#priya writes

[priya-san]

Inktober 2023 - Day 2 The Bus

Day 2! Here's another Stardew themed one <3.

Prompt taken from the Grapefruit Sky Inktober prompts!

Fandom: Stardew Valley Characters: The Bus, the Juminos Pairing: N/A Rating: G

Broken, forgotten, left in the dust. Who knows how many moons I’ve been abandoned for. Occasionally the man in the newsboy hat comes and checks on me. A quick wash here, an oil change there. But it never works. I cough and splutter, forever stuck. Pam is devastated. We used to go on these long rides, to the desert and beyond. But now? Those days are long gone.

Then it happened. It was one of those long, unbearable, winter nights, the cold particularly biting with my engine being dormant. I hear them before I see them. Soft squeaks and murmurs make their way closer. I can’t tell you from where though. The noises sound close and far at the same time. This isn’t any animal I’d heard before. Suddenly, a small, round, green animal appears on my dashboard. They are a curious thing, with tiny stick-like arms, short stubby feet and a little stem sticking out of it’s head. It’s wide, doe like eyes look straight into my soul.

Don’t worry… We fix…

Two more of the round creatures are on my dashboard. And four on my seats. Another three outside. They continue to appear, with a small pop each time they arrive. Magic radiates from them, first warming me up, then repairing my engine, and finally giving me a good clean. I’m sparkling by the time they finished with me, more so than I ever have, even when I was brand new. When they turn on my engine, I roar to life. I give myself a little rev, just to make sure it’s all real. And it is. My music starts blasting, my wind screen wipers slide clean across and my tires grip the road tightly.

I’m alive.

The little creatures jump up and down, celebrating as they squeak to each other. One by one, they leave, with the same pop noise as before. Finally it’s just the small green one again, left of my dashboard. They push my horn, and give one last jump in glee as it reverberates through the night. Then they’re gone.

No one knows how it happened. The man with the newsboy hat is bewildered, almost angry. Other townsfolk have come to poke at my engine, but they can’t figure it out. Pam doesn’t care, she’s just happy to be back in the drivers seat, delighted we’re reunited. And I’m happy to be on the road again, warm and buzzing with life. As I was meant to be.

[retro-plasma]

"i just think she's going to be angry. she's not... a fan of change."

"okay, but she's your best friend. and this is your literal dream. if she doesn't support that, why exactly is she your best friend?"

"yeah i know..."

"it'll be worse if you don't say anything, you know."

"alright alright you made your point. i'll tell her tonight."

"good. and if she doesn't like it, i'll hide one of each of her shoes until she changes her tune."

[otherperson12]

Masters of the Air: The Angels of Death

Chapter 1: Part One

Disclaimer: Bucky being Bucky and a simp. Buck being tired of Bucky.

Thank you @infernal-hues

Bucky was satisfied with the newcomers. The beautiful ginger caught his eye. She had all his attention. By the words of the other girls, she seemed like a good pilot. That was a plus to her beauty. He had never been with a ginger before.

Buck had heard a little between the COs’ and everything looked fine.

Until supper.

“I can’t believe you both kept it from me!” Curt recriminated to the duo.

The news spread like fire. The only information going around was (and the only one that seemed to matter) about some beautiful singles —that was a regalement— skirts were in the base to stay.

When Curt heard, he knew Bucky (and obviously Buck) knew before anyone, so he went to them demanding some information.

Bucky laughed, “You can’t be mad at me. You love me too much.” He said with dove eyes at Curt and blowing kisses.

Buck laughed at them. “You were going to know sooner or later, Curt.”

That was supposed to be some kind of apology. But he did not want that.

“Why are they here?”, Curt asked.

Good question.

They both looked at Bucky who just winked at them.

══════════════════

The interrogation was the perfect excuse to get better coffee than the regular G.I Joe one.

Colonel Elizabeth Nixon was the CO of the 1st Female Fighter Pilot Group: The Angels of Death. She was one of the first female pilots in the Air Force and she won her rank from the bottom even when her family could have paid for it. The girls respected her as a their leader.

“Girls, listen up!”, she called from the center of the room, once the interrogation was done. Everyone looked at her. “As you may know, we will get into combat soon,” some cheers, “We are going to be stationed here at East Anglia with the 100th Bomber Group.” she informed. “Our mission is to protect this side of Great Britain island and not let the nazis get into London.” Then she had to drop the bomb. Ironic. “At the same time, we have orders to escort the bombers in every mission as needed.”

WHAT?!

That was the first thing it came out of the boys’ mouth when they got the news.

After lunch, they all reunited in the conference room. Huglin had told them. Bucky was trying to hide his smile. And not look at Buck and Curt or he would really laugh.

“Those orders come from the upper command. It will help us to complete our missions and reduce the number of casualties.” He explained. “You just do what you’ve been training for so we can win the war. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir!”

══════════════════

Brianna did not want to be a babysitter.

“Just imagine their faces.” Priya suggested with a malicious smile.

Captain Priya Pilanka was from New Delhi, a squad leader like Brianna. She was as respected as hated just for her culture. The both of them bonded over their resentment for the british so they joined the yanks instead of having the UK flag in their uniform.

“This is not how I imagined it.” Brianna commented.

Priya knew what she meant. First, they did not want to wait more to go and fight, she felt anxious. And second…

“Giving you, women, a plane and a weapon don’t make you a soldier. You are just that. A woman who came to help, not to serve your country.” Brianna quoted under her breath.

Priya heard. She remembers those words very well. Their first day in training, almost two years ago.

Priya stiffed a little, “We just have to focus on flying and get the job done.”

They started walking to their new barracks when a voice called.

“Pilanka, Ross.”

Both girls turned and found Lieutenant Colonel Margarita Flores, (‘Mama’ for the girls) from Chile. She was a sweet woman, always taking care of everyone like a mother. She was a little worried about the news.

They salute her.

“How are you both?”, she asked sweetly.

“Anxious to get in the sky, ma’am.” Priya responded for them both.

Lt. Flores looked at Brianna, “I know is not what you expected. But don’t worry about it. You are better than any man. You are Angels, the best of the best.” She reassured them with a sweet smile. “I’m sure we’ll get a mission soon, so I want you both to get settled and go to eat. You are dismissed.” She ordered.

At the barracks, 1st Lt. Louisa ‘Lou’ Breaux had saved them both a bed next to hers. The three of them were a particular trio: the quiet scottish, the spicy indian, and the cute witch.

Lou was another squad leader, from Lafayette, Louisiana. And probably a witch. When she said it was going to rain, the sky seemed to melt. When she asked for a sunny day in the middle of the winter, the sun would appear as if spring had come earlier.

“I got your sheets and your foot lockers.” Lou informed.

“Thank you, Lou.” Brianna gratefully, appreciated. Lou smiled at her.

══════════════════

Brianna was very excited about the idea of having a weekend pass so she could go to Edinburgh. After eating, she wrote a letter to her uncle, telling him she was back in Europe.

She walked around the camp looking for the post office. She did not want to ask for directions. The walk which supposedly was going to be calm, turned out to be the complete opposite.

“Hey, sweetheart!”

“Carrot! Do the drapes match the carpet?”

That one made her blush in embarrassment , but mostly boil herblood in pure rage. The cat calling continued until…

“Hey!”

The calls stopped. So did she.

“That’s enough!” Some man ordered in pure anger.

It wasn’t a deep voice, but so firm it made her almost stand at attention.

Brianna was able to hear the scold.

She took her chance to run away from the situation. The ginger walked as fast and calm as she could. The last thing she wanted to do was draw more attention to herself.

She heard someone walking right at her 6 o’clock, following her. At her left she found the post office and quickly entered.

══════════════════

Bucky was walking around looking for troubles (Buck was sleeping and he did not want to third wheel Curt and some nurse), when he found them.

Well, he actually found her.

For Bucky it was the perfect chance to introduce himself to the newcomer. Until he heard the other soldiers.

He stepped in, did his thing and when he turned to her, she was walking away. Odd. So he followed the red head to the post office. And there she was, completely curved in some papers.

“Good afternoon, Major Egan.” The sergeant behind the counter greeted him.

“How are you, Tommy.”

Bucky saw her stand back little by little and face him slowly. She looked at him and his collar and stood more straight than before. She saluted him.

That had an interesting effect on John.

“That’s not necessary ma’am.” Bucky informed quickly.

Brianna put her arm down. She felt trapped. She delivered the letter and she wanted to go, but he was in the way.

Those small blue eyes were watching her intensely. It made her uncomfortable so she looked down to her feet.

John took his sweet time observing her. Her red hair was in a classic updo with her green cap, her straight pointy nose and small mouth. She had changed her flying uniform for her dress uniform.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. For what happened.” Bucky explained himself, pointing to the door.

Brianna opened her mouth and closed it, then she talked. “I am sir, thank you.”

Silence.

“Let me walk you to your quarters. So there’s no more incidents.” He offered.

‘I’ve spent too much time with Buck. I’m losing my charm.’ He thought.

“That’s not necessary, sir.”

“I insist.” He added quickly.

Silence again.

“If you let me, sir, It would not be appropriate.” Brianna explained trying to get him to let her go on her own.

“If someone asks I’ll explain the situation.” He reassured her.

‘How insisting!’, she thought.

John felt over the moon hearing her voice for the first time, small and cautious. He knew that his insistence on accompanying her was part of his desire to be with her. Normally, he would drink, pick a girl and take her to bed and that's it (and with that, he had gotten his own haters club) but she didn't even want to look at him.

“Let me walk you.” He said again.

Brianna knew he was not going to let her go.

“Alright.” She finally said.

In his mind, Bucky was doing a little victory dance. He tried to look normal, but a smile slipped to his face.

He moved from the door and opened it so she could go in first.

══════════════════

Brianna and John walked the first twenty steps in complete silence. Until he opened his mouth.

“I’m John. John Egan. But everyone calls me ‘Bucky’”, he introduced himself looking at her.

Brianna took her eyes off the road to look at him briefly. She noticed his small blue eyes, which had a little mischief in them.

“Lieutenant Ross, Brianna Ross.”

Five steps more in silence.

“So you are a pilot.” Bucky said.

‘Doesn’t he have an off button?’, she thought a little desperately. She didn’t like being talked to, she didn’t like to talk.

“Yes, sir. I’m a squad leader .” She informed.

“Squad leader! That sounds important.” Bucky said impressed.

Brianna was irritated with the situation because obviously she had to answer to a ranking officer.

“I just do my job, sir.”

Bucky being Bucky, could not tell if she was just quiet and shy or she was getting pissed with him.

“You aren’t American.” He punctuated.

Brianna had spent years of her life trying to sound less Scottish, it looks like it did not work.

“Aye…” She said slowly, looking him in the corner of her eye.

Brianna found him already looking at her, a cocky smile and eyes full of mischief. She blushed as red as her hair, again, for being caught.

Embarrassed and now pissed, she walked faster trying to lose him.

He was having the time of his life, completely enamored by her cute reaction. She was shy, was his conclusion and maybe a little short tempered. John just followed her trying to be at her side again.

“Hey! Wait!”, he called. “I’m sorry!” He apologized. But she kept walking with her head down.

John saw her turn left, and then he saw a bunch of women hanging out of the quarters.

Everyone turned their heads as Brianna nearly ran into the quarters and slammed the door closed.

Then the eyes turned to him.

“Hi.”

He stood there just looking at the door, hands in his hips and a smile on his face. He chuckled.

Bucky started to walk away with intentions to go tell Buck when the door slammed open, a full round of laughter and calling. Brianna ran out hiding her face in her hands, the tips of her ears boiling red.

She was followed by Priya, who was mocking her and Lou, happy as ever, jumping with every step.

“Don’ worry, major. You’ll see her’ again’!”, Lou informed.

He snorted, “I’ll really like that.”

══════════════════

“I swear to god, John, if you interrupt me one more time I’ll drop you in Berlin myself.” Buck warned him, eyes still in his book.

“That book will mean nothing when I tell you what just happened.”

Gale looks up to his best friend. A few hours prior when Bucky had said something similar, life at East Anglian had changed.

“Bucky”, Gale called at John.

“Yeah?”

“Leave those ladies alone”

Bucky laughed.

“Not any time soon”.

He walked away, but he stopped at the door.

“Brianna.” Bucky said.

Gale looked at him, not understanding.

“The name of my future wife, Brianna.”

‘Maybe Curt or Crank would like to hear about her’.

══════════════════

Final notes

First of all, I’m not Indian (my heritage is from all over the world) but I wanted to add a little of cultural variety. I once meet an Indian girl and she was like Priya. Strong and spicy.

[noahtally-famous]

for td 2024 wlw week!!

priyemma | 3.3k words | oneshot | 2024 wlw week day one: campfire

summary:

After that mess of a 'Would You Rather?' challenge and a more painful loss, Priya is sure who has to go…but then she sees Emma sitting alone on one of the logs in the campfire clearing a while before the elimination, and the consequent interactions turn about several thoughts and emotions.

[gaiuskamilah]

Bloodbound and the Politics of Dominance and Submission, Part 1: Do You Consent?

CONTENT WARNINGS: contains discussions of sexual assault, rape, and imperialism

“You know the money shots in porn films? Well, this was just a different substance: it was red.”

— Roberta Findlay on the relationship between pornography and horror

If you have ever read, watched, or paid the least bit of attention to Fifty Shades of Grey, you would know that the story revolves around the controversial or putting it lightly, questionable, relationship between the 21-year-old college student Anastasia Steele and 27-year-old billionaire CEO, Christian Grey. I watched as Christian led Anastasia into a new world of sexuality she knew little of, presented her with a neat contract outlining the nature of their sexual relationship, and yet constantly violated her boundaries outside of the bedroom. The series was of course met by disdain from people from the BDSM community, as Christian’s behavior was the exact opposite of what BDSM practitioners actually do. Boundaries, and of course consent, are gospel and ensure that all parties involved feel fulfilled. 

In the introduction, I outlined the obvious references to Fifty Shades in Bloodbound. Despite these references, funnily enough, it became seemingly apparent that the eternally 28-year-old Adrian does not actually act like Christian to his 22-year-old assistant. In the first few chapters, the importance of consent—boundaries—are highlighted, at odds with Christian and Anastasia’s story.

MC first discovers that Adrian is a vampire by the end of chapter one, walking in on him feeding on Nicole. In chapter two, Adrian confronts MC right after—he assures her that everything was consensual, and with her now knowing he is a vampire, then invites her to accompany him through the night as his assistant. He then tells her of the two principles the Council was founded upon: 1) vampires are only allowed to feed off of willing humans, and 2) the creation of new vampires is strictly limited and subject to the approval of the Council. Consent, and how apparently important it is to the Council, is highlighted over and over again in chapters two and three. 

Adrian and MC in B1Ch02

However, as the story continues, it becomes apparent that the opposite—the lack of consent—is a persistent theme throughout the series. Two important beginnings in Bloodbound involve unwanted advances, dismissal of consent, and an overall violation of boundaries: in B1Ch01, MC is subject to unwanted advances from Lester, who continues his sexual propositions throughout the books despite this rejection. Meanwhile, in B2Ch02, it is revealed that Rheya was banished for rejecting King Kaelisus’ advances, an event that leads to her becoming the First Vampire. Both the MC and the final antagonist experience unwanted advances, cementing lack of consent as an important stone in the thematic foundations of Bloodbound. 

B1Ch01 with the narration if the ‘How dare you!’ option is picked

B2Ch02 tapestry scene

While there are more instances of unwanted advances in Bloodbound (for example, Priya’s entire character—how she constantly tries to convince Amy to be her pet, her treatment of her houseboys, her extreme sadism), those explicitly romantic scenes are not the only times where lack of consent is shown. Despite its pact upholding consensual feeding, the Council is the biggest violator of its own principles. It is then followed by Gaius’s own heightened dismissal of bodily autonomy, and taken to further extremes with Rheya. One can argue that these scenes of feeding, Turning, body puppeteering, and mind control are not explicitly romantic nor sexual. Thus I posit a framework to view these as sexual, drawing from staples within the vampire literary genre and how they are portrayed within Bloodbound. 

Vampires have long been linked to sexuality, as authors write:

“The vampire can be a vehicle of or symbol for any desire, in part because it is a symbol for all desire. Noll cites the 1733 Dissertatio de Vampiris Serviensibus, which declares of vampires, “They beset men, women, and children alike, sparing neither age nor sex” (8). The protagonist of “Cinnamon Roses” says almost the same thing about her prospective partners—”straight or gay or female or male body…Age isn’t a biggie either” (Charles 23)—but in that story this diversity is positive, inclusive rather than indiscriminate, as it is sharing rather than predation. In Hodge’s “Alchemy of the Throat,” the vampires are promiscuous and perverse (272-78), but the polymorphous inclination is displaced onto the narrator, a castrato: “alluring to many women and to no few men…We were androgynes whose service to either sex was limited only our inclinations”.  (...) “Sex and horror are intertwined,” Kilpatrick observes, “because they are two taboos in our society”: she sees vampire erotica and pornography as, in part, about “moving beyond limitations,” which can be threatening to some—and satisfying to others. Most of these stories do not only make explicit what was implicit in earlier vampire texts, but also take what was a source of mixed fascination and revulsion and transform it into an image of desire and satisfaction. It seems that vampires function on the margins of sexual discourse, and show that those margins not only have expanded greatly, but are continuing to expand.”  — Bernadette Lynn Bosky, “Making the Implicit, Explicit: Vampire Erotica and Pornography” “...the importance of sucking and biting, and the fact that most acts of vampirism take place in private spaces such as bedrooms and at night, speak for themselves.” — Anna Katharina Schaffner, “Exhaustion: A History”

Choices's vampires are no exception to this use of vampires. Immortal Desires, its latest vampire series, is laden with vampirism as a metaphor for sex, particularly in its second installment. Bloodbound is even more so, with its Fifty Shades inspired cover and opening chapter. In Bloodbound, a vampire piercing through skin and drinking their blood is a not-so-subtle allegory for sex. Drinking blood is constantly described to be a physically pleasurable experience for both the vampire and the human, and scenes are laced with sexual narration. The first time Amy can let someone drink from her is with Jax, where the other vampires look away to give them privacy. Amy letting Lily drink from her in B1Ch11 can lead to a threesome with Lily and Jax—notably the first instance of a threesome in Choices. In some scenes, drinking blood is mixed with sex scenes itself, furthering the connection.

Jax feeding from Amy in B1Ch04

Sex scene with Priya in B2Ch05

Sex scene with Adrian in Bloodbound: Dark Solstice / Threesome with Adrian and Jax in Bloodbound 3

A vampire drinking blood is not the only instance of sexually charged blood metaphors in Bloodbound. The act of being branded is erotic, as the barriers between two people become less definite, and the one receiving a brand takes in the brander’s blood in their body. Being literally bloodbound is a metaphor for sex. MC can first receive a temporary brand in chapter four of book one, and a permanent one in B3Ch01. 

MC receiving Adrian’s temporary brand in B1Ch04

MC receiving Jax’s brand in B3Ch01

Now that the connection between vampirism and sex has been established, I return to the topic of the lack of consent. More often than not, monster stories tend to be a reflection of the fears of the time. Nina Auerbach chronicles this evolution of the vampire as a representation of fear in the Western world in her book, Our Vampires, Ourselves, where she writes: “...vampires blend into the changing cultures they inhabit. They inhere in our most intimate relationships; they are also hideous invaders of the normal.” With regards to fears surrounding gender and sexuality, Le Fanu’s Carmilla can be read as fear of the intimate relations between women, which would undermine the patriarchy’s control over society. In Stoker’s Dracula, it was the inversion of gendered norms, women who took on more “masculine” and active roles, and homosexual relations between two men. 

I argue then that sexual violence is one of the many fears in Bloodbound. Putting it in context, Bloodbound was released on March 30, 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, where numerous instances of sexual violence perpetrated by powerful people in industries worldwide were brought to light. Bloodbound is full of instances of metaphorical rape and sexual assault, and these instances are made possible by societal structures and the power dynamics that both result from and sustain these structures. This invasive violation of bodily autonomy both sustains political hegemony and allows for it to happen. This idea will further be elaborated upon; for now, I want to highlight a few moments in the series where this metaphor is most prevalent.

The first instance that I want to bring up is Kamilah’s turning scene. Gaius holds her down on the desk, he penetrates through her skin with his teeth, drinks from her without her consent, and binds her to him by forcibly turning her, a process that involves making her drink his blood. The scene can be read as a metaphorical rape.

Kamilah's Turning scene in B1Ch12

The second instance I want to highlight is Jax’s Turning, more emphasis put on the events leading up to his Turning rather than the Turning itself. Jax was led on by Margot, a member of Priya’s Clan, to believe that they were going to have consensual sex. Instead, she bit and drank from him without his consent, and left him to die. I posit an understanding of this within the blood drinking-as-sex framework (for lack of better term), where she went too far and engaged in sexual acts without his consent. Coincidentally, though I assume it is not by coincidence, this scene is sandwiched between a scene with Amy and Lester and one with Amy and Priya, both scenes with the Council vampires sexually propositioning Amy. 

Jax and Margot in B2Ch05

The third instance to be highlighted is that of Liv Denara’s. Like Kamilah, she was Turned without her consent, and like Jax, she was preyed upon by a member of Priya’s Clan. It does not go unnoticed to me that Jax and Liv’s assaulters were both from Priya’s Clan, led of course by Priya, who is known for her extreme hedonism and sadism. When Liv refused the advances of a Clan vampire, he Turned her against her will and left her alone to go feral. Viewing feeding and Turning as a sex act, him leaving her to go feral is akin to denying your partner aftercare or leaving them with no support system after an assault. Much like how rape is used as punishment for people who resist, Turning, and specifically the abandonment of a person newly Turned, can be seen as a form of punishment. Liv’s case is one of revenge rape.

Jax explaining the circumstances of Liv’s turning in B1Ch11

This lack of consent, of course, is a recurring theme for the Clanless. Majority of them were Turned without their consent, and most importantly, were isolated from systems that could help them better adjust to their new situation.

Jax in B1Ch04

The next few examples will explore an even more metaphorical expression of sexual assault, but none the less is one of bodily violation, a non-consensual blurring of boundaries for purposes that only benefit the perpetrator. 

First is Gaius’s ability to control the bodies of younger vampires. He typically employs this to subjugate vampires who turn against him. His blood being purer makes him stronger than his progeny, and it is this in part that he is able to exercise power.

Gaius controls Banner in B1Ch10 / Gaius controls Adrian in B1Ch16 / Gaius controls Adrian, Kamilah, Lily, and Jax in B2Ch16

The second example is Rheya and her level of control over other vampires’ bodies. Being The First, she has blood purer than Gaius’s, and as a result can control their bodies and minds on a level that Gaius cannot. The deliberate choice to describe her controlling their minds as them being “violated” not once but thrice by three different characters, as well as the overarching erotic themes of the series, leads me to read it as a metaphorical rape.

Kamilah in B3Ch08 / Gaius in B3Ch13 / MC in B3Ch12

Of course, a case can be made for mindreading and warping not necessarily being a sexual act, but within the themes of Bloodbound, I choose to read it as such. There are also cases where MC’s psychic abilities come into play during intimate scenes. In B3Ch01, if you choose to kiss your LI in the diamond scene, a vision from their past emerges while they and MC make out. Meanwhile, if you choose to sleep with Jax in B3Ch04, you have the choice to access his mind while having sex.

Vision of Lily's past in B3Ch01

Sex scene with Jax in B3Ch04

Bloodbound is arguably Choices’s first smut book. It pushed the boundaries on what exactly they could portray on the app. Books preceding Bloodbound had sex scenes, but no story as sexually overt and charged as Bloodbound. But beyond the explicit playable sex scenes, the charged narration, and the use of the vampiric metaphor, to what end is this use of sex, particularly one that lends itself to be read as rape? The crux of my argument is this: Bloodbound uses vampirism to allude to sexual violence as a natural result of oppressive political structures, as a tool for political hegemony to continue, and as metonymy for other kinds of social violence that allow for imperialism to function.

It was during the feminist movement in the 20th century that conversations around sexual assault started seeing rape as an act of violence. Numerous strains of feminist thought surrounding sexual assault have emerged since then, with my own personal preference being that of intersectional feminism. Intersectional feminism takes cues from radical feminism (not to be confused with the trans-exclusionary brand of “radical feminism” popular amongst “radfems”) and Marxist feminism, where the former acknowledges sexual assault as a form of violence under patriarchy and the latter supplements feminist thought with that of class analysis, where sexual violence is seen as an extension of class inequality. Intersectional feminism addresses the shortcomings of radical and Marxist feminism, with Canan and Levand calling for an “intersectional imperative” to viewing sexual assault, where factors such as gender, race, class, and politics are taken into account in the conversation:

“Our first and foremost recommendation is that it is imperative to see sexual assault as intersectional. (...)  Perpetuating a belief about where or how sexual assaults happen while overlooking evidence contrary to this belief, holding a single group of people responsible for perpetration while ignoring other types of perpetrators, or believing that sex and power are the only dynamics that exist in a sexual assault are all examples of nonintersectional ways of working around sexual assault. We must first break free of the narratives ruling the sexual assault discourse that prevent us from seeing oppression in all forms caused by sexual assault—oppression of all genders, racial oppression, economic disparities, oppression of victims through legal channels, overlooking perpetrators, false accusations, or allowing sexual assault to be tolerated in society.” — Sasha N. Canan and Mark A. Levand, "A Feminist Perspective on Sexual Assault"

It is with this framework that I return to the topic of rape and sexual assault in Bloodbound. When looking at the instances of assault in the series, one common denominator stands out: the perpetrators are people with power, whose privileged positions allow them to carry out assault and delay or even evade negative fallout for their actions. 

This is most overt in book one, where the Clans hold power in almost all sectors of the city. Their material and political advantages allow them to carry out assault with impunity, their principle of only feeding and Turning people with consent nothing more than an ideal with them being the biggest violator of it. Clan vampires admitting their hand at this violation of bodily autonomy would also be admitting the flaws in their system, which would eventually lead to either a reformation or toppling of the said system, forcing Clan vampires to give up a significant portion of the power they have. This is why their policy with Clanless vampires is to oppress, silence, and eventually kill them.

Jax in B1Ch04

Apart from institutional mandates allowing Clan vampires to assault with impunity, assault and the violation of bodily autonomy itself is also the currency on which power is maintained and gained. Book one’s most obvious example of this is Senator Vega—who Adrian describes as someone who “craves power” and hates the Clanless the most—and his use of the Feral crisis to further consolidate power. He took advantage of the Feral crisis, Turned numerous people without their consent, and unleashed them at the Awakening Ball. He pinned the blame on Adrian, the Council member most sympathetic to the Clanless cause. Additionally, Vega also unleashed a truckload of Ferals onto Adrian and Kamilah, using what he sees as expendable, assaulted bodies to eliminate his political rivals.

Vega in B1Ch15

A similar trend can be seen with Gaius, where his physical power and political posturing of himself as King provides in-universe justification for his violation of bodily autonomy. He is King, the domineering patriarch from which his descent from the goddess-figure of the First Vampire provides divine right for his rule. Gaius is also Roman, and the story has postured him more than once as an imperialist using Greco-Roman aesthetics, and throughout history romanticized Greco-Roman ideals, philosophies, and aesthetics have been tools for oppression and fascism. I cite two examples of Roman aesthetics in Gaius’s posturing as an imperial patriarch: first is that he was a soldier in Octavian’s army during the War of Actium, where his Turning of the then-nomarch Kamilah symbolizes Rome’s imperial annexation of Egypt (more on this here). Second is the Council’s coup in the 1920s, which draws comparisons to the assassination of Julius Caesar, with Gaius as the dictator Caesar and the Council members being the Roman Senate (comparisons with Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar here).

Because he is King, he can violate with impunity, as seen with him puppeteering the bodies of younger vampires. He forces into submission via bodily violation those who stand against him—Banner in B1Ch10, the Council members (sans Kamilah) in B1Ch16, and Adrian, Kamilah, Lily, and Jax in B2Ch16. When this ability is first portrayed in-game, Kamilah, his Queen and right hand, did nothing to stop him from violating Banner after Banner turned his back on Gaius. He is “the only vampire [Kamilah] ever feared” and no doubt his ability to control and violate people the way he can has fuelled that fear. Her fear keeps her subservient, and his rule unchallenged.

There also existed Gaius’s plan to turn humankind into cattle, taking them only for the pleasure and sustainment of vampire political hegemony. Like with Vega and ferals, the lack of regard for the autonomy of others is the foundation of his empire. When put within the framework of vampirism and sexuality as previously detailed, this disregard for life becomes both a metonymy for and enabling of sexual violence.

Gaius in the B1Ch13 tapestry scene

Vampirism, sex, and violence become even more intertwined with Rheya, whose villainous reveal happens at a Bacchanalia. She lies in bed with multiple dead partners, whose blood she consumed. It is later revealed that she, a goddess-figure set on imposing her empire, consumes blood to gain power. Like Vega and Gaius, it is through metonymic sexual violence—the desecration and cannibalization of others’ bodies for her own sake—does she gain power. It is also through violation of her progeny’s minds that she sustains political power, as Kamilah, Gaius, and Amy all describe Rheya’s intrusion as having “violated” them.

Rheya in B3Ch08

Truthfully, one does not even have to go so far into the story to see this intrusion of body and mind as a way to preserve the status quo. In B1Ch03, after learning of Adrian’s vampire nature and spending the night as his assistant, Adrian takes MC to Scholar Jameson to be “debriefed” i.e. have her memories erased. He does this without informing of what the procedure entails until Jameson has his hands on MC’s head, and only when she demands an explanation does he answer and ask her: “Do you consent?” (this is not even the last time Jameson is called to infiltrate Amy’s mind for political purposes; book two opens with him using his abilities on her for Gaius’s political machinations)

Adrian in B1Ch03

The more I look at the series as a whole, the more I come to appreciate the first few chapters of the first book. Amy’s decline of a debriefing, choosing to remember and face the truth, is such an important part of the series’ themes, especially adding to her role as the Bloodkeeper. It lends itself to the overall theme of destroying the cycle of violence, of doing away with systems that only perpetuated harm.

But before fully diving into the discussion of ending the cycle of violence, the machinations of the wheel need to be established. So far, I have discussed the connection between vampirism, sex, and sexual violence as a tool of political hegemony and empire, and the context which allows the said violence to happen. However, I do not think Bloodbound limits the conversation to only that. I believe Bloodbound correctly identifies the beginning of unequal submission in a unit frequently relegated to an untouchable status: the family. This exploration of vampirism and the family unit will be discussed in the following entry into this series, Your Blood is Mine.

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references:

Alexander Heller-Nicholas, What’s Inside a Girl?: Porn, Horror and the Films of Roberta Findlay. https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2016/american-extreme/porn-horror-roberta-findlay/.

Anna Katharina Schaffner, Exhaustion: A History.

Bernadette Lynn Bosky, Making the Implicit, Explicit: Vampire Erotica and Pornography in The Blood Is The Life: Vampires in Literature, edited by Leonard G. Heldreth and Mary Pharr.

Nina Auerbach, Our Vampires, Ourselves.

Sasha N. Canan and Mark A. Levand, A Feminist Perspective on Sexual Assault in Handbook of Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault Prevention, edited by William T. O’Donohue and Paul A. Schewe.

tags | @kainebell @itlovesinthewoods @peonyblossom @dutifullynuttywitch @icanmakewords

@sharpstake @bedtimegiraffe

(let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from this series!)

[marrfixated]

(More thoughts and drafting! Some weird formatting I know but it was all one block in my notes)

Emma is doing just fine. Average. It’s really not so bad.

She’s just been dealing with a lot of change. And with too many things not changing.

Which is… an odd thing to struggle with.

Because she likes change. Daunting challenges. The unpredictable. Doing new things every day and never being scared of them. And she likes independence.

She had thought so, at least.

After the show, she had been hit in the face with just how… isolated she was. She had only had two friends before the first season, but she had left them behind. Her mother wasn’t doing the best, and she didn’t have any nearby family.

She found herself laying in her bed in the middle of the day most of the time, scrolling through her contacts and old conversations.

Or scrolling through her comments on TikTok.

A few weeks ago, she had tried some stunt involving a motorcycle and an inflatable pool. She probably wouldn’t have messed it up if her hands weren’t trembling.

(She had forgot to check the breaks, and wasn’t sure if they were working.)

(They were.)

The blood dripping down her face and the gash in her lip didn’t sting as much as it did watching the video.

She looked ridiculous, and she probably always did. It was better when she had someone else to do it with. Maybe she was losing her touch.

She didn’t post the video.

She turned back to dancing instead, which did feel less embarassing, despite the constant mocking feedback. Sure, the jokes were “funny”, but she didn’t care about any of it. She didn’t feel the rush, she wasn’t planning every day, and she wasn’t known or loved for anything.

Except for what she lost.

And, the show, to an extent.

-Ugh, she misses the show. She shouldn’t, but as stupid as it sounds, she really did. She missed doing crazy things and talking to people. Having a chance of winning. Beating everyone. Being cheered on. It wasn’t always great, but at least it was something. She misses doing something.

And she really misses Bowie. She missed Bowie, but she knows better than anyone that she can’t go back to that. They just- have better things to do now. He probably does.

He’s got Raj- which is great! And she’s happy for him! She’s happy for everyone. For Wayne, however he’s doing, for Julia, despite everything.

And Caleb. For having Priya.

Emma is jealous that Bowie gets to have someone.

Emma is jealous that everyone else gets to have someone.

Emma is jealous that, unlike everyone else, winning the show probably wouldn’t have made her any happier.

She isn’t sure what would.

[total-drama-brainrot]

i think we should let priya have a villain arc

just imagine. you've won the competition your parents have trained you for your whole life, the obstacle between you and your own career aspirations (she wants to go to med school) but when you come home, broken and beaten, with the glory they forced you to seek and a million dollars to boot, you're told you the reward you worked so hard to win won't even be available to you until your in your forties.

then you're pressured to be financially independent regardless of the money sitting in your savings. and encouraged to compete once again, doing the same song and dance you've practised since birth, and you know if you win again the money will be locked away once more, because why wouldn't it be? you realise that it was never about winning Total Drama, it was about the show itself. you're never going to be free from the clutches of it so long as your parents hold it in such high regard.

(you don't understand. you did everything your parents wanted. you won the game! why wasn't it enough? why aren't you enough?)

then you think back to your friends notebook- the one outlining how your parents' behaviour is abusive, the one that jammed a wedge between the two of you when her analysis of your home life was revealed. and you stop to think, what if she was right? what if their idolisation of the show that's brought you nothing but pain and suffering really did lead them to abusing you? you're not entirely ignorant of your own social shortcomings, and you're fully aware that a lot of your awkwardness is just the result of the way they raised you.

and you remember, throughout the years and years of training, how your parents drilled into you the mindsets and methods of the shows' various antagonists. "the villain never wins," they'd tell you, and yet heather/alejandro snagged a win in world tour? an antagonist was the antithesis of everything they'd raised you to be, but being the hero had won you nothing in the end.

so why not be the villain instead?

disgracing everything they spent your whole childhood teaching you would either sour them against you- thus leaving you free of their influence- or sour them against the show they love so much. it's a win-win!

(...you're so sick of living up to everyone else's expectations.)

[just-a-silly-little-whumper]

Buried

Masterpost | Read on Ao3

Burying the dead is a favored tactic of Hunters. Matthias ensures his children are ready to face that possibility.

For @badthingshappenbingo: Buried Alive.

Contains: Parental whumper, vampire whumper, dhampir whumpees, buried alive, manipulation

~~~

Matthias took no joy in listening to his children’s screams, strained by panic and muffled by layers and layers of earth.

“Whatever I did Father, I’m sorry!”

“Bastard, you’ve made your point, now let me out!

“Father, please!”

Their desperation stirred his unbeating heart. Only centuries of finely-honed self control kept him steady in his intent. He could allow himself to yearn to pry them from the suffocating soil and the unyielding dark, but he knew better than to act on fleeting emotions.

His children needed to learn. They needed to abandon the indulgence of breath. And as their father, it was his duty to facilitate their advancement.

The minutes passed under his watchful eye. The pleas of his children diminished, then faded entirely. Their fear and confusion and anger was still clear to him as ever, resonating across their bond, and he took solace in it, for it meant that they were alright. That was all he needed. He wasn’t concerned about the echoes of their human emotions. One day, they would understand.

He looked forward to that day.

Now that his children were primed, he let the soft embrace of his influence fall away from them. They needed to know helplessness in the faces of forces much stronger than them. They needed to know that even then, the dark and the confined and the sealed spaces could not harm them. Burying the dead was a favored tactic by Hunters, after all. But they were something greater than that. And they could learn how to escape that which would bury them.

The moon glimmered overhead, bright and ever watchful. Its slow procession across the sky was the only way to mark the slow passage of time. Matthias was content to watch, and wait. He had plenty of time. His children did too.

Priya was the first to break the surface, her shaking hand caked in dirt and blood. Matthias offered no assistance as she clawed her way out into the moonlight; she had already come this far on her own. Her gasping inhales broke the silence on the courtyard, and Matthias had to suppress his mild disappointment. Another lesson would be in order, it would seem.

But that could wait, because his daughter looked to him with wide and wet eyes, and Matthias could do nothing but reward her for her tenacity. She folded herself readily into his open arms, accepting the rare embrace with all of the eagerness of a frightened child. And she was, he supposed. But she was also brave, and he made sure she knew that as he brushed the dirt from her shoulders.

As if spurred on by her sister’s success, Renata burst free off the earth a minute later, almost feral with the force of her emotions. The air calmed her somewhat, as did a carefully-curated look from Matthias, though neither fully quelled her agitation. His Renata always was a fiery one; sometimes that served her well, but that fire needed to be controlled, or it would burn her. But such things weren’t accomplished in a day, and if she needed to pace to let loose her frantic energy, she could be given that luxury tonight.

The scent of magic on the air heralded Nathan’s escape from the soil, two minutes later than either of his siblings. It was a… less than ideal performance; he took too long, and he shouldn’t have needed the aid of magic in such a simple task. Matthias expected better. And from the way his son looked at him, it was obvious that he knew it. But Matthias welcomed him into his arms anyway; Nathan had done what had been asked of him, after all. He just needed more practice. Repetition was the key to learning. As was positive reinforcement.

His beloved children. Imperfect as they were, they made him proud. And he knew that, one day, they would exceed even his expectations, if only they were given the right guidance.

[opheliaweeps]

so I just finished reading ‘the oleander sword’ by tasha suri. I’m at work, so I finished the book, stared at my laptop for a minute, then came to the bathroom to cry and write this post (yeah, I’m in the bathroom right now. I’ve been crying for five minutes).

I’m crying because reading this book (which is book #2 of suri’s trilogy ‘the burning kingdoms’) has been… cathartic almost. the plot is high fantasy and political unrest, but the setting, the worldbuilding and careful nuances of the story are based on historical india, the country and myths and history I grew up with. somewhere inside me, the young girl who never saw a book that had a character that looked like her is sobbing in grief and gratitude and vindication, because an author like her decided to write this story. and it’s everything.

I’m crying because the relationships in this series are complicated and heartbreaking and human. siblings, friends, lovers, and the tangled webs in between - they’re so beautiful to read about. the pain of betrayal and bittersweetness of love, in a time when nations are at war and the characters are torn between their duty and their heart (an age-old story, the original tragedy). the delicate details that show the madness of corruption, the humanity in even the most twisted of villains, and the pain in hurting those you love so that they can live.

I’m crying because not only does this book speak to my desi heritage, it’s a queer story, setting a princess rebelling against her dictator-emperor of a brother and a temple-elder of a conquered nation of flowers and eldritch worship on a tumultuous path. their bond is fraught because of what they must do to serve their own countries, honour warring with the desire and love for each other in their hearts. a sapphic desi-high fantasy series - that’s something I never thought I would see.

I’m crying because the side m/m romance is pure tragedy and yet, it’s so beautiful it hurts to read. while the main heroines are separated by treachery and prophecy and gods of old, coming back to wage war for their glory, these two boys are separated by something much simpler: death. one dies (for his honour, for the men he leads, for his sister), and the other lives. the other lives to grieve and push forward, and isn’t this the oldest story? someone must always leave first, but we are never prepared, and I was not prepared for this death. because the one who lived had already lost so much, bled out for an empress he is bound to and her brother whom he loved. and he was taken away from him.

I’m crying because I love the world that has been built here, the stories woven and characters that suri has breathed life into. I’m crying because of the story, the pain, and the representation I never thought I’d see. but most of all, I’m crying for the love that this story holds, and the hurt that always follows bliss, because no good thing can ever be felt without unwanted anguish to sweeten these brief, tender moments.

[tellie-vision-art]

[ Total Drama 2023 ]

[ Axel/Priya ]

Me spoiling events from the thing I’m writing before I even post it bc I am incapable of keeping things to myself 😔💔 lmao sorry it’s gory don’t annihilate me please

Anyway offering your crush the heart of the deer you lovingly murdered to feed your team (tho they are ungrateful) is peak romance, the heart is the best tasting part 😍 surely she will not find this incredibly weird

(It’s okay tho they like each other they’re both just too dumb to figure it out so tragically Axel thinks Priya doesn’t like her and Priya lies in bed awake each night wondering just why she likes Axel bc she’s WEIRD 😭)

[naavispider]

Merciless, chapter 10

I know I only reblogged chapter 9 a few days ago, but we're here with chapter 10 already! (And chapter 11 is already written). ✨ I'm really excited for you guys to see where this is heading eventually 🙌🏻

“I know where this is going, and no.” Norm crossed an arm in front of Spider, preventing him from standing up to say his idea. 

“You don’t even know what I was going to say!”

“I do. And if you think I’m gonna sit here and let you offer yourself back up to the RDA again, you have another thing coming, young man.”

There was an awkward moment of silence as Spider glared at Norm and Norm stared unrelentingly back.

“What were you going to say, Spider?” Priya asked. 

As Spider turned back towards her, he stole a glimpse of So’lek’s expression across the table. He didn’t know what he was hoping to see there, but the warrior remained stoic and guarded. 

Norm rolled his eyes angrily as Spider replied. “I was gonna say that it sounds like it could be helpful for me to go back in and try to figure out more about what they’re up to.” Nervously, he looked around the room at Priya and the techie’s faces, then the Sarentu. 

The techie looked like he was contemplating it. “We do need more info,” he began measuredly. “But that’s what the purpose of our mole is.”

Priya nodded. “I agree. You’re how old? It would be kinda irresponsible for us to send you back in, even if you do want to do it.”

“Thank you!” Norm said, raising his hands up in the air. 

Spider bristled. It was nice that Norm clearly cared about him, but hadn’t Spider already proved that he could handle it? He tried to stop the spiteful thoughts that swirled around the edges of his mind. He slumped back in his seat. “Well if you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”

[priya-san]

Inktober 2023 - Day 1 JojaMart

I'm going the multi prompt list and multi fandom this year! Basically this is my way of showing I have to many ideas and I can't commit to one, so I'm going to try them all! Will I succeed or crash any burn? Let's find out together!

Prompt taken from the Grapefruit Sky Inktober prompts!

Fandom: Stardew Valley Characters: Reshmi Lavari (my farmer), Morris Pairing: N/A Rating: M (CW: Swears, anxiety, corporate burnout, corporate guilt, mentions of a shitty ex)

The warm spring rain surrounded Reshmi, as she stood outside the stark white building on the furthermost corner of town. She gripped her umbrella tightly. Not even the gentle pitter patter of rain hitting her umbrella could sooth her in this state. She’d manage to avoid shopping at the local JojaMart for two months now, but after her Grandfather’s old toaster died this morning, Reshmi knew she couldn’t avoid it any longer.

You can do this, Resh. Just run in, grab the damn thing, and run out.

A cold blast of air greeted her as the automatic doors opened. Reshmi shielded her eyes from the harsh white light that lit up the store. Each JojaMart store was engineered in the exact same way, to get customers to spend as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. After fifty years of operating, JojaCorp had it down to an exact science. A science that Reshmi herself had helped push all across the country thorough her work with the legal team. The generic pop music that was playing in the background was interrupted by DJ Joja to let customers know that there was a limited time sale going on in aisle three. Reshmi watched as customers curiously wandered over, in an almost zombie like state, driven by the desire for a bargain. A shiver ran down her back. She swallowed the guilt she felt bubbling in her chest, and made her way to the appliance aisle.

The toaster was easy enough to find. While she hated to admit it, JojaMart really did have shockingly low prices. Driving to Grampleton and buying this same model at the local homewares store would have cost almost double if she counted the money needed for petrol. As soon as the farm did well enough, she was buying her new stove from a local retailer. She had to. With her new found resolve and guilt abated just a little, Reshmi made her way to the checkout queue. While waiting for the lone cashier to scan through the people in front of her, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“I can help you with that if you like.” A short man with glasses, and neatly swept back black hair grinned at her. He wore a full three piece suit and an obnoxious red tie. Reshmi mentally rolled her eyes, this had to be the manager. She nodded and the man led her to the customer service desk and scanned through the toaster. Reshmi pulled out her card to pay, but the man just grinned wider. “You’re the new Farmer aren’t you?”

Great, he’s chatty. Reshmi nodded, keeping her face as neutral as possible.

“I knew it, you’ve been the talk of the town for a few weeks now.” He held his hand out. “Name’s Morris, I’m the manager of the first ever JojaMart in the Valley.” She grabbed his sweaty palm and he shook her hand vigorously. “It’s always great to get more people moving here, helps with the economy as I’m sure you’re aware.”

Reshmi made a noncommittal hum in return. “Morris, I appreciate you helping me out, but I would like to be on my way.”

“Of course, I’m sure you have a busy day ahead of you. Let’s see here,” Morris rattled off the price and Reshmi tapped her card to pay. While he grabbed a bag for the toaster, she noticed the cork-board behind him. It was filled with news clippings and photos of JojaCorp achievements. One was about the latest mining project they had undertaken, another of the company revenue figures. All boastful corporate language, which was all too familiar. But it was the headline about the Joja Expansion project that really caught Reshmi’s attention. She felt a heavy lurch in the pit of her stomach. Shit. That was her project. Sure enough, underneath was a photo of the whole team, she and Owen right in front. He had her hand around her waist, pulling her towards him, with the both of them grinning for the camera. A wave of nausea threaten to overwhelm her. It was all so fake. So freaking fake. She had to get out of here.

“Done, and I’ve dropped a couple of coupons in there too. As a welcome gift.” Morris winked, he actually winked at her. She had to go.

The coupons were thrown in the trash as soon as she left, with the toaster almost along with it. But that wouldn’t solve anything. Instead she rushed home in the rain, this time without bothering with the umbrella. Relishing the feeling of the raindrops on her skin, forcing her to feel something other than numb. Her resolve grew stronger with every step, and she knew she wouldn’t be stepping into JojaMart ever again. Instead she grabbed her last packet of parsnip seeds, and head out to till the soil. She had more work to do.

Want more Reshmi? You can read my Harvey x Farmer fic here!

[a-casual-egg]

I think Priya needs some comfort after episode 8

[sammy-deserves-better]

Now then, the important question.

Who the hell out of the new cast actively writes and reads fanfiction

[theelectronicstranger]

Polite Society is Crazy Fun! (Spoilers)

          I just watched Polite Society and I really wanted to talk about right now, so I won’t be doing a deep dive of the film itself. This is going to be more of just an off the cuff discussion of the film. If you want to see the movie, then I genuinely and wholeheartedly recommend it. I think it’s a fun watch. I also really like how it doesn’t really explain to you anything about their culture and who they are. It just assumes that you can follow the story and figure it out yourself.

Anyways, Polite Society is about two sisters: Ria (Played by Priya Kansara) and Lena (played by Ritu Arya, who some of you may know from the Umbrella Academy). Lena just recently quit art school and now she’s just kind of stuck at home, depressed, and not really knowing what to do with her life because she feels like a failure after quitting art school. Meanwhile, Ria, the younger sister, is an aspiring Stuntwoman. She idolizes this stuntwoman named Eunice Huthart, who she write emails to throughout the film. The two get along really well and they even support one another’s aspirations and dreams; Lena even helps Ria record her stunt videos. However, that changes after they go to an Eid Soiree hosted by Raheela and her son, Salim, who becomes more involved with Lena after the soiree.

At this first half of the film, I was really sold on the idea of Ria feeling that her sister has kind of left her alone. She feels abandoned (maybe even betrayed) by her sister, so she decides to try to break them up and to try to find reasons why Salim shouldn’t be involved with her sister. Ria is kind of having a crisis of identity. She’s looked up to her sister her whole life and seeing her sister go through this traditional route to marriage, where she meets a guy then they’re set to be married in a month with approval from both parents, is scary because she’s always seen her sister as living proof that she does not have to go through the traditional routes her family and community has set up for her. Lena decided to go to art school and DID go to art school despite her parents’ disapproval; to Ria, Lena was somebody to be proud of and to look up to. However, after being with Salim for a month she changes; Lena even gives up painting after Salim proposes to her, which Ria gets really mad at because she felt that her sister giving up on painting meant that she’s kind of given up on her dreams and decided to regress to the traditional norms.

In my opinion, this first half could be another movie in itself. I was so convinced that this movie was going to be about how Ria was slowly going to figure out that Lena was happy in her position and that she can start anew with Salim (I did not watch any trailers before I watched this by the way. I just thought it looked interesting). She doesn’t even really try to get to know Salim; she just assumes that he’s evil because in her head, he’s the one stealing her sister from her (I get it though because they are getting married after a MONTH of dating). There’s a scene where Ria is talking to Salim in the gym. This would have been a good chance to get to know him but she’s too preoccupied with her scheme, which was to hack into his laptop and get some dirt on him.

After failing to find dirt on him, I was convinced that Ria was just this girl that has an overactive imagination, who can’t seem to see how much Salim makes her sister happier. In the beginning of the movie, we see Lena sulking in bed and just being depressed.; she doesn’t really know what to do with her life.  Salim kind of takes her out of that situation and that failing mindset that seems to just put her in a hole of depression. So far in the movie, Salim just seemed to be a nice man. Someone who fell in love head over heels with Lena and wanted to take her out and see the world with her. HOWEVER, the second half of this movie really changes that perception completely.

(SPOILERS)

In the second half of the film, it is revealed that Salim and his mother, Raheela, are just using Lena for her womb, so that Salim can inseminate a clone version of his mother, Raheela, into Lena. Lena would then give birth to the clone version of Raheela, so that she could start over her life. I know that sounds batshit insane, but I think the movie makes it work. At first, I actually thought this was Ria’s overactive imagination making her see the lab but once it finally settles in that it’s the truth of the whole movie, I think it works as a good villain story for Salim and Raheela as well as a good plot twist to this movie. The movie also gives us hints to Salim’s ulterior motives.

There’s 3 big hints to this that I’ve seen. The first being how fast Lena and Salim’s relationship development was way too fast. In just a month they’ve decided to get married. Sure, this could be explained away by arranged marriages in their culture, but I still felt that it was set up so the audience would question it. Ria definitely questioned so it added more tension between her and her sister. An addition to their fast romance was the fact that Lena gave up her art is now intent on moving to Singapore with Salim. Sure, it was already a big red flag but after the reveal it became even worse. The second one being the gym scene where Ria asks what Salim likes about Lena. Salim struggles to find an answer and settles for “She’s kind” then he’s immediately cut off. At first, I thought Ria cutting him off was a sign of how she was too preoccupied with bashing this guy rather than actually getting to know him but after the reveal it shows that he doesn’t really care about Lena. The third hint is the dead ex-wife of Salim. In the reveal of the dead ex-wife something felt odd.  After the evil plan reveal, this hint becomes even more sinister because we can now assume that she died trying to give birth to the clone of Raheela.

What I really liked about the reveal was that there was no more pretenses. I don’t have to worry if Ria just has an overactive imagination, and I can now just get behind that everything we see in the movie is real.

I know the reveal is kind of the make it or break it moment of this movie. I know that for some people it really takes them out of the movie because they might have liked what was being set up in the first half of the movie. Some people think that it becomes way too ridiculous after the reveal. I, on the other hand, disagree. Yes, I think that the first half of the movie is different than the second half, but I don’t think it’s completely different; I think it’s just the façade of normalcy being broken. There were still over the top fight scenes in the first half and Ria’s schemes were also in that first half, so the ridiculous aspect of the movie was still there. What’s change is that after the reveal you don’t have to think of the fight scenes as the imagination of a teenager, but you now have to take them at face value. I think that the evil plot reveal really helps those ridiculous and over the top scenes make more sense within the world of this movie.

Stuff I liked about the movie but didn’t mention them as much because I was too busy on the plot (This will be incoherent):

- I really like Ria’s friends. I like that they have a secret handshake. I like how they helped her out even though she mistreated them. Theres also this one scene with one them, Alba, where she’s dressed up as a guy in the male locker room and the faces she was making in that scene just made me laugh so hard.

 - I love all the fight scenes in this movie. My favorite was between Rian and Lena because they just go at it so hard. Lena just bashes the fuck out of Ria’s face at one point. I also really love all the fight scenes when they were dressed for the wedding because the dresses helped with the flow of movement in the shots, and they were just fun to watch.

- I also really like the slow reveal of the sinister plot. I liked how in the scene where Raheela forces Ria to get waxed, where she reveals her more sinister nature, looked a lot like a lot of old spy films where the villain has the protagonist laid out on a table and there is some danger a foot. In those spy movies, it’s normally a laser or a saw that’s about to cut through them, but in Polite Society, It’s Ria getting waxed against her will.

Sorry for this almost 1600-word thing. If you’re still reading it then thanks!

[gaiuskamilah]

to me and to nobody else

bloodbound | E | 3.1k words

relationships | kamilah sayeed/adrian raines, past gaius augustine/kamilah sayeed, past gaius augustine/adrian raines

warnings | explicit sexual content, pseudo-incest, incestuous themes, adrian and kamilah fuck on the sarcophagus with gaius in it (that is it. that's the fic. dead dove: do not eat)

summary | It's the 1920s, and the newly formed Vampire Council of New York has just deposed of the country's Vampire King. His two closest children, his Queen and his soldier, visit his tomb.

notes: heed the warnings, it's what it says on the tin. title from inbred by ethel cain. this fic is inspired by that song, two children in a motel (also by ethel cain), and the copious amounts of gothic fiction i consume.

[read on ao3]

The Council meeting drew to a close. It had been two weeks since the Pact was formed, since the cataclysm that shook the foundations of American vampire society. Much rearranging was done, with even more matters that waited to be discussed. All in due time, were the words that repeated over and over in Adrian’s head. 

It was hard to believe that it had already been two weeks since they sealed their Maker’s tomb. The city was in disarray as the six of them established their new status quo. But now, well into the last days of March, Adrian could say with some confidence that things were looking up. At least, on the side of the new Council.

Six members, six leaders of their own clans, each controlling an industrial sector of the city. Thirty vampires per clan, a controlled number, bound by the Pact and its principles. It was new and it was frightening, but a vampire life without experiencing at least one change in the status quo was not a vampiric life truly lived.

Kamilah gave Adrian a terse nod as she rose and exited the room, the first of the Council members to leave. He gave her a small smile before gathering his things, preparing to leave to tend to his own business, before Vega’s voice cut through the room.

“She’s going to betray us,” said Vega. His eyes remained trained on the door Kamilah had just walked through. 

So much for things looking up.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. Vega, ever the pulsing ache in Adrian’s head. “You don’t trust her, Adam?” 

Vega let out an amused huff. “Hell no,” he said. “Aside from Priya, I don’t trust a single one of you lot, but especially not her. Not his Queen.”

Adrian turned to the rest of the Council. “And the rest of you agree with him?”

From across the table, the Baron shrugged. “Vega’s got a point, Raines,” he said. “She wasn’t originally on board with our plan to kill that freak.”

“A freak she’s been with for two thousand years, mind you,” supplanted Lester. “Girl’s got a crazy level of loyalty to her King to stay with him for that long.” 

Adrian ran a hand down his face. “She’s got at least a thousand years on all of us. If she wanted us dead, she’d have done it already.” 

“Always so eager to leap to dear sister’s defense,” said Priya with a grin. She didn’t even try to hide her mockery. She was so much like Vega. Two peas a pod, those two. It made Adrian’s blood boil.

“And she for me,” said Adrian sharply. “Unless you’ve all forgotten that she’s the reason we’re not ash under his feet.”

—

“He’s just doing what’s best for us,” said Kamilah. “You weren’t there, Adrian, in Europe, with the Order—”

“I don’t have to be there to know that this isn’t right!” interrupted Adrian. “I know he’s only doing what he thinks is best, but this is too much. Surely you can see that. If you come, Kamilah, maybe he’ll—”

“He will not! I know him. I’ve known him for two thousand years,” said Kamilah. “This is a fool’s plan. You will get yourself killed. He is King.”

“You’re the Queen.”

“A hollow title during times like these.”

A moment of silence.

“He’s just doing what’s best for us,” Kamilah repeated, the words more for herself than for Adrian. She kissed her teeth and turned to Adrian, more haunted and scared than he’s ever seen her before. She reached out and clung onto his sleeves. “Please, brother. Don’t. Don’t push him. I can’t lose another…”

Adrian grasped onto the sides of her arms. “Will you stop me tomorrow, sister, if things get bloody?”

Kamilah didn’t answer. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

—

Once the initial anger had left him, Adrian finally admitted to himself that his fellow Council members’ accusations were not completely unfounded. At least from their point of view. But they didn’t know Kamilah like Adrian did. Betraying their Maker the way she did, cutting him in half to save the rest of them, the rest of the world…Adrian knew that wasn’t an easy call for Kamilah to make. They could question her, accuse her, loathe her even, but nothing they could say would make Adrian ever think twice about where Kamilah’s loyalties lied. Not after their coup.

Adrian still remembered the look on her face as she stared at their Maker, the man she’s loved for two millennia, split in half in a pool of his own blood. She was silent, detached from it all. As the others went to work severing the King’s limbs, wrapping him in chains, placing him in the Sarcophagus, Kamilah stood by the sidelines, her arms wrapped around her frame, her clothes stained with their Maker’s blood. When Adrian sealed the Onyx Sarcophagus shut, Kamilah wasn’t even there.

Kamilah loved their Maker, still does. One cataclysm cannot wholly erase two thousand years of companionship. She was his right hand, his consort, his Queen, with a reputation almost as fearsome as his. 

Almost. It was always the almost. 

Kamilah was his Queen, but never his true equal. He was King, he was Creator, Maker, Father. No fancy title could erase the fact that she was but another one of his children who cowered when daddy dearest got a little too angry.

But he made a mistake, letting Adrian get so acquainted with Kamilah. Because then she was no longer just a child. 

She’d become a sister again.

—

They had what would be the second of a million future Council meetings in a few hours. Adrian had stopped by unannounced to find that Kamilah was still in yesterday’s clothes, their Maker’s blood still under her fingernails.

Minutes later, he watched from his seat as Kamilah threw the bloodied dress into the fireplace. The smell of smoke and blood wafted through her living room. Adrian remained silent as Kamilah collapsed onto the sofa, as if the act of burning her dress was akin to swimming across the Atlantic.

Knowing Kamilah, it probably was.

They still haven’t talked about it. 

The flames consumed Kamilah’s dress, burning through the fabric until it was nothing but ash. It reminded Adrian of the night when he first became their Maker’s soldier, centuries ago. 

—

It was a mockery of a wake. 

Adrian stood next to Kamilah as they both surveyed the pristine stone coffin in front of them. He could feel the dark energy just simmering underneath, demanding to be let out. His blood drawn to it, drawn to the person trapped in the box. 

Their Maker was alive, breathing, and his body was slowly wasting away in the confines of the Onyx Sarcophagus. 

It was Kamilah’s first time seeing it, weeks after Adrian and the other Council members stowed their Maker away. She’d approached Adrian hours after the meeting, meekly asking if he could come with her to visit. I’d rather not be alone, was the plea that went unsaid. Adrian understood immediately.

“Silver chains.”

Adrian turned to Kamilah. It was the first words uttered between them since they arrived. 

“You bound him in silver chains,” she repeated. “My men did that, two thousand years ago. We thought it would actually do something. But apparently silver chains ‘don’t do a damn thing.’” 

“If you’re worried he’ll escape, I think he’d have done that and killed us by now.”

“Perhaps,” was all Kamilah said in reply. Then, with a resignation: “We’ve damned him to a fate worse than death,” she said. “I’ve seen what happens when a vampire is trapped the way he is, to spend the rest of their eternity secluded and rotting away, with no companion, no blood to be shared. Him and I… we saw it, during our time in St. Petersburg. 

“He was so angry. The humans saw her as demonic, and they trapped her. She was buried alive for centuries. Her hair had fallen out, her skin turned ash gray, rotting, almost Feral. But she was somewhat herself inside. Just extremely hungry. Lonely. She fed on the blood of the villagers but nothing could return her to the state she was in before. Not even his blood. In the end, she asked us to be the ones to stake her.”

Kamilah laughed mirthlessly to herself. “Good times.” 

“I’m sorry, Kamilah,” said Adrian.

“What are you apologizing for?”

“For all this. I’m sorry I put this on you. I know how much he means to you.”

“Don’t,” said Kamilah, her voice soft but firm. “I made my choice. I know who he is. I know what he’s become. We both know the things he did, the things he’s capable of. I was just… too scared to act out. Too scared to disrupt the way things were.” She exhaled. “Too scared of him.”

The vulnerability in her eyes was a rare sight, even in the centuries that Adrian had spent next to her. 

“I wasn’t completely sure you’d show up,” said Adrian. “What made you decide to join in the fight?”

Kamilah answered, quick and simple: “You.”

“Me?”

She stared off into space, almost lost in thought. “When Rome put Egypt under siege, my brother went to war. The Romans… they took him. They took him from me,” she said. “That day in the temple, I was there the whole time, watching it unfold. But I was still torn. And scared. Until I saw everyone else on the ground, everyone else except him and you. He was holding you by the throat, brother. A few more seconds and he’d put his fist through your heart, and I couldn’t—I couldn’t let them, I couldn’t let them do it again. It was him or you. I made my choice. I chose you.”

Adrian had an inkling, but it was different hearing it straight from her. Kamilah, his dear sister, damn it all, chose him. Saved him. Relief and affection rose up in his chest as he pulled her into a hug. He felt her tense in his arms and he only held her closer. He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in—warm, alive, her heart beating. Finally, she relaxed into his embrace. She wrapped her own arms against Adrian’s larger frame and hugged him back.

Kamilah looked up at him, and Adrian could see the beginnings of tears in her brown eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she gasped as he kissed it away. Her skin was so soft under his lips. 

There was a charged air of uncertainty as he met her eyes again. Her gaze took his breath away. His thumb brushed against her lips and he saw her eyes flit to his mouth. His lips parted in anticipation. Centuries together, lovers shared between them, and yet they had never locked lips. Not even once. 

Especially not when their Maker was watching.

And yet, with him just a few feet away, Kamilah held the sides of Adrian’s face, and pulled him in for a kiss.

Kamilah’s kiss was bruising, uncompromising as she ravaged his mouth with her own. Adrian’s eyes slipped shut and he responded in kind. He pulled her closer and let her have her way with him. His lips sparked with pleasure and a shiver ran down his spine as the older vampire kissed him. She stoked the fire under his skin faster than any of his previous lovers did.

His previous lovers. Serafine… Celia… Gaius.

Remembering where they were, Adrian pulled away. “We can’t,” he said, despite every nerve in his body telling him to sink into Kamilah’s kiss again. “He’s… He’s going to hear us. He’ll know.”

“Let him. I don’t care,” said Kamilah. She grabbed his face and kissed him again, relentless in a way Adrian’s only ever seen her with other people, whether on the battlefield or at one of their wildest parties. And again, almost as if she was trying to convince herself: “I don’t care.”

She bit his lip and shoved her tongue inside his mouth. Adrian moaned against her lips and kissed back, attempting to keep up with her ferocity. If he had any doubt that their Maker didn’t know what they were doing, it was all gone. Adrian became all too aware of the brand on his arm, the crescent moon insignia binding him to his Maker, the same one branded on his sister’s hip. Every brush of their lips and tongues against the other’s felt like a betrayal, but Adrian didn’t care. Kamilah’s kiss was intoxicating, the best drug he’s ever had the privilege of tasting, and she chose him. 

Kamilah chose him. Not Gaius. Adrian.

Kamilah licked the blood off his split lip and Adrian silently groaned as she took his bottom lip between her teeth. His pants felt all too tight. Kamilah pushed him up against the Sarcophagus and slipped a knee between his legs. Almost on instinct, Adrian grinded down on her thigh, wanting to relieve some of the painful arousal at his center.

She ravished his exposed neck and grasped onto his jacket. Adrian moved to undo the zipper of her dress, but she stopped his hands. Adrian looked her in the eye. “What do you want, Kamilah?” he asked, soft and eager. “Show me what you need.” 

“Just work around my dress. I don’t… want to see it,” was her order. The brand. Adrian could sympathize. He nodded in understanding. She undid the buckles on his belt and pulled his pants down just enough for her to be able to cup his aching cock through his underwear. “And let me hear you. Make this worth it for me. I want to make sure you’re alive.” 

An easy task. Adrian’s body felt like a livewire with the way Kamilah was touching him. He grasped onto the stone slabs of the Sarcophagus — careful not to put on too much pressure lest it break — and moaned as Kamilah finally pulled down his underwear and took him in her hand. He tipped his head back in ecstasy as she worked her hand up and down his cock, holding him close and drawing the most obscene noises from the younger. 

Adrian, honest to god, whined as Kamilah removed her hand. Slick with her spit and his precum she tapped two fingers against his lips. He took them in his mouth and sucked. “Sweet boy,” she whispered. 

Kamilah bunched up her dress and took his hand to feel her center, and Adrian groaned as he felt how wet she was. She let out a sigh as he ran his own fingers up and down her clothed slit. 

Seemingly fed up with his teasing, she pulled down her underwear and stepped into his space. Adrian slipped in two fingers and curled his fingers in just the right way so as to elicit a moan from her. He kissed down her neck and held her tight, alternating between pumping in and out of her and circling her clit with his thumb. She moaned his name as his palm brushed against her clit.

But it wasn’t enough, not for her. Kamilah maneuvered them so he was pressing her against the coffin. “Here,” she said, now reaching for his cock. “Fuck me against here.” 

Adrian obeyed. He was hard and aching as he sheathed himself in her, letting out a moan at how tight she felt around him. He pressed his forehead against hers and grasped at her hips as she engulfed him in her wet heat. Her jaw dropped as she took him inch by inch, up to the hilt. He took a moment to let both of them adjust. Then, almost imperceptibly, she gave him a nod.

Adrian moved his hips against hers. He couldn’t believe how amazing she felt. For him, all for him. He kissed her with a passion and grabbed onto her jealously, a hand covering the part of her skin where a cursed moon was permanently etched onto her body. 

Kamilah breathed into his mouth and held onto him just as tightly as he did her. She cursed as he picked up the pace, but told him to keep going. If this was what she needed, he was all too eager to oblige. He lifted her and placed her on top of the Sarcophagus, and she pulled him down as she lay back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer, closer than they’d ever been before, and Adrian didn’t want it to ever stop.

God, she was beautiful. He’d been with tens of beautiful men and women, but no one compared to Kamilah. The word father rang in his head as he wondered why they hadn’t done this before. Adrian remembered their Maker’s blank look whenever Kamilah hugged him for a just second too long, or whenever Adrian gave her a polite cheek-to-cheek kiss. 

Did their Maker know, even then? That if the two children he held closest to his heart loved one another just a little too much for his liking, they’d ruin everything he’d built? The King, toppled and buried alive right beneath them, because his daughter-queen chose his warrior prince of a son over him. Chose a living brother over him.

Adrian kissed Kamilah again, conveying in his kiss all his gratitude and adoration. Kamilah chose him. She protected him, caught him before he fell to the ground and held him so fiercely that day, just as she did now. Just as she would do over and over again.

It was him or you. I made my choice. I chose you.

Adrian lifted the skirt of her dress just enough to slither his hand between them. He circled her clit just as he licked a stripe up her neck and sank his fangs into her skin. “Hnng—fuck, Adrian!” She threw her head back and spasmed under him as she came, falling apart on his bite and fingers and cock. Adrian groaned against her skin as he felt her clench around him, and it didn’t take much for him to follow her soon after. 

He trembled as he propped himself up on the white stone, taking in the debauched image of Kamilah underneath him. Her face was flushed, her hair and dress a mess, and he could hear the rapid beat of her heart. She was gorgeous. 

Adrian didn’t think that he and Kamilah were in love. They loved each other, but they were not in love, at least not in the way most people were. Maybe it was just because they were the same. Two children who’d seen and lost too much, with centuries’ worth of blood on their hands. Two children who’d made love on their father’s grave.

They’d make a new world. A better one. One free from their Maker. 

Never mind that Adrian could already scent the beginnings of a pallid rot under the white, clean stone. 

—

notes: gaius gagged and trapped in the sarcophagus sending them psychic messages to STOP!!!!!! they don't listen, he's weak and rotting.. like a loser...

the part about gaius and kamilah being in st petersburg and seeing it happen before is actually semi-canon, as it's from bloodbound: cold blood, a short story written by bloodbound's lead writer on the now-defunct app storyloom. screen recordings are available on youtube for those interested; this specific bit is mentioned in kamilah's route.