner battle. And if you don’t watch ouat for all the reasons above, please watch ouat for Regina you won’t regret it ♥ (+pantsuits+sassyness)

[avenger-hawk]

Hello, it's me again. Thank you for answering my last question, I really apprecite how you give an elaborated answer, thoroughly explaining your point of view. My next question for you: is there any other character (or characters) that you would have like to see Sasuke interacting with, but in cannon he had very little contact or no contact at all? Why?

Hello again, and thanks for coming by~

This is a cool question, there isn’t just one character I’d have liked to see Sasuke interacting with more, mostly because I really love Sasuke’s interactions with almost anyone, some superficial fans see him as smug and arrogant or always brooding and ‘emo’ but to me he’s neither. He’s just aloof and usually lost in his own thoughts, and uninterested to most things with no problem in saying it, but when he is interested in something or someone he has his own cute way of showing it. But let me start with the list of characters. 

Shikamaru

Both are very smart but in different ways. Both are observant and strategic. Both are usually lost in their own thoughts, one in contemplation of clouds and stuff, the other lost in memories and plans and considerations. Both are familiar with revenge, although one has been condemned and the other not at all. At his best Shikamaru is open-minded, as shown in the way he never had prejudices against N*ruto as a kid. I think in a post-ending setting he might be one of the first to actually talk to him because he knows how it feels to want revenge above everything, among all things, so he shouldn’t be one of those who judge him. At his worst, Shikamaru’s individuality has been brainwashed by Konoha like everyone else, so he might keep an eye on him cause he doesn’t trust him. Which means darker interactions and possibilities. Also his shadow jutsu is an interesting one in this setting. 

Kiba

Sasuke loves animals. Kiba has a dog, actually Kiba is a sort of dog as well lol. He’s similar to N*ruto because of his assertive, loud, enthusiastic attitude but he’s less flashed out ofc, and he lacks N*ruto’s possessive, imposing and generally negative traits. Like I said here Akamaru would sense Sasuke’s kind soul and Kiba would follow his best friend’s ‘advice’. Sasuke would get along with Akamaru and Kiba would talk to him, Sasuke would not be talkative at all but he’d pet Akamaru a lot. Their interactions would be kinda like NS but healthier? But lol the word itself sounds so boring. Cuter sounds better. Also, Kiba being ‘beastlike’ in certain ways, and Sasuke being passive means possibility for dark imagery.

Sai

I’m really disappointed that except for fighting in the beginning they didn’t really interact in canon because Sai is his replacement…and tbh Team Yamato was much better, as a team, than Team7. Anyway. Sai and Sasuke have something in common: they both were loved and protected by their big brothers, who died, sacrificing themselves for them, in a way or another. It’s a lot in common, actually. I wrote a scene about this in my fic In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated. Both are blunt, but in a different way. Sasuke knows what he’s saying and why, if he steps over social norms it’s because he doesn’t care. Sai ignores social norms, he’s without filter and awkward, and he tries to learn with sometimes terrible results. Their interactions would be awkward and weird at first. Sai was Danzo’s subordinate, this would make Sasuke wary of him; but also, Sai was Danzo’s slave, he had no choice in this. Almost like Itachi. Sasuke would understand this very well. Also, my personal headcanon is that since Danzo formed Root after the massacre, he told Itachi’s story to those shinobi, both to teach them that shinobi must carry on every mission assigned no matter what, and to teach them that emotions are a bad thing. Sai would more or less know about Itachi and he would tell Sasuke, in a way that didn’t judge, but that instead admired him. And Sasuke would appreciate. Their interactions would be more relaxed then, but still there would be weird comments on Sai’s side.

Ino

I don’t ship them and I don’t care much about her but her desperate cry when he was sentenced to death impressed me very much. It doesn’t just show a girl’s crush, it shows real empathy and compassion for the destiny of a person she once had a crush on. Cause she did move on when she first got interested in Sai imo, like normal people do btw. So it would be cute to see a girl interact with him for real, with no secret agenda or smth. 

Gaara

What a wasted potential their relationship was…in pt1 creepy monster Gaara was interested in him, before N*ruto took over. In pt2 Gaara acts like the Kazekage with a desperate broken Sasuke attacking their meeting, but he also sheds a tear for him. Gaara was really saved cause he was a monster. Sasuke isn’t and was never one, and he didn’t need to be saved but the narration pushes that direction. Gaara was interested in Sasuke’s fate in ep479, I think he would not judge him (his official Kazekage position aside) and he would like to bond with him somehow. Sasuke admires strength and Gaara is very strong, so he would not ignore him. And Sasuke talks about politics as well. Gaara would listen and talk as well. And he would stare at him a lot. But I wrote about this already. Besides there’s a lot of dark potential as well. Because imo it’s interesting to think that there’s still some darkness in his heart and somehow he’d let it out with a passive masochistic Sasuke who feels like he needs to atone for his sins. 

Kisame

He was Itachi’s partner, he knows a lot about Itachi because he’s observant, and Sasuke is the one who killed his partner. He was snarky about it with Obito and Sasuke himself but I (like to) think that he was feeling something, like resentment, towards Sasuke for killing Itachi. After all, no matter his reasons, he sure preferred Itachi. I also like to think that during the time Sasuke and Team Taka stayed in Obito’s hideout as Akatsuki members, he made no mystery of the truth about Itachi, and I like to think that he asked Kisame about his brother. (which kinda opens to the dark stuff cause Kisame being angry at him because he killed Itachi…you got it)

Tobirama

I find him very interesting despite disagreeing with his politics, and I really liked his interactions with Sasuke, especially the way he first insulted his clan and rudely talked to him, but then he tried to protect him against Madara. And I liked how Sasuke humbly, pragmatically and with an open mind he listened to him without letting his feelings get in the way, without getting offended. I would have liked to fight together more, and to see him protecting him more actively, not being blocked by those black sticks. And I would have liked him to openly praise Sasuke and his abilities like he did in his mind.

Madara

I’ll forever be salty at how their interactions were little and not emotionally charged at all. I mean Sasuke is the last Uchiha alive and Madara was another founder, the former head of the clan…I get that he was fighting a war and I know he did show interest in Sasuke’s eyes (and he acknowledged the pain he felt to obtain them) and he did try to get him on his side, and I get that Sasuke was all hyped up to protect the village because Itachi, but still. Like, Madara’s plan was to create a new world, he could have told Sasuke, he could have told him that Itachi would have been there, since his allies Obito and Kabuto were defeated or being defeated. Ugh.

my madasasu tag. my madasasu edits and meta.

Orochimaru (&Kabuto)

I like all part2 interactions between them, and I really like the way they became after Orochimaru was brought back, but I’m also interested in their interactions in Otogakure, the way he trained Sasuke, the forbidden substances he got him to take, the forbidden jutsu he taught him and the forbidden things they required to be done (think whatever here lol). The way he trained Sasuke to take poisons and not be affected, I’m sure they were all painful and hard things to bear, and I’m sure than in part of them he was strapped to a table, and others he was really really exhausted and badly injured, after. Not to mention the way Orochimaru talked to him, how he manipulated him using Itachi and his weakness compared to him, how he was ‘kind’ to him in his creepy way. All the things Sasuke had to witness beside him and how he decided to free the prisoners, and Team Taka ofc. Speaking of which.

Team Taka

They did have a lot of interactions but I wanted more both pre ending and post ending. How Sasuke first met them, how he decided they were the ones he needed. Their travels, their conversations, their nightmares, their bonding moments. 

Sasuke and Karin’s conversations. Both suffered great trauma, both lost their families.

Juugo being protective and loyal over Sasuke but also! his dark side coming out against him and Sasuke welcoming it and becoming his cage, but kinda getting hurt in the process.

Suigetsu admiring Sasuke and wanting to be noticed by him but being obnoxious and mischievous. And kinda sadistic. And Sasuke being ok with it cause he’s passive. 

Special mentions, in and out of canon:

Deidara

I really loved their fight, the strategy, the contrast between their personalities. I like that both have an inferiority complex, especially towards Itachi, and they both worked hard to get stronger, but they act differently. Deidara is loud and apparently messy and he loudly brags his art and abilities, Sasuke is silent and calm and uninterested but he is proud of his achievements, as shown when he explains Deidara what he did and he points out that it’s chidori, not raikiri. His version of the jutsu. Other things in common? They’re both reckless with their bodies when it comes to achieve their goal. I’d love an AU where they interact, like my Akatsuki AU. It’s kinda like NS in a way. also.

Obito

They spent a lot of time together in canon but it’s not shown. It’s some of my canon behind the screen thingies, and I’d love to see any interactions between them. Obito knows the truth about Itachi, he knows Itachi while Sasuke doesn’t. He wants to know anything about his brother and I’m sure he asked him a lot. Obito told him stuff also because he needed to manipulate Sasuke against the village, but also because he feels some little attachment between the other Uchiha, just like he felt some for Itachi. There’s a scene that is always overlooked and that I liked a lot, in ep375 when Obito is about to be ‘killed’ by Kakashi and before he’s taken over by Madara, Sasuke is there and Obito refers to him as ‘fellow traitor’. I like that he kinda aknowledged Sasuke’s presence in that moment ok. To do such thing while Kakashi and Madara are clearly the strongest presences for him, I like to think that Sasuke left an impression on him.

(my obisasu tag and meta)

Shisui 

I mean, in the filler non massacre arc. He did train Sasuke after all. I’d have liked to see more. But it’s no mystery, that arc inspired me greatly and if now I ship Shisasu even in other contexts it’s because of it.

my shisasu tag. my shisasu edits and meta.

Hiruzen

Only because I’d like Sasuke to tell him that he’s just as guilty as his buddy Danzo. That old a**hole.

[ansu-gurleht]

ok, breton time!

so at first glance, bretons seem pretty boring, yeah? pretty standard Boring White Fantasy Dudes, with Kings and Knights and Castles and Royal Squabbling, right? while they feature some of those aesthetic qualities, they are certainly much more interesting than that, even taking into consideration the little lore we actually have in canon. and, of course, i am feverishly willing to flip an entire aviary of birds towards the writers for the elder scrolls and make up some of my own shit, b/c sometimes there’s little gaps that need a little filling.

so let’s get down to basics by starting with square one: what are they and where’d they come from? i think it’s fairly well understood that they’re sort of the “half-elves” of the setting, despite looking nothing like elves, really. they’re the result of a bunch of nedes (a race of men probably from atmora who were especially populous in the deathlands, aka hammerfell) making their way into high rock and finding out some elves already lived there. 

those elves were altmers who’d found the adamantine tower (where convention took place, establishing linear time and also shooting lorkhan’s heart across tamriel) and kinda decided to settle around there, while basically the rest of the elves decided to go and make their own towers elsewhere. this clan of elves who stayed in high rock were known as clan direnni. it seems that with little conflict the nedes kinda just fell into a subservient role to the direnni in a strict feudal system, with the elves at the top and the nedes at the bottom.

part of this seemingly accidental arrangement (i’m not sure how i feel about the supposed “ease” with which the nedes were enslaved - ahem, “integrated”) was a particular privilege the direnni enjoyed: the “perquisite of coitus”. this kinda gross rule/law made it that any mer could at any time “engage in recreational intercourse” with any man (i’m using this term gender-neutrally) they wanted.

apparently the direnni didn’t know how protection worked or just didn’t care. see, in the tes universe, when two races can interbreed, the offspring always follows the race of the mother, with some traits from the father inherited. so we start seeing a bunch of biracial children result from this “perquisite”; those with elvish mothers seem to have all been integrated into the direnni society, whereas the ones with nedeish mothers are rejected by their elvish fathers. buuuuut these elvish-fathered nedes, due to having elvish blood, begin to be considered higher-classed than the rest of the nedes. they’re still rejected by the direnni, and at some point it seems the perquisite is canceled, but at that point there’s already a lot of nedes with elvish blood.

so over time, since they can’t mate with the elves anymore, the beratu, which is ehlnofex for “half,” begin to mate with the other, pure-blooded nedes. eventually, the nedes go extinct simply through this integration (as well as through war elsewhere, esp. in hammerfell w/ the ra gada), in a similar way to how we likely made neanderthals go extinct by interbreeding with them.

a more complicated feudal system then arose, where bloodlines and legacy become extremely important to high rock society. the direnni were at the top, then there was a spectrum of power from bretons (the eventual corruption of the ehlnofex beratu) with the most elvish blood being dukes and counts, to those with hardly any at all being serfs. eventually, the overzealous expansion of territory by the direnni overcame them, and they fell back to the isle of balfiera in the iliac bay. a bunch of nords flooded into the northern territories the direnni couldn’t hold anymore. 

but the bretons and their new feudal system went on just fine without them, and eventually they remained the dominant force in high rock, despite the nords from the north, the redguards from the south, and the orcs from orsinium. apparently, this wasn’t even done through war - it was done through trade, and also by further assimilating the nordic population.

okay, everything i’ve said so far is canon history stuff. you’re probably here for more interesting speculation, though. trust me, i just had to get this stuff out of the way for a bit of context.

so we know that the bretons are really magical b/c of their elvish heritage. we know they’re very sectarian, having had likely almost twenty (i couldn’t find an actual number, sorry) contesting kingdoms and city-states constantly squabbling over territory prior to the warp in the west, which brought us down to five. they’re also pretty big in the empire business, seeing as probably most of the emperors have been bretons, and high rock have always been avid supporters of the empire. (except maybe in the 4th era? i seem to remember them seceding, but i might’ve been thinking about hammerfell, b/c i can’t find anything about it.)

bretons worship basically the nine divines, but they also have a few other gods. they worship magnus, the guy who left mundus and didn’t bother to close the sun-shaped hole behind him; jephre, which is another name for y’ffre, which you can’t convince me isn’t pronounced “yiffer”; and phynaster, who uh, sounds important, but.....doesn’t seem important. (they also acknowledge sheor, aka “the bad man,” which was a way of the altmer demonizing the nords’ shor. there could possibly be breton cults devoted to him, but we just don’t know.)

magnus makes sense, seeing as he’s the god of magic and all. jephre though, he’s interesting. he/she was worshiped by the altmer and falmer as well, but he’s most notably worshiped by the bosmer. he’s the guy that started the green pact and all! BUT, even more notable than that: he’s not an aedra, or even just some ancestor spirit. he’s an earthbone! meaning that she completely sacrificed herself to create and stabilize nirn and the mundus.

but, you may ask, why’re the bretons so invested in him? they’re pretty distant from valenwood, and they were ruled by altmer, not bosmer! to which i say, well, the altmer worshiped him too! and you say oh. yeah, right. i forgot.

BUT that would be giving you the short answer. the better answer? they worship him b/c he’s right under their feet! the adamantine tower’s smack dab in the middle of high rock! that’s where convention happened, and the spirits who made nirn decided what to do about it! that’s where they got separated into aedra, daedra, magna-ge, ehlnofey, and earthbones. 

so, depending on how you interpret earthbones, or how they work or whatever, you could say y’ffre either became an earthbone in high rock, or is the earthbone of high rock. i’d argue against the latter, tho’, b/c he’s obviously the earthbone of valenwood, which i think most people will agree with. but....her influence definitely lingered in the place where she made that choice. especially considering that place was literally the first freakin’ tower, one of the pins holding up reality on nirn.

and this definitely has an influence on a lot of the things we know about high rock and the bretons. we know there’s a lot of magical creatures not found many other places in high rock, and we know that there are witches covens there, and we have a hint that there is some kind of group called the druids of galen.

okay, what? druids of galen? what’s that? oh, it’s fine if you don’t know, they’ve been mentioned literally only once in the entire series. when you pick to be a breton in the first game, arena, it mentions them. literally just name drops them and doesn’t elaborate. that’s not a lot to go off of, but that’s never stopped me before.

first, let’s get this out of the way: the whole “beratu” etymology is obviously just a retroactive excuse for the fact that they’re called bretons after the real-life bretons of northern france. the bretons were/are a celtic culture, in the same vein as the irish and scottish and welsh. and if you know anything about celtic cultures, you’ll know that they traditionally had people called druids, who were sort of like clerics or wizards (as in “wise-men,” not dumbledore), and are associated with the various stone circles in the british isles, like stonehenge. and, nowadays, thanks to a lot of fantasy stories of the past century or so, druids have come to be heavily associated with nature and magic associated with protecting nature and stuff.

so it’s fair to say that the “druids of galen” were probably modeled after that more contemporary concept of druids. then who the heck is galen? i reckon he was an elf or half-elf nede who somehow discovered or invented a kind of nature magic akin to that of the bosmer. the way i reckon it to have worked was that the trees they worshiped were somehow “connected” to the earthbones, probably through the roots. and then he started an order of druids to continue the practice.

what’s really interesting is the fact that this magic likely somehow manipulated or used the power of the earthbones. we have other canon examples of this kind of magic: the thuum of the nords, the tonal architecture of the dwemer, and i think also the spinners of the bosmer. this earthbone-magic is extremely potent, b/c the earthbones are a huge part of what lays down the laws of reality. if you can make them do what you want, either by yelling really hard, banging metal together, or telling weird stories, you possess REALLY great power. 

(and here’s something i just found out while writing this: apparently there’s another reference to the spinners in the eso crown store, which notes that “in high rock, [they’re called] the vicars of jephre”. which is just a really huge bonus for me!)

i think that the druids of galen were able to somehow tap into a similar power to the spinners through their nature worship. i once also suspected that this cult might’ve had political influence in getting rid of the direnni, but i’m not really sold on that anymore. it definitely seems, though, that by probably the 2nd era or so, the druids of galen were no more. (perhaps they or their remnants became the vicars of jephre, but i’m not sure if they hold the same power or recognition as they did as the druids. if they do, they likely are no longer able to tap into the power of the earth-bones, and are simply a religious cult to jephre.)

there’s also the witch wyrds, or covens, of high rock, which may also be descendants of galen’s traditions. there’s a few notable ones, such as the skeffington coven of phrygia (mentioned in the 2920 series), the beldama wyrd, who the book “the witch covens of northern high rock” outright claims to worship jephre as an ehlnofey and earthbone that established the laws of nature, and the glenmoril wyrd, most members of which having become hagravens. 

i’m very tired and have written a lot, so i’m going to stop here. i might talk more about bretons at a later time, most notably their culture, which i kinda seemed to skip here. an accident, but one which gives me a bit of more solid topic for next time.

[powerovernothing]

The elder boys Hogwarts houses

And it seems that one of the most iconic fandom questions has finally managed to find its way into my askbox in relation to the boys and their story, and honestly, I am both smiling like a complete and utter dweeb, and also feeling quite surprised that such a question has not managed to be asked long before now! Have we, as a collective mindset of angst, and fluff lovers, that spans through many different fandoms, reached an era where we have somehow stopped asking about characters and what Hogwarts Houses they would end up in if they were in the Harry Potter universe?I surely hope that is not at all the case, because even though I’ve only ever read through the first Harry Potter book thus far – although I do own the first three, or four, I can’t really recall the actual number in my collection off the top of my head – I never get tired to seeing the old favorite fan questions being asked now and again! And I get even more excited to have this such question being brought to my attention about my versions of Lucien and Martin and including Korbin in the bunch just as well!

It makes me quite happy, and very eager to answer this in a proper way worthy of those who are interested in knowing, and I think that is the reason I wound up going a bit overboard in terms of details!

Of course, by now, I’m certain there are plenty of you who are not surprised by this in the slightest, but even still… I feel as though I should still warn you guys about the intense amount of information I managed to do for this question.

Not only did I locate the very best quiz for finding the proper houses for Korbin, Martin, and Lucien, and created a chart detailing the points from each result, but I also went out of my way to find out what each of the brother’s wands would be, as well as their Patronus animals, the in depth meaning behind those results, and how they fit for the characters the brothers have become over the years!

But now I’m just rambling on, without actually showing you guys anything exciting! So, without further ado, let’s get into detailing The Knight, The Emperor, and The Assassin’s Hogwarts Houses, wands and what they’re made of, and the animals that would be at their sides, shall we?

(*~*Under The Cut Is Almost 5K Words Describing Korbin And His Brothers in The Harry Potter Universe, As I Went A Bit Overboard…Whoops!*~*)

(*~*Please click for a much better view*~*)

Right, so…

I realize that this looks incredibly intimidating, and that there is a lot of information at the ready from this massive chart, but as I said above… I don’t really do things half way. It’s either all or nothing when it comes to my boys, and when given the choice, I would much rather give my all than the former! In any case, I think it would be best if I explained the reasoning behind two different sets of results in the chart above.

You see, back in August of last year, when I first started becoming serious about Korbin and his brother’s story, there was a Hogwarts House quiz that was being thrown around on the Elder Scrolls Discord server that I frequent for you totake and see which house your characters wound up in.

You can find the quiz that I used behind the clickable link here!

Anyway, this was before I gave proper character development for both Lucien and Martin, and when I was still trying to get inside their head, and figure out what to change, and yet keep the same when it came to Todd’s lore and the rest of the traits that were shown in the actual game.

Because of this, and considering that at some point I chose to all but throw canon out of the window when it came to the vanilla versions of Lucien and Martin’s characters, and create my own spin on them outside of just them surviving their fates in the story, their results from a year ago is remarkably different when you compare it to the results they got when I retook the quiz again to tackle your question properly, my dear Lady La Luna!

Originally, and before character development truly set in, Martin was placed within the Ravenclaw house, and Lucien was placed within Slytherin.

And at a glance, I suppose that it would make sense for them both to be in that house… I mean, when you think about the traits of both Ravenclaw and Slytherin, you would see parts of Martin and Lucien’s character. Intelligence, and self-reliance suits Martin rather well, as cunning and resourcefulness suits Lucien. However, the more you think about them, the more you start seeing that there are parts of those houses that Martin and Lucien are not.

Martin is not arrogant, which is a negative trait for Ravenclaw, and he is not the type of person to be by himself. He is someone who cares dearly of others and does his best to make friends and lasting relationships with anyone that he meets – even in canon alone this is something that is commonplace when you see his relationship with the Hero of Kvatch, and the Blades themselves.

And as for our dear favorite Assassin, the common negative traits of Slytherin are classified as being loose with morals, looking out for themselves instead of anyone else when the need arises, as well as a desire for power as one of the most important things. Now, while Lucien does indeed care little for morals, and may believe that the ends justify the means even in canon… my version of Lucien is not at all hungry for power, nor does he care about himself first andforemost.

He is a very family-based man, cares for the members of the Brotherhood, and his siblings very dearly, and could truly care less whether or not he rose in power.

So, as you can see, whilst both Slytherin and Ravenclaw may have suited the earlier versions of my take on Lucien and Martin, and even their canon selves to a certain degree… it does not suit who they actually are now. Which is why, when I retook the quiz with the boys again, their results were so vastly different!

From the chart, you can see that Martin’s Ravenclaw rating took at least a twelve-number drop compared to his older result, and he gained a thirteen-number increase in his Hufflepuff rating, as well as his Slytherin rating!

Now I’m certain there are those who were surprised about the Slytherin increase, and truly I was as well at first, but when you start seeing that one of the positive traits in Slytherin is actually having a pure lineage, it would make sense for the Heir to the Septim Line to have such a number in that house! But outside of that, when it comes down to Martin as a character in general, and who he became in my own writing as I went on… there is no other house that suits him more than dear ol’ Hufflepuff over all.

With members the golden and black house sporting positive traits such as being kind, friendly, and hard-working, having a benevolence to do what is right, because it is right, as well as negative traits being far too humble, and taking things slow and steady instead of the quick path in learning, or life in general – which are seen in both my version of Martin, as well as in game canon in general throughout the course of the Main Quest – it would only make proper sense for him to be in such a house!

And considering that Hufflepuff members often enjoy food, well… with him being raised by his single father farmer Darius and knowing his way around the kitchen in my Verse, it’s nothing short of perfection.

As for Lucien, one of the things that was most surprising to me in his new results was seeing his Hufflepuff rating go up by thirty-six numbers! I mean, when you think about it, Lucien has very little to do with the house traits that Martin would have, but then I realized that I was answering certain questions with how Lucien normally acts behind closed doors, with his loved ones, or when he drops his hard Assassin like outer shell for the sake of mischievous and playful antics.

He is a different person around his brothers, then he would be when working, so I suppose that is where his Hufflepuff rating goes up by a considerable amount. However, by the end of it, the Hogwarts house that fits Lucien the best when taking into consideration both their positive and negative traits, and the number results from the quiz alone? Ravenclaw.

Even though there are moments in actual canon, and my own, where Lucien often ends up doing something foolish and without thinking – mostly tied to his own emotions – by the end of the day he is indeed a remarkably intelligent man.

Not only that, but when he is on the field and preforming his death craft, he is also incredibly creative, and oftentimes does many different things to help down his target, and never is the type to do the same thing twice unless there is a need for it. He is also quite self-sufficient, which comes from being a prior Speaker of the Black Hand, one of the main heads of the Revised Cheydinhal Sanctuary, and from being the eldest among the siblings.

With a knowledge that could surely rival Martin’s own, he knows how to handle solo contracts, knows how to deal with the Elder Council without his temper getting in the way – for the most part – and knows how to go through the world without getting in over his head.

It’s only when his siblings are involved that he tends to get rather foolish, but I digress.

Continuing onward, the main negative traits that the Ravenclaw house members have I actually listed above when discussing how Martin did not fit within the black and blue ranking. However, when you think about these traits from Lucien’s point of view: being arrogant, and often looking down on others unworthy of their praise or acceptance, and how they often create small groups that stay close to one another… well, that just fits The Dark Brotherhood in a whole, doesn’t it?

So, yes! By the end of the day, Martin wears the golden and black colors of Hufflepuff, and Lucien sports the blue and brown coloring of Ravenclaw!

Now, about Korbin… well, you can most likely tell from both the old and the new results that he was the one that changed the least among the brothers. Which, I honestly didn’t find all that surprising, and I somewhat expected, actually. Because, out of the three of them, Korbin was the one who had the least character development throughout the year, and a few months, difference.

His morals are the same, the way he views the world are the same, and who he is around his siblings are the same.

Meaning that most of his results would change very little, or not at all when taking the quiz, a second time around. Korbin’s Slytherin number actually remained the same as it was from a year ago, which is not surprising considering his morals are often the same as Lucien’s whilst working or in general.

His Gryffindor number went down, because even though he is indeed the Hero of Kvatch, he doesn’t consider himself a hero, would actually deny the title outright when given, and instead looks to both of his siblings as the truly brave, courageous ones with far more strength.

His Hufflepuff number goes slightly up, as even though he is indeed an Assassin and Lucien’s Silencer, he is still a very kind, and friend person to those he cares for, and loves, and is an incredibly hardworking individual when it comes to a certain goal, or he sets his mind on something that he wants more than anything, especially during the course of the Oblivion Crisis and him wishing to reverse time to save his brother’s from their fate.

And finally, his Ravenclaw number goes slightly down, which makes a fair amount of sense as he has a slightly underdeveloped intelligence for the most part, and yet by the end of all of the results, it is in fact Ravenclaw that he finds himself being placed within most!

And as I said, from the traits I listed above whilst discussing Martin and Lucien’s houses, it truly comes to no surprise that this is the house that Korbin finds himself in.

From being creative, in both his Assassin skill, and in general with his mischief making and childish antics, self-sufficient when he is determined and set upon a certain goal and all but refusing others help when offered, and the negative traits of being arrogant, which he is and it is one of his biggest faults, and staying within one collective group that relates perfectly with The Dark Brotherhood, and how he prefers to remain with his siblings…

Well, I honestly see it as a perfect selection just as I did with Martin and Hufflepuff! And considering the fact that Ravenclaw is the same house as Lucien, and the two Assassins would very rarely be seen without the other at their side – not to mention what Korbin’s name translates to, and the ‘affectionate’ nickname given to him by Sheogorath – it simply just makes the most sense!

So, in the end of this very long ramble about traits, and houses… Martin would wear the Golden and Black colors of Hufflepuff, and both Lucien and Korbin would wear the Blue and Browns of Ravenclaw!

But even though I have managed to tackle your original question, that is not exactly where the Harry Potter related information comes to an end, my dear friend! After all, what good is being sorted within a Hogwarts House if you are not going to end up with a proper wand, and a Patronus? It would be quite theboring life without those two, so I thought to go one step beyond and do my best to research whatever was needed to figure out what these would be in relation to the boys!

Now, I don’t exactly have a Pottermore account, and I don’t truly wish to spend my time creating three different accounts, with three separate emails just for the sake of doing this for Korbin, Martin, and Lucien… but, thankfully, this is where the internet and its vast resources come in handy! After a little bit of searching around, I found tons of information and photos of how the Pottermore tests actually work, broken down in a way that I could use that as a means of tackling the questions with the boys!

It was rather fascinating to say the least, and if anyone is curious to tackle this themselves, you can just follow these links here for what you need!

Wand Creating Quiz Breakdown, and Patronus Granting Quiz Breakdown~

But in any case, after a bit of thinking, and answering the questions in the way that the boys would, and the reasoning behind each answer – I’ll go into that shortly – the Knight, the Emperor, and the Assassin wound up with these wands as their means of magic!

Korbin was given a slightly dark brown wand made of Rowan wood and imbued with a Dragon Heartstring type core. It was 13¼" inches long in length, had a ball shaped handle with ridges – to mess with when anxious – and an unbending type of flexibility.

Martin was given a light golden wand made of Hawthorn wood and imbued with a Unicorn Hair type core. It was 14½" inches long in length, had a curved shaped handle with carved symbols – a hint to his royal lineage – and a quite flexible type of flexibility.

And Lucien was given a light brown wand made of – unsurprisingly, all things considered – Applewood, and imbued with a Phoenix Feather type core. It was 12½" inches long in length, had a rope wrapped around it’s curved handle – much like a dagger – and a supple type of flexibility.

Quite an interesting sort of turnout, wouldn’t you say?

How the boys ended up with such results, which you can see broken down in the link provided above, is that when given a choice of items to take they chose, a glittering jewel for Korbin as he enjoys shiny things and giving his siblings special gifts when he finds them, a bounded scroll for Martin as he is always searching for new means of knowledge wherever he can, and a silver dagger for Lucien that should surely go without saying considering who he is, and their very worst fears?

Both Lucien and Korbin feared isolation, which plays into their nightmares of either being abandoned(Korbin), or losing those they loved because of their own mistakes(Lucien), and Martin had an ironic fear of fire, which played into his fear of Akatosh and the power he has over him that he hardly understands.

Both Korbin and Martin are the tallest among the brothers, thus they wound up with the tallest wands – although Martin has the longest, which is from his more control of magic and the power he has over it – and unfortunately, just like in my actual Verse, Lucien is the shortest of the trio – despite being the eldest – and thus wound up with the shortest wand.

As for flexibility, that is determined by their day of birth, and the trait that they are most proud of when it comes to themselves.

Lucien and Martin were born on an even day – Lucien was born on May 7th, and Martin was born on July 21st – and Korbin was born on an odd day – December 14th – and the traits that they chose for themselves was Determination for Korbin – as he never gives up without a fight, and always continues to seek out a result even if it seems impossible which works with Unbending – Kindness for Martin – which should go without saying, consideringhe is indeed the friendliest, and most loving out of the three which works withQuite Flexible – and Lucien chose Resilience – as it takes a lot to break him, he, too, hardly ever gives up, and his brothers can always turn to him whenever they need him which works with Supple.

Amazing how the Pottermore quizzes actually work, and what actually determines what you receive in the end, huh? I went into a bit more detail about the reasoning behind those choices, and how I thought they suited the boys most, but here’s a bit more information based around their given Woods, and the Cores they have, taken from the official Pottermore website.

Rowan wood has always been much-favoured for wands, because it is reputed to be more protective than any other, and in my experience renders all manner of defensive charms especially strong and difficult to break. […] Rowan is most happily placed with the clear-headed and the pure-hearted, but this reputation for virtue ought not to fool anyone – these wands are the equal of any, often the better, and frequently out-perform others in duels.

Hawthorn wands may be particularly suited to healing magic, but theyare also adept at curses, and I have generally observed that the hawthorn wand seems most at home with a conflicted nature, or with a witch or wizard passing through a period of turmoil. Hawthorn is not easy to master, however, and I would only ever consider placing a hawthorn wand in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent, or the consequences might be dangerous.

Applewood wands are not made in great numbers. They are powerful andbest suited to an owner of high aims and ideals, as this wood mixes poorly with Dark magic. It is said that the possessor of an apple wand will be well-loved and long-lived, and I have often noticed that customers of great personal charm find their perfect match in an applewood wand.

Rowan wood is meant to be more protective than most? It is oftentimes difficult to break, happiest with the pure-hearted, and yet has a secret strength? That seems to fit Korbin quite perfectly, wouldn’t you agree?

Hawthorn wands are best suited for healing magic, but also curses – in other words, destruction – just as well? Hawthorn wands are most at home with those of a conflicted nature, and not easy to master such power? Why, that sounds exactly like our dear Heir to the Septim line Martin to me!

And the fact that Lucien got applewood at all is hilarious enough, but applewood wands mixes poorly with dark magic? As in, someone with a cold heart wouldn’t be able to handle this, and they would have to contain a hidden light, and softer side? And those who carry them are often long lived, and well loved?

Such as how his siblings love and care for their eldest brother, and how he indeed lives longer in my Verse because of Korbin’s deal with Sheogorath, but also because of being of Imperial race?

It’s almost as though Pottermore is too spot on.

As for the Cores themselves, it states those with the Dragon Heartstring cores, which Korbin has, are often easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, although not of their own accord. Somewhat like how Sheogorath influences and torments his dear Little Raven because of how he offered himself up as a future vessel for the Mad God so that he would turn back time to save his brothers?

Unicorn Hair, which is a part of Martin’s wand, is actually the hardest to turn to the Dark Arts, and the most consistent with magical uses, with hardly any error. Which makes perfect sense for Martin’s Holy Light, and his powerful Akatosh blessed magic that he wields!

And as for Phoenix Feathers, which belongs to Lucien’s wand, it is said that they are the pickiest, and their allegiance is usually hard won without a fight.

Such as Lucien who is stubborn, and cares very little for the opinions and thoughts of others outside of his own Dark or Chosen family? Like I said, it’s almost too uncanny, and I’m starting to wonder about the true magic behind these little quizzes!

As a side note for the brother’s and their cores, I like to see it as though they each got a piece of each other. Korbin got a Dragon, possessive, and protective - Lucien - whilst strong with unknown powers - Martin. Lucien got a Phoenix, fire based - Martin - and rose from the ashes of its destruction and found freedom in its wings - Korbin.

And Martin got Unicorn, soft a glance, but with a hidden edge in its horn - Korbin - and the direct opposite for Lucien. A hardened edge but with a softer side.

In any case, as for the boys and their Patronuses, the actual quiz that you’re meant to take on Pottermore is based on a random number of different sets of words, and you’re meant to choose the one you like the most… and at first, it seemed as though I wouldn’t be able to figure out their animal guardians – but thankfully, once again! – I was able to find a proper breakdown of the quiz, as I linked above, and was able to sort through the questions, and found out whichanimal would spring forth from which brother’s wand!

Korbin ended up with a St. Bernard, which is something that I found incredibly adorable, and ironic, as there are times those who are familiar with his character – and even myself – refer to him as an overly affectionate, and oversized puppy!

And on Pottermore itself, the St. Bernard Patronus is described as follows:

Despite its large and intimidating size, the St. Bernard is known to be kind, loving, and gentle. Great with families and very loyal, the St. Bernard will always be by your side. They are quick to protect family members who may be in danger and often act as a guardian for those around them. Strong and powerful due to their size, the St. Bernard will fight off Dementors and stand by you, come what may.

Despite its large and intimidating size, it is kind, loving, and gentle? Great with families and very loyal? Quick to protect family members who may be in danger, and act as a guardian to them?

Well, now, isn’t that just the perfect description for Korbin?

Martin ended up with an Osprey – which I’ll readily admit that I had never even heard of until I started doing this research – and its description on Pottermore is stated as being:

The Osprey is a fish-eating bird found across the world. These birds have incredible vision and can spot underwater prey from the air. They brave the depths of water, diving completely beneath the surface, unlike any other bird, and this courageousness makes them a powerful Patronus indeed.

At first, you would think that such a Patronus would be quite strange for Martin to have, considering it doesn’t really seem all that similar to Martin’s own character in either my Verse or actual canon.

But then you stop and consider the fact that it is a winged bird of prey – I once considered Martin an owl when speaking of his animal counterpart – and that Martin is blessed by the Dragon Divine Akatosh, and it goes on to speak about its bravery, courageousness, and the power it holds… then it suddenly all starts to click into place, makes it quite perfect in the end, after all!

And as for Lucien, he ended up with an Ocicat. Another small bout of irony, just as Korbin, as there are times where myself, and others, consider Lucien to have many traits similar to a cat, or see him as a cat loving person. And this adorable little guy is described on Pottermore as:

While the Ocicat is a house cat, it looks like a small wild cat due to its crazy coat of spots and stripes. It has the athletic personality to boot! This cat loves to be active. It moves through its environment confidently and energetically. This cat will chase that Dementor and run it to the ground!

A cat that may seem wild at first, but is actually quite the homebody? That works perfectly considering that whilst Lucien is most certainly an Assassin and devoted to the art of life taking, when you strip away the dagger, the robe, and the stern expression – he is dedicated to his family and their wellbeing first and foremost. And when you mix that with the Ocicat’s love for being active and athletic, and how it wishes to hunt and chase things… well, doesn’t that work as an alternate description for an Assassin?

Just as I said above, these little Pottermore quizzes, and the one I took to sort the boys Hogwarts Houses were almost too on point, almost too uncanny, and honestly, I’m starting to wonder if there aren’t some magical link to my brain being seeped through onto the website! I wouldn’t put it past Harry Potter considering all of the other magical stuff that the universe has!

But in all seriousness, I have to say that I really had fun with this sort of question! I know that I went above and beyond in terms of details and discussion, as well as length, but I was having too much fun actually learning more about the universe and how it works – as I said, I’ve only read the first Harry Potter book thus far – that I couldn’t force myself to stop while I was ahead, and I just continued on and on until I was able to consume as much as I could!

Which is what led to the Wand and Patronuses, and everything else that is in this massive monster of a post! Regardless of such, I hope you have a very fun time reading this over, and hopefully learning something as well! I know a lot of my friends and followers, if they’re not into Harry Potter, will probably pass this reply over… but that’s quite all right! I had a really fun time making the charts, going into detail, and figuring out what it would be like if the boys was in that world!

So, I hope that you, my dear sweet Lady La Luna, and those who enjoy in depth talks about Harry Potter ideas, will enjoy reading this post and all the details I posted within! Thank you so very much for sending this message my way, and for reminding me of the early days of fandom, and how many times I saw this question pop up innocently back then, as well as all the other messages that I will tackle soon!

You are awesome, your ideas are awesome, your characters are awesome, and I just want to hug you and give you as much appreciation for your amazing concepts that you so rightfully deserve!

Thanks again, with tons of hugs and kisses from me and the boys on top! ♥

[diveronarpg]

Congratulations, LINA! You’ve been accepted for the role of TROILUS with an FC change to Henry Golding. Admin Rosey: I am absolutely HOWLING. So, when I was writing Troilus, I was having an amazing time -- he’s so nuanced and seemingly superficial, but there are so many detailed facets that contribute to his happy-go-lucky attitude. He’s so utterly disarming and charming that, from the interview alone, I couldn’t help but swoon over him. Your development for him promises so much, from the sought-after revelation of Celeste’s infidelity to turning him into a hollow and hungry creature. I’m absolutely over the moon to be putting my precious boy into your hands, Lina. By all means, ruin us all. Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Lina. Age | 26 Preferred Pronouns | She/her Activity Level | 5 – Med school honestly wipes the floor with me most days, so I can’t promise daily activity but as I’ve said before, I promise consistency and communication. I’ll request a hiatus if needed, and I won’t disappear or drop-out without warning.   Timezone | Finally back in EST (UTC-5:00) Current/Past RP Accounts | —

In Character

Character | Tomas Sabello -> Could I request an FC switch to ether Henry Golding or Godfrey Gao? I love Bob Morley to pieces but I’ve used him as an FC for long enough that I really struggle to dissociate him from the role I played. I think Henry fits Tomas’ gentle disposition best, but Godfrey has more versatility in terms of acting roles/expression which seems more in line with the mood in Verona and what he may eventually become… I dunno! I’ll leave it to you guys to choose the preferred alternate FC in the event that I do get accepted. I’d be happy working with either one.

What drew you to this character? | I really liked how opposite he is to Viv, honestly. He’s so enamored with emotion, and despite the fact that he’s an actor by trade, he’s an open book when it comes to anything that inspires feeling within him. I think Tomas loves the idea of love to such an extreme that there’s no thought to guarding himself from it. No amount of pride could keep him from offering his heart up, not even the threat of rejection. He takes and he takes, but he also gives to the people around him, indiscriminately; even to the most insignificant of passersby who’ve touched his life or inspired his creativity in some brief, ephemeral way. While Viv absorbs and safeguards whatever light she finds, Tomas reflects it freely back into the universe, and I really like that dichotomy.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character?

*∆* - Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s oblivion: I’ll keep this point short and sweet; I want Tomas to find out about Celeste’s infidelity and for his heart to get absolutely shattered in the process. It could be sooner, later or whenever, but I think we’re all holding our breaths for that to happen in the story, and I’d love the opportunity to portray that.

*∆* - To fight one’s nature is a losing battle: This is a plot contingent on the arc of his relationship with Celeste and details pertaining to their marriage (how long it takes for him to find out she’s cheating on him, what they do with that information, if they divorce, etc.). But essentially, I’d like to show Tomas’ struggle with his own fidelity because in his bio, he strikes me as the sort of character that doesn’t settle on one lover easily. And he loves Celeste with every inch of his being and right now that’s what’s keeping him faithful, but I think that even if her infidelity isn’t revealed, eventually Tomas will start to feel the strain. He’ll notice the little signs along the way that hint that she doesn’t quite love him the way he loves her. I think those would put cracks in the marriage even if Isabella wasn’t in the picture. I’d like to explore those, and how little micro-tensions crop up in chronic relationships when one partner feels like they’re pulling all the weight. I want to dig into that and cast the lens on a quietly troubled relationship, and I want to see how far it pushes Tomas in response. Does he grow colder?  Does he seek intimacy elsewhere? Does he fall into the same temptation and cheat on Celeste, whether physically or emotionally? Let’s find out!

*∆* - Any way the wind blows: I’ve always imagined Tomas to be the unsettled sort, in all senses of the word. His loves have always been transient and fleeting, his decisions (both in leaving Rome and marrying Celeste) seem rash and impulsive… I think capriciousness is a trait of his that extends to all facets of his life. So one headcanon I have for him is that now that he’s on sabbatical from acting, he’d want to try his hand at something new. Activities or careers that he gets excited by every few weeks and actively chases until something changes and then he drops the ball and moves on, certain he’ll find his luck elsewhere. I think it’d be interesting to see him get into all sorts of mix-ups while catering to this instinct, and maybe unintentionally making himself a nuisance to other characters in their line of work in the rp. Just this over-excited dude picking up positions and then dropping them as if life’s his own picnic… It’s definitely going to rub some people the wrong way and I’m here to see it happen!

*∆* - The hardest of hearts:  … I’m intrigued by Tomas’ deep resentment of Roman Montague. His bio implies that it’s his acting experience which primes him to look at Romeo as if he’s also an actor, playing a part he doesn’t deserve. But I think it goes deeper than that. I think canonically, even, Tomas’ character seems to have a lot in common with Romeo from Shakespeare’s original, or at least, the earliest version of Romeo that we see. Lovelorn and lackadaisical, an innate predisposition for goodness, and yet undoubtedly leaving lovers a little carelessly in his pursuit of love, etc. So the way I see it, beyond his judgment of Roman as being unfit to rule, I think Tomas doesn’t like him bc he sees in Roman all of the same flaws he recognizes subconsciously in himself. It’s always easier to see our flaws through a mirror. I’m interested in seeing how far Tomas would go to spite Roman in order to avoid having to confront himself. The fact that Celeste is still tied to the Montagues would also be a continuous dilemma for Tomas, who dislikes both mobs. Depending on what plots come up, I might even entertain the thought of getting Tomas tied up in Capulet business, with the singular goal of bringing down Roman Montague.

*∆* - … Destroys itself in the end: In his bio, it’s alluded that Tomas took from both his parents when it came to his nature. He loved as frequently and as persistently as his mother, but destroyed those in his wake as surely as his father; leaving his path littered with broken hearts. I want to see that side of Tomas again. Except this time, instead of it being an accident of youth and of too much ignorance, I want it to be intentional. I feel like heart-break would leave him hollow and hungry, and I want to experience that side of him. I think his capacity for hurt is almost equally potent to his capacity for love, and that’s what makes him such a compelling character in my eyes.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Through a well-developed plot, yes.

In Depth

These interview chairs are always so stiff that Tomas has to wonder whether it’s intentional. Maybe it’s to keep him from falling asleep, but he’d never do that. He likes giving interviews for the most part. Of course, it was easier in his early twenties; when he had very little in the ways of a filter but was blessed with the circumstances in life that permitted him to get away with it. Oh, and an adoring audience. That always helped of course. These days, as a married man in a new city, he has to be more careful with his tongue.

That doesn’t make him any more careful with his smiles, however. And right now he’s aiming one of his most brilliant at the interviewer who’s already started asking him questions. They’re three minutes in, but she hasn’t returned any of his good cheer so far, and that’s uncommon. He’s remembered all his pleasantries, he’s been considerate enough in opening doors and waiting to be seated - but still, nary a smile. He doesn’t mind too much, but it makes his job so much more enjoyable when they do. And as a result, Isabella Gagliano is both a damper and a challenge. But before Tomas can engage her into lowering her defenses, she’s presented him with the next in a series of fan-chosen questions.

“What is your favorite place in Verona?”

”The Two Gentlemen. Certainly the best bottle of pinot grigio that I’ve ever had.” Tomas tells her, lips pressing together as sweetly as the juice from those sticky wine grapes. “You wouldn’t be remiss either if you tried the risotto al tastasal. That’s a real recommendation, you know?” He stage-whispers with a grin, “Off-the record.” But if Isabella takes note, he can’t tell.

The truth is, it’s a lie. A white lie, he consoles himself, because sometimes, the truth is too heavy a price to pay. The truth is that his favourite place in all of Verona is the recently abandoned Multisala Rivoli. It’s a cliche, he knows, an actor finding his second-home inside of a rundown movie-theatre. But it isn’t for the movies that he goes, nor out of any misplaced vainglory. Rather, it’s the promise of nondescript privacy that draws him like a bee to to honey. There, he can meet his new friends beyond the prying eyes of the media. There, he has a clandestine spot to escape the humdrum of the city for a few hours, alone with his thoughts. But it’s not a truth he’s ready to share, and moreover, the Montagues will like this answer better. It’s a nod to their territory; a little more promotion for their best-boasted restaurant. He refuses to join them, he refuses to share in their cause, but maybe sliding in such harmless tips will convince them to lay off of Celeste’s case and stop pressuring her to pressure him to join. Truth and politics don’t mix. Every time a video begins recording, Tomas is well aware of that. But above all, an actor must always remember his part.

“What does your typical day look like?”

“What, like a twenty-four hour play-by-play?” He asks playfully. “No one’s that interesting,signorina, I promise. I remember I was asked a similar question in an interview two or three years ago. I think it was for Sorrisi e Canzoni? Or maybe GQ…. Either way, it was a much more exciting answer back then. Plays, parties, private jets… ” Tomas reminisces fondly, but not fond enough to want to trade it in for his present. “I hate to disappoint, but it’s not the same anymore. I’m a married man on sabbatical now, remember??” He says, directing the question towards the camera before letting his gaze find Isabella once more. His life is quieter now, but happier too. “Not that it’s boring by any stretch. I’d recommend marriage, actually. I know it’s done wonders for me! But if I start talking about her and all the ways she’s changed my routine everyone will be rolling their eyes and complaining about cavities before this interview’s over.” Tomas chuckles, thinking of the myriad of ways his daily life has become synonymous with Celeste. What time she wakes, what time she leaves, when she comes home or when he gets to persuade her out of the house on little dates… He has a life outside of Celeste to be sure, but it’s only around her that he’s really reminded of what he’s working towards. Like Eros and Psyche, he thinks. He loves, but she sets fire to his love and gives it true sustenance. A future, a family, a very happy ending - That’s all he wants these days.

“What has been your biggest mistake thus far?”

He laughs at that, taken aback by the girl’s directness. “Is that really what it says on your sheet??” He cocks a brow, leaning forward as if to sneak a peek. “Damn… That’s harsh.” Sometimes, his fans seem like tiny mosquitoes; hungry for every teeny-tiny drop of his blood as they submit questions as invasive as these. “I have to think about that one…” Tomas admits with a bemused shake of his head. “I try not to think of my experiences as mistakes. Even the ones that might feel like it initially. Everything happens for a reason, doesn’t it? Don’t you believe that?” He looks to his interviewer as though hoping to coax another answer out of her, but she doesn’t indulge him. He’s always preferred dialogue to monologue, despite his choice of career. It takes an exchange of ideas to see the world through new lenses, and he can’t do that while talking continuously about himself. But another pensive, stolen glance at Isabella tells him that she probably won’t care what his answer is, so long as he gives one. He could make it up right here on the spot - something like ‘I’ve started a third gang in Verona to spite the Mobs‘ or ‘I kicked a dog once’, and she probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash. He wonders why. He wonders why she’s so determinedly expressionless.

“Do you play Poker?” Tomas asks without warning. He hadn’t meant for that to come out of his mouth but somehow it does and it takes another laugh and a wave of his hand to dismiss it. “Sorry. But you could! It’s impressive actually - in a good way. To answer your question, I think I’ll have to keep this one to myself.” It’s apologetic but firm, because his biggest mistake is failing his parents. Of all the roles he’s played thus far, that of ‘son’ has always left him most wanting. He couldn’t fix their marriage. He couldn’t inspire their divorce… To this day, his adulterous mother and destructive, ill-tempered father remain tethered to each other. Two rusting anchors, weighing themselves down to the bottom of the sea-bed… Most days, Tomas tries hard not to think about it. But there are some moments, moments when he’s feeling low, that he wonders if he’s responsible for their unhappiness; wonders if he couldn’t have done more to help them find happiness, along the way. Today is one of the predetermined no-thinkdays though. The days he’s giving interviews always are. “Sorry about that… Got anything else on your nifty list?” He prompts her, hoping to move on to a happier topic.

“What has been the most difficult task asked of you?”

This question too, gives him pause. More than he’d like. There’s the shadow of fleeting suspicion as he steals a glance at Isabella, wondering if they’re posing these questions on purpose to throw him off. But what cause would a reporter have to do that? You’re being silly,he chides himself, mulling over the question. Again, he knows the real answer.

Commitment.

It isn’t easy to choose a single person in this life, Tomas thinks. To narrow his expansive romantic inclinations and promise them to one individual and one individual only. But it’s a choice he reminds himself of every morning when he wakes up, when he cracks an eye open only for his gaze to fall on the familiar comfort of Celeste’s blazing red hair, like a halo around her cherubic face. It’s a choice he must remember when he’s comparing paintings with Juliana and hears the clear-bell tone of her laughter echo in the museum. A choice he must remember when his fingers find the soft, unwritten skin beneath Santino’s wrist as they look for stars in a midnight sky. A choice he recalls even as he listens to Paola recount the tales he’s missed in her life; eyes dancing with ferocious passion and he thinks what if, what if…

… But it’s a struggle he dares not reveal. It would insult his beloved wife, it would make a mockery of the vows they took in front of that altar, all those months ago. Worse still, it would surely garner derision from the audience, especially from his most die-hard fans; some of who still count on the failure of his marriage in order to regain the bachelor fantasy they’d attached to their idol. But idols were effigies of gold and silver. He was not an idol, he was a man of flesh and blood and feeling. Do you understand?… You will never understand me like she has, he wants to rebuke them. But there’s an old fondness that he can’t help when it comes to those who loved him first. And so his countenance softens as he answers the reporter’s question. “The most difficult task for me, has been leaving behind all my loved ones in Rome. My friends, my family, my fans…” He presses his fingertips to his lips for a moment before waving them towards the camera, sending the kiss to those who’ll hope for it most, when the interview airs tomorrow night. “I send my love, and I’m humbled by your continued support.”

“What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?”

“It’s-… It’s insanity.“

Now the Montagues won’t like that. But he feels the answer so strongly, and with so much conviction that he thinks the glassy brightness in his eyes would betray him anyway. Some lies are too big to swallow, even for an actor. “Brutal and unnecessary - do they even remember what they’re fighting for?” He asks Isabella, though he thinks she’s probably no closer to answering that than the other Veronesi. “You know, the stories say that it’s been so many decades now that no one knows any more… Isn’t that silly? To fight over something that you can’t even remember?” But deep down, Tomas knows it’s not that simple. Because mobs don’t need an impetus; not when there’s so much profit to be made in criminality. All the rest is just stories, to play on the sympathies of a winsome public. He should know… He played on that same, guileless sympathy, night after night after night on a front-lit stage. But art is one thing, war is another. And Celeste is tied up in this war, much as he hates to think about it.

“Maybe I’ll go back to Rome one of these days,” Tomas announces abruptly, shifting upright in his chair. There’s an ardent gleam in his eyes because he likes thinking in maybes. They’re so much more satisfying than the limitations of what is or isn’t strictly possible. “I’d like to take my wife with me. She’s never been… Can you believe it?? Never been to Rome… We could start there, then maybe a tour of Europe. Maybe a second honeymoon. I’m sure she’d like that.” He doesn’t know if that’s true, he doesn’t know if he can ever return to Rome, but it has a romantic ring to it nonetheless. And when has Troilus ever been able to deny the sweet-nothing whispers of romance, even as a city tears itself apart around him?….

Never, he thinks… Not even then.

——————————————-

(Thank you for Reading!!)

[samwinchesterisourhero]

Sam WInchester: The Reluctant Hero

When we wonder in frustration, as to why Sam seems to suffer more than Dean does, instead of being angry at a narative bias, or assuming the show runners hate Sam, take into consideration that Sam and Dean, though equally heroic, are different types of heros  Dean is a willing hero. He has been proud of his job as a hunter since he was young, even if sometimes he was bored with it, or would have liked to persue a career as a machanic. From what we see in flash backs, Dean was boasting “Im a hero!” since high school, where Sam just wanted to be like every other kid.  Sam’s first choice in life is not to be a hero. Not directly anyway. He was studying to become a lawyer.  Azazel said he was becoming a Tax Attorney, but Dean saw him as a Criminal Justice Attorney in What is and What Should Never Be, which I think is more fitting for Sam. The indirect hero that would get justice for the victims. He would make a wonderful psycholigist also. Dean would be a very good cop, or soldier, or first responder.  This is not to say Sam wouldnt run into a burning building to save a family, he most certainly would, but his interests seem to lie mostly in long term after care. So for Sam to be in the front line with Dean, is something he does because its the right thing, not because it’s his chosen life path (early life anyway. he has stated in his later life that he did chose this life for himself) and this makes him a reluctant hero. The problem with that though, is that in literature, the reluctant hero always suffers the most. 

Its no argument that Dean suffers too. Both brothers have broken my heart on many occasions, but Sam’s suffering over any event, stretches far past the season he suffers it in. This is so we, the viewers, have an idea as to how much of a hardship Sam is willing to endure to save Dean and to save the world.  Sam and Dean both willingly went to Hell, but their experiences were greatly different, and unfolded on the show wildly unbalanced. Dean sold his soul for Sam, so Sam would live. He didnt want to go to Hell, but he did it willingly. in Dream a Little Dream, Dean said to his dream self, that he didnt deserve to go to Hell, and even though he made the choice on his own, I think we all feel like it’s a horrible punishment for a guy who just wanted his little brother to live. I know I hoped they could find a way to get him out of the deal, but unfortunately, he didnt. He stayed in Hell for 4 months, or 40 hell years. He was tortured by Alistair for 30 years until he became a torturer himself. Cas raised him out of Hell, completely whole, even old scars were gone, but we didnt know for a while that the memories were haunting him. How did we find out? Because he told Sam. He tearfully confessed to Sam on more than one occasion, what happened, what he did, what it felt like at the time and how it was hurting him then. What came of it is that he got to confront his torturer, and even though he couldnt kill him himelf, Sam killed him for him. Dean got justice.  Sam on the other hand, also willingly went to Hell to save the world, but he felt like he was mainly at fault for breaking the world in the first place, when it was expressed that it wasn’t only him, and he was completely unknowingly breaking it when he did. He obviously didnt want to go to Hell, but he felt it was the right thing to do. What he got for that though, was his soul in Hell, canonically, for 1.5 years, 180 Hell years. He was torured by Lucifer himself in the most brutal ways imaginable. Cas raised his body, soon after he went to the pit, but we arent given an exact amount of time, whether it be an hour or so, or a few weeks, we just know he was physically out for the majority of the year, but I can’t imagine 10 minutes in the cage with Lucifer is a picnic. However, he came back incomplete, without his soul, which endured unimaginable torture. If that’s not enough, while soulless, Sam did things he wasn’t proud of when he got his soul back, and suffered with this, Once he got his memories of Hell back, a whole new level of suffering began.  How was this handled? To our knowledge, he never told anyone the details of his Hell tour. All we know about it, was shown in flash backs and hallucinations, that ended up driving Sam insane. Sam was “fixed” by Cas, by simply shifting the pain to himself, not by Sam talking about it, or confronting his torturer, or anyone killing Lucifer.  Sam didnt get justice in any sense, and he still carries all of this with him. He has even had to work along side Lucifer to try to stop Amara. No one even brought this up, even though Sam had very recently been back to the cage and had to face Lucifer and the trauma all over again.  Season 13 and still Sam hasn’t been given justice or seen closure when Dean’s was answered in only a few episodes. How can we not see the imballance? Well, when we look at it as Sam is the long suffering Reluctant Hero, suck as it may, it makes more sense. It plays into the narrative that the pain piles on Sam, and Sam stuffs it down. We ourselves may forget this happens, if the show itself didn’t bring it up.  The case of Tracy Bell for example. A girl that pops up out of nowhere in 9x2 for no reason than to remind Sam that he let Lucifer out and people got killed. I know a bunch of you blame the writers of the episode for that, as though they hate Sam or Jared, but that was part of the Gardreel story. Something that the producers must have told the writers they wanted. “Bring something painful up from Sam’s past, so that when he feels good at the end of the episode, we can be reminded that theres an Angel healing him from the inside” is probably close to what was said in the meeting. We the viewers need to be reminded that Sam never lets things go, at the same time as he never really speaks of them either.  It took 13 seasons, but Dean confirms for us in 13x4 that Sam doesnt admit things or it makes them real, and then he has to deal with it. Sam even confirms it himself in 12X3 when he says he knows Mom is burying herself in hunting instead of dealing, through years of personal experience. Now that we understand this is part of Sam’s character, we can better understand why we dont get to see his emotional POV very often, and his traumas rarely get worked out.  The differences between Sam being the reluctant hero, and Dean being the willing hero, manifest in many ways.  Dean gets very antsy if its been a few days that they havent had a hunt to go on. Sam however, is content to stay home researching. Their short time of trying to live a domestic life with their girlfriends shows reluctant vs willing also. While Sam was with Amelia, he had nothing to do with hunting except reading the news paper and believing other hunters were taking care of things. He refused to tell Amelia about that part of his life. Dean didnt hunt, but he kept it at arms reach. He kept devils traps in the door ways, a rosary in water under the bed and a gun nearby, and he let Lisa know all about that part of his life, and even tried to live it and maintain a life with her.  Dean is the kind of guy who will show you every scar and tell you the details of how he got it, while Sam will hide his scars. Dean suffers when innocent life is lost, but he holds on to the fact that he’s saved more people than he’s hurt and it can help him make it day to day. Sam feels like he failed if he didnt save someone. This is precicely why Sam suffers the burdens of his wrongs for years,  and Dean doesnt. Dean did a lot of crap while he had the MoC but he hasnt had to visibly suffer from it after the fact. Sam however, is reminded of his poor choices for seasons after the fact. Now since its not a matter of Sam goes to jail for things and Dean doesn’t, we only need to realize its part of maintaining a character trait for us, so we dont forget that Sam never forgives himself and suffers for years over what he considers failures.  Now, this willingness vs reluctance shows in their relationship also. Im not going to try to prove one loves the other more, because I am convinced that Dean is #1 in Sam’s world and Sam is #1 in Dean’s world and they love each other as much as any two people can love each other (to steal from the mouth of JP) they both take care of each other, and neither had to be told to do so. Even when Sam was too little to actually take care of Dean, he still did the best he could by wanting to be with him, and giving him gifts. Dean didnt have to learn 100 ways to make mac and cheese, he did it because he wanted to make Sam happy. That being said, lets move on… Sam’s reluctance in their relationship, isnt that he loves Dean less, or doesn’t want to protect him, but his biggest fear is letting Dean down. He can save Dean’s life a million times but considers himself a failure if he let Dean down. Dean’s biggest fear however is Sam dying. He can let Sam down, he can piss him off, but if Sam isnt alive and well, Dean considers himself a failure. When Sam assumed Dean was dead in S8 and didnt look for him, he was going on a promise that he wouldnt look for him. Since we didnt get enough insight to Sam’s state of mind at the time, Im going to assume that Sam was crushed that Dean was dead, but for himself, it was more important, that he didnt let him down by breaking that promise. He saw how angry Dean was when Dean thought he made a deal that raised him from Hell, so he “knew” Dean would be disappointed if Sam looked for him now. Dean however, needs Sam to be alive, so he will risk Sam being disappointed and possibly hating him, as long as he’s alive.  So now in S11 its brought up again, that Sam didnt look for Dean in Purgatory, and Sam hadnt forgiven himself for it, its not the writers hating Sam/Jared, its showing us that Sam still hasnt gotten over letting Dean down. He’s a long suffering character, and doesnt see that he was justified in his actions, but instead blames himself for inaction. This fits right into Sam not finding a Win in a case where he couldnt save everyone. He knows he helps more people than he hurts, but the fact that he hurts people at all outweighs the good in his eyes.  There will be a time Im sure, and hopefully soon, given the events of the last 2 seasons, that Sam may collapse under all this weight. Maybe he will have some time to voice how badly things hurt him. But if he doesnt. try not to write it off as no one caring about his character, but understand his character feels like a burden if he unloads to people, even, and especially to Dean, who Im sure he believes has enough burden on his shoulders, without Sam sharing his. So try to be patient my friends. This would come out differently if it was a written story. The writer would be able to show us inside Sam’s head easier than they can this way. The only way into Sam’s head is through someone vocalizing it. If Sam does, then we dont see him burying things, if someone else does, it sometimes looks like hes being picked on for no reason…. but there is a good reason. It’s to keep his character consistant as the longsuffering reluctant hero. By @missjackil

[ultraericthered]

A Master, Failed By His Maker

I know I’ve talked the ruination of Xehanort’s character before. But this character was one of my top favorite video game villains ever since the first KH game, so it’s not something that will ever not sting, just as with Sora, Kairi, Riku, Namine, Roxas, Axel, Aqua, Xigbar, and even the goddamn King Mickey Fucking Mouse himself getting similar ruination. I recently re-read Master Xehanort’s secret reports in Birth By Sleep. Not the biggest fan of how these reports are written, but I like the idea behind what’s written - giving context to Xehanort’s descent into Darkness and informing his actions in the game, as otherwise his motivations seem shallow and “just for kicks”, just as the Ansem Reports of KH1 gave similar context and information for Xehanort’s Heartless and the other Ansem Reports of KH2 gave such for Ansem the Wise/DiZ. And let me tell you, the sheer number of contradictions to 3D and KH3 I found made me abhor those games’ writing and handling of this character that much more.

Upon reflection, my life underwent the most considerable sea-change when I arrived at that place. Yes, it began when I found a Master, and another I would later call my brother—when I found a new home.

Xehanort is deliberately vague with talking about “that place”, but the game gives us no reason to think that the place isn’t the Land of Departure, where the True Keyblade Master order is situated. In fact, he calls this place “a new home”, and in a later report refers to Eraqus’ residence in Land of Departure as “this second home of mine.” If Destiny Islands was his first home and Scala Ad Caelum was his second home, this would make Land of Departure his THIRD home, would it not? Retconning canon so that Xehanort and Eraqus (and presumably Yen Sid too) had lived and been mentored in Scala Ad Caelum instead didn’t make any sense to me. Why would these boys’ Master (Luxu?) bring them up in a place as important as “the nexus from which all worlds spring”, and why wouldn’t Eraqus, having been raised and taught there himself, bring up his own pupils there? KH3 does keep with what’s established about him seeing Eraqus as a brother, but even then nothing in BBS ever suggested that the two of them had the super close, tight brotherly bond KH3 showed. In fact, Xehanort’s use of “would LATER call my brother” suggests that such a familial bond took time and years to fully develop between the two.

Then there was the Keyblade. For what purpose was it begotten, and by whom? During my training as one of its wielders, the precepts offered a clear answer: the Keyblade existed so that we who watched over the light could protect the world from the shadows.But was that the TRUE answer? Could there not be more to it than that? My heart sought knowledge, and so I sometimes visited other worlds—though such travel was forbidden unless duty required—and found what my heart sought.

This part right here displays THE defining trait for Xehanort - his heart is always seeking answers and knowledge, because Knowledge Is Power. After all, what better way for him to compensate for having lived in a small world feeling boxed in, powerless, and ignorant of the larger World around him? He expresses no desire to become leader of the World, and what’s more, he does NOT accept “safeguarding the World’s light” as the answer for what the Keyblade was made for and what a Keyblade Master must do. So why would he wish to throw away a position meant for protection of the World’s light in favor of trying to start an apocalypse where he could then control the power of Kingdom Hearts...if his goal was the protection of the World’s light, as KH3 tries to tell us it was? In BBS, he clearly did not give a fuck about the World’s light: he was only intrigued by the light of Kingdom Hearts.

Our Master instructed us to don armor while traveling between worlds, so that we might shield ourselves from the darkness. But there, in the Lanes Between, I could feel the force of it—the power—and from then on, I forwent my armor's "protection." I had been told the darkness would devour me, but what terrors could it possibly hold, so long as I found the strength to control it?

This part gives a perfectly sound reason for why Xehanort’s heart succumbed to darkness and why he went astray in following his selfish desires. The pull of it’s force and splendor of it’s power awed him, making him feel it wasn’t something one should be shut off from, and in his arrogance he assumed he could find the strength to control the darkness. But as canon has repeatedly shown us, those who seek to control darkness end up controlled by it instead. This is why retconning his Start of Darkness into being because his time traveling Heartless set him on that path, making him just evil from start to finish, sucked so bad. Oh, except that was during a time where he got let off back to Destiny Islands after his and Eraqus’ time in Scala Ad Caelum, so Nomura attempts to have his cake and eat it too with his pet character.

Kingdom Hearts could be described as an aggregate of hearts. Worlds, too, have hearts, just like people; each world's heart is concealed from sight, beyond a hidden door. By gathering all the hearts of all the worlds in a single place, one may complete Kingdom Hearts. And when Kingdom Hearts is complete, it is said the one who opens its door will bring about the creation of the Next World. Such a feat is above any human. Or, to put it a different way: whoever opens that door will be reborn as something far greater than human.

This informs a lot about Xehanort and things that carried over to his Heartless and Nobody. Aside from being useful in explaining the lore behind the Heart of All Worlds in a clear way (”gathering the hearts of all the worlds in a single place”, in this case behind the Door to Darkness, is what the Heartless were doing in KH1, and that’s what “completed Kingdom Hearts” in that game), it showcases what Xehanort wanted to achieve by being the one to bring about the creation of the Next World - immortality. A essential rebirth as something far greater than human. A way to become like a god and ensure his legacy lingers for eternity, a legacy carved into the World to say “I was here, and ‘here’ is all my doing. All Is Me.” It’s a totally narcissistic, megalomanic desire far more interesting than “I want to be the World’s leader to ensure all is sound and orderly, the World’s light is safeguarded and that darkness begotten by those with weak hearts does not damage the World ever again.” 

Light and darkness are two sides of the same coin; without darkness, there is no light. The Keyblade wielders' great war over Kingdom Hearts was fought by defenders of the light, servants of darkness, those who sought to reconcile the two, and those motivated by nothing more than lust for power. A whole spectrum of thought was swept into the conflict, and the worlds that did not go to war found the war brought to them. In the end, the whole World was cast into darkness. That was how the ancient Keyblade War drew to a close. To this day, no one has ever managed to open the door to Kingdom Hearts.

Xehanort literally pulls a “both sides are to blame” when talking about what drove the Keyblade War and led to the World’s destruction - Light and Dark alike. Yet KH3 has him talking as though only darkness born of weak, evil hearts was to blame for what befell the World, and that for some reason he takes this legend personally and wants to be the one to ensure that such a thing never happens again...by first making it happen again. Whut? And the mention of “to this day, no one has ever managed to open the door to Kingdom Hearts” again suggests that vanity is Xehanort’s primary objective for the grand experiment he wishes to conduct. He wants the one to open the door to Kingdom Hearts to be him and him alone.

At present, the lanes and corridors that run between the worlds may only be traversed by us Keyblade wielders, and those who have given themselves over to darkness. As the former, our duty is to cross the chasms between worlds and guard against the latter, whose darkness corrupts and contaminates, so that no world need ever be lost again.

“Whose darkness corrupts and contaminates” is something that becomes part of KH3 Xehanort’s motivations, but it was pretty explicitly a belief he’d long discarded as of present day BBS because he goes on to state he believes that darkness is the heart’s true essence, that all must end in darkness just as it began. Any respect for light he had was a sham.

The third type of key, the Keyblade of heart, came into existence when the World was reorganized after the Keyblade War. Without this key, Kingdom Hearts is forever beyond a person's reach. Only by gathering together seven hearts of pure light—hearts completely devoid of darkness—may one forge a Keyblade of heart and open the door to Kingdom Hearts. And, as stated before, opening this door arguably gives that person control over all worlds and all people.

Eh, not quite. For one thing, there’s no such thing as a heart completely devoid of darkness. Darkness is half of everything. Light and Dark are two sides of the same coin, you can’t have one without the other, as you yourself earlier stated, Xehanort! The idea that the Princesses of Heart having hearts of the purest light meant that those hearts were “completely devoid of darkness” was never a good one, as it breaks the rules of canon and makes the Princesses out to be abominations. And for another thing, Organization XIII ended up being able to construct their own Kingdom Hearts for their own way to the sacred domain of all hearts just by ensnaring hearts liberated by the Keyblade in some void of Darkness that led to their world in the Realm Between, so clearly the keyblade of heart isn’t always the only way.

I have uncovered the Keyblade's ultimate mystery. You see, besides the three families of Keyblades, there is another "Key Blade." While it may sound the same when spoken, it is notated uniquely: "X-Blade." And make no mistake, while it resembles a normal Keyblade, it is something altogether. Different Keyblades are said to be man-made counterparts to Kingdom Hearts. The X-Blade, however, coexists with Kingdom Hearts. It is only forged when two hearts of equal power intersect—one heart of pure darkness, one heart of pure light. At the time of its forging, Kingdom Hearts appears. 

I bolded the important part. If Xehanort KNEW that the original X-Blade had broken into 20 pieces - 7 of light, 13 of darkness - and so the “correct” way to forge the X-Blade now is for 7 hearts of light and 13 hearts of darkness to clash, but only “acted rashly” in the events of BBS, then why would he write this? Why wouldn’t he amend this to make clear that it’s not just ONE heart of pure darkness and ONE heart of pure light that’s needed to forge the blade anymore? Does anyone else smell a blatant contrived retcon here, ‘cause I sure do! 

It must be noted, though, that this Kingdom Hearts is special. Unlike the Kingdoms brought about forcibly and artificially through the collection of hearts, THIS Kingdom Hearts is a perfect and complete union of ALL the World’s hearts. Surely it was over this that the ancient Keyblade War was fought. If so, the walls that divide the worlds today are of little consequence. With the X-Blade, all their hearts could be instantly reunited—and the Keyblade War, refought.

Bolded the important part again. He says it clearly here: X-Blade comes first, Keyblade War follows. NOT the other way around like KH3 suddenly has Xehanort making it out to be. 

My brother pupil Eraqus thinks only in absolutes. He has persuaded himself that light is the only way, but forgets that light cannot exist without shadow. I believe a balance of light and darkness is what sustains our World, but too much of the darkness has been stamped out, disrupting that balance. Someone must tear down this tyranny of light and reorganize the World around the darkness which then creeps back in.

Xehanort in BBS: The World doesn’t have enough darkness to counterbalance the light! Too much of it has been stamped out! I must tear down this tyranny of light and reorganize the World around darkness that shall be everlasting and keeping the World in balance!

Xehanort in KH3: The World was lain to ruin because of too much darkness! The light of Kingdom Hearts can give us a new start for a pure, bright empty World, and I can step up and lead this World to prevent weak hearts from polluting it with their darkness ever again! 

It doesn’t fit together, does it? IT JUST DONES’T FUCKING FIT TOGETHER!

Was my time drawing to an end, then, after all I had accomplished since casting away the place of my birth? Surely waiting for a quiet death would not do, not when there was still so much I needed to see for myself. Powers help me, I thought, my body is so old...

We Keyblade Masters have a special gift. We can extract a heart, be it our own or that of another. By continuing this cycle, it is possible to remain in the world of the living forever. As a boy, I dreamed of seeing the farthest reaches of the World. If I only went far enough, there had to be a world out there in which no one had ever before set foot. And now I know of just such a world. If I become the first to open Kingdom Hearts' door, I can create a Next World in which light and darkness exist in perfect equilibrium.So there I stood, with vast knowledge in one gnarled, dying hand, and newfound purpose in the other. The next step was clear: I needed a new vessel.

Both the above paragraphs explicate what Xehanort’s motives were for the plan to forge the X-Blade that he tried to pull off with Ventus and Vanitas, AND what his motives for his manipulations of Terra were. Then along comes 3D and renders both totally pointless. The Ventus and Vanitas plan ended up not mattering because one pure light heart VS one pure darkness heart wasn’t the true way of forging the X-Blade, and the Terra plan ended up not mattering because Xehanort could’ve just become a Heartless and created a Nobody while still within his own body and he’d come back whole as himself anyway, ready to embark on his plans the correct way if he’d laid the groundwork well enough. So both of his goals wrapped into one intricate scheme and the motivations behind them in BBS? Didn’t matter.

Ventus's heart of pure light and Vanitas's heart of pure darkness... If both could be made strong enough to one day clash, I knew the X-Blade would be forged.

Yeah, you already know what the issue with this becomes later on. “I acted rashly.” Bullshit!

These are things that KH3 ended up contradicting, though even going by BBS, the bullshit in Xehanort’s reports don’t stop there:

Eraqus and I did not see eye to eye. 

NO SHIT, you didn’t! You outright announced to him that you sought to forge the X-Blade, start another Keyblade War, and allow the World to die in darkness so that you can then both witness the light of Kingdom Hearts and play God with it, and then you used dark power from your Keyblade to scar his face! This only gets more ridiculous when in his letter to Eraqus, Xehanort states “I did you terrible harm in the past over a petty difference in opinion.” Uh, a guy not wanting to allow you to start a universe-destroying war does not constitute “a petty difference in opinion.” “Opinion” doesn’t factor into not wanting to allow mass-murder.

But Vanitas took too much of Ventus's heart, and from that fracture, I could see the last of Ventus's light was slipping away. The boy deserved a place to spend his final moments peacefully. And what should come to mind but my own boyhood home.My legs took me there unbidden, and as I stood there on the same beach where I had made my choice so many years ago, I thought: not a single thing has changed. Here, in this quiet world, time marches in place. Content that Ventus would find peace here, I started to walk away—but just then, the boy held up his Keyblade. The light within him had not died.

I think this was Nomura’s one attempt to give Xehanort redeemable features, to contextualize his first scene in the game as a Pet the Dog moment. The problem is that it chronologically follows a moment of despicable abuse and torture of Ventus by Xehanort, who was cruel to him, kicked him while he was down, and called him a “feckless neophyte”, and that it still doesn’t read like a mitigating factor when you read about what Xehanort thinks of his old home world. He loathes the place, likening it to a prison. So he’s throwing Ven out like garbage...in a place that he considers to be garbage. 

“Final peace” is just a flimsy excuse. So flimsy that it makes one question why it’s an excuse that even needed to be made at all.

Of course, since I needed a place where the boy's light might flourish, the answer was obvious: Eraqus, and his absolutes. Considering how we had parted ways, I expected friction—but if anything, Eraqus seemed delighted to see me again. 

Sadly, this is one thing that KH3 keeps consistent. Eraqus is an easily forgiving pussy.

I, meanwhile, will not be so forgiving about how Nomura mutilated Xehanort’s character. The reason I can easily embrace BBS Master Xehanort (aside from him being well handled, well executed, fun to watch, and voiced brilliantly by Leonard Nimoy in English) is because his character is not irreconcilable with Xehanort of the original Trinity. Whereas the reason I shun 3D and KH3 Master Xehanort is because not only is he irreconcilable with original Trinity Xehanort, but as I’ve proven here, he’s irreconcilable with BBS Master Xehanort as well. 

[1358456]

Review Response, May 19 - 25, 2019

Another week!

Heart #001

1) I love moon's character she seems so shy but will probably kill you if angry it's great!

I wouldn’t say that she’s shy, but more like... well, not overly social? And yes, if she’s mad... hehehe...

Heart #003

1) I had so many things going through my mind while reading is. The first thing was how I compared it with my writing. I can’t help but do that.

I love the way you describe things here and especially how you write Platinum. Go platinum go!

Pearl’s mental anguish is so amusing and this is a good way to use very detailed descriptions. Since Pearl is the one who hyper focuses on Platinum it gives the reader a great image of what Pearl sees, feels and how he views her.

Great reaction from our boy and from our ignorant Platinum. Hahaha Even if she catches him blushing. Shel thinks he caught a cold or something. XD

Wait so he and Dia are competing for Platinum’s affection?! I don’t want their amazing brotherly friendship to get ruined though.

I bet if they ask Platinum who of the two she prefers she will answer both of them are equally important to her.

Nicely done Nicole. If the King was every interested in the work of us mongrels he would agree.

Hehe. I sometimes do that too. Hehe...

I love my Platinum! I pay extra attention and put in extra effort in what she says and what she does. Ehe...

Oh, Pearl. He suffered SO badly in this chapter... But at least he had a very good time, even if he was teased so badly.

Poor oblivious Platinum... so smart, yet so inexperienced and clueless... It’s so cute, though. Max level friend-zoner, this one. “Oh? You appear to be flustered. Is something wrong?” Ah...

People wanted Diamond vs. Pearl. Then people kind of... vanished, so I don’t know what the readers want anymore.

If they ask her that question, she will pick both because she doesn’t understand what that question means. “You two are both my irreplaceable friends!” Double friend zone!

... All... hail... the glorious golden boy...

Heart #004

1) Pearl that's... very devious. But also very clever. But still very devious... Is this gonna be what's gonna tear Diamond and Pearl apart? Because I don't think my poor "heart" (heh) could take that...

Junior Quartet interactions are as cute as ever~ I remember some of this from your short story on tumblr. Poor Y, though I must admit it's pretty satisfying to see White get her revenge, given that she's usually the butt of the joke. Also Platinum dancing at the beginning was too cute...

Now, I wonder, will Diamond have the courage to initiate a conversation about romance with her, or will Platinum need a push from her friends to help figure it out...?

Diamond won’t be happy to see Pearl appearing in the villa all of a sudden. He will see that as sabotage. And poor Platinum will notice the tension, but not understand why.

Hehe. This was mostly in Short Story - The Feast. ... Or should I say, most of that is in this chapter. Hehe. Good old victim White. This time, she gets her revenge!

Diamond probably won’t be initiating such conversation. He seems more like the type to slowly ease his way into her heart, by simply being with her and making her happy. Pearl, on the other hand...

Legacy #002

1) Now that I finally have a day of free time, I'm back to reading this! And... I think this is my favourite chapter so far. I'm a huge sucker for fun interactions and stories involving camping together for some reason.

I really like how Red and Blue actually feel like seniors to their juniors in your stories. A lot of the other fics I've read have them act like they're the same age as the rest of the dexholders (how do you do, fellow kids?) which is just weird and kinda uncomfortable when you consider that they're like 30 in canon now. But in this, they both feel older and more responsible while still retaining their fun personalities and interactions with the others.

More foreshadowing(?) with Y's Zwelious... hmm. I loved the scene between her and Black (a rare duo!), and the rising conflict with her and Blue. Given how torn up Blue is about her feelings for Red, I can't imagine it'll be long until Platinum notices as well, given how smart she is. It makes a lot of sense that Blue would be unwilling to talk about her problems with anybody, given her life of solidarity. She's so used to being on her own that opening up must feel impossible for her, and I hope she gets the chance to learn that everybody needs support from time to time in the future.

... This review is kind of all over the place. I really, really enjoyed this chapter, is what I'm getting at.

It’s always fun to write about friendly camping that does not have any tragedy happening. Pure fun stuff!

Red and Blue are... I think I said 25 in Legacy. I crunched up the age gap between Emerald and the Sinnoh cast, so that puts Platinum at 18? But yeah, they should be behaving much more older than the juniors. Mental maturity and all that. They will have their old traits, but mellowed down a bit. So Red won’t be stupidly reckless, and be much more considerate towards the juniors.

More foreshadowing with Y’s potentially uber-aggressive Dragons. Yep. And Y hanging out with Black is definitely a new one, with more interaction options available. I should explore more of them. And oh, Blue... But this is the time for her to receive the warmth and care that she always longed for! Isn’t that sweeeet?? Hehe...

I really enjoy your reviews, Egg! Same for MelBar’s Destiny reviews, though those haven’t continued yet :( I look forward to seeing more!

Legacy #003

1) It's kind of funny seeing Platinum giving romance advice to Blue, given her own naivety towards Diamond's (and now Pearl's) feeling towards her. Still, it's really good advice, but I can't help but worry that this confession might not go exactly as planned... "Sorry Blue, I don't like you in that way."

I think I said this last chapter but damn the junior trio interactions are cute. I love the fact that they're clearly quite close, yet both Y and White are slightly terrified of Platinum when she's angry (cold Platinum is just the best~). Also White and Y's tendency to bug each other is super cute.

And Platinum appears to be the one in danger. I'm excited. But also nervous. Excited because this means cool action scenes are coming up (flash freeze 'em), but nervous because... Platinum's probably going to suffer quite a bit. The pain of being the author's favourite... And Moon's a target too, huh? Wonder how she'll fair. And if Sun will get every bone in his body broken as collateral damage.

This is an interesting set up. Will the villains use Moon's loyalty to Platinum against her in some way? Will Rotomdex manage to escape just by annoying the crap out of the villains? And I have a feeling that the Sinnoh trio isn't going to get to meet up...

Ah, this review is far too long and ramble-y. I think I also said this last chapter but Legacy is quickly becoming my favourite story of yours. Keep it up!

Yes, of all the people, it’s Platinum to do it. How ironic, isn’t it? Heh. Well, I think she’d be more oblivious about those in love with her, but she’d know how to offer advice to others? It’s... a bit weird, yeah. But still very sweet of her, isn’t it? ... Oh, if the confession fails... oh dear...

Hehe. Love the Junior Trio/Quartet! ... Soon going to be not called “Junior” Trio/Quartet, but hey. White and Y are definitely close to Platinum, but will still get intimidated when she’s angry. Because never anger the ice queen! Hehe. “She’ll turn you into a popsicle if you anger her!” But while White and Y are afraid of Platinum, they are not afraid of each other, and will try to one-up one another and sh*ttalk when possible. Heh. Like true buddies!

Oh, be on the lookout for real cool action scenes with Platinum in the future. Ah... yes. The balance of screentime vs. well-being. Favorites get more screentime and thus suffer more for it! :( And yes, Moon is also a target. But will Sun also suffer? ... Well, it’s Sun. He’ll suffer no matter what he’s doing.

Freaking Rotom Dex and its incessant rambling... At least the villains will have a way of muting that damn thing.

Ehehe... thanks! I look forward to seeing more from you!

Legacy #007

1) Dang. That research team was brutal. I wonder if they're the same people who kidnapped Platinum and Y earlier. More plot is revealed as they took the Rotom pokedex so I wonder what they need with it. Also, I wonder how on Earth that Sun, Moon, and Lillie will survive a burning building and already having their bodies be on fire. If they survive, they can sure take a beating. Then again, as I've seen in all your stories, ALL of the dex holders can take a massive beating and still live.

Hey, you’re back! I think you missed out on Heart so I thought... hm.

Nah, they’re not the same people who kidnapped Platinum and Y. Different teams! Behold the manpower of Team ... well... let’s leave that blank for now. Team Blank!

The Rotom Dex was taken to study the Rotom-to-device interface. It was stated in an earlier chapter. Now, what do they need this for? ... I think it’s possible to piece it together from the loose hints provided, but... let’s also leave that blank for now.

Oh, the boy that was burned was not Sun. Local boy with a box of malasada. Sun is not local to Alola, and doesn’t look like a local, thanks to skin color. Now then. Who would have a box of malasada of all things? Hehe...

And I have said at one point that in order to survive a beating that bad, you’d have to be in the top 5 of my Preference List. Moon is in the top 5. Lillie is not. And the “local boy” is also not. So... ... And I also said that Moon will be set on fire, which burns off her existing attire, thus she gets a new one to match the attire overhaul I gave her. So... the “prophecy” has come true!

Destiny #001

1) So, I started with Destiny like you suggested. And so far, it's been great! And ho boi, there are 45 chapters, but honestly with your work, the more the better. It seems like you put a lot of time and effort into this story, and for that alone I applaud you. Again, grammar is on point, and it is easy to understand what Blue is going through. When one looks, one realizes that all aspects of Blue's life right now is completely shitty. From the berries to the loneliness. You did really excellently with handling that in my opinion. It was just so that one really understood what was happening, but it wasn't forced onto the reader either. Well, I guess in some ways it was, but not in bad ways. It was in a good way, trust me. Onto the plot itself! I must say I am very curious about this newcomer. Peter was his name? Quite plain compared to the rest of the names in the series (tho then again you have names like Daisy and Bill so I guess that's not true). Could he be faking his persona? A plain name, a pleasing personality, randomly saves Blue, and has strong shiny pokémon? I'm not sure whether to trust this guy or not. But I'll set aside my suspicions for once and trust him for now. For now. In any case, I'm really hoping that the other dexholders reach out to Blue, I mean really hoping. I've started praying even. I mean, this poor girl is so lonely and she has such a good heart. In any case, it was a hoy to read and review your pieces! And I greatly appreciate you taking the time and effort (kek I already said that earlier) to write this. Thank youuuuuuuuu!

Hehehe. You certainly have a lot of Destiny chapters to read! I look forward to seeing your reviews! ... Do continue them, please?? :)

Yes, Blue starts off on a very, very low point in her life. Now it’s up to the other Dex Holders to try to lead her to a brighter life!

Ah, “Peter”... a name created from the real life friend who was the inspiration of that character. His ID at the time had “PT” in it, and the first name that came to mind with both “p” and “t” in it was “Peter”, so... there it is. Heh. And I like the simple normal sounding names. Not like... “Officer Bobemon” from the Battle Subway, I think? ... Sheesh. And strong shiny stuff. RNG! RNG!

I greatly look forward to seeing your Destiny progress~! :)

SR #020

1) You should make an alternative ending to sr #20 where they don’t succeed in tricking blue

What was SR #020... oh, Mass Revenge? Ah, that secret camera trick/prank thingy. But where they don’t succeed? Aww. Where’s the fun in that? Hehe...

[3laxx]

Wind update 3

A few things do have to be talked about.

In other words, the lore I came up with for the Air Series universe. Again, yes, I can't take season 2 into consideration. The canon is different now and while I'll still watch it, I'll still go along with the story I made up. I know that season 2 gave us different backstories already and I know my fanfiction doesn't quite catch up. But if I used the season 2 input it would get too unpredictable, I could write different things, plus the helping Miraculous would still remain temporary (which I don't want) and I wouldn't get to the outcome I want to have in later parts of this series. So, just, please bear with me? ':D I'm watching the season 2 lore, I'm having my thoughts on it and I'm always open to conversations about it, I got my tumblr name beneath the new chapters and my inbox as well as Private Messaging is open. Just like on Fanfiction.net, Instagram and Twitter. There's also still the Discord server that I opened up last year. If you wanna know a bit more about my theories or what I think about season 2 just hmu! But yeah, I won't take season 2 into the Air Series anymore. It's become too different and I got an outline for the Air Series in my head. It's simply a different universe now, not to mention it plays 3 years after the canon series. Anyway, just to have that out of the way again, let's jump right into it! Enjoy~

Ao3 / FF.net

Over half an hour later he finally arrived at Master Fu’s. Wayzz smiled and nodded as Nino reached for the door and looked down to search for assurance from his new friend.

“He already expects you.”

Nino smiled and opened the door, feeling weird not to knock, but Wayzz flew out of his jacket as he closed the door behind him, already heading towards the person inside. An old man waited for him sitting cross-legged on a pillow on the floor, smiling gently.

“Come inside, young man.”, he said in a warm voice, gesturing towards the other side of the table to the pillow that laid there.

“Hello, Master Fu.”

Nino just nodded as Wayzz settled down on the table in front of the old man and started chatting with him, sitting down on the pillow. Instead of listening to the two of them he looked around, taking in the room.

It was really nice, Nino noticed. Traditionally for Chinese culture there were no chairs and the room was decorated with all kinds of flower patterns, a few similar to Marinette’s shirt.

Secretly, Nino smiled to himself.

He was both excited and scared for what his new life would bring, but he was sure he could handle it. At least, both Marinette and Adrien had managed. And being a superhero must be dangerous and stressful but surely amazing as well.

“So, Carapace.”, the old man turned to him, bringing him back from his thoughts, “I am Master Fu and I will be your mentor until either you are ready or I will die.”

Master Fu bowed with a mischievous smirk on his face.

“Wh-What?”

“That was a joke, young one. I will still live a while, don’t fret. Anyways, Carapace, you are now the Turtle Miraculous wielder. We have much to discuss and I have much to teach you before you can fulfill your duty.”

Nino let out a relieved breath before he answered.

“Yes. And you were the wielder before me?”

“That is very true, my friend. You must know, as a first, that the Turtle Miraculous is constantly activated. One wielder must always look over all Miraculous or otherwise they will fall into the wrong hands or could be forgotten over the time.”

“That means, when I’m older I have to choose the next Miraculous wielder for the Turtle?”

Master Fu nodded while smiling warmly, grabbing a tea pot.

“Tea?”

“Um… Yes, thank you very much.”, Nino moved the tea cup in front of him towards Master Fu, “So, I am the new Turtle Miraculous wielder and I know that there are the Ladybug, the Black Cat and the Butterfly. Are there others? And are they all… ‘Guardians’, as you said?”

Master Fu gave Nino back his filled tea cup and he nodded again.

“There are the Ladybug and the Black Cat as the yin and the yang. These are the key Miraculous. Additionally, there are five more Miraculous, called the guardians.”

“Which animals do they represent, besides the Turtle and the Butterfly?”

“There are the Fox, the Bee and the Peacock left. And these Miraculous can build pairs too, just like the Ladybug and the Black Cat.”

Nino tilted his head and scrunched together his eyebrows.

“What, pairs? How can they when they’re five? And what pairs?”

“Easy there, young one.”, Master Fu smirked again and the boy laughed.

“I’m sorry, Master Fu.”

“If you call me Master that will be alright. And yes, the pairs. As the Ladybug stands for good luck and the Black Cat for bad luck, the other Miraculous stand for traits too, good ones as well as bad ones. Your partner as the Turtle wielder is the Butterfly Miraculous.”

Instantly, Nino’s eyes shot open, slowly beginning to shake his head.

“Hawkmoth?! Hawkmoth is my partner?!”

Master Fu smiled reassuringly, making a calming gesture towards the pale boy.

“The Butterfly Miraculous is your partner, not necessarily Hawkmoth as a human. The Turtle stands for steadiness and the Butterfly for change. Do you see it now?”

He nodded relieved, sipping on his tea.

“Okay, that’s understandable. Which are the other pairs?”

“The other pair is the Fox and the Peacock, the Fox standing for illusions and the Peacock standing for the truth. The Bee Miraculous has no partner.”

Nino leant forward, eyeing Master Fu suspiciously.

“The Bee has no partner? Well, what does the Bee stand for?”

Suddenly, Master Fu looked rather sad, probably remembering something in the past.

“The Bee stands for loyalty and vitality.”

He nodded, clenching his teeth.

“So, the opposite and partner for the Bee is-… Betrayal and Death?”

Master Fu suddenly smiled and drank his tea.

“Well, that shall be another lesson. Do you have any other questions?”

The boy decided that he would wait until it would be needed. He took another sip of his tea, thinking about what Wayzz had told him earlier. He had mentioned that Nino would get to know why he was chosen.

“So, Master, why did you get me for the next wielder? You could’ve gotten anyone, so why am I this one special person who was selected?”

“Ah, that is a very good question, young one. I had noticed you earlier on, even before the incident with Miss Fortune. You know now that the Turtle Miraculous stands for steadiness and you must be asking yourself in which situation you’ve proved that.”

“Well, I’m well off on my own two feet and-…”

“That is not a physical question.”, Master Fu grinned at Nino who was quick to rub the back of his head, “It is a trait that you have. Being a tower of strength, so to say. You and I know very well that you don’t exactly are what you’d expect the Miraculous of steadiness to require. A wielder who is prudent and calm, a man of his word and responsibilities.”

The boy laughed nervously but Master Fu continued without hesitating.

“I am not saying that you are a bad person just because you don’t take school that seriously although you are graduating. Or that you are rather choosing to pursue your hobbies in the hopes of being successful in this department rather than playing it safe and trying to get an apprenticeship. I am saying that you maybe need some, let’s say… Balance in your life.”

Nino tilted his head curiously, not really understanding where Master Fu was going with this.

“But-… Wayzz said earlier that I both need and fulfill the Miraculous. So, I know that I’m not the steadiest guy. What did I do to deserve the Turtle Miraculous?”

At this, Master Fu set down his tea cup and suddenly got very serious. Nino gulped but forced himself to hold the gaze of the old man’s dark brown eyes.

“I’ve been paying attention to you while your friend Ladybug had a hard time. She was depressed, helpless and desperate because of her hopeless situation. And you stayed with her. Of course, you were grieving because you as well thought her akumatized form had killed Ladybug, but you stood up for her regardless and tried your best to protect her from the wrath of her classmates, especially the mayor’s daughter. As you already know from Wayzz, you are the wielder of the Turtle which stands for the protection of the other Miraculous. You proved both steadiness and protection skills while Ladybug needed it the most. She didn’t quite realize it, which is understandable because of her condition at that moment, but you still were by her side. And you took the sword Hawkmoth had meant for Chat Noir. You threw yourself between the two to protect someone you didn’t know to be your best friend yet. You barely knew Chat Noir other than the superhero who kept Paris safe. And yet, you protected him with your life. That was the most striking action for me to choose you as my successor.”

Nino nodded, feeling stiff after what Master Fu had told him about the time he tried to be by Mari’s side. He always thought he hadn’t been there for her enough although she constantly had tried to make him feel otherwise. Seems like he really had been wrong.

“So, I-… I really both earned and need the Turtle Miraculous?”, he asked quietly, his voice shaking.

“That you did and do, young one. I am very proud of you and I am sure you will fulfill your duty with all skills that are needed.”

“And my duty is to protect the key Miraculous?”

“As well as the other Guardians and the Zodiacs, yes.”

“The Zodiacs?”, Nino questioned, tilting his head as the old man chuckled.

“Lesser Miraculous than the Guardians, 12 of these. They are minor Miraculous and not usually needed.”

Nino looked up and nodded.

“Ah, okay… Yeah, of course, Wayzz said so before. I mean the protecting thing. So, I’ll have to protect the Butterfly Miraculous too, but… How? Hawkmoth has it.”

“There will be the time to defeat Hawkmoth and bring back the Butterfly Miraculous to its rightful place. And to be honest, I am hoping that you will be able to bring back the Butterfly Miraculous because it is your partner, after all. Maybe, Wayzz being able to transform again will make the job easier to free Nooroo, the Butterfly’s Kwami.”

The boy looked into his cup of tea, eyeing the brown liquid that slowly cooled down.

“… I understand.”, he murmured, suddenly feeling very weird about the responsibilities that came with being a superhero. Master Fu stood up, smiling and put a hand on Nino’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. You will be just fine, after all, you got friends to lead the way. You already learned from them how to keep an identity a secret and I am sure that you will do just as skillful as those two.”

Nino flinched at the mention of a secret identity, deciding to ask about that as well.

“So, I have to keep my identity a secret like they did for four entire years?”

“Yes, I would advise it to you. Well, it might not be four years, it might be longer, it might be never. After all, maybe you want them to trust you as a hero as well before they know that you are their best friend.”

Nino nodded again, lowering his head.

“Yes, yeah… You’re right, of course.”

Master Fu kneeled next to him and slightly squeezed his shoulder.

“See it like this, you have a mentor to teach you. They did not, they had to learn it all by themselves. With the help of their Kwami, but Tikki and Plagg are doing this for thousands of years by now, as do all the other Kwami, so they sometimes forget what’s obvious to them.”

Nino grinned.

“Thanks Master.”

Master Fu smiled too, getting the tea pot and standing up.

“Well, do you need to know anything else? Oh, of course, one of the most important things.”, he went over to his gramophone and pressed buttons Nino hadn’t seen before.

“What is this, Master Fu?”, he stood up and carefully neared the old man, unsure whether he was allowed to look.

“Come here, young one. These-”, he stepped aside for Nino to get a closer look at what was hiding inside his gramophone, “... Are the Miraculous. Well, a few of them at least. It is mostly the box that contains them when they are not activated.”

The boy’s eyes widened as he saw the brown box that was opened up. There was a yin and yang in the middle, both empty. He assumed it were the sections for the Ladybug and the Black Cat Miraculous. They were in the middle while around them, there were five more sections, each for one Miraculous of the guardians.

“The Fox and the Bee are the ones that are left as you see. The Butterfly has Hawkmoth, the Turtle you and the Ladybug and the Black Cat are activated as well.”

Nino scrunched together his eyebrows and pointed to the blue section that was empty too.

“What’s this one?”

Master Fu’s shoulders slumped.

“Ah, yes. The Peacock Miraculous. It went missing after something… Something bad happened to its wielder.”

“I understand… So, the Fox and the Bee are left. Will they be given out to someone while I’m the Turtle Miraculous wielder?”

“Most likely, actually, for this is a job for a lifetime, at least for you.”

He laughed and rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh, yeah, right. So, when will I be able to join Ladybug and Chat Noir?”

“Your time will come soon enough. But for now, we have to discuss a few other things. Come here, sit down again. Your new life will be dangerous and it will bring you to your limits even before you’ll start fighting.”

Nino gulped as Master Fu led him to the pillow again after letting the box vanish into the gramophone, giving him some more tea, probably to calm him.

Late into the afternoon the boy finally got home, completely exhausted.

“Woah Wayzz, Master Fu sure is being ambitious with me.”

“He has to be, young Nino. He doesn’t want you to have any problems with your new responsibilities.”, his Kwami tried to soothe him by stroking his short brown hair.

“Yeah, I know… I’m grateful, don’t worry. It’s just… Everything is just going so fast.”

They both sighed and Wayzz nestled himself into Nino’s hair. He felt the tiny Turtle shell press against the top of his head and couldn’t help himself but smile.

“Wayzz?”, the boy asked, his voice slow and careful.

The Kwami perked up at his name, humming gently as he stretched on Nino’s hair.

“Yes, young Nino?”

He took time to phrase the question right, struggling with himself to get the right words out.

“What-… What if I’m not the right one for the job? I mean… Sure, I was chosen and all that but… What if I’m just not…”

His hand once again wandered up to his chest, stroking over the soft bump of his remaining scar.

“Maybe just because of that.”, Wayzz replied, reading his thoughts. The little Kwami got up and floated off of Nino’s head, to make eye contact with the boy as he lowered himself down to his hand that was on his chest.

“But-… I mean…”

Wayzz nodded, his eyes serious.

“Nino, you’d give everything for your friends. For your family, every single stranger and even for your enemies. You’re a guardian, a perfect wielder for the turtle Miraculous. Master Fu himself was surprised at the power of your actions, to jump between your friends and the sword. And yet-”, he stroked Nino’s thumb, “You’ve never wasted a thought to take revenge on Hawkmoth other than wanting to see him behind bars, paying for his crimes. Healthy and well but punished. You are the ideal protector. Did you know Chat Noir wants to see Hawkmoth dead for what he did to Ladybug?”

Nino’s eyes widened as he heard what the Kwami said.

“Wait, so you’re saying Adrien wants to kill Hawkmoth?!”

The small, green Kwami shrugged to this, his eyes averted as he leant back.

“He can’t help it. Destruction requires wrath and despite the calm nature of your friend, he still wields the Miraculous of destruction. And since he’s a key Miraculous holder, his soul and mind are molten with the Miraculous’ traits. It’s a perfect Yin and Yang. He’s just as much an equality in himself as his powers are to his partner’s.”

Nino slowly hummed, still brushing over the scar as he looked up to the ceiling, letting his thoughts flow freely.

“So that means Marinette is the exact opposite to Adrien?”

“Ladybug’s character is, in contrary to Chat Noir’s, a little brash and careless, as well as impulsive and intuitive. The Miraculous has awoken her rationality and logic, her calmness in fights as well as her ability to put mind above heart but always acknowledge the morally right thing to do.”

“And I have an opposite, too, right? Master Fu said my partner is the butterfly.”

“Ah, yes.”, Wayzz answered, a little lost in thoughts, “In contrary to the turtle’s steadiness stands the constantly changing, multifaceted butterfly. Your own traits are a little lightheaded carelessness while the turtle awoke the responsibility within you. The butterfly’s wielder should be the exact opposite but as it seems, Hawkmoth is not. He is not a chosen and thus, cannot use the full span of Nooroo’s powers. Master Fu and I have monitored and analyzed his Akumas and tactics for a year now and this is definitely not all the butterfly can provide. Perhaps a reason why Hawkmoth wants the two key Miraculous, despite combining them for the ultimate power.”

With a surprised expression, Nino looked down to the Kwami again and furrowed his eyebrows.

“Wait, so you’re telling me the butterfly is not at its full power?!”

“Yes, Hawkmoth is not a chosen but it is possible for humans who aren’t chosen by any Zodiac, Guardian or Key to wield a Zodiac freely and a Guardian with limits. Those who are not chosen cannot access the full power of a Miraculous, or wield a Key Miraculous. That is why he can only seldomly transform twice the same day, but mostly needs a day break between his transformations. Chosen can transform as they wish, as long as their Kwami is charged.”

The boy leant back again, dumbfounded.

“So the butterfly is not even at its full power…”

Wayzz shrugged.

“The Key Miraculous are not significantly stronger than the Guardians. Sure, they have a few more features, a little more power and they require the wielder to withstand more energy, plus they’re the oldest known Miraculous. But you remember how comparably quickly Chat Noir was at defeating an Akuma when Ladybug wasn’t around?”

“Comparably quickly?”, Nino snorted.

“He didn’t take days to take one down. And yes, while the quantity wore him down, he still defeated most Akumas within an hour, a lot even under half an hour. And while the fights were hard, once Chat Noir had noticed a villains fighting technique and had gotten used to their unique powers, he was able to locate and destroy the akumatized object fairly fast. And that is just Chat Noir alone, driven by nothing but incredible loss, despair, anger and sheer willpower. Together with Ladybug they have only had a few exceptions where the Akuma was good enough at fleeing to let the fight take more than a few minutes. If the butterfly had all the power the wielder could use, it would surely look a little different. The Key Miraculous combined would need as much time as Chat Noir needed during spring and one Key wielder alone would still win. But barely.”

They remained silent for a few minutes before the boy spoke up again, his voice breaking and quiet.

“Do-… Do Adrien and Marinette know that…?”

“Master Fu has informed them, yes.”

“Phew, okay…”, the boy sighed relieved.