#or just take the easy route and kill king charles

[pandoratheprocrasticreator]

Tumblr Sexywoman Poll: Final Roster

Alright folks here's the final roster for my Tumblr sexywoman poll. Other people have done this but I want to see what kind of drama I can stir up this time. This will be a poll on which sexywoman is the most Iconic TM. What that means - if she's actually sexy, if she had cultural impact, if you just like her character, etc - is up to the individual voter.

Polls for each round will be up at 8 AM PST, with round 1 starting on February 7. Rounds 1 and 2 will last for one day each, rounds 3 and 4 will last for 2 days each, and round 5 will last for three days. Just to build dramatic tension. (EDIT: I checked and Tumblr is lame, unfortunately, so my only options are to keep the poll up for a day or a week. I will keep the first three rounds up for a day each. I'll probably have the last two rounds up for a day too but if enough people thing keeping one or both of them up for a week is good for dramatic tension I will do that.) I will also have a one-day buffer between each round to prepare for the next one. (Please bear with me - I'm a student.)

A disclaimer: I don't know almost half the franchises on this roster. I only know them from the sheer volume of horny fanart of said characters that crosses my dash via osmosis. I am aware some characters on here are minors in canon, and there may be more in the franchises that I don't know.

The inclusion of canonically underage characters does not reflect my values, only that I've seen a lot of people on Tumblr sexywoman-ify them. Regardless of whether it was right in the first place, I've seen people on Tumblr be horny about all the characters on this list. To not include them on this poll would be disingenuous.

This post will be pinned and updated with links to the polls for each round. All polls will be tagged "tumblr sexywoman poll" on my blog in case I don't get around to updating the links right after the polls are up. While I LOVE to see people arguing over their blorbos this poll is just one elaborate shitpost on my end so I hope everyone keeps it lighthearted and fun. May the best Tumblr sexywoman win!

Pandora

EDIT #1: Polls for round 1 are linked here. Sorry for the delay, everyone!

Katya Goncharov Vs. Vriska Serket - Winner: Vriska Serket (59%)

Catra Vs. Bowsette - Winner: Catra (61%)

Sally Vs. Queen - Winner: Queen (69%) (nice)

Malfina Vs. Ianthe Tridentarius - Winner: Ianthe Tridentarius (54%)

Loona Vs. GLaDOS - Winner: GLaDOS (77%)

Marceline Vs. Cassandra - Winner: Marceline (74%)

Doc Ock Vs. Princess Luna - Winner: Doc Ock (67%)

Jessie Vs. Riza Hawkeye - Winner: Jessie (54%)

Hornet Vs. Eda Clawthorne - Winner: Eda Clawthorne (58%)

Rouge the Bat Vs. Shego - Winner: Shego (66%)

Zarya Vs. Hatsune Miku - Winner: Hatsune Miku (66%)

Monika Vs. Lord Dominator - Winner: Monika (63%)

Ena Vs. Franziska Von Karma - Winner: Franziska Von Karma (55%)

Isabelle Vs. Lady Dimitrescu - Winner: Lady Dimitrescu (85%)

Lusamine Vs. Junko Enoshima - Winner: Junko Enoshima (69%) (nice)

Lapis Lazuli Vs. Yor Forger - Winner: Yor Forger (68%)

EDIT #2: Roster for round 2. The polls will be up at 8 AM PST on February 9th.

EDIT #3: Round 2 polls are up!

Vriska Serket Vs. Catra - Winner: Catra (56%)

Queen Vs. Ianthe Tridentarius - Winner: Queen (50%) (holy shit)

GLaDOS Vs. Marceline - Winner: GLaDOS (69%) (nice)

Doc Ock Vs. Jessie - Winner: Jessie (58%)

Eda Clawthorne Vs. Shego - Winner: Eda Clawthorne (64%)

Hatsune Miku Vs. Monika - Winner: Hatsune Miku (60%)

Franziska Von Karma Vs. Lady Dimitrescu - Winner: Franziska Von Karma (51%)

Junko Enoshima Vs. Yor Forger - Winner: Yor Forger (73%)

EDIT 4: The age of Junko, Vriska, and Resident Evil big lady ends now! The classic Tumblr sexywomen have been massacred this round. Special shout out the Ace Attorney fans for getting Franziska Von Karma to just barely beat Lady Dimitrescu. It can't have been easy. Also special shout out to Deltarune and Locked Tomb fans. there were 127 votes on that poll and Queen barely just beat out Ianthe. I did the math and if the votes were split 50/50, then Queen only got one more vote than Ianthe. Every vote counts, people!

Roster for round 3. The polls will be up at 8 AM PST on February 11th.

EDIT #4: Round 3 polls are up!

Catra Vs. Queen - Winner: Catra (52%)

Jessie Vs. GLaDOS - Winner: Jessie (59%)

Eda Clawthorne Vs. Hatsune Miku - Winner: Eda Clawthorne (70%)

Yor Forger Vs. Franziska Von Karma - Winner: Yor Forger (53%)

Also, nominate someone for my Vriska poll coming next week!

EDIT #5: Roseter for round 4. Polls will be up at 8 AM PST on February 13th.

It is with a heavy heart that I announced that Franziska Von Karma has been defeated. Kudos to the Ace Attorney fandom. You tried your best. I've been told that since like 50% of my followers followed me for The Owl House, that this poll was rigged. Maybe I should have made this poll on a side blog to distance it from all the TOH stans for a fairer poll. Guess we'll see if Eda likers or Yor likers come out on top this round. On the other side, I didn't expect Catra OR Jessie to make it this far. Props to Catra for defeating Vriska AND Queen holy shit.

EDIT #6: Round 4 guys. Sorry for the delay:

Catra Vs. Jessie - Winner: Jessie (64%)

Eda Clawthorne Vs. Yor Forger - Winner: Eda Clawthorne (52%)

EDIT #7: Roster for round 5. This is the final round, so I'll put the poll up for a full week. The poll will be up at 8 AM PST on February 15th.

EDIT # 8: Final Round! This poll will be up for a week. I'll probably unpin this post in favor of the Vriska poll roster when I have that up. Probably around the 18th. The winner of the sexywoman poll will crown the winner of the Vriska poll when that ends.

Jessie Vs. Eda Clawthorne

Thanks for voting, everyone!

Pandora

[crusherthedoctor]

How about an update on what's been finalized and semi-finalized so far for Paper Mario: Forget It Jake, It's Eggmanland. No? Well too bad, I'm gonna do it anyway. :D

Some of these have been pondered out loud previously... but most of them haven't.

- Since Mario has full dialogue now, I've had to think about how best to portray him. Ultimately, while he's obviously in-line first and foremost with the Charles Martinet/Kevin Afghani portrayal in the games proper, I'm not averse to taking some minor touches from his recent movie portrayal, mainly regarding his relationship with Luigi, as well as the Captain Lou Albano portrayal from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. By which I mean, he'll tell the readers that they'll go to hell before they die if they do drugs. He's also occasionally prone to Mario & Luigi-esque gibberish during moments of confusion or frustration, a trait shared by the latter brother. And speaking of him...

- Luigi is one of Mario's partners this time around, because why not. :] And while prone to slapstick moments as always, he won't get treated like an outright punching bag.

- Despite a certain Vivian-shaped elephant in the room, Peach will be portrayed with the same dignity as always, being a supportive ally who helps out the heroes in a similar way to 64 and TTYD. Though this time, I don't see her doing so in captivity, as Eggman doesn't have much of a reason to kidnap her beyond for the lulz, and would probably just try to kill her outright like he would with the other heroes. Or ask her if she plans to jump.

- Bowser will also be treated with respect. It goes without saying that Eggman will inevitably cause problems for the Koopa King as well, but at the same time, I know better than to humiliate Mario's arch-nemesis and undermine him just to elevate my preferred villain, and I also want to avoid the easy route of having Bowser team up with Mario as has happened already in various other RPGs, in favor of a more unique approach (and also because it would probably be hypocritical coming from the guy who keeps bitching about the overuse of Sonic/Eggman team-ups). So with that in mind, Bowser's role will probably be done in a sub-plot format similar to TTYD, and at a suitably climactic point in the story, he'll finally get to clash with Eggman, Bowser's Inside Story-style.

- Like a lot of PM fans, I've always been somewhat doubtful about the validity of Beldam's supposed change of heart, but despite this, I felt it would be too cruel and cynical to turn Vivian giving her sisters another chance into a Shaggy Dog Story ("But you complain when IDW Sonic-" Context and characterization is important, get out the class). So instead, while it initially seems that Beldam and Marilyn have returned to their former evil ways, it soon becomes apparent that Eggman has forced them into it against their will, as an extra way of screwing with the heroes' heads. As such, one of Vivian's motivations is to free her sisters from his influence. (If it isn't obvious by now, the doctor is going out of his way to antagonise the heroes as much as humanly possible. Partly out of a scientific desire to see what makes these people tick... but mostly because he's just an arsehole who finds the misfortune of people other than himself amusing, as befitting his canonical narcissism and manchild tendencies.)

- Grodus, on the other hand, is a much different story, being on Eggman's side completely willingly. More specifically, Eggman's machinations include offering Grodus a new body and the chance for revenge against both Mario and Beldam that he was unable to act on until now, in exchange for some leftover X-Naut tech that Eggman can use as a starting off point to build his newest army of Badniks and other dastardly creations.

- This should go without saying considering who the author is, but there is no "true" final villain, ala Shadow Queen and Dimentio. Like Bowser in 64, Eggman is the leading baddie from start to finish. That isn't to say there won't be any twists and turns in the plot, just that they'll involve other matters instead... like the details surrounding his plan.

- Other characters from 64 and TTYD will show up, though I haven't fully decided on which ones yet. Just like with my Sonic works, I want every character I use to have an actual purpose for being there beyond mere fanservice. So far, Goombella and a slightly older Watt will definitely be in it, as well as a new variation of the infamous Huff N. Puff.

- References to the post-TTYD installments, while not completely non-existent, won't be all that common. Despite my controversial thoughts on those games (well, Super Paper Mario at least), this decision wasn't made to spite them. Rather, it's because it's somewhat tricky to acknowledge them in a way that blends well with the 64/TTYD presentation and tone that I wish to maintain. That said, there will still be some nods for their fans on occasion, like maybe a name drop here and there.

- For similar reasons, Kammy will be used as Bowser's lackey instead of Kamek, and Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings will probably be a no-show since they had no presence in the Paper series until much later. On the other hand, despite them having no Paper appearances period, I have contemplated finding a use for more distinct characters like Wario and Donkey Kong if I can think of something sufficiently meaty for them to do that ties back in some way to the overarching plot.

- There will also be some mild references to the non-Paper RPGs on occasion, such as Eggman's antics and overall demeanour reminding Mario a little too much of Fawful. Of course, as always, I'll try to not overuse them or make them too Flynn-tier hamfisted in their execution.

[theseventhoffrostfall]

Exactly! While I admit my Institute idea has them rule over a select section of Boston and have revamped with their technology, I always imagined other places like the harbor areas would be more productive, even without the Institute's high-tech equipment. I would have loved to see fishing or trade routes from tugboats or at least steamships traveling up and down the Charles River.

But my idea with the Triggermen relies on the idea that there's some sort of real industry, something to profit off of. You literally treat these mobsters, who have no real reason to hurt you, like raiders despite them operating everything from chem-trafficking to robot races in Easy City Downs.

My version of the Triggermen has them be the descendants of usually uneducated and run-of-the-mill raiders who learned about the old Pre-War mafia families and, being so far removed from that time, saw them as these god-like examples of how raiders should be: respected, feared, worshipped. Taking examples from Pre-War books, holotapes, newspapers, and even movies, these raiders would design themselves after their gods, wearing suits, cocktail dresses, and even speaking in mobster slang to better emulate them.

As time went on, these raiders and their descendants would become as powerful and as dangerous as the mafiosos they revered. The problem, however, is that they can't tell fiction from reality. Imagine the tribes in New Vegas who became the casino families: all of them playing the roles of what they THINK people of the time acted and dressed like, rather than what they actually were. For example, the Triggermen (the word "Triggermen" would even be an old Pre-War term used to describe gunmen, but the raiders thought it referred to the mafias in general) pepper their language heavily with hard-boiled slang and mobster terms--picked up from watching and listening to cheesy mafia films. A Triggerman could literally shoot someone dead and say "His gal had gams that go all the way up, capiche?" It's word salad, it's nonsensical, but to the Triggermen, if the badass kings and queens of the mafia back then said it, why can't they?

What the Triggermen wouldn't know, however, is that one of their newest leaders is the actual descendent of a Pre-War mafia clan and he wants to take control of the Triggermen and remodel it into something that could take control of Downtown Boston and bring glory back to his family name, instead of just running drugs and running robot races.

Yeah, that's an excellent point about the harbors. The pre-industrial world is a great model to look at in terms of how vastly important trade along rivers and coasts would be for a hostile, disunified wasteland. Coasts, especially--while hostile humans are still a problem (Raiders wouldn't shy away from piracy) you don't have hostile wildlife or probably super mutants and ghouls and such. I don't think Fallout oceans have established sea monsters in them, not that that would even be a deal breaker, and correct me if I'm wrong but I think the oceans would actually absorb most of the radiation that might accumulate around or be exposed to them, so they'd be healthier places than land anyway. They should by all rights also have land vehicles, but building ships would be even easier.

Your mention of the triggermen being divorced from the stuff to support their concept (functioning communities to actually do gangster stuff in) reminds me of a complaint I was gonna mention pursuant to diamond city, in that Piper as a concept is ludicrous. She's an intrepid newsy type in a world where the news is "there are fucking mutants outside trying to kill us. Same as last week. Stay tuned for big updates in the shriveled slightly radioactive tomato industry"

But yeah, I really like your concept of the triggermen. A sort of dark reflection of the Kings, with more grounding. A focus on them being criminals rather than wastelander warbands would be a nice little change of pace, but most of all I dig the notion of a guy that wants to build a grand, profitable and glorious but huge-target empire vs. the wise guys that just want to continue modestly making money "the smart way"

[ragingbookdragon]

You Can Take Off All My Clothes And Never See Me Naked PT. 6

A Haytham Kenway x Reader Story

Word Count: 3,200 Warnings: Explicit Language, Mentions of Past Abuse

Author’s Note: This chapter does go deep into the past abuse, so if that’s triggering, please be advised and be responsible. -Thorne

Haytham…was conflicted. Which wasn’t something he was too keen on telling anyone, let alone admitting to himself—he was a rather proud man. Feelings of the heart—love, which he even dreaded thinking about it—were not something he was truly accustomed to following.

           He’d not had any dalliances nor anything deeper since leaving Ziio and while he knew he’d never forget her, he couldn’t help but feel the same deep longing when he thought of (Y/N), the desire to hold her.

           Regardless of the fact that their social standings proved error, she was about as tight lipped about herself and her feelings as a miser’s purse during tax season. She was temperamental and found herself in deeper situations than she realized, partially in anger, the other part—well, it was mostly anger. She was snippy and used so much profanity that Haytham was surprised she hadn’t been struck by biblical lightning.

           But she was smart, absolutely, phenomenally intelligent, and could bounce theories with him back and forth for hours, pointing out every little instance of error and correcting it—(Y/N) was really the reason they’d conquered the gang-headquarters so easily, and increased trade-route with southern merchants. She could read and speak at least four different languages, from what Haytham had inconspicuously spied her doing so, and found that she gathered more information from drunk patrons than any of his top informants. She was broad-minded, which made him smile as he remembered the way she took Charles down six or seven pegs when she mentioned the Cherokee and Creek tribes. He’d never admit it, but the anger that had filled her and righteously come out towards his second-in-command filled him with great desire for her. He almost felt juvenile for even thinking about it. Foolish, is how he really felt.

           And she was beautiful. Not because she took special care of her appearance—she did, but that wasn’t what Haytham meant—but because she simply was. She hid every aspect of herself that she could, her personality, her life, even her soul. And while Haytham couldn’t claim to be the most open person, even he was more so than (Y/N). He briefly wondered if his attraction to her was the result of her obscurity. Did he genuinely feel attraction to her? Or was he just enticed by her secrets? By the dark shadows that lurked behind her eyes, holding tight to an equally dark past? Haytham had the feeling that her past was just as dark as hers, and from the little pieces she’d shared, the scar, the betrayal, perhaps worse.

           He heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes, waiting for the spots to disappear before he opened them once more. When he did, she was before him, a cocked eyebrow high on her forehead.

           “That was quite a sigh.” She remarked. “Everything alright, Haytham?”

           He almost smiled at how easily she used his name now but forced himself to frown. “I’m fine, (Y/N). Simply tired.”

           “Probably wouldn’t kill you to take the day off,” she said, collapsing into the seat before his desk. “Or days.” Her eyes shown with humor. “All work and no play makes dull boys. Isn’t that what they say?”

           Haytham chuckled. “Something along those lines.” He flicked a piece of paper her way, watching as she picked it up and read it. “Truthfully, that’s what I’m dreading.”

           (Y/N) glanced up at him. “I shouldn’t be surprised that the elite are holding a ball during a war, and yet, I am.” She tossed the invitation back onto the desk and crossed one of her legs over the other. “Are you required to go?”

           “Not required,” He said, and she filled in for him.

           “But bad manners and image on you if you don’t.” He nodded and she hummed. “So, what’s the deal? All you have to do is go, say hello, spend an hour, and then leave?”

           He allowed himself a rare moment of complaint, lolling his head back onto the chair. “That’s the deal. I don’t want to spend an hour talking to uptight colonists.”

           “This coming from the ‘King of The Uptight Gentries’, himself?” (Y/N) deadpanned and Haytham’s head snapped up as he glared at her; she waved it off. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Haytham, but—”

           “I don’t understand why people say don’t take this the wrong way, and then say something that is usually taken the wrong way.” He remarked and she rolled her eyes.

           “Well if you don’t act like a pissbaby about it, you’ll be okay.” Again, she ignored his glaring eyes. “So, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re an uptight asshole who’s arrogant around people who aren’t of the same social standing that you are.” His jaw dropped. “You think that people who are of lower classes aren’t really worth your time and that’s why you think attending a ball of the colonies is a pain in your ass—because you’re of the gentry and they think they’re better than everyone else.” (Y/N) simply wore a satisfied expression. “And that’s why all your friends are also uptight assholes.”

           Haytham felt like he’d been slapped, and he could feel the heat creeping up the back of his neck and across his cheeks—she definitely saw it because she grinned.

           “Aw, are you embarrassed?” (Y/N) huffed a laugh. “I’m not surprised. You’re not the type to get insulted with the truth very often.”

           “I am not embarrassed.” He countered, though his flustered appearance and voice did little to convince her.

           She leaned forward and hit him with a barrage of commands. “Then look me in my eyes and tell me you’ve never disregarded someone because they were a servant or a maid. Tell me you’ve never disregarded someone because they didn’t have shoes on their feet and were begging for money or food.” Her eyes narrowed almost sadly, and she murmured, “Tell me you’ve never disregarded someone because they weren’t fortunate like you, and born into a wealthy, high-class family that never wanted for anything.”

           “I—” he couldn’t manage anything and it had been a long time since Haytham felt any form of shame, but as he lowered his head and frowned, he felt it searing through his chest with a fury.

           “You’re a good person, Haytham.” His head shot up and he met her eyes, though they held a heavy bearing. “But for all the good you do for the upper-class…you’ve still got a long way to go with the little people.” (Y/N) rose from her seat and headed for the door.

           Something in his mind screamed at him to stop her and he called, “(Y/N), wait.” She turned, waiting for him, and he confessed, “I…have yet to find a partner to attend with me.” He tried for a smile. “Would you do me the honor of attending with me?”

           A rare smile crossed her lips, and it made his heart thump wildly in his ribcage. “I shall.” She spun on her heel and opened the door.

           “I’ll have a dress ready for you!” he added, and she simply waved a hand in response.

           When the door shut, Haytham collapsed into his chair and breathed, “Oh god, what have I done?”

***

           He smiled politely at every couple that passed and while his composure gave off the feeling of full confidence, inside, Haytham was a mess. (Y/N) hadn’t shown up yet, and he felt like a fool waiting around for her. He briefly wondered if she was standing him up. And while he wouldn’t put it past her—because it was something she would absolutely do—he felt like she would’ve at least sent a note before it. He let out an inaudible sigh and the ladylike giggle from behind him nearly sent him a foot in the air. He spun and he followed up an elegant navy-blue gown adorned with glittering jewels; he felt like he’d been shot.

           (Y/N) stood there with a coy smile, the gown tailored perfectly to her. “Lord Haytham, if I may be so bold, it’s almost as if you’ve never seen a woman before.”

           His mouth opened and closed like a fish and he blurted out, “You look beautiful.”

           She pressed a hand to her chest, toying with the ribbon at her décolleté, “I feel I should’ve known this was the color you’d choose.” She took his arm and squeezed his bicep. “Navy Blue is your signature color.”

           Haytham swallowed thickly and cleared his throat. “It’s always been an easy color to request.”

           (Y/N) laughed delicately and whispered, “Liar.” She nodded to the doors. “Do be a gentleman and escort me.”

           He snapped his mouth shut to prevent any more embarrassing statements and did as she said. As they neared them, he murmured, “I can help you when you need it when dealing with the elite. Some things might be—”

           “I know how to act like a lady, Haytham.” Her words were short and clipped and they booked no room for questions, but something in the way her jaw set told Haytham that she’d learned etiquette in a less than pleasing way.

           “As you say,” he replied and tipped his head at the guards stationed at the doors.

           They walked inside and immediately he could feel the eyes of the room on him, and gauging (Y/N)’s reaction, she could too. But she merely smiled and batted her eyelashes as they passed the other attendees.

           She gracefully plucked two champagne chutes from a servant’s tray and handed one to Haytham. “Here,” she hummed, taking a sip of her own.

           He accepted it with a quiet, ‘thank you’, and raised it to his lips. It was light, bubbly, and pleasant to the palate and as it went down his throat, he looked to her. Her eyes inconspicuously drifted from the patrons of the ball, sometimes lingering on people she seemed to know, others she didn’t.

           “Anyone catch you eye, (Y/N)?” It came off more teasing than he’d meant, and she chuckled.

           “Why? Are you jealous, Haytham?” She stared into his steel eyes. “Afraid to lose to a colonial man?”

           His jaw twitched and a flash of indignation came across him, but not at her—rather the thought of some other man taking his place.

           A woman appeared from the side and practically squealed. “(Y/N)!”

           She turned her head, face brightening at the woman in the lavender gown. “Grace!” (Y/N) pulled away from Haytham and he almost made a noise of complaint at the loss of contact. She hugged the woman before pulling away, looking her up and down. “Look at you! You look absolutely wonderful!”

           Grace flipped her long golden hair. “Well, it’s all thanks to you!” Her green eyes shifted to Haytham and she nudged (Y/N) in the ribs; a flash of pain crossed her face and Haytham almost asked about it. “Who’s this handsome fellow you’re with?”

           (Y/N) shushed her. “Grace!” The woman giggled and she sighed. “He’s my boss.” She turned and held out her hand to Haytham. “Grace, meet Haytham Kenway. Haytham, this is an old friend of mine, Grace Montgomery.”

           Haytham took Grace’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, a charming smile on his lips as he greeted her. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Montgomery.”

           Grace giggled like a schoolgirl causing (Y/N) to roll her eyes. “The pleasure’s mine, Mister Kenway.” She looked at (Y/N). “If I wasn’t married to my Isaac, I’d be beating you away with a stick.”

           (Y/N) couldn’t fight the rather unladylike cackle that left her, and she quipped, “You and every other available bachelorette in the colonies.”

           The women laughed and Grace looked at Haytham. “Mister Kenway, I hope you’ll allow me to steal (Y/N) away for a few moments. Isaac and I owe her a lot, and we’d love to catch up with her.”

           Haytham saw a colleague coming his way in his peripheral and he smiled. “Of course. Please, enjoy your time.” He met (Y/N)’s eyes and winked, watching her turn away quickly, but with a smile.

***Later That Evening***

           For a master of observation and tracking, Haytham was absolutely clueless about where (Y/N) had gone. She’d made a game of catching his eye the entire night and sending him flirtatious smiles—at least, that’s what he hoped they were. But somehow, she’d managed to lose his watchful gaze and disappear into almost thin air.

           He inconspicuously looked around for her, not wanting anyone to know a man had lost his partner, god forbid anyone ask where she was. Haytham passed the balcony and stopped, catching sight of the familiar navy-blue gown billowing in the wind.

           He walked up behind her and leaned on the railing beside her. “Long night?” he asked.

           (Y/N) didn’t look at him, but a grin crossed her lips. “A lot of smiling and ass-kissing.” Her eyes drifted to the rose garden below them and she offered, “Care for a stroll in the gardens?”

           Haytham rose and held his hand out, watching her set hers in it. They ignored the looks people gave them and descended the stairs into the garden, finding refuge in the arch.

           She sat on the bench, Haytham beside her and she looked up at the sky. “It’s beautiful out here.”

           “It is,” he responded, but his eyes were on her. He watched her raise a hand to her ribs and gently prod the area. “Is something the matter?”

           (Y/N) glanced over then down at her hand. “Oh, no. I recently got a tattoo and I—”

           “A tattoo?!” Haytham’s voice reeked of incredulity.

           She rolled her eyes. “I take it you’re a tattoo-virgin, then?”

           He almost recoiled at being called a virgin of anything. “I’ve scars all across my body, but no…no tattoos.”

           “They’re not that bad.” (Y/N) shrugged. “It’s sore, but nothing serious.”

           “What is it?” Haytham asked, cheeks reddening, and he cursed himself at such delinquent thoughts running through his brain.

           “A sun and a moon.”

           “May I ask why those symbols?”

           (Y/N) met his eyes. “To remind me that with the night comes the day.” He eyes went to the stars. “That there is hope for tomorrow.”

           “That’s a beautiful sentiment, (Y/N).” he murmured.

           She huffed lightly. “Feels a bit childish.”

           “It’s not.”

           She looked over and smiled heartfully. “Thank you.” He tipped his head in acknowledgement.

           They lapsed into a peaceful silence and over time, their hands had drifted together, thumbs brushing the backs of them.

           (Y/N) let her eyes fall to the ground. “It covers the scar below my left breast.” She felt his eyes on her but refused to look at him. “In fact, it’s not a scar at all…but a brandmark.” (Y/N) heard his sharp intake of breath and she stood, suddenly feeling cramped.

           She took a few steps away and leaned against the opposite arch, gazing out at the cityscape. “I received it when I couldn’t pay back the ‘time and resources’ he’d poured into me.” Her fingers dug into her side and the pain relieved her tension. “I was beaten and abused…humiliated and assaulted.” The tears felt hot coming down her cheeks. “For fifteen years, I lived in hell.”

           “How’d you escape?”

           (Y/N) looked over her shoulder; Haytham had stood and begun walking in an arc to stand on the other side of the arch. “I wasn’t the only girl there. There were others.”

           “A harem then?”

           She nodded. “Of sorts.” (Y/N) let out a heavy breath and wiped her cheeks. “A woman named Na’ilah trained me to fight. With my body, with weapons, with anything I could hold.” She met Haytham’s gaze. “We planned for two years to escape but…someone found out and told.”

           “You obviously got out.” Haytham recognized.

           “I did.” She nodded. “Na’ilah had managed to send message to a merchant’s boat. The guards appeared as we were boarding.” (Y/N)’s face twisted painfully. “Na’ilah threw me up to the sailors and told them to go. She…stayed behind to fight the guards off.”

           “Did she succeed?” he asked.

           “She did,” (Y/N) answered with pride. “She saw me off with a tearful smile and I never saw her again.” She looked at him. “I was twenty-five. I had no money, nothing to my name, and nowhere to go, but somehow I managed to get to the colonies and from there on I’ve…” she sighed heavily, her shoulders dropping. “I’ve managed to survive.”

           Haytham stood up from his leaned position and held out his hand to her. She took it. “How many have you told your story to?”

           (Y/N) scoffed. “That I haven’t killed afterwards?” He didn’t say anything, and she lowered her eyes. “You’re the only one.”

           “Truly?”

           Her eyes shot to him and she scowled. “It’s not exactly something I find I enjoy reminiscing about, Haytham.”

           He shook his head. “I meant no disrespect, (Y/N).” He met her gaze. “I just assumed you’d found someone to tell.”

           “Haytham, I’ve built a life on killing men who abuse women like I was. I’ve never really found time to tell people my life story.”

           “And yet, you’ve told me.” His words were soft, and he stepped to her, free hand coming to rest on her cheek, warm and gentle.

           (Y/N) narrowed her gaze, but it wasn’t with suspicion, rather fondness. “And yet I’ve told you.”

           Haytham’s heart grieved for her, for her pain, but with it came the urge to protect her. To keep her from ever feeling harm again. The indignation from earlier came back and with a harsh thump to his ribcage, he finally found himself admitting it—he was irrevocably in love with (Y/N).

           “(Y/N), I want to—”

           His words were cut off by the brush rustling and they split like they’d been burned, eyes narrowing suspiciously at the intrusion. A boot stepped out and (Y/N) picked up the concrete vase, raising it in defense. Someone turned the corner, and she felt her arms go slack.

           “Shay?”

           The Irishman smiled, but it dropped when he saw the vase. “Oh my god, were you going to hit me with that?”

           “I mean—I don’t know!” (Y/N) gestured to him. “What the hell are you doing here?” She set the vase back down and he turned to face Haytham as well.

           “We’ve got a bit of a situation, sir. We need you both.” The two looked at one another and Shay smirked. “Were you two having a moment?”

           Their heads snapped to him and they both snapped, “No!” They met eyes and laughed, and Shay rolled his eyes, spinning on his heel.

           “Yeah, yeah, and I’m the Queen of England.”

           (Y/N) glared at the back of his head and hiked her dress up, kicking him in the rear as hard as she could. “Yeah, and with hair like that, you’d pass!”

           Shay howled and turned on her. “That wasn’t nice!”

           “I’m not nice, Shay! I’m a bitch!”

           He scowled at her. “If my father didn’t teach me to respect women, I’d agree with you, but I won’t.”

           Haytham watched the two of them as they bickered, but his eyes kept drifting to (Y/N)’s face and all he felt was warmth spreading though him.

[nhjalthistflags]

Redo for my Scenario (info about which you can find here). 

Many would assume that the Battle of Nancy would be the end of the Duchy of Burgundy. With the Duke, Charles the Bold killed and no surviving male heirs, the French King Louis XI attempted to move swiftly to absorb Burgundy into the French realms. He could not contend with Charles daughter, Mary,  who selected Maximillian I, Archduke of Austria, as her coruler. When Mary was able to succeed, where her father had not, managing to convince her father-in law to reconstitute the Kingdom of Arles, the old Burgundian Kingdom that was absorbed directly under the rule of the Holy Roman Emperor in 1378, in exchange for surrendering the Duchy’s vast northern territories.With this move, Mary did what her father could not and raised the Duchy to a kingdom, ensuring  Burgundy’s future as an independent polity was assured.

              Burgundy’s next great challenge was to come with the French Revolution. Like much of Western Europe, Burgundy was swept up by the masses of Revolutionary troops, who conquered the kingdom and turned it into a “client Republic.” The revolutionary republican Burgundy was used as an experimental lab for new ideas, which if successful could transfer to the mother republic. One of which was federalism, an idea imported from the United States. Napoleon annexed Burgundy directly into his French Empire, but the old Kingdom was restored at the Congress of Vienna, to act as a buffer state against France.

              The revolutions of 1848 signaled the end of the old kingdom, as popular sentiment for a progressive reforms and inter-ethnic tensions led to rioting and rebellion. King Charles II chose to abdicate in the face of these challenges, and the modern republic took shape from there, first under the provisional government, then a more permanent form. Federalism was brought back with the adoption of the constitution of 1853.

              Burgundy, an early pioneer of the industrial revolution, tried to disavow itself of treaty entanglements, playing off competing power blocs against each other and allowing it to grow its Economic strength.  Despite its industries need for resources, the country entered the Scramble for Africa relatively late, only taking possession of the Burgundian Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.

              Despite Burgundian efforts, it was forced to enter WWI when Germany invaded the country in 1914, the Germany army seeking a easy route into France. Burgundy suffered heavily in the Great War, with much of the trench warfare occurring in its territory. Just as Burgundy was recovering from the effects of that war, Germany invaded again in 1940, conquering the Republic, which was not restored until 1945.

              Being devastated by the two World Wars, Burgundy was eager to prevent a third, becoming one of the strongest proponents of European integration. This results of this advocacy can be seen in the role Burgundy plays in the EU today, with the European-level institutions being headquartered in Dijon.