#potc world be full of Creature.

[emcads]

thinking so much about like. the parallels in the aristocratic structure of res8 and potc vis-a-vis the lords. the gendered structure of the title. assuming power tied to binding someone in a human form. the isolation that cannot sustain its barrier and bleeds outer society in, to the outside world's rejection and disgust.

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

Could it be possible that stars true form are similar to biblical accurate angels?

(This won't leave my head when you mentioned eyes at the back of Cephs head.)

Something incomprehensible to humans.

On a side note how well-learned is Asha about her world? Since her mom was a sailor I wondered what stories she would have told Asha about her time as a merchant. Does Asha have any cousins and how well is her relationship with her uncle?

Can she identify what a penguin is?Or animals not native to her home? If she were to travel to another kingdom for a possible vacation where would be her first choice?

What are her other interests other than astronomy,crocheting,science,inventing,sketching and surviving?

What are her current skill sets? Can she pick a lock? Because I don't believe Sabino would not teach her how to get out of a cage or such if she were to ever be kidnapped. Her paranoia must come from somewhere?

Sorry if these were all to much.

I enjoy and am very invested in your Asha,her story and your world building.

(Sorry Ceph but I just prefer Asha and world building more than you. PS.Cloaks and shawls are better capes)

Thank you! ❤️ I’m glad you like my Asha and my story/worldbuilding 🥹

((

Ceph: *starts choking*

Asha: are you okay?

Ceph; no! There’s so much audacity in this comment that I’m literally dying! You’re killing me north towards me- YOU ARE KILLING A STAR!

Magnifico: *elsewhere in a room full of confused advisors* why do I feel like I am being challenged?

Ceph: there’s absolutely no way you expect me or any other star to honestly answer that question after your little ‘shawl’ comment- no seriously! That’s just not right! This is crazy! And that’s something coming from me!

Asha: finally someone with good taste!

Ceph: and this is why none of you will know my birth name. Ever. ))

During her earlier years in her apprenticeship Asha ended up shadowing a lot of ministers when magnifico had basically turned his attention to the other apprentices. She spent a lot of time studying about other countries and their histories- Arendelle and Corona to name a few, and tends to socialize with their diplomats to learn more about their technology/science (so she can strengthen her argument on the science’s legitimacy!) so overall I think it’s a bit safe to say that Asha knows a lot more about the world beyond Rosa’s than your average Rosa’s native born (most don’t really plan to leave Rosa’s ya know? So they’ve never been too bothered about learning about distant countries in depth)

Sakina has told her a lot about her times sailing and the crazy adventure she did. She had a lot of dangerous run ins with supernatural creatures like Davy Jones and sirens. And also met Calypso (POTC Calypso) she got collections of picture books from her time abroad to show Asha the world beyond Rosa’s. So She can identify a lot of animals non-native to Rosas

Asha also has a few little cousins and her relationship with her uncle is very good (they built her sailboat together) and he always brings her gifts whenever he comes around, but he hasn’t been too big on visiting Rosas since Tomas passed. If she were to travel to another country I think she’d definitely want to visit Corona- so she can nerd out over Lord Demanatus’s work. In a perfect world she’d also love to visit Atlantis (maybe even moreso than Corona!) (She’s not too big on Arendelle and Scotland for their magic and bears and magical bears tbh 😬)

Asha: there’s more to life than survival? (Jk) she loves diplomacy and history. She does still love art here too but she draws less frequently due to being overworked. if her life had gone better she’d still be huge on musical theatre. She also likes wrestling/grappling too- the main branches of self defense her grandfather taught her that would be advantageous against bigger people due to her smaller size! Asha is also a firm believer in stress baking (don’t tell Sabino)

As for her current skill set Asha can definitely pick a lock (she’s so good at fixing them that there’s no way she doesn’t know how to break a few) and there’s also no way Sabino would teach some noble boy how to pick the lock but not his own granddaughter. Asha is also quite well trained for her circumstances unless magic comes in. Then she’s kinda toast.

[trickstercaptain]

IMMORTAL VAMPIRE ARC.

Just as a note: if I ever write or reference an immortal arc for Jack, I will be referencing this verse, and it is heavily affiliated with both WWDITS canon and musecraft & shadowcovcn. Jack’s primary ship is with Laszlo & Nadja in this arc, but like them he is also polyamorous and has taken plenty of other lovers during his immortal life.

This verse diverges from POTC canon after the events of On Stranger Tides: Jack encounters Laszlo and Nadja while on their golden age of piracy Caribbean honeymoon. The three quickly hit it off and, after having the prospect of immortality dangled in front of him mere hours after meeting, Jack jumps at the prospect of vampiric transformation. At this point, the Black Pearl is safe ( and stuck ) in a bottle, and will remain that way for the next 250 years.

Temperance isn’t easy for him as a newborn vampire and he struggles for the first six months between his aversion to killing and the hunger that has taken hold of his rational mind, beginning a nomadic lifestyle with Nadja and Laszlo as they travel from port to port. It isn’t long before the age of piracy itself starts to fade: Shipwreck Cove and Tortuga soon fall to the English and Spanish, leaving the number of safe ports available to the trio of vampires dwindling by the year. It is at this moment that Jack must finally shed the legend that he has spent his entire mortal life creating: Captain Jack Sparrow becomes a name committed to legend, a pirate who disappeared at sea, with no records of ever being apprehended or hanged for his crimes. Jack, meanwhile, leaves the Caribbean with Laszlo and Nadja to join the vampire cult led by Baron Afanas.

This verse encompasses the next two hundred and fifty years of Jack’s immortal life, from a failed stint at Baron’s court to his hijinks in pre-revolutionary France, his escape from the guillotine to his adventurer era as the Industrial Revolution takes hold, to languishing on a yacht in the Caribbean during the Great War, before finally settling in London in the mid 20th century. To humans at least, Jack runs a Soho club that becomes an integral part of the emerging rock ‘n’ roll scene of the 1960s and 1970s. To his fellow vampires and other supernatural creatures, Jack becomes part swindler, part expert in magical and occult artefacts. Disliking or indeed making enemies of most other vampires, Jack prefers to exist in both the human and vampire worlds, never quite belonging to either.

Jack is reunited with Nadja when she travels to London with Guillermo to take up a place at the Supreme Vampiric Council, and after she ditches the council to return to Staten Island at the start of season 4, Jack returns there with her.

FULL BIO TO BE ADDED.

[bookmovieaddictee]

His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

📖📖📖📘📘

Okay, second time writing this, let’s go! 

I completely forgot I never posted a review, so I sat down to get right to it. Wrote up a lovely piece full of feelings, reactions, and the like— and wrote up many other pending reviews! Then, Tumblr raised me a big fucking middle finger because I accidentally hit CTRL+Z instead of CTRL+X (I had wanted to change the position of a paragraph) and…

The Whole Damn Thing was gone. 

Enough about me, we’re all here for the books. Fictional struggles are so much more exciting than the nuisances of daily life. 

This is another one of those books that have been on my to-read list longer than ten years. I found it out when I was in my Age-of-Sail, POTC, Golden Age of Piracy obsession. Amistad, Master and Commander, One Piece, Island of the Blue Dolphins— if it was media centered around the 17th-19th century and had boats, I would try to consume it.   

Plus…dragons!

Never mind that a bitch couldn't swim, nor ever seen a damn boat in my life.

Or a dragon for that matter.

This book falls way more on the historical fiction side than the fantasy— truly a fantastic epic of the high seas! It’s very historically accurate, which just leads to the depth of worldbuilding. At first, Laurence as a narrator felt a little like dry toast at first, but as the story goes on, I feel a warmth for the character. Duty drives him, but it’s really his love for Temeraire and his genuine respect for his peers that drive his actions, and I’m weak for a heroic hero. I also really like how Novik makes Laurence a product of his times— no anachronistic virtue-signaling in this piece. It’s his environment and the people he engages with that guide the growth of his character, and it’s this facet of plot that kept me returning to this book eagerly. 

The other star of this story is of course the eponymous dragon— Temeraire. His blue and orange morality, innocence yet canniness, and attachment to Laurence make him one of my favorite characters in this book. 

The action scenes are where this particular book shines. It slows down near the middle, which is typical of Novik’s novels, but the ending battle was just 

Overall, the first book felt like the origin story movie. Slow, character focused, worldbuilding is central to the plot, but if you're invested in the universe, you'll certainly pick up the next book—which I did!

[the-marron]

Tag Game

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!  

Thanks @verochkasnightmarecorner for tagging me! :D

I decided to include my works solo, not counting works I created with @dobranocka because a lot of these opening lines are not mine, even though I love them a lot. So, from the newest to the oldest:

1. The party is in the full swing, the mansion filled with laughter and not-so-secret business deals conducted on the expensive sofas and in the darkened hallways. (WIP, Weilan Derrivatives, LNS/LF mob au)

2. It started with a joke. (There Can Be Only One, Guardian, Weilan, crack)

3. Guo Changcheng is very confused about how he ended up here. (Come my love, be one with the sea, Guardian, Weilan + ChuGuo, POTC au)

4. When Shen Wei looks out of his window, the familiar black car is already there.  (Constant Vigilance, Guardian, Weilan, 1930s spy au crack)

5. Shen Wei had always assumed that he was used to pain. (The Once And Future Hei Pao Shi, Guardian, Weilan, post-canon crack )

6. Click. Click.

The eyes move, their brown irises catching light. (Deceive me kindly (while I'm still here), Guardian, Weilan, steampunk!au )

7. Everyone had their limits. (One Prize I'd Cheat to Win, Guardian, Weilan, no powers!au )

8. Shen Wei is not sure where they are heading. (When I walk past the mountain peak, it doesn’t speak, Guardian, Weilan, post-finale fix-it)

9. “No,” Lao Chu says and glares at them for good measure. (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Dragon City, Guardian, Weilan, crack )

10. It’s the beginning of their second week under when they finally have a breakthrough. (Jia Jia and The Guardian Lantern, Guardian, Weilan, canon compliant post-finale fix-it)

11. “Get him!” Those are the last words that leave Zhao Yunlan’s mouth as he disappears in the wormhole, and Shen Wei doesn’t have the time to wonder, to think, because if he doesn’t act now Zhao Yunlan might disappear forever. (Changed Course, Guardian, Weilan, fix-it )

12. "Let’s make a bet,” Shen Wei says, and his voice has this raw honesty to it that stops Zhao Yunlan from whatever goodbye he tried to formulate. (When I Make an Oath to the Flames, Guardian, Weilan, post-canon break-it and make it worse)

13. Zhang Chengling was aware that he wasn’t exactly an average kid. (There's Nothing in This World I Wouldn't Do, Word of Honor, Wenzhou, modern au crack)

14. “I would really like it if you came,” said Chengling, his voice gradually getting quieter with each word. (Journey's Homeward Bound, WoH, Wenzhou, modern au crack)

15. This is the last one for tonight. (We Watch and Burn and Reign , DC Comics, TimJay, Talon au )

16. It started as a joke. Or rather, it started as a genuine need for information that got turned into a joke because, well, Jason. (Red Robin and Red Hood’s Comprehensive Guide To Bat Romance, DC Comics, TimJay + others, crack. Longer quote because wtf, I started two separate fics the same way???)

17. When Jason wakes up, he wishes he hadn’t. (Stones of Fear, Stones of Doubt, DC Comics, TimJay, canon-compliant? )

18. “We need Grindelwald,” Albus Dumbledore, the Marshall of the last base ready to fight the Kaiju had never anticipated having to say this out loud. (To Fight Monsters, We Created Monsters, Fantastic Beasts franchise, Grindeldore, Pacific Rim au)

19. Being a hero is easy. You beat up the bad guys, save innocent citizens, earn the love of a beautiful lady, preferably a journalist, and become a beacon of hope to everyone. (Face to Face, My Lovely Foe, Haikyuu!!, Bokuaka, superhero au, once again a longer quote because wow, are they brief)

20. Hinata had heard stories about strange creatures living in the forest. (Sword in the Stone, Haikyuu!!, Bokuaka + Kagehina, Arthuriana au)

Soooo... I apparently have the unfortunate tendency to start out with short setences that tell the reader absolutely nothing at all. This, or dialogues. And I managed to repeat the exact same sentence in two separate fics, wow.

I think my favourite opening line so far is from the steampunk au, mostly because I actually like the whole beginning of this fic and I enjoy the fragment that follows the opening line, aside from that, the WIP one is the most enjoyable for me, I think.

Interesting experience, really, I like this tag game, it changed my perspective a bit, and I remember doing this a few years ago and the openings looked completely different and I had different observations, so yay progress?

Tagging @flamboyantlycriminal, @dobranocka, @the-cookie-of-doom, @wyfto2812, @flsongbird722, if you feel up to it, it’s fun :)

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

2022 MOVIE OF THE WEEK #13

fantastic beasts: the crimes of grindelwald. okay so, i actually never intended to watch this movie. i loved the first fantastic beasts movie years ago because the 1920s world full of adult magic made it much more my cup of tea than harry potter...but everything i heard about the second one dissuaded me from following up. 

i finally did watch this one just so i could tag along to the next one and see a movie with my family, knowing i probably wouldn’t enjoy it but would enjoy the experience (i love theater movies and wish i was interested in more of the ones they make now, so i could see them more often).

and i was not wrong in my understanding of this movie, or my guesses about why i wouldn’t like it. queenie was my favorite character, and they ruined her. colin farrell turning into johnny depp made me physically gag at the end of the first one, so i didn’t need a whole movie obsessed with him. and i was there in the world of these movies for amazing creatures--not more war. 

instead, it’s magic nazis everywhere and johnny depp is magic hitler. and he’s a very good magic hitler, very believable. this did not make it better, it just left me with more questions for johnny depp. this role is the first one he seemed to be actually acting in that i’ve seen since the potc movies. like he cared about this one and really put in the effort. again, it was for magic hitler that he did this. 

anyway, alison sudol remains my fave and queenie was realistic as a convert to the cause, in terms of how white women have always played a role in racist history despite (and because of) their own subjugation. but i hated watching it happen. 

zoe kravitz was probably my favorite part of the whole thing (because i am predictable), and she didn’t survive the movie. i was glad to be caught up for the next one, but would need a really compelling reason to ever watch this one again.

[aion-rsa]

Why Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War Is Still Amazing Four Years Later

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This article is presented by Joycity.

Fan-favorite mobile game Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War is celebrating its 4th anniversary this year. Even more impressive than the milestone itself is the way Tides of War has continued to find new ways to keep its players engaged with one of the most thriving, social-friendly gaming communities on mobile devices.

The high seas of Tides of War are absolutely teeming with more action and adventure than ever before, with thousands of players and alliances contending for dominance as they hunt down abominable sea creatures, plunder hapless islands for treasures and resources, and rain cannon fire on their bitter rivals. And for the game’s 4th anniversary, the team at Joycity are rolling out a new update that includes a new ship, two new Tacticians, a new Portrait Frame customization option, and numerous events to partake in.

Whether you’re a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies who wants to hang out with your favorite characters, or just a mobile gaming enthusiast, there’s something for you to do in Tides of War. It offers a plethora of activities and game loops for you to get lost in for hours on end. There’s always a steady stream of new content and items to collect too, not to mention a ton of other players to connect with.

Constructing and leveling your fortress and surrounding buildings scratches that classic city-building gameplay itch, or you can opt for the strategy game experience by venturing out in search of treasure and resources. It’s in those high seas where you’ll run into a frightful menagerie of sea creatures, not to mention the oppressive forces of the East India Trading Company. You’re going to want to build up your fleet and fortress to ensure you’re ready for anything.

In fact, building out your fleet to take on the dangers that await you is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game, particularly when you start accumulating ships in large numbers. Each ship is upgradeable in several categories, which adds a lot of depth to the experience. Best of all, you can customize your ships to reflect you as a player, adding personality to your fleet with different flags and coordinated colors. You can also admire your ships via the game’s 360 degree view, an immersive way to interact with your fleet.

The “Hell Hound” is a powerful new Tier 19 ship making its debut for the game’s 4th anniversary. It’s as fearsome and formidable as any on the open sea. The game is already full of frightening characters and ships, including the tentacled Davy Jones and his Flying Dutchman, and the ghastly Salazar and his Silent Mary. But the Hell Hound is easily one of the coolest, darkest ships you can add to your fleet.

Start Playing Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War for Free Right Now! * Includes in-game purchases

Tacticians are unique captains that you can assign to ships in your fleet, giving them a variety of stat boosts. They are collected via tactician invitation letters, and you’ll want to find these tacticians to build out a dream team of pirates! They’re a lot of fun to collect, particularly if you’re lucky enough to land one of the iconic pirates from the movies, like Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann.

The fact that there will be two new tacticians added to the already deep roster is exciting to say the least. Each of the new tacticians also comes with their own skills and talismans, which allow you to match pirates with different ship types/features for optimal combinations. Not all tacticians are created equal—some come equipped with one skill, some come with three, and all tacticians and skills have level progressions. You’ll need a diverse mix of tacticians and ships with different strengths to be ready for any and all types of missions and battles, so balance is key.

But when you need a little extra help in battle, there’s also the game’s alliance system. Joining an alliance means you’ll have other players at your side to send you helpful items, work toward group goals, and complete PVE missions. There are also PVP encounters for those looking for the toughest challenges, and your Alliance Power level and Alliance Silver all depend on how much of a collective effort you put in alongside your mates. From alliance buildings, skills, research, and trades, there are plenty of ways for players to contribute. Alliances are also a great way to connect with like-minded fans and geek out over everything POTC.

Speaking of the movies, there are plenty of easter eggs and references to find throughout Tides of War. By entering Shansa’s mystical cave, you’ll be able to relive many of the franchise’s most iconic moments as well as take part in some of the classic sea battles from the films, which is one of the absolute highlights of the game if you’re looking for a new way to experience the POTC story.

I’ve been playing Tides of War for a few years now, and it’s always been a nice way to escape the doldrums of everyday life and get caught up in the world of POTC along with my alliance-mates. Like every good mobile game, Tides of War has deep but easy-to-understand gameplay mechanics that are bolstered by fun cooperative play. The game has been around for a while now, but it’s as fun to play as ever, and its community is always growing.

To top off all of the anniversary festivities, Joycity is holding a sweepstakes* event on the game’s Facebook page from May 11 to May 23. Players will have the chance to win a plethora of in-game prizes that will help them expand their influence as well as their alliance’s. Aside from the chance to win big, the game’s Facebook page is yet another great way to connect with other players and talk about all things POTC. And be sure to check into the game every day to collect valuable rewards…just for showing up!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War is available on iOS and Android devices. You can download the game here.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter Sweepstakes between 5/12/21 at 10:00 AM PDT and 5/23/21 at 11:59 PM PDT. For full official rules and details, visit http://bit.ly/POTC4YearsSweepstakes

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The post Why Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War Is Still Amazing Four Years Later appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[voidfishersong]

Pirates of Tellius AU

I'm back at it again with another niche Tellius AU no one but me will ever read!

this is some sort of weird IkeSoren/IkeRanulf hybrid but like. better keep it open ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

basically it’s ‘what if I stuck Tellius characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe, smashed both the plots together, and made it slightly gayer (but only slightly because tellius is pretty gay)?

It starts out more following the plot of PotC but I assure you that is only superficial and also gets drowned pretty quickly

also you can see where this post started as brainstorming and eventually became actual fic so. please read it

Ike is obviously Will Turner - I mean, this is textbook, right down to his dad having Secrets™️. sword boi runs into trouble.

Soren is Elizabeth - but raised by Almedha (hence a background in dangerous things when he was young, but now very sheltered by his parent).

and Ranulf is the suave but kind-of-stupid pirate because I have no self control and JUST IMAGINE RANULF IN THE HAT. THE HAT, GUYS.

it gets gayer I swear I’m pushing a Soren/Ike/Ranulf agenda y’all

Ike and Soren, childhood friends, Almedha doesn't like Ike coming over, Soren’s got some sort of arranged marriage Ike has many swords but dreams of greater things than the smithy. the rest of the Greil Mercenaries are the people from Ike's area of town - Titania's the only one I struggle to think of a job for, but she lives next to the smithy and Mist has a bedroom at Titania's as well as above the forge (Ike has a bed there too, although he rarely uses it). Oscar and his brothers are a bakery/butchery hybrid, Rhys is the apothecary, etc., Shinon and Gatrie are probably still mercenaries lbr

the only thing Ike knows about his father's death is that he was killed by the pirate captain of the Black Night (haha I regret everything), a mythical ship that appears and disappears at will - but only at night.

Lethe stole Ranulf's ship, crew, and weapons (he'd be so proud if he didn't currently lack a ship), which I don't have a name for yet, anyway so Ranulf comes in to the port, people lose their shit, he escapes, but he really needs a forge to get these handcuffs off. oh, the Greil smithy! nice. duel! jail :(

Ike is kinda sad because Soren has to do Noble Things which currently just means "sucking up to the princess" Elincia - and he thinks his mother might be planning a marriage at this rate.

One night, one of the Mad King's fleet ransacks the town. Ranulf sighs, knowing enough of these beorc pirates by reputation, but hey, he's in jail.

The pirates kill the king and go after Elincia to throw Crimea into chaos. Unfortunately, she's not alone - but fortunately, Soren can talk his way into any situation and gets them a parley. bonus points if he pretends he's the princess and Elincia is a servant.

Ike's world is upside down - his town's burning, Soren's been taken, what does he do? Titania tells him he can go - she'll help rebuild, keep the town order, and Mist can run the forge. Just - you know that sword, Ike? the one your father hid under the floorboards and told you to never touch? take it. you might need it.

so he does - but might need some help, too. who better than a pirate who knows the way of the sea?

they steal a ship and go. Ike yells about pirates, Ranulf offers to throw him into the sea, but they resolve it quickly because Ike understands there's more to the world than he knew. Ranulf's got an uncanny sense of direction and he knew Ike's father, but there's something else he feels he's missing. Greil was a pirate, Ike learns, and one of the finest - Ranulf might've left Gallia if he'd asked.

but their ship isn't meant for two - they need a crew. Ike soon learns Ranulf has a reputation five miles long, lovers in nearly every man and woman on land, and can outdrink anyone when they stop at an Outpost to pick up everyone you recruit in PoR. and then they head for Nevassa Cove.

I'm throwing the plots of both stories out the window now. also, the laguz? they're staying - in a slightly different form...

Ike and Ranulf’s crew don't make it to Nevassa quickly, though, so who knows what Elincia and Soren are doing in the meantime. bonding, probably. Elincia's no idiot - she's heard the rumors about Lady Almedha, her mysterious background, her ever-present veil - and the Captain of the Mad King goes on about what lives in the water. She starts to question the fables of her childhood, full of sirens who would sing you to the depths and creatures that could topple flagships. Soren's planning, but he's got to keep up the Princess pretense - but he's noticing, too.

Ranulf's crew comes across some of their own myths when their ship is blown into a coral reef. Ranulf and his first mate (originally had this as Kyza but I want to save her for the eventual RD-inspired sequel, and Ike's role onboard is kinda undefined) know better than to go outside here, but Ike doesn't, and so he meets his first mermaid - oh, he didn't mean to offend, he didn't know they were called laguz. Kurthnaga is kind and offers the assistance of his friends to unmoor their ship, and Ike learns their form is not limited to the kind he saw in paintings of beautiful merwomen. Ike tells Ranulf, and Ranulf admits he knows more of the sea than he let on - there are different clans of laguz, all below the water, and the sea dragons are only one (although they are where landwalkers got their idea of the kraken).

the next tribe they find as they cross the canyons of Phonecis and Kilvas, known as a ship's graveyard. there's something about Ike, Ranulf muses as Ike speaks to King Tibarn about the Mad King's destruction and their explosives which threaten to ruin even the ocean floor. Tibarn listens, even with a siren at his side (one of few, Ranulf thought them all dead), and when Tibarn not only lets them pass but offers assistance, Ike welcomes them.

"I thought I was the captain around here!" he calls, earning a smile from Ike at the helm. He can feel Reyson about to speak, to ask why he is a captain of a beorc vessel at all, so Ranulf interrupts with a call to the crew and they depart, singing out of tune but merrily.

Tibarn's laguz follow in the water, save Tibarn himself and his white siren, who stand on deck and could almost pass for humans. Ike wonders about this - Kurthnaga and the dragons didn't have quite this human a form; are Tibarn and Reyson special, or is there even more to the laguz than meets the eye?

He asks Ranulf as much, when they're sitting below deck having a drink. "Laguz have three forms," Ranulf answers. "One for the water, one for the land, and one in-between." He fingers the brim of his hat, an item Ike wishes he'd take off when they're dining like this, away from the rowdy crew.

"How do you know so much about laguz?" Ike asks instead, ever focused on the mission. He doesn't get an answer, though, because the bell is ringing and the crew is clamoring and they see Nevassa Cove in the distance.

"Good find, Ike," Tibarn congratulates him with a slap on the back.

"Ranulf found it." That's Reyson, with something in his tone Ike can't quite place.

"Good find, Ranulf," Tibarn repeats, casting an amused smile to his companion.

They board smallboats and row to the cave under cover of darkness. The plan is cast aside, however, when Ike watches the Mad King's captain unsheath a rapier and advance on Soren. Ashnard won't tolerate their game of role-play any longer, but Elincia jumps in front, waving her arms wildly and yelling to get in the water, Soren!

Ike doesn't listen to whatever Ranulf is or isn't saying; he jumps from behind a cave wall, waving Ragnell and shouting hellfire on Ashnard.

"Well, well, little pirate boy," he mocks, and Ike realizes how massive this captain is in person. "Are you worthy to set foot in Nevassa?"

Ike raises his chin and Ragnell and meets Ashnard's eyes. "My father was Captain Gawain, who sailed that ship long before you destroyed her planks with blood, Ashnard," he says. "You aren't fit for the sea!"

They fight, slipping on sand-dusted rocks and breathing in blood and sweat and the dank smell of the cove, swords ringing like broken bells. Ranulf waves his hand and the crew - Ike's crew, really, if he's being honest - swarms Ashnard's, Tibarn's laguz fighting from the water and dragging pirates to the depths. He crosses to Soren and Elincia and motions them to an underwater tunnel. "Ike's ship is waiting for you," he tells them. "Go!"

"I'm no laguz, Sir Ranulf," the princess protests, but her eyes speak defiance rather than fear.

"It's Captain Lay, Princess," he says with a smile. Then he pushes her into the water, angled so she falls back on Soren and sends them both splashing. "Hold your breath!" And Ranulf dives in, relishing the feel of his shifting form only for a second before he pulls Elincia down, down, up, up through the tunnel and they emerge on the outside, Elincia sputtering and gasping and clinging to him like a lifeline.

"Swim to the ship. Reyson will be waiting."

She lets go but doesn't move. "Soren - he's still in there - you'll go back - please, Captain, return and -"

He cuts off her growing politeness when thrusts his hat at her chest and spins around. She's right, her companion didn't follow, and Ranulf has a sneaking suspicion why, if Ike's many stories of his friend are true.

"Damn," Ranulf says. He goes back.

Ike can feel his arms straining and he regrets never using Ragnell until a month ago. Ashnard is stronger, but at least Soren and Ranulf got away, he thinks. Of course, that's when a knife embeds itself in Ashnard's forearm. Ashnard turns. Ike turns. Soren is there, half in the water and hair dripping wet, holding another knife. Ashnard opens his mouth, and Ike strikes - brings Ragnell straight down and cleaves the Mad King's skull in two with a precision Ike didn't know swords could have.

Ike stands there, staring at the body and his blade, for a full minute, breathing heavily and shaking from adrenaline. When he moves, Soren is staring at him. Ike drops Ragnell and runs to the water, and Soren - Soren moves away, backing against the cove wall.

And I don't want to write Angst™️ but you know where this is going. (Half laguz have two forms, but that's still one more than a beorc.)

Ranulf interrupts the moment, because, hey, I'm glad you're safe but there's a battle on outside and I'm pretty sure the Royal Navy's here as well so let's go!

Ike is still holding Soren, whose face is curled into his neck and hair brushing across Ike's back like a blanket of seaweed. He looks at Ranulf, eyebrows high as he takes in Ranulf finally without that hat and decides his ears are cute. "Is every person I know gonna show up with a tail now, or is it just you two?"

"Just us, I think." Ranulf grins, then sobers. "Still a battle on, Ike," he chides. Ike nods and turns to Soren, who nods in affirmation. "Hold your breath, Ike," says Ranulf, and then they're streaming through the tunnel and Ike never, ever wants to go swimming again by the time they break the surface.

The Royal Navy is there, and they're impounding Ranulf's ship. Ike's ship. Whatever. They haul Ike out of the water, which he accepts because he isn't a laguz and he's more of a chance of surviving in prison than in the water. The guards bind him for piracy - unfair, because he hasn't actually stolen anything (Ranulf stole the ship, technically). Ike tells them as much - yells it, more like, along with a string of curses and proof that he just saved the Princess and killed the Mad King Ashnard - but when Elincia's voice rings out a call for silence he's just as affected as the Navy.

"Sir Ike," she begins, ignoring the whispers of her guards and one commander who tries to tell her he's a pirate and shouldn't be addressed personally, "you have saved me and my kingdom from destruction. For that, you have our gratitude. You will remain a free man, and all charges of piracy against you shall be dropped. I offer you a place in my Navy, Sir Ike, as it would be an honor to have you beside me."

His motley crew, hands tied behind their backs in the center of their ship, stares at him; Elincia's Navy stares at her; and no one moves for a moment.

"Thank you, your Majesty," Ike says, the title an honest mistake but he doesn't take it back because it's true now. "Thank you, Elincia," he continues, "but my place is on the sea. My father sailed these waters before me, and it's time I lived up to him. Besides," he offers her a crooked smile, water dripping into his eyes from his lashes, "I think the sea has companions to offer me."

"Of course," she says, a smile playing at her lips. She removes her arms from their position across her chest (Ike had thought it a ward against the seeping chill of night air on wet clothes) and lifts something up above Ike's head. In the moonlight, he catches a glimpse of a familiar hat, its wide brim decorated with strings of beads and feathers, before Elincia places it on his head, soaking his hair even more. "We shall leave you to your ship, Captain Ike," she says with eyes alight, and turns away with all the grace and poise of a royal.

After a great deal of spluttering and critiques from the Navy quickly aborted by a mere glance from Elincia, Ike's crew is released and the Navy returns to their ships with Elincia, who hands Ike an envelope and a hug before departure. Ike stares after them, adrenaline entirely spent and confused how he just got named a pirate captain by the Queen.

"Well, well, well, congratulations!" comes a familiar voice, its figure moving across the deck. "The hat suits you, Ike," Ranulf grins, clapping him on the shoulder. "Lethe might've stole my other ship, but you've earned this one well." He pauses, just for a second, winks, and then says: "Captain."

Ike smiles, but his attention is quickly caught by the shadows behind a mast. It's Soren, as he knew it would be. Ike puts an arm around him, a gesture he finds awkward for anyone else, and runs his fingers through Soren's damp black locks. "I think I've got a position open on this ship," he offers. "If you'd like."

Soren looks up, and Ike thinks his red eyes are beautiful in the moonlight. "I would." It's almost inaudible, but Ike hears it anyway. He holds him tighter.

They return home first, and his crew laughs through the streets and fills the inns and taverns with gold and merriment, undoubtedly spreading rumors of the battle with the Mad King that will grow into something ridiculous, but Ike doesn't stop them. When he knocks at Titania's door, Mist throws herself at him and she's crying and Mist's crying and Ike might be too.

When they've told each other all that matters between their family and Mist is asleep on Titania's lap from exhaustion, Ike makes tea for him and Titania and sits across from her. "Were you my dad's first mate?" he asks, unprompted except by the companionable silence of being home.

"I was," Titania replies, nostalgia twinging across her face.

Ike nods and sips his tea. He knows the rest of the story, and if Titania would like to spin her own tales he'd gladly listen, but he'll also listen to Mist's soft breathing and relax.

"Who is yours?" Titania asks instead.

Ike starts, almost dropping his tea. "I don't - I'm not sure. There's - well, there's Soren, and Ranulf, and I don't know..." he trails off.

Titania smiles, a glint in her green eyes. "You don't have to know. One day, you'll know, though. It might sneak up on you, so watch out." She knows something, Ike thinks, something about me but more than that, she knows something about the world and the sea and the captains that follow the wind and their hearts.

"Okay," says Ike, because he's home and he doesn't have to say any more. In a few days they'll head out again on that wind. Ike doesn't know where it'll take him, but he'll be ready.

[thetygre]

30 Day Monster Challenge 2 - Day #5: Favorite Fish-Man

1.)    Abe Sapien (BPRD)

Good old Abraham Sapien. Been with us since the fist arc of Hellboy. Abe’s come a long way since then; met his mom, found his wife, subsequently lost her, reunited with his old steampunk buddies, got elected as antichrist after Hellboy and Liz, went into a coma, mutated a couple of feet taller, and so and so on. Into Abe is thrown a lot of bigger themes that inform us of the Mignolaverse’s overall composure. On the aesthetic side, Abe always brings the ocean, fish, and water with him. Lovecraft’s fear of the ocean, Verne’s fascination, and Melville’s awe of it are all wrapped up in Abe Sapien. In his past life, he even came from a whaling family, and he was part of a secret society of ocean-worshiping spiritualists. That’s the other aesthetic cue in Abe; Victoriana. Even when in body armor and running across the flooded remains of the Gulf Coast, Abe never loses a certain gentility. But as a character theme, more than anything, I think Abe represents tragedy. He’s lost more than anyone; Even Liz can still say she has her humanity. Abe can’t even remember his past life, and now he’s becoming a little more monstrous every day.

But through all that, Abe is still maybe the most relatable member of the BPRD for me. (Well, the superpowered ones anyway.) Abe isn’t really sure of who he is or his place in the world, and he’s still looking for those connections that root a person. At the same time, Abe sticks to the middle of the road, acting as the voice of reason even in unreasonable circumstances. He’s capable of emotional outbursts and faults, but for the most part, Abe succeeds at being a good person. Abe might be the strangest core member of the BPRD, but that he’s never inhuman. We don’t need to be super heroes; just basically good people are enough to keep the world running.

2.)    Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Man, I just love how cool this guy is. Sea monster octopus pirate; that’s a character description that makes my inner ten year old want to jump and down. Davy Jones’ whole character design is just so nifty; tentacle beard, organic peg-leg, crab-claw hook hand, a sweet pipe and a giant hat. Hat’s also important for the other reason I love Jones; plays into so many mythical archetypes. Costumers for PotC explicitly stated they picked Jones’ hat because it looked like horns, and they really wanted Jones to fit his role as essentially the pirate devil. As the PotC spans out, Jones is revealed to have been even more legendary characters; he’s the Old Man of the Sea that Odysseus had to wrestle to go to Hades, and Charon guiding souls over to the underworld. I’ll be honest, Davy Jones’ pathos with the lost love never really struck a chord with me. Bill Nighy’s performance of it was great, though, so props are definitely in order for that. And last, but certainly not least, I can’t not love a man who keeps a kraken as a pet.

3.)    Deep Ones (H.P. Lovecraft)

The classic. The first. Your one and only. It’s beginning to look a lot like fish-men. The blue-collar workers of the Cthulhu Mythos. H.P. Lovecraft’s fear of the ocean and corrupted bloodlines all wrapped into one beautiful, horrible fish creature. Nothing quite beats Lovecraft’s originals; he goes out of his way to describe them as alien, foul, and horrible. They’re another one of those monsters you can practically smell through the pages. I think it’s safe to say that half the other fish-men on this list wouldn’t exist without the Deep Ones. People are still scared of the ocean and the alien things living in it, and the Deep Ones give that fear a face. All the while they call to some primal part of us, an archaic memory that remembers when our species used to be fish, and they tell us to come home. Just as angels call us to come to God, the Deep Ones call us back to the sea. (Also; fat and hunchbacked Deep Ones only. I’m sorry; I wish I didn’t have to make that call. If it was up to me, all Deep Ones would be valid. But these are the times we live in, and sacrifices have to be made, preferably to Father Dagon.)

4.)    The Creature from the Black Lagoon (Universal Monsters)

Deep Ones lite. There’s actually a lot I like about the Creature on its own merits. It’s such a natural creature, as far as monsters go. It lives in harmony with its ecosystem, and its design really conveys that its simply a fish that has evolved into a humanoid shape. You can say the same thing about humans, though, and that ultimately is where we connect with the Creature. He’s also kind of charming in his own way; wide eyes, smiling face, no big pointy teeth. He’s practically a goldfish compared to the Deep Ones. And of course those underwater ballet sequences are still just absolutely beautiful. I think more than the Deep Ones, the Creature can probably be compared to King Kong; a primal, more innocent creature so strange that humanity wouldn’t leave it alone. Mankind’s desire to know more about the mysterious ultimately destroyed that mystery, conveying the paradox of how destructive discovery can be.

5.)    The Asset (Shape of Water)

We’ve come full circle now, I suppose. Centuries ago, sailors dreamed up half women/half fish creatures to ease their loneliness, and now we’ve made a half man/half fish to do the same for women. The Asset is pretty explicitly a makeover of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, even coming from a distant part of South America. There’s also clearly some Abe Sapien in there, which is only to be expected coming from Guillermo del Toro. This might sound weird, but I think the details I appreciate most are the spines and the fangs. I know this whole movie was supposed to be about how the monster was less dangerous than the Creature, but the spines and fangs just make it feel like a more believable creature.

6.)    The Creature (Monster Squad)

But before the asset, there was another Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot in The Monster Squad. This movie is just the gift that keeps on giving. I’d say that the Creature here is the strongest individual design out of the whole batch. He didn’t really do much in this movie, but he made one heck of an impression. Designed by none other than the late, great Stan Winston, this version of the Creature looks like its ready to kick ass and take names. I distinctly get the impression of a piranha from it, and you can just imagine a mob of these guys rising up out of the Amazon and pulling down a river boat.

7.)    Sahuagin (Dungeons and Dragons)

There are a lot of different fish people to choose from in D&D. Kuo Toa, Skum, Locathah, mermaids, Atlanteans, and the list grow longer every year. But my personal favorite are the Sahuagin; brutal, murderous raiders living in a strict tribal hierarchy, worshiping a giant shark, and prone to mutations. While most fish men draw from Lovecraft, I got the distinct impression that the Sahuagin were more pulpy, a bit more Edgar Rice Burroughs. Even their other name, the Sea Devils, sounds like something Conan or Tarzan would fight in a comic book. Their designs are just so cool; fin ears, bullet heads, shark teeth, long tails. Before ‘scary’, these were sea monsters made to look intimidating. They are the most organized antagonistic force under the waves, threatening everything from merfolk to sailors. Their goal? Nothing short of supreme domination of the sea.

8.)    Shark Giant (Bloodborne)

Another Deep One descendent, and this one hits like a truck. There’s a lot to be said for the shark giant on its own merits. It’s lack of eyes make you think that it senses by scent, and remind you of how a shark can sense a drop of blood in water a hundred miles away. There are, of course, the teeth, and how they seem to take up more space than there is for the mouth. The barnacles on its back are both a crest and a fin. Its paleness makes it seem to glow in the dark, like its bioluminescent. It really reinforces the feeling in the Fishing Hamlet that you’re underwater, like the boundaries between land, sea, and sky have been blurred. More than any other monster in the Fishing Hamlet, the shark giant is what reminds me of Lovecraft’s Dagon; a huge, deformed figure skulking over the mud of a submarine nightmare-scape.

9.)    The Children of the Thing That Drifted Ashore (Junji Ito)

The Thing That Drifted Ashore isn’t even really my favorite Junji Ito sea monster story; that would probably be Gyo. But the things that come crawling out of it are some of the first fish people I find genuinely disgusting, evoking that same feeling Lovecraft wanted from his Deep Ones. The Thing had apparently swallowed dozens of people that fell into the sea over the years, keeping them in its stomach. But rather than being digested, the people changed. It’s subtle, but you can still see it; webbed fingers, widened eyes, transparent skin. Inside the Thing, the people were witnesses to the abyss of the deep sea and driven mad by it. I’m reminded of an old version of the story of Jonah I was read as a child, where Jonah looked through the great fish’s eyes and saw the fires of Sheol and the Leviathan at the bottom of the ocean. The people swallowed are reborn, now children of the Thing, belonging only to the deep sea.

10.)    Otto Aquarius (The Venture Bros)

I just love this cute little guy. He’s only a minor character on the Venture Brothers, but he still made an impression on me. A half Atlantean that became a Mormon missionary, he’s just so earnest and eager. He’s an obvious play on superheroes like Namor and Aquaman, but they can’t hold a candle to this sweetheart. He’s clean, he’s polite, he’s socially conservative, he’s useless in combat; Otto’s just endearing. Dump the Asset and get with the real catch, folks.

[softkent]

20-39 for fanfic asks?

20. Do you like PWPs?

hell yeah! not everything has to be a full story. they are super great for quick reads and even as writing exercises

21. How and when did you get introduced to smut fic? Any horror stories?

it was so long ago i dont remember. well before i was 18, i can tell you that much. like who knows. i coulda been like 13? and i dont remember how i got into it all. the only horror-esque smut story i have is the entire thing that went down around the glee/dalton fic Caramel. when i hear the word i cant function. just NOOOOOOOOOO

22. Biggest turn-ons in fic?

figurative language galore. using all the senses. and realism

23. Biggest turn-offs in fic?

poor writing. ooc. bad layout like not spacing paragraphs or confusing stuff. blatant author biases like discriminatory things. but for smut the inability to properly describe whats occurring and overusing/under using terms. also claiming and ownership language being treated like its the default like ew no talk about that kinda shit beforehand if youre into it. i hate when writers misrepresent the kink community too

24. Do you have any dirty kinks that you’re ashamed of?

nope. im not ashamed of myself sexually 

25. Any kinks that you’d love to try in real life?

ive tried all the ones ive read about or written and wanted to explore

26. Any kinks that you don’t want to try in real life (but are still hot in a fanfic)?

im not gunna say i love well written a/b/o dynamics that dont rely on sexist bull and masc v femme but 👀👀👀👀👀👀

27. Rough sex or gentle sex?

why choose? there are different moods and needs. change things up. have soft intimate and hard fast and dirty like you dont have to only do things one way. play around with things. having a routine or this is how its always gunna be is boring af. give me rough and gentle

28. How do you feel about masturbation in fic?

there isnt enough tbh. ive only seen it mentioned a handful of times where its just some self lovin time instead of an oh im pining and horny i guess iiiii have to deal with this paired with a fantasy. give me characters enjoy their bodies for them! i have now realized i need to write this now. A+

29. How do you feel about non-con and dub-con?

to each their own. a person doesn’t have to write or read what they dont want to and all that. 

30. Favorite porn fic?

...is it bad that i want to put one of my own?

Exploration [Part 8 of the Daddy Calling Series] by SalazarTipton

31. Do you read AUs?

i do, but not that often. there are certain ones that i will always read tho like hockey aus and potc 

32. Favorite AU tropes?

characters joking about something that happens in canon like it a ridiculous idea like werewolves existing or some shit. like allusions to the original content/world/universe. also soulmates

33. Least favorite AU tropes?

genderswap. it feels so gross to me cuz like gender? and being trans? and just no thank you

34. Do you like UAs (universe-alterations, when the main universe and characters are the same but one plot point/decision/outcome is altered)?

i get why people call it UA but i always thought thats what canon divergence was for? but lets be honest, fixers are needed in like every fandom and who doesnt love the but what if they did this insteaD?? i write canon divergence all the time

35. Do you like high school and college AUs?

not high school aus. high school is so shitty why would you wanna? i just dont get it ??? ive read some college ones that ive dug. 

36. Do you like crossovers? If so, favorite crossover?

the only crossover ive ever really enjoyed and sought out [to the point where i started writing it] is criminal minds/x-men specifically reid/remy 

37. How do you feel about parent!fics/lovechildren? How about mpreg?

i dont like children irl and i dont want to read about them when i can avoid it. 

38. How do you feel about genderbending? De-aging? Animalizing?

fuck genderbending. im trans and that shit makes me feel awful. i dont read it. de-aging depends on the context. i havent ever experienced animalizing unless you count supernatural creatures with animal sides?

39. Favorite AU fic?

fuck dude how am i supposed to choooooooose??? there are so many i cant even--here just have one of my soulmate ones so i don’t have to pick

A Day at Samwell by SalazarTipton