#post book kingdom of ash

[i-only-see-daylight]

Aelin: Oh, here’s my award for the most rules broken! 

Chaol: That’s not an award, it’s a wanted poster from the king.

Aelin, hanging it on her wall: Well, it has the word ‘most’ in it, so I’m calling it an award!

[acourtofquestions]

Me starting KoA:

[littlevampbby]

Watching the Olympics & reading Kingdom of Ash & getting over my cold but still somehow having the time of my life.

[noobsydraws]

I can't stop thinking about the last battle from Kingdom of Ash.

[sanvcnblvd]

[pañuelo melody] by acastle

[pañuelo melody] by acastle

There are aspects about this story that really hit home for me. (Forgive me, I'm dumping a lot of feelings without proofreading–I'm probably rambling).

There is a running theme of hidden connections and destiny that acastle wrote in their fic. It may just be headcanon, but afaik Casey has mentioned that Alex and Henry are destined to be together in any universe, this fic really drives that idea home.

Mild spoilers below, but acastle referenced Utada Hikaru in their story multiple times, and I grew up listening to them (HUGE Kingdom Hearts fan here). The feeling I had when acastle referenced one of their songs–through the opening lyrics that I recognized (First Love by Utada Hikaru) , I literally went "nooooooo wayyyyyyyy.......???!!!!"

And then acastle referenced Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto (amazing piano instrumental written for the movie of the same name). Utada also wrote a song and sampled Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (also same title). I wish I could truly describe when all the pieces connected together, it was like greeting an old friend. It was also like getting hit by a truck. It was all very overwhelming (I may or may not have started tearing up writing this portion.)

This story takes place in winter in Japan, and it's chilly, and icy, and the angst is dialled up to eleven, but like with all of acastle's stories, there is so much love.

The main inspiration for this cover is Japanese artist Ikenaga Yasunari (examples below). I wanted to replicate the vibe, but I opted for more colour. I was also inspired by traditional Japanese paintings, especially with how soft and delicate snow is often painted.

I chose the promotional image of Alex and Henry in the V&A as the pose. I had initially planned to have Alex and Henry walking in the Higashiyama Ward at night (location described in the fic) , illuminated by streetlights and joined by the red string of fate, but it didn't materialize.

The Japanese in the front translates literally to "Handkerchief melody – hankachi and 旋律 (Kanji for melody/tune). Handkerchief from pañuelo (the Spanish meaning, not Filipino ) references the one that Alex uses to wipe his mouth as a child before giving his relatives a kiss on the cheek. It is also the title of the song Alex writes and releases before running away to Japan.

The characters in the corner is 禁色 is from the novel that Henry read that inspired his work trip to Japan. Context is in the story. It's very poignant and melancholic.

Thank you so much to Louie (@hrhprinceacd on Twitter) for helping me with the Japanese title, and for @ash-morrison for blind-choosing this cover to release from my vault.

Just adding that the gingko branch background is from an adobe stock photo that I didn't really want to pay for so I designed my own version from scratch (original reference below).

The full poster that can be added to the .epub file for your kindle/e-book reader is at the end of the post! If you need any assistance, please don't be afraid to ask!

[calderacitylovers]

Zutara SlowBurn FanFiction: Personal Favs, part II

·        DESTINY IS A FUNNY THING by Megara Pike | Published: 2020-08-21 | 198K Words | 45 Chapters

ATLA Season 3 rewrite, fills in a lot of blanks between canon scenes. From the Southern Raiders to Sozin's Comet through coronation and aftermath. Growing friendships, bonding, being there for each other, a carnival & a cave, epic spirits' appearance on the Ember island, sparring, nightmares, assassination attempts, political ruses, and covert operations. Lovely, sweet. Exciting plot.

 ·        ATLA Book 4: Ashes by elayne_cypher | Published: 2018-10-27 | 306K words | 34 Chapters

This action-packed story picks up right after Ember Island Players and continues well after the war. Zuko is facing many challenges as a new Fire Lord. Romance, tough decisions, rebels, traitors, out-of-body experiences, secret headquarters, angst, teamwork, fire jets. The story has a bunch of OCs.

 ·        Refraction by caroes3725  | Published: 2020-09-09 | 215K Words | 37 Chapters

After breaking up with Aang, Katara needs to figure out her place and role in the patriarchal world. As determined Katara stubbornly bulldozes her way through Fire Nation political scene, her feelings for Zuko grow. Diplomatic visits, Gaang reunion, bonding with Kanna, insights into the life of Caldera city, stuffy politicians, cute correspondence, tropical storm, women supporting women, assassination attempts, personal boundaries. A sweet well-written coming-of-age story with a healthy measure of slow-burn and mutual pining. Katara and Zuko are both POVs, but the story mostly follows Katara. Bonus: Mai is NOT a clingy resentful idiot, but a smart person and a good friend. Some explicit language here and there, a bit of mild smut.

 ·        I Asked You First by halfhoursonearth | Published: 2020-10-03 | 142K words | 22/? Chapters

Ongoing, incomplete. Post Southern Raiders ATLAS3 rewrite. Mostly canon-compliant with blanks filled in between familiar scenes. Zuko and Katara develop a close friendship built on trust and sharing each other’s fears and hopes. Includes mentions of implied child abuse, Lu Ten’s diaries, exploring Avatar Roku’s legacy, sharing a balcony, heart-to-hearts, a hot spring under the stars, an actual date, and artbending. It’s incomplete, but what we have is bliss. Slowburn, mutual pining. Zutara-centric, but also explores the personalities of Team Avatar and their relationships.

 ·        Katara Alone by cablesscutie | Published: 2020-05-31 | 21K words

Katara is not an “unnecessary accessory to a more powerful man”. After the war, she is willing to forge her own path as she turns to people who need her the most on her journey of self-discovery. Features character exploration, correspondence, exploring outback villages of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, sweet reunions, and new firebending skills.

 ·        THE PHOENIX AND THE DRAGON - THE COMPLETE SERIES by JasmineTeaLatte | Published: 2021-06-11 | 100K words | 31 Chapters

This story picks up after The Ember Island Players. Zuko and Katara get to know each other during a late-night conversation by the campfire. In this story, you will find healthy boundaries, protective Sokka, a dash of Taang, sparring, funny banter & lots of flirting.

·        HESITATE by tiffaniesblews | Published: 2020-07-11 | 22K Words | 12 Chapters

This story picks up right after Zuko's coronation and spans two years afterwards. Zuko & Katara talk, share a few beautiful moments, write to each other, and reunite for the 2nd anniversary of the war ending. Very sweet, fluffy story about two sweethearts figuring out their feelings for each other.

·        LIKE WE'RE MADE OF STARLIGHT by Naladot | Published: 2021-11-28 | 5K Words

Katara leaves her post as the ambassador to the Fire Nation to take up a new one as the ambassador to the Northern Water Tribe. Her absence makes Zuko realize that he's got an unfortunate crush, which he is determined to keep secret. Unfortunately for him, subtly has never been one of his strengths—especially when he arrives in the Northern Water Tribe and she keeps taking him on what seem to be dates.

·        FIGURE IT OUT by clearascountryair | Published: 2021-12-20 | 35K words | 13 Chapters

After choosing not to kill Yon Rha, Katara rethinks her sense of self and others' perceptions of her. Or,    In which Katara learns that there’s a really big difference between being kissed when you don’t want to be and being kissed when you do. Aged-up 3B/Ember Island AU.

-  I FOUND YOU by that_turtleduck | Published: 2020-11-01 Completed: 2024-02-24 Words: 157,541 Chapters: 28/28

After divorcing Aang, Katara uproots her family and travels to Caldera. There she finds comfort, kindness and support from an old friend. Katara tries to find her footing as an independent political figure. Great story & relationship dynamic of Momtara & Dadko in their early 30s (Ember island, diplomatic meeting, dancing, turtleduck pond, letters). Delicious slow burn with rewarding spicy resolution in the end (explicit open door). Titters on the side of Anti-Aang.

Here’s a link to Part I of my personal favorites.

Here’s a link to Wholesome Zutara Short Stories.

[hellbornsworld]

BTS X READER WATTPAD RECOMMENDATIONS(2) ⋆｡ ﾟ ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ ☾ ﾟ ｡⋆

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

✨Hostess | BTS X Reader | Author : blingchick | 47 Parts | Completed

"A whore is someone who sells their body; a hostess is someone who entertains guests to make them feel welcomed and loved. There is a difference."

✨𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 | BTS | No Reader | Author : godlycurse | 140 Parts | Completed

In which Kim Taehyung tweets at a Dora the Explorer twt account and gets a creepy dm from them. Soon , he realizes he got himself into some deep sh*t and has to discover who's behind the account before it's to late.

✨Survival | BTS X OC | 1000% | Slow Burn | Author : BangtanArmies | 155 Parts | Completed

A tragic love story filled with pain, betrayals, miseries and deadly plot twists.

✨Buttons | BTS X Reader | Coraline!AU | Author : TaeTae_lyfe | 31 Parts | Completed

"Nothing's changed. You'll go home. You'll be bored. You'll be ignored. No one will listen to you, really listen to you. You're too clever and too beautiful for them to understand. They don't even remember your name."

✨ Mask Parade | BTS X Reader | Author : blingchick | 33 Parts | Ongoing

"Sometimes it's not the people who change, it's the mask that falls off."

✨killjoy | Only BTS | Author : taenology | 50 Parts | Completed

a computer game can't hurt anyone, right?

✨The Keeper's Tale | BTS X Reader | Author : TaeTae_lyfe | 45 Parts | Completed

They witnessed her destruction, They were left to wonder why, She saw nothing but darkness, Though the stars shown in her eyes, But maybe they'd forgotten, When they failed to see the cracks, That a stars light shines brightest, When it starts to collapse.

✨Singularity | BTS x Reader | Author : mociminji | 36 Parts | Ongoing

You were stolen by the devil. He claimed you as his own. Little did he know, you are going to be the death of him.

✨The Seven | BTS X Reader | Author : TaeTae_lyfe | 45 Parts | Completed

"I'm crazy? No, darling. What's crazy is that the world refuses to let me be with you."

✨Black Swan | BTS X Reader | Author : blingchick | 17 Parts | Ongoing

"What are you going to do to me now, Swan?"

✨The 7 Princes | BTS X Reader | Author : FireTiger8 | 82 Parts | Completed

Surprise! Your parents have been keeping a secret from you - you are royal princess and sole heir to the throne. To break the news to you, your parents have sent you to a neighboring kingdom where seven handsome, irresistible princes will teach you all you need to know about becoming the next ruler.

✨The Blue Eyes Series | BTS X Reader | Author : TaeTae_lyfe | 4 Books | Ongoing

# BOOK 1 The Four Kingdoms |

There's a fire in her. If loved correctly, she will warm your entire home. If abused, she will burn it to ash.

# BOOK 2 Pyramids |

She didn't need a crown, because she wasn't a queen.... She was a goddess.

# BOOK 3 Dynasty |

You can say she's crazy, but her eyes see the spirits of the past.... She talks to them.... And they talk back.

# BOOK 4 Mist |

You watch her walk away and it hits you that she is an entire ocean And you were wrong, so very wrong Because you let her go Thinking she was just a girl

✨Gods of the Sea | BTS!Vocal Liner X Reader | Author : FireTiger8 | 87 Parts | Completed

"My name is Captain Jeon Jungkook. I'm here to kidnap you."

✨Badboy | BTS X Reader | OneShots | Author : shooknae | 8 Parts | Completed

7 boys, 7 chapters, 7 different stories

✨Oh My Gospel! | BTS X Reader | Author : mociminji | 88 Parts | Ongoing

In which you are a prude theology student and one day, your sneaky twin brother sent you a link to the livestream of an infamous camboy, Park Jimin.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Other Posts:

JUNGKOOK FANFIC RECOMMENDATION (1)

JUNGKOOK FANFIC RECOMMENDATION(2)

JUNGKOOK FANFIC RECOMMENDATIONS(3)

JUNGKOOK FANFIC RECOMMENDATION(4)

ALL BTS MEMBERS WATTPAD RECOMMENDATIONS(1)

[wyked-ao3]

WIP Introduction

Y'all voted so here it is I decided to do both since they were close in the results plus sketching takes forever when I can not decide.

The pirate king of deaths redemption

(book one of the pirate's cursed god series)

Where to find it? Once it's finished I'll post it on ao3

Genre: dark fantasy, kinda enemy/rivals to lovers, queer, drama, secrets, (might have what some would consider horror elements not sure if there will be enough to add the genre)

Tag to find it by: TPKODR or TPCG usually I will also add the longer name to the tags but not always

Status: wip editing.

Triggers: Torture,Violence, Death, past sexual assault, trauma, PTSD, phycological horror.

Tags so far: pirates, fae, found family, violence, betrayal, secrets, gore, darkish fantasy, gay romance, slavery, human sacrifice, lore

warning:There will be increasing darkness levels as the series goes on.

The next book gets into the political aspects of the kingdoms and pirate culture and the third gets into the assassins and religious aspects of the world

Current summary: needs work because the romance is a subplot and the rest the stuff going on is the main plot but I really suck at summary's lol (perhaps it will come to me when the story is done)

pirate king Daimhín Heorot: has been targeting Tarak fleet vessels mostly leaving the cargo vessels alone so long as they do not fire at them. He lets a vessel go only to run across it in trouble many moons later.

Tarak fleet captain Oisìn Mallory: has a past he is haunted by and a distrust for royalty. Has to accept aid from a pirate and to make it worse it's not any pirate but the pirate king of the bioluminescence sea. secrets revealed, royals exposed and something dark stirring in the shadows.

Will they survive the manipulations of a seer with good intentions?

(Was the first summary that I could come up with lol)

series summary: (at the moment It needs some work) the gods of old are still interfering in the world. One is trapped within the shadow realms will he be set free or will he die? The fae royalty are not quite what they seem. Will the pirates find out about their cursed god and change the world or will it burn to ashes?

Other Charaters with a intro: prince jade, Morana, Braith, Amon, Galen

World tour tag game.

Snippet I'm just going with the opening scene below the cut

Pirate king and captain of the ship Death's Redemption, Daimhín Heorot was looking out across the dark reddish wood that made his ships deck, at the small fleet they were approaching. The Jolly Rogers flag with crimson blood stained on it from the last fight they had been in a few days prior, flying high in the sky warning of their imminent arrival.  Eric hadn't gotten to cleaning the flags yet as he had other repairs to get to first. 

Daimhín said to Galen, his second in command and quartermaster of the ship, “They are skittish.” Watching as the crew of officers aboard the other ships started to panic. They were running around the decks gesturing at them. It was rather amusing to watch. They were still a little ways out but the larger Tarak Fleet ships had little chance of escaping them. 

Turning to face his second in command, he saw that Galen had forgotten his hat again so his brown hair was flying around in the wind crazily.

 Shaking his head he held out a leather band to pull it back. 

“Ay, they be scared, it not be everyday that ye see a king ship.” Galen reminded him with an amused look in his brown eyes as he pulled his hair back into a ponytail. 

He asked, “Is it that noticeable?” He didn't think that they stood out all that much from the other pirate vessels. Perhaps he was wrong. Assumptions were a pirate's enemy after all, Daimhín mused. 

 “Nay, their captain be the one who noticed us.” Galen answered as he moved to grab a spyglass from the helm.

He raised an eyebrow. It had been a while since  anyone had realized that this was the king ship, most people kept their mouth shut after a run in with them. Wondering what exactly gave it away to the other Captain or rather how he had known, perhaps they had been aboard the ship before. 

He gave an order to the crew, “All hands to battle stations. Recon team help the crew down below until the signal is given.”

@the-letterbox-archives here's the intro post

Updated TAG list + @bookwormclover let me know if you want removed

@thatuselesshuman @gioiaalbanoart @lychhiker @goth-automaton

@thecomfywriter @evilwriter37 @saebasanart @the-golden-comet

@mauannacreates @kind-lion @alinacapellabooks @kuebiko-writing

@kaeru483 @differentnighttale @theink-stainedfolk @unstableunicornsofasgard

@mysticstarlightduck @demon-sneeze @dnd-and-insanity @smellyrottentrees

@honeybewrites @pheonix358

[esther-dot]

I was reading your comments about Jon's chivalry and protecting the vulnerable. This all brought to mind Jon's TV ending of stabbing Dany in the heart while kissing her. While we don't know whether or not this version of Dany's end is close to what will be the written version, it seems as though it's possible in part because of the Nissa Nissa legend. Jon doing that in the books (or something like it) would align with the Azor Ahai story, but in a warped sort of way, leaving events open to interpretation (as is usual with the prophecies and legends). But in any case, Jon killing a woman will be an act that is antithetical to so many of his values that it seems like it would come close to destroying him even if justified within Jon's universe. I wonder if Martin really plans to bring Jon this low, but also how it will be received. The optics of portraying such an ending for Dany given today's sensibilities could be viewed even more dimly than it would have been when Martin started writing the series?

(about this ask)

I'm so sorry that it's taken me this long to respond! I have finally reread some pertinent chapters to situate my thoughts.

First, I just want to acknowledge how upsetting this spec is to some, and remind everyone, no one wants this ending. We all think it's gross, we're just discussing the possibility, not merely because of the show, because it's an old theory. I looked around and saw posts about this starting in 2013 by Dany fans. So, the presence of this myth is substantial enough, even BNFs/Jonerys shippers felt like it had a strong chance of manifesting (although they believe Dany would willingly sacrifice herself) well before D&D committed their fuckery. I suppose all that answers your question. Man killing his lover is a gross trope, being forced to kill a loved one to save the world is overused, so now, I can't imagine anyone reading it and being happy about it.

In trying to look at the context in-canon Martin has created, he's taken it out of the strict man kills lover idea of the AA/NN myth, and is discussing the idea of sacrificing an innocent child to a god which fans have already compared to myth, Stannis & Shireen = Agamemnon & Iphigeneia. This sacrifice hasn't happened yet, but it's been confirmed as a Martin plot point. Stannis is already burning people alive, justifying kid killing, and Davos has already planted the Stannis=AA, kid=NN idea:

Davos was remembering a tale Salladhor Saan had told him, of how Azor Ahai tempered Lightbringer by thrusting it through the heart of the wife he loved. He slew his wife to fight the dark. If Stannis is Azor Ahai come again, does that mean Edric Storm must play the part of Nissa Nissa? (ASOS, Davos V)

Although, rather than this being a justified death, the fans will be horrified as we're meant to be. Davos' thoughts call into question the idea of killing another for your "magic sword":

A true sword of fire, now, that would be a wonder to behold. Yet at such a cost . . . When he thought of Nissa Nissa, it was his own Marya he pictured, a good-natured plump woman with sagging breasts and a kindly smile, the best woman in the world. He tried to picture himself driving a sword through her, and shuddered. I am not made of the stuff of heroes, he decided. If that was the price of a magic sword, it was more than he cared to pay. (ACOK, Davos I)

and Martin impresses upon us the value of each life:

"Your Grace," said Davos, "the cost . . ." "I know the cost! Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning . . . burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?" The king moved, so his shadow fell upon King's Landing. "If Joffrey should die . . . what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?" "Everything," said Davos, softly. (ASOS, Davos V)

The talk of greater good/killing kids reminds me of AGOT in which Ned's story is inundated with the topic of child murder/protecting kids. We have Mycah, his memories of Aegon and Rhaenys, his promise to protect Jon, his guilt over his lies and treason bubbling up repeatedly, his fight against the assassination of Dany, his attempt to save Cersei's children from Robert...we all know, kid killing is wrong according to Martin, so we've already been told that this wannabe AA's actions are contemptible. The myth in which the sacrifice is happy to die, that sacrificing someone is heroic, it's being contradicted by what we're being shown in the Stannis storyline.

Now, while Stannis is being declared Azor Ahai, we're constantly being told he isn't. Jon calls the act a mummer's farce and comments on his cold sword and that is right before a Dany chapter, so the idea is, Dany is actually AA. @trinuviel is the first person I saw lay out the argument for that and contend that being AA is a bad thing (meta parts 1, 2, 3). People have said that Drogo kinda becomes her Nissa Nissa in that scenario. She burns him to get the dragons, and what are the dragons called?

"When I went to the Hall of a Thousand Thrones to beg the Pureborn for your life, I said that you were no more than a child," Xaro went on, "but Egon Emeros the Exquisite rose and said, 'She is a foolish child, mad and heedless and too dangerous to live.' When your dragons were small they were a wonder. Grown, they are death and devastation, a flaming sword above the world." He wiped away the tears. "I should have slain you in Qarth." (ADWD, Daenerys III)

That kinda makes us think, oh, the myth already has a canon counterpart, don't need to worry about it anymore. Only, we've also said Rhaegar impregnating a young Lyanna could be read as a play on Nissa Nissa, with him risking her life to get the prophecy baby, otherwise known as the third head of the dragon. And Jon is not only a kind of dragon, he repeatedly intones that fun little phrase about being a sword, and sometimes, that happens within an interesting context (for speculation purposes):

"I will." Do not fail me, he thought, or Stannis will have my head. "Do I have your word that you will keep our princess closely?" the king had said, and Jon had promised that he would. Val is no princess, though. I told him that half a hundred times. It was a feeble sort of evasion, a sad rag wrapped around his wounded word. His father would never have approved. I am the sword that guards the realm of men, Jon reminded himself, and in the end, that must be worth more than one man's honor. (ADWD, Jon VIII)

So, although there is one character that seems to be Azor Ahai (Dany), I am definitely open to the myth manifesting, or rather, being examined from multiple angles. IMO, that's what Martin is doing and we can use each variation to reassess what he's saying with it. We have Dany and Drogo (the official one/successful one), Rhaegar and Lyanna (not AA, but Jon is born), Stannis and Edric (denied), Stannis and Shireen (he will kill Shireen, but we don't know if he'll get what he wants and we do know he isn't AA)... lots of pics of a similar idea. To emphasize Stannis not being the dude and Dany being the "real" AA, we have that Jon passage and chapter transition:

Even though we have lots of contenders and commentary about this myth with the canon characters, none of it romanticizes human sacrifice, and all works towards the twist that what is said to be a hero/the weapon that will save people brings destruction. If we look back at it critically, Dany has a habit of accepting, or even causing, the suffering of others for her greater good, including sacrificing Mirri to get her dragons. We might even argue that Mirri is a Nissa Nissa for her, as Dany had taken Mirri under her protection before killing her to get dragons.

That being said, even though we're getting told this shit is bad in canon, the indictment of killing innocents and people who depend on you to protect them, it wouldn’t apply if someone were to kill Stannis or Dany. It isn’t on the same moral level as killing a child, or a spouse who loves and trusts you. It isn't the same as invading and then killing people who won't worship your god or accept you as a leader. It isn't the same as killing a slave, simply because, when their times come, Dany and Stannis will be guilty. After their actions, it would be justice for them to die. I think why other parts of the fandom entertain the idea of Dany as NN while also condemning us for entertaining it, is that Dany's vision does have her being grasped at by hands of her "children" and fans have this idea that she is sacrificing herself/her happiness for the greater good already, and in the AA/Nissa Nissa story, it does sound like she offers herself willingly for the tempering of the sword. So to them, it’s part of Dany’s heroism. Dany's death is inevitable to some, at the hands of Jon is ok, but her not dying a hero, that's unacceptable.

But thinking about how it's been discussed thus far, I can't imagine we're gonna get a romanticized version of the AA/NN myth in canon when so far, it's pretty dark/condemned. None of that precludes Jon killing Dany in what you described as a:

warped sort of way, leaving events open to interpretation (as is usual with the prophecies and legends).

which really sticks out to me as the important part of all this.

The idea that Jon might do it and characters recognize it as a tragic love story a la the myth, that fascinates me because of how Martin has written wild rumors into the story (rumors about Dany, Robb, and Sansa spring to mind), and some of us have written reality and what the public thinks into fic as two distinct things because it feels like a potential way the story might go. What is widely known to be true, like say, Jon being Ned's bastard, may not be the truth that we the readers come to know. There's no guarantee that Westeros will know what the readers know about past or future events. We may get a take on AA/NN, the characters in-world may not understand it the same way.

Jon is undeniably a hero, in a world where institutional corruption is rampant and ideals abandoned, he’s a standout in his values. We would expect, and we find, contrasts between him and these other characters (Dany, Rhaegar, Stannis), primarily, his practical actions that are about saving life/protecting life, even from Stannis, so the idea that he would abandon certain values, it's a tough one. The difference is, while Stannis, Rhaegar, and Dany were acting on these prophecies or visions or dreams, things we're repeatedly warned against trusting in the text, Jon would be taking action based on the fact that Dany is a mass-murderer, a threat to all of Westeros. It isn't a sacrifice to an unknown god for some promised mystical good, it's justice. The religious fanaticism wouldn't be a factor, the killing of an innocent wouldn't be a factor, killing a child wouldn't be a factor, killing to achieve a self-serving end wouldn't be a factor. All the things that have been criticized thus far aren't at play.

The moral quandary presented to the audience in AGOT is killing someone who might be a threat, but is a child at the moment, and Martin presents the sneaky assassination / child killing as abhorrent:

Grand Maester Pycelle cleared his throat, a process that seemed to take some minutes. "My order serves the realm, not the ruler. Once I counseled King Aerys as loyally as I counsel King Robert now, so I bear this girl child of his no ill will. Yet I ask you this—should war come again, how many soldiers will die? How many towns will burn? How many children will be ripped from their mothers to perish on the end of a spear?" He stroked his luxuriant white beard, infinitely sad, infinitely weary. "Is it not wiser, even kinder, that Daenerys Targaryen should die now so that tens of thousands might live?" "Kinder," Varys said. "Oh, well and truly spoken, Grand Maester. It is so true. Should the gods in their caprice grant Daenerys Targaryen a son, the realm must bleed." Littlefinger was the last. As Ned looked to him, Lord Petyr stifled a yawn. "When you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman, the best thing to do is close your eyes and get on with it," he declared. "Waiting won't make the maid any prettier. Kiss her and be done with it." "Kiss her?" Ser Barristan repeated, aghast. "A steel kiss," said Littlefinger. (AGOT, Eddard VIII)

which is all interesting context for Dany later being assassinated, especially because the first lesson Martin gives us on justice is one that Jon is there for, and then is reiterated in relation to Dany:

Ned had heard enough. "You send hired knives to kill a fourteen-year-old girl and still quibble about honor?" He pushed back his chair and stood. "Do it yourself, Robert. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Look her in the eyes before you kill her. See her tears, hear her last words. You owe her that much at least." (AGOT, Eddard VIII)

The convo about killing Dany with LF is about a bedding and before that it was presented in terms of a wedding gift, which makes me squint now knowing the AA/NN stuff:

Yes, it's awful, and I do understand, almost agree with you here:

But in any case, Jon killing a woman will be an act that is antithetical to so many of his values that it seems like it would come close to destroying him even if justified within Jon's universe.

but the way it might tie together the initial discussion of killing Dany and the eventual act weighs heavily with me when determining what Martin might do and why/why not.

The other suggestion is that Arya kills Dany. If having dragons is Chechov's gun for KL burning then Arya being a trained assassin feels like a Chechov's gun for killing Dany. But in that scenario, there is no conflict. No inner struggle. We spent so much of AGOT weighing the morals of killing Dany, it's hard for me to believe when the time comes, it's presented without any moral complexity. Arya is already able and willing to take a life, even when it isn't justified. It doesn't feel right to me that killing Dany would be a presented without an inner struggle, that it would be done easily, as easily as Arya now kills. TBH, it removes the drama if someone other than Jon does it because it will be so highly necessary and just when the time comes. Jon is really the only character who can make it squeamish because of the guy killing a woman thing and because it will be kinslaying.

There is a lot of talk about poison, so I think it's totally possible Arya tries to kill Dany with poison first, but I think Jon is more likely to be the one to successfully kill her, and in a way that calls to mind Ned's opinion on it, See her tears, hear her last words. That would allow Martin to make sure we see it as just/moral, bring home the Targ v Targ issue, and it shades Ned's decisions and values in a very interesting way.

After s8 fans said Ned was wrong to fight against killing Dany in s1, but Martin thinks he was right to object to killing children, so for the two Targ children he was protecting in AGOT (Dany and Jon) to come face to face and one kill the other prevents the conclusion that Ned was wrong. It was the same mercy, the same refusal to see the child of an enemy as an enemy, that saved the boy who will in turn save Westeros. IMO, it's a way to uphold the belief in mercy. I tend to think it’s also Martin’s way of addressing one his questions about his beloved LOTR (what about orc babies etc).

If another person ends Dany, we still get dead Dany, but it doesn't say anything interesting? Killing her wouldn't be a sacrifice on anyone else's part, she won’t be loved and she has to go. But, Jon, who so desperately wants to have honor, if he kills her, it's right as well as an egregious "sin." Ned dishonors himself to protect Sansa (and obvy was committing treason to protect Jon), it feels like coming full circle for Jon, who so wants to be worthy of being a son to Ned to follow his path there too. Also, one thing I expect we’ll keep tracking is kinslaying. Kinslaying comes up with the AA/Nissa Nissa issue in the Stannis storyline, so I do expect that to be addressed in Jon chapters:

We have the whole baby switch to assure us, Jon values human life a great deal. All the same, that involves a moment of cruelty on Jon's side, so Martin isn't interested in keeping him perfectly pure. He likes those moments where doing the right thing is very difficult, even compromising in some way. It's why, while we say Ned committing treason for Jon is a no brainer, Martin writes Ned tortured by it. He likes the inner turmoil over decisions, placing a societal good (honor) against another obligation or ideal and asking what is right.

I wonder if Martin really plans to bring Jon this low, but also how it will be received. The optics of portraying such an ending for Dany given today's sensibilities could be viewed even more dimly than it would have been when Martin started writing the series?

Despite all the ways I think it makes sense, yes, I def think this is one of those areas that if he had finished the series as quickly as he'd hoped, would have gone over better. Dany has dragons, therefore, she will be an overwhelming threat to Westeros, so it isn't like Jon will just randomly kill a woman, yet it's distasteful all the same. Martin is looking at things from the context of his story and the ideas he’s already introduced/talking about though which is why I can wince but kinda understand it. There are other issues where my sensibilities diverge from his, so didn’t like it on the show, I don’t like it for the books, still think it’s probably gonna happen. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[nickel156]

"Elriels book is next."

Great. Then what?

"Multi POV book just like Kingdom of Ash."

But SJM said every book will include 2 POVs?

"Then it's Lucien and Vassa. Azriel can't have his own book. He is not Archeron!"

But Vassa and Lucien are?💀

Math is not mathing here.

Actually I've already made a post exactly about this!

Sjm said in an interview that she wants to tell Elain, Mor and Azriel stories. (After Nessian)

Nothing about Lucien, except we know she loves him and knows that she's said there's someone special for him (and then he's mated to Elain)

So they really expect us to think that we'll get a Lucien x Vassa and a Mor x Emerie?

When we don't know nearly enough about Vassa for her to carry half an entire book. Not that her story isn't interesting, just not enough so.

Vassa doesn't want to be a fire bird, she wants to be her normal human self, who's mortal.. and I refuse to believe Sjm would put Lucien through everything including a rejected mating bond. Just to be with a mortal Queen who will wither and die.

Also how will Elriel move the Koschei plot forward??

I can see Azriel potentially but he's far too controlling of Elain to have her near "that darkness"

Mor is not relevant enough in either plot line to have anything other than a Novella.

Math is finally my friend about something.

Xoxo

[torgawl]

continuing my crepus posting, can we just talk about his delusion for a second? because even dottore thought it was unique. dottore was surprised for seeing someone wielding a delusion, sure, i assume it's not everyday you see that especially in that situation. that's normal, but saying specifically that it piqued his interest, calling it "perfect and utterly peerless", encouraging diluc to grow stronger and saying "i can see a bright future ahead of you"? a bit weird. so this got me thinking, what if this delusion is different than other delusions?

as we can see from the webtoon panel of crepus wielding it, there's two things about the delusion that we haven't seen associated to any others so far: chains and what seems like an alchemy circle. this delusion doesn't just hold elemental power, it can create something (or transform/manifest the power into something physical). we read somewhere someone referring to the delusion fire as "black flames" so probably the chains are embued in that power but the chains themselves don't look like fire. another curious detail about crepus' delusion is the way it interacts with ursa the drake, besides being the only thing able to drive the dragon away, it changed its eye colour from yellow to red! when the delusion finally backfired onto crepus, we can see that the air and diluc's hands after touching his father seem to fill with black dust. and maybe this is nothing, i mean, fire burns and what is burnt generally releases ashes but dust can also be tracked down to alchemy, more specifically the art of khemia (an advanced form of alchemy that sustained the underground kingdom of khaenri'ah). and do you know what's also different in crepus' delusion specifically? the symbol that appears on the orb.

unlike other delusions, it isn't the fatui symbol (or the elemental symbol, like the one visions have) but instead a big circle with a small circle inside it. that's literally the symbol that appears in alchemy tables!!! if you look at it attentively, it looks like a big circle was parted into three and they go around it like orbits. and is it a coincidence that three is a constant number appearing in genshin, including associated to three beings that are always drawn with similar symbols everywhere across the game, three moon sisters - a representation of the moon?

because there's other instances of circles within a circle drawn in the game. it reminds me of an eclipse like the one shown in abyssal moon spire (easily connected to the eclipse dynasty of khaenri'ah where the crimson moon was replaced by a black sun), the moon depicted in tsurumi island (that from what i understand got its hole after kapatcir descended) and the crimson moon that became an eye in perinheri (book about the crimson dynasty in khaenri'ah - the one that preceded the eclipse dynasty). khaenri'ah and alchemy possibly being tied to crepus' delusion doesn't sound so crazy anymore, right?

the insistence that crepus was a "mere businessman" by eroch and that being the reason they couldn't let the people know he saved everyone from ursa the drake (which led to diluc's resignation) also sounds like the perfect little detail to throw for some sort of plot-twist. yes, this is mostly my wishful thinking but also, what if crepus really wasn't just a business man? diluc got his "red dead of night" outfit from his father who had a ceremonial uniform tailored for diluc in advance and diluc modified it for battle. maybe that's where the resemblances with the fatui come from, as a way to go unnoticed or mix in during his time hunting the fatui. at least it's easy to discard it as something deeper that way. but i don't think it's such a crazy idea anymore to think of something crazier when we consider the ragnvindr's connections to the hexenzirkel (the teapots and diluc's jacket patterns being the same as the ones in the hexenzirkel cutscenes) and the fact kaeya was left purposefully at dawn's winery. again, maybe it could just be because the ragnvindr are a prestiged family but also, what if there's something else here? is it that impossible?

[acourtofquestions]

I don’t wanna read TOD honestly I just wanna skip to KOA. Would you say TOD is really worth it?

Thanks for the ask lovely😊

Unfortunately, I haven’t actually read ToD yet, so I have no idea. I’m just now on Part 2 of EoS… and will probably be starting ToD after… or in tandem depending on my library.😂

I can say some of my lovely mutual tumblr buddies have talked me through series orders and the majority of them have said ToD needs to be read (however there are a few that have said they skipped it). — Hopefully some of them can hop on this post and comment for ya :-)

Wishing you the best of luck & hope you enjoy! Looking forward to chatting more as I catch up! And congrats on finishing EoS btw!! 😄🫶

[saranghaes-stuff]

These are the BTS X READER fics that are my ride and die. These are all that I love very much is is always saved in my wattpad account.

These are all links to these stories of different authors. Hope you like it.

1. Beat of Still Heart

( jungkook x reader) ( completed)

2. Beat of the Still Heart 2

(Jungkook x reader) (completed)

Fate of All Realms

(Jimin x reader) ( taehyung x reader)

( jungkook x reader) ( completed)

Two Percent Straight

(Jimin x reader) (jungkook x reader)

( completed)

Glitch

(Jungkook x reader) ( completed)

The four Kingdom

(Ot7 x reader) ( yoongi x reader)

(Completed)

Pyramids

(0t7 x reader) ( taehyung x reader )

( Completed)

Dynasty

(Ot7x reader) (jin x reader)

(Completed)

My secret affair

(Jungkook x reader) (jimin x reader)

(Completed)

The seven

(Ot7 x reader) (namjoon x reader)

(Completed)

Okay soo I couldn't add more of these links because 10 is the limit per post.

And I don't know to change the link name in your post and I am doing this from my mobile so its difficult.

I don't want to login from the laptop because my brother also uses it and will know about this🥲

So these are my favourite fanfics of bts on wattpad.

My next post is going about the fics that I like on tumblr.

And don't forget to support BTS and yoongi specially rightnow.

Love you

[beautifulsnake2162020]

We have it all (Hualian adopted daughter fanfic) Chapter 5

I used Fengqing Gifs because they are the ones fighting the enemies in the opening scene. Both gifs are by @linglynz

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I only do this for fun.

Premise: Not long after comforting a bullied girl named Meng Ai, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian find themselves adopting her and together they form a family they didn't know they had needed for awhile.

Story/Genre tags: Slice of life-ish (mainly), Family focused, Hua Cheng's houses finally become homes, there may be an overarching story but that's not the focus, Hualian being parents, Fengqing being uncles, Lang Qianqiu falling in love with someone who was raised by the Xianle squad, technically post-canon (though I haven't read the books so if there are some ooc moments please forgive me).

AO3 Link

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3, Chapter 4

Follower tags: @anonimgato1507

AN: I did my best but I will be the first to admit that I'm not good at writing fight scenes. Having said that, I wanted to give Fengqing their flowers and hopefully show why they are given the position of generals (and Meng Ai's uncles). Hope you enjoy 😅😂

Chapter 5

The Jiangshi were among the first wave that made their way to the shrine. These weren't the typical Jiangshi that regular Taoist priests would animate for proper burial. These Jiangshi were puppets for the magicians who were controlling them. The fortunate thing about these puppets was that once they were slain and their ashes were burnt they were finished.

Then the next wave were demon dogs accompanied by malicious spirits who came into their area in the form of arrows. Arrows that were shot by mortal archers and the dark spirits emerged and rapidly multiplied in their midst.

"Make a circle of holy fire around the shrine!" Mu Qing shouts at Feng Xin as they quickly make a larger circumference around the barrier of protection. The fortunate thing was that these creatures stood no chance against the Holy fire they made and even then they had some of their best soldiers standing by in between the barrier and the fire.

Then another wave of Jiangshi came with large Xiangliu spitting venom everywhere and poisoning the soil. This time the Jiangshi were a mix of puppets and Jiangshi who were their own being. The puppets walked, the ones who weren't were hopping.

"We'll need to find the mages causing this!" Feng Xin says after slaying a hopping Jiangshi and blasting it with fire.

"What do you think I've been doing?!" Mu Qing replies as he blasts another Xiangliu away and scorches the area its venom had touched to mitigate its effects. Feng Xin uses his momentum to quickly get his arrows. Mu Qing quickly throws a flame on the arrowhead and Feng Xin shoots at the Xiangliu, just beneath it's nine heads. Nine voices screamed out in agony and it fell.

"One down!"

"Of many. Mortals are starting to join in." Mu Qing says as some of his soldiers managed to remove the cloaks of some of them.

"Stop this now!" One of Mu Qing's soldiers commanded.

"We don't answer to your king, we answer to gold!"

"Mercenaries"

"That explains everything."

Fu Dao was one of the wealthier kingdoms because of their position in the trade route. Soldiers bearing Fu Dao's crest would cause a scandal if they were found. But employing mercenaries had the added benefit of deniability if they were ever caught.

"Stay away from this fight and we'll give you gold."

"We've already been adequately paid!" Mu Qing easily blocks and deflects an attack.

"Everyone, don't kill the mortals but protect the Priestess and her child."

Feng Xin sends a mass telepathic message to all their soldiers who begin rounding up the mortals who have begun joining in the fight.

A swarm of arrows and poisoned needles came and everyone put up magical barriers to shield themselves.

The fight went on and little by little they were making progress as their soldiers manage to put magical shackles on the mage mercenaries and that lessened the presence of demonic creatures in the fight.

However one of the mortal mages managed to get past the fire.

Because he was cloaked in a protection spell.

No. They both thought.

Mu Qing and Feng Xin immediately teleported themselves in the temple grounds.

Their soldiers were dealing with the mortal mage.

Who was serving as a distraction.

Assassins cloaked in a similar protection spell soon came inside the barrier.

"Get in!" Feng Xin commands his soldiers as they begin fighting the mortals who have begun entering.

"I'll take them to Jingdezhen."

"Go, I'll follow."

Mu Qing enters the living quarters in the nick of time as he sees a poisoned needle begin to enter inside. He immediately stops it and puts magic shields on all possible openings in the living quarters.

"What's going on?"

"Get Meng Ai, we're going to Jingdezhen." He immediately slams the door shut as another poisoned needle flew inside. He quickly makes a teleportation portal as Jing Mei wears her satchel and carries a sleeping Meng Ai. Once it was completed he opens the portal and they find themselves just outside of Xiwangmu's temple.

"Oh thank goodness." Jing Mei sighs in relief.

"Here, let me carry her."

"Thank you. If anything we'll at least have decent accomodations tonight."

"Your rooms have already been prepared." The priest says as they approach the entrance of the temple. The feminine tone of his voice making it clear that it was Xiwangmu herself speaking to them.

"Oh thank you Great Mother." Jing Mei makes a bow as Xiwangmu through her priest leads them inside the temple grounds.

"You did well General Xuan Zhen, both you and General Nan Feng have my thanks."

"No problem Xiwangmu, besides I've been itching for a fight for awhile."

"Jing Mei? What happened?" A man rushed to Jing Mei's side. His blue eyes shone in the moonlight, his expression was filled with worry.

"Ji Huifan we were attacked at Puqi shrine, I don't know how they found out...we've been so careful -"

"They hired mercenaries." Mu Qing says with seriousness as he gave Meng Ai to her father.

"Let's discuss further details when we are inside. That you won't have to keep repeating yourself General Xuan Zhen." Xiwangmu says as she continues to lead everyone into the room Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were waiting. Once Meng Ai was placed in bed in the room where her parents stayed and once Feng Xin arrived they began their discussion.

"Mage mercenaries - that's a new low even for them."

"It's been awhile since we've had any contact with your family since we've fled. What I don't understand is how they managed to find out where we were."

"Given the right place to look for them and look for the ones with the right skill level and the right amount of desperation, I'm frankly not surprised that a blood thirsty family would employ them." Hua Cheng says as he leans back on his seat beside Xie Lian.

"Tracking and confirming their targets wouldn't be too difficult for them. Depending on the assignment, most of the preparation would be employing the proper tactics."

"And you know this because?" Hua Cheng raises his eyebrow at Feng Xin in a smug certainty.

"I've had my encounters with some of them. A lot of them lost to me in my gambling den, that's how I learned how they work. And when I'm feeling lazy I just out pay whomever their employer was."

"Do some of them work for you now?"

"Only the ones I consider worthy Gege. Most of them are just mages who have lost clients over time and are desperately looking for money. But considering all we know and considering who their client is, the group that was targetting Jing Mei and Xiao-Ai are an investment of Fu Dao's royal family."

"Why do you say that?" Mu Qing asks skeptically.

"Simple, they didn't care if they were seen or not."

"What do you mean? They attacked in the middle of the night." Feng Xin says arrogantly.

"A night with a full moon, using demonic creatures that would cause a ruckus had anyone other than you or their targets noticed. They also attacked them in Gege's shrine which means they necessarily needed to personally be present since only mortals could pass through magical barriers. They either didn't want to wait or could no longer wait for Jing Mei and Xiao-Ai to leave the safety of the shrine. Considering all of these things, it's obvious that they didn't care to be seen. Which means that they've had the resources to train and be better than most other mercenaries. Over time they have developed the arrogance that it wouldn't matter if they were seen or not."

"And what makes that different from a typical mercenary?"

"A mercenary knows how to keep things discreet. The most sought after ones whether they are a magician or not are the ones who could make things look like an accident or make it look like the death was from natural causes. Mage mercenaries who control demonic creatures use those creatures to kidnap or kill their targets without needing to be physically present."

"Hmm and the fact that there were waves of them headed towards the shrine means -"

"- that they knew." Mu Qing finishes Feng Xin's thought as everyone becomes uncomfortable with the realization.

"Another spy from heaven?!" Feng Xin cries in exasperation.

"No - given the right training and the right time to develop their skills, it's possible for a mortal to tell who is a God and who is a ghost. I'm sure you two have noticed how easily Aiai does it while you were with her." Xie Lian couldn't help but suppress a giggle as Mu Qing and Feng Xin become sheepish at Ji Huifan's comment.

"Either one of the mages my family has employed has that skill or a God with an oracle who has a similar skillset -"

"Wait - Huifan, didn't you say that you lost the ability to see a God's aura when you were cured?" The couple shares a look of realization.

"I didn't exactly lose it, it just wasn't as good as when I was...you know..."

"But that means-"

"- one or a few of my relatives are with them." Another air of discomfort fills the room.

"Does this mean we have to flee again?" Jing Mei asks with trepidation and exhaustion.

"No!" "Absolutely NOT!" "No way."

"You are my oracle and priestess. Your family will always be welcomed in my temples. And right now you may stay here for as long as you wish. And if Generals Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen could lend some of their followers for added protection-"

"No offense Xiwangmu but that wouldn't be enough." She raises her eyebrow at him as Jing Mei is shocked that someone would disrespect her and Ji Huifan's reaction was questioning Hua Cheng's decision to cut her off. She isn't as fickle as the other Gods. Hua Cheng's attitude was refreshing to her when most Gods and mortals would be dictated by their fear and reverence to her domain.

"San Lang."

"Ji Huifen, when you were still a cursed immortal could you still enter Xiwangmu's temples?" He then realized what Hua Cheng was pointing out and sighed a sad tone out.

"Yes, my family and I had no problems entering in any temple. We may not be able to do everything our abilities allow us to do, depending on the God who is worshipped in the temple-"

"But the point still stands that if the three of you remain here, someone could still enter and harm you. They just need to be either a mortal or someone from your family."

"And what do you propose Crimson Rain Sought Flower?" Hua Cheng's gaze meets Xie Lian's as they both smile.

"Xiao-Ai is still asleep right?"

______________________________________________________________

Red was the first color that she sees as she wakes up. This was definitely not Puqi shrine anymore she thought as she slowly began sitting up. It was then that Meng Ai realized that the bed she was waking up from was both softer and smoother than what she was used to.

"Hello Aiai."

"BABA!" She launches herself forward as she embraces Ji Huifan and kisses him on the cheek. He laughs as he brings her to his embrace.

"Thank you for sending them to help me."

"Baba please don't scare mama like that again." He gives her a sad smile knowing that whether it is sooner or later he and Jing Mei will have to let her go to Hua Cheng and Xie Lian.

"Sometimes I can't help it Aiai, everything I do for both you and your mama are out of love. Even if you can't see it right now." She doesn't like that tone he uses despite knowing what he said was true.

"Where are we? Where is mama?"

"She's in the kitchen trying to teach Xie Lian how to cook." He helps her down and outside her room Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were waiting.

"Hello Xiao-Ai, did you sleep well?" Xie Lian asks tenderly while patting her head.

"Yes, it was a long sleep. I don't know how I was able to sleep for that long."

"Hungry little one?" Hua Cheng asks as he kneels down so that their eyes would be at the same level.

"Yes, where are we San Lang?" He opens his hand and waits for her to take it. He couldn't help but smile as he sees she was wearing the necklace he gifted her with a silver butterfly pendant.

"We are in our house, welcome to Paradise Manor."

AN: And this is the start of more Slice of life moments that I had not yet sufficiently delivered 😅😂 I hope none of you were too disappointed with the fight scene.