#part two is up folks

[velvet-paradox]

Taken (Part Two)

Summary: Things definitely aren't going as planned and you find out there IS something stalking the woods, will it leave you or take you out?

Length: Long

Warnings: NSFW, 18+ ONLY, reader discretion is advised, established relationship, oral (f receiving), unprotected p in v, mentions of death, mention of animal death, mentions of blood, animal death, smut, strong language, explicit content, pregnancy talk, kidnapping.

Tagging: @synnersaint @da-zais @maskedforareason @am-1983 @erensbrow @mynameisabsinthe @capondi

ENJOY!!!

Taabe slotted his fingers between your own at the apex of your thighs, resting them against your spread legs. His eyes were closed, clouded in bliss while his mouth worked you over. 

You gasped his name and bucked your hips, only a few others had gotten pussy clearance level like Taabe and he was the only one to do her justice. He was quick to figure you out two years ago, he had a good memory and picked up on cues, even if they were just barely visible to remind himself the next him he was granted permission to taste you.

You arched and wiggled around on the bed. 

"I know petal, I know. Feels good though, doesn't it? Having my tongue on you... mmm, best dessert ever." Your husband, drunk on you already, half moaned against your thigh. He snuck a quick bite of the meat but soothed it with a soft kiss. 

He had a way to make you forget, to clear your mind and wipe the slate clean. You felt him watching you as you ate outside, enjoying the quiet before heading back to the hustle of the city in a few days. Vacations never long enough to thoroughly enjoy, let alone with something preying on animals out here added to the plate. At least if it's an animal or some sick sinister poacher, you two were warm and safe in your cabin.

Taabe moaned against your cunt, poking and proving his tongue with short, pointed licks to your leaking entrance.

He rolled you over at some point, your bodies becoming one tangled, sweating, moaning mess. You cried into the pillows when you felt the blunt head of his cock rub wetly between your folds, the crown of it catching on your entrance. 

You could feel him chuckled when you lifted your rear to hurry and get him inside you. He titled his hips a bit to give him the leverage he need and pushed all the way in, taking his time to bottom out.

"Fuck yes." The wispy ends of his long hair danced over your shoulders.

"Fill me up so good." You held onto the sheets, gathering them up in your hands.

"Mmmm I know petal, you take it like a real champ," Taabe leaned down and kissed the back of your head as he started to move his hips. "You like that don't you, baby? having me work you open for me. Still so fucking wet and skin fucking tight around me."

"Yes. Yes I love it."

Taabe chuckled again, pushing himself up to his elbows and worked himself against you, your slick coating his cock, slipping in and out at a breath punching pace.

"Fucks sake... if I didn't fuck a baby into you last time I sure am tonight!"

You squirmed and mewled for him, one hand leaving the hold on the covers to grab at his bare and thick thigh, nails digging into the meat of his cheek. He praised you, sneaking a hand underneath you to cup your mound, to press and circle your clit to get you off.

"Oh fuck, fuck me just like that. Just like that."

" 'm so fucking deep in your pussy right now, incredible."

You hung your head and tried your best to hold onto the engorging coil in your belly, fire stoked and played with by your thrust husband. "Not gonna' last baby, please. Make me cum, need to cum."

"Oh I know baby, I know. You're doing so fucking well, just hold on a little bit longer. Can you do that for me, petal? Wanna' cum together, I'll fuck you through it."

Taabe was out of breath, panting your name like it was the only thing he knew how to say. You smiled, blissed the fuck out and riding the tidal wave of pleasure and desire. The want to please him and yourself, to cum together. Taabe liked to mention how cock drunk you'd get, now here he was drunk and slurring from your cunt.

....

As if your husband knew what lay ahead, holding your head and nuzzling his smooth face against your own did you hear the foreshadowing words; "Keep an eye out for bears."

You wanted to return the favor as Taabe had done for you that morning, going down to the lake bed wasn't off limits or an unfamiliar route. You wanted to bring him a few rocks to add to your collection back home. You weren't expecting to see two cubs playing and rolling around across the way, so easily. Granted , yes, you were out in the elements, in their surroundings and home of the forest but, every other time you and/or his family had come up to the cabin, you had only seen footprints of bears, not actual, big fuzzy creatures. You ducked and flattened your chest and belly to the grass on your side, the rushing current deterring any other sound.

Fuck.

The two cubs were more preoccupied with tussling amongst themselves then with you, that tipped the scales in your favor but you weren't sure and couldn't see where their mother was. That made you nervous and as much as you willed yourself not to think and worry a fucking hole into the situation about it to cause your heartrate to jump, you couldn't help it.

You inched your way from the tumbling cubs, one pounced on the others' back, chomping lightly on the thick skin of their siblings neck with a cute but terrifying growl.

There was a clicking, almost rattle like behind you. Yet there was nothing there when you stole a chance to look. You quietly rolled along the bank, dirt and grass covering your city-girl scent the longer you and your husband stayed out in the wilderness. An added bonus, you thought, but not good enough.

The next unforeseen roll in the had you yelping as you pinched your back on a storm thrown branch. The little bears stopped in their play, beady eyes searching for the disruption. You held your breath.

Too late.

The loud sniffing of the mama bear thankfully came from the other side of the lake, but still way too close for any inkling of comfort. You pressed your face into the dirt. Shitshitshitshit.

It wasn't enough. You took a peek and unfortunately caught the eye of the giant bear, she stood up on her hind legs and roared. You'd been spotted. It was far too late and well overdue to try and yell and clack the rocks you'd found together to frighten her away. Your heart lurched into your throat. She roared again and wobbled a bit into the rushing water.

You jerked at the burly sight, another unfortunate event which made her snuffle the air again. That strange clicking clicked behind you and instead of looking for its' source you carefully pulled the long, flat grass and slipped into the water. Maybe, just maybe if you kept a low profile you could use the current to your advantage and coast along with it. If you could just cover your mouth, these waters were jagged like teeth from the rocks that had tumbled down. It would shred your clothes and your body, bears can smell blood...

Mama bear dropped down onto all fours then, another roar and gnashing of her teeth echoed as a few rocks tumbled into the water behind you. Knowing to never turn your back on a beast, let alone one in the absolute wild, you took your chance and hopped up in the middle of the lake and bolted. Your panicked splashing on two legs was drowned out by her four.

You didn't scream. You didn't dare scream even though every joint in your body willed you to. Even when you heard that clicking sound.

There was a well built beaver dam just ahead, the mama bear close behind and you felt the rush of her air and speed and chose to dive under the current. Catching the hole the (thankfully!) plump beaver had built you pulled yourself through the thick lake mud, coating your body and clothing. The bear rushed up to the dam, a harsh wave in her flurry doused you with water as you covered your mouth, terrified of the gnashing teeth and razor sharp claws.

....

Your clothes were ruined, your body still reeling and shaking from the encounter of a fucking lifetime. It was so big, so ravenous. Your socks were squishy and the evening air made you shiver as you held yourself and made it back to the cabin.

Without a care in the world you watched Taabe hum to himself in the doorway of the kitchen, moving a light tune coming from an old radio that until now, you were certain was for decoration only.

The smell of sautéed onions filled your noise, better than the dirt and grim from the lake bed.

Your steps were soggy.

Taabe moved from one side of the kitchen to the other, only stopping with a genuine smile when he caught sight of you. But that quickly changed and he was rushing towards you, you couldn't hear what he was saying but his facial expressions were frantic as he shook you.

"Hey hey! petal, what's wrong? what happened?"

You came to and stared at your husband, he cupped your face.

"It's not... not safe out there."

"What? what happened? jeez, you're fucking soaked! let's get you out of these clothes before you get sick." Taabe helped you into the bathroom, the two of you just barely fit as he sat you down on the toilet and he helped take off your socks and shoes.

You stood under the water, watching the dirt glide down the drain. You wanted to scrub the junk from under your nails, images of what happened or could have happened by the lake flashed behind your eyes every time you shut your eyes.

Fur. Fangs. Claws. Blood.

"Here," your husband softly said with a steaming mug of tea, sitting you down on the couch, wrapped in an oversize hoodie and spare sweats. "Do you feel better?"

"Better would be an understatement," you chuckled without humor. "We should go."

"Why? did you run into someone out there?"

"No. Not exactly," you took a hot sip and let it warm through you before turning to look at him next to you, concern on laden on his eyes and mouth. "There's something out there, Taabe."

"What did you see?"

You took a shaky breath and another sip before explaining. 

"... it was massive, bigger than the mama bear and twice, no... ten times as ferocious! it was like I could only make out half of its' frame, like it was shrouded with something. It made this terrible clicking sound and killed that bear, right next to me in the lake. Swiped it right open. Blood went everywhere, it covered its' head with it," you recalled with a shiver, seeing something so grisly up close made your mouth water. "I was lucky it was preoccupied so I could get out of that dam and coast down stream."

Taabe wiped his mouth.

"It wasn't from here... or maybe it was but-- it's face..."

Taabe looked at you then, taking the warm mug from your hands. "What about it?"

"It was like..." you brought up both hands and pinched them together. "Like pincers or mandibles. Not like--"

"Mandibles" Taabe took a long drink of your tea and set it down on the coffee table. "Yautja."

"What?"

"Yautja. The elders used to tell us stories about them, warned us about them, tried to frighten us before bed so we'd come home on time, in fear of getting caught in one of their nets. They're hunters, predators," Taabe gave you a curious look as he spoke. "You weren't a threat to it."

"What does that mean?"

"That's why you were able to escape it. They're supposed to have these helmets that can sus out the nearest threat, it only challenges something the deem worthy of a fight. To the death. Thankfully then, the bear was revved up because of her cubs being close to you, it attacked her and not you."

"Do you think it would follow me then, follow me here!" you jumped up and ran to the door and locked it, even though it was already locked up tight. 

"No petal, you weren't a threat. It wouldn't track you unless you meant harm to it." Taabe was after you, his warm hands on your shoulders. "You're safe now. But you're right, if that Yautja is out there we should leave."

"Taabe, I'm scared."

"I know, petal. Lucky for you, you have an incredibly brave and capable husband." He chuckled at your guff of approval, hugging him tightly when he turned you around.

He was right but you were still nervous about that thing outside, the name of it circling your head like tiny, cartoon birds.

Yautja.

....

You couldn't sleep. Quick flash images of that bipedal creature, with it's claws and working jaw, drinking blood, no doubt the creature that took down those buffalo. Took trophies. That unexplainable sound, the clicking.

You sighed and got out of bed, mindful of a soundly sleeping Taabe beside you. He snorted when you placed the hand that was on your hip, to the mattress and went to the window.

Wind blew through the trees, the moon shone brightly between the gaps in the leaves. You hoped that it didn't follow you, that whatever heat signature you'd left wasn't enough for it to catch on to your heat.

"What're doin'?"

You looked over your shoulder, no matter the season Taabe was one to sleep shirtless, and rubbed his jaw on his shoulder.

"Can't sleep."

You just caught a small smile on his face. "Thought so. Want me to eat you out again?"

You chuckled. "Really?"

"Yes really," he preened in the darkness. "You know I'll do it just for fun."

"You're insatiable."

"Isn't that why you married me?" He joked and patted your empty side of the bed.

"No," you left the window and climbed back into bed, wrapping your limbs around him. "I married you for your cock, not your mouth."

"Yeah right." Taabe laughed and kissed you. "You're a terrible liar."

Your husband was right, you weren't any good at fibbing or white lies, even omissions made you sick and you had an eager need to confess when you did. Taabe had you out of your mind, nothing of what happened at the lake made any coherent sense as he spread your legs apart, his mouth seeking out any flesh he could get his lips and blunt ends of his teeth on once he got those sweatpants off. 

Nipping the chunky flesh of your inner thigh, groping the outsides of them as he navigated his tongue between your folds. Taking his time to capture your inner labia between his lips, making you arch and reveal that part of yourself.

"Baby, you read me like a book..."

Taabe nodded against you, hooking his arms and hands around your hips, an attempt to slow your wriggling. Your labored breathing like music to his ears, you could tell he couldn't help himself and nor you as he left your pussy wanting more, rolling you onto your side, his hand beneath your shirt as the other pulled down his own pants and rutted against you. Slipping hotly between your wetness, gathering what wetness he could before plunging himself deep in one fluid, rocking motion. You mewled and bit at the sheets.

....

It's noticeable how quiet the woods are, no chirping, nothing. You hoisted your bag over your shoulder, following your husband down the path to your car, to sanctuary. A leak but safe air hung around as you walked, noting the empty headed skulls of animals laid at your feet, bloody pools that stunk. Even small creatures were considered a threat apparently.

Taabe cut down a few wiry vines and bushes along the way, making way for your feet. You trudged behind him then stopped when that clicking sounded again. You stopped and looked around. Nothing in sight, you kept on until a single, thick metal arrow nearly clipped your ear.

You ducked and grabbed for your partner.

His wild eyes told you to be silent, a single finger to his lips as he crept a bit further, telling you to stay put.

Peering around, another arrow shot out, just beside you into a fallen log. You held your breath.

The clicking sound was deafening, covering your ears after tapping where Taabe had slipped through your fingers. You called his name as another arrow came flying through the air, ducking down as you had by the lake you made out the creature. The monster. The Yautja. Sizable and menacing it sniffed around, its' bone helmet seeked you both out behind the brush.

Taabe circled back and attempted a headlock, your husband was big but not big enough to engross the predator. Taabe landed on his back with a grunt, fishing for his weapons when you clapped, trying to get its' attention. It snarled and started towards you in heavy, thick strides. 

"Petal! iNo!"

The scary creature chased you down the hill, even when you tumbled and rolled, kicking up dirt and debris. Vines roots roots tore your sleeves as you landed in a small clearing. You caught your breath and ran, zig zagging through trunks and brush untii you thought you were out of reach.

You tucked and rolled behind a thick fallen log, catching what you could for breath. Taabe threw his hatchet towards it, landing into the trunk with a CHUNK.

The air was stifling, a fog of heaviness leaves you panting for breath, hidden behind the log. Another arrow hit the trunk of the tree in front of you, scrambling back you knock your head against the barrier. Tears have long spilled from your eyes. You're exhausted. You're desperate. The safety of your car miles and miles away by now seemed hopeless. You'd die out here.

You didn't dare look behind you, the sounds of Taabe grunting and fighting, whooping when he'd made a direct hit. You did steal a glance when it grew quiet.

Peering just over the log you watched the alien beast turn in circles, Taabe wasn't in your line of sight but you knew he was around. The creature made that clicking sound again, with a rush of leaves Taabe came running full speed, an attempt to spear the thing with its' own arrow your husband had plucked at some point.

Taabe broke through its' skin, it gave out a terrible screech as Taabe used the talon sharp edge to slice at its' legs. He came quickly to your side of the tree, hiding behind the opposite side, out of breath and waiting.

The alien stomped and roared. Taabe hopped over the log to you, a few scratches slashed his face and hands, you'd have to disinfect them with that little emergency kit Naru had given you for Christmas last year.

"This is as far as I go. No more." Taabe grabbed your hand, bloody and covered with muck, he gave it a squeeze. He gripped the hilt of his hatchet with the other. "This is it."

"What? no no no don't say that."

"It thinks I am the threat; not you."

No. This was wrong. Taabe wasn't supposed to use those words unless he meant them, and surely he didn't mean them now. He'd be willing to do just about anything for the comfort and safety of hiss family and friends, you were certainly more than that. He couldn't mean them. He just couldn't!

"No! We're supposed to do all things together, Taabe."

"And we are, petal."

"I don't want you to--"

"You can't go where I'm going," he cupped your face, squishing your cheeks like he'd always done, assurance that you weren't able to say anything further. His glassy brown eyes told you more than his voice ever could as he pressed his forehead to yours. "Not yet."

"Taabe!"

"Take care of our family." His kiss was feverish and on the verge of being sloppy. It tasted salty. "I love you petal."

"No Taabe wait!"

He didn't.

He let out a war cry and went to fight another round. Only this time you scrambled up after him. You took out your blade and made your way to help but... the predator was choking Taabe with both claws, hefting him up into the air. Your husband kicked and scratched at the gnarled hands, his hair shaking from side to side.

You screamed his name and they both turned to you. The alien snarled and moved out of the way when you took aim and chucked your blade at it, it stuck into the meat of its' thigh.

Taabe held out his hand for you to stay put. You aren't the threat...

As the creature looked at you, he gave Taabe a hard shake by the neck and tossed him like a used tissue, Taabe's head hit a tree funny and made a sickening sound. The laid limp and still face first in the dirt. 

Your scream was shrill and terrible.

Through your hysterics and shock you fell to the ground, a mechanical hiss sounded behind you. Large footfalls crunched the branches and debris on the ground, the Yautja Taabe mentioned, bent on to its' haunches and looked over your husbands' body.

Its' large clawed hand cupped the back of his head and you screamed.

"No! you leave him whole," the Yautja, without it's bone-like mask tilted its' head to you. You swallowed and got your bearings, what was left of your nerves and at this point without your husband, you had nothing to lose. Its' features completely foreign with or without the armor. And maybe it would kill you too. "He needs to be whole."

The beast looked down at Taabe, longer than what was comfortable. You wiped your face and eyes.

"You should be proud to have a warrior for a mate, he was a worthy opponent."

You felt your knees weaken at the low timbre and sound of this alien creature speaking to you. In English and not some garbled space language.

"You... Y-you can talk."

It looked at you and took its' hand off your husbands' skull. "Of course."

"And you understand..."

It nodded.

"Fuck you," you shook out and stumbled to your feet, kicking up some dirt and leaves as you marched up to it. "Fuck you! You took my partner you big fuck," you pushed his scaly flesh but he didn't even move, just gave you a curious look. "You-- he was my husband! My Taabe and you just... fuck you."

"Apologies little one, just know he will make a fine-"

"He won't make a 'fine' anything! If you need a fucking trophy take this instead," you spat on shoulder, again he didn't make a move as you crouched down, stroking Taabe's fine hair. You'd never feel them between your fingers again, to help wash and condition it in your shower back home. Home seemed so far away. You sniffled and blinked the tears that slipped out, splotching on the ground as you dug in Taabe's back pocket, fishing out his keepsake.

You held it to your chest and rolled it over one final time in your hand. "Here. This is Taabe's trophy, he earned it on his first hunt with his father."

The alien took the leather wrapped antler, it looked puny in his palm, the nail of his thumb was damn near twice the size. He sniffed it and his mandibles twitched, they looked insanely sharp and just as menacing as he did when he stood at its' full height. To your surprise he gave it back to you.

"You keep it."

"Why? Taabe said you guys are head hunters, collect trophies."

"We do," he stood, slowly and placed his mask he was clutching with his other claw, back on, tubular almost dreads swaying over his shoulder. "As I said; your mate was worthy. Which means so are you."

"Huh?"

"You'll make a better trophy, I can put you on display for my brothers and sisters."

"What? No. I'd rather you kill me."

"That can be arranged."

Without so much as another peep the alien grabbed you by the collar of your shirt, hoisting you over his shoulder as if you weighed nothing. Your piercing screams and flailing didn't slow the alien down, with a stead pace he carried you into the forest, away from Taabe, away from your life, your world. 

"Put me down! No no no," you punched his shoulder and cried, your arms aching to stay with your husband, to hold him. "Taabe!"

The alien grunted out something in another language and punched what looked to be coordinates onto his arm that held you.

"Taabe..."

Tears streamed down your face and your palm felt hot, gripping the bound antler tighter as he carried you away. Through blurry vision and sobs for your partner, you swore you saw him move. Maybe lifted his head a little, one arm out stretched to you on the forest floor.

But you couldn't be sure.

[braceletofteeth]

You have quite a good memory.

[bisexuallsokka]

Sokka spots a weakness and lunges. He throws himself against Zuko, his hands on Zuko’s wrists, one of his knees moving up to help push him down. Zuko lands on his back with a surprised oof, and Sokka beams in victory from above, one knee bracketing each side of Zuko, pinning Zuko’s wrists to the ground above his head.

“Aha!” Sokka says, but the sound dies in his throat almost immediately as he looks down at Zuko, his eyes wide, his pupils blown wide, his chest heaving.

His stomach plummets somewhere fifty feet below them, and Sokka feels a little lightheaded.

“Uh,” he says intelligently.

(or, a Choose Your Own Adventure fic. featuring...love confessions? sparring? angst? choose your paths wisely and find out…)

[fennthetalkingdog]

I feel like a dog that's been hanging around with housecats so long that I've grown up acting like them. I've always been a dog, and so I still have some of my own body language, but I've adopted so much catness that it feels almost just as much an intrinsic part of me. I still wag my tail according to dog rules, but I know when to switch; I slow blink to show my affection too; I've spent so long making myself small that I almost don't know how to accommodate my lanky body. In regards to my humanness, I draw cats better than I draw dogs; I've spent so much time in the Warrior cats fandom making characters and Clans and learning cat anatomy that when I try to draw a dog, my pencil makes them look short and fluffy with short legs and round stomachs. I can barely draw a dog from the side and have it look like one. I'm not just a dog—I identify almost as much with cats as I do with dogs. But I still am one. My jaws look a bit too big and my legs a bit too long. When I move without trying, I'm a bit too fast and graceless. I've spent my life hanging around cats, and it shows, but my dogness is just as undeniable.

I have a similar feeling about my humanness. Disregarding the fact that humanity has perks that I like too, I've just spent so long in this form that it's just as strong a part of me. I want to show my dogness, but not if it involves me throwing away my humanity. I can play with the other dogs, but at the end of the day, I stand back on two legs and go home to type on the computer and eat with a fork and spoon. I wouldn't throw away my grandmas' cooking, my lofted bed, or my bracelets and anklets. I wouldn't throw away all the memories I've made as a "human." So even when I'm not all human now, I don't want to leave that all behind.

[spotaus]

I wanna request some more stereo sans if that’s okay, I LOVE HIM THE DESIGN IS SO SCRUNKLY RAAAAAHHHHH

Also hi I love your art✨✨✨

HI HELLO!!!

I gotta say I was surprised to see Stereo in my Asks, but I am SO glad u requested him!!! 🥺💖💖💖

The goofy himself! I missed drawing him sm!!!!!

He's really silly because I don't really have lore for him outside the main Eternal Ashes storyline, and that's a whole can of worms, so no Lore-Dump unfortunately. BUT if u want some Design History lore I'm dropping some beneath the cut!

Okay so, Stereo was one of my first ocs for utmv. Like. I think he was designed right after Ichor (<- my first Sans oc) was. He was part of a Trio, made up of Orchid, Reset, and himself. Currently they're the three longest surviving cast members of Eternal Ashes, but Stereo has gone through very few changes.

Here are his First Reference (left) and Revised Reference (right) from about 2019 and probably 2020 respectively.

The one on the left is so funny to me because, yeag, I used to have an awful style 🫶 but Stereo's design is honestly pretty consistent over the years.

Like the rest of the designs like him, he kinda Grew Up with me as I learned to draw better and as I developed the story he was involved with. He's one of my special blorbos that (while he doesn't have a ton of lore like I usually give my ocs) is always fun for me to draw and revisit!!!

Thanks for the request, Anon!!!! Maybe I can do some more proper scene doodles for him in the near future! (I love drawing him in motion thanks to his clothes/arms)

[musclesandhammering]

Queer women are the main culprits of fetishising mlm relationships (both real and nonexistent ones), and I think we’re all scared to admit that.

[dummerjan]

i just came across ai covers on youtube and people are requesting songs in the comments instead of getting enraged and i am further losing hope in humanity and turning to misanthropy

[pinkyjulien]

.

[plusultraetc]

"rewatching the USJ-Sports Festival arcs for fic purposes," also known as "hiding in the early seasons of this show while season 6 chases me around with a whack a mole hammer"

[titaniumabsol]

Celestin Caron (Dragon Age: Awakening)

Age: 38 (9:31 Dragon) Gender: Male Tarot: The Emperor Nationality/Ethnicity: Chasind/Orlesian-Antivan Class/Specializations: Mage, Blood Mage/Arcane Warrior/Spirit Healer/Shapeshifter (Lvl 31) Love Interest: Seneschal Varel of Vigil's Keep Party Comp.: Nathaniel/Justice, Anders, and Sigrun (But rotates with all pretty regularly)

Background: Born in 8:93 to a Chasind mother and an Orlesian-Antivan father, Caelesyn Caron lived in the familiar swamps of the Kocari Wilds until they were forced to leave due to increasing Templar raids. His father took them to Orlais to live with his family, living in serfdom under an Orlesian noble around Val Firmin. Caelesyn, now called Celestin, developed magic at age 8, and was aided by his parents to hide it.

He was discovered at 19 after a confrontation with the Orlesian noble, and evaded Templars for 5 days until he was caught and locked away in the White Spire. On grounds of good behaviour and a vouch from the Senior Enchanter, he was allowed to entertain nobles in the Imperial Wintersend Ball for a few years until the Enchanter is replaced, and so his sliver of freedom was ripped away. Short after, he received news of his parents' deaths. He escaped and made his way to a Grey Warden outpost in Val Chevin, where he became part of the Wardens.

Returning to Ferelden was, as best as it could be described, a reverse-culture shock. He wasn't back down in the Kocari Wilds but now in the north, dealing with nobles that didn't act like Orlesian nobles. His Chasind roots alienated him from Orlesians, but his Orlesian mannerisms and Chasind influences also alienated him from the Fereledans. And that is ignoring his status as a mage, and one that now held land property as the Arl of Amaranthine.

But, he is a Warden with a Duty. And he would fulfill his roles to the best of his abilities.

[mantisgodsdomain]

Sometimes we are deeply deeply tempted to make line-ups of our AU Versions Of Characters or something of the like, but then we remember our consistent preference for AUs to be canon-adjacent at absolute minimum meaning a lot of them will look relatively same-y combined with our struggle to draw character sizes accurately to each other makes that task a lot harder than it arguably should be.

[navree]

people who got angry at the writers of 2x03 for talking about how rhaenyra didn't put any thought into her meeting with alicent and can't be surprised at the outcome because "rhaenyra shouldn't have to offer any concessions" are baffling and probably lacking in brain cells because that's literally spot on. rhaenyra went into an attempt at peace talks without any attempt to conciliate the opposing side and was surprised when the peace talks devolved and ultimately failed. it's bad decision making on her part, it's bad leadership and governance insofar as she has the ability to govern, and given that we're meant to see her as a legitimate claimant to be the sovereign, it's entirely reasonable to judge her on those standards.

because rhaenyra should have thought of concessions. she's making a big ask here, and it's entirely fair that she make offers that could actually appeal to the opposing side other than "War Bad :(" because the other side knows that, like in every conflict ever, they've just decided that the potential outcomes of winning the war matter more than the lack of war in its entirety. it is doubly important that rhaenyra offer concessions because she is also no longer the only wounded party. any peace talk to avoid the dance would need to hinge on both sides acknowledging that there has been serious wrong done to each part. on rhaenyra's end, the man whose rule is law proclaimed her heir but that was taken from her, and her son was killed unexpectedly during the negotiation phase. on aegon's end, he has the precedent of centuries of westerosi legal custom, and his six year old was murdered for absolutely no reason through no fault of his own or even aegon's. these are major grievances that both need to be dealt with fairly and with the understanding that restitution on both sides needs to be made. i mean, hell, rhaenyra only gives a passing mention to the fact that she did not, in fact, order two assassins to force their way into helaena's bedroom and make her choose which child to die. not even offering to allow daemon to face any sort of legal justice at aegon's hands is a gigantic fucking blunder on her part.

rhaenyra is no longer in the position where she can make unilateral demands because she is no longer the only person who has suffered or dealt with material consequences. hostilities are now as much motivated by personal desires for revenge as they are for legitimate succession reasons, and rhaenyra knows that because the entire reason she meets with alicent is to try and break the cycle that started with luke and then moved to jaehaerys and then the cargylle twins afterwards. i mean, hell, look at what alicent says at the end of the conversation when she tells rhaenyra it's too late. she mentions that the equivalent to armed forces have been mobilized, that one of the most personally powerful military men is actively marching to engage in warfare, and that aemond, someone who is not only ruthless but, as far rhaenyra knows, has a vested personal interest in doing things like avenging his beheaded nephew, is going to be involved. rhaenyra's thoughts, were she a competent leader/administrator, should be "what can i do to get them to at least press pause on this so we can negotiate further". the fact that it wasn't is a failure on her part, the fact that she did just think she could come in and go "let's stop fighting" when there are issues that she needs to address on her side now is a failure. it's entirely acceptable to call her out on this.

and i would have given this same criticism if a peace talk was initiated by alicent with that same mindset. if alicent had tried to negotiate with rhaenyra and been the one pushing for it, she should have had some restitution to offer her for what happened to luke, and for sending ser arryk to murder her in her bed. that would be a reasonable thing for rhaenyra to accept, since those are grievances that the greens need to address in any peace talk with her in turn. but the difference is that alicent is aware of the fact that she'd need to do that, because she already did it. she's the one who says they need to send terms to dragonstone after aegon's coronation that rhaenyra can find acceptable and agree to without feeling humiliated or losing face amongst her own supporters. she sends otto with those terms with clear messages to be conciliating, and even leverages her and rhaenyra's former emotional investment in each other to drive home that these are peace messages (in contrast to rhaenyra starting out with 'if i wanna i could murder you' which is a very bad way to start a peace talk, and rhaenyra knows that because immediately when called on it she acknowledges that it's a fuck up on her part).

there's a section of this fandom that believes rhaenyra is the rightful ruler, but then actually refuses to judge her on her merits as a ruler. she wants to be the sovereign, fantastic, but that means she's going to be held to a higher standard by both other characters and the audience, because she's now the key decision maker and also responsible for literally everything that happens on her end (i don't know if some of y'all were just too dumb to qualify for apush but i am smart so i took it and i remember when we talked about the truman presidency in that class and "the buck stops here"). it's not the writers being shitty to rhaenyra to point out that this plan was flawed from the getgo because there were serious issues in her thinking that meant it could never succeed. it's just the simple truth of the situation.

[rtnortherly]

Still on that Elden Ring hype, but this time I have not drawn my Tarnished, but the Tarnished of a fanfic I was reading by Neonesthes, so credit goes to them!

[sunbedo]

Hey guys. gay rights

[posletsvet]

So—

Being eighteen was great, can't wait to see what being nineteen will show!!

[innocentartery]

debating whether to practice religion again