#instead artemis was the one who became the host

[my-pjo-stuff]

God, I can’t believe that you prevented the tragedy of Manhattan by putting little Luke in a box and shipping him off to Germany. Astounding how easy that was. Great commentary on how fucked up USA’s (and, by extent, the god’s) system is.

But now. Without Luke in the place to initiate the rebellion, the situation all the unclaimed demigods were in would have continued for many more years. At some point, someone, perhaps the child of a minor god, would have noticed the unfairness of Olympus and would have became the new target for Kronos. Which raises the question: how would the second Titan war have gone if Luke was not Kronos’s chosen?

Idk, I’m just having thoughts 🤷‍♀️. An AU where Alabaster for example hosts Kronos could be really interesting…

Turns out that Germany can solve a lot of problems in PJO actually, who knew XD Also thanks a lot for the compliment 💖

NOW ONTO THE QUESTION : Honestly? I think that the revolt still would have started the relative same- but instead of Luke it would have been Chris starting it. I mean just think about this logically! In the books it was mentioned that Chris was with Luke from basically the very get-go. He remained unclaimed (afaik) for a good chunk of time and was among the oldest Hermes campers. He would have been the next best starting point. Later in canon he did join back up with CHB of course, but the thing is- I doubt that in this AU he would have gone on that labyrinth mission in the first place. He takes Luke's place in this AU- and Luke obviously wouldn't go around doing simple missions. Chances are that just some other, random Halfblood took over Chris' mission and was driven to madness. Otherwise..... I don't think that too much would have changed. Atleast not until TLO. I suppose some changes would have to be made with TTC, since Annabeth wouldn't have had any reason to take the sky from Chirs. That's easily remedied tho by saying that Clarisse was the one being kidnapped for the plan instead. She's also a maiden, Artemis couldn't care less whether it's Annabeth or Clarisse in that regard. Since Clarisse has a crush on Chris she'd have a reason to take the sky- she also has a strong enough will to carry it. I'm sure. From there on it would still go the relative same. Percy probably would still go off to save Clarisse- even if it's just to get Atlas taken care of. Chris would be the one to get possessed by Kronos. TLO will probably change the most though- I still assume that Luke's the Hero of the Great Prophecy for this part- which means that we somehow needs to get A)Luke from Germany to the US and B)Percy to realize that LUKE's the hero. Kronos would probably be revived later than in canon since he doesn't have Luke there. The way Kronos can come back is by a certain amount of demigods swearing loyalty to him, remember? The thing is, without Luke there as the one demigod who swore loyalty first Kronos is missing one more demigod post Ethan. Who would that demigod be? Idk and idc. What matters here is that TLO would turn to being a race against time for both Percy and Kronos. For Kronos, it's finding and getting one more demigod to join him.

For Percy it's finding the Hero of the Great Prophecy. Which is why I think that the plot of TLO would change to Percy and co. trying to find out who the acctual Hero of the Great Prophecy is.

Hestia's involvement here could possibly be pointing Percy into the right direction. Or in this case, sending the our MCs to Germany. From there on we'd probably take some time getting to know german!Luke, since this would be his first appearance. Possibly starting out with Luke being the one providing Percy and Annabeth some aid? They are two minors in a foreign country afterall where they don't understand the language or culture. In that case Luke would props have to be on leave during the plot or something, since he's in the military. Anyway, so plot happens and sooner or later people realize Luke's the Hero of the Great Prophecy. By that time probably would have run out, with Kronos finally getting his last Halfblood and taking over Chris. Enter : The Battle of Manhatten. Hestia and the gods at that point still have their own issues to deal with, so I doubt Hestia would be able to ship them around the world again. And a normal flight would take ages. So Luke decided to do something a little desperate. He throws on his military uniform, tells Annabeth to throw on her Invisibility Cap and keep quiet and follow him and Percy. He gets everyone in the car, drives up to the military basis and basically starts lying through his teeth. He tells the guards that he decided to shorten his break on a short notice, since something else came up in the future which ne needs the leave for more. Percy is Luke's nephwe, and currently doing an internship for the military. He has been assigned his caretaker for the duration of the internship. Luke being considered a prodigy and already being well respected and high up in the military, aswell as some demigod talents get the guards to let them through with an invisible Annabeth trailing after them. Putting his talents as a son of Hermes to use, Luke basically steals a military helicopter- loads both Percy and Annabeth up into it and decides to commit impromptu treason and takes off. One short prayer to Hermes later, and the trio find themselves miraculously back in Manhatten. From then on more plot happens, Luke manages to get into the fight and from there on it pretty much goes as canon again. Chris/Kronos being defeated in this could possibly come from Luke figuring out Chris' Achilles Heel by analyzing how he fights, and going for it. Getting stabbed by Kronos' scythe in the process and thus dying. Short note tho, since Luke had to throw on his uniform to steal the helicopter this means that Luke's pulling up to Manhatten wearing one of those two drips.

(Head covering and badges vary, since those are diffrent ranks than what I imagine Luke to be)

ALTERNATIVLEY

In an AU where Luke ISN'T the Hero of the Great Prophecy, I think it would honestly just switch to Percy. 'cause well.... who else? The plot would props go as everyone would have expected it to go, with Percy dying at age 16 probably also to Kronos' scythe. In that case Luke props wouldn't even rly have noticed anything going down in Manhatten.

[harmonyspopculturecorner]

Comfort Media

Think about when you’ve been having a long day… or when you aren’t feeling the best… or even when you just feel like you need something to keep your mind off of everything going on in the world. What do you find yourself being drawn to? Some music that you associate with driving down the road, friends by your side? A fanfic that you found late one night and had you kicking your feet with how cute the plot was? Or maybe even a show that you know more dialogue to than you’d like to admit? Any piece of media that makes you feel at home, safe, relaxed… like you can turn your brain off for a while. That’s what I’d call comfort media.

Now, the idea of comfort media isn’t necessarily a new one. People have always had media that they choose to indulge in no matter how many times they’ve watched, listened, or read it. However, during the pandemic, when our world was literally turned upside down, this idea became more of a forefront. It took me until the pandemic to put a name to it, and since then I’ve realized that I have a few different pieces of comfort media.

My comfort media doesn’t have a theme… an anime, a music group, literary couple fanfiction, children’s cartoon, superhero animated show, and YouTube comedy. All of these are different, but all of them bring me a sense of relaxation at different times when needed.

One of my indicators that I am building up stress  is the urge to put on ‘Ouran High School Host Club’. This was one of the first anime I ever watched, and it remains one of my all-time favorites. I could quote countless episodes, and even list their titles in order (This is no lie, my friend can attest to looking at the episode list while I recited the titles off on a video call). ‘Ouran’ is my comfort because I don’t need to think while watching it. I can put it on in the background and easily be doing work… all while keeping focused and gradually calming myself down.

The shows ‘Scooby-Doo’ and ‘Young Justice’ season 1 do the same thing. ‘Scooby-Doo’ could be listed as my favorite piece of media ever. It’s classic, the stories are fun, the characters are relatable, and most importantly… It's my childhood. To this day, I still have two shelves worth of the ‘Scooby-Doo’ movies and show volumes. It doesn’t matter if I know who the ‘Miner 49er’ is already - I’m going to watch the episode and follow along as the gang finds clues, gets chased, sets a trap, and finally catches the criminal. 

‘Young Justice’ is, overall, an underrated show in the DC Universe. It was what really roped me back into liking superheroes. Growing up I watched ‘Teen Titans’, but I fell away from superhero media for a few years. Then, a friend suggested I watch ‘Young Justice’, and I was right back in. All 4 seasons of this show are great, but if I’m going to do a simple rewatch, it’s going to be the first season. There’s something about the original team of Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy, M’Gann and Artemis that always puts a smile on my face. The characters all have great chemistry, the storylines for the first season were clever, thought out, and reasonably challenging for the target audience. (Though not too complicated where you have no clue what’s going on) So, anytime I am beginning to feel my anxiety building I can throw ‘Ouran’, ‘Scooby-Doo’, or ‘Young Justice’ on the TV and instantly relax.

When I am just having a bad day, there are a few pieces of media I’ll turn to. First is something every nerd knows about: fanfiction. I read fanfiction for basically every media I enjoy, but there’s a specific kind I turn to when I need a smile:‘Percabeth’ fanfics. ‘Percabeth’ is the pairing of Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase from Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series. I absolutely adore this couple more than words could describe. They’ve been through hell within their stories (I mean they’ve literally walked through Tartarus together). The fanfics I read give them the happiness and love they deserve. Instead of focusing on  battles and life-threatening situations, the fics I  read for this couple focus on the mundane. We get to see between the battles, helping bandage each other up and even watch them go through relationship growing pains. My favorite is glancing into their future, watching them live out their lives attending New Rome University together. Whatever the situation, seeing the creative stories fans write for these two never fails to make me smile.

The next thing I turn to on almost a daily basis (even when I’m not having a bad day) are ‘Smosh Videos’. I used to watch Smosh back when they first started on YouTube: Just two friends making silly skits and videos. I had no idea they eventually grew into a company with a whole cast, crew, and studio… until my friend put on an episode of ‘Eat It or Yeet It’ because they knew how picky an eater I am. Since then, I am always watching their newest videos. I even have the notifications on! The variety of their videos are fun and can appeal to many people. For example, you can find a plethora of new party games to play with friends from Smosh’s ‘Board AF’ series. Even my dad gets a laugh out of the crazy food crimes Garrett commits for ‘Eat It or Yeet It’!

My final piece of comfort media, the one that I truly hold closest to my heart, are ‘BTS Music and Videos’. Basically everyone has heard the name BTS, and there’s not really a need to explain why. They’re global superstars, not only for their music and talent, but because of their meaningful messages and love they share. I have so much to thank BTS for… they helped me begin to see my own worth and learn to love myself, they introduced me to a culture that led me to an amazing year of living abroad… and most importantly because of them I have two of the most important people in my life. Anytime I listen to BTS’ music or watch one of their videos I can’t help but smile. Nothing but good memories come from them, and that’s the ultimate comfort.

Comfort media can be different for everyone, and it can shift throughout our lives. However, one thing remains the same: These pieces of entertainment are a simple place to turn to when you just need to sit back, relax, and let the world fall away for a bit.

Thank you for reading! This is all simply my own opinion and thoughts on the concept of comfort media. I’d love to know your thoughts and what makes comforting entertainment for you! Feel free to comment and even share your comfort media too!

[rippleon-blog]

Lorenza Muñoz Is Making Community Cool Again

I was so honored to interview former L.A. Times reporter and Amazon MGM executive Lorenza Muñoz in this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast. Lorenza is an incredible entrepreneur on a mission to create connection, community and collaboration together to create even bigger Ripples in the world.

Connecting as human beings is in our evolutionary nature. It is fundamental to our human experience and essential for flourishing. Obviously, this is not news. Communities throughout history have gathered around fires, told stories, bonded, reflected on spiritual needs–together.

 But these societal norms have slowly been eroding for a variety of reasons. Community seemed like it was much easier to find only a few decades ago, whether it was through religious institutions or neighborhood gatherings or long held traditions. The lingering trauma of COVID isolation we all experienced, the distraction of social media that seeks to replace in person connection with a virtual one have made the need for connection urgent. As human beings, we need to socialize in order to understand our connection to the world around us.

The premise behind Artemis Muse Productions is threefold:

•Bring back the concept of community–live and in person.

•Catalyze groups and individuals around issues, themes, art or ideas through vibrant gatherings and discussions.

•Advance company or individual business initiatives and ideas through curated gatherings.

Artemis Muse is a connector-catalyst, ready to spread ideas, to create experiences that light up our emotional, artistic needs and to instigate change.

INSPIRATION:

Salons: Back in the 17th and 18th Century, Salons were held (mostly led by women) in Paris and other European cities to discuss ideas, science and politics. These women were friends with the artists and writers and intellectuals. Some were patrons of the arts. But mostly, they provided exposure to artists and thinkers and served as catalysts for some of the radical ideas that led to the Enlightenment.

Harlem Renaissance: The cradle of Black intellectual and artistic thought. A movement that continues to reverberate today with its thought leaders like Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston and others blazing a path for Black influence, thought and art. Georgia Douglas Johnson, a poet and writer who hosted the S Street Salon in Washington DC, was particularly influential. Her Saturday Nighters were legendary gatherings where women’s rights were discussed, anti-lynching action was hatched and literary minds expanded in a supportive, safe environment.

Mexico City: My personal inspiration came through osmosis. Within my own family, there were salons hosted by my Great Aunt (affectionately called Toe). She was a maverick for her time and place, deciding not to marry and instead to follow her own career path in Mexican society. For nearly two decades, Toe held court in her beautiful apartment overlooking Mexico City with writers, intellectuals, bankers, artists and thought leaders. My grandmother also developed and cultivated community. For nearly 70 years, she was at the center of a group of women (jokingly) called “Las Intocables,” or “The Untouchables.” They were a fearsome group of 12 or so women who were best friends and saw each other through life and all of its changes, rituals, happy moments and tragedies. They were also the group to know for any woman hoping to enter into the tight knit world of Cuernavaca, a city about 1 hour south of Mexico City that became a weekend destination and globally renown resort town.

I learned about community through my family, but I began to nurture and lead community gatherings professionally during my time as the head of member relations and awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. When I arrived in 2015, my mandate was to create outreach and opportunities for the members to feel more connected to each other and the institution. We needed to find ways to open up the membership to more women and underrepresented groups who, historically, had not been invited. We needed to create events and gatherings that brought together our members several times a year–not just through the Oscars. We were successful in creating the first ever annual gathering of female members in Los Angeles, New York, London and other cities–complete with a grant award for female filmmakers. We ushered in a new era of inclusivity, with the organization’s Board of Governors becoming more diverse in gender, race and ethnicity than ever before–nearly 50% female by 2020 compared to less than 10% in 2015 among many other accomplishments. It was at the Academy that I realized that no matter how rich or how famous you might be, a sense of belonging, of feeling seen and valued, is essential for any human being.

Be sure to check out her website and let her know one thing that stood out or inspired you about what she shared in this episode: https://thelorenzamunoz.com/

Ready to get your Ripple On? Check out the latest episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast with Steve Harper!

[cresvalkyrie]

Exposition Post 0.5: From the Past, To the Present

Tagging @fangaminghell, @alltheoutsinfreeeee, @lurker-extraordinaire-657645and @lemonade-juley for their AU exposition update alerts :p

For those of you who want a refresher, here’s a shortcut to the previous post.

Again, this is a lengthy lore exposition post connecting where we last left off in the history of the Aura Wielders to pre-Calamity Aevium. So sit down, get comfy, maybe brew yourself a hot beverage and/or grab some snacks and enjoy the post :D

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3000 years have passed since Vitus and Nymiera had vanished from the mortal realm. From the ashes left in the wake of the War, seven kingdoms have risen with the combined efforts of man and Pokemon. Among these kingdoms were the Kingdom of Ghovora (present-day Goldenwood), the Kingdom of Kasura (present-day Kingdom of Goomidra) and the Kingdom of Zygara (present-day Sashila Village and Zorrialyn Desert). The rest have unfortunately fallen into obscurity.

For centuries, the Aura Wielders have maintained the peace between kingdoms by traveling the realm as nomads, beholden to no kingdom and yet free to enter or exit their borders. They listened to the woes of the people they met on their journeys, lent them their aid, and - should the need arise - stepped forth and protect the people from dangerous threats.

It is, for this reason, that Aura Wielders are highly regarded by the Seven Kingdoms as protectors and heroes. Even the royal families hold them with great respect.

For millennia, all was well... until it wasn’t.

One day, a large number of refugees arrived at the shores of the Seven Kingdoms, seeking asylum. They called themselves the Garufans, who had allegedly fled their ancestral lands to avoid persecution at the hands of their rival tribes.

Taking pity upon their plight, the Aura Wielders welcomed them with open arms and helped them establish a settlement at the outskirts of Zygara. At first, everything seemed alright despite the unease that rippled through kingdoms. After all, wasn’t it normal for people to fear what they do not understand? And what they did not understand were the bizarrely advanced - to the point it could be called futuristic - technology that the Garufans brought with them.

Even so, the Garufans were peaceful; they mainly kept to themselves and took great lengths to avoid any strife between their neighbours. In all respect, they appear to be sincere in their desire to avoid further conflict... so the Aura Wielders gave them the benefit of the doubt.

However, the other kingdoms did not share this sentiment. Queen Griselda of Ghovora, in particular, was the most mistrustful out of her fellow rulers and saw them as threats to the peace she envisioned. Her paranoia was so great, in fact, that she conspired with a reluctant King Ieisel to conquer the other kingdoms to acquire their resources and manpower. All for the sake of eliminating what she viewed as a threat.

By the time the Aura Wielders had realised what Queen Griselda had been plotting, it was too late to stop her. She had already launched multiple war campaigns against her neighbours and annexed their lands, despite the frantic pleas of her family and her scared, exhausted people.

Realising with horror and resignation that Griselda was beyond redemption and reason, her sisters and eldest daughter took matters into their own hands... only for it to unleash a different monstrosity altogether. From the broken remains of the dead queen, her embittered soul was reborn into a new eldritch form hellbent on wreaking its vengeance upon her murderers. Her daughter was the first to fall victim to her rampage, and was reincarnated into the form of a ghost Pokemon through her powers. 

Fortunately, her sisters were able to escape Griselda’s wrath and enlisted the help of the Aura Wielders to seal her away together with the ruins of her kingdom. Where she could no longer harm anyone in a fit of blind rage.

The immediate threat had been neutralised, but the damage had been done. Irreversibly so.

The Garufans, realising that nowhere is safe for them, turned belligerent towards outsiders and sought to subjugate every single one of them to protect themselves. Taking advantage of the chaos brought about by Griselda’s war campaigns, they infilitrated the ruins of the Kingdom of Kasura - where the Archetype was being held - and seized it, intending on weaponising it for their own purposes. 

In order to cover their own ulterior motives for using the Archetype, the Garufans secretly leaked its existence to the outside world, ultimately fanning the flames of conflict. It wasn’t long before the regions beyond the borders of the Seven Kingdoms took up arms, each of them wanting to claim the Archetype’s mystical powers for themselves, leading to the start of the Kalos War (also known as the Great War since it was, more accurately, a war on a global scale).

Meanwhile, tensions were at an all-time high in the Seven Kingdoms. The Aura Wielders had their hands full in assisting the survivors of Griselda’s conquests, and keeping an eye out for potential invaders threatening to shatter the fragile peace. The people were uneasy, and with their only link to the outside world being the Garufans, what little news they received had only sent them even more on edge.

Eventually, one young Aura Wielder had enough and foolishly took matters into his own hands. He snuck into his clan’s sacred grounds of Amethyst Grotto, took the Paradigm Crest and revealed the secrets of the Aura Wielders to the Garufans in the hopes that they would use this knowledge to restore the peace.

That did not happen. The boy was imprisoned within their laboratories for his misguided kindness and the Paradigm Crest taken. Soon after, armed with their newly acquired knowledge, the Garufans began to forcibly conscript Aura Wielders to use as their soldiers. However, all of them adamantly refused, so they decided to take their powers for themselves.

Some perished from the inhumane experiments. Many lost their minds as a result of their powers abused to its limit, transforming them into feral Pokemon who attacked everything on sight - including themselves.

It was through these experiments that the Garufans were able to devise a way to allow even the common man to mimic the Aura Wielders’ signature abilities: by sealing their souls (though a Pokemon’s soul is a viable substitute) within a special tome, the holder would be able to wield their powers as if it were their own. This technique would later be dubbed as Garufan magicks.

As for the Paradigm Crest, countless have volunteered to become its host. Only one proved themself up to the challenge, and even then... it came at a great cost. By taking the Crest into themself, their consciousness inevitably merged with Adrest’s, with the latter as the dominant identity, and their memories of their past self permanently lost.

Despite the somewhat disappointing results, the Garufans wrote it off as a success and placed Adrest under the care of one of their subordinates - Variya. Originally, she was to meticulously observe/record their progress and ensure they were ready for their purpose as a weapon when the time comes, but over time she grew to care for Adrest like they were her child and decided to rebel against her superior for their sake.

Meanwhile, the Aura Wielders stormed into the Garufan HQ to retrieve the lost Paradigm Crest and to rescue any surviving captives. While they did not find any survivors, they were able to retrieve the Archetype (which was entrusted to the protection of a human clan) and convince Adrest to come with them, with some persuasion from Variya.

Unfortunately, the Garufans soon learned of the attack and immediately went to reclaim them. The Aura Wielders, fully expecting this, enacted an emergency escape plan.

Prior to their attack on Garufa HQ, the Aura Wielders constructed an illusory realm as a bridge connecting this world to another - an alternate reality where Pokemon never existed - using the energies harvested from sacrificial souls. They called this realm “Phantasmal Arboret”, because of its elusive nature and how its appearance strongly resembled a misty forest. Normally, this would be an impossible feat, but the Great War had caused the barriers between realities to weaken, allowing them to pierce through its weak spots to construct their bridge.

And, to prevent anyone from trespassing, the realm was woven in a way so that the only way to gain entry is via a spiritual key - the Mirage Wing. The Mirage Wing was made from the ceremonial hairpiece worn by the leader of the Aura Wielders, and a few psychic-imbued feathers shed by her beloved partner Pokemon. In order for the Mirage Wing to activate, two conditions must be fulfilled: the holder must be an Aura Wielder, and they must have a powerful desire to reach the realm. Furthermore, the holder of the Mirage Wing has the authority to select who could enter and leave the place, and who to bar entry from, permitting them to grant entrance to their allies if necessary. 

Using this, the Aura Wielders plus Adrest fled into the alternate world. And, to ensure that the Garufans would cease their pursuit, the few who stayed behind made a show of destroying their settlements and performing mass ‘suicides’ to solidify the illusion of their demise. Initially, the Garufans were unconvinced of this and continued their hunt, only ceasing when they realised that they could find neither hair nor hide of the Aura Wielders. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, like they never existed to begin with... 

In reality, the remaining ones had willingly forced a transformation upon themselves to throw the Garufans off their tails, hiding away from the world until the end of the Kalos War and subsequently the Garufan Civilisation’s collapse. Once the danger has passed, they came out of hiding and continued to keep watch over the region as its protectors... though a few chose to leave and carve out a new path for themselves.

Meanwhile, things had went from bad to worse for the ones taking part in the exodus. As it turned out, the atmosphere of the alternate world was extremely incompatible with their heritage, causing them to gradually lose their abilities and/or die a slow, painful death. For reasons unknown, Adrest was immune to its effects.

It was soon discovered that the Paradigm Crest was able to counteract the atmosphere’s erosion of their bodies, allowing them to live without compromising on their inherent powers. So, with great reluctance, they proposed a grim solution - one that would be considered sacrilegious had it been spoken under normal circumstances.

The solution was to select one of their numbers to become the next host for the Paradigm Crest, pass on their position to their ‘heir’ and the cycle repeats, thus allowing the bloodline to survive long enough for their eventual return.

After Adrest, the next host was Altair - then leader of the Aura Wielders. When the time came, she passed on the role to her daughter, which was handed down to her own daughter and so on. And to mark the bearer of this position, each of them inherited the key to the illusory realm and they were expected to pass it down to their successor. This went on for 200 years, with a girl named Freja becoming the next-in-line for the position; she succeeded her mother at the age of 16.

However, she bore immense bitterness towards this tradition, blaming it as the cause of her mother’s misery and eventual death, and swore never to continue this seemingly bloodstained custom for the sake of her own children. Ironically, she would end up participating in this very tradition that she swore never to take part in... for the sake of reviving her dying newborn. And unbeknownst to Freja, in what looked to be an act of motherly sacrifice, she had unwittingly burdened her daughter with the weight of the world and more... 

[dwellordream]

“The mistaken claim that Amazons must have received their name because they were single-breasted was widely repeated by Greek and Roman writers, and every author thereafter is obliged to grapple with the paradoxical image. A fiction invented in the fifth century BC was behind the notion. This fake “fact” surfaced at least two centuries after the tribal name “Amazon” for an ethnic group of men and women was used by the Greeks (chapter 1). The historian Hellanikos of Lesbos (b. 490 BC) described Amazons as “a host of golden-shielded, silver-axed, man-loving, boy-killing females.” Then Hellanikos attempted to make their foreign name “Amazon” into a Greek word. The Greeks were fond of this sort of etymological exercise of forcing Greek meanings onto loanwords from other languages, based on similarities to sounds in Greek. The strong tendency of ancient writers to create and accept crude, “patently absurd” word derivations is well known.

In this case, Hellanikos maintained that Amazones must mean “breastless” or “lacking breast” because a- means “without” in Greek and mazos sounded to Greek ears a bit like mastos, the Greek word for “breast.” A rival folk etymology suggested that the name meant “without grain,” because maza was Greek for “barley.” The Scythian nomads were in fact meat-eaters, not vegetarians, but this dietary label was much too dull to compete with the lurid image of women who sacrificed their breasts to become warriors. Hellanikos’s false etymology demanded a story to explain the Amazon’s missing breast. Various dreadful scenarios were proposed for the method of this alleged self-mutilation, which was based solely on specious wordplay.

Airs, Waters, Places, a treatise attributed to the physician Hippocrates (fourth century BC), stated that Sarmatian women seared the right breast of baby girls with a red-hot bronze tool, so that the right arm would be stronger. The idea here was that the potential power of the breast would be displaced to the corresponding arm. It is physiologically true that handedness often corresponds to slightly larger hands and feet on the dominant side of the body, and that habitual exercise of one limb or hand can result in development of larger bones and musculature. (As noted in the previous chapter, bioarchaeological signs of right-handedness and larger finger bones among archers have been ob- served in the skeletal remains of warriors of both sexes in burial sites across Scythia.) Hellanikos and Hippocrates were contemporaries of Herodotus, our earliest and most accurate Greek source of detailed information about Sarmatians, Scythians, and Amazons based on his firsthand observations and interviews around the Black Sea in the fifth century BC.

Significantly, however, even though Herodotus describes many gruesome and extraordinary Scythian customs, he never mentions this self- inflicted breast deformity. Nevertheless, the idea took hold. Diodorus, Strabo, Pomponius Mela, Justin, and Orosius repeated the tale that Amazons used an iron tool to cauterize the breast at infancy or before pu- berty so that it would not hinder their use of the bow and spear. Pomponius Mela said that removal of the right breast made them “ready for action, able to withstand blows to the chest like men.” According to Apollodorus and Curtius, Amazons “pinched off” the right breast but retained the left for nursing their babies. Arrian described Amazons who came to join Alexander’s campaign in Persia (330 BC); to him, the right exposed breast appeared to be smaller than the covered left breast (see chapter 20).

We know that at least three later writers disagreed with the one-breast notion. John Tzetzes, the Byzantine commentator on Hellanikos, pointed out that the etymology was untrue because cutting off a breast would cause fatal bleeding. Another author, Philostratus (third century AD), rejected Hellanikos’s claim and proposed a more logical—and more humane—explanation, that amazon actually meant “not breast- fed.” Philostratus argued that real-life Amazons love their children but do not nurse them because the practice results in mollycoddled children and saggy breasts, undesirable traits in their warrior culture. Instead, the nomadic horsewomen nourish their babies with mare’s milk, honey, and dew. Tryphiodorus, a Greek poet of the fifth century AD, also defined amazon as “unsuckled.” Such a concept was far removed from Greek culture, with its stay-at-home nursing mothers, but seemed reasonable for nomadic hunter-warrior women.

A similar practice appears in a sixth-century AD Roman description of a northern nomad tribe called the Scrithiphini (probably the Sami people of the western Arctic region) whose women and men hunted together. According to Procopius, their infants were not nursed but fed with bone marrow and swaddled in cradle boards hung on trees while the mother and father pursued game. Once the sensational “factoid” of one breast became embedded in the catalog of Amazon attributes, each successive writer routinely included it in his description of the women warriors. Perhaps the concept seemed appropriate because Amazons represented the opposite of Greek wives and mothers, and their “terrifying asymmetry” signaled their barbarism.

Some modern scholars suggest that deliberately removing one breast was intended to symbolize the Amazons’ willful destruction of their own femininity and so resonated with Greek men who feared women who behaved like men. For Greek women, the removal of one breast would signify the terrible sacrifice Amazons made to become more like men. For other scholars “one-breastedness” signi- fied Amazons’ freedom from nursing and maternal attachments: Amazons “don’t need breasts because they will never raise children.” But many ancient Greek texts described Amazon mothers, and some referred to nursing babies (not to mention the archaeological discoveries of female warriors buried with children; chapter 4). According to another theory, Amazon “breastlessness” stood for the “sexual unripeness of the nubile adolescent” Greek maiden. Some scholars point out that Greeks associated the right side of the body with masculinity and the left with femininity. Most classical writers described removal of the right breast while the left was exposed, but some reversed the sides. And Greek artists were inconsistent about which of the two breasts was exposed in Amazon battle scenes.

If the concept of removing a breast was such an important symbolic attribute for the Greeks, then one must wonder why no single-breasted Amazons appear in classical art. Despite the popularity into modern times of “just-so stories” about how the Amazon “lost her breast,” ancient Greek painters and sculptors invariably depicted the mythic Amazons double-breasted. As noted, symmetry was an essential quality of the Greek ideal of beauty. Amazons of myth and art were always portrayed as beautiful heroic women, the equals of the handsome aristocratic Greek heroes. Perhaps physical asymmetry in artistic scenes would be jarring to Greek aesthetic sensibilities. (Ugly or deformed people appear in artistic illustrations of ancient comedies or scenes of daily life but are rare in heroic situations.) Moreover, artistic portrayals of Amazons are often erotic—showing mutilated women could interfere with sexual appeal.

Vase painters and sculptors often emphasized Amazons’ bosoms with diaphanous drapery or body-hugging garments. Another artistic “convention” was to show fighting and wounded Amazons in chitons (loose, short, belted tunics fastened at the shoulder—also worn by Greek males) worn in exomis style, with one breast and shoulder exposed. Art historians have interpreted this typical Amazonian pose in many different ways. Was revealing a breast an erotic gesture? Was the “one breast exposed” intended as a subtle, less graphic stand-in for the “one breast missing” literary motif ? Was a bared breast meant to evoke sympathy, in the case of wounded Amazons? Was flaunting the breast in the midst of battle a way of taunting or distracting the male heroes, or was it to make sure the men (and the viewer) understood that they were being attacked by women? In fact, one exposed breast reflected practical active attire. The archer goddess Artemis and the huntress Atalanta were dressed for action this way, and so were many Greek male archers, workers, warriors, and heroes. In Greece and other ancient cultures, the dominant shoulder of active figures was often left unclothed for freedom of movement.

Apparently Greek artists and their audiences were not persuaded by the literary trope that female archers were hindered by their breasts. But if artists never depicted one-breasted Amazons, why did the idea catch on and persist so stubbornly in Greek literature? Did some ancient cultures really practice breast removal or suppression? Was there some exotic custom or mode of dress that could have been misunderstood in antiquity, leading Greeks to believe reports of “breastless” or “single- breasted” women warriors? An atrocious practice in West and Central Africa today results in the maiming of millions of young girls by their mothers who hope to prevent rape. “Breast ironing” involves cauterizing budding breasts with a heated metal tool to inhibit breast development. Is it possible that travelers’ tales of similar African “breast-searing” customs were known to the writers of the Hippocratic texts and projected onto Sarmatian women and Amazons of Scythia?

There is no way of knowing how ancient this “secret” ritual of Central Africa really is, and in the absence of any other evidence the likelihood of a similar practice in ancient Eurasia seems slight. Nonetheless, the coincidence is striking, given that several ancient Greek sources mention the use of a heated metal tool. A fictional romance written in Egypt by Dionysius Skytobrachion, about Amazons transported to a Libyan setting, included ethnological details from North Africa to give local flavor to his tale (see chapter 23). When girls were born to the Amazons, he wrote, “both their breasts were seared so that they would not develop into maturity, for they thought that projecting breasts were a hindrance in warfare [and] this is why they are called by the Greeks Amazons.” He is the only ancient author to say both breasts were cauterized, as in modern reports of breast ironing. Did the author know of an African breast-searing custom? The answer is unknown.

A less violent, practical ethnological tradition of “breast suppression” for the comfort of horsewomen existed much closer to home—in the heart of ancient Amazon territory. Since antiquity girls and women of the Black Sea–Caucasus were trained to be expert archers and riders who hunted and fought. Ethnographic evidence among Circassians, Ossetians, Adigeans, Karbardians, Abkhazians, and other groups points to a long tradition of “flattening the breasts during maidenhood.” When girls were seven to ten years of age, their mothers laced a leather vest or corset around their chests, to suppress movement when the girls were riding and shooting. The leather corset was worn until marriage. On the wedding night, the groom slowly, patiently unlaced the fifty-some ties to demonstrate his love, respect, and self-control. Early European travelers in the Caucasus described this traditional article of young women’s attire, which later became known (and modified) as the “Circassian corset.” In the Caucasus, commented the German historian Julius von Klaproth in 1807, “young unmarried females compress their breasts with a close leather jacket, in such a manner that they are scarcely perceptible.” Archaeologist John Abercromby remarked in 1891,“There is nothing improbable in believing that the Caucasian custom has a long row of centuries behind it.”

One of the Nart sagas refers indirectly to the custom of enclosing the torso of girls in leather corsets. In one saga the hero Warzameg mocks a young woman for having “breasts like old bouncing pumpkins.” The simile reveals Caucasian cultural values, notes the Nart saga translator John Colarusso. Ridiculing large, unrestrained, bobbling breasts was meant as a great insult. Among horse peoples of the Caucasus, swinging, pendulous breasts were considered unsightly and awkward “for one simple reason.” Colarusso explains: “If a woman were to go galloping on her horse across the steppes with large breasts unconstrained, she would be uncomfortable and in pain from their bouncing. So there was a premium on small, firm breasts” for active outdoorswomen. Notably, in the 1920s, European and American women’s new liberated, active lifestyle coincided with tight bandeaus to minimize the chest and flatten the breasts into a boyish silhouette.

Athletic women of most body types tend to favor some sort of bosom support, and modern mounted archers wear tight bodices. It’s reasonable to guess that in antiquity, most female riders, archers, fight- ers, and athletes bound or supported their breasts in some fashion. “Support, binding, or restraint, or some form of sports bra for riding” was probably used by mounted nomad women. Greek artists often depicted Amazons with tight-fitting tunics and diagonal chest bands that may have functioned something like a modern “cross-your-heart” brassiere, notes one art historian. Was there any other special attire that could have been misunderstood by the Greeks as “breastlessness” in antiquity? In vase paintings, many Amazons are clad in cuirasses (rigid bronze breastplates), scaled armored tunics, laced corselets, and upper garments and straps, much like those worn by men and all of which had a “flattening effect”.

These artistic depictions reflected the chest armor of padded or rigid materials and scaled armor worn by real nomad warriors of both sexes in antiquity. Archaeological discoveries in Saka-Scythian-Sarmatian lands have turned up a variety of armored tunics fashioned from horn, hooves, bone, and small gold plates or scales in the graves of both men and women (chapters 4, 12, and 13). Baldrics (diagonal chest straps) and wide belts of leather with gold, bronze, and iron plates were also common in male and female burials. If the Greeks observed fighting women clad in protective chest armor that looked just like male armor, the flat-chested effect would help explain descriptions of “breastless” Amazons.

Modern “Amazon” fantasies often picture women wearing curvaceous metallic chest armor molded in the shape of breasts, à la Wonder Woman and Xena, Warrior Princess (fig. 16.4). An ancient version seems to be depicted in figure 5.1. But such erotic “breasted” armor is imprac- tical and dangerous. Experienced female soldiers of any era know that breast-shaped metal chest armor would be life-threatening. Why? Because cone-or dome-shaped projections would direct the force of blows of weapons toward the sternum and heart. Even a fall could be fatal, causing the sharp metal separating the breast hollows to injure or even fracture the breastbone. Therefore, armored fighting women in antiquity would have worn padding under chest plates shaped exactly like the men’s, presenting a flat surface or a ridge down the center to deflect blows away from the heart.

In antiquity, some male and female warriors wore heavier armor on one side of their bodies, leaving the other side less protected or exposed, which could give an impression of single-breastedness. As we saw in the archaeology of Scythians (chapter 4), the skeletons of warrior men and women indicated that most battle injuries were on the left side of the body, dealt by right-handed opponents. Heavy armor for a gladiator’s sword arm and shoulder was used in Roman times, especially for the gladiator known as the “Thracian.” Suits of armor with pauldrons, heavy plates protecting one shoulder and arm, were often used in mounted combat. One-sided armor or shoulder padding unfamiliar to the Greeks could have been mistaken for single-breastedness and could account for Arrian’s report of the asymmetrical chests of the Amazons encountered by Alexander.

The notion of single-breasted Amazons—which seems to signal something about a warrior women’s sexuality, willpower, and masculine strength achieved by sacrificing a feminine attribute—has clung to the standard literary description of Amazons for more than two millen- nia. It seizes the imagination because it is gruesome, just as the tale of African mothers who cauterize their daughters’ breasts grabs attention today. A seductive false “logic” still clings to the ancient image. To people who have never drawn a Scythian-style bow or observed women archers competing in Mongolia, it seems to make sense that womanly breasts might present an encumbrance in archery. But drawing the bowstring back along the cheek or holding the bow out from the body while turning to the side means that breasts are no hindrance and there is no danger of injury to them.

Instead, a real concern is that loose clothing might interfere with the bowstring. Therefore archers wear body-hugging upper garments, like those shown on many Amazons in ancient art. For beginning longbow archers, the most vulnerable area is the inner forearm, which can be struck by the bowstring. Yet the notion of protecting the chest persists in archery. Women—and men too—are often encouraged, even required, to wear chest-guards, even though expert male and female archers find that close-fitting shirts and a forearm guard are the only safety requirements. An analogy exists in modern boxing. Unsubstantiated safety concerns were long used to justify excluding women from boxing. Women won the right to box in the 1970s in the United States but were required to wear an unwieldy plastic chest shield, which caused more cuts and bruises and made the chest a much bigger target. In 2008, medical experts convinced the boxing commission to lift the regulation.”

- Adrienne Mayor, “Breasts: One or Two?” in The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World

[thelockedtomb]

Gideon the Ninth Names

Quick n’ spoiler-free name analysis for prominent players in GtN.

Thank you to @swordrogue​ for inspiring me to type and format my scribbled notes, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the next parts of your (deliciously not spoiler-free!) House-founder name series, and also @eschatolegation for connecting the dots on Ninth House lineages.

2nd House

Judith: In Jewish apocrypha, Judith was a beautiful woman who feigned escape from a besieged city, sweet-talked the attacking general until invited into his private tent, and cut off his head while he was asleep. Deuteros: “second” (Greek)

Marta: “dedicated to the god of war” (Latin) In Christian theology, Marta witnessed her brother Lazarus raised from the dead by Jesus. Dyas: “di-” means “two” (Greek) and “-as” means “having a quality of something” (Latin)

3rd House

Coronabeth: A corona is the dim outer atmosphere of a star. The sun’s corona can’t be seen with the naked eye until a solar eclipse where it appears as a halo. Beth is Hebrew for “house, place,” and as a suffix, it means “in, at, or with”. Tridentarius: “tri-��� means “three” (Greek), a trident is a three-pronged spear, and “Arius” is a Greek name meaning “immortal”.

Ianthe: This name is attributed to three different women in Greek mythology. In one story, she was so beautiful that the gods made purple flowers grow around her grave. Tridentarius: (see above)

Naberius: Described by a late-1500’s occultist as a demon especially skilled at the art of persuasion who can take the form of a three-headed dog. Tern: “triple,” and can refer to a favorable combination of three numbers resulting in a lottery prize

4th House

Isaac: The historical figure Isaac was the son of Abraham (i.e. the “Abrahamic” religions Judaism, Islam, and Christianity). God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar, but tells him to stop at the very last minute and kill a ram instead. Tettares: “four” (tetra-, Greek)

Jeannemary: “favored by God” paired with “sea of bitterness” (Hebrew to French) Chatur: “clever, intelligent” (French)

5th House

Abigail: The historical figure Abigail was a powerhouse, described as “intelligent and attractive” in the Torah. Long story, but TLDR: Her cunning, boldness, and political tactfulness saved the lives of hundreds. Pent: “five” (Greek)

Magnus: “great” (Latin) This name originated in Rome as a nickname title (i.e. ____ the Great) and became popular in the Middle Ages with Scandinavian royalty/nobility as a forename. Quinn: “fifth-born” (Greek) “wisdom, intelligence, counsel” (Irish/Gaelic)

6th House

Palamedes: A character included in several accounts of the Trojan War, said to be a genius and the inventor of parts of the Greek alphabet as well as dice. Palamedes is also the name of a Round Table knight in Arthurian legends, the son of King Esclabor. Sextus: “sixth born” (Latin)

Camilla: “helper to the priest” (Latin) “whole, complete, flawless, perfect” (Arabic) Also, a warrior-maiden attendant of the Roman goddess Diana (AKA the Greek goddess Artemis). Hect: “one hundred” (Latin)

7th House

Dulcinea: In the novel Don Quixote, the impractically romantic protagonist imagines a peasant to be a fine lady called Dulcinea. Based on the Spanish word “dulce” for “sweet”. Septimus: “seventh-born” (Latin) Also, play on words for “sepsis,” a life-threatening complication of infection.

Protesilaus: At the start of the Trojan War, a prophecy said the first attacker to set foot upon the shores of Troy would die, and Protesilaus was the first to leave his ship. Ebdoma: Alternative form of the Greek “hebdomas” meaning the number seven.

8th House

Silas: “prayed for” or “the youngest” (Hebrew) The historical figure of Silas was a Jewish convert to Christianity and missionary around 49-52 AD. Oktakiseron: In meteorology, an “okta” is a measurement for describing the amount of cloud coverage - possibly a reference to their House colors. It’s from the Greek/Latin root word “octa-“ for eight.

Colum: “dove” (Irish from Latin) The historical figure Columba was an Irish missionary and Catholic saint. Asht: “host” (Albanian from the root for “bone/relic”) Tamsyn Muir also referenced Ash Katchem from Pokemon in her pronunciation guide, which could be a hilarious reference to “Gotcha catch ‘em all!”

9th House

Harrowhark: In Christian theology, Jesus descends into the realm of the dead before his resurrection, an event referred to as the Harrowing of Hell. (The word “harrow” refers to breaking up the earth in a field before sowing seed.) The word “hark” means “listen and pay close attention”. Nonagesimus: “nineteenth” (Latin) Canonically, this is also a variant of Ninth House family names that trace back to their very first necromancer.

Gideon: “great warrior” (Hebrew) The historical figure Gideon destroyed their family’s idols to false gods and was later the leader of vastly outnumbered Israelites victoriously battling against their oppressors. Nav: “corpse” (Proto-Slavic) Canonically, this is also a variant of Ninth House family names that trace back to their very first cavalier.

[chilled-ice-cubes]

My top 10 fics read in 2021

guess who spent like an hour making this instead of studying. might as well turn this into a tag game at this point.... @jangiri @epanije @pirate-and-swan and all my followers plus anyone else who wants to give this a shot, go ahead (really PLEASE go ahead, this is just an excuse for me to find new awesome fics) :D it physically pained me to leave certain fics off so that the list could be 10 fics long 😔

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The Northern Caves by nostalgebraist

An online message board devoted to a cult fantasy author wrestles with his baffling final book

i feel like this is cheating because this is an original work hosted on ao3 and not a fic but a) it IS on ao3 and i DO have it bookmarked and b) it’s really fucking good and i spent days thinking about it so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Wisely, I Say, I Am A Bachelor by Mithrigil

How Cinna became a revolutionary, and other stories; most notably, how he deconstructed Finnick Odair.

THE cinna fic. so i reread thg this year and i found this gem and it made me cry and also see finnick and cinna in a new light. warning for canon typical dystopic stuff and also finnick’s whole life.

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I Was Screaming Your Name Through The Radio by ElectricSplatter

“Four months from now will be the seven year anniversary of when you and Osamu Dazai released your hugely successful first and only album Double Black and its diamond single Corruption. After performing with Dazai earlier this year, are you planning anything special to celebrate?”

“Corruption is insanely overrated, and I would prefer to never hear Dazai’s voice for the rest of my fucking life.”

sooooo i actually don’t ship soukoku that much but this fic is hands down the best bsd no-powers au i’ve ever read. like they don’t have powers but they’re all traumatised and effed up as they are in canon! and they work through their issues by making bad life choices and writing songs about each other.

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the ghosts won't matter cause we'll hide in sin by soapboxblues

wherein rhaegar wins the war, and jaime manages to keep his head by taking a stark for a wife; or five times jaime lannister braved his marriage and the one time he was brave for its sake

okay i know the premise sounds bizarre but THIS FIC IS JUST. BEAUTIFUL. jaime gets so much character development in like 10k words and i know that lyanna doesn’t even have a canon personality but this fic gave her so much depth and flavour

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Were I That Burning Star by californianNostalgia

An old panic gripped me—the breathless fear of being forgotten, being lost. Would anyone remember me when I was gone? Would someone think to lay a flower down on my grave and say some fond nothings like, “Was a pretty cool guy, that Lester,” while wiping off a single dramatic tear rolling down their cheek?

Oh, who was I kidding. So what if no one remembered? There wasn’t much I was proud to be remembered by anyway.

After defeating Python and bringing down Nero, Phoebus Apollo reclaims his godhood. He is glorious once more. But for some reason, he can't quite make himself go back to how things were before.

(A Character Study of Various Gods, including but not limited to: Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, Hephaestus, Dionysus, and maybe Zeus)

so this is the fic that made me cry for the pjo-verse greek god. yeah, actually sob for the perpetually absent bad parents and sympathise with them. if that doesn’t tell you how powerful this fic is...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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The Disappearance of Midoriya Izuku by town_without_heart

Fifteen years ago, a boy disappeared. Ripples in the water, the butterfly flaps its wings, and everything changes.

The notice is unremarkable, one face lost among a sea of lost faces. It is a yearbook photo of a young boy in his school uniform. His eyes are wide, shadowed by dark half-circles. His hair is green, wild and curly. He does not smile as he stares into the camera, and the somber expression makes him looks far older than his purported thirteen years. The text below the photo reads: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?

i feel like this is one of those fics that is best enjoyed reread years after you’ve forgotten everything about it so you can be absolutely bowled over by the twists again. A+ outsider perspective, a case fic about—you got it, the disappearance of midoriya izuku.

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the darkness of the depths is forgotten in the surf by poisedwalrus

If people won’t stop saying that personal loyalty is Percy’s fatal flaw, then he might as well show them how fatal it can be.

time travel fic which obliterates the typical tropes of every time travel fic i’ve ever read. also if u are a luke apologist who wanted him to be a good big bro to percy this is the fic for you. percy literally drags luke kicking and screaming into being a good big bro.

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Iron, Fire, Mirror-Glass by PurpleSoot

When Bruce Wayne barely survives a brutal confrontation with the villain known as Bane, he comes away with a broken spine and the terrible certainty that his days as Batman are over. An unexpected discovery among his mother’s old things might offer him a second chance—but at what price?

The story of a man willing to risk his soul for the sake of his mission, the dangerous creature he decides to call Robin, and the unlikely partnership that will come to shape the legend of Gotham’s Dark Knight.

um so basically robin is a murderous amoral fae creature that bruce binds to himself and the gets emotionally attached to. this fic made me cry so here it is on the list.

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These Gifts That You Have Given Me by thearrogantemu

“We are not so foolish as to believe that evil is ended forever. But we do not place our hope in secrecy, but in strength. Strength is found in trust, and trust in openness. So be welcome among us, Annatar Aulendil."

The story of the meeting between Celebrimbor and Sauron, of the trust that grew between them and how it was broken.

this is not redemption fic. this is like, anti-redemption fic. failed redemption fic. “dude you do NOT wanna do this PLEASE try to be a good person for once in your life anddd he’s gone and done it”-fic. and it’s glorious.

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the final cut by Wildehack (tyleet)

A boy is going to die.

The only question is: what is Huaisang going to do about it?

i like my nhs characterisation amoral and unhinged. this is canon compliant sooo uh try not to get too attached while reading? (i totally got too attached to mo xuanyu)

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you make a really good girl (as far as girls go) by suzukiblu

“Oh spirits,” Azula says, grinning widely. The Water Tribe is full of idiots. “You don’t want to marry Zuko, he’s useless. Also, he’s already engaged.”

“He is?” Yue blinks at her.

“Of course he is, he’s going to be the Fire Lord, he’s been engaged since he was twelve,” Azula says. A useless Fire Lord who she’s going to have to prop up, if not outright usurp, but Fire Lord all the same.

The things she does for this family, she swears.

this fic singlehandedly made me ship yuezula. also i am a sucker for chivalry in femslash and azula makes yue a betrothal necklace and fights a duel for her so 😍😍😍 this fic is just pure serotonin

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[raidbossmadi]

PLU:Siren origins, a history

What are the Progenitors? 

As long as there has been a universe, there have been progenitors. They are the seeders of life, creators of planets, they are gods by every definition of the word. Though they are sentient they do not consider themselves gods nor could they tell you what compels them to create only that they do. 

The progenitors themselves are all varied in appearance; you would not think they were all one race. One thing that is consistent among them is their ability to survive in the void of space, they are so massive in their natural form that space is the only place which could truly contain them. They also inhabit the space between space, a dimension beyond that of our own. Whether their dimension and ours was created at the same time or if ours is merely a creation of theres is unknown. 

The Progenitors along with using their gift of creation to seed life are also capable of a more natural method of reproduction though, their offspring that were born into this dimension are considerably smaller than their parents, they are much more involved with the creation life than planets like their parents. For this they are often dubbed Demigods. Most races in the known universe can trace their origin back to a Progenitor Demigod. 

The Progenitors and The Eridians 

The Eridians are one of the universe's oldest races, created by a demigod known as The Weaver.  For millennia the Eridians have sought to understand the gods of this reality, but the Progenitors and their offspring remain a constant mystery.

Despite their ability to communicate the Progenitors do not wish to divulge their history nor the true nature of where they come from. The Eridians would not take that as an answer, what they could not understand, they sought to control.

They started with the substance now known as Eridium, they found it in large quantities on planets which the Progenitors had freshly made. They studied it and properties, they used it to create the magic their civilization would run on.

Then they used it in an act of betrayal.  

The Eridians had lost their first world to war, warring broods who disagreed on which Demigod they wanted to worship, there were many Eridian cults and while the Weaver was always the true creator some Broodmothers worshipped other demigods in the hopes their brood would take on an aspect. Always a demigod never a Progenitors, the Progenitors did not bless the Eridians the way their children did.

The more dominant brood used Eridium to open a pocket dimension of their own creation and sealed inside was their contesting hives Demigod. The first vault. This prison was created in such a way that Eridians could enter it, see the bound and restrained demigod, interact with it yet it could do nothing but watch.

Nekrotafeyo, first landing in their tongue, for it was not their first home. That had been destroyed in the Brood war but the winning brood mother, now the Hive Queen had crushed all opposition. Her first order was construction of the great machine, that which would be the gateway to all vaults, future and current.  

They would continue to build vaults to imprison the children of the gods and eventually the gods themselves. But they only moved for Progenitors when they realized the reason they would not answer the Eridians call was due to their devotion to a different race entirely.

The Progenitors and Humanity

The Progenitors have always regarded humanity with a fondness, though unlike their offspring they decided to take a decidedly more hands off approach to their observations. Especially since the creation of humanity coincided right with the start of the Eridian era of vaults and the Progenitors were less willing to come out of hiding.  They saw a spark in humanity though, the same spark that would eventually drive humanity to the stars and they admired it.

Throughout human history the Progenitors would lend small bits of their power to humanity,the people who received these powers would become the stuff of legends The Oracle of Delphi, Sorcerers, Witches, all the result of Progenitors reaching out to humanity or humanity unknowingly reaching out to them. These powers did not carry lineages though, because they were but the smallest part of a Progenitors power, a loan that would be repaid through death.

Humanity sought to answer where these powers came from but they did not have the means to understand nor grasp the true nature of the Progenitors, so instead they named them, interpreted them  in a way that made sense to a human mind.

Some of these names would stick, becoming the Progenitors preferred name to mortals as most of them were merely bastardizations of the true language they spoke.

 When humanity made it to the stars, the Eridians came to meet them. They picked up a broadcast from a human satellite and upon meeting humanity they were intrigued to find the touch of the Progenitors among them. This became the main reason the Eridians were so willing to ally with humanity in the hopes that they might understand the beings that stayed beyond their reach.

The Imprisonment of the Gods

Through their close relationship with humanity the Eridians were able to learn more about the true nature of the Progenitors and just how like their offspring they were. They had caged many Demigods in vaults in the ensuing years, leaving only one free, The Weaver. They kept it in a vault yes, but that vault was never sealed; it was free to leave if it so chose it.

They were able to lure the Progenitors out of the space between, they used humans as bait. Once they had them vulnerable they too were imprisoned inside the vaults. The cost of which being large deposits of Eridium and a human soul.

With most  of the Progenitors now imprisoned it was time to begin the Hive Queen’s great experiment.

Sirens : The Great Experiment

Eridians could not use the power of the Progenitors, even captured the Gods refused to give themselves to the Hive. This did not dissuade Eridian scientists though they had planned for this.

They reached out to their human allies and requested a group of female babies. Why female? There are no male eridians, they are all female drones, there comes a point in the life cycle of an Eridian that they become male to offer their genes to their Brood Mother but this is near the end of their lives. They have always assumed that the human male was the weaker of the two because of their societal concept of gender.

They took the babies, seven total was all humanity was willing to give under the vague instructions of their alien allies.  Seven was enough though for the Eridians only had seven captive progenitors.  They used eridium powered devices to steal the power from the captive gods and transfer it to the seven human children. This sent the Gods into a long sleep and to ensure they would not be able to retaliate if they did awaken, the eridians sealed their vaults shut and scattered the keys to far reaches of the universe.

The human children who now were conduits for the powers of these gods displayed an unmistakable tell, a blue swirling pattern  on one side of their body now known as the Siren marking.

The Eridians used Eridium again to tweak the inherited powers to work better with each other with the intent that the Sirens always would be a unit. Their powers meant to complement each other. They had chosen these seven Progenitors to be captured for a reason.

These Sirens were;

Hecate, Inheritor of the power of Hel. aspect of death, the great balance. (Phaseleech)  She was tasked with  the greatest burden keeping the sisterhood from turning on itself. 

Demeter, Inheritor of the power of Ithunn. Aspect of Life (Phasegrow) She was tasked with seeding planets with life, wherever she went life would follow. 

Artemis, Inheritor of the power of Syn. The aspect of order. (Phaselock) She was tasked with settling disputes of ideas, intended to be a neutral third party in conflicts that threatened life. 

Pyrrha, Inheritor of the power of Angerboda. The aspect of change. (Phasewalk). She was tasked with applying pressure to those who would not listen to reason as presented by Artemis. 

Bellona, Inheritor of the power Freya. The aspect of adaptation. (Phasegrasp). Tasked with rebuilding civilization after extreme conflict or disaster.

Eris, Inheritor of the power of Skadi. The aspect of Chaos (Phaseshift). Tasked with seeding conflict in those who would threaten the safety of inhabited space.

Nemesis, Inheritor of the power of Var. The aspect of Diplomacy (Phasetempt). Tasked with speaking for the sisterhood and making people accept the Sirens.

The Siren War  

In adulthood once Eridian caretakers left Vanagard in their rule the Sirens went on to fulfil their roles. However eventually a problem rose up. Nemesis was not happy with being the galactic police , if they were going to rule they should rule the way the Hive Queen rules the Eridians. She wanted absolute control and given her power to completely change the minds and memories of non-Sirens she set to work.

The sisterhood did not realize what was happening under their nose until it was too late. Several planets were entirely under Nemesis’ control.

Hecate had a plan however, after consulting with Artemis they decided there was only one thing that could be done. Hecate lured Nemesis to an empty vault and used her life force to seal it shut from the outside.

The sisterhood was frightened they had just lost two sisters in one fell swoop. However, it was not long before something began calling to them, singing the song they had crafted together. It called from beyond the planet and they followed it. Discovering a teenage girl, Nyriad, who now bore the markings of their sister and carried her memories. They understood now that they were linked to power inside them, that because the Progenitors were sealed away the power could not go back to them so instead it would go to new hosts, ones who embodied the virtue of the original bearer best.

[talesofealdancynedom]

Pretty new plumage for the cute young couple: Artemis(crimson), and Matcha(white), in the royal raven kingdom nest.

Tale 11: Artemis Craweleoth & The Griminthrope (chapter 5 - Beloved Princess 5/5) part 3. Stories of Fey

none

A year after Artemis and Matcha decided to tour magic forests, Morgen as hosting all his and Emilia’s children, and new grandchildren, on the gate. All except Artemis. Their other children had all flown the coop, and become accomplished mages; but not above having family reunions. They all took comfort in the knowing that Artemis was happy, in the shadow veil or some magic forest somewhere. It had been months since Matcha and Artemis were last spotted, but they did visit everyone individually on ocassion. But not this harvest gathering. Cadence, the eldest, insisted that no one go look for their littlest sister so late; unlike Calliope, the second eldest, who sided with Patrick. They missed their youngest sister, wanted to invite her. But Cadence was right; it was well in the evening, and everyone was too tired to hunt Artemis down. But as Cadence woke at dawn, to feed the stag fey with her children, she noticed something; silence.

At first, Cadence ignored the quiet; but then Calliope and her wife noticed, and then Patrick and his girlfriend noticed. Where was the morning calls of cockatrice at dawn? The two of albino peacock phoenixes that bickered all their childhoods? The song of the orphan birds, or metallic flap of Stymphalians. Not even gryphons perched along the edge of the tower. The Sibling’s curiously looked around, and then got their father and mother to check as well. All the raven children were missing. Morgan, being Mage of Tiberius gate, could feel all the fey and people on it, but accounting for an entire kingdom of fey was beyond his scope. Tiberius gate was too dense with fey to sort. Morgan sent his familiar Icarus to help search from above. Even with teamwork, the two couldn’t sense any raven children. Each fey they asked, noticed their plumaged mythical cousins were missing, yet had no idea why this was. Many said the raven fey had vanished during the night. Tiberius Gate was a sanctuary, inhabited only by the king mage, his family, and fey. If there were no children of the raven king here, there weren’t anywhere. This had happened before; when Morgan was King mage and in school. All the wolf children vanished, and almost claimed his enfeyed best friend. The propect of one tenth of all magic disappearing, terrified him.

Morgen feared the worst: The Raven King may have been killed. Such a good friend since they met: going for karaoke and flipping TV channels. The Raven King was always good for a laugh, and giving an unhelpful yet whimsical perspective. Morgan’s greif of the loss of fey and magic quickly became overshadowed by the fear for his raven brother’s life. He was experiencing a special kind of tragedy all over again. As much as Emilia and his children comforted Morgan, they would never understand that the death of a beast king, to the King Mage, is like the loss of a sibling. Flustered, Morgan ran to the Raven Door with his children, only to find a twelve-year-old girl, weeping on beneath a tree, when they entered the shadow veil. She had no colour, except her icy eyes; she was human mage. She looked like a princess, dressed as old Anglian nobility. Her dress was black crushed velvet, with feather ruff; Fairy robes like mage Queen Meriam Craweleoth of the Grand West. Like she was from a time when Tiberius made the gate. The sobbing girl was dirty, worn, and grey. Morgan knelt to her.

“Are you ok? Raven Queen Odette? You wear your mother’s fairy robes.” Morgan said calmly.

“My husband and children are dead. Their song silent, and my true love, all lost. I do not care that I am no longer immortal, cannot fly, or have returned to being a human girl; I weep for my children and husband, I weep, for I no longer want to sing or live without them,” Odette responded in tears. “All I have is my name; I have been Raven Queen here for so long, it is all I know. The veil takes your memories, as the surrounding magic does not know time. But enough of me; I need to aid Artemis and the new Raven King. They may need help adjusting to their new roles, but I can’t move myself to do anything but cry for my late husband.” She sobbed. Everyone was speechless. As if they had heard a eulogy. Morgan’s children could not comfort Odette; for no one but him, had been able to read Meriam’s journals about her daughter’s mortal life. Morgan knew the story well, and it reminded him of his own daughter, Artemis.

Long ago, the now widowed Raven Queen was a princess kept in her father’s palace. There were talks of wedding her off in the name of peace. She was the only heir of the Great West of Anglia. Odette’s future was to be decided by lordly men. Even if her mother, the mage queen, protested. Odette stood gracefully in her finery at the edge of the courtyard pools, watching the birds. Princess Odette Craweleoth was her full name. She always wore soft blues, and had pale hair and icy eyes; she had magic move through her, at a very young age. Thus, changing her colours to that of a swan. Odette starred into the skies yearning to fly, and be as elegant as one of the birds she watched. Yearning to be a charmer of the Raven Gate in the Capitol instead, of its princess. Her mother, Meriam Craweleoth, sadly watched her only child resent her circumstances; like she once did.

Meriam, knowing the ways of magic, had figured out that her princess was a mage. In these olden times, mages were the only people who could use magic. Therefore, mages were used as weapons, if not exterminated; and Odette was oblivious to this fact. She only knew about a royal existence inside a palace. Odette was a girl who only wanted to love and live, and was innocently unaware of the trial of life. This resulted in Odette, not yet a fully grown lady, feeling no shame in indulging in the impossible. Meriam covered any tracks of her daughter and nephew finding joy in magical ways, least the people who call themselves wizard’s protest. More importantly, she wanted them to have their youthful pure wonder, a little longer.

Meriam dared to defy her values, and lie to her king husband; and withhold her knowledge of the fine large raven adorned in treasure. The Raven King visited the balconies uncomfortably often. Odette had grown to love and had befriended him. It was sweet, and heartwarming. Odette and the Raven King talked when he visited each night; bringing her shiny junk, and telling her jokes, as she complimented him and confessed her woes of having no choice in her future. The Raven King then revealed his more human face, to confess that he loved her so much, that if she requited his love, they could fly off together. Odette could be his beautiful swan. thrilled by his offer, she agreed and kissed him, becoming enfeyed with his magic as a beast queen. She loved him back. At last, she determined her fate, and could fly.

Queen Meriam did not see her daughter, the princess, fly off with the Raven King. but knew and said nothing; her little girl would be safe, and live long and happy in the shadow veil. But common men would not understand such things. By the time the guards, and Odette’s father, arrived to her chambers, she had gone without a trace. Meriam now guarded the Raven Gate she had made, for her daughter’s sake. Anything to keep her only child safe, and meet her raven grandchildren. And Meriam died in her age guarding it from her people. People who had been given tools to wield magic, and wished to eliminate magery form the world.

All Odette could recall of this, is once being a princess, the birds she watched, and wanting to be herself. It felt like it was only a dream. Odette had forgotten the name of her kingdom, and the faces of her human family. The people who loved her centuries ago. Odette was raven queen no more, but still felt a mother to the bird fey. She, in her emptiness, wished to help Artemis and her remaining royal children, the richen raven and griminthropes, which were now presumably human mages somewhere. Odette wanted to help her daughter in law be the queen she once was. To protect what remained of what she loved most. It was all she had to fill a hole, where love once was.

Morgan was struck with sadness as well. He was close to the Raven King, who was quite the beloved personality among all the beast kings and mages. No doubt the other beast Kings and Queens would grieve him too. The King’s of fey were like the only siblings Morgan and Emilia ever had. They were like aunts and uncles to their four children. Everyone felt cold and empty; as nostalgia reared from pleasant to bitter. There was no more innocent prankster, funny hat wearer, bad dancing crackly singer. The Raven King sung badly purposefully, because his real voice was so beautiful it caused any living thing that heard it to die. The first Raven King was terrifying and glories, in all his majesty. As pure magic should be. Even if The Raven King was made only of magic itself, he felt like a physical person. He was as old as the world itself, and had met his eventual end. Infinity always has eventually. Even though he lived so long, it felt so short. The Raven King was now just a story in books of magic. In his stead, Matcha would now have to be all of these things.

Suddenly it dawned on Morgan, Emilia and their children. Where is Artemis and Matcha? Are they alive and the new king and queen of the raven kingdom as Odette said? Patrick approached Odette firmly, and requested the widowed queen to take them deep in the forest; to the secret nest. The giant raven nest that was forbidden to anyone but the Raven King, Queen and any newborn heirs. The Raven King had decorated an orchard of trees in dazzling gems, armor, jewelry and ornaments in the most spectacular way. Centuries of careful tweaking and crafting; It was art. It was what inspired Matcha to bead and decorate. The nest sat upon the largest tree in the circular orchard. It was made of felt, down, straw and twigs. As Odette lead the concerned family into the clearing, they saw a large four-winged crimson bird with a skulled head in the nest. Perched above her, another large snow-white raven with Icey eyes, that was adorned handsomely with jewelry about his neck and talons. It was like Odette and the Raven King were still there. The family cautiously approached behind Odette; her face still wet from tears. She pointed to the massive birds, which turned to look at them.

“Mother?” the new Raven King said in a familiar voice. He swooped down into his human form, revealing himself. It was Matcha, and he looked exactly like his father had; taller and with more dazzling feathers, and a crown. Except his eyes, which were his mothers. He waved to the visiting mages with a wide smile. Even as King, Matcha was himself.

“My condolences of your father. All the folk of magic will miss your little siblings, and the gifts he gave to us,” said Patrick “but where is my sister Artemis?” He asked. The red bird ruffled and turned into her human form; It was Artemis peering over the edge of the nest down at them. Everyone’s faces lit up to see her in good health. She had gone white and scarlet, just as Odette had when she became queen. Her collar and trims sparkled, and she wore a clear robe, like a veil embroidered with glittering feathers. The regal plume of feathers around her neck was as soft as clouds. Artemis was nearly unrecognizable. Her trademark autumn blacks of her eyes, hair, and clothes were now a regal white and blood red. Artemis jumped down, and landed before her family, surprising them a little. Even as Raven Queen, she was still herself.

“Told you I would never leave him Patrick.” Artemis said, smirking. Then her expression faded to sorrow. “The Raven King was murdered upon trying to rescue a flock of his captured daughters. The wizards must have been so scared to see him, that they lashed out on instinct like trolls. the beast kings can be verry shocking when you first meet one; as they are so big and all. He must have let his guard down because mages have returned, and have been keeping fey safe. I for one, did not know a beast king could die. I thought they may retire by choice, or turn human or something…” Artemis said. She was hugging Patrick, and melting into the fur of his coat. “I will miss him. He named me, and has been an accepting uncle all my life. Now I am Raven Queen, and I do not know how to be a step mother to an entire kingdom of fey. My husband will have to recreate his father’s work to restore balance. It’s a lot, and it’s not fair. I fear that, along the way, I will also forget you.” Artemis cried. Odette gently clasped Artemis’s hand, and looked away.

“I want to help, and stay, but I also need to find my royal children. They will have survived, and are now mages running amok; they must be confused to be human. Similar to Wolf Queen Flowen’s royal children, if I recall.  I am no longer enfyed, and will age now; my time is precious. I will do my best to help you be a good queen and mother to the raven kingdom. Our kingdom. I think we are all happy to see you both are well.” Odette said coldly. The family stood in the clearing of trees, decorated like a festive ballroom, as they stayed silent in memory of a lost friend, father, leader, and husband. Morgan ran up to Artemis, pulling her away from Patrick to embrace her.

“I and your family, can visit. As King Mage I come often; If the new king sees me worthy of being a brother, and gives me back the kingdom stone.” Morgan whispered. Matcha pulled a palm sized rock with the raven kingdoms rune on it. He smiled and put it in Morgan’s pocket, like it was another Tuesday.

“You look beautiful. This must be how Queen Meriam felt when Odette, her daughter, became a beast Queen. I am happy to hear my child will outlive me, prosperously for centuries; caring for fey like any proud mage. Though I know the veil can fog the mind, I hope you try to remember us.” He continued. Artemis’s family took turns giving her and Matcha comforting embraces, before parting. They took Odette with them to find the last of her children, wishing the best for the new royals. They saw their family off with a gentle smile in return; in spite of the events that had occurred. On the surface, it all seemed so scary, but underneath it was kindness. In time, and with tender love and care, the raven kingdom will once again have a happy ending. In a way, this new beginning already was one.

TABLE OF CONTENTS --->

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[vivienna-vivid]

About Fate!Hermes and Fate!Dionysus

There are 12 Machine Gods in Nasuverse lore: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, and Hephaestus.

Notice how Dionysus and Hermes aren’t listed. Of course, neither of them are Olympians but Hades isn’t considered an Olympian but there he is listed among the Machine Gods. A basic conclusion would be that Hermes and Dionysus were born later as Divine Spirits instead of Machines. But... That sounds too basic. Especially for deities like Hermes and Dionysus who were — anthropologically speaking  — born from other ancient gods (I recommend watching OSP’s analysis on both Hermes and Dionysus, it’s very enlightening!)

So here’s my take on them, based on IRL!Hermes and IRL!Dionysus’s stories (Keep in mind that these are all headcanons and personal theories, NOT canon. It’s fine if you don’t agree with my theories, it’s all in good fun after all!):

Hermes was less of a machine and more of a software extension. Hermes Units were equipped on all Machine Gods and allowed them to communicate with one another as well as information gathering. In other words, Hermes was a Cloud Application. Dionysus was similar to Aphrodite. He was a Machine God made for Psychological Warfare, an attack-unit made to defend the other Machine Gods. However, he sustained heavy wounds due to their long journey across galaxies. By the time the Machine Gods founded Earth, Dionysus broke down — with only his semi-damaged core being the only thing salvageable. The Machine Gods planned on fixing Dionysus, but resources were low due to the Titanomachy. Fixing him may require centuries to pull off but Zeus was willing to complete the task, especially with his Hermes Unit’s intel backing helping him and the other Machine Gods. However, everything changed when Sefar invaded. Dionysus was stuck as a measly core as the Gods lost their machine bodies as well as their advanced technology. With the destruction of the Gods’ machine bodies came the destruction of many Hermes Units. Miraculously, some were able to survive but because they weren’t connected to a Machine God, they could only talk among themselves.

Hermes, God of Trickery and Travelers

They were alone for so long, simply talking to each other as they lay amidst the “corpses” of the Machine Gods. They saw the sun and moon rise and fall, the stars appear and disappear, the clouds part and gather as they please. Eventually, they began to wonder: Why hasn’t anyone found them yet? Why hasn’t Apollo nor Artemis seen them yet? They knew the Gods were alive, so why haven’t they salvaged their body parts? Surely the needed the Hermes Units to regrow their mother planet, so why? After what felt like centuries of wondering and thinking and refreshing their data banks, the Units became a Unit  — “We” became “I” and a collective of programs became a singular small core. Thus, Hermes’ consciousness was born, wondering why he was abandoned.

Then, someone came. Zeus! Zeus came for him! And he... brought a woman? No, a minor Divine Spirit! They... Hermes couldn’t hear them very well, but they were speaking about... “Forming a body” and “Birth”? They were nodding at each other, too. Were they agreeing on something? Agreeing what? But, whatever questions Hermes had was silenced as Zeus took him in his hands. Finally! He was found! He wan’t abandoned! The Gods remembered hi-- All thoughts ceased as Hermes was plunged deep into the woman’s abdomen.

.

The sun sets on a mountain in Arcadia as a little baby in a cave gazes upon landscape. He was only born a few hours ago, yet he was already capable of complex thought. Hm, for some reason, he found the sun annoying — as though it had done a great slight towards him. Well, that matters not! Unwrapping himself from his blankets, the baby softly made his way to the cave’s entrance, sparing a loving look to his sleeping mother, and leaving the cave behind to search for adventure.

Dionysus, God of Wine and Madness

The first experiment was a success; Hermes was able to be born into a Divine Spirit. Hephaestus and Demeter was right: the key was in the core’s host. Maia was a Divine Spirit, so of course she would be able to give birth to a divine spirit. Sure, she was greatly weakened after Hermes’ birth, but at least she was able to do so. Now, who should be the host of Dionysus’ newly-fixed core? Finding willing women like Maia was difficult. Zeus could very well use unwilling women, but — heh — those women are for his own private matters.

His answer came in a young priestess named Semele. She was a devotee of Zeus, so she would totally agree to his requests, right? And agree she did! After all, what kind of priestess would she be if Semele didn’t follow Zeus’ commands? Zeus, however, had his doubts on Semele. Unlike Maia, she was only half-divine. Would she even have the strength needed to give birth to Dionysus? Still, she was Zeus’ best bet. Just to see his life’s work finished, he would take the bet! But things... didn’t go so well. In the middle of her “pregnancy”, Semele began complaining about a burning pain. This was normal — Maia also complained about that. But when she kept complain about it for three weeks straight, Zeus began to worry. Her body felt like it was being electrocuted and it only became more and more painful with each passing day. She couldn’t breathe correctly, couldn’t eat nor sleep without writhing in pain. But what could Zeus do? Take out the core? No, he’s spent too much time and effort — he can’t redo the process!

So... He simply let Semele burn —  her human blood unable to bear the core’s maturation. But... she would understand, right? It was all for a good cause. Sure, the baby wasn’t as developed as Hermes was when he was born, but Zeus could fix that. He was the King of the Gods, anything was possible. Picking up the small baby, he gives his thanks to the now-burnt Semele, and left for Olympus.

[master-ray5]

After the Cauldron: Return of the Cosmos

This is the end. My last entry to the After the Cauldron Series. Focusing on everyone's OTP, Usagi and Mamoru. It also fits in perfect with @idesofnovember​ and the third day of their UsaMamoWeek challenge. Sometimes everything just lines up perfectly. Enjoy. 

0.0.0

“It’s always better when we’re together.” – Jack Johnson

O.o.O.o.O

Sagittarius Zero, found in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy was the location of the Galactic Cauldron. A nexus in the universe where cosmic energy of the stars and planets gathers together. The only location in existence where Star Seeds, fragments of pure light and Chaos Seeds, slivers of condensed darkness were produced. When complete, these vessels of power erupt from the Cauldron, fly across space, and seek out hosts to whom they resonate. Those who bear Star Seeds will become Sailor Senshi, individuals charged with the eternal mission of preserving life and purifying the hearts of those who are swayed by the carriers of the seeds of Chaos.

It was at this location, Eternal Sailor Moon, the enhanced form of Tsukino Usagi, did battle with Sailor Galaxia, an individual possessing a Chaos Seed so powerful, the being chosen demanded to be referred to as Chaos. The power of Chaos was immense and nearly defeated Eternal Sailor Moon, but instead she joined with Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon, the spirit of the Cauldron itself awoke to prevent Chaos from throwing off the equilibrium of the universe. Blessed by the power bestowed on her, Tsukino Usagi became Sailor Cosmos, a being who was able to match and conquer the darkness of Chaos.

The battle over, Sailor Cosmos was able to manipulate the power of the Galactic Cauldron and made two commands. First, she forgave Chaos and allowed the continued production of the Chaos Seeds ensuring the balance of power was maintained. The second, she breathed new life into the Star Seeds of those defeated by Sailor Galaxia, allowing them to regain their human forms.

With a wave of her hand, Sailor Cosmos made this decree, watching as the Star Seeds of those she called friends and family were ejected from the Cauldron. In a flash of light, the Star Seeds transported away from Sagittarius Zero, leaving the Sailor Senshi with the power of a goddess alone to converse with the spirit of the Cauldron which now lived inside of her.

0.0.0

Hikawa Shrine, the home of Hino Rei, Sailor Mars, and thought to be the unofficial base of the Sailor Senshi of the planet Earth. It was here the Star Seeds were delivered and as the energy which had brought them faded, the stasis surrounding them disappeared as well. As the energy bestowed on them from the Galactic Cauldron took effect, the bodies of each of the fallen Sailor Senshi formed into place. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus all found themselves alive and well. Soon, those not native to the planet, Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Healer, Sailor Star Maker, and the princess they protected Sailor Kakyuu were blessed with their human forms as well.

The last to form was the Sailor Senshi of the planet Earth. In his former life, he had been known as Endyminion but in this lifetime he was known as Chiba Mamoru. The warrior awoke to find himself in his sailor persona of Tuxedo Mask but also discovered himself full of energy. Digging through the pocket of his suit coat, he found three small shards of crystal and the four jeweled stones which held the souls of his the Shittennou, his four generals in a previous life. The last of the energy from the Cauldron had washed over the objects and caused the souls inside them to be reborn as well. In a flash of light, the four stones became Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite and the three small shards became the guardian cats Luna, Diana, and Artemis, who had lost their lives in the battle against Chaos’ forces.

Alive and aware of their situations, the Sailor Senshi and their allies found themselves engaging in displays of affections and rejoicing. Group hugs were given, the Sailor Starlights bowed to their Princess, and the Shittennou swore their undying loyalty to Mamoru, insisting they would work to make up for the damage they had done while under the control of Queen Beryl. Though Sailor Mars was hesitant to trust the Shittennou as they made their pledge, she could not help but smile as she watched Sailor Venus lunge at Kunzite, and throw her arms around his neck and hold him tight in an effort to rekindle the love they once shared in their previous life.

As Mamoru smiled at the tender embrace of Venus and Kunzite, a shadow passed through his mind with a dark through which chilled him to the core. A simple notion of what could make this moment absolutely perfect and what was missing from this heartfelt reunion. His eyes darted through the gathering and his heart began to pound with fear as he opened his mouth and asked a terrifying question, “Everyone...where is Usagi?”

The area was immediately filled with silence as they realized she hadn’t returned. A shiver ran down as the fear they would never see Usagi again became a possibility in everyone’s mind and the very thought caused the feeling of warmth to leave their very being. The crowd’s eyes darted everywhere, hoping they would catch sight of her. Hoping she would appear from behind a tree, clumsy tripping as she rushed toward everyone to embrace and show everything was fine.

No one spoke. Everyone was too afraid to ask if she was coming back, as if even asking the question would risk challenging fate and preventing Usagi from returning home.

Time seemed to come to crawl for everyone as they stared at the starry sky. Seconds turned to minutes, turned into an hour. The crowd was afraid to move, scared to even suggest they should engage in a single action without Usagi present. Frightened over the thought one moment without her would lead to many and soon, Tsukino Usagi would be nothing but a memory.  

For Mamoru the waiting felt as torturous as being caught in the limbo of death he experienced while caged by Sailor Galaxia. Like all the Star Seeds which had been locked in her menagerie, his soul had been tied to the vessel, unable to experience heaven or hell, only an endless void of nothingness. Now, the very thought of the woman he loved not returning and having to face a future where Usagi was not by his side felt just as barren and empty. He would not sit ideally by and let such a possibility gain momentum.

“I’m going after her,” Mamoru stated firmly, knowing what needed to be done.“I’ll find her and bring her back to Earth.”

“The entrance to Sagittarius Zero appears and disappears throughout the Galaxy for seconds at best,” Princess Kakyou explained, her eyes unable to mask the pain from knowing such a mission was destined to fail. “It only stayed constant due to the involvement of Chaos. Without such dark power to keep the entrance in one place it will again become the most elusive and valued treasures in all of the universe. You could easily spend ten lifetimes living on rumors and leads and never find it.”

“Then tell me...can Usagi ever be freed from the power we felt her obtain or is her soul forever now bound with the cauldron unable to even achieve reincarnation,” Mamoru asked, wanting a straight answer. Princess Kakyuu cast her eyes to the ground, knowing the answer and not wanting to expressly say such a fate had befallen her comrade. A fire burned in Mamoru as he obtained his answer. “Well...then I will spend TWENTY liftimes if I have to and find the entrance to Sagitarious Zero. I will crawl through Hell itself on my hands and knees if it means I can look into her blue eyes for another moment. I would rather live on waning hope and fading dreams than imagine an existence that Tsukino Usagi isn’t able to inject the world with the energy she radiates. Now...I am going...you will not stop me, you will only delay me, even if it means you kill me. I will go and find her!”

The crowd stood in awe at the young man’s declaration of love and devotion. The Sailor Senshi smiled with the familiar love they shared, as the man they loved as a brother made his intentions clear. The Shittessou beamed with pride at how strong their prince had grown. Even one who had never interacted with him before, Sailor Star Fighter, stood in amazement at Mamoru’s statement.

“Wait,” Sailor Pluto objected as she noticed something out of the ordinary. “Diana is still there. If she is, then the timeline with the future of Crystal Tokyo must be in alignment. Usagi will return.”

A brief calm, washed over the crowd, but left just as briefly as another hour passed as they stood around hoping any second Usagi would appear and reward them all with a smile.

“Well, I don’t plan on waiting around,” Mamoru insisted, looking towards the Shittessou. “I will make arrangements for you all to stay at my place while you reclaim your lives.”

“You are delusional to think for a moment we are going to let you go off alone without at least someone coming with you,” Kunzite interjected, shooting a brief glance to Sailor Venus as if to say “ I may have to go with him but I swear I will return to you. ”

“Let’s get a plan together!” Sailor Mercury declared, hoping to bring calm thinking back to the situation. “ We will find a way to bring her back.

“Yes but…,” Mamoru’s attention was distracted as he noticed an object in the sky. A ball of light was approaching where they stood. In a flash of light the bubble collapsed and Sailor Cosmos was standing in front of the group. A burst of energy blinded the group and when it faded, Usagi was standing looking up at the winged form of Sailor Chibi Chibi.

“Thank you for your assistance,” The tiny cherub complimented Usagi for her help. “Chaos would not have been stopped without your help. The universe owes you a great debt Sailor Moon.”

After the tiny winged finger thanked Usagi, it flew around the group twice before jetting into the sky and out of sight. Shocked by what had just happened, everyone looked from the sky to the returned form of their friend.  

“Sorry I am late,” Usagi chuckled nervously. She could tell immediately her friends had started to worry when she had not returned right away. “I used the power of the cauldron to send Chibi-Usa and the Sailor Quartet back to the future. Did I miss…”

Usagi was cut off as Mamoru pulled her into his arms and held her close. A moment later, both Inner and Outer Senshi surrounded the couple and a large group hug took place. The princess has returned to her friends, her lover, and her family. It was a time to celebrate.

O.o.O.o.O

Hours past until it was long past midnight. Farewells were said as the Sailor Starlights and their princess left the planet so they could return to their home in hopes of rebuilding. Sailor Pluto promised she would personally make sure Diana would be able to return to the future safely. The Sailor Senshi and Shittessou insisted they would meet up tomorrow and have a discussion about how to help the men reclaim the lives the Dark Kingdom had stolen from them. Mamoru voluntarily gave his resurrected friends his keys, insisting they could stay at his place for the evening while he took the time to escort Usagi home. After many emotional moments, the couple found themselves alone on the streets of Tokyo, walking hand and hand.

Neither of them spoke, one would think they were drained from the experience they had just endured but this was far from the truth. Instead, having experienced the agony of losing the other, each secretary was fighting a desire to succumb to physical passion.

“You…,” Mamoru began as he knew they were only a few blocks from Usagi’s home. His body screamed at him, insisting he wrap his arms around her and never let her go. His logic filled brain did not listen. “You must be tired. You had an incredible experience.”

“Yeah,”  Usagi agreed as she stopped walking. Her heart ached for his touch and her body felt the same torment. “I guess I am but I don’t know how I feel. A lot has happened. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”

"I can’t even imagine. You truly are the strongest of us all,” Mamoru complimented, his very being tense with desire. He wanted nothing more than to taste her sweet kiss again.

“I was so scared the entire time,” Usagi admitted, remembering the torment of seeing Galaxia manipulate Mamoru’s body into acts of humiliation and submission. “All I wanted was to give up...all I wanted was to know peace.

“Then, you need a night to just relax. We should probably just take things slow," He whispered, licking his dry lips. He was thirsty for salvation only she could offer. "We went through a lot."

"Y-your right," She lied, denying her own sense of longing. "I guess you can just walk me home and we'll say...goodbye."

The rest can be found here:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13449794/5/After-The-Cauldron

or 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25553095

[real-life-senshi]

PGSM Reinako Headcanon 2

Here are my post-Special Act, PGSM Reinako headcanon no one asked for. Fair warning, it’s a really long read/rant and it may cause cavity from the excessive sweetness. ;)

This list of Headcanon includes:

Sleeping habits

The Reinako residence

Who cooks?

♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  

Here’s my take on answering one of the most important universal questions fans asks themselves when they think about their otp: BIG SPOON OR LITTLE SPOON?

My answer: They switch often.  Whoever is the second person to get into bed typically ends up being the big spoon.

Rei and Minako basically have very opposing sleep schedules. By practice as a miko and then priestess, Rei was conditioned to live a very healthy sleeping schedule that typically involves going to bed at ~9pm and waking up at 4am for morning meditations (I distantly recall this being canon in manga?).  Minako, on the other hand, has her sleep schedule dictated by her work schedule; some times she’s exhausted and goes to bed as early as 7pm on a weekend, other times she might not get home until the ungodly hours of 3am because of filming schedules.

Big spoon Rei is loving and considerate. She slides in from the back and gets as physically close as possible without risking waking her gf up from the much needed rest. She puts her outer arm around and hold’s onto the idol’s hand wherever it’s located, smiling whenever she feels Minako’s hand reflexively squeezes her hand. She makes sure they are both comfortably covered and snuggled in, and takes care to not hold onto Minako too tight in case Minako needs to get out of bed before she does.  Out of the two of them, Minako’s the one who’s more likely to need to leave in a rush for things, and Rei strives to make Minako’s day-to-day life as easy as possible. 

Opposite to that, Big Spoon Minako is playful and possessive.  Minako slips into bed and gets as physically close to Rei as possible, and is not concerned with accidentally jolting Rei awake, because dear god she misses her gf so much! Between her long work hours, and the much too often occasions that she doesn’t even get to be home with Rei due to traveling for concert tours or non-local filming locations, she doesn’t actually get to interact with Rei in person as much as she would like to.  Minako finds enjoyment in seeing grumpy Rei when  woken up, the puffed up cheeks and half-hearted glares are just too cute!  Between the two of them, Rei’s the person that’s easier to wake up anyway (not necessarily because she sleeps light, but more so her spiritual power just makes her more sensitive to a change in surroundings), so even if Minako TRIES to be considerate, there’s still a 50% Rei wakes up; if that’s the case, why not have fun with it anyway?  And the best part is, Minako will make it as DIFFICULT as she can for Rei to get out of bed in the morning at 4am. Minako sleeps deeply, and she finds it so hilarious to guess what Rei’s decision would be each morning in trying to get out of their tangled limbs that Minako caused: is she going to give up and just sleep in with Minako so to not wake Minako up? Or is Rei going to end up waking Minako up in the midst of getting out of bed? If the latter happens, Minako could then pout and guilt trip Rei to stay in bed with her. Either way, it’s a win-win for the idol!  And let’s be honest, it’s not like that Rei would be that against trading meditation time for some cuddle time with Minako!  

♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀

The Reinako Residence

While it took those two ridiculous long to get over themselves and disregard all  personal doubts before they admit their feelings for each other, the moment they took the first step, their relationship had solidified very quickly. After all, they have had time to be best friends for years and get to know each other super well before they officially became partners!

Soon after crossing the 1 year milestone in their romantic relationship, they’ve chosen to purchase a place and move in together alongside Artemis (and Luna who switches back and forth from the Chiba house). 

As they are both relatively high profile people, they’ve chosen to live in an apartment building with an built-in security system instead of a house.  Minako had also very quickly proclaimed that given their individual desire for personal space, work requirement and other personal desires, they apartment would need to be multi-story to accommodate everything. This had Rei face-palming quite loudly, but frankly, they both knew that Minako would get what she wants at the end of the day, so Rei just went with it.  Rei had learnt long ago that instead of trying to shutdown Minako’s idea completely, it’s easier to just curtail and moderate it.  So with all that, they ended up with a 2 stories penthouse apartment with the following features:

First floor:

An open concept living room + dining room + kitchen

The kitchen comes with a long ass kitchen island, and the two lovebirds always get teased for how closely they position to each together when working in the kitchen despite how much space there is.

The kitchen also becomes a great space for the Senshi to hangout around when they choose to have meal at the Reinako household, since unsurprisingly Makoto loves taking charge of the cooking and she’s absolutely in love with how amazing Reinako’s kitchen setup is. 

Guest Room #1

Guest Room #2

Guest bathroom

Second Floor

Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and walk in closet (the ratio of Minako’s clothing stored in the closet is MUCH higher than Rei’s.)

Guest Room #3  

^okay, seriously. Minako was adamant it’s needed for hosting Usagi, Makoto and Ami with their respective partners. Rei couldn’t argue against hosting their friends, but definitely had to shake her head in helplessness

A washroom with space for doing laundry in, along with the laundry machine and dryer.

A professionally done home studio for Minako to do her work in.

A den that is mainly used by Rei as a home office which she’s not bouncing between shrines, temples and universities for work.

I headcanon that Rei would resign from her position from the shrine after things became more serious and official with Minako, recognizing some of her personal value would clash with the more traditional aspect of Shinto. Due to her well known spiritual powers and fame within the Shinto circle, she transitioned to research work that is tied to folklore studies and religious studies, especially when it surrounds Shinto and Buddhism, which led her into academia work.

A special feature of the home office that Minako had kept as a surprise for Rei was it also comes with a self-contained but REAL fireplace connected to a ventilation system, allowing Rei to do her daily meditation and fire reading at home.  Rei was SUPER touched by the gesture, and cannot believe Minako got it perfect without asking her for ideas, not knowing Minako had gone through some of her books and research materials to make sure she get all the requirements right before handing the design to the architect to deal with the fire safety and temperature control side of things.

The overall design of their home is mainly based on the simplicity of modern Japanese home designs, with some heavier influence of traditional designs in the den to mirror some of the features of Rei’s room at Hikawa Shrine.  The place is simplistic in design, neither Minako or Rei liked over the top designs.  The tone of the place is created with a balanced use of wood matched with either warm white, light grey and dark grey, the colors used strategically to highlight the different areas of the apartment.

♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀  ♂  ♀   

Who cooks?

I like to imagine both of them enjoy cooking, but in different ways that reflects their personality. There are definitely things one’s good at and the other’s not so much, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot do what the other person can at all.

Both are not actually picky with food choice, but they can be picky with food quality. Rei is more partial to Japanese meals though, while Minako is a bit more partial to western meals. Due to practice, having the patience, and typically having more time to do it, Rei’s much better than Minako with the day to day home cooked meals, especially with any dishes that may require more complicated steps in the meal prep process. Minako excels in making quick but tasty meals such as salads or pasta. (Rei rarely ever makes spaghetti because somehow Minako does magic with spaghetti even when using very simple ingredients.)  

They try to take turns to do the cooking depending on their individual work schedule.  And with that being the determining factor, naturally Rei cooks in the kitchen more often than Minako does. They would always save food for the other if they couldn’t eat together.  If both of them are too busy to cook though, they aren’t against just buying takeout, or if the travel between work and home works out for both of them, they would also choose to eat out on their way home (if the place has good space to allow them to maintain privacy esp for Minako. They are very used to calling a restaurant ahead without disclosing Minako’s identity to make sure they can get what they want without being treated differently as anyone else.)  

Their principle is basically to try spend as much time with each other when possible, because both of their work could pull them away from home at odd hours. Minako especially, absolutely loves coming home to find Rei in the kitchen preparing dinner for the two of them.  She would vehemently deny this ever happened, but the first time Minako walked through the door after work to find Rei preparing dinner in their kitchen, it felt so domestic that she actually teared up. Rei and Artemis were thoroughly shocked by the idol’s reaction.  

When it comes to preparing for more fancy meals, Minako’s definitely the better one (and more nitpicky) between the two of them.  Whenever there’s a large gathering or a celebration happening, Minako’s would be the one to take charge with menu design and Rei takes on an assistant role in the meal prep.  It fits Minako’s schedule better anyway because she would intentionally take days off to make time for the prep work, allowing her to do what she wants to do instead of scrambling.

As the bigger sweet tooth between the two of them, Minako’s also better at baking sweets, with the exception of pies. For some god damn reason, she ALWAYS either leaves her pie crust under-cooked, or overdone.  Rei noticed it’s because Minako just couldn’t figure out the timing and heat needed to ensure both wet ingredients and dry ingredients are done well, and she teases Minako for her lack of patience as the cause. 

Their cooking style does differ, where Minako relies on timers and thermometers when cooking for anything that requires precision, because she typically jumps to doing other things between wait time.  While Rei’s more patient and attentive in her style of cooking, not minding standing and just observing and checking the food frequently.  

[riddledeep]

Fae Hierarchy

Fairy Elder - Last of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She is not a god, but holds great authority and power in the cloudlands. She wears yellow robes and a magical diamond necklace that keeps her alive. Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts alike respect her; she is an impartial figurehead.

Wise Ancients - Extremely powerful nature spirits such as Mother Nature and Father Time. They are neutral parties, but not impartial. These deities have their own agendas and use mortals to further their goals.

===========

Zodiac spirits - The seven nature spirits who represent the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac. The days of the week are named after them.

Supreme Fairy Council - Four Fairies and three Anti-Fairies who are elected to sit on either the Fairy Council or Anti-Fairy Council. The seven are collectively referred to as the Supreme Fairy Council. Each member is called a Robe, and wears a robe in the color of the cloudland region (political state) they represent.

Eros family - Cupid’s bloodline. Always cherubs, always triplets, and allegedly tasked by the gods to maintain Fairy genealogies and prevent any species in the universe from truly going extinct.

===========

Keeper of Da Rules - The Keeper of Da Rules maintains order in the cloudlands by ensuring Da Rules are followed. Following the War of the Angels, the Keeper of Da Rules also became ambassador for the common fairy subspecies. This is Jorgen’s current position.

Lower-ranked nature spirits - The children and grandchildren of the zodiac spirits. They are certainly deities, but are lesser deities.

===========

Alien ambassadors - Aliens who represent other worlds, including entire planets sometimes.

High Count and High Countess - The dual leaders of the Anti-Fairies. While the titles imply separate male and female positions, they can be filled by a same-sex pair. Although equals from a political standpoint, the High Count is still considered head of the household, mirroring the creche father rank in actual bat colonies. These are Anti-Cosmo’s and Anti-Wanda’s current positions.

Head Pixie - This title is often abbreviated H.P. Only the reigning Head Pixie has the authority to make drastic changes to the Pixie social structure. He rules until his death, after which he is succeeded by the Vice President of Pixies Inc.

===========

Fairy subspecies ambassadors - Ambassadors of various races under the Fairy umbrella who attend Council meetings. Some are elected while others are kings and queens born and raised in royal families.

First General - The follower drake of the High Count. The First General organizes and oversees Anti-Fairy troops in war. In times of peace, he also performs ceremonies and breaks gridlock arguments among the camarilla court. This position is always filled by a male. This is Anti-Poof Anti-Everwish’s current position.

Temple acolytes - High-ranking Anti-Fairies who reside in and care for the Zodiac Temples. They are considered experts in matters of architecture; they spend decades studying such things in Zodiac Temples before they can design monuments to the nature spirits or offer their designing services to clients. They’re so renowned for their skill that hopeful Fairy architects will train beneath them instead of attending the Academy.

Head Anti-Pixie - Leader of the anti-pixie race. Generally given the cold shoulder and not taken seriously considering that anti-pixies are stereotyped as constantly-drunk party-loving lunatics. Holds very little political power. This is Anti-Sanderson’s current position.

Vice President of Pixies Inc. - The pixie intended to be the Head Pixie’s successor. Until then, he helps the Head however he is instructed to (Mostly by keeping Pixie World resources such as groceries stocked and helping with childcare duties). Only pixie gynes may hold this rank. This is Longwood’s current position.

Chief Pixie of PixieCo - The gyne who oversees pixies in the Hawthorn Haven cloudland colony. The title is also abbreviated C.P. of PixieCo. The C.P. is still subject to the Head, like a manager to a larger company. As other pixie gynes set off into the world, more C.P. positions will pop up. This is Smith’s current position.

Pixie ambassador - H.P. became Pixie ambassador to the Supreme Fairy Council by default. However, he can elect to pass the position to someone else if he wants to.

===========

Keepers [of Da Rules] - Not to be confused with the singular position. These government workers make up the Fairy World police force and are trained to organize as militia if necessary. They wear sky blue and white uniforms.

Camarilla court - Six Anti-Fairies selected by the High Count and six selected by the High Countess who weigh in on matters of political and social importance. While the High Count and High Countess technically hold seats on the camarilla too, the name “camarilla” is colloquially used to encompass everyone else. In total, there are two people on the camarilla court representing each of the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac.

Heir to the High Seat / “High heir” - A child of either the High Count or Countess (sometimes both) born with the iris virus. A potential heir born without the iris virus would automatically be rejected as the heir for not carrying “the sacred blessing of the nature spirits”. In times of desperation when no legitimate heir can be produced, another color-eyed child of nobility (most likely an extended family member) can be adopted into the bloodline instead. This is Foop’s current position.

H.P.’s alpha retinue drone - A gyne’s primary drone; he oversees other drones and can assist his gyne in distributing his pheromones through the ranks. An alpha drone technically has the same rights as a service animal regarding where he can and can’t go. This is Sanderson’s current position.

Vice President of PixieCo - Simply, the pixie who succeeds the Chief Pixie of PixieCo, and assists him until then. Like the Vice President of Pixies Inc., the V.P. of PixieCo should be a gyne. Again, we’ll be introduced to this position in “The Other One”.

===========

Other von Strangle family members - Nana Boom-Boom. Invisible Leonard. People we saw in “Cosmo Rules”. You know what I mean.

Creche fathers of other colonies - Non-nursing colonies of Anti-Fairies are naturally patriarchal; the creche father is the highest-ranking male in the colony. While leadership skills are valued, his main role consists of caring for the young pups in the colony.

Heir’s betrothed - The intended mate to the “High heir” and therefore the assumed new High Count or Countess. This person doesn’t hold real legal authority, but is treated with respect. As it stands right now, this is Anti-Coriander’s unofficial position.

Chief Sunchosen - A self-proclaimed title for the unofficial ambassador of the Refracted. The intention is that one day, this position will be for Refracts what the High Count and Countess are for Anti-Fairies. This is Dame Artemis’s current self-titled position.

C.P.’s alpha retinue drone - Same as H.P.’s alpha retinue drone, but he belongs to the Chief Pixie of PixieCo. This is Calvert’s current position.

===========

Other celebrities - The Tooth Fairy, famous actors like Blonda, TV show hosts like Billy Crystal Ball, successful writers, and so on.

Mates of camarilla members - Nobles who are nobility through marriage. Obviously, they lose this title if their mate is removed from the camarilla. Usually they contract the iris virus from their mate.

Other irises - Other carriers of the iris virus. Mainly nobles and former nobles who are treated with a hint more respect than commoners. This is a fuzzy area; prostitutes selling the iris virus are an actual inconvenicnce that causes headaches for the higher-ups.

Successful farmers - If you lived in a magical cloud world with limited ability to farm nutritious food, you would value farmers who provided you with high-quality crops too.

Most Refracted - An angelic, pious race of gold and white bird-based people, quite opposite of the stereotype of the evil blue and black Anti-Fairy. The Refracted manage many of the Daoist shrines and ceremonies and are generally well-liked even though they can be pompous and annoying.

Gynes - Large, freckled Fairies (always male) who ate a lot of jelly as children. In actual insect colonies, gynes are the “princesses” who take over from the queen, often by killing her in a battle to the death. Likewise, Fairy gynes are naturally very territorial and often fight each other. Gynes with more dominant pheromones have the ability to suppress the reproductive systems of subordinate gynes. Gynes with many dark freckles are considered more attractive than those with few. The actual rank of a gyne varies in regard to other social status factors, but people generally give them respect.

===========

Upper-class Fairy citizens - High-ranking people who aren’t considered celebrities. The Whimsifinado and Fairywinkle families fall into this category.

Kids of camarilla members and their mates - Children of nobility, often considered nobles themselves. They’re likely to carry the iris virus.

===========

Average Fairy citizens - Regular, non-celebrity folk. Fairy culture is still largely dominated by their caste system, although they’re starting to move away from it as time goes on.

Anti-Fairy commoners - Average Anti-Fairies who aren’t considered nobility; as a result, they’re highly unlikely to carry the iris virus and probably have red eyes. Those who live in colonies are considered more socially acceptable than rogues. Many males travel in bachelor colonies during their adolescent years. Occasionally, females may travel in nursing colonies.

Tourists (Aliens) - Cloudland foreigners. Aliens don’t typically settle in the cloudlands since there’s really nothing to do there if you aren’t magical, and the buildings tend to be very small.

===========

Genies - Generally looked down upon; profiled as dirty, manipulative trouble-makers who enjoy laughing at the expense of others. Technically, it’s difficult to officially rank them since there just aren’t very many in the first place, let alone genies who freely wander the cloudlands.

Drones - Stereotyped as natural-born servants (always male) and born only if their father is either a gyne or a drone. Despite the name “drone”, their natural behaviors are most similar to those of worker bees. They’re attracted to gyne pheromones, so gynes tend to form retinues of drones who take pride in serving him. A drone will be born sterile approximately 75% of the time. Pixie drones, being infected with Wolbachia pipientis, are an exception to this rule.

===========

Will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as gorgeous temptresses who seduce males and keep harems. They fear floods and slip out of their underground tunnels when it rains. Goldie Goldenglow is the wisp ambassador.

Anti-will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as prostitutes (“Mistresses” in Anti-Fairy World) and generally looked down upon for having insect wings instead of bat ones; they are also known as “mothdames.” Anti-Marigold is an anti-wisp.

Finfolk - Very similar to will o’ the wisps, although they live underwater. The stereotype is that they capture potential spouses from land and drag them underwater, forcing their captors to be their servants.

Redcaps - Stereotyped as psychotic hillbillies. They’re looked down upon because they need to coat their hats in blood regularly in order to survive, or they’ll die. They have five eyes, are immune to all poisons and venoms, and are generally considered really creepy.

Brownies - Highly shunned for their venomous saliva. Widely viewed as meek servants without much brain power. To call someone a brownie-kisser implies that they’re so incapable of wooing anyone that they took advantage of a poor, dumb, innocent creature instead. Brownies are not inherently less intelligent than other Fairies- they just keep ending up in disadvantaged situations.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

[fountainpenguin]

Wanted to actually outline the hierarchy system in my FOP fanfics rather than juggling it all in my head. Those on the same line are more or less considered to be of equal rank. Fuzzy gray areas may apply. Details under the cut.

Fairy Elder - Only mentioned in the Season 8 episode “Timmy’s Secret Wish”, although no details were given about her apart from the fact that she “had [the Hocus Poconos] totally redone”, and turned the Giant French Doors of Time into the Window of Time. She wears yellow robes. She appeared in my one-shot, “Minion”, and will later appear in Origin of the Pixies.

Wise Ancients - Extremely powerful nature spirits. Some of these would be Mother Nature (“Balance of Flour”), Father Time (“Timmy’s Secret Wish”), The Darkness (“Wishology”), the Grim Reaper (“Man’s Worst Friend”), and the Cycling Hen (“Chicken Poofs”). The spirit bears are also considered Wise Ancients. They were most notably discussed in “This Is Halloween”.

Zodiac spirits - The seven nature spirits who represent the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac. I discussed them each in detail HERE. The days of the week are named after them. They were first mentioned during Sanderson’s shrine song in “Grand Father” and are frequently mentioned in Frayed Knots.

Supreme Fairy Council - Four Fairies and three Anti-Fairies who are elected to sit on either the Fairy Council or Anti-Fairy Council. The seven are collectively referred to as the Supreme Fairy Council. Each member is called a Robe, and wears a robe in the color of the region (political state) they represent. I named and briefly discussed them HERE.

Eros family - Cupid’s bloodline. Always cherubs, always triplets, and allegedly tasked by the gods to maintain Fairy genealogies and prevent any species in the universe from truly going extinct. I discussed their social status HERE. In Origin, H.P. was captured by the Eroses for study for several chapters starting in “The Chapter With Nine Snakes In It”.

Keeper of Da Rules - Jorgen’s position, obviously. The Keeper of Da Rules maintains order in the cloudlands by ensuring Da Rules are followed. Following the War of the Angels (“Balance of Flour”), the Keeper of Da Rules also became ambassador for the common fairy subspecies. H.P. and Sanderson encountered Adelinda von Strangle, the former Keeper of Da Rules, in “Minion”.

Lower-ranked nature spirits - The children and grandchildren of the zodiac spirits. Some are more powerful than others. Some notable ones include Twis and Sunnie’s daughter, the winter goddess Beira (Wikipedia / Fanfic mention), and Sunnie’s grandson, Fergus Mór mac Eirc (Wikipedia / Fanfic mention).

Alien ambassadors - Aliens who represent other worlds, including entire planets. Venus Eros hosted several alien ambassadors during “Snowflake”. Technically speaking, Jimmy Neutron is also recognized as one of these due to the events of “Power Hour”.

High Count and High Countess - Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda’s positions. Politically, they are complete legal equals, and have the authority to override each other’s orders. In practice, Anti-Cosmo is more commanding, and is widely considered to be ranked above Anti-Wanda (especially by Fairies). While the titles imply separate male and female positions, they can be filled by a same-sex pair. Although equals from a political standpoint, the High Count is still considered head of the household, mirroring the creche father rank in actual bat colonies.

Head Pixie - Obviously, the rank from the show. The title is often abbreviated H.P. Only the reigning Head Pixie has the authority to make drastic changes to the Pixie social structure, and he rules until his death. Following his death, he is succeeded by the Vice President of Pixies Inc. H.P. set the social structure precedent in “Playing With the Big Kids”.

Fairy subspecies ambassadors - Ambassadors of various races under the Fairy umbrella who attend Council meetings. Some are elected, while others are kings and queens born and raised in royal families.

First General - The follower drake of the High Count- AKA, a high-ranking male Anti-Fairy who was allowed to stay in the Blue Castle colony upon coming of age instead of being run off, or choosing to leave and join a bachelor colony. As the High Count’s follower drake, the First General organizes and oversees troops in war. In times of peace, he also performs ceremonies, and breaks gridlock arguments among the camarilla. This position is always filled by a male.

Temple acolytes - High-ranking Anti-Fairies seemingly akin to shamans who reside in and care for the Zodiac Temples. Considered experts in matters of architecture and feng shui. They spend decades studying such things in Zodiac Temples before they can design monuments to the nature spirits or offer their designing services to clients. They’re so renowned for their skill that hopeful Fairy architects will train beneath them instead of attending the Academy.

Head Anti-Pixie - Leader of the anti-pixie race. Generally given the cold shoulder and not taken seriously considering that anti-pixies are stereotyped as constantly-drunk party-loving lunatics. Holds very little political power.

Vice President of Pixies Inc. - The pixie intended to be the Head Pixie’s successor; until then, he helps the Head however he is instructed to. He’s also a forager who keeps the grocery stores stocked, and he takes on a lot of child-rearing duties. Only pixie gynes are intended to hold this rank, although if no gyne pixies can be found, a drone can take up the position instead. This is Longwood’s current rank, much to Sanderson’s chagrin.

Chief Pixie of PixieCo - The gyne who oversees pixies in the Hawthorn Haven cloudland colony. The title is also abbreviated C.P. of PixieCo; as there are no other Chief Pixies at this time, the title “Chief Pixie” can be used without the PixieCo clarification. The C.P. is still subject to the Head, like a manager to a larger company. We’ll hear about this position for the first time in the upcoming “The Other One” Prompt.

Pixie ambassador - H.P. became Pixie ambassador to the Supreme Fairy Council by default. However, he can elect to pass the position to someone else if he wants to. He attended his first Council meeting in “Cotton Candy Oatmeal”.

Keepers [of Da Rules] - Not to be confused with the singular position. These would be the folks dressed in light blue uniforms whom we saw assisting Jorgen in “Fairly Odd Baby”. They’re essentially the Fairy World police force, and are trained to organize as militia if necessary.

Camarilla court - Six Anti-Fairies selected by the High Count and six selected by the High Countess who weigh in on matters of political and social importance. While the High Count and High Countess technically hold seats on the camarilla too, the name “camarilla” is colloquially used to encompass everyone else. In total, there are two people on the camarilla court representing each of the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac. Most of the Anti-Fairies seated around the dining table in “Fairly Odd Baby” are on the camarilla. I identified them HERE.

Heir to the High Seat / “High heir” - A child of either the High Count or Countess (sometimes both) born with the “iris virus”- colorful eyes instead of dull red. A potential heir born without the iris virus would automatically be rejected as the heir for not carrying “the sacred blessing of the nature spirits”. Foop is the heir to the High Count seat in present day, although his title could be revoked if he is deemed unsuitable before his coronation. In times of desperation when no legitimate heir can be produced, another color-eyed child of nobility (most likely an extended family member) could be adopted into the bloodline instead. As the iris virus is actually an STD, it can be transmitted to intimate partners.

H.P.’s alpha retinue drone - A gyne’s primary drone; the drone who oversees the other drones, and can assist his gyne in distributing his pheromones through the ranks. This is Sanderson’s current position. He was given this title in “Cotton Candy Oatmeal”, and he discussed it more in “Grooming”. An alpha retinue drone ~technically~ has the same rights as a service animal regarding where he can and can’t go.

Vice President of PixieCo - Simply, the pixie who succeeds the Chief Pixie of PixieCo, and assists him until then. Like the Vice President of Pixies Inc., the V.P. of PixieCo should be a gyne. Again, we’ll be introduced to this position in “The Other One”.

Other von Strangle family members - Nana Boom-Boom. Invisible Leonard. People we saw in “Cosmo Rules”. You know what I mean.

Creche fathers of other colonies - While there are some exceptions, colonies of Anti-Fairies are naturally patriarchal; the creche father is the highest-ranking male in the colony. While leadership skills are valued, his main role consists of caring for the young pups in the colony. If you’re a lower rank than they are, it’s polite to greet them with an honorary rather than expecting them to greet you. It’s worth noting that a creche is a group of baby bats.

Heir’s betrothed - The intended mate to the “High heir”, and therefore the assumed new High Count or Countess. This person doesn’t hold real legal authority, but is treated with respect. As it stands right now, Anti-Coriander seems to hold this position unofficially; while not officially betrothed to Foop, she is certainly the girl his parents have urged him to woo.

Chief Sunchosen - A self-proclaimed, unofficial title currently held by Dame Artemis Cairo. The intention is that one day, this position will be for Refracts what the High Count and Countess are for Anti-Fairies. There’s still a long way to go. Dame Artemis first appeared in “Think Positive”.

C.P.’s alpha retinue drone - Same as H.P.’s alpha retinue drone, but he belongs to the Chief Pixie of PixieCo.

Other celebrities - The Tooth Fairy, famous actors like Blonda, TV show hosts like Billy Crystal Ball, successful writers, and so on.

Mates of camarilla members - Nobles simply as a result of who they marry. Obviously, they lose this title if their mate is removed from the camarilla. Generally, camarilla mates will contract the iris virus from their mate.

Other irises - Other carriers of the iris virus. Generally nobles and former nobles who are treated with a hint more respect than commoners. This is actually sort of a fuzzy area; prostitutes selling the iris virus are an actual problem that causes headaches for the higher-ups.

Successful farmers - If you lived in a magical cloud world with limited ability to farm nutritious food, you would value farmers who provided you with high-quality crops too.

Most Refracted - An angelic, pious race of gold and white bird-based people, quite opposite of the stereotype of the evil blue and black Anti-Fairy. The Refracted manage many of the Daoist shrines and ceremonies, and are generally well-liked even though they can be pompous and annoying.

Gynes - Large, freckled Fairies - always male - who ate a lot of jelly as children. In actual insect colonies, gynes are the “princesses” who take over from the queen, often by killing her in a battle to the death. Likewise, Fairy gynes are naturally very territorial and often fight each other. Gynes with more dominant pheromones have the ability to suppress the reproductive systems of subordinate gynes. Gynes with many dark freckles are considered more attractive than those with few. The actual rank of a gyne varies in regard to other social status factors, but people generally give them respect.

Upper-class Fairy citizens - High-ranking people who aren’t considered celebrities, per se. The Whimsifinado family would fall into this category. I suppose the Fairywinkles would too.

Kids of camarilla members and their mates - Children of nobility, often considered nobles themselves. They’re likely to carry the iris virus.

Average Fairy citizens - Self-explanatory. Regular, non-celebrity folk. Fairy culture is still largely dominated by their caste system / social ladder, although they’re starting to move away from it in present day. (Ladder Part 1 / Part 2)

Anti-Fairy commoners - Average Anti-Fairies who aren’t considered nobility; as a result, they’re highly unlikely to carry the iris virus, and probably have red eyes. Those who live in colonies are considered more socially acceptable than rogues. Many males travel in bachelor colonies during their adolescent years.

Tourists (Aliens) - Cloudland foreigners. Aliens don’t typically settle in the cloudlands since there’s really nothing to do there if you’re not magical, and the buildings tend to be very small. Several tourists were seen in “Think Positive”.

Genies - Generally looked down upon; profiled as dirty, manipulative trouble-makers who enjoy laughing at the expense of others. Technically, it’s difficult to officially rank them since there just aren’t very many in the first place, let alone freely wandering the cloudlands.

Drones - Stereotyped as natural-born servants, always male, and born only if their father is either a gyne or a drone. Despite the name “drone”, their natural behaviors are most similar to those of worker bees. They’re attracted to gyne pheromones, so gynes tend to form retinues of drones who take pride in serving him. A drone will be born sterile approximately 75% of the time. Pixie drones, being infected with Wolbachia pipientis, are an exception to this rule.

Will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as gorgeous temptresses akin to sirens who seduce males and keep harems. Universally, they fear floods and come out of their underground tunnels when it rains. Goldie Goldenglow is a wisp.

Anti-will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as prostitutes (“Mistresses” in Anti-Fairy World) and generally looked down upon for having insect wings instead of bat ones; also known as mothdames. Foop’s friend Anti-Marigold is an anti-wisp.

Finfolk - Very similar to will o’ the wisps, although they live underwater. They capture potential spouses from land and drag them underwater, where they’re often treated like servants. That’s the stereotype, anyway. Sort of like reverse selkies.

Redcaps - Stereotyped as psychotic hillbillies. They’re looked down upon because they need to coat their hats in blood regularly in order to survive, or they’ll die. Kind of like vampires. They have five eyes and are immune to all poisons and venoms, and are just generally considered really creepy.

Brownies - Highly shunned for their venomous saliva. Generally considered meek servants without much brain power; to call someone a brownie-kisser implies that they’re so incapable of wooing anyone that they took advantage of a poor, dumb, innocent creature instead. However, brownies aren’t inherently less intelligent than other Fairies- they just keep ending up in disadvantaged situations. Still not the type of person you’d want your child to marry, considering their deadly kisses and all.

... That is that. Thanks for playing!

[ladamedemartel]

“I am Cronus’ eldest daughter, and am honourable not on this ground only, but also because I am your wife, and you are king of the gods.”

                                                                                       -The Illiad, Homer

Names

Hera

Queen of the Gods

Queen of Heaven

Goddess of Women, Childbirth, Family, and Marriage

Aurora de Martel (modern persona)

Family

Cronus (father) king of the titans

Rhea (mother) mother of the gods

Poseidon (brother) god of the seas

Hades (brother) king of the underworld

Demeter (sister) goddess of the harvest

Hestia (sister) goddess of hearth and home

Zeus (brother and husband) king of the gods

Chiron (half brother) centaur

Angelos (daughter by Zeus) an underworld goddess

Ares (son by Zeus) god of war

Eileithyia (daughter by Zeus) goddess of child birth

Enyo (daughter by Zeus) a war goddess

Eris (daughter by Zeus) goddess of discord

Hebe (daughter by Zeus) goddess of youth

Hephaestus (son by Zeus) god of fire and the forge

Typhon (son by “virgin” birth) serpent monster

Symbols

Pomegranate

peacock feather

diadem

cow

lily

lotus

cuckoo

panther

scepter

throne

lion

Ancient History

Hera was likely the first deity to whom the Greeks dedicated an enclosed roofed temple sanctuary, at Samos about 800 BCE

Hera detained Eileithyia to already prevent Leto from going into labor with Artemis and Apollo, since the father was Zeus. The other gods eventually bribed Hera with a beautiful necklace that no one could resist so that she would release Eileithyia

In the myth of the birth of Heracles, Hera has someone tie Heracles’ mother’s legs in knots; however he is ultimately born.  Hera then sends two snakes to attempt to kill him, which fails.  Hera makes several more attempts to kill him, though in some accounts, Zeus tricks Hera into nursing him (If someone grabs Heracles and wants to plot, hmu).  She additionally lays down many labors upon him, but ultimately they reconcile when he prevents a giant from raping her.

Hera once saw Zeus transform into a rain cloud and attempted to catch him cheating with Io.  Instead of catching them in the act, Zeus transformed Io into a snow white cow, which Hera demanded as a present, which Zeus gave her. She then tied Io to a tree and set the hundred eyed Argus to guard the cow and keep it from Zeus.  Fear of Hera’s wrath kept Zeus from directly intervening so he sent Hermes to kill Argus, which Hermes did.  Hera then turned the hundred eyes into symbols on peacock feathers and permitted Zeus to turn Io human once more on the condition that he never set eyes on her again.

Hera was worshiped as part of a triumvirate of goddesses: Hebe (the new moon), Hera (the full moon), and Hecate (the old moon).

Zeus proposed to Hera several times.  Then, Zeus turned himself into a bird in order to prey on Hera’s sympathies.  Hera brought the bird to her breast to warm it.  Zeus then took his natural form and ravaged her.  Following this, Hera finally consented to marry him.  

Hera’s jealousy towards all of Zeus’ lovers and children caused her to continuously torment them and Zeus was powerless to stop his wife. Hera was always aware of Zeus’ trickery and kept very close watch over him and his excursions to Earth.

According to the Homeric Hymn to Apollo (6th century BC), Typhon who was the parthenogenous child of Hera, whom she bore alone as a revenge at Zeus who had given birth to Athena. Hera prayed to Gaia to give her a son as strong as Zeus, then slapped the ground and became pregnant.

According to some legends, Hephestus is also the partheonogenous child of Hera **Hephestus players should message me to determine which account they would prefer to use**

Despite the Zeus’ decree that the gods not intervene in the Trojan War, Hera, angry that Paris had selected Aphrodite as the most beautiful, vowed to see Troy destroyed.  Hera then attempted to recruit several gods to the Greeks side, despite Zeus’ decree.  Finally, Hera seduces Zeus, and with the help of Hypnos, puts Zeus into a deep sleep so that all the gods could intervene without fear of Zeus’ wrath for violating his decree.  

In Thrace, Hera and Zeus turned King Haemus and Queen Rhodope into mountains, the Balkan and Rhodope Mountains for their hubris in comparing themselves to the gods.

The nymph, Echo, had been tasked with distracting Hera so that Zeus would be free to have affairs.  Upon learning the truth, Hera cursed Echo so that the nymph could only repeat the words of others.

Modern Persona

Known today as Aurora de Martel, the host of the global phenomenon, “To Catch a Cheater.”  The show centers on Aurora/Hera finding a scorned woman, helping the scorned woman catch her philandering husband in the act, and then helping the woman plot revenge; all in one hour per week!  

Many more tawdry brands have attempted to secure Aurora/Hera as a spokesperson, but she is extremely selective in what she choosing to lend her name and likeness to.

Aurora runs “Ambrosia” it’s similar to Goop, but with a much better name and far better products available.

[miraerv]

IDOL PROJECT THREE

episode five mirae + sean + rey born to be wild 1774 words

Though working with Hyunjoo hadn’t been as bad as she thought it would be, she was happy when she didn’t have to work with him again. As one of the only trainees left that Hyunjoo didn’t hit on, she was still kind of offended, as stupid as that was.

The season was following the formula of the last two seasons to a T, so as predicted, the next episode would be group songs. Mirae was nervous. She never got nervous, but this was special. Instead of just performing a cover or something laid out for her, this would be hers. It would go on iTunes with the name “Kang Mirae” in the artist category (next to whoever she was working with, of course). She was curious to see who would be producing the songs, though-- she wasn’t blind. Most heavy hitters were currently producing for Unpretty Rapstar, and she couldn’t imagine they had too much spare time with that going on. It was unfortunate, though-- Mirae would probably sell her soul to work with Shin Yuji.

They announced the producers first, walking them out one by one, and while it might be mean to say they were scraping the bottom of the barrel (some of them were really good), Mirae definitely thought it. With L3THAL’s producers otherwise occupied, MNet had clearly had to call in anyone that even knew how to make a song, and whether or not they could produce for other people would be tested-- case and point, Svetlana. She’d, what? Produced four songs total, all for herself? And had help on those? And Brandi-- she was a great performer, but besides having her name on a couple of Juliette songs, what qualifications did she have? Mirae didn’t say any of that, though. Dissing major idols on national television was a sure fire way to have her ranking actually plummet. And she didn’t think they couldn’t do it or anything. She was just skeptical. And totally happy to be proven wrong if they hit it out of the park. Though she definitely wanted to be assigned to Ghost or Shrines.

As first ranking trainee, she was used to being picked for and assigned to teams first, but it was backwards this time-- they assigned her last, leaving her there to wait patiently as more producers announced who they’d picked (ahead of time, no less, so she couldn’t even try to convince any of them to pick her with her eyes or something crazy). When she was the last one standing, she scanned over the teams. Svetlana and Ghost’s teams were full-- there was no way she was going to be put there. That left Brandi’s team, Enzo’s team, Dylan’s team and Shrines’ team. While she had initially wanted really bad to be with Shrines, upon seeing Chanmi on the team, Mirae found herself praying to be on literally any other team. She was blessed, though-- they assigned her to the team she’d wanted the most, based on the other trainees. No offense to Addie, Jisung, Yena and Kyle, of course. It’s just Sean was her homeboy, and Rey was an incredible dancer. Maybe she hadn’t been as strong in the ranks as of late, but that didn’t negate talent, and Mirae liked Rey. And with those two, paired with her, they could do some real choreography. There was potential.

Writing was not Mirae’s forte. When she bragged about how she could do everything in the first episode, she had more meant performance wise, because it quickly became apparent that she was not a writer. Nothing she put down on paper came out right, leaving her with a headache. She really hoped that if she ever debuted they wouldn’t ask her to do this; she could help choreograph her future group’s routines, but writing anything was stupid and she hated it. Luckily enough, her partners and producer managed to put something together. The lyrics were simple enough, but effective. Hell, didn’t most pop songs have really simple lyrics anyway? No big deal. And the song itself had a really cool feel to it. She was excited again. The headache had gone away.

Now, usually she liked spending time with Sean. She enjoyed being an absolute pain in his side, and making everything difficult for him, and on the flip side, she also enjoyed deep 3 am conversations where things got too philosophical and emotional way too fast. But Mirae had never wanted to have to work with him on the show. It was nothing personal; she loved him and he knew it. But first of all, the more time they spent together, the more people shipped them, which was gross because he was five years older than her and she was fifteen and that would literally never happen. And second of all, she was focused on winning. She wanted nothing more than to debut in the final group, and she wasn’t sure if she could be focused and work properly with Sean. There was always an itch to goof around and bug him about something. Sure, they’d done the first episode together, but they’d had a lot longer to prepare for that stage, and it was less important than this one. It was the first episode, and easy choreography. If they had messed up, they’d’ve had ample opportunity to redeem themselves as the season went on. But this song was going to live forever with their names on it. It was their song. Things were different when something was made for you. Plus, it was episode five-- people were getting eliminated now. The host had said this would be the biggest elimination in the history of Idol Project. The stakes were so high, and as much as she loved Sean, she had to focus. And it was really hard to focus when all she wanted to do was mess with him.

Which is why she was grateful for Rey. Having that third person there was a breath of fresh air. She didn’t know Rey very well, but that kind of worked in Mirae’s favor-- they could be honest and work with each other from there. It was a blank slate. There was less of a chance of Mirae and Sean getting carried away. And when Mirae felt an urge to fuck with him, she could divert her attention to Rey and talk to her about the stage instead. She was insanely biased, but Mirae felt like she had the best team by far. Everyone was crazy talented, and they all worked together to make sure things went smoothly.

At the end of a week of rehearsals, Mirae was pretty optimistic about the stage to come. Being in a recording room for the first time had been really freaking cool. She got to sing and rap (kind of. The rap wasn’t hard) in the song. The choreography wasn’t the hardest or most impressive thing she’d ever done, but it was a billion times better than Attention. Plus, she was really curious to see what the heck the stylists would put her in. She literally had no idea.

And even that turned out to be great. Shorts and a tank top with sneakers? Literally a dancers dream outfit. She was so grateful that they hadn’t put her in heels, at least. And sure, the jacket they put her in was a little cumbersome, and the hair extensions they’d used on her ponytail kind of hurt her head, but those were manageable. She was pretty happy with herself. And she took back her skepticism when it came to Brandi-- girl knew how to produce a bop.

They were the first to perform, and it went well. Mirae thought so anyway. All three of them were very good performers, after all, and there was an extra push to be good, considering the celebrity producers and the fact they were on a competition show and that it was their song and all. Mirae always knew she wanted to be an idol, but she got an extra little reminder that she was born to do this. The sound of having a crowd full of people scream and shout your name was invigorating. She got to watch all of the other songs and stages from backstage, sitting between her two teammates (had she and Rey gotten closer this week? Mirae sure hoped so. She looked up to Rey-- an older dancer who knew her shit. Mirae wasn’t good at opening up and making friends, and had kind of cut herself off from anyone who wasn’t Myunji/Hana/Sean, so she definitely hoped this could be the start of something, and had no idea how to vocalize that).

Mirae decided that Enzo was very clever-- Jisung and Addie both weren’t the most incredible trainees on the show. They had potential, but weren’t as strong as some of the others, but Enzo had given them a slower ballad-type song that suited them both pretty well. Even smarter was that they didn’t add choreography to it. Kyle and Yena’s song wasn’t bad. The choreography was pretty simple, but it was cute. Hyunjoo, Raekyung and Artemis’ song was weird-- and maybe sounded like it belonged a few decades back-- but it was fun. Mirae enjoyed watching it, and thought the choreo looked kind of fun to do, even if it wasn’t very hard. More something she’d do as a karaoke song, but still fun. Chanmi and Choko’s song was so sickeningly cute that Mirae kind of wanted to choke, and she definitely would have hated having to perform with a prop, but it suited them she supposed. Mercedes, Myungji and Bambi’s song actually kind of seemed like a real girl group song. A smaller scale one, but they looked like they could be a real group. Which was intimidating. This was a show about building a real group, and if they showed that they suited that, people would vote for them. Suddenly, Mirae found herself worrying about whether or not she and her group looked that cohesive, even if Mirae liked her group’s song the best. And that’s what plagued her thoughts as they went back to the main stage area for the next elimination-- had her drive to be the best alienated her? She didn’t have any friends besides the ones she’d come in with, after all. Did she seem selfish? Cold? Would people think her a one trick pony and stop voting for her? She never had had nerves like this at the end of a week before, but she truly and honestly wanted to throw up. It was not a good feeling.