#kinships;; lousie

[dragonagecompanions]

DAI Companions reactions to repeatedly being mistaken for a young/teen Inquisitor's parent or older sibling.

Cassandra: At times it feels like she is, and yet it is never something the seeker begrudges. This young person has stepped into a role no one their age should have to fulfill, and with so many relying on them to save the world at least one person should be standing in the role of guardian and protector of their interests. She only wishes it could be her sole priority.

And if, in quiet moments, to have a sibling again is a balm then it a truth no one else need know.

Varric: He was a lousy brother, though is was not as if Bertrand was winning any awards either. But he never really understood the pressures his older brother was under until stepping into part of that role— and Varric never had the strain of ailing mother or the loss of Orzammar on his shoulders. No, he is not sibling material.

But no father could be prouder of a child than he is, watching their young leader stitch the world back together. Kid needs looking after, and Varric Tethras is honored in the burden.

Solas: If the Inquisitor is elven, no matter his plans for the future, the rift mage feels a sort of obligatory kinship to the da’len so far from clan or kin. Children have always been precious, especially to the Elvhen who did not conceive so easily as humans.

For any other inquisitor he does not correct those who make the mistake, and will turn it into a familiar joke later that the herald must be the most attractive of thei species to be mistaken for an elf. It hides how little he cares for the comparison.

Kin slaying is a terrible crime. Best not to build the relationship from the start.

Blackwall: In another life Thom Rainier had scorend the idea of children, and taken pains to ensure that his dalliances would not conceive a bastard he had no intention of claiming. Now his family name is hardly worth the claiming, and he is grateful his only sister took her husband’s name long ago and is free of his legacy.

But as a warden, true or otherwise, Blackwall is honored by such a comparison. If his presence has had any small benefit to the young person upon whom such a task is laid then he is honored by the comparison. And while he would be the first to argue that no one is better off in his care or keeping, Blackwall would be the first to lay down his life to protect theirs, and will do everything he can to make sure they are well.

Vivienne: For the sake of his grown children- and the wife who had done her duty in the bearing- Bastian could not have given her a child. Even if he could have protected it from the clawing hands of the Circle, whose laws had forbidden such a gift. To be a mother was not in her future, and in her youth Vivienne had taken steps to ensure such an accidental fate could never befall her.

But she could have been. In the quiet moments through out the years she had imagined how such a child might grow, might flourish under the love and guidance of two parents who so deeply wanted it. And while the Inquisitor is neither replacement nor surrogate for that dream, in this young person Madame de Fer can see a reflection of what might have been.

If she takes care to guard their appearance, coach their behavior and prepare them as best she can for the great game, it is easily couched in the truth that it benefits the Inquisition to do so. The truth of her affection is hidden away, no further burden on shoulders already heavy with titles and too few years.

But she can dream.

Sera: When she does think about her childhood, the few times it has to be examined, Sera would not have minded another small person to have run about with. It might have made the lessons and the lies less lonely, to know someone else was there to ride through it with.

But there wasn’t. And she didn’t. And she likes the Inquisitor, is happy to have them as both friend and Friend. But family is a sore spot in the tapestry of her life, and adding patches to warped thread does not fix the faulty loom.

Dorian: It is the worst nightmare of most high born alti, that one’s parents might conceive a second child to rival them for the familiar seat in the magisterium. Never a risk for Halward and Aquinea, whose duties to each other and the marriage bed ended w it the birth of a living and magically inclined son.

And yet Dorian would not have minded a younger Pavus knocking about when he had been a boy, someone to share the duties and adventures of Minrathious in those few years before duty locked away simpler pleasures. But when he is first mistaken for the Inquisitor’s father, first mistakenly assigned that guardianship and all it brings?

It staggers him, how deeply the role could fit. For all that their creation is anathema to them, Dorian Pavus would never scorn a child of his blood. Of any blood, in truth. If their herald is young enough and without guardianship, without a future once Corypheus is defeated…

It is a thought for later.

The Iron Bull: Where is the lie? Was he any less worthy of the imereki than those who had left them behind? The feelings that well up when the mistaken role is given do not surprise him, and Bull is perhaps the easiest of any besides Cassandra with taking on that burden. The Chargers are his family, and if they survive the Storm Coast the little Herald is gathered up into that fold without question.

And even with one eye he can see the second Dorian accepts and even relishes the idea. The Iron Bull didn’t come South looking for a family, but one may well be within his grasp regardless.

Cole: “Shared name, shared memories, tied together by all the things that matter. Even when we don’t agree there is still love and trust, striving for something greater than we are. Yes! We are a family. That makes sense.”

Mod Fereldone

[feruslands]

My sketch fanfic "Vader/Ferus"

For @la-sopa and @reconstructwriter , who inspired me to continue, and for everyone who loves "Vader/Ferus".

Warnings: rape

"Daddy Feri", part 4

Darth Vader really thought that if he found baby Leia, something important would change in his life. It seemed that if he found Leia, a miracle would happen. But a miracle happened in Ferus Olin's life since Leia Organa became his daughter. And this miracle saved the Jedi's life.

But in Vader's life, no miracle happened after meeting Leia. The Sith felt no kinship with the child. Leia was nothing to him. He didn't even have the desire to see her or communicate with her. Leia reminded him of who he was. Leia reminded him that Padme was dead. And she recognized another person as her father.

The noblest thing would be to set her free, rather than trying to make his daughter a means to an end. Darth Vader wasn't going to be noble. Soon he will begin to teach her the way of the Dark Side of the Force. He will need an adult Leia to help destroy Palpatine, or to retain power if he destroys Palpatine on his own. 

But still, Sith felt annoyed when he looked at her and realized that even outwardly this cute little girl looked like Olin. And if it hadn't been for the completed genetic test, he would even have doubted the information he extracted from Bail during the interrogation. Although Vader knew Organa wasn't lying, few people are capable of lying when flesh is burned with a lightsaber.

His daughter didn't get anything from Anakin Skywalker. She had beautiful dark eyes, rich brown hair, delicate white skin, and a beautiful aristocratic face like Padme's. It was only over the years that Padme gradually faded from his memory. And he realized that he no longer remembered her in great detail.

But the other man was here all the time, every time he returned to the Vjun, and Vader already remembered him to the smallest detail. Ferus Olin reminded him not of who he had once been, but of who he was now – the Overlord who decided the fate of Star systems. Every time Darth Vader saw his former rival, he was pleased to realize how powerful he had now become. He could at any moment, with a careless gesture, send this damned fool flying across the entire corridor, slam him into the opposite wall, and then drag what was left of him into the cell to forcibly possess him.

Complete permissiveness. That's what the Sith needed right now. Not talking to a useless little girl.

Thanks to the Dark Side of the Force, Olin's restrained emotions could easily be read as a lousy hidden panic. It happened all the time, in those moments when the Sith focused his attention on him. 

It made Vader want to just burst out laughing. The fear that this damn idiot felt turned him on quickly and easily.

"Hello there, princess", Vader smiled with anticipation when the silhouette of the Jedi appeared in the dimness of the prison corridor, "I've been waiting for you."

Vader stopped, blocking his way and greedily sated on those panicked emotions that the Jedi was very intensely trying to suppress.

All Jedi were such hypocrites and cowards.

Poor stupid Ferus tried to seem so calm and balanced, but there was a whole abyss of fear and despair inside him.  And this abyss caused Vader's inner hunger with even greater intensity. The Sith noted with satisfaction that the Jedi wanted to run away from him. But there was nowhere to run. He could have played catch-up with him and then dragged him out of any corner. But tonight he was too impatient, the Dark Side had already demanded violence, a lot and immediately!

And Vader roughly grabbed the prisoner by the shoulders, bringing him closer to himself.

“I'm going to fuck you now, do you mind?”, Vader asked mockingly before twisting his arm behind his back and slamming his face into the wall. At the last moment, Ferus managed to turn his head to avoid hitting his face into the wall. “Leia is sleeping”, he told Vader, hoping the wall was thick enough that the baby wouldn't wake up from hitting the wall. Vader only pushed him once more and pressed him against the wall with his body.

“Then you have to force yourself not to scream”, Vader hissed in his ear with a nasty sneer. Olin jerked violently and pulled away from the Sith's hands. The disgusting, mocking tone of the hoarse voice made him lose his temper. He knew perfectly well that Vader wasn't attacking with even half his might, but was just playing with him. But the Jedi lost his temper anyway. He knew that his retaliatory attack would be useless and even dangerous, but he lunged at Vader, throwing his arm forward to punch his fist into the cyborg's ugly snout. But the Sith intercepted his fist so quickly and easily, as if he knew exactly in advance. And he clenched his fist, not giving him the opportunity to escape. With his other hand, Vader grabbed the enemy by the throat, and clamped it as if with metal claws. Vader's face broke into a wide grin, an instant before he clenched his hand, crushing the Jedi's fist like paper, breaking his knuckles and fingers. Ferus wheezed from the terrible pain in his arm, he could barely see Vader anymore, his vision was gray from suffocation. He fell to his knees, and Vader was still strangling him and crushing his wrist bones.

When the Sith released him, Ferus fell flat on the floor.

 "If you dare to raise your hand against me again, you will be left without your hand, slave", he put his foot on the prisoner's hand, wringing his wrist, and listened to his groans and wheezes because of the pain. And then he easily lifted the Jedi's body off the floor, and threw it over his shoulder. Vader turned to carry him out of the hallway, but baby Leia was standing at the entrance of the next room. 

The baby ran out to the sounds of a struggle, although she promised Dad that she would never do it. She stared wide-eyed at her dad, hanging like a long towel on the shoulder of a huge monster in black armor. Her dad's arms hung limply, he did not move, only wheezed in pain.  She rushed forward towards the monster.

"Don't you dare hurt my dad!", Leia screamed in a very childish voice. Ferus turned his head with difficulty, wincing in pain. He was amazed at how much courage there was in this baby. Unfortunately, her courage could not help him now, it could only harm her.

"Don't stand in my way, girl, or you'll regret it", Vader rudely replied to her. He used the Force to push Leia back. The baby was blown back into the room. Fortunately, she did not fall, but the door closed behind her and was blocked by Vader's gesture. The Sith wasn't going to take her opinion into account. He came to take what he wanted and how much he needed. No one will stop him.

Ferus heard the little girl banging on the door with her fists. She screamed and cried and called for him.

"Daddy! Dad!...", this childish cry, muffled by the locked door, rang in his ears and tore apart his soul. But it was useless. The Sith had no concept of mercy. Vader dragged him into one of the cells. The doors obeyed his gestures and were blocked by a wave of the Sith's hand. Vader threw the Jedi to the floor like a garbage bag, and there roughly and quickly tore off his clothes. Ferus could see that the Sith was chuckling as he did this.

"Bitch!", Vader hissed, slapping the Jedi across the face. He liked to beat him, and he did not deny himself the pleasure. Vader leaned on top of the prisoner as he freed himself from the armor. He raped him for a long time, deliberately making their intercourse painful for the Jedi.

After all the violence, he immediately sent the Jedi to the medical unit so that the droids would heal his wounds and sew up his ass. Vader thought it would be ridiculous, if one of the most capable apprentices of the Jedi Order died like an animal from internal bleeding inside his ass.

[power-chords]

This is of course secondary to the horror of watching your own community jump through ideological hoops to excuse genocide, or tie themselves in knots to insist that the term does not apply, but another thing that really cooks my goose is the idea that I am committing some grave betrayal by taking them to task for it. As if there were anything more consummately Jewish than ruthlessly excoriating other Jews for their lousy fuckin opinions! And you know what, maybe it's true that I would be agonized by the sight of any goyim who did the same in incautious terms. One does not suffer the word "bloodthirsty" thrown around without a wince. But it pains me worse to witness my own brethren, people with whom I share an ineradicable historical and in fact spiritual kinship, that universal spark of recognition for better and for worse, harden their hearts to suffering.

[meggigoering]

📖October 8, 2023

🦈I haven't written anything these few days because I was very busy with my studies. I remind you that I study at two American universities, and my working and  learning day looks very tight. From this dense calendar and to-do list, every day at least 40% was bitten by a stinky with his girlfriend Tanya Shumilova, and their heavenly patrons - the Angara maniac Mikhail Popkov (if anyone forgot, aka Sylvester, the leader of the Orekhovskaya gang, in the world an honorary elder, the patriarch of the Ancient Orthodox Church Kornily Titov), and his henchiks from the Sberalfa-VTB Systema. The fact that these scum devoured, I picked up time in the early mornings, but still both work and study suffer a lot because of these condoms. On Friday and Saturday, they ate just two days of cleaning after the fire and the lack of light in the apartment. What the fck is the fire, you ask? The real fire.

In short, in the long-suffering flat on Maslennikova 16-13 in case you missed everything, where I and my dogs were generously sweated by the mustard gas poison, there was expected to be a shmon. I mean, a search. Mustard gas is such a shit that is simply unrealistic to weather from the apartment where it has been for a long time. This crap penetrates through the chemical protection suit in 40 minutes, is easily absorbed into porous materials, and it is impossible to wash it from plastic and wood. Therefore, there were so many samples of chemistry in the apartment that the field for samples for toxicological and chemical examination was not plowed here. Since the stinky itself poured snot and pus from the lungs, the epicenter of storage and one of the main sources of distribution of deadly chemistry was in his pissed chambers. I assume that this bastard kamikaze wanted to live, so he probably kept his chemical shit on the balcony. Obviously, this outside storage did not save stinky, because his snot hung to his knees, and the pus from his lungs could be raked out with a shovel. So one visit to the smelly balcony and his pissed bedroom would basically make him the most flawed character in history.

In addition, there was a genetic test for the stinky, from which it clearly follows that this bastard is not related to me or to my testators. This genetic test was sent to me by the stinky himself. The test is a sample of stupidity, and its manufacturer (Academy of DNA Genealogy) deserves to receive the Darwin Award along with the stinky. A test with two fundamental errors that completely exclude the chance of a stinky not only of kinship with me, my grandparents, but the chance that the test is true. I will not provide a manual on how to deceive the law and "sweet fryers," I will briefly note that the stinky at the Academy of DNA Genealogy (remember this name) generated a fake combined test, in which they picked up a haplogroup from some princes just in case, and a haplotype from others, so that if anything fits in both cases. The little truth is that they were a little bit wrong with the names of the princes, and who on what line is related to my family. And so for the inhabitants of the object, the test looked very convincing. The stinky the great-grandson of Ivan the Terrible himself, in a straight male line, Rurikovich! Everything is beautiful and absofckyamazing, only the direct male ancestor in the male line of my dad and his dad was not Rurikid by direct male line, he is Gediminid. I'll save the rest of the details for later.

Well, I somehow remembered that the stinky was lying in a psychiatric hospital and many times he was visited at home by a good psychiatrist-narcologist.

Again, the performance of the stinky a week ago, when I asked for compensation for an ovarian rupture. I'm sticking out here with the Moscow medical insurance, I don't want to change it. I feel pretty lousy after a stinky confused me with a boxing bag and beat me - a stomach bruise, an ovarian rupture and a closed abdominal injury is not a light runny nose. As I wrote a week ago, the stinky (I remind you, a permanent client of psychiatrists and narcologists, who was lying in a mental hospital, who was diagnosed last year and written in the recommendations to solve the issue of his sanity) immediately called Tanya Shumilova, and asked her to organize the following: to falsify me a diagnosis of an alleged schizophrenia, and send me forever for compulsory treatment to free the apartment from my presence. Tanyushka sleeps and sees to get access to my property as soon as possible, and does not hesitate to falsify the grounds in order to get the right to dispose of it. Well, Tanya wants to ride my Porsche and live in my flat 196 on Leninsky 64/2, you can't order her heart! There and her daughter Valeria has already set up for me in the HASHEIGHT business - she bought Porsche sneakers, a business suit, IT textbooks, and books on law and accounting just stole from me. In short, the "family" is ready to accept my belongings, inheritance and property completely free of charge, there is only one issue left to solve - I'm still alive. Therefore, all the dialogues and gossip of Tanya and stinky about "schizophrenia" were due to the fact that these creatures were going to take care of me, and send me with someone else's name to a mental hospital, where I would be missing. It is clear, the treatment of my torn ovary was not in the plans of caring "parents" who only for the maintenance of their daughter the prostitute Lera milked more than 7 million rubles from me.

I accidentally recorded Tanya's conversation with the stinky, and without waiting for it to finish, I immediately went to the Investigative Committee to the investigator on duty.

In short, there were more than enough reasons to close the stinky and his girlfriends Tanya Shumilova and her relatives in the pre-trial detention center by October 1, 2023.

Feeling that the stinky and his girlfriends, instead of my inheritance, will now really draw a preventive measure in the form of sending to the madhouse, where they so diligently wanted to hand me over instead, this cute nut (in all aspects) family shit themselves and decided to solve the issue radically. Well, like there is no person and no documents - no problem.

So here it is. On Friday morning, October 6th 2023, I needed to run to the library, I'm now describing the functionality for prototypes, I need to read a couple of books with at least one eye. Well, that is, I have a plan for books that I need to read for work and study, and I, like in the movie "Quiet Place" every day, I go out on business and to the library.

It's scary, of course, the stinky with his girlfriends are rare scum, but no one promised that it would be easy. After learning that there would be a shmon (search), the stinky got up all week, neither light nor dawn, and even reduced the degree of mustard gas. On Friday, at 10:30 a.m., he finished his morning promenade, and I felt the chance to run and rushed to the library. I go out at 11-20, go to the library, and a funeral car is blocked on the way. I don't think to myself, damn it, will they really take the stinky and I'll finally make a funeral for my parents? I come to the library, and now I set a timer for 25 minutes due to an acute shortage of time. And so the timer rang three times, I'm looking at the cameras - everything seems to be calm in the apartment. Well, I think I'll allow myself another sprint. And what do you think - immediately a fire alarm starts yelling in the library. In short, remembering the morning funeral car, I put my feet in my hands and run back to the apartment. I think there are too many distracting unpleasant elements today. I come - a stinky in the apartment. Well, I think it's great - I'll feed the dogs now and go back. Harry eats 8 times a day after poisoning with mustard gas on fractional feeding. I gave the dogs semolina porridge to cook, and a kettle for myself. As soon as the stinky found out about the shmon, he lost his peace and sleep, he couldn't find the key to the attic, he needed urgently for unknown reasons. And wow - while the dogs were waiting for cooking porridge, I found the key under the closet when I was washing the floor. The stinky saw the key, rushed into the room to his place, took the key and left the apartment. I'm sitting waiting for the kettle. I feel that burnt paper stintles, it's not clear where it comes from. And then somebody knocks on the door: a neighbor from the 14th apartment says: hey your balcony is burning. I say - the stinky locked the rooms with a key. In short, the firefighters were called further. Three minutes later, there was such smoke in a pillar that I could barely open the window. At that moment, the stinky returned, and began to try to put out the fire himself. I managed to pull suitcases with documents to the stairs and bring the dogs out. Then, as in a bad dream, firefighters with oxygen cylinders for breathing began to climb the stairs, the spectacle is pure Silent Hill. But what is especially original, the freshly found key to the attic of the stinky did not share with them, pretending that there was no key and I took it for myself. This is still a plus the time while the firefighters were squeezing the door to the attic.

In short, 6 fire trucks, 24 firefighters, an ambulance, police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a day without light. And the day before, I put all my things and documents in bags and suitcases. So when everybody moved out, I went in, rubbed the bags and washed the floor. Well, since there was no light, I had a real Sabbath. The only shitty thing is that there used to be mustard gas with stinky urine, and now combustion products have been added to it. I'm sitting like in a "Hard's Hell" smokehouse. I understand that the absence of posts from me for several days, barbecue customers from the sistema "Sberalfa-VTB" secretly hoped that there was at least one human victim in the fire. Yes, guys. Your mental stinky employee Sergey Shumilov has a burnt face, because at your order, instead of a barbecue of me, my dogs and a fire from my documents, he burned in my apartment, which you rewrote on for your second psychic employee Lera Shumilova, one room and a balcony. Greetings from all the neighbors at this house section entrance, who perfectly understand what a fire in an apartment with a gas column means. They don't give a fck about your ways to solve problems and steal Andrey Leonidovich Kostin, Vladimir Petrovich Evtushenkov, Peter Olegovich Aven, German Oscarovich Gref. After the Lame Horse, the fire in the Winter Cherry, and the fire in the Samara Department of Internal Affairs, for you, of course, 60 people burned alive in the house section entrance, it's like not fucking doing. But for the population of the entrance, which was the day before yesterday very close to share the fate of these unfortunate people, your KPIs, bonus plans, and your understanding of "corporate social responsibility" do not matter. Fcking "Atlants" of Russian business.

👩‍💻Fotos from the flat:

https://pin.it/4L8n4bw

🖤Follow me:

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[leffee]

yup, we're at that point when the pets just come and go to Blythe's room as they please

bruh he would look good in a hat if he wore an actual hat, my guy had an origami mnagoose on his head, that ain't a hat

Russell did indeed (have a) crush (on) Vinnie

Blythe fr just went "Guys wtf this is genuinely an actual nest on my head why you all so stupid"

lol Pepper and Vinnie might be the goofiest guys there but at least they're aware of it

indeed maybe there's something with their mom, orrr maybe they just shit people

bruh not only did they kidnap her they only tied her up and lowkey gagged I'm-

I really really headcanon that the reason why Vinnie was smart in this episode was cause he himself was born from an egg and he felt some sort of kinship

Makes sense Russell became a father, I mean he was already a dad of the group like you said

Sassy Sunil my beloved too and also Russell's despair when he went "I'm a lousy mother" was hilarious" the guy was so distressed

Angry birds reference?! In my pet shop? More likely than you think

endind of this episode is my favourite, it's so fucking funny that people saw a literal hedgehog on Blythe's head and were immediately into wearing something questionable on their head again I swear

The Nest Hats Craze

I love that they can just burst into Blythe's room whenever they want

Sunil wtf is that face stop it

He would look good in a hat if he didn't wear that fucking face okay

Russell crushed Vinnie's 💀

Blythe doesn't even care anymore

Is Blythe the only teenager there

Damn they knocked her into a tree

Is she okay

"Actually I haven't 😃!" Damn get humbled girlies

"Actually no 😃!" This keeps getting funnier

This lady is speaking truth rn

Everyone's so excited to see her on TV

"Seriously this is just a nest on my head." I love that line delivery sm

At least she's trying

How did no one notice there was an egg in there

Pepper and Vinnie knowing it's immediately a bad idea to leave a fragile egg with them

Fisher actually making them replace Blythe's phone and being mad when they told her the story

Makes me wonder how they ended up this way when their dad isn't like how I thought he would be

Maybe there's something with their mom who knows

"We didn't even know he knew that word." So kinda sounds like Fisher spoiled them and that's why they act like that

Makes sense honestly

They literally forced Blythe into their limo

DID THEY KIDNAP HER???

Everyone hating on the Biskits is so fucking funny

I'm still reeling about how they basically kidnapped Blythe

"You gotta stay still or else the egg will never get warm!" Vinnie with the brain cell I see

Sunil is like a nervous father here I live that for him

Zoe has a mailman chew toy

So she has a squeaky hamburger, lobster, and now mailman

Now Russell is a father :)

I'm so proud of him

They are literally keeping her their against her will this is a crime I swear

Pebble is an adorable name

He's such a dad 😭😭😭

This bird was born literally fifteen seconds ago how can he walk and talk or understand what Russell is telling him

He's so fucking encouraging

Russell is definitely the mom/dad friend of the group

Vinnie is actually being smart in this episode wow

THEY TIED HER UPPPP????

They need to be sued or something oh my god this is a felony

They are literally victim blaming her

"I don't care about a smoothie!" Me too I hate smoothies

Blythe girlboss moment

Yes girl get out of your hostage situation

Sunil did research 🥺

They are literally dads now

Sassy Sunil my beloved

"I'm a guy nothing grosses us out!" Russell I thought you were the smart one

"I'm a lousy mother..." NOOOOO DON'T SAY THAT AT LEAST YOU'RE TRYING

He should watch that one Bluey Baby Race episode me thinks

Everyone is being harassed by angry birds

*gasp* Angry Birds....

Blythe you could possibly be at risk for being kidnapped again you should be more scared

"When are you two gonna get it through your very large heads-" lol

Everyone probably has a fear of birds now

"The birds weren't attacking anyone, they just wanted to nest in the hats!" Yeah I thought that was kinda clear

Oh my god the baby's name was Hubble

Whoops

The ladies chasing Blythe are probably giving her flashbacks to when she was LITERALLY KIDNAPPED

I'm sorry I don't think this is something I'll ever get over

[xxyumeno]

Tokiya & Ren talk about Hanabi~

Thoma for Setsuna~

Malleus for Louise (if you can uvu)

            ❝ . . . ❞ there a long defining silent that comes from Tokiya. Talking about his feelings for Hanabi, the one who caused his heart to go flutter, just a simple thought of her brought a smile to his lips? Spending time with her always brought peace to his world. Being by her side made his heart warm and brightened his world. How did others managed to speak so openly about their significant others without feeling like an awkward penguin turtle? ❝ She my light. ❞ that as much as you’re going to get out of him.

   ❝ She like a little kid sister to me. Fun to mess with and to tease, but I do enjoy the times we hang out together or I decide to drag her out somewhere. Wish that was more often than not, but you know how our schedules in the business is like. ❞ he chuckled. ❝ I should get back to bugging her, miss that~ ❞ he says that with a smile. Maybe, not maybe ask how her relationship with Ichi is going. Definitely.

   Thoma was currently trying to process his feelings on the matter. ❝ Um... ❞ a finger scratched his cheek, cheeks slowly taking on a pink hue. ❝ She strong, she determined, she clearly someone far out of league. She also beautiful and I find myself lucky to know and even be her friend. ❞ he admits a bit sheepishly with a head tilt.

   ❝ Lousie, hmm... It would be nice to be able to spend more time with. Her energy and personality intigue me more than others I have met presently and in the past. Would it be too forward to say I would like to hold her hand or would that be too old fashion? Regardless, just being in her presence brings me a sort of happiness. ❞

@kinships + hanabi + setsuna + louise &&. Send a character to my ask box and my Muse will talk about their relationship with them. // always accepting

[books-and-catears]

Halloween Fright Headcanons

as requested by @princess-of-the-devildom

Now forgive me if I do lousy job at this please I haven't watched too many horror movies myself. Thank you so much for the ask!

Edit: I WAS SUPPOSED TO POST THIS ON HALLOWEEN WHY IS THIS STILL IN MY DRAFTS IM SO SORRY AGDHEJSKDKLEK-

"Godamnit Mammon stop trying to run away with MC!" Levi screamed and ran into the hallway as Mammon dashed outside, dragging you along.

"Mammon!?? Atleast tell me why we're running?!!" You asked.

"Satan and Levi picked out a whole series of horror movies for movie night and I absolutely won't stand by it! We're going to watch Harrison Porter in my room and that's it!" Mammon yelled.

"MAMMOOONNN?"

"Gah! It's Lucifer?!" Mammon yelped a hid behind you as a laughing Satan emerged from the dark.

"No it's just me. I've been practicing mimicking Lucifer's voice to use it against him. Also just because you can't handle horror movies, doesn't MC has to sit out too. So let them go." Satan said taking your other hand.

Uh oh. Not another tug of war.

"Can you idiots keep it down? And MC please come here - Im trying to get a nap so I can stay up during the movies. And just so you know, Beel is half way through the popcorn." Belphie spoke up from the common room.

"Beel that's my lipstick not candy stop eating that!" Asmo whined loudly.

"Not a minute of peace in this household." Lucifer grumbled as he entered the room.

"Alright then, everyone's here now. You have to start watching now if you want to watch everything because we have to help decorate Diavolo's palace tomorrow."

"They picked a bunch of human world classics so I don't think they'll be as scary as the ones we have here." Beel said Mammon sat trembling between you and Beel.

Lucifer

Probably will like Dracula. The screams, the vintage style of it all appeals to him. "You've good choice, MC." He'll remark.

Will slyly glance at you to see your reactions. Will definitely scoot closer if you're scared. Will be impressed if you're not.

Tries to tape Mammon's mouth because he can't hear half the movie because of his sudden screams of fear.

Will stay there for maybe two short movies before he has to get back to work.

Will ask you watch a movie seperately with him sometime.

Mammon

This is Mammon's worst nightmare come to life. The only comfort is you so please hold his hand tight and let him hide his face on your shoulder.

Literally hates all the movies. Especially the ones with sudden jumpscares. Is only calm when you rub his head and tell him you're here.

If you get scared along with him, he gets suddenly protective. "Stand back, stupid ghost!" Might even start talking to the TV just to cheer you up.

Yeah he cannot possibly sleep alone for the next few nights so please let him in.

Leviathan

He'll probably be intrigued by the Creature from the Black Lagoon first. The monster resembles his demon form after all.

But he won't like the contents very much. "What is this normie stuff!? Ughh!" He is cultured by anime horror after all.

Probably sticks around till there's finally movie he likes. Sometimes yelps if he doesn't see the jumpscare coming.

But he's mostly scared by Mammon's sudden screams. Threatens to call Lotan if he doesn't stop.

Will hold your hand involuntarily and blush and squeal when he notices what he's done. But still won't let go of the hand though.

Satan

Something tells me Satan will love Frankenstein. A monster that was hated and feared through no fault of his own.

"The monster didn't ask to be born. It was the fault of the man who created him. And yet the people attack it instead." He will sigh, sensing an odd kinship with it.

Will bump his shoulder against yours to let you know you can lean on him. Will chuckle and move closer if you do.

Doesn't get fazed by Mammon's screams. Hell it even makes the experience more enjoyable.

Will stay till the very end of the movie marathon and tell you whatever you missed in case you fall asleep early.

Asmodeus

Asmo has more of a meh reaction when it comes to horror movies. Sometimes he gets creeped out and other times he doesn't care.

He's joined the marathon solely because he gets to sit next to you and feel you cuddle up to him when you're scared.

"Ugh all that slime and goop. Why are we still here MC, let's go do something more fun!" He'll say once he loses interest.

Leaps off the couch and falls ass first on the floor when Mammon let's out his first scream of the night.

Leaves the movie marathon as soon as you either fall asleep or leave.

Beelzebub

Is also the type who is kind of unfazed by horror movies. He's just sitting there happily munching away at the popcorn.

Does flinch sometimes if someone innocent is getting hurt. Checks on you regularly.

"Don't worry, MC. I would never let them get you." He wraps his arm protectively around for his own assurance as well as yours.

Will also try to distract you with food if you look like you're overwhelmed by it all. He will take you away from the room if you say so.

Might also leave early to put Belphie to bed.

Belphegor

The screams of agony and fear. Of course he loves it. He loves all of it.

Of all the genres of movies you've made him watch, he went the longest without falling asleep just for this one.

"MC I'm laying down cause it's better to watch like this." He says as he lays on your lap and watches everything sideways.

Teases you if your legs tremble in fear because he can feel it right under him.

Still falls asleep towards the end.

[lululawrence]

lululawrence’s August 2021 Fic List

Previous Fic Lists / Lulu's List Podcast Masterpost

I'll be honest, I usually say something nice about the past month here and do a little thing about how much I loved the fics I read and look forward to sharing what I loved about them them with you now, but I barely survived August, y'all. I don't think my brain actually did survive it completely. Please know the few fics I did manage to finish reading absolutely 100% helped me keep what little sanity I have left. So, authors? I'm raising a massive fucking glass to all of you. I love you more than you can ever know lol

August's podcast has finally arrived! It only took three attempts at recording to finally be completed without any massive issues and here we are. Whew. It feels great to have had that time to talk in some more depth about what I loved about each fic, so I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoy making it.

As always, be sure to show your love and appreciation for all of the hard work our fandom authors have put into their fics with kudos, nice comments, and (when applicable) reblogging their fic posts!

obsessed by @disgruntledkittenface / disgruntledkittenface (100, NR, Nick/Harry, Drabble, Meet Cute, Face Masks, she wrote this for me for my birthday and posted it on Grimmy's last day with R1 and it was just the most perfect timing, This fic was so sweet and after weeks of not having time to read anything, I had the perfect fic to read on repeat until I had time for more than 100 words, Bless you Maggie)

Home Again...Winter Harlow by @dandelionfairies / dandelionfairies (28k, T, Harry/Louis, Big Bang fic, Meet Cute, Chef Harry, Louis works in Gemma's shop, It's very Hallmark Movie-esque, complete with the town name and plot and everything, it is so so cute, Fluff, Flirting, All the warmth and softness you need)

Blow Me Away by @ladyaj-13 / LadyAJ_13 (6k, E, Liam/Louis, Canon Compliant, Established Relationship, Blow Jobs, lmaooooooo, I mean, It is all about blow jobs but more about Liam's aversion to them, and GOOD HEAVENS the incredible communication they finally have is SO HOT, WORK OUT THOSE PROBLEMS BOYS, but also the way that Louis talks with the other guys to figure out what's going on, I about died but it does sound about right lol)

Getting a Head for Heights by @ladyaj-13 / LadyAJ_13 (4k, T, Greg/Lousi, Uni AU, Friends to Lovers, Sharing Clothes, Denial of Feelings, This fic is just so soft and silly and omg I loved every fucking moment of it)

Milk Kinship by @jaerie / jaerie (22k, E, Harry/Louis, 1D A/B/O fest fic, alpha Louis, omega Harry, nursemaid Harry, Employer/Employee Relationship, kinda? like there's defo power imbalance there, but it's consensual sooooo ¯\__(ツ)__/¯, breastfeeding, lactation kink, like the MOST lactation kink hahaha, angst with a happy ending, I thought I'd already read this but remembered I didn't and had to remedy immediately, Kinky and hot af as per usual haha, highly recommend if that's your thing lol)

The Stories They're Not In by @a-brighter-yellow / abrighteryellow (11k, E, Shawn/Niall, Heartbreak Weather fest, Song Fic, Based on San Francisco, Rocketman AU, mostly except make them American and a few other changes, but the vibe is totally still there, Niall is Bernie and Shawn is Elton, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Period Typical Homophobia but only in small doses, musicians, This fic is just so fucking soft and glorious the way it is all navigated and damn, i just loved it, it had it's own ambiance to it too?, i felt like i was entering a different world whenever i picked it up to keep reading)

Can't Buy My Love, Can Buy Me Dinner by @ladyaj-13 / LadyAJ_13 (10k, G, Harry/Louis, Uni AU, Enemies to Lovers, kind of, flashbacks, Zouis friendship, This fic is so fun and simple but also not at the same time, the emotions and motivations for everyone is so complex and real, it makes it so what could be an easily cliche and silly fic actually has so much depth and heart to it, I can't even begin to explain just please read it)

Until That Day by @kingsofeverything / kingsofeverything (45k, E, Harry/Louis, Big Bang fic, Runaway Bride AU, Enemies to Lovers, Established Narry but endgame Larry, Newspaper Columnist Louis, Baker Harry, Sarah and Mitch are Harry's best friends and omg I love them SO MUCH in this fic, The secondary characters bring so much color and flavor to this if that makes sense, The adaptations that were made to update the movie and make it British were incredible, I loved them so much and appreciated the adjustments that were made, it made it so Harry and the fic had more depth and a bit more realistic resolutions, plus harry's family was a larger part of it and his nan omggggg, anyway i devoured this fic in a night instead of sleeping so, a+ 10 out of 10 would recommend)

The Rest Of My Life by @reminiscingintherain / reminiscingintherain (11k, M, Niall/Bressie, Heartbreak Weather fest, Song Fic, Based on Black and White, meet cute, age difference, size difference, Canon Compliant for the most part? I think?, Flirting, It kind of is a very sweet set of vignettes capturing moments of their relationship from the day they meet through until they're much older and settled down, It was so soft and gentle and I loved how Bressie was written as well as how determined Niall was, looooved it)

Don't Hold Back by @jacaranda-bloom / jacaranda_bloom (15k, E, Niall/Harry, Heartbreak Weather fest fic, Song Fic, Based on Cross Your Mind, Famous/Non-Famous, Pop Star Niall, Fan Harry, Banter, Fluff and Humor, This fic was so soft and so much fun to read, and she somehow made it so the fan/singer scenario actually felt realistic???, it was really impressive and so fun)

[env0writes]

A Maelstrom of Petals and Prose 3.17.2022 “Kinship as Rare as Emeralds”

Why don’t we be friends? No notion of predisposition A relation that will round hills and bends Two of any is better than one

I’ve sailed on ships of love and wood Across romance and roaring waves But never has distance seemed less than it should Than traveled with folk I’ll shoulder ‘til our graves

It isn’t an intimate act To intertwine our lives as victors Champion one another’s lasting impact Tough troughs and luck are lousy predictors

I only wish to be more than your acquaintance Be a shoulder to lean on, and be leaned on No qualms, no quarry, no pretense I simply am afraid I will miss you, when you are gone

So coast along the shore together Full sail, the distance feels but a trifle For you, stormy skies I’d weather Explore the world, a pair, an eyeful

@env0writes C.Buck Ko-Fi & Venmo: @Zenv0 Support Your Local Artist!

[ssaalexblake]

You know, 13 Does obviously connect to Tesla on a level she doesn’t to anybody else because she actually sees herself in him, and i mean, it Must be so Soothing to see yourself in somebody who you admire for a change (cuz yeah... we all know who the doctor compares themselves too most of the time). 

But, anyway, I think Graham also did his own relating to Tesla. 

When Edison drags Graham over the idea that the Brits have no business sense, he doesn’t actually say anything, but in the next scene Graham calls him on how he Bets Edison would like to have Tesla back now he’s seen his workshop, and uses an anecdote about how he had a supervisor at the bus depot who also only cared about his employees if he gained something by doing so as well. 

Graham compares Tesla’s situation with Edison to His old situation back at work when he was a bus driver. Graham feels kinship with Tesla because he recognises that no matter how different the jobs they were/are doing, both of them were under the whims of some guy whose only thought was to make money, not anything about them. 

This is the second episode in a row to place the disdain Firmly at the hand of the capitalist rather than A) Tesla whose motivations play Only in the advancement of technology and sciences or B) Graham the bus driver, who loved his job because it helped people, offered a needed service, was doing something for other people. 

The bad guys are the lousy supervisor and Edison, whose motivations are selfish and money grabbing. Following on from orphan 55 with this is a good bit of continuity in the message, captialism lousyness isn’t always earth destroying horror from the 1%, it’s the little things from seemingly ordinary people trying to make a fast buck, too. 

[azure-steel]

@dxnzelstrife​ asked: "Cloud? Is it okay if I go to a store after school? I want to get a soda to drink on the way home and then maybe go to the park if that's okay?" Unprompted Asks - ALWAYS ACCEPTING

He’d been up since the crack of dawn attempting to work out that day’s route. There was always so much to consider if Cloud wished not to fall behind schedule, and often this feat was easier thought out on paper than it was in practicality. 

Today wasn’t particularly arduous in terms of drop off and pick up locations, but taking into account the sheer distance between each stopping point and the need to refuel in between (Fenrir was a hardy beast, but the bike guzzled gas like it was going out of fashion...) Cloud was finding himself perhaps a little irritated that he would have to double back in on himself at least twice between Edge and Kalm. Certainly not ideal when it came to making a profit against his overheads. Being his own boss had its perks, but it went without saying that running a business was a costly affair. 

It was during this little internal quandary the blond had found himself in - with the thick of it all being the papers strewn about the kitchen table right along with the coffee he’d brewed himself a good hour or so before, probably stone cold and growing a nasty skin on the surface - that the padding of familiar footsteps drew him back into the room. 

The question posed took a little time to process, considering that Cloud Strife was not covertly skilled in the art of multitasking, and he blinks somewhat stupidly at the boy for a time as his brain slowly caught up to the present. 

Of course, the courier eventually offers him an approving hum and a single nod of his head. 

“Sure, I don’t see why not,” Cloud utters, maybe a little impassively, though not without diving into his pocket to retrieve a money clip; counting off a few notes he offers the gil to Denzel in lieu of his venture to this store - or maybe the local arcade if the kid was anything like him~ 

“Just make sure you keep your cell on you, yeah? And be back by five, you know how Tifa worries, unless you want me to come pick you up. I’m hoping to finish early today.” 

Truth be told, and for anyone else on the outside looking in, Cloud adored this kid, an unlikely kinship he’d formed with the youngster considering Strife’s rather lousy track record when it came to children in general. For the first time in what seemed like the majority of his life he felt completely comfortable wearing just a little bit of his heart on his sleeve when it came to Denzel, hell, even Tifa had mentioned it more than once. 

[nerdygaymormon]

2nd Day in Utah, 2019 edition

Great day, Lousy evening

I spent much of the day with a friend. We had fun riding in the Mustang convertible I rented, and I had a chance to buoy him and he did the same for me. We were in the car because we had a lunch appointment at church headquarters. There’s a kinship between LGBTQ+ LDS people.  

In the evening I went to the Encircle House in Provo. Affirmation was having a pre-conference social with food from J-Dawgs. In the first 3 minutes I spoke to 3 folks who I recognized from social media, but my social anxiety was stirring. If I could’ve just had someone to stand with, using them as a security blanket, I would have been okay, but I didn’t want to seem like I was clingy or needy. I really did want to meet people, but I needed them to be the one to come speak to me. After almost 10 minutes of me not saying anything to anyone and my anxiety making me feel desperate to get out, I left. I lasted a whole 13 minutes out of a 2-hour social. 

As I drove away, this was my inner monologue--”you think you can do these things, but you just can’t”

I drove around for 2 hours because I didn’t want to go back to the basement I was renting and cry. 

I remembered my therapist and how I’d get so frustrated at him as I would describe a similar incident and he would be grinning so big. He’d say, “the goal was to go and to speak to some people, and you did that. Why do you insist in turning every victory into a defeat?” 

Then I recalled last year’s pre-conference social. It was a held at a park. I showed up, walked all around the perimeter where the picnic tables were, but never could get myself to actually walk over and join in. So yes, 3 people and 13 minutes is a victory compared to last year, even though it doesn’t feel like it. 

[demisexualnathanvuornos]

Natalie Dupree (Emily Rose) Harry’s Law 2x11 Gorilla My Dreams (2012) 2/ 2

Jugde Lucas Kirkland: Guardianship of a gorilla? Are you serious? 

Mike Horace: A gorilla she stole. 

Harry Korn: She did not steal him. He escaped from a local zoo, he ventured onto her property, perhaps intuitively, since he - 

Judge: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You are? 

Horace: I’m Mike Horace, Your Honor. I represent the Cincinnati Presbyterian Good Fellows Zoo. 

Judge: That’s a lot of names. 

Horace: Well, my client owns this animal,  and I would ask - 

Harry: That presumes the animal is capable of being owned. I would ask Your Honor to afford the gorilla the status of personhood for the sake of this proceeding. 

Judge: I’m is this a joke? 

Harry: Your Honor, I’ve looked into this creature’s eyes. Apes are a lot less inhuman than we would like to think. Our DNA and theirs is 98% a match. The gorilla we’re talking about today uses an iPad. He knows sign language. He thinks. He reasons. He communicates. 

Judge: Counsel, counsel has any court in this country granted personhood status to an ape? 

Harry: No. But other countries have. And here at home, the great ape protection act was reintroduced to congress in 2011. The day is coming, Your Honor. There’s a qualitative shift happening in the way we view the animal world, especially when it comes to apes. 

Tommy Jefferson: Your Honor, I, too, looked into the eyes of this beast, and I felt a kinship. How about you hear from our client, Natalie Dupree, who’s been living with this beast for the last month. 

Horace: Ms. Dupree does not have any standing to assert - 

Harry: She has foundation. She studied primatology in college, she’s been the primary caretaker of this gorilla. If we’re to consider the best interest of the ape, which I would submit we should, Natalie is uniquely qualified to bear witness on that. 

Horace: This woman committed a theft. And and we’re to reward her by giving her a day in court? 

Harry: This isn’t about her. It’s about the ape. 

Judge: All right. Where is this animal now?  

Harry: At my client’s farm.  

Judge: That’s not gonna fly. I’m gonna hear from your witness, but in the meantime, the gorilla goes back to the zoo. That’s all.

*** Natalie Dupree: [signing and English] It’s just going to be for a short time, Wentworth. Okay? We’re going to get you out. But you need to go back, just for a short time. Okay? 

Tommy: [trying to sign at the same time] Everything will be okay. It’s gonna be okay. We’re gonna fight for you. We’re gonna fight. And everything’ll be okay.

***

Natalie: Well, I had just come home from work. I had some groceries in my hand, and I got this feeling, like I was being watched. And I looked over at the hedges and there were these big eyes sort of peering out at me. 

Tommy: Were you frightened? 

Natalie: Of course I was. There was a gorilla in the bushes. I was scared to death. 

Tommy: And then he came walking out at you? 

Natalie: Very tentatively. I could see that either he was afraid himself, or that he somehow was sensitive to my fear. That’s what I remember being struck by first, was his powers of perception, if not empathy. 

Tommy: So then what happened after he came out of the bushes?

Natalie: Well, he kept walking forward. And from his body language, I could tell that, like I said earlier, that somehow he sensed I was afraid. And so he took my hand, ever so gently, and he caressed my palm, like what he did with you and Harry. And then then he signed “Hello”. I think I gasped. This was this was like straight out of a Disney movie. 

Tommy: So Ms. Dupree, where did you think this ape had come from? 

Natalie: I’d seen the reports on the news about the zoo escape, so I knew that his name was Wentworth, that he was very docile. 

Tommy: Now I understand you brought along some video. 

Natalie: Yeah, I did. Just a little footage, just to give you an idea.  

Tommy: I’m going to roll it, and then you can tell us what we’re seeing.  

Natalie: Okay. So I brought him an iPad ‘cause I’d read the chimpanzees and orangutans were using them. And that’s what he did to the first one. But then, a day later he’s doing puzzles and finger painting. 

Judge: Ms. Dupree, you haven’t manipulated this footage in any way? 

Natalie: Judge, orangutans are using these things to video chat with other orangutans in different zoos. Oh, he likes opera. 

Judge: How smart, in human terms, would you say he is? 

Natalie: I would say he’s the equivalent to a two or three-year-old child. Oh, and I I probably should’ve edited this out, but it gives you a sense. He wasn’t toilet trained at the zoo, by the way. He learned that in two days. People magazine. 

Horace: You have reason to think he’s been mistreated at the zoo? 

Natalie: Yes. Yes, he’s the only gorilla there. 

Horace: That’s mistreatment? 

Natalie: In the wild, gorillas lead extremely social lives. They have friends, they have family. They love, they laugh, and they’re active. In your zoo, he sits alone all day and does nothing. 

Horace: But he could never be set free. He doesn’t have the skill set to survive in the wild. 

Natalie: Yeah, but there are sanctuaries, there are other zoos where there’s other gorillas. At least he’d have some sort of social and emotional life. I’m sorry, but it’s cruel to stick him in isolated captivity in Cincinnati Presbyterian. 

Horace: Because he can use an iPad? 

Natalie: No, because it’s inhumane. He has an IQ of almost 90. 

Horace: But where do we draw the line? Dogs, especially service dogs, have displayed extraordinary intelligence. Should we grant them personhood status? What about ducks? I’ve been told ducks are smart. You lease your property out to shoot ducks, right? Isn’t that how you first met Ms. Korn, and Mr. Jefferson? 

Natalie: Look, I’m not an animal activist. I eat meat, I wear leather and yes, yes, I make a little money leasing my land out to duck hunters. But this case is about great apes. They’re different. 

Horace: We use apes for biomedical research. Are you against that? 

Natalie: 100%. 

Horace: Children dying of leukemia this research could cure them. But you say, no, better the ape be happy. 

Natalie: Mr. Horace, if you want to make the argument that sacrificing an ape is worth saving a child, then go on ahead, but that’s not what we’re talking about, are we? We’re talking about the cruel and abusive treatment of sticking an intelligent being in a zoo and charging people admission for entertainment. And last time I checked, that did not cure leukemia. 

Horace: But it’s an animal, you’ve come into this court asking the court to treat him as a person. Now if we actually do that, what do we say to the next guy out there who happens to love dolphins?

Mike Horace: Look, uh, my client, too, loves this animal. And not just because people pay admission to see him. But he is an animal. To somehow call him a person, even for the sake of a legal proceeding why? Because, uh, he’s pretty smart? A lot of animals are. Dolphins, dogs. Because it feels emotions? Well, so do elephants. Elephants will mourn the loss of family members for years. Like it or not, we do practice speciesism. We eat animals because they taste good. We kill them for clothing, sometimes vanity. We use them for medical testing. We whip their behinds coming down the home stretch. We coop them up, and we own them. We own them. Under the law, these animals are considered property, under the law, this animal is the property of the Cincinnati Presbyterian Good Fellows Zoo. It’s as simple as that.

Harry Korn: Well, I’m glad you called it for what it is: speciesism. ‘Cause that’s what it is. Following Mr. Horace’s logic suppose a being from another planet showed up, IQ of 300, had the wherewithal to reverse climate change and told really funny jokes. I mean, he’d get no rights here ‘cause he’s nonhuman? We could just throw him in a zoo and charge admission? I don’t think that’s what any of us want. And yet, under Mr. Horace’s argument, the law is the law. Your Honor, the law evolves as we learn. Always has. I understand there’s a slippery slope problem. Today it’s a gorilla; next it’s a dolphin. Soon people will be trying to stop me from shooting a lousy duck. Which I look forward to. I like shooting ducks. I don’t know where we draw the line here. But if we have a being of real intelligence, capable of showing compassion, one that possesses self-awareness, has language skills, a being that lives a social and emotional life, I have no problem drawing the line there. And as I said at the beginning, I’ve looked into this gorilla’s eyes. I challenge anybody here to do the same and not see something a little human. But in the end, it’s not about the ape’s humanity, is it? It’s about ours. How do we, as a species capable of feeling and crying and caring, how do we lock up another being that This ape laughs. He learns. He reasons. He plays jokes. He grieves. He worries. And right now, he’s worried sick about having to stay at the Cincinnati Presbyterian Good Fellows Zoo. Judge Lucas Kirkland: I certainly agree with you, Miss Korn. The law is evolving on this, and we’re seeing the legal rights of animals expanded by the day. But the problem with granting actual personhood status is: what’s the test? Can’t be IQ. As we’ve seen, certain animals have more intelligence than some humans. Emotion? Well, how do you measure that? Maybe it’s the empathy chip. But most of our successful CEOs are missing that one. This is why speciesism has always been very pragmatic, at least from a a legal standpoint. I completely support, even cheer, the continued expansion of legal rights for animals, especially when it comes to the great apes. But looking at where the law stands today, animals, even the great apes, are considered property. And the property in question belongs to the zoo. The motion for legal guardianship is denied.

***

Zoologist: He’s been a little grumpy today. 

Natalie: Tell me about it. 

Tommy: Hey, where’s that tiger I shot at? You got him here? 

Harry: Would you get over the stupid tiger. 

Natalie: Hey, Wenty? 

Zoologist: Oh, he can sulk with the best of them. 

Natalie: Oh, yeah, I’ve seen it. Hey, Wenty.[signing] Will you come over here, please? Hey, stop being childish. I want to talk to you for a second. 

Tommy: Show him your ass, Harry, that’ll get him over. 

Harry: Show him yours. 

Natalie: Hey, honey. Hey. [signing] We’re gonna try to get you out of the zoo, okay? We tried very hard, and we’re gonna still try. But you just you have to live here just a little bit longer. 

Harry: [signs same?, points towards Natalie] What she said. Do you think he knows we’re really trying? 

Natalie: Wenty? Wenty?[signing] We’re gonna get you out somehow. All right? We’ll we’ll get you out. 

Harry: What was that? 

Natalie: He, um. [signing] I miss you, too.[/signing] I really think we should go home. I don’t want him to see me cry. Bye, Wenty. [signing] We’ll be back. Okay? I’ll be back.

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 8/6/19

Dr. STONE, Vol. 6 | By Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi | Viz Media – So it turns out that the current non-turned-to-stone population are all descended from Senku’s dad and the rest of the crew of the space shuttle, which is honestly more about Byakuya’s faith in his son to eventually save the day even if it takes hundreds of years. Back in the present, Tsukasa and the followers that he’s amassed are planning to invade the village and destroy what Senku has accomplished, but little do they know that Senku has the power of RIDICULOUS SHONEN SCIENCE on his side. The best thing about this volume is that we’re starting to see the non-Senku cast actually come up with inventions—the water wheel revelation was great, and Senku knows it. Dumb fun, masquerading as smart fun. – Sean Gaffney

Farewell, My Dear Cramer, Vol. 1 | By Naoshi Arakawa | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – Midori Soshizaki and Sumire Suo played girls’ soccer for different teams in middle school, but Soshizaki is so taken with Suo’s play that she volunteers to go to whichever high school Suo chooses. Suo, accustomed to being the only one really trying on her team, feels kinship with another girl on a lousy team, and so she and Soshizaki both end up at Warabi Seinan, whereupon a couple of other talented players show up along with a new coach, since the current one sees no future in girls’ soccer and isn’t interested in doing his job. This was a pleasant start to a series, but the soccer action isn’t as easy to follow as in other titles I’ve read, and it quickly veers away from the two leads to focus on another teammate. I’ll definitely keep reading, though! – Michelle Smith

Love in Focus, Vol. 3 | By Yoko Nogiri | Kodansha Comics – I had forgotten that this was a series that ended in three volumes, but I would have remembered anyway given the rapidity with which Kei and Mako get together and just as quickly break up. “Let’s date first and fall in love later” rarely works in shoujo manga, especially when you’re the blond, who almost always loses out to the brunet. That happens here as well, as dating Kei does help Mako realize her feelings—for Mitsuru. That said, though the plot beats were very predictable, I thought Mako and Mitsuru’s dialogue was sweet and pure in a shoujo sort of way, and I also liked how the “stalker” plot was resolved. As with the author’s previous series, this was decent but not good enough for long-term. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia, Vol. 20 | By Kohei Horikoshi | VIZ Media – I’m sorry to say that I just can’t muster up much interest for Gentle Criminal and La Brava, the villain and his acolyte who get in Midoriya’s way when he’s trying to get back to campus in time for class 1A’s performance at the school festival. Once their fight is finally over, though, it’s time for the feels. The focus on Jiro here is pretty brief, but oh so welcome, and that two-page spread of her smiling so radiantly while performing is incredible. And then, just a few pages later, there’s Mirio who is suddenly moved to tears because Eri, the girl he sacrificed so much to save, is having the time of her life. I love Mirio and Eri together, and I also love Aizawa rushing to be with Todoroki when his dad, now the number-one hero, is injured on live TV. Plus, there’s Hawks! This volume has much goodness. – Michelle Smith

My Hero Academia: Smash!!, Vol. 1 | By Kohei Horikoshi and Hirofumi Neda | VIZ Media – I’m not really a gag manga sort of person, so I didn’t expect much from My Hero Academia: Smash!!. But despite the warning from creator (and Horikoshi assistant) Hirofumi Neda that it was going to be crude, I actually thought it was quite fun! It follows along with the early events of the main story, up until the first attack by the League of Villains. Often, familiar scenes are subverted in some way, like All Might���s “you can be a hero” moment turning into a sales pitch for vitamins, but sometimes they’re expounded upon in genuinely intriguing ways, like showing how Yaoyorozu used her quirk in the fitness tests Aizawa devised. (I also liked that her classmates now prefer Yaoyorozu brand erasers.) Also, I think one panel features a tiny puking Jesus. To my surprise, I’m looking forward to volume two! – Michelle Smith

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Vol. 5 | By Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court | Viz Media – This volume definitely felt like the fifth book in a four-book series, a constant danger when something gets really popular. Knuckleduster’s plot is resolved, and so he very pointedly, with one or two exceptions, withdraws from the series. Instead we see Pop Step and the Crawler trying to be vigilantes on their own and rapidly coming to a realization, which is underscored by licensed heroes yelling at them—they’re not powerful enough to do much more than get in the way. That said, I did enjoy seeing Midnight in her “casual” clothes, and the kid singers were very cute. A series that has turned a corner but not yet hit the next long straightaway. – Sean Gaffney

My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Vol. 1 | By Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka | Seven Seas – The manga adaptation of one of my favorite recent light novels didn’t have to go very far to impress me, just adapt the novel as well as it could. There’s obviously stuff that’s cut to fit (Katarina’s parents’ relationship gets a one-panel explanation), but it handles introducing the main cast well, and cuts the “alternate POV” parts which would have made the manga repetitive. Best of all is the prose short story at the end, seeing Katarina having a nightmare about the villainess her otome game self is supposed to be, and the bad choices that she makes which our Katarina can’t stop her from despite yelling inside her head. Definitely get this if you like the novels. – Sean Gaffney

The Quintessential Quintuplets, Vol. 4 | By Negi Haruba | Kodansha Comics – This is moving at a galloping pace for a romantic comedy, especially one with quintuplet heroines. There’s the bad—Ichika pursuing her dream would mean leaving school, which would mean Futaro losing tutoring money—and there’s the worse—various people getting bad, bad colds due to the weather and circumstance, which leads to a mass search for Itsuki and a bedside vigil for Futaro, whose cold of course turns out to be the worst of all. We also get another flash forward reminding us that he does eventually marry one of them, but continuing to not tell us who. Don’t expect that to be resolved till the final page of the series. For fans of harem comedy/dramas. – Sean Gaffney

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Vol. 6 | By Yu Tomofuji | Yen Press – Anubis has finally given in and allowed a trial period for Sariphi to be Queen Consort. Unfortunately, we then see the problems that this causes, which is that the majority of the populace still isn’t ready for a human girl as the Queen. Fortunately, Sariphi is made of pretty stern stuff, and even when she’s down there are folks who can cheer her up. This allows her to resolve the fractured relationship between a mother and daughter, as well as give Amit the courage to give a token to her beloved Jor, even though as a soldier he may not be able to return that love. Honestly, this does continue to remind me a lot of Fruits Basket, but that’s not especially a bad thing. – Sean Gaffney

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, Vol. 1 | By Honda | Yen Press – My first exposure to Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san was through its anime adaptation. I’ve not actually watched the show, but I’ve seen enough screencaps of the titular skeleton dramatically reacting to a wide range of customer service exchanges to reasonably expect that I would love the original series. And, after reading the first volume of the manga, I can definitively say that I absolutely do. To a large extent the manga is autobiographical, based on Honda’s experiences as a clerk in the manga department of a large Tokyo bookstore. It provides entertaining insights into the life of a bookseller, showing the challenges presented by customers, publishing schedules, corporate management, and just trying to keep the shelves appropriately stocked. This could be rather dry as a subject, but in Honda’s hands the portrayal of bookselling is delightfully humorous, intense, and over-the-top in a way that is both engaging and still incredibly honest. – Ash Brown

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, Vol. 1 | By Honda | Yen Press – I’ve seen the first few episodes of the Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san anime and this is going to be one of those rare occasions where I have to admit that I kind of like the anime more than the manga. Certainly, Honda-sensei depicts the bookstore (specifically its manga department) as a place way more hectic than I ever anticipated, but that frenetic energy (and the kookiness of his often-foreign customers) just translates better to the animated medium, I think. That said, this volume has a lot to recommend it, particularly if you want a glimpse of what Japanese booksellers think of the global readership manga has obtained. Read it, but maybe watch it, too. – Michelle Smith

Waiting for Spring, Vol. 11 | By Anashin | Kodansha Comics – I’d long been wanting more basketball in Waiting for Spring, and I finally got my wish in this volume. The latest tournament has begun, and if the Seiryo boys want to repeal the no-dating rule, they have to win. They make to the finals league, where they’re up against Aya’s team, Hojo, and though Seiryo ends up losing, there’s still hope due to the structure of the tournament. Aya realizes his kind of love expected Mitsuki to never grow or change whereas her love for Asakura inspires her to try new things and set goals for herself, so he seemingly steps aside though he does talk about returning (he’s apparently moving back to American) once she’s grown up. Anyway, this is a cute series that I like a lot and though I don’t expect many surprises from its final two volumes, I nonetheless look forward to reading them. – Michelle Smith

By: Ash Brown

[princessvicky01]

Part 5 - You need to sit down

Part 5 of ‘Happily ever after’ following Cullen X Annabel lives after the events of trespasser.  

To read from the start click for Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 - with several more parts to come! All on AO3

Summary: The first full day the newlyweds spend at Annabel's family home proves to be unforgettable. SFW Fluff. Also features my other main oc Lord Bryan Trevelyan and @inner-muse oc Lady Kelandris <3

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They’re late for breakfast, not that either is complaining about why after the morning of delights they’ve just shared. Even so, Cullen would've rather made a better second impression with Annabel’s brother than he had his first. Entering the small private dining room saved for intimate settings he spies Bryan. He finds it quite remarkable how his eyes, hair and skin tone are startlingly similar to Annabel's and even at a distance, there is no mistaking their kinship. The woman sat next to him, however, stands out, her hair touched by fire, eyes by amethyst, her skin pale with freckles marking out high cheekbones, all above thick pursed lips. She's beautiful, poised and graceful, but the tug of his wife’s small hand puts any desire to explore her further aside.

“Lady Kelandris,” Annabel beams the warmth of her greeting with a sunny smile. “It’s good to see you again…and I hear congratulations are in order.”

There is a tender smile in return as they’re invited to sit. “Bryan said he’d told you, secretly he couldn’t wait for the big reveal,” a sharp but quick smirk passes over Kelandris face before she delicately picks up buttered toast, ignoring the mild scowl of the man by her side.

“I bet, must’ve been difficult to keep it to yourself for so long,” with a cheeky grin Annabel reaches for the scrambled eggs which he brother snatches away like a sullen child. Pouting lightly, she eagerly accepts the toast rack which Kelandris slides across the ivory tablecloth.

The setting is a far cry from the breakfast’s Cullen had been used to growing up, although the behaviour between siblings at least seems familiar. They’d never had a linen tablecloth with embroidered edges, or such a rich selection of meats, bread, fruits or cheese, but even still some of his fondest memories were from being sat around the oak table in his family’s kitchen. His lively siblings exchanging banter and teasing while his parents tried hard to hurry everyone along.

This morning’s meal, however, smacks of courtly intrigue, and already his posture is stiff because of it. He’d presented less than an ideal first impression yesterday and is on high alert to ensure he doesn’t repeat the mistake.

“You’re late,” Bryan’s tone is decidedly cold as he fills his plate. “I wanted to start without you, but apparently that is not suitable etiquette, even between close family, so now we all have to have cold eggs.”

“And you’re extra grumpy,” Annabel leans over, tugging the bowl back. “So, if you’re going to bring up etiquette I suggest you look in the mirror first.”

Bryan scowls further and Cullen’s stomach knots. Ah, nothing like noble politics and sibling rivalry to start your day.

“Apologies, I didn’t sleep well, then was woken up by an awful racket this morning,” Bryan’s eyes drift subtly to his, one eyebrow lifting ever so slightly in suggestion.

Maker’s breath! So, he had heard their amorous acts this morning. Cullen’s heart stutters in his chest.  He feels his skin heat, despite all his will to prevent it and he knows its prickled red under the cold stare of the Lord.

“Strange, I didn’t hear anything,” Annabel continues setting out her breakfast, although from the corner of his eye he notes that her’s glint with a hint of mischief.

“The apologies should be mine, I kept him up into the early hours,” Kelandris's nonchalant tone and dismissive wave of the toast held poised between two delicate fingers makes Cullen falter. Are they all discussing the same thing? He blinks, cheeks and neck flushed red and tries to focus his attention on the meal in front of him rather than anything that may embarrass him further.

“Wedding planning is proving to be a complex task,” she continues, sipping her tea, keeping her expression aloof. Cullen promptly decides to give up trying to understand what’s going on, although he’s figured out one thing, the two opposite are most certainly well suited.

“Wasn’t for us, was it Cullen?”

“Huh?” Blinking he’s forced into the conversation, a place he really doesn’t want to be, and it shows in the way his eyes dart while his mind scrabbles to catch up. “Oh, right, well no, not really. I mean, I did have a plan, but then there was Prince, and Mother Giselle was there. And. So, no, not really. We didn’t need a plan.”

“Sounds rather romantic,” Kelandris lifts her gaze to meet his, bright violet intrigued. “Did Bryan tell you how he proposed?”

“I’m sure they’re not interested-“ Bryan interjects with his hand over hers and a soft smile that apparently wins him no favour.

“Speak for yourself! I’d love to hear about how sulky here went all romantically soppy,” Annabel giggles and Cullen can tell it means trouble. Trouble he best avoid.

“Hmmm, yes, your brother can be quite the old romantic at heart. We were in the secluded flower garden, in the very spot where we shared our first kiss. Only this time we were under a sky full of stars, surrounded by the flicker of candles, and he delicately bends to pluck a single red rose,” Kelandris mimics the action with her tiny silver spoon in her cup. “The next thing I know he hands it to me and I spy the glitter of gold around its stem. Before I can even speak, he’s down on one knee and asking for my hand.”

Annabel actually squeals beside him.  “Kew you were a big old softie! Wait until the other lords hear about this, they’ll love it,” grinning broadly Annabel adds honey to her tea and Cullen dares glance at Bryan. To his surprise, the Lord isn’t glowering. In fact, he seems to be wearing a rather faint, but distinctly warm smile.

“Yes, well, they can say as they please, at the end of the day, it is I marrying the most beautiful lady in the entire court, not them and they’d do well to remember it.”

Huh. Perhaps there is a softer side to that cold exterior. Slowly Cullen thinks he’s beginning to understand. After all, how would he have survived in a world of nobility, of gossip, intrigue and rumour? He’s not sure he would’ve, but one thing is certain, he would have spent a great degree of his time scowling, and in a foul mood, so perhaps he has more in common Bryan than he first thought.

His day is spent exploring the keep with Annabel, hearing various tales of her wild childhood adventures, sparring in the yard, falling off horses and running amuck over the castle's defences. Cullen can’t recall a more perfect day. No reports, no officers, no meetings, no schedules… just him and his wife wondering around a stronghold which seems to bring joy to her eyes every time they pass a new corner. Every statute has a story to tell, every painting, every person in fact as he finds out she knows a great deal of the guards and staff, many of whom are greeted with hugs and questions about friends and family.

It’s no wonder she’d excelled at the role of Inquisitor. A natural born people person, able to sense what someone needed and with more than enough compassion to go around. Even if she was lousy at paperwork and meetings, having the ability to win hearts and minds was undoubtedly a more useful skill. Or so he thought. He smiles at each and exchanges pleasantries, chuckling along with their jokes, but before long he finds himself starting to tire and wane. Although he is briefly reprieved and revived by Bryan showing him the trebuchets along with a rousing discussion about their correct calibration. That's more his strength, one on one, detailed, practical discussions about useful things, even as he noted Annabel wonder of halfway through. He knew she’d return and ask him all about it, and pretend to show an interest until she got distracted once more at least.

Thankfully, however, they break for lunch alone, he’s not sure he can handle round two of the game so soon. Settling on a bench in the gardens two sets of sad eager eyes peer up as they unpack a panic.

“Oh, go on then, but don’t tell cook I gave you the good meat,” pointing her finger sternly Annabel then tosses the two hounds each a sizable chunk of chicken before wiping her fingers delicately. The last piece she pushes to Cullen. “You should stock up, it’ll be fancy food tonight, but we can always sneak into the kitchen… If you’re brave enough… Cook has been known to chase even royalty away with her pan.”

Chuckling Cullen hopes she’s joking, although the expression on her face suggests otherwise. Calm settles over him once more, the fresh air and hearty food a soothing balm, although the rest of her head against him is even better. Soon it would be best polite smiles and idle chatter amidst vipers. Something he dreads with every passing moment that brings it closer.

When Annabel swiftly leaps up from nowhere, he follows her moves with curiosity and frowns as she begins to pluck several roses. He never would understand what went through her mind, although it must be a whirl of activity.

Within a moment she’s back, four different colour roses in her hand, still confused he watches as she presents them to the hounds. Prince sniffs at the burnished yellow one, so she lays it at his paws with distinct grace, while Fion, her family mutt, takes a liking to the white one. The dog's slender muzzle picks up the stem, seemingly unbothered by the prickles and with a dainty little trot jogs back to the keep with its tail wagging, leaving the mabari to cock its head after the apparently upper-class creature.

“So, that leaves pink and red…and I think you shall have the pink,” she declares with a polite little bow as she hands Cullen the rose like he was a lady at a tourney.

“And why the pink?” With one eyebrow raised he runs calloused fingertips over the petals, unbelievably soft when compared to the stem beneath.

“Because it suits you,” she smiles. “If you blush at the ball tonight like you did this morning, you’ll match!”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” shaking his head he bops her on the nose with the flower, a waft of its fragrance reaching him. She always did smell like roses, and now he supposes he knows why they’re her favourite, they must remind her of home. “You sure it’s not just because red is your favourite colour?” He asks already smiling softly at how she brushes the petals over her lips and cheek with a barely audible hum.

“Hmmm, well it is the colour of passion,” she smirks, full lips half hidden behind the vibrant petals. “Here,” she kisses it gently then swaps their roses with ease. “Your right, red is my favourite colour, and if you’re wearing it, I get to enjoy it more.”

“Selfless as ever,” he chuckles, one eyebrow lifting as she stands, tucking the rose through her buttonhole and extending her hand to him.

“Come on, we need to practice…”

A heavy sigh falls from him as he realises what she’s getting at. “Fine… but I make no promises tonight to not stand on your toes, knock anyone over or become hopelessly lost…” reluctantly rising he feels his drop in mood lifts with the soft curl of fingers around his.

“Oh Cullen, I thought you were always hopelessly lost in my presence?” Annabel smiles and flutters long lashes up at him, and he can’t help but wrap an arm around her waist to tug her in close.

A smirk lifts the corner of his lip again, raising and arching his scar as his honey drenched eyes melt on sight of hers. “Oh, Annabel, you have no idea,” with that his mouth cups hers to share the kind of slow, steamy, kiss only true lovers could.

Stepping into the hall of her childhood home filled to the brim with stringed music, chatter and the scent of cooked meats sends a rush of excitement up Annabel’s spine. Cullen feels warm and steadfast beside her, although she can sense the subtle ebb of tension in the stiffness of his arm under her fingers.

“You’ll be fine,” she reassures him with a bright smile that follows her gaze around the room picking out people she hadn’t seen for years. Some welcome, others not so much. Politics was not her favourite thing either, but at least she had a wealth of a experience to help her cope, something she only hopes Cullen will develop over time.

“Hmmm, so long as no one asks me to dance,” he grumbles, but when she shots him a sideways glance he’s quick to rectify his error. “Other than my wife, of course.”

Chuckling she squeezes tight against his side. “They’re all here to celebrate us, remember? Ok, yes they’re snakes and will try to trip you up or get a rise out of you, but just smile and nod politely…”

“I’m not sure nobility understand the concept of ‘celebration’…”

She taps his arm at the gripe, but can’t help but snicker. He’s not wrong. Although at least they did put out a splendid selection of wine. It’s just a pity her brother had already warned her to ‘take it easy’ with the drinking… For good reason, she may have embarrassed him and herself on several notable occasions in the past. Noble ladies didn’t take kindly to being puked on, knocked over or insulted loudly, and fighting was something it turned out many nobles didn’t have a clue about. So she’ll just have to make do with grazing the buffet and dancing the night away.

“Ah, there you are,” Bryan’s smooth nonchalant tone greets them as he sweeps over, looking splendidly handsome in his doubletted formal attire, although clearly not a patch on her Cullen. “Just in time for the first dance.”

“Perfect,” Cullen grits out and she squeezes his arm all too tightly.

Bryan clearly notices the sarcasm and coldly stares for a moment, eyes searing into the other man’s in sharp warning. Best behaviour was called for and he apparently won’t tolerate anything less. “Hmm, don’t worry Commander, I’m sure your wife’s elegance will make up for your floundering… besides, I’ll wager all eyes will be on Kelandris and me.”

The single chime of a bell announces the dance and Bryan is swift to depart with an all to smug smirk. It seems as if the chatter that had filled the lofty space suddenly grows still, and as she leads Cullen to the dance floor people actually part to make way, casting their eyes up and down, some in admiration but most in scorn. She had married a common Fereldan after all, no matter his Inquisition title or his former templar rank, he would still be viewed by many as simple farming stock from a backward land. Something she hopes might change after tonight, after speaking with him, after hearing of his tales of leadership and valour, of support. Of course, many would never shift their opinions, far too set in their ways, beside it provided too good a source of ammunition to bring scorn against a prestigious rival house. Annabel only hopes that for a few perhaps his calm demeanour, solid polite form and effort may impress.

Kelandris glides over, the lilac and gold of her dress catching her eye with the swish of full-length fabric, all set off by a familiar white rose in her hair. As Bryan bows deeply Annabel spies a genuinely warm smile on his face, one that matches the lady who accepts his hand with a soft murmur of approval from the crowd. For once, however, Annabel feels no need to compete with him, it seems they both have found what they needed, and although his dance partner is superior to even her in skill, it doesn’t matter in the slightest. She’s found a man who had promised her a dance, despite knowing he’d struggle, despite despising the limelight, and despite the nerves which must be making him feel sick to his stomach. She’s found perfection and couldn’t be happier.

“I’m not sure about this,” Cullen’s murmur is hot against her ear as he lays one hand over her hip. “Everyone’s watching.”

“Of course, they are,” she looks up at him with a playful smile lighting her eyes. “It’s called jealousy, Commander.” Their fingers intertwine and he cracks a tiny half smile, she can tell he doesn’t believe her, but that only makes him all the more perfect. He squeezes her hand this time and nods, amber eyes set in determination as they meet hers along with the lock of his jaw. Just as he did before any battle, she notes.

The melody starts up, slowly and hypnotic with soft harps and she prompts him with a nudge of her toe, and he begins to slowly sway them. Annabel's impressed that he’s able to put all the staring eyes to one side so promptly, and when the tempo increases, other stringed instruments joining the fray her heart flutters in her chest. With a tap she urges him to shuffle back, then forth, until they perform the small ungainly routine they’d spent hours learning. A clumsy foxtrot which is slightly out of time with the couple to their right and the flow of music, making it even more difficult, but they continue. Maker how she loves this stubborn man.

After a few repeats Cullen seems to grasp the moves and to her surprise holds out his arm to spin her round in a twirl of burgundy and sparkle. She giggles as she whirls, the party and other nobles forgotten as her skirt flurries around her. Clumsily he pulls her back and she stumbles into his chest with a laugh, the display for the visiting nobility already forgotten as she lifts up her eyes to meet his.

A twitch, a hint of a smile crooks his lip and she suspects he may be starting to enjoy himself too. Her heart swells with pride and endearment, even as he kicks her in the shin by accident. Following the error in his step, he seemingly loses all abandon and throws her in another twirl, narrowly missing a whirl of purple as the two ladies almost collide in a glitter of fabric and sparkle. Even if she’d had the sense about her to care, Annabel wouldn't have looked over, certain her brother’s scowl would be harsh enough to wound, instead, she lets the moment capture her for what it is. Beautiful.  

Laughing, Annabel spins back into arms that wrap around her. Delicately she lifts her head to find him wearing a heart-warming smile which she returns before resting her head against his chest, beyond grateful. His warm, distinct musk underlies his sandalwood scent, and she finds herself hum contently against him. Feeling truly happy as their bodies entwine and sway while the tempo slows, their movements growing ever slower, ever subtler until the music fades.

“That wasn’t so difficult, was it?” she asks, still buried against him.

“Hmm… well, I had a good teacher,” he murmurs against her hair. Leaning up she moves to kiss him but a round of applause catches them both off guard. Sharing a peck instead of the smouldering kiss one she’d desired she snuggles back against him. The cheering was most likely for the other dancers, but it's nice to bask in it regardless. The music starts up once more and others begin to fill the space around them. Cracking open one eye she spots Kelandris with her arms wrapped up around Bryan’s neck and watches as he leans to press their foreheads together, lightly smiling and still swaying to their own tune, that fills Annabel with fresh happiness once again.

Fancy gowns and dancing always agreed with Annabel, no matter how horrid the noble gathering, those things, plus the wine, usually made any event bearable. She’s quickly discovering however that the lavish food on offer tonight does not agree with her. Not in the slightest.

Resting her palms and forehead against the frozen marble the cold provides a soothing respite to the flush of heat which has followed after being sick. She’d at least made it outside and into a more discreet corner of the gardens before being violently ill. Although it seems she won’t be spared the by the gossips as she spies several guests whispering while they meander along of the sparsely light pathways. Great. They’ll probably think she’s drunkenly disgraced herself again, although nothing could be further from the truth. Stupid sea food.

Tugging up her long silken gloves she tries to fan her dress and settle out the creases, offering a polite smile to the passers-by which abruptly fades when they’re out of sight. She should never have tried pickled cockles. What had she been thinking? Slimy shellfish on an empty hyped up stomach was surely asking for this kind of disaster. Her stomach churns, beyond bloated and angry, the corset dress making it all ten times worse by digging into her ribs unbearably tight. So much for a joint celebration…

“Annabel, are you alright? You ran out like-“ Bryan breaks off when he spies the state of the poor flowers and her calmly skin. “Ah, it seems not…”

“I’m fine,” Annabel shakes her head lightly, eyes resting as she leans against the pillar, trying to settle the roll in her stomach, it’s almost like being back at sea as it churns and babbles away.

“The fact that my flower beds are covered in sick says otherwise,” Bryan is quick to hold his hand up. “I’m not going to drop this lightly, so you may as well go to your room while I call for the doctor… and your husband.”

“=No, I’ll be fine in a few minutes… just fetch me some water and-“

“He shall do no such thing,” Kelandris appears from thin air with a delicate but precise sway to her plush gown. Sighing Annabel tries in vain to at least fix her hair by tucking back loose strands, or she does until the other woman’s hand clasps over hers anyway. “You’re not well, come, I’ll escort you, I imagine you're dying to get out of that dress and it would be a shame to ruin it if you should have another, episode.”

That much is all true… and Annabel has no doubt Cullen will be grateful to retire early, especially since she’d abandoned him at some point by mistake. “Fine,” she relents with another sigh, they were making rather a big fuss over a simple tummy blip. She dreads to think how they’d behave if they’d seen some of the states she’d returned to Skyhold in. “I’m sure it’s just all the travelling, the seafood must’ve brought back bad memories of the ocean…”

“Then go get that confirmed,” Bryan nods politely although his eyes are stern. “Please see the doctor, I have enough to worry about with the likes of Lord Tristan and his lot. Besides if it is contagious, I have no desire to spend my engagement party evening throwing up, thank you.”

She chuckles faintly and lifts one eyebrow almost crudely to her older sibling. “Let me guess, you two have other plans?”

“Go,” sternness vibrates in his voice, although Kelandris smirks darkly as she links their arms to start leading her away.

Cullen arrives at their private bedroom quarters panting and flushed. “Are you alright?” shutting the door behind him, he hurries to the window seat where Annabel is haunched, looking decidedly more pale than usual. Make up gone, hair a mess and her body wrapped in a fluffy dressing gown her appearance is a far cry from what it had been the last time he’d seen her this evening and only fuels his worry further. “Bryan said he’d sent for the doctor…” panic has widened his pupils which now search her up and down.

“There’s nothing wrong,” she gives a small smile, clearly attempting to be reassuring, but its meekness makes it fail.

“You're certain?” His brows furrow. “You don’t look well. You know you don’t have to pretend…I mean after everything-“

“I’m fine, Cullen, honest,” she interrupts and taps the space next to her, but his muscles are wound too tight to sit so easily.

“People are not sick for no reason, especially at balls being held in their honour,” he’s suspicious. She’d not been drinking. Unless she’d been doing so on the sly, which while it wouldn’t surprise him doesn’t seem likely given her demeanour. She was usually a rowdy and randy drunk after all. Poison perhaps? Either accidental or worse on purpose…

“I think you should sit down,” she shuffles a little to one side, apparently trying to encourage him, but all it does is make his stomach churn tighter. Whatever it is, it’s serious and a lump wedges in his throat while fear clutches his heart.

“No,” he folds his arms, determined to not be swayed by her false stoicism. “Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“You need to sit down-“

“No, Annabel, not-“

“Just sit down!” She snaps, flashing her teeth in a fierce snarl which blazes heat in her eyes. The expression quickly dissolves and is followed by a feeble apology. Whatever she needs to say it’s evidently important and the pressing anxiety he’s been trying to keep at bay thunders his heart and slicks his palms. Rubbing at the tightness in his neck he shakes his head, Maker’s breath, if she is sick, truly sick… he doesn’t know what he’ll do. He’s almost lost her so many times… to the snow, the fade, the darkspawn magister, the anchor… the thought of going through it all again is enough to make despair sting the back of his eyes. With reluctance, he perches stiffly beside her.

“Cullen, I…” she trails off and nibbles at her lower lip, a sure sign she’s holding back. He must be patient. Whatever is wrong they will get through it, together, or so he tells himself, for the hundredth time. Besides surely if it was that grave the doctor would be here? She’d been passed out? Or worse…

“I’m pregnant.”

The words knock the sense right out of him. Blinking, utterly dumbfounded, he sits up and stares at her. He must've heard her wrong, but she merely sits there, eyes earnest and hopeful, although betraying a shimmer of fear. “You… you’re pregnant?” he repeats the words although his voice cracks, he needs to hear them, needs to be sure he hasn’t imagined them. His breath hitches as she nods, her eyes starting to fill with unshed tears while his heart flip-flops in his chest.

Disbelief clouds his mind. It isn’t that he thinks she can’t possibly be pregnant, he knows well enough that the moon tea potion wasn’t always effective, no, it’s the notion that he deserves such a gift that he finds unfathomable. A precious tiny infant, him and her combined into a small and innocent bundle… How by the blessed Andstrae has he earnt such a thing?

“Cullen?” Her tone is one of concern, her hand tentative as it reaches for his but when she does he latches on tight. His grip only grows tighter as a pure smile, natural and unabashed grows to fill his face and chase the darkness from his eyes.

“Annabel, that’s…that’s…I can’t…Maker’s breath…That, it’s the best thing I’ve ever heard!” His almost boyish excitement spills out in the widening of his grin and the way he grabs hold to pull her close. “I can’t…Maker…” he utters a few words of jumbled of prayer, a mixture of gratitude and disbelief, all mumbled into the scent of her hair. A giggle sounds from her and it is the purest, most beautiful sound he’s ever heard.

“You had me worried for a second …” she retorts. Pulling away she toys with his fingers. “I know it wasn’t planned…and we haven’t discussed it, not seriously…I mean I know you, we, wanted children, but right now? With the Inquisition changing so much, I wasn’t sure-“

He cuts off her nonsense with a kiss, lips moulding and melding over hers to shh any such talk far away. As if he could ever not want to be part of something so divine with her…A son…Or a daughter. Andraste preserve him. His thumb traces over her cheek, the rosy hue returning under his touch as solid conviction stirs his soul.

“Some of the greatest gifts the Maker bestows on us are unplanned, unfathomable, unforeseen… like meeting you,” his reverent words are followed by the press of his forehead against hers to share the blessing he feels radiating through his core. It feels… surreal… but wonderful..

“How… I mean… when…” Cullen loses his sense and sentence as he reaches his hand down, hovering over Annabel’s stomach, not daring to touch it, to taint it. A tiny babe, untarnished by the world, innocent, and defenceless, and theirs, to protect, to love and nurture, and with the Maker as his witness, he will do just that.

“If you need to ask how, I might have to question your chantry upbringing Mr Rutherford,” she snickers, taking his hand with both of hers and laying it on her bloated stomach. He can’t help but give his own small snigger at her comment, although his eyes never leave his hand, his touch so gentle it must barely even register.

“I meant…When…How far along,” gingerly his thumb rubs tiny circles over her robe, still uncertain he’s even allowed to touch something so pure…

Annabel deftly unfastens the garment and tugs at his calloused fingers to press his hand firmly against her tummy. “The doctor said about four months…about the time I lost my hand…He thinks maybe the potions I was having may have stopped the moon tea? I don’t know… Although he seems to think you must have strong seed in you,” she chuckles again, her free hand reaching up and cupping his face to stroke down his stubbled jaw.

He can’t believe she’s been carrying their child all that time and neither of them knew. Four months. Maker’s breath! They’d been across the Waking sea! And to Kirkwall! Such dangers he’d never have undertaken if he’d had even the faintest idea… “All that time?” He shakes his head in disbelief.

She nods and curls her feet up under her so she can snuggle into his lap, an action he gratefully welcomes. It really has been quite a day. One he’s certain he’ll never forget. As her warmth spreads through his chest, he’s hit with a sudden memory that snaps the air from his lungs with a hiss.

“Maker’s breath! In training, I hit you with a shield!” he exclaims, generating a bark of laughter from her curled form.

“Cullen, I get hit by shields all the time!" she exclaims, still laughing, although it fails to make him feel any better about it. Apparently sensing his worry she peeks up at him from under thick lashes, the brilliant blue of her iris’s shinning with all the love and certainty he’s ever dreamed of. “This is no ordinary baby, it has the blood of two warriors, two survivors, two leaders, tinged blue with nobility and scarlet with Ferelden… it's no ordinary baby,” she rubs their joint hands lightly over the small swell of her stomach. “This is our baby, Cullen.”

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Thank you for reading! Likes, comments and reblogs are appreciated! <3 

I hope it surprised some of you out there but I have been dropping hints for a while so i suspect not lol. Also please note this is set in a time when little was known about what was good or bad for you in Annabel’s condition so please don’t think I’m trying to promote drinking or eating  shellfish ect! Also look I made a banner!

[vortaesthetic]

Rom and Leeta are Weyoun's new parents now, I don't make the rules.

Rom and Weyoun get on like a house on fire because I think they both feel like people look for ways to shoehorn them into molds they don't necessarily fit. Yes, Rom is a Ferengi, but he isn't a card-carrying Ferengi Traditionalist like Quark is, so I think he can sympathize with the mismatch. Weyoun's just so used to false flattery and emotional subterfuge that the idea of friendship is just novel and pure and exciting.He doesn't care that people think Rom is a dope, and Rom doesn't care that people think Weyoun's a snake. They're just baseline bums that found kinship in the fact that they're two station members that are too lousy to play on the lousy station team and they have fun with it anyway because reasons. Leeta's charmed that Weyoun is so excited about it & the friendship appears to be genuine. (I get the feeling Rom probably gets played for laughs often on that account b/c he's trusting & because Quark :( ) Nog looks at it that way too-- Weyoun isn't looking for money and anybody willing to do the chicken dance with his goofy dad in the stands during the game can't be too bad of a guy.