#ripred the raging rat

[haveihitanerve]

Gregor: i wanna give you something special for Father’s Day Gregor: Harvard accepted me. I’m gonna study at Harvard.  Gregor: are you proud of me? Gregor: *brushing his fingers over ripreds grave stone* I know you are. I can feel it

[haveihitanerve]

this is the shit gregor says when hes drunk

and then cackles like a madman because he thinks hes so funny

Hey, my name’s Gregor. Greg for short. Grego for medium.

[yesthefandomfreakblr]

Finally doodled my husband again

[underland-posting]

First Hot Take of the Blog

So cw for grooming and probably a massive hot take but let’s just talk about Pearlpelt and Twirltongue for a second

We don’t know the exact age of the Bane when he died, but considering his mannerisms and general unstable behavior, I have to assume that he was the gnawer equivalent of a teenager. He still basically sucked and bit his thumb when he got stressed, got super upset really easily and threw tantrums like a toddler, and was EXTREMELY easily swayed by the opinions and comments of others around him. All of this to say: the Bane may have also been a genocidal dictator, but he was also a kid. A giant, powerful, and unfortunately extremely important kid.

Now for the hot take: Pearlpelt was also a victim of the whims of the adults around him, the exact same way Gregor was. The biggest difference was that while Gregor had a vast support system that, while flawed, would and could remain with him, Pearlpelt did not. And Twirltongue in particular was a much bigger villain than Pearlpelt ever was.

All of the Bane’s actions post-Ripred were fueled by her manipulation and her own beliefs. Snare’s influence had been planted, for sure, but it was greatly exacerbated by Twirltongue. Pearlpelt was shaping up to be an okay kid (for the most part) underneath Ripred until she came along and started talking to him. Who knows what kind of stuff she told him besides the fact that he was going to be a king and that he was the strongest and smartest and best.

Pearlpelt was a teenager being turned into a tool for the people around him to kill every non-rat and take over their lands. It’s the dictionary definition of grooming. And, as Marks of Secret proved, the one who was putting all those ideas into his mind was Twirltongue. Ripred’s Merry Men weren’t the ones behind it; one of them even unofficially adopted Pearlpelt as his son. They didn’t want him to become some bloodthirsty demon out to kill the rest of the Underland. But once Twirltongue got her claws into him, that’s when he really started to change for the worse.

Being that attached to Twirltongue to where he allowed her to ride on his back everywhere he went, it seemed, where he challenges his mentor when he insults her, where it causes him to completely break after he kills her in a blind rage: not only was that attachment unhealthy but it was not natural. I wholeheartedly believe that Twirltongue had somewhat become a mother figure to Pearlpelt (a belief fueled by the idea that Goldshard and Twirltongue are foils of one another), and that her influence alone turned that baby into the monster he died as.

I’m on mobile and can’t quite write the eleven million thoughts I’m having about this topic, but I’ll go into Twirltongue and her bullshit another time.

TL;DR: Pearlpelt was also a victim of the adults around him, turning him from a traumatized child into a monster.

[flippythegodzilla]

Because of a certain @yesthefandomfreakblr I have rediscovered my love for ripred and his son the baby rage it reminded me of a au I thought so long ago

Gregor still being the warrior still being from the underland… but he was a gnawer

Like his mother was one of guards that guarded gregor’s father (he doesn’t have a name fuck) and they would talk.. she was worried for her pup because I guess he was a runt and goger was cruel and all and he talked about his wife and two daughters and like.. yes this will be a perfect place for her pup..

Grace just one days doing the laundry and finds pup Gregor (how the mother got him to the laundry room I don’t know maybe a flier did it) and like maybe after screaming (because giant rat) she sees he baby and like.. whatever.. and even though he was the same age as boots as he grows he becomes the big brother just wanting to protect his family..and then he boots falls and he falls.

Overland is just confuse on how this gnawner wants to protect the baby.. how he doesn’t know the underland at all and just wants to go back.. but also not hating the humans or acting like a human..

The overland freaking out that Gregor is the warrior! But he is a gnawner.. solvet hates him and he doesn’t like her either but Vicki’s likes him.. how hard it is for Gregor to make friends with luxa but hating Henry even more because he smells like rats

And then he meets ripred… ripred shock and is like… mine now! My pup! Total adoption and trying to teach this pup on how to be a rat like boy stop trying to walk like a human I can see it’s uncomfortable

Just.. I don’t know a whole bond between dadrip and the rage baby who tries to be a human but is not.. tries to teach him to be not ashamed of who he is.. he is a rat…and gosh I was in middle school when I thought of this

[runlikethemotherfuckingriver]

After doing extensive research I have concluded that another reason that Ripred was shunned and hunted by the gnawers is because he is bisexual.

IMO this makes perfect sense, as we see very little of Ripred’s love life in the book (although we are told that love and mating is important to the rats) other than what he tells Lizzie about the Garden of Hesperides. Rats want everyone to be uniform and unvaried, as shown with Twitchtip and eventually Ripred. THe gnawers could just about handle Ripred’s raging and higher intelligence, but his sexuality was the last straw that drove them to started forcing him out and into the Dead Lands.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk

[no-warrior-here]

Closed; Nightmares

@theghostkid

     It was pitch dark, but every fearful breath brought images to Gregor’s mind. The boy would have felt a flash of gratitude towards Ripred for introducing him to echolocation, had there been any time to think such things. He was running, feet thudding on the hard cavern floors, every strike sending shockwaves up his spine. Claws reached, voices hissed and snarled... He kept running.

     They were closing in on him, dozens of them. Sleek, vicious shapes hurtling through the darkness... Gnawers. The giant rats of the Underland, hellbent on defeating their most hated enemy...

     Gregor, the Warrior.

     A flash of alarm... The tunnel he was rushing down was a dead end, with a sheer cliff cutting off the path... The fall was immeasurable. Gregor skidded, trying to slow down. The heels of his worn work boots scuffed the stones. A few rocks tumbled over the edge into the abyss below. He turned, grasping for his sword...

     It wasn’t there.

     Howls of rage, fury, laughter... Jagged, ratty talons reached, rodent teeth gnashing and grinning... But the cliff crumbled away beneath his feet before they could reach him. Gregor plummeted into the shadows, and they rose to meet him, deadly points like fangs--

     He cried out, but no one came. No one else was left. He was all alone. Then Gregor hit bottom, and all rational thought vanished, replaced with blinding pain that blotted out all else... Tearing through his mind like the roar of a hurricane.

     An explosion of piercing agony...

     Gregor bolted upright, gasping sharply. Silvery moonlight filtered in through the window, casting the room in shades of soft gray. There was something warm nestled beside him, but the boy didn’t even seem to notice. His breaths were raspy and rapid, his heart hammered inside his chest... It took a long moment for the teen to ground himself, pulling himself back to reality.

     It was just a dream. Just another dream.

     But if it was just a dream, why were his hands still shaking? Gregor glanced around, trying to steady himself... He was in the living room, on the couch. That was when he realized he wasn’t alone... He’d totally forgotten.

     He fell asleep on me again, Gregor recalled, almost cracking up. Almost.

     Danny had come over earlier, and for the third time in a row, managed to crash for the night leaned against him. The former Warrior was beginning to notice a pattern. He frowned a bit...

     I hope I didn’t wake him up.

[haveihitanerve]

Regalian person here- i just watched the warrior and his bond balance along across the roof and the bats wing jerked out and hit the warrior and he went flying and i heard a thud and then a shouted ‘THIS IS WHY RIPRED DOESN'T FUCKING LOVE YOU!!’ and i cannot stop laughing.

[haveihitanerve]

Boots is to Ripred the way Steph is to Bruce

[haveihitanerve]

uh @yesthefandomfreakblr your depiction of ripred is my absolute fav and i fricking adore this one specifc pic for so many reasons!!!

ripred is carrying gregor

gregor looks like the tired little child he is and in ripreds arms can be

ripred is so gentle

the size difference

the way ripreds face is showing hes squealing on the inside but being tuff guy on the outside

ripreds scars

everything

the rippling muscles

[haveihitanerve]

Gregor: so why cant Ripred come to the fount? York: the last time he was here he tried to take over with an army of lobsters Ripred: *from the bushes* it was ONE time! York: *startled* his voice still haunts me

[haveihitanerve]

Gregor: I’m fine.

Ripred: Lol, no you’re not. But lucky for you, I don’t care. Wanna go fight other rats?

—

Ares: I’m fine.

Luxa: Okay, I thought you were fine, but now I’m worried.

—

Gregor: I’m fine.

Howard: Is no one going to mention the fact that he’s bleeding from a stab wound?

—

Luxa: I’m fine.

Aurora: Going by historical precedent, I have the feeling I should’ve called Howard an hour ago.

—

Ripred: I’m fine.

Vikus: Perhaps I should invest in a dictionary. It seems that this entire family lacks an understanding of basic English vocabulary.

[haveihitanerve]

Ripred: I left instructions for everyone while I'm gone. Gregor: Mine just says "gregor, no." Ripred: I want you to apply it to every possible situation.

[haveihitanerve]

Ripred raises Gregor-

gregor: uh what’s for dinner ripred: well we have raw fish and… ripred: ripred: hey don’t kids like the whole sushi thing? gregor: i miss mrs. cormaci

                                  ——————

ripred: and for a bed i’d like to introduce you to this lovely thing called a nest!! gregor: …better than a box i guess

                                  ——————

gregor: can i fight yet ripred: you’re a child gregor: ares is a slightly larger child ripred: …fair point, no extreme violence and minimum 4 puns per battle

                                  ——————

ripred: when a mommy rat and daddy rat love each other very much— gregor: i am not doing this with you ratfuck i know what sex is ripred: wait no pup i have a powerpoint presentation. it’s color coded and everything! gregor: i wish i’d just stayed poor

                                  ——————

ripred: okay that’s enough, you know what, get on top of the fridge gregor, hissing as he climbs onto the fridge: this house is a fucking nightmare

                                  ——————

Ripred teaching gregor to fight and rager stuff 😭

                                  ——————

ripred: listen my support group says- gregor: you joined a support group for single moms ratfuck, that doesn’t count ripred: it does too, they all think i’m very brave for doing this alone gregor: for fucks sake-

                                  ——————

ripred, coming home late from something and seeing the lights on: uhh hello? gregor, sitting on a stool: and just where have you been all night young man? ripred: IM LIKE FIVE TIMES YOUR AGE

                                  ——————

Gregor, looking dow at the merry little band of rats, pointing: so who do we like, and who do i hate on principle ripred: Ripred: *choked up* im so proud

                                  ——————

ripred, who pulled an all-nighter working on peace: good morning! gregor, who was reading some romance and didn’t notice the sun came up: right…morning ripred: gregor: ripred: you didn’t sleep did you gregor: well clearly neither did you ripred: fair enough, overland coffee run?

                                  ——————

gregor: so this guy in Regalia was shovin’ me around and- ripred: i’ll kill him gregor: …no.  ripred: but- gregor: his bond is in charge of the aerial teams and i can’t afford to fall out of Shalais good graces. for ares.

                                  ——————

ripred: look it’s not my fault i’m so charismatic gregor: i’m not asking for a lot here ripred: you’re asking me to suppress my nature gregor: i’m asking you to stop flirting with all my teachers at parent teacher conferences ripred: c’mon it’s not that big of a deal gregor: …miss shields gave me her phone number to pass along the other day. so did mr. burnes, it’s getting outta hand red ripred: oh i see, this is serious ripred: she’s really cute, maybe i should- gregor: STOP IT

[haveihitanerve]

can i just mention- ripred is actually concerned by what gregor thinks of him. when the bane snarls at him and says he hates him and ripred is his jailer, he could have just left it at that- gregor can clearly see the bane is not in the right mind and just clearly has a lot of pent up anger and agression. but he speaks up. he says, 'i was kind to him as a pup' or smth along those lines sry i dont have my book on me rn. he has to assure gregor that hes not as bad a person as the bane makes him out to be. he is not unkind to this pup. he needs gregor to know this. he cares enough about gregor and his opinion of him that he has to say something.

[haveihitanerve]

Ripred: Okay, so get this. Ripred: You make ten meals, you're not a cook. Ripred: You make twenty paintings, you're not an artist. Ripred: But you kill ONE PERSON— Gregor: red you once told me you started to crack at 400 to one Ares: you literally killed two gnawers. in front of us. When we first met. you tried to kill US. BEFORE we first met. Luxa: i once watched you rip out the throat of three dudes just because they were, and i quote, ‘breathing wrong’ Aurora: i agree. Its so messed up right? The Questers: *slow look at Aurora* Aurora: *whistling* Ripred: *high fives*