#pro exploration of the courts

[tremsing82]

My Thoughts on Night Court

So when I read acotar for the first time this summer (2024) my 3 best friends were the ones who peered pressured me to do so and our group chat became my reading experience chat. It was fun. But they are all pro-night court and pro-bat boys. And though I can be open and accepting of the narrative for it moves the plot forward I did start becoming more cynical and posing questions of the ethics and moral standings of the night court. My first big question to my friend group that got them all to pause and think was:

>Is it morally and ethically ok for Hewn City to fight in this war when they are trapped under a mountain and do not have access to Velaris. And Velaris expects hewn city to fight in the war to protect their peace, yet Velaris does not have an army and the citizens are not and to volunteer. Now yes some Velaris citizens did go fight for Adriata but again Rhys never sent out a request for Velaris citizens to join the war effort against Hybern. And also is it morally and ethically ok for Rhys to essentially segregate hewn city residents who will eventually visit Velaris one day considering that was the only request Keir had when Rhys asked for The DarkBringers to fight in the war. Rhys said yes to that because he had already told his Velaris city leaders they can tell the citizens they can deny Hewn City residents from entering their establishments. So these hewn city soldier are gonna go to war possibly be killed leaving behind a widow and children, or they are going to be brutally mutilated with scars or lost limbs. And then they or their widows and children are gonna arrive in Velaris and be denied access to a bake shop to buy a cookie or a toy store and denied the ability to buy a doll all while they went to war to keep this place safe and protected. <

I truly don’t think Rhys would have went to war with Hybern to protect hewn city or Illyria. He went to war specifically to protect Velaris the only city he loves. And that bothers me. And makes me dislike and not enjoy the Night Court, but essentially i really don’t like Velaris. I think it’s a spoiled city of entitled judgemental people similar to its 5/6 leaders of the Inner Circle. Mor is claimed to be the emissary between Velaris and Rhys and Hewn city but she does absolutely nothing to showcase that title and job. Except to tell her father when Rhys is going to visit. She claims to be the only dreamer ever to come out of or born in Hewn City and I HIGHLY doubt that. She tell Feyre the story about how she dreaded the day her power manifested because she knew she would be sold into a loveless marriage the way her cousins had been. So you’re telling me your cousins enjoyed their status and their betrothals but you are the only one who hated this custom. The IC is all telling me that everyone is Hewn City is dark and evil, so even a new baby is touched by evil and deserves to never see the sky outside of that mountain it was born in. How is this ethical and morally acceptable. Feyre says once to Lucien in MaF that if you stare long enough into the darkness sometimes it will stare back, and this to me should be applied to the Hewn Cory residents. If all that they have is darkness and hate and hurt to live with it’s not surprising they all embrace that darkness and hate. They are not given other options. Should we the reader question the ethics of how the Hewn city is seen and talked about and even ruled?

So why do people argue FOR this Court? Why does the majority of the fandom hate to be asked these question or see these blatant issues for this court? Why am I told it’s all a mask that they all have to don to protect the innocents and freedom of a spoiled city that is so well hidden that it remains outside of the conflict happening in Prythian. The attack on Velaris by the Attor was the first time the outside world’s conflict finally reared its ugly head to its citizens. Yes they claim they felt bad for the suffering the other courts went through for the 50yrs of Amarantha’s reign but none of them told Rhys to break the wards hiding them, when he finally returned. None said we should band together and go help the other courts rebuild since we have remained untouched for 50yrs. They didn’t pull their resources together to send aid to the most hard hit villages and cities in other courts. They continued on with their days of holding theater production and eating safely at restaurants and going to nightclubs for 50yrs.

And I am suppose to be mad at Tamlin for starting to reissue his courts only form of revenue to ensure it continued ability to function. A tax that only happens twice a year and is only 10% of whatever a person has produced. So if a person has 10hens they only have to give over 1 hen. If a person has 1 hen that produced 10eggs then they only have to give over 1 egg. 10% twice a year, that’s not a bad taxation. Hell the river nymphs didn’t have to give Tamlin fish, he never asked for fish. He just asked for 10% of whatever they produced. They could have handed him 10blades of lake grass or a cup of river water, he would have accepted it. And heard their pleas for fish to be helped brought back into their lake. He wasn’t gleeful about having to find perpetrators of not paying taxes, he just knows this is how his court functions and runs. Rhys says we do a different form of tax, which to me I assume he means modern day taxation which is sales tax, property tax, and/or income tax. Which overarching means the citizens of night court are paying more into taxes than in Spring Court.

For the Illyrian struggles with female empowerment i struggle to always completely blame Rhys on this. I think Illyria has Rhys by the balls. If Rhys enforces his laws in Illyria again wing clipping and female oppression then he loses one of his strongest armies (which the fandom and SJM also claim is possibly the strongest army in Prythian 😒😪🙄). This is an army that is under his full control and cannot deny his decree to go fight or go to battle like the Keir can do with the DarkBringers. So if he starts killing Illyrian men for wing clippings or if he starts throwing Illyrian men into the barrack cells then he essentially will lose half of 75% of his army. He is definitely in between a rock and a hard place with how to enforce the laws that protect Illyrian women. A person on Instagram had a wonderful idea to help this conundrum; Rhys law should be if any Illyrian woman has their wings clip illegally from this day forward then the males in her household will also have their wings clipped. If they are not afraid of Rhys throwing them in jail or killing them then go to their biggest fear losing their access to flight. And enforce it. See how quickly the other males stop once they see one neighbors household have the patriarch and sons all lose access to flying. And it should be done in the city streets where all can see. Now granted this could turn Rhys into looking like and feeling like a dictator of a violent regime but truthfully I sometimes already see him that way anyway with how much he torment and degrades hewn city and its residents. Now like I said in the begging of this paragraph i don’t fully hate Rhys on this. My arguments for Rhys on Illyria is that he is the first high lord to make laws and changes to a society that has been free to do what they want in their traditions for possibly 15,000 years. He has put laws into place to help empower women. Emerie inherited her father’s shop because of these news laws being in place allowing women to own and inherit property. Emerie is progressive, she knew of the new laws and she seized them and used them to help herself. Other Illyrian woman have been oppressed for so long that the thought of finally using the new laws to enforce their rights to autonomy or property ownership or joining the army is scary for them. It’s gonna take more than a male high-lord and 2 male Illyrians to help them feel safe to express their freedom. Which I think will come in with Nesta moving the Valkyries training to the Illyrian camps to help the lllyrian females. They gonna see females learning battle strategy and fighting techniques that are designed specifically for females, they are going to see females who can’t fly conquering the blood rite. That will be the driving force for the female Illyrians to enforce the new laws that Rhys put in place to help them and free them and protect them. Rhys has the laws in place he just needs the people to start using them.

And I guess I will end this essay with I don’t hate Rhys or his IC (well most of them, I hate Amren and Mor annoys me for being useless). I just wish we could explore the other lands. Why must everything be so centralized to night court/Velaris. I know they have the ancient crabby lady (Amren 🙄🙄🙄) who has answers to Prythians lost history (which first she never wants to share willingly, second doesn’t always share all the truth, and lastly her knowledge is mostly night court focus).

-Day Court has the most libraries in all of Prythian with books written that are as old as their lands. Day Court is the only court with Pegasus, a rare magical animal that are dying/going extinct. Day Court is the court of the Sun. And what are suns but stars in the night sky. Suns are liquid fire. And the dread trove items which are as old as the daglan has sun symbols all over them and makes Helion feel uncomfortable which makes him think an ancestor of his might have own it or used it.

-Autumn court has entire strong bloodlines missing because they followed Theia into Midgard. A bloodline that just reappeared into Prythian in Night Court. I would like to know their history with Queen Theia, with how they helped fight the Daglan.

-I know the Daglan (acotar), the Asteri (CC), and the Valg (ToG) are all the same parasitic beings. And we know the fae of Prythian overthrew their Daglan. And we know in ToG on how to kill a Valg (fire and healing). And well I can only assume that Autumn court with their fire and possibly Day Court with their sun fire and possible healing magic were the ones that helped liberate Prythian from the Daglan in battles.

-And well we have a character, Lucien, that people kinda write off as not important to the world plot, who has parents from these 2 courts. But the majority of the fandom write him off because well he is not from night court, he is not a bat boy, and he is not a night court/rhys worshipper. And so we have all this foreshadowing but I worry that SJM is just not gonna do anything with it because it not night court specific. Now granted she might have us leave the night court finally and learn the importance of Prythians history through Day Court and Autumn Court. We know Eris was happy to share Prythians history with Nesta who was showing curiosity but Cassian was rude and stopped him. We might find out that Eris is a history nerd like Bryce. That he is researching his bloodlines and his courts involvement in the building and creation of Prythian. We might find out from Helion that Dawn and Day were once a single court but split to give the solar courts more chances of pleading their cases at high lord meetings where the seasonal courts had more sway in votes. We truly just don’t know anything about these courts and Night Court doesn’t want to know. So as a reader who likes to travel a world in a book I want to leave this oppressive and isolated land and meet the others.

[stargirlie25]

im so excited for Luciens book because we can finally get out of the IC propaganda and look into the outsiders point of view. AND AND we can explore the different courts of prythian and human lands. I'm dying in the boring night court gimme something Sarah.

[liesonthefloordramatically]

Obligatory roundup of tabletop characters I played this year:

Vyv (they/them), a cleric of The Twins in yumgeon (a homebrew Dungeon Meshi-inspired campaign)

Amber (she/her), The Old Soul in a game of Wickedness

Endurance Perez (she/her), a Teamster pilot in Mothership

Not pictured:

Poggs "The Slammer" Mulroney (they/them) in Doing the Job

(Links to icon makers: one, two, and three.)

[the-cosmic-cauldron]

Did you know that your Mars sign can tell you how you respond to someone you’re attracted to? It can essentially build a picture of how you interact with people you’re drawn to. Let’s dive into it.

Fire Mars

When Fire Mars is attracted to you, they have to tell you. They cannot hold back; they need to either give you a compliment or ask you out directly. These people need to know what you’re doing and whether you’re single. They come on strong. When they find you attractive, they want to seize the moment. They do not like waiting and are incredibly impatient, so they’re quick to dive in, ask you questions, ask you out on a date, and even take things to the bedroom quickly. These people don’t play. They can’t hold back once they feel attraction. Fire Mars is definitely not the type to follow the “60-day rule”—they need it now. When they find you attractive, they are touchy-feely, often without even realizing it. This comes naturally to them. Because of this, Fire Mars is often ready to jump into the bedroom quickly, even without a strong emotional connection. They might even ask you to be in a relationship with them very fast, as they don’t understand how to slow things down. Fire Mars is hot and ready, and you can’t turn them down easily. Even if you reject them, their persistence is strong, and they know how to charm you into saying yes. They might even play a role just to get you to agree. This is Fire Mars.

Earth Mars

When Earth Mars is attracted to you, they are slow and methodical. They spend a lot of time in their head, constantly thinking about what they want to do and how they want to approach you. They need to know exactly what they like about you before they even feel attracted. Earth Mars can’t simply like you; they need to identify the specific traits they like, whether it’s your hands, your height, or your muscles. They take a long time to make a move, being very slow, steady, and careful. They will vet you out, observing and evaluating you, sometimes making a mental list of pros and cons. They might even decide that you don’t fit into their life, which is why some Earth Mars individuals may only pursue a physical connection without a deeper commitment. They are notorious for acting like they’re courting you when, in reality, they’re just interested in a hookup. Once they get what they want, they retreat back into their heads, often not making any further moves. Earth Mars can take a long time to make the first move, and if they do act quickly, it may be due to influences from other fiery placements in their chart.

Air Mars

When Air Mars likes you, they often don’t know where things are going. They like to live in the moment, pacing things out and seeing where it leads. A simple conversation can be enough to spark attraction. Mental connection is everything to them, and if you can intrigue them mentally, they’re hooked. They are picky about who they talk to, as they need mental stimulation to feel attracted. Air Mars is interested in people who can keep up with their conversations, but they can also be unsure about commitment. They get intrigued and curious about you, and that’s what draws them in. When Air Mars comes up to talk to you, it doesn’t always mean they’re in love with you—they’re often just being charming or flirtatious. However, if they really like you, they’ll likely try to connect with you more intimately, and they’re very persuasive in this area. They don’t care much for rules and will often throw them aside to get what they want. Air Mars is good at charming people into the bedroom and will happily explore new and exciting things there. Their ability to mentally stimulate you and push boundaries can make them very captivating in intimate settings.

Water Mars

Water Mars can be a bit mysterious. When they’re attracted to you, they tend to act in subtle and sometimes contradictory ways. They can be bold one moment, then retreat into subtlety the next. You might not know where you stand with them because they’re often hard to read. Water Mars likes to be in your orbit—they enjoy being around you, observing you, and interacting with you at random times. They may not always openly express their feelings but will drop hints and wait for you to pick up on them. They prefer to be chased, and although they’re attracted to you, they often want you to make the first move. Their boldness only comes out when they’ve had enough of the games or when they really want to move things to the bedroom. Water Mars is often shy or timid when it comes to showing their attraction in person, but online or over text, they might be more open. They are receptive in nature and prefer others to pursue them. Water Mars enjoys being pursued and doesn’t always take the initiative, even when they’re interested. They like to feel comfortable around you before expressing their feelings, and they often want others to take the lead in the relationship.

[littlemisshyperfixation]

Yoongi Fic Recommendations Part 2

a - angst f - fluff s - smut

part 1

Series

Miss Dial (s) by @versigny ⊹₊⋆ [11:31] You: okay so i’m texting you now like I promised instead of drunktexting yoongi and telling him how badly i want his cock tonight. Arent you proud?

[11:32] unknown number: this is yoongi, hi 

Please Be Naked (a f s) (ft. namjoon) by @floralseokjin ⊹₊⋆ Recently heartbroken, it feels like you’ll never be able to get over it. But a chance encounter with a guy you haven’t seen in months changes everything…  

One Shots

want a taste? (f s) by @suga-kookiemonster ⊹₊⋆ pretzel pro. most skillful tongue in the food court world. allegedly. that’s what yoongi keeps telling you, anyway. of course, you’re reasonably skeptical of his claims—but if there’s one thing that motivates the notoriously-lethargic man, it’s proving skeptics wrong.

take care of you (f s) by @kookslastbutton ⊹₊⋆ To keep your fiance from burning out you suggest a weekend getaway to Gapyeong, a charming town about an hour outside Seoul. You've specifically asked him to leave his work equipment at home but like a deep rooted habit, he still brings it with him. You're left with no choice but to find a way to get his attention back.

You Broke Me (f) by @7ndipity ⊹₊⋆ Just clingy, fluffy Yoongi after Reader comes home after a month-long trip

Shy (s) by @7ndipity ⊹₊⋆ You’re desperately craving your boyfriend's attention, but are too shy to ask for it outright. Luckily, Yoongi knows what you want anyway.

Sweet Spot (s f) by @cultleaderyoongi ⊹₊⋆ Three months into dating, Yoongi ponders what the perfect scenario for a love confession would be. There's no manual stating when and where and how is appropriate. It's only convenient when his body reacts faster than his brain, doing the job for him.

Eargasm (s) by @lavishedinjimin ⊹₊⋆ The idea of having your first ever orgasm by talking to a hot, random stranger through your phone scares the living hell out of you, but maybe it won’t be as bad as you think.

F*ck Christmas (a f s) by @sailoryooons ⊹₊⋆ Making hating Christmas your entire personality was never the plan. Then again, it seems bad things only ever happen around Christmas - like discovering your fiancé cheating on you, forcing you to move back to your sleepy hometown. But Min Yoongi happens to love Christmas, and if there is one thing your very stubborn childhood crush is going to do, it’s try to reignite your Christmas spirit. Even if he has to force-feed it to you with gingerbread cookies and too-sweet eggnog.

Workaholic (s) by @hobiwonder ⊹₊⋆ Yoongi needs to relax and Hoseok has many tricks up his sleeve to make him. None of them Yoongi thought included hiring a hooker to pay him a visit one stormy night. You were only trying to escape a crazed man chasing you down on a stormy night. Never was your intention to end up in an attractive man’s house. Definitely not one who thought you were a hooker. 

Backtrack (s) (ft. jimin) by @mapofthesea ⊹₊⋆ There’s no telling just how long you'd been stuck in the windowless studio, and you’re just about ready to walk out and forfeit your paycheck for the week, until your bosses strike up an interesting bargain.

the pink pill (s) by @dollfaceksj ⊹₊⋆ In each of these universes, you find yourself consuming what is known as the pink pill. This pill is essentially a drug that enhances your libido to the max and you’ll quite literally never experience arousal like you do when you’ve taken this pill. Thankfully, in each universe, there’s a man that’s ready to help you explore and reach your peak of sexual euphoria.

all night (s) (ft. namjoon) by @axigailxo ⊹₊⋆ in which listening to music during a smoke sesh with your best friends namjoon and yoongi in the studio turns into much more

damn the charcuterie board. (s) (ft. jimin) by @bratkook

[imnotkaizer]

https://www.tumblr.com/imnotkaizer/779224070145343488/babytalk-paigebueckers-x

kai can we have something like this but with azzi or cc !!!!!!!! 💞💞💞

⊹ ࣪ ˖ made this fic for my girls @latenighttalkinqwp @soph1asticated <3

⊹ ࣪ ˖ AZZI FUDD

The lights above the court cast a soft glow, framing Azzi’s face in that picture perfect post-game shine.

She had just dropped 25 points, nailed the game-winner, and now stood in front of the mic, poised and radiant with a W draped over her shoulders—and a squirmy little toddler in her arms.

Aicy.

Your daughter.

You stood just off camera, biting back a smile as your daughter leaned dangerously close to the mic again.

Azzi kept one arm secure around her adjusting her slightly on her hip while still answering the interviewer’s question about the final possession.

"Well, we knew we had to stay calm in those last few seconds, and i—"

bzzz

Aicy let out a loud babble directly into the mic, one chubby hand now gripping it like she was the one being asked about the game.

"mmm, bleeh-" she said proudly, eyes wide like she just dropped her own press conference bombshell.

Azzi froze for a second, blinking down at her daughter as the entire arena media, fans, and even her teammates in the background erupted in laughter and soft awws.

You watched as your wife closed her eyes, shook her head fondly, then leaned into the mic again with a patient smile.

"I think Aicy wants to answer this one" Azzi joked, holding the mic just a little closer to your daughter, who took it as full permission to lean forward and babble again.

This time softer, more curious, like she was testing how it worked.

"aah… maaaah…"

You could see the camera zoom in ever so slightly, catching the way aicy's tiny fingers explored the mic stand, her other hand clinging to Azzi’s jersey.

"Future commentator in the making," the interviewer chuckled. "She’s got the confidence for it."

Azzi grinned, pressing a kiss to aicy’s cheek. “She’s definitely got something to say.”

And even though it was Azzi’s night, her big moment, you could tell by the way she looked down at Aacy, all soft eyed and glowing—that this was her real win.

. . .

The post-game buzz had long faded into quiet.

The TV was still on, casting a warm flicker across the living room, muted now, showing highlights from tonight’s game.

You walked in from the kitchen, wiping your hands on a towel, only to pause at the sight on the couch.

Azzi was curled up under the blanket, head resting on the armrest, her arm wrapped protectively around your daughter, who was tucked into her chest like a puzzle piece.

Aicy’s tiny hand was still gripping azzi’s jersey, the same one she wore during the interview, now a little wrinkled from sleep.

They were both out cold.

Your heart did a little achey flip as you sat down quietly on the other end of the couch, careful not to disturb them.

Reaching for your phone, you opened Instagram—and there it was.

Already.

"Mic Check: Aicy B steals the post-game show!"

You tapped the video.

The moment played out again: Azzi answering the question like the pro she is, aicy leaning in, babbling confidently into the mic like it was her moment.

You grinned as the camera zoomed in on aicy’s serious face, like she had real thoughts to share.

Azzi’s fond look, her effortless switch from star athlete to soft mama—it got you again, even though you’d just seen it live.

You looked up from the video and back at them.

Azzi shifted slightly in her sleep, nuzzling her face closer to aicy’s head.

Your daughter stirred, let out a sleepy hum, then settled back down, lips parted slightly in that deep toddler sleep.

You snapped a quiet picture of them, catching the soft glow of the TV light, the peaceful curve of Azzi’s smile, the way Aicy was still stealing the spotlight even in her sleep.

You whispered to no one in particular “My whole heart right there.”

And it was.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ CAITLIN CLARK

Caitlin stood center stage, sweat still glistening on her forehead jersey slightly rumpled from the game.

She was holding Kait in her arms your sleepy little one bundled in a miniature version of caitlin’s jersey.

The post-game interview had just begun, camera lights soft but focused, the mic held out in front of caitlin as the reporter smiled.

"That was a huge win tonight. Thirty-two points, eight assists. How are you feeling?"

Caitlin adjusted Kait on her hip slightly, her other arm supporting the baby’s back.

She gave a modest grin.

“Honestly, im just happy we pulled it out as a team. It was a battle start to finish, but we stayed locked in.”

As she spoke, you noticed Kait’s little hand curl gently around a lock of xaitlin’s hair.

She blinked slowly, head bobbing forward just a bit… then again.

The kind of slow, drowsy tilt only a baby could do—completely unaware of the national audience watching.

Caitlin felt it, the shift in weight, the way kait’s body melted against her.

She glanced down mid-sentence and softened instantly.

Kait’s head had nestled perfectly into the crook of caitlin’s neck, tiny cheek squished against her shoulder, eyelids fluttering closed.

Her hand was still clutching caitlin’s jersey like a security blanket.

The reporter paused, noticing too, and smiled warmly.

“I think someone’s had a long night.”

Caitlin let out a quiet laugh, voice going soft as she looked down at her daughter.

“Yeah… guess we both gave it our all tonight.”

The camera zoomed in gently as caitlin adjusted the mic away, lowering her voice.

She shifted Kait just enough to cradle her more securely, brushing a kiss against her temple.

The crowd in the arena let out a collective aww—even the most serious analysts would later admit to getting a little misty-eyed.

You stood off to the side, watching the woman you loved hold the baby you both created, and you felt it like a gut punch and a warm hug all at once.

There she was: Caitlin Clark, the star. The icon. The scorer.

Kait was fully asleep now, a tiny bundle of warmth tucked into caitlin’s shoulder, her breaths slow and steady.

Caitlin shifted her weight just slightly, careful not to disturb her, and gave the reporter a polite smile as the interview wrapped up.

“Thanks for your time, Caitlin—and congrats again.”

The camera lights dimmed, and the crew began packing up, but the eyes were still on her.

On them. That perfect, quiet moment between a record-breaking athlete and her daughter.

You stepped up to the edge of the court, smiling softly.

Caitlin caught your eye immediately—like she always did.

Without saying a word, she tilted her head in your direction and gave a subtle, gentle gesture with her chin.

Come get her, her eyes said. She’s out.

You walked over carefully, heart already full.

You reached your arms out to take Kait, but just as your hands brushed her tiny back—

Caitlin stopped you.

Her free hand reached up, catching your wrist, and before you could react, she tugged you down with a soft smile and pressed a kiss right to your forehead.

A firm, loving kiss. One that didn’t care who was watching.

The kind that said, we did good.

A collective sound rippled from the nearby crew, teammates, even a couple of reporters still lingering nearby.

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!”

A teammate off to the side literally clutched her chest. “Y’all are too cute, it’s not even fair!”

You blinked, caught off guard for just a second, before laughing quietly.

Caitlin looked up at you through soft lashes, a hint of pride and playfulness in her smirk as she finally let Kait go into your arms.

“She’s yours for now” Caitlin murmured with a wink. “I just carried the team and the baby.”

🔖 — @addl0vee @mrsarnold @melpthatsme @bellaprintz25 @janaelalfysblunt @ellehoops @belsoulss @apbueckers @uwupaige @janaelalfysloml @paige05bby @azzisbueckers @paigeluvvr @giavonnii @jupitermoonbaby @shootingstarrrrr @dalilahissilly @luldejamleer @d7dream @gabbyygoo @bravemode @latenighttalkinqwp @avvwritesstufff @prettygirl-gabi @yailtsv @bebitts @heartsforari @usuallyshadowybasement @authentic-girl03 @private-but-not-a-secret @evanpeterstoe @destinybueckers44 @slaybaddietaytay @youmeandjennessey @starfulani @cherryswisherz @bueckersworld @paiges-1vur

[spiritsonic]

Hi Evan! Big fan here, hope I'm not disturbing you at an inconvenient time. I love your work as an artist and writer, but it's not just Sonic that you work on. It would be cool to know more about your work Ensouled. What is it about? Who is the ghost guy and the human girl?

Sure, I’ve been wanting to write some new character bios. Check it all out under the break!

CHARLEY PARKHEARSE

Once, long ago, Charley was the best teamster in Santa Alma county. His stagecoach flew over treacherous mountain roads, One crack of his whip could snuff a candle’s flame from six yards, and any bandit who dared to stop his stage would meet the business end of a rifle. Anyone who cared to comment about his sour temper or murky past knew to keep their voices low… and God help any fool who questioned Charley’s refusal to remove his heavy greatcoat, no matter the weather. 

But Charley’s fame was bound to earn him enemies… When the bandit Sugarfoot learned that Charley was in fact born a █████, the secret spread like wildfire through the mountains. Charley was ruined. He thought his life was over, until he was visited by a being dealing in black magic; a devil known in his human guise as Aurelius Flood. This devil promised to erase Charley’s secret from the minds of Santa Alma’s people, restoring Charley’s reputation, in return for his soul. Charley accepted, though he would not learn the depth of his folly until the night he died… and was raised as a ghost by that same devil, now bound to his service. Still, the devil was true to his word. Charley’s secret was safe, even beyond the grave.

At one point in the many decades since his death, Charley thought he could escape Aurelius’ control. But today… he’s given up that hope. He haunts the roads he was once the master of, frightening drivers to meet his quota of Soul and waiting ‘till his memories fade away, taking the pain of his mistakes with them. That is until, in a flash of ill-advised mercy, Charley spares the life of a young woman he scared off the road…

(Charley is LOOSELY based on Charley Darkey Parkhurst, a real historical figure. Look him up! He's a really cool example of a queer, probably trans person ((by today's standards)) in history. The real Charley's dying wish was to be remembered as a man; a wish that has not been respected by history. I want to explore the pros and cons of living closeted or stealth in an ever-changing world, while also honoring his memory and wishes as best I can in a modern context.)

SEQUOIA LOGANBERRY

Sequoia would like you to believe that she is a monster. It’s easier that way. Ever since her father left for a mistress on the east coast in her senior year of high school, Sequoia has been working a dead-end job at the local amusement park and doing her damndest to drink and drive herself into an early grave. And she almost does it… Until a friggin' SKELETON GUY fishes her out of the lake she drove into?! And now she’s getting these insane migraines and seeing spooky shit everywhere???? 

After a close encounter with death (and Charley), Sequoia develops an unpredictable 6th sense that threatens to finish what she started in her car the other night… Until she’s found by the misanthropic wizard Monty and his much nicer siren husband Luka, who help her get her new powers under control… in trade for her helping them with a few odd jobs. Nothing crazy, just, oh, infiltrating the local magical crime lord’s fey court. Sequoia is just the wild card they need to break a fifty-year standoff between the supernatural powers vying for control over Santa Alma. Sequoia will need to learn fast, about both magic and herself, or else end up a pawn in other people’s plans. Will she be able to make the friends she desperately needs and find direction in her life before she’s swept away?

OTHER CHARACTERS INCLUDE...

MONTY MOUROS, aforementioned misanthropic wizard. Older than he looks. Came to Santa Alma in the 1930’s to earn his fortune, and ended up embroiled in one of Charley’s bids for freedom. It didn’t go well, and he still holds a bitter grudge. He’s guarded the local amusement park, the Boardwalk, from Aurelius Flood for years, but other than that has hidden himself from both the magic and mundane worlds for decades.

LUKA, a siren who lost his singing voice in a trap set by Flood. If not for Monty, it would have taken his life. When they were young the two fell in love, and Luka defied his family’s traditions to be with Monty. They’re still together, and Luka is the only person who can get past Monty’s harsh exterior. Luka now runs a speakeasy for spirits hidden beneath the Boardwalk, where he mixes magical cocktails and turns the rumor mill. He is a kind soul who defines himself through service to others…perhaps to a fault. 

AURELIUS FLOOD, The mastermind behind most of Santa Alma’s woes. A cruelly ambitious leprechaun who thrives on greed, he’s been following the money since the time of the Romans. In the 1800’s he came to the new world, where he found fabulous opportunity during the California gold rush. Assuming a human disguise he carved out a business empire in the mundane world, and a criminal one in the magic world. He built Santa Alma himself, engineering the city’s growth. Fattening a pig for the slaughter. Now, the only thing standing between him and his ultimate payday is Monty and the pivotal bit of territory he controls at the Boardwalk. It’s stymied him for years, but he’s got a new plan…

SUGARFOOT, Flood’s left-hand man. As the illegitimate son of a powerful Californio rancher and an Ohlone woman trapped in the California mission system, fate did not deal Sugar a kind hand. After his father’s family lost their rancho, Sugar turned to a life of crime. He got his sarcastic nickname from a festering leg wound he earned in a shootout with Santa Alma’s top teamster, Charley Parkhearse. As his infection grew, so did his hatred… These mountains should belong to him, not some johnny-come-lately from New Hampshire. So he turned to another stranger for help; Aurelius Flood. In trade for his soul, he gained information; a secret that, if it were to get out, would ruin Charley forever. Sugar leapt at the deal, and got exactly the revenge he’d wanted… until Charley came for him, blinded by rage and shame, and shot him dead in the street. In death, Sugar and Charley found themselves in the same situation… bound to serve Flood forever. As coworkers. Hell would have been a mercy. 

(Sugarfoot is also based on a historical figure of the same name, but almost nothing is known about him other than he was a bandit with a very stinky foot. IRL Charley shot him when he tried to raid his stagecoach.) 

ZINNIA LOGANBERRY, Sequoia’s annoyingly precocious little sister. While Sequoia turned to delinquency after their parents��� divorce to avoid her feelings, Zinnia threw herself into her studies for the same reason. She has become the model student and daughter, earning their workaholic mom’s favor… but man, this kid is Burnt. Out. When she finds out about Sequoia’s new adventures with the supernatural, she throws herself into this new world as a release from her demanding daily life only to once again take things too far. And now, the consequences come with fangs, and hair, and claws…

DEBORAH LOGANBERRY, Sequoia and Zinnia’s mother. She knows she could be doing better by her daughters, but ever since her no-good husband left them, she’s been the family’s sole provider. Her job in the city’s planning and zoning department is the only thing keeping them off of the streets, and the price of housing in Santa Alma is only going up. It’s a matter of survival; surely, once they’re more financially stable, she’ll be able to patch things up with Sequoia. And maybe something will come of the new friendship she’s struck up with Mr. Flood. He IS quite the successful developer, after all… perhaps they could be more than friends?

[yestrday]

: ̗̀➛ LOVE BITES. yan! isagi yoichi / gn! reader / yan! kurona ranze

you don't know what to do but spit fire and hate at two kidnapping psychos who can't even keep their lips off each other. they could at least have the decency to not do it in front of you :/

+ waaaah idk this writing feels lazy but i love love loooove poly yanderes and i wanted to try exploring it...

( once again. how do kissing scenes work. slight bl00d. poly relationship. implied other poly relationships who are also out to getcha )

ever since their blue lock days, kurona had always been isagi’s partner-in-crime. of all the partners yoichi could have chosen, he who had came later in his life was the one who won isagi’s trust and hand. and now he and isagi conquered together– in every match, in every television appearance, and now most importantly, you.

“kurona,” isagi murmurs, his delicate yet calloused fingers running up and down your bare hips. called by his silent command, kurona leans in closer, and his lean body presses itself on your shivering back. there is a silent intimacy in the air, simply indescribable by words. alone in the shadows of their shared living space, with only the occasional sliver of moonlight whenever the curtains flutter, the three of you press your heated bodies together.

isagi casts his gaze upon him, benevolent and possessive. it’s a cross between the kind off-field isagi and the cruel maestro of the court, and kurona finds himself shuddering under his gaze. “kurona,” he calls again. “talk to [your name] for me, please?” he sends him a pleading look, obviously disappointed that none of his attempts to consoling you is working. “i think they’re still scared of me.”

“mmm, is that true, [your name]?” he nuzzles into your nape and hugs your waist. your breath hitches when you feel his fingers dig into your skin– not harsh and blood-drawing as you expected, but well, who can blame you for your paranoia? “why’re you scared of isagi? of me? hmm?” your nape is soft against his nose, and he lets out a content sight. “we’re taking good care of you, aren’t we?”

you can’t help but whimper when he finally places all his body weight on you, treating you like a mere plushie as you’re now squished between isagi and kurona. “that’s right,” isagi hums, idly playing with your hair. “whatever you want, you can ask. we’re pros now, [your name]. we can buy you anything you want.”

you bite your lip, sending a teary glare up at isagi. he smiles so kindly, just like the kind boy you once cheered on blue lock tv. you can feel kurona’s gentle touch on your stomach too, and keenly aware of how capable he is of hurting you with just one clench. “i want to go back home.”

kurona and isagi share a quiet laugh. “everything except for that, that is.” the blue-haired boy even has the gall to send you an apologetic smile. “sorry.”

“we need you here with us,” kurona whispers, as sweet as he can be. his teeth graze against your nape once again but before he pulls away he takes a nip at your skin again, with more warning than the last. “you’re our prize, our trophy, our love. all of us love each other, yeah? you love us, and we love you too. how could you handle being away from us?” he has the gall to say all of this like it’s fact, imposing their feelings on you even when your face contorts into disgust with every delusion he spouts.

“i don’t think i would wanna live without you and isagi,” kurona whispers into your skin, as if sharing a secret. isagi’s one arm slings itself around kurona, now having the two of you huddled in his arms. “i think i’d die. yeah, i’d die.” sometimes, you think that kurona might just as much of a prisoner as you are. isagi likes to play nice all the time but both of them know how cruel and manipulative he could be, and how tightly he has kurona wound around his finger. but you watch as isagi smiles endearingly at the boy, pressing a kiss on his lips. then when he pulls away, kurona lets out a low whine, isgai’s breath hitches, and he dives in again for yet another albeit messier kiss. you cringe and look away.

chuckling, isagi gently holds the back of your hair— slightly squeezing the strands as warning— and guides your vision back to them. isagi is watching you from the side of his eye, smirking as he continues with that messy and drooly kiss. kurona struggles to even open his eyes, too pleasure-struck as he leans into the kiss. “watch, [y. name]. you could learn a lesson or two,” he chuckles. “kurona’s always so good for you and me. you should see what you’re missing.”

 “i’m not missing out anything,” you sneer, though you’re only speaking to air as isagi redirects his energy into making out with kurona. “you two are sick. keeping me here and subjugating me to your every whims. you’re perverted psychos, that’s what you fucking are.” 

kurona’s eyes slant slight, looking somewhat like a kicked puppy as you spout venom at the both of them. isagi just looks more amused than anything and he finally releases kurona from his hold. the sharp-toothed holds both of your hands in his as he looks up at you pleadingly as he presses your cold palm against his cheek. “[y. name], you’re here because we want to protect you. everyone out there wants a piece of you… kaiser and ness… nagi and that millionaire. isagi just wants the best for you.” he presses a soft kiss to your palm. “for the both of us.” 

you want to refute this, that the only reason why they locked you away is so their other equally psycho competitors won’t find you and take you for themselves. but kurona’s eyes and gentle acts have a way of prodding at your heartstrings and you feel like you were falling for this stupidly effective manipulation tactic of his. so instead you sigh and look away from him, gritting your teeth with hardened eyes.

“now, now, don’t be too stubborn,” isagi laughs, pressing a kiss to your temple and nuzzling into the crook of your neck. “you’re going to be with us for a lo~ng time. might as well learn how to love it.”

you bite your lip to silence yourself and watch as kurona smiles gently at you, nestling himself right beside isagi���s head. “love you so much, both of us,” he murmurs into your skin. his sharp teeth graze the soft flesh, making you stiffen and your fingers dig into isagi’s thigh in alarm. “you’ll accept our love, won’t you?”

“of course they will, kurona,” isagi affirms, not even waiting for your response. “don’t feel too guilty.”

a silence between them happens, sharing some sort of secret message you’re not privy to. soon, kurona’s lips twitch into a smile—

and his teeth dig into your neck, blood seeping from the broken skin as you scream at the pain. warmth shoots through your neck, something trickles downwards and under your shirts, and you stare wide-eyed at the ceiling as you hear nothing but your own shallow breaths. kurona hums beside you, licking the marks in apology, and one fearful glance at him has you flinching at how he licks the blood from his lips with that ever-gentle expression.

“looks s’ pretty on you, kurona,” isagi says appreciatively, pressing down on his lower lip with his thumb and kurona opens his mouth so he can get a full view of the mess within his mouth. “must taste really good, huh? especially with the way you’re blushing.” 

he’s right, your mind manages to comprehend. his eyes are lidded as his tongue swipes at his teeth to get every drop and the blush on his pale face tells you just how much he’s enjoying this. the man’s a sick pervert. how could i fucking forget?

“don’t be so angry, [y. name].” isagi swipes a trickle of blood from your skin and presses it against kurona’s lips, who too eagerly sucks on his finger to get more of the taste. “it’s the least you could do for hurting kurona’s feelings. our feelings.” 

you don’t quite have the energy to even bite back. in defeat, you slump against isagi and close your eyes to the sound of kurona’s hungry slurps and isagi’s encouraging moans.

sick fucks.

maybe you should let yourself get kidnapped by reo. better the collar than getting bitten. probably.

[katyawriteswhump]

perfect (scent)match 💖

For @steddiemicrofic April prompt, ‘score,’ and @steddiesportsau week 2 prompt, 'solo sports' (tennis)

WC: 351; Rating: T; CW: none; Tags: Omegaverse, A!Eddie, O!Steve, Tennis pro Eddie, slightly inspired by this post, fluff, very mild angst with a happy ending.

Summary: Tennis pro Eddie gets a whiff of his scent-mate in the stands and totally loses control of his game… (I had a whole epic backstory for this that wasn't needed in this little version, about how Eddie learned tennis and how nobody at Hawkins High knew he played till he hit the big-time... might be fun to explore in a different fic one day.)

🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾

Eddie turned tennis pro in 1987—powered by Alpha grit, his warlock racquet, and bad-boy tatties that got more press attention than his game.

Until the Indy Challenger, 1991.

The moment that delicious Omega scent struck, Eddie smashed his fastest ace. Iced-tea-with-lemon, earthy yet sweet… It couldn’t be him, right? The scent made Eddie wanna slay every rival Alpha in the arena, starting with his opponent. He nailed the set, scanned the crowd, then stared like a starstruck teen.

Steve Harrington stared back.

At High School, Steve’s perfume somehow whispered to Eddie through clouds of blockers. It did again now, from the back of the bleachers, and Eddie’s possessive growl blindsided him.

Just like High School, Alphas surrounded ‘Princess’ Steve. Were they random fans? Courting him? Married to him?

High School Eddie had sucked it up. Tennis’s bad-boy? No way!

His focus shattered. He earned code violations for swearing and howling, lost track of the damn score. The match was a bust, then Steve was leaving.

Alone.

Eddie fist-pumped in triumph. He barged into the crowd, tracing Steve’s musk, which now bled longing and loneliness, familiar feelings which panged Eddie’s heart.

Eddie blocked Steve’s path, and the Omega's scent spiked with fear. Whoops!

“Eddie!” Steve squeaked. “Erm… Sorry you lost.”

Eddie smiled, hoping to calm the skittish Omega. Then his words blurted out wrong: “Totally your fault, Honey.”

“Huh?”

Eddie mentally facepalmed. He yearned to lick Steve’s blushes, crush those squirms with hugs. Oh, and ensure Steve’s already sweetening scent never soured with loneliness again. “Was surprised to see you, that’s all. You wanna grab a drink? Catch up?”

“Wow… Yes! I’m a huge fan.”

Yeah? I’m yours, Honey.

“Cool.” Eddie felt the opposite—burning with crazy happiness, dripping sweat. “Better shower first. I reek.”

Steve blushed, cuter than ever, then sucked his lip like the little tease he was: “Mmmmmm, yeah. Totally love it.”

Eddie didn’t shower. Instead, they drank of each other’s scent and kisses, then cried till they laughed.

That summer, Eddie won the US Open, smashing every damn point as if his cheering scent-mate and soulmate was the prize.

🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾

My steddie fic on AO3

[ghostgirl-22]

Not necessarily sexual, but what if Art takes care of Patrick for once?

Patrick is upset over something cruel his father told him and wakes Art up with his sniffling. Patrick never cries so Art is immediately alarmed and tries to get him to open up. Patrick tries to mask his feelings at first, but eventually breaks down and cries into Art’s chest. They fall asleep with Patrick being the little spoon for once, wrapped in Art’s arms.

I chopped this up a lot but I think I got to the core of your ask nonnie <3 Idk why in my head I could see Patrick just being the whacky charming youngest and favorite of his parents. Forgive my typos… happy Valentine’s Day maybe I’m gonna write a valentines fic tomorrow when Valentine’s Day is over. Anyway love y’all.

TW: period typical homophobia, use of a slur, internalized homophobia, otherwise SFW.

——

Patrick does this thing where he acts like nothing gets to him. Like nothing can hurt him. For a while Art was envious because he believed the act. Now he knows better. He sees it now… the way Patrick will smile even more when his eyes are sad. The way he’ll shrug and then fidget, fingertips tapping a fragile rhythm like the physical act of it can divert the pain away. The way he goes quiet. 

Still he never saw Patrick cry before this summer. It’s their last summer break before senior year. They’ve been spending at least a few weeks together every summer since they were 12, going back and forth between each other's houses. Patrick’s summer house in Connecticut, Art’s family home in Massachusetts. It was easy. Patrick had the bigger house of course, the bigger bedroom, all the latest game systems, a tennis court. So many places on his family's estate to hang out and explore. 

Patrick’s family is a little more complex than Arts though. 

It’s no secret Patrick doesn’t get along with his older brother, Levi. Art actually doesn’t like him either. He’s ten years older then them and he’s everything that Patrick isn’t, more smarmy than charming, flashy and pretentious, lording his daddy’s money around and reminding Patrick that it’s his birth right. He’s a lawyer now and already works for their dad’s company. But all it takes is five minutes talking to their tennis loving dad to understand why Levi hates Patrick. 

“Tennis is such a beautiful game. I played for years but never came close to what you and Patrick can do on that court.” Patrick’s dad says wistfully. He would often stand courtside to watch them play in the summers.

Levi is no athlete. He doesn’t even like sports and there’s Patrick, the apple of their fathers eye because he can hit a ball with a racket. 

If Levi were less of an asshole, Art might actually relate to him. But he’s a total dick. He loves to make it known that Patrick was a ’mistake’. “Mom and dad were perfectly happy with the three of us,” he says of himself and Patrick’s older sisters one Friday night in July. 

That clearly bothered Patrick at one point but he’s used to it now. “Yeah and imagine how boring that would’ve been. One lame ass son.” Patrick mutters and Art grins. They’re eating ice cream in the oversized kitchen while Levi lingers at the wine cooler, pouring himself a glass. He watches as Patrick takes some of Art’s ice cream, his gaze cool. 

“I’d be careful if I were you Art, you know he’s a fag right?”

Art raises his eyebrows. 

“Shut the fuck up,” Patrick snaps. 

“Oh, he doesn’t know?” Levi’s eyes light up, gleefully. “Sarah caught him last weekend kissing the pool boy, the help of all people, moaning like a freak.” 

“I said shut up,” Patrick says, his voice cold. Art has never seen his cheeks turn so red before.    

Levi lets out a cruel little giggle. “Wait till dad finds out you're the fruity one. I’d sleep with one eye open if I were you, Art. You never know, you seem like his type. He might try something.” 

“I’ll fucking kill you if you say another word, fucking asshole,” Patrick shouts. 

“Don’t worry little brother, I’m sure they love butt boys in pro tennis,” Levi smirks, self satisfied in Art’s direction and takes his glass of wine back to the office where he’s been working. 

Art is tongue tied, barely able to make his brain connect to his mouth. He’s feeling all kinds of things, not even sure what half of the things he’s feeling even mean but he knows he’s furious on Patrick’s behalf. He glances at Patrick and that’s all it takes for Art to know what Levi said was true. He’s still red faced, fists clenched, staring angrily at the bowl of ice cream like it was the one who said those horrible things to him. And then he gets up and leaves the kitchen abruptly.  

“Wait Patrick,” Art says but he doesn’t stop. Art sighs and gets up following him to the bedroom. He’s several paces behind and when he gets inside Patrick has fallen to the bedroom floor, actually sobbing. Head in his hands. Art can’t believe his eyes. In all the years he’s known him, he’s never seen more than the slight sparkle when his eyes well up tears. If he didn’t before, he really fucking hates Levi now.

He gets down on his knees next to Patrick. 

“Art can you go, I need to be alone,” he mutters, chest heaving. 

“No,” Art says, he’s not sure how to do this but he wants to be there for Patrick. “He’s a fucking loser. Do you want me to beat his dweeby ass?”

Patrick sniffles a laugh and shakes his head. 

“He’s just pissed because…” Art rubs Patrick’s shoulder, a gentle pattern. “Fuck him okay I mean…” He doesn’t know what to say… or why he keeps thinking about the pool boy, Armando, tall, athletic, brown eyes, and long dark blonde hair. He looks and sounds like a surfer, but not from California but whatever beach they have in Spain. Art can’t get him out of his head for some reason. 

“It’s true,” Patrick mutters after a while looking up at him. “I think I… I do like boys.” 

Art presses his lips together, nodding. “That’s um— that’s okay, man. Uh… remember um… Calvin from the team… Calvin said he uh he kissed a guy before.” He takes a breath. He has to do better than this, but he’s starting to fixate on the color of Patrick’s eyes. He never realized how colorful they were. Now that they’re wet it’s like they sparkle. 

”I dont… I would never do anything to you… like… like what my brother was saying okay?” Patrick sniffles. 

Art swallows. God now he’s fixating on Patrick’s lips. God damn it. He needs to be fucking normal. Patrick is his best friend for crying out loud. Art wraps his arms around Patrick and closes his eyes. “Fuck him, man. He’s a homophobic asshole. If you’re gay then—”

”I’m not gay…” Patrick says softly. Art can practically feel his voice vibrating in his ear. There’s a strange familiar feeling at the base of his stomach, his instinct is to pull away but he holds on. 

“You’re not?” He doesn’t mean to sound relieved, fuck. 

“I’m bisexual,” Patrick murmurs. He pulls out of the hug and gets to his feet, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms. “I’m just…” he laughs. “I’m a fucking mess. He’s hot and the way he was looking at me in the pool. I brought him to my room and well we just started exploring… I should’ve known we wouldn’t get any privacy here. Sarah just barged into my room and she can’t keep her fucking mouth shut. My dad is… well… I don’t fucking care.” He flops down onto his bed and takes a deep breath. 

Art crawls over on his knees. “Does he know?” 

“Not yet,” Patrick says, “but he’ll know as soon as he gets back from his business trip. Levi will make sure of that.” 

“Well,” Art crawls onto the bed and lies down next to him. “Not if we kill him first.” 

Patrick looks at him and then laughs. Art grins, happy to make him smile. He feels warm all of a sudden.  

Patrick sighs. “You want to play Mario kart?” 

“Yeah.”  

They lay down for an hour, only really chatting about the game. Patrick starts to get sleepy, it’s clear he’s still upset. He puts his controller down. Art turns off the game and settles next to him in the dark. His mind has been racing the whole time. Patrick’s never cried in front of him before so it feels like something has shifted.

“My dad isn’t gonna look at me the same,” he laughs but there’s a bitterness in it.

“You don’t… you don’t know that.” Art says gently.

“You think it’s weird, don’t you?” he rolls over to face Art.

“No,” Art says quickly. His parents had always taught him to be accepting of people’s differences. They always supported gay rights. But there was this part of Art that knew that their tolerance was only meant for other people. Unlike Patrick he was the only boy, he was expected to be traditional. 

“You’re a bad liar,” Patrick sighs. 

“I mean I think I’m just trying to process it. I had no idea and now it’s just…” Art takes a deep breath. 

“You really had no idea?”

“Well it’s not like you told me, and you…we always talk about girls.”

Patrick gazes at him. “Fair enough.”

“What’s it like?” The question just spills out of him, he can’t stop himself. 

”Hm?” 

Now it’s his turn to feel his skin heat up. Why is he so fixated on the stupid kiss? “Sorry it’s not important…never mind. I guess I just figured it’d be different then… uh never mind.”

”It’s a little different but the same in all the ways that matter,” Patrick says. He’s sniffling again. Art licks his lips and scoots closer to him. Patrick looks down, following the movement. 

“I could uh… I could show you.” 

Art thinks he’s joking and smiles, Patrick holds his gaze a little longer and Art swallows, something all too familiar suddenly thrumming through his body. But it makes no fucking sense. He can’t really be turned on by this. “You’re um… you’re serious?” 

Patrick laughs, “God,” he says, shaking his head. 

“What?” Art says. 

“Nothing, I’m a fucking mess. Can you…hold me until I fall asleep?” It’s Patrick using Art’s own words. Spoken a number of times when they were kids and he’d asked Patrick to do it in his grandmother's place when he was having trouble adjusting to boarding school.  

Patrick never told anyone about it, never even made fun of him which was surprising, considering he ribs Art about almost everything. Art isn’t sure what he’s feeling but he nods, “of course,” and lets Patrick settle into his arms. They lie in bed, Art keeping Patrick safe from the world for just a little bit. Inseparable, like two colors bleeding into each other, until they both fall asleep.  

[unforgivenyunjin]

I finally realized why the Valkyries don’t really click for me the way the Inner Circle does and it’s because the Valkyries aren’t really their own people outside of Nesta. The most important thing about them is their connection to Nesta.

Meanwhile the Inner Circle is made of up many different people who are vital to one another and the plot. And it’s because of their differences that they work so well together but also never overshadow one another. Rhys isn’t similar to Cassian but somehow they work. Feyre isn’t similar to Azriel but somehow they work. Azriel isn’t similar to Cassian but somehow they work. Amren isn’t similar to Feyre but somehow they work.

Maybe it’s because the IC are actually a Governing body and that gives them more room to be explored as individuals who help lead the Night Court. Instead of just being Feysand’s family members who pop up when they need some emotional help. You can dislike or like each individual member of the Inner Circle without it feel like your pro or anti the entire group.

It doesn’t really feel that way with the Valkyries. They seem like a bunch of high school girls who starts calling each other “sister” and “bestie” after a few months of knowing one another. They are the typical YA side character friends who are there to be emotional support and remind the main character that they’re special. I know they were purposely written to be shallow but that’s the way it came across.

The Inner Circle’s faulty traits and admirable traits are what gives them depth. Like “Yes this is what a family looks like”. They have what the Valkyries lack and that’s individuality.

[acourtofthought]

Recent Business Insider article:

However, Maas might turn to other characters in Prythian for her next "ACOTAR" novel. For instance, Maas told Eva Chen during an appearance on "Live Talks Los Angeles" in February 2021 that she plans to write a book from the third Archeron sister's perspective — Elain.

In "A Court of Silver Flames," Elain had settled into life at the Night Court, refusing to explore her mating bond with Lucien. After breaking ties with Tamlin and the Spring Court, Lucien served as an emissary to the human lands for the Night Court, keeping his distance from Elain because being around her was painful. (Not because he's disinterested as some like to claim)

Elain also seems to have an attraction to Azriel in the text, though Maas juxtaposed their bond with how ill-fitting aspects of life at the Night Court are for Elain during a visit to the Court of Nightmares in "ACOSF." Some fans think Maas set up a storyline for Elain to find a home at a different court and that Azriel will find love with Nesta's friend Gywn instead of Elain.

So................since articles mean so much according to some then I guess we're not wrong for acknowledging that Sarah J Maas DID in fact hint at Elain not belonging in the Night Court and that Lucien only stays away from Elain because it hurts him.

I'm not bothered by Elain having an attraction to Az because Feyre once had an attraction to Tamlin and Nesta once had an attraction to other fae in Prythian.

All that really matters in Sarah's writing is how when she hints at a character not belonging in a place, chances are that is the more important storyline to her growth over who she ends up with. Feyre's growth came from leaving the guy she had an attraction to and ending up in the Night Court. Likewise, Elain's attraction to Az means little when it's clear her growth is not happening so long as she stays with him in the Night Court.

With that all said, these articles really mean nothing because they're just one persons opinion which we find many of across different media sources. Articles that read as Pro E/riel are no more valid than articles that read as Pro Elucien / Gwynriel and simply echo the narrative we find in the fandom among readers. The point of the post is simply to point out there are also articles out there (not just this one) acknowledging Az feeling something he's not ready to admit to himself for Gwyn, that Elain really doesn't fit into the NC, and that her bond with Lucien isn't going anywhere.

[cultkinkcoven]

The one major thing I’ve taken away from my couple days of arguing with Christians about abortion in the Bible is that they always must insist that I am saying these things because I want the Bible to agree with my views. I know this is only because they use the bible as justification for their views… but guys….

Babes,… I’m a fucking Luciferian. Come on. Why would I care about whether or not the Bible agrees with abortion? I’m obviously not following the Bible anyways. If i wanted a reason to justify my beliefs…I wouldn’t be using the Bible… because the Bible clearly does not follow my morality anyways.

I am a supreme lover or theology, history, and culture. I am far more interested in the followers of Christ than Christ himself. And likewise, I find the creation of the Bible fascinating. I think the evolution of Judaism to Christianity is one of the most interesting things in the world. I love humanity, far more than I care about its God. I want to know what values, characteristics, doctrine, they considered to be divine and projected onto their God. I only study the word of God so I can understand the human hands that wrote it.

When I say “the Bible never condemns abortion, here are some contextual pieces of history and scripture that clearly explore God’s perspective on fetal life” I’m not saying “look guys! The Bible is pro abortion and that means we all should be too!!! This totally proves me right about everything!!!”

because it simply doesn’t.

I woke up one morning with a curiosity: “How did people in antiquity regard abortion?” and the clear solution to that curiosity was to read the manual they created for their people. Turns out the manual isn’t all that conclusive, and would actually point towards a complex answer. Does that mean their views were correct, moral, or justified? I honestly don’t care! My opinions on their beliefs don’t matter! The only thing that matters was the intention of the people and the effect these intentions had on the people.

Whether or not the big G-D is truly against abortion could not be known to me, a mere pagan heathen. But what I will continue to say, because I know it to be true now that I’ve spent this much time researching it:

Abortion and/or intentional miscarriage is never at any point stated to be a sin in the Bible or any Biblical text. Never is abortion condemned in the Bible, never is any woman said to be sinning or going to hell for having an abortion or intentional miscarriage. Never at any point, ever, does God say abortion is a crime, and never at any point is it implied that abortion is murder. On the contrary, it is established that it is not.

There are pieces of scripture that clearly establish that the mother is of greater significance than the fetus, and people in antiquity did not consider an infant to be a full person until at its first breath at least, and usually only after a few months of life because of the fact that around 50% of newborns would die anyways. To terminate a thing that might not even live anyways was regarded far differently than killing a fully established person. Due to the increased risk of death during childbirth and the slim chance of newborn survival, it was very normal and common for women to induce intentional miscarriages to save their life. The only instance in which infanticide may have been considered the same as murder was only in the case of late term “abortions” where the fetus had a full form, and looked like a baby (which, we still do not do to this day. It’s illegal to have an abortion in the 9th month).

and to be extremely clear: Premature babies did not survive in antiquity. A premature birth was a still birth or miscarriage. When Exodus 21 says: “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[a] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

they are referring to a miscarriage. That’s why on every single version of this verse you can find online and in most english translations there is always a footnote on the word “prematurely” that says “or miscarriage”

This isn’t some secret pro-choice agenda. This was the intended meaning of the text. Translators are not trying to support abortion, they are trying to support the intended truth.

Because the fetus was the property of the husband, the loss of the fetus would result in a fine paid to the husband. Further harm caused to the living mother was paid via execution if she died, or a hand for a hand, foot for foot etc. This is the most agreed upon interpretation that makes the most sense in accordance to the customs of the Jewish people and other laws of nearby nations in which Hebrews inhabited.

So, to conclude this shit show,

I don’t give a shit a fuck or a damn what YHWH thinks of abortion. I find the opinions and beliefs of his people to be far more interesting and historically significant. Based on their literature, we can get a pretty comprehensive view on their ideals when it came to this topic. Their ideals have absolutely nothing to do with mine nor do they add legitimacy to mine.

I just like theology guys lmfao

and you bet your ass that I’m going to take the time to do my research if there’s a chance that I accidentally shared misinformation (which I did! Numbers 5 are not instructions on how to do an abortion! That’s not the correct verse to use for this argument. That was totally my mistake.) In that research I only learned more about the ancient word that supports my original thesis.

and so, my original claim still remains true. The Bible does not condemn abortion. No biblical text ever condemns abortion, and God did not call it a sin.

💋

[hadleysmis]

I have heard and read many interesting and thoughtful reviews of Les Misérables about how the themes and characters being deeply rooted in racism. However, I barely hear anyone really talk about the explicit stance the book takes in being pro-colonialism.

I don't really have the interest in re-reading the book to every chapter because of long essays such as the Argot one, where Victor Hugo paints a very negative picture in Frenches which differ from the standard form.

Now, this isn't just about Standard French, but also any linguistic children of it, because Hugo explicitly talks about the usage of Creole. To make his stance clearer, even one of the members of Patron Minette is 'Créole'.

We can't have depictions of mixed race or non-White ethnicities in books like this without colonialism being the foundation of it. I feel like sometimes people will happily call something racist, and then move on without talking about how topics such as colonisation is thought of and expressed.

I think one of the villains here is the colonial mindset. If we aren't taught about colonialism and the effects and horror from the said atrocities and beyond harmful psychology, then we will read pages and pages of content, and only reduce the conclusion to: "Ah, racism."

When we think about the criticism of class, hierarchy, social inequality, court procedures, justice, religious morality, perceived equality, and so on, we got such a deep analysis of it from Hugo about France.

At the same time, he proceeded to be explicitly pro-colonial inside the book, within his other books, and in real life statements as well. It isn't equal or excusable that Victor Hugo, and historical authors alike, can analyse their own country in such detail, combing through their thoughts on the matter, while sweeping generalisations such as 'France has a right to colonise Africa because we bring civilisation to it' is being said.

How come some societies are given the luxury of having the nits and grits be explored and criticised, while other societies are given willy nilly thoughts? Surely, one isn't expected to understand all the doings around the globe. So then, why discuss it in one's book?

Sure, old books— and even contemporary ones— from places born from privilege, having pillaged and colonised in unwelcomed spaces, will inevitably reek of the colonial mindset. That is a given. The main difference in contemporary books is that there is effort to erase that mindset, which can be admittedly difficult to do, if all your life, you had been groomed by the education system to be pro-colonialism, or at least unempathetic to it, or believe 'it isn't that big of a deal.'

When we are thinking about adaptations of Les Misérables around the world,— and in my case, around Asia,— there is an element of charm or fascination in how artists in different countries interpret the points, messages, and arguments presented in Les Misérables.

Especially for countries victims to colonisation, and those of which who continuously suffer from the consequences of it; I don't think there is near enough talks in the anglophone side of the fandom (I don't know about any other side, I only know the anglophone side) about what it means to restructure and reimagine the arguments presented by the book.

In particular, when we see countries who were victims to French colonisation, like Vietnam, where we get to see 'cultural resistance' against the effects of the oppressive French policies portrayed in their most famous retelling of Les Misérables; there isn't much talk about the political statement in the act of translation and adaptation alone has.

Here, in these adaptations, the stories are being handled most likely by those who are native to the lands, cultures, and languages, and they get to choose what political opinion the adaptation is going to have now, whether or not that is something we would personally agree with. The power is given to the people nevertheless.

Therefore, we no longer get sweeping generalisations or a willy nilly essays of thought about language use or ways of society of the 'uncivilised countries', and instead we get to see insightful criticisms of their own injustices through the adaptations of stories such as Les Misérables.

I don't mean to romanticise the adaptations, because of course there's flaws to them as well. The main point is that, the people who would not have a voice are giving themselves it, and they can insert details the oppressors would've never been bothered to consider.

The themes of Les Misérables are very flexible, and therefore applicable to many injustices in nations not even touched by France. To learn about countries and national pride from peoples' thoughts and artwork relating to Les Misérables sure is an odd way of me exploring world history and politics. I do admit it's a funny of mine.

But as a fandom, or as a collective of shared interest, let's not dismiss obvious colonial thoughts that a lot of Hugo's points sprouted from.

Let's also not forget that European empires aren't the only empires to exist, and other adaptations can fall short in representing the themes of Les Misérables most likely it being largely influenced by their own biases.

All in all, let's give adaptations more love, and address the political implications of it as well as the literal racism and pro-colonial mindset the book argues for explicitly.

[thehighladywrites]

being elain archeron’s gf

summary: headcanons for being her gf💗💗

warnings: fluff, nsfw

amara’s note: this is for you elain lovers 💗💗 also this was very self indulgent👀

- You met Elain through Cassian. You were his second in command and was assisting him and the inner circle during the war

- There you and Elain met and hit it off instantly.

- People surrounding you noticed the small, sweet gestures exchanged between you and Elain, leading them to root for your connection.

- Both of you were afraid of taking your friendship further because you didn’t want to risk the beautiful friendship between you. But please, you had been in love since day one.

- Eventually, Elain had enough and asked you out on a date to which you say yes.

- You have regular date nights where you do everything from stargazing to going on little trips to other courts.

- Your favorite gift from her is the necklace she made you out of your mother’s old jewelry.

- Her favorite gift from you is when you arranged with Cassian, Feyre and Rhys to explore The Continent and the other courts with her a summer. You were gone for around four months having a blast. It eventually becomes your annually scheduled trip.

- Elain is extremely clingy and wants to stay near you all the time which you love. Being Cassian’s second in command isn’t easy and there is hard days where you have to fight back tears at the mere thought of going back to Elain’s arms.

- Cassian often notices when you’re in distress and let’s you leave early almost all the time.

- You just come home and wordlessly collapse in her arms, letting out everything today while she strokes your hair and rests your head on her chest. After you’re done venting, she undresses you and cuddles you to sleep

- Elain always knows when you just want to vent and when you need advice and want a solution to your problems. She’s incredibly attentive to you.

- You also help her with her powers, researching every book and visiting every city with a smidge of information that could help her.

- You both trust each other very deeply and have extreme faith in your relationship.

- I just know you have a secret language/code/moves you use in order to signal the other. Kinda like queen elizabeth using her handbags to send signals to her staff. So you both are able to talk without anyone else knowing anything about it.

- Let’s talk sleeping.

- You both share a room and a bed. It is all decorated by Elain since she has particular materials she can’t stand. She is in charge of decoration and you build her whatever she wants, ugh that is such a dream

- When sleeping, you other sleep completely naked, skin to skin for comfort. I’m talking tita smushed together, legs thrown over the others, practically sharing air. Or you both sleep in breezy nightgowns. You basically sleep on one pillow bc you wanna be super close. If you could, you’d be in each others skin.

- She LIVESSSS for nail scratches. Feeling your nails on her scalp knocks her out cold 🥶 This pretty girl also likes when you drag your nails on her arm and back.

NSFW

- elain is the dominant one. I just fucking KNOW it, it’s a hill i will die on

- I know she has a freaky little side she only shows you.

- No one else has seen this side of her and they never will.

- She’s all cutesy and kind to others while degrading, praising and fucking you stupid.

- she has a major mommy kink, aka you call her mommy. I KNOW IT

- IT’S ALWAYS THE SEEMINGLY INNOCENT AND QUIET ONESSSS

- She eats pussy like a pro, like she gets in there and has you cumming so quickly it’s crazy

- I know she has a strap that u sit on all the time

- Oh to be stupidly fucked by her

- A bit fluffier, she lovessss resting on your titties while you stroke her hair. She finds it super soothing and can sleep instantly. You often do it after she uses her powers and gets a headache

- you share clothes and everything together. Basically twins. But since you’re the generals second in command, you’re a bit more muscular then her which she looooves.

- Public pda isn’t very graphic. A few quick kisses is standard. Oh, and you always hold hands SO CUTE AHHH

- You both get very easily jealous bc both of you are drop dead gorgeous, like absolute stunners so you guys get hit on a lot.

- That is when your possessive side comes out👀 pulling her into your lap and kissing her neck for everyone to see or she comes up from behind and puts her hands around your waist, dragging your back to her chest to mark her territory and she doesn’t let go

[hrizantemy]

Are you pro Tamlin and Pro Lucien??? Why or why not? I am both but I accept and understand when other people have valid reasons why they do or do not like these two characters.

I wouldn’t say I’m pro-Tamlin or pro-Lucien in the way that some fans are — I don’t necessarily root for them in a romantic or narrative sense — but I do find them incredibly compelling as characters, which is honestly more important to me.

Tamlin, for all his flaws, is one of the only characters in ACOTAR who feels genuinely tragic. He’s not an evil man — he’s a man raised in an abusive, patriarchal court, who inherited power far too young, and tried to save the world and the woman he loved in the only way he knew how: through control. And while what he did to Feyre in ACOMAF was wrong, I think what makes Tamlin interesting is that we’re meant to see him unravel, lash out, regret, and try to atone. I’m not pro-redemption in the fandom sense of excusing everything he did, but I do think there’s a lot of space for a good writer to explore grief, masculinity, and the cost of love through him.

Lucien, meanwhile, is one of the most wasted characters in the series. He’s loyal, funny, perceptive, and consistently sacrifices his own safety for others — including Elain, Feyre, Tamlin, and even Rhysand. He has one of the most heartbreaking arcs: born into abuse, cast out, manipulated, and then given a mate who won’t look at him. But he keeps trying anyway. I don’t think he gets enough credit for being one of the only people who genuinely seems to want peace and isn’t completely self-absorbed. I wouldn’t say I’m “pro-Lucien” in the sense of shipping him with Elain, but I think he deserves so much more narrative justice than he gets.

I do want someone to write a story that gives them the nuance and complexity they’ve always deserved.