#like obviously not to the same degree but

[crapeaucrapeau]

Mass Effect geopolitics

Hey Mass Effect nerds, a question : is there any indication as to what are the mutual obligations of Council species in times of war ?

On the one hand, all Citadel species are bound by the Citadel Conventions, which dictate, among other things, what weapons they can use, or whether mercenaries are allowed on the battlefield, so there are at least some Rules of War ; but that's clearly only to a degree, since we know of at least two Council polities - the Systems Alliance and the Salarian Union - who each retain their own discrete way of conducting legitimate wars : humans declare wars before prosecuting them, whereas salarians consider that naive and never do.

On the other hand, each Council species is clearly required to handle matters that concern only them without any help (see also : the reason the Council does not consider helping the Alliance during the Collector crisis something they have to do). But there isn't a strict cujus regio, ejus religio ("you don't tell me how I deal with my problems, and I won't tell you how you should deal with yours") situation either : after all, the reason the Alliance doesn't get curb-stomped by the turians in 2157 is because the asari and salarians step in and negotiate a stop first to hostilities - "forcing a truce" - then to the war itself. In other words, there are some standards - whether formal or informal - to which all three Council species are held which can decide whether a war is allowed or not.

I'm asking because I'm considering whether the conflict between the Alliance and the Hegemony - kickstarted by Shepard's shenanigans in the Bahak system and which was about to start when the Reapers arrived from left-field and killed everyone - would have involved other species. I'm guessing that is not the case : the potential conflict in ME3 is described as strictly a matter opposing the humans to the batarians. At the same time, the reason I'm asking at all is that the Turian Hierarchy seems perfectly willing to signal that it stands ready to assist the Alliance against the Hegemony in at least some circumstances.

The batarians themselves go to great length to always attack the Alliance while maintaining at least a measure of plausible deniability (the Skyllian Blitz and the Asteroid X57 attack nominally being done by independent actors) ; the Alliance isn't fooled, but is the reason the Alliance doesn't go to war against the Hegemony that they don't want to go to war, that they are afraid they might lose the war (Joker in ME3 names the batarian navy as one of the heavy hitters of the galaxy, though that's obviously been widely overstated), or that they do want to go to war and think they can win it but need a casus belli to justify their position to their Citadel allies ? If the Batarian Hegemony had openly invaded the Systems Alliance in a war of aggression, could we have expected the turians to intervene immediately to defend the Alliance ? In which case, the destruction of the Bahak system by an Alliance officer would provide a casus belli to the Hegemony, making the intervention of the Hierarchy or any other Council power on the side of the Alliance scandalous at best ?

In other words, is it a matter of individual alliances between interstellar nations or - even likelier - ad hoc decisions dictated by the circumstances and public opinion ? Like, does it all depend on what your allies think is a "legitimate" war ?

What do you think ?

[mybelovedmoon]

this is an interesting discussion to have tbh and i like getting to hear other chronically ill people’s thoughts on it! same thing applies for my rambles here, not saying this to invalidate your experiences or your perspective, just want to share my own thoughts on it since i didn’t rly add anything to it before haha

i think a lot of this honestly just depends on the person and the chronic illness. different illnesses obviously have different symptoms and different people experience things to different levels of severity. so i’m def not by any means saying no chronically ill person can or does have good grades, bc that would be factually false and ableist.

i’ve had almost perfect grades up until this point in my college degree, to the detriment of my own health like remus may have, but this academic year is honestly a lot harder on me for reasons im unsure of—i think some of it is a cumulative effect though, and im only doing a 4-year degree compared to the 7 years of Hogwarts. plus, this is not mentioning my high school career, in which i got Ds in most of my classes and missed so many days of school i nearly didn’t pass high school at all just based on attendance. we don’t even know if there’s an attendance requirement at hogwarts! but in a modern day college or high school au there might be.

there’s also the fact that hogwarts is huge, and has a ton of stairs with, canonically at least, no elevators or ramps, meaning he’d have to use more energy on a daily basis than a lot of us in the modern real world have to with ADA (this is not to say all campuses are accessible, but a lot are at least partially so). there’s the fact that some of the classes, like DADA, are a lot more physically involved than the classes many college students are taking in the real modern world. and going back to the attendance itself, we don’t know if hogwarts grades on attendance but a lot of modern day public schools require attendance and if you miss too many days you cannot move on regardless of grades. as for college, a lot of professors at smaller universities grade on attendance and hogwarts seems to have relatively small class sizes. so if professors aren’t willing to be flexible on that? his grades would be shit just from sheer number of absences.

then there’s the fact that remus may not be old but he has been ill for a very long time, having been bitten so young. if we think of lycanthropy as a progressive illness, which seems likely based on various canonical descriptions, it will have had a lot of time already despite his young age.

also what makes lycanthropy different from a lot of real illnesses is the routine nature of the flares. he will have at least one flare every single month. with a lot of real illnesses people can go months without flares when they’re on proper treatment. they’re unpredictable and randomized, you might have twelve one semester and two the next. lycanthropy guarantees he will be sick for at least a day every single month, but likely more (because i don’t think there’s a lot of detail on this in canon but i find it immensely hard to believe that the full moon would only affect him the night of).

and lastly for many chronically ill people success in academia depends quite strongly on how accommodating and flexible professors are. we don’t know much about the marauders era professors iirc, so we don’t know if they’re decent people who would allow him flexible deadlines when he’s ill or not. we don’t know if they’re prejudiced against werewolves and refuse to accommodate one. i might be forgetting some details bc i haven’t read the canon series in many years but even if we meet some of them i know for sure we don’t know them all. plus just because someone seems nice from a 2-minute flashback doesn’t mean they aren’t ableist etc. and depending on the illness, the severity, etc pushing through just is not always physically possible! yes there is a certain extent to which you can ignore your needs and overuse energy you don’t have but it’s not always possible. my brain fog has been really bad this semester. i can force myself to do all the readings for my classes, but i physically cannot force the information to stick in my brain, so going through the motions does shit for my grades. we don’t really know what kinds of symptoms he has but if remus is injured and physically cannot, say, go gather plants from the forest for herbology, or he gets dizzy/lightheaded and cannot brew a potion bc the steam/heat will actually make him pass out, or whatever else, it won’t really matter how hard he tries or wants to push through. to be completely candid about something i’ve not even said out loud yet, i’ve had to give up on my dreams of going to law school because i am physically unable to maintain the grades necessary to get into a decent school, or to do the amount of reading law school entails, despite my best desperate attempts at pushing through even when it’s destroying me mentally and physically.

anyways, as i said this isn’t to negate anything anyone else said, it’s just my own interpretation of things! ultimately we’re working off of very little canon information about this and i’m not here to tell anyone their experiences are wrong. i think it’s a really interesting conversation to have though.

people who think rjl would have really good grades have never been chronically ill and had to miss school consistently because of it. I'm sure he was smart! I'm sure he did really well on tests! but there has never been a character I'm more sure struggled to achieve the academic success that he was capable of.

[mirandasidefics]

But Home Is Nowhere- Chapter 14

Pairing(s): Lucien x Plus Size Reader, Azriel x Plus Size Reader, and Ruhn Dannan x Plus Size Reader.

Summary: Reader finally learns what information the Prison holds. Instead of this trip helping to alleviate her fears, it confirmed the worst of them. There is no going home for her now.

Word Count: 6.1 K

Warnings: More spoilers for Cresent City 3. If you haven't read this series, or this book I highly recommend that you do. This entire fic is my version of CC3 and ACOTAR6.

Author's Note: Aine is pronounced "Aw-nya" and is from Irish/Celtic mythology. There is also heavy inspiration from Irish mythology throughout this fic, but more so in this chapter and future chapters when we learn more about the world Reader comes from. Thank you everyone for sticking with this story! I can't believe that it's been a YEAR since I started to share it with everyone. I feel like I've only now gotten to the real good parts of this story. I hope everyone is enjoying this, even though it is slow paced. There is still so much more to go!

As always, a HUGE thank you to my beta reader @hardcoremarvelfan for all her help!

Series Masterlist Divider by @/tsunami-of-tears

Previous: Chapter 13 Next: Bonus Chapter #2

The frozen mountain side of the prison was the same as the last time you had been on the island nearly four years ago. Snow swirled around you, Bryce, and Ruhn as you all made your way to the front entrance of the Prison. The large carved doors loomed in front of your small group. You scanned over the intricate design, a seamless slab of…your breath caught in your throat. The doors were made of bone. You followed behind Bryce as you approached the entrance, Ruhn’s hand in yours. The warmth of his fingers interlaced with yours helping to calm your nerves. There was really no telling what you may find in the chamber where Bryce had claimed the piece of starlight power from Silene. While Bryce had not been a direct descendant, she already held the inherited power of Silene’s mother, Queen Theia.  

You had your suspicions of what this trip could reveal, of course, but you still needed to see the chamber where so much power had laid dormant for millennia. Bryce waved her hand, and the pale off-white hue gave way to a depthless darkness as the gates groaned. Your body was immediately hit with a wave of heavy despair. The unmarked entrance you had been pushed into all those years ago did not have this intense level of energy attached to it. The darkness beyond the bone doors seemed entirely lifeless. 

“Stay close,” Ruhn reminded you, his grip on your hand tightening. “Try not to touch the walls either. We don’t know if you getting past the barrier in that unmarked entrance was a fluke or not.” The male looked down at you, his half smile intended to help relax you, but you could see the worry in his eyes. 

“You tell me this now?” You looked up at him, eyes wide with your growing anxiety. “What if I can’t get back out? You really think that-”

“Relax,” Bryce commented as she began to walk forward. “You think I want to piss off some of the only people that are willing to help save my world? If there was any real reason to worry I wouldn’t have agreed to bring you here without anyone from that stupid ‘inner circle’.” You eyed both Starborn heirs wearily. Ruhn tightened his hold on your hand in reassurance. 

“You’ll be fine, baby.” Ruhn reassured, “Bryce and I have entered and exited easily over the past few years now.” With a deep steadying breath, you took the first step across the threshold. You weren’t sure what you had expected to happen once you entered, but you had expected something. Instead, you were greeted with silence and stale stagnant air. 

“I told you.” Bryce smiled, obviously pleased that she had been proven right yet again. 

The fact that the three of you were able to easily enter the massive former palace solidified that you had some degree of blood relation to Rhysand, or even worse Bryce and Ruhn. You blanched, holding back the slight bit of bile that burned the back of your throat. The mental reminder that you had kissed and wanted to have sex with a potential relative made your skin crawl. Even if you were literally from different worlds, and different species, and your ancestry lines diluted by thousands of years. What made it all worse was that a part of you still found yourself attracted to the male Starborn heir. You loathed dwelling on the idea any further, and instead hoped that you were more closely related to that stupid selfish prick calling himself a High Lord.  

The winding staircase that led down to the depths of the prison grew impossibly darker with each and every step. Even with Bryce using the starlight from her chest to light your path, the surrounding darkness felt oppressive. As you all came to what you assumed was the bottom landing of the massive staircase another set of towering double doors greeted you.  This time Bryce didn’t pause before waving her hand again, magically opening the barrier between you and whatever secrets lay beyond. Swallowing down the nervous lump in your throat, you entered the chamber. 

The chamber was a massive circular cavern. Darkness filled a majority of the space. The only light source was a distant hole in the ceiling. The trace amount of light formed a singular beam illuminating an empty pedestal in the center of the floor. After a few moments, your eyes adjusted to the change in the visibility and more of the chamber came into focus. However, the far end opposite of where you stood with Bryce and Ruhn remained shadowed in a pitch black shroud. Stone walls rose high above your head. Columns and intricately carved arches highlighting walkways going up at least 5 floors. Along the sides of the bottom floor were panels of carved images. You had remembered one discussion with Azriel about the images he, Nesta, and Bryce saw in the tunnels underneath the Hewn City and leading towards this very room. But no one had ever mentioned anything about the panels you currently found yourself inexplicably drawn towards. 

Your feet pulled you towards the closest of the panels of their own volition. Despite the rapid throbbing in your chest, your blood froze with primal fear. Tears began to brim your eyes as images of crying and pleading figures all reaching towards a single point rattled a deep seeded guilt within your bones. Despire, pain, and terror etched in perfect, precise detail in each face. Limbs protruded from bodies at odd angles. Flames and rocks and tree branches intermingled with the figures of the dying.  A tear slipped down your cheek as you tore away from the carvings , instead granting your vision a reprieve by focusing on the blank center of the panel.  After blinking back any additional tears, you could faintly make out a dark crack running through the center of the blank space. 

“Baby?” Ruhn gently tugged on your hand. “Everything alright?” Concern laced his warm tenor and tore your attention away from the cracked wall. 

“Huh? Oh, Yeah,” You lightly shook your head to clear it of the jumbled feelings that were settling in your stomach. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Your eyes started to scan the rest of the space as Bryce walked towards the center of the room. That was when you noticed the raised carvings on the ground and your heart stopped, freezing again as you took in the sight of constellations and a two dimensional rendering of a seven planet solar system. Your voice cracked as you whispered, calling out to Bryce. The air in the chamber felt suffocating, constricting your throat further. The air was so stagnant and oppressing, not even Bryce’s hair moved as she turned to face you. 

“What is it?” The same concerned tone laced Bryce’s voice as she took in your ashen face “(Y/N)? What’s wrong?” The only movement you could force from your body was the extension of your index finger, pointing it at the designs on the floor surrounding the pedestal. 

“W-what are…” The half-fae female followed the line where you pointed. Her perfectly arched brows furrowed together as she continued to examine the pallor taking over your features.  

She didn’t move her attention from your face, her voice taking on the slightest edge of hesitation as she answered, “Why do you…You recognize them, don’t you?” You could barely register if you had acknowledged or answered her question. Your gaze was glued to the raised markings as you checked off the constellations that you instantly recognized. “These are the constellations of Midgard,” Bryce finally supplied before walking you through and naming each configuration of stars. 

“Scorpio and Sagittarius,” Your voice shook as you whispered the names of the constellations as you knew them. Eyes filling with tears as you walked across the map of the heavens. “The Big Dipper…Orion… Pisces.” Giving voice to each connected pattern of stars broke you down. Knees giving out you fell to the floor and the silent tears began their descent. The constellations you had grown up observing nearly every night with your father, were an exact match for the constellations that Bryce and Ruhn had grown up with as well. 

This couldn’t be possible. It wasn’t possible. Your eyes turned back to the panel and your feet moved again of their own accord. With a trembling hand you reached toward the stone, fingers tracing over the ears. Rounded ears. The scream lodged itself in our throat as you realized what the image truly depicted. You had been told of Silene’s message and of Nesta’s brief vision when she first touched the Harp. How Silene left dozens of Fae to their deaths at the hands of the Asteri and their army as she traveled through a portal back to her home world. Your eyes scanned the other panels in the chamber. Walking from one to the next you saw the story unfold as you moved from one panel to the next. A group of Fae with ears going from pointed to rounded arches. The opening of a portal where the land was lush, and the sky depicted the same constellations as the chamber floor. The altered Fae traveling through the portal, various items crossing the threshold to include a small cauldron, a sword, a spear, and some kind of stone. Again your heart raced, as your mind put together what the images really depicted. This was not a rendition of Queen Theia’s departure to Midgard. Nor were the violent images a depiction of Silene’s return and permanent closing of the rift to Midgard. Each and every one of the surrounding panels depicted a portal to your world. 

“Baby?” Ruhn was by your side instantly. “I’m serious, what’s wrong?” The cavern felt like it was closing in and sucking the life out of you. His hands, warm against your rapidly cooling skin, were the only things that reminded you of life. Blood pounded in your ears, drowning out all sound. Your vision began to tunnel, the edges growing darker than the blackness that surrounded you. Your throat dried out with each rapid inhalation. You couldn’t get a breath as your chest felt like it was going to collapse. 

You knew that if you didn’t get a hold of yourself you’d pass out. You forced your eyes to move away from the constellations, instantly being drawn to the depiction of the sun surrounded by various raised decals. The replica of Midgard’s solar system. A system of seven planets as opposed to the nine you had grown up knowing. The stark difference between the known number of planets pushed forward the reality of what you feared the most.  

“The names…”  You breathed, not daring to move your focus off them. “What are the names of the planets?” Your nails dug into the grit as you tried to ground yourself. Bryce named each one, pointing at the images representing the Gods they were named after. Names so similar and yet different to the Norse Gods of your world. The final nail in the proverbial coffin of what you had wondered for years now. It was no mere coincidence that Bryce and Ruhn were from a planet named Midgard, meaning it was no mere coincidence that your world had such large similarities. Bryce pointed to each of the markings, the first few were unfamiliar, but the remaining names dissolved all your remaining doubt. 

“Odin, Loki,” Your whisper echoed off the large cavernous stone walls, “Thor and Freya…” Your voice cracked as the name for the Goddess left your lips. “It can’t be…oh Gods.” Your stomach rolled. You mentally kicked yourself for not asking more about the pre-existing religion of Midgard prior to the Asteri and Vanir arrival. It suddenly made sense, though, why Bryce couldn’t use the Horn to open a portal to your world. The contents of your lunch made a second appearance. 

You could feel Bryce and Ruhn’s eyes as they stared at you. For a split second you wished you could hear the mind to mind conversation the two were sharing. Then again, you probably wouldn’t have been able to hear anything over the sound of the blood rushing through your ears. You knew Ruhn was doing whatever he could to soothe you through your existential crisis. The weight of his hand felt solid on your back, rubbing small circles. 

“This was a mistake,” You looked at the male crouched next to you. The knowledge this trip had already revealed was overwhelming. “Get me the fuck out of here. Please.” You rose to your feet, your body fighting between its desire to flee and the heavy leadened weight of the truth. Even if the truth should not have been realistically possible. 

“Bryce,” Ruhn glanced towards his sister. You followed his gaze when there was no response. Bryce’s amber eyes glared at you, the gears obviously spinning inside her head. Was she putting it together too? Was she on the verge of figuring out where you really came from? The only question you had was how did your Earth factor into all of this if it wasn’t even part of this universe?  

“No,” Bryce stated firmly as she stepped closer to study the panic in your eyes. “You need to see the rest.” Bryce moved to the center of the chamber and stood on an eight pointed star. A small flash of light revealed an image of a young Fae female. The image reminded you of holograms from sci-fi movies. 

The female identified herself as Silene, daughter of High Queen Theia. The hologram recounted the details of the Asteri’s- the Daglan’s-rule in Prythian, the corruption of the Cauldron through the making of the Dread Trove, how the Daglan were then driven out of this world, and the rise of the first and only High Queen and King of Prythian. Silene talked of how the Fae followed the High Queen and her two daughters into Midgard. The war with the Asteri, which resulted in Silene’s ultimate return to Prythian. The cries of the Fae left behind had long gone silent within the recording. You looked over to Bryce, her expression dark with the resurgence of her loathing for what Silene had done. Ruhn’s expression held a similar level of contempt. You could only guess that the memory was supposed to make Silene’s actions justified. A female in mourning with decisions meant to benefit the greater good. Something deep in your bones empathized with her. A sense of knowing that had you been in her position, you would have made the exact same ones. Your eyes traveled to the blank stone, the spot where the portal of Silene’s escape had once been. Swallowing, you resisted the instinctual urge to approach that empty wall. The image of Silene, as she was curled upon the ground crying over the loss of her sister Helena and mother, shimmered, drawing your attention back to the moment. The once cold and silvered hue specter gave way to a warm and golden glow. 

“What the fuck…”Bryce’s voice trailed off. The image of Silene shimmered again as a loud groaning could be heard. Ruhn immediately pushed you behind him as he scanned the room. The sound bounced around the chamber making it nearly impossible to pinpoint where it originated. It took you all a few moments to realize that the sound came from the magical recording, where a new voice was heard calling softly. 

“Who’s there?” The muffled feminine voice cut through Silene's mournful wailing. The darked haired female’s head swiveled up to look towards the opposite end of the room, presumably the direction of where the voice and groaning originated.  

 “S-Sil?” The warmth the voice exuded mirrored the coloring of the image. “Mother above, Silene!” The owner of the voice rushed into view and sank down to her knees. Your own knees suddenly wanting to do the same. Something about the female’s timber sparked a deep seated memory. One that was familiar and elusive simultaneously. Ripples of silvery-white fabric billowed as the new female’s arms hovered near Silene. Long, thick golden blonde hair obscured most of the unknown female’s upper body. The few instances where her face should have been visible, was instead blurred. 

“Aine?” Silene lifted her head, taking in the second female’s appearance before allowing herself to be wrapped in her arms. Silene continued to sob as Aine continued to sooth her. Minutes went by, the image flickering until Silene’s soft voice broke the silence. “Aine, I failed…I-I lost them.” You weren’t certain if Aine responded as the image faded. Your body trembled, an overwhelming sense of familiarity at the exchange. The air felt like it was ripped from your lungs as sudden realization hit you. You had witnessed this interaction before, in the form of a dream when you were a teenager. 

Your hands began to shake as you tried to remember the rest of that dream from so long ago, but the details remained cast in shadow. The scene of the two females was quickly replaced, the blueish-gray toned image of Silene reappearing. The older image of Silene explained how the prison came to be, which then resulted in the death of the land her mother and sister once called home.  

“That…” Bryce swallowed nervously. “What the fuck was that? She-Aine, was not in the original message.” The back of your throat burned as stomach acid rose up. You prayed to whatever Gods would listen that your face remained neutral as Bryce’s attention rounded on you. You were well aware that Bryce, Ruhn, and Rhysand had reviewed that message dozens of times. There had never been any mention of Aine. Just as there had been no record of her in the Night Court’s documents pertaining to lineage. It was possible that Aine wasn’t ever a member of the Night Court. All you did know at this moment was she was close with Silene. 

“How’s that possible?” Ruhn’s question was directed towards his sister, but his eyes were on you. Almost as if he too had rationalized that the only differing factor on this trip was your presence in the chamber. Everything about that scene between the two females made it clear that the memory was not Silene’s, but Aine’s memory. Every part of you knew you were meant to see that memory play out, but you had no idea why it would be relevant. Unless it had something to do with your dreams…

“Bryce? ” Ruhn called out again, his attention now on his sister.

“How the Hel should I know? It’s magic.” Irritation saturated Bryce’s tone. “And unless it’s some weird ass tech from another world, some kind of spell protected this part of the message. It clearly was not intended for just anyone to view.” Bryce looked toward you then. Her amber gaze almost seemed to burn despite the fact that she didn’t inherit an ounce of her father’s fire magic. 

“What?” Your defences rose, fighting against your instinct to flee as she glared at you. 

“What about your world?” Bryce asked, a hint of accusation coated her voice. “You claim there is no magic there, but are you being honest about that?” Her eyes continued to stare you down but you remained silent. You couldn’t definitively say that your world didn’t have magic, but if magic existed it wasn’t the same as the magic they had grown accustomed to on Midgard or in Prythian. “Because it’s not like your world has tech capable of creating a projected image like that. Especially if it is as similar as you claim it is to what we’ve got in Midgard.” Bryce continued, slowly making her way to where you stood next to Ruhn. 

“No.” Your statement was simple. “My world doesn’t have that technology.”  Bryce narrowed her eyes. You steeled your nerves and met her stare, back and shoulders straightening. “But it doesn't have magic either, as I’ve said many times before. If my world had any capability of creating something like that I’d be ecstatic at seeing the same thing here.”

“Just like you were ecstatic at seeing the constellations from your world on the floor?” The half-fae’s tone was unrelenting as she continued to stare you down. It was as clear as the Night Court’s skies that she knew you were holding back information. You couldn’t blame her for getting pissed at you. You weren’t exactly lying, but you also weren’t forthcoming with any theories you had on why or how you stepped through that portal. Your arrival was still the biggest mystery that honestly prevented anyone from making moves against the Asteri or investigating Koschie.  

“Bryce, that’s enough,” Ruhn’s warning tone was entirely ineffective given by the rolling of her eyes towards him. 

“You don’t have to believe me,” Your own irritation grew, matching Bryce’s energy, “but I have no reason to lie about it. The differences my world has to yours does not mean th-”

“What?” Bryce tilted her head in mocking innocence. “That your world has no connection to this one or Midgard? That’s what you want everyone to believe, isn’t it? You're just this poor victim of some higher power. Who are you to go against fate?” You bit the inside of your cheek as you stared the female down. You had to give her credit, she knew exactly which buttons to poke and prod; attempting to trick you into revealing the information you had kept locked away for years. 

“Careful Bryce,” You hoped you sounded stronger than you felt. Bryce’s penetrating glare made you feel exposed. As if she could see the truth of where you came from written all over your face. 

“Or what exactly?” Her bemused smile only showed that she was enjoying this little spat. “It’s not like you’re at all special right? You’re constantly insisting that you aren’t. So what is a weak, helpless, and hopeless human going to do to me?”

“Shut up,” You demanded, gritting your teeth. Her words found their marks as she cut into your insecurities. You weren’t special. You were reminded of that fact every day. The only human living in a land of mythical beings that were significantly stronger, prettier, and more important in the lives of those around them. You were none of those things, and it was slowly eating away at you. 

“Then be honest with me (Y/N). You recognized those constellations, you recognized names of the planets,” Taking a few steps closer to you, Bryce’s smile grew wider. “Yet the Horn couldn’t open a portal to your world. How am I supposed to interpret that information, hmm? Lying isn’t a good look for you. Especially when you want our help.” 

“Damn it Bryce just-” Ruhn moved to stand between the two of you, but you were faster. Your scream and Bryce’s near manic laugh drowned out his words. Tackling the half-fae, you both fell to the ground. 

“Fuck you!” The breath in your lungs burned from the sudden exertion. “Fuck you Bryce!” Said female was pinned to the cold stone floor by your knees on her stomach and her forearm. Your own forearm pressing against her windpipe, tears of hurt and anger in your eyes. “You fucking bitch. I told you how I felt in confidence, and you fucking use it against me!” The grin on Bryce’s face remained plastered to her features as she looked up at you. 

“I knew there was more to you than meets the eye,” Her voice rasped through her slightly constricted airway. “Tell me, just between us girls, you’re a human from Midgard. Only you’re from a different time. Before the Asteri arrived aren’t you?” Her words shocked you, causing you to loosen your grip and sit up. That’s when you felt Ruhn’s hands wrap around your waist and lift you up and over his shoulder. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you two?!” You couldn’t see his face as he screamed, but you could hear just how pissed he was. You and Bryce began to protest at the same time, drowning out each other’s excuses. “Both of you fucking shut up. We’re going back to Velaris.” Ruhn kept you slung over his shoulder as he turned and began to leave the large chamber. Bryce stood back up and followed as she brushed the dirt off her clothing. 

“Put me down Ruhn,” You protested, wiggling around in an attempt to get him to loosen his grip around you. However, your movements only had the opposite effect as he tightened his hold of your waist and one of your thighs. You held still as the hand on your thigh became dangerously close to your center. 

“Hold still and be quiet,” He ordered. “We don’t need to attract unnecessary attention.” He continued to carry you all throughout the ascent back up through the Prison. The second you all walked out of the enormous bone doors you resumed your demands to be put down. With the blink of an eye, you found yourself surrounded in the warmth of the town house. Ruhn continued to ignore you and merely carried you upstairs to the bedroom. 

“I’ve calmed down,” You tried to placate, but you knew that your tone wasn’t as convincing as it should be. 

“Yeah, sure, but I’m keeping you two separated until you tell me what the fuck that was all about,” Ruhn kicked the door closed behind him, one of his shadows flicking the lock as he practically flung you onto the bed. You internally cursed yourself as your body hummed with excitement. A split second later you bit the inside of your cheek as a reminder to keep your hormones in check. The last thing you needed was for him to smell any tinge of arousal from you. Pushing away the impure images that sprung into your mind, you looked up at the male as he towered over you. 

“What the hell is your problem?” You demanded, calling your irritation back to the surface. You hoped that you sounded more pissed off about his behavior rather than your own. His glare sent a shiver down your spine, one that had you biting the inside of your cheek a second time. Your back hit against the wall, however, the solid mass felt like ice. The last time you felt anything like that was from Azriel’s shadows during the week he tortured you. Your pulse quickened as you quickly glanced around, horrified that it was Ruhn’s own shadows blocking your path from retreating backwards. Terror slowly gripped at your chest. Ruhn’s shadows had never once made you feel afraid. Their typical soothing warmth shifted to ice as he continued to box you in. 

“You attacked my sister,” His usual warm tenor was now stony and calm. “I don’t care that she said some shit to antagonize you. You had no right to pin her to the ground.” His piercing blue eyes rooted you to the spot. The glacial brush of a shadow across your skin adding to your growing distress. You tried to suppress the tremors in your hands as your own eyes surveyed his face. You couldn’t move, couldn’t even think as his intense stare bore into you. If he was capable of becoming this cold towards you, there was no way you could trust him with the truth. Your instincts told you it would be safer to try and diffuse his anger towards you. 

“I know,” Your admission was soft. Intrinsically you recognized that regardless of what fueled your actions you had behaved childishly. Responding irrationally to the panic being in the Prison chamber brought. Bryce was smart and merely put together the pieces of a puzzle. Only she didn’t have all the pieces. Honestly, you didn’t either. Yes, you now had the answer as to why you couldn’t find any information about your world, but it left you with so many more questions. Having more questions than answers made you feel stressed, and it wasn’t fair to take your stress out on someone that was only trying to help. Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes and sighed. “Seeing the familiar constellations and the carvings scared me. I lost my composure and that wasn’t right. She could have been trying to calm me down and I would have lashed out.” Ruhn remained silent for a few moments before calling back his shadows. Reaching his hand forward, he gently hooked his fingers with yours. Flinching at his touch, you pulled your hand away and took several steps back. 

“(Y/N)?” Ruhn felt his brows scrunch in confusion. He watched as she backed away, her hands clasped together tightly. To stop them from trembling. He felt his expression shift to horror with the realization of what his actions caused. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Fuck, I’m so sorry.” Ruhn reached back out to her, and while he saw her muscles tensed, she did allow him to touch her this time. He gently took hold of her hands, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles on the backs of her hands. The last thing he ever wanted was for her to not feel safe in his presence, yet the anger he felt at the fight she had with his sister overrode all sense. Much like how her fear had overridden her own when Bryce started talking shit. He knew Bryce wasn’t in the right to have antagonized her the way she did, but he had been curious about (Y/N)’s reactions as well. 

“Just…” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “I understand the instinct to protect your sister. I’d have the same reaction if someone launched themselves at one of my siblings. But…keep your shadows away from me when you’re mad. They get cold…and the cold reminds me of Azriel’s…” Ruhn looked at her apologetically.

“I’m so sorry. Really I am.” His apology was sheepish, even to his ears. His gaze looked over her form, noting the slight trembling in her hands. As he continued to look her over, he noted that her entire body was as tense as any of the moments after her nightmares. A part of him knew that even with him present in the room tonight she would be reliving her time in that cell in her dreams. 

She moved to sit back down on the mattress, her arms folded cold to her stomach.His heart lurched as he realized she was instinctively guarding the most physically vulnerable part of her body as her mind began to tunnel down into itself. He knew that if he didn’t get her out of her mental spiral he’d have two very angry males threatening to remove his favorite appendage. 

“You need to get warm, baby,” Ruhn kneeled in front of her, his hands on the outer parts of her thighs, gently rubbing circles to warm her up. “How does a hot bath sound?” The woman looked up at him, nodding her agreement as she allowed him to help her stand up from their shared bed.

“Is there any more of that bath oil you bought?” Her voice was tentative as they walked to the ensuite bathroom together. Ruhn nodded and made his way to the wicker basket that was lined with various bath oils and salts he had gotten her for Winter Solstice. 

After collecting her favorite scents from the basket, Ruhn walked over to the large tub and turned on the tap. The sound of rushing water drowned out the silence between them. It was only then that Ruhn was able to think back on the day’s events and the way she had behaved in the large Prison’s chamber. 

“You really did recognize the constellations, didn’t you?” He mused, the tension beginning to slowly diffuse. She nodded tentatively, sitting on the edge of the bathtub as she met his gaze. Steam filled the air, but he had yet to see her shoulders relax. 

“We have different names for them,” Her voice sounded automatic, lacking any natural inflection. “Some names are similar, but not identical. Fifteen thousand years is long enough to account for that. The positioning of stars takes millions if not billions of years to change from the perspective of the Earth’s surface, but the linguistics behind the names-” 

“You’re not from a different time,” Ruhn matched her matter of fact intonation, effectively cutting off her rambling. “It doesn’t fit. Midgard’s technology-the style that you are also familiar with-was only developed within the past 20 years. Even with the Asteri’s bullshit narrative about Midgard, there was absolutely no record of any of the human settlements having that type of tech. The humans that were there, well they were much more…primitive.” She turned her head, giving him an incredulous look. 

“Primitive?” The rest of her body towards him, “Even if that-” Ruhn held up his hands in surrender. 

“Bad choice of words. I’m sorry,” His smile was soft, barely tugging at the corner of his lips. He watched her eyes immediately fall on the faded scar on his lower lip. The spot where his lip ring used to reside before it had been ripped out in the Asteri dungeons. “I simply mean the humans didn’t have the skills for that kind of tech just yet.” This seemed to placate her ire from resurfacing. Though, if he was honest, any anger he incited was allowing her to slowly come back. 

“You are on such thin ice, Ruhn.” Her lips pursed trying to suppress the slight smile. With a slight shake of her head she turned her attention to the running water. “What makes you so sure that I’m not from a different time? You have to admit that the similarities are…” He watched her eyes flash with some type of realization.  “There are similarities, but there are differences too.” 

“Exactly,” Ruhn smiled, he loved watching her expressions as she put pieces of information together. “The Asteri would have just improved upon the tech had it existed when they arrived. So it doesn’t make sense for you to be a pre-Asteri Midgard human.”

“No, no that’s not, well yes that makes sense, but that’s not what I meant,” She quickly stood up from the edge of the tub, bath entirely forgotten as she rushed out into the adjoining bedroom. “The difference is in some of the gods and goddesses of your world. The planets in your solar system have names similar to Gods and Goddess of just ONE pantheon in my world. There are hundreds of different belief systems that have spanned across the past 15,000 years in my world.” Ruhn watched as she paced back and forth, the movement seemingly helping her collect her thoughts. 

“Okay…” He waited patiently for her to continue. 

“Your surname is Danaan correct? Is that a name from the homeworld of the Fae, this world?” She halted mid stride just to race over to the small writing desk in the far corner of the room. 

“I..um…I think so, I’m not sure.” His brows furrowed as she hastily took about a scrap of paper and began to scribble down something that appeared like a list.

“When do you go back to Midgard?” She didn’t bother to look up at him as she continued to write. 

“Next month,” He answered, a slight pang in his chest at having to leave her again so soon. 

“I need you to find out whatever you can about the origins of your surname,” She turned back towards him, folding up the paper as she took a few steps back towards him. “See if any relatives have these first names. Also, see if any of them had the items on the list with them.” He unfolded the torn scrap of paper, looking over the names, none of which he immediately recognized.

“Who are these people?” His blue irises scanned along the list. “I don’t think I could even pronounce half of these.” Placing the folded paper into the pocket of his jeans he began to search her face. Her gaze remained distant, a clear indication that her thoughts were racing. 

“I have a theory,” She admitted, “But since Rhysand won’t let me go to Midgard myself, I need your help. Please Ruhn? You’re…you’re the only one I can trust with this.” He stood there, gazing into her pleading expression. 

“Of course, baby.” He smiled softly, pulling her into a hug. “Of course I’ll help you. You can trust me.” 

General tag list: @loving-and-dreaming

Series tag list: @jenniferpendragon @impossibelle @sweet-chai-amore @myheartfollower @iimichie

@fightmedraco @nikkitch0703 @eerievixen @ang-taylorsversion

@randomness-it-is @thehighlordishere @rachelnicolee @hardcoremarvelfan @awkardnerd @sundayysunshine

@jpgtae @cheneyq @morganwdarius @latinxbipride @catharticlovewriter

@mis-lil-red @rcarbo1 @celmentine111002 @abacteriamicroorganismsalmonella @julesvanslutta

[zippyskyfalls]

Already posted this on my Zeus rp blog but whatever

Hear me Out: Olympus sitcom AU

The series follows each 12 pantheonic gods (+ Hades) living in Mount Olympus, an apartment complex inside of New York (bc my dumbest knows nothing about modern greece)

Obviously, the family tree is a LOT different in this AU

Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus are all related.

Hera only has 1 sister (Hestia)

Demeter is related to NOBODY, not even Persephone (though the two are good friends in the AU)

Athena and Ares are siblings, same with Artemis and Apollo

Nobody else in the group is related in any way, shape, or form.

FUN FACT: ZEUS, POSEIDON AND HADES WENT TO COURT.

That's right 10 year old Zeus, 13 year old Poseidon, and 15 year old Hades were sent to court for the collective attempted murder of their father, Kronos. Luckily, there was enough evidence that Kronos was an abusive piece of shit, so they got off the charges for self-defense, and Kronos was sentenced to 40 years of prison.

Athena is studying for a degree in architecture (bc I just feel like she'd be into that shit). Athena can and WILL gush about her favorite types of stone material if she gets the chance to do so. Athena's 100% Aroace, but since this AU takes place in the 1980s, she just thinks she hasn't found the right guy yet

Apollo has a pretty face, but the second he opens his mouth, he's spouting shit about the newest black hole discovery. Him and Athena (despite being different in almost every way) get along VERY well

I'll answer questions about the other Olympians later but that's it for now

The show (hypothetically) begins with Aphrodite leaving her fiance (Heph :3) at the altar, causing the whole group to fall into chaos. Heph is obviously heartbroken that the woman he loves left him, but he'll still try being friends with her (though early on he has very "nice guy" energy)

One side is on Aphrodite's side. They know Aph and Heph were just too different to commit to a marriage. It was bound to happen eventually. Aphrodite thought she was in love, but it was never meant to be. She loved Hephaestus, but not in the way he wanted hernto. (that side consists of Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Hades, and Hera)

The other side is on Hephaestus' side. This was the happiest day of his life, and Aphrodite (who was a huge player before she got with Heph) let all of that go like 30 minutes before the wedding was meant to begin just because it "didn't feel right." I mean, what kind of asshole leaves someone they've known for years at the altar!? (That side consists of Zeus, Dionysus, Hermes, Demeter, and Athena... for some reason)

I'm planning on making this a series of comics, but I wanna know if anyone else would like this!

As a thank you for reading, have this Doodle of tiny Hades, Poseidon and Zeus in court

[gay-dorito-dust]

Ok 😂 the first request is please joaquin torres x shehulk!reader but less hulk monster and more control like she hulk. She also happens to be Bruce Banner best friend? Just joaquin gets excited every time he watches the reader transforming a hulk, you can add like blue or grey since green and red are obviously taken

You know how red hulk has heat? Yeah hulk!reader has ice because I think it’s cool.

‘Don’t think of it as becoming something- someone else,’ Bruce once told you when he first helped you after learned that you and him were alike in a unique way only relatable to the both of you, which only strengthened your friendship, ‘think of it as becoming an extension of yourself, like how you utilise an arm or an leg and don’t loose yourself within the rage and you should have all control.’ He finished.

‘That’s easier then it sounds.’ You muttered before adding on with a question you’ve always wanted to ask your friend and now somewhat mentor. ‘Did you ever get use to it? You know with hulk?’

Bruce’s eyes became saddened as he placed a heavy hand on your shoulder, squeezing it. ‘No. You can only accept who you are, not what they think you are, with or without the big guy’s shadow looming over you constantly.’ He tells you truthfully and from that point onwards you trained your hardest to maintain control of your hulk form until you were comfortable with your capability of not resorting to unbridled rage and destruction. It wasn’t easy but soon enough you began using your powers for good and keeping others safe, which had soon lead you to meeting your future boyfriend -and fanboy- Joaquin Torres, aka the newly appointed Falcon.

‘Have I told you how awesome you look when you hulk out?’ Joaquin asked as he looked up at you. Your hulk form stood head and shoulders above most people, with aegean blue skin that had been proven to endure the impossible, but unlike the hulk you had found that you had a minor ability in regards to ice; meaning that whenever you transformed there would be a light layer of frost or ice coating the floor as frigid mist cascaded down your from.

You couldn’t help but chuckle as Joaquin touched your skin lightly, only to pull back immediately when he was beginning to loose all feeling within his fingertips, but yet the boyish smile and glimmer in his eyes had yet to fade as he only seemed to find another thing about you to adore and love more then anything. Yeah your skin was not only near impenetrable -to some degree- was so cold to the touch that anyone could run the risk of contracting hypothermia if they were to leave their hand on your skin for more than five minutes.

‘This isn’t the first time you seen me like this Joaquin, you know what happens when I transform.’ You tell him, remembering vividly of his gobsmacked expression when he saw you hulk out, mist cascading down your form and all, as you finished up the mission with the signature thunderclap that room out the last of the goons that were tailing you and Joaquin. You were worried for him when he didn’t say anything but the feeling passed when you saw him smile widely, running towards you with the excitement of a teenage boy as he asked about your hulk form that he’s only seen on the tv, social media posts and newspapers.

‘You’re so cool! Literally!’ He exclaimed as he looks up at you. ‘And the fact that I got to see the devastating thunderclap firsthand?! I think I might’ve lost hearing in my ears but it was definitely worth it.’ He continued and you couldn’t help but feel a little flustered under his admirable gaze, not use to a gaze like his that made you feel more confident in your powers and your hulk form, a gaze that told you that he held no fear towards you when you had just kept him safe just now. Unknowns to you, that very same admirer face of his would always be looked upon you no matter what, no matter how long he’s seen you transform becuase he’ll find something to fawn over.

‘I know that.’ Joaquin shrugs. ‘But that doesn’t mean I can’t still be amazed from time to time, mainly because you only resort to hulking out unless it’s absolutely necessary.’ He adds and it was true but it wasn’t the only reason that you hulked out as it often times took a lot out of you despite having gained a good grasp on it, but you also only resorted to hulking out when you knew Joaquin was in more trouble then he could handle.

‘Or using it to save your ass from biting off more than you can chew.’ You teased, poking in him the side, which left a small patch of frost on his falcon suit that twinkled and glinted like a small cluster of stars. Joaquin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, remembering the time where you had transformed solely just to catch him when he had gotten hurt, you were extremely pissed that day -which never bodes well for anyone who were well aware of how anger only makes a hulk crazy stronger- and needless to say the mission finished quicker then expected with how effortless you tore through the enemies as though it was nothing.

He still could remember how icy your eyes were when you looked at him in your arms, your Aegean blue hulk skin seemingly haven gotten even colder, almost glacial but none of the coldness was affecting him even though he could tell that he did push he luck with you as you gently put him down onto his feet. It was a unique feeling to be within the hands of someone who could easily snap him like a tooth pick with out even having to try, but Joaquin knew that he would trust you to always catch him and watch his back each and every time you went out on the field; though he did genuinely felt like he pushed his luck that day when you looked at him with a frigid stare that you only reserved for the enemies, and it was in that moment he could tell why it wasn’t wise to poke a hulk.

‘You stay here.’ You had all but growled at him, control slipping a little bit as your anger towards those that had hurt him getting the better of you as well as your fear for loosing him. You had prided yourself in keeping your cool -pun intended- but the thought of loosing Joaquin always managed to make you loose yourself to the anger and fear, not wanting to loose the sweetest, most beautiful man in your life to something you could’ve easily prevented; you know Joaquin can look out for himself but the man had the heart of a selfless hero and that typically ended up in him going into things before he properly surveyed the situation.

‘Okay. Yeah, sounds good.’ Joaquin remember saying in a small voice, not out of fear of you but the fact that you were slightly loosing your grip because he had gotten hurt, but before you could finish the rest off he brushed his hand across the icy skin of your arm gingerly. ‘Be careful okay glacier.’ Glacier was the name you had given your hulk form due to how cold it could get, but Joaquin couldn’t help but find it pretty and fitting for someone so strong and almost immovable. You grunted before taking off in a show of amazing speed within such a strong from that almost seemed impossible, but then again you made the impossible seem possible.

‘Yeah, that too.’ Joaquin agreed before smiling. ‘But for someone with neigh impenetrable skin, you really are a softie even as Glacier.’ He adds, smiling knowingly as he wandered closer to your side, still getting use to just how you towered over him like a protective wall, but he couldn’t help but admire how unique your hulk form was to you as a person. While most wouldn’t be able to tell apart the differences between you and Glacier, but to Joaquin he could easily see that behind those icy eyes was you and how some of not most of your twists had being brought over to your hulk from, and he liked to pride himself in being the only one who could see you no matter what.

You scoffed but couldn’t help but smile alongside him, always having found it impossible not to when he looked at you like he always did, with admiration and love and affection. You didn’t know what you did to deserve a man like him but you weren’t about to complain when he looked at you like you were everything, even if he did once asked a ton of questions regarding your hulk form at a rapid pace that made you loose your train of thought; though it was something about him you’d come to love and would usually to kiss him senseless for.

‘Only for you doofus, only for you.’ You replied, looking at him sweetly as you both stared at each other for a good while before the moment was ruined when you heard Sam over the intercom. ‘This is cute and all, I’m happy for you both really, but I could use some help over here!’

‘Back to work.’ Joaquin said as he took off into the sky.

‘Back to work.’ You echoed as you ran through the wooded area to aid your friend in need.

[fluentisonus]

working in a factory has you thinking so much about the insane chain of labor & transport that goes into making literally anything

[dirtylittleanimals]

Need y'all to be respectful of familial bonds that aren't blood-related. There is no secret "real dad" of Vi and Jinx; regardless of who contributed to their births, Vander and Silco helped raised those children before and after their previous parents died. And hopefully if something does get revealed about biological heritage it will be done in a respectful way and not in the ways a lot of y'all are: making fun of or pushing the false narrative that blood is what matters above all when it comes to family.

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Valentino and Sete at post race press cons throughout 2004

Welkom | Mugello | Catalunya | Donington Park | Brno

[danieyells]

Of note is that Romeo hates Frostheim. The Frostheimers talk ill of him and whisper when they see him, most likely because of his family/business history. Part of why he torments Kaito so much could be related to his distaste for Frostheim, and finding Kaito to be an easy Frostheimer to push around. Nobody cares about Kaito so nobody will really stop him from harassing him.

As for Kaito's debt, that's a continuing issue because Kaito has a gambling problem--he doesn't go on missions or have a job so his income is mostly from gambling winnings and most likely from taking loans from Romeo, which he ultimately fails to pay off. In his character story when the pc goes to his room she notes that he has a bunch of sneakers lined against the wall(and covered with a sheet I believe) so he probably spends recklessly.

It's important to remember that the bracelet Romeo got from the grave has the same symbol as Kaito's pendant--and thus is some sort of item from that powerful family we learned about. Taiga mentions how greedy Romeo is--and Romeo says that Kaito doesn't know the value of the pendant. Perhaps he could just take it, sure, but perhaps it's an artifact and he can't just take it away--Kaito needs to give it to him willingly? And after getting the bracelet Romeo says he won't let anyone take it from him--perhaps the pendant and bracelet are both cursed in some way and the people who hold them become fiercely possessive of them.

As for the way he speaks to him almost affectionately and touches Kaito, he does the same to the PC(wrapping an arm around their shoulders and speaking to them with a "seductive" voice when originally telling them to get the prototype for him, wrapping an arm around their waist and saying they should go off alone when Kaito doesn't comply with him) and sometimes speaks very sweetly to Hyde as well. That's very likely to just be Romeo's way of getting things from other people--turn up the charm hard. Of course it doesn't work but Romeo's probably used to doing it--high society is a world of lying and faking to get your way and all that. In regards to the stripping and caging, Romeo has a home screen line where he threatens to do the same to the PC, which kind of suggests that's actually just a way he punishes some people with some regularity. It seems unique because we've only seen him do it to Kaito so far, and Kaito obviously hasn't seen him do it to anyone else. But arguably the pc is also of value/special, and it may be that he punished people he finds valuable or special or sees as 'his' in some way that way, as opposed to the way he was simply going to shoot and kill Ritsu and the PC.

The casino didn't exist until Taiga became captain shortly after the Clash--before then it sounds like it was an informal gambling den. As such, Romeo had nothing to do with it--he hates gambling, and it seems like he only manages the casino now because it's a business he can profit from and Taiga, as the owner, is doing little to manage it himself. Romeo can't bear to lose things of value to him because he's already lost so much. In contrast Kaito seemed to suggest that he participated in the gambling den before it became the casino, which means he would have been involved in something Romeo had no personal interest in. Considering the Frostheimers whisper about Romeo and Romeo has some knowledge about Yuri's departure from Frostheim and Romeo used to be very well off and his family is the equivalent of Gucci, I can imagine Romeo spent time around Frostheim with people he felt were in his social class, whereas Kaito spent time around Sinostra gambling--ultimately causing them to just pass by one another as opposed to share any space.

Kaito and Romeo have also been mutually rejected by Frostheim to some degree--which may fuel Romeo's finding Kaito appealing, whether in a 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' way or a 'they don't like you so I want you to succeed' way. At one point Romeo tells Kaito that he's a ghoul and he needs to act like it, suggesting he does want Kaito to improve. Having Kaito go on the inter-house squad mission could be putting Kaito more in debt to him, opening opportunities for Kaito to owe him(by possibly saving him or by getting him some favorable marks for going on a mission), or trying to help Kaito toughen up and be a better ghoul. Romeo could also perceive Kaito as a sort of investment--Kaito would have to be the next Captain of Frostheim after all. That could get him money and power and influence and if he's close to Romeo in some way when he gets there then ultimately that could help him in the future.

I really do think it ties in to Kaito's pendant(and now the bracelet) though. The House of Ardici(which sounds Italian to me!) being a family of global influence and Kaito inheriting their pendant could suggest that Romeo, even if he doesn't think Kaito is related to them in a substantial way, sees some sort of value in Kaito himself(which would also add to him wanting Kaito to be a better ghoul in the long run) and Romeo wanting to capitalize on it--but for that he would need Kaito alive. Given the way Romeo says he won't let anyone take the bracelet from him, his inherent greed may be of magical origin(like a side effect of his pact, perhaps) or the bracelet itself is affecting him(and he may be affected by the pendant itself in some way that maybe doesn't affect Kaito?)

All we really have is speculation but. It's definitely kind of one of the bigger 'storylines' of sorts among the characters lol it'll be a long time before it's addressed again I'm sure but I'm glad we learned about the pendant this last episode. It very well might be a 'the holder of this pendant inherits something from the House of Ardici' thing, but Romeo might need Kaito alive to get it in the long run. Kaito cares about the pendant because his grandmother left it to him when she died--he didn't know a thing about the family and as far as he knows his grandmother was just an ordinary old lady. Who knows if that's actually true though!

What do you think is going on with Kaito and Romeo?

I've posted this on Reddit and now I'm posting it here so I more people see it and talk to me!

Particularly I'm interested in why Romeo seems to be so clingy with Kaito. I know that there are already some explanations — Kaito's debt and Kaito's pendant — but don't you think Romeo is putting too much effort into this?

Regarding **debt**: does Romeo chase around everyone with debt on the regular basis? Also, the academy is clearly full on well-off students, it would make much more sense to concentrate on them. Kaito doesn't have money and he won't somehow get them out of nowhere (Luca is another discussion).

Regarding **pendant**: have you noticed that Romeo is trying to convince Kaito to give him the pendant, instead of taking it away by force? Throughout the chapters he hasn't really tried to take the pendant away, although I think Romeo's more than capable of it. He is stronger than Kaito and the latter didn't have any protectors before Luca (Tohma and Jin are also not shown to be close enough to Kaito to defend him in the past). Otherwise, there must have been tons of opportunities for Romeo to hurt or kill Kaito and take away the pendant, everyone dies left and right, even when they were on the mission — little accident, minus one ghoul, nobody would've probably suspected anything. Why hasn't Romeo taken the pendant away already?

Regarding **Romeo's time and effort**: despite being the busy man Romeo claims he is, he still finds time to regularly look around for Kaito, calling his name, and with a gun. He asks MC for Kaito's schedule — twice. He spams Kaito with messages. He locks Kaito in the cage in his private office very few people know about — this is just another level, because why. He also takes Kaito on a mission with him, when being told that was his chance to assemble the best possible team — notably, he goes for Kaito before contacting his actual friends, and also has to threaten Kaito to go with him in first place. On the mission, it's Romeo's decision to split, and both times he takes Kaito with him, also physically dragging him and just casually intimidating him along the way.

Who would go that far for the indebted guy? Or even for a pendant? It's more like Romeo's interested in Kaito being constantly around, but also, why?

Regarding **Romeo's attitude**: he's the mix of tenderness and frustration when it comes to Kaito. The phrase he use to call him is *Doko itta no, dete oide?* which translates kinda like *Where have you gone? Come on, come out!* and is often used to talk to animals and kids. He also uses *Fuji-kun*, emphasising on either Kaito being his kouhai, or being on friendly terms with him. He's very touchy when it comes to Kaito — grabbing his hand, his collar, his ear, shaking his shoulders, clamping a hand over his mouth. It's not necessarily tender, but it seems that Romeo finds it absolutely natural to act towards Kaito in such way. Romeo's also often implying Kaito acts unreasonable towards him when not willing to comply, like when Kaito is hiding or running away from him, or when he doesn't want to go on the mission. One time he says something along the lines "there's more on the map than that, so just shut up and do as I say", implying it's in Kaito's interest to listen to him.

**Why does Romeo seem to be convinced that Kaito should be doing as he says without asking questions?**

Regarding **Kaito's attitude**: Kaito isn't shown to be super intimidated by Romeo. Yes, he runs away away from him, and in one voiceline he mentions he started getting chills when someone calls his name because of Romeo — so it's not like Kaito doesn't recognise Romeo as a threat. However, Kaito is constantly talking back and resisting. When talking to Romeo, Kaito openly questions his decisions, mocks him, swears at him, uses *omae*, simply disagrees and Romeo has to put *a lot of* effort to actually get Kaito to do something — and half of the time, Kaito doesn't do what is expected of him anyway. He talks to Romeo almost freely, definitely less scared than with Jin or with Tohma, or even with Ren or Jiro. Interestingly, Kaito uses *Romeo-san*, instead of *-senpai*, like with Tohma and Jin. Kaito also doesn't seem to have a clue about why Romeo is following him, but he's not interesting in figuring it out either, just "weird guy, ugh how annoying, does he ever stop".

Unlike Romeo who perceives his own actions as natural, justified as "Well I'm just collecting debt", Kaito openly talks about how strange Romeo acts towards him. Locked in the cage, he says "shut up, kidnapping creep" and "do you even realise how unhinged you sound" when Romeo says no one would save him from there... When MC says "he has certainly taken a liking to you", Kaito corrects "liking, more like stalking".

For now, no one except Luca and to some degree MC hasn't commented on Romeo's and Kaito's connection — do they know? Or do they don't care? Or both.

Regarding **timeline**: Kaito mentions Romeo has been on his tail for half of the year. Before that, he wasn't even in the gambling den. This lines up with the estimated time of the Clash. Does Romeo's interested in Kaito has something to do with the Clash? Did it just happen in the same time? Kaito says he has somehow avoided the Clash — he himself doesn't connect the Clash with Romeo's interest in him. Kaito doesn't seem to connect Romeo's interest with anything, implying it was sudden. It could be that the determining point of the Romeo's interest was the moment Romeo was looking at Kaito from a distance, if Kaito cannot remember any special confrontation. What doesn't line up is the warding card of Romeo standing above Kaito and looking at his pendant — judging by his expression, for the first time. Who wouldn't have remembered this situation? Another thing, Kaito mentions that he hasn't seen Romeo much before, and he wasn't even in the gambling den. So although Romeo justifies his hobby by collecting debt, he possibly wasn't that interested in collecting this debt initially, before that special point six month ago.

Regarding **paperwork**: Luca repays Kaito's debt in the prologue, another simple solution to Kaito repaying his debt and Romeo not having to go after him ever again. Yet Romeo claims "he still owes rate of interest, so it's not enough to buy his freedom". To which Luca replies "I'd like to see the paperwork then", and Romeo's muttering he "hates men with brain". Other than Kaito commenting on how he didn't know about the rate of interest (which could be written off as ignorance, and not necessarily as Romeo deceiving him), Romeo's comment suggests there might be something unclear with the documentation. Another important paper is the one Romeo threatens to show the MC when telling Kaito to join him on the mission. It is not the debt-related issue — MC already knows about it. It is something that Kaito feels to be embarrassed about, and something that allows Romeo to say "you really think you can say no?". In the prologue, when Romeo demands pendant, Kaito also replies with "this is one thing you will never get from me" — one thing? Does that mean Kaito agrees in some way Romeo can demand anything else? The paper which Romeo threatens to show the MC — which conditions are written there?

Let's assume that Kaito does owe Romeo more than money. What exactly is Romeo gaining in this situation? Why would he need specifically Kaito's compliance in the first place? Why Kaito of all people, of all ghouls. Okay, maybe Romeo thinks it's handy to get a guy who he can threaten to do anything. Why would he put so much energy into keeping Kaito close to him — especially on the occasions that could've used more catered to the situations ghouls, like the mission. Judging by how he addresses Kaito as "plebeian", he doesn't think Kaito's pendant connects him with the powerful family, plus he comments how Kaito doesn't know its true value. So Romeo is not after Kaito's potential prestige.

Romeo's behaviour doesn't make sense. It especially doesn't make sense considering he *is acting rationally* when it comes to missions, or his income, or dealing with others, which means there *is* an explanation for how he acts with Kaito — my guess, it directly or indirectly includes money, or another physical value.

What is notable, is that *Romeo is deliberately keeping Kaito close* and *monitors his actions*.

What are your thoughts? Have I missed something? I'd die to discuss, really. I see all these signs, but I can't really understand what it means. I know we are quite early in the story, but for the 13 chapters the story has been very consistent with the relationship between Romeo and Kaito, and Kaito's pendant. I'm super interested to know what others think!

[gaywarcriminals]

In a fit of boredom and/or autism I made decently compressive list of all my SV ships

[xxplastic-cubexx]

just read the new mutants issue where Charles chose to stay behind in space and my god the juxtaposition between Charles trusting Erik and Erik joining the hellfire club and wondering at his own trust worthiness. I wonder how much of Charles decision was him ultimately trying to avoid the fact that his first class had seemingly betrayed mutant kind and not be willing to face them and how much of it was Dani and Illyana's reaction to him having Karma mind control Illyana. the fact that Illyana was depending on him to ease her mind through limbo and in choosing to stay he forced karma to do it instead, probably fucking up their relationship in the process.

I love him, this is crazy, how much of this is him trying to runaway and how much is this him not trusting himself to fix things and how much is it just him trusting Erik?

i keep trying to put into words my exact thoughts about the sitch but there really is a lot for one issue aintit... oh charles you and your brain...

[skrunksthatwunk]

you go to a lesbian blog and find it says women only!! no men allowed!!! and go oh! excuse me, um, what about other lesbians? plenty of lesbians are genderqueer... and they go well, okay, go fuck yourself tim chop off your sweaty dick and stop calling yourself a lesbian. you do not have a dick, actually. you think about that fact often, even though it does you no good. you do not tell this person that.

you go to another lesbian blog and it says women only and you try again, and this time they change it to wlw + nblw only (non-men who love non-men :D). and you'll say hey i appreciate that but gender's not really that cut and dry for a lot of people. someone could be both a man and nonbinary, for instance. i just worry that you're looking at nonbinary as a generic third gender, or an extension of womanhood. i mean yeah you include nblw in your tags but all your posts are about pussy-havers exclusively. what's with that? and they say go fuck yourself you pervy man pretending to be a lesbian. you tried to sneak in but i won't let you.

so you go to a lesbian blog with a dozen or so posts about queer people needing to be more weird about it and you sigh in relief. but you still see the men dni. that's odd. hoping for the best, you say hey! i know you mean well but please maybe don't put men dni at the end of the lovely posts on your lesbian blog bc some lesbians are men. and they'll be like ok!! well you're allowed ;) and you say no that's not. no. some men are lesbians not just me. you think about your own dicklessness and wonder if that's why you were given entry. and you add that even if male lesbians are allowed, there's no indication of that. how would anyone know without asking? and they're like ohh gotcha gotcha well men dni + this is for sapphics only!! and you'll be like ok well that treats the concepts of men and sapphics as mutually exclusive identities and i just told you that's not true and you agreed with me so.. i don't think that solves our problem. and they're like. ok. fine. men dni but genderfluid and multigender people are allowed! and you're like no see that's. that's still the same thing.. you're saying the same thing just with different words. if you don't want men to interact but you're fine with multigender/genderfluid/etc ppl interacting then you either don't see them as Real Men (because they don't reach a standard of Full Manhood) or Complete Men (because they're only Part-Time Men), both of which suggest that they are, in some way, not men or less-than men, which is invalidating and defeats the point of the exception in the first place (accommodation) OR that you don't really mean the dni which is confusing and inconsistent and makes guydykes feel weird and uncomfortable and excluded from the lesbian space you're trying to cultivate. and they're like um. ok. so. cishet men dni? and you're like well i think that makes more sense, but what if someone identifies as both a cishet man and a sapphic? again, if we're trying to accommodate the genderfucky populace then that has to be a possibility that is considered. and they say god you people are never happy. what do you want me to do? what am i supposed to say to keep the right men out? and you pause. you empathize with the need for a space free from dudes trying to fuck you straight and feminine. dudes who watch lesbian porn and joke about what they'd do if they were allowed into girls locker rooms. who look at you like a piece of meat, and like someone who looks at women like pieces of meat in the same way he does. you get it. you know. you want a space where you can be sapphic, too. that's why you came to these blogs in the first place. you brace yourself and you say well i don't know that there are "right men" to keep out. i don't know that there's any single label that would accomplish whatever it is you're trying to accomplish. you could go for "sapphics only" or "queers only" and i think that might be the closest thing to what you want, but it's never going to be perfect. creating any exclusive space is going to shut out people you didn't account for, and the broader the label, the more people will be shut out that you didn't want to shut out. and what about people who don't know if they're allowed? what of questioning transbians, where are they supposed to go? and, frankly, i think i might rather my dykey posts get read and appreciated by a gay guy who sees me as a man than a woman who only sees me as a sacred womb, pure from male perversions or violence or whatever. i think community might just be more complex than a dni can handle. and they look at you and say i don't want to not have a dni. i think you're too permissive. you can't just "what about" or microlabel your way into everything. go fuck yourself, i bet you're not even a lesbian anyway. go find a real problem to get mad about.

you go to a lesbian blog. you ignore the men dni because you know you probably don't even count to them. or maybe you do count and, out of respect for your manhood, they'd shun you accordingly. you try to feel okay about that. you scroll past dozens of posts about mediocre men and gagging at straight friends' boyfriends and how gross and undeserving men are of the beautiful women they couple up with and how all women should be gay so they can get treated right and and and and and. you finally find a post about curling into someone you love and feeling at peace and try to lose yourself in it. you know that feeling is what unites you, what makes you belong. you try to focus on it. you think about carding your hands through a butch's hair or lacing fingers with a femme and feeling warm and loved and more yourself than you ever have before. like this is who you're meant to be. you read about lesboys and butch boytoys and genderfucky dykes and big hairy deep-voiced wonderful women (like you want to be someday, like you wish you could make yourself) and you try to ignore the men dni underneath each and every post. and you daydream about meeting someone kind and earnest at a lesbian bar even though you don't think any such bars exist within three states of you and you can't drink and don't want to drink because you need to be in control of yourself at all times so you don't fuck up like you're always about to and here in the nonexistent lesbian bar you feel wanted and safe and in good company. you picture your ideal, happiest self. it is a mistake. ideal-you has a goatee. not the mascara one you smear on and call drag even though you know it's not drag, not really, the beard you call drag because you think everyone would look at you sadly if you told them it was just to pretend you had something out of your reach. a beard that's soft and that you grew and that cannot be smudged away if you get too comfortable with it. the dream shatters. your people pull away from you, their scoffs mixing with the mind-numbing gay girl bedroom pop you learned to settle for just to have something that almost resembled you, they all pull away and turn their backs and do not look at you. you're too close to being a man now, even though you're the same amount of man as before. and they know you're not supposed to interact with men, not as you would with dykes, at least. and it sours. it's all your imagination, all in your head, but it sours.

you sigh. you think about how small you are. how short, how narrow, how feeble. how your voice pitches up when you talk to strangers because it's easier to speak quietly when it carries more, and because you're nervous. because it's a chore to talk, like everything is. you think about testosterone. you think about how your family would look at you, the questions they would ask, your answers they would only pretend to accept. the uncomfortable glances and whispered questions they'd try to hide from you. you think about how small you are, and how small you will always be. how you don't know of a way to fix it, but even if there was one, no one would want you anymore. you'd be the only one thinking it made you a cooler dyke. you think about how you don't even want a T-voice all the time, how you'll never be able to switch it at will, because you don't know how and can't bring yourself to figure it out. you think about how your throat closes around every hint of your own attraction. how wanting is perverse, how wanting is invasive, how wanting is embarrassing and too vulnerable so it must stay anonymous, as an online witness, and how you can barely manage to form or maintain friendships because your brain makes you pull away, always spinning out and struggling to recover from the simplest of interactions. how they'll all leave you and you won't chase after them at all and how that will hurt them. how stuck you get. how it looks like nothing's holding you back, how that frustrates everyone who thought you were going to be more than you were. the people you love who understand except when it comes to being ghosted, being shut out. how you don't want to hurt them. how you can't tell them that because you're stuck. how you turn to stone when touched, how you never reach out, how you lose your speech and can't look at people, how your autism is fun and sexy until it becomes real and you never see them anymore, how much you longed for someone who knew everything without you having to explain, and who loved you anyway. how unreasonable you know that is to expect of anyone. you think about that not-even-real lesbian bar. you think about how you still can't drive. how you can't leave your home on your own, without dragging somebody into helping you. how you can't leave your body. how you can't leave your manhood behind.

you think about finding another lesbian blog and ignoring everything. about skimming it for the parts you can juice some meaning from. the parts men ignore and don't understand, and how typical of you it is to do so. or the parts where you're not welcome and you should accept that, because it's for lesbians only. how you are a lesbian anyway. how you're meant to choose lesbian or man, how each is a betrayal of some kind to yourself or your people, your family, your lovely strangers, your rare friendly acquaintances. about the parts that tell you you're not wanted, that you're ugly and lazy and gross and insert yourself everywhere without even asking. about the parts that tell you you are hated, and how lesbians are above it all by rejecting men. how lesbians are each blessed miracles. about the parts that say you should be ashamed of being whatever twisted confused freak you are, of everything, of looking and wanting or not looking or not wanting, of picking and choosing instead of taking it all in with a smile. after all, shouldn't you take it? or is your ego too fragile, as men's so often are? aren't you tired? good. we're not here for your consumption. and we sure as hell don't want your company or "community" or whatever. didn't you read the sign? no boys allowed. and if you want to come in you have to make up your mind. as if you haven't told them the only answer you have. you're both. you're both.

you know you broke the rule by interacting.

but it gets lonely sometimes. you wonder if they know.

[saysflora]

you know how there’s that “black cat x golden retriever” trope that sprung up a while ago?

‘92!javid are both black cats and livesies!javey are both golden retrievers, and that is the fundamental difference between them

[chappellrroan]

if you love mitski you don't love her more than me sorry

[evilrwbyfan]

if i was j i would kill everyone on copper 9 and then myself cause what happened to her is crazy when you think about it for more than 3 seconds

had to watch the closest person to her die, got stuck with the solver and manipulated for who knows how long, died so many times she lost all hope she mightve had previously, nobody actually cared about her and the only other person who did (v) didnt try to understand where she was coming from even though thats actually hypocritical of her, solver got a better ending than her, then even the fandom demonizes her to hell and back over decisions that were obviously made because of fear and trauma

[taciturnraccoon]

Does Dusk have any allergies?

...No.