#monarchy he currently serves

[multicolouredmonster]

up until now "wtf is Aaravos end game?" has been the biggest question of the show to me - nothing he did seemd to benefit any faction in the show, and just seemed to create more chaos.

but comple chaos was always the the goal. Everyone and everything burning was his aim. His plans benefit nobody, because he holds them all responsible for the part they played in Leolas death and wants them all to suffer;

The startouched sentenced her to death for "disrupting the cosmic order"? Create dark magic and permanently fuck up the balance of power they preserve

The current Dragon Prince snitched on Leola to the startouched? Leave him disabled and disfigured, wallowing in misery. Also, time to destroy the dragon monarchy as a whole.

The xadian elves serve the dragons and uphold their rule? Let's orchestrate civil war between them and have them tear eachother apart

Humans betrayed Aaravos to the dragons after Leola died giving them Primal Magic? This betrayal will be repaid with burning your kindoms to the ground

[skay-ali]

The Magician and the princess

1

Days passed, and you carried on with your life, balancing your position at court, serving the emperor alongside other magi, and on the other hand, taking care of Philomel, escaping your duties to spend time playing with the little princess.

In your strange new life, spending time with Philomel kept you sane.

You escaped from your life defined by this reality. Even though you already had your own story and destiny, the daughter of a noble family with many illegitimate children, you were also an illegitimate child, born from an adventure, a promising child, possessing a great amount of mana, a puppet for your family, a child who always wanted to please those around her, searching for the love she could never have.

Those vague memories lingered in your head, throughout your childhood and much of your adolescence. Some of them were painful, but at the same time, they weren't. You weren't that little girl. You had your own memories, growing up in a world filled with technology, without magic or fantastic creatures. A world where technology and capitalism predominated, politics were between presidents and ministers, there was no monarchy. Royalty was just a useless role, an image for the people, a role that was almost extinct.

You went to school, graduated, studied at university, and had a family that loved you... you weren't a promising magical girl from a noble family.

So it was a surprise when your "family" wanted to intervene in your life. The same family you hadn't seen in a long time since you were put to work with the castle wizards, according to all your memories.

It was funny to you how they decided to appear now.

Did they want to use you? Do they want you as one of their new pieces on their board? Are they going to take advantage of your position and the fame you gained with your spells?

You saw an adult man and an elderly woman standing before you.

They were talking, their lips moving nonstop, their faces filled with seriousness, lacking kindness, a great darkness surrounded them, everything around them felt oppressive.

You felt their gazes full of reproach, things they judged about your new appearance and way of dressing.

A part of you felt fear, terror, and a lot of anxiety. They had power over you, the old you. On the other hand, the current you felt nothing but annoyance. They were like mosquitoes that decided to fly around you, bothering you, until you squashed them once and for all and ended their existence...

"We followed you to this point, we didn't do it for anything, nothing has changed."

They'd finally reached the part where they discredited you with their many spit-out words.

They expected you to follow them blindly, without objecting, returning a favor they believed you owed them.

"So?" You interrupted the couple before they continued their grand monologue. You crossed your arms, looked straight ahead, and maintained a firm stance, showing no weakness.

"..."

"What an insolent girl. Not only do you act arrogantly, but you also dare to interrupt me." You saw the woman scrunch her face into a grimace as she clenched her hands tightly.

"I really am, aren't I?" You downplayed your actions.

"I think you're forgetting your manners, ____" The neatly dressed man, in clothes that screamed expensive, maintained a more serious demeanor, seemingly intimidating.

You followed his example, also maintaining a serious demeanor, challenging the man to whatever game he was trying to include you in.

But you hesitated. For a moment, the man showed a small smile and triumphant eyes, as if he knew something important, something that brought back a feeling of past fear, along with a past memory of the same situation, a girl terrified by the same look.

"Everything you've achieved, you did so with our influence. Don't try to rebel."

"I refuse..." I interrupted the man before he could continue with his threats.

Yes, you felt fear. The part of you that belongs to this world, or rather, your memories, tells you to give in, follow orders, and everything will be fine. But you won't do that. You're a woman of a modern world, one who survived college and managed to graduate, who didn't fall into an early marriage or motherhood, no matter how attractive it may sound, but rather into the desire for lots of money.

"What did you say?"

"Are you deaf? I'm already old enough. I'm not going to follow their orders, much less an idea that goes against the sun of the empire."

It was time to cut ties with a family that only uses others as pawns, a family where the "pure blood" use others, believing themselves to be the best, where it's not difficult to discard a person like garbage.

Under other circumstances, you would have followed their orders, not for any special reason, just to avoid general inconvenience. It was like giving food to a dog to stop it from barking. Under other circumstances... not this one, not after they want to involve the princess in their games for the power of the empire, using you and the friendship you formed with Philomel, a pure and selfless friendship, the one you took so long to form.

"Now you're not only acting like a rebellious child, but you're also pretending to care about the princess."

"Do they really think I'm stupid? Your friendship with the princess, or any relationship you've created with the girl, I know very well that it was out of self-interest, to get something good out of it."

"I know you very well, always wandering in the shadows, moving slowly, manipulating with extreme care, planning again and again to achieve your whims."

"I admit it, my reputation precedes me," you easily accepted her accusations.

"But judge me... I was just... a child," you spoke again. You weren't going to give her the pleasure of being right, not without first speaking her truth to her face.

"A child who does the impossible to find love, who follows orders without a second thought, all out of an almost desperate need to find warmth and love in a ruthless family," you spat firmly, giving your false relatives a harsh look.

"Anyone in my situation would become a dog, crawling and following orders, for a pat on the head, or even a hug, even a little nickname full of affection."

"But I grew up, and I'm not that child anymore... I think it's time you look for another puppet, although it won't be necessary, at the rate you're going... there won't be any puppets within your reach."

"Their crimes will catch up with them."

You're done here, you've made things clear.

You left the room where they cornered you a few minutes ago. What a waste of time, they ruined your day.

Maybe it sounds narcissistic, but I think the princess is just like your old self from the story, in some ways.

All the more reason to feel the need to take care of her, protect her from bad people, much more so from her supposed father, the emperor.

The room fell silent.

The two figures left inside stared at each other for a moment, their rigid, serious faces showing that nothing had gone as they had hoped.

Golden eyes peering out of one of the windows continued to observe the unfolding scene for a few seconds before turning away.

There was no longer any reason to spy.

He believed he had obtained the necessary information.

"Phil," you ran happily toward the little girl. Seeing her always brought a smile to your face.

You opened your arms as you approached, and the little girl walked a little closer to you.

"You're late," you looked at her, pouting.

"Well... I had to deal with some bugs," you avoided calling the people from a moment ago family. "You saw me, no, finish them off."

"A scene that didn't go unnoticed while I was looking for you for being late."

"You see what I had to go through. How about you give me a hug to comfort me?" You continued to hold your arms open.

You saw the little girl hesitate, and you moved a little closer, but she avoided you. So you played along, chasing her with open arms while the little girl tried to avoid you. It was a fun moment where the two of you smiled with amusement, without worries or annoyances.

You caught the little girl, lowered yourself to her level, and gently hugged her. She smiled. After a few moments, she willingly accepted the hug and wrapped her arms around your body.

Still holding her, you stood up and walked from one place to another. You dragged her along like a stuffed animal. It was time to start her little party.

"Phil, who's your friend?"

You thought you'd spend a quiet day with little Phil, without worrying about the plot, your position as a magician, or even the consequences your family would face for your rebellion.

But it turns out the universe decided to screw you over and send a character straight from the story to your precious party.

The little... blond boy, oh dear, you forgot his noble title. What you clearly remembered was that the boy was Phil's current fiancé.

Your feelings for the boy were complicated. On the one hand, he tried to take advantage of Phil's childish attitude in the past, of course, on the orders of his strict father. On the other, he had his small redemption, as you recall. He began to form a slow but healthy friendship with Phil. That's all you remember.

It's a shame his title and name aren't.

"___, this is Nassar."

You nodded, showing all your attention to the little girl.

She looked adorable in her dress and her hair up, even with her signature loose lock.

"Nassar Avrydon, nice to meet you, miss..."

"Just ___, okay, and the pleasure's mine," you smiled. He was a boy, but you could tell how well-behaved he was.

You felt hands wrap around your arm. When you looked down, you noticed Philomel pressed against you. It was strange because just a few moments ago she'd been sitting next to you.

Well, that was until the girls stood up to welcome Philomel's fiancé.

Ah, you just noticed. Even a little girl is engaged, and you had nothing, not even friends... Your social life sucks, in this world too.

"It would be nice to join us, Young Avrydon." It was clear the boy was excited to see the princess.

But it was strange, because this time Phil wasn't much of a part of the interactions with the blond boy. In the story, she tries to maintain a friendship with Nassar, all so the boy wouldn't hate her and because he was never her fiancé.

Which is silly, because Philomel was the one who made the engagement possible. It's possible the real Princess Ellensa never proposed, perhaps in her adulthood or never, because I could meet another boy or young man in that moment.

"Of course, I'd love to, miss."

You could have stolen that filter she uses, delicate and formal words. Gestures and movements that screamed elegance and nobility.

Your world of informality has truly ruined you. You sat in one of the garden chairs, surrounding a round table with a large umbrella in the center.

It was a hot day, so you indulged yourself by creating frozen desserts you remembered from your world, even a strawberry-flavored slushie.

"Go ahead and enjoy."

You watched the children carefully eat sweets from the table.

Their faces showed great surprise as they tried a bit of what they had, then you watched them lose their surprise and happily devour your desserts.

Such cute children! They happily devoured your treats, carefree, and you felt proud... Wait a minute... two children, dessert, magic... you're supposed to be the witch! It was just like Hansel and Gretel, in some ways.

"These desserts are delicious. I've never tasted anything like this before." Nassar lost the composure he had a moment ago. Sweets are capable of achieving impossible things. You were glad to see him acting like a child; it became uncomfortable for you to see children, young people, and adults acting the same way.

"That's right," you smiled with happiness and tenderness at the sight of their cheeks filled with desserts.

You even noticed the small brain freezes the two children had as they ate so much ice cream so quickly. Their grimaces were amusing.

"And you, Phil, did you like what I made?"

"They're delicious, ___, as always, you're the best." His voice was soft, his lips curled into a small smile.

"Ahhh, how sweet they are, children." You had to cover your face out of embarrassment and emotion at the words the children had spoken to you.

The day was beautiful.

Just you and two small children relaxing in the garden.

No worries.

No threats.

No annoying relatives.

It was a peaceful day.

"Are you a castle wizard?" the boy approached you after exchanging an adorable conversation with Philomel.

You watched them from time to time; the two of you chatted about different things, like books you'd read, noble affairs, politics, although that was rare.

But you also saw them talking about their tastes, what a beautiful day it was, banal, meaningless things that somehow made the moment more enjoyable. You even saw them smile. You couldn't help but join in at times, with quick comments, until the children paid more attention to you.

"Yes, you could say so," you hesitated at his question. They called you a prodigy when you arrived, but then you faced competition that surpassed you. When you realized it, you became mediocre, you even stopped trying. You were left aside long ago, confined to doing work at your desk, surrounded by documents.

Not that you were complaining.

"...."

"Could you say so?" Phil spoke curiously; your words took her by surprise. You watched her rest comfortably on your lap.

Lately, she'd become more affectionate. You weren't quite used to it, but you weren't complaining either.

That's what girls and even boys were like: affectionate, dreamy, full of energy and happiness. Well, they change at some point, but not to become adults out of nowhere; that greatly affects their growth and development. A clear example is young people and adults, crazy for power, people fascinated by studying others, calculating, and unhappy. The manhwas already proved it.

The best thing is love and support, so as not to raise a psychopath or sociopath.

You gently stroked his hair, running your fingers through his soft brown locks, the sun making them shine a little.

"Well, lately I stopped doing fieldwork, and they left me the bureaucratic part of filling out paperwork," you said without interest.

"Is that so?" Nassar spoke again. "I've heard your name before; many have mentioned you as a promising young magician."

"Wow, those words... you make me seem like a great person," you mocked the boy innocently.

"You believe those words? Do you think I'm promising in magic?" You feigned seriousness when you saw the boy.

You watched him remain silent for a moment; he was very thoughtful. Didn't he want to upset you? That was considerate of him.

"Actually, I think she's a promising mage, but with her recent words, I don't know what to think anymore." You saw him play with his hands and a little blush on his cheeks, it seems that you made him nervous.

You should improve your attitude. In this world, you end up creating discomfort instead of security and sympathy.

"Hey, that's very nice of you."

You carefully extended your other free hand and brought it closer to the boy sitting near you. You also stroked his hair, just like you did with Phil.

To your surprise, the boy didn't feel uncomfortable or object; instead, he accepted your display of affection.

"You're a true gentleman."

"Let's keep this a secret." You gave the two boys a knowing look.

"Actually, I am a great magician," you admitted self-centeredly.

"But there are evil people who want to take advantage of my power, which is why I must keep a low profile."

You're a great liar. You saw the children easily believe you.

Well, you weren't lying if there were vile beings trying to use you, but in reality, you were too lazy to work.

Two children were worried when they heard you.

Phil easily understood what you meant; he'd met those people before, and he didn't like them at all.

Now that he's made sure you weren't a threat, he even notices the affection you have for her. She's started to accept you; you've become a part of her life. The possibility that you might move away or be in danger worries Philomel greatly.

Philomel realized over time that she had a huge problem knowing her future. She had a meticulous and calculated plan to avoid it and save herself. Amidst all the desperate reality of her life, having you was the best thing she could have; you became her safe place, even if it's a bit hard for her to accept.

That's why she couldn't afford to let you go.

Nassar was also worried. Ever since Philomel showed a change, he noticed many new things in her. She was calmer, and she confessed that she wanted him to live his life as he pleased.

I never expected to meet you, a castle mage.

I also didn't expect to know that you knew the princess and that she cared deeply for you. Philomel's attitude toward you was different from what he knew now. She was more lively with you, also affectionate, as she had been with him before.

But it only took him an afternoon to get to know you. And a couple of days of small get-togethers for him to warm up to you.

You were a good person, lively, who cared about others. You did so when he appeared out of nowhere uninvited. You had a welcoming attitude.

You accepted him into your small circle, if you could call it that. You invited him again afterward, and again, without stopping.

The few visits became constant. His father was happy when Nassar lied to him, saying he was just going to play with Philomel. He also went to play with you and Phil.

I truly appreciated being able to spend time with the two of you.

It felt good; something in his heart felt fuller, as if a void had been replaced.

When you stroked his head, he was very surprised, but he didn't push you away. It was one of the few moments where someone showed him affection, even with a small gesture. He was desperate to feel it again.

He's beginning to understand why Philomel spends so much time with you and why he speaks so highly of you.

He envied you at first for taking Phil's attention away from him; now that he's met you, he no longer considers you a threat.

You were the only thing he needed, along with Phil.

He couldn't think of anything bad happening to you; he couldn't lose the second person who showed him true love, affection without commitment, a love that controlled him. You never asked him for anything, not as his family.

It was ridiculous for him to entertain this idea... but, lately, he liked deluding himself with the idea that you were his true family.

But that was a secret.

The universe kept bothering you lately.

It wasn't just throwing your true story in your face anymore.

Now it insisted on throwing different characters at you.

You were lucky at first; you met Nassar, Phil's fiancé, a boy in a complicated situation with his family as you recall, and he also had his moment of redemption with the little princess, his first friend or something like that.

Then there was the lady-in-waiting, or butler, who looked after Phil. Although you also forgot her name.

But today... today was the worst.

You met the Emperor's right-hand man.

Not just the ashen-haired count, but also the Emperor himself.

The man who requested an audience with you.

It took a lot of strength to look at him without showing a frown or a look of hatred.

Much more to keep from hurling a thousand insults at him. And you barely entered the small audience.

You prayed to the gods of this universe and yours to take care of you, begged them to give you all the willpower not to kill this bastard.

I don't know if I'm succeeding in creating the little platonic yanderes. But they won't be the only ones. There will be yandere love interests. I'll include them somehow, even if it doesn't take long to introduce them or if it ends disastrously. I'll try it out!

[ceoandslutler]

Shit i hope u get depression then slit ur wrist open u child loving fucktard

On god a drunk driver needs to smash u in between a tree before u rape a kid, you fr need to die

Fucking nasty ass pedo, literally Diddy Jr fucking off urself u pedo cunt

this doesn't really affect me but it's kinda funny how it's not ending. anyway in light of this happening, i would like to remind you that i am a real person.

hi, my name is sayé, im an adult gen z who's currently studying in university. i was born, raised and live in london and have two parents i love a lot. i also have a lot of friends but i used to be badly self conscious when i was a child so i tried to be more confident/reach out to others and ended up making friends with lots of different types of people.

my favourite colour is purple but i also like gray (if you couldn't tell lol). i really like queen esp a night at the opera and a day at the races (my fave albums!!) and have a huge crush on freddie mercury. also im a loser who listens to bts and have their posters in my room next to freddie 😭 i can do a mean serve and play really good tennis so much that in secondary school i was banned from serving during PE. i suck at baking but my best friend is an avid baker (so is my mum). BUT i can cook a delicious minted steak. my mum scolds me for always making my food too spicy. my dad always brings me a red bull whenever he sees me and loves ruffling my hair. my mum and i watch horror movies together every week (but my dad is too scared to watch them). i buy homeless people food whenever i can. i really want a cat but i don't have time for one. my favourite holiday is nowruz but i also love christmas because the street decorations in london are so nice. like most brits, i love princess diana but hate the monarchy. i used to watch "a place in the sun" often (british telly win). speaking of, i adore 5 oclock in the morning by lily allen. it's one of my favourite songs. fun fact i adore playing rhythm games and im really good at mobile ones but suck at osu!, also i may be addicted to dave the diver 😭 i love seafood, esp smoked basa, my mum fries it for me every nowruz (since fish and herb rice is our cultural new years' dish)

here's some of my most recent conversations w different friends that aren't too personal (no hate to law students LMAO)

i am a "normal" person. i live a "normal"* life. if you saw me face to face, you would not say this to me.

*by normal i just mean everyday, obviously norms are just social constructions but ykwim

if you saw a young adult w their friends, you wouldn't have the gall to even approach them.

if you saw me out w my sweet middle aged parents, you would think we're just a happy family.

i am a real human being.

i was part of this fandom since i was a kid. this blog is new but it does not contain anything explicit about fictional children/minors doing sexual acts. because i am not interested in that personally. it doesn't mean i will police anyone who does want to see that kind of content however because fiction is not real.

people telling me to die doesn't hurt me. but that doesn't mean others won't be hurt. my mental strength is not a pass for you to tell me or anyone to die.

i am a real person and so is everyone on this website.

anons need to remember that.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

I think the best course of action is to remove titles from all non working royals. Back in the day, everyone had titles because they had purpose. Political marriages were the backbone and titles were important for that. The royals of the Middle Ages married a political ally for the monarchy and that’s why the titles were important. Or they showcased landownership which is also useless now.

Today they serve no purpose. Non working royals do nothing for the monarchy. If I was Charles, I would just work with parliament to release a patent limiting the titles to working royals and their children only. The children should decide on their 18th birthday if they want to be working royals when they will either continue use of the titles or not. That means Harry, Meghan, Andrew, Eugenie, Beatrice would all lose it in one stroke which is perfect because they are the annoying members. Also they do nothing which makes the title of Duke duchess seem hollow. It should be limited to those working like royals in the public image. This also means that they can’t claim it to be targeted at anyone. Just that it needs to be streamlined and modernized.

It’s bizarre that Charles think only a smaller balcony means a streamlined monarchy. He needs to grow a pair and take the titles from the spoiled brats who never grew up.

Charles doesn’t need to work with Parliament on that. He can issue a LP and have it take effect without the government’s involvement.

Parliament only needs to get involved if the changes affect the line of succession. I’m not sure if Parliament needs to be involved to strip titles - I know they passed a law after WW1 stripping some families of their titles but I don’t know if that’s because the king couldn’t or if the king refused.

I see your point but I don’t think it’ll work. Everyone is mainly concerned with the present royals - specifically, Sussexes and Yorkies. But they forget that whatever changes are made now will also affect royals in the future - specifically Charlotte and Louis and their future families. And such a change may be opening a can of worms that the monarchy’s future can’t sustain or uphold. You have to think about the much-much bigger strategic picture here when it comes to these kind of changes, not just the current slate of troublemakers and grifters.

[lizzaneia-elizalde]

What if... yan prince, with knight apprentice reader? Reader's father was the army cheif and she's the daughter who is ambitious, wanting to become just like her father in future.

Where does the prince comes in the story. They are playdates. But instead of playing house they play with swords, bows and arrows. As they grow up, the reader is assigned as his personal guard, but after a near death experience for reader while saving the prince, he realizes that how much more precious his knight is to him. Like a rare treasure. One he wishes to keep himself only.

Ps: the prince was originally very mischievous and childish, dragging reader everywhere with him and getting into trouble as well.

-🌼

Yandere! Male! Emperor x knight! fem! Reader

Finally! This yandere ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

If you've read Eros' story, you would know that there is an Imperial family, and that there is a crown prince which is Yuno, but if you've read Aeron's, there's a new bloodthirsty emperor in town. And, in an ask, I confirmed it's not Yuno. So who is it?

Also, thanks for the other asks, 🌼anon! Even those which are not requests. I've read them all and appreciate them ৻( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻)

BY THE WAY, HAPPY NEW YEARS! This my gift uwu

Well, let's see, shall we?

Yandere! Emperor name: Callisto (yes, name is from Villains are Destined to Die manhwa (´▽`)❀.)

TW: Misogynism, literal pet names (dog)

Callisto.

Quite the arrogant kid. A brat, someone who thinks highly of himself because he's a prince, and a smug piece of--

Anyways...

Born as the Emperor's fifth child and the third son, he's always faded into the background. That's why he acts up in order to get into his father's radar.

His mother, a travelling dancer, got pregnant by the Emperor when they met at the fare. She immediately rose to become a concubine, and due to her ethereal beauty, Callisto inherited her looks.

And despite not being the crown prince, Callisto is favoured by the Emperor due to his mother being the apple of the Emperor's eye.

So other than being an arrogant mama's boy, what are his redeeming qualities?

Well...

He's smart, and actually politically intelligent. Even though he's still quite young, he grasped the way a monarchy run and how the state is affected by the aristocrats and the Imperial family's decision. He sometimes pipe up to say opinions and queries that even adult nobles cannot comprehend.

Why is this guy not the crown prince yet?

Callisto, having a rivalry with the current crown prince, Yuno, always bullied the boy.

Due to the current Empress being out of favor due to the Emperor's new concubine, Callisto, despite being younger than Yuno for two years, eagerly pushed down Yuno down. Somewhere he apparently belongs.

Everyday, whenever they meet at the academy, Callisto always finds a way to humiliate the boy. Tripping him, ripping his uniform, dumping dirt or bugs, anything.

This created a weird superiority + inferiority complex inside Yuno as he runs to his fiance.

Well, Callisto doesn't care.

His mother asked the Emperor to not give Callisto a fiance yet, saying that he "needs to find true love like how they met each other". When in reality, His mother is cunning, and wants to find a fiance for him personally. Someone easy to rope into their side and not be a perpetual spy for the other princes, princesses, and concubines. Especially the Empress'.

And so, even though Callisto doesn't have a fiance, he does a companion.

From the rigorous trickling of numerous proposals into one, you emerged victorious.

Someone who serves the Imperial Family, but is known to be quite the strong opposition to the Emperor who keeps him checked, the Captain of the Imperial Knights. He's married, and had a family with you as the daughter.

Strong, upright, and righteous, you inherited your father's sense of duty yet the strong sense of camaraderie and service to the people. Same as Callisto, despite being young, you had quite the righteous view of the world. Someone so helpful yet to nihilistic towards the Imperial Family even in a not so direct way.

The first time you two met was unfavorable.

He immediately tossed a sword to your way and without a moment of hesitation, tried to stab you. You parried quite well, making Callisto smirk in arrogance as he hopped back.

He found you interesting. A girl, wanting to be a knight? Preposterous!

Yet, admirable.

He liked seeing you scramble to keep up with lessons.

Sure, you're talented, but that made people hate you more due to your gender.

So, why not help, right?

Callisto would always watch you practice. His eyes never leaving you as you struggled to fight with the misogynistic teacher, the arrogant teammates, and the pressure burdening you.

And, when it got too much, he would interrupt the lessons by tossing a sword to you again and sparring.

It did stop the bullying momentarily, but god did it put you in trouble.

Drills upon drills, they punished you for interrupting the lessons despite Callisto doing it! The reason why it's you? It's because he's a prince, and the son of the beloved Concubine.

Of course.

This made your relationship with Callisto wonky. More like an enemies forced to be together for politics. But in a platonic way.

And years passed...

Callisto, now 22 years old, finds himself watching his stupid crown prince of a brother fumble his fiance as he dances with a random girl named Elisia.

Sure, she's pretty, but he always thought Yuno is head over heels for his fiance.

"Pfft. Such a fucking disgrace." He cracked his neck and got off the pillar to go to his father, the Emperor.

The Emperor is rightfully angry, seeing his son humiliate him over and over again.

"Father, I think you should really reconsider his position now." Callisto whispered, watching as Yuno pull Elisia to the balcony to do god knows what. "Hell, i'd rather have that weirdo of a hero who suddenly appeared one day to be the crown prince."

Callisto frowned as he remembered the man who suddenly appeared in the throne room. Now a Marquis, Aeron is steadily becoming a powerful man, and Callisto intends to bring him to his side once he...

He looked at the Emperor who shivered in fear from the mention of Aeron. He remembered how the Emperor sent that man to a suicide mission. It was honestly disgusting, but Callisto can't do anything other than try to send him party members.

"Yet those fuckers continue to betray him. What the fuck." He mumbled to himself before clearing his throat. "Father, what do you think? I even think Duke Eros is good for the position."

Duke Eros also, an eccentric man. Cold blooded and someone sharp, yet invents these infrastructures and weird devices that pioneers technology. A term he coined. An odd fellow, but Callisto likes the Duke due to being one of the people who can oppose the Emperor without that much backlash and resistance due to his own power and authority.

He's also someone who Callisto needs to look out about.

Honestly, the Emperor is never a good man. He's a greedy man, creating enemies left and right due to his pride and his habit of stealing money from the coffers of the people. Tax money? Pocketed. Jewels? Stolen. Government? Corrupt. Everything is fucked up in his reign that Callisto is having a hard time thinking of what to do.

So, why not usurp the throne?

His mother, who rose to be the Empress, has laid down a path for him. And all he has to do is to follow diligently.

His eyes scanned the ballroom to find his sweet little playmate.

There you are, eyes scanning the crowd for potential threats and assassins.

He felt bad, not letting you know of the plans. But he needs to do this. If he wants you to survive the usurpation, keeping you in the dark is what he needs to do.

The Emperor grunted, finally relenting to his son's will.

"Alright. I'm taking off Yuno from the crown prince position." The Emperor said, rubbing his temples.

Callisto secretly smirked, one of his plans finally bearing fruit.

"Thank you father. That will be enough. I don't think Yuno is qualified to be the next Emperor. He's too... Impulsive, and doesn't see the path you laid down for him." Callisto praised him, fueling the Emperor's Ego and lowering Yuno's reputation more.

"Yes yes... Go forth and call my Prime Minister. I need to discuss Yuno's abdication as soon as possible." Callisto nodded before going away from the ball to call the prime Minister.

Of course, you're diligently following him like the puppy you are.

And yes, you became his personal guard after graduating from the Knight training. Sure, you could have joined the ranks, yet Callisto here asked his father to make you his personal guard.

Not able to reject an order from the Emperor, you had no choice but to comply to his wishes.

"Hey, you're on my side, right?" Callisto asked, suddenly stopping in the middle of the long hallway. The moonlight filtering through the giant windows made an eerie yet despondent shadow on Callisto as you cleared your throat.

"Yes, your highness." You muttered.

"Then, let this be a test if you are actually on my side."

Suddenly, the windows broke, shattering the glass and the protective barrier placed on the palace.

Immediately, you unsheathed your sword and dashed to attack the intruder who crashed through the window. Cloaked with a dagger in hand, he tried to reach Callisto who's only leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

"Your highness! Please run!" You yelled, pushing back the assassin as you prepared for another collision.

"Nah. I actually want to see this." He chuckled and watched your body move and glide across the hall to fight off this unusually strong opponent.

Callisto's eyes was enticed by the way your form flexed under pressure and under the force of such a strong oponent.

Seeing you struggle and not complain was enough for him.

"Okay, big girl. Come on let's stop this. Just kill the man."

But before he could come up to you and help you stop the assassin, he saw you kill the assassin and look at him in a shocked stare.

It happened so fast.

He felt you grab his body as you shielded him with yours.

Then, a warm liquid spilling onto him.

His eyes zeroed on an another cloaked man with a dagger, stabbing your shoulder.

You slumped down on his.

You felt soft, warm, yet he oddly felt lightheaded.

When he came to his wits once more, he's cradling your body with the cloaked man's body mangled on the floor.

Carrying you, he ran to the royal hospital. He's soaked in blood, your blood.

He felt helpless for the first time as he demanded for one of his servants to call for his mother.

Yeah, maybe his mother would know what to do as you fought for your life.

It felt like a blur as he saw his mother run to him, carrying her heavy gown as she kneeled to him. Oh? Callisto is kneeling? When did that happen?

He felt his mother brush away his tears. Tears? When did that happen too?

Once more, a blur as he fainted.

He feels like he's floating on the sea as he confronted a man. He also looks the same age as him, maybe a bit older. The man looked at him with a smile.

There and then, the man, who proclaimed himself as god, told Callisto that he's the protagonist of a "media". He forgot if it's a novel or whatever a videogame is, but he knows that he's the most favored character of this god.

He scoffed.

"So, if I am the favored one, then why..." His voice shook. "WHY IS MY BELOVED FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE FOR ME?!"

It took almost everything inside of him to admit that he loves you, but he doesn't care anymore.

The god whispered that it's the part of the plot, and that he should just let fate run its course. He assured Callisto that you will be okay.

Callisto nodded, heaving a bit before giving the god a cold glare.

"So, if I am this protagonist, this ever so important character..." Callisto murmured. "I can get away with anything... Right?"

"Right?"

The sheath of a sword, and a heavy, wet plop on the carpeted floor became the backdrop for the sound of victorious yells.

Callisto sighed, cracking his neck as he got out of the castle, and out of the Kingdom to their East.

"Emperor Callisto! What shall we do with the captured servants?" One of the knights asked, and Callisto cleared his throat, thinking.

"Put them in the dungeon back in the Empire. I still have to think on what to do with them."

With the knights bowing, they dispersed as Callisto immediately teleported back to the Palace.

After learning that the previous Emperor was the one who sent the assassins, he almost broke his facade.

It seems that the Empress didn't seduce the Emperor enough to make sure he didn't doubt Callisto.

Yet, he doesn't care about that.

He only cared about the fact that the Emperor almost killed you.

With the guarantee that he won't have any dire consequences due to being the "protagonist", he immediately went to Marquis Aeron to assassinate the Emperor with his sprites.

Aeron gladly did it, giving two sprites to Callisto as they phased through the walls and kill off the Emperor in his sleep.

And, while the chaos of the sudden death of the Emperor, he challenged Yuno to a duel for the throne. Yuno, who just got his engagement annulled and watched as his fiance became Duke Eros', he's scrambling to bring back his pride and dignity.

Yet, the "protagonist" cheat proved right as he won by landslide. Beating Yuno black and blue and becoming Emperor.

His mother, proud as her son finally took the path she intended for him to have, became Empress dowager.

Where are you in this situation?

You were in a coma like state. The dagger, having poison, took a toll on your body. So, you did not witness the way he avenged you and took the throne for himself.

And when you woke up, you only heard of the assassination, and knew he's behind it.

"Callisto! You killed your father?!" You confronted him, appalled. And Callisto, surprised by your anger, only laughed in disbelief.

He avenged you, and you're angry? "Yeah, I did."

"You know that all of the people in this Empire knew you're the one who assassinated the Emperor." You glowered.

"How do you even know that?" Callisto smirked, shrugging as he took a seat on the throne. "They don't. You're deceiving yourself, big girl."

"Do not call me that." Your jaw tightened, eyes in anger and annoyance. "They will know. I just feel it."

Callisto frowned. How dare you say that when he's the protagonist? He's practically invincible.

"Are you threatening me, y/n?" He stood up. Suddenly, he didn't feel like the childhood friend you have. He feels imposing, too far for you to reach, a wall so thick you can't even comprehend.

"I avenged you. I killed my father for you. Those assassins? He ordered for them to kill me." He laughed, eyes wide with annoyance. "And you, a mere woman dares to not see the grace I gave?"

You laughed in disbelief.

DId he just...

"And I do thank you y/n for shielding me. It made me realize something. Your loyalty is something I need by my side."

He held out his hand, holding out for you to grab.

"Be my Empress. You're my most loyal dog. And you have a good eye for politics." Callisto proposed. "I can spoil you greatly, give you riches beyond your dreams. Just be my pretty, loyal, dog, or doll. If you're into that."

You gripped your hand into a fist, eyes ablaze with anger.

"I will not. Women are not mere dogs, nor do I need to say yes to your proposal." You spat out. "And I am not going to be yours. Never yours."

When did he become such a deplorable man? Someone so full of himself? He already was, but at least he's logical and never demeaning.

But this?

"I will correct myself. I knew that the people will know that it's you because you're the only one who is close to Marquis Aeron and Duke Eros, two of the well known opposition to the Emperor before, amongst the Imperial children. And you used Marquis' sprites, which only those who defeated the demon king can wield. And, Marquis Aeron is not the emperor now, but you. HIS FRIEND." You smirked bitterly.

"What? People are stupid! They won't realize that!"

"HAH!" You rasped out. "Even still, it will instill doubt in them. Other than that, I will abdicate myself as your personal guard. Fuck. You. Callisto."

Callisto's eyes widened as you turned your back to him, marching outside with a slam.

When he came back to his wits, he seethed in frustration and decided to take a breather. Anger is riddling him.

But once he calmed down and tried to summon for you, he just heard from your father that you ran away.

He scoffed.

As if you can run away from him.

But you disappeared. With such a meticulous way to vanish, nobody can track you at all.

As if you never existed in the first place.

He felt his body run cold.

Where did you go?

Where did you vanish to?

"Y/N!!"

He went mad trying to find you, tirelessly combing through the Empire without stopping.

It was only a year later that a lead was given.

You're out of the Empire. That's it.

Manic, Callisto decided to do the extreme to scare you out.

Now known as the warfreak Emperor, he reigned fear and blood onto other territories as he decimated every place just to find you.

His blood running cold, his time running out, and his patience running thin,

Once he finds you, you know you can't escape from his shackles. Literal or not.

And he will continue the bloodshed for you.

And this heavy burden and sin will be on your shoulder the longer you don't return to his arms.

[empiredesimparte]

Live broadcast of ‘Le Sacre de Napoléon V’ on the national channel Francesim 2, hosted by Stéphane Bernard

(Stéphane Bernard) This is an exercise rarely undertaken by the French imperial family. In truth, few could have imagined that this ceremony would take place on the occasion of the coronation, especially considering the recent turmoil. However, His Majesty is determined to deliver a powerful message to all his detractors and to strengthen ties with the French people.

(Stéphane Bernard) Emperor Napoleon V must establish his style and herald change to win back his people. After the coronation ceremony, will we witness the swearing-in of all the bodies that constitute Francesim, thereby renewing their allegiance to the Emperor? His Majesty must make a successful entrance into his reign and, I believe, in some way, significantly transform Francesim.

(Stéphane Bernard) He will need to find the right words, gestures of appeasement, and an attitude that will bring about national unity. Many skeptics doubt his abilities due to his young age, barely 19 years old. Yet, this walkabout evokes the image of a thaumaturgic emperor, soothing ailments through direct contact with the people. This, in fact, is one of the foundations of the Napoleonic idea: the Emperor and the People. Of course, thaumaturgy is irrational, and hardly anyone truly believes in it nowadays. Nonetheless, the people display a strong desire to form a connection with this young emperor, in whom they can see themselves.

(Another journalist) What do you think, Stéphane, about Empress Charlotte? Will she live up to the role that awaits her? She's only 19 too

(Stéphane Bernard) Empress Charlotte will undoubtedly be an essential pillar for His Majesty Emperor Napoleon V. Already, she enjoys immense popularity among the French. She is a woman of great intellect, full of charm, and remarkable beauty. Strangely, she gives the impression of having always been part of the imperial family. She understands the role: sacrificing her private life on the altar of the monarchy. The couple must now take up the mantle and embody modernity.

(Stéphane Bernard) On screen, you can see the majestic entrance gate of the Château de Versailles. It is here, in this historic location, that the gala is being prepared, where tonight all the greatest heads of state in the world will be present. Choosing Versailles is not incidental. It is about showcasing French culture and refinement, a heritage to which we are all deeply attached!

(Stéphane Bernard) A glimpse of the famous Hall of Mirrors where the Imperial Household is preparing for the arrival of the Emperor's guests. It's an unconventional coronation, for several reasons. Tomorrow, Francesim will become the center of the world. The young imperial couple, in the spotlight, will seize this unique moment to assert themselves brilliantly on the diplomatic stage. The Emperor has wished to showcase all the splendor that Francesim is capable of. His Majesty has spared no expense to ensure that these days are truly unforgettable.

(Stéphane Bernard) Allow me to tell you about the regalia, these symbols of power that are currently safely housed in the Palais des Tuileries, in the heart of Paris. They will soon be transported to the cathedral for the grand ceremony. I must confess, I have been preparing for this event for nearly ten years, and like all of you, I am eagerly awaiting the realization of this historic moment!

(Other journalist) Isn't a coronation somewhat outdated today? Couldn't it be "simpler", like republican ceremonies?

(Stéphane Bernard) Yes, it's quaint. However, it remains an indispensable rite for the Nation to commune and identify with. In these times of identity retreat, the monarchy provides a path to overcome these divisions. As long as this symbol endures, it will continue to serve as a unifying force – and the Napoléons, better than anyone, have understood this well. Unfortunately, our Presidents of the Republic have never managed to accomplish this mission with the same grandeur.

⚜ Le Sacre de Napoléon V | N°1 | Francesim, Paris, 27 Thermidor An 230

The imperial couple took a walkabout on the eve of the coronation. It was broadcast live on television by Stéphane Bernard, the famous journalist covering crowned heads in Francesim.

Beginning ▬ Previous ▬ Next

⚜ Traduction française

Le bain de foule demeure un exercice fort peu usité par la famille impériale française. En vérité, bien peu parmi nous pouvaient imaginer que ce cérémonial se déroulerait à l'occasion du couronnement, surtout en considérant les tumultes récents. Cependant, Sa Majesté, avec une détermination à toute épreuve, aspire à délivrer un message puissant à tous ses détracteurs et à resserrer les liens avec le peuple français !

L'empereur Napoléon V doit arriver à imprimer son style et à annoncer le changement pour reconquérir son peuple. Après la cérémonie de couronnement, assisterons-nous à la prestation de serment de tous les corps constituant la Francesim, renouvelant ainsi leur allégeance à l'Empereur ? Sa Majesté doit réussir son entrée de règne et, je crois, d'une certaine manière, bouleverser la Francesim de manière significative

Il va devoir avoir les mots, les gestes d'apaisement et d'attitude qui permettront de ramener l'union nationale. Bien des sceptiques doutent de ses capacités en raison de son jeune âge, à peine 19 ans. Pourtant, ce bain de foule évoque l'image d'un empereur thaumaturge, apaisant les maux par le contact direct entre le peuple et le souverain. C'est d'ailleurs, l'un des fondements de l'idée napoléonienne : l'Empereur et le Peuple. Bien sûr, la thaumaturgie relève de l'irrationnel, et plus personne n'y croit réellement de nos jours. Néanmoins, le peuple manifeste un désir ardent de créer un lien avec ce jeune empereur, en qui l'on peut s'identifier

(Autre journaliste) Que pensez-vous Stéphane de l'impératrice Charlotte ? Sera-t-elle à la hauteur du r��le qui l'attend ?

L'impératrice Charlotte sera sans doute un pilier essentiel pour Sa Majesté l'empereur Napoléon V. Déjà, elle jouit d'une popularité immense auprès des Français. C'est une femme d'esprit, pleine de charme et d'une beauté remarquable. Etrangement, elle donne l'impression d'avoir toujours appartenu à la famille impériale. Elle a compris le job : aliéner sa vie privée sur l'autel de la monarchie. Le couple doit désormais prendre la relève et incarner la modernité.

A l'écran, vous voyez le majestueux portail d'entrée du château de Versailles. C'est ici, dans ce lieu historique, que se prépare le gala où seront présents ce soir tous les plus grands chefs d'état du monde. Choisir Versailles n'est pas anodin. Il s'agit de mettre au premier plan la culture et le raffinement à la française, ce patrimoine auquel nous sommes tous si attachés.

Une vue sur la célèbre galerie des glaces où la Maison Impériale prépare l'arrivée des invités de l'Empereur. C'est un couronnement atypique, pour plusieurs raisons. Demain, la Francesim deviendra le centre du monde. Le jeune couple impérial, en pleine lumière, saisira cet instant unique pour s'affirmer avec éclat sur la scène diplomatique. L'empereur a souhaité mettre à l'honneur toute la splendeur dont la Francesim est capable. Sa Majesté n’a pas épargné la moindre dépense pour que ces journées soit véritablement inoubliables

Permettez-moi de vous parler des regalia, ces insignes de pouvoir qui, pour l'instant, reposent en toute sécurité au palais des Tuileries, au cœur de Paris. Ils seront bientôt transportés à la cathédrale pour la grande cérémonie. Je dois vous confier que je me prépare pour cet événement depuis près de dix ans, et comme vous tous, je brûle d'impatience de voir ce moment historique se réaliser !

(Autre journaliste) N'est-ce pas un peu désuet aujourd'hui, un couronnement ? Ca ne pourrait pas être plus "simple" comme les cérémonies républicaines ?

On peut penser qu'un couronnement est une tradition désuète de nos jours. Oui, c'est désuet. Cependant, il s'agit d'un rite indispensable pour permettre à la Nation de communier et de s'identifier. En ces temps de repli identitaire, la monarchie offre une voie pour surmonter ces divisions. Tant que ce symbole perdure, il continuera de jouer son rôle de rassembleur – et les Napoléons, mieux que quiconque, l'ont bien compris. Nos présidents de la République, hélas, n'ont jamais su accomplir cette mission avec la même grandeur.

[humansofnewyork]

(27/54) “One morning I was called into the Speaker’s office along with another colleague. We were told that he’d received a call from the king’s office, and the king needed our two votes on an upcoming issue. My colleague was silent. But I replied: ‘I cannot do it. If I was a soldier of the king, I would crawl across the floor at his command. But I am a representative of the people. And I answer only to them.’ When I looked over, my colleague had tears in his eyes. Nobody disobeyed a direct request from the king. But Iran was a constitutional monarchy. We had a constitution. That was supposed to mean something. It had to mean something, or we were left with nothing but a king. I knew I wasn’t helping my career. The parliament was a corrupted system, and the only way to advance was to support the king. But I wasn’t there to be part of the system. I was there to scream 𝘈𝘻𝘢𝘥𝘪. Freedom. One afternoon the Speaker told me that the king would be making a trip to Nahavand, and I should be there to greet him at the airport. I searched Shahnameh for the perfect quote to welcome him. I chose from one of my favorite stories: the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar. In this story Rostam is a much older man. He’s served many kings. But the current king has turned oppressive, and Rostam refuses to obey his commands. The king sends his son Esfandiyar to arrest Rostam. Esfandiyar promises Rostam that the king only wishes to set an example. He says: ‘Please, just let me bind your hands.’ He promises that he’ll immediately be released. He promises Rostam all the riches of the kingdom, if only he’ll allow his hands to be bound. Esfandiyar is protected by a divine blessing. He has never been beaten in battle. And Rostam knows that if they fight, he will almost certainly die. But still, he will not allow his hands to be bound. He’d never give up his 𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘥𝘪. Here Ferdowsi shows his genius. The dialogue is rich. The men dine together. They share wine. They flatter each other. Each man does everything to persuade the other to change his mind. But their fate was already written. They would battle to the death. Because one could not disobey his king. And the other could not disobey his code.” 

بامدادی همراه یکی از همکاران به دفتر رئیس مجلس فراخوانده شدیم. گفت که از دفتر شاه پیامی رسیده که می‌خواهد ما در رأی‌گیری پیش‌ رو رأی موافق بدهیم.گفتم: «اگر من سرباز شاه می‌بودم، سینه‌خیز از این سو به آن سو می‌رفتم و فرمانش را می‌‌‌پذیرفتم ولی من نماینده‌ی مردمم.» اشک در چشمان همکارم بود. رئیس برآشفت�� گفت: “یکبار بر سر بحرین دوستان شما مرا بدبخت کردند و امروز شما.” سرپیچی از درخواست شاه کم‌سابقه بود. قانون اساسی ایران سلطنت مشروطه بود و این باید گویای واقعیتی باشد. هنگامی که سیاست‌های شاه به سود ایران باشد، نخستین کسی هستم که از آنها پشتیبانی کنم ولی کشور نمی‌تواند بر پایه‌ی یک اندیشه اداره شود. اگر آن اندیشه خردمندانه هم باشد. هر چیز می‌باید با اندیشه‌های گوناگون بررسی شود. بسیاری شنیده شوند تا مردمان دریابند که شهریاران میهنند. پیام رئیس مجلس خبر از آمدن شاه به نهاوند می‌داد و می‌خواست اگر بتوانم آنجا باشم. خبر خوبی بود. نهاوند نیازمندی‌هایی داشت. می‌شد آنها را در میان گذاشت. شاهنامه را زیر و رو کردم تا بهترین پیام خوش‌آمد‌‌گویی را بیابم. پیامم را در یکی از داستان‌های دلپسندم یافتم، داستان رستم و اسفندیار. در این داستان رستم مردی‌ست سالخورده. شاهان بسیاری را یاری کرده است. ولی آنگاه که پادشاه زمانه ستمگر ‌شود، از فرمانبرداری او سر می‌پیچد. گشتاسب پسرش اسفندیار را می‌فرستد تا دست رستم را ببندد و نزد او‌ ببرد. اسفندیار خواهان جنگ نیست. اسفندیار به رستم چنین خوش‌آمد می‌گوید: که یزدان سپاس ای جهان پهلوان / که دیدم ترا شاد و روشن روان / سزاوار باشد ستودن ترا / یلان جهان خاک بودن ترا / خنک آنکه او را بود چون تو پشت / بیاساید از روزگار درشت. اسفندیار رویین‌تن است و هرگز تا آن روز شکست نخورده است. رستم می‌داند که در صورت نبرد، کشته خواهد شد ولی نمی‌پذیرد دستانش بسته شوند زیرا هرگز از آزادی خود نمی‌گذرد. در اینجا نبوغ فردوسی هویداست. گفت‌وگوی این دو بسیار پر بار است. به ستایش یکدیگر می‌پردازند. رستم اینچنین به ستایش اسفندیار می‌پردازد: خنک شاه کو چون تو‌ دارد پسر / به بالا و فرت بنازد پدر / همه ساله بخت تو پیروز باد / شبان سیه بر تو ‌نوروز باد / دو ‌گردن‌فرازیم پیر و جوان / خردمند و بیدار، دو پهلوان. آنها به هر تلاشی دست می یازند تا رای دیگری را برگردانند ولی سرنوشت آنها نوشته شده است. وارد نبردی مرگبار خواهند شد زیرا یکی از پادشاهی خود نمی گذرد و دیگری از آرمانش

[harleyspinn]

i reworked the noble hierarchy in westeros

i saw a tweet about this yesterday and couldn’t stop thinking about it. it said something along the lines of ��i wish grrm had used more diversity in highborn titles bc everyone is just a lord.” while i think grrm said he did this on purpose to make it all less confusing, i had a hyperfixation on noble rankings a few months ago and started developing more nuance to this stuff once i fixated on asoiaf. because of the tweet i really Really wanted to share this but i do not have a public twitter account (thank god)

also i don’t like that the literal king of the continent is called “your grace” when that title usually refers to non-royal dukes / duchesses. yeah it used to be a monarch’s title but the term “majesty” is so much more dramatic and i Love that stuff !!! i used a combination of english and canon titles with a dash of russian influence

THIS IS JUST FOR FUN it’s completely self serving and i wanted to share it for anyone else who desires even more complication in this fuckin series Don’t Attack Me.

so yippee here is my personal opinion on how westerosi nobility should be addressed (under the cut bc long post). the heading is the reworked title and form of address, and below i have random notes and reasonings aka me infodumping

pm if you have any questions or want to contribute!!!!

King / Queen of Westeros - “His / Her Imperial Majesty”

i wanted this to be more commanding and imposing to really show how coveted and important the throne and its power is aka give more realistic purpose for people to want it so bad. i think grander titles can put that idea him to people’s heads (besides “it’s neat” or as daemon said “a big chair made of swords”)

the title king / queen is perfectly good but i think it should be reserved for only the sole person on the throne. in my made-up ending of asoiaf, dany is queen of the six kingdoms (the north seceded and is ruled by sansa like in the show, and they have a close political allyship) and abolishes male-favoring primogeniture.

she also does some other stuff but that doesn’t matter here

westeros is technically an empire but i don’t want to call the monarch the emperor or empress, so i used just the form of address. since it’s a lot of syllables, the full three-word title is only needed during introductions or the very first address of the monarch. afterwards, the person speaking to them can just call them “your majesty” or “majesty” or “my king / queen”

—

Spouse of the King / Queen:

Grand Duke / Duchess - “His / Her Imperial Highness”

again, i wanted the king / queen to be The Person In Charge (whether or not the actual person does the work they should lol) so their spouse is less powerful than them and therefore not called “majesty”

i wanted to change this title more drastically because of my made-up ending (where dany is queen) and how there would definitely be future female monarchs who marry men, and i think having the king consort be called King would be confusing to people who are used to having only male rulers. it’d mess with their little heads

a duke is a nobleman who rules over a duchy and a lot of them are royal. in a lot of european monarchies, the grand duke title holds a similar amount of weight as the grand prince or archduke (i think used only in austria, so i didn’t go with that one) and only less than the king / queen so i thought this was a good fit :)

THAT BEING SAID!!!!!! this is also a lot more syllables. i decided that culturally and historically, most people have shortened their reference to the king’s wife and call her the queen. in all formal situations she would be the grand duchess, but calling her the queen for ease of conversation isn’t treason

—

Widowed spouse of the King / Queen:

Grand Lord / Lady - “His / Her Imperial Highness”

this was a recent addition because i thought everyone calling alicent the queen in hotd was a little silly. she was the queen for some time and is now the mother of the current king (and queen) and i like that they call her “queen dowager” sometimes, but since she would have been called the grand duchess in this timeline, i adapted that into something that seems respected and important but matches the political power they hold (not very much)

like how the grand duchess is casually called the queen, a grand lord / lady is sometimes called the queen dowager or the queen mother (see next point)

there is an exception to this title: if the widowed spouse is regent while their child is underaged or unable to rule (ceresi after joffrey is crowned) then they are called the queen regent or the queen mother, but becomes grand lady after their child comes of age. another example of this would be aegon ii being crowned when he’s an adult, so alicent was never his regent, therefore she would only be queen dowager or mother

all of this also swaps to if there’s a male widow it’s all the same thing just made masculine bc i don’t know the nuance of gender identity in westeros

i don’t like this one as much but idk what else to call it lmao

—

Siblings of the King / Queen:

Grand Prince / Princess - “His / Her Imperial Highness”

similar reasoning to the grand duke / duchess. siblings of an active monarch are super important but are not the same as their spouse

concerning targcest: the more important title overrules the one they’re first entitled to. example: helaena is never a grand princess because her and aegon married before he was crowned. she goes right to grand duchess, whereas aemond and daeron (yeah.) are grand princes

importantly, this title stays the same if and when the sibling outlives the monarch. they keep it for their whole lives Unless they gain a more important one, whereas almost all other titles change as soon as the monarchs do

—

Children, Grandchildren, and Siblings-in-law of the King / Queen

Prince / Princess - “His / Her Imperial Highness”

sometimes simplicity is key. in my head, any augments to this title indicates a lowering in status (the addition of “grand” meaning that they aren’t in line for the throne anymore, and the addition of “lord / lady” lowering them to a further removed position. second one is coming up next)

—

Children-in-law and nephews / nieces of King / Queen:

Lord Prince / Lady Princess - “His / Her Highness”

these guys either aren’t blood related to the monarch or aren’t really in line for the throne. since non-royal nobility is still all variations of lord / lady to me, giving them this additional word kind of removes them from the main royal family

also taking away the full extent of the address by removing the “imperial.” they’re deserving of respect because of their relation, but are still more lowborn

the children-in-law of a monarch can keep their royal title(s) if they are widowed, but they lose them if they divorce

—

Great-grandchildren of King / Queen:

Great Lord / Lady - “His / Her Grace”

and so appears the title of “your grace”

i wish i didn’t have to come up with this one but people have kids so damn young in this world that the kids often have actual relationships with their great-grandparents. so here we go, a royal-friendly variation of the lord / lady title. they aren’t grand, but they are great

—

King / Queen of The North - “His / Her Majesty”

i like the idea of a free north. idk what the iron islands are doing and i haven’t thought about it enough to care yet

the north is not an empire, so they don’t get the addition of “imperial”

—

Spouse of the King / Queen of The North:

King / Queen - “His / Her Grace”

again, i just wanted to be loyal to grrm’s choice of address. and i don’t think the north would care as much as to who is who in terms of The Ruler, so sansa’s husband can be called the king

—

Widowed spouse of the King / Queen of The North:

Lord King / Lady Queen

they’re royal but they’re also not too politically powerful. same as the westerosi one. i just got hit with sleepiness so sorry if these notes fall off in terms of quality

they don’t have a form of address beyond “my lord / lady” bc the north is less formal

—

Siblings of the King / Queen of The North:

Prince / Princess

same as above in reference to the form of address!

i didn’t want to name it this for a while Only Because arya would not like being called princess. but it made sense for everyone else, so here we are

—

Children of the King / Queen of The North:

Prince / Princess - “His / Her Grace”

if there aren’t any kids of the king or queen, then the younger sibling that they name their heir is also called this. like when robb is king then bran is his heir bc he doesn’t have kids so he is called this when it’s just him and rickon in winterfell early in the series

—

Prince / Princess of Dorne - “His / Her Highness”

full respect to the dornish wanting to keep in their ways hell yeah

this also goes for the spouse of the ruler! the both of them are meant to rule in tandem because dorne is less exclusionary than the rest of westeros in this sense

—

Siblings of the Prince / Princess of Dorne:

Lord / Lady

dornish royal custom is more informal but i still wanted the family to be called something, so i mirrored the rest of the continent

—

Children of the Prince / Princess of Dorne:

Lordborn / Ladyborn - “His / Her Grace”

same as above!

—

Head of a Great House - Highlord / Highlady - “His / Her Grace”

this is basically a lord paramount. the primary house of a region (the old kings) is called a great house. i wanted to keep some of grrm’s titles so not much would reallyyyy have to change, but there’s basically no difference between a lord paramount and a vassal house and a lowborn one so here we are

the books refer to these people as “high lords” so that’s mostly where this came from. i also really like combining words that make sense to be combined! that’s why some of these new titles are Just altered versions of lord or lady

i want the highlords to be distinctly different from lower houses, so they have a simple form of address

—

Spouse and Siblings of the Head of a Great House:

Lord / Lady

yes both of these guys have the same title because they probably carry similar power and influence with the highlord

—

Children of the Head of a Great House:

Lordborn / Ladyborn

this is also inspired by the term “lordling” that’s used in the canon. once one of the children becomes a highlord, their siblings all take the lord or lady title

—

Head of a normal House - Lord / Lady

boring run of the mill yes yes let’s go

i don’t feel like making another category: the spouses of a head are also called a lord or lady. same thing

—

Children of a Head of a normal House:

Lordborn / Ladyborn

born of a lord. girl is lady born of a lord

—

MISC NOTES!!!!

knights are still Ser ofc

once a person is appointed to a role of importance, they themselves are obligated to the title of Lord or Lady. this doesn’t extend to their family members. in my mind, these roles are ones on the small council or a high steward. ofc if this person already has that title then they just keep it

instead of “my lord husband” (example), the royal family would refer to other royal family members as “my royal husband” or “my royal hand” if the hand of the king is another royal family member

if a highlady marries a man then the husband does not need to change his house / surname, but if a highlord marries a lady or ladyborn then she becomes “Lady [name] [house surname] of House [husband’s house]”

the daughters of a head can keep their lady title if they marry someone with no titles but they hold little power

widows of a head may also keep their title but them and their children hold little power after the passing of their lord

nieces and nephews don’t get titles unless they’re related to royalty

children born to a lady and a non-lord do not get titles

idk if this is canon but in my head all dornish bastards are legitimized if they are children of any royal family members

the introduction “of House [name]” is reserved for royalty, great houses, and the head of a normal house. everyone else who belongs to a lower house is just called “[first name] [house name]”

continued from above and similar to the informal address of a grand duke / duchess, royalty and nobles and such are still addressed without the “of House [name]” but only in informal settings or after being addressed with their full title

i probably said this, but titles of all house members change right as fellow members or lose titles (examples: if a head of house dies before their siblings the siblings return to their prior titles, often lordborn / ladyborn if they were also children of the previous head. same for widowed partners)

IF YOU READ THIS ALL THANK U I AM FUELED BY AUTISM AND EGGO WAFFLES

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Peter Montgomery at People For The American Way's RWW:

Elon Musk’s lawless rampage through the executive branch, including indiscriminate mass firings, isn’t enough for the folks at the far-right Claremont Institute. Claremont Senior Director of Strategic Innovation Chris Ross floated a proposal last week that President Donald Trump sign an executive order forcing civil servants to take Claremont Institute training courses to “deprogram” employees from what Ross claims is “the cultish anti-Americanism that infects the Swamp.” Ross argues that the federal workforce needs “a mental reset of what constitutes good and bad behavior, and to know the corresponding rewards and punishments.” This, Ross, says, can be part of a broader “great re-learning that America needs.” Ross has a great deal of confidence in Claremont’s propaganda, arguing that its trainings would “help unify Americans and turn adversaries into friends” by “uniting Americans around a shared understanding of our country’s heritage, principles, and civic duties.”

Anyone who might be tempted to take at face value Ross’s rhetoric about “principles” and “civic duties” should think again. Journalists and scholars, including conservatives, have recognized that Claremont has gone off the rails during the Trump era, making common cause with racists, white supremacists, and opponents of democracy.  “What the hell happened to the Claremont Institute?” asked scholar Laura K. Field in a 2021 essay for The Bulwark that explored how “the once-distinguished conservative think tank plunged into Trumpism, illiberalism, and lying about the election.” Field concluded that Claremont “consistently fails to live up to a threshold level of sound judgment and civic responsibility.”  Fields cited an essay by a Claremont senior fellow that asserted, “Most people living in the United States today—certainly more than half—are not Americans in any meaningful sense of the term.” Referring to people who voted for Joe Biden, he wrote, “It is not obvious what we should call these citizen-aliens, these non-American Americans; but they are something else.”  [...]

In his proposal for forced “re-education” of federal workers by Claremont, Ross also offered a far less principled rationale, one that would undermine the Trump administration’s supposed interest in “efficiency” but would advance the Project 2025 goal of dismantling internal checks and balances. He suggested that officials could make the mandatory re-education trainings “as long as is optimal” to distract “potentially troublesome legacy employees” from their actual job responsibilities to allow newly hired MAGA loyalists—who would be exempt from the training for a year or more—to “plow ahead without interference.” Claremont is already deeply embedded in the Trump administration, Ross notes, saying that “many” alumni of Claremont fellowship programs are currently in place. For example, former fellow Russ Vought is busily achieving his goal of putting federal workers “in trauma” as head of the Office of Management. Former fellow Michael Anton, opponent of birthright citizenship and “ceaseless importation of Third World foreigners,” is now serving as Director of Policy Planning at the State Department. Anton is not exactly devoted to democratic principles. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported that in his 2020 book “The Stakes,” Anton promoted American “Caesarism,” a “form of one-man rule halfway…between monarchy and tyranny” in which “Caesar’s word replaces constitutionalism and even, in the final analysis, law.” 

Chris Ross from the MAGA fascist indoctrination center Claremont Institute proposes civil servants go through an indoctrination “deprogramming.”

[agentc0rn]

Pokemon XY Parade Scene Analysis - Desire to learn, Request for Guidance and Acts of Penance

ok havent done a scene or character analysis in a while but here's one for the XY ending and the king himself-- 11 years late but hey, time shouldn't really prevent you from re-evaluating media, right?

**long thread ahead

Ok so. When you/protagonist become champion at the end of the game, which professor sycamore coordinates a parade for you, in a simple way it's both a celebration as well as a coronation. In a technical meta narrative sense, being champion means you’ve finished the game, having defeated the big bad evil and pokemon league and all that. But from the narrative point of view, you've become more than just a champion by title. You've become a hero by saving the world, and the champion elevates your status further. You represent the epitome of a trainer by the virtue of your skills and friendship with your team.

And that's why in that specific scene, AZ comes to the protagonist to request for a battle. I mean technically you could just ask anyone else regardless of status what battling and trainer means. But since in the game we're the only one who he interacted much with, we're also the closest and viable option as not just a source of knowledge and experience, but also a trustworthy acquaintance for him to learn more of the world. Given the context that pokemon were used as tools and weapons back then, AZ wants to know how things have changed and how Pokémon is viewed differently through the concept of a trainer from someone who has great experience and strength of overcoming challenges.

He also probably knows that monarchy is not present in modern society anymore, but may see us, a trainer, who ascended to the status of a champion, as a close equivalent of a monarch. In general, we can kinda see how champions are leading figures of the league but also representatives of the region (more emphasized in the anime and manga). Plus, the way he just casually walks through the red carpet, which is kinda funny and makes you think where is security (it's like you walking through the red carpet to talk to a celebrity lol)? that particular moment, it suggests that part of him still bears the mantle of a king in this display of behavior and attitude. In that regard, it is a metaphorical presentation of passing the crown - the state of Kalos and present is entrusted to you for paving the way to a better future. And what I like about this scene is that you have a former king asking you to teach him and do a demonstration through a battle. It is in a many ways beyond a simple request - it is an indirect way of reliving his long-standing struggle with grief, apathy, hatred and obliviousness to it the world, a desire for much-needed guidance, advice and help to better understand and integrate with the current way of life.

What is also unique is that it’s a reverse of this dynamic of the elderly teaching or exerting authority onto the younger generation. This symbolic battling, served as ritual-test for both AZ and you - the former to challenge his view on the world and the latter to be that example, showing what it means to express your understanding and relationship with your pokemon using the techniques and physical exertion of battling. You show how battling evolved past the violent acts of killing and now as an alternate mode of communication, recreational outlet and development of mutual understanding. Now that is not to ignore that battling still has its part in creating conflicts and interference either of course.

Moreover, once you beat him, his growth is shown - he openly acknowledges his deed and comes to terms with the past by confessing directly to you that he was the one who built the ultimate weapon rather than the third-person narrative he used in his previous encounters. Adding further, it demonstrates shows how this battle meant a lot for him because now everything is clarified and he is at last relieved of his long-carried burden of self-loathing. The battling provided an answer and emotional relief, as well as an expression of penance.

And i guess you could also insinuate that being defeated in a battle was a way of humbling him, and that engaging in a battle makes him feel like a normal human again, rather than the god that he was identified as for the longest time.

And because of that change, it made him return to his former self, which as a result Floette comes back. Although we don't get to really see how she was there in the sky in the first place, it is explained by Sycamore that she was watching him and waiting for him to be the man he was this whole time.

So the parade becomes a site of miracle, happy ending and hope for the future. You helped grandpa return to his self and in turn Floette comes back :)

[paeliae-occasionally]

more rambles pls

After some deliberation I have decided that I will give you the full Laith’Zairel breakdown. It is a very interesting city and also the home of our boy Xaeren.

Ok then, let’s see…

This post has 3 parts.

Maps

Houses

History

Maps

These are a few sketches of Laith’Zairel in around 60 - 0 BD under the rule of the Edrelian empire. As you can see they liked their circles.

In Edrelian culture circles were seen as the ‘perfect shape’ so it symbolised beauty and status to have a city made of intersecting circles and towers.

Houses

Since Tollenic rule Zairel has been run by the houses.

They have served as merchants, feudal lords, advisors to the king of the day, multiple different councils, and in and out of a monarchy.

They gained and maintain power by controlling the routes of trade in and out of the city.

The major houses have risen and fallen through time but in the modern day the three main houses are Tai’Fell, Lysandri, and Hiresias.

House Tai’fell - The house of the king and the advisory council. They are in charge of lawmaking and enforcement. Tai’fell also controls large amounts of land around Zairel and the trade of most higher value goods. You can only become a member of house Tai’Fell by birth into a noble family of the house, by marriage, or by request of the king.

House Lysandri - Also known as the tliet magesterium or tliet mysteries. This house consists of mages and druids who are trained in magic undergo trials and education to become members of the house and gain it’s secrets. They gained their power through controlling the creation and trade of magic items in Zairel. Lysandri is one of the only mage groups that does not outlaw somni (non-arcane) magic but embraces it as just another source of power. They are run by the small council (group of 5 people who are all incredibly magically capable, voiced by Febras Ollati) The house honours lineage and magic bloodlines but also welcomes talented younger students from outside of the house

House Hiresias - The oldest of the major houses and the most underestimated. Xaeren is part of this house. Hiresias claims to earn their wealth through trade of many common goods and control of a great number of dockyards, and while this is true, they also control a much more valuable resource. It is also referred to as the Court of Whispers in reference to its control over city secrets and alleged association with the criminal underworld. They have also been known to act as a check and balance for the other major houses. It is run hypothetically by the proxy king Tirr hasken but he is actually commanded by ‘the hidden king’. The existence of the hidden king is a closely kept secret within the house and very few know of their existence. This makes the house incredibly hard to depose as they can quickly and effectively switch figureheads with little impact on organisation. Hiresias is not selective by birth but by skill and loyalty. New hidden kings are selected by the current hidden king and are trained by them. They also are taught by a variety of other people around the globe on a mandatory pilgrimage where they visit leaders and politicians to learn about the world in practice rather than just theoretical understanding.

History

Zairel was named after the Zairi people who lived there in ~2500 BD

These people were conquered by the Arinites in ~2150 BD then this culture evolved through multiple faction changes (Arin-Tollenics and Tollenics) Through these periods it is a popular trade city and a military center, the city was called Zahre while under Tollenic rule. Zahre controlled a city state and was a cultural centre in Tollens. (1400s - 1000s BD)

The Tollenics were breifly conquered by the Kore who later inhabit Korlan. (870 BD) They partially sacked Zahre and while most of the culture was preserved, it was in incredibly weak city struggling to rebuild itself.

In 815 BD Zahre is conquered by the Edrels who were beginning to control the southern coast. The city is renamed Zahrelat under Edrelian rule (lat meaning city) to show Edrelian control over the people. While a part of this empire the Edrelians respect Zahre culture and Zahrelat is a major trade post as the Edrels use a lot of sea travel for transport and war. It becomes the western capital of the expanding republic of Edrel and is once again flooded with multicultural travellers and treasure as it begins to regain some of its lost status.

In 500 BD mortal arcane magic begins to permeate the world and a faction within ‘Emerilai’, as it was known at the time, rebels and takes control of the republic beginning the Edrelian Empire. This faction was originally northern so common Emresian changes to add the city ‘lat’ as a prefix not a suffix. Emerilai become Laith’Emeris and Zahrelat become Laith’Zairel.

Under the new mage rule Zaireli culture truly evolves with the houses taking on more distinct roles and House Lysandri adopting magic as a way to move up the ranks into being a major house. Because of Lysandri’s early monopolisation of powerful magic, Laith’Zairel becomes less dependent on magic than other Laith’Edrels.

Over the years under Edrelian rule, Laith’Zairel reaches its first peak of power. They are the centre of trade for the most powerful Empires on the planet and essentially manage the resources for the entire western half of the empire.

While Emeris’s focus shifts to magical research, Zairel remains intensely practical with houses competing for trade routes and contracts. This means when the other mage cities start whispering about immortality magic, Laith’Zairel is largely unfazed and does not get involved.

In around 60BD Laith’Zairel starts to think of itself as a seperate people to the Edrelians having become such a world city. Their culture is such a mixing pot of prior Kaitere refugees or people from Illeran or of Tollenic or Kairel descent, that they don’t feel attached to the empire’s ideals anymore.

By 0 BD Laith’Zairel is already on the edge of declaring itself independent so when the Dissolution begins they just step back.

There is so much more about history, house wars, magestones in Zairel, The vying for power over magic post dissolution etc. but I can’t fit it in this post. The rest will be added as soon as I have time to type it up.

Tagging the tag list~

@thelovelymachinery, @an-indecisive-nerd, @the-letterbox-archives, @oliolioxenfreewrites, @winvyre

@happypup-kitcat24, @wyked-ao3, @leahnardo-da-veggie, @alnaperera, @dearunreliablenarrator

@rumeysawrites, @urnumber1star, @seastarblue, @thecomfywriter

[acourtofthought]

Hi! I was wondering, do you think ACOTAR could be read as conservative propaganda in some ways? Its portrayal of gender roles, traditional power structures, and its emphasis on hierarchical, often monarchic systems as inherently good seems really like it...

Gender Roles: Even though there are strong female characters, the ultimate "happy ending" often involves traditional romantic pairings, marriage, and child-rearing, reinforcing conservative ideals of fulfillment through domesticity.

Power Structures: The narrative tends to favor monarchy and "noble" bloodlines as natural rulers, suggesting that power and leadership are best handled by those born into it — a traditional, hierarchical worldview.

Emphasis on Family and Mating Bonds: The books heavily stress the importance of finding one’s "mate" and building a traditional family, which aligns with socially conservative values around personal relationships.

Curious what your thoughts are!

If anyone has noted similarities than I don't think it was intentionally done on Sarah's part, with her trying to push an agenda, as she's living the opposite life of someone who would be trying to push stereotypical gender roles / traditional power structures. She's the bread winner for their family, she's the one working while her husband cares for their kids, he's the one who she's said makes sure she's fed and taken care of.

If we look back over Sarah's different series, I don't think she has followed through on many conservative ideals related to child-rearing or domesticity. Yrene ended up pregnant as did Feyre but Manon did not, Elide did not, Lysandra did not, Nesta currently is not, Aelin did not, Bryce did not. It is more realistic to have a percentage of pairings choosing to start a family then to have none of them want one. I also think people need to remember the trope they are choosing to read. Traditional romance books often deal with the topics of marriage and children and while some authors do write their pairings as forgoing those things, a larger percentage include them. As far as domesticity, it was Aelin who became Queen with Rowan her consort and neither Feyre or Nesta have any interest in cooking and serving their mates.

Mating bonds are a trope unto themselves and I don't think it makes sense to use that to argue that she's pushing conservative ideals with them. They're a freaky magical thing that does not exist in the real world therefore it's apples to oranges. It's simply love with an extra something (and if anyone has an issue with characters wanting to find love than they are definitely not reading the right genre).

As far as the power structure, with noble bloodlines being natural rulers, I think it's a mixed bag. This a fae world which means we shouldn't expect to see modern human opinions in terms of how power structures should play out. But I also think she's showing a break in that within her writing, where Bryce gave up her right to "the throne" in both Prythian and Midgard. Where she left the would have been Dusk Court to someone without royal blood (Nesta), where she wanted there to be democracy within Midgard. She even wrote into SF how sometimes the magic that decides the next ruler jumps around, even bypassing an heir and choosing outside the bloodline.

If anyone is making the decision to read an author who is typically marketed under the umbrella of traditional romance then I think they have to go into that book understanding what kind of story that typically entails. It's not really Sarah's fault for writing what is normally expected of authors in that particular genre, it would be the readers fault for choosing to read that genre and expecting to see something different. I also think some need to let go (especially when reading fantasy romance) of the idea that an author should write in a socially acceptable way based on modern society's expectations and should instead remember that this is a fantasy world where they don't play by our rules. Sometimes the world is meant to be written in a backwards and brutal way because that's the world THEY live in, not us, and it's something the characters need to work on to make changes for the better though it doesn't always happen overnight.

[lmaowh-at]

I really love your artstyle so I wanted to ask whether there was any inspiration behind it? I don't really think you can just "find" your artstyle without putting any thoughts at all behind it, so maybe some favourite artists by who you were inspired? Even when you draw in different styles it's still kinda recognisable that you were the one to draw it

Oh wow! That's a big question because I take a lot of inspiration from artists that I can't recall, but I will try!

I think the first ever thing that really influenced my style was..... jjba. Idk if there's still anything resembling arakis style in my art but it was a huge stepping stone so I think I have to mention it

Another very important inspiration for me was Marc Chagall... I got a book about his work in the moscow jewish theatre and I think it seriously altered my brain chemistry. The compositions and shapes he uses are crazy. Also fun fact my great grandpa was a student of his

I think medieval manuscripts in general have been a big source of inspo for me in recent years especially after getting into pentiment and french monarchy rpf (dumas' valois trilogy). I think you can really see my inclination towards very flat & structured (? Idk how to explain this) compositions. Also sometimes I just straight up copy the style like in that one idiot fanart. It's very fun and serves well for the kind of media i usually like

(Ft a stavos wip I drew a while ago but it's kinda nothing so I didn't post it)

Umm I think artists like Hugo Pratt and Gigi Cavenago also made an impact. Pratt especially in later Corto Maltese comics, like golden house of samarkand for example. For Gigi Cavenago is just the covers of dd lmao AGAIN WITH THE COMPOSITION AND COLORS... they're just so good

More artists: Harry Beckhoff, Tove Jansson, uhhhh. There's a lot I just don't remember currently sorry!

Also some artists online that are big inspirations for me:

Ruiriell

Antikovich

Cy_lindric

Puyogho

And my pinterest board with a lot of other stuff

That's it I think. Thank you for the ask!!!

[simshousewindsor]

By Cameron Dorly | Published by SNN

MIRAGE CANYON, Oasis Springs (SNN) - - Rafael Nastal defeated defending champion Zen Miller, in a rematch of the 2023 Brambledon final, 7–6, 7–5, 4–6, 7–5  to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2025 OS Open. It was his record-extending 12th OS Open title and record-extending 22nd major title overall.

It was also revenge. Miller won 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, to beat then defending champ, Nastal, at the 2023 Brambledon Championships. Miller went on to win the 2024 OS Open, becoming the youngest player in the sims Open Era to win all three majors (24 years old).

On 16 October, Nastal stated his intention to retire from the sport. Saying this would be his final season on tour, and that winning the OS Open, his home slam, was the biggest goal.

Nastal led in the first and second set, 7-6, 7-5, but exhaustion set in and Miller took advantage, taking the third set 4-6. Miller held serve until being broken during the sixth game of the third set, allowing Nastal to serve it out for the championship.

Millers loss to Nastal ended his storied run at the OS Open with a 25–4 win-loss record.

The Windenburg native retained the No. 1 ranking at the end of the tournament, due to his large gap in points. He is still the heavy favorite to win his third Brambledon in May.

Even with losing the OS Open points, Miller still has 9330 Pts. The sims world No. 2, Niklaus Kinner, has 7550 Pts and No. 3, Novak Markovik, currently has 6870 Pts. Nastal will now move to the No. 4 spot with 5765 Pts. Cori Duff will remain at No. 5, but Alexander Valet's early loss in R16 knocked him to No. 6.

King Felipe was also in attendance with his two children, Crown Prince Cristin and Princess Akima. Monaco Tennis Center is named after the Oasis Springs Royal Family, who are regular tournament guests.

Oasis Springs has been in the news recently, after Windenburg imposed sanctions on the country for allegedly assisting North Marvania in their war on South Marvania. Neither the Oasis Springs government nor monarchy have released statements.

[lady-raidia]

The Kingdom of Lysara

Additional information to my ongoing (and newly started) fanfiction: The Dove and the masked king! ❤

🌄 The Kingdom of Lysara

❄️ Location & Geography

Region: Bordering the northeastern frontier of the Kingdom of Jerusalem—tucked between the eastern edge of the Crusader States and the beginning of Mesopotamian trade routes. Think of it as a lush valley nestled between dry, rocky mountains and fertile lowlands.

Climate: A mix of Mediterranean and highland—warm, golden summers, but winters can bring snow to the higher elevations like the capital city. Cool breezes roll off the mountains year-round. Ideal for rare herbs, mountain olives, and cool-weather vineyards.

Capital City: Velaneth, built on a series of terraces around a crystalline lake. White-stone towers, blue tile rooftops, and vertical gardens spilling down the palace walls. Visually distinct from Jerusalem's sand-colored architecture.

🗿Culture & Society

Customs: Still focused on duty, honor, and balance. Women are taught both diplomacy and the basics of combat. Noble children are educated in multiple languages and the history of empires, including Rome and Byzantium.

Military: Still renowned for precision and psychological warfare. The Ashen Guard remains feared and elite, with Elyan (the second prince) as their current commander.

Marriage Practices: Noble marriages are political, not personal. Love is rare, and arranged alliances are sacred contracts. Your character would be expected to accept such a match, but her heart might be more rebellious than her upbringing allows.

🕊 Religion 

The Old Faith – The Veiled Flame: Still practiced by the majority of the older and noble class. Worship centers around fire, inner strength, and silence. Rituals involve veils, candles, and symbolic purification by flame.

Christian Influence: In recent decades, Christian missionaries and pilgrims traveling through Lysara have inspired a slow religious shift, particularly in the southern valleys and among younger generations. Churches have begun appearing in larger towns, and debates over faith are common at court.

Amicia is caught between both—raised with reverence for the Veiled Flame, but increasingly drawn to the gentleness and forgiveness in Christianity. She's read parts of the Gospels, speaks Latin fluently, and sometimes sneaks into Christian chapels while traveling.

🤴Government

Structure: A monarchy ruled by the Council of Flame—an advisory body made of generals, high-priests, and scholars. While the monarch makes final decisions, their strength lies in how well they balance the council’s often conflicting voices.

Current Ruler: The aging King Alaric III, father of three. His health is failing, which means he wants to conclude his business before his son Maeron takes over. This includes marrying Amicia off to King Baldwin VI. of Jerusalem to strengthen Lysara before his passing.

⭐️Lysara’s Symbolism & Style

Sigil: A silver phoenix rising from a dark mountain, wings outstretched, surrounded by a ring of fire.

Colors: Deep indigo, silver, and crimson.

Clothing: Elegant and layered—high collars, embroidery that tells lineage stories, and lightweight armor beneath ceremonial robes. Veils or half-masks are worn in formal settings by both genders 

👑 Royal Family & Government

King Alaric III: A seasoned ruler in his late 50s, known for his military mind and pragmatic diplomacy. Loyal to tradition but aware of shifting tides in the region.

His Children:

Prince Maeron (eldest son): Heir to the throne, groomed for leadership, deeply committed to Lysaran tradition.

Prince Elyan (second son): A military commander and head of the Ashen Guard, the kingdom's elite fighters. When he was a child he was often very sick, something that follows him into adulthood. Amicia always stayed by his side and he is also her favourite brother.

Princess Amicia: Youngest of the royal siblings. Raised to serve her family through marriage or alliance. She's sharp, observant, and carries herself with quiet strength, even if she's not in line for the throne.

[theroyalhouseofwindenburg]

The Unveiling

On the morning of New Year's Day in 1354, King Edward's 16th birthday, a meeting was convened in the throne room of Windenburg Castle. Present were the Jacoban Clergy, Lord Richard (the regent/lord protector), and King Edward himself. The courtiers had not yet arrived, and Edward, flanked by guards, sat on his throne. As the men entered together, offering birthday wishes, they were met with Edward's stern expression, unaware of the purpose behind the meeting. Edward promptly explained that he had overheard their discussions a few nights prior and, after thorough investigation, held them accountable for Queen Cordelia's disappearance.

The accusation left all the men visibly shocked and speechless, their faces turning pale with disbelief. Lord Richard, quick to respond, defended himself, "Your Grace, I assure you of my unwavering loyalty to Windenburg and its people. I was completely unaware of any nefarious intentions or actions related to Queen Cordelia's disappearance. I have always acted in the best interests of the kingdom and your family, and I would never intentionally harm or betray them. Please believe that I am a victim of circumstances beyond my control." Edward's expression remained cold and impassive as he fixed his gaze on Richard.

The King erupted in fury, rising from his seat and directing his anger towards Lord Richard. "Lord Richard," Edward proclaimed with a cold and piercing tone, "your claims of innocence fall empty in light of the truths I've uncovered. I heard your words, witnessed your deceit, and pierced through your facade. Do not insult my intelligence with false innocence. Your treachery has been exposed, and the consequences of your betrayal will be severe." The room fell silent with fear as Edward's words echoed, leaving a heavy atmosphere of impending justice.

"I have convened this gathering to make a series of announcements that will significantly impact the governance of Windenburg. Firstly, I have decided to dissolve the Regency and assume full responsibility for the throne, rather than waiting until the customary age of eighteen." His gaze shifted to Lord Richard, reflecting a mixture of disappointment and resolve. "Lord Richard, due to recent revelations and your involvement in matters that have compromised the trust and integrity of this kingdom, I must strip you of your titles and duties effective immediately. Your actions have led to grave consequences, and as such, you are no longer fit to serve in your current capacity."

His attention turned to the Clergy, declaring, "Furthermore, I have decided to decommission the entire Jacoban Clergy representing Windenburg. While I hold the utmost respect for your faith and beliefs, recent events have necessitated a restructuring of our religious institutions." Continuing with resolve, he stated, "Until the whereabouts of Cordelia, my mother, are revealed and the truth behind her disappearance brought to light, all those implicated in her absence will be confined to the dungeons beneath the castle," emphasizing that this decree applied to everyone present.

All the men sank to their knees, terrorized by the impending doom. They pleaded with the King and beseeched the watcher, but their efforts were futile. Father Heron attempted to flee the throne room, further provoking Edward's wrath. The King dispatched his guards, who swiftly apprehended him before he could escape. Stripped of their religious attire, the men were escorted to the dungeons beneath Windenburg Castle. Paul, isolated in his dim cell, seethed with anger. He lamented, "It is the Watcher's will! No woman shall ascend the throne; only a man can truly speak for the Watcher's divine purpose," his voice saturated with frustration and bitterness. His staunch belief in male authority and the age-old traditions of monarchy continued to fuel his rage, even amidst captivity.

Back at Castle Landgraab, Cordelia lay in her bed, asleep, as a servant from the Landgraab family quietly entered with a basket of bread. Cordelia awoke suddenly, catching the servant before she could leave. "Wait! Please, don't go! Who are you? Why are you here? What's happening?" Her words poured out in a flurry of questions as she desperately tried to stop the girl from leaving. However, the servant dashed out, locking the door behind her. Cordelia banged on the door, pleading, "Let me out! Please, I beg you! I need to leave this place! Help me, anyone, please!" Her voice carried fear, urgency, and a deep sense of helplessness. Collapsing to the floor, she sobbed, realizing it had been far too long since she had seen the sun.

The servant approached Lord Lorus's chambers, finding him engrossed in matters of state. "My lord, she attempted to escape again, she was banging on the door, pleading for help. I fear she may be unwell," the servant exclaimed urgently. Lorus, without even glancing up from his papers, responded callously, "Oh, how dramatic! Perhaps next time she'll bring along a troupe of minstrels to serenade her escape. Keep an eye on her, but try not to get caught up in her theatrics. She's just a pawn in this game." The servant, with sadness in her eyes, persisted, "But my lord, she seemed truly distressed. What if something happens to her while she's confined here? Shouldn't we at least ensure her safety?" Annoyed by the situation, Lorus turned abruptly to face the girl, his tone firm, "Your concern is irrelevant. Such matters are beyond your comprehension. Stick to your duties and leave the affairs of royalty to those with the intelligence to understand them." Before departing, Lorus issued a stern warning, "Tell her that any further attempts to escape will result in consequences far worse than her current captivity. Ignorance is her shield; the less she knows, the safer she'll be."

As time passed, the members of the clergy clung to their silence, denying any knowledge of Cordelia's whereabouts. Their hopes rested on the belief that maintaining this facade would prolong their lives. However, as the summer of 1354 drew near, the weight of guilt and fear began to crack their resolve.

One among them, the former Father Heron, faced excruciating torment. Bound to a stretching machine, his bones were slowly and painfully pulled out of joint. The physical agony mirrored the emotional turmoil within him. Unable to bear the torment any longer, he succumbed and confessed to knowing Cordelia's location.

Relieved of the stretching device, the fallen priest was coerced into signing a confession. This damning revelation was swiftly delivered to King Edward's office, where he was working on state affairs. His trusted advisor, Sir Walter Arnold, presented the confession and read its contents aloud to the king.

Upon hearing this, a solemn understanding settled over King Edward. The weight of responsibility and the gravity of the situation were palpable. Each word in the confession carried the weight of truth, pushing Edward to confront his own cousin, and the harsh realities of his kingdom. With resolve in his eyes, Edward knew that decisive action was now imperative.