#one cannot be passive in the face of evil

[news4dzhozhar]

[bisclavret]

incomplete list of things about gwaine that drive me crazy in no particular order:

he was the son of a knight but earned his knighthood by different means, so his origins are never mentioned again. except when merlin (in old bitch mode) threatens to ~out~ him with "i know what you are". assuming what he means is that gwaine is a [secret noble] and not a [homophobic slur]

does this mean his heritage is something gwaine does not want to broadcast? why? he's a noble now anyway. is it because the other new knights aren't of noble birth and he doesn't want to stand out? is he that insecure?

hold on i just got a note about this from the writers room. it says "who gives a shit" ???? what do they mean by this?

king caerleon and queen annis become important characters down the line and gwaine somehow does not get involved with their plot at all. he's from caerleon so that's literally the king that tore apart his family and left them to die. s3 gwaine seemed pretty severely traumatized by all this but i guess he got over it

it's like they put him in a suit of armor and he immediately got brain damage. what do you mean "how do we know which way is north"??? gwaine. gwaine how many fingers am i holding up

"why am i always the butt [of the joke]?" he asks his fellow knights. they clown on him even harder.

but tbh it's a fair question — why is he always the butt of the joke? it's always either him or merlin. y'know, merlin the walking talking gay metaphor... and sir gawain from the famous bisexual christmas story (that never happened). why are the two of them always the butt of the joke? i wonder if—no.... it cannot be.....

"got bored of playing soldiers" gwaine tells his closest friend before helping him rescue a "traitor". but we don't have time to unpack all that. in fact, forget he said anything. forget it just like he's about to forget seeing merlin do magic right in front of his face in a few minutes.

sir gwaine loves playing soldiers! he loves saying things like "enough! you speak to the king!" because evoking royal status to force people into submission is gwaine's favorite thing to do. as we all know.

a sorcerer looks him right in the eye and tells him "i am not evil. i am just someone who values his freedom" the "...are you?", like anything that could be remotely interesting in this show, is left unspoken. and is he??? idk guys

the diamair - that alien-looking creature that contains all the wisdom in the world - healed gwaine from the brink of death and seemed to single him out as important. but important how? he unceremoniously dies later that season having achieved zero notable quests as a knight; in fact he probably had more epic adventures as a rogue traveler!

or was the most important moment in gwaine's life — his purpose — to chaperone merlin to a cave without even knowing why?

i mean why not i suppose. kilgharrah was plotting his merthur doomed yaoi the entire time so it's plausible the diamair was on the merwaine doomed yaoi train.

speaking of doomed yaoi. (you knew we'd get there)

pov: you're a charming rogue adventurer with no friends. one day you meet a cute weirdo who begs you to get knighted and stay in town so you can keep bonding over your daddy issues or whatever it is guys do. you keep refusing but after the third time he asks you're like sure why not i've lowkey always wanted to try this. and then as soon as you're knighted he promptly loses all interest in you unless he needs something.

so what do you do?

a) keep challenging him the way you used to because it always works on him and he always comes out of his shell and it's always a rewarding experience for both of you

b) have a bittersweet arc where you grapple with the fact that knighthood and life at camelot aren't what you hoped they'd be after all — in part due to your people-pleasing tendencies

c) let the cute weirdo keep calling the shots even when he closes off even more and seems increasingly miserable and antisocial

d) passive-aggressively hint that you would do more for him than for any girl but never tell him how you feel or what you know and never directly ask him to trust you because misery and apathy are infectious and brother you've caught the bug

e) march off to face the local evil witch basically unarmed (you gave away your own sword in lieu of a love confession) and let her put you out of your misery once and for all <3

[nevermorgue]

I'd love to hear your headcanons with Ada and Annabel and Ada and Wil. Their relationships interests me, and I'm curious what you have in mind with roommates, and two people who find admiration in the same guy. (Hopefully two in the same ask is okay--)

Okay, you’re so right. I do love both of those dynamics a lot. And of course I’ll do two, I love these

Ada and Annabel

- It’s complicated. Annabel finds her irritating, but she wouldn’t wish for anything bad to happen to her. Ada envies Annabel terribly, but admires and respects her greatly.

- Ada keeps begging Annabel to help her try the rag curl method out, but Annabel is trying to drag it out because she knows it won’t work with Ada’s hair type.

- Annabel hates how Ada tries to flaunt her ‘friendship’ around like an object. It’s how she was treated when she was alive; pretty object.

- Annabel had to resist every urge to roll her eyes when Ada told her she could ‘have Prospero to herself now’ once she got with Montresor.

- Ada tried to take her tea the way Annabel does but it was far too bitter. She sneaks sugar in when nobody is looking.

- Ada loves walking with her in the garden, pointing out flowers that ‘her darling would definitely pick for her’. Annabel is so tired of it, but she puts on a smile and goes along with it.

- Annabel has woken up to Ada hyperventilating/crying. She usually pretends to stay asleep, but on one occasion she actually sits up and offers comfort. Ada refuses to tell her what is upsetting her, wiping her eyes and insisting a lady would not react like this. Annabel says nothing to that.

Ada and Will

- cannot get along. They’re too similar, and they both hate it.

- Will is passive to literally everyone but her in canon. He talks back to her all the time. I think he sees her on his level of pathetic.

- They will tell the other that Montresor doesn’t care about them, even though they both know deep deep down that it’s true on both ends

- Will is further in denial than Ada. Ada kinda knows what she’s doing + pursues Montresor in a time of vulnerability. She wants to like…see someone as messed up as she is. Meanwhile, Will is just desperate for someone to call a friend.

- Ada finds out that he writes and insists that she is made into a character. So he makes a very ugly, evil hag.

- She tried to use ‘Fear Itself’ on him and couldn’t find one thing. It kept changing, as if his brain couldn’t decide what was worse.

- She was genuinely uncomfortable seeing him wear her face for the first time. It was too accurate. It made her wonder how often he’s watched her to be able to do that.

- Ada laughs in his face and jokingly says he probably turns into her to pretend that he gets Monty’s romantic attention too…and he can’t even deny it.

- They have a big fight after that. Ada always hits harder.

- They really cannot even sit in a room together alone without arguing unless someone is supervising them.

- Will remembers when she complimented her eyes. One day they’re just existing in the same room and he just quietly goes, “…did you mean it?”

“Mean what?”

“When you said my eyes were nice.”

And then Ada is confused- when did she say that? When she remembers, she ends up speaking without a filter.

“Duh, gray is a rarity for eyes you know.”

And that’s the only time they can ever truly speak to one another because Montresor is such a heavy blanket over them both that he’s the factor that keeps them from forming any sort of bond.

[lizz-crimson]

And They Were Roommates (Shinnok's Head x Reader)

Yes, you read that title correctly, bare with me.

Summary: Reader ends up preventing Shinnok's head from entering the Jinsei and convinces Raiden to let them keep him in their apartment. Yeah.

Tags/Extra: Reader is gender neutral (please let me know if you see a mistake anywhere!), goofiness, non-serious, Shinnok can't believe this shit, Netflix?, platonic, for now, does this count as a slow burn?

Words: 2238

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

-----

"Can I keep him?"

Lord Raiden replied to your question with an expression of utter shock.

"...what?"

"WHAT?" The head of Shinnok wriggled in your grasp, and his face was also in shock.

He'd finally gained back a sliver of power—enough to talk and also enough to cast one spell. A simple teleportation spell that would send him, his head rather, directly into Earthrealm's Jinsei Chamber in Raiden's Sky Temple. It was supposed to work. It should have worked. Why didn't it work?

You'd gotten lost in Raiden's temple and were lucky enough to be in the Jinsei Chamber before Shinnok's head could fall in. That's why.

"Can I keep him?" You repeated it a bit slower, clapping mentally in between the words as your hands were occupied holding an ancient evil.

Raiden's jaw hung open slightly, a rare expression for the Thunder God. "[Y/n], I cannot allow you to harbor Shinnok yourself. He is much too dangerous."

"I understand that, Raiden, but you gotta listen to me for a second." You argued gently. "Shinnok can't passively gain power here in Earthrealm like he can in the Neatherealm. He's no threat as he is now, and I already stopped him from getting into the Jinsei, didn't I?" You gave Raiden a brief pause as he thought. "I can handle him, I promise." You gave a confident smile. It was true that without undead servants giving Shinnok souls to feast on and convert into power, he was no threat now. You felt him shaking with rage in your arms.

"I am not your pet, mortal!" Shinnok yelled, slightly hopping in your grasp. "I am Shinnok, ruler of the Neatherrealm! I will not be contained by some lucky Earthrealm weakling!"

After a beat, you again speak to Raiden, ignoring Shinnok.

"Plus, if you keep him locked away up here with you, you'll have to listen to shit like that 24/7." you added to your earlier argument.

"And you would not?" Raiden countered.

"Raiden, I live in New York. I'm the master of ignoring people."

Shinnok watched in horror as Raiden turned his gaze away in thought. He was actually considering your offer.. Seeing this yourself, you push him a bit more.

"C'monnn," you said, leaning forward a bit. "I won't even charge you," you joke. Raiden rolled his eyes, but a faint, lopsided smile appeared. He sighed.

"Alright, [Y/n], I'll allow you to keep Shinnok."

"WHAT!?"

You close the door to your apartment behind you with a sigh of relief. Raiden can't exactly teleport you inconspicuously home when you live in such a crowded area. So he has to drop you off in an alleyway a whole three miles from your apartment complex. It wasn't an ideal situation, but when you had realm-ending threats to deal with, it seemed worthless to complain about them.

Speaking of realm-ending threats...

You carelessly drop the backpack you were wearing on the floor. There's a heavy 'thud' and a muffled groan of displeasure right after.

"Ow!"

"Oop-- sorry!"

Unzipping the backpack, you pull out Shinnok's head and place him gently on your couch. From there, he could pretty much see the majority of your apartment. The kitchen, living room, and door to your bedroom were well within sight.

As much as Shinnok was ready to start spouting curses and threats to your life, he couldn't help but be slightly appalled by your living conditions.

"Welcome to your new prison," you announced to him.

"Are you certain this isn't your own prison?" he replied.

"Hm?" You raised an eyebrow before catching on to his meaning. "Oh, that. Yeah, it's pretty miserable, isn't it?" You sigh and take a seat on the couch yourself. "Welcome to New York. All 19 million residents live just as shitty. Get used to it."

"This is truly your home? This must be some kind of joke," Shinnok spat. You sighed again before replying.

"Yes, this is my home. Were you expecting something grandiose?"

"For an insignificant mortal like you, no." He scoffed, then scanned the apartment again. "But this... I was expecting you to have room to breathe at the least."

"Yeah, I expected that when I first signed the lease too." You leaned back on the couch. God, you missed the countryside. Hell, if you lived there, you and Shinnok would have some damn room. It had crossed your mind to move back, but with everything going on nowadays, moving was the last thing that should be on your mind.

It seemed to re-enter your brain that you had a fallen Elder God in your apartment. An evil one. Sure, he'd been decapitated, but he was there.

"Anyway, per me and Raiden's agreement, I will be keeping you from this moment on. If I suspect you of anything nefarious, I have to contact him, and then he'll be the one you have to answer to. Got that?"

"Yes, I'm aware. Now what are you going to do with me? Lock me in some corner?"

"Don't give me ideas, head," you replied. "If anything, I should put you in a box and leave you in the closet, but I'm too nice for that." You said. "So I'll just leave you here on the couch, and I guess I oughta put on some Netflix to keep you entertained."

"What are Netflix?"

And so Shinnok's new life began. A severed head confined to one side of the couch with Netflix shows he couldn't even scroll through himself. The days were long and boring. Sure, some of the movies and TV shows peeked his interest, and you even made a separate profile for him to keep track of them all, but other than that...

The fallen elder God hardly spoke to you unless you said something first. He felt as if speaking to you too often would somehow damage his brain. In his boredom, however, he did take the risk and started asking (demanding) to know where you were during the days. That opened the doors to new conversation topics. He grew curious and started asking more questions. You answered them. Why not? It wasn't like telling him why you hated your boss and coworkers was going to end the realm as you knew it.

While Shinnok couldn't eat for obvious reasons, he could smell. He found the scent of the various dishes you made to be quite good. He also enjoyed the smell of the fast food you brought home or had a slave deliver to you sometimes. After explaining that the Doordash delivery man wasn't a slave, you turned your attention to your hot wings. You ended up telling him of a time when Raiden accidentally choked on a hot wing. This was rewarded with a boisterous laugh from the head. It turns out even evil gods have senses of humor, and every once in a while you're about to get a laugh out of him.

So yeah, neither of you were as bad to have around as you both assumed. You adapted to his presence, and he to yours.

Throwing the door to your apartment open, you groaned and threw your work bag across the room. It hit a window with a thud, causing a perching pigeon to startle and fly away.

"Oh~," Shinnok jeered," someone's got you riled up, haven't they?" he chuckled.

You let the door close behind you and stomped your way to the kitchen, pointing a finger at the head on your couch. "Don't even get me started."

You grabbed a can of soda out of the fridge, cracked it open, and then proceeded to get started.

"You remember my coworker Cindy?"

"The 'office pick-me,' correct?"

"Yeah!" you confirmed with a snap of your fingers. "Well, today she skipped right up to me all happy 'n shit, right?"

"Right."

"She starts going on and on about how our annual reviews are coming up, and she's all like, 'Oh dear, I hope I get that raise. Oh me, oh my, I hope people in the office have put in a few good words for me!,'" you mocked in an annoying voice. "I'm telling you, Shinnok, it took every ounce of strength I had not to fu--"

Your rant is cut short by the ring of your phone, and you groan again before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Hey [Y/n], it's Cassie." Cassandra Cage greeted on the other side.

"Oh, hey, commander. What's up?"

"A lot, actually," she replied with an exasperated tone. "We need to talk to Shinnok. Are you home?"

Oh no..

"I am. Is everything alright?"

"Most likely not. We'll be there in thirty. Prepare the head."

Once Cassie hung up, you sighed, knowing this particular conversation wasn't going to be civil.

"Bad news, Shinnok."

"What is it?"

"Remember Cassandra Cage? The one who beat you the second time around?"

Shinnok snarled. "Yes, I remember. Why?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"She's coming to talk to you."

"WHY?"

"She said something's wrong," you replied. You contemplated for a moment. Could Shinnok have been up to something while you were at work all these days? He hasn't moved from his spot on the couch since you brought him here, but he was a sorcerer, so...

"You cannot possibly think I have anything to do with this, do you?" Shinnok asked, voice raised.

"No, no, I just..." you trail off and huff. "I don't know! You're the deity in this situation!"

"Yes, I am a deity. A deity who's been confined to a couch watching Netflix for a month now!"

"Y'know, most people would love to be you right now! You don't know how privileged you are!"

"Privileged?" Shinnok was utterly appalled.

A hard round of knocking startled the both of you out of your argument.

"Shut the fuck up!" your neighbor yelled.

"Sorry, Charles!" you quickly apologized. When the footsteps of your neighbor faded, you took a breath. "Listen, Cassie is going to be by in a few minutes. Please just answer honestly when she asks you anything."

Shinnok grumbled," Fine. Whatever."

"Good. Now let's watch the season finale of My Happy Marriage before she gets here."

"An agreeable exploit."

After a while, and after discussing the possibilities for the second season of your show, another round of knocking made Shinnok's expression fall.

"Coming!" you said. You then rose from the couch and peeked through the peephole on your door, seeing Cassie on the other side. "Friend or foe?"

"Friends. Raiden is here too," she replied. Looking over a bit, you could indeed see Raiden standing beside her. Shinnok groaned on the couch. You gave him a look before letting in Cassie and Raiden. Raiden, as always, had to duck under your door.

"Alright, now what's the problem supposed to be?" You asked, wanting to get straight to the point and not waste time if the world was in danger again.

Raiden held out his hand to calm you. "Firstly, where is Shinnok?"

You gestured to your couch and watched as Cassie and Raiden's eyes locked with Shinnok's. The fallen Elder God was already glaring daggers at the both of them. Cassie was stifling laughter while Raiden approached him.

"Demons from the Neatherrealm have been getting into Earthrealm, Shinnok. Whatever it is you're planning, we'll--"

"Wait, wait, wait," you stopped Raiden, surprising him, Cassie, and Shinnok himself. "Hold on, Shinnok has been here, unmoving, for a whole month. How do we know this is his doing?" you asked.

"There can be no other explanation, [Y/n]."

"Then maybe Shinnok could provide us with one?" You replied and looked towards Shinnok, gesturing for him to speak for himself.

For a few moments, Shinnok said nothing, but then, after a grunt, he replied," It is possible that without my power to stabilize the Neatherrealm's energy, demons may simply be transported here without precise reason."

"So, how do we stop it then?" Cassie stepped up. Shinnok smirked.

"You cannot. Not without sending me back to my rightful place in the Neatherrealm."

"Yeah, not happening, asshole." Cassie said.

"Hmm, there may be a way," Raiden hummed. "By learning the magic Shinnok uses to power the Neatherrealm, we could stop the demons ourselves."

"I'd rather choke than teach you the dark arts, Raiden," Shinnok jeered.

There was a pause. Everyone in the room seemed to just be thinking of a way to solve this problem. All except for Shinnok. The only thing he was thinking about was how funny it would be to see Raiden choke himself on a hot wing.

"Then would you be willing to teach me?" you asked him.

"...Pardon?"

You kneeled down on the floor to be face-to-face with Shinnok. "Teach me how to stabilize the Neatherrealm. Out of all the Earthrealmers you can choose from, it would be best to teach me, right? You know me after all," you said.

"That.. is true," Shinnok said, looking to the side and thinking a bit about the subject.

"You do realize that learning dark magic will be more difficult than anything you've ever attempted before?" Raiden said.

"Yeah [Y/n], are you sure you want to control the undead and shit like that?" Cassie asked.

"It's best for the realms, isn't it?" you replied. "So Shinnok, what do you say?"

Shinnok remained quiet for a bit longer, grinding his teeth in deep thought. Eventually, he sighed.

"Fine then. I hope you're ready for hell, [Y/n], because I am a very stern teacher."

----

Lol, I wrote something. I have more little things in the works as well!

[bonebabbles]

Slash's Famous Scene

Here we are, lads. Everyone's favorite scene in the totally best arc of WC. The one where Slash pins a pregnant woman to the ground and licks her face, while threatening her fetuses and cutting her cheek open so Clear Sky can have more man pain.

So far I've been using "fridging" as synonymous with the brutal killing of a female character to advance a male character's arc; but I do want to remind everyone that the term "fridging" describes disproportionate violence done to women in the service of their husband/brother/father/son's arcs. It doesn't HAVE to be death; it can also be battery, maiming, depowering, or sexual assault.

So far, 8 women have died to serve male arcs, most of them for Clear Sky specifically. Fluttering Bird, Bright Stream, Storm, Misty, Bumble, Turtle Tail, Rainswept Flower, and Petal. Now Star Flower gets sexually harassed and kidnapped, bringing the arc's fridge total to 9.

Anyway content warning, obviously. It's still Warrior Cats and doesn't get too graphic, but this bag contains a dead dove.

First, Clear Sky gets another toesucking from the ghost of his wife who died after leaving his controlling ass. Specifically, after he threw his disabled brother out of his Clan, and after his lust for seeing random people (including his brother) get mauled at the border resulted in the death of Fox.

She tells him that his behavior never drove anyone away, it was all totally not his fault. I'm waiting for a laugh track and it never comes. The apologetics in this arc are unrivaled.

Then, Clear Sky wakes up and his pregnant wife is not next to him. So he goes looking for her and sees her being flanked by Slash and his memorable minions, Grunt 1 and Grunt 2. Star Flower is so possessed by fear that she doesn't move.

They REALLY need to sell that Slash is TRUE evil, PURE evil, because of the wet fart that is Clear Sky's redemption arc. They're saying that Clear Sky ISN'T bad, because he is not this. A dirty, sadistic monster who coos evilly about how he's going to hurt the kittens in his wife's belly and cruelly twitches his whiskers.

(as a petty side detail, please also note that this passage cannot even keep Slash's fur color straight. Behold, a cat so evil that he cannot even remain a brown tabby! He turns gray when he commits nefarious deeds! Ashfurification included!)

Star Flower is the one being pinned to the ground and having her face cut open as Slash screams about how she promised her father she'd be his mate, but this scene is about Clear Sky's distress. Star Flower is an object to this narrative, which these two men are in conflict over.

The pinning, the violence, the sexual implications, are being done to make Slash as monstrous as possible to contrast to Clear Sky. Slash doesn't kill anyone, so the narrative needs to make you SO UPSET your emotions are thrown into overdrive, so you'll accept how truly terrible he is.

The simple truth that this rancid book is trying to make you ignore, is that Clear Sky is exponentially more deadly. He has caused harm so unspeakable that they have to describe his bloody murders in passive voice. They "died" now, instead of "were killed," and the violent system he created is presented as "making up" for the trauma he's caused to the survivors.

"Pushing his muzzle close to her injured cheek, he licked the blood from her fur with a long, lingering lap."

Think critically about the characters they are presenting and the actions they make them do. None of these are real people. They are writing choices. They have portrayed Slash as a perverted, domineering, child-abusing savage, so Clear Sky the Settler can look good in comparison.

then Star Flower gets dragged off, kicking and struggling, feeble and completely unable to defend herself as clear sky thinks about how she might die along with his fetuses.

Obviously Clear Sky is so very stressed out by all this and needs to blow off some steam, so he smacks the nearest woman and starts screeching about how Star Flower is more loyal than the son he abuses

The first thing he does after the Slash event was physically assault the nearest woman. I can't... I don't have the words. Are you seeing this. Do you see what I am fucking dealing with. literally the first woman he sees.

"DOES THAT FEEL LIKE AN ACT??" He bellowed like a fucking wifebeater at the girl whose face is bleeding because he cut her in a fit of rage. That's fine as long as you don't lustfully lick it afterwards I guess!!!

[vanyafresita]

my si-5 designs ! maybe i draw later the hephaestus crew too...

anyways after making this to have as a reference for whenever i want to draw them, imma yap here under the read more all i want about my headcanons for them (cracks fingers)

alana maxwell is very saeyoung from mystic messenger coded, thats why i gave her the dr pepper can lmfao

also she is literally aroace i wont take criticism for this one

to me she's transfem too, but i only like to think about that if jacobi is ALSO trans bcs i love me a t4t queerplatonic relationship

she forgets to eat often so shes a lil underweight- but its okay kepler and jacobi will make sure she doesnt actually faint from hunger

she is also taller than jacobi i tihnk she would b like... 176cm or so... jacobi is like 170cm and kepler is around 185cm

she also doesnt have a lot of scars on her body since she gets protected when working on a laptop by the other two during ops (or she is working as a sniper, and thus she isnt a direct target most of the time)

unlike kepler who prefers hand to hand combat, or jacobi who joins him and also messes around with chemicals and explosives often

absolutely random thought, but alana is canadian to me ! warren is american and jacobi is chilean (i am latino, me reservo el derecho de latinificar a un personaje por cada obsesión que tenga xoxoxo)

jacobi wears a hearing aid on his right ear too btw !! an accident with a small explosive left the right side of his face and his ear damaged !

jacobi paints his nails too (he actually doesnt, its alana the one who does, jacobi has a terrible case of shaky hands)

both maxwell and jacobi wear glasses, but while maxwell uses them 24/7, jacobi just.... does not care. they keep getting broken one way or another so he doesnt bother... he can see from up close, so who cares ! (at some point tho, he get convinced to get eye surgery, so he obliges)

okay switching to kepler's sexuality... he is aro and very horny for jacobi we all know this like. its very obvious i fear.... like... yeah

jacobi is bi... i feel like he had a crush on alana at first, but the closer he got to her something changed and, believe me, he does love her A LOT (probably more than kepler) just not in a romantic way !! ergo: qpps

and because jacobi is a masochistic idiot of course he fell in love with his evil boss CMON MAN GET BETTER TASTE <- alana to daniel

kepler probably doesnt date tho, most likely he doesnt feel like it would mean much making official any type of relationship they have (aka 'we fuck sometimes, i try my best to be considerate of ur feelings, i dont feel jealousy seeing you being close with maxwell, and i wanna keep her close too'), while jacobi is like. biting his nails trying not to die from love but he knows dating ur boss is not a good path to go down (its already bad they are fucking behind everybody's back- except alana, he cannot keep secrets from alana)

i think the relationship these three have (at least in my head idc about yall's opinions LMAO) is absolutely insane and it makes me act like a rabid dog, i lose all coherence trying to explain how they make me feel

they are all in love with each other, just in very wildly different ways

i love thinking about jacobi and maxwell's closeness, how they care for each other, the vulnerability, the love, the devotion, how open they are and how little they care about how others perceive them

i love thinking about kepler actually trying to make an effort to be romantic, getting it wrong often, and then having to deal with jacobi being passive aggressive; WARREN JUST TELL HIM U DONT GET ROMANTIC LOVE, YOU JUST LIKE HIM AND WANNA MAYBE DATE AND DEFINITELY BANG, DONT BE STUPID

i love...... whatever the fuck kepler and maxwell have going on... not romantic or platonic, but a secret third thing.... the mutual respect and admiration, the overprotection feeling.....

jacobi is sooooo glad his two most favourite people in the world get on well, he'd die if kepler and maxwell weren't on good terms... but thank god all three of them are fucked up and obsessed, and insane and love each other

they all love to banter, they would kill each other, they would kill for the others, they cant stand to be near, they would die if they are apart, they need to be so close together you cant tell apart where one ends and the other stars

as a side note of my designs, i wanna comment how confused i was when i finished the podcast, checked the art tag, and saw most people draw warren kepler as a white man, like i got jumpscared ngl IM SORRYYYY

listen when i heard his honey voice... that cadence... he gave me this very clear image of distinguished bald tall black man, the image went straight to my brain and i have not been able to imagine him otherwise

and i keep seeing him drawn white and blond and with blue eyes and i feel SO SCARED like i have nothing against those designs but its so confusing because to me he is that type of attractive motherfucker that charms everybody around with a smile, that make people trust him blindly from how confident his posture and personality is... and to me (poc person) a white blond blue-eyed man does NOT inspire me trust lmfaoooo so i guess i may be biased ?

anyways i know warren kepler is a divisive character !!! he is so fucked up and complex and hot HE IS MY EVERYTHING im gonna throw up /pos im so obsessed with him... you evil bastard... youre my babygirl, ure so important to me, your war crimes and horrible morality is charming to me <3 i dont wanna fix him i wanna observe how he makes other people WORST (thinks 24/7 about the implication that he disciplines jacobi and maxwell in very creative ways)

okay anyways IM DONEEEE SORRY THIS GOT SO LONG BUT I DONT CARE ITS MY BLOG AND MY HEADCANONS AND ITS ALL UNDER A READ MORE SO I CAN YAP TO THE NOTHINGNESS AS MUCH AS I WANT OK BYEEE

[writerbuddha]

Good evening, @writerbuddha. I'm a little confused about Anakin's arc in "The Phantom Menace", especially in the climax. What is Anakin's arc in Episode I about and how is that reflected in the film's climax and ending? What does the character learn or fail to learn at the end of the film?

Hello! :)

George Lucas described The Phantom Menace as basically Act I in an epic, where the characters and the basic themes are introduced. Episode I is actually the beginning of Anakin's arc, arching over the trilogy. We're introduced to him and his flaws as well.

We see that Anakin is a very compassionate, courageous and kind person who "gives without a thought of reward" and "knows nothing of greed," and being a Jedi Knight, a guardian of peace and justice in the known universe, who lives for others, is what he dreams about doing. However, we get to see the crack on his armor: Anakin has a fear of losing is mother, he doesn't want things to change, although Shmi tells him, "you can't stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting." The Jedi Masters, explaining, there is always fear behind anger, there is always anger behind hate, and these are add up to a state of suffering, and lead to evil behavior. Because he has much fear in him, the fear of losing a coming and passing thing, there's a possibility for that to grow into much suffering, not just on his part, but on the part of others. This is the groundwork upon which Episode II and III is built, the foreshadowing of the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader.

With that said, in The Phantom Menace, Anakin learns some lessons. For example, he has to acknowledge that being clean of fear is not limited to having the courage to die for them - it also includes having the courage to live without them, and in that sense, he is very much fearful. He also has to face with the fact that a Jedi Knight can be killed, which feeds into a larger realization: when the good guys win, sometimes, one of them dies, and you must accept the fact that in life, there is no clean, perfect, absolutely satisfying happy end. There are things that we cannot control, so we will never get it just how we want it. Anakin is accepted into the Order, but he had to leave his mother behind. He saved Naboo, but Qui-Gon died. I think it's important that at the end of the movie, everyone seems content, smiling, but Anakin only smiles at Padmé. So, to me, that shows, he has troubles with emotionally accepting this. Which, again, is the inability to let go of what cannot stay.

The way I see the movie, the character who learns something at the end of the film, whose arc is completed in the movie, reflected in the film's climax, and it's also the central arc of the movie, is Padmé and Naboo as a whole: the peaceful and the warrior-like are frowning upon each other, one lives on the surface, in flowery cities, the other is underwater surrounded by beasts, one is led by a queen the other is by a king. Padmé is despised of the concept of war and insist, negotiation is always the answer, but eventually, she must realize that sometimes fighting is necessary. Instead of waiting for the strong and wise leader to solve her problems (which is how tyrants get power: sit back, people, leave this to me. I will fix it, I will make a safe and secure society… in fact, why don’t you put me in charge of everything? You can get on your life, I will bring your security, safety and prosperity!) she decides to stand up, to not to descend into political passivity and apathy, and save her planet. She reconciles with the Gungans, as well as her own warrior-side, and they mutually accept each other at the end of the movie, in harmony and balance.

I hope this is helpful! :)

[akzgaj-writing]

How to write an INFP (Guide written by the INFP)

I decided share with my observations, toughts and opinions about an INFP. There's in internet a lot of memes/prompts/other things about this character but it's often stereopical. Sooo, I want to share something form me – hope that it would help for creating an INFP character well.

Contents by @akzgaj-writing

Prompts:

We are not a crybabies. For example: if a lot of people watch emotional movie (for example Titanic) and cry on this, the INFP often rolls the eyes and moan or think something like that: "Maybe I'm heartless? Or maybe they are pretending? Or maybe is something wrong with me? Or maybe this move is boring?" We will cry faster becouse of a trampled flower, a burnt meadow, a dewastated ancient building – or just becouse of seeing a rainbow in the sky or shining dew.

In the other hand, an broken or unhealthy INFP can cry often, but also can be rude and passive.

Honestly, the INFP have stoic and often emotionless face – you never will discover what real happen behind this mask. I often hear: "Why are you never smiling?" Or "Something happend?"

We overthinking. Too much. We are overhelmed by thoughts.

Ah, we love to think. INFP is not a mindless hippie. We have an analítical mind and we love to analyze everything and everyone – even out of boredom or curiosity.

INFP knows how to copy* other people's behavior, other people's point of view, and is able to get into someone else's shoes – we don't* do it for any evil purpose – just becouse out of curiosity and the desire to understand something. We are good actores and we are flexible but we are not fake – we don't pretend anything to everyone.

We have strong morals. We believe in one truth, and a healthy INFP believes (or want to belive – if is unhealthy or broken) in that, is the good and the evil in the world – there's not a gray zone. You are on one side – you are good, or you are evil – the good cannot do evil, and the evil cannot do good. This is example of thinking of an INFP.

Oh, and we not understand or rather – we despise people who change their values and views depending on the situation. Even if we disagree with someone's worldview, we understand that someone has reasons for having such a point of view. But when someone changes everything to please someone else or do it for money – an INFP despises this person but won't show this (or will show this in bad day).

INFP will defend their opinions and values to death (of themselves or someone :')

Adult INFP often or rather, always (but not always in everyone) will lost faith in humanity – but don't they say it – or like me, will show this for everyone ;) laughing is the best cure for broken heart.

We love to dream! INFP like to dream about a better world or want to escape from this world to their world – for various reasons: boredom, tiredness, a desire to escape from troubles and stress, or to rest. But most often is it becouse we quickly lose interest in the gray world and look for another one – one that will have our values.

INFP is cute and sweet type or dark and badass. Or can be both.

We are sensitive but we don't like to show it becouse we are afraid of being mocked. For this reason, we do not want to share our dreams and desires that we keep deep inside. If we're talking about it, we talk to someone that we trust very much.

Anyway, the INFP can sometimes, depending on emotions or situations, be cold and insensitive.

We are introvertics but if in the front of people who we likes, we turned into extravertics and talks and laughs a lot.

We want and we love to help for people who we love.

We want to show a warm feelings to people, and we envy other extroverts for thier social skills, but at the same time we are reserved and cold. Yet we are soft inside.

INFPs often blame themselves for simple things, falls and failures, accusing themselves of being too sensitive and moral. But we are also proud of having our own ideals and morality, at the same time.

INFP can be out going, playful and adaptable.

In the other hand, the INFP sometimes in bad times can be rude, stubborn (in this case some INFP can be proud of this), proud and ironic.

We love deep talks and we hate small talks – the INFP feels in this last one very awkward and want to disapear.

We isolate from others becouse we are tired and we need rest. We like quiet places.

INFP is very idealistic type – try be better version of themselves and want do good for the world. But often do small but big things for the family or the friends. We don't like big attentions (sometimes – we like to get praise but not very attentional, becouse feel awkward).

INFP is an artistic soul – draws, write, decores etc. – likes manual or intelectual work. We like people who like this too.

INFP often in their writing or drawing, show their values or opinions.

INFP often think that maybe is the INFJ or even the INTJ – becouse of their analitical mind and often cold nature, it's easy make mistake and be confuse.

We take everything too much personally.

INFP outside looks stubborn, cold, proud and passive.

INFP is loyal and wants the same from others.

INFP love and dream about old fashion romance. Often like dominant types (but healthy dominant – but it is subjective and everyone has their own taste).

I will write other post about love between INFP and the other's MBTI.

[just-horrible-things]

Nikef II [Pt1]

Soldiers start running the instant the security feed whites out from the activation of the Annihilation’s power. A siren begins to wail seconds later. Reinforcements arrive at the office in under two minutes, only to end up waiting uselessly in the corridor as the general orders them – loudly – to stand down.

The two guards join them in that corridor shortly, carrying the corroded remnants of their rifles.

A minute and a half after that, Commandant Ahden Musal arrives on the scene. The prosthetic leg he is wearing is poorly suited to running, forcing his gait into an ungainly off-kilter limp.

The other soldiers part wordlessly to let him through.

“General,” he pants breathlessly by way of acknowledgement. His voice is barely audible over the siren wail.

“Commandant,” she returns, projecting volume with far less effort.

He doesn't pause long enough to salute. Instead he goes straight to his charge. The blue light begins to die the second Nikef lays eyes on him. 

He puts both hands on her shoulders, turning her bodily to face him in the process. He locks eyes with her wild, lambent stare.

“Easy,” he says, “stand down, kid, stand down. I'm here now. You're okay. You're safe.”

Watching, the general slowly lowers her hands to her sides.

“Breathe with me,” Ahden instructs, then has to repeat it.

The Annihilation nods her head and begins – inaccurately at first – to match her breath to his.

The wall clock inaudibly counts the minutes past. The assembled soldiers – still attracting further reinforcements – wait in the corridor, passing the orders to stand down from one to another by gesture. Radios crackle and are answered reluctantly.

Eventually, Ahden speaks up again.

“General,” he shouts over the noise. “I will return her to her quarters now.”

“Agreed. You will report to me as soon as it is safe to do so.”

“Yes, General.”

Ahden takes Nikef’s arm and leads her from the office room.

The soldiers each turn to watch them as they pass, rifles in hand but not raised to fire. Nikef shoves her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie, and walks with her head low.

As they turn the corner, the general begins to give orders to disperse the crowd. Word finally gets through to security, and the siren cuts off mid-wail. The silence is loud in its wake.

Ahden leads Nikef past the cafeteria and back through the courtyard into a second wing of the building. Suspicious, worried eyes follow them all the way. A short walk down another corridor much like the others, but emptier, then they stop at a windowless door bearing a prominent “explosive materials” hazard mark in blue.

Inside, an untidy bedroom. Discarded clothes form a heap beside the unmade bed, books overspill their shelves, and looseleaf paper covers the desk as well as forming untidy stacks on the carpet. A camera above the door keeps passive vigil over the scene.

Nikef shrugs free of Ahden’s hold on her arm, and beelines for the bed to flop down across it.

“She's not supposed to talk to me,” she complains.

“She's not,” Ahden agrees, pulling up the chair from the desk. He is obliged to move a further stack of papers to the floor in order to sit down. “But graces, Nikef, you cannot threaten a General.”

Nikef sits up sharply and fixes wounded eyes on Ahden. The hood of her hoodie falls back as she does so, freeing untidy hair from its confines.

“She wanted to breed me like a racing dog,” she tells him. “She wanted to cut out my eggs and make test tube babies and put them through Tempest Two Point Oh to see if they come out with superpowers.”

Ahden opens his mouth, and closes it again. He drags a hand down his face. “Grace,” he repeats at length. “That's… a lot.”

“Can you imagine,” Nikef continues.  “Tempest daycare. Fit a pacifier to the inside of the titanium gag. Hang a little mobile up over the evil dentist chair. I told her no way, not ever.”

“Which seems entirely reasonable,” Ahden agrees. His tone is weary.

“I thought so.” The pair look at each other. Ahden says nothing, but his lips are pressed together flatly.

“You're mad,” Nikef accuses. She hugs her elbows. “I didn't hurt anyone.”

Ahden takes a breath. “I am mad,” he admits, “but it's nothing that can't wait. We can talk about it later. When you’re… calmer.” “Why are you mad?” Nikef protests. “She’s the one who broke the protocol. She’s supposed to talk to you. I tried to be nice, I even went with her to her stupid office – she’s not supposed to talk to me.”

Ahden pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to get into it while you’re upset,” he repeats. “And how am I supposed to calm down if I know you’re mad at me and you won’t even tell me why?” “I don’t know. Read a book, take a bath – something.” “You think I lost my temper. I didn’t. Hurt. Anyone. There’s a protocol for a reason – you know I don’t cope well with – official, officious – whatever-that-was.” More silence. After a few beats, Nikef gathers her knees up to her chest. “You’re supposed to be on my side,” she sniffs.

“I am on your side. Do you think there won’t be consequences, if they cannot trust you around important personnel?” “I’m not afraid of them.” “And what about me? Now I have to go and get yelled at on your behalf – does that bother you at all?”

Nikef glowers at him from over her folded arms. Ahden throws up his hands in a gesture of exasperation.

“Calm yourself down, Nikef. This will be easier when we’ve both calmed down.” “I’m calm,” Nikef declares. But there is a blue glimmer in the depths of her eyes. “I am going to go report to our new commanding officer and get dressed down and try to smooth out some ruffled feathers. You are going to stay here and not break anything. Are we in agreement?” “Yes sir,” Nikef answers acidly.

She glares at him until the door closes firmly behind him. Then she tips slowly onto her side on the bed, still hugging her legs to her chest.

[2demondogs]

I'm about to yap because Molly's whole deal is very Gothic literature coded... guys it's my first Tumblr yap for this fandom are you excited??

Anywho young bright-eyed bushy-tailed high class girl leaves her comfortable home for a land far away only to find that adventures are things reserved for heroes for a reason. That uprooting yourself and all your earthly comforts is not something one can do without pain, loss, heartbreak, and dirt. That it takes a lot more hard work than she is used to.

Unlike most Gothic protagonists, she doesn't persevere in the face of a crumpled America, and she doesn't give in to the evil, either. She remains unchanged. She's screaming right back at the yellow wallpaper. She doesn't grow, but she's isn't passive -- Molly doesn't want change, or growth, she wants a different version of the comfort and luxury she had in Dublin.

But the world is chafing against her. She's upset and she can't accept that the world cannot be owned, bought, changed -- that the world does those things to the people in it, instead, and that all the authority, wealth, and the importance she had at home abandoned her. Things were good, Dutch was in love with her, people liked her -- until they saw that she was never going to change, some kind of girl anachronism living years in the past while they struggled into the future.

Dead weight.

Molly had never been dead weight before. She hadn't been weight at all, people loved a visit from Molly, to be graced by her presence the way Dutch had insisted he was graced by her those years ago.

Although, it's questionable if Dutch ever really loved Molly, and since her world revolves around the only other person who also refuses to change as the world does -- we gotta talk about him too.

Grief is love and love is easy to misplace - she could've been the cork for the hole Annabelle left in his heart, until the blood swelled it up and suddenly it only hurt more to have her there. It is no problem she is so young, because Annabelle was about her age, too; of course, Dutch was the same age back then. Maybe she even looked like her.

Because it is ironic that Dutch would love someone of the upper class that he hates so much. And I think that, at one time, even if it wasn't truly love, Dutch felt very attached to Molly in some ways, or else he would've cast her out of the gang. He's a killer, why would he give a fuck about discarding her?

All that civilization bred right into her, and made worse by the size of her dad's pockets - awful! Unless, of course, he can practice seizing wealth and all that is refined by seizing her... some dehumanizing microcosm, one that calls for Molly to be shoved into a box and then broken down into something she is not and rebuilt by his hand like some kind of god. And when he can't mold her into what he wants, can't bring her up the way he forced Arthur and John to be outlaws like he ultimately chose to become-- that's when he loses interest.

She's no longer beautiful, sweet, innocent, some fill for a void: she was just a reminder of a failure, and Dutch doesn't like to fail at things. He'd rather beat the dead horse until the ground falls in around its carcass.

[agnerd-bot]

Fate Fanservant: Judas Iscariot, The Traitorous Disciple(Avenger)

Ascension Stages:

First Stage: Judas is clad in tattered clothes, an a large red scar is cut across her stomach, in the shape of a demonic toothy maw. A mask covers her mouth, and her hair is blood-red with white streaks. She is hunched over, with a hangman’s noose around her neck, and a string of silver coins wrapped around her hand.

Second Stage: Judas’s robes have become even more torn and ratted, and the markings on her stomach have shifted and morphed, revealing a massive, demonic mouth lined with rows of teeth and dripping blood.

Final Stage: Judas is now clad in more kept-together cloth, covering the mouth on her stomach. The pieces of silver hang around her neck, and she stands up much straighter. She has a small smile on her face.

Theme:

SCORN RAP by JT Music - "Sick of Myself"

Hell's Comin' with Me

Traits:

Class: Avenger Alternate Class: Assassin, Caster, Ruler, Alter Ego, Beast True Name: Judas Iscariot Source: The Bible Region: Israel Alignment: Lawful Evil Attribute: Star

Known as: Yehûdâh Ish-Kerayot, The Traitor, The Liar, The Woman from Kerioth, The Thirteenth Disciple, The Woman of Pollution, the Thirteenth Seat

Voice Actress: Asakawa Yuu

Deck: QAAAB

Parameters: Strength: C- Endurance: A+++ Agility: B Mana: A+ Luck: E- NP: EX

Passive Skills:

Magic Resistance EX:

As one of the original Thirteen Disciples, Judas Iscariot’s Magic Resistance is at the highest rank, on par with that of Saints. It is nigh-impossible for Magecraft to seriously affect Judas, even those from the Age of Gods.

Even for a fallen prophet, the psalms song still ring true in her heart of hearts:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

(FGO Effect:)-Increases own Debuff Resistance by 25%.

Avenger A+:

Judas Iscariot is defined by hatred and resentment. In the New Testament, the Thirteenth Disciple was known as a callous misanthrope, always willing to accuse others of heresy and wickedness, even when the prophet from Kerioth performed the same sinful acts she shunned others for. So great was her hatred that it is said that the Devil was able to enter her heart, influencing her to betray the person she believed in more than anything.

In return, upon her treacherous actions and death, Judas Iscariot became one of the most despised figures within the biblical canon, seen by many as the incarnation of betrayal itself. Those who wrote of the Twelve Disciples have all remembered Judas as the Traitor, the Betrayer, and the Sinful One. The very name of Judas Iscariot has become synonymous with evil and treachery.

Hatred of others and hatred unto oneself. Perhaps more than any other Servant, Judas Iscariot embodies the defining attribute of the Avenger Class.

(FGO Effect:)-Increases own NP generation rate when taking damage by 22%.-Reduces party's (including sub members) debuff resistance by 12% except themselves. [Demerit]

Oblivion Correction C:

As a penitent, Judas Iscariot cannot and will not forget the reason for her self-inflicted damnation. The betrayal of the one man who showed her such unconditional love. The kiss that betrayed Him to his enemies. The failure to redeem herself of her sins. Her hatred will never subside, even in death. Where so many found their salvation from their sins, she alone remained behind, unwilling to accept her Teacher's hand. She has chosen the path of her own Hell, alone, painful, and cold. And yet, it is one she will never waver from.

"O Lord... May you never forgive me for my sins... And may I never forgive myself for my treachery..."

(FGO Effect:)-Increases own critical damage by 6%.

Self-Replenishment(Magic) A:

As a Servant of God and embodiment of the Gates of Hell, Judas Iscariot's magical power is near-limitless. Her rage is unyielding, pushing her through even the most horrific types of pain without even flinching. It doesn't matter how badly or how many times her body is broken. It doesn't matter what kind of opponent she stands against. The answer is always the same: an unyielding march forward, until all who stand in her path are left to face the consequences of their actions.

It is the memory of her treachery that drives her, the fuels her every waking moment. Her sins call out to her each and every day, haunting her, screaming at her. Blood must be repaid with blood. Pain must be repaid with pain. Grief must be met with grief.

So long as the hatred pulses through her veins, the lashing, the torment, the sorrow, it will all drive her forward.

(FGO Effect:)-Charges own NP gauge by 4% every turn.

Pieces of Silver EX:

According to scripture, the price Judas Iscariot received for selling out Jesus of Nazareth to the chief priests was thirty pieces of silver. Upon realizing what she had done by betraying her teacher and friend, she attempted to return the pieces of silver to save him, only to be coldly rebuffed, with the priests scolding her for daring to bring blood money to the temple. Ultimately, these very same silver coins were used to pay for Akeldama, the Field of Blood where she hung herself in despair over her greatest sins.

Even in death, these damned coins follow Judas, strung around her neck as a reminder of her gravest sin. Each coin holds incredible amounts of magical power, and they can be offered up in order to boost Judas's own power, at the cost of the demon within gaining more influence over her. If she offers all thirty at once, she can activate her personal Noble Phantasm, Akeldama, the very same field that she bought with these thirty pieces of silver.

"I hear them... Always. Their clattering reminds me of what I've done... And why I can never accept forgiveness..."

(FGO Effect:)  -Whenever Judas Iscariot attacks, apply 'Pieces of Silver' buff to self, one time per turn(Can stack with other 'Pieces of Silver' buffs). 'Pieces of Silver' Buff: -Gain crit stars equal to half the amount of ‘Pieces of Silver’ buffs -At 30 Pieces of Silver, fill NP Gauge to 300%, and boost NP Damage by 30%. -After NP is used, clear all 'Pieces of Silver' buffs[Demerit].

Active Skills:

Damned for All Time B:

For her role in the death of the Messiah, for her treachery and sin, Judas Iscariot is believed by many to have been subject to eternal damnation, cast within the deepest pits of Hell for eternal torment. Judas herself believes very much the same. Believing herself to be irredeemable, she willingly accepts any and all punishment given to her without complaint, fully awaiting her return to Hell.

However, thanks to the blessings imparted as a Disciple of Jesus, the Thirteenth Disciple recovers quickly from any and all enemy attacks, shrugging off grievous injuries such as limbs being removed, bones being broken, and even her heart being crushed. As a result, her body goes through a constant vicious cycle of being reborn, put back together, and being destroyed once more.

Judas herself claims that this is further proof of how God despises her, refusing to let her die to punish her for her wickedness and faults. A sign that she can never be redeemed or forgiven, and will suffer until the end of time for her evil actions.

And yet... Can this really be the truth?

(FGO Effect:) -500% Chance to draw attention of all enemies to self by 300% for three turns. -Recover 1500 HP at the end of each turn for three turns.

Protection of the Faith EX:

While infamous as 'The Traitorous Disciple', Judas Iscariot has among the highest levels of Protection of the Faith. Unlike many prophets, zealots, saints, and kings who praised their gods from a distance, Judas walked alongside her Messiah day to day. From the day she was cured of her own illnesses, she walked with him, broke bread with him, and preached alongside him. She knew of his dreams and aspirations, as well as his faults and imperfections. She loved and was loved in equal measure.

Even now, in her state of agony and pain, her thoughts are always centered around the man she called Teacher and Friend. While Judas Iscariot does not believe that she can ever be forgiven for her sins, nor does she believe she will ever reach the Heaven that was promised to her all those years ago, she still holds faith in the power and goodness of the King of Men. As a Servant, Judas uses the holy knowledge she was imparted, even when she proclaims herself a vile sinner, all because of the faith she keeps.

More than any Disciple, more than any follower, more than any person who ever lived, Judas Iscariot believed in her Messiah.

(FGO Effect:) -Increases own debuff resistance for three turns. -Recovers own HP. -Increases own defense for one turn. -Increases own attack for three turns. -Apply Guts to self, two times, five turns.

Kiss of Judas A:

It is said that the thirteenth disciple betrayed her Master with a single kiss upon His cheek, signaling to the crowd that came to arrest Him. It is this single act that damned Judas Iscariot for all eternity, fully cementing her as the traitor to God and setting in motion the events of the Crucifixion as well as Judas's own death by hanging.

This moment manifests as a powerful ability, allowing Judas to gain every last fragment of knowledge of an enemy once she kisses them, seeing everything they've done, everything they've seen, and everything they will be. In a Holy Grail War, this ability is especially powerful, granting Judas knowledge to be used against enemy Servants. If used against a divine figure such as a god or demigod, this ability is even more powerful, cursing anything divine and holy with her very existence.

"Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

(FGO Effect:) -Lower one enemy's defense for three turns. -Decrease one enemy's charge. -Increase own NP Gauge by 30%. -500% Chance to draw attention of all allies to one enemy by 300% for three turns[Demerit]. -If used against a ‘Heaven’ Enemy: --Remove all Buffs(activates first). --Decrease one enemy's charge. --Increase own NP Gauge by 30%. --Inflict Curse on an enemy for five turns. --Inflict Evil Curse on an enemy for five turns. --Increase damage against 'Divine' enemies for all allies(five turns).

Noble Phantasms:

Noble Phantasm: Judas Iscariot - It Would Have Been Better If I Was Never Born

Rank: A+ Maximum Targets: 1 Range: 10m Classification: Anti-Unit(Self)

The very noose the twelfth Disciple hung herself with on that fateful day. This symbol of her eternal shame manifests as a snapped noose tied around her neck. This rope is taut as ever, but even though its rope seems severed, it can extend to impossible lengths to reach whatever target she aims for. Judas can use this noose as a grapple, allowing her to clear vast distances in a single leap or to grab onto a fleeing opponent. However, its most dangerous feature lies in a hidden property of the rope.

If she wraps the rope around an enemy, it forms a knot around the opponent’s limb, and their lives become ‘bound’ in a sense to Judas. Any damage that her opponent strikes her with is mirrored upon her foe, and vice versa. Even if one tries to cut this rope, the strikes will merely be reflected back onto both Yehûdâh and her opponent. Combined with Judas’s Protection of God skill, the battle becomes one of endurance that the victim is likely not to live through. The only way to possibly escape this deadly Noble Phantasm is to cut off one’s own limb that is attached to the rope, or inflict a wound that one can survive but their enemy cannot.

Noble Phantasm: Gateway to the Inferno - Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here

Rank: A++ Maximum Targets: ??? Range: 2000m Classification: Anti-World

A powerful Noble Phantasm that manifests as the wound Judas incurred upon her failed hanging. A jagged scar is displayed prominently on Judas's stomach, sharpened into a wicked grin. In reality, Judas Iscariot’s stomach functions as a passageway into Hell itself, and by activating it, the scar morphs into a monstrous maw of a creature, who drags victims into its jaws with its tongue. 

Alongside the innate threat of the Beast's maw, this Noble Phantasm also serves as a pseudo-Marble Phantasm. Due to the mouth on her stomach serving as a gateway to Hell itself, Judas can impose parts of Hell onto the world, creating rivers of boiling blood and towers of fire and bone. With a mere thought, she can change her body's attributes and access a different section of Hell to match the sins of her adversary.

Limbo: Reserved for the unbaptized, the lustful, the greedy, and the gluttonous, that which is known as Limbo is nothing but pure darkness that encompasses an area. A monstrous wind blows strongly in the darkness, and unseen monsters can be heard snarling and growling in the shadows.

Styx: Reserved for the wrathful, the putrid waters of the River Styx flow from the monster's jaws. The waves choke the victims on their own rage, dragging them further into its depths as the damned souls of the wrathful reach out to pull those above them down with them into eternal torment.

Dis: Reserved for the heretical and the violent is the City of Dis. Massive, red-hot spires pierce the earth, forming gnarled and wicked trees made of iron. A boiling river of blood courses through this forest, incinerating those who step too close. Some say this is where the Harpies make their home, clawing and scratching at those foolish enough to enter the forests of Dis.

Malbolge: Reserved for the fraudulent and liars, the Malboge manifests as several pools filled with flaming tar. Those who are caught within the pits of the Malboge are engulfed with flames that will never extinguish. Even those who escape from the pits of the Malboge leave twisted and deformed, inside and out, before they are inevitably dragged back into the depths.

Cocytus: Reserved for the treacherous is the frozen well of Cocytus, the ninth and most fearsome Circle of Hell and the resting place of Judas Iscariot. When invoked, a white mist slowly flows from the devil's maw, and the surrounding area slowly crawls to a temperature beneath absolute zero. Those who are caught within the mist find that their bodies rapidly begin to freeze over, locked in eternal suffering and agony. For some, if they are caught in Cocytus's chill, they will eventually be shattered into dust, with not even their souls remaining. This is the final circle, where even the Devil weeps and mourns in eternal torment, never to be freed.

Whatever punishment the demon's maw wishes to mete out, whatever evil stands before the Thirteenth Disciple, the message is always the same.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Noble Phantasm: Akeldama - The Field of Blood

Rank: EX Maximum Targets: 1 Range: 18m Classification: Anti-Evil

In the Bible, it is said that after Jesus’s death, Yehûdâh Ish-Kerayot, in a mix of remorse for her betrayal and fear that after Jesus rose, he would take his vengeance upon her, she bought a field with the thirty pieces of silver and tied a noose around her neck, aiming to hang herself. Unexpectedly, the rope snapped underneath her weight, and her stomach tore open on a sharp rock, spilling her innards and blood throughout the field, leaving the traitor to die in agony. And so, the field was known from that point on as Akeldama, the Field of Blood.

This very same Field manifests as Judas’s Reality Marble, a graveyard with a single massive tree hanging up in the middle, towering over all. Nooses hang all around the tree’s branches, swaying in nonexistent wind. A noose drops down, wrapping around the victim's neck. As the foe writhes in agony, they slip and fall, snapping their neck before the branch their noose is tied around snaps, sending their body plummeting into an open grave.

Due to Yehûdâh’s infamy as a traitor amongst traitors, this Noble Phantasm can be positively deadly in the right situations. The area of effect covers a wide range, allowing Judas to entrap multiple targets simultaneously and subject them to their judgement.

Akeldama has a unique property that few other Noble Phantasms share. The resultant damage dealt is different upon each person it is used upon. The Field of Blood harms foes not through the physical realm, but the spiritual, inflicting wounds on opponents based on the lives they have lived. If one has lived a virtuous and relatively clean life, such as Jeanne d’Arc or Xuanzang Sanzang, the Field will only feel like slight pinpricks across the body. But if one has lived a life filled with slaughter, debauchery, and evil like Nobunaga Oda or Nero Claudius? Akeldama will show no mercy to its victim, inflicting the same pain that the sinner has inflicted upon others tenfold.

All Servants, no matter their defenses or Authority, are equal beneath Akeldama’s judgement. No one, god, devil, or man is without sin, and so everyone can and will be judged within the Field of Blood.

(FGO Effect:) -Deals heavy damage to all enemies. -Do increased damage toBeast, Saver, Star, and Demonic Servants. -Do reduced damage against 'Saint' enemies[Demerit]. -Apply Curse to all enemies. -Apply Disastrous Curse to all enemies. -Inflicts Penitent status on all enemies for one turn(effect increases with overcharge). -Apply Penitent status to self for one turn[Demerit]. -Penitent: Grants these effects: --Decrease Noble Phantasm Gauge each turn. --Increase damage taken each turn. --Decrease damage dealt each turn. --Apply Active Skill Seal one time for one turn. --Apply Passive Skill Seal for one turn.

Voice Lines:

Summoned: You… wanted to summon me? I… no, despite my summons, my penitence remains the same. I am Yehûdâh Ish-Kerayot of the Avenger Class. You may know me better as Judas Iscariot. I know not why you have called upon me for aid... But if this is what my penance decrees, then I shall be your monster.

Level Up 1: …why?

Level Up 2: I see you felt I was lacking. Understood, I’ll try not to be as much of a disappointment.

1st Ascension: Ghhh...! S-so... now you see me for what I truly am... A monster. My own transgressions turned me into this creature... A beast borne of sin and evil. Hahahahaha. What a fool you are. Do you understand now? You have opened the gates of Hell... and nothing you do can ever seal them. 

2nd Ascension: I see the way you look at me. I'm horrifying, aren't I? But I don't need your pity. This is simply what I deserve for my wickedness. Through suffering, I grow stronger. Through agony, I grow more resolute. The pain from each battle drives me to move forward, and by my soul, I swear I will not fail you.

3rd Ascension: …what is this? Why... Why do I not feel the pain anymore? Why am I dressed like... like I was back then? I don't understand... Is this meant to mock me? To remind me what I cast away? Or... maybe it means I can... ...no. Never mind me. This is just the rambling of a fool.

4th Ascension: *sigh* ...you truly are a pain, Chaldean. I will never understand people like you, who extend your hands to sinners like myself. You do know who I am, correct? I am the Thirteenth Seat at the table, the Traitorous Disciple. I sold the person that showed me nothing but kindness for thirty worthless pieces of silver, killing a man loved by all for nothing but spite and greed. And yet... here we are. I will never understand someone like you... But I suppose it doesn't matter if I do. I renew the vow I made before: I am Judas Iscariot, and for the sake of Humanity's survival, I will be your monster.

Fight Start 1: Some say that it is through pain that we learn the greatest lessons. Allow me to make you very wise.

Fight Start 2: Repent, ye sinners… Your judgement has arrived.

Fight Start 3: Have you come to join me in penitence?

Skill 1: *clinking of coins*

Skill 2: O Lord, this unholy pilgrim invokes thy name…

Skill 3: If that is what you wish.

Command Card Select 1: Thy kingdom come.

Command Card Select 2: Thy will be done.

Command Card Select 3: On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Noble Phantasm Select 1: O, Lord… Turn your head as I do what must be done.

Noble Phantasm Select 2: You hear them, don’t you…? They’re asking you to join them.

Attack 1: Repent. Or perish.

Attack 2: Hmph. Trying to run?

Attack 3: Your judgement has been passed. Guilty.

Attack 4: There you are. Your time has come.

Attack 5: There is no true escape from your sins.

Attack 6: Scared? I would be too.

Attack 7: You cannot escape your final judgement.

Extra Attack 1: Go. To. Hell.

Extra Attack 2: AMEN!

Noble Phantasm 1:

I am The One Who Sold the World…

There is none whose sin is greater than I…

Now… the time has come for judgement!

Suffer as I have suffered! Come forth, Akeldama!

Noble Phantasm 2:

Can you hear them? The people you have hurt…?

You can’t turn away from your transgressions.

You can’t ignore your sins.

They’re calling you… asking you to join them in this pain…

Now… embrace them.

Noble Phantasm 3:

I am the Heroic Spirit of God’s Vengeance.

While I have long abandoned the right to act on God's will…

Tonight, I will happily reclaim it.

AKELDAMA!

Damage from Noble Phantasm: This pain… is nothing…!

Regular Damage: Nnn.

Defeated 1: N-ngh… I guess this is what a traitor like me deserves.

Defeated 2: *sigh* I should have known this was going to happen.

Defeated 3: So… back to Cocytus, is it…?

Victory 1: Thus. Ends. The lesson.

Victory 2: Be you Man or God, Devil or Angel… You answer to me.

Victory 3: It’s not enough… Never enough.

Bond Level 1: You wish to talk? With me of all people? You truly are a fool... It would be better for your time to speak with someone worthy of your kindness. I am nothing more than a bitter misanthrope waiting for a forgiveness that I don't deserve.

Bond Level 2: *sigh* I appreciate your kindness, I truly do. But all the same, I think you have the wrong image of me. You seem convinced that I am some wayward soul who holds some good in their heart. That I can be 'fixed' with genuine words of friendship. Allow me to make things clear between us, then, as friends often do. I hate humanity. With all my heart. With all my being. I despise the human race. And in turn, humanity despises me. Is that understood?

Bond Level 3: Heh. Back for more? I can’t help but respect that. … When I was young, I was born sick and blinded. They called me cursed by God, punished for my sinfulness. Only one man chose to approach me back then. They called Him the Messiah, God Incarnate, the Savior of the Jews. ...I was just happy to call Him my friend.

Bond Level 4: You have no idea how happy I was to know that the first people to lay eyes on me were so kind, so understanding… But I could never understand what people like them thought. How could He look at this world and think it deserved redemption? How could He see the ugliness of the people around Him and think they deserved to be saved? I'll be honest… I still don't understand, not even now. But it's not my place to understand Him, is it? I simply need to have faith.

Bond Level 5: …it's funny, isn't it? Despite every reason I have to hate humanity... I'm fighting for them. Not because of any obligation to Proper Human History. Not because it's my job as a Heroic Spirit. Not even because I believe it deserves to live. The only reason I'm bothering to fight for this wretched thing called humanity… Is because I know He would want me to.

Dialogue 1: You called upon me to help save Humanity. I answered, and will hunt down all who seek to do mankind harm. That is the extent of our relationship.

Dialogue 2: Whether you be a person of faith or a person of secular manner does not matter to me. I will protect you all the same, as He would.

Dialogue 3(Clear Lostbelt 1): Your sins weigh heavy on you, don’t they? The bodies that you’ve amassed, the lives you can never bring back? Good. That penitence means you haven’t lost your humanity.

Dialogue 4(Unlocked at Bond Level 5): “Does it hurt?” That’s a foolish question. Of course it hurts. Every day, every moment, my life is defined by pain and anguish. …but I simply choose to endure. Because what does my pain matter with the knowledge that I hurt the ones I love a thousandfold?

Dialogue 5 (If you have Martha): So, Martha is here as well… She was one of the kindest of the disciples, always concerning herself with our well-being, keeping the peace among ourselves. Even now, I suppose she’d scold me for not taking care of myself. …but I won’t let her burden herself with my problems.

Dialogue 6 (If you have Martha(Unlocked at Bond Level 5)): Martha… I… Why do you bother with someone like me? Me, the traitor who killed the Savior? Me, the sinner who is bound to damnation? Why…? Why won’t you let me rot in Hell?! I… I don’t understand you.

Dialogue 7 (If you have Martha(Summer)): Martha…?! W-what are you wearing?! I-I should go… I’m sorry, but-ACK! W-wait, don’t put me in a headlock-! Damnit all, why do you always have to be such a bullheaded punk?! … *sighs* Hehehe. Never change, Martha.

Dialogue 8 (If you have Martha(Santa)): …who did this to you? Tell me, Martha, so I may introduce myself. Eh? No, no I’m not angry. Why would I be angry? I’m… perfectly… calm…!

Dialogue 9 (If you have Yù Tù): YOU-?! How…? How the Hell did you escape? …tch. Seems like the Chaldeans have you under control for now. But I swear, if you try and pull another one of your ‘games’ again, I will make your last fate seem like a mercy.

Dialogue 10 (If you have Hernán Cortés): Cortés… You haven’t changed a bit since then, have you? No, I suppose you have. Judging from the look in your eyes… You know your place.

Dialogue 11 (If you have the Harpy Sisters): The trio of torturers… They were in the last Holy Grail War I had entered. Celaeno in particular and I had a contract with each other. …hm? Friendship? No, it wasn’t like that. We simply had a desire to see the same person die.

Dialogue 12 (If you have Awilix): The Goddess of the Moon… I didn’t interact with her much before, but even back then, her power was terrifying. Now? It feels like she’s on an entirely different level than before. What happened?

Dialogue 13 (If you have Baron Samedi): The good Baron. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Hm? No… No, I don’t think I’m in the mood for drinking now. Perhaps another day.

Dialogue 14 (If you have The Golem of Prague): Tch… So the Guardian of the Lowi Family is here as well… I’d suggest keeping an eye on that one. That monster… Even if they claim to care for you, they won’t be satisfied until they’ve controlled every aspect of your life. Don’t give them an inch.

Dialogue 15 (If you have any other Fate/Undead Crusader Servants): That rowdy bunch from the battles in Jerusalem is here as well… How annoying. If nothing else, I suppose I’m grateful that we don’t have to fight this time around.

Dialogue 16 (If you have Jochebed/Samael): …thank you. Genuinely.

Dialogue 17 (If you have any Angel Servants): So the envoys of Heaven are here as well? I suppose I’d better make myself scarce then. Nothing good can come of one such as myself being in the same space of angels.

Dialogue 18 (If you have Nero or Sodom’s Beast): You… I’ve heard tales of the mad Roman Empress before, but I never thought I’d meet you in the flesh. I may be a lowly traitor, but I still hold the faith. If it wasn’t for the Master, I would not have hesitated to pay you back a thousandfold.

Dialogue 19 (If you have Mordred or Mordred Alter): The Knight of Treachery, is it? Heh, to think the Chaldean would take in not one, but two traitors… I’m glad you’ve found your true family, Sir Mordred. Treasure them.

Dialogue 20 (If you have any ‘Blessed Conqueror’ Servants): Such arrogance… Such pride… You truly think yourself an agent of His will, don’t you? That your life’s work has all been in His service? Allow me to correct you on that… All the suffering? All the war! All the pain you’ve meted out in His name? Your life’s work… makes Him puke.

Dialogue 21 (If you have Lancelot): Heed my words, sir knight… please… find it in your heart to forgive yourself. My soul is damned for all eternity, and it is a burden I will accept. But you? You deserve your happiness. Take it.

Dialogue 22 (If you have Medusa): Such a terrible fate… forced to live blind and alone, hiding such a beautiful face from the world. The Greek ‘gods’ are such cruel and vile beings.

Dialogue 23 (If you have Hassan of the Serenity): Death by a kiss? How fitting that the two of us should cross paths, Assassin. Though which is worse? A kiss of poison? Or a kiss of betrayal?

Dialogue 24 (If you have David): I… It is an honor to make your acquaintance, King of Israel. An honor I do not deserve. I betrayed your descendant, led him to his execution. So why… Why are you so openly kind to me?

Likes: I’ve long forsaken any chance to be happy.

Likes(Unlocked at Bond Level 5): Interests? You wish to ask about the hobbies of such a loathsome creature like me? Well… I guess I’d have to say fishing. I was never as skilled as Peter or his brother, but just being out on the sea, watching the waves go by… it reminds me of better times.

Dislikes: Do I even need to say it?

About the Holy Grail: …pfft. *visibly holding back laughter*

During an Event: A festival? No, I shouldn’t be there. I’d just bring down the mood. I-hey, quit pulling!

Birthday: It’s your birthday. Hmph. What does it matter to me? I told you already, our relationship is merely that between coworkers. Go enjoy yourself with your friends.

Profile:

Default:

Back when the Son of God walked the earth, He took on twelve Apostles. Among the Twelve, perhaps none are more known the world over as Simon Peter, His right hand, and Yehûdâh Ish-Kerayot, known nowadays as Judas Iscariot, the Betrayer. A selfish misanthrope to her very core, Judas was nonetheless one of the Original Twelve chosen to preach the Word of God to the masses. Her motivations and history with her Master have largely been lost to time, save for one moment.

She is the one who betrayed Jesus Christ to the Sanhedrin for a mere thirty pieces of silver, leading to her Master's execution upon a cross To this end, she led the officers of the law into the Garden of Gethsemane where her Master lay praying, identifying Him with a kiss on the cheek. Since then, the name ‘Judas’ has been synonymous with the word ‘traitor’, and Judas herself has been marked as damned by God, a soul who will forever rot in the coldest depths of Hell, furthest away from Heaven.

"Son of God… Son of Man…! Take pity on me! Save me…!"

… 

"Please… someone save me…”

Bond Level 1:

Height/Weight: 166cm • 51.3kg

Source: Historical Fact, New Testament

Region: Israel

Alignment: Lawful • Evil Gender: Female

Judas is a servant of a constant dour mood, rarely if ever allowing herself to feel any happiness. She constantly puts herself down, even when attaining the greatest victories, believing that, after her betrayal, she does not deserve praise or adulation. It’s for this very reason she keeps the noose she hung herself with around her neck, and carries around the thirty pieces of silver that she betrayed her Master for.

The sound follows her with every step. An echo that rings to her very soul, reminding her of her sins, of her greatest mistake. A song of mourning that will never end.

CLINK... CLINK... CLINK...

Bond Level 2:

For years, Judas followed her Rabbi as He preached to the masses, witnessing as He saved many like her through the power of his miracles. Though He was God made manifest, He chose the life of a mere man, taking solace in the little things. Many a night, when the stars were out, Judas found herself nestled in the comforting presence of her fellow Disciples and her Rabbi, happiness found in her heart.

However, life was not perfect as a Disciple. Nothing ever truly is. For many nights, they found themselves having to go to bed hungry, having to resort to sleeping in the harsh streets. This ended up being the source of many an argument between Judas and her Rabbi. As a former beggar, Yehûdâh tried to convince her master to let them keep any of the monetary offerings that they received for their miracles, while her teacher refused to allow any of his disciples to receive payment for what they did.

It was after one of these very same arguments that Yehûdâh made her most grievous mistake. In a fit of passion and temptation, she chose to sell out the very man who saved her life, in exchange for a handsome sum of money. That evening, whilst Jesus lay in the Garden of Gethsemane, Yehûdâh made her move. Whilst the chief priests and their guards waited within the forest, the traitorous disciple made her way to her Rabbi, and planted a gentle kiss upon his cheek. The signal had been given. But her teacher’s next words would haunt her until the day she died.

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Bond Level 3:

While still haunted over her teacher’s words to her before he was taken away, a new revelation had come to Yehûdâh later that week. Jesus was not going to merely be tortured at the hands of the Romans. He was to be put to death, executed via crucifixion.

Overcome with grief and horror at the realization of her mistake, Judas ran back to the temple where the high priests lay in wait. She desperately tried to bargain for her master’s life, offering the same thirty pieces of silver she received from them days before. But there was nothing to be done. Jesus had already been taken away to face his execution. Even if he wasn’t, the Sanhedren refused Judas's money on account that it was ‘blood money’, money that was now forever tainted with sin.

Fearing for her life’s end at the hands of her fellow disciples and utterly distraught at the knowledge that she had knowingly sentenced her beloved Rabbi to death, Judas made her decision. Buying the area known as the Potter’s Field, the traitor Apostle chose to end her own life, tying a noose around a tree and hanging herself.

And in that moment... Judas Iscariot's fate was sealed.

Bond Level 4:

A scar runs over Judas Iscariot's stomach. A jagged, red line on her torso, symbolizing not one, but two wounds.

The first was the scar from her death at the Potter's Field. It is said that upon the death of the Messiah, Judas Iscariot hung herself by a noose, only for her hanging to fail as the rope snapped beneath her weight. Her body hit the sharpened rocks below, before splitting in two along the stones. Her death was slow and painful, and she died that day alone and afraid.

The second comes from her eternal torment within the deepest pits of Hell itself. Bound to the icy pits of Cocytus for all eternity, her fate is to be eaten alive by the Devil, constantly bitten and crushed beneath the fallen angel's teeth until the time comes when even Hell will be no more. An eternal reminder of her sins and her treachery.

For many who see this scar, it is a symbol of suffering and pain. A horror to shy away from and flee. To Judas, it is merely a reminder. A reminder of the life of sin and the mistakes she has made throughout her life. Some claim that she can be seen tracing her finger along the scars. Musing. Wondering. Mourning.

Bond Level 5:

In many Christian works such as Dante’s Divine Comedy, Judas Iscariot's final fate is to be damned to Hell for all eternity, her body being ripped apart by Satan alongside Brutus and Cassius as penance for her betrayal. But perhaps this isn’t the case. What if the true torture comes not from without, but from within? After her betrayal, the Traitor Saint sees herself as unworthy, putting herself through agony and pain without complaint in a feeble attempt at reconciliation.

But despite how much she thinks herself irredeemable, Judas was and still is a chosen Apostle of Jesus. Like the rest of her brothers and sisters, she wandered the lands, choosing to help the needy, curing ailments and preaching the word of God. She genuinely loved the Rabbi, following him to the ends of the earth and hanging onto his every word. Signs of that same Judas still live on as a Servant, dutifully helping her Master in any way she feasibly can, no matter how much doubt she has within herself.

Perhaps even for the most wicked of sinners, a spark of goodness can be found deep within. All it takes is the right person to reveal it.

Extra (Clear Interlude “Reunion of Apostles”):

“Yehûdâh…?”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Come now. I thought I told you to refer to me by my real name.”

“Right… Apologies, Rabbi Yeshua.”

“I have something to tell you. It concerns the both of us. Together.”

“M-my Lo-I mean… Yeshua?”

“Our lives are connected, Yehûdâh. Our fates are destined to be forever intertwined with one another, in life and in death. My Father has told me this in his messages to me, and I felt you needed to know this.”

“What are you saying?”

“Yehûdâh… Yehûdâh, I want you to promise me one thing above all else.”

“Anything for you, Yeshua.”

“Promise me… promise me that when the time comes, you won’t lose sight of who you are. Promise me that your faith, in me, in the world, and above all yourself, will remain true.”

“I promise.”

Spiritron Dress:

Avenger of Jerusalem: Judas Iscariot is clad in a leather jacket that goes down to the small of her back and a pair of jean shorts. The noose around her neck has vanished, revealing a set of scars around her neck where the noose once was.

Theme:

Judas Priest - Hell Bent for Leather (Official Audio)

Description:

A punkish outfit from a Grail War only a few know of. A gift bought my Avenger’s previous contractor, as a means of helping her blend in more within society. While more often than not, Judas Iscariot is a bitter, angry woman, she finds herself far more amenable in this state, even if only a little. She lets her barriers down, allowing herself to smile more often and relax her rage. Perhaps it is because even now, the voice of her Master pushes her onwards, encouraging her.

“Avenger… Selfishness is not a sin. To have your own desires. To want to take things for yourself. To want to achieve your own happiness! That is not evil! That is simply what makes us human!”

Voice Lines:

Unlock Spiritron Dress 'Avenger of Jerusalem': …hah. Well what do you know...? To think I'd wear this outfit again. A dear friend of mine took me shopping once, he told me it'd help me 'blend in'. I didn't really care to argue with him, so I just threw on what I felt suited me. It's... nice, getting to be able to dress like this again.. That being said, I can't help but wonder how he's doing now, without me? Did he ever find that peace of mind he so wanted? ...huh? 'I'm smiling for once'? ...I suppose I am, aren't I?

Level Up 1: I suppose I should thank you for this.

Level Up 2: How very… rock ‘n roll.

Fight Start 1: Alright then… Let’s rock.

Fight Start 2: Sorry that I have to get in your way.

Fight Start 3: The time for judgement’s here.

Skill 1: I would start praying. A lot.

Skill 2: You’ll get no mercy from me.

Skill 3: Hmph. Guess we’re doing this now.

Command Card Select 1: If you think this is best.

Command Card Select 2: No choice, huh?

Command Card Select 3: *cracks knuckles* As Martha always said…

Noble Phantasm Select 1: This place is no longer a House of God. Now… it’s merely a tomb.

Noble Phantasm Select 2: I am no redeemer of souls… I am merely the angel of retribution.

Attack 1: Hah!

Attack 2: Sei!

Attack 3: C’MERE!

Attack 4: GET OVER HERE!

Attack 5: Stop. Running.

Attack 6: Hragh!

Attack 7: You’ll get no pity from me!

Extra Attack 1: Guilty.

Extra Attack 2: You’re mine!

Damage from Noble Phantasm: Damnit…!

Regular Damage: Hands off the jacket.

Defeated 1: Not… the jacket…!

Defeated 2: Ngh… Sorry…

Defeated 3: I can still…!

Victory 1: Well then. Are we done here?

Victory 2: I want to let you know I took no pleasure in this. …well maybe a little.

Victory 3: Understand now? This is why I didn’t want to fight.

Dialogue 1: Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~

Dialogue 2: Impressed? My Master has quite the taste in clothing, if I must say. Perhaps you might like trying this for a change.

Dialogue 3: Apparently a band has chosen to take upon my name. ‘Judas Priest’ as it were… Call it vanity, but… I quite like the idea of having a band named after myself.

Dialogue 4: You remind me of him, you know that? Not in appearance, nor mannerisms, but how you choose to live your life. You make your own path, independent of what others say you can or should do, but what you believe is right. That’s a good way to live, Chaldean. Never forget that.

Dialogue 5 (If you have Martha): *sigh* I still don’t understand you, or how you can still show kindness to me after all I’ve done… but thank you. It’s… it’s nice, knowing that I can still be loved after all this time.

Dialogue 6 (If you have Martha(Summer)): I have to admit… that look suits you Martha. Those gauntlets that can crush a man’s skull in a single blow. That jacket that screams ‘omen of death’. That piercing gaze. Yes it suits you quite well-ow! Hah! Hey, quit it! Can’t you take a joke?!

Dialogue 7 (If you have Yù Tù): I recommend keeping an eye on that one… The Lunar Rabbit is cruel, duplicitous, and will do anything to get her way. She trapped an entire city in an endless loop for her own amusement. I shudder to think what she can do now that she seems to have become stronger.

Dialogue 8 (If you have Furbaide Ferbend): Oh it’s you. I suppose you’re wanting a rematch for the last time we met, aren’t you? I hope you have more than cheese to throw at me this time.

Dialogue 9 (If you have Baron Samedi): If it isn’t the good Baron himself. Hm? A drink? …I suppose it wouldn’t be too bad. Why are you smiling at me? I don’t plan on making this a habit.

Dialogue 10 (If you have The Golem of Prague): Adama Lowi… Or do you prefer Yoselle? Either way, don’t think your usual schemes can get past me. I know what you did to your own grandchildren, and I won’t let you do the same to the Chaldean.

Dialogue 11 (If you have the Harpy Sisters): Celaeno… It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m glad to see you’ve reunited with your sisters. Would you care to introduce me to them?

Dialogue 12 (If you have any other Fate/Undead Crusader Servants): …why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?

Dialogue 13 (If you have Mordred(Memories of Trifas) or Caeneus(Summer)): …*silent nod of affirmation towards a fellow punk*

Likes: …back in a Holy Grail War, my Master and I bonded over music. He said ‘if you’re going to dress like a metalhead, might as well listen to some of their music’. I admit, I’ve grown fond of rock music since then. It reminds me of him.

Dislikes: …chickens. Poultry of any kind unnerves me, but above all else, keep chickens away from me. Is that understood?

About the Holy Grail: The Holy Grail… Pfft… Ahahahahaha! Ahhh… I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t make fun of your efforts, but the thought of a ‘Holy Grail’ is just… ridiculous. If the Holy Grail truly was a cup that the Master drank from… Well it certainly wouldn’t be a Grail. And they certainly wouldn’t be rare.

During an Event: Hehe. You want to bring me to a party? I believe that there’s entire scriptures dedicated to how bad an idea that would be. That said, if you insist… what else can I do?

Birthday: Happy Birthday, Master. I can’t thank you enough for letting me in. Someone like me… I don’t deserve everything you’ve done for me. … But hey. It’s your birthday. Let’s not focus on the sad stuff for once. I got something to perform for you. Lemme just get that guitar I borrowed…

[imagination-overreaction]

I've been really into Team Fortress Two lately, and seeing as I cannot get the Actual Fic Writing to go, I wanted to do a little character analysis thing as a silly, so here's my favorite tf2 pairings and how i think they'd act:

Soldier x Spy / Freedom Fries

This ship is utter chaos and honestly I love it. There's a lot of light, passive-aggressive bullying (from Spy) and a lot more heavy, just plain aggressive bullying (from Soldier) and they may seem like they want to kill each other at points. However, neither one of the two will hesistate to mow down anyone who threatens the other.

Spy is stuffy with how he shows affection, especially when there's witnesses. Maybe he moves past him a little too closely and brushes his hand on Soldier's arm as he does. Maybe he hides a small smile as he rolls his eyes at what idiotic thing his partner says. Maybe he doesn't immediately call Soldier stupid to his face when he really really wants to, because he's trying so hard. These quiet attempts at passive affection are ruined by Soldier being the antithesis of subtle, in every way imaginable.

Going off of how Soldier is with Zhanna in the comics, I wouldn't say Soldier is the most verbally affectionate person, but his constant antics and comments and death-defying combat skills would certainly help to pry Spy out of his shell just a little bit. I also think that Spy would teach him how to do a few openings on his butterfly knife. Soldier would get the quickdraw down, and possibly the basic opening. Jury's out on anything more complex than that.

Engineer x Medic / Science Party

Evil mad scientist x Morally questionable tech genius. There is no universe where this ship is bad. Well... it can end badly for other people if their forces combine, but that's how it is.

Long, coffee-filled nights in the lab, each one taking turns to listen to their partner's incomprehensible speeches full of science jargon. They nod, half understanding as the other points to different blueprints or medical diagrams, explaining concepts far beyond their own paygrade, and only mostly hold themselves back from interjecting about their own project that would go wonderfully with this one.

The night Engineer finally starts crashing from exhaustion he goes down to where Medic is in the lab and asks when he's coming to bed. Medic, being Medic, says some shit like "Oh no I don't sleep, I removed that part of my hypothalimus years ago."

Engineer says "Alright darlin', see you tomorrow," before kissing him on the head, going to bed, and not worrying about what a hypothalimus is nor how Medic is even still alive at this point.

Does Engineer somehow dodge Medic's request to be some sor tof test subject? Maybe, but there's the even higher possibility that Medic was requested to assist with Engineer's mechanical hand.

Heavy x Medic / Red Oktoberfest

What is there to say that hasn't been said already, by authors far better than i?

Evil mad scientist x All-too-willing test subject that could also crush this scientist like a bug if he chose (but he doesn't. He doesn't, because he loves this doctor). No notes, 10/10, moving on.

Sniper x Spy / Bloody Suit

Also called Spyper, which is the best ship name ever made imo.

Same Spy characterization as before, but instead of the extreme of Soldier it's the general curmudgeony attitude of Sniper. There's also a lot of bullying in this one, probably more than there is with Freedom Fries because Sniper is also not passive aggresive, he just likes to pick on Spy to get a rise out of him, and Spy likes to pick on Sniper to get a rise out of him, and so on and so forth until something is broken and they're either aggresively arguing or aggresively making out. Who's to say.

There's so many possible ships and honestly? I haven't seen a single one I could automatically dismiss (other than Scout/Spy, but Scout & Spy as a familial relationship is good). I wanna do more of these as I find more ships I like, obviously I didn't even mention anything with Demo, Pyro, or Scout, and I barely mentioned Heavy, but what can I say I'm biased <3

Part 2

[ladythornofrivia]

Cigarette Girl

Pair: Rindou x Reader

Warning: Mature Content, Adult Language and Adultery (if you’re under 18, you cannot read this)

Author’s Note: I wanted to play Resident Evil 4 Remake; I heard a lot of good reviews. And I also want to play Silent Hill 2 Remake. See, I never ever play Silent Hill franchise, but I heard a lot of positive reviews. And hopefully it’s out on PS4 version, too, cause I saw the trailer of the remake and I just want to play it. But at the same time I want to gather so much manga—I don’t know what to choose. Enjoy the new chapter; make sure to read the previous chapter to know what’s going on. (Note: Please report if someone decides to steal my synopsis and work. Notify me. Thank you ❤️)

(Listen to this song while reading this chapter, pls.)

Chapter 3: In Times They Meet in Dreams

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Rindou was never a busybody. He’s never a playboy, nor is he a chatty person. He’s a reserved and cool-minded boy with a longish hair past down to his collar bone with two-toned colored hair. While his locks are bleached, leaving sky-blue highlights, loose and long strands framed onto his face that nobody could see his eyes instead of slicking it back.

Like Ran, they like to change hairstyles; they don’t want anything the same: they want to keep themselves fresh and impressed with their youthful and charming looks for the crowd to awe at their unique assets. One main difference between the Haitani brothers is their personalities. They have the same interests, but Rindou is a walking “speak unless spoken to” type of guy. And can be brutally blunt when someone does something infuriatingly annoying to him, who isn’t afraid to use physical confrontation unlike Ran, who likes everything to be smooth as possible, a kindly gentleman way.

While obtaining fresh look, Rindou like to keep his life—and himself—quiet, while his brother likes to be loud and a teasing one compare to Rindou’s total composure. While Ran is flirtatious and a tease to women, women considered Rindou in a passive-aggressive favor of staying away from him. Though there are times women flirt with Rindou, but Rindou liked his personal space more. Ran coursed his emotions through loudness and charm, while Rindou coursed his emotions through calm and passive sarcasm.

Everyone got to know the older Haitani brother—people were complimenting Ran on having a smooth and snowish complexion with violet eyes gleaming with mischief and dauntless. As his hair glowing like obsidian and halo floating, as if blessed to be born with winsome looks.

For Rindou, while they found him charming, they also found him too stiff and rigid, like a cold rock with round light-flickering glasses—frightening. While people call Ran the “cool senpai”, Rindou hadn’t received any nicknames other than “glasses” or "silent rock". As much as Rindou ignored the remarks among people, he wished they would stop; this was getting old for him. Not that he’s opposing threat or an obstacle in Ran’s life, it’s just that people prefer Ran over Rindou is because of his lively presence. Never a dull moment with him. Whereas Rindou, he mostly spend time elsewhere with ambient atmosphere, where there are time he likes to produce his own music or having detox. If he were to act as Ran, as wild and energetic as Ran, he possibly might get a lot of girls under his finger. But Rindou chose not to. Both of the Haitani brothers are popular, but, Rindou chose to be silent and chose to do keep his head down because he wanted privacy—private and public. Hence why he isn’t the center of attention.

People assumed he doesn’t do any parties or gets girls into bed all at once. With his different looks, they weren’t so interested. He got DJ skills, but conversational and romantic wise, he lacks department. They thought of him once as anti-social and anti-romantic.

Ran is the life of the party—at school, at the clubs, anywhere that’s mundane and boring, he’ll liven it up fast, but gets in trouble; Rindou wouldn’t hesitate to call Ran “idiot”. Ran got kicked out of the library once for causing ruckus.

Rindou participated in those events, dressed up handsomely as much as he can, but none of their eyes are caught towards Rindou’s direction, as Rindou’s eyes were never captivated by anybody. Everyone thought Rindou is Ran’s personal butler. As long as he does his own thing, no one can disturb him.

Even when people said their hellos to Rindou, he’ll answer them with one word, then off he goes to his own world.

"Baby brother, you wouldn't mind if these people go to our place, yeah?" Ran slung his right arm over Rindou's shoulders. “They liked our music, and our service went high up with all the cash we got.”

The heaviness on Ran affected. Rindou cleaned their house last night for an hour. Lifting heavy things and scrubbing most stubborn areas for the guests to arrive. In Roppongi, it's their kingdom, their air, they'll never give it away. Especially girls.

"Don't 'baby brother' me," he said, lips pouting. “I’m a year younger than you.”

"Baby brother," Ran said, "don't be mad. Can you blame me? I was tired last night."

"Yeah, tired from all giving the attention to the guests coming over. They fucked up our space."

“It’s our new space!” Ran exclaimed happily.

“Next time, do your own cleaning. I’m not an errand boy.” Rindou freed himself from Ran’s arm.

“Besides, every girl in this school is nice, so caring and approachable, mentioning on how their boyfriends lack care and attentiveness in their life…some of the girls offered their virginity to me, wanting me to eat them out and breed them with my cum.”

Rindou grimaced. This wasn’t the first time Ran said those words. Rindou wanted peace and quiet in the morning. He can find somewhere where nobody could disrupt his sleep. As much as he likes to do clubs at nightfall like his brother, in the morning, he wanted rest. He wanted long dreams with his eyes closed, not open, where he could be dreaded and furious.

“Stop saying shit like that; I need sleep. I rarely get any since yesterday, thanks to you.”

Ran’s hands raised in surrender. “Suit yourself. While we’re still young, we got to taste every flavor of sweet and honey. We don’t want anything spoiled and rotten. Wouldn’t you agree? I’m thinking of buying more designer clothes for our next event.”

Rindou sighed. “Do it somewhere else, but not in our new place. You like to sleep on your bed when you’re tired, right? Then don’t cause shit.”

This was Rindou’s warning—first and last.

Ran’s lips curved into a grin. “Alright. Don’t be hateful to anybody, okay? You may think I’m loud and stupid, but I know you. You may be quiet and cold to everybody, but you’re very selective when it comes to someone catches your eye, and this happens on rare occasion. Don’t let it slip and go with the flow for once.”

And the bell rang. After lunch, class resumed.

It was time for the last lecture. The teacher lectured a new lesson for the day, and while the class took notes, Ran decided to flirt with the girl next to him, who was trying to her hardest to get a better grade for the next quiz. As for Rindou, in the other class, was taking notes, jotted down every crucial word. While he’s trying to have fun in life with nightclubs and DJ, he also wanted to focus on serious matters that might affect his future on the long road. He can imagine his older brother slacking off like a useless fly that doesn’t know where the exit is when sober.

Something tapped against his shoe. A purple erase with a dinosaur sticker. His tongue clicked, nearly bending down to reach for it.

He nearly cursed when he couldn’t reach out anyone, whoever the owner of the purple eraser. Examined the object, he rotated it until he spotted the name.

(y/n), (l/n)

What a clumsy fuck.

The bell rang, and the students chatted amongst themselves, talking about the after school activities and clubs they’re planning to join in. Everything was magical to the students—all lively and hopeful. The innocence of current times gone forward.

He thought it’s too cheesy for a real life event. That’s why he needed a dauntless thrill at nightly hours to balance the normality of the daylight hours.

Disregarding the talkative hours, he got his stuff up, still holding the purple eraser.

He wondered who (y/n) is.

“Shoot,” a voice said behind him.

Sounds of bag shuffling with sharp clinks and rumples went through his ears.

“Where’s my eraser? It’s my favorite one!”

Almost sounding like a cry, Rindou averted his eyes to a girl went through a panic search on her school bag. Despite a plain design on a carrier, it has quaint charm to it, nothing extravagant or too-plain, just perfect.

With his hand slicked back, sighing, he went past the classroom doors and approached her in the middle of the hall.

Rindou cleared his throat.

“Miss,” he began, his shoe went to a little shift with the other, almost self-conscious.

“Where did I exactly put it? I know it’s right beside the notebook, and I remember I was done using it after making a mistake,” the girl said to herself, hand rummaging through the dark abyss of a school bag.

“Miss,” he said, louder.

Her head turned up, looking at him with wide eyes.

“Yes?” she squeaked, staggering back.

Restrained the confident smirk, he handed her back the eraser. “I believe this is what you’re looking for.”

“Oh—Oh! My eraser! You found it! Thank you,” she said, smiling with giddy.

His eyes squinted. “You like dinosaurs?”

She nodded, a blush summoned on her face. “I do! I recently watched Jurassic Park—sorry!” she stuttered, still blushing. “I just find it fascinating, you know. I know dinosaurs are for kids and all, but, I just can’t help what dinosaurs are like when they’re alive. I always wish that I could see a real-life dinosaur, but the meteorite got to it first.”

Rindou gulped, unsure what to say. “I, uh, see…”

With voluminous, black hair and dark-colored eyes with a dimpled smile, he couldn’t hold his smirk much long.

“Seems like you knew my name,” she said, tucking the eraser away. “You must be Haitani.”

“Which one?” he dared.

“You’re the younger brother, Rindou,” she said with confidence. “You aren’t the only Haitani people are talking about. Some girls I knew, they…”

His brow arched, his round glasses glistened. “They what?”

“They want to know if you’re available on hooking one of them up. They’ve been waiting on you to make a move, actually. Like the whole knight in shining armor. Like this character in ‘The Princess Bride’.”

Rindou just stared at her with a glint of curiosity.

“Not that…you know…” she scratched her in awkward motion. “Girls are very interested in you.” She puts on a wide smile once more. “They like the silent type. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Sorry, I can be really awkward when meeting people. Say, do you like dinosaurs?”

As soon as he opened his mouth, a booming voice came.

“What the hell are you standing for, (y/n)?! Let’s move it! We’re going at the karaoke!”

“Just give me a moment!” she answered behind her, where her friends are. Then she faced back to Rindou, who hasn’t taken his eyes off of her. Her dark-colored eyes still flickered and bright like a shining star. “It’s really nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends. Don’t be a stranger, okay? We can exchange phone numbers if you want.” Before he could reply, she scribbled and torn the paper out and gave it to him. Then she left. “Thanks for bringing back the dinosaur eraser! I owe you one.”

Watching her afar, Rindou found himself—his heart coiled at the sight of the girl who noticed him for him—for the first time.

Cute.

Ran is right.

She had certainly caught his eye.

*~~*~~*

{Present Day}

One day later, Rindou received a call from Sanzu, asking Rindou to meet him at the office. Rindou went and confronted Sanzu, where they discussed their plans beforehand.

“You disposed her, right? Just like I asked?”

“Yes,” Sanzu affirmed. “I did.”

“And the traces?”

“They’re all gone for good.”

He almost seemed nervous.

“This letter is from her,” Sanzu said, almost quiet, as if this isn’t the real Sanzu speaking to Rindou.

As he ripped the envelope, Rindou heard Sanzu’s fainted gasp.

“What?” Rindou asked, almost impatiently.

“You have to see this,” is all Sanzu said.

Discarded the sheets, on the chair, there’s a newborn infant in the basket.

Taglist: @galactict3a @colored-tr-panels @glamourkills18 @f1yh1gh @onyx-blossom

[applestorms]

Not quite sure how to word the thoughts I'm having in reaction to Trump's re-election today, so I offer these excerpts from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed up as supplement.

Plenty of people have already been discussing the emotional reactions in response to this, as well as creating and spreading great resources to prepare for the future should you need them. There is comfort to be found if you need it, mutual anger and frustration should you need the catharsis. We are not moving into this alone, and do not allow yourself to be convinced otherwise.

My goal with this post is not to reiterate the same points over and over. Rather, I write this to add one key point that I think is of the utmost importance to remember, and that I offer you with the wish that you will think about and consider it for yourself:

You still have agency.

It is out of a failure to remember this fact that I feel we have gotten into this position-- yet it is through gaining recognition of it again that I know we will make it through this.

If the results of this election are anything, they are proof that this kind of fatalistic, doomer nihilism bullshit is exactly that which benefits our oppressors-- the patriarchs, the racists, the rapist capitalist fuckers who did not have to win this election. Our apathy is killing us, and it is serving their means-- passivity quite literally allowing global harm and destruction to the most vulnerable of our communities. This widespread pessimism is a fucking parasite, it is the voice of our oppressors themselves spewing their shit into your ear, and you cannot let it overtake you.

I say this as psychological, emotional, and material advice: you can't fucking live if you don't take your life as your own.

I am not unsympathetic to the feeling of hopelessness in the face of what feels like overwhelming horror and doom. There is no experience more dehumanizing than feeling like your voice means nothing, your actions mean nothing, your existence and being itself influences no one. It is understandable that when looking at both your own and others' suffering, your response is despair and anxiety, resentment of the fact that you were born at just the wrong time to have to live through such a historical moment.

The fact is, there has never not been a historical moment. Humanity is history, and it always has been-- reality not some static, unchanging set of boundaries and systems, but an ever-evolving, ever-transforming social system, entwined within itself, contradictions running to its core because humanity itself is contradictory. There are no clear boundaries between identities, responsibilities, the pure good of the superior class and sinful evil of the degenerates. It is a lie birthed within you by the oppressors, for their benefit, to believe otherwise, to fall for the falsity that we are distinct individuals, separate from birth, doomed to simply and submissively accept whatever the world happens to hand to us.

You are not some position within a triangular hierarchy of the world that decides for you whether or not you suffer. You are a fucking human being. You think. You act. You live.

We are interconnected. For better and for worse, we are free agents. You have control over your life, small though it may seem. We've gotten through this before, and we will get through it again, together.

We have arrived at this particular point in history only through the collective action of many, and we will only get out of it by the same means. You are not an object. Your actions, your words, the connections to the people you love and care about and even those you do not know, all mean something. Please-- don't allow yourself to be domesticated into passivity, into acceptance of some "fate," about how the world is just inherently fucked for the next four years because of one goddamn horrible election. Whether you like it or not, you transform and influence the world every morning that you continue to wake up and breathe and speak.

It was shitty yesterday, and it will be shitty tomorrow-- but there was also hope yesterday. And there's going to be hope tomorrow.

We must take care of our own. They are not going to do it for us.

signed, a bitch, a faggot, and a dirty-blooded product of immigrant miscegenation. this is my goddamn america, my life, and my people. that asshole is not taking that from me.

[horizon-verizon]

Something that bothers me about DotD is that I feel GRRM doesn't help his case much if he means the reader to sympathize with Rhaenyra's cause despite her shortcomings with the nature of the trajectory he chooses for her downfall. Now I'm not at all saying it's wrong to show her as flawed person, with hints of era-typical bigotry. But her acts against Nettles etc. make a reading that she wasn't good enough to support her after all not uneasy, leading to sexist implications considering the theme.

*EDIT (5/31/24):

Doylistically

Rhaenyra suffers from really bad sexist writing on GRRM's, not just the maesters', part and it undermines his own point.* And no, she doesn't need to be necessarily "moral" like Dany to be a deserving ruler.

The point of her story was to highlight how no matter how good or evil or morally ambiguous a person you are, if you are female, you are subject to losing a power men are just granted and subject to "mobilized" male violence. Or usurped. And this is inherently wrong. Rhaenyra chose to go to war rather than give up. This is valuable. Visenya was not thinking "for the realm" or for the benefit of smallfolk or outside of her family, yet she as so many fans bc she was not passive or restricted by "madness". She has less sexist writing. The below is still relevant.

*EDITED POST* (5/4/24)

Found this lovely post by la-pheacienne HERE, explaining how Rhaenyra's tragedy is an ancient Greek on as well, how Rhaenyra became what she was.

It's strange. The Dance is both very very simple, yet it presents interesting questions.

I go back and forth, bc I see GRRM's sexist folly AND some points abt how one evaluates and has discrepancies of the "worth" of a female vs male leader.

ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS BOOK, IN-WORLD, WAS WRITTEN WITH THE IDEA THAT FEMALE-RULER=BAD RULER=BAD-FOR-THE-REALM!!!

It's a story of two very flawed factions (one still, I think, in the actual wrong) vying for power, but it essentially is the bloody catalyst for the need of sets up the death of the dragons and Daenerys'/Rhaegar's existence in Westeros--Dany's being Azor Ahai!

Rhaenyra unequivocally relied much on on her posiiton and class privilege to carry her through, as many female rulers and nobles would because without it they cannot hope to have the power they often are denied. But bc this privilege comes with the price of some level of compliance with the status quo AND can make one develop forgo looking at things apart from one's survival or dignity, it can also lead us into hurting others like Nettles who would have actually helped us succeed.

"Nature" vs Nurture--Doylist 'nature' vs Watsonian 'nurture'.

What makes a person who they are? Their environment and history (the parameters and foundations for their decision-making), or just their decisions? Where is the line between showing a woman affected by her lack of political training (but still having to self-determine red/black dress moment and her drawing strength from her Valyrian heritage) AND showing her fairly as a person in her own right with many flaws? OR where do we realize that we ourselves are subject to making arguments based on principles we haven't learned are sexist in themselves?

And I am not a mother, so I don't know what it's like to lose not one but two kids in quick succession and under a year. There was a clear choice on GRRM/probably really Gyldayn/the story-teller's, part in making Rhaenyra seemingly "incapacitated" to be involved with politics after KL until Daemon left and she was left with the envious Mysaria (our Iago-figure) to have her fears played on.

We have to remember that this account is the least well-documented in F&B and the one with the most deliberately unreliable narrators with agendas in presenting some characters, esp Rhaenyra, a certain way. Septon Eustace writes Rhaenyra stuffed her face with pies AND that she cut her hand on the throne so the throne must have rejected her after landing in KL. This is most likely a retrospective exaggeration of the real situation out of spite AND plain slander, because:

even if she were eating a lot, it'd most likely be depression/grief/stress-eating and she had a lot to be worried about, her 2 sons died, PLUS she'd maybe eat her fav foods to feel more at the home that always should have been hers

we already heard the writers fat shame her for not putting off her pregnancy weight -- sexist patriarchal body standards ignoring real health & anatomy/medicine to affirm itself -- meanwhile Helaena & Aegon the Elder both were plump-fat, and we hear of no insults or repetitive notes about them?!

Eustace really hated her probably for not using him as he wanted her to or what he was used to as Viserys, Viserys' courtiers, & Alicent most often did PLUS Rhaenyra was ultra-femme, but was not demure nor pretended to be -- again, sexist standards of feminine behavior or presentation

Aegon IV was as unworthy a leader as anything we ever see in Westeros...yet we hear nothing of the throne cutting him...Aenys I? Maegor, and not in his death!; it's a chair made of literal swords...people are going to get cut; OR it never happened bc Rhaenyra was wearing armor at the time -- basically superstition needs to be logically analyzed before we go "that's symbolism!"

A) GRRM Othellos Rhaenyra...Kinda. I just See some Things that Remind Me of the Play

Here, we know Rhaenyra definitely ordered Nettles' death, this isn't a Gyldayn invention or misunderstanding for the "Othello-ing" I name. It is narratively important that Rhaenyra become a tyrant not bc she was an evil person or stupid from the jump, but because she is an example of one who didn't manage to work through her own fear, grief, and paranoia (caused by the system's constant failures against her) to do as Dany did and rely on compassion instead of fear to assure her survival.

1.

Without as much proper or as-much-political/military training as Jaehaerys I's and Baelon and Aemon had--Rhaenyra was that much more vulnerable. BUT she also could have gained a lot of experience in ruling Dragonstone in all thsoe years (15-16, or 20?) alone.

Let's take the first scenario: To not be fully ready or developed enough to put up much of a necessary fight against those that would oppose her and dissolve further than the already shaky bonds between Targ family members that existed since (honestly) either the generation of Aenys' and Maegor or Jaehaerys I.

After adopting much of Andal/Westerosi noble customs and especially male primogeniture, the Targs began betraying its female members and underdeveloping them almost since its dynasty's inception.

So GRRM makes Rhaenyra's flaws a direct result of her generational deprivation and gender discrimination, coming from Maegor and Aenys, but at the same time, it seems he went too hard in the paint to make Rhaenyra a woman without some necessary sense to accentuate her victimhood by making most of the bigger strategic decisions the blacks make come from the men around her BUT he also made sure to clue us in on how Rhaenyra is not like Dany in that she ultimately chooses her class privilege instead of measured compassion to maybe save herself.

A question some may have: Why make your female character so flawed instead of making her more of a great & strategic or very compassionate foe to reckon with, which would further hammer in how unfair it was that she was usurped? We can extrapolate that GRRM not making her active enough (w/o her being a warrior necessarily, at least a strategist or bring one startegy up!) was just sexist of GRRM. this plus the sex abuse agianst her, We didn't need all that.

I mentioned how Rhaenyra serves as a way to re-contextualize Daenerys and the importance of ingenuity & compassion that will really carry one one into both personal and collective success/survival. (HERE is a Tweet by former brideoffires explaining).

Also, they both refuse to bow down to the oppressive standards of their time in their own ways. Even with Rhaenyra fighting for her claim and to protect her kids, she defying patriarchal restrictions of female leadership by refusing to just give up the crown despite the greens' usurpation and crowning Aegon. There is value in that, even with it going to war. Rhaenyra is an aspect of Dany's own struggles. She is where a woman in either position could falter. They share a pride needed to resist against those sociopoilitical circumstances and assert themselves.

Basically, Rhaenyra's most critical mistake and error and moment of self destruction was to accuse Nettles & use her own class privilege against a vulnerable. She relied on a thing that ultimately was set against her (you can't really separate the misogyny of the aristocratic class) to use against her "enemy", in order to feel powerful, even with her having been driven to that state from mainly others' desire for her throne.

After all, male claimants and rulers who are insane, predatory, or just weak are pushed towards the throne (Aegon the Elder, prime example for this story) all the time, so why not have a flawed or "mediocre" woman be the center of this story to accentuate the double standard held against her? To show how people like Cersei get...that, and what Dany as a woman could & has gone up against? Rhaenyra being as she was rather highlights how Misogyny doesn't care if you are a genuinely good person leader, one bad move, you're done. And Rhaenyra--to go back to the scenario abt "training" or if she did obtain "enough" experience, and even then we should wonder how much or if GRRM just wanted her to be that way for plot-sake--wasn't the most strategic, much of it due to her class entitlement. Which the greens share.

Men like Robert Baratheon, Stannis, Ramsay Snow/Bolton, or any of the current male Greyjoys who grew up in the Iron Islands? Even Canon!Jon Snow is better than most men of his time, but he is cruel when he thinks he has to be and has himself executed a child for disobedience and treachery. He also makes emotion-based/involved/inspired decisions (not often, but they exist), and he also makes mistakes. They get to hold positions of power without any added troubles (as Rhaenyra had) to the regular ones of greedy challengers or those resisting their plunder and reaping.

Why should we hold Rhaenyra to a much higher standard than these men, as much censure, as the fandom and canon society does? Especially since it's not really her story (overall), it's Dany's? None of the autonomously ruling female leaders of the story receive half as much censure for character or leadership skills (true or false) as those men I listed. Rhaenyra and Daenerys "Stormborn" Targaryen are usually the subjects, with some other Westerosi women as well, sometimes Catelyn even. All that is obviously due to misogyny, to this idea that because you are not the typical candidate or desired one for the position of power, you need to "prove" yourself to specifically those who get that power without having to fight that hard or experience the doubt of leadership similar to a woman.

In other words, trying to actually 100% buy into what the Westerosi male lords or what we think they'd want in a leader was never going to work for Rhaenyra. She kinda already did, and look where that got her?

2.

How much of her paranoia (actually her breakdown) is understandable and consequential, as GRRM wants us to consider?

Gyldayn would say or think she should have been better, but considering what she was up against as a woman, does he really think he could do better? Or rather, how much do we excuse her for in lieu of her victimhood in the face of lifelong concentrated abuse and misogyny at almost every front?

Even if she had somehow quickly overcome her own grief in less than a year after both of her oldest sons died before she took KL, why are we so expectant of that? That's inhumane to me. Or I could be over emotionalizing it, idk & I don't think so.

And with the green having taken the royal coffers before they left, what would someone else have done under the immediate pressures of the lack of money, fear from smallfolk around the executions whose observations are charged and hate against the taxes raised bc of said lost moneys, and then the worst rioting exacerbated/caused by a crazy man most likely sent by the Citadel to turn everyone not just against her but all the Targs and destroy the dragons....

It's a lot all at once and something that not even Jaehaerys had to deal with, since:

Maegor at least was very dead by the time he actually got to KL.

The royal treasury was always intact AND he had Rego Draz (a Pentoshi man) help him develop his strategy of taxation, which encouraged the nobles to spend more....again in totoal PEACETIME.

since he was male, he never had to face widespread and local disfavor or contempt for his abilities (subtle or unsubtle) on account for things he cannot change or of beliefs against his gender, right to occupy a space, etc. as a woman does, esp a woman slotted to rule over other men -- people doubted him for his age/lack of experience, but they gave him more grace than they did Rhaena, his older sister

Finally, Jaehaerys may have lost two brothers (Viserys and Aegon) and a father, but Aenys didn't die by cold murder. His brothers we: A) don't even know he was close to or not, there were big age differences b/t him and them B) they were siblings, not one's children

Even without the losses of her kids, after a lifetime of having to decide how and even if one should try to legitimize oneself as one deserving of the same sort of respect and claims to power that another demographic just gets w/o trying--what does that do to the mind of a person, and under the pressures listed?

For Othello, it was using illusions and misunderstandings of adultery to put his sense of his masculinity in danger (as black masculinity is always put into question as being too "bestial" and inhuman, oversexualized--undeserving of the white chaste woman/high prize/object of white male power/public and political respect or "trust").

For Rhaenyra, it was her gender held against her AND then the betrayals, and she defaulted to feudal classism and misgynoir. Her conformity to that white female chastity of body and mind: what right did she think she had to claim power or herself without doing it in the name of a living "true" male heir/authority? And like Othello, she endured it her entire life, beginning with Alicent. At the same time, enjoying the trappings of a royal dragonrider who grew up believing that Targaryens were awesome beings who quite literally built Westeros the way it is?

That, I think, is what GRRM tries to create, this state of ethical "ambiguity".

It is true that compared to his other female Targ characters, the ambiguity is lacking because Rhaenyra is made too vulnerable to circumstances before her birth without her having quite enough substantial pushback or strategic will.

But Gyladyn wrote this book and we need to be careful with how he frames things or describes them.

B)

This will read back and forth, because I think there are other merits in some criticisms of Rhaenyra's character and her characterization.

1. Maybe you can skip this if you have repetition

I think that GRRM does try to write her from that Shakespearean aspect of psychological ambiguity from Othello, but I kinda agree that the symbol of the hysterical woman unfit to decide important matters of community and state fits Rhaenyra too well, whereas Othello actively resisted Iago more than Rhaenyra did Mysaria or her other councilors OR better yet, why not subvert Shakespeare a bit and have Rhaenyra do it better than Othello and last longer?

But that could be bc its' a maester, GYLDAYN, writing this book as propaganda!

And comparing her to Dany, again, "really quick", for a reminder:

Even with Dany still existing and Rhaenyra losing, I'd prefer to see her still be more creative and active--just more engaged before more principal players in her camp betrayed her without her provocation, rather than just two dragonseeds when she had other dragonseeds with her and a full council (even if Celtigar had to go). Again, why not have her make one plan or get inspired once and have others refine that plan/beginnings of a plan? Perhaps make Celtigar the betrayer, so that she is faced with relying more on less conservative mindsets in her council? IDK.

(disagreement w/anon) But then this story would be so much less obviously confrontational, as I have already said above, 7 people are dumb:

the hate against her tells us much about other readers and ourselves as to what expectations we have towards men vs women put into situations like Rhaenyra's, where she's usurped on account of societal sexism AND one of her ancestors (Jaehaerys) making it that much harder for women to be considered fit rulers/inheritors of power.

2.

Aside from her other mistakes:

not keeping close tabs on the greens while at Dragonstone so she'll be alerted to Viserys' worst days so she can travel back to KL and make sure the greens couldn't do anything w/o resistance -> 12/2/23 EDIT: Alicent wasn't planning the gathering the green council so much as improving immediately after Viserys died: her imprisoning Rhaenyra's supporters at court, her gathering the lords for the council, and her keeping it a secret Viserys died were all quieted events that she likely did not share with many people, maybe Otto and that's it. Not even Criston. These movements were what "saved" her the necessary few hours to get the jump on Rhaenyra; she would not have been very vocal or repetitive even if she did share her "plans" that could have been more wishes-turned-into action-in-the-moment than real, detailed, and prepared plans. So it's not that out of possibility to believe that even if Rhaenyra or Mysaria sent spies they'd pick up on this.

*not going to Jeyne Arryn after fleeing KL (this was a very understandable move to make, as she needed dragons & there was nothing left or safe for her back in KL)

Rosby and Stokeworth: for all that we say she was grieving, that Corlys/advisors pressured her, that she felt that the need for supporters around KL for the present dangers outweighed far-reaching ones for her rule later, she was still Queen and it was still a mistake because she needed to shore up female claims for herself and her descendants (two things can be true at once); this I see as Rhaenyra bowing to a real, concerning pressure that you may not think is heavy but is, and one can choose to "forgive" her for it or not and deal with the implications for either scenario because she was b/t having some crownlands close lords on her side while still in KL. Her ability to maintain herself on the throne depended on convincing men like Corlys/as many men as possible on her side. That's just the lot for female rulers of ancient, medieval, early-mod period patriarchal societies.

the dragonseeds & Nettles (nail in the coffin, the actual undisputed wrong)

I think that I can say that Rhaenyra was not the ideal leader in case of temperament or intelligence. She wasn't 100% dumb as hell by "nature" (whatever that is in ASoIaF), indicated by her making fewer mistakes before her sons died, but she still made a pretty dumb one before they died (#3 in the list above). She was purposefully made a bit more shortsighted than Alicent.

And here's another thing. She only started to be hated in KL after the taxes (that needed to be raised after Aegon/Tyland Lannister/the greens stole all the treasury money, even when he himself organized a feast celebrating Aemond and himself for Lucerys' murder and Aemond burned down one of the major suppliers of food in Westeros' "south" regions: the Riverlands and esp their farmer's villages and fields) AND when Larys purposefully spread rumors about her before the Shepherd came along and worsened it with his own misogynist rhetoric. Because all these beleaguered people wanted was to get out of danger and starvation, & when she couldn't immediately provide it, they understandably got riotous.

However, it is also true that with what she dealt with after taking KL--riots incited by Larys and the Shepherd, accusing her of killing Helaena; Larys taking out Maelor in the first place when he was perfectly safe in the Keep; being unsure of how long her followers would follow if she didn't at least comply with the Stokeworth and Rosby incidents.

And her moving to Dragonstone, to me, was not an absolute mistake or at least something she could avoid without losing another valuable thing. She and her family needed their own base, which is psychologically and politically true. But, again...not monitoring her father and waiting for the aftermath of his death at all, if that is in fact what she did? smh.

Why isn't it enough to know that she was unfairly usurped? Why do we look for the ideal leader in the woman during her own disempowerment, and not at how there is a difference in expectation for her versus her male rival in terms of competency?

3.

Let's play a little here. Even if Nettles and Daemon did sleep with each other, it is very clear that the better strategic decision would have been to question her after all her true enemies were defeated and make use of her until then.

But, once more and as I say in this Twitter thread, the deal with Nettles was accompanied and carried by the already existing Targ-Andal sexist paradigm of legitimizing one's rule through blood-purist/sexist principles. In that way, canon!Rhaenyra was not that much more exceptional than other Westerosi women under the condition of pressure looking to shore up their own claims.

AND again, it's a maester, GYLDAYN, writing this book as propaganda against female rulership/autonomy!

The Dance, more than any other account in F&B, is the most unreliably told tale because its sources (Mushroom, Orwyle/Munkun, and Septon Eustace) all seek to besmirch or objectify Rhaenyra for their own ends and are the only ones that provide the "clearest" narrations for Gyldayn, another master, to narrate. And GRRM does it on purpose:

We only get specific events that are told through a hateful gaze; what other traits and behaviors Rhaenyra could have done or said, we do not have access to and sometimes must use context to conclude our best guess. Thus, Rhaenyra also feels, to the reader, as if she could be something more than what's presented. Unlike its male characters, the Dance account gives one-note descriptions of its adult female participants because women already do not occupy or perform the same public activities as their male counterparts and thus are given less attention, unless they are Rhaenys, Alicent, and Rhaenyra. And we aren't privy to their most vulnerable moments (unless they are likely made up to disparage them OR so public as to be noticed). Emphasis on it feeling that way. It is Mushroom who says that Rhaenyra was angry that Daemon disobeyed her about Nettles: "By evenfall, Rhaenyra Targaryen found herself sore beset on every side, her reign in ruins. “The queen wept when they told her how Ser Lorent died,” Mushroom testifies, “but she raged when she learned that Maidenpool had gone over to the foe, that the girl Nettles had escaped, that her own beloved consort had betrayed her ("Rhaenyra Overthrown")". Which I can believe, since it follows her need for backup that she lost in Ser Lorent and the lack of such backup due to Daemon's refusal to follow orders or allow her orders followed. I can see Rhaenyra being angry and feeling betrayed by that. But Mushroom, as ever, also injects himself where it is impossible that he'd even be seriously considered as her companion and confidante: "At dawn, a hundred men attended her in the throne room, but one by one they slipped away or were dismissed, until only her sons and I remained with her. ‘My faithful Mushroom,’ Her Grace called me, ‘would that all men were true as you. I should make you my Hand.’ When I replied that I would sooner be her consort, she laughed. No sound was ever sweeter. It was good to hear her laugh" ("Rhaenyra Overthrown")". So is Mushroom using the hypothetical event where Rhaenyra was angry with Daemon and raged at the defiance, or did he make it all up to aggrandize himself and establish an intimate relationship with Rhaenyra for the audience, what we the readers are faced with? I tend to think the former because my idea of Rhaenyra and her tyranny coming from grief-misogyny follows such.

this is the event (the civil war/the Dance) where the women, the center, the moment of Targ history where the dragons and life-supporting magic were lost and started to die without its matriarch, occurs when the would-be autonomous female heir loses her power? Not a coincidence -> context and ratcheting up the stakes for Dany, bc what would the reception to her be like?

And again, without a closer look at her upbringing, with all these people telling her story in their way and with their own agendas and misogyny....well it's hard for me, the reader, to totally devote myself to writing Rhaenyra's comparative simpleness to just her being her and it not her developing herself to what was available to her.

5.

Another theory is not a theory, it's obvious. Rhaenyra is a character developed after Daenerys was created and Rhaenyra is not meant to surpass Daenerys in military leadership acumen or potential (because she grew up in a context where Targ women lose much power and go untrained) AND he is mean to be her "sword", her "Visenya". Again, GRRM might have gone a bit overboard...but he's not terribly wrong.

Also, once again, they both refuse to bow down to the oppressive standards of their time in their own ways. Even with Rhaenyra fighting for her claim and to protect her kids, she defying patriarchal restrictions of female leadership by refusing to just give up the crown despite the greens' usurpation and crowning Aegon. There is value in that, even with it going to war. Rhaenyra is an aspect of Dany's own struggles. They share a pride needed to resist against those sociopoilitical circumstances and assert themselves.

If Dany didn't exist, I would have preferred to see a more non-motherhood sense of responsibility, a more altruistic side of Rhaenyra (that still doesn't outperform Dany).

6. (inspired by & courtesy of brideoffires's post HERE)

It's not a coincidence that more female Targs display the most pleasure and affinity for dragonriding:

Rhaena (Alyssa's daughter), who after bonding with Dreamfyre came more into herself and bestowed her siblings with dragon eggs so that they themselves would bond with their dragons sooner and thus would be one self-possessed early on to even become rulers

Alysanne, who cried when she couldn't ride Silverwing anymore

Saera, who would have tried to bond with a dragon and ride to freedom

Aerea, who claimed Balerion and also rode to escape her damaged mother

Daenerys Stormborn, who restored dragons to the dynasty with fire and blood (blood magic & bravery)

Rhaenyra, who became a dragonrider at 7 years old

Rhaena (Laena's daughter), who also managed to have her egg hatched when no other dragon existed

Rhaenys (Jocelyn Baratheon's daughter) protested in favor of her unborn child and died with her dragon

Baela, who fight a usurper on behalf of her stepmother and lost her dragon but made sure to give Aegon the Elder much more injuries that turned him inside out enough to be so contemptible to be put down by his own followers

and Rhaenys the Queen, who loved dragon-riding the most of her siblings despite not being a warrior like her sister, yet being the literal mother/direct ancestor of the entire dynasty

Yes, you have male dragonriders but looking at Targ history, who usually has a closer metaphorical relationships with the Targ dragons? And after who, chosen by right, was usurped because she was a woman, and whose kids then continue the line?

Notice how a running theme is motherhood as well? In ASoIaF (all of it, not just the novels) GRRM is fixated on motherhood and a woman bringing forth new/restored things. Or when she's stifled from doing so. Daenerys is a prime example. She brought dragons back when Aegon V tried and failed, when Aegon III tried and failed and when Aegon IV did a mockery of it by trying to take Dorne. Rhaenyra gave birth to accomplished people (Jace, and Viserys II) and became a mother to two more (Baela and Rhaena). Again, it is through her that the Targs can even continue. Yes, Daemon is the father, but he wasn't made heir--Rhaenyra was--and Jace would have been a good king. And she was fertile, having birthed five kids and safely. Unlike Alysanne, who had many miscarriages and stillbirths and infants dying before they got to 3.

Conclusions

Again, I go back and forth, bc I see GRRM's sexist folly AND some points abt how one evaluates and has discrepancies of the "worth" of a female vs male leader.

Rhaenyra is a good example of a victim who wasn't necessarily a good person or an ideal ruler and neither was she a horrible ruler or an evil person (until Nettles).

GYLDAYN is writing this book as propaganda against female rulers/women having power that men traditionally are granted and have. But GRRM still puts Rhaenyra through a lot of abuse without coming up with more than 1 or 2 ways to avoid or resist them (red-black dress; moving to Dragonstone, we don't see her try to manipulate Viserys..etc.).

Some come away with the feeling that Rhaenyra has less depth because she relies on her heritage and the fact Viserys bestows her: What else, other than her Valyrian heritage and her kids, keeps Rhaenyra going, they may ask? Similar to Dany, Rhaenyra uses the fact that she does come from Valyrian dragonriders and conquering Targs to validate to herself that she deserves to fight for the throne. Differently from Dany, she does this with the fact that her father clearly named her heir and would have given it with his own hands.

This is what rhaenin-time says in this reblog:

It just rings so familiar to real-world politics and conversations. How many people with reactionary/conservative politics have we all encountered who, instead of arguing about why their stance is better, start to nit-pick inconsistencies and hypocrisy in liberal and leftist stances, even though what they offer is far worse? Because they're not saying their side does not have the same problems. They're saying those problems are natural, those problems cannot be resisted, that anyone who tries and does so imperfectly is a hypocrite, so you're a bad person for trying at all.

At the same time, I've also felt the frustration with the negligence of some more personal depth that is similar to women like Visenya or Rhaena (the Queen Dowager).

Again, to repeat myself (from point #4), it all comes from the desire for the alternative leader to the conservative type to be morally better than them for the greatest possible change. But we already have that in Dany and Rhaenyra is only mean to serve as to re-contextualize Dany & hammer in how she is so important.

Rhaenyra's one main "flaw" (shaped by society/history) is that she was blinded by her need to self-assert herself above all else in the face of her dissenters...since childhood and never developed past that crutch partly bc that was where she was.

*EDIT* (8/21/23):

THIS is a great post by @mononijikayu about medieval queens, female rulers, the history of how women in leadership positions were made and seen as threats to the very structure of social "order", and contextualizing Rhaenyra thru Empress Matilda. I didn't even know about Matilda's husband being comparable to Rhaneyra's Daemon! PLZ READ!!!!

Excerpt:

just as much, along with these fictitious portrayals, more lies are depicted. these women are considered vixens that cause havoc to men by shifting them into desires and danger. through the written word, we see how women are cast in roles of villains in men’s lives. it is because by their conclusive thoughts, women are the only creatures that are able to turn ‘good honorable men’ into despicable creatures who do shameful, deplorable acts for the sake of women’s pleasures.  [...] it is within this narrative that ancient chroniclers declare that women were in fact the doom of men. if they were not able to control the dangers posed by the wiles of women, then the foundations of the mighty society they had built would be up in flames.  [...] as i mentioned, these factors of community are written down and preserved. and with that, the example of the ancients were the foundations by which medieval society built itself. the same concepts continued to cause the same issue within society and that was the exclusion of women from participating in the bigger picture of community and state, much so with governing states in their own right—without judgment or disapproval. 

[plasma-studios]

oh right new fluffy filler errorink oneshot

enemies, definitely (ao3)

The concept of enemy is simple. People are not. Gods, especially, are not. There are many gods out there who are intimately familiar with the concept of enemy. Take Dream and Nightmare, for instance. Their conflict is simple; the battle between good and evil. More or less. An altruistic one versus a malicious one. It’s simple to understand.

However, and I say this with no ill will, some Gods out there defy this. Some gods too are grossly familiar with the meaning of enemy , and somehow defy it just by existing. I wish I could say it was fueled by something easier to write, perhaps love, the type of love that’s a light tickling kiss and easily described, but no. They just had to share a type of love that’s nearly indescribable. Though I must try.  

To this day, the God of Destruction claims he will never love the Protector, with a scowl too if you catch him in the mood. The God of Creation, a.k.a. the Protector, will laugh, and— this is the infuriating part— wink . What he comments always changes, and last time it went like this: oh, I agree. What we share cannot be called just love. Then the Destroyer flicked his cheek with a string, and he laughed further, as if I could not see the yellow blush of the taller. Ah, yes, the height difference ( don’t rub it in, he warns everytime it is brought up. oh, the way he gets flustered gives the Destroyer life, I am certain; though every time it happens it edges me steadily closer to a quicker end).

“You done, Creators?” Ink’s words spilt like him, elegant and light, though tinted with his trademark hue of colouring laughter. “Wow, colouring laughter? Error, do I really laugh like that?”

“Go ask someone with synesthesia.” Error was fooling nobody, on the tip of his tonue lay the answer: yes, and I love you for it. “Oi, don’t put words into my mouth. I don’t even have a tongue.”

“You could, though。 Ecto, right?” 

Error’s face scrunched up. “Why on earth would I summon my ecto-tongue?”

“Ehhhh.” Ink shrugged. “Don’t look at me, look at the Creators. They said it first.” He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, and Error watched him from the corner of his eye. Ah, young love. 

“ Young ?” Error said incredulously. “I’m older than Nightmare.” It wasn’t a good comparison, though, considering Nightmare was not even a millennia old. 

“Don’t age-shame him, Creators,” Ink chided. Error snorted, strangely unfazed by the Protector defending him, and also strangely unfazed by the slightest note of passive aggression in the narrating Creator’s face. 

“Key word, narrating. Do your job and stop interrupting.” us, went the unspoken word. 

“That would be wonderful, yes.” Alas, even the Protector didn’t protect the Creator. What a shame.

Error gave off the air of a man about to start whistling. “I see where you got the dramatics from.”

Ink laughed, a noise as clear as shimmering lakes in summer. “Oh, summer! I love summer. Remember that time we visited that lake? Which AU was that again…?”

“I love how you assume my memory is any better than yours.”

“Just being polite,” Ink replied rather tartily, with a tiny cheeky grin either of them missed. 

-------

“Hey, glitch.” Ink unceremoniously dumped himself onto a corner of the beanbag. 

Error didn’t turn from the code window following the latest update in Undernovela. “Hello, anomaly that does not live here. Or belong here. Or have any right to be here.” 

“You could start with a hello. ”

“Hello. Go away.” A single string flicked Ink’s cheek, and he snorted, “Tame, from you.”

Error’s glitches buzzed. “Nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Ink jerked back, mouth agape. “How dare you, I’m the nicest person you know.”

“I know Dream.” “I’ve been wounded . How could you?” Ink grasped at his chest. “ Betrayal . Absolute betrayal.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Error continued watching his Undernovela in the silence waiting for Ink to speak . Ink didn’t say anything, and if Error didn’t know him as well as he did he’d think Ink was interested in Undernovela.

“Oi,” Error finally spoke. “You keep shifting and fidgeting. What’s wrong?

Ink blinked a full blink. “Uh. I may or may not need a favour?”

“What’s in it for me?”

“...My eternal affection?”

Error shook his head. “Already have it, inkblot. Don’t want it anyway, by the way.”

“How about I pitch the idea for a ChocoTale? Or ChocolateTale? Eh, I’ll work the name out, but I’ll pitch it to the Creators. Com’on, please?”

“Ugh. Fine. What is it?”

Error was prepared for many things. 

He was not prepared for Ink to pull off his brown scarf, tugging it around… ah. There was a hole right in the corner, fraying at the seams. It was somehow discoloured too, almost desaturated. 

“What happened?” Error ran a finger along the affected portion. “ How did it happen?”

“Well, I found a new command I could run in AUs, and I was excited, right? So i went to Dream and he went you’re not testing that on the AUs. I mean, rude—”

“You were going to, weren’t you?”

“Not important. So, naturally, I had to, if just out of spite, but I didn’t realise it was only effective in Positive AUs, so when I tried it in some Netrual one, it came back around like a boomerang and hit me. Or my scarf. Rude.”

“That’s… so incredibly in-character for you.” 

“I know, you’re probably swooning.”

“Sure.” Error, to his dismay, was, for the idiot. “So, what do you want me to do?”

“Help me fix my scarf?”

“Ah.”

They sat in silence for a moment. 

“So… are you going to help?”

Error clicked his tongue.

“Get me thread this specific shade of brown. And a needle, I keep losing my few in the Anti-void.”

“Then can I watch you sew?”

Error blinked. “Uh.”

“It’s just— you always look so focused and pleased when you sew and it’s really sweet! If you’re comfy with it, of course.”

Error absentmindedly tugged at his scarf; blue fabric over yellowing skull=bone.

“Fuck off, inkblot.” “Can I stay, after?”

Error was very, very interested in his Undernovela now. “Needle, thread. Now.”

Ink laughed his colouring laughter, and Error couldn’t help but look back for just a moment. There, with his star eyelights, Ink looked at Error as if— as if he was everything there was in the world. He looked at Error as if he was worthy of being loved.

“Because he is. Because you are , Error.” 

And Error looked at Ink not as if he was everything there was in the world, but only because he had learnt the world was crueler the more complex it became with its details. So Error looked at Ink as if, perhaps, he could teach himself to love, if only for Ink who deserved it so.

“Don’t listen to them. You owe me nothing.”

Error didn’t reply at first. Then,

“You think I love you because I owe you it? No, inkblot.” He caught the question mark before it dissapated into another shape in his eyesockets. “I love you because I love you.”

Ink blinked. 

Then, ever so subtly, his tiny grin returned.

“Oh. You do love me.”

Error exhaled softly. 

“Needle. Thread. You owe me one.”

Later, when Ink arrived with the needle and thread, as he passed it to Error’s strings, he suddenly folded his fingers into a fist. Error paused, confused, and just then— 

Ink kissed his bundled strings.

And Error, well, perhaps it would’ve been easier for him if he crashed. Then he would not need to handle this… situation . But his glitches merely buzzed painlessly.

Error was silent, and as Ink’s grin teetered, as if he was unsure if he overstepped, the threads pulled him from behind. Ink let out a short oh!, having been caught off-guard. Then Error was on him, and the two melted into each other, a puddle of disheveled love, but still tasting sweeter in the present. 

Definitely enemies.