#nice to have: be orphan of either mother or father (ideally both)

[adhd-merlin]

that scene where the knights and gwen are joking about gwaine being in love with himself is so funny. ma'am, look at him. you think a man with a healthy self-esteem would do all that

[lizacstuff]

Your thoughts on the epi? I thought it was a good episode overall. Serkan is acting the way I thought he would: he wants to be the perfect Dad, is scared she won't love him, is spoiling her but also teaching her things. I'm not quite sure why Kiraz isn't calling him Baba, maybe she needs time to adjust to calling him that. I have mixed emotions when it comes to the way Eda spied on Serkan. I understand she's worried but trust the man a little. No comments on Aydan and Ayfer! They are too much!

Hello! I liked the episode. It felt very light, very romcom-y and I thought it was very enjoyable to watch. Loved every minute of Serkan trying to be the ideal dad and I'm here for the Edser UST this ep brought. They want each other sooooo much. And, yes, Eda wants him, she wants him bad. I thought the custody thing at the end was silly and convoluted, but, hey, I'm totally here for the "they're not together and fighting their feelings, but forced to live together" trope so I will just ignore how unbelievable it would be for Edser to be drowning in hearteyes for each other all ep, getting along in regards to Kiraz, AND seemingly aware that Aydan/Ayfer were up to something and still allow a misunderstanding over their shenanigans to spiral to that nonsense degree.

Maybe the folks that think that Serkan & Eda were playing all the meddling family and friends are right, and they set it up beforehand, it's just that I've thought things were a fake out on this show so many times, only for them to be real, so at this point I'm operating under the assumption that this is just a romcom plot point to throw our romantic leads together and it's not worth examining it too closely.

I'll give my thoughts on the "Baba" vs "Serkan Bolat" thing and Eda's actions after we talk a bit about the B, C and D players... Thankfully we had plenty of Edser and Kiraz screen time this ep so the supporting stories didn't overwhelm the episode too much.

(much more under the cut)

That being said, who can we pay to get these people to mind their own f-cking business? LMAO. At least Engin and Piril weren't annoying and were actually trying to be helpful. I mean, Piril is still cancelled, but if she's not causing trouble now then she's not at the top of my shit list. However, I did laugh at her when she's sort of pleading with Serkan: "We've been friends for a long time, you'll understand why I did this." Um... what, Piril? You're sitting there approximately 72 hours after Serkan found out he has a child and he's already proven that he's ALL IN on being a father, and you expect Serkan to think you were right for hiding it from him? Cause why? He has already proven that any concerns you had about him rejecting Kiraz were invalid. The only thing wrong with Serkan's anger at Piril is that it will probably only last for that scene.

Anyone else think Kerem the assistant is an ass? Seriously, do they really want us to root for sweet Pina to be with this dickweasel? He's insecure, he thinks he knows it all, he's snarky and lashes out, he's vindictive. No thanks.

As for Aydan and Ayfer. Ooph. As punishment for their unprecedented assery this episode they both need to be stranded on a desert island with only each other. Only then maybe they'll learn not to insert themselves by such underhanded means. They're both giant pains in the ass, but Ayfer still annoys me more than Aydan. Because here's the thing, once Edser is back together and Serkan is happy, Aydan will fully embrace Eda again, but I don't think the same can be said for Ayfer. Did you see some of the bitchy, sour faces Ayfer was making, taunting Eda about her soft spot for Serkan. She's insufferable.

Turning to the nonsense meddling custody plot line, Kemal and Seyfi were just following orders, but what is Melo's excuse? It's unfortunate that the narrative pulled her into this. Ayfer may have her head in the sand, and not really care what Eda wants, but Melo does and she knew that Eda wanted to cooperate with Serkan and bring him into Kiraz's life, she knew that Eda was about 2 seconds from melting every time she was near Serkan, and that they were likely on the cusp of rekindling their relationship. There is no way she should have been complicit in trying to get evidence against Serkan or visiting lawyers behind Eda's back.

However, even after being complicit in Ayfer's nonsense, she still deserves a helluva lot better than Burak. That guy was annoying af this episode. What exactly does he think he's doing? I'm sorry, in that situation you step back and give the people going through such a monumental life change some space. Again, it's not like it needs to be forever, but you don't try and monopolize the kid's time the night of and 2 days after she meets her long-lost father. He needs to fuck all he way off.

Also since Eda had no interest in this guy, why is he coming over to tuck in the kid EVERY night? I get that he's been good to Kiraz and they have a nice relationship, but that's soooo overkill, it's just not normal. Especially since they've said they've only been living there a year. The only reason for a dude to revolve his entire life around a kid like that is because he's actively trying to get in the mom's pants. So when it comes to Burak's intentions, Eda is as dense as Serkan used to be with Balca/Selin/Actress. Burak only took that level of interest and inserted himself into their lives because he wanted Eda, and Eda should realize that and have a frank conversation with him. Eda doesn't even have to be cognizant that she will inevitably get back together with Serkan, she already knows she has no interest in Burak. She should tell him. And if she's already told him (which it seems she might have from her comments to Ayfer and Melo) she should put some boundaries in place because his presence was ridiculous.

It still blows my mind that this sad sack thinks he has a shot with Eda. Seriously, while the dude isn't hideous, he's also not attractive and he has the personality of dead grass coupled with the charisma of warm mayonnaise. He's not worthy of either Eda or Melo. The scene of Melo and Burak walking on the beach made me a bit uncomfortable. They're totally setting that relationship up, but so far all we see is Melo obviously harboring feelings for him as Burak broods over his Eda delusions. We'll have to see how this plays out, but I feel like Burak didn't need to be this upset over Eda for the story to work, and it would be a lot easier to root for him with Melo if by episode 5 if he wasn't still actively trying, as Engin said, to take over Serkan's family.

On to Edser and the newly forming Bolat family unit. It's funny, I'm not someone who thinks a woman needs to take her husband's last name, I think people should do whatever they want, but for whatever reason I really, really want Eda and Kiraz to have his name. Maybe because I think they all crave having people to belong to in a sense. Serkan because he was unloved and sent overseas alone at such a young age, Eda because she was an orphan, Kiraz because she didn't have a dad in early childhood. So for that reason, I really do feel like it will be meaningful to have them tied together that way as a family unit. They belong to each other now (or they will soon).

Along those lines, you say you're not sure why Kiraz isn't calling him Baba, narratively, I think it's because that will be a big milestone in their relationship. When she feels comfortable enough, connected enough, and secure enough with him to do that, it's going to melt all of our hearts right out of our chests. If she'd done it right away it wouldn't feel as special as it's going to feel when it eventually happens because she feels it (not just because it's a fact).

As for her calling him Serkan Bolat, I think it's adorable. That's how she knew him before, it would be weird if she called him anything other than that or Baba, (like Serkan or Abi) because then it would be like she was settling on that, but calling him by his full name, which is such a part of his identity, is cute and charming and pays tribute to the interactions they had before they knew of their relationship, and it's a signal that it's only temporary. Baba is coming, don't worry.

Loved Kiraz showing Serkan her room and all of her things, and really loved Eda standing there, smiling, soaking it in. I've seen a lot of criticism of Eda in this episode and she did have a few moments that were unnecessarily harsh, but I think it's also valid to give her a minute to adjust because this is a lot of change in just a couple of days. While she now knows Serkan had understandable, and even noble, reasons for what he did and said, that still doesn't erase the heartbreak and pain he put her through, or the 5 years of being a single mother and not having anyone to consult or needing to consult anyone on decisions regarding Kiraz.

I do think, though, that we didn't see Eda give him enough credit when he covered for her lies to Kiraz. When Kiraz asked her why she didn't tell her Serkan Bolat was her father and then asked him when mom didn't answer, he could have easily told the truth and thrown Eda under the bus, big time, but instead he comes up with something that passes as an explanation, doesn't make anyone a villain, but also doesn't make him look great. I wish we'd seen Eda recognize that. It was a magnanimous gesture on his part, since he and Kiraz were the ones who were lied to for 5 years.

However, her running a bit hot and cold this episode makes sense. On one hand when she's around him her heart feels that strong orbital pull towards him. She loves him. She always has loved him, she always will love him. Just like with Serkan, that will not change, and obviously didn't after heartbreak and separation. But it also makes sense that at times her head takes over and with it the fear and the memory of the pain and she freezes up a bit. It doesn't ding her or their love, she just needs time to let herself believe that this is really happening. That Serkan is back, that he still loves her, that he loves their daughter and wants to be a father and form a family. From the way she recorded those videos, how many times do we think she dreamed of them being a happy family together? I'm guessing a lot. Now it's within her grasp and I think she just needs to be sure that Serkan is for real before she fully succumbs to this dream.

She also needs to get over her pride, I'm sure there's a part of her (Ayfer's voice) telling her a woman doesn't go back to a man who hurt her that badly. But as we saw, girlfriend was snuggling with his shirt, she still has it so bad for him. But, pro tip, Eda, he wanted to stay the night, wouldn't it be so much more fulfilling to snuggle with the real thing? I promise it would... just let him in. The lawn scene was hilarious. Kerem is really and truly a gifted physical comedian. We know how tight the timelines are on this show and they don't get to do a lot of takes, but his stumbling over the furniture and falling was flawlessly done. Hande was great too... that bat! Of course the sexual tension in the robes and towel scene was magnificent. When she first walked in wearing that towell I thought my man was going to combust. That look on his face, priceless.

Speaking of priceless, what first-day Baba makes his little girl's dreams come true like Serkan Bolat does? Staying up all night to build her flying house? MY HEART!

What a fantastic first gift. It was incredibly thoughtful, it was meaningful to the two of them, and it was also Serkan giving a piece of himself (using his skills in what he does best as an architect) to her.

Absolute perfection.

And how sweet that Serkan wanted to spend the day with her alone!?! I really liked that because we all know he loves Eda, he wants Eda back, and he will use any excuse to spend time with Eda. And he could have done that here, but he doesn't. So the fact that he wanted to spend the day alone with Kiraz, clearly illustrates that his interest in Kiraz, his desire to be her father stands on it's own. Kiraz is not just an excuse to get close to Eda, he is pursuing both relationships, and they are both important to him.

Also you said that you have mixed emotions on the way Eda spied on Serkan, that she doesn't trust him, but honestly I really don't think it's about that. She might have been a little discombobulated by the idea because the man has never really spent any time with children and here he's thrust into fatherhood, but she trusts him and knows Kiraz is safe with him. Honestly, I think her biggest driving factor in following them is FOMO.

She doesn't want to miss this! She has wondered what kind of father he might be for years, and now she wants to witness it. She wants to be there and see what he's like when he's spending time with her. She also wants to be a part of it, and a part of her might be a little jealous. For years she's been the only parent, and now another parental bond is forming and it's natural she is curious what that's going to look like.

Melo even sees through her during their conversations while they're out spying. Eda pretends it's because she's worried that Serkan doesn't know what he's doing, but Melo susses out that it's really because she missed Serkan. I think she really just wanted to be a part of it.

And her ulterior motives are exposed when she reacts with jealousy over the park moms and then with Hulya. She's jealous over Serkan, but also over what it might mean if Serkan had a woman in his life that's not Eda. (Real simple way to ensure that doesn't happen, Eda, just saying). On first watch it was a little frustrating to watch Eda be upset about Huyla and not have it cleared up immediately. However, on the second time through I found it incredibly enjoyable to watch. Hilarious even. Knowing that Serkan is going to let her off the hook just a few minutes later, and it's not going to be a drawn out misunderstanding, it's very fun to watch him just totally bask in her jealousy. The way he sits there and giggles and is just so chuffed at her display was very endearing. Since he's been celibate for 5 years, I suppose he's earned an incrediulous laugh at her thinking he has all these women on the line.

Eda is not wrong to be concerned about the Bolat's ability to spoil Kiraz with material things, Aydan can get out of control, however I can't be mad at the pony. The girl asked him if he had horses the first day they met, she said she wanted a dad like Serkan who had horses, he HAD to get her one she could actually ride! The girl was deprived of her father for 5 years because both of her parents are stubborn, so, let's be real, she kinda deserves a pony. Besides Eda should be more worried about the "spoiling" she gets from her camp, where she, Ayfer, Melo and Burak let her get away with constantly running away/running wild, eating ice cream whenever she wants, being rude to strangers etc. The fact that she's taught it's okay to knock a customer's water over without apologizing is more damaging to a forming personality than a pony. (Yes, that was another dig at Burak.) The point is, spoiling isn't only about material things, and from the glimpses we've seen of Baba Serkan he's already taught her about taking responsibility (confessing to breaking the window and apologizing), being self sufficient (tying shoelaces, putting pjs on herself), and setting behavioral boundaries (don't shoot arrows at people in hotels, you shouldn't hug strangers). He's going to be a very good influence in her life, because despite growing up with material privilege the man believes in hard work, effort and personal accountability.

Anyway, loved that when Serkan told Eda about dinner with Engin/Piril/Can she looked so secretly pleased when she casually agreed to go. I think that goes hand in hand with why she was spying, she won't let herself admit it, but she so badly wants them to do things as a family. That was part of her tug o' war this episode. Wanting that, but then suddenly worrying that maybe she shouldn't want that after everything that's happened, those feelings are helped along by Ayfer's judgemental looks and comments, and Burak trying to assert his place and Eda maybe feeling guilty.

Eda's behavior at dinner perfectly summarized the war going on between her head and heart this episode. First she fights with Serkan, going so far as to tell him she hates him, but the second she gets good news she flings herself into his arms. He's the person she wants to celebrate with, he's the person she wants congratulations from. So even if she was mad at him, she can't help herself. Also thank you Engin for telling Eda how Serkan lost weight and didn't come to work for months after she left. Those are important things for her to know. Also reinforced later by Aydan.

And thank you, Jan, for planting that fear of her dad leaving again with Kiraz, because it gave us sleep over at the Bolat house. It also gave us Kiraz asking Serkan if he will leave her. A good question and I'm glad we have Serkan's promise to never leave her. Just with the way tragedy (and meddling family members and obsessed stalkers) seems to find both Eda and Serkan, it's good he's made that promise. And it's good that he knows she needs that promise.

Now onto the secret room. I suppose if you're going to keep all of that and you have a large house, then you might as well keep it in a special room. This was a huge missing piece for Eda. Something tangible that she can see with her own two eyes that proves that he never forgot her and has been pining for her since the day they parted. I thought Eda was suitably touched by it all, and the fact that he got her gifts for every birthday. Anyone else think that they're going to get married on the beach and she's going to wear those flip-flops, that white dress, and the locket when they do? That's what sprung to my mind. The Neslihan scarf product placement made me roll my eyes, though.

To be honest I really didn't care what the gifts were, all I cared about was that thank you cheek kiss. I DIE. The birthday-present-thank-you cheek kiss he gave her in 7 is one of my all time favorite scenes and this parallel was a long time coming and wonderfully executed. And then they delivered on the USTy stare off where they clearly want to make out, but they're not quite there yet. It was going to have to be Eda that broke them out of it, because up to Serkan they either kiss or he stares at her for the rest of time.

Did anyone else feel a crick in their back, neck, legs at how Eda slept on that couch? Serkan was as comfy as can be, stretched out using her legs as a pillow and her torso as a blanket, lol. I wish the editors would have given us a couple of more seconds lingering on them all contorted like that. It was too precious. It would have been sweet if they'd had Kiraz find them and watch them for a minute before waking them up. Show the parent-trapping gears turning in her mind.

Buba absolutely deserved Serkan showing up to spoil his outing. And of course both ladies instantly gravitated to Serkan. I liked this scene because it gave us over-the-top BDE Serkan, a whiff of "Drain the pool" Serkan, the comedy of Engin and Serkan doing the Cyrano thing, and the obvious little "fish" measuring metaphor. But what I really liked was Eda telling him that he didn't need to try so hard to win Kiraz, that he just had to be himself. That was important and lovely, and illustrated to him that she really did want him to develop a good relationship with Kiraz.

The best moments of the episode for them, though, came during their family stargazing outing. Loved Serkan's extra safety precautions, including the mirror just so he can see her in the backseat. Though, if he's that concerned about it, maybe a larger car, lmao? Kiraz tricking them into kissing was an auspicious start to the evening, hopefully that's a taste of things to come. I'm here for her forcing the two of them into intimate situations.

The way Serkan was looking at the two of them throughout the stargazing was something else. He was looking at them with such longing. Like he couldn't believe they were so close, but he wanted them so badly. DUDE, they are right there, continue to play your cards right (and not let Ayfer and Aydan spoil things, spoiler alert, they do) and you're just days away from having everything you want. Loved that he changed the Apollo story to give it the happy ending he wants. Hopefully, that gave hope to any doomsdayers out there that think this show is going to end in tragedy. (Spoiler alert, it's not).

The only shame is that they have that nice (if not detached from reality conversation since they pretend they're not going to be together raising Kiraz) adult conversation about cooperating and working out how they're going to deal with Aydan and Ayfer, only for things to go totally off the rails during said conversations. As I said off the top of this marathon post, it was totally unbelievable in the context of the rest of the episode, but as I always say you can't take this show too seriously, and I prefer to just enjoy the situations as they come and not get too annoyed when they take these writing shortcuts to drive the plot. I plan on very much enjoying Eda and Serkan forced to live together while they're (or at least she) is still pretending they're not going to end up together. Looks like next week is another fun romcom romp, and I'm here for it!

[questionsonislam]

Can I get information about the high ethics of Hz. Muhammad (PBUH)?

PERFECT EXAMPLE IN ETHICS

There are some nice characteristics; everybody wants to have them and practice them in their lives: Patience, contentment, generosity, humbleness, altruism, courage, etc. For, they gain man the quality of being real “man”.

The person who had and practiced these nice characteristics included in "high ethics" perfectly is the "model man" Hz. Muhammad (pbuh). His ethics is so high that Allah Almighty addresses him as follows:

"Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing: And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character." (al-Qalam, 68/3-4)

The following is also stated in the Quran for the Prophet (pbuh):

"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct)." (al-Ahzab, 33/21)

Thus, believers are advised and ordered to accept him as a model in all phases of their lives. For, his ethics is the best example and his living style, attitudes, words and deeds are the best model for us.

The Prophet (pbuh) states the following regarding the issue:

"I was sent to complete high ethics." (see Muwatta, Husnul-Khalq, 8; Musnad, 2/381)

Thus, he attracts the attention to the fact that this characteristic of his is related to his duty in the world.

His ethics is the clean ethics that Allah praises and the Quran teaches. When Allah sent Islam to help humanity and sent down the Quran, He chose the Prophet (pbuh) to display the practice of divine principles in life.

It is possible to see all of the beauties mentioned in the Quran in the Prophet (pbuh). When the Companions asked Hz. Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh), about the ethics of the Prophet (pbuh), she said,

"Do you not read the Quran? His ethics was the ethics of the Quran."

People from all walks of life can find exemplary aspects in the life and ethics of the Prophet (pbuh). Along with numerous virtues and beauties one can take from his life, one can also take hundreds of lessons that interest him related to his profession and his place in the society. For, the life of the Prophet (pbuh) is an example for us in all aspects.

For example, a rich man can take as a model the Prophet (pbuh), who dominated all Arabia a few years after the Migration and obtained great wealth but who distributed all of it to the needy.

The helpless, desperate and lonely people can take as a model the Prophet (pbuh), who was exposed to unimaginable torture and pressure throughout his life in Makkah, who was left alone by all of his relatives but who never made any concessions related to his cause and belief.

A student can take as a model the Prophet (pbuh), who sat before Hz. Jibril (Gabriel), who brought him the verses of the Quran from Allah through revelation, and learned the Quran.

A successful commander can be like the Prophet (pbuh), who defeated the enemy at the Battle of Badr and Hunayn, gaining great victories against the big armies of the enemy with a small number of mujahids and who bowed his head down to the saddle of his camel out of modesty and solemnity during the conquest of Mecca when he entered the city with his gorgeous army.

A farm owner can take lessons from the intelligent and just Prophet (pbuh), who captured the land of Khaybar, Sons of Nadr and Fadak land following the conquests, who reclaimed the land, appointed the people who could get the best crops from the land and distributed the land to the Companions who did not have any land.

A merchant can take as a model the lifestyle and commercial ethics of the Prophet (pbuh), who ran the business of Hz. Khadijah, his wife, who acted honestly in business and who was the best person among the members of the trade caravan going to Syria and Basra.

A child who became an orphan at a young age can take as a model the Prophet (pbuh), who lost his father when he was in his mother's womb and his mother when he was six years old and spent his remaining life without his father and mother but in whom humanity took pride, whom Allah loved the most and who was loved as a "pearly orphan".

A sensible young man can take as a model the young Muhammad (pbuh), who was a symbol of chastity, honesty, modesty and decency throughout his youth and who earned his living by grazing the sheep of his uncle Abu Talib. For, nobody witnessed any bad deeds, lies and tricks from him throughout his life, before and after becoming a prophet.

A preacher who gives advice to people reminds people the Prophet (pbuh), who told his Companions about the guiding truths in the best style in the mosque, who practiced what he preached perfectly and caused tribes to be guided to the true path with one word, and takes him as a model.

In short, anybody can take the beloved Prophet (pbuh) as a model for himself no matter under which circumstances he is, what his job is, where he is, in the morning and evening, during the day or night.

He is such a guide that when you follow him, the darkness of your life disappears and your way is enlightened thanks to his light, things will go right and your life will be regular and organized.

The life of the Prophet (pbuh) is like a luminous chain adorned with all of the rules of high ethics in which people are engaged and which can respond to whatever they need. His high ethics sheds light on those who look for that luminous light. His guidance becomes a guide for those who look for the true path. The curative water presented by him is like elixir of life for the confused people who falter in the desolate and scorching desert. The light rays coming from him are like a sea lantern that will help the poor people who flutter in the quagmire of rebellion and sin to find salvation and reach the shore.

ETHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPHET

The most important characteristic of the ethics of the Prophet (pbuh) is that it is Allah’s gift. He did not get those nice characteristics by working and making efforts. His ethics was granted and bestowed upon him by Allah. That is, Almighty Allah created him perfectly and in a distinguished way so that people will take him as a model.

He lived based on the same characteristics and ethics from birth to death. His good qualities existed in him when he was born. It is the Almighty Lord who trained and educated him, and who embellished him with the best attributes of ethics.

For this reason, the more the person who accepts the Prophet as a model imitates him, the more he will benefit from him and his luminous light.

One of the most prominent features of the ethics of the Prophet (pbuh) is that the traits that are opposite to each other and that exist in man’s nature are combined in the best way in him and are in the ideal position. It reaches the middle way, without going to extremes.

The Prophet (pbuh) showed to his ummah and to all humanity throughout his life perfectly the values and maturity that everybody desired but could not attain.

There were some moments when he challenged thousands of enemies alone, as the most courageous warrior, ignoring the big number of the enemy. However, even in that state, he maintained his softheartedness and mercy.

For example, after a war, he felt so sorry for the enemy children who had been killed that he said children should not be killed even if they were the children of the enemy and that they were innocent and people of Paradise.

While he was doing his best for the supreme purpose of the salvation of all humanity and the spread of Islam to the world and thinking about the state of his ummah whose number amounted to thousands and spread to every part of Arabia and their affairs, he never forgot the poor and needy Muslims around him; he did not neglect his own children's education and needs either. He did not prefer one to the other.

Although he had such a heavy task with great responsibility, he devoted himself to his Lord and spent most of his day worshipping and making dhikr. His heart was always in connection with Allah. Although it seemed that he had cut off his connection with the world in this state, he was still in the world. He always observed the consent of Allah in all his affairs.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) protected his friends and showed them compassion and closeness more than their parents; he forgave the bad deeds inflicted upon him and did not think of taking revenge. He released those who were grabbed while setting traps to kill him, but he never forgave the enemies of Allah; he did not leave them unpunished.

He always reminded the hypocrites who seemed to be Muslims of the fear of Hell and their terrible state in the hereafter.

The Prophet (pbuh) was the sultan of the Arabs and the ruler of Arabia when the Islamic land extended to Yemen in the south and Iran and Syria in the north. Although the goods and booty that the enemy left after the wars filled the mosque and the most precious goods were in the hands of the Muslims, he was humble enough to sit on a pillow filled with grass and contented enough to suffer from hunger problems.

When Hz. Umar said, "While the emperors of the Byzantine and the Persian empires live in luxury and comfort, the Messenger of Allah lives on a dry mat" and cried, the Prophet (pbuh) said,

"O Umar! Let the emperors of the Byzantine and the Persia live in comfort and pleasure. The boons of the hereafter are enough for us."

The ethics of the Prophet (pbuh) was like an inherent trait of him. The sun shines, flowers transform a place into Paradise with their smells and colors, trees yield various kinds of fruits and reveal what is in their nature; likewise, the ethical life of the Messenger of Allah occurred naturally.

Everybody who saw the Prophet (pbuh) thought that he was created with that virtue. No one believed that something contrary to that virtue would come out of him. He always helped the needy, protected the weak, spoke softly, smiled and showed modesty and tolerance to everybody. The sun shines on both believers and unbelievers, similarly, the compassion of the Prophet (pbuh) that covered the world encompassed everybody whether big or small, young or old Muslim and non-Muslim.

THE ETHICS OF THE PROPHET WITH THE WORDS OF HIS RELATIVES

The Prophet never concealed and hid any of his states from people. For, every state of him formed an example for the Companions. Therefore, the Companions followed every state, deed and word of the Prophet (pbuh), trying to learn and memorize them. They learned by asking the things they did not know or hesitated. Therefore, all the life stages of the Prophet (pbuh) were known by the Companions.

Today's Muslim can find an example and a guiding light from the Prophet (pbuh) related to all issues from the most private issues to the issues that concern the society, the state and the whole world.

We learn the high ethics of the Prophet (pbuh) and his relationships with people from his closest relatives and his Companions who followed him like a shadow.

Those who knew the Prophet (pbuh) best were his wives, those who served him and his close friends. For example, we learn from Hz. Khadijah, his loyal and self-sacrificing wife who lived with him for twenty-five years, fifteen years of which were before his prophethood, the personality and character of our Prophet (pbuh).

Hz. Khadijah believed in the Prophet (pbuh) as soon as the first revelation was sent down to him without any hesitation; when she saw the panic of the Prophet, she soothed him, eliminating his worry and anxiety.

Hz. Khadijah consoled the Prophet (pbuh) as follows:

"Allah will never humiliate you because you keep good relations with your kith and kin, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you help the oppressed, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are hit by misfortunes in the way of Allah."

Hz. Aisha, who lived with the Prophet (pbuh) for nine years, was the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) he loved the most after Hz. Khadijah. We learn most of the familial life of the Prophet (pbuh) and his personality from Hz. Aisha. She narrates the ethics of the Prophet (pbuh) as follows:

"The ethics of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the ethics of the Quran. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) never nursed a grudge or took revenge for his own sake. When he was angry with something, he became angry for the sake of the Quran. When he liked something, he liked it for the sake of the Quran."

"When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) preferred one of the two things, he would definitely prefer the easier one. If the easy one was a sin, he would be the furthest one away from it among people."

"He did not utter any bad words; he did not want to do any bad deeds to anyone. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) spoke, he would not combine or lengthen words. He uttered words one by one, enabling the listeners to absorb them. The listener could count and memorize his words."

Hz. Ali, who was educated by the Prophet (pbuh) beginning from a very young age, who was with the Prophet (pbuh) also after his prophethood all the time and who continued his descent, narrates his high ethics as follows:

"The Prophet was continually smiling, gentle in manners, soft in nature. He was not severe, harsh-hearted, loud, abusive, or miserly.

He would disregard that which he disliked, and no one ever despaired of him. He never responded to disparagement or evil words.

He forbade upon himself three things: Argument, arrogance, and that which did not concern him. And he relieved the people of three: He would not degrade any among them or abuse them, he would not search after their honor or private matters.

He would not speak except in matters which he hoped to be rewarded for. When he spoke, his attendees would lower their heads as if birds had alighted upon them. Once he finished, they would speak.

The Companions would not vie with one another in his presence to speak, but when one would talk in his presence, the rest would listen until he finished. Speech in his presence was that of the first among them.

He would laugh with the Companions and wonder with them.

He had patience with the strangers when they were gruff in speech and requests. His companions would like them to come and ask him questions.

The Prophet would say, 'If you see someone in need, help him.'

He would not accept praise except from those who were balanced and not excessive. He would not interject into someone's speech unless they transgressed, in which case he would either rebuke them or else leave.

Hind bin Abi Hala, who was Hz. Khadijah’s son from her first husband, and who was the Prophet’s step-son, narrates the characteristics of the Prophet (pbuh) as follows:

"The Messenger of Allah was always considerate. His silence was longer than his speech. He never spoke about anything that was unnecessary. He would mention Allah’s name when he started and finished speaking. His words were true; he would speak concisely. He used neither more nor fewer words than necessary.

He neither offended nor despised anyone. He would show respect to even the smallest boon; he did not regard any boon simple. He never found fault in anything even in a small amount of food. He did not find fault in any boon nor did he excessively praise it.

He did not get angry for worldly affairs. However, when a right was violated, he would get so angry that nothing could stop his fury and wrath until that right was restored. On the other hand, the Messenger of Allah would not get angry for a personal issue and would not think of taking revenge. On the contrary, he would treat a person who committed a bad deed well as a lenient and generous person.

"When he got angry, he would calm down immediately and would not display that he was angry. When he became happy and relieved, he would close his eyes. He did not laugh but smiled, When he smiled, his blessed teeth seemed like bright pearls."

Hz. Anas bin Malik, who served the Prophet (pbuh) for nine years, narrates a nice characteristic of him as follows:

"The Messenger of Allah was the most generous person. He never refused even a slave or a child who brought cold water to him on a freezing morning and would make wudu with it. Whenever anyone came to him with a request, he would listen attentively to him and the Messenger of Allah would not leave him until he himself left."

"When somebody held the hand of the Messenger of Allah to shake hands, he would not leave his hand until he himself left."

A few people went to Zayd bin Thabit, the revelation scribe of the Prophet (pbuh) and asked, "O Zayd! Will you tell us about the states, deeds and words of the Prophet (pbuh)?" Zayd bin Thabit stated the following:

"What shall I tell you about that lofty Messenger? If you ask about all of his states, deeds and words, he is such a sea that has no coast. However, I will mention some of his states:

I was a neighbor of the Messenger of Allah. When he received revelation, he would send for me. I would enter into his presence and write down the revelation that had been sent down. When we mentioned worldly affairs, he would also talk about them. When we mentioned otherworldly affairs, he would also talk about them. When we started to talk about food, he would also talk about food."

Those are the views and observations about the prophet (pbuh) by the people who were closest to him. They are the witnessing of the distinguished people who paid attention to all of his acts and deeds and who tried to regard him as their guide, coming from their hearts.

GREAT REVOLUTION IN THE FIELD OF INTELLECT

The Prophet (pbuh) made the greatest revolution and change in the field of intellect. The Arabs of Jahiliyyah were so adherent and devoted to their faiths and customs that it was impossible for any power to separate them from their faiths and customs, which they had had for centuries.

They went beyond bounds so much in savagery, terror and oppression that they inflicted upon defenseless people the tortures that could not be inflicted upon even animals. Their feelings of mercy, compassion and pity had weakened so much that they became monsters that buried their daughters alive.

It was an era when prostitution, torture and all kinds of disgrace were committed without hesitation. Powerful and rich people used to oppress the poor; they used to sell women like goods; all kinds of interest and usury were common; people drank alcohol like water. The feelings like justice, conscience, loyalty and chastity had been forgotten. They were adherent to meaningless and superstitious things they themselves had made up so much that only a divine power and the revolution of a prophet could change them by dissuading them from their customs and by teaching them humanity.

The Prophet (pbuh) saved those stubborn tribes who were adherent to their customs from their bad characteristics and savage habits in a very short time in that vast peninsula; he settled the principles of high ethics. He transformed them into individuals that became guides for the world and pioneers for the civilized nations.

The Companions and believers who spread to the world even in the first century of the Migration taught humanity the real civilization, virtues and ethics. Material development and civilization based on virtue took place thanks to them.

Thanks to the ethics taught by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), hundreds of millions of people rose in spirituality, attaining bliss both in the world and hereafter. They helped many people who were in need and became means of guidance and happiness for them.

THE CONFESSIONS BY THE ENEMIES OF THE PROPHET ABOUT HIS ETHICS

Even the ferocious enemies of the Prophet (pbuh) who attempted to kill him confessed that he was honest, always kept his promise, kept the things entrusted to him and had high virtues; they could not cast a slur on him.

Once, Abu Jahl said to the Prophet (pbuh), "O Muhammad! We do not deny you; we deny what you have brought."

Ahnas bin Sharik, who was one of the notables of Quraysh, approached Abu Jahl on the way to Badr when there was nobody else around and said to him,

"O Abul-Hakam! There is nobody else except you and me here to hear us. Will you tell me about your view on Muhammad? Is he honest or is he a liar?"

Abu Jahl swore and said, "By Allah! Muhammad is definitely honest. He has never told a lie." Thus, he could not help praising him.

Once, Nadr bin Harith, who sometimes criticized and insulted the Prophet (pbuh), gathered the notables of the polytheists and addressed them as follows:

"O Quraysh! A situation has arisen which you cannot deal with. Muhammad was a young man most liked among you, most truthful in speech, and most trustworthy, until, when you saw grey hairs on his temple, and he brought you his message, you said he was a sorcerer, poet and that he was possessed but he is not."

Similar confessions were also made by Westerners. Although they did not believe in the Prophet (pbuh) and did not accept Islam, they could not help praising him and mentioning his high virtues.

For instance, in his book called Mahomed Und Sien Werk, Daumer writes the following:

"Muhammad acted and united in himself great and noble qualities. Illuminated by the divine light, endowed with an inflexible will-power and an ardent spirit, tempered by compassion, charity and tenderness ; he undertook the difficult mission and the stupendous struggles connected with it, and he did not rest until he had attained what he wanted : until Arabia professed his Faith. His behavior became now the standard for his people also after his death."

Lamartine, the famous French historian and poet, states the following in his book called "L'Histoire da la Turquie":

"His life, his meditations, his heroic revilings against the superstitions of his country, and his boldness in defying the furies of idolatry, his firmness in enduring them for thirteen years at Makkah, his acceptance of the role of public scorn and almost of being a victim of his fellow countrymen: all these and finally, his migration, his incessant preaching, his wars against odds, his faith in his success and his superhuman security in misfortune, his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire, his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death – all these…(served) to affirm conviction which gave him power to restore a creed."

"That is Muhammed (pbuh). Can there be a greater person than him no matter what criterion is used to measure the greatness of man?"

[lokiarsene]

While researching Japanese orphanages, I came up with a few thoughts regarding Goro Akecho's past that are probable, and a headcanon or two here and there. If anyone has more knowledge with the subject, please feel free to correct me if any of this information is off the mark.

All my sources are listed at the end of the post. If you check any of them, please make it source #8, as that is a video where children in orphanages/foster institutions and the institution workers speak for themselves about their experiences, as well as what it’s like to be a part of Hinatabokko, a support group.

ETA: For clarity’s sake, the age of majority in Japan is 20. Not 18. Not 16. Goro and the PT are not considered legal adults until they are 20.

Also, Goro turns 18 in the game. He’s in his third and final year of high school, which would place him in this age bracket as per how Japanese students are assigned to school year. It is unlikely that he would have skipped grades, as that system doesn’t even exist in Japan:

“In Japan, there is no system for skipping grades during the compulsory education period. A student advances from one grade to the next. After completing their compulsory education, in order to get into a [senior] high school, students are usually required to pass an entrance examination.” (Source)

The “senior high school” bit here just means a high school that runs from first to third year. This is why Futaba has to take an entrance exam if she wants to continue her education past junior high.

We know that Goro approached Shido when he was 15/16--which is around the age some children are forced from their orphanages/foster homes (it ranges from 15~18). I'd go so far as to say that Goro approaching Shido was one of the most bitter pills he probably had to swallow. If he wanted to survive, he had to reach out to the father who had used his mother and abandoned the both of them. His other options would be extremely limited, if not non-existent. Most Japanese orphans and foster children end up unemployed or outright homeless once they're forced out of their homes, or they cycle through low-paying jobs with little hope of stability.

We know that Goro had planned a big elaborate revenge set up on Shido after gaining his trust and working with him, and I think many people, mostly critics of Goro, completely overlook just how many obstacles he had to clear just to get to Shido in the first place. Goro would have had no contacts, no social connections, and no political clout whatsoever that would allow him easy access to his father. I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason why Shido first gave him the time of day was a cruel whim.

Personally? My headcanon is that Wakaba Isshiki's research on Palaces, the Metaverse, and Treasures involved orphans and other such people that would easily be overlooked by society. While it sounds really crass to assume that orphans would be experiment victims, please note that I don't make that statement or offer it as a headcanon lightly. It's something I pieced together based on @jacks-plays-persona5​'s already existing argument for Wakaba’s research to be shady, as well as information gleaned from my research into Japanese orphans and foster children--that being they have little to no rights, and no one actively or even legally interested in their well-being or protection. What's more, children in these care facilities are often still beholden to their parents or relatives' control, even if they are not caring for the children.

From source #6: A care worker at an institution in Tsukuba said, “In Japan, the interest of the parents is seen as more important than the interests of the child.”

This refers to how children in these systems are often placed there by parents who can no longer care for them, but also refuse to actually legally give them up. Because of this, these children can never be formally adopted as they are still legally within their birth parents' custody.

To bring this back to the Wakaba headcanon: for parents who give up their children due to financial hardship, who's to say that they wouldn't thus be paid to give their children over to this research? There's even an instance of birth parents using their daughter to help mitigate their own financial troubles, such as the case of Kana-chan during Futaba's confidant link. Kana is not an orphan, nor was she placed in foster care, but the abuse and mistreatment she suffered was born from her parents' financial desperation and their callous insistence that Kana's life was theirs to do with as they pleased.

With the above information in mind, and with an in-game example of birth parents mistreating their own daughter for financial gain, I think my headcanon that "thrown away children" were sold for research to help their struggling parents is well within the realm of possibility. I also find it extremely difficult to believe that Wakaba would find willing, voluntary participants in such risky research, especially since it sounds like batshit crazy science on par with the Kirijo group's experiments in Persona 3.

Regardless--us not knowing exactly why Shido gave Goro the time of day is a frustrating oversight on the part of the plot, because by all rights Shido shouldn't have given an absolute shit about Goro unless something about him stood out from the get go. I highly doubt it could have just been Goro saying, “hey I have special powers for you to use.” Goro would have needed something else as a foot in the door before that revelation, or Shido would have already had to assume Goro capable of such a thing. Thus my headcanon that it was Goro's surname that caught Shido’s attention--perhaps Shido recognized it from Wakaba's research data? Or his own memories about Goro's mother?

It’s possible I’m totally overlooking something in canon that Shido says about this, as I haven’t yet gotten up to Shido’s fight in my replay and I have a totally abysmal memory. I’ll come back to this and edit in any information that either refutes or backs up this headcanon.

Now, back to the fruits of my research: Many children in these orphanages receive little to no education on top of spotty care from overworked and underfunded foster caretakers and the qualities of the homes themselves. For Goro to be as intelligent as he is--articulate, quick-witted, talented, and educated enough to work with the police while he's still a teenager--is downright miraculous. It strongly indicates that he desperately dedicated himself to his studies, most likely out of fear of where he'd end up if he wasn't smart enough to succeed. He himself admits he worked so hard so someone would accept and need him, but this doesn't answer how he had the resources to do so--it's very likely he did it all himself, which is another miracle considering that most children in orphanages don't continue past junior high, and they’re raised to do exactly as they are told, with little emphasis on individual decision-making. And even with all this, Goro is in a prestigious private high school in Tokyo. I know this is likely due to Shido's influence, but for Goro to have the knowledge to succeed in that school is still downright staggering.

Also gained from this research is the information that the hierarchy of bullying within Japanese orphanages is a tyranny of its own. Older children often antagonize and bully the younger ones, forcing them to 'stay in line' and listen to what the older children say. There is also very little privacy guaranteed to the children in these care homes--most have to live in very small spaces close together, and have to share bathrooms.

This information provides yet another necessary detail we can safely assign to Goro's background, one that leads nicely (re: heartbreakingly) into his reaction to hearing Ryuji talk about abuse in episode 3 of the anime. As an orphan, Goro would very likely have been a victim of bullying at some point, if not for the majority of, his stay in the facility.

From source #6: Japan’s alternative child care system suffers from overly large institutions where physical space is limited and chances for bonding are scarce; poor physical conditions of facilities; physical and sexual abuse by both caregivers and other children; and insufficient mechanisms for children to report problems.

With this in mind, abuse would very likely be no new thing for Goro at all, nor would it have been something he could easily or even reasonably do anything about. This could and very likely does explain how fervently he clings to his ideal of justice, as he was denied any hope of it for a long time. It also makes his Personas of Robin Hood and Loki all the more fascinating and hurtful: Robin Hood was a champion for the downtrodden and abused. Loki is responsible for the doom of the gods that imprisoned him and massacred his children.

I also don’t want to dismiss the very real damage that Goro would have endured from knowing that his mother committed suicide from the shame of giving birth to him.

To quote from source #8: Takao Inui, Deputy Head at Izumigaoka Gakuin Institution: “Of the 82 children [in the facility], 88% were previously abused. The term “abuse” cannot fully describe the scar they carry in their hearts when they come here.”

My research has also led me to the discovery of an organization called NPO "3keys," which is a fairly recent foundation that strives to help educate and support children in orphanages. When I say recent, I mean it was founded in 2009. If we choose to assume that the developers had this information in mind when writing Goro’s background, he would be in his early tweens at the time of 3keys’ founding, and thus still in an orphanage. It's possible that he was helped by an organization like/inspired by NPO 3keys, and perhaps this is why he's so intelligent and highly educated. But even this is a stretch, because it would assume that 3keys would have (1) had access to whatever orphanage he was living in, and (2) that his orphanage was within Tokyo or Yokohama (where 3keys operates)--as well as (3) that the writers even had this in mind in the first place. I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt here and assume yes.

Even if that's what happened, that still doesn't change the likelihood of Goro having been abused and mistreated on top of the already existing neglect and trauma of his mother's suicide, and Shido's obvious disinterest in taking any responsibility. What's more, Goro's knowledge of even how to live in society or function in the world likely would have come at a great mentally and emotionally exhaustive cost.

To quote Kiyomi Moriyama, from source #8: “I have friends now, but when I’m by myself I feel lonely. I can’t get used to being alone. Even now, I still don’t know how to spend time on my own. So I get quite lonely.”

Goro’s public personality of a charming, eloquent young man is thus both more impressive and heartbreaking when you realize he had no one actually caring for him, raising him, or helping him grow up at all. This is knowledge he would have had to learn by careful study and observation, or by imitating someone he idolized (very likely Naoto Shirogane and other idol personalities).

I'm basing this assumption off of this excerpt from source #5:

Masashi cared about his appearance – he wore fashionable, albeit worn, clothes and had styled his hair – but a sense of isolation clung to him.

“A day feels like it never ends,” he said, sighing.

It gradually became clear that, growing up in an institution, Masashi hadn’t acquired the knowledge and life-skills necessary to live independently. Nor had he received the continuing support he needed to re-enter Japanese society.

This is a lot of information to take in, and none of it’s easy or light. I’m honestly crying as I go through these sources, seeing what happens to these children and how painful and lonely it must be. To know that this was the basis of Goro’s backstory only makes what happens in Persona 5 all the more infuriating and hurtful.

If I can try to end on a somewhat positive note here, I would like to put forth the slightly desperate plea that the anime does not fail Goro like the game did, and that the anime gives him some sort of hopeful ending, or at least a path to rehabilitation for a young man treated like a throw away child, a young man who was never given a chance for love or support or happiness until the final months of his life.

... I don’t know how else to end this post, besides to ask those who read it to consider Goro’s character from the context of all this difficulty and loneliness, and to perhaps do what they can with this knowledge and put it forward into some kind of real world effort. And to pass along the link once again to 3keys, as donations are always helpful.

Source: Economist.

Source: Quora

Source: JapanToday

Source: Time

Source: HRW

Source: HRW, 2

Source: HRW, 3 (This is 119-paged report, by the by)

Source: HRW, 4 (This infant care institution is called Futaba, by the by)

Source: JPNinfo

Source: JapanTimes

[killchallawishlist]

CANON DIVERGENT FIC PROMPTS

☐ Warring clans - Erik’s clan is exiled or  isolated like the Jabari Tribe - after a catastrophe, Erik comes to the  capital of Wakanda as there’s a power vacuum present. Erik hopes to improve  the prospects of his clan (by seducing T’Challa perhaps). I see this fic  primarily not set in the current MCU timeline. Can be a historical fic. ABO  optional

Submitted by @sweet-ice-perfume

 ☐ killmonger succeeds with his mission of  taking over Wakanda and keeps T’Challa as prisoner (smut if you want)

Submitted by @ fuxkswithme

 ☐ Erik is still alive and imprisoned in  Wakanda, but a huge crisis (Thanos/Infinity War?) causes T'Challa to set him  free so he will hopefully help Wakanda (or maybe even Earth) and they have to  join forces

Submitted by @staubengel  

 ☐ Erik’s body can be saved, but he just  won’t wake back up. T'Challa finds a way to travel to the Ancestral Plane  somehow (maybe the Herb grows back or they still have some somewhere?) and  searches for Erik there. He finds him, but Erik refuses to come back, because  he doesn’t want to be locked up forever. T'Challa keeps coming back to him to  talk to him, they fall in love, and Erik finally decides to come back with  him

Submitted by @staubengel

 ☐ Either T'Challa wins the challenge against  Erik (idk how, cause Erik surely won't yield and T'Challa can't kill him for  the sake of the story, but maybe there's a rule where the challenge can be  declared won by a party somehow?) or he refuses to accept the challenge  all-together, forcing the two to work things out a different way

Submitted by @staubengel

 ☐ T'Challa has just been crowned the new king. This means he is now told all the secrets the former king has kept from him. Like the attempted but failed assassination of T'Chaka that    T'Challa has never heard of before. He learns that the man responsible for this is imprisoned in Wakanda’s highest security cell and decides to confront him. That is how he meets Erik. And Erik has some other secrets to tell him.

Submitted by @staubengel  

 ☐ It’s tradition that the new king of  Wakanda is presented with a tribute from each tribe in the form of a  potential partner that the king can choose from. T'Challa chooses Erik  (however he ends up to be one of the potential tributes).

Submitted by @staubengel  

 ☐ T'Chaka gets killed far, far earlier and    N'Jobu returns from America to become King of Wakanda, taking his son Erik with him. The rest is completely open. What will N'Jobu do with his power?    How will T'Challa cope with the loss of his dad? What will the dynamic between T'Challa and Erik be? Etc. etc.

Submitted by @staubengel

 ☐ Fix-it / Erik lives 

Submitted by @starawr   or Arbor Mist (Peachy) on AO3

 ☐ King Killmonger AU

Submitted by @starawr or Arbor Mist (Peachy) on AO3

 ☐ Post-movie fic: What if N’Jadaka is welcomed to  stay in Wakanda *only if* he pledges loyalty to T’Challa, but he refuses to  do it so he is banished from Wakanda.  Erik would then continue what he was doing pre-movie (and T’Challa meets him  again later on? Has to stop him? He comes back with a better plan? Go wild).

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Post-movie fic: T’Challa kills Erik with kindness. Or T’Challa is too nice and understanding and peaceful with N’Jadaka and he can’t support it, it hurts.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Post-movie fic: N’Jadaka and T’Challa are  together and wants to get married, but the majority of wakandans disapprove, some try to stop their marriage from happening in any way  possible.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ N’Jadaka    raises a panther cub and manage to bring T’Challa into the parenting. Premise: Panthers are, as the symbol of Wakanda and    Bast, sacred animals in the country and are protected. One day a wakandan    finds an orphan panther cub and bring her to the court, because the court    would have to investigate the death of the mother to see if nobody killed    her. The panther cub stays in the palace in the meantime and N’Jadaka finds    her, not caring much at the beginning about her but then starts to interact    with her and grows attached to her. It could be the first thing that makes    him more open and cooperative with T’Challa, and she could be a sort of    animal therapy. N’Jadaka does have a pet leopard in the comics so it comes    in part from that, in part from me wanting daddies T’Challa & N’Jadaka.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ N’Jakada is dead, he is in the ancestral plane  with his father. His spirit is lost and travels from one plane to the other  and he has to learn to “live” in the spirit world and face what he’s done. N’Jadaka would first appear after his death in one  ancestral location, either the Black Panthers location, or his dad’s, but  then, without him being able to control it, he’d find himself traveling from  one location to the other. Sometimes he’d be in the realm of the past Black  Panther, sometimes in his old apartment (and sometimes other places which  resonate from his past?). Eventually, he learns how the ancestral plane works  and how to manage the ancestral realm and explores the plane of the dead.  This story would preferrably at the same time explore Wakandan mythology and  a N’Jadaka character study. He would have a post-death character development,  driven by what he goes through and who he meets in the ancestral plane, and  by the fact that he can see T’Challa and the other wakandans live their lives  in the realm of the living. He would start to follow T’Challa’s life while at  the same time trying to control what he can do in the realm of the dead, and  could have some influence as a spirit, like pushing T’Challa to unconsciously  want to get to the ancestral plane to talk to him. Eventually, they would  meet and talk “in person”. (If anybody knows Sansukh, this would be similar  but set within the world and rules of Wakanda and wakandan mythology). Bonus for Bast & other  gods being a part of the story!

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ N’Jakada is dead and he is stuck in the  manifestation of his old apartment and T’Challa visits him. It would be T’Challa’s pov where he goes to the  ancestral plane and meets N’Jadaka and talks to him. And T’Challa and  N’Jakada’s relationship will grow there, to a point where T’Challa will ask  advices from N’Jadaka in what do to with the rest of the world/how to rule  wakanda and prefer his advices to his ancestors.  

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ T’Challa uses his newly acquired powers as King  of the dead to travel in the ancestral plane. He goes there to search for N’Jadaka’s soul among the  different realms/locations in the ancestral plane and bring him back to the  living, but he has a lot of difficulty finding him (a kind of an Orpheus and  Eurydice!AU + elements of BP comics).

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ They are both dead and nothing has been  resolved between them so they both fight each other for a very, very long  time. They fight for years in the ancestral  plane that has no concept of time, and then they finally realize that they  are both dead and fighting here is useless (so they have sex afterward?).

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Erik was brought to Wakanda after his dad dies  and grows up there and becomes a War dog. He’s in a happy relationship with T’Challa they are even  married  but N’Jadaka has never abandoned his father ideals. He hasn’t  told anyone, not even T’Challa, but he intends to continue where his father  left off. He works as a double agent and tries to follow through with his  dad’s goal but instead of teaming up with Klaue he gives the vibranium  directly to oppressed people. It’d be a little like a spy intrigue with the  other War Dogs looking for the traitor in their rank but N’Jadaka is too good  to be found out. There’ll be also N’Jadaka ‘s conflicting feelings about how  he loves T’Challa but still has to continue what his father wanted. Bonus point for spy duo bff  Erik & Nakia.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Erik was brought to Wakanda as a kid but  instead of becoming a War dog he does something else because he had no choice  and the elders council doesn’t trust him to get out of Wakanda. So he lives in Wakanda  until he’s at the age he is  in the movie, and then comes to occasion where he has to go to the USA for  the first time in years. He has to face the reality of the US and feels guilt  and anger that he was prevented to do anything about it in Wakanda. And the  story goes on from there.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ A short fic exploring what it was like for  kid!N’Jadaka to get into Wakanada. It’d  be about his first few weeks there, how he deals with the death of his  father, how he sees everyone, especially T’Chaka, and the country. And  focusing on a moment where T’Challa tries to befriend him/comfort him (he’d  be 5 years older in this). (gen obvs). Bonus point if the fic explore what  would happen to T’Chaka after he admits he killed his brother, what are the  protocols in these moment, would he stay King or not?

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ What if, like in the comics, N’Jadaka didn’t  put his cards out here from the start but  only asked T’Challa if he could come live in Wakanda saying he wouldn’t do  any trouble, but end up forming an insurrection against T’Challa by allying  wakandans to his cause. Bonus  point: What if he actually allied himself with M’Baku?

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Everything is the same as in the movie, except  T’Challa met N’Jadaka during a trip to the USA when he was young and they  hooked up. None of them knew who the other was.  T’Challa thought it was a really hot hookup/intense summer love but moved on  and didn’t think much of it afterward. Then N’Jadaka comes to their doorstep  with Klaue’s body…

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Pre-movie CIA agent Erik encounters T’Challa  sooner than he thought, during one of T’Challa’s diplomatic trip, in a fancy  bar. Erik decides to grab the occasion  that’s offered to him on a silver platter and seduces T’Challa so he can kill  him (T’Challa doesn’t know who he is). He thinks that it’s the better course  of action since T’Challa has always two Dora Milaje protecting him…except  when he’s sleeping with someone. T’Challa really gets into him and they spend  the whole week of T’Challa’s trip together. When it comes time to kill him,  when T’Challa’s guard is down after sex, N’Jadaka grew too attached to  T’Challa and hesitates (does he do it or not?). 

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ A fic where N’Jadaka comes in Wakanda earlier: when T’Challa just became the Black Panther, so 10 years  earlier.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ That’s probably been done but T’Challa learns about the  existence of Erik sooner and goes to the USA to try to find him.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ A fic based on something from the  comics. What  if T’Challa had to do the same rite of passage to become the Black Panther as  in the comics and had to travel by himself all around Africa and he  encounters N’Jadaka in one of those countries. He’d be in his  mid-20s (so that Erik can be 18) and at some point he meets N’Jadaka who has  been in the US Army for a short period at that point. They can meet in  friendly or not friendly terms depending on what N’Jadaka is doing in that  specific country.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Canon divergence, N’Jakada is raised by his  mother after N’Jobu dies, but *she* is the one who wants to go to Wakanda  after that. She thought that the Wakandan would bring her and  her son to the country after what they did, but they didn’t, so she’s angry  with them that they refuse to bring her son to Wakanda. “At least let my son  in” she told them, but they leave like in the movie. So she decides to go  there herself with him. It could be when he’s still young, or when he’s old  and they plot another plan to take the throne together?.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ What if T’Chaka has monitored N’Jadaka’s life  after his father’s death,  followed him this whole time from afar? Feeling guilty? Or being worried?  Young T’Challa finds out.

Submitted by @mahalshairyballs

 ☐ Erik  lives

Submitted by @ nobunyaaga

 ☐ T’challa  yields at the waterfall

Submitted by @ nobunyaaga

 ☐ Erik gets  brought back to Wakanda as a child 

Submitted by @ nobunyaaga

 ☐ T’challa  finds out earlier and goes to find Erik in America 

Submitted by @ nobunyaaga

 ☐ THAT AU  WHERE T’CHALLA AND SHURI ARE THE ONES RAISED IN AMERICA WHILE N’JADAKA WAS  RAISED TO BE KING /HOLLERS 

Submitted by @ nobunyaaga

[cometladyicarus-blog]

Before They Were Wardens - Elissa Cousland

Elissa’s also one of my favorite Wardens, so her pre-Origins story is also pretty long. I’m also shameless with my shipping in this one. Shameless, shameless. And fond of “True Love” tropes. 

I was thinking of a “poor man’s Templar” type of order for Andraste’s Shields (completely made up as far as I know, by me) made up of mostly Shield Maidens who travelled the regions to enforce the laws and deal justice between the cities and towns.

I also admit that when I was initially writing this, Elissa was a fairly flat character and I was trying to bring more depth into her, but in this work she’s eight and ten, so she hasn’t developed enough depth to be like herself ten years later.

She watched the Templars in their practice drills one afternoon in the East Yard, watched as her brother joined in because Father was busy running a Teyrnir and forgot he promised to work on Fergus' swordsmanship with her brother again.

Fergus waved at her and shouted a greeting. “El! Come out from the shadows and join us. It would do poorly if I were the only one losing.”

She grinned and stepped from her shadowy watch-spot, mindful of the skirt. “Sorry. You know my mother would get mad if I tore up or muddied another dress.” She offered her apology and resumed braiding her snow-white hair.

Her brother smiled back, but it was that smile of someone who was pretending to be happy. “I’m sorry, El.”

The young Lady Cousland stomped a booted foot. “Mother says a Lady can’t run around with a sword, but she used to be a Shield. And then she won’t let me go with them!”

“Mother and Father are just worried. What if-“

“What if something happened, and you and Father are dead. I know. But I….” She shook her head, and when she looked up again, she smiled. “Sorry, I can only watch. Brother Aldous would have my hide if I were late again from changing dresses.”

“How boring. Shame, I had my old training gear sent to your room for noth-” She cut him off by tackling him for a hug.

The older recruits chuckled and she ran off to change out of the dress.

Brother Aldous smiled and shrugged as she walked into the library tugging her sleeves and making sure she was wearing the dress properly when a leather boot showed from the skirt being at an angle. “Young Lady Cousland, your trousers and boots are showing.”

“Andraste's butt!” She fixed her skirts around again and turned to show him if her less than ladylike clothes would show.

“You’re good now, but I doubt the Revered Mother would approve of you taking Andraste’s name in vain.” He opened one of the texts. “I was speaking of the time the Couslands fought King Calahad.”

“Yes, Brother Aldous.”

Two hours later, she left the library and ran for the dining hall to take her seat before Mother and Father got in. Fergus sported a fading red mark and a wet collar to match his grin.

“Fell a few times, but I won by the end, El.”

She almost cheered, almost, but their parents entered.

Her mother frowned and pointed a finger at the young lady. “Elissa, what is this I heard about you wearing trousers and sparring on the practice field with Templars?”

Fergus stood and tried to speak over Eleanor Cousland. “Mother, I gave her those clothes so she could practice without getting her dresses ruined. She didn’t fall down today either. I did.”

“Elissa, I don’t want you putting yourself at risk, what if-“

“I’m training for ‘what if’ Fergus gets married and has kids." Elissa slammed her hands against the table, and silencing her mother. "He'll need a Captain of the Guard, because I won’t have marriage value. Gilmore will be a Knight of the realm and out doing things for the king and Father, and Fergus when he's Teyrn. All the other noble boys my age are already engaged, and the others are too old. I can’t marry anyone younger than me either. I am making sure I have a place here.”

Fergus' jaw dropped as she paused her rant to breathe. 

“I’m just the Spare, and I know it. Fergus knows. You both know. Everyone knows.” She blinked away tears to keep them from falling. Nothing ruined her attempt at being serious and angry more than crying because she was angry. “So just let me be useful. I’ll marry eventually to someone you will approve of, but we all know I’m not a prize like Lady Anora was at my age. I’m too wild, my hair is the color of snow, my eyes are weird, I argue all the time, and you’re Father’s second wife.”

She ran a hand over her white hair and pulled it over her shoulder. The young Lady Cousland pushed her chair back and got up. “Excuse me. I’m not hungry, and Nan will appreciate me getting Mabar out for a run.”

She didn’t wait for her dismissal.

As the door closed behind her, Fergus sighed and spoke with the wisdom a thirteen year old sometimes could have, revealing how he could turn out as an adult.

“She has a point. You keep telling her these ‘what if' stories about me dying like you don’t think I’ll survive and have kids. She needs to prepare for that, she would need to learn how to fight and lead an army and care for a Teyrn. But she also needs to prepare for if I do get married and have kids. She is a second child, not even a son. All the other ladies are already promised to other nobles, so her prospects are less than ideal even if she were a snow-born. She deserves a chance to find happiness, if she’s to be denied by fate everything else a woman of nobility should have. The Shields and the Templars love her and would both accept her into their orders.”

He also got out of his chair, but left after bowing for a self-dismissal.

Bryce looked at his wife. “Oh dear.”

Eleanor frowned and folded her hands on the edge of the table as she looked at the two dinner plates filled with untouched food across from her. “I might have pushed a little hard, but she's so wild.”

“So were you at her age. And when you were older.”

“What about Eamon's young charge?”

“What about him?”

“He's got to be someone’s bastard child. Someone important.”

“So? He’d be a bastard son.”

Eleanor sighed. “The King's advisors took an interest in him. He's likely Cailan's heir. My understanding is that the young boy's like Elissa, enjoys sword play, reading… And if the worse should happen, he would have her to help win the Bannor. He is about her age as well.”

“Eleanor, I don’t think our daughter will appreciate being married to an unknown on a maybe.” He snorted. “I’m not even sure she’d appreciate potentially being lifted up to the high court.”

“If Elissa is determined to be a Guard Captain, she should have a husband who would be good in a fight with her. She said she would marry someone we approve of.”

“Before planning the wedding, we should wait and see what goes on. She is only eight years old.”

Two years later, she was hiding in Castle Redcliffe with the hounds that lived there, and the ones brought over by other members of Ferelden nobility. Even her own Mabar was with her. She was petting one of Loghain’s hounds when a boy’s voice spoke.

"I'm not sure Teyrn Mac Tir would appreciate you messing with his hounds."

She looked up from her position of the stable floor, dogs of different kinds around her, and one Mabari hound who took residence against her leg.

The speaker was a boy about her age with red-gold hair. He made a hand motion, his face still wearing a smile that looked like he found things to laugh about often. "Most of those are his."

"I know. He said I could pet them." She smiled. "I was getting tired of old guys looking at me as if I were for purchase, and Mabar here needed her dinner anyway. The Orlesian Arlessa wouldn't let me bring Mabar in with me, so I came out here. I'm El. What's your name?"

"Uh, Al, I guess. You have a hound?"

"Sure. Mabar, greet Al, please."

The Mabari wuffed as she trotted to him. And then she sat down and held up a paw with a 'bouf'. When Ali took her paw and shook it, the Mabari reared up to lick his face. The young Lady Cousland giggled.

"Mabar likes you. She only 'bouf'ed at Loghain, and Arl Eamon, and the Arl's wife who kept jumping away."

Ali laughed with her and sat on the ground with the hounds, dogs, and Elissa. "His wife doesn't like a whole lot of things in Ferelden, except Eamon."

"So Orlesian." The girl shook her head as Mabar rolled over and begged for belly rubs. "Father told me stories about how when he, Arl Howe, Arl Eamon, Teyrn Mac Tir, and King Maric fought the Orlesians to free the country. Mostly about how just seeing Mabari would send the fancy lords and ladies into having fits. I mean, how could someone be afraid of dogs, I always asked."

Mabar opened her mouth, her tongue rolled out, and she laughed. One of her back paws twitched as Al scratched at just the right spot.

"So what's your story? Why're you out here instead of there, or inside doing other stuff?"

"Isolde doesn't like me. I'm an orphan, and she thinks I'm Eamon's son, but I'm not."

Elissa placed her hand on his shoulder. "That's unfair."

"But I'm being sent to the Chantry, they'll teach me to be a Templar or something." Al shrugged. "I'll have something to do."

She squeezed his shoulder again. "I wish I had something to do except sit around to see if my older brother dies or not. And he's healthy too."

Sharing a dark look she didn’t recognize as the same one she wore, Al changed the topic back to dogs and Isolde’s discomfort with them.

By the night's end, Al had helped her back up on her feet and they took different paths back inside – he through the servants' doors, and she through the less occupied halls everyone else took to avoid questions about her dress being ruined.

When her mother finally tracked her down and lectured her on her dress’ state, Elissa just smiled.

“I met a nice boy about my age. Someday, and if the Chantry allows him to, I think I’d like to marry him. I know he’s a commoner and an orphan without a family name, but he’s nice, and funny, and he has a nice smile.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“He was at Arl Eamon’s castle.”