#it’s what she deserves I mean she’s the daughter of the emperor

[sepublic]

As I talk about Luz visiting a host culture and learning to appreciate it, to respect and submit to the grace of her hosts, I think there’s similar potential in Vee doing the same in a reverse way; She’s a demon entering the human world, she’s engaging in human culture and learns how to be human on their terms.

Now granted, some of that human culture Vee encounters has issues of assimilation and imperialism and the like, so the onus on Vee to be respectful is much smaller. Plus she’s a refugee who had little choice, persecuted by an older branch of that culture in Belos, so really she’s entitled to do as she pleases with Gravesfield; She’s not like the Coven Heads, who expected to fuse the realms, and be treated like royalty for it by both inhabitants.

But then we get to the Noceda family, who aren’t from there, who are Dominican immigrants, whose forebearers come from a country that struggles with imperialism, whose struggles in this American society hearken back to that. With Luz needing to learn magic on the terms of the witches and the Titan and whatnot, I think there’s potential in Vee acclimating herself to the Nocedas’ Dominican customs, learning Spanish, all of that. Camila very much chose to adopt this scared child who had to go along to survive, but it’d be neat to explore Vee understanding Luz in hindsight, and how her decision to leave home was informed by racism and other factors.

Like imagine Vee getting to apologize/make it up to Luz for saying she had it good and abandoned her mother for nothing; Imagine Vee reflecting on how she didn’t even want to be here specifically, just away from someplace else so she could survive. But now Vee can catch her breath and find stability, so now what? Does she do the same as Luz and embrace another world?

Imagine Vee taking Spanish lessons, imagine Vee partaking in the family traditions and music and culture. Appreciating what the Dominican heritage that adopted her is like. Being grateful to be included, wondering if she even belongs or deserves to, if she’s just an impersonating thief like her creator. Eda tells Luz to her own kind of witch, maybe Luz and Camila comfort Vee in a similar way.

I can see it being a touchy subject that requires care, but it could be something the Noceda sisters bond over, that question if they really belong and if their presence is inherently harmful; Luz wanting to do her witch fantasy led her to helping Belos find what he needed to become an emperor and enact the draining spell, to establish a genocidal regime.

Vee stole Luz’s life and contributed to a lie that devastated Camila when she found out, created a temporary rift between mother and daughter that contributed so much to Luz’s suicidal depression, which of course pained Camila. Luz and Vee both hurt people who took them in, who they grew to love and vice versa, without meaning to in a grand butterfly effect.

Because again, people understand Luz, a lot more than she realizes, it’s her greatest comfort, a fantasy even deeper than being Azura because even that was about finding people who shared the same interest in magic as her. Camila knows what it’s like to make mistakes, Willow knows what it’s like struggling to be the perfect friend everyone can depend upon; Amity knows what it’s like to hide your greatest sin for fear your new friend will reject you for it. Etc.

So Vee knows what it’s like to have to leave a place, finding a new one, stumbling your way into the arms of a mother and learning enthusiastically about how to be this world’s people as you make friends from them. But all the while you question yourself if you belong, if you’re some impersonating thief. Luz saw herself in Belos, maybe Vee saw herself in other white colonizers like him, the ones who came shortly before in conquering the Americas, contributing to the Dominican culture as a side-effect.

Vee’s ability to shapeshift could make her ask, Am I just an imitator? This makes me think of how Hunter is really good for episodes where he and another character bond over similarities; We were both cloned by Belos to aid in his genocide (While Hunter was technically in the spotlight and meant to be a nephew, Vee was hidden at all times and a loathsome tool). We both feel the weight of being colonial in some regard. We both have to rely on the identities of others, so who does that make us? In a timeline where Gus was not as mindful about the Grimwalker secret, I could see Vee helping Gus with Hunter’s clone angst.

And if there’d been more time, maybe Vee could’ve helped Luz with her own guilt, her own worry of being an outsider who doesn’t belong and is inherently harmful whether she means to be or not. Camila could bring up Vee and say that it’s not the same, there’s a difference between an immigrant and a colonizer, esp when the native chooses to accept. And Vee would feel validation as an example, but still wonder anyway. Shouldn’t they be conscious of it?

But maybe that’s what they’ve already done, with Luz learning to earn magic the way wild witches do, treating witches and demons as people and not side character tropes in her story. Those friends affirm that she’s already done the work, and the butterfly effect of being manipulated is not equivalent to malicious, intentional colonization. And if Vee feels she hasn’t done it, she can begin now, when it comes to Dominican culture and being a Noceda. And the Nocedas have always loved weirdness, so Vee’s already halfway there! Manny would’ve loved her and appreciated the joy Vee brought to his family.

Between everything that needed to be established for the plot and for Luz’s own depression, plus clone troubles, and Camila’s backstory and like. Yeah there was no time for a Vee storyline like this when Luz was isolating herself the whole time, and would only start to let people in when she was returning to the Demon Realm or was there. But imagine a full S3 where we could’ve it all…

This could make good grounds for a fanfic, the Noceda sisters bonding. It’d have to take some cultural sensitivity that the characters would have in-universe, but a writer might struggle out-of-universe. I could see this being after the finale, when Luz has a relapse because that’s always a possibility and has happened before; And for Vee, her storyline isn’t necessarily addressed and they can both bond over a shared fear together!!!

[nervousenby]

Currently losing my mind over Florence as Princess Irulan Holy shit

Like !!!!!

[fanfic-obsessed]

Knowing

I have just had the worst, or best, brainwave and I need to share it. 

Here is an AU for you.

Vader thinks that he killed his wife and child, right?

Right up until he meets little Leia Organa when she is 10 years old. Like his one brain cell woke the fuck up when he was confronted with a passionate, angry little girl with Padme’s eyes and his chin. This is maybe a month after she was kidnapped and returned to Alderaan. Leia decides that she would need to learn how to be a senator and insists that Bail takes her with him to the next session of the imperial senate.  

Bail does not want to bring her to the imperial senate. However he knows very well who her birth parents were, it is either Bail brings Leia to the Imperial Senate or Leia brings Leia to the Imperial Senate, probably bringing with her someone she really shouldn’t (Like actual Obi Wan Kenobi-I just want you to picture for a moment, because Bail certainly did, looking up and realizing that Leia is charging down the halls outside his office, dragging with her a bemused and sandy Obi Wan, both in badly conceived disguises).

Bail is super stressed as he tries to run a rebellion while riding herd on his well meaning but very direct 10 year old daughter on top of his normal duties as an imperial senator. Bail is also very afraid that the moment the Emperor sees Leia, he will make the connection between Leia and Padme Amidala (The emperor does not socialize with the senate any longer, thank the stars). He has no idea that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, so has no cause to be more careful than normal (because Vader) about Vader seeing Leia. As such Bail does not even notice when Vader stops to consider them from the shadows. Leia is haranguing another planet’s senatorial aide who had chosen the wrong moment to make a bigoted joke. 

Vader is very abruptly, though mentally, thrown back to this very hallway 12 years earlier where he watched his wife do the same thing, for the same reason, possibly to this same aide. Though Leia is still a child and Padme was an adult, he can still see his wife in this little girl.

The realization that this is Padme’s child hits him with the force of a Ventanor. Followed immediately, before he even realized that this meant that his child was standing in front of him, by the soul deep knowledge that she must be protected from the Emperor at all costs. 

Vader had known for years that his suit had been designed to cause him more pain, he just thought he deserved it. The thought of Palpatine getting ahold of Padme’s daughter was abhorrent. Vader sticks to the shadows and watches, seeing how well Bail loved and protected Leia. 

While he is thinking(read Obsessing) about his daughter, the part of him that is always centered on Obi Wan points out that his old master had been one of the last people to see Padme after Vader choked her. But the little voice that spoke in Padme’s tones piped up, the shock of Leia living being enough to finally make this little voice loud enough to be heard, saying that until recently Obi Wan believed that Anakin Skywalker was all the way dead, he was protecting their child as best as he knew how. 

And Vader has issues with just about every choice Obi Wan Kenobi ever made. But he will admit that hiding Padme’s daughter was the best option. 

As Vader knows that paying too much attention to Leia would draw the Emperor’s attention, he would be willing to wait until the right moment to get his daughter back. His one concession to his need to protect her was taking one of his personal guard, one of the few units still made up almost entirely of clones, and assigning them to be Leia Organa’s bodyguard, her shadow (I also want you to take a moment to consider what that did for Bail’s stress level).  And then Vader gets to planning. 

With his one brain cell awake and focused on the Organa’s it takes Vader all of 15 minutes to realize that Bail Organa is running the Rebellion (I want it to be clear, this is not a slight on Bail at all, Anakin Skywalker was a war general, well educated through the Jedi on a number of subjects, and does have a fair measure of politics learning from both his former master and his dead wife).  However Vader is no more loyal to the Empire than Anakin was to the Republic.  In fact, upon realizing that Padme’s daughter had lived Vader firmly decided that he needed to find a way to kill Palpatine to crown Leia.  With the realization that Bail, and likely Leia (neither Vader nor Anakin have any idea what activities are appropriate for a 10 year old), are part of the Rebellion, Vader decides that The Rebellion would succeed (or everyone would die trying). 

Note: Vader only really gets away with no one realizing that he now supported the Rebellion because, well, no one can quite believe that Darth Vader supports the Rebellion. Most people think there is a new type of Space Madness, and that one of the symptoms is hallucinating Darth Vader giving you intel for the Rebellion.

By the time Leia was a teenager, rumors abound about the odd way that Vader acted around her. By sheer happenstance (and some judicial violence on Vader’s part) these rumors had never reached the Emperor. A good deal of these rumors implied that Vader was looking to the Princess of Alderaan as a wife.  The reaction Vader had, the only time it was brought up in front of him, was…impressive, even for the amount of violence he normally dealt out. Still there are members of Vader’s personal guard who watch over Leia whenever she is on Imperial Center, and no one wants to repeat the time when she was 12 when one of Bail enemies tried to kidnap her for ransom.  It took an entire corps of engineers to put those levels back to rights (after they scrubbed the blood off).  

So we get all the way up to the timeframe of ANH. The Death Star in this does not start out under the control of Darth Vader. It starts out under the control of Tarkin, it is important to note this. Leia still sends out R2D2 and C3P0 to find Obi Wan Kenobi, none of that part changes. 

It is after Leia is captured that Darth Vader shows up (does he lurk silently in any system that Leia is due to be in as often as he can get away with…why yes, yes he does). Tarkin had wanted Leia tortured, however no one wanted to find out how many decks Vader would spread their entrails across for touching her.  Vader arrives on the bridge just as Tarkin is threatening to blow up Alderaan. Tarkin orders the weapon to begin its charge. 

Leia, Leia who is so like her mother in that she will use every weapon in her arsenal, turns to Darth Vader and speaks to him for the first time. ‘Please’ she said, no effort to hide her distress, ‘please save my planet’

Something Leia had no cause to know-An angel who she resembled once thanked Anakin Skywalker for saving her planet. 

Tarkin is dead almost before she finishes speaking. Vader orders the DS weapons to power down and disengage, which is done post haste. Then announces that Leia Organa was now in control. 

So Leia now owns a Death Star (genuine article-never used). Leia is not sure if that is how this works, but no one is arguing with the tall man in black who has OPINIONS and will enforce them.  Leia manages to communicate this to her parents, who take a shuttle up to the space station to figure out what the fuck is going on, and what, if anything, they need to do next.

Two hours later: Obi Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, R2D2, C3P0, and Chewbacca have just been caught trying to sneak onto the Death Star. The Organas are still on board, trying to get answers (In that time Vader has said precisely five words to them ‘You have raised her well’).  It is to this room that the troopers manning the station (who are deeply confused and a bit conflicted because it seems like they may have all been forcibly defected from the Empire, but no one is willing to disobey Lord Vader) bring Obi Wan and co. and present them to Leia, as she is considered in command.  Somehow Luke’s full name (I kind of picture him still dumbly introducing himself to Leia, followed with ‘we’re here to rescue you’) gets used before the situation deteriorates. Which naturally causes everything to deteriorate further and faster than before.  

Far away on Imperial Center, the Emperor pauses in the middle of a hallway ‘I feel’ he says to no one ‘a disturbance in the Force.’ another pause ‘like some shit has just hit the fan’

Far away on Dagobah Yoda looks up, ‘weird, shit just got’

[edenesth]

The Way to His Heart [2]

Pairing: general!Seonghwa x wife!reader

AU: arranged marriage au (Joseon era)

Word Count: 3.4k

Summary: Life has been hell ever since your mother's passing many years ago. Despite being from a prominent family, you've never received the privileges associated with it. It only got worse with the arrival of your stepmother and her daughters. When the intimidating General Park was in search of a wife, your father seized the opportunity to dispose of you, simultaneously securing a connection with the powerful general—killing two birds with one stone.

Part 1 | Fic Masterlist | Part 3

"S-sir, are you truly certain this is acceptable? This is worse than all the previous quarters we've arranged for your past fiancées."

Seonghwa grinned in satisfaction, "What do you mean, Jongho? This is perfect. She will take what she gets. If she's so unhappy, she can go ahead and run back to her dear father for all I care."

Like all his prior marriage candidates, the general had instructed his servants to ready accommodations in the least appealing quarters available in his estate. It was all part of his strategy to intimidate and drive them away. Nothing brought him greater joy than hearing their whiny shrieks of displeasure as they fled his home, rushing back to plead with their fathers to annul the engagement.

Given he had no say in this particular wedding, his only option was to make it as unpleasant as possible, hoping to scare you away. Surely, the words of the minister's precious daughter would carry more weight with her father and, consequently, the King.

Seonghwa counted on you to bring about the downfall of this marriage, "This should be enough to get the job done. Worry not, Jongho. She'll be gone in less than a day, mark my words."

As he observed his master striding off to his study, the assistant shook his head in defeat, glancing unsurely at the preparations made for the daughter of the Minister of Military Affairs. This particular room had remained vacant since the general first assumed control of the estate from its previous owner.

The room had earned the nickname "The Cold Palace," drawing parallels to the infamous residences of China's Forbidden City, where concubines who had made mistakes or fallen out of favour with the emperor were confined until their last days.

According to tales from the previous residents, the room might have even been haunted, with rumours circulating about the previous mistress of the estate taking her own life within those walls.

Leave it to the general to be fixated on the darkest forms of torment, truly living up to his reputation. Oh, he just couldn't wait to see the look on his new wife's face when she would eventually be ushered into her very own cold palace.

"Are the preparations to the master's liking?" Eunsook, the head maid, inquired of Jongho as she emerged from the quarters after ensuring that all dusty areas had been thoroughly cleaned.

The assistant nodded, his lips pressed in a firm line, "He's more than satisfied, but..."

The elderly woman raised a brow with a knowing smile, "But?"

Jongho sighed, "Is this really right? After all, she is about to become the mistress of this estate, and having her reside here, of all places, seems a little too much."

The two could only shake their heads as they cast a final glance at the pitiful excuse for a room. Having been left untouched for decades, the furniture within was mostly rusty or broken in certain places. While it was cleaned on the surface, who knew what sort of parasites or little crawlies had already made their home there.

Despite the possibility of the new Lady Park being a spoiled brat, as the general claimed, the assistant and head maid weren't sure if she deserved this kind of treatment.

"There's nothing we can do for her, Jongho. Now, we best get back to work before anyone hears us or master will have our heads."

The younger man nodded in defeat before they went about their day, uncertain if they should even be looking forward to the arrival of their master's bride on the next day.

"Lord have mercy on her poor soul."

They couldn't fathom any more humiliation that she had to endure beyond what she already had. According to typical traditions, the bridegroom was expected to visit the bride's home with gifts and a dowry, paying respects to the bride's ancestors before escorting her back to his home.

In an attempt to appease the general and ensure the wedding proceeded, the King had agreed to forgo all customary procedures, allowing the bride to travel to his estate on her own. For some mind-boggling reason, the minister had also agreed to these conditions.

"Your Majesty, if you want me to proceed with the wedding peacefully, I will, on one condition." Seonghwa boldly asserted in the assembly where details of his wedding were being finalised.

"What is it, my boy? Anything for you." The King cooed.

The minister straightened in his seat, clenching his fists in fear of the general making any unreasonable requests.

"Please do not expect me to follow through with any of the silly traditions. I will do no such thing. On our wedding day, I will be waiting in my own estate. Minister Jang can prepare his daughter's transportation. If that is viable, I will finally be married as you so pleased, your Majesty."

The King grimaced, throwing the minister a worried glance, "Seonghwa, isn't that a little much? Think about the poor girl—"

To everyone's surprise, your father breathed a sigh of relief, "Is that all, General Park? If so, I do not see much of a problem with it. My daughter is also not a fan of flamboyant celebrations. She favours simplicity, much like yourself. I'm sure she'll be more than happy with the new arrangements."

Sure, you tell yourself that.

The general grinned into his fist, satisfied. That would make her the laughingstock of the century. The King blinked at the unexpected response but beamed regardless, "Does she now? Oh, Seonghwa, I knew she was perfect for you!"

Everyone was happy with the outcome that day, save for you, the unlucky one caught in the middle of all the crossfire, as always.

Jongho remembered how all members of the general's estate servants had been utterly flabbergasted upon learning about the final decision for the wedding plans. They had initially geared up to work tirelessly for their master's first actual wedding, prepared to pour in endless efforts for the grand celebration.

However, they were left appalled by the news. Who would have expected the minister to be alright with such conditions?

Perhaps the importance of solidifying his connection with the great General Park outweighed his concerns for his daughter's momentary embarrassment.

On the day of the wedding, Eunsook stood steadfastly behind her employer, awaiting any orders he might have for her, "Master, is there really nothing else for us to prepare?"

More than the general, nearly every servant felt uneasy due to the lack of decoration as they awaited your arrival. To an outsider, it would seem like just another regular day. Despite the wide-open doors, the estate didn't appear to have much going on at all.

Seonghwa waved her off, sipping on his tea nonchalantly, "Don't make me repeat myself again, Eunsook. This woman isn't worth any of your efforts. Remember, I pay your salary, not her."

"R-right, master." She lowered her head, knowing better than to get on his nerves.

He sighed upon noticing the unusual group of servants lining up by the main hall as if waiting to welcome some distinguished guest, "Don't you all have better things to do? You're all dismissed; get back to your daily tasks if you wish to keep your job."

Shaking like leaves, they all turned to see the head maid nodding at them, signalling for them to do as they were told. Before they angered him any further, all servants dispersed after bowing in unison at their master's direction, "Yes, master."

"Perfect. The minister did mention his daughter favoured simplicity; I'm sure she'll love this." He grinned in amusement, looking forward to the new Lady Park's reaction.

Bowing one final time to your family, you turned and never looked back. Escorted by the kind elderly servant from before, you were led to the palanquin waiting at the entrance of the Jang estate, "This is your ride to the general's estate, young miss."

Surrounded by a throng of people eager to catch a glimpse of the minister's mysterious eldest daughter, you stumbled backwards a bit, feeling overwhelmed. The onlookers were excitedly exchanging the latest gossip about the unusual wedding, where the bride was expected to travel to her new husband's home alone, without a chaperone.

Stepping out of the estate for the first time in more than a decade, you didn't know what to expect. However, this was certainly not it.

As you navigated through the crowd, you reminded yourself of the role you needed to play. Outside the familiar walls of your family estate, you were recognised as the noble eldest daughter of Minister Jang, about to marry the formidable General Park.

You were quite literally the talk of the town.

"Smile, young miss." And you did.

You put on the fakest smile you'd ever worn as you passed by the prying eyes of the onlookers on your way to the waiting vehicle.

As you settled into the palanquin, you looked up to find the servant sighing, ensuring you were comfortably seated for the journey ahead, "Goodbye, young miss. None of us have been allowed to accompany you. You're on your own from now on. Hopefully, the people there will treat you better, the way you truly deserve."

The way you deserved?

You honestly didn't know what that meant.

All your life, you have only ever been treated like a waste of space. So much so that you have begun to believe that was just how things were meant to be. The prospect of being treated with any sort of decency was, at this point, foreign to you.

Nodding, you acknowledged the harsh reality imposed by your father, "Of course, I expected just as much. Thank you, by the way, for the kindness you've shown me. You best hurry back. Don't let them catch you near me, or you'll be punished."

She gave your hand a warm squeeze, "All the best, young miss."

You returned the gesture before the bearers lifted the transport and began walking.

"Goodbye." You whispered, not only to the servant but also to this life you were about to leave behind for good.

With only a thin layer of cloth serving as a curtain on the tiny window of the palanquin, you could hear every word of gossip uttered as you made your way out of this town and to your bridegroom's.

"Oh dear, what a poor thing. Imagine being wedded to that heartless general. He isn't even courteous enough to come take her home. How long do you reckon she'd survive under his care?"

"Can you believe the minister actually agreed to this? Letting his eldest daughter marry in such an undignified way? He seems desperate to get rid of her. Do you think there could be anything wrong with her?"

"She's quite the beauty, isn't she? What a shame no amount of beauty could save her from this ill fate. You guys wanna bet how long before she gets beaten to death by that husband of hers?"

You squeezed your eyes shut, pressing your palms against your ears. You had heard more than enough back home; not only did your stepmother and stepsisters insult you for fun, but most servants were also audacious enough to speak ill of you right in front of your face. You were sick and tired of people talking about you like you weren't there.

The continuous mockery and cruelty had worn you down, and you longed for a reprieve from this life of constant torment.

Why me?

Why is it always me?

Is there really something wrong with me?

There must be a reason why the whole world was constantly out to get you. Why did your mother even give birth to you, only to leave you behind in such a cruel world? What was the point of it all?

Thousands of thoughts raced through your mind, and you wondered if the general truly was as cold-hearted as they say. You pondered what he could possibly look like. They say he was as good as the devil incarnate, but could he really be worse than your family?

You were already convinced that every member of your family was the devil's spawn; you simply couldn't imagine anyone being worse than those people.

With all these thoughts swirling around in your mind, you slowly drifted off to sleep amid your journey from one hell to another.

Your eyes snapped open as you were abruptly awakened by a knock on the palanquin, "Lady Park! We've arrived; it's time to get off. Your father did not compensate us for escorting you inside, so this is as far as our services extend."

Lady Park? Who?

Oh.

It's you.

That's your identity from now on.

Rubbing your eyes, you moved to exit the palanquin. You were perplexed to find yourself at a considerable distance from the entrance of the general's estate.

"Forgive us, ma'am. We hope you can manage the short distance to the estate on your own. We're trying to avoid meeting the general, you know how it is."

You blinked, sensing the immense terror in these men. Park Seonghwa really was something else, wasn't he? Feeling sympathy for them, you nodded, "I... I understand, thank you."

They sighed in relief, scurrying to leave as fast as they could. The reality of your situation began to sink in, and you hesitated before taking your first step towards the looming entrance of your new home. The world you once knew had changed, and you were about to step into the unknown.

As you halted by the front doors, an employee of the estate quickly recognised your outfit, presenting a wild sight – a bride wandering about like a lost sheep.

Approaching you cautiously, one of the men inquired, "Miss Jang?"

You nodded in acknowledgement, "Yes, that's me."

Bewilderment painted his face as he scanned the area, "Are you here alone? Where are your servants and palanquin bearers?"

A gulp betrayed your nervousness, and you lowered your head in shame, "I have no servants with me, and the bearers have left."

His eyes widened, "What?" Quickly regaining composure, he apologised, "M-my apologies, ma'am! My name is Jongho, and I'm General Park's trusted aide. We have been waiting for your arrival. Please, let me take you to the main hall."

At first glance, the assistant sensed you were different from all the other noblewomen he had encountered. It astonished him even more to see you standing there all alone. What in the world was happening? Was the minister aware of any of this? There was no way it could be part of his arrangement. After all, this was his daughter, wasn't it?

As you walked through the estate, you realised the deep bows from the servants were unfamiliar to you. In response, you bowed back, only to receive baffled stares. Your shoulders were hunched, and your lack of confidence was evident.

The unusual exchange did not escape Jongho's notice, and he struggled to understand your odd behaviour.

Nothing seemed to make sense to him.

What was the minister planning? Were you really the eldest daughter? Surely, they wouldn't send an imposter, and even if they did, they wouldn't be foolish enough to make it this obvious. Besides, what reason would they even have to do so? It would mean deceiving His Majesty, the King, too, as the minister had indeed promised his daughter to the general.

As you reached the main hall, the assistant had no time to dwell on such thoughts as he presented you to his master, "Sir, the minister's daughter, your bride, has arrived."

Facing the back of a rather youthful-looking man was not the sight you expected. You truly believed the rumours about him being rough and middle-aged, but now you questioned their accuracy.

"You've made it, wife. At last, you're here." He muttered emotionlessly, moving to set down the cup of tea he cradled in his hands before. The sound of his deep voice sent chills down your spine.

With that, he finally turned around, and you wondered if this was the terrifying general that all of the nation feared. You had envisioned him in various ways, but this was not what you expected.

He was... beautiful.

His features were a perfect blend of masculinity and femininity. His body, too, was ideal, slender yet muscular in all the right places. His ethereal appearance took you by surprise. He was perhaps the most enchanting person you had ever laid eyes on. Granted, you hadn't met many people, given your confined life. Still, you didn't need a broad social experience to recognise that he was a sight to behold.

"Cat got your tongue?" He questioned, a raised brow giving his stoic expression an intimidating edge. You immediately grasped why people found him so fearsome.

Feeling as though you'd committed a grave error, you lowered your head and bowed deeply, your heart beating loudly in your chest, "I-I'm sorry, my lord. I shouldn't have stared; th-that was very rude of me. I thank you for accepting me into your household. I will do my best to make myself... u-useful."

Throughout your life, your family has consistently taunted you for being useless. Now, you wished to change that narrative. If you could somehow prove your value here, perhaps you wouldn't face the same mistreatment that haunted you in your old home. After all, you had only just arrived, you didn't want to be beaten to death so soon.

What in the world?

Seonghwa was rendered momentarily speechless. Undoubtedly, you possessed a striking beauty, the kind that justified your father's decision to keep you hidden for so long. But what puzzled him was the unmistakable insecurity reflected in your posture and the uncertainty in your words.

You were nothing like any of his past fiancées, and he struggled to comprehend the reason behind it. You didn't exhibit the expected haughtiness of a noblewoman from a powerful house. Your apparent indifference to his lack of wedding preparations irked him; he wanted a reaction from you but didn't get one.

What the hell was the minister playing at? Were you intentionally trying to be different? What kind of tactic was this? If the plan was to catch him off guard, it was working very well. This won't do; he couldn't be deterred so easily.

Finally breaking his silence with a scoff, he demanded, "Really now? Useful? In what way?"

You gulped, completely unprepared to provide any sort of elaboration, "I-I..."

He smirked, "Let me guess, your script ended there?"

The accusation threw you into a panic, and you gasped, denying any insincerity, "N-no, that's not—"

Waving you off dismissively, he said, "Save it. I won't buy anything else coming from you. Eunsook, take Miss Jang to her quarters."

Oh no, he hates me already.

« Preview of Part 3 »

"Is all this for me? Are you sure?" You asked in disbelief, gazing in awe at the quarters assigned to you. It was spacious, a far cry from the cramped space that used to be your prison cell.

Eunsook bowed apologetically, "Yes, mistress. I know it might not be ideal, but the master insisted on preparing this specific room for you—"

Shaking your head, you stepped inside, "What do you mean, not ideal? No, this is more than enough. Thank you so much." The room had actual furniture and was even larger than any of your stepsisters' quarters back home. Sure, it wasn't necessarily prettier, but at least it was practical.

The head maid struggled for words as she observed you admiring the interior of The Cold Palace. Were you being sarcastic? It didn't seem like it; you appeared genuinely content. She couldn't fathom why the scene before her eyes almost felt... heartbreaking.

"R-right then, let me help you settle in. Do you have a lot of luggage waiting by the entrance?" She asked politely.

You shook your head, "I-I don't... I'm sorry, this is all I have with me." You showed her the nearly empty duffel bag in your hands, leaving her unsure how to react.

"Gosh, mistress! You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. Please, uhh... make yourself at home. Just call out to any of the servants around the area if you need any assistance. I'll be here to alert you when dinner is ready."

"D-dinner..?" You croaked, realising you hadn't had a proper meal in who knows how long. You couldn't believe dinner was being prepared... for you. Blinking back your tears, you bowed, "Th-thank you."

"Please, mistress! You don't have to thank me; it's only my job." Panicking, Eunsook bowed even lower before hastily leaving your quarters. She needed to talk to Jongho about your peculiar behaviour. Surely, she wasn't the only one taken aback by it.

Oh my gosh, thank you for 600+ followers! I hope you enjoyed the second part! As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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[evilbihan]

Bi-Han x former!Umgadi reader

Here are some headcanons for Bi-Han with a former!Umgadi reader because I thought it would be an interesting dynamic and because I'm sick and tired of how reader always has this "I can fix him" attitude towards Bi-Han in most headcanons/fics. He doesn't need fixing, he deserves a supportive partner.

(Be warned, I've never written reader insert headcanons before and English is not my first language. I'm new to this, so feedback is appreciated.)

ALL YOUR LIFE YOU HAVE LOYALLY SERVED Outworld's royal family as part of the UMGADI, the royal guard made up of warrior priestesses. You live for DUTY, it's the only life you know, the purpose Delia and Argus have bestowed upon you, and you never dared to question it. To be chosen to protect Outworld's Emperor and Empress is an honor. Your Umgadi sisters are your family. You don't know your parents, your grandparents or siblings. You've never met them. As the eldest daughter, you were separated from them the day you were born. No Umgadi ever speaks of her family, you're well aware that it's forbidden and yet there's nothing you want more than to one day be reunited with your birth family.

AS THE TARKAT OUTREAK starts claiming the lives of many Outworld citizens, your unwavering faith in the gods and the royal family slowly begins to crumble. You helplessly stand by and watch as more and more infected people are banished from Sun Do each day. Infuriated by the INJUSTICE you witness, you start to wonder if the royal family really deserves your loyatly.

AT THE RISK OF BEING CAST OUT of the order, you begin to secretly search for your family, despite knowing that it goes against everything the Umgadi believe in. It means betraying your order and the royal family. More than that, it means going against the will of the gods. Nonetheless, you're determined. With no cure for the desease in sight, you fear for the worst: that your search for your family will be cut short, should they be among those who have contracted the illness.

ONE DAY YOU DECIDE TO secretly follow Tanya, the head of your order, after noticing that she often disappears with no explanation. You find out about Mileena's infection with Tarkat and that a cure exists, but is only made available to the royal family. Although you keep what you've seen to yourself, your faith is shaken and you wish more than ever that you could leave your life as Umgadi behind. You continue your duties, but deep inside your frustrations grow more and more each day.

YOU MEET BI-HAN IN LEI CHEN, during his attempt to free Shao from captivity. At first, you try to stop him and the two of you fight. You're evenly matched in strength and skill and the fight ends without a winner. You don't know why, but as Bi-Han tries to reason with you, you decide to hear him out. You don't know who this mysterious man is, but there's something about him that intrigues you and you can tell he's equally impressed by you and your fighting skills.

AS YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM, you begin to realize that you and Bi-Han are KINDRED SPIRITS. Looking at him is like looking at a reflection of yourself. Both of you are driven by the same FRUSTRATION, the same DESIRE for freedom and the wish to be the architect of your own destiny. Both of you were forced to sacrifice so much of yourselves to serve a bigger purpose, only to be disappointed by those you had put your faith into. Bi-Han shares his visions for the Lin Kuei's future with you and you admire his AMBITION, his COURAGE, the courage to stand up to a GOD and shape his own destiny, something you'd always dreamed of doing, but were too afraid to do. You admire Bi-Han's LOYALTY and DEVOTION to his clan, that he's not afraid to risk his own life to give the Lin Kuei a better future and you realize that he's nothing like the royal family of Outworld. He's a leader you would happily die for.

YOU HELP BI-HAN to free Shao. It's your own little act of vengeance against the royal family for all that was stolen from you and in return, Bi-Han offers you a place with the Lin Kuei. Finally, after all those years of wishing you could be free, you leave the Umgadi behind and follow Bi-Han to your new home, Arktica.

HAVING SPENT YOUR WHOLE LIFE in Outworld, you know very little about Earthrealm, but to your surprise, Bi-Han doesn't seem to mind answering your questions, nor does he mind bringing you fur coats to protect you from the harsh cold that your body isn't used to. When you somehow end up falling ill with a cold regardless, you stubbornly ignore it at first. You're a warrior and warriors don't get sick. However, Bi-Han insists that you're put on bedrest. He brings you medicine and makes you tea and you can't help but wonder why he, the grandmaster, is personally looking after you, instead of tasking some servant with it. Though he came off as cold and ruthless when you first met him, you're starting to see that there's a CARING, AFFECTIONATE side to Bi-Han, one that he rarely shows around anyone else but you.

THE MORE TIME YOU TWO SPEND TOGETHER, the more you feel drawn to each other. Your respect and admiration for Bi-Han grows into something much stronger. LOVE. In you, Bi-Han has finally found someone who understands him, and supports him, a SOULMATE to confide in. You two have made many enemies and you know that every day you spend together could be your last, so you make your time together count. Despite the constant danger, being a wanted woman in Outworld and being at war with the Shirai Ryu, you have never been HAPPIER, you have never felt more ALIVE and FREE. Bi-Han encourages you to be yourself, he supports you in every way he can, he aids you in your search for your family and he's doing everything he can to make Arktica feel like home for you.

AMIDST THE CHAOS, you and Bi-Han have found SAFETY and COMFORT in each other. He is your home and you are his family. He understands you like no one else ever did. You would follow him to the ends of the earth and he would do the same for you.

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE who knows how much Bi-Han truly misses his brothers and how much their betrayal pains him. You wish that you could help them reconcil somehow, but you've met Kuai Liang on a few occasions and you know he can't be reasoned with. However, a part of you is still holding on to hope that at least Tomas will come around one day. All your life, you have missed the family you never had the chance to meet and you understand how much it hurt Bi-Han to lose his brothers. It makes you all the more determined to help the Lin Kuei in their fight against the Shirai Ryu.

DESPITE BOTH YOUR PAST and the lives of violence you both live, the moments you share with Bi-Han are peaceful, tender and sweet. An unbreakable bond has formed between the two of you and although you had to cut ties with former allies and friends, you never once regret your choice to join the Lin Kuei. Few can understand why you turned your back on the Umgadi and your old life, some call you a traitor, but their opinions matter little to you. It is you and Bi-Han against the world, against realms and gods and you don't mind that at all.

[remembrancer-of-heresy]

His Star

Summary: After the Monarchy, the Emperor takes Lorgar's wife as punishment. Lorgar is soon reunited with his love, but learns that his daughter will remain on Terra.

Lorgar/fem!Reader, Emperor and Lorgar's daughter (OC, platonic)

Warnings: angst, kidnapping

Word count: 753

Song: Siouxsie And The Banshees - Cities In Dust

This fic was born because of this beautiful post.

She was beautiful. Like the morning dawn or a starry night. A bright soul who came into this cruel world. She could lead the masses, inspire billions of people. But Lorgar wanted only one thing. Protect her with his own life.

He didn't see his daughter. The news of her birth came from the Imperial Palace along with other unimportant ones. As if she were an insignificant speck of dust. But the daughter of a primarch, his daughter was priceless. Happiness that was born because of the pure and immaculate love of two souls.

Lorgar could only follow the Emperor's orders in the hope of seeing you and his daughter. Hug and hold the tiny body to his hearts. Press his lips to yours. Feel the serene love you showed him.

The Primarch of the Word Bearers was never a warrior. Never been a commander. He was a preacher, priest, shepherd. He never hid it, openly carrying his true and blessed faith in the God Emperor... but in the end, apparently not so true.

His sons, himself, continued to search for answers to questions. Find their way. Their faith. The Emperor refused their worship, destroyed the perfect city, took you, took the unborn child. Lorgar could not hate his father, but it was difficult to extinguish the black flame of resentment and misunderstanding.

At least until the day you were returned.

Crying and tired. You were not tortured, you were not offended. Physically and mentally you were fine. But there was a huge void in your heart that could not be filled. Even Lorgar was unable to help you, because he, being a primarch, almost fell himself.

They returned you alone.

Lorgar hoped that the Emperor simply decided to gradually return his favor to his son. He hoped that after some time, when he had conquered even more systems, the Father would return his daughter. But he was wrong. You dashed all his hopes.

“He loves her, he adores her,” you burst into tears at Lorgar’s shoulder. - “I almost d-didn’t see her. He is with her all the time. Doesn't let go of himself. H-he, he sang to her. He sang to her, Lorgar! Songs in ancient languages. He acted as if she were his daughter and not his granddaughter. He gave her a name!”

It would be better if the Emperor burned Khur to the ground. It would be better if he destroyed every city to the dust that Lorgar built. The primarch is ashamed of such thoughts; mortals are not to blame for anything. But why, why should his daughter be torn away from her parents and live with a tyrant?

A tyrant... that's what the Emperor was. False God. If the primarch had doubts before, he is now firmly convinced of it. The son loved the Father too much, although he did not deserve such worship. He did not deserve the devotion of the primarchs. Didn't deserve the love of a little girl.

You spend days and nights in bed. When you don't sleep, you cry. Lorgar is not angry, no. He is delighted. The connection between mother and daughter, passing through years and centuries. You can't find a place for yourself until you see your child. Which means Lorgar must bind you together. Bring back your beloved child.

The primarch will not hear her first word, will not see her first steps. He will not be the main person in her life. Perhaps they will meet when she is an adult. He will never be her father in the full sense of the word. But this knowledge does not stop Lorgar.

He will still meet her. He will take her hand and lead her to a new world free from the power of the Emperor, who separated her from her real family. He would show her the True God that he had yet to find. His daughter will be a guiding star, illuminating the path through a dark galaxy. Until he finds a way to get back to her.

Lorgar has never seen her, but he knows that she is beautiful. Like the golden sand in Colchis, a light breeze or the murmur of water. She is far away in captivity of the Golden Palace, but even so the primarch feels her. She shines brighter than anyone in the world. Without realizing it, she is waiting for her real father to return his daughter. He will protect her. At the cost of his own life.

And the whole world.

[ladywisteriatarot]

dear lady wisteria, can we get a reading on jk's fs' parents reaction to jk and their first meeting?

sure :)

i got six cards! her parents got quite the bit to say, this post includes channeling (hence why i only answer this question two days after you asked me this)

long reading ahead!

the emperor. wheel of fortune. the empress. five of cups. death. the star.

with the emperor, they look at him as a very masculine man. it seems that her parents are the traditional type, hence why the religious background came up in a previous reading. they've always looked at their daughter like a princess the moment she was born and they believe that she deserves someone to treat her like one. jk is wealthy, successful, influential, well-known, and in the upper class. this reassures them that he can support her in everything as she needs and won't have to worry about the bills. a strong man who's the breadwinner of the household and takes care of his wife is what they desire for her and he fits the standard.

with the empress, they connect him with the idea of "venus." literally heard her dad saying "he's a pretty boy" but still acknowledges that jk is extremely handsome and good looking while her mom acknowledges that too and looks at him like "a gentleman" after they had a full conversation. her mom could see the love in his eyes for their daughter as it is extremely obvious. its that whole theory where a person is so good looking, you'd assume they're a good person (this is the halo effect, not an opinion or fact, just a theory).

however, with death and the wheel of fortune, they aren't too sure. they are delighted that she found someone that matches her energy and suits her. this is also think of jungkook as a lucky and almost "god-given" gift for their daughter, where they will also have bragging rights at cocktail parties but...they don't think they will last (on first impression, later on they know they will commit). they think he may not have enough time for her because he is an extremely busy man and that he might just be "another lesson" in her life.

they know that she needs someone to be there for her even though she acts like she doesn't. his tattoos and his handsome face throws them off a little too, there was a vision of when he first enters their home, her dad says something like "he looks like a player/an f-boy" in their ethnic language (which doesn't sound like korean) and her mom hits his shoulder and is like "be nice, you know she likes him a lot."

short answer for the five of cups, just like their daughter, her parents are really good at reading people. give them one conversation with you and they will most likely know what you ate on tuesday (exaggerating but you know what i mean). they could see that he looks like "a loner" (I DID NOT SAY THIS, they did, not me lol). very smiley and happy but looks like he's very lonely and been through a lot.

they think of him as the type to regret a lot of things and push people away when they are upset but they just hope that he doesn't do the same with their daughter so they're unsure of his mental capability of being in a relationship with their daughter. they don't think he's ready even though he's a grown ass man.

despite all of these things, with the star, they can't help but feel hopeful. this is the first time that she's been this open with them when it comes to bringing them someone to meet and they acknowledge that she's serious about jk and wants to be with him.

although it seems likely in their eyes that the outcome may not be the best, they see how they match each other extremely well and made for each other as if "they were adam and eve." they think that if they somehow work it out, they'd be so happy and have a long and forever-lasting relationship, they have nothing against him. they're all for him.

reminder: none of my readings are ever 100% accurate, including everyone else's.

[laurasimonsdaughter]

What if Disney adapted King Thrushbeard?

I deeply dislike King Thrushbeard and pretty much all its variants. Yes, the princess is proud and mean and she deserves one hell of a scolding, but King Thrushbeard is cruel. Her father forces the princess to marry him (disguised as a beggar) and he humiliates and sabotages her continually while she is completely under his control. And then when he reveals he's the king and she can be queen she has to be happy about it! Why did he even want to marry her in the first place if she's so nasty? I personally think it should end with her stabbing him to death on their royal wedding night, and I mean that sincerely.

The Italian variant The Crumb in the Beard is a little better, because here the insulted prince at least takes the trouble to woo the princess while in disguise. She chooses to marry him even though he is poor. It also has the added virtue of the prince's mother at last telling her son he has had enough revenge and he himself explicitly begs his wife's pardon for what he has done. So that's at least tolerable.

A nice twist on this tale type is what Hans Christian Andersen did with it in The Swineherd. The emperor's daughter in this story isn't just proud and spoiled, she only cares for artificial trinkets and not for anything "real" (like roses or birdsong). The spurned prince, after having his sweet rose and singing nightingale cast aside, disguises himself as a swineherd and trades two magical trinkets for first 10 and then 100 kisses from the princess. When the emperor finds out he's so scandalized that he exiles them both. Then the prince abandons the princess, because he wants nothing to do with a person like her. If you think about this in real world consequences, this is still extremely cruel, but the overall tone of this tale is much more over the top and comical than the others. I think if you adapted this into something with very bright colours and emphasis on the comedy, it might actually be fun. (And I think the princess could always take her magic cooking pot and orchestra rattle and earn a living amusing people on market days and county fairs.)

[cascanora]

Some Coerthan Traitor tidbits for those who do not read the fic:

Crow is insecure in her place in the strict hierarchy of Garlemald and is very power hungry thanks to that. She has a chip on her shoulder about being regarded as the outsider of the imperial family, being a political adoptee. She is willing to do a lot of heinous things to prove her worth to the aristocracy that shuns her, not because she wants to be loved by them but she wants to be respected and feared as a member who sits at the apex of Garlean society. However, secretly, she still harbors a small yearning for genuine bonds as she was a very cloistered child.

Zenos doesn't really seek to better Crow, and they're bonded through difficult childhood experiences, both shared and individual. He would hand the world on a silver platter to her if she asks it of him. However, the caveat with him is that he's also very jealous and seeks to eliminate every other competition for her attention and affections (both platonic and romantic). He sees all others as tools to be used and discarded once he's done with them, a man with no humanity save for the singular devotion to his counterpart. In some ways, they're similar in this aspect, but he sees Crow's somewhat more humane streak as a dubious habit to be outgrown. He actively questions her moral quandaries and attachment to others, encouraging the idea that he's all she would ever need by her side.

Oddly enough, however, the only exception to this territorial attitude of his seems to be Solus, his great grandfather, whom both he and Crow were raised under. Solus loves Crow for his own selfish reasons, projecting someone who is long gone onto her owing to the fact that they possess the same reincarnated soul. He plays the mummer's part for now, treating her as one would a fond daughter. But sometimes the line blurs between his past unrequited love and parental affections. He did much to keep her sequestered away for safekeeping, but owing to his ineptitude as a caretaker and mounting duties of his station as emperor, she has suffered much under his purview.

Crow fights as all children do to leave the nest, but at the cost of things that are dear to her. She wants is to be happy even though she can't really say what that means in the grand scheme of things. Seemingly at the moment, she thinks that wresting control of a territory and building her 'perfect world' in Doma is the key to sating this ambivalent desire. She wants to craft her own utopia that serves the vacuum of her appetite for control, away from the ever scheming imperial court and Varis, Zenos' high-handed, domineering father — Who fiercely abhors her very existence and status, viewing her as a stain upon the imperial dynasty.

Ultimately, she is a villain who is willing to lay down others as stepping stones to her own self gratification. Nevertheless, she isn't without humanity and love as Zenos embodies that cold, flawless perfection. It is simply that her perception of who is deserving of her consideration is very narrow. Make no mistake, they're birds of a feather who are joined by the hips, but even then they're not identical in their philosophies.

More than anything, Zenos and Crow love one another though they will almost never verbalize the common three-worded phrase of 'i love you'. Even as children, no adult has ever voiced such affectations to them, so there's no perceivable reason why they would be accustomed to such saccharine verbage. Instead, they express their feelings in looks, gestures and actions, going out of their way to spend time with one another at meals several times a week— a testament to their mutual devotion and friendship when one considers how cold and distant members of the imperial family are to one another.

Even with Solus, Crow only takes afternoon tea with him when invited — perhaps every week or so. On the other hand, Zenos is sardonically bursting with gratitude that his father makes an appearance at all in his life betwixt and between campaigns. Their encounters are sporadic, intersected by months or even some full-years. None of which, though civil and only verbally belligerent, have ever been remotely warm.

[myechoecho]

The Double, ep 27

Ep 27 had a severe lack of the Duke in it, which also means a lack of our OTP. And a lack of Lu Ji and Wen Ji. Still it wasn't a bad episode.

Let's start with Yu'e. At first, I thought she got what she deserved with being married to a man who hated her. But he's so awful that he couldn't just ignore her or something. He was beating her. So it was satisfying to see his genuine terror to when she says she's going personally take care of him now.

I truly do hope that Ruoyao can really find herself and break free. I was pleased to see that she was following with what she started and standing up to her mother. Unfortunately, her mother chose to POISON her as a way to get rid of Jiang Li. I'm going to assume that she will survive. And if she does, she really, really shows her mom how she cannot control her anymore.

I still think Shuran is awful. But at least we have context for where it all stems from. Cruelty begets cruelty. Her father was terrible and saw his daughters as pawns for his own position. When he disfigured her lover, he had her set up to be married to a useless person. He's the one who suggested she kill Jiang Li's mom to be able to married into the Jiang family. She's also just killed a child. Accidentally, but still.

It's interesting because there are similarities between Ruoyao and Shuran. Much of how Shuran treats Ruoyao is like how her father treated her. But there are lines that Ruoyao won't cross unlike her mother, who at this point has killed two people, attempted murder on another, got a child banished for matricide and fratricide (the kid wasn't even born yet so i dunno how that works), is trying to kill Jiang Li and has now poisoned Ruoyao.

Ruoyao is not her mother. Shuran is not wrong when she says that Jiang Li influenced her. But mostly Li just pointed out some things to Ruoyao. Ruoyao is the one who made the choice to stand up for herself - she could have just hidden she's done before. It also didn't hurt to hear Yanbang dismiss her and say he can coax her into anything because she has not thoughts of her own.

One thing I did notice is that Shuran's maid lacky was truly distressed at poisoning Ruoyao. It makes me wonder if she's not as on board with this plan as she has been with Shuran's others. She just might be the weak link, if Shuran goes even further against Ruoyao.

I did like what little we saw of Jiang Li. When the Duke gave her the whistle, I was curious as to how that would work (who's going to hear it?). I should have known better since the Duke has someone planted at the Jiang residence (and he's been there for 7 years!?! what is time and age in this drama??). So it's definitely been a very long game that the Duke and the Emperor have been playing.

Not much to say about the Aunt, though good in Li for seeing she was pretending to be crazy. I did suspect that someone had killed her child but in last episode it didn't look like she was pushed. However, this episode showed the real story.

As for Shuran, I'm confident she's very badly underestimated Li and whatever she's planning won't go as she thinks.

[thegreymoon]

The Story of Minglan

Oh, no! Do hit him! Hit him some more!

No sympathy for rapists and human traffickers getting a piece of what they deserve, especially when they get them on something they are definitely guilty of.

Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before Gu Tingye gets their rotten asses out of prison, so I appreciate at least the beating.

***

LMAO, it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of assholes 😂

Honestly, Tingye should just let them rot.

***

LMAO, since he is so precious, how is he going to run the Gu House, if your scheming comes to fruition, hmm?

He sounds too incompetent to live.

***

LMAO, at least Gu Tingyu is owning up to his jackassery.

He certainly is his father's son, waiting until he was on his deathbed to regret a lifetime of abusing his brother for no good reason.

Fuck this entire family. Gu Tingye should let the Emperor exile and execute them all (not that the Emperor would do it because he seems invested in preserving the honour of the entire Gu family for whatever reason).

***

LMAO, don't you mean you wanted to spend it yourselves? 🤣

The audacity of these thieving pieces of shit!

***

Oh, fuck you.

You haven't been a small child for a long time and instead of using your brain and thinking for yourself for one single second, you decided to ostracize, bully and abuse your younger brother FOR YEARS.

We saw the horrific scars on Tingye's body. You all saw this was happening to him and gloated about it. And even if Madam Bai had been responsible for the first Madam Qin's death (which you would know she was not if you had half a brain cell), the tiny child she left behind was innocent.

I hate all these people and feel like they all deserve to die unforgiven, in shame and ignominy.

***

The nerve of him, asking Gu Tingye to treat his wife and child better than he treated him.

He's just lucky Gu Tingye is a much better person than his sorry ass and would never take out grudges on innocent children.

***

LMAO, the absolute nerve.

Of course, adopt the illegitimate child of her own son!

Luckily, Gu Tingyu has finally pulled his head out from his ass and realised that even after all the shit he put Gu Tingye through, he will still treat his daughter better than Madam Qin.

***

Poor kid.

She seems smarter than her mother at the very least and maybe with Minglan's help, she can go on to have a not too terrible life.

***

Honestly, fuck Gu Tingyu.

He allowed himself to be manipulated into being a tool for evil people's ambition and greed and actively took part in bullying and abusing a child for other people's benefit. Even after he became the Marquis, he allowed his clan to descend further into corruption and degeneracy just so that he could continue to scapegoat his brother for no good reason. He was such a weak, petty man, and even when the single solitary lightbulb finally went off in his stupid head allowing him to see Madam Qin for the greedy, manipulative, vicious piece of shit that she is, he still continued to hang onto his single-minded jealousy and resentment. He was perfectly content to continue waging a cold war against Gu Tingye for years and years to come and only backtracked when he realised he was dying and would leave his very young child unprotected in this hellhole that he'd personally had a hand in creating for so many years and at the mercy of monsters he'd happily rolled about in the mud with if it meant victimising his younger brother who had loved and looked up to him.

Anyway, good riddance to bad rubbish. His daughter is better off with Gu Tingye and Minglan anyway and he certainly contributed to nothing good in his lifetime. He regretted nothing and only changed his tune because he knew that if he left his daughter at the mercy of Madam Qin, her life would be completely ruined. I hope he finds no peace in the afterlife, right along with his piece of shit abusive father.

***

OH FUCK YOUUUUUUUU 🤬🤬

I absolutely detest him.

[loosingmoreletters]

For the rofan/transmigration trope subversion prompt thing, maybe the transmigrated villainess who does good on accident despite trying her best to fill her “role?” Idk if its actually that widespread of a trope haha. I really like this trope actually, even though it can get a bit overdone

Oooh a villainess who does “good” on accident, huh? Those are always fun, especially when the FL very clearly sets out to not give a fuck about the narrative actually.

Villainy is a matter of perspective.

In The Count’s Daughter Steals All the Hearts! Vivian Allain was the most horrible villainess. She never failed to bully the heroine, jealous of the affection she has for the crown prince. A truly, horrible, annoying “I want to see that bitch dead” kind of villainess.

At the end of the story, she was executed for attempting to kill the heroine, together with her younger brother. A brutal ending, but the catharsis had felt well-deserved after putting up with her attitude for a ridiculous 365 chapters.

It felt less justified now, standing in her shoes, holding her crying brother’s small singed fingers between her own.

“You can’t practice magic here,” Vivian said. “What if anyone had seen it?”

Her brother only kept on crying, apologizing for a matter he had no control over, the power he needed to suppress or risk execution.

In the novel, Vivian hadn’t even been the main villain, just the person you wanted to see dead the most. The actual villain was the tyrant emperor of the neighboring empire, supposedly desiring the heroine after falling in love with her at first sight. How true that was Vivian had no idea, her own life certainly hadn’t been represented well.

Nobody in the novel had it said that poor Vivian died to mercenaries wishing to bring a witch to the monarch of their Holy Kingdom. Thankfully, Vivian – well, someone who now carried her name – had resurrected quickly enough.

While reading a shallow the novel, questioning whether magic was truly evil never once entered the mind. Magic was evil, the divinity of the kingdom good.

Vivian Allain never allowed her younger brother to leave the house because he his magic could overwhelm him at any time.

Today had been an exception, wishing to show him the flower festival in the city. Foolishly, Vivian had believed that it would be alright, that they’d be fine. She had separated from her brother only for a moment, and when she’d found him again, fire at been flickering at his fingertips.

“Let’s go home,” Vivian sighed. She had to think of a way to escape the ending waiting for them. Trying to win the crown prince’s heart, attempting to ensnare him to end their persecution wouldn’t work.

“I’m sorry,” her brother hiccupped and pressed close to her side. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.”

But she still had to keep him safe.

Nearby.

He pulled his hood further into his face and smiled in amusement. “Did you see that?”

The guard at his side crossed her arms over her chest. “The kid doing fire magic on accident? Yeah. Honestly, such talent—”

He shook his head. “No, not the kid. The woman, she suppressed his magic without breaking a sweat. I doubt even my aunt would’ve been capable of doing it that quickly or strongly.”

“She did? I didn’t even notice.” The guard stared at the now empty alley again, but the woman and the child were long gone.

“Mhm, that speaks of practice. I suppose when you’re raising a kid in this country, you need it. Find out who she is.”

“Your Majesty—”

“Not now, Anya.”

[lumi-klovstad-games]

"No Love Lost" aka "Ailani Meets The Emperor Again"

A short scene in which Ailani, the recently returned Second Primarch, meets what's left of the Emperor for the first time in 10,000 years to declare her intentions. And finally get a lot of crap off her chest.

Gonna be honest, this is basically Daddy Issues: The Fanfic.

Ailani had made it before the Emperor at long last. She barely remembered what he’d looked like, if she’d ever known even a fraction of the truth of his appearance at all, for all his psychic posturing. But what sat on the Golden Throne was barely the man who was barely her father. A massive, decrepit corpse, more skeleton than man, more deceased than deity. Yet the pressure in her brain told her that something connected to that body was still VERY much alive… and it was at least somewhat aware of her.

The Emperor’s Daughter failed to bow or kneel, and this did not go unnoticed by the attendant Custodes. She stood there, sizing up this undead monument to a single man’s arrogance, ego, and mistakes. Her green-stained eyes looked him over. Her ears heard the whirring and clicking of the ancient machinery of the Golden Throne.

There was much silence for a long while. It had been ten thousand years, and their last exchange had almost come to blows much as their first had. Her last act in his Imperium was to fire on his soldiers and betray his trust by favoring her people above his orders. What was there she could possibly say? Would it even do her any good at all? Was whatever was left of the Emperor even cognizant enough to answer in any way? There was only one way to find out.

“I've returned.” Ailani said, breaking the silence.

Her head filled with unfiltered thoughts that were not hers.

TRAITOR

DISGUSTING

DISAPPOINTMENT

ABERRANCE

The Second Primarch laughed darkly. 

“Yeah. It’s nice to see you too, Dad. I suppose we both are just going to have to accept that we’ll always be a disappointment to each other. I for not being who or what you wanted me to be, and you for being an irredeemably arrogant bastard. I mean, I admire your ability to consistently remain true to your character, even if that character has always been less than stellar. I'm not sure what was more impressive: your ability to remain consistently unpleasant around me or your knack for making enemies you didn’t have to have.”

ABOMINATION

MISCREANT

APOSTATE

REPUGNANT

“You know, I never liked you much either. But the ideals you sold me? Those were maybe the only good you ever put in my life. I never really believed in your Imperium or your Crusade. I certainly never believed in you – how could I when the first thing you ever did around me was express your revulsion for my identity and then try to kill my parents?”

FALSE

KIDNAPPERS

CORRUPTORS

HYPOCRITE 

“Still refusing to admit you’re wrong. 10,000 years and how many wars to end all wars and you still haven’t changed. Well, you may not have believed a damn word you said when you poured honey in my ears to get me to come to Terra the first time, but they were words worth believing in. And as far as I’m concerned, you already got what you deserved.”

The Custodes reached for their weapons, but did not draw. Not yet.

SANCTIMONIOUS

UNGRATEFUL

UNNATURAL

BROKEN

Ailani let out a judging laugh.

“Ungrateful? Ungrateful?! My legion and I did good work. We did what we were told to do. What we were MADE to do. Made, BY YOU, to do. And we did it well. Our lives were dedicated to your mandates, your purpose. But because I wasn’t the child you WANTED, you never trusted us. You took my family, my community, my whole WORLD hostage to ensure my loyalty. But I did the work. ‘Maybe,’ I told myself, ‘maybe if I work hard enough, if I prove my usefulness, he might ease off. He might see that I’m just as worthy as my brothers. He might realize that he doesn’t need to hold a sword over my family’s necks to make me keep my promise.’ But you never did. Nothing I did was EVER enough for you! I will ALWAYS be a deviant in your eyes. A freak. A mistake. But I’ve finally realized, that’s not MY problem. It’s yours. And I’m done letting the people of this Imperium suffer for this grudge. I’m back, and you’re not. You can just sit there and simmer. I’m done with you, and I don’t expect I’ll speak with you again. I’m a healer. I learned triage a long time ago. I know better than to waste energy and resources on a lost cause when there’s ways to use them to do more good elsewhere. So that’s what I’ll do. The Imperium is wounded. It’s sick. It’s in pain. Untold teeming billions upon billions are crying out. They need help.  So I’m going to help them however I can. They didn’t ask for any of this. Yes, they’ve done SO MUCH WRONG. They are so afraid and hateful, but that isn’t their fault. They’ve never known another way. It’s just another way they’ve been injured. And for all your faults, I know neither one of us ever wanted this for them. We both believe in a better tomorrow, and a better mankind to live in it, after all. On the oath I swore ten thousand years ago, I swear I will keep trying to make the Imperial Ideal the Imperial Reality. You can trust me, just like you always could and should have.”

The Custodes relaxed as Ailani turned to leave. She stopped at the door to the Throne Room. She had a feeling she needed to.

REMISS

THANK

YOU

̲D̲A̲U̲G̲H̲T̲E̲R̲

Ailani smiled. 

“Maybe I will see you again, actually.”

[mi-rae07]

Kang Yeosang : Prince Of Hearts (Extra-2/2)

Pairing : Kang Yeosang (Ateez) and named character (Moon Yena)

___________________

Yeosang walked through the hallways that led to his and yena's chambers, his eyes red and puffy.

Yi-wen : kang yeosang!

Yeosang looked up as the sight of his mother-in-law rushing up to him with furious eyes came to his view, knowing the reason behind her anger already. Yeosang deserved it, and he knew it.

Yeosang : mother, I'm sorry-

Yi-wen : what is going on between the both of you, yeosang. If you can't even handle your own marriage, how in the world are you going to handle an empire?

Yeosang looked to the floor, not having an excuse. Yi-wen let out a breath, trying to calm herself down as she said

Yi-wen : son, marriages will always have it's ups and downs. But you cannot let that come in between your rule, ever. The both of you left the official dinner just like that and I had to go around explaining to the officials why their emperor and empress had left them.

Yeosang : I'm sorry, mother. It will not happen again.

Yi-wen : my daughter loves you, yeosang, she's given you her entire heart. Please, do not break it.

Yeosang pressed her lips as he nodded, yi-wen patting his shoulder one last time before walking away to her chambers to rest for the night. Yeosang let out a breath and opened the door to their chambers, stepping inside as yena looked up at him. But as soon as their eyes met she looked away, leaning back further against the bed with a sigh. Yeosang shut the door behind him and walked up to the bed as well, sitting down on it before saying

Yeosang : yena, your hand-

Yena : forget whatever it is that my mother told you, she might blame you for this but I did this to myself.

Yeosang : you don't think any of this is my fault?

Yena : I don't ever think anything is your fault, yeosang.

Yena slid back down against the bed, pulling the sheets over her as she closed her eyes. Yeosang pressed his lips together, tears filling his eyes as he asked shakily

Yeosang : won't you show me your hand?

Yena shut her eyes tightly, a tear streaming down her cheek as she said

Yena : it is better you don't see it.

Yeosang let out a shaky breath and laid back down on the bed as well, closing his eyes already knowing he won't get a wink of sleep tonight.

______________________________

Yeosang sat against the chair, looking out into the palace gardens as the wind blew against the leaves and flowers. This was yeosang's most favorite place in the palace, probably because it was the closest he could get to a place that looked at least a bit like Kedah. Yena didn't like flowers, but yi-wen did. And it was the queen mother who had maintained this garden all while long. Now, yeosang played a part in it too. And it brought him happiness to see that the garden was doing better because of it.

Yeosang let out a breath, fiddling with his wedding ring as he thought back at what yena had told him yesterday night. It made sense, to think of it that way. Yena was someone who kept most things to herself, especially when it came to her own pain and weaknesses. Even yeosang, despite being the closest person to yena barely knew about yena's weaknesses.

For someone like that, it made sense for yena to try and act heartless in front of her enemies so they knew she could go to any extent to win. It made sense she could watch a child get executed and pretend as if nothing was wrong with it. Yena was an amazing actress.

And maybe, even if she wasn't really acting, maybe it was yeosang's fault. Yena had told him what would come along with being emperor, she had told him what it meant to go into war and how brutal it could get. Maybe yeosang was just too weak for this, because how else was one supposed to win a war without killing the enemy head?

And losing the war would mean dying, it would mean having to give up their empire. Yena was only trying to protect it, and yeosang had made her the villain out of all this.

Maybe he was the problem after all.

__________________________

Yena looked outside the carriage as she realized they were now entering the territory they had newly conquered, having won the war. And god damn, the entire town was a mess. Most of the building were burnt, the ones standing looking like they needed serious reconstructions. People continued to roam around but all of them looked like they hadn't eaten for days. Yena had known how bad the enemy dynasty had ruled their people but she hadn't expected it to be this bad.

Yena looked over at yeosang who was sitting opposite her, his eyes staring out as well. Yeosang's fists were clenched against his lap and during normal circumstances yena would hold them, telling him everything would be alright. Except now, she didn't know whether yeosang wanted to hear those things from her anymore. Especially not when he probably blamed her for all that he was seeing right now.

And soon enough the carriage stopped right in front of the crowd of people gathered around, waiting to see their new king and queen. Yeosang got out of the carriage first and held his hand out for yena to hold, her now gloved hands holding onto yeosang's as she got down as well. The people around bowed as yeosang smiled, giving them a small bow as well. Yena could recognize the usual shock on people's face, making her sigh as she let go of yeosang's hand and walked towards the old officials of the kingdom. She needed to know how the kingdom actually was right now, only if she understood the problems could she find the solution.

It had been about 5 minutes when yena felt someone move past the security banners, the guards shouting at the person to step back. And right then yena saw the man lifting his hand, a glass bottle held in his hand as he threw it towards yena. Her eyes widened, knowing that if it hit her, it'd mean causality. But before she could do anything she felt someone hug her, shielding her body with the back of his as the bottle crashed against it, the glass shards falling down.

Yena : yeosang.

Yeosang had worn a leather jacket, and the glass bottle had hit that instead of skin. Hence he hadn't been harmed, but what if he wasn't able to reach on time? What if it had hit his wife instead, like the man had meant for it to?

Before yena could say anything more yeosang unsheathed his royal sword, the people around gasping as they stepped back. He was different from the smiling, kind man he had been while talking to the people around a few minutes ago. Now as yeosang walked towards the scared man, sword in hand and fury in his eyes, even yena was surprised.

Yeosang blocked the man's weak punch as he kicked the man's legs, causing him to groan as he fell on the floor. The crunch that was heard at the moment made sure that yeosang had just broken the man's bone. Yeosang pointed his sword at the man's neck before he could move further as he said

Yeosang : you tried to hurt my queen, and for that you will face death.

Yena's eyes widened as yeosang lifted the sword away from the man's neck, seconds away from slashing it. Yena quickly ran towards them and held yeosang's sword right before it could lower down, the edge of the blade only cutting through yena's gloves as yeosang quickly pulled it back.

Yeosang : yena-

Yena : no, you're not killing anyone.

Before yeosang could say anything more yena kneeled down, coming face to face with the man who now looked up at her with fearful eyes.

Yena : I understand your anger, but killing me will not solve anything. Instead, it will lead only to more violence. Whatever it is that you require, I will give you. Money, housing, clothes, food, anything.

Yena looked towards the now surprised people as she stood up before saying in an even louder tone

Yena : and that we will give all of you, because we won this war not only to protect our rule but to save your nation from it's ruins as well. Right now, you must be angry at us. And rightfully so, as we have caused the deaths of your loved ones. But trust me, I will make sure to give each and every one of you a better life than your predecessors have ever been able to provide you with.

The people whose faces earlier held anger slowly started dying down, their clenched fists loosening. The former ruling family had painted a picture where Moon Yena was considered to be ruthless, slaughtering anyone and everyone in her path. This seemed to be different now, and it was a good difference.

Yena : proper housing, water, and basic necessities will be given to all of you no matter how poor or rich you are right now. That is my word as your new queen. And my word, is royal decree.

The people around suddenly started clapping as yena let out a breath, turning towards the officials as they all gave her a smile. It had been a success, yena had managed to make this kingdom hers as well.

______________________________

Yena : you do not just kill someone like that, yeosang, not in front of so many people. What does that make us?

Yeosang : he tried to hurt you, yena. If as a husband I don't protect you, what does that make me?

Yena : that doesn't matter here! They already hate us, because we're alien to them. Now if you were to hurt one of them the very first time you meet them, do you think they would ever accept us as rulers?

Yeosang : we are their rulers already, aren't we?

Yena let out a breath, looking outside their carriage that was now headed back to the palace as she said

Yena : you told me once that being a ruler means to conquer the people's hearts with love, not loyalty by war.

Yeosang : well, when someone tries to cause you harm, I don’t give a bloody hell whether I conquer their hearts or not.

__________________________________

Yena was in her studies going through some papers when the door burst open, revealing a panting yeosang. Yena frowned, keeping the paper away as she said

Yena : yeosang?

Yeosang : it's…it's thundering.

It had started thundering almost an hour ago, and the thunders here were known to be quite ferocious, although it came rarely. Was yeosang worried for the others?

Yena : I'm aware, yeosang.

Yeosang shut the door behind him, locking it as he said

Yeosang : I…I uhm, I just-

Yena : yeosang, what is it?

Yeosang : I tried holding back, alright? For an hour, I did. I even tried to get myself to sleep-

Yena : yeosang-ah, tell me, what’s wrong.

Yeosang : I'm scared of the thunder.

Yena paused, partly confused. And then once she got a hang of the situation, yena stood up, walking towards yeosang as she said

Yena : and I thought you'd killed someone.

Yeosang let out a shaky breath as yena hugged him, resting her hand against the back of yeosang's head as he closed his eyes before nuzzling his head into yena's neck. He had missed this. Yeosang inhaled deeply as he muttered

Yeosang : you smell so good.

Yena : it's the soap bar I stole from you.

Yeosang smiled as yena chuckled, rocking yeosang softly as she continued patting yeosang's back slowly. She knew he liked continuous rhythms, it made him calm.

Yena : it's just thunder, love. It's going to pass very soon.

Yeosang : I'm sorry.

Yena : you don't ever have to be-

Yeosang : no not for that.

Yeosang pulled back, looking into yena's eyes as she blinked in confusion

Yeosang : I'm sorry for everything I said, for blaming you unnecesarily.

Yena let out a breath, shaking her head. She had stopped being angry at yeosang a long time ago, after she realized that it was the first time he was facing war. And yena had kept so many things to herself instead of having communicated with yeosang. She knew this was partly her fault too.

Yeosang : this was…it was all new for me, yena. I've never even seen a war happen, let alone fight it. Being out in the battlefield, having to kill my own soldiers because they refused to live without arms or legs, it broke me apart. I have only ever killed animals, and that too after apologizing a million times. Having to kill human children, it was all too much for me. I needed an outlet, and I chose you. And that was wrong of me, utterly wrong.

Yena : yeosang.

Yeosang : you have only ever loved me, and I have only ever brought you pain. But I know this has to work out, that we, have to work out because I cannot live without you. You are my wife, you are a part of my heart, I cannot lead a life where you're far away from me. I need you, yena, I need to be able to love you until the moment I die.

Yena : you can love me for as long as you like, yeosang. I'm all yours to love, all yours to hurt.

Yeosang connected his forehead with yena's, ignoring the thunder outside as he said

Yeosang : I love you, yena. I have never for a moment stopped loving you.

Yena smiled, resting her palm against yeosang's cheek as she whispered

Yena : I love you too. And, there's something you should know.

Yeosang opened his eyes as yena held one of his hand with her free one, placing it against her stomach as yeosang's eyes widened in shock

Yeosang : oh my god.

Yena smiled, looking up at yeosang as she whispered

Yena : we're going to be parents, darling.

Yeosang let out a noise of disbelief, squealing as he picked yena up and spun her around. Yena laughed, wrapping her arms around yeosang's neck as he finally lowered her down before saying

Yeosang : thank you thank you thank you!

Yena chuckled as yeosang kneeled down, kissing her stomach. Yena tangled her hand in his hair as she said

Yena : we've both made mistakes, but this child? This baby is a promise of our future together, yeosang.

Yeosang : and I hope it's a girl, so she can grow to be just as strong as her mother is.

Yena smiled as she said

Yena : you know what else this means? That we're going back to Kedah for a while, and you'll get to visit your people again.

Yeosang smiled wider as he stood up straight and kissed yena as hard as he could, his hair tangling in her hair. Yena wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her as he whispered

Yeosang : I love you, the both of you. And I promise to protect our family with everything I have, until the moment I die.

Yena : well, lucky for you, I'm planning to do just the same.

_____________________________

30 years later :

Yeosang had been dead for a year now, and the people still mourned the loss of their great emperor. Yena had been heartbroken when her husband died, because no matter how old he was, for yena he was still the prince she had once fell in love with. The prince who had given her 4 beautiful children, the elder one being a son who was going to be crowned emperor within a month's time.

Kang Yujun was everyone's dream. As yeosang had wanted he had gotten his mother's strength and power in ruling, but as yena had wanted, he had gotten yeosang's kindness as well. Yujun could be ruthless if he wanted to, but he had a big heart. He had been a good son and an amazing elder brother to his three other siblings, and the people loved him. It had been yeosang's last wish for yena to crown the next emperor of their nations herself, and yena was going to do it.

Because yena's wedding vow to yeosang had been to live, as he considered living for someone a much bigger sacrifice than dying for one. And right now, and every second since yeosang had closed his eyes for the final time, yena had been doing just that. She was living for him, living for their children.

Yujun : eomma, haven't you slept yet?

Yena looked over at her son who had just entered her study, his face looking tired as well. Probably from all the preparations he had to do for his coronation, he was always doing something. Yena smiled at her eldest son, shaking her head as she motioned for him to sit on the sofa beside her.

Yujun : seriously, you need to get proper sleep. You're old now, eomma, let us not forget that.

Yena : I haven't forgotten anything, my son, I have great memory still.

Yujun : of course you do.

Yena : I heard the neighboring kingdom's causing some ruckus around our borders?

Yujun let out a breath as he leaned against the sofa before saying

Yujun : it's a woman, eomma.

Yena : a woman?

Yujun : Yang Haneul, she was a palace dancer, known for her gracefulness and kindness towards others. But now she's assasinated the ruling family, killing even the newborn son of the king. She kills anyone and anything that's in her way now, the people in her kingdom fear for their lives every second.

Yena : what?

Yujun : she is now queen, eomma. And our spies say she is planning to conquer the neighboring kingdoms as well, one by one.

Yena : a lowly palace dancer suddenly becomes queen, of course she's greedy for more power.

Yujun : she's dangerous, because she has nothing to lose. Someone who came from nothing will have the thirst to conquer the world, and that's what has concerned our borders.

Yena : we have to overthrow her, yujun-ah.

Yujun nodded, sitting up straight as he said

Yujun : I will. Once I become emperor, all that will remain of her will be ashes. For someone who didn't show mercy even to a newborn child, that is all that she deserves.

Yena was about to say something when the door to her study burst open, revealing a panting guard who bowed and said

??? : your majesty, your highness, someone has come to see you.

Yujun : at this time of the night? Who?

??? : Yang Haneul, lord prince. She wishes to have a treaty with you.

Yena's eyes slightly widened, looking over at yujun who seemed to be trying his best to maintain posture as he said calmly

Yujun : if it's a treaty, we will need the ministers-

??? : no, my prince. This…it's a marriage treaty. She wishes to marry you.

_________________________________

[storiesandstars]

*I haven't read the manga or watched the anime for My Happy Marriage.

Between Perfect Revenge Marriage and My Happy Marriage....these oldest daughters need a ton of love and they absolutely deserve it. 😭😭

These crooked mf families, oh gosh. I would like to rage. Miyo's been terrorized her whole life.

I love Yurie already.

Ken Tsuda...🤌🏾

She was so sweet eating at the restaurant for the first time! That look of delight!

This Tsuruki fellow seems shifty. Good or bad, I can't tell. He's pretty though.

Husbands bending over backwards to make sure their traumatized wives can heal, because every smile is precious: Lord Kudou 🤝🏾 Seo Do Guk

They're making me squee it's so stinking cute. This finding and making home for yourself stuff is so good.

The way Yurie thinks this gentle romance is so preciously amusing is The Best.

Burn that house down. No one needs any of that Saimori bloodline to continue.

Her mom's family ain't shit either...no one could help her? Why now? These mfs could've done something...what the hell does he mean he was waiting for her. Nah, Miyo go back to your husband. They can continue to live in peace and harmony then. Without you, Miyo.

Wait, is there anyone that can be trusted? 🙃

Protect WHO Arata?! You already FAILED. Get this guy outta here. Miyo, you got this girlie. I believe in you and your hubby.

Normally reserved/arrogant husbands becoming baby girls for their wives: Lord Kudou 🤝🏾 Seo Do Guk

Oooh, the former emperor got played by this mystery cult group, I see.

I really enjoyed that! I should give the anime a go.

[m-to-the-6th-power]

Happy WIP Wednesday more prince Gideon au. This time, 2 different conversations between Gideons.

"Wait, you're a necromancer right?" Gideon asked, taking in the Saint of Duty. "I thought all necros were scrawny little fucks with noodle arms. (Rude!) Sorry El. What I mean is, is there some reason that you worked out? Other than the obvious, using weapons."

"More blood, and better oxygenation of that blood, makes me a better necromancer. Plus, the beefcake appeal."

"So all the protein from cheesed burger patties helped you bulk up?" 

The Saint of Duty laughed riotously, mirth clear on his face and Gideon couldn't help but grin back. "No no, well yes, a nice burger fresh off the barby is a super convenient way to get good protein. Or a nice steak with grill marks can make almost any meal feel a bit special. But I mean the body type. Some people like their partners to be more physically bulky, big muscles, taking up space, all that. So another benefit of working out is being attractive to a certain subset of people. Although I've noticed it is a bit more pronounced in your mothers people than in the houses."

--------

"Your mother once told me that she'd welcome me into Blood of Eden if I wanted. It would've taken me killing John, but if I did that, she said she would name me herself. 'The Sword of the Lord and Gideon,' was the name she wanted. I was to be her sword that struck down the vile serpent. I couldn't do it. Not after what he did to A.L., to die is the only true way to escape grief, and he deserved that mercy least of anyone and even more so now."

Gideon's eyes darkened as she thought of the emperor, that familiar flame of injustice burning inside her chest like Dominicus itself. “He should still die. I don't give a damn about his grief. What about Pyrrha?”

Gideon the First looked down at his daughter and gave a small, almost secret, smile. “You don't understand, but I didn't think you would. Pyrrha is dead, and I miss her terribly. Losing someone like that is an ache that never goes away. But for us, the lyctors, it's a wound with scar tissue. It doesn't hurt as much most of the time, unless you really press down on it,” He paused here to gauge his audience, taking in the set of her jaw and shoulders. “But for John, it's an open gaping wound. It can't heal over because she's alive. She's alive and she's there, and he can't go to her and sit with her. It can't scar or scab over, and so it must fester.”

Gideon looked up at her namesake, rotating what he said around on a platter in her mind. She wanted to give it plenty of time to sink in. She wanted badly to share her theory about the other soul that she'd met in his body but in a flash of insight realized that it would be unbearably cruel. To tell him his cavalier was still alive in the recesses of his mind, not fully gone, would subject him to that same pain he was wishing on the Emperor. “Would it press down if I asked questions?”

“No, as long as they aren't overwhelmingly sad. She would've looked at you like her own kid.”