#out of context prisoner's throne

[fantasyfangirling4ever]

'"She's bitten me before, you know," he says with a grin. "It wasn't so bad."'

[jurdanhell]

EVERYBODY STFU

[cromulentreader]

S for Spoilers

[eerna]

GIRLBOSSSSSSSSSSSSSS~~

Tpt ch 3 drop and it wild

DOES SHE GIRLBOSS HARD I'M SO EXCITEDDD I gotta go read it lemme just reply to some anons

[toa-archive]

So last week Aaron unexpectedly posted the early story grid for Wizards (Here) which threw a lot of things into a tailspin. Getting hold of anything Wizards related is always gold given how much was lost due to time constraints or other factors, this one was fascinating.

Then yeah he goes and drops another one earlier today:

Source

Now there is a running joke on the Archive that the account holder has a habit of enacting this meme except it's less conspiracy theorist more they are an idiot and can/will connect dots others miss.

AND BOY DID THIS THING HAVE DOTS

Now there's a lot to talk about in that grid from the fact it's when the past!team and present!team was still a thing, people you're not expecting to die dying, Douxie never meeting Zoe in Camelot as the prison break never happened....

And a sidetrack please forgive me:

Source for the artwork

Called it! The odds of being wrong on this one were minimal because Gnasha was killed at Killahead, due to AAARRRGGHH was a small jump in logic but oh. Oh that vindication of being right is so sweet.

Ahem.

What will actually concern people will be this story grid actually explains a few pieces of artwork that without it's context made little sense. The first of which is this artwork by Sean Murray which had the very curious title of Morgana's Castle and Morgana's Throne Room respectively. This has never made sense as surely it was the Arcane Order's castle? Unless of course there was a version where it actually wasn't.

Another of Sean Murray's artwork are these Amulets... Which could easily double up for these mysterious seals that are a separate thing, not a box as they came to be. They could also been a design for accessing the things or something else entirely! This has given them a possible reason for being designed in the first place.

Under the Lava Wizard image on artstation, the caption mentions it was an early concept for Morgana's Castle (There again!) while the art says "Lava" wizard tower. The second mentions unused concept for flying castles with none being uploaded for Ice. Clearly at one point they were thought to be floating about before it became just one for the Arcane Order. It's certainly an interesting thought though budget wise the end result was the wisest for certain.

Source for all Sean Murray's artwork above.

Anyway going to go pore over the grid some more now. As a final thought, that floating castle's weird spikey things look suspiciously like those on Morgana's helmet don't they. Aphantasia meant didn't notice prior to having very big bright red dots sitting next to one another to point it out.

[puddingforg]

Can... can I maybe beg for info dumping about Owen and Hubter's original designs/story?

OFCCC!! I LOVE talking about my ocs so if you have any questions from what I’m about to tell please ask, now brace yourself this is a long one,

Ok lore, where do I start, imma give some world-building context first: Thousands of years ago there were these dudes each from a different species whose sole purpose was to protect their nation. Nobody really knows how they appeared but they had been protecting their nations for generations. As more Nations appeared and more wars started happening, lesser and lesser of them started appearing, first, it skipped a generation, then two, then three and so on until nobody knew what had happened to the fearless warriors that once fought for their nations, in some cultures they were forgotten, in others, they were treated as a myth and in others, they were treated as a curse who would come and cause chaos and destruction. There are 5 of them, they are an elf, a dragon, a vampire, a mermaid/man and a faun. Here are some Sketches as to how their designs might look but I’m probs gonna change them

forgot to mention but the world is kinda in a medieval era¿, it's like a DnD campaign of some sort lol

Ok so- Hunter and Owen being part of the main cast obviously are these previously mentioned “warriors” - Kinda… let me explain, I’ll start with Owen cuz’ his backstory is simpler, you have your stereotypical perfect mermaid, however, these mermaids are a pretty discriminatory species, if someone doesn't follow their very strict beauty standards, which ofc is being a cutesy little fish-tail mermaid, they are categorised as a sea monster. Sea monsters live in separate places from the mermaids. Mermaids have the most territory residing in a huge and radiant city, like Atlantis, where everything and everyone is perfect living a perfect life. Then we have sea monsters, that, despite being way more, are left to live in a small, not very fit-to-live territory with little access to food and resources. Now, there is a deeper reason as to why that is. The normal mermaids have no idea of this but within the royal family there is this prophecy, which is engraved in a rock that they keep hidden, that someday a shark-tail mermaid ( like Owen, who just so happens to be who is meant to protect the people ) will appear and take the throne from those who aren’t meant to have it ( the mermaids ) The royal family for generation has kept the sea monsters oppressed in hopes that they don’t rebel and take the throne. So, Owen lives with his mother in a little house on the sea monsters side, he’s pretty liked and well-known bc he is one of the few ppl, like members of the revolutionary army, that dares to go to the mermaids side for food, ( little parenthesis, the revolutionary army has asked him multiple to join but he refuses each time bcs “he doesn’t like conflict” )  he’s pretty cocky with his abilities so for him it's no issue to go to that side bcs he is sure that he’ll never get caught (he has, he just escapes rlly easily ) it was actually in one of these occasions that he met Hunter, and finally I have a drawing of that! 

here’s the full page, it also comes with their designs and size difference 

I’ll explain how the hell Hunter is underwater and his reason to do so later btw. To summarise what happens next, they break out of prison, Hunter realizes Owen might be the one Caly is looking for (I’ll explain who she is later) Hunter asks him to go with him to the surface, Owen agrees, they go, adventure commences! ( for anyone wondering, yes Owen does end up making a rebellion and taking the throne but much, much, much  later) 

Now to Hunter, 

He’s a shadow-shifter, which essentially means that he is just a shadow w/o any real physical form so he can shift into whatever he wants, however, while he can make small alterations to his body like growing an extra pair of arms, grow wings or grow a couple of feet, to make big changes like increase his size exponentially for example, he needs a huge calorie intake that he can transform into mass/shadow that he can shape. Now I just said that shadowshifters don't have physical forms, that’s not the full truth, due to evolution they have developed a “base form” that resembles humans except that they are slightly taller ( around 7 feet ) and have black with purple eyes, like in this drawing here. 

Shadowshifters are still, well shadows they just look human to sort of blend, but Hunter for example when faced with very strong emotions loses control of himself and turns into a shapeless shadow. 

Onto Hunter's backstory, shadowshifters were a nomad nation, never really given their own land to call home, so they just wandered in caravans around all the lands. They were a hated species being seen as less by almost everyone because they didn't have a physical form. ( the real reason is that they were afraid of what they could actually do if they wanted to attack a nation, bc shapeshifting is a very broken ability 🙂‍↕️) They were so hated that other species began to hunt them, the fact that they were taller and had black eyes made them an easy target as they were easy to identify. One day the shadowshifters were crossing through the woods that sat in between the border of humans and fawns. They were playing music, the children were playing and an overall happy aura was taking over. As Hunter was playing with the other kids he ran over to his mother to ask her for her necklace so he could use it in the game they were playing, his mother happily handed it over. (This is important) Suddenly they heard a big crash followed by screaming. A huge group of not only humans but dragons and hybrids as well had attacked them. Then, the fire started, the dragons began burning everything as the humans and hybrids hunted them down. Hunter's mom grabbed him by the hand and started running away, Hunters mom knew that they wouldn't be able to outrun them, so she hugged Hunter tight saying her goodbyes and instructing him to run away as fast as he could, and to not look back for any reason. Hunter ran nonstop into the fauns territory until his body gave out and he fainted. He got woken up by a kid faun, close to his age, who was slightly shaking him and asking if he was okay. The kid looked at him confused, asking again if he was okay and reassuring him that he was safe. He said that his name was Kamal. Here’s how he looks like as a young adult

Kamal took Hunter to his village where Hunter would tell Kamal’s mom what happened; Fauns being a very docile species did not have any hate towars shadowshifters btw; Kamal’s mom decided to take Hunter in and raise him, the people of the village where also very kind and accepted Hunter. He lived a fairly happy life, until he was around 17. See the one who was supposed to protect the fauns was Kamal, and both he and Hunter decided that the best way to do that was to become bounty hunters and roam the borders of the fauns territory to make sure no one dangerous came in, they started doing this when they were around 13 so by the time they were 17 they were pretty good at it, however, as most teenagers, they believed themselves to be invincible, or at least Hunter did. ( This part is still in development so it's not gonna be that well-written jsjs ) One day, as they were doing their jobs and patrolling the borders, Hunter noticed a group of fairly known criminals entering the forest, so being as reckless as he was, he just started running w/o thinking, Kamal being more cautious decided to check the wanted posters he carried with him, he saw that the leader of the group had a danger level of 4 and a torch stamp ( Wanted posters rank criminals with danger levels ranging from 1 to 5 and if they have a torch stamp means that they have magic ) Kamal rushed to stop Hunter from doing something stupid but when he got there he had already started a fight, Kamal joined knowing there was no way Hunter could win on his own, While they were fighting one of the criminals launched at Hunter’s back with a sword while he fought someone else, Kamal saw this and rushed to push Hunter out of the way getting himself stabbed. Kamal's powers began going haywire, the ground shaking, plants and trees growing fastly everywhere, this scared the criminals away but the damage was already done. Hunter just stood there holding his brothers body, as the last bit of air left Kamal's body Hunter's necklace began glowing and something green started coming out of where Kamal's heart was, and the crystal on the necklace started absorbing it. When it stopped, the crystal was glowing green and the realisation of what just happened dawned on Hunter and he started screaming and crashing out, this caused him to lose his physical form and become a huge shadow that moved frantically everywhere, until he eventually passed out. When he woke up he was in his house, but not in his room, he was in Kamal's room, and his (adoptive) mom was hugging him asking him if he was okay and where Hunter was, he just stood there trying to make sense of everything, then he heard it. His mother called him Kamal. He rushed to the bathroom and saw himself in the mirror, there in the reflection stood Kamal. 

And that’s it ✨✨ there is soooo much more I have to say abt their stories but to do so it was very important to have hunters backstory clear so parts of the actual story are clear, I left a ton of things un explained so please ask if y’all wanna know something, I might take some time but I assure you that l WILL respond so dw. Gosh, I didn’t even touched the reasonings behind their designs, not only that but a bunch of other stuff happens in the actual story that’ll love to tell but I feel like this post is long enough so maybe I’ll post that another day.

[dalekofchaos]

Context

Return of the Dwemer.

the Dwemer returning just as suddenly as they left. Maybe go to a city and find it overrun with Dwarves and you have to escape and get together a band of warriors from both sides of the civil war in order to save Skyrim from annihilation or join the Dwemer. As part of the dlc you would get the option of having up to four followers.

Another cool option for a small add-on would be a homebase for your followers like in fallout: New Vegas. A fort where you could send them and make it a thriving community of followers

Post-Civil War. We get to see what happens after you win the Civil War. How Skyrim thrives after Imperial or Stormcloak victory. You crush the last Imperial or Stormcloak hold outs and execute the remaining generals of the losing side. If you helped the Imperials win, you could stop a Thalmor plot attempting to put Elisif on the throne to be their puppet. You could have Elenwen removed from Skyrim and decide who ultimately becomes High King/Queen Of Skyrim. Ultimately it comes down to Balgruuf or Elisif. If you helped the Stormcloaks win. You help Ulfric eliminate all opposition to his ascension to High King and help the Stormcloaks kill the Thalmor Justiciars and eventually burn the Thalmor Embassy to the ground.

Thalmor invasion of Skyrim some time in the future. Set up for a massive battle. You go to help the Legion/Stormcloaks, you have to recruit the remaining enemy Legionnaires/Stormcloaks. Basically every follower you've had and given crazy good equipment to us there. The Blades are all there if you rebuilt them. For some plot reason you have Talos's actual personal amulet which reduces Shout cool down by 100%. You ride Odaahving over the Thalmor Flagship, followed by Duurnehviir. Storm Call. Become Ethereal and leap off your dragon, landing on the deck surrounded by the leaders of the Thalmor. Pull out Wuuthrad. Go to town.

End result is that the Thalmor invasion of Skyrim is utterly defeated and their ability to attack Cyrodiil is severely crippled.

giving the Bard's College a bigger, more fleshed-out quest and adding the ability to play instruments would be neat. You could play instruments, there could be skill books that level your bard skills or song books that would be like spelltomes where you learn new songs. For quests you could have to perform in front of various audiences.

The Forsworn. There are hints throughout the game that they are planning something big, letters found in several camps etc. But other than the forsworn conspiracy there’s not much there. A branching quest line that builds off of that quest, about retaking the Reach or fighting against the Forsworn would be cool. Could even maybe spill over into a hold of High Rock.

For the Forsworn, it depends on what you chose for the Forsworn conspiracy. If you killed Madanach(and everyone in the prison) then you hear reports of the Forsworn planning a massive attack on the Reach planning to avenge their king and retake the Reach. It's clear the Forsworn will not stop these constant attacks on the Reach, so you have to put them down.

If you sided with the Forsworn, you get to help the Forsworn retake the Reach. Displace the Nords, killing the Silverblood family and retake Markarth. Madanach replaces whomever the Jarl was but as king. The Imperials would work with the Forsworn ran Markarth, but The Stormcloaks would not, so better to only choose this path if the Imperials win the Civil War.

The Last of the Snow Elves: Lost tribe of Snow Elves seeks to rebuild their civilization. They seek out other healthy tribes, search for a solution to heal the afflicted Falmer, fight to reclaim their ancestral home, and they seek revenge on those factions still working to eradicate them. This could certainly be a fairly long and interesting DLC. We could get into political shit with the descendants of Nords who still hold a grudge, could get another Elder Scroll on the scene by finding out one of them has the ability to undo the tricks of the Dwemer, some weird time travel shit to find out more about that Elder Scroll, more about the motiviations of the Dwemer.

Post-Paarthurnax Dilemma. If you sided with Delphine, you will aid in re-establishing a new guild of warriors 'Dragonguard' by allocating resources and taking over forts across the province, and prepare an incursion into the heartlands against the false Empire and their Thalmor masters. If you sided with the Greybeards, you will start a new academy for teaching the voice, and train a league of dragon-riding warrior monks set out to extinguish the undead legions of a resurrected dragon priest - a master necromancer and the teacher of Vals Varen and Lu'ah Al-Skaven - who wants to use the buried and recently-dead of Skyrim to conquer the province for himself.

Akavari. An Akaviri expedition arrives on the shores of Eastmarch, having heard the cries of the return of the dragons. They've come searching for the Dragonborn and to join in the hunt for dragons. You venture across the province on dragon hunts with several key new characters, testing your mantle against new dangerous species of dragons in new and old re-vamped locations.

After several successful ventures and proving yourself to the Akaviri captains, they proclaim you as their new leader, and advise you to forge your own kingdom in Tamriel. If you sided with the Empire, you must now usurp their claim upon Skyrim and push the remanent of Tullius' legion out by force, for the Mede Dynasty refuses to acknowledge your new seat of power in Skyrim. If you sided with the Stormcloaks, you must usurp Ulfric's claim as high king before the moot, and convince each of the hold's Jarls, either through favour or battle, to submit to your righteous authority.

I feel like The Dragonborn becoming Emperor could be for Skyrim, what The Shivering Isles was for Oblivion. See this post on what a Dragonborn becoming Emperor could look like

The Psijic Order. Magic in skyrim doesn't really feel too fleshed out, There could be quests that give you entirely different spells instead of the usual 5 spells plus reskins. It could have you solve the mystery on why they never had much screentime.

And at the end, it could have you restoring winterhold

Dragonborn Conquest. Similar to my Dragonborn Emperor concept, but doing it for the good of the people of Skyrim.

The premise would be that the Dragonborn is sick to death of this wretched Civil War. One side is subservient to the true enemy and the other side is full of racists. The Imperials have literal criminals as Jarls(Maven and Siddgeir) Stormcloaks have paranoid lunatics and the corrupt as Jarls. Both sides have good arguments, but both cannot be allowed to control Skyrim. So the Dovahkiin decides it’s time for the people to open their eyes and take Skyrim back for the people. Nords, Imperials, Redguards, Elves, Argonians and the Khajit.

The Dragonborn’s promises

The Khajit caravans get to gain entry in the cities of Skyrim instead of being forced on the outskirts

Restoring Talos worship

Argonians gain entry into Windhelm instead of being forced on the docks

The Dunmer will receive better housing than the Grey Quarter

All citizens of Skyrim will be treated equally under the new High King

Proper Jarls to rule and govern their holds and to maintain stability, peace and justice to their people instead of ruling out of greed or power

An end to the Civil War by any means necessary

An end to corrupt families like the Black Briars and Silver-Bloods

Rebuilding Winterhold

Giving The Reach back to the Forsworn

The execution of Ulfric Stormcloak and expulsion of General Tullius and the Legion.

The final promise. An end to the Thalmor Justiciar witch hunts and kidnappings and the forced removal of the Thalmor from Skyrim

So yeah, The Dragonborn should’ve been able to become High King of Skyrim and rule for the good of the people of Skyrim. Be able to handpick the Jarls for the good of the land and been able to side against the Stormcloaks, Imperials and Thalmor.

The Dragonborn's death is inevitable, but the Daedra are scheming to keep the Dragonborn's soul after his death, while the Aedra want to reward the Dragonborn with Soverngarde.

Was inspired by this

[textualviolence]

Meng Yao/Jin Guangyao's Lovers Fuckability ranking

Level minus zero: Lan Xichen. Does not have even a shred of a fatherly relationship to JGY. Treats him like an equal. Is kind to him. Respects him as a person and genuinely likes who he is. Probably inspires JGY to become celibate so they can be chaste together. Some erotic tension if they don't fuck, brushes of hands, purity and chastity causing a rising of tension etc. But there's no way they can have actual sex outside of maybe the hiding from the Wen context. I bet they write poems to each other though. That's very nice. 2/10

Level 1: Nie Mingjue pre-Meng Yao's dismissal. Is technically probably Meng Yao's first dubious fatherbosslover figure. I do imagine he had a certain degree of guilt about it which isn't hot for anyone being victimized by an older authority figure. Definitely probably a lot of the sex they had and especially the kind they didn't have hinged on the fact that Meng Yao looks exactly like Nie Huaisang. I think if NMJ had been willing to cross that line and actually made Meng Yao kinda sorta pretend to be his little brother he would be further up the ranking, alas. The most morally dubious it gets is that Meng Yao is his servant and social inferior and probably aged around 15. However the incredibly high amount of approval he probably dished out regularly and easily alongside sex and orders did prepare the grounds for Meng Yao to then crave that kind of validation all the time and go to ridiculous lengths for it. 4/10

Level 2: Wen Ruohan. Will groom Meng Yao without subjecting him to his weird morality complex. WRH is just a bad guy and doesn't care. Also will favor Meng Yao over his actual blood children, partly as a manipulation tactic and also because his children kind of suck. Definitely loves to play people against each other and will use the trading of sexual favors as a political tool. Actually old enough to be his dad and is also in the same social position as his dad, currently beating his dad in a war, and acting as his dad dangling promises of legitimization in between throne room handjobs and prisoner torture sessions. Can humiliate both NMJ and JGS. Honestly the ideal situation. Too ideal? It's just too straightforward. Give yourself over to me body and soul and do my evil bidding and in exchange i'll give you all the validation you crave. That's so reliable that its suspicious and kind of a turn off. Where's the excitement and rollercoaster of unpredictable reward/punishment? 6/10

Level 5: Nie Mingjue post-Meng Yao's dismissal: No more little brother issue now it's all about how NMJ just wants to kill him at all cost and will risk political disaster in order to do so. NMJ who used to shower him with affection and validation, telling him all the time that he was proud of him and what a good job he was doing as a deputy, now wants him dead. The dick must be incredible. They probably don't have sex often & its never not violent & dangerous, but the high of it lasts for days. It doesn't lessen the rage in the long term but it evacuates it in the short term & where before the sex was coexisting with the validation now the sex IS the validation. Which makes it hot no matter how unvalidating its actually meant to be. Half those bruises he's hiding under his sleeves aren't from Madam Jin let me tell you. Plus he's writing poems to Lan Xichen and strongly considering the benefits of a chaste existence in between. The guilt and hypocrisy and having to lie to Lan Xichen's concerned and loving face when he sees the bruises is only making it more intense. 9/10

Level 7: Mo Xuanyu: He gets to become his dad(s) and take advantage of the willingness and admiration of a beautiful youth who would do anything for him. On top of that they're related. It's 100% reenactment power reversal fantasy combined with the horror of his marriage to Qin Su finding a concrete twisted sexual outlet. This time he fucked a half-sibling on purpose!!! And then he can dismiss him for sexual impropriety the second he comes to his senses and be rid of the sin forever which was half of the need. And then he can feel even more like his dad. 8/10

Level 10: Jin Guangshan: What more can I say. He slaps with one hand and caresses with another. Literally makes Jin Guangyao do the most secret taboo vile political tasks he can't offload onto anyone else and then refuses to touch him because of it until Meng Yao performs some kind of cleansing action, for which he is briefly rewarded with mild approval and even certain shows of affection, but never outside of the bedroom. Keeps a large retinue of whores and plays them off against each other, includes Meng Yao in the games to make sure he feels like one of them. No way to ever feel too comfortable in the certainty he has his father's anything because any shred of positive interaction is extremely hard-earned, unless he shows sign of wanting to leave or waver in his loyalties, in which case his father WILL pull him back with more love and care than he's ever shown which will feel like a drug. I bet he had more than one fight with NMJ over the issue of which groomer his son was to listen to and he won everytime. One show of possessiveness equivalent to 10'000 hours of basic respect in Meng Yao's heart. 10/10

[buckets-and-trees]

Companion

Characters/Pairings: Namor x female!Reader Word Count: 3.3k Summary: A month after the king of Talokan takes you as his betrothed, you question your position and the future as your expectations have been disappointed.

Content Warnings: angst to some relationship resolution; explicit smut: oral (female receiving), vaginal fingering; strong language

Additional Notes: This is a direct sequel to Consort - and while there's probably enough context to read this on its own, it will mean far less without reading the first part - the first part that could really be blamed by @nellycanwrite and being a TALENTED ARTIST AND MENACE. We would not be here if not for a particular piece she shared an unfinished sneak peak of last December.

You are restless, agitated, feeling completely unmoored.

Sleep is not going to come to you soon. It hadn’t the past few nights, but tonight you are not going to give yourself over to endless tossing and turning or trying to read yourself to distraction. You are exhausted, but too strung out to find any respite in your room. You quietly slip out of your chambers and begin to wander.

When you eventually find yourself in the throne room, you laugh bitterly to yourself. Naturally this is where your subconscious would take you. This is where your life completely altered course a month ago, betrayed and traded at your father’s hand for peace amongst kingdoms, the tectonic plates of your life not only shifted but shattered.

Only to be picked up by him moments later.

You look out over the expanse of the drop off from the perimeter of the throne room. The view out over Talokan is stunning in the simulated vibranium moonlight, but you resent the view. It’s one more painful piece of your new reality – as beautiful as this kingdom is, it’s still not the picturesque view of Fourchon and your former life in the kingdom of your upbringing.

You squeeze your eyes shut for a few moments, trying to control the anger and sadness.

When the traitorous trade had been made, you thought your father had sealed your fate as a token consultant at best or prisoner at worst, but K’uk’ulkan had spun a different narrative, one where the potential that would have been wasted in your former kingdom was something he saw and wanted at his side as his queen consort. His words had been a balm to your soul, and you had believed him when he said he’d wanted you – to take into counsel, to serve the kingdom, to influence. It was a lifeline offered, and you’d grasped that tether, letting him pull you in. He’d started to put you back together with promises and sealed it with a moment of intimate bliss beyond anything you could have imagined.

Then it was almost as if you’d been banished from his presence. At first you had accepted the explanations of business that needed his attention in other parts of the kingdom and other realms or that his schedule had demanded unanticipated changes, rarely getting to take meals with him, culminating no contact at all for the last two weeks.

You didn’t know it was going to be that way in the beginning though, so you’d spent your month acclimatizing and throwing yourself into life in Talokan. He’d said you were built to rule, driven to do good, why not with him, and since you’d thought he was telling you the truth, you had made the effort to get to know the people, know their culture, know their lives, their struggles, hopes, and dreams. It was intimidating at first – they were a fierce people brought up to be ready for war – but they also created and forged happiness, and you wanted to prove yourself. Before long, you forgot the nerves and tucked away the feeling of being an imposter, because you created relationships, took up projects, and started to create a new routine in your life that meant something to you.

You think the life you are building in this new kingdom is good except for the one perhaps most important thing.  

Tomorrow you are supposed to wed the ruler of this kingdom, and you felt that was now a hollow artifice. The final fitting for your wedding clothes today had felt frivolous and futile. How could you be expected to marry K’ul’kulkan with the distance, the disinterest?

You roll your shoulders back and lift your head up, refocusing your gaze out over this new place.

You will wed Namor with the same resolve that had held you together in the initial moments your life had been traded for an alliance – you would always be duty and honor bound. A foolish glimmer of a passionate partnership was more than you had expected growing up, it had been dangled in front of you for a moment but had quickly dwindled and ultimately disappeared. A political arrangement, and if the past few weeks were indicative of the future, then the only consolation was it seemed Namor would at least let you make your own choices and wouldn’t interfere with the projects you pursued, things you knew you could leverage for good with your position of power in his kingdom.

You only wish you hadn’t been given a glimmer of what might have been. It would have been much easier to manage without the taste of more.

“When you were not in your chambers, I thought I might find you here.”

You turn slowly, forcing your face to give away nothing of your shock or your resentment to the king.

“I was looking for you,” he says, crossing the large expanse of the space.

“Really, your highness?”

“Certainly. Tomorrow you are to become my bride.” He stops an arm’s length away from you.

You can’t help the hardening of your features you feel at this proclamation. “I’m amazed you remembered.”

He tilts his head. “Do not be petulant, Princess.”

“The picture you painted a month ago has not been the reality.”

“What complaint can you possibly have to give?”

“You lied to me,” you let your anger finally spill out in your tone. “With my life shattered to pieces in this very room, you started to put me back together by saying you said you wanted me as your queen consort, not just a wife to adorn your arm and give you an heir, a companion.” You take half a step closer to him. “But where have you been these weeks, especially this fortnight? You left the broken pieces of me on a shelf, discarded and forgotten.”

“Make no mistake,” Namor says and grips your chin, pulling you closer, “you are not forgotten.”

Your eyes are locked on each other now, and it seems you are each trying to delve into the soul of the other. He presses his thumb to your bottom lip, opening your mouth. The action is not rough in any way, but it serves to communicate his strength, your vulnerability, and that he could subject you to anything. “You are mine, Princess.”

Then suddenly he wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you into his side before swimming swiftly into the jaws of his throne. He sets you aright and the two of you stand face to face.

“I sought you out tonight to remind you of what we spoke of that day on this very spot. Clearly you did not need a reminder, but perhaps insight into my choices. At present you think me rash and negligent or easily distracted to become betrothed to a stranger in a matter of moments and then seemingly abandon you.

“My offer of marriage was swift but not rash. I told you that day the things I had already learned about you, and the time we spent together showed even more clearly who you were. I have lived and ruled for hundreds of years, I know well how to read a person’s character, and the interaction we shared in those brief moments confirmed you had a fierce and noble spirit with both a compassion to sacrifice for your people and passion to match my own.”

Part of your chest starts to swell, but you dampen it down. He built you up with his words once before, and you are cautious not to get carried away so easily.

“That does not explain why you distanced yourself from me.” You needed more than flattery for your character.

“I am not easily surprised, but I confess I did not expect to be presented with the offer your father made. If you were to become the companion I wanted to see at my side, I knew I could not be the one to put you back together. I wanted the future queen that only you could forge by getting to know my kingdom, my people, our way of life, and integrating yourself into Talokan in your own right. Building your own reputation amongst them these past weeks, they see you are not merely a foreign princess acquired for an alliance, they will accept you as their queen because they know you. You have conquered them with your heart, your goodness, your passion, your sharp mind.”

He pauses to search your face. His words have both softened and strengthened you.

“I did not want to influence or distract in any of that.”

You nod, considering every word, not ready to respond yet.

“Now I did have certain things to attend to, some of which you will know very soon, but I confess I did limit and ultimately withhold the time we could have spent together.”

You open your mouth to argue this point, but he chuckles and shushes you.

“The more time I spent with you – scant as it was – and the more reports that came in from my advisors, my people, even your guards and the servants that attend you – yes, I spoke with them regularly – the more I did not want to share you with anyone else. Since I did not want to rob you of the unique and limited time to integrate into Talokan during our engagement, I cut myself off altogether.”

Your mouth hangs open at this rationalization, your brow furrowing further and further as he had explained his absence. But you do gather your wits, and challenge, “You avoided spending time together because you wanted to spend time with me?”

His smirk is nearly a smolder. “Once we are wed, I’m not sharing your time with anyone until I have to, and we will only spend our days apart as is strictly necessary when we resume royal duties after the honeymoon.”

Oh, he is good with that tongue, you think.

“Tomorrow, I will have you in every way, but for now I want to worship at the altar of what will be mine.”

He seizes your neck and pulls you in for a kiss. The heat is searing, and your lips demand equally of each other. He nips and you whimper, allowing him to plunge his tongue into your mouth. He is hungry for you, and you can’t deny him now.

With one hand still holding your neck and the other now at your shoulder, he moves so the back of your knees meet the edge of the throne, and he slowly pushes you down to sit, stepping between your legs. You look up at him, and you move a hand to his hip.

“Not tonight, my princess,” he says, his eyes dark with lust. “I can wait. I have an atonement and assurance to make of the sincerity of my intentions.”

You’re entranced as he kneels before you. The hand that was on your neck moves down over one of your breasts, along your ribs, and then grabs your hip, pulling you to the edge of the seat. You clutch the stone arms of the throne as his other hand goes beneath your nightdress, finding your knee, and pushes the fabric out of the way as he moves his hand diligently up your soft thigh. When that hand finishes its journey, he tears your underwear away, making you yelp and grasp at the hand he still has on your hip. You know he has preternatural strength, but to experience it, know it’s there in his veins at every moment, and that he must meticulously measure it out is terrifying yet intoxicating.

Much like he is in every sense.

He draws one of your legs over his shoulder and turns his head to press his warm lips to your tender flesh. Slow kisses. Deliberate. Your heart races. You’re desperate with anticipation but the exquisite torture is its own bliss. “Namor,” you plead.

He bites in punishment, and you cry out.

“That is not the name I told you to use,” he says, his voice even but stern. “I will not have you speak the name relegated to my enemies when you have me like this.”

No. Because this is the two of you, intimate. You needed to let him back in. You want to let him back in. “K’uk’ulkan,” you let it fall from your lips.

It draws a small genuine smile that softens this powerful man and warms you even more. He soothes the bite with another kiss, but then the next place his lips land is directly over your core. Your head falls back, and you utter his name again, unbidden as bliss shoots through your body. He is in no hurry as he begins mouthing at your most intimate parts. He warms you up with slow, methodical licks of his broad tongue. He gently draws your nether lips into his mouth, sucking and savoring. Your leg curls around his back as your body surrenders to him. He adjusts the hand over your hip to entwine his fingers with yours, anchoring you to each other while he continues to draw out your pleasure. He pulls back with a long suck, then he dives back in, leading with his nose, following it with another lick behind. When he reaches your clit, he circles it with the tip of his nose, gives a quick flick with his tongue, and then he puckers his lips to suck just the little bead with precision and concentrated force.

Little whimpers, whines, and longer moans fall from your mouth with abandon, and the thought that someone could hear you, could perhaps see this, is a fleeting fear and thrill before he resumes sucking and gliding along your folds, and you discard any worry because you can’t concentrate on anything but his exquisite actions. The king of Talokan is on his knees, continuing to plunder you on his throne. Your free hand threads into his dark hair, gloriously soft in your fingers, and you press him even closer. He hums against your cunt, pausing, and you can feel his lips curling in a smirk, but you don’t care. You need more, and so you tug his locks, and he happily yields to your insistence.

Oh, he is even better at this with his tongue, you think.

He zig-zags his tongue across your slit, then pushes it in your hole. In and out, and again, and again. He begins to speed up, and you’re trembling around him.

Then nothing at your core, and you cry out, your eyes shooting open to look down at him.

He chuckles. You narrow your gaze at him, “You–“

He surges up to put a stop to your words with a kiss, persistent until he feels you soften, then draws away and brushes his thumb over your cheek. “You’re meant for more than instant gratification, my pearl.”

Those words send a shiver down your spine, and you would be irked by the smile that’s still too close to a smirk on his face, but you both know he’s now earned this moment with you. What’s more, there’s a depth in the eyes of the look he’s giving you, proof that it’s not cockiness, but satisfaction tinged with yearning that strikes you to your core. “Please.”

“Tell me what you want, Princess. I will give you everything,” he swears, and you know he means it indefinitely.

“Make me come, my king.”

He nods, eyes remaining fixed on you as his hand moves to your cunt. He inserts one finger, pressing in and then drawing back out, and you hum in approval. He doesn’t hesitate to add a second finger, and you push your hips forward even more. The heat and concentration of his gaze on you is tremendous, and it continues stoking its own fire in your soul, but it’s more than you can handle in this moment, so you close your eyes and draw him back in for another searing kiss, plunging your tongue into his mouth, doing your best to undo him in at least some small way.

He seems to sense this is your intention, as you suck his bottom lip into your mouth, and he curls his fingers up and finds the spot on the wall of your pelvis that will be your undoing. You keen when he finds it, your head falling back. He presses just one open-mouthed kiss to the column of your neck, offered up vulnerably to him, and then he swiftly descends to bury his head back between your thighs. He immediately sucks your clit, his fingers continuing to plunder your tight channel, and you wrap your legs around his neck, crossing your ankles against his muscular back. The pleasure builds, coiling in your stomach, your limbs tightening. He curls those fingers again, expertly, and hurtles you over the edge, cries of ecstasy escaping your chest.

His mouth releases your clit, but his fingers carefully stroke you through your orgasm, drawing out the rippling sensations. He solemnly kisses up and down your leg, and you’re still riding the bliss, but you can feel his eyes trained up on you once more.

Just as you think he will withdraw, his fingers pick up speed up again, but he plunges them in deeper. His lips return to torment you with pleasure, and you grasp at his head, though the action is futile as you are no match for his immense strength. His free hand is now planted at the base of your spine, not allowing you to squirm even one inch away from his ministrations. He is in earnest, and so your second orgasm breaks over you quickly, and you collapse forward, the desperate whimpers of release swallowed up by him a moment later as he straightens up and his lips seek yours. You sink into the kiss, and he pulls you from the throne and into his embrace. He moves easily to reclaim his throne, much as he has reclaimed you. His lips continue to kiss you, but they drift away from your lips and back – moving over your cheeks, your jaw, along your neck, softly over your eyes, over your forehead, your shoulders, the spot beneath your ear, the juncture at your collarbone, ghosting over your temples, every bit of skin that’s exposed to him. He wants all of you. You’re powerless to do anything but accept his ministrations, and you have no desire to refuse this exploration, blissed out as you are.

When his kisses slow, you bring your delicate fingers up to caress his face. He rests his forehead against yours, and his arms around your torso tighten, pressing you closer.

“Do not doubt that you are the companion that I want,” he murmurs. “After so long as the solitary ruler of my people, I have no need to settle for anything less than exactly who I want as my queen consort. Tomorrow you will be crowned.”

“Tomorrow.” You smile. “And I do think I’ll finally be able to sleep.”

“Oh, is that why you were wandering in the first place?”

You laugh. “Well, it was the mind that was agitated, but now…”

“Now we understand each other?”

“We do.”

“Then I hope you understand I’m not done with you yet, Princess.”

You gasp as his hand returns to your quim.

“I want one more, to seal this with three.”

You will be boneless by the time the king of Talokan deigns to surrender you to your bed, but every touch, as lost in pleasure as you are now, only tethers you more strongly to him.

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[box-architecture]

cont. of this

for better context if you found it confusing^

Okokok so i talked a lot with Plat about Dark!Drunz where Punz valued money over Dream and Dream, abandoned in the snow, ends up becoming a God, with Punz as his immortal right hand mercenary.

Punz did end up regretting betraying Dream and realize they actually do care about him, but by the time they figure it out Dream has already decided to go with the ascension-to-godhood plan and now Punz is kneeling at his feet, his loyal servant, who Dream pays extravagant amounts and fills their room with jewels. Punz doesn't want any of it. They just want Dream to smile again.

And Sam ends up also surviving the ascension because Dream brings him with and 'keeps him prisoner like he did to Dream,' except Sam has a comfy room filled with cushions and pillows and he's all dolled up in golden chains and he's obviously very well taken care of. Dream goes to Sam's room to fuck him and cuddle him like a plushie, because Dream is so fucking touch starved it's insane, and Sam is the only other person who knows and in any way understands what happened in prison, and therefore understands Dream.

Dream, when not with Sam, is always wearing gloves and long sleeves and never initiates skin on skin contact. His mask is on at all times even during sex, blocking his eyes (though his mouth is still visible) and Punz hasn't felt his touch in ages.

"Punz can't touch Dream, can't reach him but now Dream's a god, with statues and shit, and it's not unexpected for Punz to have their own private temple to Dream because they are one of his biggest worshippers right.

Now consider Punz commissioning a statue for that temple, life like and life sized.

And sometimes they touch it, or sit at its feet, just leaning against it and they pretend for a second that it's something real that they are allowed to do the way they used to.

I think especially because Sam gets to touch Dream, Punz needs it

He needs to be able to go home after seeing Dream petting Sam, and he sits by the statue, the exact way Sam was, head leaning against Dream's thigh and it's harsh, cold marble but Punz closes his eyes and imagines that it's just armor, and that any moment now Dream will reach over to pet their hair lightly." - Plat

Also it's very important that you know that Punz would get off on imagining Dreams bare hands, imagining Dreams hand in their hair, imagining that when Dream touched them ever so briefly that he wasn't wearing gloves, because they're so fucking touch starved and they can't bear the idea of having sex with other people (they already betrayed and abandoned Dream they wouldn't try substituting him as well, like he could be somehow replaced.)

also also:

Dream and Sam having sex drives Punz absolutely mad. They're not given any sort of permission to participate but sometimes they have to report to Dream when back from a mission and find him riding Sam, leash in hand. They're a master of keeping a neutral face, but their eyes can't seem to turn away from the sight, lingering on Dream's mouth and the occasional ragged breath. His eyes are still hidden,,,

if Dream and Punz's relationship ever becomes sexual, it starts with Punz stopping Dream from going to see Sam and telling him to use Punz instead. Punz kneels at Dream's throne and holds his cock in his mouth, looking up at him with devotion. Punz is floating on a high afterwards (he attended to Dream's needs he made Dream feel good he got to touch him after so, so long-) but it's ruined by the small pile of gold laying on their pillow when they go back to their rooms. Dream's payment.

Punz wears Dream's signet religiously while traversing the mortal world. Someone trying to steal or defile it causes instant murder. Everything of Dream's must be cherished and preserved

consider that Dream used to keep his face uncovered for Punz, that Punz used to have access to Dream's eyes whenever they were together. Dream's eyes haunt his nightmares. He doesn't remember what shade of green they are anymore. He clings to emeralds and jades and malachite and thinks this one? Was it like this?

Dream assumes, if Punz blows him, either that Punz is just looking for a good time or is attracted to the fact that Dream's a God now. Of course Punz is only interested in that. He rationalizes it to himself and neatly tucks it away with all the other things that hurt him until he can't feel it anymore. He doesn't need to have a heart anymore. He sends more gold to Punz's bedroom and hopes it makes them happy.

(Punz feeling Dream, hot and heavy in his mouth. Their own hardness hidden as they fixate on the way Dream's mouth parts ever so slightly. If Dream occasionally pets their hair, it's with a gloved hand, and Punz later gets off in their room thinking about how Dream touched them.

Punz puts their own hand over their hair, where Dream did, while they stroke themself and they imagine, just for a moment, that there was no glove, that it was Dream's bare hand touching them.)

Dream, desperately holding onto Sam, trying not to shake because he's so starved for affection but he has to be Strong.

Maybe he puts Punz on his cock on a particularly bad day.

Because he doesn't want to admit to Punz he needs them because Punz clearly doesn't care or want that.

Dream who chose godhood because this way he would be untouchable, because this way he wouldn't need touch and affection and wouldn't get hurt any longer by broken hearts and broken trust, who made the mask part of said godhood so that there would not be temptation to remove it (and trust again).

Dream who wears gloves not to deprive Punz or anyone of touch, but because if he touches someone with his bare hands he's afraid he'll get attached and hurt anew.

Dream who takes Sam to bed to cuddle because Sam is his the way property is now, and that's safe, right? He's got a leash, he's got restraints, Sam cannot hurt him.

Did you know that Punz has to walk in on Dream riding Sam (while holding his leash and establishing to everyone that He's Very In Control Of Course) and give their report. And Punz watches his back flex (covered in prison scars that Punz never soothed) as he lifts himself off of Sam's cock. Cum drips down his thighs as he soothes Sam's whines by rubbing his side. Punz wants to scream.

Dream takes off a glove once, using his teeth - and Punz doesn't know what to fixate on, the way his teeth close almost delicately around the leather, or the pale fingers revealed underneath - because he needs to use whatever touch-activated power on something, and then he uses said bare hand to take Sam's jaw and make him look at him, and Punz has never wished to have his jaw grabbed before by anyone but oh they burn right now.

in some fun plot, perhaps a world is ending, apocalypse and all, so in some big dnd-like adventure, a group of heroes seek to stop the end of the world. And it's inevitable so long as Dream continues to make it be so. So!!! Time to kill a God.

this is specifically so a set of circumstances happen where Dream can tell Punz to infiltrate the party and "betray" him. Punz experiences flashbacks. Punz feels like dying. They promised to do anything for Dream so they join the group and pretend to be a former agent of Dream who's going to help them defeat him.

Punz reports to Dream as often as feasibly possible while under cover. He recites his vows and clings to loyalty in any way possible. They try to remind Dream (and themselves) each time that they're his loyal servant. It's not like back then. Punz won't leave him ever again. Dream doesn't even seem like he's listening, blankly sending Punz off.

"tell them where I am"

the heroes arrive at Dream's palace. Dream is on his throne, looking every bit the dark evil they imagined. Sam is in a bird cage instead of his usual room, tied up and gagged and looking like someone they have to rescue, rather than his happy comfy concubine self. Punz is waiting for the moment Dream beckons him to return to his side and show them all the futility of going against their beloved- but it doesn't happen. Dream says a few dramatic words, and they fight

it's been a millennia, at least. Dream is so tired. Everything aches, he feels alone. There's a guilt for keeping Punz and Sam eternally by his side, unable to seek out other bonds, unable to die. Their immortality will fade if Dream dies, and he set it up so Punz has a good reputation and a group of allies, and that Sam will be only a victim in need of rescue. Dream doesn't have to keep pushing through the loneliness. He can rest now. (A monster can be defeated.)

Dream doesn't actually use his full powers. He could have wiped them out in an instant. Instead he makes it a big show and a flashy final battle. Punz is Waiting Waiting Waiting for Dream to say he's done playing with his food.

Then Dream collapses, blood on his lips, and Punz has had quite enough.

entire party is knocked out in a flash of light, and then Punz is gathering Dream in their arms and healing as much as they can. They bring a potion to his lips.

"this was not what I asked you to do."

"forgive me, my lord." They're begging. "Punish my insolence however you'd like. Just live. Please."

Listen I just want Punz to see Dream's face now after so long because his mask was shattered in the fight.

Dreams face should be so expressive and his eyes so green and he's wounded and sad and exhausted and Punz feels like a failure all over again.

Sam is clawing at his cage in the corner needing to be let out. Dream murmurs and points to Sam's cage, it lowers and opens, and Sam's practically breaking down the door.

Imagine Punz carrying Dream to his rooms and healing his wounds and giving him all the care Dream never got after Pandora. Think about how healing it is for them both.

Sam guards Dream's bed while Punz goes out and does the work that needs to be done in Dream's absence. Punz comes back and instantly they're at Dream's bedside, making sure he's comfortable, unable to stop themselves from resting their hand on his forehead, just to check for fever

it feels like lightning on their skin every time they make contact, they're tense enough to snap in half, all in an effort to keep control and not just hold him.

But they pull away and Dream lifts his hand and whispers Punz so quietly they could pretend to not hear it if they so chose, and Punz instantly drops everything and kneels at his feet, holding his hand and kissing the knuckles and promising him anything

But also from Plat:

"But also let me go feral for a little bit at this bc I think Dream who thinks he's dreaming/hallucinating bc Punz is being so very attentive and sweet, and he indulges in the throws of fever and asks Punz to come closer and let Dream touch him (for free, he doesn't say, but this illusion of Punz doesn't ask for payment anyway and Dream knows for sure it's fake)

And he starts asking Punz why they're still at his side, and when Punz replies with the truth (they love him they will stay by his side forever) Dream hums and is like 'this is nice. Tell me more' and he absorbs all the sweet things Punz says like a sponge even tho he's convinced it's fake

And later when the fever breaks, Dream is surprised to find Punz all but lying curled by his side, not quite touching Dream but still seeking him, a single hand clutching Dream's sleeve even in sleep as tho afraid Dream will leave

And Punz notices immediately that Dream is awake bc they are atuned to the barest change in his breathing to attend to his every need, and they immediately ask 'Are you feeling better my love?' and Dream, who's half forgotten all that happened during the fever, frowns in confusion, recoiling bc wtf and Punz sees it as rejection and draws back a little, and rephrases 'Are you feeling better, my lord'

They can be professional, and they can give Dream the distance he wants if he wants it, it's fine."

-

Listen eventually they're going to retire to a nice summer villa where Punz will loyally follow Dream through the gardens and be dripping with affection as Dream picks a rose and brings it to his nose before heading to an open sprawl of grass where Sam is kitty sunbathing. Dream naps on Sam's flank and Punz is going to Keep Watch and never let anything happen to him again. Even if Dream is a God now. It doesn't matter. Sam is purring and nuzzling Punz until he too falls asleep resting his head on Punz's shoulder.

And it'll never be what the original drunz have, never quite so open. Dream just can't be that person anymore. But he lets Punz into his bed, and his mask is hung up somewhere, and Punz gets lost in green

They kiss and cuddle and Dream gives these small, fragile smiles that melt Punz completely. And when Dream wakes up, blinking away sleep, he reaches out and gently rests his hand over Punz's.

"My Mercenary." He murmurs. Punz blinks away tears.

-

Please consider that before dark!drunz came together again, Punz had a mission that took them away from Dream for a couple months. And Dream ordered them to come back safe and Punz repeated those words over and over in their mind, obsessing because Dream Cared and it felt like a grounding tether in the sea of endless yearning.

But also they don't come back at their expected time and get injured, and Dream teleports to their location when an hour passes and they still haven't returned and absolutely destroys the thing bothering his mercenary.

I ordered you to come back safe.

forgive me, my lord.

But also please consider post-reconciliation Punz getting hurt and Dream shaking as they heal up in his bedroom. Consider all the times that Punz would rest with their head in Dream's lap, but now they lay their love's head down and quietly tell a story that will end with Dream falling asleep to a happy ending

-

But also also also I wanted to write their first time, after the end of the DND Campaign of Suffering.

...

They'd be a fool to think they could ever be used to Dream's skin against their own.

The bath while Dream had been sick had allowed them to gently scrub his hair and wipe away the sweat from his brow, but they only performed the most necessary of touches to dress him in soft pajamas, and they refused the undeserved audacity of holding his hand while they both slept. Their lord, feverish as he was, had asked for Punz's love, and there was no mortal force that would have them take advantage of his vulnerability. Never again.

These touches were different. This was their fingers weaved together for the first time in centuries. This was them pressing Dream's body against the mattress with his permission, being allowed to kiss him without gold poisoning their love. This was what religion was, and Punz was on their knees to worship. They were so hard it hurt. If they let go of Dream's hand they would crumble into ash and die, it was certain.

(If Dream had asked to end it there, Punz would accept it without fight, slipping away and fucking themselves with the hand that held their love's. His touch was just- it was- )

"Punz." Their lord gasped beneath them. He had dug his nails into Punz's back, trying to keep them draped over him and their chests pressed together. The contact was overwhelming; Punz had to grip the bed sheets to stop themselves from rutting against Dream's thigh like an untrained dog.

Their breath shook as they tried to get the words out. "My love-"

Punz startled as Dream keened at the endearment. They rested their forehead against his, hoping it would soothe and ground them both in the same vein. "I want to be inside you. May I have your permission?"

His eyes (a brilliant green they thought they'd never see again) were hazy with a desperate lust. "You have it. Didn't I tell you to fuck me?"

"Just wanted to be sure." Punz murmured, and smiled as Dream pulled them into a fierce kiss.

Pre-cum was already dripping from their cockhead onto Dream's stomach by the time they forced themselves to pull back. They felt like a foolish mess, they were one, genuinely, but their lord was still holding their hand, and Punz could see the shine of the slick lube that Dream had opened himself up with to allow them the privilege of bringing him pleasure. Like they were worthy.

(They had not been allowed to watch him finger himself. They tormented themselves with images of Dream resting on pillows, ass in the air, as he moaned and sighed with delicious satisfaction.)

A heel dug itself into their lower back, urging them on, and Punz angled themselves properly before pushing in.

The world had been cold. So, so cold. They remembered all those days leaning against the statue, pressing their cheek to harsh, unforgiving marble, waiting for a gentle hand that would never come. Punz had fantasized back then about how warm it would feel to be held by their lord. Even went so far as to imagine themselves in Sam's place, letting Dream use them for his own pleasure. They had fucked themselves many times to the idea. No other mortal could steal away his attention, and it was only through Sam's allowance that Punz had not gone mad with want. Their fantasies had been deep, vivid things.

And yet, fantasies were nothing in comparison to this; slick, velvety heat, walls that hugged them like a vice, tight and perfect and Dream. They're trembled, almost unable to hold themselves up.

They were inside him.

They were inside him.

Dream was urging him in farther, to bottom out, to take him to the hilt-

Punz cried out, only registering Dream tightening around their cock before it all became blinding. Their hips kicked forward without their permission, drawing out their release as they come from just having their cock inside their love.

They don't mean to. Fuck, God, did they not mean to. Self-loathing hits them like a truck. It's fucking shameful, coming so immediately and denying their lord, their love, the chance to experience bliss.

...

I had very vivid imagery of Punz, having not had sex with anyone besides Sam, touch starved and turned on/obsessed with Dream's touch, would be too overcome and just spill immediately the minute they were inside, full of touch starved madness and kink.

And it would really fuck them up because they already have so much guilt over prioritizing themselves over Dream so long ago, for abandoning him, that they're in agony. How Could They Be So Selfish As To Deny Dream Pleasure And Take It All For Themselves? How could they lose control like that?

(They are literally fine, Dream is going insane because Punz filled him up and wants them to do it again)

Also Dream realizes Punz is in distress and gently urges Punz to Look At Him and cups their cheek and pets it with his thumb and asks if they're okay, and then Dream pauses, fumbling and hating the fumbling as he says "Mm- My Mercenary?"

And Punz wasn't expecting it at all, Cock twitching inside and already getting hard again, half-thrusting because yes. They were Dream's. However he wanted them, they were his.

It's important that at some point during them having sex, Dream says "I love you" and it makes Punz come again

^Dream hating the fumbling because Dream must be Strong (he wanted to call Punz his love)

Dream is still holding back Not Taking Unnecessary Risks because there's some part of him still afraid that the moment he gives Punz his whole heart Punz will laugh in his face. Even if he knows Objectively that that's so unlikely because Punz looks like they're dying not being able to love him.

Listen. Listen. They fuck and at Dreams peak he gasps out my love, please in tears and Punz goes insane and peppers him with kisses as he comes.

And Punz swears endlessly, yours, only yours as they hug him close to their chest, feeling him cling back. If they have to separate from each other They Will Die

And afterwards they have a bath together, and Dream orders Punz to sleep with him, and they're wrapped so tightly around each other and finally soothed. and the next time Dream gets cloudy-eyed and asks what he owes Punz, Punz will kneel and say "I want for only your joy and happiness my lord."

And there's some days where Punz is too touch starved, too desperate, so Dream coaxes them to sit on his cock in the throne room, cuddling them to his chest and whispering in their ear, I have you. You belong to me. I won't let you go

It's the happiest they've ever been.

Also Dream likes to watch Punz fuck Sam, so he lounges in Sam's room while they both fuck and feel his eyes on them and it's extremely intense for all of them. Dream sometimes gives little suggestions that Punz follows immediately.

Dream starts out using My Love very sparingly and it's the equivalent of Sam's Good Boys but for Punz. Their entire brain lights up. Anything to earn the right to be Dream's love.

(They say this like they aren't already in his bed every night)

(Dream hasn't let them go back to their own bedroom for sleep since the first time they fucked.)

But also getting regular sex from Dream doesn't stop the touch starved insanities. Punz feels Dream pet them with his bare hand now. They get to rest their head against his knee and feel soft eyes roam their face. Punz is actively lovedrunk horny at all times.

It helps that Dream is also as equally as touch-starved. Punz Can Never Leave Dream Again, By Order Of Dream.

Punz is fine with this.

There was at least one day where Dream didn't want to get out of bed and so Punz was unable to do anything but accept cuddles and kisses and lovebites all over their body.

Dream was purring and happy and if anything had come through that door to disturb his bliss Punz would have shot them point blank with his crossbow.

-

(By the way, the Punz that saw the vision in the mirror of the alternate world where they betray Dream? They go home, off-kilter, breathing fucked up and body trembling.

Dream is in their base, as he has been for the past week and a half, smiling softly as he pours sauce over noodles. Punz had bought groceries and wheedled Dream into making dinner for when they got home as part of long term scheme to get Dream to enjoy food again. He used to love cooking, before prison. They wanted to see him love it again.

And he turns to them when they come in, grinning, except it fades as soon as he sees them because he Knows they're not doing good. He always knows them

And it's that thought that nearly sends Punz to their knees, but Dream is There and let's them cling and gasp out apologies for things that never happened.

Dream rocks them gently as they vow devotion eternal and endless love, buries his fingers in their hair and kisses their ear because Punz's face won't leave his shoulder. They need to hold and be held and the look on that other Dream's face- the devastation when he realized Punz abandoned him-

Punz needs Dream to reassure them that he Knows, he knows they're loyal and that they love him. They can't live in a world where Dream thinks they don't love him.

Punz ends up falling asleep curled into Dreams chest that night. Dream doesn't understand what happened, but he'll wipe any threat from the face of the earth for scaring his Punz.)

[princessofmerchants]

My prediction about the next four books SJM will publish

I wanted to get this down somewhere, in part to process my angst about the possibility of what may come last in this next cluster of book releases 😫 but also to record the plot and character threads I am seeing as important heading into the next stretch of books SJM will release.

This includes HOFAS, ACOTAR, and TOG spoilers so it's after the break.

DISCLAIMER: These are just my guesses based on various interviews SJM has given both before and after the HOFAS release — THE ONLY SERIES BOOK THAT'S CONFIRMED IN THIS LIST IS ACOTAR5 BEING NEXT, and with that one, the main characters and plot threads I'll mention have also not yet been confirmed (beyond an avalanche of textual evidence 👀)

So, here are my predictions, circa 1.5 weeks after HOFAS was released:

➡️NEXT: ACOTAR5 - Az/Gwyn + Nesta and the Valkyries (which should also include Mor, ideally in a shared storyline with Emerie), Illyria / Ramiel / the Prison (and maybe a return of the pegasuses to Prythian), Gwydion and Truth Teller (not to mention the other two Made blades Nesta forged in ACOSF - also will Narben make an appearance? 👀), and I also think the first part of the Autumn Court drama may be told in this book - the truth about what happened between Mor and Eris, Beron's ongoing treachery, and Beron may die in this book making Eris High Lord (though some of these items may also be in ACOTAR6 instead - I do think the Mor and Eris story needs to come out in ACOTAR5 though, for Az to make peace with his 500 years of pining for her)

➡️FOLLOWED BY: A Throne of Glass crossover book - Shifter Fae + humans, more history and context about when the ancient Erilea Fae world-jumped to Midgard and served the Asteri, a story that creates threads and connections (of some kind, no idea how, and not sure which ToG characters it would entail) to Lidia (deer shifter with fire magic a la Aelin), Tharion (and the Mer as a people - ToG stans, remind me, were there mer in the ToG series at all? I'm pretty sure Rigelus says they hailed from the same world as the wolves and other Midgard shifters - I've read ToG in full but not as closely as ACOTAR and CC), and Ithan (wolf shifter with ice magic a la Dorian)

➡️THEN I AM THINKING: CC4: House of Many Waters - This would be the continuation of the story threads SJM did not resolve or finish by the end of HOFAS: Lidia's "service" to the Ocean Queen (and more RuhnLidia story with Brann and Ace 😍), Tharion/Sathia with Flynn and their earth magic / Avallen and the pegasuses, Ithan as the new Prime of the Wolves (and something with Perry - why did the antidote fade for her so fast?), Firstlight Zero, widespread distribution of the antidote, Ariadne (where did she go??!), and maybe more portal hopping to Prythian for Bryce, Hunt, Ember, and Randall (OH and maybe Ruhn here too, to get him in the same room as Rhys 👀) to further develop the cross-world friendships we saw forming in HOFAS

➡️WHICH MEANS FOURTH IN SJM'S AIRPLANE TAXI LINE WOULD BE (SOBS): ACOTAR6 - Elain/Lucien, Band of Exiles, Firebird retelling, Koschei, the mortal queens, and the conclusion of the big magical conflict that began with the finding of the Dread Trove in ACOSF, not to mention the Archeron sisters finally acknowledging and healing all of their familial baggage that was born from their collective and generational hardships from their time as humans (so Elain also coming to terms with her Seer powers and being Fae / no longer human - also answering the question: What happened when Elain went into the Cauldron?), I also think some of the Autumn Court drama would play out in this story Helion/Lady Autumn and Lucien's heritage (Day Court heir?), as well as more information about Papa Archeron from the time period of ACOWAR when Lucien traveled with him (LOTS of processing complex and problematic parents in this one!)

Again, these are JUST MY IDEAS - the ToG book guess is based on SJM saying after ACOTAR5 she's excited about the world her next book will be in which she implied was not the CC or ACOTAR world, and which will be emotional for her because of "who may pop up" - if that doesn't scream a return to her to the ToG universe then I don't know what would.

Then the 3rd and 4th predictions follow from that 2nd one being ToG and what I think she may focus on in it to add layers to her crossover - which seems like something she would want to do after how much work she's put into it so far.

I think there's a stronger and deeper fanbase for ACOTAR6 than there will be for CC4, so I think that could impact a decision to write and release CC4 first (since us ACOTAR stans would wait decades for the conclusion of that story and still buy a bazillion copies of it).

WHICH MEANS (SOBS), if these books are released one every 1.5 years on average... It may be quite a few years until we get our Elucien book 😭 ACOMAF came out in 2016. It would be PAST 2026 when ACOTAR6 gets released, over 10 years, until we get to see what actually comes of Elain's and Lucien's mating bond, if the above winds up bring true.

I swear, Eluciens are going to get the trophy for longest wait to see these two in their endgame, bless our patient souls 🏆

(There is always a chance the last two in the list will be in reverse order, with ACOTAR6 followed by CC4, but even if that winds up being the case, it would still be three books from now for ACOTAR6.)

[blacklegsanjiii]

i'm not really a sanji girlie but i've been watching skypeia so. what if skypeian sanji au (idk how tjis would work but maybe he escapes germa thru one of the other entrances to skypeia that are referenced? or he has skypeian heritage on his mom's side. idk i just had the thought of sanji with wings and antennae and my brain went brr)

There is a Skypiean!Sanji here. However this has been something I've wanted to expand upon, especially in the context of loved!Sanji. So here we go!

Skypeian!Sanji whose mother and father rule a kingdom in the North Blue and is a prince with basically no chance at the throne as he's the fourth born child and the third born son, but he has wings and antennae like his siblings and mother. His mother is Skypeian and teaching them the language as they prepare to head for the East Blue. Sanji knows what they are, there is no hiding it after the failures of their forefathers.

They're attacked as they cross over and they're doing their best to defend themselves when Sanji is grabbed from his hiding spot, the guards slaughtered in front of him as he is dragged out of a window and his mouth covered, muffling whatever screams came out of his mouth as he is ripped from his family and home. Sanji is held prisoner for months and he doesn't know if his family is going to come for him or if he's just dead to them.

The people holding him put him in the helmet and tie his wings down cover them and taunt him for months and there's nothing he can do except cry and remember the stories his mother told him of the All Blue and Skypiea and all of the fun he had with his siblings and father. He's in there for a long time, so long that he lost count until pirates attack the ship and he's dragged out of his cell he is screaming and crying and the pirate with his braided mustache stomps on his helmet hard enough to open the jaw part.

Then the ship goes down and Sanji wakes up on the rock with the pirate and is staring at him and he stares back as he's given a small bag of food and sent to the other side of the rock. He's waiting for a ship to come get them and hopes it's his family but they don't come. No one does. For months. He's waiting for everyone to come get him. Sanji goes and finds the man, lacking a leg with a bag of treasure and not food, Sanji is so frustrated and he cries again as the man watches him rip the jacket off his body and move a knife to one of his wings. Zeff stops him and pulls him close and tells him not to be dumb, those are more precious than his leg. Sanji loses his knife to the man.

When they are saved Zeff makes sure no one comments on the small boys wings, they work on getting the helmet off and everyone is surprised at the antennae sticking out of his matted blond hair and the swirly eyebrow that everyone realizes he's not supposed to be there. Zeff keeps the boy with him and refuses to let him be alone really. The kid doesn't talk about his family as what is canon continues, the only difference is Sanji covers his antennae. Even after he joins the crew. Everyone finds out over time though. Nami and Luffy and chopper find out on Drum, Robin on Skypiea when she hears the story of one of their girls running off with a prince who looks a lot like their cook. Usopp and Franky during Ennies Lobby/Water Seven. Brook on thriller Bark.

No one brings it up to the cook, lets him bring it up to them, though Luffy will preen his wings because they're so soft when Sanji is shirtless and not hiding them under his shirts and such. Sanji doesn't actually know what to do with how soft everyone is being with him. Zoro finds out on Sabaody when Sanji takes a particularly hard kick to the back and sees blood soaking through and someone shouts about his wings. They don't get to talk until after the time skip. When Sanji decides to forgo his bandana and coat in favor of his extra bits being free and not cramped.

Everyone always asks him why he didn't stay in Skypiea and he's like 'i know literally no one there, I have no idea who my family is there, they hated what my mother did' and just leaves it at that and things still go as Canon. Until Zou where there's a singular member of the Royal Family of Germa, not in anything from the 66, just her royal outfit as she tries to calm down the Strawhats, that Sanji is fine. She is doing well in taking their anger and the fact they keep saying she kidnapped the cook when she didn't. Her brothers did.

So the rescue team goes with Pink and meets Sanji's family who are also dealing with the Big Mom pirates. Pink unpins her antennae as they arrive and are let into the castle and led to a main sitting room where Sanji is being preened by an older woman and a man is laughing as three other Sanji's with different hair keep talking about the beast pirates and how Big Mom is also after Sanji after Fishman Island and as a swipe to them. Luffy yells and snaps to Sanji who catches him and curses him.

"This is him? How charming!" The woman coos as she pats Luffy's cheek.

"Yes, this is my captain, Luffy." Sanji sighs.

"You stole my cook!" Luffy snaps at her.

"Oh dear, he's possessive isn't he?" She laughs lightly. "My apologies, our children were so excited to be reunited they didn't seem to take into account what repercussions there could be." She apologizes.

"And who might you all be?" Nami asks with a frown.

"My apologies, I am King Judge, this is my wife Queen Sora's and our children. Princess Reiju, our oldest and her younger brothers, the quadruplets and princes: Ichiji, Niji, Sanji whom you already know, and Yonji who is our youngest." The older man smiles kindly.

"You're a prince?!" Nami, Brook, and Chopper yell at him.

"I haven't been since I was eight?" Sanji asks with a look to his mother.

"Oh, you still are. Besides we seem to have a common enemy in Big Mom." Sora smiles.

"So you're the Skypiean who ran away?" Chopper asks her as they're led to a dining room to eat and Judge talks to Nami about things they can provide short term aid in the fight, not men but equipment. As they're prepping to leave a few days later they're staring Big Mom attacks and the crew and Germa begin fighting as Jinbei shows up.

When they escape and make it to Wano and the crew is gathered Luffy and Chopper tells everyone. The story of Vinsmoke Sora running with a Sea Dweller, their family, the lost prince who became a pirate. Sanji shrugs as Jinbei laughs heartily as that story, at least the first half, had been around for a long time. Over twenty five years at least.

"Yeah, that's about when my parents met. Hence the appearance." Sanji shrugs.

"Amazing." Jinbei laughs harder.

[horizon-verizon]

Final Thoughts on Show!Rhaenys before We Get into the Second Season

I'm not hopeful about Rhaenys in season 2 because the trailer showed us that she'd be sticking to her "no war" and "anti-emotions" agenda even after Luke's death and our knowledge of who Otto is/his emotional influence on Alicent.

I clearly see show!Rhaenys became as bitter as she was. Despite her father-- Prince Aemon--having been the named and official heir plus her being his only surviving child, she was automatically, technically, his heir as well. But because Jaehaerys I didn't believe women should rule like a man AND worried that there would be a civil conflict between Viserys' supporters (namely Daemon) & the Velaryons-Baratheons (Jocelyn Baratheon was Rhaenys' mother and was alive at the time), he decided to use an election knowing how it would go to place a universally uncontested male heir. Show!Rhaenys and dbk!Rhaenys were, some argue, a better fit for the throne by character. It would so likely make any person, woman, resentful of her lot & thus express her resentment...

But the issue is that show!Rhaenys is too cynical & she decides to take it out o the wrong person, the person who is probably the least responsible for her position and the person who is more vulnerable to such expressions at that moment. To the point where she's passive-aggressively trying to discourage a good thing (Rhaenyra believing she could be Queen) when she tells Rhaenyra that men would "sooner" destroy the realm than "see" a woman on the throne. This isn't advice, it's her bitterness being expressed, because she doesn't ever follow up with how Rhaenyra can constructively begin to come up with any strategies.

Because yes, things ARE different for Rhaenyra. Viserys made her his OFFICIAL, declared heir. Rhaenys was never that. Viserys also never called for any Great Council, he relied on the already extant custom that the King's word was Law to justify his choosing Rhaenyra.

Men will never accept ANY woman, so I (Rhaenyra) do what I must anyway.

In the context of a woman having to become Queen in a patriarchal world where there literally ever has been a Queen regnant, Doylistically, why is this woman who the show is saying is supposed to be strong of character or will submitting to patriarchal will wholeheartedly and trying to get Rhaenyra to?!!! Okay, so men will not accept me...am I supposed to just lie down and accept that when I DO have an opportunity to rule anyway, which Viserys/the Monarch, allowed me? "That's how it is"...okay, so bc that's how it is, I should just do nothing at all to improve my place?

It's not smart as people claimed, it's not insightful. It's you putting us all against a wall & saying you shouldn't even try to cross bc you'll fail. It's an ingredient to anti-progress, anti constructivism.

Rhaenys was also absolutely being hypocritical with Alicent in episode 9 about "windows" in prisons, because she has not really protested against Corlys sending off their daughter to be married off at 12 purely for his own ambitions like Otto.

You are wiser than I believed you to be, Alicent Hightower. A true queen counts the cost to her people. And yet you toil still in service to men. Your father, your husband, your son. You desire not to be free, but to make a window in the wall of your prison. Have you never imagined yourself on the Iron Throne? I'll leave you with your thoughts.

She has done what I already described to Rhaenyra in episode 2. And she says to Corlys she's over not having been chosen...yet says what she says how she says about the lords never going to accept her in episode 2.

And while being anti-war for "the realm", she also kills dozens of smallfolk bc "it's not my war"...but the greens can use this as an excuse against her, Rhaenyra, and the blacks to open the war and make themselves look that much more righteous! (Rhaenyra is still close r to the blacks than "neutral" through Baela & Rhaena) So is she really that careful or conscientious even in her goal for there to be no war?!

If Rhaenys meant "realm" as both nobles & peasants, she has a funny way of showing her concern for "the realm". If not and she just meant nobles, is she really all that wise or compassionate?!

But Rhaenys in the show is made not to see any of that. You can say she's "keeping it real", but sometimes you stifle your own hopes so you cannot see possible paths to the thing you want to accomplish or change. Therefore, show!Rhaenys is actually being very blind & close minded.

It reminds me of some people's tendency to say "I'm just being real" (not so much Rhaenys but the justifications for her behavior towards Rhaenyra) & being nihilistic or over-cynical kinda places us back to square one, the place where we stay victimized by the status quo.

I mean, think of how if people had just accepted "that's just how it is", we'd still have legal segregation, women wouldn't be able to vote or own their own properties or have their own bank cards w/o having to get paper permits from their dads & husbands into the 70s!!!

Show!Rhaenys' particular brand of bitterness (that some of us have misidentified as "truthtelling"), if allowed to be totally justified can serve to reaffirm oppressive status quos.

Which is why I just prefer book!Rhaenys, who many have pointed out was not bloodthirsty but merely thinking of a ruthless strategy and eager to protect her own interests & those that she loved. Because no matter what either show or book Rhaenys wanted, war was definitely coming for not just Daemon & Rhaenyra, but Baela and Rhaena. They are Daemon's daughters no matter who their supposed host was [HotD, Baela is Rhaenys' & Corlys' ward], how would the greens just ignore them?!! Baela is very much like her father, by the evidence and I'm sure Rhaena would also not just abandon Daemon or Rhaenyra, not having had been close to them for years and Daemon literally being their father who has raised them with real love since both were born.

To clear up some misunderstandings about the original book, no one at the black council believed for a second that greens wouldn't come for them or were really "warmongers":

The greens would have never let go of the people they usurped (Rhaenyra & her kids) who could come back at any moment to oust them...that's how usurpations usually go. Look at Robert with Dany and Rhaegar's children!

["The Blacks and the Greens"] -- further proof of greens' intentions against the blacks

Rhaenys says this ("The Blacks and the Greens"):

Bk!Daemon was actually the one practicing some caution, against a full front attack on KL. (Something bk!Rhaenys advocated for.) BUT like Rhaenys, Daemon in the OG story wasn't against a war. Not because he is he's "turned a new leaf" against violence and being an actual, non-playful menace just for the fun of it (which was never his character), but so he can protect his family...proven by how before he speaks, we have Rhaenyra worry over the fates of her sons going into battle in Rhaenys' suggestion. Bc again, the war was nearly inevitable, and definitely became so after Lucerys' death.

Bk!Daemon knew how hard it'd be to fight against actual dragons. He specifically wanted them to use them as a last resort & first send letters to different lords to get them to show their allegiances & prepare for war, fight under Rhaenyra's name. And so they knew who to watch out for.

["The Blacks and the Greens"] -- Black council, Daemon's Words

Corlys was also not anti-war, he was anti-full blaze attack on KL bc it would destroy the things they were fighting for.

["The Blacks and the Greens"] -- Black council, Corlys Disagreeing w/Rhaenys

So Daemon & Rhaenys' roles are almost switched for the show, and this reveals another layer of how the show seeks to subdue their female characters into parrots and puppets of men around them for the male gaze, turn them into something "nonthreatening" & more influenced by men's wills & ambitions than they had been in the book. [xenonwitch]

I say "almost" because the show was anti war vs "go-go-go" instead of the book's full attack on KL vs dragons-as last-resort.

Doesn't matter that the scenes where Baela tries to get Rhaenys to see that were deleted, this situation exists without any of their permission, consent, will, etc. Book!Rhaneys has the sense to not try to deny or hide from it. No one tried.

No, show!Rhaenys doesn't offer very good things, nor is "wise" as people claim she is. "Wise" is different from "clever", and claiming that this iteration of Rhaenys was "wise" really just positions this discouragement of actual action and seizure of opportunity for an event where else-time didn't or couldn't happen is categorically unwise!! And a way to re-affirm patriarchal license of suppressed female ambition or rage.

This was already wrote this on Twitter, under this post (LINK):

[alicentsgf]

"No she didnt ask for his death, its more about the asumption we can make about it all. Speaking completely and only to the book exclusively, I have to ask, what do you think would have been Maelor's fate if he'd been brought back to the red keep and Rhaenyra?" mmm I understand where you're coming from, and I agree that there are assumptions we can make based on the book's context. But I think Maelor's fate would have depended on Rhaenyra's strategy at that moment. If he had been brought back to the Red Keep, she might have seen him as a bargaining chip or leverage against Aegon's supporters rather than killing him outright, especially if she believed doing so would further destabilize her own rule or alienate her supporters. I think Rhaenyra would have seen him as both a potential threat and a valuable pawn. Political decisions often involve more nuance, and she might have calculated that keeping him alive—at least for a time—could serve her interests in a different way, like future leverage, public sympathy, or dividing her enemies....I think there’s room for interpretation about how exactly Rhaenyra might have handled the situation. Then again, we can only assume, but as George himself said in his post, Rhaenyra didn't ask for Maelor to die—that wasn't her intention. Yet, people still insist that she wanted him dead?

I get that, maybe I didnt make it clear that I dont think he's dead immediately I'm talking exclusively about if Rhaenyra wins the war. In fact, at the point where she puts out a reward for the return of Maelor she is winning, as shes sitting the throne in that moment. It was Maelors death and Helaenas subsequent suicide that changed that. I just think on some level Rhaenyra must know when shes asking for Maelor to be found that he cant be allowed to live beyond her own death. Shes not completely blind to the realities of the situation, despite her political frailties. There would be another sucession crisis in some form, for sure. Rhaenyra and Daemon arent known to be particulary politically savvy so I dont hold out much hope for them playing any kind of long, political game and them like... holding Maelor as a prisoner when he has no male Targaryen relatives left? that makes no sense to me. When they can so easily remove the one potential claiment their enemies could rally behind, why wouldnt they? Its not like they dont have a history of removing their otherwise innocent inconveniences, e.g. rhea, laenor, jaehaerys, etc

To me theres just no eventuality where Rhaenyra rules peacefully and Maelor just exists living as Maelor Targaryen, even under lock and key. That would be a terrible look on her, to hold her nephew, a child, hostage. Whilst he lives he remains politically relevant, disturbing the peace just by existing. And that is Rhaenyras objective - to rule peacefully, and to have her heir (which would be Joffrey in this version of events) ascend peacefully. So on some level she must know Maelors claim has to be neutralised at some point, even if she doesnt want to acknowledge that directly. Like I dont think she would revel in the idea of killing him, I just think she would see him as collateral and be prepared to do anything to protect her own children, as you would expect!

At best shes smart enough to publically show "mercy" and send him to the wall or something (because theres no way he gets sent to Oldtown where he has allies), but lets be honest he'd probably still disppear or be killed in some ""accident"" at some point following that decision. A convenient little incident, like getting thrown from a horse lmao. More likely Daemons doing, if he still lives, or Rhaenyras council if not, but Rhaenyra wouldnt ask questions. One life to avoid another war would be totally justifiable to her, even if it was the life of a child.

[windriverdelta]

On the Grand Northern Conspiracy

Somehow I have been thinking a lot about the Grand Northern Conspiracy, an ASOIAF fan theory that posits that in AFFC/ADWD the lords of the North and Riverlands are plotting to install Jon Snow as King in the North. Well, no time like present to write a comment.

TL;DR I find it extremely implausible and would very surprised if TWOW featured anything even resembling that. It's a far-fetched conspiracy theory.

First of all, as other people like @turtle-paced have pointed out, there are lots of barriers to communication between the supposed conspirators and no evidence that they could coordinate their actions. Now, there is evidence in Arya's ASOS chapters that the Brotherhood Without Banners has contacts to the Riverlords and one wonders if Jaime Lannister in AFFC is being deliberately steered to Brienne, but that doesn't mean the Northerners can do the same.

Second, where is the set-up for the Northern lords using Stannis like that? Late Walder Frey is amply established as a traitor, opportunist and oathbreaker two books before the Red Wedding, there is no foreshadowing at all for Mormont, mountain clans etc. This isn't Game of Thrones, spectacular betrayals do not come out of thin air in ASOIAF. In this context, it's worth noting that foreshadowing in ASOIAF usually takes the form of a few unambiguous meaningful events, not a lot of very ambiguous little things that can interpreted in multiple ways like the infamous "Corn Code"

Three, Jon Snow does not work very well as a fulcrum for such a conspiracy. Ignoring for a moment that nobody has bothered getting his buy-in for such a plot (what if he deems it dishonourable and sleazy and ices out all the participants?), there is no indication that any physical copy of Robb's will survived the Red Wedding. Remember, the various lords and ladies are referred to as its "witnesses", and most of them are now prisoners of the Freys. Look at it from a character's perspective: Two lords who somehow survived the Red Wedding, claiming that Robb wanted to make Jon king. Why would anyone believe them? Especially Jon Snow, who knows in ADWD that Robb was killed by his own men, he has no reason at all to trust Maege or Galbart. And without the will, Jon Snow would just be an usurper and deserter from the Night's Watch.

Narrative-wise, I don't see much foreshadowing of Jon being king in the north in the main series - all so-called "foreshadowing" I've seen are ambiguous allusions or far-fetched interpretations. I see no thematic or character purpose, either - I tend to think that R+L=J, the three dragons and his assassination lead into him being a dragonrider and fighter against the Others. In my opinion, the political side of the Northern storyline is Sansa and Stannis' job. And there is plenty of potential conflict around them without the need for a king in the north scheme.

But the big sticking point is that the actions of many of the supposed conspirators don't fit with theory. Just to cite a few examples:

Lady Stoneheart is not crowning Jon with anything but a noose, not in a million years, there is no evidence whatsoever that she's anything but a revenge zombie.

Wyman Manderly is entrusting Rickon Stark to consummate Stannis loyalist Davos Seaworth, which makes no sense at all if he planned to betray Stannis later - why would he risk Rickon becoming Stannis' hostage?

We have no reason to believe that Barbrey Dustin is lying about not liking the Starks - for one thing, Dustin troops are noticeable by their absence for the War of Five Kings, true to her word. She'll probably jump ship if Roose falls, but that's not the same thing as becoming a Stark restorationist. In fact, I could see her supporting Stannis to take the Starks down a peg.

People keep citing Lyanna Mormont's defiant letter to Stannis as proof of Bear Island not being truly on his side, but not only is she (as Jon points out) not in charge of House Mormont, we later see Alysane marching with Stannis. She almost certainly is in contact with Maege given her comments to Asha about her family; I doubt that this is a right hand vs left hand situation. I am not even sure that she has much of a retinue, either - the problem with Rickon above may exist here too. Finally, recall that in AGOT Maege challenged Robb, telling him that he was so young as to have no business giving her commands. The Mormonts don't let anyone boss them around, that doesn't mean that they are Frey Lite.

In short, this theory requires lots of poorly foreshadowed OOC behaviour to enable a rather pointless political ploy that doesn't fit the narrative very well.

[a-shrieking-cloud-of-bats]

Video Game Post 2024

another year of a habit many are calling Troubling and Obsessive

(in which I attempt to speak coherently and meaningfully of several games I liked quite a bit through 2024; these are not necessarily games that released in 2024, but rather games I played in 2024. It's also not a comprehensive list of stuff I liked.)

Gravity Circuit

gravity circuit is one of many attempts to reclaim the long abandoned megaman throne and I honestly really enjoyed it, to the point that I beat it in a single day in almost a single sitting. It just would not let me go. At any rate to immediately undermine the first sentence; the game takes more from the mega man zero games, with a stronger focus on melee combat and upgrades then Kill Boss Get Power, though the game does have that analogue in the form of paint jobs that give you special moves the bosses do, often activated through a particular button combo or context. That said, only one paint job at a time, and frankly the combat even at base with generic upgrades was good enough that I don't recall swapping off of it at all.

Attacks are both basic punches along with directional special attacks in the vein of super smash brothers. Movement feels incredible, the grapple mechanic somehow never felt clunky, and the game, like many notable platformers of the recent years has a good feeling of momentum to it. Attacks are both basic punches along with directional special attacks in the vein of super smash brothers, and those paint job specials I mentioned earlier run the gambit from Air Dash to You Turn Into A Sphere And Can Pass Through Solid Terrain. Upgrades can give you parries, double jumps, extra energy, etc etc etc.

A lot of variety to be had, and it is no doubt a fun game to optimize though I personally never did it. I'm sure there's an insane speedrun out there somewhere.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream

There's a sort've now long standing genre of game that you find mostly on itch.io that is totally uncompromising and doesn't really care if the player enjoys playing it, or sometimes even looking at it. I do enjoy those games, but I find it hard to reccomend them for obvious reasons. Dungeons of Blood and Dream feels like one of those games with just enough Random Gamer accessibility considerations to bridge the gap between an Art Game and a Normal(-ish? Maybe?) Video Game.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream is difficult and uncompromising but nothing in that game is an incredible mystery. Melee attacks are very short ranged and you often have to have a plan to get away from the enemy's melee attack after you've gotten in and swiped at someone, the spell system is complex and obfuscated, (made slightly easier by the in game journal system) and involves leeching your own health, making any spell a gamble, and rings can both harm and hurt you, and have a variety of effects based on what finger you equip them on. If all of this sounds esoteric you'd be right, and that's what differentiates Dungeons from other Generic Medieval Slashy Fighty games, something sorely needed in the genre. The game will punish you, and if you didn't understand why, it's your job to figure out why and resolve it.

The plot is... involved but short version you are trapped inside a wizard's brain and to escape it you need to find out the wizard's true name. You can do that by dreaming within the mind prison, and fighting creatures. Area bosses give you letters which spell the name of the wizard. After that... I dunno, still working on it. There's an outside to the prison though! Whether there's something to that or it's just a trigger for the ending is another question. The plot has more dressing then this and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested but that's the gist.

Fantastic simple action game with a lot of mechanical depth in the equipment and spell system. Very much modeled after traditional roguelikes, successfully if you ask me.

UFO 50

I miiight not need to tell you about this, and honestly it almost breaks the popularity ceiling I put on these things, I feel. UFO 50 is a collection of 50 NES style games by the guy behind Spelunky, Mossmouth (AKA Derek Yu). I could rattle on for hours about every individual game, but it's honestly impressive how many of these games are legitimately extremely good on their own merits. The genres run the gambit from early NES classics such as Those Games Where You Run Right Constantly and Have To Dodge Stuff, and Those Games Where You're On A Field And You Have To Interact With Little Guys Somehow Figure It Out, and more conventional action platformers, RPGs, weird little puzzle games, action RPGs, Disc Based RPGs, RPGs where you are a group of lizards that swim into the deep ocean with absolutely no backing audio, wild west RPGs, Shmups, one game that honestly feels more like an excuse to wedge a roguelike deckbuilder in there, metroidvanias where you play as a cute little submarine guy, train heist games, an idle game/Legend of Zelda hybrid, racing games, fighting games, a game that can only be described as La-Mulana Esque, and of course, golf. A lot of golf. And a golf RPG. Of course.

Some of these individual games have already made a name for themselves as being exceptional within the genre; a lot of people love Mini and Max, and a lot of people love Mooncat. They're both truly unique experiences individually, and I would say they are worth the asking price alone, not including the remaining 49 games. There's a lot of variety, there's experimentation, there's conventional, and everything in between. I rarely think a game is worth recommending to everyone, and t be honest I don't know if UFO 50 quiiiiite makes it, but it's damn close.

All this praise and I don't even mention the game tracking your progression on every individual game, along with the metagame elements that tells the tale of the titular UFOsoft game development company, starting from humble beginnings and slowly growing into a household name, along with the circumstances leading to their untimely collapse. That's a bit more hidden but I'll say this; the console command is in the menu for a reason.

If you're not into the ARG shit though, UFO 50 is still an incredible game collection. In no way do you have to follow the breadcrumb trail, the game hides very little from you, and the content available is fantastic. If you're even a little bit into video games, you owe yourself to check out UFO 50. I don't really do game of the year anymore, but UFO50 tempts me.

Corn Kidz 64

Corn Kidz 64 is a unique N64 styled 3D platformer with a twinge of collectathon design. Visual design is absolutely stellar, perfectly imitating the visual design of N64 games, the controls are immensely responsive, as someone that usually struggles with 3D platformers I never had any sort of issue with the controls and I can't think of a single issue I had with the camera.

The game consists of a surprisingly large tutorial level, a single large exploratory world (again, in the vein of N64 collectathons, less pits, more weird little nooks and crannies), and two challenge tower platforming worlds. I had a great time with every one of them.

It's not really a flashy game, so it's hard to recommend the game more then I have without just like, talking about what happens in the game, but rest assured the basics I've talked about here are immaculate, and the world the game takes place in is engaging. If you felt Yooka Laylee fell short of the standard set by the N64, give this a shot.

Also the playable characters are goats, which like, I have no idea how I've never seen a goat human hybrid in a platformer before. Insane.

Voices of the Void

What started as what I can only assume was an attempt to bully a swedish streamer about his alien phobia from several countries away has quickly developed into one of my favorite "casual simulator" games to date. Voices of the Void puts you in the shoes of Dr. Kel, a doctor working at the ASO, Alpen Signal Observatorium. You head out into the dunkeltaler forest, a SETI site in a wooded valley that also seems to be surrounded by a military blockade, complete with sniper towers, for some reason.

When you arrive the complex is absolutely trashed, the computer systems barely work, and the place is inexplicably filled with mannequins. From the complex you process signals from space, complete with audio, images, and spectrograph readings, and send them back to the ASO HQ to be analyzed further. You also maintain the on site equipment which involves server repair (including the servers in the sattelite dishes, IE Not In Your Bunker), and hash code retrieval. This gets you points, which you can use to buy all sorts of things; food, amenities, cleaning supplies, to clean up the awful mess at the base, equipment upgrades, and distractions from your day to day such as metal detectors. Also on sale are cameras, viewable from your main console, allowing you to keep an eye on areas you deem troublesome or curious. Or just bunker up even harder.

I could continue to play dumb but as the game progresses in story mode, various entities begin to appear. Between the fixed story mode events and the random events, the game manages to do an excellent job of keeping you on your toes, and inspiring paranoia, all while rarely actually springing danger on you. I've described it as "Hearing a weird noise while you're in the shower, at home, alone, horror" and I'd say that's about right. The sheer volume of unique events and the lack of restrictions on their appearence creates a sort've infinite paranoia generation engine, which happens to go quite well with the mundane day to day maintenance of the site and yourself. The game manages to simultaneously be a light horror game and an almost stardew valley esque life sim game, and it mixes the elements fantastically. I unfortunately struggle to convey my appreciation for this game, so I'll say this; I do not normally replay story mode games. I have played VotV twice, all the way through story mode, and I've only known about it for six months. If that.

Lightning Round

in which I rattle off some very quick reviews about games that I appreciated but are less substantial in some way. Usually roguelites, I'll be honest.

WitchHand

A little "deck civilization" game, where you have a deck of cards that combine and interact in such a way as to create a sort've complex system of interactions that lead you to needing to sort the board in such a way that you can perform these interactions efficiently and keep track of them in a rapidly advancing world. A Cultist Simulator-Like game, if you will. You play as a cutesy witch and you're required to fufill tasks appointed to you by the council. As these tasks progress you unlock more stuff and the plot progresses. I... forget how it ends. I was really more there for the card juggling, honestly. Also similar to stacklands if you're familiar. I personally think it plays much much better then it, however, which is why it made this list, and stacklands didn't.

Garlic

Precision platformer with an excellent sense of humor. Your little garlic headed guy is remarkably expressive and the various events that occur on your way up the tower are endlessly entertaining. Very charming little game, goofy, and fun. Also as precision platformers go; not too hard. Until the finale.

Plot involves said garlic headed guy trying to court the lady at the top of the tower. One of the events o nthe way up to build your Cool Points is a first person view of your guy walking down the road and kicking cans. Mostly here for the platforming, but the comedy is very good too.

Bore Blasters

You're a little dwarf in a flying machine and you blast the terrain around you with a gun to unearth the ores. Your goal is to get to the bottom of the zone, unlocking an upgrade, while fending off enemies which all seem to be abel to phase through solid matter with no issues. Sort've a vampire survivors-adjacent game, leveling up, getting upgrades, etc. The mining aspect creates a lot of friction to the standard vampire survivors loop and I quite liked how the two systems interacted.

Has a bizzare amount of plot, and while it overstays its welcome, I did enjoy setting up really big earning runs. Once you run out of uses for money the game rapidly stops being entertaining, however.

Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers

An entry in the rapidly expanding Rogulites About Card Games genre, you play blackjack, you get special cards that do various things. As is typical of this genre there's too much variety to even cover s othis is basically me saying There's A Blackjack Roguelite. I think it by and large falls below its peers but who can blame it.

Balatro

You don't need me to tell you about this. I'm not even going to link it.