#seizing her own narrative from the get-go

[crimson-nail]

HIIIIIIIIIIII MISS CRIMSON NAIL HAAAAIIIII FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HELLO

[kykyonthemoon]

How to romance the lovely Miss Hunter

By finding out the tropes you like to read in romance novels, he might know just how you would like this love to be.

ಇ. Character x Reader/MC

Included parts in order: Rafayel, Xavier, Zayne, Caleb

ಇ. Tags: soft, sweet, fluff, cheesy (it's a warning), teasing, established relationship (except for Caleb's part), roleplaying (with Rafayel), jealousy (Xavier being jealous with his other identity - Lumiere), mentioned of all the romance tropes I like to write about, childhood friends to lovers, adopted brother and sister, princess and her merman slave, damsel in distress.

ಇ. Word count: 4k3

ಇ. Requested by Krys.

ಇ. Masterlist

ಇ. Request

𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒍 

"What have you done just now?! "That was my first kiss."

The princess exclaimed. She then covered her lips with her fingers and concealed her face behind the veil that had just been removed.

The attractive mermaid, with his bare chest revealed beneath the water, smiled, half cold, half alluring. He migrated close to to the Princess and declared:

“Now you are mine.”

The book in Rafayel’s hand rolled from the sofa to the floor, and he began laughing uncontrollably, crawling even. You seized the book in anger, folded it flat, and requested:

“Please stop.”

Rafayel covered his lips with a palm and smiled. His eyes shone with tears, his cheeks went scarlet, and his stomach ached from laughing so hard. He leaned absolutely back on the sofa and gazed at you.

"Your Highness, you do have a hobby of reading such cheesy love stories."

Rafayel replicated the dialogue from the book, making you even more enraged. You shot him a stare.

"Hmm." You gripped the book hard in your hands. Ever since he caught you reading this romantic novel inspired by the legend of Lemuria, Rafayel had been teasing you by reenacting passages from the written scenes, but in a sardonic style that left you flush with embarrassment.

"Your Highness, where are you heading to?" Rafayel grabbed your wrist as you turned to go. "Do not forget that now, you are mine."

Rafayel restrained another chuckle. You violently yanked free from his grip. 

“I'm… sorry…” Rafayel cleared his throat. He eventually came to the decision to stop this childish game. 

"With the exception of a few references to Lemurian mythology, the rest are too… much. The author has let her imagination wander too far.” 

"You are insulting other people's interests!" You frowned and responded. "I enjoy reading passionate love stories like this. Is there a problem with it?”

Rafayel stared at you with an expression of pain. You were the one who got furious, so why did he appear to be more upset?

“If you wish to learn about Lemuria, wouldn't it be better to just ask me directly? You don't need to read stories like that.”

The book in your hand was titled The Lemurian Kiss. The plot focused on a handsome mermaid and the princess he was forced to obey. Tara first exposed you to it, which piqued your interest. Then you were absorbed in the love and resentment, as if it was your own narrative from another life.

Rafayel hated it. Yet you did not understand, if he disliked it so much, why did he even bother to read it more attentively than yourself? Even when he tormented you with passages from the narrative that made you blush, you had to concede that he had read and comprehended it better than you could.

Perhaps it was due to his Lemurian ancestry. Perhaps he had heard a similar story elsewhere in his long life. You had no idea how long he had lived, and you understood very little about Lemurians. Indeed, when you bought this book, you anticipated it to disclose more about his kind than he was eager to share.

Suddenly, you came up with an idea. You gave up attempting to get out of Rafayel's grip. To his astonishment, you crouched down closer to him, giving him no opportunity to sit up. A hand rested on Rafayel's chest, gently forcing him down into the sofa.

"So? Will you tell your beloved princess all the secrets of Lemuria then?"

You altered your voice to seem icy and pompous, like the princess in the tale. Your gaze fixed on Rafayel's, making it impossible for him to ignore you. He was completely taken aback by your abrupt shift in attitude.

“You… What are you doing?”

“Is that how you speak to a princess?”

You appeared unsatisfied, and before Rafayel attempted to get up, you opted to sit on top of him.

“Ouch! That's painful!" He shouted. “You're so heavy! Get off!”

"How insolent of you!" You grabbed Rafayel's chin so he could obediently stay down in place. "I'll have your scales peeled off for daring to insult my weight like this."

He snorted coldly while he was still pinned down on the sofa. "That's it! You're bullying me!"

"Isn't this your favorite scene from the story? When the merman attempted to flee, the princess sat on him. I'm merely offering help since I see you immersing yourself so much in the role from the story there.”

Rafayel's sullen attitude brought you a delicious triumph. He turned his face away, as if he was upset at being bullied. He stated:

“It's best that you don't read these kinds of stories anymore!”

Pleased, you softly patted his cheeks as he puffed them up like a toddler. You stood up, satisfied, and said:

“I'm going to let it slide. Next time, don't tease me like that anymore."

But Rafayel showed obvious disappointment. He grasped your wrist.

“Is that all?”

"Huh?" 

“Are you really going to leave?” He grumbled. “You are not dedicated to the role you play after all.”

Rafayel sat up immediately, then he pulled you down on the sofa and in a blink of an eye, you were in his arms. “Once you start a role, you have to be committed to it.”

Rafayel's long fingers slid down the bridge of your nose, then paused at your lips. You held your breath, looking at him, waiting.

“Her Highness loses interest too quickly.” 

You grinned, recalling the personal passages between the two main protagonists in the novel. Sometimes you put yourself and Rafayel in it. How astonishing that this was truly happening.

“Entertain me then. Would you?”

Your clear voice rang out. Your fingertips had rendered Rafayel's face red, and you could hear his heart pounding furiously in your ear. 

“I can grant all your wishes.” Rafayel held your hand and placed it on his chest, then began to kiss you. First your hair, then your forehead, a lingering kiss on the tip of your nose, and finally he stopped for a moment at your lips. “I can even make you forget all the cheesy things a human wrote about Lemurians in that book.”

Rafayel's fingers gently parted your lips a little. Yet still left you hanging. 

“After all, Her Highness needs not a work of fiction, when she already has a true Lemurian, in the flesh, right here.”

At that moment, the merman offered the princess a long-awaited kiss, as if reconnecting an incomplete romance from the past life.

𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓 

Those days, Xavier noticed how you often had your nose buried in a book. It was nothing like daily life science research, nor was it like the ones you would usually read. It was brand new, with a silver mask on the cover.

He also realized another thing, that you always laughed to yourself while reading it. Occasionally, you would give him a covert glance, then go back to bury yourself in the pages of the book and smile. Other times, you would hold the entire open book in your hands and roll around on the bed with immense excitement, which he could not comprehend.

Then, one day, he picked it up, that thick large book. What caught his eye was the title of the story: Moonlight Lover. He rolled his eyes. 

Xavier's slightly trembling fingers opened the book in a slow motion. The page you were reading was marked with a lovely tiny star-shaped bookmark. He failed to take his eyes off the words presented under the light.

“My beautiful lady, fear not! I have come for you. I will protect you with my life.”

“Oh, my Lumiere…”

A very complicated expression appeared on Xavier's face. He read on, and the next paragraphs perplexed him. 

In the midst of fierce battle, Lumiere gave his lover a passionate kiss. Time stopped, the moonlight shone on two hearts in perfect harmony. Right at the climax, you walked in. With a haste you snatched the book from his hands.

“This… is mine!” 

You hid it behind your back. Your face turned red as if you had just done something so embarrassing.

"You… Why have you read my book?"

"You…" Xavier was ready to say something, but hesitated. His look remained stunned, as if he had just witnessed something so horrific that he could not speak. Yet that may be true.

"Tara let me borrow this book!" You spoke fast, not daring to look him in the eyes. "She said this… this is the best-selling romance novel in Linkon…"

"I see." Xavier responded. "Do you like reading romantic stories?"

"S-Sometimes…" You murmured. With the book in your hand, you swiftly turned to the bookshelf and placed it there. As you turned around, you nearly ran into Xavier. When did he come to stand right behind you? "Oops!"

"S-Sometimes…" You murmured. With the book in your hand, you swiftly turned to the bookshelf and placed it there. As you turned around, you nearly ran into Xavier. When did he arrive to stand directly behind you? "Oops!"

You exclaimed with surprise. You promptly drew away. Your back was ready to collide with the bookshelf, but Xavier's extensive hand saved you.

His face was so close. Somehow, you imagined that behind a silver mask, he would look just like Lumiere, which was bizarre.

"Xavier…" You quietly uttered his name, indicating that you were safe and that he could let you free. Yet Xavier held you even tighter.

“Do you like Lumiere that much?” He questioned abruptly, his expression not even trying to cover his evident sulking. 

“Lumiere… It's merely fiction…” You defended. 

“What do you like about him? His flashy appearance? Or his way of flirting with the female lead?”

Xavier's face stiffened. You caught his eyes gradually darken.

“In stories like this,” you clarified. “The male lead often appears just as the main protagonist is in peril to defend her. I simply appreciate their love..."

You could feel Xavier's heavy breathing on your cheek. His hand, which was previously on your back, then moved down to your hip, pushing you towards him so that your bodies were pressed against each other.

“I do the same too, don't I?” Xavier's voice was calm and soft, yet contained so much bitterness. “I will always defend you. I'm always there when you need me."

“Yes… That is true…” You replied, casting a quick glance at him. He rested his chin on your head and wrapped his arms around you in secure, as if afraid Lumiere would appear and take you away at any moment.

“So, me and Lumiere, who do you like more?”

Xavier's question left you hanging in confusion. Before you could respond, he added:

“Lumiere cannot hold you like this. He cannot be there whenever you call. He cannot hang out with you. Cannot be close to you… like this…”

A kiss from Xavier landed on your bare shoulder. You felt dizzy after being embraced with such force. You gasped:

“Erm… Lumiere is a… a legend… Even if he's real… he's probably a lot older than me…”

Xavier sighed deeply once more. He leaned in toward you and pushed you closer to the bookshelf. 

“Then tell me. Do you like me more, or him?"

Just when you thought everything was settled, Xavier continued to ask that question. You knew all too well that you could not get out of this situation if you refused to give him the answer he needed. Yet the look on his face made you want to taunt him even more.

“Well, let's see. Lumiere has a luxury attire, exceptional abilities, and—”

Without waiting for you to finish the sentence, Xavier's lips locked your mouth. His kisses were always as gentle as his demeanor, but this was more intense than ever. You were held in his arms, lips devoured by him to the point that every breath slowly left you, your body and heart trembling as you were forced to surrender to him in such a manner. 

When Xavier let you go, your mind already went blank. Who was Lumiere again? You no longer remembered. You could not recall.

Xavier gazed down at you, his lips parted slightly into a smile. He removed the book off the shelf and placed it back in your hands. 

“Return it to Tara once you're done reading.”

He turned away. At that moment, you concluded that you could read every love story ever written in this world, but the one true male protagonist in your life could only be Xavier.

𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒏𝒆

There was a book café established on the same street as Akso Hospital recently. And so you have found another place to go while waiting for a certain doctor to finish his shift.

Originally, you intended to pass the time by sipping a drink and munching some sweets. Yet you had no idea that you would also be drawn into the pages of books there, especially a very thrilling love story about a man. The doctor who led two divergent lifestyles.

He was a doctor at an esteemed hospital, also a cold-blooded killer who must conceal his identity from the person he loved. Right from the very first lines, you were drawn into the story that was both tragic and sensational. Especially when the main character resembled a doctor whom you admired. You were so absorbed in reading that you failed to notice the time. You went around the café, holding the book in your hands, and read without paying attention to the world. As a consequence, you ran into someone.

“Zayne?” You cried out in surprise. He stared at you first, then at the book on the floor. He leaned down to pick it up.

“The secrets of Doctor Li?” Zayne read the title aloud. In a haste you used your hands to protect the book from his inquisitive gaze. When he returned it, you clutched it securely against your chest and purposefully turned the cover toward you.

“Well… This is…” You searched for an explanation. “My reference book…”

"Is that so?" Zayne's eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Another one of your reference books?”

You were perplexed while recalling that you had lately left another book in Zayne's office. Of course, you claimed that it helped you understand more about the medical field, and he had pointed out some of its factual misunderstandings. This time, just by looking at the cover, Zayne understood precisely what type of books you were reading, and they had nothing to do with medicine.

“I thought medical books were supposed to be displayed on the other side of the coffee shop, right?” Zayne replied nonchalantly.

“Ah… It was a bit crowded over there, so I moved to this area…”

Zayne turned around to look at the other side of the café. There was not a single person seen. On the contrary, the place you had chosen had more readers.

Realizing what a mistake you had made, you quickly pulled Zayne's hand out of there. “Let's go, Doctor Zayne! I've been waiting for you and now I'm hungry!”

A few days later, you caught Zayne intently reading something at his desk. Moving closer, you recognized the very familiar cover of the book almost immediately.

“The secrets of Doctor Li?! So you're reading it?"

Being caught in the act by you, since you had decided to come to the hospital on your lunch break that day without a notice, Zayne could only chuckle. He covered half of his face with the book, leaving only his eyes visible behind the pair of glasses. You knew he was adjusting the muscles around his face.

“Yes. Hello."

"You. Are. Reading. This. Too!" You uttered every single word as if this was a big deal. 

Zayne calmly lowered the book, closed then placed it neatly on the table. He replied:

“I also want to refer to some things from there.”

You appeared perplexed. “Didn't you say that this book is wrong in even basic healthcare knowledge?”

Zayne's serene demeanor belied a sense of perplexity in his gaze. His eyes never lied. He immediately turned away. 

"Medical expertise is not what I am looking for in it."

“What is it then?” You placed a hand on your chin thoughtfully. “Is there anything that even Doctor Know-It-All Zayne has to learn from love stories? Unless it's…”

You abruptly discontinued talking. It appeared you already knew the answer.

Zayne glanced at you for a brief moment. He pursed his lips, but it was evident he was smiling.

“People easily find what they want in fiction.” He explained. “For instance, if a girl likes to read romance, then she is waiting for such a sweet love story.”

“That doesn't sound like something Doctor Zayne would say.” You inquired once again: "Are those actually Yvonne's words?"

You guessed, given that you just witnessed the nurse passing the identical book to Doctor Greyson in the corridor.

Zayne confessed that Yvonne had suggested that he read the romantic novels you enjoyed to better understand you.

Zayne admitted that Yvonne had hinted that he should read the type of romance novels you liked to understand you better.

“I've never dated anyone before.” Zayne did not look you in the eye, but his fingers were squeezing your hand as he stood up. “At the start of our relationship, I had certain concerns. I'd want to know which type of partner you prefer, or how you wish to be loved."

You could not hold back the happy smile on your lips anymore. The fact that Zayne was so open about what he was thinking like this was enough to bring you closer to him.

“You can just ask me. Just like how you would always answer my questions about anything.” 

You took initiative to stand on tiptoe and wrapped your arms around Zayne's neck. He gently rubbed his nose against the tip of yours.

“I like to be loved by you in your own way,” you whispered very softly, just enough for the two of you to hear even though there was no one else in the office. “There is no need for any stereotypes. Just be yourself, because that's who I like.”

As soon as you finished speaking, you placed a gentle kiss on Zayne's cheek and added: "Do you find me easy to please?"

Zayne lifted you up and let your feet rest on his. “You are as easy to please as a three-year-old child. Just give you sweets and a few romance books, you would obediently sit still all day."

“As expected, the person who understands me best is certainly Doctor Zayne!”

𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒃 

During the summer, after graduating from high school and waiting for the official announcement from the Hunter Association, you spent the whole day lying at home resting. And, with so much spare time, you began re-reading literature that you had previously missed.

While you were giggling with a romance book in your hands, Caleb stepped in. He snatched it and said:

“Does Gran know you're still reading these things?”

“First,” you said. “Grandma is not at home. Second, I am old enough to read whatever I like now.”

You extended a hand towards Caleb, but he refused to give the book back. He quickly glanced at the cover, then looked at you with a serious expression.

“Pip-squeak, did you forget that I and Grandma had to confiscate your books?”

You crossed your arms over the chest and huffed at him. “Speaking of which, you were a snitch who told her about my books.”

“You stayed up all night reading until your eyes got dark circles.” Caleb laughed. “While you must focus on studying. Books like this will give you a false perspective on love. I'm just worried that any boy would say a few sweet words like in those stories, and you would give him your heart."

“Do you even know what I read?” You sighed. “But you got exactly what you wanted. I've graduated from high school without having had a single romance. Now give me back the book so I can continue daydreaming, okay?"

You sat up straight and were about to reach out to take the book back when he held it up higher. He shook his head.

"Not yet. I must read it first to ensure that this book is safe.”

He sat in another armchair and proceeded to open the book to the page you were already reading. Quick as lightning, you darted forward and placed your hands over to stop him.

"No way! This… You can't read it!”

Caleb glanced at you with perplexed eyes. With just one hand, he easily pushed you away. 

“I said, you can't read it!”

The more you attempted to reclaim the book, more firmly Caleb held both of your hands. He rapidly read the stuff you never wished him to know. You bit your lip and dropped your head to the floor in ashamed defeat.

He knew. 

He knew what you read. He knew what kind of love you were desperately hoping for.

A moment later, after about ten pages, Caleb turned to look at his sister, who was sitting on the ground in her pajamas and her hair undone still. You simply wanted to hide yourself away so he would never find you, since you knew he would only lecture you.

In fact, you were waiting for that lecture to happen, but Caleb said absolutely nothing for a while. He closed the book and placed it on the sofa.

“So…” He eventually spoke. “The story you are reading… Is it the romance between a brother and his sister?”

“Foster brother and sister.” You added it right away. “They are orphans… Like us.”

You deliberately said the last words in the most quiet tone. But Caleb heard it. He cleared his throat. 

“So you like romantic stories… like this?”

You covertly gazed at him before turning away immediately. This room suddenly became so airless.

When you were alone, you could let your imagination run wild. You could prolong the daydream in which you were free to express your feelings. Just like the heroine in the story. Yes, you adored that story, because it told you about the romance that bloomed between two orphans who were adopted and fell in love with each other as they grew up. You enjoyed portraying yourself as the female lead and dreaming that he was the male lead.

That was probably why you dated nobody during your school years. That was probably why you always waited for his vacation to greet him when he returned from Skyhaven.

You wanted to be connected to him in a different way than being his adopted sister.

Then he already knew everything. How could you simply bury this guilt? You dared not look at him anymore. Nonetheless, Caleb sat down in front of you, on the floor. His hand was placed very close to yours.

“Well… You could have told me that you…” Caleb stopped mid-sentence. You also did not know what to say in this case. Then he decided to leave.

During that weekend, you never spoke to each other save for brief phrases when compelled to say something. 

Caleb returned home the following weekend, but he arrived by the doorstep late at night. The unexpected summer downpour soaked him. You soon let him inside and after taking a shower, Caleb sat in the living room alone with his hair still dripping.

“You should dry your hair.” You spoke, in your hand a clean cotton towel.

Caleb grinned, but averted your gaze. "You usually help me with it."

You refused to say anything else and proceeded gently towards him. There was a chaotic sense between the two of you, as if a fire that had been smoldering for a long time suddenly flared up in violence.

You did not sit next to Caleb, but rather stood behind the sofa, drying his hair. Caleb's eyes were closed, he leaned back slightly, and his gorgeous face was directed towards you. If it had not been for the cotton towel, his hair and head would have likely touched your abdomen.

"It's done." You spoke quietly. You slowly took one step backwards. But Caleb reached out and held you back.

“Pip-squeak, don't go.”

You lost your breath and lowered the head to look down at him. His eyes opened a little, just enough to capture the image of you half confused, half expectant like this.

“Do you still read that story?”

Your head shook slightly as an answer.

"How come? Why did you stop?"

“It makes me… think about nonsense. Didn't you want me to stop reading those kinds of novels and hoping too much for a romance?"

Caleb laughed. His cold fingers touched your cheek, then slid down to the corner of your ruby lips.

“What a pity. The two characters in that story seemed to… truly be together eventually.”

He knew, since he had read ten more pages than you. You never picked up that book again after that day.

“Of course, because they are the male and female protagonists...” You replied in a soft tone.

“You can also be the main character,” said Caleb. “You are the main character in your own story. So… How would you write it?”

He looked at you for a long moment, waiting for your reaction. Waiting for a sign from you. Waiting for you to let him in. 

At last, you allowed yourself to be immersed in his touch, his breath and the delicate aroma of soap on his skin. You rubbed against his palm, your head lowered slightly to get a little closer to him. 

If you were the heroine in that story, you would hope this dream to never fade.

“I want… I want Caleb to be mine…”

[lullabyes22-blog]

Snippet - Damn Me - Forward but Never Forget/XOXO

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Unless it's a punch.

Forward but Never Forget/XOXO

Snippet:

He unfolds from his stool. With the sunrays angled over him, his silhouette holds a magisterial menace that blights Vi to the marrow.

Blut is gone.

Only the Monster remains.

"I've had time," he says, "to reassess the gameboard. You're not at fault for last night. I am. But for my weakness, none of this would've happened. I'd have dealt with you the way a real monster deals with threats. Fast, fatal, final. Instead I got sidetracked. I let you stay. Instead of shutting your mouth with a fist, I let it run wild, and now it's talking me in circles. Instead of crushing you under my heel, I let you get under my skin, and now you've left scars." A hard breath. "Instead of hating you, I let myself care. And now, like with Vander... I'm paying the price."

Vi’s eyes go wide as plates. Her jaw, a little wider.

"Silco…"

"I wanted you to be part of Zaun, Vi. Part of it, as Vander never could be. I wanted us on the same side. All because I was foolish. Because I craved the farce of family." He shakes his head. "Old habits die hard. The past's a harder bitch to bury." 

Vi is trembling. She cannot stop.

"Silco," she tries again. "Don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Pet. Truly."  A single blink, and a ruthless seal closes over the softness. "You're a good girl. Strong as Vander. Clever as Lika. But too good, for the path I'm walking. And that path's forward. You? You make me look back. Make me remember things better left buried. And only dead men belong in graves."

Vi rises; her hands seize his shirtfront.

It's not a threat. Only a precarious bid for balance. The room's pitching like the sea.

"Don't," she says. "Don't send me away. If you do, you're a coward. You're running from me. Running from everything. The Eye of Zaun—scared of his own reflection."

Silco smiles. Slow, sad, utterly vacant.

"I've faced many demons, Vi. You have yet to face yours."

"So you're just gonna toss me back? Toss me at 'em?"

"You'll survive. That's your art. Same as mine."

"Art, my ass! I'm not letting you off the hook!" Her fingers knot in his shirtfront. "I'll tell the Council everything. Everything you're planning. Everything I've heard. I'll sing like a fucking canary!"

"I'll count on it." His hands come up, a tender cage for her face. Her heart pounds against its cold bars. "All the tales of debauchery. All the backroom deals. All the trade secrets. Use that brain of yours, Pet. Spin it into a narrative and save your skin. Consider it my gift." 

"But—the Four Horsemen! The Shimmer! The harbor!"

"All true. All too late."

"What?"

"The gears are already in motion, Vi. Topside's interests are twined with ours.  If the Council dares to turn your intel into a preemptive strike, they'll shoot themselves in the foot. And even then, they'll never believe that one man can orchestrate such a wide-scale overthrow." He tilts his head. "Sunk Cost Fallacy, remember?"

"Try Gambler's Ruin!" Vi erupts. "You're so hell-bent on taking down the Council, you'll destroy Zaun and everything else with it."

"It's the Council who've set us on this road. I'm not destroying. Only course-correcting."

Vi’s trembling worsens. She is a child again, small and frightened. Her family, gone, and her world a burning ruin.

"I won't go!" she cries, hating the wobble in her voice. "I won't leave Jinx!"

"She's beyond your reach."

"You're not beyond hers!" She shakes him hard. "She'll never forgive you! Not a second time!"

"I'd rather have Jinx's hatred than her death."

"Silco." Her voice breaks, a raw ruin. "Please."

"Don't beg, Vi. Vander would never. For you, he was stubborn to the last." The smile dies, and Vi's hope with it. "I'm no better. For Jinx, I've slit throats and sold souls. What's one more, when a man's already damned?" 

He leans in, and kisses her forehead. His lips are searingly cold. His body, an armature of bone. Yet the touch is tender. Blut’s touch. He still remembers her, as he does his own vestigial self. But he has only one way of expressing the memory.

Violence.

"Go on, Vi," he breathes. "Damn me."

And Vi is crying.

Crying as hard as the night she'd lost Mom and Dad. As the night she'd lost Vander and her brothers.  As the night she'd found Powder—only to lose her to the warped inverse of Jinx.

"You bastard," she chokes, tears streaming hot over his palms. "You fucking bastard."

"I know."

His hands fall. He steps back. They're still toe-to-toe, but a lifetime's distance splits them.

"Love, Vi," he says. "It's the ugliest monster of all. It's bitten me before. But I was a boy then: soft and toothless. This time, I'll cut the wretch out by the throat."

Spots burst behind Vi's eyes. She can't feel her body. Can't process anything beyond the loss. His confession's no better than an epitaph. The end of a bitter, bloody road that's crumbled into a precipice.

And Vi's on the edge of freefall.

"Look out for yourself, Pet," he says, and the smile returns: unearthly cold. "Kiss the Kiramman for me."

And Vi is falling.

Right into the old rage, with nothing left to catch her.

Fists popping, she lunges.

[lurkingshan]

Thank you for leaving these tags @pharawee! Without getting into any speculation about how Dead Friend Forever will actually end, I do want to address your question and talk about why most of us want to see severe consequences for these boys. The short answer: it's about genre expectations and the psychological catharsis of a good revenge narrative.

To get down to the really basic point: people who love revenge thrillers love them because they are a fantasy construct in which good people survive and bad people get what they deserve. In a world where bad things happen and we rarely have any control, a good revenge story can be exhilarating, giving you the feeling that justice prevailed, villains received appropriate comeuppance for their wrongs, and the protagonist seized control back and experienced much needed catharsis for their suffering. Real life is very much not like this, which is why it's such an appealing genre of fiction.

So how do we calibrate what "appropriate comeuppance" means? This is where genre expectations become really important, because the genre the revenge narrative plays out in sets the terms for where that bar sits. In The Glory, a recent world class revenge drama, we were in the psychological thriller genre, so revenge came in the form of Dong Eun playing mind games with her bullies until they destroyed their own lives. No murder necessary. Dead Friend Forever, however, is in the horror genre, and specifically began its story by planting itself in the slasher subgenre, giving us a masked killer and setting up expectations that these boys are being hunted. When you watch a slasher, you come in with the mindset that most of the characters are going to die and begin rooting for it and looking for reasons why they "deserve" it. And typically, in a slasher, it takes very little for a character to "deserve" a death--you often see people die for the tiniest infractions, like making a rude comment, telling a bad joke, or having sex. But DFF went much farther than that and gave us a multi episode flashback in which we got a detailed accounting of every wrong this group of boys committed against Non, increasing the audience's bloodlust and conviction that these boys needed to pay.

So why do so many of us want the bullies to die? Because the genre demands it, and the story set the audience up to expect it from the outset. I have seen some discussion of the way the show is blending different horror subgenres and not sticking strictly to typical slasher conventions, and that's true, and expected. Slashers are usually two hours max, and this show needed to fill 10+ hours of content, so it's doing a really interesting blend of slasher, mystery, psychological thriller, and other horror subgenres. But the bones of the story still hold, and despite the storytelling choice to give the villains some nuance and fleshed out motivations for their behavior, they are still villains who destroyed Non's life. If you're feeling overly sympathetic to any of these boys at present, I encourage you to go back and remind yourself how they behaved in the early episodes of this story, which took place after the events of the flashbacks. These are not genuinely remorseful kids who made minor mistakes and then got their acts together and became upstanding citizens; they just want to move on and avoid blame and accountability for what they did, while Non's entire family was irrevocably destroyed by their actions.

If this story ends without Por, Tee, Top, Fluke, Jin, and Phee suffering genre appropriate consequences for their choices that harmed and betrayed Non, it will be a letdown and many will feel unsatisfied. In real life, we may believe that forgiveness is the right path, and we know that Buddhism teaches unconditional forgiveness. But this is not real life. This is a fantasy genre that is specifically meant to provide an escape from the constraints of real life morality and obligations. No one wants to show up to a fantasy party only to receive a moral scolding. The most disappointing thing a revenge narrative can do is wimp out on delivering the actual revenge.

[fortheloveofarchons]

The Harbinger and His Arranged Bride

(Part 4)

A chapter where his perspective shows before and after the wedding! Full chapter on the ao3 link up!

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One month before the wedding of Il Capitano and his bride, when he found out the news of this arrangement…

It didn’t take long for Il Capitano to arrive at the Zapolyarny Palace, where the northern lights shine the brightest. It didn’t take long for him to find where Her Royal Highness was. It certainly didn’t take long for him to barge in the library of the palace, and not even the guards and the maids could stop a Sentinel Knight of immense force and power, and they could only watch from afar until the heavy, wooden doors closed shut. 

“Your Royal Highness, is this true?” 

Silence follows, just like how snowflakes gently drop on the ground outside of the library. In the library where a Harbinger and an Archon reside, the flickering candlelight danced over the book spines, casting a warm glow against the chill that permeated the walls. 

She sat beside a small wooden table cluttered with scrolls and quills, her slender fingers brushing absentmindedly over the gilded edge of an open book. 

“Yes…” She finally responds, snowflakes clung stubbornly to the glass, shimmering like trapped stars under the pale light of the full moon. “Before you are set out to finish your main goal in Natlan, let this be one last request from me. To live a marriage of love.” 

Capitano’s stomach seized. It was one matter to suspect, but hearing His Royal Highness’s answer so casually confirm his suspicions was another beast entirely. 

This was just like the conflict from Nod Krai all over again, when some of his soldiers tried to shoulder the burden, trying to stop the attack that was instigated by a certain Darknight Hero. Except this time it was the Tsaritsa that made Capitano shoulder an unnecessary burden that isn’t needed for his own agenda. He supposed it was only a matter of time before he got the taste of his own medicine. He just wished that it wasn’t so hot and bitter. 

Right before he was about to set his motion in plan. Save the nation of Natlan, confront with one of the Four Shades of the Primordial One, who is the Ruler of Death: Ronova, and proceed with his final step. 

Her Royal Highness then proceeds to pull out this arranged, political marriage at the last minute. 

“Why didn’t you tell me this? Why let me find this out from my men? And from a mere conversation of idle gossip, no less?” 

“Because I knew you’d react like this.” 

Hardening his resolve, Capitano straightened his uniform. Aside from the cold, the Fatui coat draped over his shoulders served no practical purpose besides the sign of his title as one of the Fatui Harbingers. Drops of melted snow, slow and heavy, dripped onto the carpet from his coat. 

As if anyone in this world could forget his rank. His legacy. 

…His past. 

“You were just going to have me wed someone I don’t even know?” 

Silence. There was no answer. 

Capitano rubbed the top of his helmet and sighed. 

It’s not like it can get any worse. He steeled himself internally. 

“When it is, then?” He then asked another question. “This arranged marriage… What’s the new timeline?” 

Her Royal Highness barely moved her body as her lips spoke. “Thirty days.” 

Nevermind. It just got worse. 

“Thirty days!” Even with the helmet that obscures his face, Capitano’s voice raised an octave. “Your Royal Highness, you cannot be serious about this.” 

“But I am.” She pretended she didn’t look at him, committing to her narrative and sticking to it no matter the cost. “An Archon’s lips is the law, do not ever think about trying to twist it against me. I asked for you to retrieve the gnosis from Natlan after the issue with Fontaine is settled with The Knave, and you dare… to ask for this risky mission. One that could ultimately cost your life, one that could topple the ranks of the Fatui Harbingers, and bring instability to your soldiers and men.” 

The strain in her voice stopped him short, and Capitano could only press his lips in silence, his mind reciting sentences as if they’re some magical prayer to keep himself guarded from the words of an Archon. 

[moonshynecybin]

In the teenage mom Marc au, how hard does Vale need to stay still and breathe through his nose when the first time known baby magnet dovi enters the picture. The babysitter list as you said suddenly includes dovi. Vale post breakup so used to seeing the baby with Julia/roser/alex or santi only, nearly has an aneurysm when it's Dovi chucking a squealing toddler into the air. She still lights up for Vale but she also lights up for Dovi. Does not consider that Marc sitting off to the side laughing along clicking pictures might be the other half of the reason for the heartburn.

It's a different kind of hurt to when Vale saw Jorge play around with the kid (she was firmly being held by Dani because Jorge is not on the list) and gets a reality check of the baby is going to grow up know more people love more people, people that are not Vale, one day she might not even recognise vale in the crowd

Oooh is Uccio specifically told not to stop the child from heading over to Vale or is there an incident where she is turned away which NOW marc is truly done with Vale

LOVE this question. because a few days ago i was answering asks about their handshake heard round the world at argentina 2019 and i was like ummm why would vale do that and then immediately reverse course. for why. for what. and THEN i saw dovi also on the podium and i was like lmaooooo okay. jealous.

not just in an rpf way (although. please.) it’s like. vale is a person who is very aware of how a rivalry can get mythologized into a rider’s mythos. he himself is very CAREFUL and DELIBERATE about who he names as his rivals and how he manages perceptions surrounding them (he’s on good terms with them! keeps their helmets in his museum etc) and he’s kept marc pretty deliberately out of this narrative as an evil little punishment for marc’s whole deal.

BUT ! lmao. if we look at marc’s major rivals on track, there’s two major entries: vale and dovi. later fabio but post injury is a dif ballgame. and dovi is frankly better at fighting marc than vale is! so i think he sees the narrative of marc’s star getting tied to dovi and chafes a little (he is MYYYY FATED RIVAL. i am the only one who can actually challenge him as he is the best and i am the best. type shit) and then he decides wellllll what if i make this weekend about MEEE and himmmm and shakes marc’s goddamn hand lmao.

so. to actually answer your ask. if he sees marc like. having a NONtoxic homoerotic rivalry with someone he’s gonna chafe. if he sees that IN ADDITION to dovi being on the baby marquez’s (she’s. 6 in 2017 and he STILL somewhat psychotically considers her basically his own. #deadbeatstepdad) babysitter list he’s gonna lose it lmao. MAJOR kick in the pants. like marc literally hands her off to dovi in parc ferme like it’s nothing and vale’s smile FREEZES. double take. chest seizes. thank god he has sunglasses on. because usually she’s pulling over to himmmm (but she LIKES DOVI. and marc had been racing DOVI those last few turns. not vale…) and she’s NOTTTTT. dovi cracks a sleepy little deadpan joke and marc full body laughs and her little kid hands are tugging at dovi’s cap and for the SECOND TIME IN HIS LIFE vale sees this kid and is like haha. i’m in dangerrrrr. motogp instagram posts a cute pic of baby marquez with dovi on instagram (usually it is VALE or MARC in those!!! fuck !!) captioned like “looks like someone has a new babysitter!” and vale genuinely has to have a white knuckle moment staring into the mirror. goes to bother honda hospitality in incognito mode the next day because truly. that is his DAUGHTERRRRR. cold anxiety swimming around in his stomach nonchalant smile plastered on realizing that like. if he wants an actual place in her life he’s gonna have to ask 4 it. she sees him and. LIGHTS up. marc gives him a tense affectionate smile… still wary…. he still ALWAYS lets him see her though…

and that’s ALSO how vale cottons on to the marc of it all. because he’s turning it over in his mind like he’s trying to crack the zodiac killer case and eventually there’s no running from it and he’s like. um. i think the driving force of this is that i want to have a family with marc. and i love that little girl. and i miss him. and then. well he has to convince marc that he’s gonna stick around.

[raayllum]

Key to His Heart Theory: Shot Through the Heart, and You're (S5) to Blame

Intro

So a little over a year ago (since usually I think about things meta wise for at least a good month before writing them down), I wrote a meta about why I thought the Key of Aaravos might hold a quasar diamond, specifically Aaravos' missing chest piece. His heart, if you will.

At the time, I thought it was a very strong contender for what the cube might be, even if it didn't necessarily give us a clear depiction on what it might be used for, and was again operating under the assumption the cube itself is something Aaravos even wants back or needs (which is assumption still, at this point).

It made sense loosely with some of the new information we'd gleaned about the cube from S4 (mostly the Callum pawn intro with its bright flashing light, the emphasis on hearts in the narrative with Ezran's speech, the 4x04 flashbacks) and was likewise built upon a previous meta regarding the series' use of Egyptian mythology (Thoth and Ibis being present somewhat in Callum's arc, the main trio's parallels to another Egyptian myth trio, Aaravos' mirror and mirrors as objects of divination, and potential matching symbolism with the ankh).

The Key to His Heart theory was also built on previous seasons — largely the Magma Titan plot line, and Avizandum being stabbed in the heart — in addition to Aaravos' chest piece, seemingly, being notably absent, which seemed indicative of certain lines from the short stories, particularly Rayla (S4's Dear Callum), but we'll talk more about these later:

Please don’t let this hurt too much. But, if it does—if you feel that soft aching—know that that piece of your heart isn’t missing. It’s not missing at all, Callum: I’m carrying it with me! Always.

If you're interested in this theory and want to know about it, I recommend reading the two metas I've linked above, as the rest of this won't really be delving too much into what I've already written about, and talking about how season five has given more potential evidence.

With that out of the way, let's get into it in rough order of "most to least" likely:

Season Five

TDP Reflections

Whereas hearts weren't mentioned too much in the short stories leading up to S4, they became a reoccurring motif every TDP reflection story going into S5.

Fools. They might as well have held their own hearts, beating and bloody, in the palms of their hands. Kim’dael knew that if she showed them her heart—or something convincingly like it—the Sunfire elves would do exactly what she wanted them to do.

“Rayla,” she said, meeting Redfeather’s gaze. “My name is Rayla. And I’m going home.” Redfeather sighed. “Oh, you bleeding heart.”

“They balk at shadows, then.” Aditi pulled a slip of white-hot metal from the forge and turned to place it upon a gilded anvil. “I see your heart—and I am not afraid.”

It stared up at him. Ezran felt a coldness twist its way around his heart. It took his lungs, too, and for a long moment he could not breathe, could not feel anything but an unfamiliar anger so potent it seized the whole of him, inside and out.

Viren staggers backwards, his last breath shuddering through the blade. His white robes turn red at his heart. Something in Soren’s own chest shatters along old cracks, but he cannot look away. 

“You are stronger than this. All storms end!” Rex rumbled a snort through flared nostrils. “What lies at its heart?” 

 He wept for his city, his people, and the darkness struck deep into their hearts.

While one may say it ends with a sunrise, another will insist it ends at nightfall. Yet at the heart of the story is a single, simple truth…A star fell from the sky.

From where Kim’dael stood, she could only see the brilliant aura of its magic. For a moment, it was as though the queen’s heart overflowed with light.

Now, some of this is undeniably because a heart is a short hand for emotion and one of our most useful metaphors for communicating a variety of emotion. However, I did think it was particularly interesting / eye catching that these lines tended to overlap with the series' growing light and darkness motif and emphasis on wounds/scars (to the point we have a 5x02 episode titled "Old Wounds" that refers to both Viren's past and Callum and Rayla's healing relationship).

But by far the one that struck me the most, and seemed the most reminiscent of how Aaravos's (literal?) wound manifests is this paragraph from Claudia's short story:

Lissa had left her years ago, but the space she had owned in Claudia’s heart remained. It was a dark place now, hard and hateful, its edges raw as a wound that had forgotten to heal.

Mountains had crumbled and left in their wake a vast new sea. It was as though the land had been dealt a great wound and bled a hundred years. Terror washed across the remnants of humanity like a wave: What power could fell mountains? Turn all the world dark, and bleed a sea from stones?

—Ripples (pre-S5)

As well as Aaravos' clear desire to have revenge over the Startouch elves for something that seems to go beyond the resentment over just being banished:

I have not seen the stars in centuries. But when I see them again—when the stars are forced to look upon me, their dark brother—they will know how I have waited. And when everything they have built lies shattered, I will savor their fall from the sky. For I have been patient.

—Patience (pre-S4)

We don't know yet if we are going to get more TDP reflections going into S6 or S7, but given the way the previous stories emphasize the heart as both a symbolic idea (a darkened, hollowed out heart) and a literal entity you can hold in your hands... It's clear there's something going on symbolism else, otherwise why be so consistent? But enough of the reflections, for now.

Time to talk about S5 itself.

Laurelion

Previously, I thought the cube in the intro (a literal glow toy, as Rayla identified back in 1x05) already had similar properties to the star-glow effect in the title intro back at S4.

At the time, this was more of a guess. Most of the Star magic we'd seen at that point we weren't able to fully identify as such, it seemed a bit more magenta in colour, and while there was a parallel in the bright flash of light upon releasing Sir Sparklepuff, there's also a bright flash when the prison is actually made. It's just a good short hand for a crescendo of magical power, you know? We didn't know if quasar diamonds were even going to be white, besides the one presumably in Aaravos' chest concept art wise.

And yet — it still felt like something to me. Then S5 with Laurelion came along.

The Death of the Immortal

K: "And though undying, took last breath, immortal Laurelion was no more." C: That's good, right? I mean when someone "was no more," that's — that's dead, yeah? K: It's a bit confusing, but that is the clearest implication. Though it is somewhat odd they call them undying and immortal. C: Well, that doesn't sound so immortal? Laurelion "was no more". K: Right. C: But how? How did they...? K: Right here. "White as the star's heart it pierced, ivory draconic brought death's bite known ever forth as Novablade." C: It's a sword.

There's a few noteworthy things about this whole exchange:

The poem has to be relevant eventually, otherwise why include it at all when you easily could've just had Kazi and Callum stumble across the sword period?

It confirms that the heart of a star is something that can be pierced, presumably removed, and white, which I think is the biggest "hell yeah" to the 4x04 intro

There is no reason to point out the contradictions in the poem itself unless A) the sword doesn't work the way we think it does and/or B) we are going to find out why the "undying and immortal" thing matters — and they make sure to emphasize the contradictions quite a bit as well, so they definitely want us to notice

If Laurelion died, and Aaravos took his place, that would explain how Laurelion — identity wise — could die while the same person under a new name could also remain alive / immortal

We learn in Rayla's pre-S5 short story that Ghosts don't often keep their real names, and take a new one as the final severance of their bond with their old community. For all extents and purposes, Aaravos was Ghosted (banished) from his community as well. Taking a new name would make sense

"That must've been when [Harrow] fell." "Fell? Fell! He didn't fall, Rayla, he didn't trip and fall on the ground — he got killed!" (2x08)

There's more speculation here regarding the actual sword and draconic ivory, but that is another post for another day that other smart people have made if you are interested. For now let's just focus on the heart.

We know Laurelion had a heart; we know it got stabbed with the Novablade, leaving Laurelion both no more (i.e. dead) and yet immortal / undying. We know that Arc 2 in particular has had an emphasis on losing your sense of self and identity ("I was his puppet" / "We can't save everyone, Soren" / "But I'm not evil. It's me" / all of Viren's dream visions). We know that a Star's heart is white. We know that Aaravos seemingly used to have one, and now it's either missing or impermanent, only visible sometimes.

(Putting a pin in the second image cause we'll roll back around to it in the counter evidence section.)

We know his chest centrepiece glowed when he was imprisoned, and we know it was seemingly gone when he got banished. We know something about the Key of Aaravos was able to reveal his treachery.

I'm not saying any of this is for sure connected, but it does make you think, at least a little?

That, and it'd play into another bit of potential interesting foreshadowing / symbolism we got in s5 with

Viren Heart Theory

This is another theory I've discussed in more detail elsewhere, so I'm going to link to it here, but it wouldn't feel right to not talk about it at least a little here. Basically the theory is that Viren used his own blood / a piece of his heart, or possibly the whole thing, and the relic staff in order to save Soren when he was a young child.

This is largely due to Viren's spotlight turning red after he begs to be able to save Soren, and cinched by Kpp'Ar pointing specifically at Viren's heart only for Viren to deflect and start talking about Soren's case specifically. Whatever he did seemed to make him more 'powerful,' but at a great personal cost ("In the name of love you may perform acts that are so unforgivable, you will never forgive yourself") and something he finds the need to justify ("I had to do something! I had to save him! I had no choice!").

If Viren did this, it also adds another layer to Viren's sentiment of "Harrow's death breaks my heart" being well, half-hearted, in addition to Soren literally stabbing illusion Viren in the heart in 3x09. Viren mutilated his heart for his son's life, stopped being able to properly express love to said son, and then Soren stabbed his father right in the place that presumably saved him as a child. Ouch.

It seems likely that one of the reasons Aaravos was able to prey so aptly on Viren's desire for importance and attention — to Matter — was because Aaravos might've tried and failed earlier on to get the Startouch elves to listen to him pre-banishment. Being ignored, exiled, and disempowered is something he can relate to, and something he doesn't mind taking advantage of when it suits him.

However, if this combination could save someone Viren loved, it makes me wonder if Aaravos did something similar to likewise try (and fail?) to save someone he loved, too. It's either that or the Startouch elves just completely ripped it out, so... I guess we'll have to see?

But yeah — if Viren did it, then I'm expecting it's more likely that Aaravos did it, too. That is all.

The Pawn Intros

But Dragons, you say, didn't we already talk about the Callum pawn intro?

And to that I say yes, but — thanks to a promo S6 picture of Aaravos crying, we know something else very important about said intros that we didn't know before: they take place at the Sea of the Cast Out.

The sky, the mountains... the fact we know, thanks to the statues in 5x09, that this is likely where Aaravos' grief — his wound, if you will — began to bleed and take root, leading to his thousands of years of seeking vengeance and using just about anything or anyone he could. This is, presumably, where his chess game started... and where it is, symbolically at least, going to end.

Okay, so it's the Sea of the Cast Out — why does that matter?

Well, we know the Sea of the Cast Out is a site of literal trauma for Aaravos. We know, thanks to the statues of Aaravos and the Merciful One, that it plays into the same reaching motif we see Viren participate in quite a few times, both in his intro and in other places/relationships (most notably Sarai, Harrow, and Terry).

The Sea of the Cast Out is also, perhaps more importantly for this theory's purposes, near Elarion. What little we do know about the city beyond it being an important place for humans and dark magic ties it repeatedly to nature through The Midnight Star poem:

Elarion, trembling seed, lay down to earth in icy night, and in the cold her roots took hold defying winter’s deathly bite. Elarion, fading bloom, afraid to wilt and dim and die, [...] Elarion, dying husk, did wilt and whimper in the dark [...] Elarion, black-eyed child, her twisted roots spread deep and far,

as well as a tale about the Flowers of Elarion, precious blooms that could soothe the senses and turned to dust come morning—flowers that were left as "a fair exchange of beloved for beloved" (Tales of Xadia). Put a pin that Exchange idea because I swear we're gonna come back to it but not in the usual way you might be expecting, or at least not entirely.

And we have good reason to believe this nature motif is tied to Aaravos' current imprisonment as well, given how present flower imagery is for his mirror.

So the Sea of the Cast Out and Elarion seem to be the two places we know of thus far that are not only the most important to Aaravos, but the most instrumental to his banishment. It would not surprise me if either Aaravos got involved in what would become Elarion either because he was banished, or it was what he was banished over, or if discovering the truth of what happened there is likewise why the Archdragons were partially like "Yeah, we gotta lock this guy up" (now that they knew he posed a serious threat). The fact that Elarion is referred to as a child (everything with "blood of a child,"), black-eyed (which denotes dark magic), and winter's "deathly bite" ("White as the star's heart it pierced, / ivory draconic brought death's bite") just all ties together nicely in being related even if we're not totally sure how.

But Aaravos having his chest piece removed by force / as punishment in addition to being cast out by the Startouch elves, or him taking it out himself and giving it to someone who was lost... There's a lot of roads to get here as to why this stuff all seems connected if the Key is indeed his chest piece, which offers up both a power up, a sad tragic backstory, some baller symbolism, and some nice double meanings as to what it is key wise.

As the Key works in the moment, it doesn't seem like it's something that would be very useful to a primal mage, as other than pretty easily identifiable gemstones they wouldn't be using much the key identifies. However, the function of the Key being able to categorize and sort magical creatures and plants from each other is something that is very useful if you're a dark mage and need to shore up your ingredients list.

If the Key has Aaravos' chest piece in it, there are two main prongs this offers:

It may have been instrumental in helping humans discover dark magic, hence the "Elarion, searing white" and could also be the Gift the poem speaks of. Aaravos removed it himself (love makes you weak?), gave it to his chosen human, chosen human died, and he was locked out of Startouch realm as a combined result. This offers the clearest connection between why Aaravos' mirror has the nature motif and why Aaravos is crying in the beginning of 6x01.

It was removed by the Startouch elves and lost/hidden, forcing Aaravos to be away from his old home until he could find it again. This is the clearest explanation as to why the Key might be relevant on a plot level. It could give him the power up he needs to get out of his prison and barring that, it's what he needs to wreck havoc and gain access to the Startouch elves to get revenge on them

It also allows what we learn of the cube in 2x06 to have multiple meanings:

The Key is revealed in an episode called The Heart of a Titan. We're led to assume that this is just the Magma Titan, and you could perhaps make an argument the dual meaning (just like how Breaking the Seal refers to the letter and the titan's chest) refers to Harrow or Callum's capacity to love. But, given that one of Aaravos' most prominent mythic comparisons is to Prometheus, a literal Titan, well...

"It unlocks something of great power in Xadia" would work equally well if it's a Key literally made from Aaravos, not just to Aaravos. And the past 2 seasons in particular have emphasized over and over again just how powerful and dangerous he is

The salvation and destruction motif that is inherent in the key, ("I just have a feeling this key thing can help me" / "It's the key of Aaravos, no good will come of it") as keys are linked to chains and freedom with the ability to lock and unlock, is rampant in 2x06, as Viren states that Xadia and the Magma Titan "held both the promise of our salvation and threat of our destruction." This goes double for Sarai sacrificing her life to save Viren

And to round back to Viren and his intro, I don't think it's a coincidence that

is one of the first things Aaravos ever says to Viren, particularly when trying to earn Viren's trust. (Nor that Aaravos considers that Zubeia and co. "betrayed" him when "he would lower his guard," just before the imprisonment.) And while Aaravos gains Viren's trust as a political ally here first, it's also clear that he's actually primarily preying upon Viren's deepest emotional desires here as well: to be listened to. To matter.

Viren wasn't listened to by the monarchs around him (Harrow). He wanted to be important (to them). He wanted to matter.

"It is everything to me, to know that I matter. It's all I ever wanted."

Aaravos: Search your heart. There is something you want very badly. (2x09) Zubeia: He was able to give them something they wanted very badly. (4x04)

And that's what Aaravos offered him, with power and knowledge just being the bait. (If you're interested in more detailed thoughts on this aspect of Viren / their dynamic, check out this meta here.)

More to the point, I do lean towards the Key's plot purposes being 1) a power-up that may be needed for him to get out of his mirror and 2) something that likewise allows him to see the other Startouch elves again. After all, the Silvergrove gave each elf a similar kind of key:

But y'know what, let's talk about Rayla now, because

The Missing Piece of Your Heart

As stated earlier, Rayla's letter has a consistent metaphor when it comes to family and loss:

I remember how I felt when my parents left me to join the Dragonguard, like PART OF MY HEART WAS MISSING and I would never feel right again. I thought I hated them when they did that to me. In the beginning, it felt so big and terrible—like raging despair—but, overtime, it became a soft, sweet ache—a reminder of that missing part of my heart. [...] Please don’t let this hurt too much. But, if it does—if you feel that soft aching—know that that piece of your heart isn’t missing. It’s not missing at all, Callum: I’m carrying it with me! Always.

This struck me as interesting when the letter first came out, as it was a departure from most of Rayla's previous heart motif ("My heart for Xadia") and even the one attributed to her one half of her parents ("My heart goes out with this one"). Why have the motif suddenly switch up when it would've worked just as well, or been doubly romantic + a Ruthari parallel, to just have it be the whole heart?

Then season four came out, and I understood, because, well...

Upon her return, Rayla brings back that "missing piece" of "Callum's heart". It's a painful restoration and doesn't run entirely smooth, but in season five in particular we see him be much more like his older, happier self once he's let himself love her again, and how steadfast he is in said love ("To love is simply know this...").

But, in a moment that could've been exclusively about Rayla, nor did it need for Stella's connection to the Star arcanum to be this prominent in the same moment, they choose to likewise highlight Rayla 'bringing home' the missing piece of Aaravos' heart, too.

This symbolism is also consistent with how the key is introduced in the first place, i.e. first thought of because Rayla's drawing in Callum's sketchbook (another gift from Harrow) reminds Callum of it, and her ultimately being the one to retrieve it even once things at the Banther Lodge take a turn towards the south.

Furthermore, we do have reason to believe that Rayla is indeed the 'Key to Callum' in a sense, particularly after 5x08. Just like how a key can both lock and unlock — give freedom or entrapment — Rayla symbolizes a great deal of duality in Callum's life, including but not limited to:

Leading him to primal magic (1x03, 5x08) and dark magic (2x07, 5x08)

Light ("No one can control you or make your choices for you" / Ray of light) and dark ("But the second you see that elf girl in pain, you completely lost yourself" / "Stay safe, and stay in the light. Don't look for me")

Being routinely emphasized in Callum's arc with Aaravos, especially in S4

"Now you're back. That's kind of good, and it's kind of bad" / "You have to hold pain and love in your heart at the same time" / "And when she came back, I was so happy, and so mad at the same time"

Salvation ("Rayla saves people [...] that's what makes her a hero") and destruction (being willing to die / do dark magic for her)

The Ocean arcanum realization being both positive and negative, just as the poem itself takes on a different shape across the season in regards to how Callum views her and how he views himself while being motivated by his love for her / Ezran

“Wow. So [the berries] look identical, but they might kill you or they might save you,” Callum said. “Exactly. Just like me…” Rayla smiled.

—Book One: Sky novelization

If you're interested in a more specific meta on this dichotomy, I recommend this meta written pre-s4 and this more recent one about 5x08 specifically.

I've written before about Rayla have a weird consistency with the cube as well, particularly in her being the primary carrier of its foreshadowing for most of arc 1, with Callum only really doing so in 1x04 and having Rayla pick up the slack the rest of the time:

"It's a toy, a piece from a children's game" (1x04) as well as "It's a glow toy" (1x05) are now literally true as the cube is 1) involved in Aaravos' game and 2) literally glows a bright flashing light circa the 4x04 intro.

"Are you practicing magic or are you losing to Bait at a game of rolly-cubes?" (2x07 right after Callum calls it a key) came to pass, somewhat if not outright, it seems, in 5x08. Callum practices two different magics, Rayla is literal bait in exchange for the glow-toad, and the episode ends with Callum being worried he's potentially losing Aaravos' 'game' so to speak — that he's made himself more vulnerable to the Startouch elf's control.

Two lines of hers regarding the cube that have not yet come to pass are "This doesn't end well for you" (1x05) and "I hope it was worth it to you, putting everyone's lives in danger" (1x04) but I expect that we'll get them soon enough.

Rayla's 'tether' to a the cube does, of course, loop back into the Flowers of Elarion tale, in which there was a fair exchange of beloved for beloved. If the Key does indeed hold Aaravos' heart (and that is still a very big If), whether it would include an actual exchange is still debatable, but it seems inevitable that she would at least play a part. (If you're interested in more thoughts on Rayla + the cube, check out this meta pre-s4.)

Where the game motif gets the most interesting, I think, is where it intersects with the idea Aaravos mentions in 2x09 regarding, "Those who fail tests of love are simple animals," and one of the TDP short stories in particular having one very interesting tidbit:

“My behavior is—?” “—unusual,” Corvus repeated, nodding. “Very unusual. Ever since you started challenging me to all these little games.” Soren squirmed. His pauldrons clanked as his shoulders slumped. “They aren’t games. They’re tests. Ugh…I’m really messing this up.”

Since Rayla is going to have her "My heart for Xadia" undeniably tested, it would make sense if Callum and Aaravos' hearts came into play too, don't you think?

Other Misc Symbolism / Oddities

Last but not least, we have our odds and ends that didn't fit in the other sections, but I thought may be worthwhile to mention anyway.

For starters, we have screencaps (most notably in 3x06) where you can see a visible dip in Aaravos' tiddies chest that indicates something was removed, and it's not just an artificial darkness.

We have Aaravos touching a fist to his heart twice before he bows and indicates that Callum is going to "play" into his hands (remember that game motif?).

We have this shot, which is the exact kind of thing that "crew makes sure the Ocean and Moon runes are most prominently on display in Callum's dark magic dreams to foreshadow him doing dark magic in S5 Ocean for his Moonshadow gf 3 seasons later" would absolutely do and think they're So Funny about. "No gem for star magic" except the one you're unknowingly holding in your hand, am I right?

Finally, we have precedent that dark magic can 'darken' your heart both in show when Amaya passes the light trial ("A human that is pure of heart") and in the graphic novels with Claudia ("Your heart is not yet darkened") which allows her to see the map to a unicorn (The Puzzle House).

@self-spaghettification also noted that the bright white flash of the star in the 'o' of Aaravos' name in the Arc 2 intro momentarily looks like and makes the shape of the Nova Blade, which is also very cool.

Honourable mention to Rayla going "it's a piece from a children's game" and Ezran going "you said each of the archdragons had a piece of the puzzle" and the Orphan Queen and Jailer presumably working together to trap Aaravos. I think about that shit every day.

Evidence to the Contrary / Alternatives

But like I said at the start, there are plenty of alternatives or feasible pitfalls to consider. This theory resides on a few assumptions after all, that may not be true, such as Aaravos not actually needing the key for anything other than as a lure for Callum, it could purely have something to do with the Nova Blade and nothing to do with the prison, or even have something to do with the nature of magic itself, capable of great good as well as great evil.

His chest piece could've always been more immaterial and dark magic has just darkened it rather than it being removed. Aaravos may have stabbed Laurelion in order to use that heart diamond to partially make the Relic Staff he passed onto Ziard, or Aaravos' chest piece could be in the staff itself, and the cube is something else entirely.

Conclusion

In the end, as we go forward into S6 all the above is more less my personal bet as to where I think we really could go in terms of answering a lot of these questions we've had for a few seasons now. I hope you enjoyed reading the theory and considering (and possibly subscribing to) it, as well as getting your own thoughts stimulated. If any of the above happens I will cry for days and no matter what, I am deeply intrigued to see where S6 takes Aaravos' backstory and, of course, his cube. Luckily:

[sepublic]

Having some huge biracial insecurity vibes from Acca Howler here… The way he needs to assert to himself that he’s not an outsider, that he has Hawaiian heritage like everyone else and even framing himself as part of the community with what his water “did” for everyone. Yes he’s part-Italian but his ancestor Latrato properly incorporated himself into the culture with a native instead of imposing!!!

Everyone else is bringing up United Healthcare, so I'll do it as well by mentioning the CEO's wife; She seems genuinely baffled by people's response to her husband's death, and as someone else pointed out, it seems these rich folk genuinely think they're providing a service to society with their companies, and are completely out of touch with the reality. And I think this general mindset from rich people is what Araki is giving to Howler.

The fact that Howler's white-passing doesn’t help his situation either, and by the end of the day it has less to do with whether Acca is native Hawaiian and more the fact that he acts like any other colonizer, heading a huge rich company that exploits the land and assists other colonizers as well. But of course Howler’s only takeaway is that if he were dark-skinned or something, the people would be more accepting of him. What ties it all together is his family name sounding like Haole.

Interesting character writing by Araki here. Howler being a straightforward white man from a white family that imposed itself would’ve worked. But you have this backdrop for Howler to give himself plausible deniability while being in complete denial of his own white privilege, or how he’s still a rich man by the end of the day. The people aren’t going to be sated thinking that’s “one of their own” up there because being up there inherently makes him no longer one of their own.

And at the same time, the way Yokohama and his goons talk of Howler as a country bumpkin? I’m not saying they’re necessarily racist but uh. It kinda feels that way doesn’t it? When you’re biracial you tend to get the worst of both worlds. Too white for the natives and too native for the haoles. And given Howler interacts with the latter the most, of course he’s more inclined to think of himself as a victim of racism and in the same boat with the locals, even getting his land stolen by these guys!

He truly is the Outsider who doesn’t belong anywhere as he looks for a place, and the one place he has is now taken away so maybe he’ll be reduced to a true wanderer. With themes of land and indigenous heritage, maybe Howler will learn from this. Or he’ll probably just double down on his victim complex and go off the deep end.

Plus there’s the setup for foils with Jodio and Dragona, how one brother is white-passing and the other isn’t, and both are biracial from a white parent who married in and is beloved by the community. Note that the Joestars are lower-class folk of course; But they’ve set themselves up to seize land and wealth as Latrato did, even down to the exact same plot of land.

So with the emphasis on Howler’s lineage, it’s a cycle that’s being passed down to these Joestars instead; But in the end, they have all the setup to become just like Howler, and just as reviled and accused of being Haole. Especially Jodio, the aforementioned white-passing sibling. Whilst Dragona could be his foil as the one who resembles his native heritage… Jodio may be less of an outright traitor and a more subtle one in the narrative, alienating his community by pulling up the ladder behind him, as the Howlers did.

This could be the betrayal, the cost to his ambition that we’ve speculated about. Maybe Dragona and/or someone else will try to call out Jodio, and when he brushes them off in his ambition, they’re forced to attempt taking the Lava Rock. That’s what Jodio sees as the betrayal; Only for the hard truth to come that he betrayed everyone first. Howler might die/be defeated first, only for this to happen to Jodio afterwards as he realizes he’s the villain and his brother is the Jonathan of this story.

Bonus points if Howler is a homeless bum who gets to call out Jodio over it, though I dunno if it’s out of any self-awareness or just hypocrisy at this point. Maybe Jodio realizes his problem with this comparison, or doesn’t. Maybe Howler telegraphs their mutual fate and Jodio brushes it off, only to remember. We’ll just have to wait and see.

[deus-sema]

I came across this stunning fanart by @lordbhreanna right after reading this meta by the brilliant @neyafromfrance95 and all of it reminded me of what it exactly was about a potential dynamic between Galadriel and Sauron that caught my interest for the first time all those years ago. In its simplest form, it is the idea of two contrasting yet equally compelling personalities, of two larger than life figures, clashing with each other with some kind of attraction thrown into the midst that continues to fascinate me.

There have been multiple theories about what could transpire in the hypothetical event of Galadriel falling to the dark side with one of them being that he would turn her into yet another Adar and keep her subservient to him. While there is enough reason to believe that Sauron wouldn't readily share all his power with Galadriel, simultaneously, there are equally high chances, if not more, of Galadriel not bowing down before his might. She is one of the last people to allow anyone to lord over her. Be it Gil-galad or Miriel. She doesn't comply with authority but seeks to defy, covet and wield it. She has a natural inclination towards leadership; much like Fëanor and others of her kin, her Noldorean pride and indomitable will won't allow her to be reduced to anyone's subordinate, no matter who that individual may be.

If she were to become Sauron's lieutenant then, I daresay, she'll plan a coup d'état sooner than Adar did to seize absolute power from him. He'll be enraged and turned on at the same time. His greed for her even as her searing light with intensity to rival the Two Trees blinds him while she revels in her might and the knowledge that he is already in her possession as they both battle their desire for each other. It shall be a game between these two titans, spanning across ages, with its repercussions being felt all across Middle Earth. Okay I digress but someone should write this fic.

Sauron, in both book and RoP canon, genuinely cared for Middle Earth at first and harboured a desire to beautify and perfect it. Though I am unable to find it now, @saurongorthaur9 had, in a well written meta, drawn a parallel between Sauron's love turned hatred for ME upon being figuratively spurned by it to his RoP incarnation's desire for Galadriel which would eventually morph into a vendetta after getting thwarted repeatedly.

So, it stands to reason, that within the narrative of the show, just like how Sauron's relationship with Galadriel symbolizes his complicated relationship with Middle Earth on a whole, Galadriel's attraction to Sauron is an extension of her desire for power. If Sauron sought to add to the land's beauty, Galadriel had come there with the intention to be a ruler in her own right. Ambition is one aspect of her personality that the show is yet to explore properly as of now.

It is very much likely that the upcoming couple of seasons are going to delve deeper into the political elements within the different realms. One thing I would like to see is Galadriel being more actively involved with the affairs of the Elves rather than retreating into a supporting role. While it was her guilt that tied her down in S2, the finale left her in a position of vindication with her concerns being proven right. As the Elves regroup and unite against Sauron, it is necessary for Galadriel to assume a position of leadership at par with Gil-galad's. Her aspirations to rule her own lands and people - which had taken a backseat due to her commitment towards avenging Finrod - can also be brought to the surface. Parallely, we shall have Sauron establishing his dominion in Mordor and building his empire in the rest of ME. Both of them could end up stimulating each other - while pushing each other to their limits as the tension between them heats up during their probable mind palace sessions.

All in all, there is a mithrilmine of potential storytelling right there waiting to be dug up.

[silviakundera]

"But I have my reasons."

"So does every other sinner in the world."

It's been quite obvious from the drama for a while now that the Princess Royal screenwriter feels pity for Su Rongqing and considers him a tragic figure. I recall being asked early on if I thought the writers are trying to redeem him. And I said no, not exactly. And I still stand by that!

They didn't give him any out or excuse for his hand in the bloody end of their original timeline: the dirty secrets reveal scene does not soften his actions in any way or reduce Li Rong's disgust. Ronghua still rejects his grand-standing words and his refusal to see that the noble class can't continue like this. He gets his chance to tell his perception of past events but Pei Wenxuan also gets a chance to share competing observations. Li Rong and Su Rongqing still get their philosophical face-off in the throne room. No one is completely wrong or right. There were no heroes in the original timeline.

"Let's not deceive ourselves or others anymore. I understand your stubbornness. Your heart is with the light, yet you dwell in darkness. You refuse to acknowledge your identity, so you can only disort the truth."

We see Li Rong and his brother reach out a hand to him many times, telling him he can still turn back. Li Rong was never in love with him romantically but he accompanied her for years during a dark period for both of them; she's not a heartless person (that's the whole point!), so ofc she would take his hand and pull him back from the edge if he was just willing to grab it. She wants to reach him: that's what the whole throne room scene is about. But she cannot. His last moments in the drama have both Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong calling out to him.

He may be a poisonous snake, but he doesn't have to bite the frog when crossing the river.

He is given chances but he doesn't take them. That's why he's tragic: Because he is right about this ONE THING (Li Chuan isn't suited to be emperor), feeling desperately certain about it while it seems no one else understands the stakes and his heroic mission. But he's wrong about everything else.

This is a story about time travel and what if you could re-do your youth: better support a troubled sibling, stand up to toxic family, fix your marriage, widen your perspective... And Su Rongqing misses all his opportunities because he's not taking his chance to better connect with others, not using the wisdom of all those extra years to better understand the populace and the people around him, and handle his life & relationships with more grace. He just narrow-mindly focuses on the mission - he can't reset, can't let go of the past life and the current system.

So many other people in this tale have been shifted: Shangguan Ya, Su Ronghua, Li Chuan, Qin Zhen Zhen, even the fail emperor has a revelation about how crap he is.

His inflexibility and inability to seize the opportunity of a do-over in life and be a new Su Rongqing acts as a contrast to measure how much Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan have been growing & changing. And it shows us why they triumph and why they deserve their happy ending.

Tragic doesn't mean innocent. It doesn't mean he didn't have a hand in his own downfall.

I know not all readers found him compelling in the text, but I did think he was a neat character and tbh I think the novel would be diminished without him. I can see what the screenwriter was trying to do with him - all that dramatic music is his POV. We get glimpses of the good times & his good intentions that contrast with his failure to live up to any of it. He's given narrative importance as their foil and the writers wanted him to be a full fledged 3rd time-traveler character that the audience is interested in (hoping, like Li Rong & his brother do, that he can be saved). The promise is there in the essential character, I can see it in the text. But in the drama they failed to create investment from the audience in the right way.

imo a big misstep is that the framing early on made viewers feel he was intended to be a valid love interest. In the drama, his romantic interest in her is overt while in the novel it was ambiguous for the first 60% of the story. Writers even added a couple moments that felt OOC where we are in his head and it seems like he is actually intending to win her back romantically (which is contradicted by his novel-compliant speeches in ep 34 & 40 about how he knows they can't be together because as her betrayer he doesn't deserve it.)(now I'm curious to rewatch them, I am really wondering if it was intended to be a slight of hand where he is meaning her return/freedom/rise to power/the life he owes her and the audience is intended to misread as him saying he will become her bf again 🤔🤔) Regardless, in a romance narrative, this will make many viewers reflexively dislike him, protectively wanting him away from their otp. He is perceived as a real suitor who has a chance -- which hits different to a shipper.

The execution was flawed. I do think that casting a magnetic actor who can portray bottled up emotion & inner turmoil, such as Zhang Wanyi, would have made a big difference in mitigating the earlier mis-cues. But on the other hand, I'm fairly satisfied with his character handling from ep 30-40. And it wasn't really badly done, ep 22 and onward. The real problem in his handling was the first 50%.

[astraule]

"The Princess Has Returned"

Pairing: Lo’ak x Reader Tags: Mentions kidnapping, animal cruelty, crush, feeling lost within a community, bullying, fluff, reverse comfort. Y/N: She/Her Metkayina reader. Word Count: 2.1 K Summary: As you reminisce about your life on the island, you reveal your duties of being a princess and becoming a tsahik. Although you perceive your existence as boring, Lo’ak encourages you, highlighting the immense potential he sees in you. The narrative takes a turn when Lo’ak forms a bond with Payakan, prompting Tonowari to tell the legend of the first tulkun. Following this exchange, you and Lo’ak engage in a heartfelt conversation, deepening your connection.

Lo’ak POV: (Shore)

As I approached the shore, I spotted my siblings already there. "I wonder who they're so excited to see," Neteyam pondered, glancing back at me.

“The princess is back, my daughter Y/N has finally come home," Tonowari declared as the crowd made way for us to witness their reunion. At that moment, I saw a beautiful girl, around a year older than me, shedding tears of joy while being hugged by Tsireya, Ronal, Rotxo, and A’onung, all with Tonowari proudly watching over them.

Tsireya wiped her tears and said, "You need to fill us in on everything. Where have you been all these years?" Tonowari chimed in, "We'll talk about it over a big dinner. It's time to celebrate." The crowd cheered as Y/N simply smiled and waved, not saying a word.

(Celebration Dinner)

When we arrived at the festive dinner, Tonowari gestured for us to join him and his family, while the rest of the Metkayina sat with their own families. I quickly took the only available seat next to the princess. I have to admit, she definitely caught my attention.

 Tonowari rose to his feet, capturing the focus of the room as he began to address the crowd. "As we gather for dinner tonight, let's kick things off with a tale about my daughter's recent adventures before we dig in." Y/N expressed her gratitude to her father as she stood up, while Tonowari resumed his seat. I was taken aback by how clear Y/N's voice was.

The princess coughed lightly to get everyone's attention. "I'm sure you all recall the day I disappeared. I was trailing my father during a hunt when the sky people arrived in their deadly contraptions and attacked the Ilu I was riding. I fell into the water in the chaos, and in my panic, I swam away without thinking straight."

As I looked around, I noticed that some of the Metkayina had begun to sip their drinks, yet their plates remained untouched. It seemed that Tonowari’s authority reigned supreme here, second only to Eywa. Feeling a bit thirsty myself, I chose to follow suit, resisting the urge to reach for my plate despite my hunger.

“I missed the chance to search for my father, and by then, the stars had already begun to adorn the sky. I made the choice to scale a mountain in the heart of the ocean. As soon as I reached out and felt the supposed mountain, I realized it was unnaturally smooth. In an instant, I was seized and found myself caught in the deadly snare of the sky people.” Y/N carried on, feeling emotional.

“I didn't think I'd ever be reunited with my family," Y/N said, reaching out to squeeze Tsireya's shoulder. "During those years of hardship, I learned so much. I learned their language, I studied the way of the stars which they called astronomy, and I learned their destructive ways towards their own planet, among other things they taught me." By this moment, numerous Metkayina were starting to well up with tears, deeply moved by their feelings for their princess.

“I've spent years learning everything I could to break free from the torment and go back to the village. However, they continued to exploit me for…” Y/N covered her mouth with her hand, tears welling up in her eyes once again. "They used me for their vile schemes to attack tulkun," she confessed before sitting down and leaning into Tsireya's comforting embrace.

The news spread like wildfire, causing an uproar among the people. "To use the princess for evil purposes, we must seek retribution," they cried out. "This is not our battle and now we have my daughter back. I will not let her slip away again. If the sky people dare to start a war with us, we will be ready. But for now, my focus is on my family. Today is a day of celebration, after all," Tonowari declared firmly as the Metkayina took a seat and began to eat.

I glanced discreetly at Y/N while she ate, noticing the tears glistening on her eyelashes and the puffy look of her eyes, making them appear a deeper shade of blue in the corners. Caught in my observation, she turned her head to meet my gaze. After swallowing her food, she remarked, "I don't believe we've been introduced..." with a sniffle.

With a mouthful of food, I proudly declared, "my name’s Lo'ak," eliciting a chuckle from her. The noisy room made it feel like we were in our own little world, which I appreciated. "It’s good to have some difference, Lo'ak." Y/N mentioned as she wiped the corners of her mouth with a woven handkerchief.

Was she mocking me for being different? A creature of demon blood, a strange being with five fingers - what was she implying? "What's the significance of that?" I murmured, feeling my cheeks flush a darker shade of blue. Would this beautiful girl also join in on making fun of me?

"You really don’t know me well, Lo’ak. For example, I was always a bit odd, which only pushed my family to mold me even more into the princess image." A smile crept across her face as she spoke. Oh Eywa, she wasn’t mocking me… she was genuinely trying to connect. "Just give it a few minutes, then follow me," she whispered before rising from the ground.

“Thanks for the meal, dad. I think I'll head out, but please don't rush your dinner on my account. I'll be waiting for you at home.” Y/N said before walking away, and after 10 minutes, I informed my parents that I wanted to take a refreshing swim before heading back to our place.

(Shore)

There she sat at the water's edge, gazing up at the stars above. Truly, she was one of the most stunning girls I had ever seen. The way her sanhi shimmered in the moonlight could enchant anyone who looked her way. I took a seat beside her, choosing silence to preserve the serene atmosphere she had created. 

"Honestly, getting kidnapped was just the worst experience ever," she laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. "I can only imagine, but at least you’re back home now," I replied, glancing over at her and tilting my head to take in her expression.

"Home... yes, home," she said, her voice trailing off into silence, leaving me to wonder what I might have done to upset her. "The most significant part of not being at home is realizing what it feels like to be trapped. No matter where I wander, I never truly feel free." As she spoke, she stretched her hand toward the stars, as if attempting to grasp one.

The more she talked, the more I saw just how alike yet different we were. "All I can see for myself on this island is being a princess and training to be a tsahik. And when I'm older, I'll be the tsahik of the village. Sounds like a dull life, doesn't it?" She remarked, letting her hand fall to her side.

“I believe it's anything but boring; you possess so much potential to achieve that and even greater things. The village relies on you because they recognize your abilities.” I wanted to uplift her spirits. "You know, Lo’ak, I might not have experienced the constant struggle of war like you have, but I often find myself wishing I could live your life..." she said, resting her head on my shoulder.

“I understand that's not what you're looking for, I'm not ignoring your experiences... I mean, you were abducted. You've already been through so much in your life.” As I spoke, there was a brief pause, and I could hear her softly crying.

After 10 minutes of quiet with only the sound of water and her sniffles, I made the decision to break the silence. "Even though we just met today, I really hope that our friendship will last a long time. So, if there's ever a time of conflict, stay strong Y/N. Don't let me-” I paused to clear my throat, realizing I was about to say something foolish. “I mean... don't let anyone lose you after you've just come back." And with that, I stopped speaking.

Y/N POV: (3 Month’s Later, Shore)

As I was calmly returning some of the fish the fishermen had caught to my father, a sudden uproar caught my attention. I could hear my brother chatting with Kiri, but then a voice that sounded just like Lo’ak’s rang out, demanding everyone’s focus. Realizing I needed to abandon my task and hurry over, I felt a sense of urgency; otherwise, things might spiral out of control.

When I arrived, I noticed how those boys picked on Lo’ak simply because he stood out from the crowd. “Please, just leave us alone,” Kiri begged, but her words did little to deter my brother’s relentless teasing.

Neteyam defended them, saying, “You heard her, just leave them be.” His words made A’onung take a step back. However, as the Sully’s turned to leave, my brother couldn’t help but keep badmouthing them. Before I could jump in to stop him, things spiraled out of control.

(Metkayina Docks. After the Three Brother’s Incident)

"What were you thinking, leaving him all by himself back there, A’onung?" I shouted at my brother, who merely rolled his eyes at my outburst. "Chill out, some of us are already searching for him," A’onung shot back.

Various villagers exclaimed, "They found the boy, they found him," as I let out a heavy sigh. "We'll discuss this later," I replied, attempting to move toward Lo'ak, but my father stepped in front of me, halting my progress.

As Lo’ak’s parents confronted him, my father chose to share his perspective. “No, my son understands the dangers of venturing beyond the reef. The responsibility lies with him,” he stated, compelling A’onung to kneel in a gesture of remorse.

Lo’ak’s parents were about to take him home when he suddenly spoke up, saying, “No, it was my idea.” I attempted to shake my head to silence him, but he persisted, adding, “He tried to talk me out of it.” That was all he managed to say before his father forcefully pulled him away. My mother questioned A’onung, who looked regretful, but I could tell he wouldn't trouble Lo’ak again. I was going to go find Lo’ak, but my father stopped me.

"What’s your relationship with the Sully boy?" my father asked, trying to pry as I shrugged off his grip. "He’s... just a friend, Dad," I replied, signaling for him to drop the subject before walking away. "Just a friend, huh?" he mused, glancing at my mom, who simply laughed.

(After Lo’ak bonding with Payakan)

“You allowed him to bond with the outcast.” My mother's anger made me take a step back and gulp. "Y/N," my father said, catching my attention. "Out of everyone, you disappoint me, daughter," he shook his head as I lowered mine. 

"And you, the child of a legendary warrior, should know better." My father addressed Lo’ak, who only responded by recalling how Payakan had come to his rescue. I attempted to hush him, but my efforts were in vain. My father let out a deep sigh. "Take a seat," he instructed, and Lo’ak listened. "I said, SIT DOWN!" my father shouted, making Tsireya flinch in fear as we all fell silent and took our seats.

My father began telling the tale of the first tulkun, explaining how they were forbidden from killing each other and how Payakan became an outcast. “I apologize, sir, but you are mistaken,” Lo’ak retorted. “Lo’ak, you are speaking to Olo’eyktan-” his mother began, but her husband interrupted. “That’s enough!” he whispered sharply to Lo’ak.

Lo’ak insisted, “I have my own knowledge.” His father looked at my dad and said, “That’s enough. I’ll handle this.” Then he took Lo’ak aside. My dad urged A’onung and Tsireya to go, but when they didn't budge, he yelled at them to get moving. His shout finally got them to leave, leaving me alone with my parents. I could already feel a lecture coming on.

(Beach Edge)

I caught Lo’ak's attention and said, "I witnessed something today... you have been chosen by tulkun." He began defending Payakan's innocence, and I eventually trusted him. "Lo’ak... by the tulkun's standards, he is a murderer," I added.

“He admitted his mistake, promising never to repeat it,” Lo’ak mentioned, all the while looking at me with those pleading eyes that melted my heart. "We have to inform my father," I said with a heavy sigh. "No, I'm already in deep trouble," he replied, reaching out to grab my arm.

I attempted to explain to him, "Perhaps they will comprehend." "No chance," he replied. "The entire clan despises me. All they see is demon blood." He gestured with his hand, showing his 5 fingers, which were completely different from my 4-fingered hand.

I clasped two of his fingers as I spoke. "I see you, Lo'ak."

I really hope that was enjoyable to read. Lately I've been having problems with making up ideas to write but if you guys have any ideas totally let me know. I was planning to have Y/N speak some English but maybe in another fanfic.

[butterflydm]

wot rewatch (book spoilers edition) 2x8

So this post is gonna have some casting and location spoilers about s3, as well as book spoilers through book 14: a memory of light.

Thoughts about Egwene as the modern-age counterpart to Lanfear really get into spoiler territory because I think a large part of it is going to come out in Egwene's reaction to Rand moving on from their relationship vs Lanfear's reaction. Lanfear could never get over Lews Therin, but Egwene is going to move on and seek new paths and new relationships of her own. We will probably even (my guess) have Egwene be the one to initiate the 'final breakup' at the start of s3, just like she initiated the breakup in 1x1. I am definitely intrigued by the angle that they'll use for the breakup in s3. Maybe being able to protect Rand here in this episode is going to heal the part of Egwene that has been feeling so guilty over not being able/allowed to protect Rand in 1x8 and she might also then have some anger/frustration that Rand made choices that made it impossible for her to help him. And she wants a partner who isn't going to make choices like that on her behalf.

That they tied in Egwene's striving so hard at the White Tower in with her wanting to protect the people that she cares about also makes it easier for her not to go back to the White Tower next season (as I suspect that she will not; though we'll see - but I suspect that we'll get the arrival in the Waste in ep2 or maybe even the end of ep1). Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne have all seen that there is a bigger fight that needs them right now and going back to train at the White Tower might well be at the bottom of their priority list, even before they hear from Moiraine about what happened in Cairhien.

2. I also feel like the Ishamael-Mat comparison is kinda foreshadowing the Mat-All the Forsaken Who Are Jealous of LTT comparison that we get in a lot of the middle/late books, which we may still get when Sammael and potentially Demandred come into play. Unlike the Forsaken with LTT, Mat is not envious of Rand's high status and title. He doesn't mind being 'in Rand's shadow' and is baffled when Melindhra keeps trying to push him out of said shadow and into seizing the spotlight. He doesn't want it!

Hmm, Forsaken round-up/confirmations. Obviously, we have Lanfear and we had Ishamael. Lanfear will continue to be a presence in s2, I'm currently assuming.

Confirmed:

Moghedien - likely going to be involved in Nynaeve's plotlines, for the most part, I'm guessing. I think she may also take over at least part of Mesaana's plotline. Since all five of the ta'veren are acknowledged as important by the Shadow, she'll even be acting within orders to get obsessed with Nynaeve!

Sammael - Illian is in the picture; I'm guessing we'll get some strong Mat-Sammael compare/contrasts once he's 'on stage'. I'm wondering if Mat will actually be allowed to finish out the Illian plan in the show instead of being yanked away prematurely, and only going to Ebou Dar afterwards? I'm not sure how much we need Mat-in-Salidar in the show. Too soon to really speculate. If we have Sammael... I'm not sure if we get Demandred. They kinda fill the same 'niche' in the Forsaken ecosystem.

Graendal - she just needs to handle chaos somewhere; it doesn't have to be Arad Doman. I think @markantonys suggested the idea of her being the Forsaken who takes over Caemlyn, which is interesting! Both Rahvin and Graendal are big into Compulsion. Not having Rahvin does potentially mean that we don't get Rand balefiring him in order to bring back Aviendha & Mat (and briefly Asmodean, lol), which would be tough to lose. Though they could put that in somewhere else, against a different Forsaken. If they are keeping Rahvin, then Graendal might end up being the Forsaken that gets attached to bothering Perrin, narratively.

Almost certain:

Asmodean - training Rand. I'm hoping he lasts longer in the show than in the books, lol.

Semirhage - taking over Ishamael's place with influencing the Seanchan. But we won't get introduced to her until Tuon also arrives, I'm guessing.

Ishamael died here, so that does imply to me that we're going to get Moridin. I would guess in s5 or s6, to give the rest of the Forsaken time to play on the board for a long while.

Maybe:

The last spot is, for me, a competition between Demandred and Rahvin.

If Demandred - I'm hoping that the show does Taimandred. We haven't seen Taim on-screen, so there's plenty of time for Demandred to kill him and take his place. Taim essentially behaves obsessively jealous over Rand's status in the exact same way as Demandred, just with even worse vibes, lol. They can be combined.

otoh, they already have one of the 'incredibly jealous of LTT' Forsaken lined up for the show, so they might want to bring in another who doesn't really care much about LTT, and do Rahvin instead.

If Rahvin - then he'll go to Caemlyn, but I suspect he wouldn't go there until after Elaida & co have all left the city. Keeping Rahvin in would mean that we would probably be getting Rand balefiring him in order to bring back Mat, Aviendha, & Asmodean.

We do have a pretty healthy variety of motivations among the Forsaken that are lined up for the show, I think. In the books, Semirhage had an alliance with... Demandred and Mesaana, I think, but Mesaana is definitely out and Demandred might be as well, so she might be flying solo.

3. I really love the implication in this scene that Rand is going to potentially design the Asha'man uniforms based on what he was having the male Aes Sedai (including himself) wear during the War of Power.

4. Now that I'm rewatching, I wonder if we're gonna get Rand being treated as a political leader in Falme at the start of s3! Since it may be echoing how Tear was used in the books, as a fulfillment of prophecy.

I love my idea about Caemlyn subbing in for Tear, but Falme really does work for most of that. Maybe something more like... ep1: Falme; ep2: the first split, where Elayne and Nynaeve head off to try to hunt down... idk something, and the rest of the group heads east, ending up in Caemlyn where they meet Gawyn, Galad, & Elaida, ep3: the waste/rhuidean, ep4: tower coup, ep5: alcair dal & capturing asmodean; ep6: battle of two rivers; ep7: nynaeve vs moghedien; ep8: battle of cairhien & the door incident

5. The people of Falme getting saved by Rand in this way also leaves them open to the influence of Masema, who definitely looked like he was Finding Religion at the end of the episode. So Falme may end up being the headquarters of the Prophet of the Dragon. That storyline kinda dragged on in the books in a very annoying way but the bones of it are genuinely fascinating and I think there's a lot that the show could do with it. Because there are two main threads of people who are dangerous due to the Dragon arriving specifically -- there are the people who will hate and fear him but there are also the Dragonsworn who believe that his arrival has broken all previous ties and take it too far due to religious zealotry.

6. Lanfear's full plan, from what I can piece out and with some speculation:

a. Write out a prophecy in blood on the moondial and sell the shattered pieces to Doman, knowing that Moiraine is a likely buyer. She may have done other things to arrange said purchase as well. What I love about this is that it means that she was poking at Ishamael when she asked why he hadn't killed Moiraine, even as she was figuring out how to use Moiraine for her own purposes.

b. Set up an inn in Cairhien and arrange for Rand to stay there. Figure out a way into a relationship with him by taking advantage of his vulnerability. I'm even wondering if all of Rand's bad dreams this season have actually been Lanfear and not Ishamael. I'm pretty sure that the one in 2x6 featured a fake Ishy.

c. I think that Verin & Tomas have potentially been under Lanfear's orders for most/all of the season, given that Lanfear has been invested in Moiraine. And Lanfear being invested in Moiraine makes it... more likely that Selene being a Moiraine cosplay was 100% intentional on her part which is... fascinating. A fascinating look into Lanfear's psychology. I mean, she really did cultivate a very sugar mommy dynamic with Rand.

d. Get most of the pieces in motion... and then her plans get screwed when Barthanes's mom tells Moiraine where Rand went, and Lanfear gets stabbed and temporarily loses her boy. But it's okay! She can adjust her plans! (Theory: I think this is why she had Liandrin talk to Barthanes; she figured out what happened and wanted to punish the Damodred family for ruining her plans -- there really wasn't any actual way for Barthanes to even get to Moiraine to kill her, so that wasn't the real plan; I think it was petty revenge on Lanfear's part)

e. So, Rand goes to sleep and she's able to start working on him. She gets him to agree to go to Falme! Yes! She's so close to her Happy Ending with Lews Therin Telamon Rand al'Thor!

...and then Rand gets captured by the Amyrlin Seat of these new Aes Sedai and Lanfear needs to break her future devoted husband Rand out of jail, ugh, he asks so much of her. (secretly, she wishes he would ask more)

f. So, jailbreak time! With a brief pause to ship Mat Cauthon to Falme. With Lanfear maybe suspecting that Ishamael is wrong about Mat and that things aren't going to go how he expects. She uses Verin to make sure that Moiraine & co are going to go to the Waygate, because she's figured out exactly where she plans to dump Moiraine so that she can play her part of the plan.

There is also some speculation that Maksim may be a darkfriend as well. If he is, then he was also used as a pawn by Lanfear to get another Aes Sedai to help with the plan.

Lanfear also takes this opportunity to further poison the White Tower against Rand, by having his escape tied to a Forsaken rampage on the Foregate.

g. Lanfear has complete faith that Lews Therin Rand is going to successfully take care of Ishamael! That's her man! He can do anything! She just needs to clear the way for him and get him in the right place at the right time, and he'll do the rest. She even makes sure to deliver the Horn of Valere to some of his friends! He's got this in the bag!

h. ...then she makes the mistake of stopping in to say 'hi' to Ishamael and gloat about Rand being in Falme, tipping her hand and causing Ishamael's decision to release the rest of the Forsaken. Oops.

i. Well, Rand has been proclaimed the Dragon (yay!) but now the rest of the Forsaken are free and she's been told she needs to stay away from him (boo!).

j. ...time to come up with a new plan.

6. "I know who kills him. And what he uses to do it."

The wild thing here is that, iirc, it's his unhealable wound that kills Rand's body at the Last Battle, right? Which would mean Min's interpretation of her viewing was absolutely correct -- Mat DOES 'kill' Rand in this episode. It just takes a while before the death actually takes effect. So one of my theories -- that Mat was taking the place of Alivia in being the one who 'helps' Rand die -- that I dismissed because we're way too soon for that... is kinda true?

7. I have to admit, it confuses me when I still see people arguing that Mat is going to need to go to the White Tower to get healed from the dagger. The show made it very clear that he was Not Touching the dagger. His entire plan centered around using the dagger without touching it. And Mat has already spent a lot of time in the White Tower and worked his hardest to try to escape -- why would he go back? Plus, the people making these arguments already know that we're doing book 4 next season. Mat doesn't go anywhere near the White Tower in book 4. And his WT stuff hits some 'rule of cool' buttons but it's not... narratively important (especially if Rahvin didn't make the cut).

Going to Rhuidean and getting his medallion is key to Mat's future developments. And the show has put so much work into his relationship with Rand, so it just seems likely that they would want to build on that in s3 rather than abandoning it so that Mat can doink around the countryside with a variety of companions (it's so bizarre for me to see people prioritizing Mat's book 3 plotline over "Mat enters an alternate dimension to get a special medallion and special weapon that are key to his narrative" - but it's probably the same people who spend, like, ten books hating on the Wondergirls for not being grateful enough to Mat at the Stone of Tear).

8. I do think that we're going to skip Lan's bond having a stop-over at anyone else and have him go straight from Moiraine to Nynaeve. I feel like this stressful period here between the two of them in s2 was standing in for a lot of the tensions that they faced in the books (and that broke them apart in the books) but in the show they are now both on the same page -- they're both committed to "protecting Rand, guiding him" and we know that Moiraine approves of Nynaeve (and that LAN knows that she does) from the end of s1.

They may have some friction next season over the best way to help Rand, potentially, as Rand may be frustrated with Moiraine proclaiming him as the Dragon without his permission, but I don't think it'll get as bad as it does in the books (especially since I kinda feel like we might be 'losing' Moiraine at the end of the season).

9. The fact that we did not see Turak's room of curiosities makes me even MORE curious about whether or not a certain redstone doorway is there. That we ended the episode at the climax of the battle rather than getting any downtime after makes me feel like we are going to have at least one episode at the start of s3 where everyone is together so that we can establish the new group dynamics. That could take place in Caemlyn, like I've speculated, or it could take place here in Falme. They also might have left it open because they weren't sure if they could get this location back for s3 filming, so didn't want to commit to where the doorway might be located.

Given what Rafe & co have said about s3 being a 'closer adaptation' of bk4, I am leaning towards us getting a lot of those early 'book Tear' elements in whatever city we open with next season.

10. I suspect that we may get an Ingtar-ish storyline with a different character in the future. In the books, it is a cool moment, but it's cool because we had time to build up Ingtar's relationship with Rand and Rand was able to offer him a kind of absolution. If we hadn't needed to recast Mat and then restructure the entire s2 plotline, then maybe we would have had that kind of time, but that's the realities of working in television, especially in this, our time of Covid.

We've had a lot of complex Darkfriends on the show so far (while in the books, we only really get Ingtar and... Asmodean, I guess? Literally can't think of any others, lol) and so we might see this plotline pop up again once we have the time to spend with one of our mains bonding with a character who ends up being a Darkfriend.

Potential candidates: Lanfear ("Light help you, Rand al'Thor" - calls upon the Light to give him aid?), Asmodean, Liandrin (via her relationship with Nynaeve)

11. "Lanfear, Lews Therin, and Ishamael were inseparable before the War of Power" kinda implies to me that... Lews didn't meet Ilyena until after the War of Power had begun? I really am curious about what they're planning to do re: Ilyena. She was LTT's main focus in the books, but hasn't even been mentioned by name yet in the show. I mean, in the books, she was one of the classic Fridged Wives ever tbh, so I certainly don't mind some adjustments, but I am VERY curious. And with what the precise timeline of it was, in this version of the story.

12. I'm thrilled that Seta and Renna were killed off, tbh. I'm hoping it means that the second circus plotline is just as dead as they are. It was... genuinely one of the Worst Times that I ever had reading any PoVs in the entire series. But Egwene wanted to kill Renna in the books too! She only didn't because Nynaeve stopped her! And Nynaeve's not here. So all that felt pretty in-line with the book characterization.

And it gives Egwene a big moment here, which is good because... honestly, she doesn't do that much in TSR that I can think of? She... trains, mostly, lol. She doesn't get any huge moments like this, as far as I can recall. That is maybe the one reason that I can think of for sending the Wondergirls back to the White Tower, to give Egwene the Big Moment of her Accepted test. But Egwene's next big thing is really becoming Amyrlin, from what I remember. Am I forgetting some stuff from TSR or TFoH?

Rand has Rhuidean and becoming Car'a'carn

Nynaeve has Moghedien (and maybe Egeanin, if they do that plotline - they might have the Seanchan take next season or two off to 'regroup')

Mat has Rhuidean and visiting the foxes

Perrin has the battle of the Two Rivers

But Elayne is mostly Nynaeve's sidekick in Tanchico, from what I remember, and Egwene is mostly just tagging along with the Wise Ones and training. They can get some cool stuff out of her learning to be a Dreamer but there isn't really a 'climatic moment' in that in TSR or TFoH that I can think of.

(I wonder if the Birgitte bonding might happen next season? because they'll want to show Moghedien's threat level and what she does to Birgitte is a pretty good show of force)

13. Talking about how the Mat & Rand relationship is more complex than Mat & Perrin's -- this is very true to the books, of course, (until Perrin became Everyone's Closest Friend in ToM/AMoL) but it also feeds into Mat being a part of Rand's storylines next season (and probably all/most of s4) while Perrin goes back to the Two Rivers for most of s3. Mat and Rand's relationship is going to be more relevant, so it makes sense to load it up with more tension and more complexity. And given how close they've made Mat and Rand, I suspect that their storylines may dovetail even more in the show than they did in the books (and they already did a LOT in the books). And they might even continue to TALK about all the trauma that they have in common instead of being right next to each other and never having a conversation about it.

14. Mat being Rand's only hope being connected to the Horn and connected to the unhealing wound that will eventually kill him in Shayol Ghul... they really have twined Mat and Rand's narratives more tightly than the books did, which is delightful (especially with Mat being a Hero of the Horn in this version of the story, which means that Mat and Rand hang out together in TAR between incarnations).

It does make me very curious if Olver is going to exist in this version, since Mat is now not just tied to the Horn by ta'veren coincidence but by his own nature. Olver is kinda an easy character to cut, since he only ever does two things: a. gets Mat trapped in Ebou Dar so that he can get locked into his fate & b. blows the Horn in the Last Battle. If they're doing something different with Mat & Tuon, then Olver might not be needed for the first thing. And there's no reason for Mat not to blow the Horn himself in the Last Battle.

Narratively, because they HAVE been winding Mat and Rand's stories more tightly together, it would be pretty unsatisfying for Mat and Rand to separate in s4 (or s5?) and then literally never see each other again until they get a five-minute conversation in, like, ep 4 of season 8, so I suspect/hope that the show will find ways to let them reunite sooner than that. I mean, it was pretty damn unsatisfying in the books, let me tell you.

15. The show did such a good job setting up the Two Rivers storyline for next season, imo. I love that they put together Perrin's two "whitecloaks crimes" into the same issue and that Dain witnessed it first-hand instead of going after Perrin based on hearsay. I think we'll potentially see a real exploration of Perrin's guilt over Laila vs his inability to feel guilty about killing Bornhald next season. Plus adding Faile into the mix is likely going to make Perrin feel even guiltier (and I believe that Slayer is confirmed as well? It's gonna be busy in the Two Rivers for Perrin). I think we might get the 'trap' for Faile next season and it'll be what make Perrin realize that he has feelings for her but I don't think we're getting the quickie wedding. That feels WAY too fast.

16. It's hard to talk about Hopper's death without spoilers! Because this is very much not the end of Hopper's storyline. I'm expecting that Hopper is still going to be Perrin's teacher in the wolfdream, so we're probably going to see him just as much next season as we did this season, if not more. What a good actor in that dog, though, wow. Such a good start towards Perrin at the end. Hopper has been so delightful and I've loved what he's added to Perrin's storyline.

17. @markantonys did a really good post on the differences between why book!Mat thinks of himself 'not a hero' vs why show!Mat does, and I just want to link it here and co-sign. But that's really why this moment in the show, for Mat, works for me so well.

All of the characters, while they do have a core that comes from the books, are affected by the changes that the show has made. And Mat has been particular affected, because the realities of television impacted his character more than most due to the recasting, etc.

But even apart from that, Mat is different because he has gone through different experiences: he's known for over a year that one of them would be the Dragon so when he reunites with Rand, knowing that Rand's the Dragon, he's not going to have the same reaction that he did in the books because he has had time to adjust to the idea and it's not a nasty surprise.

Mat has a different relationship with heroism in the show because we lost our original Mat due to the shooting delays of Covid, and we had to leave Mat behind at the Waygate, meaning that he abandoned his friends out of fear. That profoundly changes his trajectory and means that a lot of work needed to be put into building his character back up again. Show!Mat NEEDS to be a Hero of the Horn in a way that book!Mat never did, because it provides external validation for him coming through the pain and loneliness and guilt and shame that he has been living in for the past few months.

18. After checking discussion on the subreddit, it is GENUINELY fascinating to me how many fans misremember book!Mat as getting his own past lives' memories rather than getting a mishmash of (mostly) war memories from the random people who visited the 'finn. I do think it's possible that this moment HAS been meant to replace that and Mat gets to use his own memories for all his general'ing needs, but it's also possible that these memories are going to fade after a while (and maybe that's the drive that makes Mat go to the 'finn, instead of asking for his memory-holes to be filled, he wants his past lives' memories back?). Mat does have some ancient memories that get triggered a couple of times in the early books (before Jordan was planning to send him to the 'finn, imo, and when Mat was going to be the one to go back to the Two Rivers) but those are not the same as the memories that the 'finn gave him.

19. We're also seeing a bit of LTT foreshadowing here, I think, in seeing how Mat remembering some of his past lives gives him access to fighting skills that he didn't have before. So when Rand starts pulling from LTT's memories, viewers can go back to this scene and connect the similarities.

20. Uno is Gaidal Cain! (from what Rafe has said in interviews) Good for him! I wonder if they're going to split up the 'dream conversations' next season and have Uno be the one who talks to Perrin and warns him about things, since they already have an emotional connection, while Brigitte is the one who runs across Egwene & the other Wondergirls (I absolutely do not remember the timeline of any of that, to be frank). I believe also, from what has been said, that this is not the final Birgitte actress, which is why they didn't focus on her much. Maybe we'll get Uno and Perrin hanging out in s3, and then Birgitte's storyline in s4?

21. I really am wondering how they plan to play out Rand's romantic situation in s3. There are still quite a few show-only viewers who are invested in Rand & Egwene as endgame, but also quite a few show-only viewers who clocked what a romantically-framed introduction that Rand and Elayne just had to each other. I don't want the show to rush Rand and Elayne's romance, so I'm still leaning towards them not starting anything next season, with the focus in the initial episode before they separate being on Rand and Egwene's breakup, and then Rand and Aviendha coming together over the course of s3 but... that really was a very disney-princess Romantic (TM) introduction shot, very "Eric meets Ariel" in The Little Mermaid (someone made the comparison using screenshots).

22. Did Suroth die? We don't actually see a body. This may be a situation where it was left ambiguous because they don't plan to have her in s3 and the actress might not be available when they do need their Seanchan antagonist again, so safest to leave her in a quantum state.

23. I am absolutely imagining the rest of the Forsaken watching Rand and Ishamael's encounter and then immediately fleeing once they see Rand take down Ishy, with Moghedien being voluntold to stay behind to talk to Lanfear.

24. Hmm, thinking about Masema. So Masema watches Ingtar get cut down by the Seanchan soldiers, he watches Perrin's friend Mat open the box to the Horn and then rush off to deliver it. And then he sees the dragon on the tower at the end. So he's seeing this huge difference between what a normal lord can do, and what was accomplished by the Dragon and his people. I'm not sure how in-depth we're going to be going with the Prophet of the Dragon storyline, but we definitely had seeds planted for it here.

25. We also seemed to have an interesting progression of who stands next to Rand, where, and when. Because first Rand is up alone on the ledge (while everyone has a group hug behind him), then we see Mat revealed to one side while Egwene steps up on the other. Then Nynaeve and Perrin join together, between Rand and Egwene. And in the final shot of them, we see that Elayne is standing between Mat and Rand.

I'm not going to put any particular meaning on any of that (at least at this time), just noting it.

It's a great shot.

26. I wonder if Ishy gave the others like, a short presentation on What This New Age Is Like.

That was such a good season of television! I'm really looking forward to what they're going to do with TSR, it's one of my very favorite of the books.

[horizon-verizon]

HOTD IS ALREADY A VIOLENTLY ANTI BLACK SHOW BUT RACIST PIGS WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER BLACK GIRL SIDELINED IN FAVOR OF AN IRRELEVANT & UNINTERESTING WHITE NON-CHARACTER.

When Aegon III look at Jaehaera, her face, her eyes, I know he saw Aegon II’s face. With Jaehaera, he can’t escape him, he can’t escape his mother’s violent death, he isn’t allowed to think of anything else, he’s forced to revive his olympic trauma over and over again. But with Daenaera, it’s UTTERLY different.

Jaehera dying is the story coming full circle. A greedy and ambitious hand wanting to make his daughter queen started the war but now his line ended by another greedy and ambitious hand who wanted to make his daughter queen. The point is that the Greens didn’t get what they want in the end because someone, one of their supporters, had the exact same mindset as Otto. Karma got to them. The Greens started this entire war to get their blood on the throne and their last chance to get their victory is dashed by one of their own people doing the same thing to them, GRRM is a genius, it’s ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

Y’all REFUSE to let Rhaenyra have some crubs, it’s so disgusting. The Greens already have their own victory, Aegon II is the one remembered as king and Rhaenyra as an usurper, but he must also have descendants (the Blackfyres I guess) who tries to usurp Rhaenyra’s descendants and grandsons who became kings ??? OUT OF QUESTION, LET IT GO. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

The Greens started this entire war to get their blood on the throne and their last chance to get their victory is dashed by one of their own people doing the same thing to them

Heavy on this, anon. In fact, let me go back an insert the part about Jaehaera being the green's last botched "chance".

Anon refers to this post I wrote from a person expressing why they thought Jaehaera's death was "narratively irrelevant". And why Daenaera can still be written in without marrying Aegon.

It's true Aegon the Elder is held as one of the kings in the line of monarchs while she is not. That is not bc she usurped Aegon, but because they wanted to discourage the idea and practice of naming women or girls as heirs altogether. It was about female rulership being made into the cause of disaster or conflict, not Rhaenyra necessarily!

I still don't think Rhaenyra is universally remembered as the/a usurper, because by their own vocabulary Rhaenyra can never be a usurper...she was declared heir by the monarch and held as the true heir for years. Gyldayn calls her "Queen" several times and unironically and out of the then-living people's perspective. To be a usurper, you need to violently or unlawfully seize power, which Rhaenyra never ever did. The greens did that.

Once again, Stannis is not a reliable source to judge history, because the man is a walking self-denier and nihilistic user of fear to get his way. In the actual novels, Rhaenyra is thought of a civil conflict more than the direct cause of one through usurpation and "usurpation" itself is never mentioned unless it's Stannis saying so. And yes, Arianne Martell had the right of it, even though she is also using history for her own claims...the difference is that her reading of history and Rhaenyra's position is correct.

The people who want things to be more "equal" or "balanced" bt the greens and the blacks or have the greens have a sort of victory like the blacks just sound really desperate. And for what? For patriarchy to reaffirm itself deeper than ever and more than if Rhaenyra had just been queen?🙄

[ladycrocy]

Pink Feathers and Blood - Part 5

Doflamingo X Crocodile

Summary: Crocodile's legacy falls, and he loses it all. He is being escorted by the marines and Doflamingo to Impel down to be locked away for the rest of his days. Doflamingo takes advantage of his status to get one last private 'meeting' with the chained reptile.

Content Warning: DubCon, Blow Jobs, Anal Fingering, Anal Play, Anal, Mild Blood, Verbal Humiliation, Humiliation

AO3

Word Count: 5813

Successful months water down to days of disaster. His empire... it crumbles, cracks, and becomes ruins.. all over one stupid.. idiotic girl!

Alabasta did infact fall. The people rejoiced together, the princess regained her control, and the marines seized whatever was left of Crocodile's manpower.

It's all gone.

Another great failure in his life.

The large man had been shackled and chained with seastone. He's kept in the darkest, most secure holding cell in the entire marine ship. Their precautions were unnecessary. He had no desire to escape. Crocodile propped up against the wall without a word or ever moving. Defeat certainly humbles a man... and this was the second time he's ever felt this low.

It's humiliating.

Doflamingo had been asked to escort Crocodile to Impel down. He was confused. He had never thought Crocodile would ever get caught and overthrown. This irritated the pink menace. Angered him beyond belief. He stormed to the brig and nearly ripped the door off of its hinges with his strings.

"What the fuck is this?" His cologne filled the small holding room. He stepped over to Crocodile and sat him up straight. Grabbing the fabric of the black and white striped shirt and holding him up to eye level. He reached out and slammed the door shut and bound them by his strings. "Start talking. What the fuck happened to you?!"

'Eugh... the marines are really going to make this as miserable as possible, weren't they?' The former warlod thought to himself. He didn't even need to look once the door swung open, and the smell of....pink filled his nose. Crocodile couldn't care less as he's effortlessly lifted up. His feet no longer touched the ground.

Doflamingo was angry, but he couldn't really pinpoint why. Was he mad about their deal? Was he mad that Crocodile was hurt? Or was he mad because the man he had been falling for because of his strength and power was now looking like the most pathetic person on the planet? Whatever it was, his rage was palpable.

"I wasn't aware conjugal visits were being arranged." The man replied with a dry, sarcastic tone. His viciousness is missing. He can't even bother to form a glare. He's as docile as a lizard.

"Read the reports. The marines have everything documented. I have no interest in entertaining you as of now."

Doflamingo glared, teeth were bared, but then he softened. Slowly setting Crocodile on the ground. He sat next to him. For a moment, there was silence. "I don't care what the report says.. I want to hear it from you. I know you have this fucked up narrative of me in your head.. but I do care. What harm could it do to let me?"

Crocodile settles back against the wall. He's not entirely sure what the other was here for if not to mock him.

"I underestimated the spirit of the people. This mistake alone cost me greatly," There's no need for details. That's what happened, as silly as it sounded, and here he was. Caged like an animal.

"I would have helped you. For fucks sake, Wani. I would have done anything to help you. I was one call away.." The pink warlord's voice was strangely sincere. He buried his face in his own hands as he tried to think of a way to get him out now.

There's no fun fighting when there's nothing to fight.

"You already know. I wouldn't have called you." Crocodile's not that pathetic. As much as doffy wishes to be his knight in shining armor, he wasn't a prince in need of saving. "Don't be so burdened. I would've pictured you desperate to make these last few hours remarkable. You won't be able to contact me in Impel Down."

"Yeah? Well.. it's just not.. I just.." Doflamingo couldn't find the words. Why couldn't he do that? He always knew what to say and how to say it. "I would rather you want me to.." He grimaced almost insulted that the words left his mouth. "Not sure why this was so surprising to you. Someone like me, actually being sincere and pursuing someone like you. I knew you were... well, it doesn't matter. I know you don't want me.. but I'm still going to figure out how to get you out. I will keep this up until you believe me and give me a real fucking chance.."

How did this reptile ever manage to make this pink fuzz ball in love with him? At most, they've exchanged nasty words and spit. It wasn't exactly the definition of romance.

"You'll be trying until your dying days and then some," Crocodile confirmed. He said it so casually and nonchalant.

"I am no longer a man that trusts. I don't trust this world, my own crew, and I certainly wouldn't trust you. I don't care how sincere you are. I'm alive to watch the flames grow and the blood flow. Anything else is irrelevant." The raven haired man only had a need for destruction.

Doflamingo felt defeated. It wasn't an unfamiliar pain. It was all too normal. He had nothing left to say for once.

"Humor me. Let me see your tongue." Crocodile said with almost a bemused tone.

Doflamingo obeys. He turned to him and parted his lips slightly. His long tongue slid out. It had two matching scars that went around it in the shape of Crocodile's teeth.

Crocodile turned his head to properly marvel over that lengthy tongue. He raised his hook, which was chained to his other wrist, and slid the round of it down Doflamingo's wet limb.

He laughs abruptly. It's loud, menacing. Most people wouldn't call it very charming. It's a ruckus like any other and almost too akin to how an actual crocodile might laugh — in a low, deep tone. "You pathetic fool. I've witnessed you stitch together your hand without a scar in its wake. Yet, you purposely left my bite. A stupid way to remember me."

The hook lowered and lightly bumped underneath the other's chin. "Put it away, dog. Before I have half the mind to take it with me."

The pink bird recoiled it just as such. An injured dog. Doflamingo pulled a cigar out of his pocket and lit it. It was, of course, the same brand that Crocodile usually likes. He placed it on top of the table with a lighter and stood up.

Calm eyes followed the cigar. Even now, he craves the addiction like no other. Crocodile would smoke ten right now had he enough. But one was all he had. He'd have to savor it.

Doffy paced for a moment and was just about to leave before turning to him. Doflamingo's face was still the most real he had ever let himself be. "What is so wrong with letting yourself feel good? You can't trust me? Fine.. why do you have to for me to make you feel good? Let me show you what this tongue can do.." His voice lowered to a more seductive tone. He wanted him so badly. But this time, he truly wanted Crocodile to want him back.

Crocodile's brow changed as the mood abruptly switched. Oh, that kinky bird couldn't be saved. He truly had one thing on his mind. "I have nothing against sex. Dare say, I enjoy it above most of my fixes... if you weren't so emotionally driven, perhaps we would've tangled in the sheets." The former warlord casually reaches his hand over to pick up the smoke. It's fitted between his lips before leaning back. His words couldn't be trusted, apparently. His legs are lewdly opening apart to show the emptiness between them. "You'd be the type to say 'I love you' during a quick fuck, wouldn't you?"

"You.. are fucking impossible.." The blonde growled beneath his breath. In the blink of an eyes Doflamingo was inbetween those legs, his hands pressed against his knees to spread them wider, as he towered over Crocodile. "You are the one doing this to me. You love teasing me with everything you have. You have been doing so ever since we met. Those cold eyes pierce straight into me.. You want me to do this.."

This was hardly a game anymore.

Crocodile could really have whatever he wanted if he opened his legs. He wouldn't doubt it if Doffy would willingly tear apart this ship just to rescue him. A pathetic thought at most, nothing that particularly interests him. "Speaking in delusions again. I've treated you with the same annoyed gaze each and every time." Still, here he was, knees pulled apart for the devouring.

Doflamingo's hand reaches up to Crocodile's neck and tilts his chin up so he can bite into his flesh. Dragging his tongue across the mark tenderly. He continues that way down to his shoulder. One hand moves under his knee and repositions him, as the other slides up his shirt to feel his chest. He places it above his heart. Doflamingo's hungry kisses make it to his ear, and he chuckles. "I could end you right now, but then where is the fun in that?"

The older man closes his eyes to enjoy this. Maybe picture someone else with him. The sharp bite is pleasant, it even earns a satisfied groan from him, and he tilts his neck away to offer more skin. His body twists how the other demands. There's no resistance or fighting back. He needs this just as much.

"Are you trying to scare me?" Croc mocked. His heart was beating heavy and fast. It wasn't from fear whatsoever.

The blonde's hips thrust, and his outline could be felt in between Crocodile's ass cheeks. The thin material of the prison uniform doing little to protect him. "Tell me how disgusting I am now.. Tell me how much you hate me.~"

'Stupid.' The reptile thinks to himself. 'Why does this idiot have to be the biggest dick ever seen?' The former warlord has the nerve to push his hips downward, rubbing against the man's cock with a chuckle. Smoke exhaled through his nose while giving that evil little grin again.

"The moment I do, you'll cum in those tacky pants. Stop smothering in these overbearing kisses. Put your money where your mouth is and service me." Crocodile growled.

Crocodile could feel Doffy's grin against his skin when he made his request. Though truly it was a demand but Doffy couldn't really tell the difference. In that moment, he had won. At least in his mind. Crocodile wanted him, and that is all that mattered. "As you wish, Lover~" He purred into his ear before giving it a small nip. Then he slid down Crocodiles smaller frame, his hands moving to tease the waistband of his prison pants.

"Already with the L word." Crocodile grunted. He's horny, he's going to hell soon, and damned if he wasn't going to get off a few times beforehand.

Slowly, Doflamingo pulled the reptile's pants and his underwear down just enough so that his hands could grip onto the other man's plump ass. His fingers dig into the gator's flesh as he lifts him to his mouth. Doffy is a large man, and he can really only bend over so much, so he just had to bring his meal to him. He looked up at Crocodile, but behind the sunglasses he couldn't see what he was looking. Instead, Crocodile would have to look at his own face if he looked down.

At least Doffy is doing good so far. Warmth is beginning to build at the former warlord's face from those lovely bites and roaming hands. When was the last time he's been this wanted? It brings an ugly thought in his swirling brain. 'Not now.. just, enjoy this, damnit.' He lifted his hips slightly to help the clothing unravel past his now bare ass. The sudden hands gripping each cheek earned a damn near squeak. "Absolutely shameless." He mumbled, grabbing at the cigar from his lips and blowing out the black smoke.

His legs naturally settled around the pink menace. One wrapped over his shoulder and the other around his waist to accommodate for that man's poor back.

Doflamingo was slow. Sliding out his long tongue and letting it drop to Crocodile's balls. Lapping at them tenderly as he curled his tongue around the base of the gator's cock. Coating the base before he pulled it back to give one long lick from the base to the tip, tonguing out any precum that had accumulated. The nectar only caused Doffy to let out a gutteral growl of hunger as he took the other man's cock into his needy mouth. His tongue made waves beneath his shaft as he began to suck on his cock roughly. Little swirles beneath the tip so that he was constantly stimulating him.

That tongue was destined for something great. Who would've thought it'd be adoring his dick? The wetness lathers up and down his erection, along his balls, and finally drenching the thick tip in spit. Yeah, this was feeling pretty fucking good after all. Crocodile began with heavy sighs... huffs, and more needy pants. His chest is heaving harder at each passing moment. Even his hips are pushing forward to spoil deeper in his heavenly mouth.

One thing could be said about Doflamingo, he was a very experienced lover who went by the reactions of whoever he was with. So when Crocodile moaned more with a certain tongue technique or how much pressure he was sucking, he went with the chorus us Croc's moans. He took every inch down his throat. Swallowing so that his throat would constrict Crocodile's girth in its warmth. It was a wonder the man ever breathed by how long he held his cock all the way down his throat. Squeezing his ass as he held him there.

"Good boy," Crocodile mumbled through dry lips. His eyes are already half lidded. God damnit, he wishes he had two hands again. The way his throat is swallowing... tightening...and milking his shaft has him eager to appease that sexual thirst. The cigar is placed on the ground for now. He uses his hand to claw over Doffy's fluffy blond strands. He grips his hair with pure strength before finally using that loud mouth raw. He pulls him closer, grounding him against the base of his dick. He thrusts. He thrusts quick, hard. The wet sound fills the empty room with something vulgar. It's like a pretty song mixed in with his low moans.

Doflamingo was elated to see this side of Crocodile. To see him give into his lust. Though he would be lying if he said he didn't feel his cock jump up at the sound of praise coming from those lips. Doffy was drawn to them. Watching how he moaned and groaned at the experience that Doffy was giving him. The vibrations of his chuckle went through his cock.

"Keep sucking. I don't care if you sufficate. You're going to swallow every drop. And god forbid if you waste anything—" the reptile hissed, desperately pounding past those lips. It wouldn't be long now.

Doffy's eyes dialated as the man he had been so attracted to finally came back. He wasn't that pathetic waste he walked in on anymore. He could see the powerful warlord that he became so addicted to. He moaned as he felt his touch. Rough or not, it was the first connection someone had willingly given him in years. When Crocodile gave the order, it took everything Doflamingo had not to grin and ruin his sucking technique. He wanted it. Why the fuck would he waste one drop?

Crocodile has always loved sex. The roughness of it all, the needy fucking that left them both bruised. Romance had no business being here. It's about getting off in the fastest way imaginable. The sooner their both done, the sooner Doflamingo will leave.

Doffy's head began to twist with every thrust, as his tongue stuck out the bottom and teased Crocodile's balls at the same time. Such a mess they were making. His salive had dripped down to the older man's asshole and with one of Doffy's thumbs, he pressed into the puckering hole. Not penetrating it, just teasing it. Threatening to insert itself.

Crocodile was becoming unhinged beneath him. He tried glancing at his stupid face, but even he can't deny how hot it was to watch him desperately suck. 'Spoiled brat. He gets what he wants, doesn't he?' His thoughts wandered. His head could hardly understand how that monster was sucking his cock off all the while lapping at both heavy set balls.

So much going on.. so much simulation. And that coy finger underneath him, teasing along Crocodile's entrance helped him draw to a terrifying conclusion.

Crocodile actually wants Doflamingo to fuck him.

"That's it..! Drink up, you.. you-" the insult doesn't formulate before the reptile's cumming buckets. His dick thrusts quickly to pump out every single drop, coating it down and inside the other's warm throat. He's panting for air, groaning at the built up release.

The sounds coming from that domineering man's mouth were so erotic that Doffy was feeding off of them. He felt the warm stream of cum shoot down his throat and he swallowed every bit of him as if he were starving. And in a way, Crocodile had starved him. His cock slid out of his mouth as it slid off of Doffy's tongue. Doflamingo was gasping a little for air with his tongue out.

Even when it's over.. that idiot is being clingy. Croc melts against the ground in exhaustion. His hook reaches over at Doflamingo's pants, stabbing at the waist line, and ripping the fabric. A desperate motion to get him back to work.

"Do I have to hold your hand through sex? Finger me and fuck me."

The blonde didn't get long to relesh in the taste of his obsession. Feeling his pants rip meant nothing to him. He wasn't done. He looked up at the lustfilled eyes of Crocodile and that sent a surge through him that caused his cock to bounce. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he pressed harder against his tight hole. "Now now Crocodile, you made me wait like a good boy all this time.. I am going to relesh this as long as I can.~"

Usually, Crocodile was the man to dry someone of their liquids, but Doflamingo did a wonderful job in tasting all he could. The thumb continued to tease and add pressure against his tight hole. This earned a heavy sigh. Again, it's been a while. And if he were wise, he wouldn't be starting with the biggest dick he's seen.

Doflamingo lifted him up and laid him on top of the interigation table. He pulled Crocodiles pants all the way off and held his legs high into the air. "Tell me.. have you been thinking about my cock? Wondering if it will even fit this tight hole of yours? It would be bad if I didn't do a little something to make sure my dick can slide in easier." He spoke with a condescending teasing tone. His tongue hung out again, and he squat down. He began to lap up all the left over cum that had dripped down Crocodile's balls, then he lifted his ass even more so that his tongue could then tease his enticing hole.

The older man's rearranged so effortlessly. His back relaxed against the table as he kicked off the annoying clothing. It's a bit embarrassing, being put on display like his. His legs are up, his ass is out, and his soft cock laid against his stomach. "I burnt all those lewd photos you sent me. You're lucky I didn't blackmail you with your own dick." He chuckled. No, Crocodile wouldn't be entertaining the other's teasing and questions. He does too much when being told 'yes.'

Doffy's tongue poked and proded at first. Circling, then proding a little deeper, then repeating the motions until he was making waves with his tongue inside of Crocodile. Using his thumbs, he spread the hole out so he could shove it in deeper. He made sure to cover the whole area in saliva. Once he was satisfied, he stood up and already had his cock out stroking every inch of it. His grin was not as large as normal and almost seemed genuine.

The reptile head tilted away to rest. Again, that tongue feels heavely. Too bad about the man who owns it. The ex warlord knew what was going to happen as that thick tongue lapped against his entrance.. but once it slips inside, he still kicks a foot outward. "Fuck," He hisses. His body naturally lifts up to welcome him deeper inside.

"That tongue is the only good thing about you." Yes, he certainly does like it — alot. He can feel each inch worm and wiggle inside him. Has anyone ever reached this deep before?

It's only a small bit of what's to come though.

His half lidded eyes gazed at Doflamingo's dick. Huge, hard as a rock, and.. pierced? Of course he'd be. The show off.

"You ready, Lover?" The pink menace knew Crocodile hated being called that, but it was the only thing Doffy knew to call him at that moment. He was his lover. He had been his obsession for months now. He put the bulbous tip against Crocodile's twitching hole and began to push slowly. It stretched against his member that was as hard as a rock. It throbbed in anticipation, wanting to break through but knowing it was best to go slow. He didn't want to rip him open, not yet anyway. It seemed like an eternity. The last few inches, he slammed into him. Their skin met and Doflamingo was leaning over Crocodile with a new primal sort of grin. "I am going to fuck you so you mold to my shape and no other man will ever please you again.~" He groaned with his confident statement and then bit down hard onto Crocodile's chest as he began to thrust inside of him roughly.

"Don't call me that." Crocodile snapped while trying to relax. There's nothing that could really help him down. That large tip began stretching out his inner walls. It hurts like a bitch, of course it does, and he's clawing at the table with grunts. It felt like his organs were being rearranged the more the other pushed inside.

It's the final few inches being slammed that caused him to loudly moan. There, nuts to ass, as it should be. Christ, he's so big. Croc's body could hardly accommodate the foreign object. Even his lower abdomen poked out from the mighty girth. "God.. don't you ever shut up?" He can hardly speak. His words were mumbled and drawn out. The vicious bite seems to start the onslaught of thrusts. There's no more coyness, no more sarcasm.

Every hateful word and snide comment Crocodile made only fueled Doffy more. It caused his blood to pump harder, making him pump faster. He was a towering sight as he rocked his hips into Crocodile and caused the table beneath them to wobble and threaten to break. Fuck he sounded so hot.

Doffy was in a state of pure ecstasy. His shaft being hugged by Crocodile's tight hole felt perfect. He was perfect. Fit him like a glove, which only meant that he belonged to Doflamingo now. His mind began to twist a fairytale narrative that guided him further into his own pleasure.

Crocodile sounds like a whore. He's cursing, swearing, and reaching up to grab at Doflamingo's back. The hook stabbed through the stupid pink coat and soft skin. It slices through flesh again and again as he's desperately holding onto him, clawing for more. His hips weakly tried to follow the messy rhythm of each thrust.

"ARGHHH" He growled as he felt the claw dig into his back. But his grin only widened. Words beneath his moans he lashed out playfully. "You little slut, you ripped my coat.. I'm going to have to make you pay for that~" He chuckled as he leaned back and hit his guts at an arched angle.

The table squeaked underneath the pressure. It doesn't seem like either of them care. The sandman gripped, grabbed; desperately grasping Doflamingo in every way possible. His legs wrapped around him with a deadly squeeze, his hook anchored into his shoulder, and his tight walls pulstrated his well bestowed cock.

The mixture of pink feathers in blood scattering amongst them. It's nearly romantic.

"Hideous fucking coat—" Crocodile remarked before making another gasped groan. Would his organs even function after this?

"Come here.. your mouth, need it." Crocodile demanded.

Everything changed when Crocodile wanted his mouth. The blonde smile faded, and his red cheeks brightened. He actually wanted to kiss him? There was no hesitation, Doffy bent down and pressed his lips against Crocodile's passionately. The taste of the cigar mixing with the taste of Crocodile's seed was the cocktail between them. His tongue was reserved so he wouldn't choke Crocodile.

The raven haired man's mouth opened up to welcome him. It's a good way of muffling all these embarrassing sounds. He returns the kiss with pure desperation and need. He's biting whatever he could, of course, that tongue and those soft warm lips were being punctured again and again. He loves the taste of blood. It gives Crocodile a feeling of something feral.

In the passion of kissing, the younger man picked Crocodile up and slammed him into the wall. Now gravity assisted in his slamming his cock so deep inside of his tight hole and there was no where for Crocodile to squirm away. Doffy relentlessly pounded him as he kissed him hard. He broke away for only a second. "I'm about to cum inside you, Lover~" He spoke in a whisper laced with his grunts and moans. "Tell me you want it.."

Croc can't breathe as gravity is used against him. He's forced to take each inch deep as Doffy pounds to ruin his insides. It's evident how he can't even move anymore. The pleasure and the pain were numbing, leaving him as some personal sex doll for the other. A glare couldn't be mustered. He's stuck with a heart eyed look, his face a dark red, and his mouth covered in the other's blood. His kiss was always so painful it would seem. It made Doffy feel alive. He made Doffy feel alive. This man terrified and excited him. Doffy cursed himself for not making a move sooner so he could have been fucking him this whole time.

The sandman is going to cum too.

"Fill me already," words sound exhausted now, but he puts what little he has left in his hands. His arms pull back, down against his own chest, and finally lift up to capture Doflamingo's neck in the chain of the cuffs. He's choking him now as he leans forward. His chin resting over his shoulder as a sign there wasn't much left to give.

A primal groan filled Doflamingo's throat when he heard the demand of the other man. One hand was under his ass while the other reached up and caressed his face. He knew he wouldn't welcome the gesture, or at least he thought he wouldn't. It came so naturally he couldn't help it. Doffy gazed into his violet eyes, though all Crocodile could see was his own reflection. It was still enough for the panting man to push himself over the edge. His hand lowered to Crocodile's neck, and he choked him as well. His fingers tightening as his cock pulsed and released his load into the other man's body. Doffy growled and pulled in for another smothering kiss as he released all that pressure from all that teasing and chase.

Crocodile is being choked and choking in return. How fitting. Crocodile's adam's apple bobs uselessly, trying to swallow, but can't manage as he struggles to breathe. The lips fitting against his own only futher suffocated him. It's a nice high.. how his brain turns off and only his body is left.

Crocodile's body can't help forcing another orgasm. There's nothing left in his dick, but his insides clench and milk the other for what it wants. The reptile wants to be claimed.

The blonde falls to his knees. He gasped and moved the chains off of his neck. He then wraps his arms around Crocodile and turns to where Doffy's back is against the wall. He holds him there in an almost loving embrace. His shrinking spent cock still pulsates inside Crocodile's ass as it then finally slid out. His poor ass is already leaking once Doffy pulls out. It's running down his legs and over those tacky pants below him. Doffy is exhausted, but a more genuine smile on this man's face has never been seen. "Mine now..Wani.." He chuckled to himself slightly, knowing what is about to come will hurt. But he is used to pain.

'Why am I being adored like some kind of treasure?' The older man pondered. Doflamingo would soon realize that this love story was just lust, and after they finished, it'd be nothing more. The pink idiot would grow bored, take that obsession elsewhere, and that's that. Still. The former warlord's head tilts into the other's embrace for a moment of comfort. Yeah, he's missed this, and it's just as cruel he'd never have this again in life.

He spends the time trying to recover. He's breathing heavily, gasping, as his now sore body is coming down from the adrenaline. His forehead is laying against the other's shoulder for now. Just... one second of peace. Thats all.

'Eugh. Should've thought this through. I can't even shower right now.' The older man thought to himself. "Last time you'll see me," Croc defends before slowly pulling himself together. He tries to pull away, his hand against the strong chest in front of him.

"Get going, Doffy. I've had what I wanted."

Doffy smirked and had his head leaning back on the wall. He reached up and grabbed Crocodile's wrist of his hook and wrapped the hook around the back of the neck. "No.." His voice was soft and almost came off as kind. His other hand laced his fingers with Crocodile's. He brought his hand up to his lips and kissed it. "You will do what I want now. Just.. let me.." He didn't even finish his sentence and pulled Crocodile back to his embrace.

'This mushy fool.' All crocodile can do is give a flat eyed look. Perhaps some of that mean got fucked out of him. Right now, he's only feeling — toleration instead of rage. "These cuffs are generously allowing you to do such."

The blonde began to stroke the other's hair, making trails down his back and back up again with his fingertips. The hand that held Crocodile's was holding on like a vice as if he could slip away any moment. "I know.. you don't want to believe me.. heh hell I wouldn't either.. but I know you belong to me and I will make sure your stay at Impel Down is short.. I wish I could steal you away now and take you back to Dressrosa.. I think you would like it there. You will want for nothing, I will spoil you.."

It's not like the older man could do much other than sigh as his cheek pressed against Doflamingo's chest. He didn't say anything about the pampering. It's far too domestic for his liking. Something that at one time he would've killed for. He used to believe in love aswell. The fingers soothing down his dark hair were soothing. He's in the hands of a monster, but there's no denying the illusion of warmth. Such a facade. "You'll do no such thing," Crocodile mumbles. "I'll escape on my own without your assistance. I would never forgive myself if I allowed you, stupid sunglasses and all, to come rescue me."

Doffy kissed the top of Crocodile's head. An announcement came across the snails that they were approaching impel down within the hour. Doffy chuckled sadly. "One hour.. at least I got one hour.."

The reptile's body naturally rested into him. Both eyes are already drawing closed. Of course he's tired! Beyond exhausted. This heat was enough to suffice something pleasant... a heating rock for him to bask upon. The pink bird would indeed have him close at least. He's not going to fight against the embrace, the kisses, or how close they were. "Enjoy what you will. Just stay quiet and let me slumber."

Doffy's heart skipped a beat. All of his hateful words were just used as more fodder for the flame in his blackened heart. Doffy had no idea what he was feeling truly. Only that he wanted him so badly he was willing to take on the entire marines to have him. But.. he didn't want him to. Which he also admired. "When you escape.. run all you want, Sandman. I will find you and make you mine again. Rest.. I will wake you before we get there."

With Crocodile sleeping on him he had time to think. Think of more schemes and plans for his alter ego Joker. There were so many webs in place right now that he couldn't begin to try and explain it anyway. But now he had to plan for Crocodile's escape. He did hold him for almost the entire hour, but as it got closer to time he stood up and laid Crocodile on the table. He left the room for only a short minute before he was back with a bowl of warm water and a towel. "Clean up. It's the best I could get you for now."

A rag and water is better than nothing. Nevermind it's bit humiliating as he's bent over, cleaning himself with a few weak grunts. He knows Doflamingo is watching, but his face shows all his rage. His mind was elsewhere at the moment. Of course he'd be upsetting realizing that his precious wani would be caged into darkness.

The taller man was now leaning against the wall with his arms crossed as he watched Crocodile intently. Still trying to think of a way to avoid him going to jail altogether. He was getting angrier by the minute since he couldn't think of anything that wouldn't have him sacrifice everything he had built up. His face was showing his rage.

Crocodile could see that rage building up inside Doflamingo. 'Good. That spoiled brat couldn't always get what he wanted.'

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

The banner creator

[arabella-strange]

My friend and I were discussing why c3e118 just did not land for us, and mid-convo she asked me, 'What would you have changed? Where do you wish the story had branched off another way?'

Now, the campaign isn't over and I have been very impressed with how much the cast (including Matt) managed to weave together even very wayward threads in the final ep or two of c1 and especially c2. I'm also not interested in only enjoying fiction which plays out as I would have written it; very much the opposite.

But, given those caveats, here's what she and I imagined in response to her question:

Evacuate all the Ruidians. What if, instead of the mission to re-cage Predathos, BH had been given – or had seized – a humanitarian mission to save all the ordinary citizens of Ruidus? The characters don't like Luda, don't feel up to Predathos, but do want to protect ordinary people from being caught in the crossfire? Okay—let's take that seriously! If c3 is (as I suspect) intended to usher in a new age on Exandria, then the coming of a whole new refugee population from the Red Moon is a fantastic (and almost certain, now) narrative route. SO many fascinating narrative opportunities spring up: How do BH safely and secretly evacuate everyone? How do they live with the guilt if someone gets hurt in the process? How does everyone deal with the different species' jarring for space and resources as they (effectively) scramble for lifeboats off the Titanic? (The Downfall resonances would have been POWERFUL.) How, when they get to Exandria proper, do the various groups of Ruidians settle? Where do they go and what dynamics ensue? ----> But this is, I fear, the reason why CR did not want to or was not willing to explore this option, as such. Because the ethical and logistical problem of what to do with a massive displaced population who have been under an oppressive regime... seems a little on the nose, and (in a more unforgiving mood) risky for the brand. Could it have been a wonderful, poignant, humane, risky, helpful way to imagine the crises of our times? Yeah, IMO, it could. But that's off-screen so far, instead of center-frame.

Debate the checks-and-balances of power. I'm as tired as everybody else of hearing Ludinus talk. But, to me, the kernel of his spiel that actually still has merit is the debate about power. It's not about whether the gods are good, or liars, or both; about whether his trauma is blinding his judgment; it's sure not about Predathos. The most compelling piece is about whether mortal beings should accept a power structure which fundamentally has no checks and balances, no accountability, no mechanism for redress. If we could have had an actual ethical and philosophical debate -- with higher INT characters? more characters who felt strongly about the gods? players who decided to truly immerse their characters in this theme? -- it could have opened up SO many avenues for narrative. Because then, the ethics of new questions become central: What is an acceptable amount and use of power? According to whom, at what cost? What means are acceptable for redressing imbalances and limits of power? (On whose authority? The Concord?) What, moreover, do/should we do when we ourselves are never pure or blameless in exerting power to achieve our goals (after all, it's D&D, they kill people all the time): how do we live with our own choices, and still have meaningful opportunities and options for holding those who misuse or abuse power to account? What happens when someone with an ethical point is willing to do unethical things? Is there anything beyond reproach and, if not, how do we keep the goal of least-harm in compassionate balance with the realities of mortal failings? ----> Once again, I think... either consciously or unconsciously, the c3 we got did not want to explore the implications of all that. It seems like a pretty important area for 2021–2025+, for us to get better at answering these questions with nuance, with openness, with courage. So the fact that we're still just getting debates that boil down to whether Ludinus's ideas suck because he was willing to do horrible things? That could have been THE WHOLE MATTER TO RECKON WITH, and instead it's become a conversational dead-end.

'I wish the ring had never come to me.' In other words, the tragedy of protagonicity. Frodo and Sam show up at Osgiliath, exhausted, sunken with despair, literally unable to stay on their feet, and Sam looks out at the mid-battle desolation and laments, 'By rights, we shouldn't even be here!' [Yes I know this is not the same in the books.] YEAH, exactly!!! It SUCKS to be a protagonist! You wish the ring had never come to you, little nobody hobbit from the Shire??? Yeah, so do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. And it's a fucking tragedy, because Frodo is just some guy, he didn't ask to get the ring from Bilbo, he didn't ask to be special, he didn't want to have to trudge onward onward onward and lose himself in the process of saving the world. And yet it's a tragedy, because there's no other way it could go: the choices are to turn your back on the problem and 'leave Middle Earth to its fate,' in which case you suffer once when the world burns and twice when you must accept that you did not do what you could when you could; OR you put one foot in front of the other, you accept that you will be consumed whole by the process of doing the thing that enables the world maybe to survive, and you hate it, and you wish it were otherwise, but you have to try. ----> This is SO CLOSE to the BH situation, and yet, so far. If c3 was always just a bunch of indifferently god-less characters, why haven't we made space and time to explore the horror and the tragedy of this increasingly heavy, deadly, dreadful burden that fell on the most un-invested people? We needed more downtime (as so many of us have said!) to play out scenes with more than just Orym struggling with the powerlessness, the hopelessness, the resentment, the guilt, and in spite of these the determination to keep going. To hate it even in the moment of choosing it. Instead we got bickering, we got waffling, we got shrugging, we got some half-voiced discussions about being wary of having to be the ones to decide (muddled with the power/authority question from #2)... but the feelings of this burden of the least invested people having to go head-to-head with annihilation, we have barely scraped the surface of.

(There's also my personal frustration with the total unknown of Predathos. Huuuge diminishing returns on a Big Bad about which we know nothing, can't discover anything, won't learn anything, just gotta wait for the Big Reveal. It's one of my least fave things about several series of Doctor Who, because at some point, narratively, that threat gets pretty repetitive. Okay, we are all Pandora and we can't know what happens when Predathos gets out, or what it really is, or anything more. Sure. Cool. Fine. But it means we go into this final fight totally bewildered, unprepared, with no possibility of ever having been prepared. If it's not railroading, it's as close to that as an open campaign can get. Maybe Predathos is just Tharizdun, which will at least make some sense but won't change much functionally. But either way, because we didn't do a totally trippy conceptual campaign of 'How do you defeat nothingness itself?', we just have... a fight with... um, something bad which maybe will make sense in retrospect? There's very little emotional pay-off that way, and 118 felt like it had a pretty frustrating lack of sympathetic potential because of precisely this Predathos (TBD) problem.)

//

Like so so so many people have said, I think CR is amazing... AND being amazing does not mean the work should be sacrosanct. Criticism can be useful; critique -- the analytical examination of ideas and their implications -- is vital to our interpretations of art and society. Fiction empowers us to imagine the consequences of things we do not have first-hand experience with, to encounter other perspectives and things outside of ourselves. I'll be very eager to see how c3 wraps up and what insights, when it's done, the whole picture asks us to take away.

[pink-ivy-vines]

I think that in the context of choosing to save minrathous or treviso, we the audience know that the dagger is important to the gods and that ghilan'nain in particular created that ghoul to fetch it for her in arlathan, but Rook specifically does not know. sure, they get a warning from solas, but that warning is also accompanied by 'they will have to make their own. that will give you time', but minrathous and treviso are what really solidifies the fact in rook's mind that the wolf's fang dagger is actually incredibly important.

yet, at the moment when you as the player choose between treviso and minrathous, rook does not know this.

this is where the fascinating difference between the narrative vs. game play come in. game play wise, of course whatever city you choose to save, ghilan'nain is going to be there. that's the point. there's no rng that decides whether she is in minrathous or treviso. you the player are making that choice so you the player get to face her.

as a narrative, it's different. rook simply guesses right. there's a 50/50 chance that rook goes to treviso and ghilan'nain is in minrathous leaving both cities to suffer the consequences. rook is holding the dagger, yes, but elgar'nan states that they [the gods] can no longer sense it. that's the trap. that's the test. the dragons are attacking the two cities because ghilan'nain is making a gamble and wins even if she loses (aka, doesn't get the dagger) because the venatori and the antaam are both able to seize power in the chaos. but rook, in all this madness, in a pure coin flip of a decision, manages to guess right. and not only guess right but also fight back hard enough to win.

and that completely bonkers luck is why ghilan'nain's gamble fails.