#of oaths and promises

[noturusualpotato]

Chapters: 49/49 Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Jango Fett/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker, Boba Fett & Jango Fett, Boba Fett & Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dooku & Obi-Wan Kenobi Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jango Fett, Anakin Skywalker, Boba Fett, Rako Hardeen, Dooku | Darth Tyranus, Sheev Palpatine | Darth Sidious, Satine Kryze, Shmi Skywalker, Bib Fortuna, Hondo Ohnaka, Quinlan Vos, Mij Gilamar, CC-2224 | Cody, A myriad of other characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Enemies to Lovers, or like One - Night - Stand to Enemies to Lovers, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Depression, Self-Destructive Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan Kenobi Needs Therapy, Hurt Obi-Wan Kenobi, Bad Parent Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi Leaves the Jedi Order, Jango Fett has Issues, Jango Fett Being an Asshole, but an asshole who needs a hug, Young Anakin Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker Has Issues, they all be a bit dysfunctional and in need of a hug basically, apart from Boba, Boba is a cute toddler so, Single Parent Jango Fett, Jango Fett is a Sore Looser, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, kind of a, Kid Fic, i guess?, Torture, Aftermath of Torture, Slavery, Shmi Skywalker Lives, Families of Choice, Past Obi-Wan Kenobi/Satine Kryze, Past Obi-Wan Kenobi/Quinlan Vos, Dooku Redemption (Star Wars), Gray Jedi (Star Wars), I guess he does a few decent things if you can call that redemption, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Obi-Wan Kenobi Needs a Hug, Obi-Wan Kenobi Has Self-Esteem Issues, Suicidal Thoughts, Baby Clones (Star Wars), Clone Troopers Deserve Better (Star Wars), Somehow this still ended up being slow burny, Slow Burn, Panic Attacks, Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse Summary:

After the Council refuses to train Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi leaves the Jedi Order and everything he ever wanted to follow his Master’s dying wishes. Together, Obi-Wan and his new… student? brother? son? friend? (He still hasn’t quite figured that one yet), return to Tatooine to free Shmi Skywalker (because what else could they do?). It… Doesn’t go exactly to plan (per usual). Things escalate quickly and, well, Jabba the Hutt is dead and Obi-Wan is now the most wanted man in the Hutt-controlled part of the Galaxy.

[...]

Jango Fett didn’t really need money, so exorbitant and rising price on the Jabba murderer’s head was not what drawn him to the contract. It was the rumours that the rouge Jetti was responsible and if Jango hated anything, it was the Jetisse. If he was getting payed to drag one to the Hutts, to die a slow, honorouless death on the top of a generous payment, even better. In hindsight though, he probably should have left Boba on Kamino. In hindsight, he should have thought twice before having one night stands with hot, red-headed strangers right before the start of a hunt. His life would have been much easier that way.

[matchingbatbites]

Steve proposes to Eddie during DND.

He's played about a dozen times since the Vecna ordeal three years ago, just one-off stories with no real consequences, and while it took him a little bit to get a feel for the game, he's finally reached a point where he doesn't feel totally out of place.

It helps that Eddie absolutely lights up every time Steve agrees to play, that his boyfriend tends to go a little easier on the rest of the table because they all help Steve half-fumble through the mechanics. It's worth it when Eddie beams at him for figuring something out first, for suggesting a dumb play that has the table screaming when it works.

It's the summer after the kids' senior year, and when Eddie offers to run an all-day one shot to celebrate their graduation, Steve instantly starts planning. He talks to Robin, who absolutely gushes over his idea, and along with Dustin they plan it all out.

He learns the premise of the one-shot from Eddie - there's a big bad who's been taking people from the kingdom, and the king is finally forced to do something when his own son, the prince, is also taken - and Dustin helps him make a character, a fighter who is the personal guard of the prince, whose goal is to find and bring him back safely.

Eddie seems pleased with the character when Steve explains it to him, even more so when Steve suggests the idea that they've fallen for each other and have been lovers in secret. "You're such a romantic, sweetheart," Eddie says before kissing him, and Steve knows it’s a tease and a compliment, knows that Eddie loves how soft he can get over things like that.

The game happens about two weeks later, and Eddie wasn’t joking when he called it an all-day affair.

They get started at about ten that morning, Steve and Eddie, their four boys, and Erica all crowded around the little dining table in Steve and Eddie's little apartment, with Robin, El, and Max entertaining themselves in the adjacent living room.

At Eddie’s insistence, they take a break every couple of hours so everyone can get up and stretch and use the toilet, with slightly longer breaks for lunch and dinner (sandwiches and pizza, respectively, both provided by Steve and Eddie).

The big bad is defeated at around nine that night, and everyone is elated as Eddie takes them through the aftermath, letting each player character have a short moment to reunite with their stolen friends and loved ones.

Robin and the girls have moved to sit on the nearby kitchen counter to listen, partly because El always enjoys these soft moments in the story, and partly because Robin knows what’s going to happen soon.

Steve stays quiet, letting the others have their moment as he fights down the sudden anxiety that sparks through him, knowing what he’s about to do. He looks up when Eddie says his name, takes a steadying breath, and asks "Do I see the prince?"

Eddie nods, says "You do."

"I go over to him."

"He sees you approaching and he rushes to you, meeting you halfway. As soon as you're close enough, he throws his arms around you and says 'I knew you would save me, darling.'"

Steve smiles. "I say, 'I always will, my love' and then I kiss him."

The teens hoot and holler a little as Eddie grins. "He kisses you back, and for a moment it's like everything else fades to the background. All that matters is him, back where he belongs, safe in your arms."

Steve nods, and before he loses his nerve asks "Can I do something?"

Eddie quirks a brow, curious. "Of course,” he says, and Steve takes a breath to steady himself.

"I take his hand, and then I drop to one knee."

A couple of the teens give little 'ooh's as Eddie looks at him, clearly a little surprised, and Steve continues before he can say anything.

"Three years ago, I took my place by your side as your personal guard. I swore to care for you, to protect you from anything that would want to hurt you, and somewhere along the way, we fell in love."

Steve swallows, knows he's blurring the line of character and person as he speaks, staring at Eddie across the table.

"The last three years have been everything to me. Any time I'm not with you, you're the only thing I can think about, and every day spent with you is a fucking gift, because I know just how close I came to losing you."

The sudden urge to touch Eddie becomes overwhelming and he stands, watches Eddie's shocked face as he rounds the table and drops to a knee in front of his lover. Eddie's eyes are wide and he gives a soft "Steve?" as Steve takes a slender hand in his own, remembers the words he had practiced over and over with Dustin.

"I don't want to be just a fighter anymore. I want to be a paladin, set on a righteous path, and if you'll let me, I want to make an Oath of Devotion. Not to any god or angel, but to you, the love of my life."

Steve pulls the ring from his pocket and offers it to Eddie. It's very much not traditional, and at first glance seems to be just another chunky ring that blends in with Eddie's current selection. But Steve had to get it, the shield molded onto the band and the new 'beloved' engraved on the inside repeating what Steve always says, I'll protect you, I love you.

Eddie is in tears as Steve stares him down, as he gently asks "Eddie Munson, will you marry me?"

For just a second, Eddie is completely still, save for his shaky breathing. Steve doesn't get scared, he knows that sometimes it takes Eddie a second to register things when he's overwhelmed. He waits it out, and after a few seconds Eddie blinks rapidly before jerking forward, dropping to his knees as he throws his arms around Steve. "Fuck yes! Of course I will!"

Cheers erupt through the room, and a flash goes off when they meet in a kiss. Eddie looks over to see Robin with a camera in her hand and tears streaming down her face. “Don’t mind me,” she says, a bit choked up even as she beams at them, and Eddie’s head whips back to Steve.

“You planned this!” he yells, unable to stop his own tears from falling, and Steve laughs. “Of course I did!” is his reply as he takes Eddie’s hand back so he can slide the ring onto it, and he ignores the second flash from where Robin sits.

“Wanted it to be perfect,” Steve says softly, stroking his thumb over the ring, now at its new home on Eddie’s finger. “Wanted you to know how much you mean to me, and I figured something nerdy would hit all the right buttons.”

“I helped with the nerd stuff!” Dustin calls from his seat, and Eddie laughs wetly as he scrubs at the tear tracks on his cheeks. “I should have known something was up with you, Henderson. You’ve been bouncing off the walls for weeks.”

Steve stands up from the floor before helping Eddie up, and they both grunt as Dustin practically slams into them for a hug, quickly followed by a more reserved El. They hug each of the kids in turn and accept their congratulations, and after a few minutes Eddie is put together enough to actually finish out the one-shot.

Later that night as they're getting ready for bed, Eddie presses up behind Steve, one hand sliding to rest on his stomach and the other opening in front of them, revealing a simple, gold band.

"You beat me to it, you dick," he says with so much tenderness, and Steve laughs as he takes the ring.

"You can still do your proposal, if you want," Steve replies, heart swelling as he looks over the band, sees the little 'sweetheart' engraved on the inside.

"Nah, there's no way I can top what you did for me."

"I dunno, you normally top me pretty well," Steve teases, just to hear Eddie's delighted little cackle.

He turns and hands the ring back to Eddie, asks "Put it on me?" and Eddie smiles. He takes the ring and slides it onto Steve's finger, his thumb brushing over shiny metal, and Steve feels so fucking happy as they meet in the middle for a kiss.

[midorikawawas]

Zosan was such a hard sell for me even when I agree it has mad chemistry but y'know what just did it for me??? Their Oath in Wano.

Like I get it already, I did get the hints since Thriller Bark but this just cemented it.

[raayllum]

It's about keeping your promises.

[thychesters]

luffy finds his unconscious body and immediately it’s “zoro, how could this happen when you were here?” that’s an awful lot of faith and trust and it’s a simple phrase that speaks volumes AND OH

most of the time, luffy has things handled. he’s the captain, he’s strong and he’s supposed to. if luffy’s not there, no worries! zoro’s got this. and if zoro doesn’t? if he doesn’t?

[victorie552]

Kind of a weird AU but hear me out:

Finwe marries Indis, right? Most controversial thing Finwe ever done and that includes leading elves from their ancestral home to a new continent to live with gods. Silmarillion says that it happened because he fell in love and I believe it BUT what Silmarillion doesn't tell you is WHEN Finwe marries Indis. I saw posts that say the canon is inconclusive and Tolkien probably changed his mind a lot, and half of what of what Tolkien wrote is thrown from the window by fandom, so.

Anyway, one of the versions said Feanor was at least a teenager when Finwe/Indis happens (I think). What Silmarillion states is that Feanor married VERY young by elven standards, and that Nerdanel was below his station (classism? in elven society? apparently!).

Last thing before I get to the main point: Fingolfin marries Anaire, a Noldo lady, who I saw often enough written as a noble or a court lady, perfectly fine that, no idea if that's canon. And Finarfin very much marries Teleri princess.

...I don't know guys, it feels very convienient. For princes to fall in love with exactly the kind of women who would be approved by royal court and strenghten political ties with other elven factions. If it was anything else than silm, I would call political marriages.

Time for crack: based on what I wrote above I propose an AU where it was FEANOR who was supposed to marry Indis. For politics! Vanyar are the most important faction in Aman! Let's marry into that!

But the MOMENT Feanor became an adult and they could process with courting without making it creppier than it already is, Feanor runs off to elope with his coworker and there's nothing they can do. Well, that's what Finwe tells Ingwe when Ingwe rages about it to him.

Finwe loves Feanor, he wants him to marry for love, and that's exactly what happens. But, uh, all Vanyar are pissed that there's no political marriage when they were promised one (they mad cause they look stupid now), and, well. Finwe decides to bite the bullet. For his son.

It's not true of course. But imagine family dinners after that.

[wardensantoineandevka]

I should get an award for my restraint in not automatically blocking people who say things like "I hate paladins, they suck so much, they're the worst class bc their vibes are so bad" on my posts that even just mention paladins.

RIP that you and most people do not understand paladins as a class and do not understand that their narrative is not just "stick in the mud who loves being a cop", but I'm different and I think they're incredible and they're one of the classes with the best inherent narrative

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

~*~

one of the more interesting canon divergence post wwx's death I've encountered. what if ayuan didn't survive, and what if lwj was pushed, through just a very slightly different configuration of events, out of the path of mourning that he did follow in canon? it's always fascinating to me to consider what possible circumstances might push lwj to demonic cultivation, and this fic posits a plausible reason that extends beyond revenge and rage, which imo feels quite true to lwj. a note that though the fic is tagged for both mdzs/untamed, characterisation specifically reads much more in line with untamed canon. if that's sth you enjoy I'd rec giving this fic a try! - Anon

break me like a promise, keep you like an oath

by Eevee (ChaosBitch) and gayjeris

M, 19k, Wangxian

Part of MDZS Reverse Big Bang: 2022

Summary: Lan Wangji, do you want revenge? He wants Wei Ying. He wants A-Yuan. He wants to go back to that day in the market and he wants to stay for dinner. He wants to stay forever. I want justice. Wei Ying had wished to stand with justice and live without regrets. I want justice for Wei Ying and A-Yuan. Lan Wangji, we do not deal in justice. Do you want revenge? Wangji is too late. His world shatters. Then he rebuilds it.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[chironshorseass]

a secret, an oath, and a promise

an AU where Annabeth runs away with Luke, like he asked her to before the events of BOTL.

slowly, percy’s heart went back to its steady, rhythmic beating. 

rachel straightened, looking at him. “gods, percy, i’m sorry—” 

“sorry for what? i’m the one who got you into this mess in the first place.”

she shook her head. “but i’m the one who led you to that arena.” she blinked rapidly, as if fighting back tears. “i really thought you were about to die.”

“we were going to find the titan army one way or another, hey”—he placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze; he tried for a smile—“don’t feel bad. i’m usually about to die.”

rachel returned his smile, until she seemed to remember their newest company; she glanced over at the aphrodite girl, who was still lounging against the wall, but now her eyes were open, regarding them. aphrodite girl. percy didn’t even know her name. he felt guilty, for some reason. he hadn’t thought to ask.

rachel seemed to be thinking the same exact thing, because she said, “hey, i’m rachel. what’s your name?”

“piper.” she held her hand out, and rachel shook it. 

read chapter 5 here.

read from the beggining

[deadsince1973]

Poll Below

So, I saw someone say yesterday that "most people skim watch Chinese dramas", and that honestly blew my mind. If it has subtitles, I have to watch it and focus on it.

But then several thoughts occurred to me. You see, right now, my friend and I are watching The Longest Promise and The Screen Foxes. To us, The Longest Promise is painfully slow. We thought it was a little slower than most Chinese dramas, but most Chinese dramas are a little bit slow, and The Longest Promise actually feels much slower to us because we hate the main character and, like, half the story decisions so much, we thought. (Sorry, no offense to Longest Promise fans.) We thought that if we actually liked the main character and were invested in her story, the way the show dilly-dallied on every one of her scenes - having her say the same things over and over again, showing a dozen different angles on some magical moment in her life, having her express feelings about something that happened in a previous episode that she had made very clear at the time - would be enjoyable. Meanwhile, before we started The Screen Foxes, I read three different reviews that said the plot moved lightning-fast, bounced all over the place, and didn't make any sense. And ... none of that is true (so far). The plot moves at a normal pace. A thing happens, and then, something else happens as a consequence. There ARE several different interconnected story threads, and we do bounce back and forth between them, but it all makes sense. And last night, it hit me that maybe The Longest Promise is so slow because you're supposed to "skim watch" it. Certainly, if you dip in and out, you can follow the plot very easily. Scenes are long enough that it's hard to miss a whole one if you're checking back in frequently, repetitive enough that you can understand the point of the scene even if you miss three-quarters of it, and the same points are repeated in multiple scenes, so there are very few details you can miss even if you don't watch it too closely. (Plus, the plot is predictable enough that it's easy to follow.) Meanwhile, because The Screen Foxes doesn't dawdle on any points, if you're not actually sitting down and watching, it must seem chaotic and nonsensical. Why are they fighting this green monster now? Wasn't the show about painting a minute ago? The green monster is being used by a Taoist to body-guard a rich family. The Taoist is actually the one who made the family rich. Why? That's the mystery we need to find out. In the meantime, this family used its wealth to cheat in the painting contest from the last episode, so fighting their body guard is advancing that painting plotline too. But if you looked away from the screen during the two minutes where they were explaining all that, then yeah, it would be super confusing why this show just went from a painting contest to a demon fight.

If Chinese dramas are MEANT to be watched in the background, and that's the reason so many of them are so long and slow, then, honestly, my whole worldview has been changed.

So, TLDR: I have to know now: DO most people actually "skim watch" Chinese dramas????

[aintgonnatellyouwhy]

Xiao Zhan (肖戰)

[hurlingdown]

dragon anon, i never regretted the day i married you

ah, i would love go impregnate original form sukuna. doesnt matter if he aborts the baby 100 times or somehow eats the fetus, god he'd be beautiful pregnant

- oath anon

i was thinking about heian form sukuna but it doesn't fit the premise of the fic so i backed out :(

[iniziare]

Verse: Absolution (Present Timeline)

"And so I wield my blade to the very end, until the stars have been cut down from the sky. This oath I will never forsake."

With the long elaboration of what (or rather 'who') I think Jingliu's deal is with (that you can find written up in this post), I think that it's a logical progression to talk about what I want to do with it. Simply because something like potentially being given a blessing that is able to restrain the mara... wouldn't be done without reason. I don't see the Aeons as 'kind' and 'benevolent', because canon has given me no reason to think that they are.

"... but whether it be you, me, the Cloud Knights, or the generals of the Reignbow Arbiter, we are all just pawns in a game of the gods. I am sick and tired of threading on a predetermined path."

Jingliu's case was as simple as it was serious, she eventually entirely succumbed to mara due to the sheer amount of trauma tied to her history (and at the time, her 'present'), and there was no return for her. So the fact that she did come back from it, and refers to it as a ‘deal’ is immense, as she wouldn’t have been lucid enough to seek it of her own accord as she was akin to a rabid animal— it had to have been offered to her. This is why I believe it’s ‘divine intervention’. On top of that, why restrain her from the mara as best as possible, if not done for a specific purpose? No one could stand toe to toe with Jingliu in combat, not a single enemy could ever best her— so is she then not the best adversary against Yaoshi, and all denizens of the Abundance? That’s the direction that I believe they are going. As she herself states to Jing Yuan: Jingliu is a pawn, along like many others, in a game of the gods. What encapsulates this better, than to have her be lucid because of one of these gods, to fight another? But it’s not even forced on her, for I fully believe that her hatred of the Plagues Author surpasses that of anyone else’s, except Lan's themselves. And with the 2.5 trailer, I feel even more strongly that this is the case. So let me note down the details of a present-day verse. This will get edited accordingly if canon itself plays into this more firmly

One final time, as stated above: Jingliu is kept lucid not by the Ten Lords Commission's 'wine' as is shown to have been the case with Hanya (and Xueyi), there is no tie as she fled the Xianzhou while succumbed, and fell to mara even further afterwards, when she ultimately fought Jing Yuan. The reason instead, is because of Lan, who is keeping her lucid as to serve as a soldier/pawn in the battle with the Abundance. The strongest soldier that the Luofu had in its ranks.

With the 2.5 trailer out, and the seeming further confirmation that Feixiao is inherently tied to Hoolay and the Borisin (and the direct note of the Moon Rage affliction, which is an innate Borison curse), and the continuous name-dropping of Jingliu, which was now followed up with a glimpse of her— I'm relatively certain in my assumption that this is a perfect example of what Jingliu would have been kept lucid for: the protection of the Xianzhou Luofu (and the Xianzhou Alliance as a whole).

There are multiple direct ways for Jingliu to either be kept out of jail, or have her sentence altered. One is given to me by the very heavy insinuation within the 2.5 trailer, which is Feixiao's apparent betrayal of the Alliance. This is one of the Arbiter Generals, whom were all bestowed with spirits by Lan, making them formidable enemies. Once observing Jingliu's lucidity for themselves (Hua, the Marshal, and Yaoguang, the Arbiter General presiding over the Yuque), Jingliu could be designated as the person to hunt down both Hoolay (who she was responsible for defeating the first time) and Feixiao, in exchange for a lesser sentence.

But the mara? It never goes away, it never leaves her. She is pulled back to lucidity, but that is seemingly (from what I can tell), the only 'reprieve' that she gets. For example, Jingliu is still plagued by an incredibly unreliable mind that still holds memories but the details slip through her fingers like sand. When she is caught within moments of participation in intense turbulence, there is something akin to a faint blood-lust that aches under the surface— but due to the deal's restraint, she's able to step away from it, though there will be physical evidence of the difficulty that I imagine could manifest similarly to incredibly intense withdrawal symptoms. There is a reduced appetite and thirst, and there is an intense cold to her touch when the mara grows a little in intensity.

Would she be able of reclaiming the title of Sword Champion? Unlikely, as Jingliu did commit one of the Xianzhou's sins, and was erased from its living records for having done so. And though this was committed outside of her own conscious mind, she is incredibly aware and intent on accepting and facing the consequences of said sin (one could see her having to live with the mara's symptoms as an eternal suffering). Besides, there is another who might one day claim it. But to her, what it represents for her (and not in general), is... merely a title, a position, something that she once was through and through— but is no longer. It is a tragedy, but it is is also life.

[little1005village]

🌹 Ethereal Beauty 🌹

Wearing Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023.

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[ladysnows]

@draecaris said: "I love you, and I want to marry you, scandal or not." :|

what  scandal  could  there  be  for  prince's?  who  would  speak  an  ill  word  towards  rhaenyra  targaryen's  heir?  not  any  milk-faced  pretender  buried  to  the  nose  in  wine  and  whores  —  tis  her  own  name  which  will  tarnish  tongues  of  those  who  speak  it,  in  high  garden,  the  riverlands,  and  beyond.  winterfell  was  steadfast,  made  from  ancestral  granite  not  even  most  bitter  winter  could  shift,  a  marriage  solidified  in  godswood  would  honor  her  bloodline.  she  seeks  the  comfort  of  belief  even  now,  stares  into  crimson  face  carved  into  bark  and  sees  nothing  save  her  own  wanting.     ❝     do  not  say  such  things  in  front  of  the  weirwood  —     ❞     to  make  such  declaration  .  .  .  earnest  with  a  promise  she  can  feel  brushing  along  nape,  words  sending an  enlightening  flush  bursting  onto  cheeks.  even  the  tips  of  ears  are  not  spared,  he  is  incapable  of  guile.  not  here.  not  when  they  are  together.

❝      no  matter  where  my  heart  may  lie,  you  are  to  be  wed  to  baela.  i  would  not  see  you  spurn  her  or  your  queen  mother.      ❞      such  actions  have  consequences,  the  princess  would  be  made  a  mockery  of  .  .  .  how  could  he  want  that  for  her?  they  had  grown  together,  known  nothing  but  one  another  for  years   —   turns,  fingers  reaching  to  glide  along  the  sharp  plane  of  his  jaw.  they  were  oft  more  familiar  than  need  be,  but  she  buried  her  hunger  for  firmer  touch  elsewhere.  her  maidenhead  would  belong  to  her  husband.      ❝      — and for  a  bastard  northerner  of  all  people.      ❞ 

[lyselkatzfandomluvs]

Xiao Zhàn 肖戰

Wb update 2023.10.05 (2/2)

Happy Birthday ZhànZhàn!