#imperials don't get enough attention

[euphoria-looney]

Who Said Money Can't Buy You Happiness?

Yan! Batfam x Princess!Reader

Special

"Mother said be good, father said be nice. That was always their advice. So be nice, [name], good, [name]. Nice, good, good nice (tighter!). What's the good of being good if everyone is blind. Always leaving you behind." Prologue: Into the Woods.

(I needed the full thing in it)

Divider Creds: @selysie and @anitalenia

This plot was inspired by @niwaart and @mimiiiiiiiiisstuff

Life is not fair, and while the rich eat like pigs the poor people eat scraps and still are charged no matter if they can afford it or not.

As a princess, I understood that.

I am labeled as the defective princess, the Imperial Princess of Gotham, [name] Wayne.

While all my siblings were intelligent and had strength, talent, and power that upstaged most people, I had none of that, I wasn't smart, actually, I was a complete dunce. I had no strength to my name and was disgracefully unable to use my magic, but I knew I had some...

I had to. Right?

My talent, probably being an embarrassment to my family name.

My mother, she also glanced at me with disgust, she made sure if I wasn't able to do anything useful I'll at least have etiquette while being useless.

I admired my mother, she was beautiful, graceful, sharp, and always upheld her image.

She sneers at me when I mess up, which is all the time, but we don't talk about that.

Oh gosh, and my siblings they were all so amazing.

Barbara held the same personality as our mother, she rose the social class fast. Too bad she doesn't talk to me, I think she would be a great person to take an example from!

Stephanie and Cassandra tagged behind Barbara. They were like those cool trios in the books.

Yes, I read books, but they don't count since they are all novels.

Damian berates me on the fact that I'm nothing like them, but it just shows he cares, doesn't it?

Dick will he coaches Damian he's the #1 Knight of our kingdom and woman all over swoon over him, he talks to me... sometimes.

Duke, well he's a gentleman we don't talk but he's nice enough to greet me.

Jason, well like those novels he'd be titled the 'bad boy' and it does in fact charm lots and lots of ladies.

Tim, it impresses me every time at how smart he is. Maybe that's why we don't have many conversations because I'm not on his level.

And my father, well, it's okay. He's the emperor of course he's busy, I can't ask for attention that would be so childish!

It's of course upsetting when they all hang out without me, but they're just letting me have more time to myself to read! If you think about it they just care about me.

I remember we went to an event, and I was alone and no one talked to me, but it's fine, that's when I met the love of my life, he was like a prince charming, I bumped into him and he caught me before I hit the floor, I swear I fell right then.

Connor Kent.

Then I found out he was in fact a prince! And I got lucky and arranged a marriage with him, he didn't seem as static, but it's okay, arranged marriages usually don't last anyway...

I don't know what took over me, but when they found this orphaned girl one day, out of nowhere, they adopted her, and that's when my life changed.

Serena.

It wasn't fair how she was the apple of everyone's eyes.

She was also clumsy and dumb, she didn't know how to use magic, just like me, but there was a fine line between us. For one I know etiquette and for two, I'm of royal blood.

But instead of also disliking her they doted on her. I let it go until Connor also started being attracted to her. I was enraged.

But kept to myself. I started writing things I felt like doing those things to her. Then slowly I started doing said things. But they were harmless! Mostly...

I always ended up getting caught every single time though.

I still did them though, I don't know I just felt like it, and then I started having dreams of this weird world, about a girl.

Her name, was just like mine, [name] [last name], and she's so cool!

It started off showing what kind of woman she was, a CEO, doctor, lawyer, but mainly an entrepreneur, I didn't know a woman could be in those fields. Also, what are some of those things?

Then those dreams.

"What a bast-, I can't with this main character! Oh and don't even get me started on the family, who wrote this?! And a poly relationship for what? Just for her to focus on one guy? That's it I'm balding. The only character I like is [name] but sometimes I wish she would just stand up for herself!"

Yes, for I found out she was just like me she also liked reading novels.

Her reactions to them were also quite funny, then one day I don't know why but I prayed to the Gods that I wanted to be just like her.

"Go hang yourself! Shitty ahh characters. Go suck a titty."

Okay, not exactly like her.

Then it was the next morning and the maids took a while to finally get me ready, I couldn't stand their murmuring about how terrible I was compared to Serena.

I wanted to rip my hair out when I heard her name.

Then I made an idiotic choice again, I shoved her while on the staircase.

Then my world went black before I woke up startled with NEW MEMORIES.

I had become [name] [last name].

But for some reason, I was smart, I knew how to manage her jobs…

5 years later

It's been, what, 5 years?

[name] was right to be cocky she had every right to be, I feel bad now that I stole her life.

[name] wherever you are I wish you the best.

I wanted to write this to show that both girls will get happy endings, and I rushed this because idk.

Anyway, thanks cuties for the interaction with my last post!

And again with the last post please give me constructive criticism!

Taglist -

@kittzu @charlenexoxo1 @bat1212 @silverklaus @sillysealsies

[sunderwight]

Thinking about SV demon culture as one struggling under the weight of imperialism, a violent ruling class with a might-makes-right mindset, and a lot of warfare.

I really don't like fics that imply that Luo Binghe's conquest of the demon realms just automatically improved living conditions there. I think both versions believed that they could conquer things, establish a new regime, and fix a lot of political issues in the process, I just don't think that would actually be the result of a violent takeover on the part of a cultural outsider with a patchy understanding of the actual multitude of demon cultures involved, whose only asset was an extreme capacity for physical violence and resilience against death.

Like, no wonder Bingge was always putting down uprisings and "rivals" for power -- a lot of his empire was probably actually being run by the demon wives or families of the demon wives he favored most, like Sha Hualing, or by preferred subordinates like Mobei Jun, who very probably pursued their own interests just as doggedly as they had prior to his rule. Only, this time they'd have been doing so with the added leverage of Luo Binghe's violence answering anyone who "rebelled" against "his" authority.

Demons in SV have myriad subtypes and subcultures. It seems really likely that a lot of them have been persecuted by others, that there are demon communities who have been subjugated, muscled out of ancestral homes, enslaved, wiped out, etc. This would probably even explain some "invasions" by demons into the human realm -- I'd imagine numerous cases across history of refugees being taken for (or described as) marauders by cultivation sects, or human communities unprepared or unwilling to deal fairly with visibly inhuman "monsters" and answering their approach with violence, or even displaced demons who did in fact become bandits and such in the fallout of various conflicts causing problems.

But there also would probably have been demons that succeeded in making their way in the human realm, and disguising what they were well enough that the sects never even knew. After all, most of the methods for alerting the sects to the presence of demons involve demons doing something violent (like the Skinner demon) or people seeing demons and going "ahhh!" about it. A demon or a family of demons uninterested in serial killing and only looking to get by and avoid the violence would likely not attract that kind of attention, just so long as they could pass as human too.

I do wonder if the reverse has ever happened as well. Human wars driving humans to seek refuge in the demon realms. It would conversely seem a lot more dangerous (demons are physically tougher than humans, and the demon realms are notoriously harsh), but in some cases it was probably like, well, life is hell already, at least the things trying to kill us in the demon realm are straightforward about it?

There are probably way more half-demons out there than just Luo Binghe, and even more demons with human ancestry or humans with demon ancestry. I wouldn't be surprised if demon ancestry actually played a roll in some humans being cultivation prodigies compared to others -- demons seem to have a natural physical power that most humans don't, and while their cultivation uses different energy, it would make sense of some aspects of things like a physical inclination to store, accrue, or manipulate energy in general could benefit even predominately human descendants of mixed blood.

But anyway, back to politics.

Tianlang Jun didn't seem to be a terribly proactive ruler either. Which on the one hand can be a good thing (he wasn't a tyrant, wasn't interested in waging wars or conquering others, didn't much care to throw his weight around), but someone was actually ruling in his absence. Conflicts were still happening, and being resolved. Tributes or taxes were still being paid to him, for him to live any kind of lavish lifestyle, which means they were being collected, rates were being determined, enforced, etc, which does beg the question of who was doing it. Not Zhuzhi Lang, certainly.

In Bingmei's time, the person actually running things is Shang Qinghua, which means also Mobei Jun is actually running things to some extent too. Shen Qingqiu loves demonic beasts but doesn't seem like he could care less about politics, and Luo Binghe only got this job in the first place because he was trying to impress him, and the post-canon extras would seem to indicate that they check out of the process as often as possible.

Mobei Jun and Shang Qinghua's rule probably makes things pretty hard for the southern demons who are traditionally loyal to the Heavenly Demons. I mean, apart from not being able to beat Luo Binghe in a fight, self-serving ambition would definitely be a motive for Mobei Jun to throw his lot in with him as soon as possible, right? "Give" the emperor your palace, your service, your resources, etc, and the emperor basically becomes Mobei's own tool to reinforce his sovereignty. In PIDW he even uses him to do that in a more immediate sense by bringing him to the fight with his uncle. In SV he decides Shang Qinghua is more suitable, which, symbolically, is even true. The cost of wielding Luo Binghe's authority is having to submit to it, but Shang Qinghua has elevated Mobei Jun even without that.

No wonder the southern demons couldn't get on Tianlang Jun's side fast enough when he reappeared. Given both Mobei Jun and Shang Qinghua's bias, the North has probably been running rampant with their own interests while the South gets hamstrung and dealt crumbs by comparison. Sha Hualing's clearly been trying to get on Luo Binghe's good side with minimal success ever since he got out of the Abyss. Unlike in PIDW, where she's a major player, here she's just an underling desperately playing catch-up and accidentally offending him all the time.

I wonder how that's impacting the complex arrangement of political alliances, cultures, and conflicts among the various factions in the demon realm. It'd probably be like if the remote and somewhat isolated North and Winterfell in ASOIAF/Game of Thrones suddenly became the new capital of the empire, and White Harbor became the main trade hub, while all the southern lords struggled to even get a foot in the door with the new king and kept pissing him off all the time. And every time they try to break free or rebel or kill him, it doesn't work and they get personally murdered by him. Meanwhile the northern lords are making off like bandits, with the current Lord Stark gay married to some inhuman warlock who does all his paperwork and somehow knows all your embarrassing secrets.

...That comparison got away from me. But I mean, it's kind of fascinating? A huge mess and likely miserable for a lot of demons, but still. The implications...

[merchen-aeravellae]

Little Princess

Part 1

Yandere Royal Family x Fake Princess!Reader

Warning: yandere, platonic yandere, possessiveness, potion It's my birthday and this is my gift for you, It's 11:59 but it's still my birthday, not edited, tomorrow I will edit it.

The empire is getting ready for the most important celebration of the year. The imperial family is decorating the palace with gold and silver decorations, and diamond gifts are the sensation of the moment. However, a room that has been accumulating dust for years will be the cause of all plans crumbling.

°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●°•○●

Yandere family is excited about the approaching date. Their little princess is reaching the age to debut in high society, and they cannot miss the opportunity to show you off to others.

Yandere family has all the servants decorating the castle, and they have the citizens decorating the village not that anyone is complaining. They have turned your birthday into the most important celebration of the year, always celebrating in grand style without skimping on expenses. You deserve the very best, and this year is no exception.

Yandere family is searching for you all over the castle to drag you along to find new dresses for the occasion. However, you are hiding in every possible place to avoid being found. You argue that you already have many dresses, but they don't care; they still want to buy you more.

Yandere family doesn't realize that you're hiding in the library where the history of the empire and the royal family is kept. You usually don't go there, or rather, you're not allowed to be there, which makes it the perfect place to avoid being sought out.

You tried to enter the room, but it seemed locked. However, you had been living in this palace long enough to learn how to open its doors without the need for a key. You quickly closed the door and pressed your ear against it, listening to several pairs of footsteps in the hallway. You didn't move from that spot until you stopped hearing them. You walked around, observing your surroundings; there were dozens of books everywhere, from the tables to the shelves.

You grab several books out of curiosity, but none capture your attention for long. That is until a series of books supported on the highest and furthest shelf from the others catches your eye it seems like they didn't want these books to be found. You use a nearby chair to reach them.

You read the title aloud, 'History and Genealogical Tree of the Imperial Family.' It's the first time you've read a book related to your family's history. Your curiosity overcame you, and you kept reading until you reached the part about your closest family members.

But it seemed that someone had made modifications to the book; someone had tried to cover up a name. You suppose it's yours since the person didn't do a good job, and you could still see some letters that you recognized as your own name. They had placed your sister's name over yours, and you didn't know the reason for that.

You continued reading to find the reason for this change, and finally, you reached the notes. A chill ran down your spine. In the notes, it was written about the true identity of your older sister and how someone else had been occupying her place for a long time. That person was you.

Yandere family doesn't understand your sudden change in personality; now you're thoughtful all the time, and they are sure you've been crying. Initially, they thought that the decorations and dresses were the cause of your sadness – not good enough or expensive enough for you. However, even after changing everything for something more luxurious, you remain the same.

Yandere family is desperate; they don't understand what's happening, searching far and wide without finding a logical reason. They press you until you can't take it anymore, and you confront them for having hidden the truth about your origins for so long.

Yandere family is surprised and horrified that you now know the truth. They waste no time in finding culprits: was it the servants, the guards, a family member? No matter who it was, their head will be displayed on a pike for the crime they committed.

Yandere family try to talk to you and explain the situation, but you refuse to listen. They are so desperate that they get on their knees to beg for your forgiveness, but not even that works to make you glance in their direction. It is at that moment that they devise a plan to uncover the truth and get rid of the culprit.

Yandere family quickly realized the truth; the forbidden library was unlocked, and it seemed like someone had been lurking around. A book that should have been burned long ago lay on the floor in a corner with all its pages crumpled.

Yandere family already have plans to remedy the situation, but they must act as soon as possible. A few days ago, you tried to escape, claiming that you need to find your biological family and seek answers to your questions. Your biological family may start praying that you never find them; if you do, your adoptive family won't hesitate to bury them alive in the depths of the earth so they never see the light of day again.

Yandere family have you locked in your room now, not wanting to take the risk of you trying to escape again, and this time succeeding. They sought out the most powerful witch in the empire to help them fix the situation. The solution is to make you believe it was all a dream. Initially confused, the witch provided them with a potion and detailed instructions on its usage.

Yandere family gave you the potion in one of your meals. They didn't want to do it, but they felt they had no other choice. At first, you refused to eat, but it didn't last long. Accustomed to having a full stomach, a single day of not ingesting anything made you feel sick. Your room was a mess, and you curled up in a corner. Your older sister tried to approach, but you quickly moved away as far as possible. She looked at you with sadness in her eyes, left the food on the bedside table, and left, locking the door behind her. You didn't take long to start eating.

Yandere family worried when you fell ill, even though they knew it was just the potion doing its work on your body and mind. You stayed in that state for days, and they took advantage of the time to remodel the library. They couldn't get rid of the book because it would be too suspicious, so they simply replaced it with a different one. The author who wrote the notes "disappeared" one night, and they never found them.

Yandere family were relieved when you woke up several days later, confused and unsure of the date. You were scared that your family acted as if nothing had happened. Your room was tidy, and the things you broke were arranged without a scratch. They told you that you fainted while trying on a dress for your celebration, and you hadn't woken up since then.

Yandere family know you won't stay still and will search for the family book in the library again, but this time, they are prepared.

You are confused when you read the book with the family tree; your name is alongside the rest of the royal family members, and the note about you taking the place of someone else is nowhere to be found. Was it all a dream? Everything felt so real; now, you don't know what is true and what is a lie.

Yandere family observe your behavior; you no longer reject them, but you also don't get too close to them. It's progress, and they know that sooner or later, you will come to them.

Yandere family are overjoyed when you apologize. At first, they acted confused, but when you explained that you had strange dreams, and that's why you acted strangely these past weeks, they "forgave you" and asked you to continue with the preparations for your birthday to proceed as usual.

Yandere family shed tears of joy and a bit of envy towards the other eyes watching you when they see you descending the grand staircase like an angel meeting its faithful devotees, blessing them with your presence.

Yandere family "They abandoned you, but we can protect you. The world is cruel, and our greatest desire is to safeguard your innocence."

[donat-senpai]

Yandere!Maomao X Reader X Yandere!Jinshi Please don't read this if you are uncomfortable with the yandere! tw: possessive behavior, eunuch-related themes, stupid funny youth ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶

Part two

It was nearing lunchtime. Maomao finally decided to take a break. She set the box down on the table, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, and glanced around in search of you. You were nearby, carefully arranging ingredients in their proper places. She wanted to call out to you to invite you to eat together, but she didn’t get the chance.

The front door swung open, and Jinshi glided in as gracefully as a butterfly, with his indispensable assistant at his side. To Maomao’s displeasure, the eunuch immediately captured your attention. You greeted the men politely, offering them a gentle smile. Maomao clenched her teeth so hard it felt like they might crack.

Maomao liked working in the pharmacy. She enjoyed handling medicines and having space for her poison experiments. She liked being useful, even though she rarely said so out loud. To her surprise, she also liked her apprentice. Curious and diligent, you had grown on her more than she cared to admit.

From the very beginning, you showed remarkable determination in your desire to learn her craft. Like her, you wanted to be useful to the imperial court. You wanted to ease Maomao’s workload, something you once admitted to her. You paid close attention to her every word, absorbing knowledge and striving to remember it for future use. Since you arrived at the palace, you had come a long way—transforming from a timid, frightened slave who couldn’t even write into a charming pharmacy assistant whom Maomao could already trust to manage a full day of work on your own. She was proud of you.

But, like any blossoming flower, you started attracting all sorts of insects.

Unfortunately, you weren’t only admired by Maomao. Lately, Jinshi had been visiting the pharmacy suspiciously often. At some point during your brief interactions, the eunuch-pervert (in Maomao’s one and only opinion, of course) had taken a liking to your delightful reactions. You were sweet and kind to him but didn’t swoon over his charm like every other girl (and not only girls) in the palace—excluding Maomao herself, who felt like vomiting every time he turned on his so-called charm.

He kept coming back again and again (though he could’ve easily assigned such trivial matters to any servant!) and flirted with you unbearably long—at least, as much as his status allowed (which, according to dear Maomao, was obscenely too much). Sometimes he grew bold enough to touch your shoulders or your hair (How dare he?), and—worst of all—he made you laugh. A lot.

Maomao snapped out of her thoughts and, deciding for now not to throw a book at the eunuch, smoothly slipped between the two of you, greeting the visitors in a (she tried) friendly manner.

“You’re here again, Lord Jinshi. Could it be that you’ve fallen ill? The sick are supposed to stay in bed and not get up.”

“Oh, not at all, dear Maomao. I’m here merely for a consultation,” Jinshi replied, ignoring the sly remark with his usual refined grace.

“With such burning enthusiasm for consultations, be careful—your manly virtue might awaken again,” Maomao fired back, choosing an especially sharp comment to jab at Jinshi and subtly remind you that he could never be a proper husband, so there was no point in even considering him as one.

“If that is fate’s will, then perhaps I’m destined for another purpose,” Jinshi responded lightly, as always unfazed by her mockery, casting a brief glance in your direction. Maomao’s eye almost twitched.

“But then you’d be dismissed from service. The entire harem would mourn such a loss. You’re of great value to us. If that ever happens, I’m ready to secretly prepare a special decoction just for you,” Maomao said with polite courtesy, omitting the fact that, instead of a decoction, she’d much rather put a hammer to good use. Perhaps to knock something else off the eunuch—like his head.

You watch their bickering closely. Your heart skips a beat with a sudden realization. You bring a hand to your mouth and whisper softly:

“Oh. They’re… madly in love with each other. How did I not see it sooner?”

Gaoshun, standing nearby, became an unwitting witness to your conclusion—and couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. He slowly turned his head, casting a shocked glance at you.

But you noticed nothing, too lost in your own fantasies.

Gaoshun let out a heavy sigh. These young people would drive him insane.

[depresssant]

The Villainess and The Madmen

It was just a dumb otome game that hooked you like a moth to a flame, and when you had completed the game, it was only natural for you to buy the sequel. So why... why are you now in the body of the villainess with people that suddenly don't want you dead? No. They want something much worse from you. And you don't think you'll be able to make it out of this hell.

Trigger Warnings: yandere, gore, death, murder, past child abuse, heavy childhood trauma, kidnapping, implied sa, and men. Please note that none of this warnings should be romanticized. They are simply for psychological horror. If you or someone you know experiences any symptoms similar to the men in this short story, run and seek help from a hotline or some designated organization.

Chapter One, Chapter Two (TBD), Chapter Three (TBD), Chapter Four (TBD)

Who would’ve thought you’d land yourself in a jail cell?

The cold nips at you angrily, and the silence surrounding you just washes reality over you like a wave. Arrested… bound to be executed, no? That’s the destined fate for the villainess of this otome story⏤so evil and cunning to the point where she poisons the female lead just for her own selfish evils.

It just so happens to be that you’ve reincarnated into the villainess’s body.

Really, you didn’t know what you were getting into when you downloaded the otome game, “Cursed Hearts,” after constant nagging from your friend. It seemed like the typical generic reverse harem game with a helpless female lead and cold and mysterious male leads, but as you played the game, you had fallen more and more into the trap of the game.

So is it really a surprise that you bought the sequel to the game⏤the one that explored a separate storyline with the pathetic villainess as the main lead?

Damn it.

Whatever god above truly does hate you.

You sit back down on the bed you had found yourself sleeping upon, and the reality of it washes over you again. If you’re correct, you’re now the villainess, Calypso [L/n], of this story and… about to get executed. The villainess’s execution occurred somewhere towards the end of the story after she tried to poison the female lead, but her motives were never revealed. Calypso was always like a faceless shadow, mysterious and like that of an illusion despite playing such a large role in the story, and that was what the sequel was supposed to be for. To explain and dot down Calypso like the game had with other characters.

Perhaps you being the only one who purchased the game back then should’ve been a red flag in itself.

Now what do you do? What is there to do? Why even get reincarnated if your next stop is to die immediately?

There’s no way for you to defend yourself since before getting detained by the imperial soldiers in the palace, the villainess, or you now, had explained to everybody attending the empress’s annual spring tea party in detail how she poisoned the female lead’s lead’s tea after the female lead had collapsed and was sent off to a doctor to be treated. So there’s no way of getting out of this. You already look like a lunatic enough as it is⏤

“Lady Calypso [L/n]!”

Huh?

The soldier that stands before the doors to your cell clears his throat, face devoid of any emotion. “You have a visitor.”

Visitor? Who in their right mind would visit you? You’re about to sneer and tell the man you don’t want to talk to anybody, but the figure that approaches the cell door silences you in your tracks. It’s Lilith [L/n], the female lead of this otome story. Even while covered with a cloak, her beauty still manages to shine through everything. She gestures for the soldier to leave before turning her attention to you.

…

“You drank the poison as well.”

“Well, good morning⏤or afternoon or night to you as well, my dear. I’m surprised the cure worked this quickly.”

“Quite joking! You mixed the poison into the kettle we both poured tea from. And you drank it. Why? What are you planning?”

Drinking poison? Calypso drank the poison as well? When you played the game in Lilith's perspective, it didn’t show calypso in the scene as Lilith was too occupied with her tea and thoughts. But drinking poison? Why?

Standing up, you approach the iron bars and wrap your hands around them, deciding to play into the cocky and apathetic villain Calypso is portrayed to be for information. You need to figure out why the hell you’re in this woman’s body. “Goodness, I can't believe you're up and running so quickly after such a potent poison. My cure really did work. How did you notice that, anyways?”

Lilith’s eyes narrow, but it’s not an accusatory glare, no, it’s one of frustration. “Calypso, your husband is tearing himself down to the bone trying to prove your innocence! I spoke to Daemon, and he said he’s willing to let go of the charges, so please stop your stubbornness!”

Drop the charges? Wait, this isn’t a part of the original story. So why…? Oh. This must be a part of the villainess’s route.

If you can recall correctly, there are six main characters to the story. The crown prince, the villain, the grand duke, the esteemed knight, the female lead, and the villainess. In the original otome, the villainess had three different endings to be killed. By the lovesick prince, her lovesick husband who happened to be in love with the female lead, and the lovesick villain.

This otome game isn’t just a typical love story, after all. It’s dark, evil, and the female lead suffers a fate far worse than the villainess’s in every ending.

You hold back a chuckle. “How would you drop my charges? Do the people even know you’ve recovered?”

“... Well… No, but that’s not the point! Calypso, please, just come back home!”

And Lilith never begged Calypso like this in the original game. She was still recovering from the poison back then. It leads you to a question of why. Why are you here? But you’ve got a feeling you know why, and you don’t like it.

It makes nausea and fear pit in your stomach because when you look up, you’re met with a status screen.

And it says:

𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 - 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙥𝙨𝙤 [𝙇/𝙣]'𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚. 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩�� 𝙙𝙤 𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.

a/n : going back to my roots with this one guys. to my loyal babes, yall r gonna have to hold on a little longer for that part ll batfam fic I PROMISE IT'LL BE HERE SOON 😭. if u see a grammatical mistake, it wasn't me. anyways, here goes my shitty attempt at being aesthetic. uhhh, i'll also be making a taglist for this one, and reblogs r much appreciated. other than that, have a good day/night 💋💋💋

[drdemonprince]

So that was the DNC. The young liberals, white feminists, and leftists-in-name only have gladly fallen in line behind Kamala Harris, because she makes them feel good, and because all they have wanted was to find sufficient reason to stop feeling bad and get back to brunch. They've abandoned Palestine, the same way they abandoned the immunocompromised and abolition of the police, because these and so many other left political movements were little more than fashion to them. They were never interested in seeing the destruction of a political system that many of them could, theoretically, make themselves comfortable inside. They just wanted to be seen as current and good.

Did you know that there are 24 million millionaires in the United States? 24 Million. Millionaires. 24,000,000 millionaires. Up from 22 million in 2022. That's about 7.2% of the population. So much for "we are the 99%." There is a sizeable segment of this population that benefits from economic inequality and imperialism, increasingly so, as both the size of the lower class and the upper class expand.

Many millions of additional people have no interest in changing the U.S. political paradigm, because they have been propagandized to believe all compassion and competence fall away under "anarchy," or because they lack community in any meaningful sense and have no conception of how to act collectively. This is not their fault, but it means they act in ways counter to leftist organizing: calling the cops on people, refusing to show up for others, hoarding what property and wealth they do have, demanding that all acts of resistance be peaceful and brief, and pouring all of the political energies into exhorting others to vote (no matter how dyed blue or gerrymander red their districts are, no matter how genocidal, transphobic, and xenophobic all the options might be).

People think that participating in community is buying a $355 Chappel Roan ticket. The big voices for leftist organizing, supposedly, are individuals who market themselves as such on Instagram and TikTok in order to sell books, tarot decks, subscriptions, and workshops.

The sole method for social or political engagement that most people know of is making posts online, on an overblown advertising platform, and then complaining that they did not receive enough attention on their (monetized) posts. A person with shrewd social media instincts and a strong writerly voice can fake an entire political identity, professional connections, and expertise, and be followed by tens of thousands while doing nothing constructive in their day to day life or even being the person they claim to be. The more actively they post and generate revenue for Meta, the more lucrative their grift becomes for themselves and the more social power they accrue. Chasing power and profit for oneself is definitionally counter to leftist ideals. Even if they do not believe in electoralism, people like this produce endless content about the subject, because people follow it like it's sports. They're glorified entertainers, selling politically themed content, never taking themselves off the stage.

Challenge any of this and people will lash out at you, because you've attacked their cloth mother, and they're very lonely and afraid. The corporately-moderated semblance of connection is nearly all they ever get. You can't talk about sex, drugs, death, or any difficult human realities. If you don't present a disneyfied version of yourself you get accused or being a degenerate predator. If you don't participate at all, you must be apathetic, which is very bad, because having the wrong emotions or thoughts makes you evil.

The protests at the DNC were all either ill-conceived PSL honey traps leading dozens of 19-year-olds into arrest via Signal chat, or bloated 3-hour fundraising attempts miles away from the United Center and corralled by the police and Department of Justice marshalls and their collaborators. Everybody else is far away, enjoying brat colored cocktails and picking out demure tradwife clothing to disappear into for the fall. Dreaming of not having to worry anymore is akin to longing for death, and many liberal Americans have gladly embraced total obliteration.

It's not just conservatism that is a death cult. It's also the preservation of the nation-state. State-making obliterates whole cultures, languages, lands, traditions, and unique, person-to-person modes of relating. You get your food from a corporation or a government bureaucracy that does not know you and makes you fight for it, never from a person. This makes you forget that it's just persons, like the ones you know, like yourself, who do everything. It makes you cling to the state, and to normalcy, rather than speaking openly and messily to anybody else.

This is where it all begins and ends. The hope of a revolution rising up to somehow liberate Palestine was always a fantasy, the stuff of kid's movies. The truth is much darker, but more bearable, because it's real. We are very far from a dramatic political change. Most people aren't willing to even let a stranger into their homes to keep them sheltered. Did we really think they were going to rise up and put their body on the line to fight the state? Give up Starbucks and their PPO? Break the law? Lower their property value? Of course not. Get real.

And so, where do we start? By moving far, far away from the individualistic, capitalistic, clout-based avenues of political "participation" that do nothing but benefit people who present themselves as influential voices. By doing the small, slow, humble work of actual community building. Talking to your neighbors, feeding people, housing people, sacrificing something for others, driving a senior to the doctor, building a way outside of your own head.

We have to become more reliant upon one another and less moved by big personalities who will never know us or give a damn about us as people. Instagram pays me the more of you look at my posts and share them on their app. It pays every other high follower account you take political guidance from, too. You should be suspicious of me. And all the rest of them. You should place more trust in your friends, your neighbors, and the power of your own mind.

The way out of all this will not be easy. And it will not happen on here.

[pissvortex]

i'm so fucking glad this post is going around it's the quick and easy "the person who reblogged this is a liberal bitch who you should unfollow" spotter and it works every time

also thanks for being objectively correct on everything i don't think you get that enough

brainstatic was such a fascinating presence on this website. definitely a holdover from an era of tumblr where people were really fascinated and invested in the opinions of 30+ year old white guys who watched the west wing too much. for the short amount of time he held our collective attention, he used it to beg feverishly and constantly that we not ask any more of our political leaders than the concessions of the obama administration specifically - im assuming his peanut brain lost all capability for intellectual curiosity while witnessing the Obama 2008 campaign during crucial developmental years (many such cases!). a kind of zeal for the status quo that makes someone exist purely in reaction to the left. nothing was more terrifying to these kinds of people than critically examining their own position of power and privilege in an imperialist empire, or more specifically what they had to lose from any threats to capitalist imperialism, which is why they were so preoccupied with shifting everyone’s attention to reconciling very basic, surface level privileges. i.e. the college aged “bros” who liked what a bernie sanders presidency had to offer were the greatest threat to democracy and political decency they could imagine until they were blindsided by Trump’s victory.

these people have been relegated to the depths of twitter or substack following their personal end of history (joe biden winning the 2020 election), but who knows. maybe he’s still out there somewhere, scolding palestinian protestors or something.

[moodymisty]

Hiii!!! I LOVE everything you write since I followed you a long time ago. I would like to read something about Rogal Dorn. I can't find ANYTHING about him and i just can't stop thinking about him.

I don't mind if it's smut, whatever you feel confortable with, but if it can have a little bit of fluff i would LOVE It.

Thank you for everything.💞

Author's note: Ok so I am deciding to do an idea i have for awhile, that I believe someone else posted but I cannot remember who. anyhoo, enjoy. Perhaps it's not as fluffy as you might have wanted, but fluffy Dorn is sort of awkward, nice Dorn so I hope you still like it;;

Relationships: Rogal Dorn/Fem!Reader (reader is a remembrancer)

Warnings: Perturabo calls you a whore but other than that nothing really of note

"I never did thank you properly for all of the clothes, Lord Dorn."

You look up at him, golden armor still shining in the relative dimness of the bridge- to only get a light nod of his head in response.

Inwit is freezing, unfathomably cold, and the clothes you had worn previously on Olympia failed to cut it. That had been a very quick, and very upsetting realization. Dorn had- in his stalwart silence - requisitioned you more only a few days later. Many more, custom-made. They were lined with warm furs and comfortable, built for hard winds and ice, trapping your body heat close to you. You had taken some of the layers off since you were arriving to Terra, a planet with a much more tempered climate. You don't miss the burning of your cheeks and frozen snot, but you do miss the planet overall.

Terra... Coming here makes you nervous. You know who is going to be here. Take a few deep, self-assuring breaths before looking in Dorn's general direction. The large glass viewport at the front of the bridge illuminates most of the floor, casting you all in a variety of colors.

"Lord Dorn, may I ask you a question about something?"

He turns to you, looking down at your hesitant expression.

"Did Perturabo make you beg permission to speak to him? Just ask it."

He did, more often than not. You remember more than a few instances.

"Well, he was actually going to be what I wanted to ask about."

You twisted your wrists in your hands, trying to do some sort of fidget to focus on while Dorn had his full attention on you.

"Has he always hated you? The entire time I was in his company, there was always just undertone of pure, seething hatred for you, but whenever I saw you, you didn't seem to even care."

There are a few other Imperial Fists on the bridge, watching as Terra comes into view. You're in the process of getting caught by the planet's orbit and mooring close enough to come down to the surface. You can see the palace already, even from this far, a golden target that is still growing larger with each day.

"Perturabo has always been that way, yes."

Dorn turns to briefly give an order to a questioning Imperial Fist, before returning to you and his explanation.

"He sees competition in my existence. I don't care."

Polux approaches, choosing to stand on your opposing side and wait patiently for his moment to speak. You give him a brief smile as greeting before returning your eyes to his primarch. Dorn looks forward and out the viewport, watching the palace of his design inch closer and closer.

"Sanguinius and Horus' rivalry is even matched. They both find growth from it. Perturabo's rivalry with me is a childish urge to beat me into the ground and prove to everyone that he is better."

You don't disagree with him in even the slightest. Perturabo was always so desperate to beat Dorn above all else, even to the detriment of other facets of his life.

"Despite the fact that he isn't?"

Dorn looks at you fully again, eyebrows raised and you swear, you swear, the inkling of a smile on his face.

"You have spent more time with him than I. Do you think that?" He turns on his heel slightly, armor shifting and clanking against eachother to face you more.

"Do you think The Emperor was right in claiming me Praetorian over him?"

You've been with the Imperial fists for a few months now, and this is far from the first time you've spoken to Dorn. Far more than you ever interacted with Perturabo, despite the fact that Dorn is known for being tight lipped and humorless.

You nod.

"Yes, I do. Perturabo's plans are always so complex, and he hinges them and his entire self worth on being better than you. And when he fails, he sulks." You smile. "I don't imagine you or your sons to be the type to sit and pout if something went wrong. You would all be too busy trying to correct it."

Dorn looks down at you, face as stoic and frozen as you've become quite used to. You don't know entirely what he's thinking, but you don't get a chance to ask before someone else's voice interrupts you.

Polux has a younger astartes walk up to him, stating some information that flows in one ear and out the other for you before walking away. He turns to the both of you, looking two his primarch but referring to the both of you.

"My lord, we are ready to depart for the palace. Is she accompanying us?"

You've never stepped foot on Terra before, to even come into it's orbit is an idea that you could barely handle; Alongside the fact that the primarch and his captains have little need for you there. You gather yourself, preparing to return to the Librarium aboard the ship to continue your work before Dorn's voice stops you in your tracks and sends almost every emotion through you at once.

"She is. Let us go."

Your first time on Terra was going well, in the first hour or so.

Dorn isn't much of a communicator, so he has spent the long of it conversing with his men, giving orders even while not aboard his ship. Either orders given to send back to the Phalanx, or to the Imperial Fists on Terra assisting with the Palace construction. You stand idly by and occasionally draw, or write something down that interests you.

The smoothness stops however, when Dorn looks away abruptly. His sons are confused, before they also perk up not a moment later. You look to Polux, as you know he's the one who will most likely acquiesce to your questions.

"What is it?" You say. He tilts his head vaguely in your direction, but doesn't actually look at you.

"Primarch Perturabo is on his way. He must've heard we had arrived," Polux takes a breath, presumably steeling himself for whatever is to come.

"His... footsteps are quite loud." Not a few more moments later now even you can hear them, and then see him shortly thereafter.

Perturabo storms closer; You can tell by the red flush over his tanned skin, that he is beyond furious.

Dorn looks down at you, and points behind him. His voice leaves no room for question, not as if you would even considering doing so in the first place.

"Go to Vulkan."

The Salamander's primarch had finished speaking to Dorn not long ago, now standing across the massive open area that you presumed served as a training ground for the astartes. You do as your now primarch commands and rush towards him, feeling his eyes on him as you approach.

"I am terribly sorry to bother you Lord Vulkan, but My lord Dorn told me to-" He ushers you closer with a hand, his voice gentle despite his overwhelming size.

"I am well aware of your circumstances, and what is more than likely about to play out. You can stay here with me."

You take refuge close to the Salamander's primarch, both standing and watching as Perturabo confronts Dorn. Multiple of his Imperial Fists straighten up and hold themselves at the ready, prepared to fight for their primarch if it ever be needed.

"Dorn!"

A disrespectful finger points his way, but Dorn pays it no mind. The white fabric of Perturabo's Olympian clothes flow softly and comfortably in the gentle wing, in contrast to the sharp, unforgiving features of his face.

"You think you can just steal from me now? Are you truly so bold now that you're praetorian?"

Dorn only speaks up when Perturabo is close enough that he doesn't have to yell.

"She wanted to leave."

Dorn speaks plainly, bluntly, as if he's just totally uncaring of the conversation.

You've learned over time that Dorn is far from emotionless; He merely doesn't waste it on things he deems pointless. This is pointless, and so he only speaks with the most blunt, monotone voice. It pisses Perturabo off to an unfathomable degree.

To think he was so upset about your departure without his dismissal. He had been nothing but cold and cruel to you, despite the fact that you were merely there to document his legion's progresses.

"I don't care what she wanted. She was indebted to my legion, and I will not tolerate deserters no matter how useless I think they are,"

Perturabo yells. Once his frustration at Dorn is exhausted enough that his attention can be deviated, he turns his gaze to you.

It feels like the gravity of a planet is pushing down onto you, the sheer weight of his anger. Even from so far away. Even the weight of Primarch Vulkan's hand on your shoulder does nothing to shield you from it.

"I hope you heard me, you lying, traitorous little whore. I hope you know I'll wring your neck myself when I catch you."

It takes every bit of energy to avoid crumbling instantly, at the threat of a primarch. Thankfully he leaves shortly after, storming off with the flowing white fabric of his clothes flowing behind him.

Vulkan sighs. You think he said something to reassure you, but you can't hear it over the thumping of your heart in your ears.

"I truly don't think there is much we can do to change him." Corvus- whom you've only just realized was here the entire time with a startle upon hearing his voice - shakes his head.

"His desire to be superior is tripped up at every point by his insufferable personality."

Vulkan looks down at you as an Imperial Fist approaches.

"Are you alright?" He says, and the caring nature of it is a bit overwhelming.

"I, I hope so." Vulkan doesn't laugh, but there is a softness on his face as he smiles at you. Corvus simply watches, and you once again realized that he was there.

"We all know Dorn. He has mentioned you quite a bit,"

"For him," Corvus adds. Vulkan gives him a quick look before turning back to you.

"I do not think he would ever allow anything to happen to you."

The reassurance of a primarch is a feeling next to none; But so it's the threat of one. They both battle in your heart and soul as the Imperial Fist reaches you.

"Lord Dorn is going to have one of us escort you back to the ship."

You nod, looking up to Vulkan to thank him. He simply smiles and speaks before you have a chance to give any gratitude.

"Stay safe, little one."

You follow that Imperial Fist back, before he leaves you on your own close to your quarters. Once you get into them, the door shutting behind you with a hiss, your chest starts to tighten like something has a hold on it.

Every Iron Warrior now likely knows that Perturabo wants your head on a pike. You try to steady your breathing, dumping your papers onto your small desk and sitting on the edge of your bed with a soft thud.

It's getting harder to breath, you swallow a massive knot in your throat. You try to shake your leg, dig your fingers into your palms to stop the feeling, like your heart is going to explode, the thumping of blood in your ears-

It starts to level down after awhile, the room steadies and no longer is spinning. Once that happens, the tears actually start to come, and you keep trying to wipe them away each time a few fall.

You don't regret leaving the Iron Warriors; Olympia. You don't know what Dorn saw in you that was enough for him to offer you a place but you don't regret taking it. His legion's treatment of you compared to your time on Olympia was incomparable, but the petty nature you had witnessed from the primarch was now focused on you; Your betrayal of fleeing to Dorn.

You have your arms wrapped around yourself, tightening them as someone opens your door. Your momentary startle fades when you realize who it is.

It's Dorn. You don't know when his presence stopped being so intimidating, even as a primarch; Perhaps it's the time you've spent with him recently that has gotten you used to him.

"You have been crying."

It would surely be easy to tell- you can still fear the wetness of tears on your face. You take a deep breath and clear your throat to try and speak normally.

"Primarch Perturabo wants my beaten corpse at his feet, and I don't, I don't know what to do-"

He comes closer, face neutral and stoic. You try and contain the emotion on your face.

Stupid, all of it, is what Perturabo would've said to you. You were always a stupid, pointless inconvenience forced upon him. But yet one he was still so upset to see leave.

"I knew very well how he would behave when I offered you a place here. I will not allow him to harm you."

In his own, odd way, the sentence calms you. It's not a lie, it is the utmost truth put into blunt, simple words. You sniffle and unwrap your arms from around yourself, returning to some level of normalcy.

"Thank you..." You say, and Dorn- to your surprise - kneels.

"Do not thank me for something I should do. I put you in this predicament and made you an enemy of him."

Dorn is quiet for a moment. You look at him questioningly, but he doesn't seem to notice. Then suddenly a hand rests heavy on your shoulder, and he leans in to press his lips to yours.

It's only a split second, it's chaste and quick, and he pulls away as a string of spit snaps between you both. You barely even have a chance to process it all; A primarch just kissed you. You had liked him, but you firmly pushed those thoughts from your mind for the sheer absurdity of them.

“You shouldn’t cry.” At first you think he’s telling you not to be weak- To suck it up.

“I, should not have allowed him to speak to you that way. I allowed him to make you cry.”

Crying is nothing; the fact that he has said he would protect you from an enraged primarch that by all intents and purposes you betrayed, is more than worth its weight. You don’t care about the crying.

"I'll be fine. I just needed a minute, and," You laugh. "Hopefully that's the last time I ever see his face." Dorn doesn't smile, but his voice has a gentle tilt of amusement that makes you smile a bit wider.

"I admit I would be jealous of you if that were to be the case."

You don't envy that he will have to continue to deal with Perturabo, especially now that your presence has created a deeper rift. Alongside his duties as Praetorian.

Dorn rises up from his knee and reaches out a hand.

"I am going to speak to my men about progress of the Palace walls. Come with me."

You take his hand, and you expect him to just allow you to pull yourself up, but instead he wraps his fingers around it and holds your hand, guiding you out of your room. He lets go moments after, but the gesture was there none the less.

[kickbackkanzaki]

Pomegranate Seeds and Black Roses

Diana, the daughter of Lucilla and Acacius becomes an obsession for Emperor Geta. As rebellion in the colosseum rises and danger stalks her family Diana must outmanoeuvre her enemies to keep her loved ones alive.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

No one would have thought Lucilla worried to look at her. The mask of absolute calm she'd moulded over a lifetime of violence and political intrigue had fooled both the intelligent and powerful many times.

When their escort had mounted their horses outside the villa their lady had seemed so unapprehensive they wondered why she was interrupting her evening routine to attend a party. She seemed entirely uninterested in the occasion.

They expected some sign of worry about stepping back into the Imperial court. Everyone knew the emperors' reputation for quick tempers and violent moods but Lucilla stepped into the carriage with no apparent concern.

On the inside however anxiety was clutching at her lungs trying to suffocate her.

"We should have gone to the coast," she lamented aloud as the carriage rocked along the road.

"It doesn't matter mother," the young woman beside her said calmly. "They would have summond you no matter where we were. Noone can refuse the emperors' call."

"Did you have enough to eat at dinner? You left some bread on the table," Lucilla's question came fast as she shifted her worry to her daughter.

"It's warm today," Diana explained calmly. "I lose my appetite in warm weather, you know this."

"We should have brought some water with us," Lucilla chided her own lack of forethought. "You'll get a headache."

"We'll be there soon," her daughter assured her. "I'll have water when we arrive."

The gold bangles around Lucilla's wrist jangled as she reached over and held her hand to Diana's cheek.

"You're still looking pale," she declared stiffly when she felt no fever. "Are you sure you're not feeling faint?"

Diana pushed her mouth into an annoyed line and crossed her arms. She knew Lucilla was anxious, she always was when Acacius was away, but she resented being treated like an invalid.

Diana disliked these summons too but she couldn't deny the curiosity she felt. For nearly fourteen years she had lived only a few miles outside the city but had never passed through its walls.

She wanted to see the famed pinnacle of civilisation with its libraries, museums, temples and other splendours. Both her parents had dedicated their lives to this place and she wanted to discover what about it inspired such devotion and reverence.

"I still think the green was nicer," Diana jumped to a new conversation to lighten the mood.

She was pulling gently at the lavender cloth of her new dress. Several bolts had been brought to their villa but Lucilla had ordered the simplest design with a matching ribbon to hold her long hair back.

While she herself was adored in luxurious silks and eye catching jewellery Diana wore no decoration with just a light layer of cosmetics to brighten her skin.

"It was too bold," her mother sat back against her seat defeated. "It would have called too much attention to yourself."

"What is wrong with that?" Diana asked innocently.

Lucilla snapped her head around to stare Diana straight in her green eyes.

"You must be forgettable!" Lucilla admonished and Diana retracted a little. "You'll only be safe that way."

"We're going to a party mother," she answered defensively. "No one goes unnoticed. People always prowl and pry."

"I don't think you fully comprehend how dangerous Rome can be," Lucilla explained with some exhaustion. "It's a grass infested with hidden vipers and quicksand. Everyone is waiting for you to stumble, show weakness or manipulate you. It's almost impossible to know who you can trust."

"You've protected me from the worst of it," Diana admitted, "but I'm aware of the danger mother. I overhear you and father talk more than you realise."

Lucilla felt a pang of guilt then. She had always thwarted any inference that her daughter's condition made her stupid but there had been times she hoped Diana too simple to follow the hushed conversations she had with her husband.

She had not wanted it with malice but for her beloved child's safety. No one would suspect a simpleton of dissent if their family ever came under suspicion. Lucilla had already lost one child to the dangers of Roman royalty, she would not lose another.

Unable to show Diana her guilt Lucilla focused her gaze on the far wall of the carriage. A shadow passed over the shuttered windows and she knew they had passed under the arch outside the city. The crowds gathered to gawk at the distinguished party guests would slow their progress but wouldn't delay their arrival long.

She felt no joy returning to her former home. The years of delight and safety with her father and Lucius were eclipsed by the terror of her brother and the nefarious schemes of senators.

Suddenly she felt a warm hand squeeze her fingers and she turned to see her daughter looking at her with a soothing expression.

"I will be careful mother I promise."

Lucilla lifted the unadorned hand to her painted lips and kissed it gently. She had never thought she could love an adopted child as much as one from her womb but Lucilla barely remembered Diana was not her own.

"You're right," Lucilla said as she pulled Diana close to kiss her temple. "Everything will be fine."

They stayed huddled together on the carriage seat until the horses pulled up and a pretorian guard opened the door. He looked them over with a cold expression then satisfied, nodded to their attendants.

The women alighted and joined a small group of guests walking together to the palace stairs.

Diana had been told to act indifferent towards the city's splendors but she couldn't help staring. Lucilla had shown her drawings and told her stories of the imperial palace as a youth but the sight was beyond her imagination.

Even in the dying light the royal structure dominated the sky, it's sheer magnitude striking Diana dumb. Every stone had been laid with perfect precision and the imposing columns reached high to hold the magnificent structure above everything in Rome. Lights glowed from inside the multitude of rooms like braziers aboard ships anchored in a bay.

Even when she was small Diana knew she lived better than most. The villa on the hill had shadowed the tiny houses beneath it but she had never thought a marvel like this possible.

"Equisite is it not?" Senator Gracchus asked smiling kindly at her awe.

"This must be how the chickens feel looking at us from their coop," Diana replied with a delighted smile.

'So young,' Gracchus thought with some unease. 'She will learn.'

Gracchus was one of the few confidants Lucilla and Acacius had introduced to Diana when Acacius had carried her home on his stallion.

He thought her bright and kind but worried her parents had sheltered her too much from the world.

Most girls her age had been sent to Rome by now to meet suitors and learn the rules of society but Diana had been kept home to study the great writings and tend her pets.

"I will watch over her tonight," Gracchus assured Lucilla when Diana turned her wide eyes back to the palace.

"Gratitude Gracchus," Lucilla whispered and lightly touched her daughter's arm to lead her inside.

As they proceeded through the labyrinth of halls Diana's head was constantly twisting to see the wonderous artifacts decorating the halls.

Busts of past emperors, art from across the seas and bronzed weapons of Roman heroes. Diana could hear a rumble of voices rising and she stopped marvelling to set her face into impassiveness.

'If the book is closed no one can read it,' she remembered her father saying and she always followed his logic.

The three of them entered the hall together and Diana was almost overwhelmed by the mass of people.

The richest people in Rome were squeezed into the hall together draped in the finest garments twinkling with gold and precious gems. With their heavily painted faces and high voices Diana couldn't separate one person from another. They didn't even sound like people, they were a swarm of wasps - hovering together tightly and buzzing loudly.

With heads bent in submission slaves passed through the crowd offering wine and refreshments to the greedy guests who consumed them with gusto.

"This is horrible," Diana blurted but she went unheard over the deafening din. Her nose crinkled in revulsion as she watched the party goers gobble their food and paw each other lustily.

How could a place so beautiful house such disgusting creatures?

'It's a gilded sty,' she thought in disgust.

The red garb of a pretorian guard striding through the crowd caught her eye and she unlinked her arm from Lucilla's. Taking a step back Diana bowed her head to the guard so he'd mistake her for a handmaid.

"The Emperors request your company my lady," the pretorian said after crossing his arm over his chest in salute. "I will escort you."

"Of course," Lucilla heard the command in his voice and followed him obediently as Diana and Gracchus moved stealthily behind a column.

They both watched covertly as the crowd parted to permit Lucilla passage. Some had the decency to bow their heads in respect while others assessed the princess with critical eyes.

'Swine,' Diana thought with irritation as she saw people whisper behind their raised wine glasses.

The hall was so wide Diana had to stand on her toes to keep her eyes on Lucilla as she approached the Emperors' seat.

The brothers sat beside each other on identical thrones surrounded by their entourage. The taller, Geta Diana supposed, had a woman draped across the back of his seat with her hand stroking his open robe.

Caracalla sat slumped like a sulky child biting his nails. At his feet a pile of painted harlots of all genders sat like lapdogs waiting for affection.

"Are they as people say?" Diana asked as the brothers spoke to Lucilla.

"The young Emperors are passionate about expanding the Empire," Gracchus chose his words carefully. "They wish to honour their father's legacy."

Diana saw through his masked statement and nodded. Their rulers loved war and conquest and maintained their power through cruelty as Septimius had.

"Come Diana," Gracchus said kindly after Lucilla had taken a seat beside their rulers. "Let me introduce you to better company."

Diana nodded and reached out her hand but froze when someone spoke behind her.

"I had heard General Acacius kept a rare jewel guarded in his villa but I did not expect you to be so stunning," an oily voice remarked.

"Who are you?" Diana demanded to know.

She didn't recognise the flatterer and narrowed her emerald eyes suspiciously. Her father had always warned her to beware the sweet words of perfumed men.

"Allow me to introduce Senator Pullo," Senator Gracchus intervened before his slippery colleague could speak. "Senator, this is Diana, daughter of Lucilla Auruelius."

"My lady," Pullo dipped forward from his waist and grinned in a way he thought was convincingly charming.

"You're very young to be a senator,' Diana remarked as she took him.

Pullo stood taller than she and Gracchus with pale blonde hair and blue eyes. Diana supposed him handsome but there was something about his smile that didn't ring true. It reminded her of the masks the players wore in the Greek plays, carved into exaggerated expressions of joy.

"Senator Pullo is from a long line of distinguished senators," Gracchus explained before Pullo could begin. "His family is nearly as old as Rome itself."

Diana understood the inference between the facts. Money and name had gotten Pullo his position, not loyal work or the people's approval.

"I need some air," Diana declared and nodded to Gracchus.

"Perhaps we can talk another time?" Pullo suggested still wearing the false smile.

"Doubtful. I don't like you," Diana said promptly and walked away without excusing herself.

"She is strange," Pullo remarked as he watched her go out to the gardens and snatched a goblet of wine from a passing slave.

"Quite the contrary," Gracchus replied boldly. "I believe the young lady to be a fine judge of character. Good evening Pullo."

Once outside Diana took in a deep breath of night air and exhaled all the noise and outrageousness she'd absorbed in the hall. The tingling in her ears abated after a moment and she put her nose in a nearby flower to refresh her senses.

She was downhearted to have found Rome was not the utopia she had dreamed of but she felt more vexed than disappointed. Seeing her wise, dignified mother forced to consort with such hedonist pretenders made her angry.

No one in that room had done half as much for the empire as her parents. They were people who performed the noblest of deeds without reward while their inferiors spoiled themselves at parties.

Diana soon found herself at a bench and lay down on the cool slab. Above her the nearly full moon glowed brightly and she remembered one night long ago when she couldn't sleep because her father was departing for war at daybreak.

'If I am ever away from you look to the moon,' Acacius had told her pulling the blankets up to her chin. 'I will be looking at the same moon and thinking of you too little chick.'

Was he alright? No news had come since the fleet had set sail weeks ago. His departures never became easier, Diana always felt his absence in the empty chairs and silent halls of the villa. She supposed someone at the party might have news but she doubted their information would be freely given.

Diana became dozy in the moon's light listening to the choir of crickets. She wondered how much longer the emperors would keep Lucilla when a scream split through the dark.

Diana sat bolt up and looked around wildly for the source.

Another scream rippled across the dark and Diana ran in its direction with no plan in mind. All she knew was someone was hurt and no help was coming, the party goers wouldn't have heard anything over their own malarkey.

Another scream told her she was close and this time she could hear hear babbled pleas.

Someone was holding a hunched figure by the hair and something in their other hand. The dark hid their faces but the moonlight caught the golden laurel through the orange hair.

"Stop this!" Diana screamed hoping someone would hear and come to her aid.

"I'm going slice this traitor's lying throat!" Caracalla's high pitched scream made the slave wail and he lent down to strike.

"You wont hurt him," Diana pushed the words out before cowardice stopped her.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?!" Caracalla roared pointing the knife at her and yanked the poor boy's head back harder.

"A friend to the Emperor," Diana stammered. "One who knows his magnanimity and divine wisdom. An emperor who would rather save a life than take it."

Diana was brazenly lying but her flattery had stilled the blade. She glanced down at the captive boy and saw his eyes pleading her for rescue. She couldn't stop now.

"He's been poisoning me!" Caracalla hissed, his eyes wild like a cornered field mouse. "Making me weak for my enemies! They want to overthrow me for my brother!"

"Look at him my lord" Diana lowered her voice to a soothing tone. "He's terrified. He doesn't have the temerity to do something so vile. You mistake him."

Caracalla flicked his twitching eyes to the trembling catamite then back to Diana. He didn't know her, she had no right to command him but she had appeared from the ether like a guiding goddess to preach wisdom. Should he ignore her?

"Please Your Greatness," Diana slowly bent her knees to the ground. "Show me the benevolent and wise ruler I know you to be."

She lowered her forehead to the cold stone and spread her arms wide in full prostration squeezing her eyes shut. With rattling breath she waited in the silence. Waited for the slave's death rattle, for Caracalla's scream, for the knife to stab her in a frenzy.

Powerless, she surrendered herself to the fates.

Suddenly there was a clatter near her ear and something smashed into her side knocking her over.

The slave had run into her as he fled and the knife lay nearby rocking back on forth on its rounded cross guard in a threatening motion.

Diana moved to stand but Caracalla fell onto her and wrapped her in a death grip. His shrill wails sounded like a snared rabbit shrieking for help and made her eardrums ache.

Suddenly Diana was more afraid than when he held the knife. She felt his chewed nails scratching her back as he twisted her dress with his fingers and the stench of his breath.

Her skin dampened as Caracalla wept and slobbered into her neck and she had to fortify her resolve not to recoil.

She hadn't spent any time around children and had never been a hysterical youngster so she didn't know how to react to these wild emotions.

But she did recall cut knees and grief bringing tears to her eyes and remembered how Lucilla would soothe her.

She slipped her weak arms around the sobbing man and rested her cheek on his hair. The moonlight had dulled his golden laurel to a dim bronze and the sharp leaves scratched her cheek but she ignored the discomfort.

"I want them to love me!"

"Of course you do," Diana soothed and she stroked his short cropped hair. "We all want to be loved."

"Everyone wants me to fail! The people, the senate even my own brother! I hear them conspiring in corners and see them passing messages. They want to cut me down!"

"There are no conspiracies sire," Diana assured him kindly. "Your mind is tired. An entire empire weighs on your mind and it is sometimes more than you can take."

Caracalla's moaning came to a stop and he pulled his face from Diana's soaked dress.

"Truly?" his puffy eyes begged as he looked up her. "I'm tired?"

"Yes sire," Diana nodded and left her hand rest on ill man's shoulder. "A ruler needs rest."

"Are you a goddess?"

"No sire, I am your loyal servant."

Diana began to worry again, if Caracalla fell into fantasy he might reach for the knife.

Caracalla reached his filthy fingers up and pulled the skin under her eyes.

"How can a face so young have eyes so old?" He whispered trying to find the answer in her exposed eyeballs.

"You must rest sire," Diana repeated as her eyes stung and began watering.

"Yes, yes," Caracalla whispered to himself and let her face go. "A ruler needs rest."

Then he stood up so suddenly Diana fell back in alarm but Caracalla's grabbed her dress.

"Come to bed with me," he pleaded sulkily.

"I should return to the party sire," Diana declined as politely as she could. "My mother is waiting for me."

The weeping boy's face twisted into an expression of cruel dominance and Diana felt her stomach freeze with fear. Even a rabid animal wasn't so quick to temper as this Emperor was.

"Come to bed with me!" Caracalla yelled spraying her face in spit and clenched her dress so tightly Diana could feel his rings making imprints in her belly.

The saliva on her face was drying cold and sent a chill through her skin. His teeth reeked of sweet foods and red wine and his eyelids red from weeping now seemed ablaze with fury.

Diana was sure if the knife was still in his hand he would have held it to her throat. Then again maybe Caracalla didn't need a knife, she had heard the stories of him throwing men out of windows and damning former friends to the gladiator arena. Laughing hysterically as they were devoured mercilessly by animals.

"As you wish sire," Diana fought to keep her voice steady.

She knew she didn't possess the strength to fight him and if she fled Caracalla would have her dragged back by her hair. Anything that happened in Rome only did by the consent of royalty.

Caracalla's face morphed to one of pleasure and flashed his wine stained teeth in a maniacal smile.

"Come, come," he cooed and took Diana by her hand like a child leading his new playmate to the nursery.

Diana's sandals shuffled slowly hoping the longer she delayed their arrival the better chance someone would pass and intervene. But the gardens were empty and Caracalla steered them away from the party where Lucilla was held hostage.

If anyone could have coerced the emperor into releasing her it would have been her mother, the consummate diplomat. Maybe Senator Gracchas had noticed her prolonged absence and would seek her out.

But he didn't. Caracalla pulled Diana down halls she didn't recognise from before. They came to a room protected by two guards but they paid her no notice, just opened the doors without request.

"Fetch me some wine," he ordered the slave standing ready in the corner and finally released Diana's hand.

With his back turned Diana wiped her sweaty palm against her dress and took in the room with wide eyes. Her family well but she had never seen a bedroom so lavishly decorated.

Drapes woven with golden threads, chairs hand carved with intricate patterns and a bed big enough for a family. Diana pulled her eyes away from the silk sheets and refocused on her captor who was petting a tiny monkey on the dresser.

Caracalla removed his laurel crown and entertained the monkey with the rings he twisted off his fingers. The primate's little fingers played with the priceless jewellery like a toy and Diana swallowed nervously thinking perhaps Caracalla saw her the same way. Dundus sank his sharp canine into a gemstone and Diana's whole body clenched.

She wasn't afraid of brutality or rape but of consequences. Her feline eyes had taken in more than the decor when she'd looked around the room, she had been counting how many nearby objects could be used as weapons.

It was death to harm a royal but Diana knew she couldn't be yielding to assault from anyone. It was against every basic instinct she had. Survival had always been her skill.

"Lie on the bed," Caracalla told her when he finally lost interest in his pet.

Diana did not protest and sat herself on the luxurious bed with the mound of pillows behind her back. If need be she could pull one out and smother her assailant.

Without bothering to remove his regalia Caracalla flopped by her side and rested his acne ridden face on her breasts like an infant drunk on milk. His arm encircled her waist and Diana fought to supress her revulsion.

His weight was stifling and his touch sent tremors of disgust through her but Caracalla didn't notice. He made a contented humming noise as he snuggled into her and didn't acknowledge the slave returning with the wine.

Diana tried to catch her notice with her pleading eyes but the slave deliberately ignored her. The glasses and wine pitcher were placed on the bedside table with such care and deliberateness Diana knew she would not dare do anything she wasn't ordered. Terror was a tight collar.

When the slave turned Diana glanced furtively down at the slumbering boy then slowly reached for an ornate wine glass. She tested its resistance with a small squeeze then carefully tucked it beneath her pillow and lent back until she heard a muffled crunch.

Caracalla didn't flinch and her racing heart slowed a beat. The broken glass wouldn't be enough to pierce his artery but with his hysterical tendencies Caracalla would likely scream loud enough at a bleeding cut to raise alarm. Then would be her chance to slip past the guards back to her mother's protection.

'Mother,' Diana lamented silently and suddenly felt a sharp tension in her temples.

'No!' she panicked as the invisible vice clamped around her head and spots of light danced in front of her eyes.

'Calm down, calm down!' she commanded herself but every time Caracalla shifted in his sleep her muscles tensed and a wave of pain rippled through her head.

Diana forced her eyes closed to block out the room but the strange lights still flashed bright behind her eyelids. The pain was now coming in regular waves and she exhaled her suppressed yells through her nose.

It was too late for a tonic now even if she could obtain one. Her jaw clenched as the invisible vice wound tighter around her skull.

'Pain passes, pain passes,' she recited to herself and tried to block out the foul stench of Caracalla's drool puddling on her chest.

Her body was trapped in that room but her thoughts tried to overcome the pain. She remembered the seaside villa Acacias had taken them to on his last return, learning letters with Lucilla's hand wrapped around her own as the quill wobbled, the chickens she'd kept as a child and her sister's laugh.

When the migraines came the minutes stretched endlessly so Diana didn't know how long she lay there captive. Her mind was far away in the past when she felt a hand covering her mouth.

Her eyes snapped open and found the room had dimmed to a faint glow, the lamps having burnt low. It took her blurred vision a moment to focus on Emperor Geta leaning over her with a finger to his lips and brown eyes commanding her obedience.

Diana's breathing heightened as she panicked and the fingers over her mouth squeezed tighter. Geta loomed over her with menace and she knew she had to obey. She feared Caracalla's mercurial madness but she didn't know what Geta was capable of and that scared her more.

When her breathing steadied her leant back and released her now aching mouth. Not taking her eyes off Geta she tipped her head to the slumbering body pinning her down and Geta nodded.

Diana felt the stones set in his rings graze her middle as he wedged a hand between her and his brother's shoulder. Then slowly he shifted Caracalla onto his back and Diana's chest inflated.

The pain in her head was still blinding but she could muster the strength to get away. She couldn't take another second in Caracalla's stench.

She wobbled to her feet and staggered towards the door, her vision rolling like a ship on the tide but her course steady. Beyond that door was fresh air, drinking water and safety. Diana would endure the agony to reach them.

Silently Geta came aside and slipped his arm around her waist for guidance. Diana's thumping head rolled onto his shoulder and in a moment of uncharacteristic graciousness he allowed it.

Her nostrils noticed his smell wasn't repulsive like his brother's but the stench of perfume and wine that encircled him made her tender stomach roll.

'They make me sick,' Diana thought. 'They're rotten.'

After what felt like a journey the doors opened and the bright light on the hall made Diana wince but she heard her mother's voice and reached out for her. Once she was in Lucilla's arms her strength finally gave out and she felt her mother stagger under her weight.

"Escort them out," Geta ordered his retinue who swooped around the women like magpies fighting for a shiny object.

Lucilla refused to relinquish her hold on Diana so numerous hands held the women steady as they moved like a swarm down the corridor.

Geta watched them depart with a certain curiosity.

He had been relieved to find the girl unmolested but his brother's contented condition surprised him. Caracalla's fits of paranoia were worsening and more than once he'd found a dead lover in his brother's bedchamber.

One day he would be showering his whores with love and treats and the next he'd slay them convinced they were conspiring against him.

His histrionics had recently extended to the senate where he'd lash out at any who dared contradict him. Last week he had ordered common men to death for urinating on his statue while intoxicated.

The medicus had been trying various concoctions to slow the degradation of Caracalla's mind but none so far had shown any effect.

"What do you know about her?" Geta asked keeping his gaze on Diana's retreating figure.

"Nearly nothing sire," Senator Pullo admitted from behind his emperor. "Only that General Acacius and Lady Lucilla adopted her at a young age. Her father had been a friend of theirs."

"Find out Pullo," Geta still didn't deign to look at the senator. "You shall be rewarded.

[sherlockholmeshound]

'If i were anakin i would've let sidius kill me than to have to murder my family including babies' I can't believe I need to explain this but first of all: The choice wasn't 'Join me or die', the choice was 'Become my servant, sell me your soul or let your wife die'.

It's right there in the movie, it's crystal clear in the text, he was doing it all for Padme, no The republic, not because he didn't get the rank of Master, it was because he thought he would save Padme that way. This isn't recontextualized in other media, this isn't something stated in a novelization, this wasn't some retcon in a random comic, this wasn't something you needed more context or material to know: it's right there in the movie. Were there many many factors that amounted to that moment? Yes, sure. That you can make a further read on if after all the stuff that was going on? Obviosly. But don't go around thinking Anakin was doing it just because he wasn't granted the rank of Master or because his own life was at stake; Idc if you think Padme's life is a lame reason for Anakin's fall or that you think Obi-Wan should have had more weight in Anakin's decision, it's right there in the movie.

Second: You aren't Anakin and you can use that as an argument of anything because Anakin is a fictional character in a fantasy-sci-fi setting, he has super powers including psychic powers and and can kill people if he thinks about it hard enough, was groomed for 10 years by the devil who's also the president and was a slave for his formative first decade and then he was put into a goverment-adjacent dogmatic strict and emotionally stunted order of super powered monks and then had 3 years of being a general in the front lines of a war. And I'm grateful you can't relate to that hell of a life because the extremes Anakin was put under were meant to specifically explain his brokeness and how he went from hero to Imperial Dragon Guarddog. People need to learn to accept a character as a damn character, and not all the time you will be able to put yourself into the character's feet, you can't expect every character to be Relatable and cather specifically to you, because mind you there are people that do find him relatable and they haven't commited mass murder. The only thing the movie is asking of you as an audience is that you pay attention to the story, Anakin's arc shouldn't be that hard to grasp, it's fairly simple actually. He had an awful life, decades of trauma, reached his breaking point, exploded and killed people trying to save the last good thing in his hell of a life, sold his soul to the devil, lost everything and then returned back to the light for the sake of his son, isn't hard to get at all.

And third: Not defending the baby murder at all, but the Jedi weren't Anakin's family. Anakin's feelings towards the whole order was sour at best; he clearly wanted to leave them, several times. Anakin's family was Shmi (dead), Padme (in risk of death), Obi-Wan (emotionally distant and a trashy parental figure and currently far away and out of reach), and tragically Palpatine (groomer and also parental figure). If you accept TCW as canon, then you can extent that family onto Ahsoka (gone after the Jedi allowed her to be senteced to death penalty at 16), and perhaps Rex.

[centuryberry]

Imperial Harem Novel AU

Note: This wasn't really requested, but I've already summarized the Replanted AU, Abandoned Yue AU, and the Fae AU, so why not this one? This particular AU has a place in my heart - mostly because it's silly. Also because there was a plot twist in there that I never managed to address so I'm writing it out now.

Summary: When Wukong wakes up in a trashy imperial harem novel he'd been reading, he's horrified. Why? Because he's in the body of a character who shares his name - a tyrant king who causes a lot of pain and suffering to everyone including the female lead. Wukong decides that, since he's here for the time being, he was going to fix the other him's mistakes and leave the world better than he found it by the time he finds a way back home.

(Sounds easy enough as a concept, but Wukong can't act for his life and he has serious imposter syndrome. Oh well, time to spam the amnesia button and fake it 'til he makes it.)

Everyone Else's POV:

The Monkey King was a tyrant who either spilt blood or added to his large harem. He selfishly ignored the matters of the crown and contributed to the suffering of his people.

Queen RinRin is left to manage the throne's affairs on her own, frustrated by her husband's selfishness and destructive tendencies.

Consort Macaque is tormented by the endless string of lovers his husband takes. He grows resentful after so many heartbreaks and lets it out on the harem. Violently.

Concubine Shanzha heard the rumors about the king. She tries to keep her head low but she's somehow gained his attention. And she's scared of all the trouble that is going to come with it.

Unexpectedly, the Monkey King suffered a head wound and was bedridden for days. Perhaps it was an assassination attempt? No one knows.

It didn't matter because the Monkey King woke up without his memories. It caused a bit of chaos all around. Everyone expected even more trouble.

To everyone surprise, he didn't.

The king started to participate in state affiars. He was clumsy and inexpierienced, but he was still trying his best. RinRin finds herself charmed by this new version of her husband.

While he doesn't remember Macaque, the king has become far more considerate and had dissolved the harem. The consort's resentment and bitterness was all but forgotten.

While the majority of the harem disbanded, Shanzha had to stay because of her political hostage position. But...it wasn't that bad? The king was respectful and gave her a lot of agency. She could pray and shoot at the archery range when she pleased.

Everyone doesn't say it out loud, but they liked this new king better. They hoped he never got his memories back.

Wukong's POV:

He's freaking out y'all.

I mean, it's pretty obvious, but it still needed to be said. He was freaking out.

Wukong didn't finish reading the novel before he was yeeted into it. He got so frustrated that he tossed it away. He regrets it so much now.

Wukong is the sheer definition of faking it til you make it. He spammed the HELL out of his amnesia while he tried to get into the groove of his role as Emperor.

Wukong's initial goal was to survive and not have any one find out he was an imposter. Then, after seeing just how much the OG!Wukong fucked everything up, he took it upon himself to unfuck as much as he can.

Good news: Wukong is making more progress than he expected. He's taking some of the load off of RinRin's shoulders by participating in meetings; he's taking away the major stressor in Macaque's life by dissolving the harem; and he's trying to make Shanzha's time in the kingdom as bearable as possible.

Bad news: All three of them somehow took his actions as an invitation to start trying to seduce him. Don't get him wrong. They're all gorgeous and amazing - Wukong isn't blind - but he's not really their husband. He's just some loser who hijacked their real husband's body. So he puts on the "I don't know I'm dumb" vizor on and hopes to high hell that no one sees through it.

They eventually do, so Wukong elects to scream and run.

When Shanzha opened up to Wukong and told him about her life and of her niece, he cried. He was always a sucker for tragic backstories. Why didn't the novel talk about this?

Not long after, he requested demanded Shanzha's homeland to send over her niece. Shanzha was overwhelmed when he gave her the exciting news.

Since Wukong taking a ward was huge, the entire court were there to recieve Yue. It was actually the first time RinRin and Shanzha crossed paths. It was butterflies at first "hi" for the queen who was regretting not being more involved with the harem.

Shanzha and Yue's reunion was so tearjerking that Wukong had to take a minute. Then, it was revealed that Yue was actually Macaque's family too. The six ears kinda made it obvious. Plot twist after plot twist, why didn't the author of the trash novel focus on THIS?!

Wukong never saw a baby monkey before so he's practically exploding because of Yue's cuteness. He was super duper doting.

Wukong also saw a way out of the entire "making an heir" business, so he names Yue his heir and hopes that this stops his spouses from trying to jump him.

It doesn't. Wukong's "Baba" energy just made him even more irresistable. Sorry Wukong.

The three have also joined forces. Oh no.

The Plot Twist:

One day, little Yue blinks up at Wukong and asks him if he can pretty please take her to see the nearby waterfall together. When he does, Yue takes advantage of the waterfall being a natural white noise machine to talk to him.

Yue: "You're a transmigrator too, aren't you?" Wukong: 😮"Whaaaaaaa-?!"

Yup, Yue's a transmigrator. She also read the trashy novel - all of it. So she has all the deets, which Wukong begs off of her by helping her reach high places and giving her treats.

Everyone: Aww, he's so good with her Wukong: Oh wise senior, please share your wisdom Yue: Tell the cooks to make the Dan Dan Noodles extra spicy hot and I'll think about it

Yue also helps her fellow homie out by being a deterrent for romantic advances. Can't talk or do anything beyond PG around the baby.

Wukong tells Yue about his plan to run away after setting everything and leaving the kingdom to her and she bluntly tells him that it was a dumb plan.

Yue: "At least wait until I'm not a baby to abdicate."

Yue also (gently) breaks it to Wukong that he's stuck here. The him in his original reality is most likely dead.

So, after a bit of spiraling, Wukong approaches his spouses and tells them the truth.

It was a bit shocking and they (Macaque and RinRin) needed some time to come to terms with the revelation, but this doesn't deter the three of them in the slightest. They're all in love with this Wukong and want to spend the rest of their lives with him.

(By the time Yue comes of age, Wukong does accept their advances enough to give her cute little brothers lol.)

[abbyfmc]

Yandere Eunuch! x Empress! Reader Phrases #2:

-I will always be there for you, your highness. It doesn't matter if the emperor expels me from the palace or makes me work for someone else. You will always be present in my heart.- The yandere eunuch will always swear allegiance only to you, no matter the situation.

-If you think someone wants to hurt you or has disrespected you, just tell me and I will gladly punish them.- And of course, if the yandere eunuch swears loyalty to you, this phrase will not be missing. In an environment of this type, loyalty between servant and master is super important, since attacks can come from anywhere, whether they are "ordinary" civilians (possible disguised rebels); the imperial family itself (as brothers and cousins ​​of the emperor); your own family (due to clan pressure) and even your own imperial harem (if your emperor husband has one).

-I have been poisoned many times in order to take care of you, but I don't care. What I admire is how you care about me.- And of course, with the attacks on you, poisoning would come. The yandere eunuch would not sit still and would probably sample portions of your food or drink; inspect incense or "medicines" and as a result, he will have been poisoned on more than one occasion and perhaps almost died. What he will admire about you is that you care about his life and health.

-Your Highness, you are pregnant and your life is therefore more vulnerable, that is why I must accompany you no matter what.- We don't have to talk much about this. If you get pregnant thanks to the emperor, his paranoia as a yandere will increase by a thousand.

-If you find a needle in your clothes, tell me and I will gladly stick it in the eyes of the person responsible for such negligence towards you.- Yes, in case it wasn't enough for you to check your food, now he will thoroughly check your clothes and blankets with that excuse, although we know that he does it in order to touch EVERYTHING that has to do with you.

-How come I can't enter? It is my duty to ensure the safety of the empress at all times! I don't care if I'm a man, or if I'm not even the emperor, I WANT to see that his highness is okay!- And it was clear that if you got pregnant, the day of delivery was going to come sooner or later. The yandere eunuch knows perfectly well that you are suffering a lot (because the maids are agitated everywhere, in addition to hearing you scream and cry from outside) and that you are in a very vulnerable and delicate moment in which ANY alteration can cause terrifying scenarios such as death both yours and your baby's.

-Your Highness, I knew you in my worst moments when I endured many insults, punishments and whippings in the palace. You helped me a lot; If something happens to you or you die, I will go crazy. I don't want to live without you.- It's what the yandere eunuch would say or think if he found out that your birth was complicated, since he fears more for your life than that of your child.

-My highness, I am willing to do whatever you wish. If you want to eliminate other of those imperial women and her children, I will always support you to ascend; my highness. You can use me.- If you were a malevolent and sadistic empress (the kind in palace dramas and royal historical records) to the point of not caring about killing or harming concubines and consorts; as well as her sons and daughters; He will help you commit each of those crimes to clear your path, solely to make you happy.

-Your highness can call me or nickname me whatever you like.- I don't know how customary it was for monarchs and members of the royal/imperial family to nickname or give names to their servants or why they did it. Whatever the case, the yandere eunuch is willing to accept this treatment from you, since he thinks that at least this way you will pay more attention to him in some way.

-It doesn't matter how many wives or concubines the emperor has; No one will ever compare to you, no matter how much they want your position, my highness. You are very beautiful, but that stupid emperor doesn't know how to appreciate you like I do.- And of course there have been historical records of emperors who have completely abandoned their empresses or the occasional consort or concubine to death (like the step empress Nara), and whether they have done bad things or not, they end up condemning them. to death or house arrest until the end of his days. If your emperor does this to you, the yandere eunuch would say these words to you as some kind of weird comfort.

-I hate to see how you wear out your health so much for your duties and for a man who will never love you like I do.- And of course, being the empress, sooner or later stress would start to attack you. This would worry the yandere eunuch, especially if he starts to affect you physically. He would be able to go himself and ask the emperor to let you rest for a few days.

-Never mind succumbing to the raging fire for your highness. If I have to save you or die hugging you, I will gladly do it.- If for some reason your chambers catch fire, you are inside and you did not manage to escape, the yandere eunuch would be the first to come out to look for you and try to rescue you… or die with you.

-How dare you insult the empress and her son/daughter! On top of that, you dared to curse an imperial child!.- The yandere eunuch considers cursing you or your child to be a serious crime, to the point that he dares to slap anyone who does it several times, or cut out their tongue if you and the emperor let him do it.

-I know I have committed a crime, your highness, but it was because of my love for you. If you want to throw me out of the palace, slap me, beat me or kill me, I don't regret anything.- He doesn't care if he is catched killing someone. He does whatever he can, just for you.

-It breaks my heart to see you like this, your highness. I will do everything she can to encourage you, just as I will not let others bother you.- No matter what you're going through, the yandere eunuch will always do whatever he can to make you feel better, including FORCING others not to bother you.

-If you die, I don't want to go anywhere else. I will serve you even in the afterlife.- There were cases in which when a ruler died, his servants committed suicide to follow their masters into the afterlife and the yandere eunuch would be not the exception. He would be so devastated by your death to the point of committing suicide to never let you go.

-End.

[self-winding]

Finally started reading Guns, Germs and Steel which is a book that has been on my list forever. Ironically, the recent (though not the first) backlash against it is what prompted me to pick it up.

Some of the criticisms of it might be valid; possibly geography is over-emphasized as a causal factor in the unequal outcomes of various societies, possibly there are other factors that don't get enough attention. But there's a particular brand of moral criticism that goes something like this quote from this article (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/08/03/guns-germs-and-steel-reconsidered):

"This is a punchline about race and history that many white people want desperately to hear," she writes. "Those dying black kids at the end of the special -- we know, because We Are Not Racist, that they don’t deserve what they are getting. They are not inferior. In fact, there but for the grace of god…. And it poisonously whispers: mope about colonialism, slavery, capitalism, racism, and predatory neo-imperialism all you want, but these were/are nobody’s fault. This is a wicked cop-out."

One has only to read a few chapters of the book to know that it does not in any way attempt to gloss over the reality of violent conquest and its role in establishing Western dominance. There's no shortage of rat bastard white conquerors in these pages (though there are cameos of other, not-white conquerors behaving in similar ways). Nor does the book in any way attempt to deny the existence of colonialism or of ideologies designed to justify and reinforce material inequalities. What it does do is attempt to explain why Western societies were in a position to violently conquer other peoples, and the explanations have to do with the titular viruses and geography and a bunch of other factors that do in fact boil down to luck. That doesn't mean it was "nobody's fault." It was the fault of many people, in the sense that the people who did violent things still did those things. How you want to judge them for that is up to you, but most people, myself included, do regard violent conquest as a not-good thing that we should try to have less of in the future.

I'm left wondering...for people who say that this is a work of apologia for inequality, how exactly could the book have handled its subject matter in a way that would have satisfied them? By including a "this is bad behavior and we should condemn these people" footnote on every page that describes one society conquering another?

The basic objection here seems to be to the very fact that this is a science book and not a moral instruction manual about how to be anti-racist. Which I guess is not surprising. The power of explanation inherently tends to kind of take the piss out of morality and deflate its mystical-feeling notions of good and evil and moral duty, which is why science and morality (whether it be religious or secular) have butted heads throughout most of history.

[cambion-companion]

First of all, hi! Hope you're having a good day/afternoon/night!

Ok, so, since ficlets requests are open, this is something that has been on my mind for a few days now and it's like Tav/Reader doing horn care to Raphael's horns like polishing them or just appreciating this man's horns because i...i love them (don't know if this makes sense but yeah)

FAM! I have been WANTING to write something like this for so long now, thank you for giving me an excuse hehehe you know how much I love his horns!

Horn Balm a balm for horniness

Raphael x gn!reader

Having a cambion between your thighs was certainly an item never on your bucket list. However, you couldn't complain.

The water, soft and warm as liquid silk, surrounded the both of you. The heat from Raphael's cherry skin soaking nicely into the muscles of your legs as he sat below you, his back turned so you were unable to see his bemused expression.

"Just sit still." You pressed your calves either side of his shoulders and scooted close, thrilling at his proximity. "I had to chase down the merchant for this, especially after describing who it was for."

"Did you now?" Raphael relaxed marginally, leaning back again until you had to maneuver your upper body so as to not get brained by one of his horns. "I do not recall requesting such a delightful service. Horn balm is a far cry from a crown after all., little mouse."

"It's a start." You muttered and squeezed your legs a little vindictively, earning yourself a low chuckle from the cambion. "You could just say thanks." You dipped your fingers into the tin and spread the oily substance between them experimentally.

Raphael's hand rose, dripping water along your leg as he traced a finger lazily up your skin causing you to shiver. "I could, but that would be quite unlike me. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Hmm." You were too busy beginning to tentative work of spreading the balm along the rough edges of his horns. "Stop moving."

Raphael had taken a quick inhale through his nose, the frown evident in his voice now. "What potent smell is that?"

"You're one to speak of potent smells, mister musk."

"I am beyond your reproach, my dear." Raphael moved his head again, causing you to curse as a sharp edge of his horn nicked your thumb.

Hearing your little gasp of pain, Raphael took your wrist and pulled the injured hand over his shoulder to inspect. "A rose would have done greater damage." He kissed the drop of blood off your skin and released you, keeping his head held still this time. "Continue."

"I thought the smell wasn't agreeable." You moved your feet languidly in the warm bathwater, enjoying the teasing banter, returning to your work of massaging the oil into Raphael's horns.

"It isn't. However, your presence here is. For the moment."

That softened you. Your fingers traced every curve and ridge until the slick balm soaked in. His horns proved far more porous than you'd initially thought they'd be.

You had often admired the shape of the cambion's horns, thinking in many ways they resembled a crown. A slight dusting of red pigment covered them, like fine powder left too long upon the otherwise dark surface. Quite like the man himself, his horns were beautiful and alluring yet dangerous to handle as had already been demonstrated.

"Enjoying yourself?" Raphael cut into your silent thought, drawing your attention back to the present.

"It's tolerable." You lied, quite unwilling to tell him the truth of your enjoyment. Though the prickle up your spine intuited he already knew.

Raphael chuckled then reached up to remove your hands from his horns, imperiously signaling for you to be done. "I deem that to be quite enough for the present."

You disentangled yourself and slid into the bathing pool next to him, sighing as the water enveloped you. Raphael conjured a mirror and admired your handiwork for a moment. He raised a brow. "I owe you my thanks." He stretched his arms and wings along the side of the bath, sinking a little lower. "You're so eager to please me. I normally do not allow such gestures of...service." His head tilted a little as those familiar hellfire eyes scanned you. "However, you inspire indulgence in unprecedented ways."

[ak319]

Yan General sister x fem reader (Platonic)

(So I actually wrote 2 different stories regarding this Yandere OC. I will release the second story soon. Much love and enjoy😊💗)

Warnings: ( Possessive themes, references to assault/rape. Animal abuse, language, violence)

"Shit! Why today?!" I whined as I wandered through this thick forest. The Sun was about to set and my body was sweating,  not because of the heat but due to nervousness and fear. My sister, Jara, would be coming back from the battle. I didn't know it was today or maybe I had forgotten otherwise, I wouldn't have done the foolish act of coming to hunting in the Redwood forest with my dog, Tic.

My sister was the General of the army, not forgetting that our father was the previous one, and after his death, Jara was chosen as the next General. Our family was very close to the imperial family, hence I was a noble. I had five sisters and Jara was the oldest and I was the youngest so including me, we were a total of six. I still don't know why she treated me like a kid out of everyone? Even though I was an obedient child I still had to face so many restrictions and I feared that a day would come when Jara would probably lock me in my room. Three of my sisters had been married off to good families and now Flora and I were left. She knew how much I loved being outdoors and so assisted me secretly to escape the mansion in a cart of hay so I could hunt. We both were unaware that Jara was to return today. I had only found out when I was strolling through the market, as people were getting ready to celebrate her homecoming and chatted about the victory in the battle.

Despite being an expert in hunting and always returning safely home, unfortunately, today when she had to come back, the ribbon which I had tied to the tree probably flew away or an animal tore it and now Tic and I were roaming aimlessly like fools to find our way back. So far, no success or maybe wait...

"YES! I hear the stream! Let's follow the sound Tic."  We both trudged through the foliage and luckily found the stream, by now the sun had almost set and seeing this I quickly lit up the torch which I carried in my bag after filling up my bottle.  Tic had also fully satisfied himself with enough water and I got up to continue our search way back.

However, I almost screamed seeing three buff men standing near the tree line above the stream, staring down at us, smirking.

"What?" That's right, I am not afraid.

"Why did you get up honey?. We were rather enjoying the view." UGH! Disgusting creeps. 

"I have important things to do. Come on , Tic."

I grabbed his leash and began to walk the other way instead of going up, but the sudden sound of their boots sliding across the sand caught my attention. Seeing this. Tic began barking at them and I had to turn around as he was being angry at the men and constantly pulling on the leash. However, my mind screamed to just get out of here and run. I couldn't fight these buff men and judging from their appearance, it was evident that they were bounty hunters as they had a specific way to dress. How did they get the permission to enter the forest is unknown to me. I will make sure they don't ever if I get back safely because this forest was deemed to be safe for hunters like me from such people.

"Tic , let's go!"

"Woah , don't know which is more feisty one , you or your bitch." I turned around , taking a dagger out of my belt , and in just these milliseconds , Tic was shot by one of the men's arrows.

"NO! YOU ASSHOLE! TIC!" 

"HAHAH! One down, the other to go." I had to be strong right now so I maintained my stance as they circled me like wolves. It was clear what their intentions were but I was not going down like a failure, I was Jara's sister after all.

"You have no idea who I am. I am Jara Armani's sister and if you dare touch me , she'll skin you alive assholes."

"Hmmm, General Armani, that wrench. Thanks for telling  us sweetie."

" Yeah , this is a cherry on top. Hey , Storm , imagine her face when she discovers her little sister all naked and covered in blood."

Geez. Someone grabbed me from behind in a tight hold and I tried kicking his shins but the other one grabbed my legs. I screamed as loudly as I could to grab someone's attention if there was any other hunter present in the forest. In reply, I could only hear birds chirping as they flew back to their trees. Was this my end? I couldn't even get to meet my sister even though I hated her because she was too protective but now, I needed her. I realized she was right about the cruelty of this world.

"LET ME GO! YOU'LL REGRET IT! DON'T YOU HAVE MOTHERS AND SISTERS AT HOME!?".

They started chuckling as one of them tore my skirt. 

"Even if we did-" The man named Storm who was taking his belt off in front of me was struck by an arrow right in the head which came from behind and the other two instantly got up to fight whoever did this but soon they too fell to their deaths by none other than my sister who came riding with her men in tow.

"Take their bodies to my basement."  Is she really back? She looked so different compared to months back. She silently walked over to me and without saying anything , picked me up and carried me home. I could tell she was pissed and didn't know if I should hug her or thank her. 

.

.

.

"YOU NEVER LISTEN, DO YOU! WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU GO THERE ALONE! HUH?!"

"I-the weather was great today and Tic-

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY WOULD'VE DONE IF I HADN'T REACHED THERE?. THOSE FILTHY ANIMALS, PIECES OF HORSHIT! HOW DID THEY EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO TOUCH YOU!"

She had been yelling constantly and Flora, my sister was also grounded for not taking 'care' of me properly.

I stood like a statue as she took out her steam. Suddenly I was pushed on the wall behind and I could sense her fuming breath on my face. Her rough hands can nearly break my arms from the force she's holding me.

" This was the day I warned you about. Always! But you never listened. " She rubbed her temple and continued. "You will not even step out of your room for as long as I say. And I am shifting you to the top floor." 

"The attic? Jara...please no," I whimpered her name. How can she do this? The attic is cold and said to be haunted by my own parents' ghosts!. I don't know if it is true or not but I am not going there. Her eyes were still cold, unwavering as if only filled with the desire to cage me which was the thing I had nightmares about. I prayed that my tears would somehow melt her heart.

"No, please. Sorry. I won't go out. I promise!"

"I trusted you when I left you here but not now. " Surprisingly she hugged me as I cried. "You will stay there ... forever my baby sister. Nobody will see you, except me. "

[c-u-c-koo-4-40k]

Not story more ramble but I will still tag.

@egrets-not-regrets @bleedingichorhearts @kit-williams @sleepyfan-blog @barn-anon

Spoilers for Warhammer Fulgrim Lore.

I think the husbandry fandom has missed a profound opportunity for some juicy conflict!

So we have some general agreed upon notions for how certain legions react to Husbandry Terra. Now obviously not all of a single space marine type behave the same way but there be trends.

Salamanders, Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Thousand Sons, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists: these groups generally accept bonds and human companionship as they had decent human contact in their original timeline.

Then you've got the grumps who love the attention but getting them to admit it is like Pulling Teeth: Night Lords, Iron Hands and Iron Warriors.

But we have been missing out! On a delightfully painful side of our favorite premadonnas. The Emperor's Children.

Now they and their sire Fulgrim are often stereotyped as such. Elegant, pompous, snooty and post heresy they go completely mask off a drive full into unbound freak territory.

But their story is much more tragic than a spoiled brat leading other spoiled brats into serving the God of overdoing things.

Fulgrim isn't spoken of as much in terms of being screwed over, but looking closer he really was.

Shot to an awful industrial planet where he watched his adopted family struggle to feed him let alone themselves. It would give anybody a complex.

Needing to be useful, needing to contribute, needing to not be a burden.

And once the The Big E showed up it didn't get much better.

His sons? Suffer a geneflaw that gives them astarte cancer. He not only loses many of them, but has to make due with what he has left. Meaning no matter how well trained, he just can't conquer planets at the rate dear old dad wants him to.

His brothers? Got there own issues and probably don't take Fulgrim's struggles seriously. He's just at that spot of "Wow that sucks," and "But the others have it worse.' He probably doesn't feel like he can talk deeply to anyone.

So Fulgrim does what many unloved children do, in fact he does the same thing as Perturabo, Pushes Himself to The Breaking Point.

In Fulgrim's case, any failures he blames completely on himself. Where Perty lashes out, Fulgrim turns inward.

Until he just can't take it anymore. He decides he's going to finally be selfish. Commit fully to the pleasures and pain so he never has to remember the agony he feels, that he will Never, be good enough

Heck killing Ferrus probably cemented that feeling in him. I'm not worth anything, so why bother trying to be good. Why not just be the absolute Worst.

Heavy stuff. But this leads me to my main musing.

In 40k the sins of the father very much affect the sons.

So my proposition is...you think other space marines are clingy? They hold not a Candle to an Emperor's Child. Especially one post heresy.

If you show an EC that they can be open, vulnerable, Imperfect, around you, and you don't immediately turn tail and run from the baggage, You Will Never Escape.

They don't just crave intimacy, they crave stability, affection, LOVE.

And if you give them any indication you'll supply it, they will Never let themselves be cut off.