#shantae's mother

[muses-of-the-memory]

Shantae giggled a little when she was cheek nuzzled, and kissed by Lucas. “This was the best family reunion ever!” She smiled. Wobble Bell then looks out to Sequin Land in the distance, whimpering, meaning he missed being with Chef Girl.

“We should take Wobble Bell home. Chef Girl probably misses him.” Shantae said picking up Wobble Chef in her arms. “Very well. Just know Shantae, that I will always be with you, even if you can’t see me. I’ll always see you as long as you have that Magical Shell.” Shantae's Mother said to her daughter.

“Okay, Mom.” Shantae said to her mother as she was returning to the Genie Realm. “Farewell, my girl. Have a safe trip back to Scuttle Town.” The Warrior, Shantae’s Father said to the two as Wobble Bell followed.

@the-world-hopper

Shantae just smiled when she noticed Lucas wink at her when he said that her human spirit came from her father. "I know you'd come. She told me you two were coming.” Shantae's father spoke.

“Huh? Who “she”?” Shantae asked as a familiar wisp of light appeared. “Me “she”, little one.” Shantae’s mother spoke showing herself.

"Mom!" Shantae shouted happily to see her mother again. Shantae was so happy to be seeing her mother from last night on her birthday, and now her father.

“When I got out of the village, I was looking for you, until I saw one of the stars in the night sky starting to glow and go to Scuttle Town, and I was surprised to see that it was your MOTHER.” Shantae’s Father spoke to Shantae. “Then, she came to me with this message. “IT IS TIME… FOR A REUNION.” He said.

“That was when your father’s memories started to come back to him. He concentrated really hard when he was thinking of his daughter, and that daughter was YOU.” Shantae’s Mother spoke to Shantae.

“Oh, Mom!” Shantae said smiling about how the Warrior and Shantae’s Mother had interacted. “We are so proud of how far you grown on your adventures.” Her mother spoke. “And you even had help from not only your Uncle Mimic who I had raised you, but your closest friends too." Shantae's mother spoke.

[incorrectshantaequotes]

Rottytops: Think of the funniest thing ever.

Bolo: Got it.

Rottytops: Now double it.

Bolo: A chimpanzee with two tuxedos?

[ninebaalart]

Sky's Mother [Sunset]

Had to draw some new Sky's Mother content in 2024. Maybe we'll learn her name one day

[summadlad]

made these for a friend!

[purplegirltournament]

[orgasming-caterpillar]

F1 Drivers As Desi Boys

A.K.A. The F1 grid as Indian guys

Also, I will be writing an entire chatfic about this AU on ao3, so stay tuned ;)

Charles Leclerc — “Charlie”

I think he would be from Mumbai. But like, he lived in the very high-end part of it so it's very hard to know right off the bat.

I just KNOW he studied abroad, okay? Italy or Canada I think. Look at his face— you just know he's the kinda guy people see on the street and think “angrej”

Speaks Hindi with a subtle but insufferable white guy accent. He can't even help it, that's just how he speaks. He once called Max “bhenchod” with the most authentic, desi accent when he was mad and they have all beaches in that high ever since.

Dropped out of university in his last year and came back to India to handle his dad's business after his dad's death.

Fell in love with the hot employee and made him the manager. Everyone knows Carlos got the position by sleeping with the new young hot boss but they stay silent to avoid getting fired.

Now lives in the same complex in Mumbai as Carlos, Max, Lando and others. Lives with his mother, two brothers and a dog.

Leo is a recurring guest in every society event no matter what. Shanta aunty ki kitty party? He's invited. Children playing cricket below? He is the referee. Security guard's dad died? Arthi Leo hi utha raha hai.

Best friends with Pierre. went to the same school as him in his childhood.

Not friendly at ALL with Max.

Carlos Sainz— “Mirchi”

Marathi Mulga for sure

Maula Mere Maula king of guy

His ass should be in a TV serial

Was a regular office worker before he fucked down his boss and now he's the manager. And, well, a win is a win, right?

His parents were kind of homophobic before he became the manager. It's hilarious, actually.

He has such a good voice. If you catch him singing one of the old bollywood songs of Lata Mangeshkar or Muhammad Rafi, consider yourself blessed by the gods.

Knows how to cook since he lives alone

Literally the guy every aunty dreams of marrying their daughter to. Manager of his office. Cooks. Cleans. Respects his elders. Funny. Charming. Every time he and Charles go out at least one middle aged person has asked Carlos if he's married yet and frankly, as his boyfriend who's Right There, Charles is pretty offended.

Have y'all seen the pictures of him in those button up shirts and trousers? The eyes that make Rahat Fateh Ali Khan songs play in your ear every time you look into them? So desi husband material

Best friends with Lando, basically brothers with his they are with each other

Like any best friend, he does NOT like Lando's boyfriend

Max Verstappen— “JATT DON'T CARE 💪🔥💯”

From Haryana

The M in Max stands for Mharo Balam Thanedar Chalawe Gypsy— jkjk

Some say he's aggressive, hot headed, quick tempered; some say he's just Haryanvi.

Is in a psychosexual homoerotic rivalry with Charles and is in denial because of his internalised homophobia.

His dad and Charles’ dad were business partners and now they're always wanting to one up another in the family businesses.

Talking about his father— his dad is very rich and also a typical Haryanvi dad. Bapu sehat ke liye haanikarak type shit.

His father made him do kushti when he was younger and Charles still teases him about it

Will randomly infodump about his father whenever the opportunity presents itself

Married

With how he usually is and what his childhood was like, you'd think he'd be a horrible father but you're WRONG

Everyone loves his daughter Prithvi, or P, for short.

They love spoiling her. Every year on her birthday she gets so many gifts it takes her two days just to open them.

Funnily enough, she once “betrayed” him by saying her favourite was Charlie Uncle.

I just think it would be so funny if he drove a Toyota Fortuner.

Lando Norris— “Lassan 🧄”

From Bangalore

Youtuber. Makes videos for every one of his channels religiously. Has a channel for gaming, another for vlogs, another for shorts and somehow manages them all while uploading reels and posting on Instagram???

He's a university student but nobody knows it because he's always posting videos so they just think he's a full time youtuber

“Shares a room” with Oscar, who is his boyfriend, by the way. You'd never guess. (that is a fucking lie. If you watch even one of his livestreams you'd know that they have explored each other's bodies. He's always “dekho guys Oscar aa gaya 😄😄😄” bro you're not fooling anyone)

Has his own merchandise. His designs are always so cool that they sell out before they're properly out.

Will probably make his own content team when he graduates

He once slipped on the desi toilet while travelling and Carlos made a reel about it. It is one of his most famous reels and Lando will absolutely ignore you if you talk about it.

Kinda fuckboyish???? Like he gives off the vibes of the kinda boy that only texts you past midnight and says shit like “what are you wearing? ;)” Like thank god he has a boyfriend or he would single handedly destroy the faith in love of every girl in a 5 kilometre radius

Oscar Piastri— “gora pakora”

From Goa

Frequently shows up on Lando's videos and livestreams

Studying engineering and living with Lando, basically taking care of him because of course he is

Regular victim of Lando's youtube shenanigans. Gets pranked one too many times every other day.

Has this kind of dead stare where he's just 😐 until Lando comes and annoys (see: kisses or pranks) him

Gets asked “bhai tu kabhi kuch bolta kyu nahi hai” so frequently he should just write “pata nahi yaar” on his face.

Has strong beef with Carlos. Do not talk about that man in front of him. Now this is really inconvenient because Carlos is Lando's bEsT FrIeNd iN tHe WoRlD

There beef started when Lando cried because he missed Oscar and Carlos showed up to Oscar's parents house asking him to square the fuck up. His parents —poor them they don't even know their son is gay— were left to wonder why their son was on a video call with his roommate OUTSIDE in the middle of winter vacation while a strange man cussed him the fuck out.

Lando can and will and DOES make him do silly dance trends with him on Instagram reels

Best friend is Logan, who studies engineering with him. You don't know how much you can depend on someone else until you're an IISER student and they're the only good friend you have.

Daniel Ricciardo— “Paaji”

From Chandigarh

Y'all remember Sodhi from Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma? Yeah. Him.

No one knows how he's able to control Max. Literally his best friend. Max will always have a resting bitch face but when Danny paaji is there he's all “😆😆😂😂🤣🤣” like bro 😐

I just know he would randomly say “oye balle balle balle balle balle” for no reason other than to annoy people. I just know it.

Actually works very hard and always helps people, but he's such a troll that people just think he's some unemployed youtuber with a prank channel

Absolute party animal. Do not ever in front of him mention that you're free that night.

George Russell— “nazuk kali”

From Delhi

Graphic designer. Edits Lando's videos for nim. Studies computer science.

Shared a room with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. Their relationship status is very complex. I'm not saying that they're a throuple, I'm not saying that they're friends. What I'm saying is that they're so dependent on each other I don't think they could function alone anymore. These three idiots make a full functional human being together. George cleans the house, Alex does the cooking and Logan does the laundry and the dishes. They manage, thanks.

George Russell is the type of guy to say “ghar pe maa behen nahi hai kya?” When he sees a girl getting catcalled.

George Russell is the type of guy to say “aapko kahin lagi to nahin?” When he bumps into someone.

George Russell is the type of guy to cover his mouth and say “uff” when he eats something spicy on accident.

On that note, George absolutely cannot handle his spice. Never bit into a raw green chilli willingly in his entire life.

You just know he eats the meethi pani puri with the red chutney and all.

Thinks momos are better than pani puri (he's wrong).

Closes his eyes and covers his ears when a condom ad or a spicy movie scene comes on the TV

Very pale because he rarely leaves his room (which— he's a computer science major, come on)

Lewis Hamilton— “dac saab”

From Kozhikode (Kerala)

Fashion influencer, gets brand deals all the time. Always promoting this brand or that.

Also actually a veterinary doctor with his own dog clinic.

Has a youtube channel where heostly makes affordable fashion tips etc but also posts the dogs at his clinic from time to time.

Spent a lot of years in South Delhi where he fell in love with a guy when he was a teenager but when he eventually moved back to Kozhikode they fell out of contact. Now he’s moved to Mumbai as he opened up a new clinic there and doesn't even know that he actually lives in the same goddamn building as the guy he fell in love with 20 years ago back in South Delhi.

I think y'all can already guess who the guy was, but if you can't (shame on you) it's Nico Rosberg.

Had a wife but she cheated so they divorced or something idk how do you justify a 40 year old guy being unmarried in India?

Loves his dogs more than anything, if there's a dog at his clinic that he can't save he will be sad for days.

Speaks Hindi in a voice that's like three octaves lower than his usual voice. Thinks he sounds bad but he sounds so damn hot.

Nico Rosberg— “thi ek.”

From South Delhi

News anchor for sure. Has a sadness in his eyes that makes you wonder if he ever got over the heartbreak he had at 19 (he did not)

Most people think his hair is dyed (it is not) because he's a chapri (he might be)

Legends say that the only time he has been seen with a smile on his face on TV was when he was talking about his childhood best friend.

The reason he doesn't anchor for any of the big or daresay political news channels is because they don't like how he compares international disputes to the fight he had with his best friend when he was 19.

Regularly travels to other metropolitan cities for news coverings (mainly sports) but lives in Mumbai for majority of the time.

In fact, lives in the same building as Lewis. The fact that they haven't run into each other in the elevator yet is a miracle (or a curse).

Will talk about love and heartbreak to anyone who would listen. You know those boys who say “thi ek” whenever someone tries to talk to them about love? Yeah that's him.

Married and has two daughters that he loves very much.

No pets because they remind him too much of Lewis.

Sebastian Vettel— “Chacha”

From Delhi

Lives in Mumbai with his wife.

Best friends with Lewis, knows everything about him and Nico.

Kind of a father figure to Charles.

The beloved colony uncle that always has the wildest stories ever. Catch him at the tea stall and just get him talking— you will be a changed man when he is done.

“Aur phir uska accident ho gaya aur usne apna haath kho diya, to uski manghetar ki family ne unse rishta tudwa liya. Jiske baad uski manghetar ki sagai mujhse hui aur phir hamari shaadi hui or shayad aaj bhi wo akela hi ek haath se apna hila raha hai bechara”

“...”

You would think considering how sweet he is, he was always this sweet but NO, this man was a MENACE.

Everyone who knew him before he got married wants him dead even now after all the years.

Fernando Alonso— "Kaka"

From Jaipur

The exact opposite of Sebastian.

The old man you see on the side of the road with paan in his mouth and a gaali on his lips

Also tells you stories from his youth and they're just as interesting but he's so arrogant about it that you're no longer interested in listening five minutes in no matter how interesting the story is

The kind of old man who sees children playing in the streets and starts acting like an overly invested referee for no reason.

Goes to the park in the morning at the same time as Sebastian but unlike him, Fernando does not let the joy and whimsy of life have any effect on him making you wonder why he's there at all

Lance Stroll— “vegan wali diet almond wala ghee 😌💅”

From South Bombay

Ameer baap ki bigri aulad

“What do you mean I can't buy the whole store?”

Y'all remember that “Mawn, terew paaw ki jewtie maawwww” girl??? Yeah

Sonam Kapoor is jealous of how much better he is at being a nepo baby

Logan Sargeant— “ye bhi thik hai”

Lives with George and Alex

From Goa

Thank god he does because he would not be surviving otherwise

Might have feelings for his roommates but all he knows how to do is wash the dishes and the clothes and he doesn't wanna die of hunger so he's silent.

Except maybe in front of Oscar but that's his best friendddd

Studying computer science too

Alex Albon— “dhokla4lifer”

From Gujarat

I might be projecting a bit but as someone who fucking LOVES dhokla, I don't see any reason as to why Alex should not.

Cooks for his two roommates, and always cooks so good.

Dhokla on Sundays and a tiffin box full of thepla and aam ka aachar whenever one of them is travelling home

Studying history and geography

Yuki Tsunoda— “momo wale bhaiya”

From Dehradun

Do not call him momo wale bhaiya. He can and will kill you.

Actually does love cooking

Has his own restaurant near the university campus

Pierre Gasly— “tantar mantar”

From West Bengal

Tired of everyone's “kaala jaadu” jokes.

Charles’ best friend and confidante.

Gossip girls. They have all the tea on everyone in the uni.

“Bokachoda”

Does sports.

Final year law student

Esteban Ocon— “Pierre's ex (he is NOT)”

From Odisha

Has beef with Pierre.

Will argue about anything from the origin of roshogulla to the state's contribution in the fight for freedom of the country.

Also final year law student

Extras—

Sergio Perez from Bihar

K Mag from Kashmir (haha get it? Because he's a track terroris—)

Nico Hulkenburg from Kashmir too

Valtteri Bottas from The Andaman Nicobar islands or something idk he shows so much ass it's unreal

Zhou Guanyu from Meghalaya

[lunarthecorvus]

Inej Ghafa parent's fanfiction recommendations part of Lunar's soc fanficiton rec series

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what a mother was by @cameliawrites

Wordcount: 62k Chapters: 8/8

Characters: Inej Ghafa's Mother, Inej Ghafa's Grandparents, Inej Ghafa's Aunt, Inej Ghafa's Father, Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker

Tags: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Motherhood, Family, Romance, Coming of Age, Prequel, Time Skips, Suli Culture & Religion, Canon Compliant, Original Character(s), Canon-Typical violence, Period Typical Racism, Sick Character, Grief/ Mourning, Attempted Sexual Assault, First Love, Implied/ Referenced Homophobia, Eating Disorders, Bittersweet, Angst, Eventual Happy Ending

Author's summary/notes: "She could recount every detail of the day she married Kolhat: the geraniums her sister had embroidered along the sleeves and hem of her dress, one of her father’s old handkerchiefs tucked into her pocket, her mother’s silk veil draped over her hair. She could recall the day she met him, when she was all of twenty years old. Inej was not yet twenty. Shanta still felt as young as all that, and she felt far older." . . . Before she was Inej’s mother, Shanta Ghafa had a mother too. or: ten years and six suitors in the life of Mama Ghafa. My summary/notes: A beautiful retrospective of Mama Ghafa's past, the life she has lived, and all she has loved and lost. Camelia is just an amazing writer and every part of this fic was beautfully written. You can feel the grief and joy of Shanta's life and it added levels and depth to her character that I never would've expected. While reading this I couldn't believe that this wasn't canon and its own book. I would kill to read this for the first time again.

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Sankta Margaretha and Other Tales of Sorrow by @oneofthewednesdays

Wordcount: 18k Chapters: 8/8

Characters: Inej Ghafa, Inej Ghafa's Mother, Inej Ghafa's Father, Kaz Brekker, Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck

Tags: Post-Book 2: Crooked Kingdom, Hurt/Comfort, Family, Angst, Implied/ Reference Rape/ Non-con, Canon Typical Violence, Graphic Description of Corpses

Author's summary/notes: When his daughter was stolen from beneath his nose on the outskirts of Os Kervo, Samir Ghafa lost his faith in the saints. After a letter arrives bearing the insignia of the Lantsov double-eagle, he finds his hope rekindled. But when he learns of the demon of Ketterdam, he begins to fear once more… My summary/ notes: I'm not sure how to write this without directly spoiling it.. but a certain opinion Inej's father has about someone is surprisingly uncommonly found in fics and its so interesting to read how the opinion is formed and how Samir acts because of it. Then consequently how the others act and feel because of Samir's actions. (I was laughing my ass off while writing this so vaguely)

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Ten Minutes in the Life of a Pear by @oneofthewednesdays

Wordcount: 8.9k Chapters: 4/4

Characters: Inej Ghafa, Inej Ghafa's Mother, Inej Ghafa's Father, Kaz Brekker, Asha, Hanzi

Tags: Panic Attacks, Healing, Implied/ Reference Rape/Non-con, Canon backstory, Pre-Canon, Pre-Relationship, Post-Canon

Authors summary: Four glimpses into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert with the Ghafa Family. My summary/ notes: A heartwarming fic reflecting on the pain and the way relationships both platonic and romantic can develop and grow throughout the different points in life.

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Runs in the family by DopamineAddict

Wordcount: 99k Chapters: 16/18 (hasn't been updated since march)

Characters: Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa's Mother, Inej Ghafa's father, Wylan Van Eck, Jesper Fahey. Tante Heleen, Specht, Roeder, Anika

Tags: Revenge, Family Reunions, Canon-Typical violence, Coming of Age, Inej Ghafa needs a hug, Past Rape/ non con, Post-Book 2: Crooked Kingdom, Kaz is scared of Inej's parents he knows hunger for revenge when he sees it, the Ghafa's might be a bit non canon but we only see them from Inej's pov in canon so..

Author's summary/notes: As the Ketterdam harbour grows closer, Priya and Devnand Ghafa steel themselves for the truth of whatever their daughter had been through over the past two years. And for what they might do about it. My summary/notes: Priya and Devnand meet their daughter again after years, they learn about her and what's she's been doing, but the other question that will be answered is what have they been up to since Inej has been taken. (This fic is just incredible, it changed how I saw her parents)

[blackknight-100]

hi, can i request something? i was thinking that we don't get to see rama hearing about sita (who's miraculous birth and deeds must have been stories that spread to ayodhya as well as other kingdoms) before they meet as we do see sita hearing about rama and admiring him in adaptations. so, it would be great if you could write an au on 5 times rama heard about sita and 1 time he told someone about her (maybe luv-kush or hanuman/the vanaras). thank you!

Hello there! Thanks for the ask, this was very interesting to write, and I discovered I have so many opinions and headcanons about a bunch of characters and their relationships I could make a whole entire post out of it. Also, this is a 4k+ monster, so beware :D

1.

“They found her where?”

Rama looks up from his dessert blearily to where Bharata is frowning at their King Father. It is a sweet spring morning, and their family is gathered around the table breaking their fast. Beside his drooping self, Lakshmana bounces restlessly.

“I want the curd,” he whines.

Mother Kaikeyi answers her son as she passes the dish over. “She was buried in the earth, and King Janaka found her under the plough.”

“How was she not mowed down? Do people stare at the ground as they plough? Why did the oxen not trample her? How did she survive in the heat? Who put her- ”

“Bharata,” Mother Kaikeyi frowns at him. “One question at a time. Someone must have left her there – a god, perhaps, or some poor peasant who did not have money to feed a child. How she survived the heat and the yoke and the oxen I do not know. A miracle, clearly, and proof that the child is blessed.”

“I hope Janaka raises her as his own,” Mother Sumitra says, waving her hand vaguely in the air, “since he found her and everything.”

“Found who?” Rama asks at last, finally interested in the conversation.

“A baby,” Shatrughan grouses. He is five summers old and has formed many opinions on babies ever since Shanta didi brought Rahul over; not one of them is complimentary. “I do not understand what the fuss is all about. Surely, it is as ugly and dirty as all others.”

Mother Koushalya laughs. “You know, a mere couple of years ago, you were a baby yourself.”

“Ew.”

“Now, now,” Father chides him. “Mithila is suffering from terrible droughts. Mayhaps the child will bring them good luck.”

“That is an awful lot of hope to pin on a babe,” Mother Sumitra remarks, cynical as ever.

There is a blessed silence as everyone contemplates this. Mithila falling out of Indra’s favour is old news; over the past years many messengers have come and gone from Ayodhya’s royal court, and many carts have rolled between the two kingdoms, bearing grains that would never be enough. Mithila had enough fertile lands to feed herself, but her people were more inclined to knowledge and learning, and rarely took up tools to divert rivers or dig canals. The seasonal monsoons watered most of their lands; without it the crops had withered and burnt in their fields, and the hard earth cracked open to gaping maws unsuitable for any agricultural endeavor. That a mere girl, however divine-born she might have been, could cure such a calamity…

“In any case,” Mother Koushalya says primly, giving their father A Look, “let us hope King Janaka will take her for the blessing she is. Daughters are not to be forsaken.”

Father sighs. “Dear, please…” he murmurs, then quails under his wife’s glare. Daughters are a sore subject between Ayodhya’s King and her eldest Queen.

“Do we know what her name is?” Rama asks, and Mother Kaikeyi smirks at his unsubtle attempt to steer the conversation away.

Dasharatha latches onto the distraction with both hands. “Whose name? The girl’s?”

Rama nods.

“They named her after the furrow she was found in.”

“Oh?”

“Mhmm,” Dasharatha smiles. “She is called Sita.”

2.

It is late when Guru Vishwamitra decides to halt for the night and invites the brothers to sit by their little fire.

“You did well today,” he says, and Rama thinks the sage almost looks pleased.

“It was all your blessings, Guruji,” he demurs, “and that of our parents’.”

Beside him Lakshmana supresses a snort, noting how he left Guru Vashistha out of the mix. While their companion ruminates on this with a beatific smile, his brother whispers in his ears, “You are going to be a great politician one day.”

Rama elbows him. Lakshmana elbows back, and then it is a boyish game that is barely discreet. Rama can feel the beginnings of a smile twitching on his face.

They are interrupted by Guru Vishwamitra, who folds his hands sternly over his lap, turns to them, and asks, without the barest hint of hesitation, “Say, Rama, have you ever thought of marriage?”

Rama sputters. Beside him, Lakshmana tenses, prepared to fend off any and all questions until Rama decides what to answer, like he always did back in Ayodhya, because Rama has the best brother in the whole wide world. But Guru Vishwamitra rolls over any protests.

“We shall stop at Mithila next, and the noble King Janaka has under his care four comely young maidens – two his own, and two his brother’s.”

The crickets chirp in the shadow of the forest. Rama stares, unblinking and silent.

“Forgive my impudence, revered one,” Lakshmana says at last, when it becomes evident that Rama will not answer, “but my brother believes it is improper to speak of such matters without consulting our elders.” His brother chances a glance at him. “And he also thinks the man and the woman should get to know each other beforehand.”

The last part is entirely Lakshmana’s own addition, since he despises the idea of marriage and has long hoped to turn away any potential suitors by acting churlishly. That is unlikely to happen, given that few fathers care for their daughters’ opinions, and Lakshmana is charming even in his devilry. Rama refrains from mentioning any of this, especially because Lakshmana has clearly caught the ‘four maidens’ comment.

Guru Vishwamitra nods, meanwhile, as if he has expected something such all along.

“That is all very well, my boy, but let me tell you this. Janaka’s eldest child is the mightiest woman to ever walk upon Aryavart, and the most virtuous. When she was yet a child, she lifted with one dainty hand the Destroyer’s bow. Then her father declared that such a maiden’s hand may only be claimed by one who could perform a similar feat.”

“How… awe-inspiring,” Rama manages at last, already daunted by the thought of this princess.

Guru Vishwamitra smiles. It is the kind of smile that Shatrughan has when someone is about to find dead fish among their clothes.

“Do not worry about your father,” the sage says nonchalantly. “We shall reach Mithila by tomorrow. Look sharp, Rama, it is the princess’s Swayamvar. You will lift the Pinaka, and then knowledge and valour shall be wedded, and what a joyous day it shall be! Do you not agree?”

“Ah, Guruji,” Rama gropes about for anything that will dissuade him. “The Pinaka is a legendary bow, and I am but a young boy.”

“I have faith in your ability, Bhaiyya,” says the traitor heretofore known as Lakshmana, Rama’s brother, “and as he told you, our Guru thinks similarly.”

“I do not even know her name,” Rama says, desperately elbowing Lakshmana when the latter starts to snicker.

Their Guru shrugs. “That is easily solved. She is called Sita.”

3.

Rama is broken. There is no other way to put it – this empty haze that mars his sight, this endless sorrow that mires him down, this bleak, bleak search that shall never end – Rama is irrevocably ruined.

He feels nothing save grief and rage, and knows nothing save that they must go on and on and on, till they have eclipsed the earth thrice over, till they have searched every nook and cave and treeshade, pausing neither for food nor rest nor death.

He screams, sometimes at the forest and sometimes into the earth, and sometimes at foolish, foolish Lakshmana, who is so exhausted and so dear, and Rama thinks he knows what the Pinaka’s master will do at the breaking of the world, for he feels that catastrophe within the traitorous organ beating in his chest, calling through the bars of his bones like a forgotten prisoner, ‘Sita! Sita! Sita!’

“Bhaiyya, please,” Lakshmana begs, gripping his shoulders tighter than ever before.

Once Rama was stronger, but now he even struggles to loosen his hold. “Let me go,” he wails, writhing and unseeing. “I will not, I cannot- ”

“You need to, Bhaiyya,” Lakshmana insists, tightening his hands, pressing fingers to the hollow between Rama’s clavicle and collarbone.

Rama shakes like Mount Meru trembling under Sachi’s wrath. “I need to?” he demands. “I need to? Like you needed to leave Sita, needed to search for me, despite your faith in me, despite knowing that- ”

Lakshmana’s hands unclench, and Rama finds himself sinking. His gaze clears, little by little, and he hears his brother make a strange, muffled sound, and he is sinking to his knees, familiar hands guiding him, but no longer restraining. There is an Asoka’s trunk to his right, and he is made to lean against it, all gentle-soft and slow. When he looks up, Lakshmana’s face is turned away, tears leaking out of the corner of his eye, mingling with the blood on his chin from where he has bitten his lip to hold back a sob.

“Lakshmana,” he murmurs, reaching out to him, and oh, there are flecks of dried blood on his knuckles, and oh, Lakshmana’s temple is a sickly purple when he looks back, like the costliest dhoti muddied by rain, and when, oh, when did he strike the most beloved of brothers, and why?

Lakshmana is kneeling beside him, always one reverent inch behind the bend of his arm, running a thumb over the crimson remnants of violence.

“It was not your fault,” he soothes, lilting like a childhood song. “You did not see me coming.”

When? he wants to ask, how? But the haze returns like insidious tendrils of fog. He should be comforting Lakshmana, he thinks, for it was always his job to quieten his brother’s temper. Lakshmana needs comforting, he knows, but Lakshmana is not angry. Why, then…

Someone shakes his shoulder. “Bhaiyya?”

“Uh,” he offers intelligently.

“I am going to get some water, okay? Please, please do not leave. You need to rest awhile; we are no use to Bhabhi if we are dead.”

He waits for Rama to nod his assent, and leaves with tear-tracks on his cheeks. That was why Rama should have comforted his brother – Lakshmana was crying. And now he is gone, and Rama is seated under a tree waiting for him to bring water, like that blind old couple had so many years ago waited in vain for Shravana Kumara. They cursed his father for slaying the boy, and that curse drags ever on, even today. What would Rama do if some stray arrow found his brother’s heart? Would he curse the shooter, even if it was a chance of fate? No, he thinks, he would hunt them down, and then burn cursed Dandaka, all the way from the Vindhyas to the unresting sea, with every man and beast and rakhshasha in it.

Perhaps because he has such a keen ear, or perhaps because he is thinking about it, he hears a terrible, piercing groan, and shoots up. The sound comes again, and Rama runs. It does not occur to him that he runs the other way, or that he should take his bow. All he does is plough through the tall trees, tripping on roots and choking on outstretched branches, fighting against Aranyani’s will.

When he finally stumbles upon the body, all he can think of is that it isn’t Lakshmana. Then the groan comes again, and he rushes over to the feathered being, kneels by its side. Once, it must have been a great bird, but now there are only stumps where the wings would have been, and it has a gaping hole in its stomach.

“My dear,” Rama says, already knowing it beyond saving, “rest. All will be well.”

To his surprise, the bird opens its eyes. “Who are you?” it asks, in a distinctly masculine voice.

“Rama, son of Dasharatha,” Rama says, and looks up to some scuffling. “That is my brother, Lakshmana,” he adds, as said brother tumbles into the clearing with wide eyes, twin bows and ruffled hair.

“Dasharatha?” Clarity rushes to the bird’s eyes. “Once, I, Jatayu, named him friend. Wait, you are Rama and Lakshmana? That woman called for you.”

“So we are,” Lakshmana agrees, kneeling as well. “What woman sought us, noble Jatayu?”

“The fairest of them,” Jatayu says, “with the darkest curls and most beautiful mien I ever knew. She wept from the perch of the Pushpaka Vimana and called high and low for aid, even as Ravana took her ever southward to his golden state. I sought to free her, friends, and so I fell wingless from the sky.”

Rama dares not hope, dares not breathe. “Southward?” he asks, settling on the least painful, and most important detail.

“Southwards to Lanka,” Jatayu explains, words slurring again, “to that seagirt island he names his own. I shall not be here long, but I beg you, make haste my friends.”

There is a noose uncoiling from Rama’s chest. He needs to thank Jatayu for his aid, for trying to save his wife, for being their father’s friend; he needs to make sure he passes away in peace. And he will do it all, only after one last question.

“Do you know who she was?”

“Mhmm,” Jatayu hums. “She called herself Sita.”

4.

Hanuman leads them up Mount Rishyamukh with nimble leaps and fleet feet. Rama and Lakshmana toil behind, each hard-faced so as not to give away how strenuous they find all this jumping.

“I feel like a stray goat,” his brother mutters, teeth clenched to hold back huffs. “He is showing off for you, and naturally, I am the one caught in the middle.”

“If you think I am enjoying this…” Rama begins, then sighs to mask his panting.

“Then why do you not ask our guide to slow down? He seems to like you well enough.”

Rama snootily turns his nose up in the air. “We are the scions of Ikshvaku, heirs of the Raghu clan. We must endure.”

“You mean you must endure.” Lakshmana’s voice is sardonic as he continues, “If my honour comes from attempted suicide by heat exhaustion, I care little for it.”

“If I have to climb up this thrice-damned mountain without protest, then so will you.”

Silence. Rama turns, alarmed, half afraid his jesting has been taken seriously. They have not spoken about everything that came to pass in the weeks before meeting Jatayu, and although Lakshmana’s bruise has long healed, Rama’s heart has not. But no, his brother is smirking and shaking his head, and when Lakshmana speaks, his voice quivers with mirth. “You are mean.”

Rama exhales, yet relief does not come.

“Lak- ” he begins, but is immediately interrupted by a joyous shout from above.

“Prabhu!” Hanuman beams down at them, “We are here.” Then he turns and addresses someone else, “Oh, please do tell Maharaj Sugriva, he shall be most elated.”

Lakshmana eyes the remaining steps and then surveys the distance they have come.

“This should not have been so difficult,” he mumbles, and Rama is inclined to agree. Once the two of them could have scaled the peak without breaking a sweat and run three miles afterwards. All that crying and bumbling about the forest must have made them soft.

Sugriva – dressed in old finery and worn purples – comes to meet them in a great, cavernous hall, reeking of cheap wine and misery. The crown on his head is scratched and askew.

“Show them what we found,” he tells one of the attendants, after Hanuman has recounted their tale of woe, and nods to them. “Please, have a seat, my lords.”

Rama sits and tries not to quiver with anticipation. This is it. He can feel it in the air – this is the key to rescuing Sita. Lakshmana stands by his side, half a step behind, and places a hand on his shoulder.

“We found them on the ground,” Sugriva says, tail flicking nervously. “By the time I was called, it was all over, but my Vanaras say a great golden chariot had flown across the skies, and from it came the weeping of a maiden most fair.”

He pauses, as a worn pouch is brought in, and a bearer places tall earthen glasses of drinks before them. Rama ignores the latter and reaches for the pouch.

“This has the ornaments you found?”

“Yes.”

Rama pulls apart the string holding it together and turns it over on his palm. A familiar necklace falls out, thick and glittering gold, followed by a lonely earring, a chain, and an anklet strung with little bells.

Rama stares.

“Prabhu?” Hanuman probes. “Are these the ones you seek?”

“Yes,” he breathes, fingers trembling, stroking the trinkets as if they could somehow pass on his affection to their beloved wearer. “These are hers.”

He looks up to an assortment of pitying glances. They can tell the woman is someone important, though neither Rama nor his brother had revealed in as many words that Sita was his wife. Did they think of him an idiot, a desperate father, or a maddened brother, or a lovelorn husband clutching to circumstantial proof of a dear one’s presence?

As he has done these past weeks, and all their lives, Lakshmana comes to the rescue. “I recognise the anklet.”

Sugriva hesitates. “My Lord Lakshmana?”

“The anklet,” he repeats. “I saw it every morn when I knelt for her blessings. I would not confuse them for any other.”

“And the others?”

“Uh,” Lakshmana blinks. “I would not dare be so importune with a lady as to stare at her person” – here Rama catches Sugriva stiffen minutely, as a guilty man does when caught, but Lakshmana has spoken without malice, and it passes as quickly as comes – “but her sister has an earring of similar fashion.”

“You will not look at her but you will look at her sister,” Sugriva notes, and it is interesting how he has latched onto that.

Lakshmana turns pink. “I married her sister?” he says, phrasing it like a question, as if all those days with Urmila were a fever dream. Rama can relate.

There is an awkward pause, and his brother plows on with all the daintiness of the bulls that once ploughed the land Sita rose from. “What was she like?”

“I told you – I have not seen her. My people told me this: that she was the fairest maiden they ever beheld, shining like the sun at high noon, that her voice was like starlight, and that she called for the scions of Raghu to aid her. Twice she called for one Raghurai, and once for a Saumitra.”

Rama cannot help the smile on his face. Of course, Sugriva will surely ask for some terrible recompense, but he is an outcast King, and exiled besides. He will not shirk from helping.

Beside him, he feels his brother relax. “She is no mere maid,” Lakshmana drawls. “She is the daughter of King Janaka, of distant Mithila, and the wife of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. She is Sita.”

5.

Rama eyes the prodigious young twins seated on the floor of his court. They are young, barely a year older than Bharata’s oldest, and the sight of them makes something in Rama’s chest tremble. It has been a long time since he has been blessed with the sight of his wife, save in the terrible gilded statue that occupies her place beside him. Today, though, he sees her everywhere – in the curls of the twins' hair, in the way the older one smiles, and the younger wrinkles his nose. He sees her even in the way they hold their veena, which makes little sense, given that most people hold their instruments the same way.

They had introduced themselves as students of Rishi Valmiki, without any patronymic. That means nothing. They could simply be referring to the one who sent them here. But their mother must have been pregnant the same time as Sita, if age is any indication, and Sita had been having twins, and they did look awfully like her...

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” says Kusha, the older twin, his hair sticking up like the grass he was named for.

His voice is a blessing, for it derails Rama's terrible thoughts, and a curse, for it sounds so like Sita's that he may as well be in Mithila's gardens more than two decades ago, facing a demure princess who would later be his wife.

This is folly, he thinks, nodding at the young ones, permitting them audience.

Kusha continues, “Our Guru, the mighty sage Valmiki, was immensely inspired by your tale. Thus, he composed an epic, so all the world may remember the valour of Shri Rama.”

“It is still being written as we speak,” Luv says, picking up where his brother left, “but we have learnt in song all that was penned down before we departed. If His Majesty pleases, we would be honoured to present it to you.”

Rama stares, then hesitates. Seeking self-praise is the path to downfall, and the story is painful besides. All save Lakshmana look eager – even Urmila, though she must have been told everything, either by her husband or by Sita. He should praise their dedication and send them away with blessings and a few gifts. There is no point in unearthing such sorrow again, not when the story has no triumph, and Sita is not by his side.

Luv and Kusha look up at him, familiar doe eyes wide and beseeching. They are clutching each other’s hands, tense with anticipation. Rama opens his mouth to disappoint them, and instead says, “Very well, we shall hear you.”

He could have cursed himself them, but the answering smiles he receives wash away all self-recrimination.

The courtiers clasp their hands and lean forward, and the boys bob their heads in a semblance of a bow.

“Hear us,” Luv proclaims, “for we sing of Rama, son of Dasharatha, of blessed Ayodhya.”

It is a familiar tale, of the joys of his childhood and the days at the Gurukul, the love of his father and three gentle mothers. But Rama knows, the grief is about to come.

He allows a tremulous smile when they sing of Sita’s Swayamvara, for it was a joyous occasion. He holds his breath when Ravana of the tale carries Sita away, but pain lances through him only once. He trembles when they exalt Sita’s resolve in the face of misery, trapped in her golden prison, and shivers when they recount Lakshmana’s deadly injury.

But just as he thinks that perhaps, having lived through it once, he has numbed himself enough to be able to get through this without the waterworks, the song rolls to their victory, and to Sita’s freedom.

“And then Rama of the golden bow,” Kusha intones, “says ‘I have not yet sunk so low, to take back unquestioned a spouse that has lived a year in another’s house.’”

Half the court inhales, and Rama feels a telltale burn behind his eyes. What has he done? He wants to throw out the boys, forgetting his fondness for them, wants to scream and curse and run away. But he is an Emperor, and this is his court, and such behaviour is unbecoming. The lay turns stern and punishing, quickening to a chant.

Sita in the epic stands as straight and bold as she had all those years ago, before an army of thousands. Her hair is a riot of curls blacker than the length of Nisha’s dread night; her face is as gaunt as Dhumavati’s terrible mien. When she speaks her voice is Indra’s thunder across the sky, devoid of any love or affection. “If you shall question me, husband,” she says, “then may Agni judge me. Lakshmana, son, make me a pyre.”

Lakshmana of the tale weeps, as he does in real life, both then and now. And Ravana’s captive, all molten iron clothed in a delicate body, walks out of the pyre unblemished and unburnt, lit red and orange and yellow – a living flame. For she is Janaka’s daughter and Rama’s wife, but she is also the mightiest woman that Aryavart would ever know, and the most virtuous.

The song ends with exaltations of their victory, and the joy of reunion, but Rama, seated beside a lamentable golden mockery of a woman he once named his own, hears none of it. His tears come hot and unbidden, like summer tempests across the plain, and he weeps and weeps and weeps.

+1.

Luv kneels on the green grass, wide eyes following an eagle's flight across the sky. Rama strokes his head, soft and gentle and in love. It is a tranquil morning, and Rama wonders if he should postpone court to prolong this moment. Beside him, Kusha hums softly, sprawled over the grass.

“You look melancholic,” Rama observes.

Kusha shrugs. Rama has yet to learn all his son’s expressions, but this one he knows intimately. His son misses Sita. Now that she is not here, it is his duty to comfort him. The thought warms Rama's heart nigh as much as it chills.

“Your mother,” he begins, then hesitates, unsure.

Kusha sits up. “What of her?” he demands, cornered and defensive.

Rama holds up his hands, feels Luv’s glower boring into the side of his face. Sita is a sensitive topic, lying between them with the treachery of a coiled snake, defying the peaceful manner of its namesake.

“Would you like to hear about her?” he offers at last.

Kusha frowns. Luv crawls over to look at his face. “Hear what?”

“Whatever you wish to know.” Rama will likely come to regret this, for they undoubtedly will ask something difficult to answer, but as the furrows part from Kusha’s brows, Rama thinks they can push through. He opens his arms, gathering them close, and kisses the top of their heads. Like this, it is not hard to understand why Dasharatha thirsted so desperately for sons, even if he was fated to die grieving for them.

Kusha interrupts his musing with a question. “Do you love her?”

“Of course!” Rama is scandalised enough that Kusha has the decency to look a little guilty.

That, however, does not stop him from his next question. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you love her?”

Rama cannot believe they are having this conversation, even though he can see why they might be curious.

“How could I not?” he says at last, when it becomes evident that silence will not make Kusha forget his question. “Sita was the loveliest woman – kind, generous, and brave.”

Kusha does not appear the least bit happy and Rama startles when Luv pokes his arm.

“Nuh-uh,” his son says, “those are easy things to say. You have to pick one.”

Rama opens his mouth to answer, then pauses. This is some sort of a test. Luv and Kusha have been wary of him ever since they arrived at the palace, hiding away from him and mingling mostly with their cousins. He is suddenly aware that this answer could have tremendous repercussions. But what can he say to such a question? How can he define peerless Sita with one virtue?

The children look up at him expectantly, so Rama clears his throat and tries to think. Sita was charming, and her beauty helped, but that was not the foremost of merits.

“Sita was… good at being good,” Rama says slowly, barely able to keep himself from quailing at the twin raised eyebrows. “It is hard to explain, you understand? But her virtues were restrained. She was terribly forgiving, but not so forgiving that she would take upon her a sentence twice over when she knew herself to be innocent. She could be generous, but never to a fault. She was selfless, but not so selfless that she would deny herself easy pleasures.”

And was that not true? Sita was pure, and in his heart of hearts Rama knows that even if Ravana touched or defiled her, even if Agni burnt her, it would only be her body that fell, only her vessel of flesh that would be blamed; her soul was far too pure and mighty to be affected.

And this is Raghuvamsa’s folly – they will cling to promises and tradition even in death, will give up sons to satisfy wives, forgive villainous servants and shy from righteous rage, forsake wives for the words of ignorant men. Had Rama not loved Sita for the same reason he loved Lakshmana? That even follies were to be embraced, even elders could be spoken against, even golden deer could be chased for the sheer joy of it.

“She had no excesses,” Rama tells their children. “She would forgive me for testing her once, but not twice. And I do not think I could have loved her as much if she accepted it.”

Luv and Kusha are looking at him. Rama tries to blink away his tears, but they come and come and come.

“Sita…” His breath catches, but he plows on. “They tell us that it is important to be selfless, to never ask for more than you have – not unless you can earn it yourself. But Sita knew I loved giving her things – clothes, jewels, flowers, anything. And even in the forest she would ask for a flower or a fruit or a sapling, because she knew it brought me joy. She cared.” The tears are falling now, but Rama cannot stop. “She cared, and then I threw it away. I knew her, and I failed her.”

Rama puts his face in his hands and sobs. All this, and he is not even sure he has managed an answer. He starts at the feel of small hands, and of cheeks pressed against each shoulder.

“What is past is gone,” Kusha murmurs, close by his ear. “But we are here. Father, we will always be here.”

The gong for the court sounds, yet no one moves. Perhaps, Rama thinks wearily, he has not failed at everything.

[bellmo15-blog]

Shovel Emblem

All things considered, it's actually kinda fitting I'd eventually get a Shovel Knight based pic one day considering how closely associated he tends to be with Shantae anyway to the point where they even were both part of the same DLC pack for Blaster Master Zero. And also, you know, WERE going to both be guest characters in Indivisble at one point. I am never going to get over them pulling the plug on the guest characters showing up in that game, am I? It's also fitting that the whole reason I got this pic was a result of Shovel Knight itself actually having some crossover levels in his own game. Or rather, a lack of one in one specific version.

Okay so for those who don't know what I'm talking about Shovel Knight actually has a few console exclusive bonus levels which also rewarded you with different armour for Shovel Knight to equip himself. The PlayStation release of this game's bonus level was a boss fight agents Kratos from God of War and as a reward got you the Armour of Chaos. Meanwhile the Xbox version got a Battletoads themed level along with being rewarded with the Toad Armour. And the Nintendo releases got......... Diddly squat! Yeah, despite Shovel Knight technically debuting on both the 3DS and Wii U originally before being ported to everything else a few months later there was no Nintendo themed crossover for those releases. Not even in the later Switch port of the game! And I have never got that! Even beyond the whole "this game originated on a Nintendo system kinda" aspect there are so many Nintendo franchsies that would fit right in with Shovel Knight I'm suprised Nintendo has never collaborated with the devs to make something like this. Especially since, for as over protective as Nintendo is of there IP's to the point where you'd think they were a over bearing mother, they have shown they are open to crossovers in the past due to stuff like the Nintendo costumes in the Wii U version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and both Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule exist.

So, to fill this gap, I came up with my own Nintendo themed Shovel Knight crossover armour! After thinking of which franchise to go with I decided to go with Fire Emblem. I was considering having this be Kid Icarus themed at one point but since the God of War crossover was already a thing I decided to go something not already tied to Greek Mythology. So I went the franchise that not only just had a new game a year prior to Shovel Knights original release but was also the most popular Fire Emblem game to the point of literally saving the franchise from being cancelled entirely (despite what some FE elitist who hate Awakening will tell you.) The armour itself is also themed around Awakenings main character Chrom and honestly, I think old Shovel Knight here wears this quite well! As for how I imagen this armour would of affected gameplay, I'd say you have a random chance to get a critical hit on enemies much in the same way you do in Fire Emblem itself. Now if only we could get Shovel Knight to show up in an actual Fire Emblem game somehow.

Artist is AmeerAshourDraws

[terristarstrike]

What's The Schmooze on Terri Starstrike?:

Set in an alternate retro-futuristic 2005, imagined through the eyes of the 1960s, filled with holograms, highly-advanced robotics, touch-free technology, and a midcentury aesthetic, we follow three best friends - Terrina, Bailynn, and Jack - as they navigate teenage high school life in the beachside Californian town of Westshore. Terrina is the artistically-inclined team leader who dreams of becoming a part of another world beyond her home planet of El-Doe, but still figuring out who she is as a Human-Jotuzon hybrid, Bailynn, Terri’s madly-in-love girlfriend, is a smart, ambitious straight-A student and a hybrid who was born and raised in the human world, and Jack, Terri’s childhood friend from El-Doe, is an enthusiastic and flamboyant genius who’s learning to be more open about his personal interests, while protecting the girls’ secrets from disapproving peers. The three Jotuzons, who are normally giant, are experiencing the highs and lows of human life on human level while figuring out a way to bring the worlds of humans and Jotuzons back together.

Terrina Ave-Lo (She/Her)

The star of our show, the groovy Afro-Latina fashionista from a distant planet who was born as a Human-Jotuzon hybrid. She felt like a misfit amongst the perfect Jotuzons, gorgeous 60-foot-tall giants who are hailed as the most marvelous creatures in the universe, but on Earth, she became proud of her size-shifting gene, giving her the ability to shrink to human level and interact with the Earthlings. Terrina is a proud half-Puerto Rican lesbian who’s learning to live with her long lost dad, the world-famous media mogul Max Raymond. She vows to know why her mother, Empress Genn, wanted her to be a half-human hybrid, but until she finds her answer, she’s determined to bridge the broken gap between Jotuzons and humans. Terri is a girl of many things - She’s the school’s sharp-witted queen bee, a popular cheerleader, and a female quarterback. She loves to paint (though very messily), she’s a songbird with a beautiful singing voice, and she’s the teen model sensation that Westshore is going crazy over. Never misses an episode of That’s So Raven or American Idol. Her small, solid friend group, consisting of her childhood friend Jack and her girlfriend Bailynn, means the entire world to her and she remains fiercely devoted to the two of them.

Bailynn Lo-Shanta (She/Her)

Bailynn Lo-Shanta, formerly known as Bailey Wilson, has been widely regarded as the smartest kid in Westshore: a straight-A student with spelling bee championships and science fair medals to her name, but she’s also known for her strange, weird interests in the unknown. After meeting her current girlfriend Terrina Ave-Lo, she discovered a huge secret about her heritage: she’s actually a half-human Jotuzon! Ever since that day, she has remained as the super-smart, sizeshifting giant who’s passionately in love with the most awesome girlfriend in the galaxy. Bailynn acts as the calculated voice of reason for her trio, but she never loses her fangirl passion for the world beyond. Deeply devoted to her deceased father, Dr. Irwin Wilson, always keeping his Paranormal Journal close to her heart. Unabashedly worships Stephen Hawking, as much as she loves Mary J. Blige. Stays up past midnight to rewatch episodes of the Twilight Zone. She has a sweet tooth for chocolate chip pancakes and root beer floats, and believes in the superstitions of voodoo dolls and tarot cards.

Jack El-Benn (He/They)

Jack El-Benn is a proud transgender Jotuzon and a deeply passionate studier of the Earth Humans. Fascinated by their artifacts and their technology, he followed Terrina to Earth to deep deeper into their world. They’re a very energetic giant who can be easily distracted by shiny objects, but they’re always there to help his most-trusted friends, Terrina and Bailynn. Jack uses his Jotu-Bracelet to shrink to human size and interact with his human friends. Their fashion style often fluctuates from nerdy and preppy to fabulously flamboyant. He is a passionate theatre kid and a proud member of the school’s drama club, who is always taking hour-long makeup sessions to sing the Wicked and Hairspray albums. Crazily in love with *NSYNC and their music.

Khadija Saleh (She/Her)

Khadija Saleh is the Palestinian-Egyptian student body president at Westshore High, and Bailynn’s closest friend. A proud Arab girl and a future archeologist with a strong intuition, she serves as the voice of logic for her friends, while also studying Westshore’s connection to unexplained phenomena. No matter what the odds are, she has always believed in peaceful co-existence between Jotuzons and humans, and is advocating for Terrina’s master plan to interrogate the school. Khadija is fascinated with the ancient artifacts that the giant Jotuzons left behind, and wants to study their ancient language and culture with Terri’s help. Deeply rooted to her ancestral homeland in Palestine. She loves to organize the school dances, enjoying watching local drag races, and is most likely to quote Beyoncé at her graduation ceremony.

Izzy Scott (They/Them)

Social misfit Izzy Scott, born of mixed Filipino, Hawaiian, and Korean descent, is a nonbinary autistic daredevil who strives to break the restrictive gender norms of Westshore. Having grown up in San Francisco, they’re a scrawny, wisecracking enby and a member of the school’s soccer team who is the closest to Terri in personality. They may seem aloof sometimes with their eyes glued to their phone and their ears in their headphones, but don’t cross them though, they might just hit you with a sassy insult. They like cracking bad pun jokes, watching episode reruns of the Simpsons, and watching old commercials from the 80s.

Kiko Ka-Lilo (She/Her)

Kiko Ka-Lilo is a rare Mertilian-Jotuzon hybrid who was born to a black mother and a Japanese-Hawaiian father. Once a part of Kemba’s popular girl clique on El-Doe, Kiko is a shy and meek wallflower who’s learning to stand on her two feet, as she becomes one of the Jotuzons integrated into Westshore High School. She looks to Terri as a hero who helped her embrace her own hybrid identity. She can transform into her Mertilian form whenever she’s submerged in water, and is capable of sizeshifting from Jotuzon size to human size. Kiko loves writing her own poetry, searching through shipwrecks, and wants to prove her worth as the school’s first Jotuzon on the volleyball team. She often tagalongs with the Giant Trio on their adventures.

Sprite De La Rosa (She/Her)

Sprite De La Rosa is a Mertilian of Haitian and Dominican descent who was washed up to the shores of Westshore during a hurricane. Now residing in the local pool, she has a never ending thirst for adventure and exploring the world around her. Helplessly romantic, she falls head over fins for Izzy Sanchez and is starting to question if she’s really in love with them. Sprite juggles her love for acting and volleyball with her passion for reading books in the school library. She is tight-knit friends with her volleyball partner Kiko, who she often calls her “aquatic sea friend.” Her fashion style is always connected to the tropical vibes of the sea. Posts videos of herself on social media singing with her harmonious siren-like voice. As a Mertilian, she can talk to sea creatures, and her legs transform into a luscious mermaid tail when she’s in the water.

Cassandra “Candy” Levi (She/Her)

Cassandra “Candy” Levi is a Jewish theatre kid and an anxious drama queen who’s always setting plans for her future. Like Bailynn, she is deeply invested in Westshore’s connection to mystery phenomena and devotes her entire life’s work to figuring out the truth. Candy might be the biggest klutz in the group, but she’s also the most passionate actress and a member of the school’s drama club. Candy and Khadija always bond over their different religious experiences, and they work together to decode the secrets of their hometown. She and Jack also form a deep friendship over their love for musical theatre and dogs. She lives with her married mothers and her pet dog Licorice in a downtown apartment and firmly believes that her lesbian identity runs in the family. Emotionally attached to Avril Lavigne’s music, as well as jelly donuts that remind her of her mothers’ sufganiyot. 

So what's the schmooze on Terri Starstrike? There's so much more to discover in the town of Westshore, California, so follow us for more fun!

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: She could recount every detail of the day she married Kolhat: the geraniums her sister had embroidered along the sleeves and hem of her dress, one of her father’s old handkerchiefs tucked into her pocket, her mother’s silk veil draped over her hair. She could recall the day she met him, when she was all of twenty years old. Inej was not yet twenty. Shanta still felt as young as all that, and she felt far older. . . . Before she was Inej’s mother, Shanta Ghafa had a mother too. or: ten years and six suitors in the life of Mama Ghafa.

Author: @cameliawrites

Note from submitter: so good. please read it

[incorrectshantaequotes]

Rottytops: So did you kiss him?

Sky: No, the moment wasn't right. Look, Bolo could be something really serious. I want our first kiss to be perfect.

Rottytops: Aw, that's sweet! So you chickened out.

[ninebaalart]

Sky's Mom [Snake Princess]

tan line island mommy

[seantaeanewgenie]

Explaining the names in Shantae: A New Genie

For those who have read my Shantae fic, you may be wondering where I got the names for certain characters from. I gave these characters names because they usually only had titles beforehand or no names at all, so I wanted something easy to go off.

Mia (NPC) - I don't really remember why I named her this. She just kinda looked like a Mia and I thought it was a cute name for a kid.

The Mayor (Scuttlebutt) - This is a bit of an inverse compared to the others. I made it so Scuttlebutt isn’t actually his name. Shantae simply thought it was, but it’s actually a nickname the mayor hates being called. And to be honest, Scuttlebutt is too ridiculous for a name, even by Shantae standards.

Jack / Johan / The Pirate Master - I'm not entirely sure where I got Jack from. It just kind of fit, and somebody thought I named him after Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films. If I did, it must have been subconsciously. I used "Johan" as a fake name for Jack based on Johan Liebert from Naoki Urasawa's manga Monster.

Aaron (Harmony's father) - Not really sure where I got this from. He just seemed like an Aaron.

Emma (Chef Girl) - Based on Emma Stone. I had the Amazing Spider-Man movies on my mind at the time and I was thinking of Gwen Stacy from those films. Since both Gwen and Chef Girl are blondes, I thought it'd be fitting to name the Chef Girl after Gwen's actor.

Serena (Harmony's mother) - I based this name off the word "serenity." Since "serenity" and "harmony" have similar meanings, I figured it would just fit.

Ana (Shantae's mother) - I don't remember where I found it, but I wanted a name that would sound like a Genie's name and I found Ana the most fitting. Generally, I tried to give all the Genies names that would, you know, fit a Genie. It's pronounced "Ahn-uh" for those who were unsure.

Karnov (Shantae’s father) - I basically just wanted to confirm that fan theory from Pirate’s Curse. The one where the Warrior that Shantae meets in the Village of Lost Souls is actually her father, and that this mysterious warrior is actually the video game character Karnov.

Rosa (Human Rottytops) - I basically just thought of this from fanfics I read in the past with human Rotty. Most of the time, people just call her human form Rosa or Rosie. I found Rosa the better of the two in the end.

Iris (Empress Siren) - I thought it was a pretty name and it fit the purple colors you see on Empress Siren’s design in Seven Sirens.

Agnes (Angler Fish Siren) - I wanted to give her an old sounding name since she looks kinda old. I’m not sure where I got Agnes from, maybe The Simpsons.

Molly (Coral Siren) - A friend at the time showed me a drawing of a character they made named Molly. I liked the name and when I saw Coral Siren, it made me think Molly would be a fitting name for her. I might have also thought of the word mollusk with Coral Siren's marine theme.

Nora (Lobster Siren) - Based on the Norway lobster, and I think Nora is a cute name.

Aja (Vera's mother) - Given the plant-theming that Vera has, I wanted something fitting for her mother as well. In Greek mythology, it means "forest goddess." Her name is pronounced like “Asia.”

Cherami (Harmony’s grandmother) - I had imagined her as a redhead like her granddaughter Harmony, so I wanted a name reminiscent of the color red. I think the name Cherami came to mind from the voice actor for Rotty, Cherami Leigh. The name sounded “reddish” if that makes sense, like a cherry.

Ignatius (Techno Baron) - I don’t remember how I came up with Ignatius exactly, but I wanted a serious name for him since I wanted to make him more ominous than he was in canon.

Esmeralda - I didn’t really plan to do much with this character, but I still wanted to give her a name that fit her status as a Genie. Since I imagined her with green hair, Esmeralda became the name I ultimately chose.

[vyjuarts]

Aureum (Elentiya Wildwind), draconic sorcerer elf

I happily bring you my third ever dnd character as a new addition to my series where I bring my and my groups characters to life. ✨

The Mharoti Empire is most well known of their essentially dragon superiority. High ranking role or leading position can only be given to draconic folk, dragons or dragonborns. Any other race are good as slaves or token dummies in low ranking positions. The main motivation of the empire's leader, the draconic Dread Sultan, is full domination and spreading out their power towards many territories, thus keeping siege on multiple kingdoms all at once.

Sweet Elentiya was born in the Mezar province of the Mharoti Empire as the lone daughter to a fairly poor elven couple. After the mother passed away due to the childbirth, as Elentiya later learned was a highly common thing in her bloodline, her father took care of the little girl. In her youth, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary with her, she was a kind young woman helping out her father around the house and fields. She and her father created a happy, loving home, even in their poor conditions.

After she turned into a young woman is when her body started to change in a different manner. She started showing signs of magical abilities she couldn't control as well as changes on her skin. Small spikes and scales started forming in her shoulders, abdomen and face that she couldn't hide after a while. As her powers started to show up more and more and with increasing intensity, so did her abnormal features. These changes scared her and we'll as her father, who instead of understanding and support, gave only condemnation and distance to her panicking daughter.

After some unfortunate events with the little villages superstitious dwellers, a dragonborn soldier group was sent to the little cottage of the elven family to eradicate a so-called aberration that can only mean bad luck and suffering to everything nearby. Against all expectations, the leader black dragonborn didn't kill the young woman on sight, but, after just watching her that seemed like an eternity, ordered Elentiya to follow her or die. The last memory of her father was his relieved face as she was pushed out of that little cottage and embarked on a long travel to the most eastern edges of the Dragoncoil Mountains.

She was escorted through treacherous mountain peaks and deadly cliffs to an enormous stone stronghold atop of the most complicated and monumental cave system she has ever hear of. This was the Awaking Deep, as she learned later, a secret base of the Dread Sultan's special forces. There she learned how the Deep's leader, the dark Shanta, who is Elentiya's great-grandmother, collects young magic-wielder women of dragonic descendance, half-bloods or less, to create a new force team for the Dread Sultan as magic user wyvern riders. This ambitious plan goes against all previous dogmas of the Empire, especially how humanoids with partly dragonic descendance are usually killed on sight or, in best cases, get chased away.

Eletiya also got answers to her questions regarding her heritage. Shanta described her how their powers came from an ancient golden dragon, Hakutala, her great-great-great-grandfather. Learned that Elentiya's cousin, Dorola is also in the Awaking Deep.

This started Elentiya's training in survival and fighting through almost 20 years besides hundreds of women whose only a fraction survived in the end of it. In that enormous, dark cave system the life and survival was immensely difficult, Elentiya survival was only ensured with teaming up with her older cousin, Dorola.

Only after 20 years of bloody training was when the 33 best fighter got the chance to choose their wyverns and be sorted in different flight circles. Through fights and duels, Elentiya earned her wyvern, a young silver coloured male she named Hyperion. With the beast she got into the Golden Wing fleet, where she eventually got the Second in command position to the Wing Leader Dorola.

Finally after 20 years, they got permission to leave the cave systems for flight practices, fleet practices and huntings with ending the day back in the stronghold. Life felt much better, almost felt free for Elentiya next to her strict but loving cousin. But as it is known... You are never truely free from the Awaking Deep.

Through love, heartbreak, child loss and pain, she finally got out from there. She set the loyal Hyperion free for his safety, and under a new name, as Aureum, the Golden Wind, she begins to travel the world with the realms strangest group. But how long can she keep running before the past catching up with her?

[wolfgabe]

Astro Bot VIP list Nintendo Edition

Been watching gameplay of Astro Bot on PS5 and now I want to see Nintendo make their own celebration game that is filled with Nintendo character cameos complete with deep cut nods

Super Mario VIPs

Mario

Luigi

Peach

Toad

Captain Toad

Bowser

Bowser Jr

Koopa Troopa

Goomba

Daisy

Waluigi

Wario

Rosalina

Luma

Foreman Spike

Eggplant Man

Yoshi

Kamek

Cappy

Paper Mario

Geno

Legend of Zelda VIPs

Link

Zelda

Ganondorf

Tingle

Tetra

Skull Kid

Epona

Daruk

Mipha

Revali

Urbosa

Guardian Stalker

Koroks

King of Red Lions

Midna

Zant

Happy Mask Salesman

Fierce Diety

Donkey Kong VIPs

Donkey Kong

Diddy Kong

Cranky Kong

Funky Kong

Dixie Kong

Kiddie Kong

King K Rool

Kritter

Rambi

Metroid VIPs

Samus

Zero Suit Samus

Dark Samus

Sylux

Ridley

Kraid

Mother Brain

Raven Beak

SA-X

Metroids

Adam Malkovich

Xenoblade Series VIPs

Shulk

Reyn

Fiora

Dunban

Rex

Pyra

Mythra

Malos

Jin

Noah

Mio

Animal Crossing VIPs

Tom Nook

Tommy and Timmy Nook

Mr Resetti

Rover

Blathers

Celeste

Brewster

Crazy Redd

Villager (Male)

Villager (Female)

Blanca

Tortimer

Isabelle

KK Slider

Splatoon VIPs

Inkling Boy

Inkling Girl

Octoling

Callie

Marie

Pearl

Marina

Shiver

Frye

Big Man

Sheldon

DJ Octavio

Mr Grizz

Captain Cuttlefish

Judd

Lil Judd

Fire Emblem VIPs

Marth

Roy

Ike

Lucina

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Robin

Lynn

Corrin

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Xander

Takumi

Byleth

Sothis

Dmitri

Claude

Edelgard

Kirby VIPs

Kirby

King Dedede

Meta Knight

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Whispy Woods

Marx

Magolor

Taranza

Queen Sectonia

Susie

President Haltmann

Three Mage Sisters

Elfilin

Pokemon VIPs

Pikachu

Bulbasaur

Squirtle

Charmander

Meowth

Pokemon Trainer

Mew

Mewtwo

Detective Pikachu

Star Fox VIPs

Fox

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Peppy Hare

Slippy Toad

General Pepper

Andross

Krystal

Wolf

Leon

Pigma

Prince Tricky

Earthbound/MOTHER VIPs

Ness

Paula

Jeff

Poo

Mr Saturn

Ninten

Anna

Lloyd

Teddy

EVE

Lucas

Duster

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Boney

Porky

F-Zero VIPs

Captain Falcon

Pico

Samurai Goro

Dr Stewart

Black Shadow

Blood Falcon

Mr EAD

Kid Icarus VIPs

Pit

Palutena

Medusa

Dark Pit

Hades

Viridi

Super Smash Bros series VIPs

Master Hand

Crazy Hand

Fighting Polygon

Fighting Wire Frame

Alloy Fighter

Ancient Minister

Primid

Tabuu

Pikmin VIPs

Olimar

Louie

Alph

Charlie

Brittany

The President

Red Pikmin

Blue Pikmin

Yellow Pikmin

Purple Pikmin

White Pikmin

Winged Pikmin

Rock Pikmin

Ice Pikmin

Glow Pikmin

Oatchi

Moss

NES/Famicom era VIPs

Excitebike Racer

Diskun

Hockey Player

Volleyball Player

Baseball Player

Bubbles

Ice Climbers

Ayumi Tachibana

Gumshoe

Duck Hunt Dog

Balloon Fighter

R.O.B

Professor Hector

Urban Champion Fighter

Sherriff

Tamagon

Devil

Mach Rider

Takamaru

Famicom Wars Soldier

Sukapon

Punch Out!! VIPs

Little Mac

Doc Louis

Glass Joe

King Hippo

Bald Bull

Don Flamenco

Mr Dream

ARMS VIPs

Spring Man

Ribbon Girl

Min Min

Helix

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Helix

Dr Coyle

Hedlok

Other VIPs

Dillon

Ashley Robbins

Mr Game and Watch

Tethu from Ever Oasis

Wii Fit Trainer

Dr Wright

X Commander

Sable Prince

F-Type Car

Ray Mk III

Isacc from Golden Sun

Starfy

Starly

Moe the Clam

Lip

Karate Joe

Chorus Kids

Cubivore Pig

Chibi Robo

Dr Kawashima

Nintendog

Elite Beat Agents

T-Rex

Captain Rainbow

Zip

Mallo

Nikki

Jill from Drill Dozer

Qbby

Arcade Bunny from Nintendo Badge Arcade

Third Party VIPs

Sonic the Hedgehog

Billy Hatcher

Jason from Blaster Master

Hebe

Simon Belmont

Mega Man

Commander Video

Shovel Knight

Wonder Red

Wonder Blue

Bayonetta

Galaga Ship

Bomberman

Mega Man

Shantae

Erdrick

Banjo and Kazooie

Cuphead