#rose noble character of all time. i love you.

[lesbianliutana]

like i can not stress enough despite my issues with some things how much i respect russell t davies for getting the opportunity to write an anniversary special for one of The british pieces of media ever now of all times and deciding that the importance of loving and caring for trans children would be integral to it. you can save millions of people all you need to do is love your trans daughter more than anything in the world.

[metamorphesque]

I love dissecting Frodo's ("Lord of the Rings") personality and character arc through a Jungian lens, even if only as an amateur.

The One Ring, as an external object, represents the hidden darkness within all beings. It does not simply impose evil from the outside; rather, it reveals what already exists within, amplifying the ring bearer's deepest, often unconscious, desires for power, control, or survival. I see the Ring as both the Collective and the Personal Shadow in Jungian terms — a manifestation of the darkness that resides not only in individuals, but in all of Middle-earth.

By carrying the Ring, Frodo is in constant confrontation with his own Shadow — the hidden, darker aspects of the self, which Jung defines as "the thing a person has no wish to be". His journey, to me, is the psychological equivalent of undergoing Shadow work: he is forced to look into the abyss of his own nature, to confront his potential for greed, corruption, and even cruelty.

Unlike (my dear) Boromir, who denies his own susceptibility and is thus consumed by it, Frodo is well aware of his vulnerability. He knows what the Ring could turn him into, which is why he resists the temptation to use it. He has glimpsed the depths of his Shadow and understands its power. Because of this, he refuses to arm it. He knows that once he hands his Shadow a weapon, it may never let go. Thus, both in the books and in the movies, Frodo has not killed anyone. Professor Tolkien makes sure to remind us of it in "The Scouring of Shire".

Yet true individuation does not come from merely resisting the Shadow but from integrating it — acknowledging its presence without being ruled by it. This is the essence of Frodo’s transformation.

At the beginning of his journey, his understanding of morality is simplistic: good vs evil, deserving vs undeserving. He believes justice is about giving people what they “deserve". We can see this in "The Shadow of the Past" of "The Fellowship of the Ring".

'What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!'

But as he carries the Ring (undergoes the shadow work), he realizes that the line between good and evil is not external — it runs through his own soul (subconscious).

By the time he returns to the Shire, he has changed in ways that make it impossible for him to reintegrate.

His final refusal to kill the ruffians and Saruman (in "The Scouring of Shire"), even after Saruman tries to stab him, shows the full "glory" of his transformation. He could act in anger, but he knows that doing so would only feed the very Shadow he has spent so long confronting. He has seen the full potential of The Shadow (both collective and his own), and thus, he does not wish to "entertain" it but arming it.

‘All the same,’ said Frodo to all those who stood near, ‘I wish for no killing; not even of the ruffians, unless it must be done, to prevent them from hurting hobbits.’

But even as Saruman passed close to Frodo a knife flashed in his hand, and he stabbed swiftly. The blade turned on the hidden mail-coat and snapped. A dozen hobbits, led by Sam, leaped forward with a cry and flung the villain to the ground. Sam drew his sword. ‘No, Sam!’ said Frodo. ‘Do not kill him even now. For he has not hurt me. And in any case I do not wish him to be slain in this evil mood. He was great once, of a noble kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against. He is fallen, and his cure is beyond us; but I would still spare him, in the hope that he may find it.’ Saruman rose to his feet, and stared at Frodo. There was a strange look in his eyes of mingled wonder and respect and hatred. ‘You have grown, Halfling,’ he said. ‘Yes, you have grown very much. You are wise, and cruel. You have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you! Well, I go and I will trouble you no more. But do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You will have neither. But that is not my doing. I merely foretell.’ "The Scouring of the Shire", "The Return of the King"

Frodo has ventured deeper into himself than most ever will, and though he has integrated his Shadow, the wounds remain. This is why he cannot stay — his journey has taken him beyond what the Shire represents.

Jungian individuation is the process of becoming a whole, integrated self — embracing both the conscious and unconscious aspects of one’s being. Frodo reaches this stage, but at a cost: wholeness does not mean happiness. His burden has re-shaped and changed him irrevocably, and though he has gained wisdom and knowledge of his "full" self, he has lost the ability to live as he once did.

[elizabethemerald]

The Future of the Pantheon of the Gods

@prehistoric-catgirl added onto @stealingyourbones 's post about Random DC characters interacting with DP characters. Her character was Cassie Sandsmark and she created a prompt where-in Cassie is assigned to become part of the new Pantheon and to seek out other members of the new Pantheon, including Danny Phantom who will be the new God of Death.

Masterpost

***

"Is this true?" Cassandra Sandsmark asked.

Cassie, Donna Troy and Diana Prince, stood before the gathered gods of Olympus. Cassie had been surprised to be summoned alongside the original Wonder Woman and the first Wonder Girl, her mentor and greatest inspiration respectively, to stand before the Olympians.

"Yes. Though we have tried to stop the decline, the truth is the gods are dying." Zeus rumbled, ozone and petrichor filling her nose as he spoke.

Cassie hadn't wanted to bring it up, but the gods around them did seem... older... weaker than they ever had been. They were still far over any mortal, but even with all the gathered Olympians the air was suffocated by their power like it had been even a few years before.

"Is there some way we can assist?" Donna asked, looking around them and no doubt cataloging the same changes Cassie had noticed.

Hera smiled at the trio of Wonder Women.

"Your noble spirit is why we have summoned you, but there is nothing that can be done to save us now." The words had a weight of surety to them. Everything had already been tried. The end of the Olympians was inevitable.

"The worship from the mortals has declined in recent centuries." The ground rumbled and shook under her feet as Poseidon spoke. "We are not as powerful now as we were a decade ago and in another decade more our infirmity will only grow."

Hades spoke next, his voice cracking with cold that stole Cassie's breath away. "There were some of us who felt we should just fade away, if the mortals no longer wished to worship us, then they can see how well they do without our influence over our domains."

"However, the rest of us wanted to ensure our domains remained to serve the humans even after our passing." Hera said, her words like a gavel. "The solution we have reached is to pass on our mantels to new, worthy successors. Those who have some skill with our domains, unshakable moral codes, and a deep love for their fellow mortals."

Cassie pondered the words of the Gods in the following silence. Then her eyes widened and her head whipped up to meet the eyes of Zeus who smiled at them as she gasped.

"Yes, we plan to pass on our duties to heroes such as yourselves." He declared, his arms open, magnanimously.

Cassie could see that Donna and Diana were as shocked as she was, though both of them kept their gasps silent. Diana gave a short bow.

"If there is no other way, than is a duty I can bare." She said.

"Not you Diana." Hades said, his empty eyes capturing them each in turn. "You have your own purpose among the new Pantheon, God-killer."

Diana stiffened and rose to face the Olympians once more, her shoulders set. Hera was the one to speak next.

"We decided those best to handle the weight of the cosmos would be those who are young enough to grow into their new roles. There are many such young heroes in your world who could train alongside us before our decline is complete."

"And if they should fall short of your standards, you expect me to serve as their executioner." Diana's disdain could have only been more clear if she had spat on the floor.

"Yes." Poseidon snapped like the crash of wave. "The power we have, that we are offering is too great to exist without some kind of check to prevent its abuse."

"Besides," spoke Athena for the first time, her eyes still filled with power despite her declining worship. "How many problems have been created for the mortals by the petty squabbles of those who sit on these thrones? We believe you, Diana, will be a worthy mentor for our successors, but you will not be among them. Always apart, always with your sword ready."

Diana's fury burned off her in waves, hating the idea that she would have to turn her blade against some of the junior heroes that she had helped raise, and seen grow up. Cassie swore she could hear her grinding her teeth and was afraid that Diana would decide to end the Pantheon right there.

"So! Who is it you have decided to be your successors?" Donna spoke up quickly, clearly thinking the same thing Cassie was.

"We have consulted the greatest oracles and soothsayers and each of us have chosen one who will suit." Hera said. "Zeus, why don't you go first."

Zeus held his hands out towards Donna. His eyes locked on hers. He stepped down from his dais as Donna stepped back, her eyes the size of dinner plates.

"Who else could take my place other than the sister of our dear Diana, who has proven her metal through lifetimes of strength and suffering. Donna Troy, you will be the next Queen of Olympus."

Donna looked like she might pass out, but shook the shock off and stood firm, earning her a proud smile from Zeus. Cassie patted her on the back, proud of her idol for everything she has accomplished.

"And you Cassandra, daughter of Zeus will take my place as the Goddess of War." Ares declared. "As you should."

Cassie carefully kept her snarl inside, her problems with her "brother" Ares was better left for when she was away from the rest of the Pantheon. At least if she were the Goddess of War, she wouldn't revel in the violence like he always did.

"We will not transfer our power now." Zeus spoke up again, returning to his throne. "Once the New Pantheon is assembled we will hand over our mantels, retaining only a fraction of our power to train our successors."

"Your responsibilities, and the reason we called you first, is so that you may notify those who will join you by your side." Hera said, settling to the details of their mission. "Diana, you will inform the mentors of these young heroes to prevent a panic. Diana, many of these are known to you, and you are known to them, so you will be the primary contact."

Hermes and Athena stepped forward to hand off scrolls to the two of them. Cassie fought to keep her emotions neutral. She would help no one by pouting at being redundant. Diana and Donna looked closely at the scrolls, their faces journeying through emotions as they considered the names.

"And you Cassandra," Cassie looked up in surprise at being addressed by Hades. "There are other heroes that you must reach out to who are not known to your organization, including my own successor."

"Secret would be a perfect-" Cassie started, quick to suggest her own teammate before Hades cut her off.

"No!" He snapped, the word stealing her breath away, forcing her to gasp and clutch her chest. "Your companion does have skills with regards to my domain, but there is another whose power and dominion of death is absolute. He is already a king in his own right, and his connection to life remains strong enough that he would be able to sympathize with the mortals. While he is unknown to your Justice League he is know and beloved to me."

Cassie nodded her head as another scroll, this one cold as ice was handed to her by Hermes. She couldn't help but be impressed by whoever this person is. She hadn't heard Hades call anything beloved other than Persephone in all the time she had known him. She looked at the names and coordinates on the scroll.

"Who on Earth is Phantom?"

[jeankluv]

But daddy I love him - Satoru Gojo [ch.05]

short series

summary: If there was a phrase that could describe you, it was; good girl. You had been a good girl all your life, following your father's orders and being as modest as possible. You had focused your entire life on being a perfect lady, one who could be a good wife in the future. This is how you had been raised and how you had been instructed. But your whole world was shaken when one warm summer morning, your eyes met the bold, defiant and sharp gaze of a young man with white hair.

tags: 18, female!reader, set in 1700s-1800s, loss of virginity, misogyny language and thinking, oral sex, fingering, innocent oc, unsafe sex, vaginal sex, manipulative, eating disorders, abusive parents, no use of y/n, mention of pregnancy, mentions of abortion, character death, nightmares

words: 5,2k

Notes: enjoy this last chapter, just know that the epilogue still needs to happen 💋

ch.01 | ch.02 | ch.03 | ch.04 | ch.05 | epilogue

Jujutsu Kaisen materialist

Your gaze was on the window, you had barely moved a muscle since the sun had risen. But it had been like that since your father read that letter. You didn't know how much time had passed, you had stopped counting, the only thing you knew was that summer was coming to an end. Was it September? You didn't know, nothing mattered to you anymore.

You knew Rose was in the room, despite everything she still came and took care of you. Every morning she was there, trying to cheer you up and make you smile again, to pick up one of your books, to go to the market with her.

The only time you got out of your bedroom was when Mr. Harrison visited. You felt nauseous when seeing him and when he talked about how excited he was to take you with him to his house and finally have an heir. You felt sick to your stomach, but you stood there in silence, feeling how your heart didn’t beat anymore.

“My lady…” Rose whispered. “You need to take the herbs.”

You turned your head and looked at Rose. “Don't you think that if there was a baby, that baby is no longer there?”

Rose grimaced and sat up on the bed. “I don't know, my lady. But your mother insists that she keep drinking it until you bleed again.” You just nodded and took the glass from her hands.

You felt the bitter taste pass through your throat and the unpleasant smell invade your nostrils. It was so unpleasant that your eyes watered and a gag shot up your throat. You closed your eyes tightly and swallowed.

“I know you don't want to hear this…” Rose whispered. “But the wedding is in three days.”

“You won’t come with me right.” You raised your knees and rested your forehead on them.

“No, my lady.” You could notice the anguish and sadness in her tone. “Mr. Harrison doesn't want anyone from the house to accompany you, he will provide you with maids in his house."

You closed your eyes and nodded. “You can leave now Rose.”

“My lady… please eat something.” She said walking towards the door.

You heard the door open and then close. You sighed heavily and lay back down on the bed, looking again at the blue sky outside. No matter how much you thought about Satoru, you had a hard time believing, you had a hard time accepting that everything had been a hoax. That you had been manipulated by him.

Maybe it was the fault of your heart, the fault of falling in love the way you did for that man with white hair and crystalline eyes. Maybe it was all your fault and you should never have given him your heart the way you gave it to him.

But his voice and his words echoed in your head.

Trust me.

We will live in a house by the sea, you will have your own library.

I don’t plan on hurting you.

His memory was fresh in your mind and the pain was intense.

You rolled over yourself and you cowered between the sheets, mulling over the matter. The letter talked about some documents, something about the nobles. Satoru told you about it, how your family and a few others had refused the king's reform proposal 20 years ago and had paid for it. And some time later Satoru's parents had been murdered and Satoru's brother had spent his entire life investigating to clarify the facts and they had taken him to your family.

There was something that didn't quite fit you in that whole matter and that is, if Satoru was thinking of betraying you from the beginning, why did he tell you the plan he had in the middle? Maybe he thought you were going to be extremely stupid not to say anything.

You shook your head and tried to remember the last encounter between the two of you.

“I told you.” He said with a smile. “Before you finish your second book I will be back.”

“I trust you.” You whispered.

“Just… believe me.”

Were those promises empty? You stood up from the bed and walked around your room, feeling your body aching and heavy.

But you couldn’t shake the feeling that Satoru knew something was happening. And that’s why he looked like that the last time you saw him.

Covering yourself with a thin jacket, you left the room and walked looking for a specific figure. If Rose was your most trusted person in that house, that person was the second most trusted.

When your eyes met his straight figure and his gaze looking straight ahead, you smiled and approached him.

“Nanami.” You whispered causing his head to turn in your direction.

“My lady.” He said, bowing his head subtly to show her respect.

“Nanami, I need your help. But first walk me to my room.” You turned around. “I don't want anyone to hear us.” You walked, feeling Nanami's footsteps on your back.

When you got to your room, you made sure that no one was in the hallway and you closed the door. You walked to the couch and looked at Nanami.

"I need you to do me a favor." Nanami nodded slightly. “I have a feeling that something happened to Duke Gojo and I would like you to check it out. You and Rose are the people I trust the most, which is why I want to entrust you with this mission.”

“I will gladly do it my lady.” He said bowing.

“But before you leave, my parents are gone, right?” Nanami nodded and you felt your heart accelerate at the idea that had been established in your mind. “I need you to accompany me to my father's office and watch the door while I look for something.”

“No problem my lady.” You smiled and thanked him.

Waiting for a while to pass, you and Nanami left the room, trying not to be seen by any curious eyes. As you stood in front of the door of your father's office, you felt your heart pound and your nerves begin to attack your body. You took a breath and looked at Nanami, who nodded giving you the signal to enter.

Nanami stayed outside, keeping watch and preventing anyone else from entering. You moved through the room quietly and carefully, and among the pile of papers and letters that were on the desk you began to search and read, wanting to find something, some clue that would indicate that Satoru had not lied to you, that there was something more behind all that.

You found two letters that caught your attention, one of them had a stamp that you didn't recognize and the other was a letter addressed to your parents. It was a letter from one of the servants informing your parents about how you had been having premarital relations with the duke. You crumpled the letter slightly and sighed, there was nothing you could do about it now.

You took the letter with the unknown seal and began to read, the letter was addressed to your parents and talked about the crown prince and how to change the balance in favor of the person who sent the letter.

“My lady.” Nanami called you. “I think it’s better if we leave.” You nodded.

With that letter in your hands, you left the office followed by Nanami's steps. You felt your heart racing, that letter could mean something. You knew that Satoru was a friend of the crown prince and that your parents had not disagreed with the king's reforms, so this could mean something. But that seal, you didn't know which house it belonged to, nor were the names known.

“Nanami.” You called him when you got to the room and, uncrumpling the letter, you showed it to him. “Do you know this seal?”

You could see how Nanami was stunned looking at the letter. “Was this in his father's office?” You nodded confused. “My lady, if this letter is found by the palace, the entire family will be condemned for treason.”

You opened your eyes surprised. "What? What do you mean?" Nanami sighed and pointed to the seal.

“The seal belongs to the king's brother, that is, to the uncle of the future king.” You looked at him confused, you had never heard of the current king having a brother. “You are young to remember, but the king had a little brother. He was sent into exile after he tried to assassinate the prince. The king took pity on him and did not kill him, he simply exiled him.” You opened your mouth in surprise.

“Did this person have anything to do with the event 20 years ago? Where several noble families opposed the king?” Nanami nodded and you sighed. “Nanami, I fear that the duke knew about this and that something has happened to him.” You looked at him. “Please find out.” Nanami nodded once again.

“I will leave right now my lady.” He bowed his head and left your room.

When the door closed and you were alone in your room again, you sat on your bed and put your hands to your face, terrified to think that something could have happened to Satoru and that your parents knew about it.

It was terrifying to think that Satoru could be… No, no. You shook those thoughts out of your head and tried to think positively. That Satoru hadn't betrayed you and that he would be fine. You just needed Nanami to return and confirm all your suspicions. And you prayed that this would happen before the wedding that would take place in three days.

Lying in bed, you stared at the ceiling, the night darken the room and the accumulated fatigue that you were carrying covered you peacefully. But it was not like that. That night you couldn't rest.

Nightmares tormented you. The image of a dead Satoru haunted you throughout the night, reflecting in your tired eyes every time you closed them. The dreams were vivid and unrelenting, showing you scenes of Satoru lying lifeless, his once vibrant presence reduced to an eerie stillness. You saw his bright blue eyes, usually full of mischief and warmth, now dull and empty. You watched as the confident smile faded, replaced by an expression of eternal peace that brought you no comfort.

You tossed and turned, the sheets tangling around your legs as you struggled to find a way out of the nightmare. Every time you woke up suddenly, your heart would race and your breathing would be difficult. The silence of the room was oppressive and the darkness suffocating, leaving you gasping for air with every breath you tried to take.

You shifted between the sheets when the first rays of the sun began to penetrate through the curtains. A new day began and in your mind and heart there was only the anguish of knowing Satoru's whereabouts and condition. You got out of bed and opened the window, letting the breeze fill the room and the smell of the sea occupy your nostrils.

“My lady?” Rose entered the room with a surprise look on her face.

“Rose…” You smiled at her. “Good morning.”

“My lady, how are you feeling?” She approached you and held your hands with care.

“I am…” You sighed. Not knowing what to respond.

“It’s okay my lady.” She tried to calm you down.

You sat down on your dresser and looked at her through the mirror. “I send Nanami to investigate the whereabouts of the duke.” Rose looked at you, intrigued to know more. “Rose, I think something happened to the duke and I think my parents have been involved.”

Rose swallowed and opened her eyes slightly. “My lady, are you sure?”

You nodded and clenched your fists. “If it's true... and what they did is discovered, the palace will kill us.”

“My lady”

“Rose, we must find some way to leave this place before the wedding, if Nanami does not arrive with news before.”

Rose nodded. “I will be with you my lady.”

You felt your chest fill and your eyes water as you realized you weren't alone. “Thank you Rose, thank you.”

“No problem my lady.” She gave you a warm smile. “But my lady…” You looked at her. “Your parents and Mr. Harrison will be arriving today.”

You sighed. “Alright.”

The morning and part of the afternoon passed faster than you would have liked. Anguish and uncertainty had established themselves in your body, they almost seemed like an extension of you, one that was dragging you down. Your hands were sweaty and your heart rate was fast, having to meet your parents and Mr. Harrison was like putting a noose around you. You were afraid but you wanted to be brave, even if it was for once in your life, you didn't want to tremble.

The carriage carrying your parents and Mr.Harrison arrived and now you looked at your reflection in the mirror while Rose brushed your hair. Your gaze was fixed on your face but at the same time not, you were lost in your own thoughts, trying to find something so that the wedding would be delayed or canceled.

“My lady…” Rose whispered as she let the brush down. “I have an idea that might help us win some time.”

You looked up and looked at Rose through the mirror. "Tell me." Rose leaned close to your ear and whispered her idea to you.

It was crazy but it would be a shock and Mr. Harrison would even want to cancel the wedding. You lightly laughed and looked at Rose.

"Thank you."

“I am here for you my lady.”

You looked out the window and saw how the sun was setting in the sea. You took a deep breath and stood up from the chair. The room was beginning to be illuminated only by the specifically placed candlelight. Asking Rose to wait for you in the room, you left and walked through the hallways, feeling your legs give out with every step you took.

You looked out the window and saw how the sun was setting in the sea. You took a deep breath and stood up from the chair. The room was beginning to be illuminated only by the specifically placed chandeliers. Asking Rose to wait for you in the room, you left and walked through the hallways, feeling your legs give out with every step you took.

The room was filled with the faint smell of old books and ink, a testament to the countless hours spent here studying and negotiating.

Your parents sat on the side of the desk, their expressions a mix of expectation and concern. Mr. Harrison was standing by the window, his back to you as he watched the darkening night. The silence in the room was oppressive, the weight of the impending conversation pressing down on you.

“Just two more days and we will all be family.” Your father proudly smiled.

“Yeah.” Mr. Harrison proudly sat on the chair. “Hopefully a baby will also come soon.” He looked at you and you felt nauseous.

You took a deep breath and stood up in your seat, trying to show a little confidence and strength. “Father, mother, my hand has already been asked for by another man.” You spoke without showing any hint of tremor.

You knew that talking about this in front of Mr. Harrison was not the right thing to do but you had to find some way to escape from this or the wedding would be delayed.

Your mother ground her teeth and said your name in a harsh, cutting tone. "Shut up."

“Darling.” Mr. Harrison called you, with that nickname that ok his lips sounded so disgusting. “Duke Gojo only came here and used you. You really want to marry that boy?”

You clenched your fists and clenched your teeth as you looked at the cynical smile that had spread across his face. Your blood boiled as the atmosphere in the office became increasingly overwhelming and cutting.

You wanted to get out of there but you couldn't, you had to delay that wedding. Or else, in two days you would be damned forever.

“Honey.” Your father spoke, with that false tone that you had already gotten used to hearing. “Mr. Harrison is right, don't you think about the damage that boy has done to us?”

Looking at him you wanted to laugh out of anger and ask your parents if they knew the damage they had caused to you for years and that Satoru had been the only one who had managed to make you feel alive.

Filling your lungs with air you spoke or rather screamed. “But daddy I love him!”

It had been years since you stopped calling your father that, but you knew that if you threw a tantrum in the middle of that place, your parents would be embarrassed and maybe, with luck, Mr. Harrison would put the wedding on hold.

You looked at their faces and could see how your mother was red with rage and your father clenched his teeth tightly.

“Well darling.” Mr. Harrison spoke, cutting the tension in the air. “I’m sure you will grow to love me too.”

You bit your lip and the crazy idea that Rose had proposed crossed your mind. What else could you lose?

“I’m having his baby!” You said out loud.

“What?!” Your mother and father screamed with speechless looks on their faces.

Out of the corner of your eye you looked at Mr. Harrison, who had his mouth slightly open and his face, like your parents', was a poem.

“This…” Mr. Harrison began and slightly smirked. “This is humiliating.” He turned to look at your father. “Did you know?”

“Mr. Harrison, I…” Your father stuttered trying to find some words, but they all got stuck in his throat.

“You stupid bitch.” Your mother approached you and held your arm tightly, you narrowed your eyes, feeling his nails dig into your skin. "Didn't you take the herbs that the doctor prepared for you?"

“Yes mother, apparently they didn’t work.” You smirked.

“You stupid bitch.” She slapped you and your head turned to the side, leaving you breathless.

Stunned by the slap heard how your father tried to reason with Mr. Harrison and how your mother also joined in.

They weren’t hiding anything anymore, how that marriage was going to bring them a large amount of money and how Mr. Harrison was also going to support the king’s brother's return. You smile when you hear those words, it was the confirmation you needed that those letters were real and that most likely there were more.

You left the room and practically ran to your room. Your heart was thundering in your ears and your head hurt from the enormous pressure you felt. It was almost like you were going to pass out before you could get to your room.

Holding onto the doorknob you entered your room and leaned your forehead against the door once you closed it. Trying to make your heart calm down and air return to your lungs.

“My lady…” You heard Rose approaching you from behind.

“Rose I need a minute, but…” You began to talk.

“My lady.” You froze and turned yourself to look at the man that just talked.

“Nanami!” You said breathless and looking at him.

“My lady.” He looked at you, then at Rose and then back at you. He took a deep breath and then you heard his words. “Your suspicions about him were correct, Duke Gojo had an accident when he was heading back here. His carriage failed and he fell down a hillside, all I know is that the Duke is currently under the care of His Majesty the Crown Prince. But I don't know his condition."

When your father read Satoru's supposed letter your heart stopped, but at that same moment you felt like your heart was falling out of your chest. Your breathing accelerated and you began to feel your eyes stinging because of the tears that were accumulating.

“My lady.” Rose caught you when your legs gave out. “My lady, you need to breathe.”

We tried but it was like a foot was pressing on your chest and sinking you into the ground. You held Rose's hands and tried to speak. “We need to go…”

Rose looked at Nanami and they both nodded. “We will leave here as soon as possible, my lady.”

“The letter…” You whispered.

You had to take the letter with you and give it to the king or someone from the palace, you knew that this would mean the death of your parents but those two people were no longer your parents and you wanted to see them sink.

Rose grabbed your arm and the three of you left the room, heading towards the stable. You still felt your emotions on the surface, at any moment you felt like you would break but you shouldn't. You had to stay strong and leave that place and send that letter.

Taking the reins of your horse you raised your gaze and fixed it in front of you. Sighing heavily, you signaled to Nanami, telling him to leave.

Your body was so exhausted that you practically didn't remember much of the trip. You remember stopping to pick up Rose's husband, you remember Nanami telling you to ride with him, and you remember arriving at a lodge where you spent the night, but other than that, your memories were vague and confusing.

When you opened your eyes, you blinked repeatedly, taking in the light that filtered through that window. Rose was still asleep in the bed next to her. Sitting up carefully and quietly, you changed your clothes and left the room, meeting Nanami's figure guarding the door.

“Nanami.” You spoke with your voice still sleepy.

“My lady.” He greeted you with the same courtesy as always.

You chuckled and shook your head. “You don't need to continue behaving like this Nanami, I don't belong to that family anymore.” You smiled at him. “But my last proposal as your lady is that you accompany me to her majesty so I can deliver the letter to her.”

Nanami held your gaze and shook her head. “My lady, if I am still here serving you and accompanying you it is because I trust you completely and my loyalty is yours alone.”

“But…”

“I don't care if you never belong to the family again, I am faithful to you my lady.” He bowed. “And I will follow you.”

You looked at him stunned by the words he just said. “Nanami…”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I will follow you and make sure you meet the duke once again.”

“Thank you…” You whispered, whipping away the tears that had gathered in your eyes. “How long do you think it will take us to get there?”

Nanami thought for a moment, thinking of the shortest and most feasible route for everyone. “Probably in two more days.” You nodded and smiled calmly.

“Good.” You said.

And so once you were all ready you left again, heading towards the capital. You were amazed with each new place you visited, with the people and the landscapes. It was the first time you traveled, since you had always been in your town and had never left there. You didn't know what would happen after delivering the letter and showing them the evidence that the king's brother was still plotting against the crown. If they would also condemn you or what would become of you. You did not know.

You also didn't know if you would be able to meet Satoru. Nanami had told you that he was in the capital, where the palace doctors were treating him but you didn't know if you would be able to see him, but you longed to see him, you longed to touch him again and feel his warmth.

When you crossed the wall that surrounded the capital you felt your heart begin to accelerate and when you began to enter the castle gate to have a reception with the king it accelerated even more. And standing there in front of the king and the prince, you felt like you could faint.

“So…” You began. “His majesty, I’m the only daughter of…” You said your family name and bowed. “I’m here to give you this letter that I found in my father’s office.” You held the letter in your hands. “I believe it’s extremely important for his majesty to know about this information and to take care of it.”

The king nodded and one of his guards took the letter from your hands and brought it to the king. He read it carefully and with a slight frown.

“You say you found this letter in your father's office?” You nodded. “You know what it means right?”

"Yes sir." You said with your eyes downcast.

“Why would you betray your family like that?” He wondered.

You clenched your fists and clenched your lips into a thin line. “Those people were not my family, my family is the ones who have accompanied and supported me on this journey and the man I am looking for.”

The king touched his chin and smiled and then looked at his son who nodded. “Thank you very much for this young lady, the crown will take care of it.”

The crown prince looked at you and smiled. "Follow me please." You looked at Rose and Nanami doubtfully and the prince, noticing it, turned to you. "Don't worry, you can trust me."

You nodded and followed his steps, tightly gripping the pendant you were wearing, trying to calm your nerves. Your eyes roamed every corner of the hallways you walked through, marveling at the details of the walls and ceilings, admiring the paintings of old monarchs that hung on the walls and the large windows that illuminated your entire path. It was like being inside one of your books, where the protagonist toured her spacious palace.

“It must have been a long trip, right?” The prince spoke again, exalting you a little.

“Uh… yeah a little.” You smiled.

“Well now you can rest here as much as you want, I'm welcome.” He smiled at you again and you smiled back. “Oh!” He stopped short in front of a large white door. "We have arrived." He said, taking the knob he opened the door.

His back blocked your view of what was in front of you so you couldn't see well what was inside.

“Look who came to see your injured ass.” The crown prince stepped aside and you finally saw what was in that room, who was in that room.

Your breathing stopped and your heart forgot how to beat when you saw him lying on that bed. His face had the occasional scar that seemed to be healing and his arm was completely bandaged. But it was there, he was there. Satoru was before you, he was alive.

“Angel…” He whispered with his blue eyes looking at you, unblinking.

And that nickname, that whisper was enough to break you down. Crying, you approached the bed and fell next to it.

“I thought…” You tried to speak but words were hard to pronounce.

“I’m so sorry my angel.” He held your hand. “Suguru give my future wife a chair or something!”

“Tsk.” You heard the crown prince. “You know I’m going to be the next king right?”

“And she is going to be my wife, so what?” Satoru replied.

“It’s okay, I…” You tried to speak.

“My lady, here you have a chair.” The crown prince smiled.

“Thank you, his majesty.” You bowed and sat down on the chair.

“I will leave the two of you alone.” The crown prince said and left the room.

“Angel…” Satoru called you.

“I though you died. I thought you left me, I…”

“I’m sorry.” He caressed your hair. “After going on that visit, I planned to take you with me to my house and finally get married. But well, the accident... it left me unconscious for several weeks and when I woke up your engagement to Mr. Harrison had become official and my condition was not the best." He sighed and squeezed your hand lightly. “I wanted to go there, get you out of that place and take you somewhere where I knew you would be happy but…” He touched his leg and smiled. “Suguru, the prince, did not allow me to do anything and I had to resign myself to knowing that the love of my life was not going to be able to be happy.”

You grabbed his hand in your hands and looked into his eyes. “But now I can be happy.” Satoru smiled.

“I didn't tell you at the time and when the accident happened my last thought was how sorry I was for not having told you but I love you my angel. I love you." He said and cupped your face in his hands and kissed you.

You closed your eyes, enjoying that kiss that you had longed for so much and you let yourself be enveloped by all the love and affection that Satoru was emanating at that moment.

You had believed that you would never taste those kisses again, that you would never again feel the soft touch of his skin against yours. But there you were, enjoying the love you both felt for each other.

You rested your head on his shoulder. “Satoru…” He hummed in your ear. “Your brother was right.” You looked at him. “I’m sorry my parents were behind your parents death and also behind your…”

“Hey angel.” He made you look at him. “None of that was your fault, you are not like your parents. And soon you will be a Gojo.”

His kiss made all the storms disappear from your heart, and calm was restored, allowing your heart to beat again with serenity and tranquility.

The tumultuous waves of doubt and fear that had threatened to engulf you subsided and were replaced by a deep sense of peace. Her touch, gentle, felt like a soothing balm for a wound you didn't know was so deep. It was as if, in that moment, all the chaos and uncertainty that had plagued you dissolved, leaving only the clear, steady rhythm of love.

Satoru broke the kiss and caressed your face. “Suguru told me that before you ran away from home, Mr. Harrison had called off the engagement or proposed. What happened?"

You smiled slightly. “I told them I was having your baby.” Satoru opened his eyes. “No I'm not.” You clarified. “But you should have seen their faces.”

"I would have loved it." Satoru smiled. “But next time it could be true.” He whispered.

You turned your face. “You must recover first.” You said.

“Angel, we can do a lot of things while we wait for me to recover.” He kissed your shoulder. “A lot of new things you still don’t know.”

You turned your face to look back at him. “Like what?” You had been tempted and Satoru knew it, which is why that smile that had captivated you from the beginning appeared on his face.

Fin

Notes: I can’t believe BDILH is over (the epilogue still needs to happen but still) 😭. The fact that this short series started as a Mikasa one shot, then turned into a dark romance with Sukuna but it ended up being a Gojo short fic bc I’m such a Gojo sucker… But thank you everyone for the likes, the comments and the love.

Also sorry bc this final didn’t have much angel x Satoru but the epilogue will be fully focus on them and just them and it will be 4-5k. But the main story needed a conclusion and didn’t want to extend the chapter too much. I’m quite satisfied with the result and I hope everyone enjoyed it ❤️

— comment if you want to be tagged in the final part

🏷️: @catobsessedlady @zoeyflower @satoracyxys @lavender-hvze @slashersgirlypop @tinydonkeysforlife @oddball08 @tttttttf @crybabytoru @fccxxxcvvx @augustine13028 @alwaysfreakingout

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

Another show just wrapped up, but a new one takes its place next week. Takara and Mitsuya have really become the bright spots for me in this current run of shows; they make excellent bookends for the week in jql. Of the five shows airing now, four are streaming weekly on Gaga and the other is available via fansub.

Takara's Treasure

What a fantastic episode of a show that continues to get better and better. The way this story has slowly built our understanding of these characters, and their understanding of each other, is masterful and so rewarding. I really loved the direct conversation they had about Takara's post-graduation plans and what it means for them, as well as Taishin getting to the heart of things and reassuring Takara that his desire is welcome. I'm excited to get a peek at Taishin's family next week and see how they navigate whatever challenges they bring.

Cosmetic Playlover

Farewell to this very pretty show whose story did not make much of an impression on me in the end. It never found a coherent relationship arc or gave us any foundation for this romance to hang onto, and it didn't live up to the dark and sexy tone of its original promotion. But it gave us a lot of beautiful visuals!

I Hear the Sunspot

We've now spent an entire month on repetitive side plots designed to separate and cause insecurity for Kohei and Taichi, and I am over it. I understand that the show is faithfully adapting the manga, but this is the thing about adaptations: when you switch to a new medium you have to adapt the work to fit the new format. When you read a manga you can speed through side plots designed to stretch out the story, but you can't do that in a weekly airing drama. And yes, I have seen the arguments that this is primarily a coming of age story about finding yourself, but it's not doing that well, either. This job falling out of the sky for Taichi and his boss—who we are meant to read as someone with good intentions—encouraging him to drop out of school immediately to work full-time is a strange development. That it once again set off a spiral of Kohei and Taichi feeling insecure about their friendship and misunderstanding each other only makes it worse. I understand the intention: we are supposed to be getting that Taichi is embarrassed about this job because it's tied to his still ill-defined feelings for Kohei. But they haven’t unpacked his hang ups with admitting (or understanding?) that he likes Kohei back enough for that to land. We've spent so much time sitting with Taichi's broody confusion without gaining any deeper insight into its source or seeing him grow, which makes all of this just feel like stalling instead of important character work.

Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding

gif by @my-rose-tinted-glasses

*sobs* Welp, the penultimate angst has definitely arrived. They distracted me with the possibility of dog death (Frito lives! THANK GOD) before sucker punching me with Mitsuya pre-emptively rejecting Ishida before their relationship could go further. And while I often roll my eyes at this kind of noble idiocy in the penultimate chapter of a romance, I think it's well-grounded in this story. Mitsuya has been worried about whether a relationship between them is right since he learned about Ishida's feelings, and on the heels of this blow about Frito's health and his sense that he burdened Ishida with this problem, he is feeling his age and his melancholy more than ever. He sees Ishida as a bright and beautiful young person that he would only drag down, and he does not yet understand that it was meeting him that brought this out in Ishida in the first place. The way he apologized and berated himself for asking Ishida to stay then hugged himself for that whole horrible conversation said it all. This also sets us up nicely for Ishida to finally make himself clear and do a classic jbl run next week (this show is ending too soon, I'm going to miss it so much). Thanks as always to @isaksbestpillow for providing her wonderful subs so we can all enjoy this beautiful drama. You can find the ep here.

Tagging @bengiyo to add this week's anime update.

[spaceagebachelormann]

☆ — doctor who companions and their love languages

✧ masterlist — navigation

✧ characters — rose tyler, jack harkness, martha jones, donna noble, amy pond, rory williams, river song, clara oswald

✧ carmillas notes — doctor who hyperfixation RAHHH. no bill cause i haven’t gotten to that season yet and no sarah jane cause im saving her for a future part 2 of this !! ALSO these are my thoughts and i don’t CARE if you disagree

✧ warnings — might be ooc in some parts. also might be shitty cause i haven’t written in months. spoilers for the end of season seven.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ rose tyler

-> rose likes to receive acts of service. she likes it when you do even the littlest things for her, like opening a door or pulling her chair out for her or calling her in the middle of the day simply because you missed her, that’s what really gets her heart going. she appreciates every little thing you do for her and never forgets any of it. in return, she likes to give physical touch and words of affirmation. she knows how much you love her and recognizes every little act of love. she’ll hold your hand while walking or randomly run her fingers through your hair, all while telling you how great she thinks you are and how she loves you.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ jack harkness

-> jack is a whore, so he likes to give words of affirmation. while half of that is probably flirting, he can be really sweet when he feels like it and goes out of his way to make sure you know that. he likes to receive physical touch. he’s lived for much longer than he should’ve and has watched everyone he loved either die or leave him, so he likes to know your there by feeling your hands in his or somewhere on him. somewhere he can make sure you haven’t died or left him just yet.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ martha jones

-> martha likes to give and receive quality time. because of her job, she often doesn’t have a lot of time for things outside of work and she feels bad about it. she can easily be reassured from her guilt by sitting down somewhere or going out, as long as she gets to spend time with you. while quality time is her number one, she also likes receiving words of affirmation. she spent a lot of time feeling second best with the doctor, and she likes to be told she’s wonderful and appreciated.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ donna noble

-> donna doesn’t necessarily have a specific love language she likes to give or receive, shes kind of a mixed bag when it comes to that, she shows all of them equally. even though she doesn’t favour a specific love language to show, she likes to be on the receiving end of gift giving. even if its something small for nothing in particular, if you get her a gift she’ll get all giddy and becomes the most loveliest person afterwards.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ amy pond

-> amy likes it when she’s given physical touch. from making out to just about anything, she loves it. she’s also partial to gift giving, and just like donna will get super excited if she’s given anything. she also doesn’t really have a specific love language, but she does go for physical touch a lot. she doesn’t just love to give it, she also loves to receive it.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ rory williams

-> rory, like amy, also loves physical touch, but he shows it more gently than she does. while shes a bit more suggestive with her touches, rory’s are pretty innocent and are usually just holding your hand while walking or just a random hug in the middle of the day when he feels like he missed you. he also gives a lot of acts of service and is purely a gentleman. an awkward gentleman. he doesn’t really care or have a preference about what he gets in return, but he really does like quality time.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ river song

-> river gets her biggest love language from her parents, physical touch. while her touches are just as gentle as rory’s, she often has her hands in a somewhat suggestive place, but never somewhere to make you uncomfortable. for example, she may have a hand on your thigh while sitting or on the small of your back while walking. she also doesn’t really mind what she gets in return like rory, but she does have her mothers love of gifts.

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ clara oswald

-> clara is very much a words of affirmation girl. she’ll grab onto your hand while walking somewhere and go on some mindless rant about how much she loves you and how amazing she thinks you are, and she could go on for hours. she also likes to receive words of affirmation, but a close second for her is physical touch and acts of service.

[cas-is-queer]

A few months ago I did a post about my thoughts on Doctor Who characters genders and sexualities. I've since finished the show, so this is a sort of part two with characters from 13th era onwards. Link to part one, which is 9 - 12 and all companions along the way: X

I've been working on this for so long 😭 plz enjoy

13th Doctor: Oh ho ho pansexual as fuck, but so severely traumatized she couldn't even consider a relationship. She should've been allowed to kiss women. Practically canonically transfem, depending on how you look at it lol. I think she's still unsure about her pronouns, this being her first female regeneration, but she uses she/her for the most part. Completely asexual, I'm sorry. She'll have sex, and isn't sex-repulsed, but honestly doesn't give a shit. Probably the most demiaro Doctor ever; literally only interested in Yaz and the Master, but he doesn't really count because she's known that bitch forever. Polyam af.

Yasmin Khan: Oh this is tricky. I'm gonna say sapphic. I'd say lesbian, but there was a little spice in her interactions with the Master, sue me. And what if I said transfem. What then. Cause I think I'm right. Fight me. Also polyam, again, fight me.

Ryan Sinclair: What's more bisexual: being bisexual, or whatever the fuck Ryan SInclair has going on? Idk man, the vibes are there. I think him and Yaz are little queer besties, and I love that for them.

Graham O'Brian: Um. Idk. He didn't seem all that upset when Jack flirted with him. That's all I have to say.

Dan Lewis: That is a transgender man if I have ever seen one. Idk what his sexuality is, and neither does he, but I don't think it's anywhere near the top of his priorities right now. He's busy putting up with The Horrors.

Dhawan!Master: What a freak. What a fucking freak (simultaneously both derogatory and positive). That bitch is a he/they pansexual. Polyam. However, none of that matters. What matters, is that this bitch needs psychological help.

14th Doctor: I resist the urge to squeal every time I think about him. He/they, with a small preference for they/them. Panromantic and asexual. Demiromantic. That bitch is so soft they could 100% domesticate the Master the way he does in all those saxteen fics.

Rose Noble: Canon transfem, obvi. Bisexual queen. Also just a queen in general. Honestly I would die for her.

15th Doctor: He lost the asexuality in the divorce (bigeneration). 14 kept it all, I'm sorry. That is an Omni motherfucker if I've ever seen one; preference for men. Should be allowed to kiss men more often, once was not enough.

Ruby Sunday: Bisexual because I said so. Another in a series of: companions that I don't have enough evidence for but just know are some type of queer.

Rogue: That is a gay man. I don't make the rules. That bitch is so down bad that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the Doctor after knowing him for only a few hours. I love that for him, honestly. And what if I said trans man. What now.

UNIT gang because I forgot about them:

Kate Lethbridge Stewart: Aha! What a lesbian. I stan a lesbian in power, and she deserves literally the entire world and more. I love her more than there are words for.

Petronela Osgood: You could consider this about either of them, but I'm mostly thinking about the human Osgood from before all that zygon stuff. They are 100% nonbinary and a lesbian. And also married to Kate. Just by the way.

Shirley: (I don't remember her last name, I'm so sorry) That is a bisexual. Sorry, I don't make the rules. Her banter could match the Doctor, and that's saying something. I literally love her so goddamn much.

And also Ashildr/Me because I forgot about them earlier: She is the ultimate pan; pangender and pansexual. He is so 'immortal character not made for immortality loses all sense of self including gender and becomes a weird Thing,' which is a personal favorite trope

I would also like to add trans man to my Rory Williams entry in the original post; I know it doesn't really work because he and Amy had River, but I honestly don't give a shit. I'd also like to add transmasc to Jack Harkness because I said so, and if no one else is gonna do it I will.

Whelp, that's all for now folks! I'll add on to this when season 15 comes out (in a little less than a month)!!!

[kckt88]

Scorched Hearts III

Summary:

'We loved with a love that was more than love - Edgar Allen Poe'

It's time for the petition to decide who will be the heir to Driftmark, and tensions rise as blood spills.

Warning(s): Angst, Drama, Language, Secret Relationship, Death, Violence, Uncle/Niece Incest, Kissing, Oral Sex, Rough P in V,

AEMOND x O.C Niece

Word Count: 5955

A.N - Going over old ground but it needs to be done.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated, do not copy/post to other sights without my permission.

Tag List - @jasminecosmic99 @kaelatargaryen @yesterdayfeelings-blog @immyowndefender @0eessirk8 @darylandbethfanforever9 @killua2dot0 @msassenach @xcharlottemikaelsonx @moonnicole

The tension in the throne room was palpable as Valaena stood alongside her family, her heart pounding in her chest.

On one side stood Rhaenyra, regal and composed, Daemon at her side, his expression unreadable but sharp, and her brothers, Jacaerys and Lucerys.

Rhaenys and Baela were standing just off centre their hands clasped together.

Across from them, Alicent Hightower stood with Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond.

Valaena’s gaze flickered over Aemond for a moment as he stood as still as stone, his arms folded behind his back, his single eye locked onto her, his expression unreadable.

At the centre of the room Vaemond Velaryon, bold and confident, waiting for his moment.

Overseeing it all from the Iron Throne was Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King.

The murmurs in the room began to die down as Otto rose from the Iron Throne, his voice cutting through the air.

“Though it is the great hope of this court that Lord Corlys Velaryon survive his wounds, we gather here with the grim task of dealing with the succession of Driftmark,” he announced “As Hand, I speak with the King’s voice on this and all other matters. The crown will now hear the petitions. Ser Vaemond of House Velaryon-”

Vaemond stepped forward, bowing his head respectfully to Alicent before turning to Otto, his voice filled with conviction.

“My lord Hand. The history of our noble houses extends beyond the Seven Kingdoms to the days of Old Valyria. For as long as House Targaryen has ruled the skies, House Velaryon has ruled the seas."

As he spoke, Valaena’s hand instinctively tightened into a fist at her side. She could feel the weight of the stares from the court—whispers of legitimacy and bloodlines swirling in the air like an invisible storm.

Vaemond continued, his voice growing more passionate. “-I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brother’s seat. I am Lord Corlys’ closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins.”

Before he could go further, Rhaenyra stepped forward, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “As it does in my children, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon. If you cared so much about your house’s blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir.”

Valaena felt a surge of pride as her mother spoke, but Vaemond's eyes flickered with barely concealed disdain.

“-No,” Rhaenyra continued, her tone sharp, “you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition.”

Otto raised a hand, cutting off the exchange. “You will have your chance to make your own petition, Princess. Do Ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard.”

Rhaenyra stepped back, and Valaena instinctively reached out, placing a comforting hand on her mother's arm. As she did, her eyes drifted back to Aemond.

He stood still, watching her, his face still unreadable. For a brief moment, the world outside the two of them faded, but then Vaemond's voice pulled her back.

"My lord Hand, this is a matter of blood, not ambition. I place the continuation and the survival of my house and my line above all. I humbly put myself before you as my brother’s successor- the Lord of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides.”

The silence in the room was heavy as Vaemond finished, the weight of his words settling over the court.

Otto nodded. “Thank you, Ser Vaemond. Princess Rhaenyra, you may now speak for your son, Jacaerys Velaryon.”

Rhaenyra stepped forward “If I am to grace this farce with some answer,” she began, her voice carrying through the throne room, “I will start by reminding the court that nearly twenty years ago, in this very—"

Suddenly, the great doors of the throne room burst open with a loud creak, and a voice echoed through the hall: "King Viserys of House Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."

Every head in the room turned toward the doors as King Viserys entered, frail but determined, hobbling forward with the help of his cane. The murmurs in the room ceased entirely, replaced by silence.

The throne room was suffocating with tension as King Viserys hobbled toward the Iron Throne, every step he took a visible struggle.

Wheezing, gasping, and groaning, he gripped his cane with white knuckles, his body bowed under the weight of his years and illness.

As Otto Hightower descended the steps of the Iron Throne, his expression was strained, the Hand clearly uncomfortable with the king’s sudden decision to preside.

Viserys, however, would not be deterred.

“Move aside Otto. I will sit the throne today,” Viserys rasped, his voice unyielding.

Otto nodded curtly. "Your Grace," he said, stepping aside with a strained smile.

The entire court watched in silence as the king shuffled toward the steps of the throne. Viserys looked up at the imposing seat, his face twisted in pain yet filled with determination.

The climb was torturous, each step taking every ounce of strength he had left. His body trembled as he ascended, and a member of the Kings guard rushed forward to assist him.

But Viserys, with as much dignity as he could muster, shook his head.

“I will be fine,” he said, though his voice wavered with effort.

Just as he reached the final step, the golden crown slipped from his head, clattering loudly on the stone floor.

Viserys sighed in frustration, bending slightly to retrieve it, but before he could reach it, a gentle hand grasped his arms and picked up the crown for him.

“I said I’m fine—” he began, turning with a fierce expression, but his voice caught in his throat as he saw who had come to his aid.

It wasn’t one of his guards but Valaena.

“Come on, Grandsire,” she said softly, her violet eyes—the same shape and shade as her grandmother Aemma’s—filled with understanding. “Slow but steady.”

For a moment, Viserys simply gazed into her eyes, his heart stirred by the likeness to the wife he had loved and lost.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he allowed her to help him to the throne. With her support, he finally collapsed into the Iron Throne, breathing heavily but victorious in his effort.

Valaena with careful grace, placed the crown back on his head, smiling warmly.

She moved to step away, but Viserys stopped her with a wheezing breath. "My sweet girl, my only granddaughter-" His voice was hoarse but filled with affection. “-Thank you”

Valaena turned, her heart warmed by the tenderness from her grandfather. “You are welcome, Your Grace,” she said, bowing.

Struggling for breath, Viserys fumbled with a ring on his finger before pulling it off. His voice was frail as he extended the ring to her.

“I want you to have this-It once belonged to my Aemma. S-She would want you to have it-”

Valaena blinked in surprise, glancing down at the ring before accepting it with reverence. She slid it onto her finger, feeling the weight of the legacy that came with it.

She then leaned closer to her grandsire, whispering softly, “Mother needs your help-”

Viserys gave her a faint nod of understanding. Valaena stepped back, descending the stairs gracefully to rejoin her family.

All eyes followed her, whispers rippling through the room as she passed, but she paid them no mind.

Viserys wiped a trembling hand over his face, gathering his composure. “I must-admit-my confusion,” he began, his voice thick with exhaustion. “I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession.”

His eyes roamed the room before settling on Princess Rhaenys. “The only one present-who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys’ wishes is the Princess Rhaenys.”

Rhaenys stepped forward, her voice resolute as she spoke. “Indeed, Your Grace. It was ever my husband’s will that Driftmark pass through Ser Laenor to his trueborn son, Jacaerys Velaryon.” Her eyes flicked to Vaemond as she continued. “-His mind never changed. Nor did my support of him.”

She took a breath before adding, “As a matter of fact, Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her sons Jace and Luke to Lord Corlys’ granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena. A proposal to which I heartily agree.”

Viserys smiled faintly, nodding. “Well-the matter is settled. Again.” His voice, though weak, carried finality. “I hereby reaffirm Prince Jacaerys of House Velaryon as heir to Driftmark, the Driftwood Throne, and the next Lord of the Tides.”

But Vaemond’s face twisted with fury. “You break law-and centuries of tradition,” he spat, his voice seething with rage, “To install your daughter and granddaughter as heirs to the Iron Throne. Yet you dare tell me who deserves to inherit the name Velaryon.”

He turned, his voice rising in anger. “No. I will not allow it.”

Viserys’ eye darkened as he sat forward. “Allow it?” he snapped. “Do not forget yourself, Vaemond.”

Vaemond turned, his face contorted in disgust as he pointed a trembling finger at Jacaerys. “That is no true Velaryon! And certainly no nephew of mine!”

Rhaenyra stepped protectively in front of her son. “Go to your chambers,” she said firmly to Jace, her voice cutting through the tension. “You have said enough.”

Viserys, his voice sharp with authority, declared, “Jacaerys is my true-born grandson. And you are no more than the second son of Driftmark.”

But Vaemond could not contain his rage. “You may run your house as you see fit, but you will not decide the future of mine! My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides! And gods be damned, I will not see it ended on the account of this—”

“-Say it” Daemon interjected, his voice like ice, a deadly invitation hanging in the air.

Vaemond’s eyes locked onto Daemon’s, and his mouth twisted into a sneer. “Her children-are bastards,” he spat with venom. Then, turning to Rhaenyra, he roared, “And she is a whore!”

The room gasped, horrified. Viserys, his face a mask of fury, began to rise from his throne, unsheathing his dagger.

“I will have your tongue for that!” he growled, his frail body shaking with rage.

But before Viserys could act, there was a sudden, swift movement—Daemon stepped forward in one fluid motion, and the room was filled with the sickening sound of steel slicing through flesh. Vaemond’s head tumbled to the ground, his body collapsing to the floor with a heavy thud.

The hall erupted in shocked gasps as blood pooled around the corpse. Daemon, calm as ever, smirked as he wiped the blood from Dark Sister on the hem of his clothes.

“He can keep his tongue,” he said casually, his voice dripping with amusement.

Otto’s voice cut through the stunned silence, “Disarm him!” he ordered.

Daemon merely shrugged. “No need.”

Valaena’s gaze was fixed on Vaemond’s headless body, her heart pounding in her chest, her hand hovering over her stomach.

She slowly looked over to Aemond, who stood across the room, smirking in approval, clearly impressed by Daemon’s display.

When their eyes met, Aemond’s smirk widened, his amusement and satisfaction clear.

Later that evening the air was thick with tension as Valaena took her seat next to Aemond at the long banquet table.

Jace and Luke, exchanged confused glances as they took their own seats across from her, but Valaena ignored them, her mind focused elsewhere.

Beneath the table, she felt a hand slip into hers. She glanced at Aemond, his expression as stoic as ever, but the firm grip of his hand spoke volumes.

Her heart quickened, and she gave his hand a subtle squeeze in return, feeling a quiet comfort in his presence.

Moments later, the heavy doors to the hall creaked open, and Viserys was carried in. The entire room stood in unison, waiting as he was gently placed at the head of the table.

Once seated, they all followed, retaking their places, Aemond’s hand once again finding hers beneath the table.

“Wine Princess?” asked a maid.

“No thank you-just water” replied Valaena. The maid bowed slightly before she left the table, returning moments later with a cup of water.

“How good it is, to see you all tonight” Viserys rasped, a pained yet heartfelt smile on his weathered face.

Alicent, seated beside him, folded her hands in prayer. “Prayer before we begin?” she suggested, her voice soft yet firm. She bowed her head, and the others followed, though Valaena kept her eyes open, watching the scene unfold.

“May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love,” Alicent began, her voice carrying over the silent room. “May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest.”

Across the table, Valaena caught Daemon rolling his eyes at the mention of Vaemond. Her lips twitched into a smirk, and when Daemon noticed, and he shook his head in amusement.

Viserys, still smiling, then continued, “This is an occasion for celebration, it seems. My grandsons, Jace and Luke, will marry their cousins, Baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses.” He raised his cup with trembling hands. “A toast to the young Princes-and their betrothed.”

“Hear, hear,” Daemon said with a grin, raising his cup, and Valaena followed suit, her gaze flicking momentarily to Aemond, whose eye remained fixed on her.

But the air shifted when Aegon leaned over toward Jace, a wicked smirk playing on his lips as he reached for a decanter of wine.

“Well done, Jace. You’ll finally get to lie with a woman. You do know how the act is done, I assume?” Aegon’s tone dripped with mocking amusement. “At least in principle? Where to put your cock and all that. If you want, I can provide you with a demonstration.”

Jace’s face flushed with anger, and he snarled back, “You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed.”

Aegon laughed, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Ask Aemond,” he said with a wink. “Judging from the noises coming from his chambers last night, I taught him well.”

The jest hung in the air, and while Aemond scowled in irritation, but Jace’s gaze flicked curiously toward Valaena, who had lowered her head, her cheeks a faint shade of pink.

Jace’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind clearly turning over the implications of Aegon’s words, but before he could speak, the sound of Viserys struggling to stand shifted everyone’s attention.

The King rose shakily from his chair, gripping the edge of the table for support. “It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table,” Viserys began, his voice raw with emotion. “The faces most dear to me in all the world, yet grown so distant from each other in the years past.”

With a slow, deliberate movement, he reached behind his head and unclasped the golden mask that had been concealing his disfigurement.

The mask landed on the table with a dull clunk, and Valaena, still holding Aemond’s hand beneath the table, felt her breath catch in her throat.

Half of her grandfather’s face was rotted away, his eye gone, and his cheek nothing but decayed flesh.

She squeezed Aemond’s hand tighter, feeling his grip return just as firmly. His expression remained unchanged, but she knew he was glaring at his father, perhaps feeling the weight of unspoken resentment for the man who had failed to protect him in the past.

Viserys’ voice, though frail, was filled with the weight of decades of leadership. “My own face, is no longer a handsome one, if indeed it ever was. But tonight, I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king, but your father. Your brother. Your husband and your grandsire. Who may not, it seems walk for much longer among you.”

Valaena felt Aemond tense beside her, and she could sense the silent storm brewing within him, his hatred for his father’s words barely contained.

Viserys continued, his voice growing softer. “Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances, if not for the sake of the crown, then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly.”

Valaena glanced at Aemond, his hand still tightly gripping hers beneath the table. His jaw was clenched, his eye glaring at Viserys with a mixture of frustration and unspoken sorrow.

She could feel the depth of his anger, the silent war that raged within him at being denied the recognition and love he had once so desperately craved from his father.

As the dinner progressed, the tension in the room ebbed and flowed with each passing toast.

Valaena noticed the look of shock and contempt on Otto’s face as Alicent, in a rare moment of sincerity, raised her cup and declared, "Rhaenyra will make a fine queen." The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with implication, and Valaena could almost feel Otto’s displeasure burning from across the table.

Alicent, however, remained composed, but her father’s disapproval was unmistakable.

Next to her, Aemond sat in silence, his plate untouched.

Concerned, Valaena leaned in and whispered, “Are you ok? You’re not eating.”

“I’m fine,” Aemond replied, though his tone was curt, his jaw set.

He let go of her hand under the table and placed it on her thigh instead, the weight of his touch sending a ripple through her.

Valaena returned her attention to her own food, but felt her stomach roll at the smell of the lamprey pie, so she pushed away her plate and instead took a sip of water.

Further down the table, Aegon leaned in close to Baela, his voice low but dripping with arrogance. “I, um regret the disappointment you are soon to suffer,” he said, his words laced with mockery. “But if you ever wish to know what it is to be well satisfied, all you have to do is ask.”

The air snapped with tension as Jace slammed his fists onto the table and stood abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury.

Aemond, ever his brother’s protector, rose immediately. But Jace, forced a smile and raised his cup.

“To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond,” Jace said, his voice cool yet heavy with underlying menace. “We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To you and your family’s good health, dear uncles.”

Aegon huffed “To you as well,”

Viserys, oblivious to the mounting tension, nodded approvingly at Jace. “Well done, my boy,”

Helaena, ever the strange and soft-spoken one, suddenly stood, raising her glass awkwardly. “I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena,” she said, her tone as detached as ever. “They’ll be married soon. It isn’t so bad. Mostly he just ignores you-except sometimes when he’s drunk.”

Valaena’s eyes narrowed in a glare at Aegon, who rubbed a hand over his face, clearly embarrassed by his sister’s blunt honesty.

Helaena, however, smiled sweetly and sat back down as if she hadn’t just revealed the stark reality of her marriage.

Viserys, trying to lighten the mood, called for music. Soon, a sweet melody filled the hall, easing the tension just enough for the moment.

Jace, rose from his seat and approached Helaena, offering her his hand. She accepted with a shy smile, and the two began to dance.

Aemond, watching the scene unfold, stood and offered his hand to Valaena. She eyed him curiously, but when he gave her a small nod, she accepted, letting him lead her to an empty space in the hall.

As the music continued, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them moving together.

Aemond twirled her gracefully, and when he lifted her off the floor, a soft laugh escaped her lips, filling the air with a rare moment of joy.

They danced, oblivious to the curious eyes watching them, as if they were the only two people in the room.

When the music ended, Valaena, slightly breathless, smiled and thanked Aemond before Jace, angrily stormed over grabbing hold of her arm and forcefully pulling her away from Aemond who took a step forward but stopped when Valaena shook her head.

“What was that?” snarled Jace.

Valaena gave him a casual shrug as she wrenched her arm out of his grasp “He asked me to dance. I couldn’t exactly refuse.”

Before the conversation could continue, Viserys grew visibly tired, and the guards moved to take him back to his chambers.

The moment he was carried out, Aegon stood abruptly and walked over to Valaena, his grin wide and insufferable.

“Seen as you danced with my brother, it’s only fair you take a turn with me,” he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Valaena hesitated, noticing Aemond who had resumed his seat was clenching his jaw. But she couldn’t exactly refuse without making a scene, so she took Aegon’s hand reluctantly.

As they danced, Aegon leaned in close, his voice low and taunting.

“If you think my brother has good moves, you should try mine,” he whispered.

Valaena’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Aegon smirked. “How long have you been fucking my brother?”

Valaena laughed, brushing him off. “Are you drunk?”

“Not drunk enough to lose my wits,” Aegon replied with a sly grin. “That was you I heard with him last night-”

“You know nothing,” Valaena said, twirling around him, trying to maintain her composure.

“I know more than you think-” Aegon shot back, his tone sharp. “I take it none of your family know about you and Aemond”

“Clearly the wine has addled your senses uncle,” Valaena muttered, her patience wearing thin.

Before Aegon could respond, a loud banging interrupted them. Aemond had risen from his seat, his cup in hand, his expression dark and unreadable.

“Final tribute,” Aemond declared, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “To the health of my nephews, Jace and Luke. Each of them handsome, wise-hmm-strong.”

“Aemond,” Alicent warned, but he ignored her, his gaze fixed on Jace.

“Come,” Aemond continued, his smirk widening. “Let us drain our cups to these two Strong boys.”

Jace, his face flushed with anger, snarled, “I dare you to say that again.”

“Why? ‘Twas only a compliment,” Aemond replied, his voice laced with mockery. “Do you not think yourself Strong?”

Jace lunged forward, punching Aemond in the jaw. Chaos then erupted as Luke tried to intervene, but Aegon grabbed him, slamming his head into the table.

“Jace!” Rhaenyra shouted, rising from the table as Alicent yelled, “That is enough!”

Valaena, seeing Aegon manhandling her brother, rushed over and grabbed a handful of his hair, wrenching him away from Luke.

Aegon retaliated by grabbing her and shoving her back, but Valaena, lurched forward and punched him in the side of the head.

Alicent seized Aemond, pulling him aside. “Why would you say such a thing before these people?” she demanded, her voice filled with frustration.

Aemond, his face impassive, simply smirked. “I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, Mother. Though it seems my nephews aren’t quite as proud of theirs.”

As Jace broke free from the Kings guard, ready to charge Aemond again, Daemon stepped in, his voice calm but commanding. “Wait, wait!” he said, halting everyone in their tracks.

Rhaenyra, her voice sharp, said, “Go to your quarters. All of you. Now.”

Valaena stepped away from Aegon, her chest heaving with anger as she glanced at Aemond one last time before she followed her siblings out of the room.

Valaena moved quietly around her chambers, packing her things into a worn leather satchel. Her hands trembled as she stuffed clothing and personal items inside.

As she picked up her hairpins from the vanity, she heard the familiar creak of shifting wood behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“My mother has said that we are to sail back to Dragonstone,” she said flatly, focusing on the task at hand.

A moment later, she felt the warmth of a hand settle on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off, moving to the vanity again to gather her remaining things.

“You are upset with me,” Aemond said quietly.

Valaena’s jaw tightened as she stuffed the hairpins into her satchel. “I know you have no love or care for my brothers, but did you not consider the harm you would do to me with that toast of yours?”

Aemond stepped closer, frustration simmering in his voice. “It was your brother who angered me. He dared to laugh at my expense.”

Valaena turned sharply to face him, her eyes filled with hurt. “So, in your anger, you decide to ridicule me?” Her voice trembled with accusation.

Aemond’s expression softened, his hand reaching up to cup her face. “No. Not you. Never you.”

Valaena pulled away, removing his hands from her face as her heart ached. “I can take the whispers and the stares of others, but I cannot take it from you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aemond reached for her again, but this time, she stepped back, her eyes refusing to meet his. “Please don’t turn from me,” he said softly, his voice laced with desperation. “I did not mean to hurt you.”

Her fingers fiddled with the buckles of her satchel as she tried to steady her breath. “How can you scorn my brothers but claim to care for or even love me when I share the same blood as they do?”

Aemond’s expression darkened with old memories. “They used to tease me, as you well know. You suffered the same.” His voice carried a heavy bitterness.

“Yes, I did,” Valaena replied, her tone sharper than she intended.

“All I ever wanted was a dragon,” Aemond continued, his voice growing distant as he looked back on his childhood. “After you were taken to Dragonstone, and word came that you had claimed Silverwing, that gave me hope. I thought, like you, perhaps I wasn’t meant to have an egg, that maybe my dragon was already grown.”

Valaena paused, her hands stilling on the satchel as she remembered. “I was always meant for the sky,” she said softly, her eyes far away. “I could hear her calling for me. And when we flew together, our hearts were as one.”

“That’s all I ever wanted,” Aemond confessed, his voice thick with emotion. “When I claimed Vhagar, I sensed her loneliness. I know too well how it feels to be alone. She accepted me, and the joy of our first flight—” His voice faltered, the pain of the memory clear. “—was ripped away when your brothers and cousins attacked me.”

Valaena closed her eyes, guilt washing over her. “I tried to stop them.”

“I know,” Aemond whispered, stepping closer. “When I fell into the dirt, blood pouring down my face, I could hear you screaming. And then you came to me.” His voice softened as he remembered that night. “You tore pieces of your nightgown and pressed them to my face to stop the bleeding. You took my hand. Do you remember what you said?”

Valaena’s breath hitched as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Yes. I remember.”

Aemond’s voice was low and reverent, the weight of their shared memory hanging between them.

“Iksan lēda ao,” he whispered, his gaze fixed on her. (I’m with you)

Valaena’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes filled with more tears as she looked up at him.

“Are you with me Valaena?” asked Aemond.

“Va moriot,” she whispered back, her voice trembling. (Always)

In an instant, Aemond surged forward, his lips crashing against hers in a fierce, desperate kiss. Valaena melted into him, her hands clutching at his tunic as if holding on to him was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested against one another, their breath mingling as they stood in silence.

Aemond’s voice was raw with emotion as he whispered, “I’m sorry. I never meant to cause you harm. I love you.”

Tears spilled freely from Valaena’s eyes as she whispered back, “I love you too.”

For a moment, the world outside their small space seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them.

Aemond pulled back slightly, his fingers still resting on Valaena's cheek as he searched her tear-streaked face, his gaze filled with urgency. "How long do we have?" he asked softly, his voice laced with an edge of desperation. "Until you have to return to Dragonstone?"

Valaena swallowed hard, her heart heavy with the weight of their impending separation. “My mother could come for me at any moment,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking the truth out loud would make it happen faster.

Aemond’s jaw clenched, as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, “We best be quick then.”

Before she could respond he spun Valaena around and pressed her face against the wall, with one hand on the back of her neck and the other quickly pushing down his breeches and smallclothes.

“I said we needed to be quick” rasped Aemond as he nudged her ankle with his foot, signalling for her to open her legs wider.

His body covered hers as he sucked and licked the delicate skin of her neck, leaving red marks in his wake.

Valaena moved her head to the side and moaned loudly as she felt Aemond’s teeth digging into her skin.

Not having the time to properly prepare her, Aemond spat into his hand reaching down to run it up and down the hard length of himself, eyeing Valaena with an animalistic hunger, a smirk on his lips as she bent forward for him.

He rucked up the dress she was wearing and pulled aside her smallclothes as he guided himself to her entrance, she barely had a moment to adjust before he is pressing his cock forcefully inside and stretching her brutally, causing her to cry out.

“TAKE IT!” spits Aemond.

Valaena can’t think of anything but the intense pounding thrusts that greet her, causing her to wail and moan, causing the tears form in her eyes, before running down her cheeks.

Aemond sets a brutal pace, his hips crashing into hers, his fingers digging into her hips as he pushes and pulls her against him.

His cock reaching deep inside her, the sting of being stretched by him now giving way to a pleasurable ache.

Then he withdraws from her and spins her around, lifting her into his arms, his mouth pressed against hers as he quickly thrusts back inside her.

“YES! YES! AEMOND!” screams Valaena as she claws at his back.

“FUCK!” shouts Aemond as he feels her cunny clenching around his cock.

“P-Please. Oh Please. Yes-yes” babbled Valaena ignoring the pain in her back as the force of Aemond’s thrusts kept slamming her into the wall.

“That’s it-” encouraged Aemond his gaze rooted to the place where they were joined, transfixed by the sight of her cunt stretched around his cock.

“Oooh-please-please” muttered Valaena.

But then, his thrust begin to slow, and he withdraws from her, making her whimper in frustration.

But Aemond ignores her as he lays her on the chaise and falls to his knees.

Sliding his hands up her legs, bunching the fabric of her smallclothes in his hand before he rips them from her body.

“P-Please-” whined Valaena as she felt his hard cock sliding against her folds.

“Hmm” growled Aemond as he sheathes himself inside her again.

“God. Yes. Aemond” moaned Valaena as he began to thrust in and out of her in deep achingly slow thrusts.

“Your cunt is dripping, it's so beautiful” sighed Aemond.

Slowly thrusting back and forth. Over and over, withdrawing further each time, until his cock entirely withdrew from her warm wet entrance.

“Tell me you want me-“ growled Aemond as he ran the head of his cock through her wet folds.

“I want you” exclaimed Valaena

“Tell me you need me” whispered Aemond as he sheathed himself back inside her.

“I need you-“ muttered Valaena as one of Aemond’s hands slid up her body and wrapped around her throat.

Aemond smiled and then began to fuck her in earnest, his fingers digging into the flesh of her throat, using her as leverage as he repeatedly plunged his cock into her cunny, over, thrilled to hear Valaena’s moans of need echoing around the chambers.

His thrusts, brutal and unrelenting.

“Come for me-” breathed Aemond.

Valaena screamed as her desperately needed peak exploded from her body, making every limb tremble as her body bucked around Aemond’s cock.

“That’s it baby, take it. Take all of me-good girl”.

“A-Aemond-”

“I-I’m going to-come” exclaimed Aemond, the tension in his abdomen was about to burst.

“Yes-yes-” whined Valaena.

 “FUUUCCCKKK” roared Aemond as he exploded. His cock throbbing and twitching as he finally spilled his seed inside her, collapsing against her, breathing hard.

Aemond lay atop Valaena on the chaise, his heart pounding as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breath coming in heavy, heated bursts.

Then, suddenly—a sharp knock at the door.

They both jumped, Valaena gasping as Aemond immediately pulled his softened cock from her and scrambled to fasten his breeches. His fingers fumbled with the laces as Rhaenyra's voice sounded from the other side of the door, calm yet commanding.

"Time to go, Valaena,"

"Just a second!" Valaena's voice was a breathless rush as she hurriedly smoothed out her dishevelled dress, her heart racing.

She glanced at Aemond, who, despite his usual composure, looked equally startled, still fastening his clothes.

The door handle turned with a faint creak, and the door opened slightly. Valaena’s heart leapt into her throat as she saw the sliver of light spilling into the room, but then Daemon’s voice rang out through the gap.

“Is she ready yet? If we’re leaving, we need to go now,” Daemon said, his tone impatient.

“Almost,” Rhaenyra replied.

Valaena cast a desperate glance at Aemond, her voice barely a whisper. “Quick!”

Aemond’s eye darted to the slowly widening door, then back to her. Without a word, he leaned in and pressed a swift but tender kiss to her lips, his fingers lingering on her cheek for a fleeting moment before he slipped away.

With quiet precision, he moved to the secret passage hidden in the shadows of the room, disappearing just as the door began to open wider.

Valaena exhaled shakily, her hands smoothing her dress one last time as she grabbed her satchel. She turned just as her mother finally stepped inside, her smile warm but faintly tired.

"Ready?" her mother asked, her eyes softening when they met Valaena's.

Valaena nodded, offering a small smile in return. "Yes. I’m ready."

Rhaenyra glanced behind her at Daemon, who continued grumbling under his breath about the treachery in the Keep. “Come. Your brothers are waiting.”

With one final glance toward the secret passage, Valaena steeled herself, clutching her satchel a little tighter. She could still feel the lingering warmth of Aemond’s kiss on her lips as she followed her mother, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the time they shared had come to an end—at least for now.

TBC

[sanctuary1988]

Les Petals D'Amour

| Gwi | Masterpost

Pairing: Gwi (the scholar who walks the night) x fem! noble! Reader

Summary: A heartless vampire falls in love for the first time in centuries of loneliness. Passion, secrets, betrayal and love drown the royal palace. Will your love for Gwi prevail through time or will it wither away like a fallen rose petal? Maybe love was his punishment, maybe love was your salvation. Or wasn't it a curse to you both? Because, who can beat a race against time? Who can love in the dark? Who can love without truth? After all, even the most beautiful flower will wither away and end in ashes of time, remembered only by the one who cherished her the most.

General Warnings: fluff, angst, blood, biting, general vampire stuff, secrets, obsession, twisted retail of beauty and the beast, death, character death, typical period misogyny, DARK ROMANCE, spiciness, love?, (specific warnings will be given in each chapter)

Total Word Count: in process

A/N: Welcome to my first fic on this new blog, darling! I finished watching TSWWTN like a month ago and I have officially fallen in love. I took one of the scenes to start this story that could serve as a prequel of the drama from Gwi's perspective. Like a backstory for him that we were denied on the show.

I really hope you will like it, loves. Please share your thoughts with me and feel free to ask me anything! From extra scenes for this story to what's the last thing I ate, I'd love to interact with you all!

*A/N: This story will be updated when I have the time to write, darlings. I'll do my best to keep it alive and ongoing but I have a lot on my plate right now. I'm doing this mostly for myself as I need some space to vent and create without pressure. This blog is a safe space for anyone and that obviously includes me. So please be patient when it comes to updates! I'm giving my all trying to balance my life with all the responsibilities I, myself, put over my already busy life. But be for sure that this story will be finished... someday.

**A/N: Darling, please mind the warnings on this post and on each chapter. I'm still pondering on whether I should include smut here or not as I personally think there should be a solid reason why there must be a spicy scene in a story but aside from that, this story will have some pretty dark contents and behaviours. Disturbing scenes may appear throughout the story and I am not responsible for your media consumption. Please, be careful, love.

~ Main Work

Chapter 1 | Handsome Stranger |2.3k words|

Chapter 2 | Owned Flower |2.4k words|

Chapter 3 | Caged Petal |2k words|

Chapter 4 | Silver Innocence |2.5k words|

Chapter 5 | Subtle Conscience |2.5k words|

Chapter 6 | A Flower For A Flower |4.2k words|

Chapter 7 | Reborn Petals Of Emotion |4k words|

Chapter 8 | Veil Of Temptation |4.5k words|

Chapter 9 | Fate's Cruel Hand |5.1 words|

Chapter 10 | The Heart Of The Poet |3.4 words|

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𖹭 Interlude pt.1 |1.4k words|

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Chapter 11 | The Moon That Embraces The Sun |4.6k words|

Chapter 12 | Melodic Promises |5.5k words|

Chapter 13 | The Silence Of Solitude |3.2k words|

Chapter 14 | Stolen Rose Of A Promise |4k words|

Chapter 15 | Flames Of Passion |4.5k words|

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𖹭 Interlude pt. 2 |2.2k words|

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Chapter 16 | Secret Of Darkness |3.4k words|

Chapter 17 | The Age Of Romance |3k words|

Chapter 18 | Echoes Of Eternity |4.2k words|

Chapter 19 | The Enemy's Lover |5.4k words|

Chapter 20 | The Price Of Love pt. 1 |3k words|

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Interlude pt. 3 |1.8k words|

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Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

???

~ Side Content...

Moodboard

The Playlist 🫶

Started: January/28/2024 Finished: ???

[sylvanas-girlkisser]

Tinfoil out for Rell Medarda

So after my earlier post about the whole Rell/Mel/Ambessa thing, I got to thinking, and now I'm making it everyone's problem.

Spoilers ahead:

In the season 2 opening we get these shots (not all in sequence):

Ambessa sitting lazily on a couch holding a black rose

Mel looking uncomfortable surrounded by shadowy hands

Mel sitting on the same couch, lit so her shadow resembles Ambessa

So, Ambessa is in deep shit with the Black Rose right? They nearly killed her once, they've stripped her of most of her power and influence, and now they've kidnapped Mel. We know Ambessa would do anything to keep her family safe, and that doubtlessly include sacrificing her own life.

The most widespread Rell Medarda theory seems to be that she's Mel's younger sister, with the main counterpoint being that Rell's mom is described as "the heir to a fallen noble house" which doesn't make sense as a descriptor for Ambessa, yeah her house is falling but she's the head not the heir to the house.

And that's when it struck me: House Medarda is crumbling, but so is Mel's own empire. She's losing her sway over the council, her main ally wants to retire from politics, and a civil war is not good for business.

Which is to say nothing of the fact that it's more or less confirmed now that she's got magic, which last i checked is still very much banned in Piltover.

Also there's this promo image of Mel floating around which looks... Distinctly Noxian, at least compared to what she wears in S2A1

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Let's say that by the end of Arcane season 2, Ambessa is dead, house Medarda is in ruins, Mel's own fortune isn't doing much better, and suddenly everyone finds out she's a mage. Who knows maybe she even becomes the scapegoat for everything that happened between Piltover and Zaun.

She's exiled back to Noxus, and has to attempt to rebuild her empire from nothing. Somewhere in the process of doing so she has a daughter. A daughter with a whole lot of magical potential.

Next thing she knows, she's got the Black Rose banging down her door to get their hands on her daughter. Sure it might leave a bitter taste in her mouth to deal with them, but Mel knows business, and isn't there a degree of poetry to the people who ruined her, also being the ones to restore her to power.

"But hold on" you might say "Mel is a kind and loving person, her biggest goal in life is to be different from Ambessa, that sounds nothing like Rell's mom."

Did you know that when Britney Spears wanted her toddlers to calm down, she would give them pacifiers dipped in whiskey, because that's what her parents did to her growing up, and she genuinely didn't realize it was harmful.

Breaking the cycle isn't easy at the best of times, and if Mel is also having to fend off vultures at every turn trying to take what remains of the Medarda fortune, it's easy to imagine her falling into bad habbits.

And wouldn't that just be the most tragic ending for a character like her, who spent so much of her life trying to undo her mother's work, only to end up traumatizing her own daughter and sternly telling her "excellence is measured in sacrifice".

Hey does anyone remember how Rell was forced by her mother to kill her friends one by one in order to make her stronger? How about that scene in season one where Ambessa kills the Ionian princess Mel had made friends with?

[ruins-of-tragedy]

Going to continue the RWBY watchalong textposts. 'Cause I will probably need them to cry over simpler times once I finish the show.

Thoughts on just the first three episodes of season one here because I had too many...

Season 01 Episode 01: Ruby Rose

- Very reminiscent of "I will show you fear in a handful of dust."

- That crime boss was in Yang's trailer. Now we know why he was there. He wanted it to rain men.

- The way Ruby made sure to check in with the shopkeeper before leaving. 🥹

- OOOOOOooooooooh! NOICE fight scenes!

- Hmmm. Villain with an obscured face. A mystery is being developed. Betrayal imminent.

- Blonde huntress. I too would want her autograph. She looks so pretty.

- The way she goes, "If it were up to me..." somehow reminds moi of both McGonagall and Snape.

- Silver eyes are worth calling attention to. Huh. If I remember what my sibling had mentioned once, this is important. Professor Ozpin notes it as well. I can't recall why though. Good thing, I guess.

- Cookies be so good Ruby can't help but stuff her face. Relatable.

- Ahhh. Uncle Qrow. I hope he didn't get too bullied for his name.

- Ruby is freaking precious. I love her. Noble little kiddo. Plus that high-pitched excitement... Cinnamon roll alert!

- Professor Ozpin's glasses are so extra. The heart monitor like thing beside the frames. The small little spectacles. The arch between the viewing bits akin to a parabola. I MUST HAVE THEM.

- Yang. Such a great sister. Almost suffocating her sibling with her love. Adorable!!!

- Ruby doesn't want bees knees. Do bees have knees?

- Yang coming in clutch with the truth. Special ladies, the both of them.

- I can't. Love how the headshots for Roman Torchwick look like the sketch equivalent of our world. Gave me a good laugh.

- Faunus rights. Must be important. Don't like the White Fang's disruption of the peace, but their logo is cool.

- From Signal to Beacon... They really want to shine a light on the guiding forces. Appreciate it.

- Blonde huntress is Glynda Goodwitch?! Is Elphaba coming too?!?!

- "Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace..." Way to jinx it. Now we know where it all went wrong. 😂

- The ending credits song is so gooooooood!

- Looks like the vomit guy has a legacy to live up to. At least his team has his back. That's nice to see.

- "Victory is in a simple soul." Really honing in on the simple part. The introductory bit also stressed on it.

- Consider me intrigued. Who will Ruby and Yang meet in Beacon? How shall the peace be discarded? And will "Vomit Boy" ever get rid of his initial impression and nickname?

- Wait. Is Ruby the youngest because 'Little' Red Riding Hood is her character backdrop?

Season 01 Episode 02: The Shining Beacon - Pt I

- This opening song. Ugh. So good. Chef's kiss!!!

- Beacon is here. So are Yang and Ruby. And fangirl Ruby as well.

- Her weapon is called Crescent Rose?!?! 🤩👏🏻😍

- Pulling Ruby by the hood of her cape. Using it to cover her face and be an annoyance. Yang knows exactly why it was made and how to use it.

- Oh my Gods. Yang left Ruby spinning and she fell for Weiss. Well, her suitcases I guess. But still. Meet-cute!

- My bad. This is a meet-disaster. I love it! Plus, Weiss' points sank in a little too well. Both for Ruby and her. That sneeze proved it.

- Blake being buried in a book and finding the vial of dust with what can only be the Schnee logo. Huh. It's the same one which was present on the boxes Adam and her were looting. Snowflake. OOOOOOooooooh!

- Ruby is not just a dolt. She is a "complete dolt."

- Listen. Ruby called Weiss princess. Of course I am shipping it. TriMberly in a different bottle... Jokes aside though, I can't wait for Yang and Blake to meet soon!!!

- Whoa. Blake is really giving it to Weiss. NOICE!

- Weiss is pouty heiress baby, as well as a lowkey bully. Blake left. And Ruby is sad and lying on the floor. What a day.

- Vomit guy is Jaune. Ahhh. Motion sickness really out here kicking his arse. And now he is thinking of giving Ruby a nickname; "Crater-face." Is this what they call banter?

- Jaune wants the ladies to love him. Samesies my dude.

- The sword and shield fall out of Jaune's hands. That's what they do. 😆

- Wait. Ruby made that weapon?!? Holy mother of shirtballs. Does that mean Yang also forged hers? Coooool!

- Jaune does not only seem like a good guy, but also someone who has a name to live up to. Hmmm. Is he okie?

- "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." So sweet! Jaune's mom should consider adopting me.

- Basically Ruby and Jaune are those biatches who look at each other and go, "Exactly!"

- The end credits song... 😍

Season 01 Episode 03: The Shining Beacon - Pt II

- Opening song. Love you always... Ruby is behind a white caped lady emitting white roses. Her mum am assuming. Also, the winged figure and other assorted monsters with what I think are bones at their back are giving major zombie vibes.

- Yang saved Ruby a seat. Of course. She be a good sibling. The cycle of leaving folks behind continues... Jokes!

- Poor Jaune though. He really be complaining out loud. Someone heard him it seems. Maybe she is "nice and quirky."

- Yang really thinks Ruby is dramatic enough to call a possible meltdown an explosion. LoLL! I can see it.

- Ruby's snort was cute and now she is recalling her encounter with "a crabby girl," while said crabby girl is right behind her... Why is this so funny. It's been done before. But this is somehow better.

- "Oh my God. You really exploded." That line delivery was goooood.

- Weiss just carries a pamphlet titled "Dust for dummies and other Inadequate Individuals" on her at all times?! And of course she has the disclaimer memorised.

- Jaune is catching strays, Ruby is a sweet bean who cannot understand sarcasm and Weiss needs to be not so mean.

- Why did I just realise Professor Ozpin is supposed to be the Wizard of Oz? Still don't know what fairytale character Jaune is though...

- This isn't a first day toast. It's a roast paired with an almost sinister call for action. Hmmm. Maybe Ozpin sounding like he isn't there will play a major role later.

- Jaune. You lovable dork. Who questioned your natural blondeness?

- Sleepover alert!!! Ooooooh! Love Ruby's eye mask.

- Not the boys showing off and preening. Ugh. At least Yang likes it. Also, Jaune is actually wearing a onesie?! Little baby!!!

- Ruby writing a letter to her friends back home is ADORABLE!!! Awww. She is also feeling lonely.

- Yang's pause when trying to describe Jaune isn't fooling anyone. And Ruby. You precious kiddo... Negative friend. 😆

- "You just made one friend and one enemy!" Yang really does not pull her punches. 😂

- There should have been a drinking game going on in that hall for every time Yang gets hit by a pillow. The doggie cushion was extremely cute though.

- Yang giving good advise. Love to see it!

- Oh my Gods. Ruby is the reason Yang meets Blake for the first time here?! AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! If this somehow parallels to Weiss and Ruby also getting together, I will throw a party.

- Just realised Blake is reading by the candlelight. This girl. What a nerd. (said as affectionately as possible)

- On an unrelated note, I really like both Yang and Ruby's tanktops. And what Blake's wearing. The fashion in this show is on point.

- Ruby was so nervous she almost asked Blake to call her Crater-face... Been there.

- Yang is extrovert extraordinaire. Blake will not budge. War of attrition, anyone?

- This "lost cause" will be your future girlfriend Yang! Funny how that works... 🤩

- I would totally read the book Blake's reading. Sounds pretty interesting. Is it a real thing?

- Awwww. Ruby has such a good heart. Happily ever afters for everyone. Gods. I hope she never loses her belief system.

- The fact that Yang used to read to Ruby as a kid reminds me of how the blonde practically raised her sister. She should be proud. Of both Ruby and her own self.

- Weiss and Yang saying the 'you again' dialogue together, while aiming it at someone else entirely was so good. Made me laugh.

- "...that's how I met your mother. And aunt." Blake someday, probably.

- Different ending song. Featured only Weiss. I want to hear all of it. Why did it stop like that?

- Wait. Is Jaune supposed to be Joan of Arc?! If so, NOICE!!!

Edit: If you saw the original 'Juane,' which I then proceeded to turn into Jayne here and there when I tried to fix his name... No you didn't.

Edit Edit: Added the 'Season 01' prefix along with episode names to each header of them thoughts, and changed their colours to blue while turning them bold... 'cause am nice like that.

(Don't spoil stuff pwease! Or I will find you, and I will make sure you witness my not-so-particular set of skills that will end with you having an existential crisis. Toodle-oo!)

[the-ellia-west]

INTRO POST!!1!!!!!1!

Hello! I'm Ellia! Welcome to my weird-ass writeblr blog! Here's some things to know about me:

I am an Aspiring author and Devoted Christian Woman. I live in the USA (CDT time zone) I am a minor, and the only other language I know is some very spotty spanish.

I mainly write Fantasy, and I'm working on four main projects (Listed Below)!

I like: Jesus, Bright Colors, People, Writing, Reading, Cats, Music, Warm Weather, Rain, Flowers, Dresses, and my Moots!

I Dislike: The texture of wool, Heavy Lifting, Baked Beans, Sin, Satan, Demons, and the Time Travel Trope

Hey! Pst! Before you continue! I have a side blog! Check out @jakkon-and-rose-topic if you want to read some stuff!

Tags:

Ellia Writes - Any talking or sharing of any aspect of any of my WIPs

Ellia's Construction Company - How I make stuff, tutorials, ect.

Ghost Party - Chatting and geeking out with my friends/Moots

Ellia answers - Answering questions

Ellia's Rambling - Me talking about stuff (a little too much)

Ellia's Haunted house - Any posts that I could slot into my story and character/world building. And my pile of creations (Including shitposts)

Ellia's mind palace - Stuff I'm adding to my mental Library :]

Ghost gardens - Aesthetic Pictures and stuff

Ghost scribbles - Art/Drawing Practice

My Wips:

TCOT - (The Cursed One's Throne) - TCOT is a low fantasy Novel Series I have been working on for 5 years, and I hope to publish in the next year, and the Main Wip I will work on and talk about on this blog (Tags: #elliatcot, #ellia tcot, #ellia's tcot, #the cursed one's throne)

J&R - (Placeholder Title) - High fantasy Adventure with Sass, spunk, and a heck of a lot of conflict (To be turned into a comic one day)

StF - (Steel and Feathers) - StF is a High Fantasy project about a Chosen one And stuff (Tags: #stf, #elliastf, #ellia'sstf, #ellia stf, #ellia stf)

Fallen - (That's the title) - A High Fantasy Romance between a Runaway Noble and a Disgraced (probably Criminal) (Tags: #elliafallen, #ellia'sfallen, #ellia fallen, #ellia's fallen, #rustpearl)

StF Short story Masterpost!

Alkain - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Raavas - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 3.5

Old Pinned post Copy-paste below (followed by my moots)

------------------------------------ Hey there! Hi! You! Tumblr user!

Are you a fan of epic fantasy? Want a story with romance, action, and sassy heroes and villains? How about some good old-fashioned ANGST?

If so, you're in luck! Get ready for the upcoming release of The Cursed One's Throne (TCOT for short), coming... well, eventually!

A story of trauma, war, recovery, trust, and love intertwined with curses, magic, sacrifice, and a few too little hours of sleep. Who needs a release date when you've got me, the very entertaining author, right?

------------------------------------

Wtf is TCOT?

TCOT sneak Peek

Worldbuilding

Music

TCOT Ships

Post this comes from

✨️Moots✨️💫

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If you made it all the way to the end, have a wonderful day, don't forget to drink water, have a little snack, sleep, take a walk, and Don't forget that I love you :] <3333

[limaliamandthebigbean]

Whenever I think of Steven Universe I think a theme it explored often, and explored well, was that sometimes the people close to you do things that really hurt you. Sometimes out of weakness, anger, ignorance, or even out of good intentions. And that sucks! And maybe the best exploration of the theme is the Steven Bomb, Week of Sardonyx. Anyone who happens to read this will know it, so no need for a recap (but there will be pretty screenshots. don't worry).

Now this whole "people you love hurt you" thing on the surface permeates basically all fiction. Otherwise there'd be no conflict, right? But what separates SU is that often their actions aren't justified or noble. Garnet is right, what Pearl does is terrible, it's at best a time waster! But that's what makes it such a good arc and exploration of the characters! Because in real life people are just like that. They DO do things that are horrible, even if they really love you. It's such a human and grounded concept executed very well using fantastical elements (like any good fiction).

The Week of Sardonyx stands tall above even other episodes/arcs of the show because the fact that it was a bomb (not like a financial bomb). They didn't have to wrap it up in a neat 11 minute bow, they could stretch it out and reeeeally make you feel the consequences. You really get some juicy insight into the cast; how they feel, how they interact with each other, etc. It was a big shake up for the time too, there had never been such a falling out (even temporary) between the core Crystal Gems. Hey, isn't it interesting how both "gems fuse with Garnet" episodes explore dark sides of Fusion?

Alright, I'm gonna throw some shade at the SU fandom real quick, so I may step on some toes. But when these, and many other episodes, were coming out there were people who reacted very vitriolically. Is Pearl the worst now? Is she evil?? Are these episodes terrible because they ruined Pearl? And the answer is no you idiot! People who are "the good guys" can do bad things! That's what makes them complex! That's what makes them interesting! But does it make them bad people? Definitely not. Come on guys. have a BIT of media literacy (like me, the smartest guy in the world of course).

Now while the Week of Sardonyx is, at least at that point in the series, the best execution of this theme, there are some episodes I should give credit to as well. Island Adventure is the very first, and it doesn't even feature the gems! Sadie trapping them on an island to try help Lars is just great, very emotionally muddy episode. Maximum Capacity is the first one where anger is a theme, with Amethyst intentionally trying to upset Greg. And again, not cool, not justified, and that's what's so good about it! And lastly one of my favorites, Rose's Scabbard, because of the simple scene of Pearl not helping Steven up. Not very safe, excellently showing how upset and entrenched in grief Pearl is in this scene.

Wow I like really REALLY rambled.

[daughterofheartshaven]

This is a rant about the 2023 Doctor Who specials. I was typing up another post about why I do like a bunch of other Who stories then got distracted so decided to make this.

I normally really try to be positive about Doctor Who. Everyone's tastes are valid, and if you like the 2023 specials I am genuinely glad that you do! I don't think these specials are objectively bad or the Death of The Show or anything like that, I just personally Do Not Like Them and have decided I want to rant about why. If you want some insight into how I think about these stories (or also don't like them and want to see someone else talk about why they didn't work for her) I hope you enjoy! But if you don't wanna read something like that, skip this and I promise I'll be nicer next post.

So I should probably start by saying that I am a Known Thirteen Defender and consider The Power of the Doctor to be my favorite episode the show has done, so it's fair to say that these three specials were probably never gonna be my favorites following that.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the Tenth Doctor on tv. He's been redeemed in my eyes by Big Finish and Titan Comics, but his tv run didn't do it for me. This means, much as I think David Tennant is a cool person (from what I know about him anyway), his return wasn't something I was exited about. I was exited to see Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor, so my reaction to the reveal that nope! David Tennant again! was basically anger that Gatwa was getting benched (and, yes, I know that the whole reason they did this was that Gatwa was busy and couldn't have done these specials. Still doesn't change my emotional reaction to that twist).

And finally, I cannot express in words how much I was not interested in Donna Noble returning. Don't get me wrong, I think Donna is a fantastically written character. But the reason she is so fascinating is because she is deeply relatable. She is a character who the audience is expertly designed to relate to and someone they would like. Meanwhile I, and I cannot stress this enough, am nothing like Donna Noble. I think I would like the character a lot more if I felt like she contrasted with the other Tenth Doctor companions, but she's the third modern-day earth human in a row, and I'm not interested in that archetype. So the result is I just kind of think of Donna as "that time they did Tegan again" and that's that.

All of this is to say that I doubt I would have totally loved the specials even if they'd been great. I wasn't interested in the core concepts. But even beyond that, they dropped the ball in my eyes.

So, the Star Beast.

I actually really like this episode for most of its runtime. Its an adaptation of a comic story from the 70s, and it does a great job balancing being faithful to its source material and actually being a good 2020s tv episode. I'm maybe not the hugest fan of the trial scene - the comic has a much more action-oriented way it handles the reveal - but overall, I really think this episode does a good job. I also love Shirley, and she was basically replacing Osgood. I love Osgood. Selling me on a character who was Osgood's replacement was gonna be hard, and they actually did it. Shirley is great. Rose is also great, too - like, she's not that deep or interesting, but like. I cannot emphasize enough how seeing a trans woman of color matters. And she's written well enough for the most part.

Of course then it falls apart at the end. The Doctor has to return Donna's memories and then it turns out she isn't going to die after all! Because she gave some of this energy to her daughter! And she can just give up the rest!

Okay, I am against any sort of "Donna's memories return" plotline, because Donna losing her memories is the emotional core that underruns all of her time with the Tenth Doctor and his time after her. Like, in my opinion, that one fact - that Donna loses everything she grew into while traveling with the Doctor - is the emotional underpinning of the back half of the Tenth Doctor era, so removing that makes that whole arc seem a lot cheaper and shallower in retrospect. I was expecting the midwipe thing to be undone, but I was expecting it to be an arc over all three episodes.

And all of that would apply if they had pulled this off well, but as you can probably tell, I do not think they did that. The "Rose got some of the Metacrisis" twist is decently pulled off, but the "we can let the regeneration energy go" thing... after how much grief the Tenth Doctor went through over this stuff, the concept that this would just not occur to him because he was a man (??) makes no sense to me. If there was a viable solution, he would have found it. And saying that women just intuitively get this better is super confusing and off-putting. And, for the record, I am in fact a woman.

I don't really have much to say about Wild Blue Yonder. It's basically a great example of a Meh episode for me. I don't care for it, but that's mostly because a lot of it feels like "the Doctor and Donna, back as normal for a new adventure!" and like I said above this isn't gonna be all that interesting if I don't like Donna. The actual barebones plot - the episode's structures and twists - is pretty good, but I haven't gotten a chance to like the new Doctor yet and I'm not into the companion.

And then the Giggle comes around and it has the Doctor commit mitosis out of nowhere and robs Ncuti Gatwa of having a proper post-regeneration story and doesn't even utilize the guest characters and makes Donna and Mel seem Special To The Doctor instead of the companions who I actually like who were just on the show and like I'm sorry but why did we have to leave Yaz and Ace and Tegan in the dust like that and (takes a deep breath).

Okay, let's go through all of that, but more slowly.

Much like The Star Beast, my problems with The Giggle are mostly about how it finishes. I have less good things to say about the build-up, but there's nothing all that bad. My only gripe is that for having Kate and Shirley and Mel, none of those characters feel like they had to be there - none of them do much except explain the plot to the Doctor. They don't really help resolve it. Compare The Power of the Doctor, which utilized all of its guest stars incredibly well - each of them was crucial to the narrative and the story as presented would not work without any of those characters doing the things they had done. (I guess you could argue Graham as an exception, but I feel like his setting up of the support group at the very end was more than enough to justify his presence in the narrative). This leaves Kate, Shirley, and Mel feeling underused.

And then we get to the bigeneration scene. Okay, first of all, the concept came out of nowhere. I've seen people defend it by pointing out all of the other things in the show that came out of nowhere, but, like. They had the basic lore of how regeneration worked locked down back in the 70s. Messing with that now doesn't feel like adding something new to the mythos, it feels like messing with a preexisting thing for... reasons?

And like that's the thing about the bigeneration. I just don't understand why, narratively, this makes a better story. Like I don't like the Timeless Child stuff either, but I can see how Chris Chibnall was going for new narrative opportunities. I don't see how we can return to Fourteen after this story and make an interesting narrative out of it without trampling on the point this story is trying to make: that the Doctor deserves to retire for a bit.

(Which is deeply funny if you stop to remember the amount of times the Doctor has been stuck in one time and place for some reason, but I don't need to get into that one).

I'm bothered by bigeneration mostly because of the fact that they robbed Ncuti Gatwa of a post-regeneration story. Having the Doctor recover from a regeneration and work out who they are is something I really really value and skipping over that with Gatwa is a disservice to him and his Doctor, in my mind.

The catch game also feels weird because Doctor Who is all about winning by being smart and brave and kind. Being good at catch isn't really smart or good or kind, so it being the solution feels like a cop out.

And finally, the show having the Doctor go and live with Donna stung for me, because, how many times can I say it, I don't care about Donna. However, we just left Yaz (my favorite NuWho companion), Ace (my one of my favorite classic series companions), and Tegan (who I don't love quite as much as Ace but also love very much), so the show going out of the way to claim the Doctor changed his face because he needed to find Donna to "come home" specifically feels like a slap in the face for all three of them.

I think that last bit is the reason I stay salty about the Giggle even over a year later. I acknowledge that Donna is a great companion, and I don't think I have to like her for her to be great. But to put her above three of my favorite companions like that stings.

And what really kills it for me is that I can see such a great story in this trillogy.

Like, imagine the Star Beast going as seen, except Donna actually dies when we expect her to. She saved London. She saved her daughter. But she died to do it. The Doctor, dealing badly with his grief, tries to flee in his Tardis, but Rose manages to follow him on board, demanding answers as to why her mom is now dead.

This leads straight into Wild Blue Yonder. The Doctor wants to get Rose home but they're both grieving Donna and she doesn't trust him one jot and blames him for her mother's death. The Not-Things try to play into this - driving a wedge between Rose and the Doctor, but the two manage to work together to work out what's going on and escape with their lives. In the process, they both heal a little. The Doctor accepts that Donna made her choice, and Rose accepts that the Doctor didn't kill her mother.

And then when they return to Earth in the Giggle, they are able to work together to stop the Toymaker. At the end, the Doctor is shot and actually regenerates as normal, but he's able to use his regeneration as a distraction, giving Rose the room to defeat the Toymaker. She is then able to help him get through his post-regenerative process and they leave on good terms. Rose is still grieving her mother, but she can understand why Donna chose to travel with the Doctor and she makes sure he knows he is still welcome in their house.

Like, come on. It's the same plots, basically, but it actually has an emotional arc that lasts longer than one episode, is in line with prior emotional arcs, and uses the heavily advertised trans woman of color that we all got exited for instead of benching her after the first story and gives her a good deal of depth.

(Yes I know if RTD had killed Donna off and replaced her with a trans woman of color there would have been so much bigoted backlash but I still think it would have been a better story).

Okay, I'm done now. If you have any counterarguments to this or want to add on to any of this, I do want to hear it! One thing I love about Doctor Who is that different people love it for different reasons and love different things. If you're a fan of The Giggle and read this anyway, then massive respect for making your way through all of this and I'd love to see you talk about why you loved it so much!

[otaqueer]

Post 2- Queer Girl Utena, part 1: The gender nonconforming prince.

Today I wanted to talk about a staple in yuri and shoujo: Revolutionary Girl Utena, personally one of my favourite works of all time.

Created by the group Be-Papas, assembled primarily for this project, this work consists in a manga (1996), an anime TV series (1997) a Sega Saturn game (1998) and a movie (1999).

In this post and the following part I will be discussing mainly the TV series. If I might talk about any other work, it will be stated explicitly.

This story follows 14-year-old Utena Tenjou, whose parents died when she was young, so she was saved by a prince from all that sadness. Somehow, she ends up entangled in a series of duels in order to defend (and keep by her side) the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya. 

THE GENDER NONCONFORMING PRINCE

As the story says, she was so amazed by the prince who saved her life that she vowed to become a prince herself. “But was it such a good idea?”

Utena is scolded more than once for wearing “a boys’ uniform”, but her uniform is neither the boys’ or the girls’ uniform.

Ohtori Academy's actual boys' uniform

Utena reading on the school rules how it is allowed for a girl to wear a boys' uniform

"With Utena, the main character wears a male uniform--but it isn't really a male uniform, is it? It's just the clothes that Utena likes. She's not bound by the same male/female conventions that previous characters may have been bound by. I don't think that society has changed all that much, but in modern manga, a person is all allowed to follow her own path." - Ikuhara on an interview with Animerica Extra, year 2000

Revolutionary Girl Utena often explores gender non-conformity not only on a visual level with elements like her uniform, but also with Utena’s role and aspiration to become a prince. She wants to save Anthy, she wants to be noble and defend everybody, she is good at sports and very popular among other girls – qualities that of course a woman could fulfill, but they are often performed by and symbolic of men.

She doesn’t see herself as a masculine person, as she acts surprised when Nanami calls herself “boy-girl”.

In the 1999 movie, we can see her with a different look: Her hair made seem like it’s short (though it’s not), a “male” uniform with long pants this time and even we have an awkward moment when Saionji confuses her for a man.

Utena's uniform in Utena The Movie (1999)

FITTING IN THE MOLD, BETRAYING WHO YOU ARE, FITTING IN THE OTHER MOLD

I think it is really interesting to see how she finds trouble keeping up the aspiration of becoming a prince with all that it means since she is still looking for her own prince and finds herself completely disarmed when the thought of finding him is presented to her. She “betrays” Anthy, and saving her starts to matter a little bit less when she wonders if Touga could be her prince (of course, manipulated by him) and when Akio shows romantic and sexual interest for her too, becoming her first love (and an older one, too). These men try so hard for her to be the princess of their stories and, of course, as she has lived in the same system we have all lived in, she is conditioned to do so.

This is something that many gender nonconforming and trans people have lived through: You can still have elements that were forced onto you by society, but they mean something different for you, they just don’t deny who you are. Just like a transwoman can have a beard and still be a woman, or a transman can wear makeup and still be a man, or any nonbinary person can do something that relates to their assigned gender and still be nonbinary, Utena could have been so much happier if someone had told her that she could kiss other princes and still become a prince.

But that is never the case, and those seemingly “girly” instincts are a penintence to her sometimes. When she loses to Touga and her prince uniform has been scratched, she wears the school girl’s uniform. That episode was painful to see, she really is seeing herself having failed in being just who she is, in not having proven that she could be a prince and not a girl, just because for a moment she was happy with the idea of Touga being her prince and liking it. She also felt as she has failed her own princess and, the ugly truth is that they live in a system where that is actually true.

Of course that was Touga’s plan for winning the duel, but how would have things gone if Utena knew that she could love Touga outside the dueling arena without that interrupting her fighting for Anthy’s freedom and security? Of course, Anthy won’t forget that either when she sees Utena being attracted to Akio.

On the other hand, there is a language level of it all. In Japanese, Utena uses the “boku” first person pronoun to refer to herself, which is normally used by men exclusively. This is something that never changes, not even when she is about to be kissed by Akio or taken to a hotel with him.The language aspect of it all stays with her until the very end. Very rewarding and affirming to watch.

WHEN WOMEN’S LIBERATION AND GENDER NONCONFORMITY CLASH

When women in fiction are presented with the “you cannot do that because you are a woman” statement and they work against it, taking the steps only a man is expected to take, it is of course proof that women can do anything and fulfill every role, e.g., you do not need to be a prince (masculine) to save other women, to have a noble attitude, to defend people and what you stand for, to fight.

I really did want to stress that because I would never want to state things like “She is wearing a blazer instead of a dress, that is so not a girl from her” as to state the gender nonconformity about her.

Ikuhara: During the Rose of Versailles, by wearing the uniform, (Oscar) his her own body line--her own femininity. But now, times have changed. Even though it's not yet a world where all women are free, this costume might allow her the chance to be a "woman." We're trying to envision a world where a woman can decide what she does with her own body. Utena decided to show off her own beautiful legs. She's comfortable with her own beauty. That's the type of world we were trying to portray. - Ikuhara on an interview with Animerica Extra, year 2000

With that being said, I speak from myself as a nonbinary transmasc-leaning person and I know for a fact that other fellow nonbinary and trans people feel the same: When we see those traits being displayed, it does resonate with us.

We see ourselves in those actions, those elements, those steps, because we have experienced that too. 

That leads us to the next question:

AM I SAYING UTENA IS NOT A WOMAN?

The short answer is no. As I previously stated, I reckon these elements were created to make Utena a free woman, free from what society says a woman can or cannot do. But, knowing Ikuhara wanted to include queer elements on the anime (even if it was just to symbolize other minorities), I also do think the genderfuck element of it all definitely exists and is not just a headcanon.

And I don't really care if it is not canon: The gender deviance aspect of Utena speaks directly into my soul.

I would really like to know other people’s opinion on this matter, and what else is very gender about Utena for you. Come yap with me, please!

[thatscarletflycatcher]

I have been noticing something about North and South Weekly, and that is the very low engagement/commentary on the Higgins/Bessy weeks. And I don't mean this post in a "silly shallow readers only engaging with the romance plot" way at all, because it is a very good dynamic and I love romance and I'm not ashamed of loving romance. It's more about my experience of revisiting the text, and the Higgins plotline growing on me more and more each time.

Part of it is learning about how much Gaskell loved the character of John Barton in Mary Barton -and how Nicholas and Bessy Higgins are a remix of those characters, but besides that...

Under Bessy's "victorianness" there's such a gut punching story of a young woman who has always only known toil and the relative seclusion of industrial town life, something that Gaskell brings across so well with the soundscape of the novel in the neverending industrial noise that tortures Bessy and the sense of oppression Margaret gets in Milton. And you can almost touch Bessy's feverishness and horror mixed with her delirious craving for Heaven and peace and quiet and rest. Margaret, besides her own, reflects our shock and discomfort with this picture.

And then there's Nicholas, who is written as intelligent and noble but also full of pathos. In my last reread, I found myself tearing up at his scenes more than any other. Granted, some of his best moments and lines come much later on than this point, but even so far, bits like this one in chapter XI:

Bessy leant back against her father, who prepared to carry her upstairs; but as Margaret rose to go, he struggled to say something; “I could wish there were a God, if it were only to ask Him to bless thee.”

that show his love for Bessy and his inner conflict, are so touching.

I guess what I'm trying to say is to extend an invitation to look more closely into these chapters, because there's good stuff in them too, and nothing in this novel is filler.