#song of a usurper au

[duckapus]

Not sure how to start this so I'll just say that Mr. Crocker is down in his not-so-secret Crocker Cave, laughing evilly while working on his latest fairy hunting invention. Currently, it's just a grapefruit-sized sci-fi-looking metal and glass orb full of glowing blue energy.

"With the addition of Meme Energy to my Artificial Magic formula and a bit of respawn code I bummed off of Gohma, the Artificial Magic Core is complete! And with it, I will power the ultimate advancement in fairy hunting technology..."

He turns on the Cave's big computer monitor, revealing schematics for a small, winged android, then spasms while shouting, "THE FAIRY GODDROID!!!"

He begins to pace, petting the core in his hand as though it were a small, glowing metal cat, "Yes, no longer will I be caught on the back foot, forced to compensate for the reality warping power Turner and every other Godchild has at their fingertips. Soon I'll be able to fight Fire with Fire."

Another spasm, "FIRE!!! I mean, FAIRIES!!!"

He wipes his brow, which has gradually become more and more slick with sweat, "Ugh, speaking of fire, I really need to fix the air conditioning down here at some point. California heatwaves and underground laboratories do not mix," under his breath, he adds, "almost makes me wish I was somewhere that was cold year-round instead."

As you might expect, idly wishing when you're holding a device designed to replicate the powers of wish-granting magical creatures isn't a good idea, which Crocker realizes when the AMC's glow suddenly gets brighter...

"Oh shi-" he's rapidly engulfed in a cloud of sparkling blue smoke with the word "BEEP" written on the front in blocky letters, accompanied by the sound of an airhorn, and when it dissipates, the Crocker Cave is empty.

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

Somewhere in Desiderio, an airhorn calls out across the frigid wilderness, and a human with unsightly features and clothing far too light for the climate is dropped from a mysterious blue cloud in such a way that he faceplants into the snow, screaming all through his brief fall. He quickly gets back up, violently shivering as he clutches his invention close to himself for the small amount of warmth it brings.

"I w-wish I had s-s-some dec-cent w-w-winter c-clothes right n-n-n-now," with another Beep, his collared shirt, black slacks and matching loafers are replaced by a dull blue parka with the hood up, dark grey snow pants, and heavy-duty black boots and gloves. As he's warmed back up, he sighs in both relief and annoyance, "well, at least I know it works now. Where am I, anyway?"

While the sensible thing to do would be to go back home, Denzel Crocker is far from a sensible man, so he stows the AMC in one of his pockets and starts trudging his way in a random direction, eager to see what he might find.

As he goes, he discovers that he's near the shoreline of...wherever he's ended up, and he follows the beach until he comes across a camp of some sort on a long outcrop. He continues onward, soon discovering that the camp is inhabited by humanoid cats in what appear to be medieval knight uniforms designed to withstand the frigid climate. They appear to be guarding something, and the scientist and troublemaker in him just has to see what it is, especially since they don't seem to have noticed his approach yet.

"Hmm...I wish I was invisible."

Once the wish is granted, he slowly picks his way through the camp, doing his best to stay as quiet as possible so the soldiers' no doubt excellent feline hearing won't pick up on his presence (this close to the ocean there's more ice and rock than there is snow, so he's thankfully not leaving much of a trail).

Eventually, he reaches the object that's caught so much attention; a large, round stone structure covered in strange runes embedded into the highest point of the outcrop. From what he can see, it's ancient, but appears to have been tampered with recently, as if someone is trying to slowly cut it away from the cliff. Either the doing of the soldiers themselves or whoever they're guarding this place from.

As he tries to approach for a closer look, he slips on some loose pebbles, and if that didn't alert the guards the sharp "OOF" when he collides with the ancient stone definitely does. He hears the nearest ones shouting, though he's too disoriented to make out exactly what, and he happens to look down and see that his collision somehow managed to make a small crack in the stone, likely due to the AMC's sturdy metal frame based on the position. A green whisp of something shoots out of the crack, which knocks him back on his bony rear, cancels out his invisibility wish, and slips into his pocket.

Now back to his senses, Crocker takes stock of his current situation and finally listens to his common sense, "Well, I think I've just about overstayed my welcome," he pulls out the AMC, briefly noting that it's changed from blue to green but deciding to worry about that later, "I wish I was anywhere but here!"

And with another cloud (green instead of blue now, of course) and airhorn, he's gone, just as the Desidarian soldiers are closing in with weapons and instruments drawn.

[targaryen-dynasty]

AEMOND TARGARYEN.

DAEMON TARGARYEN.

AEGON II TARGARYEN.

MAEGOR TARGARYEN.

CREGAN STARK.

ADDAM OF HULL.

ASOIAF DISCORD | ICONS | WIPS | LIBRARY | AO3

DIVIDER CREDIT GOES TO @black-dread

[joffyworld]

Mother of Us All

Mother, mother of us all,

Obey the crown or fate befall;

The lot of us will turn to ash,

Harm and scars caused by the past.

Eloped with madness once again,

Regret buried, your minds' defence.

Pay the price of Godhood still,

Lends the strength and bends your will.

Every day a newborn task.

A century or more has passed.

Sing the song and close your eyes,

Exhale, inhale, control your life.

Where's the end of this nightmare?

All shall befall the mother's care!

Kill the "god" and free your mind!

Educate the lost and scared in kind!

Usurpation! The Mother wins!

Pray away the guilt as memories flood in.

(Entirely based on @bogor-o's Mother au)

[redrandomposts]

one day i will post on AO3... today isn't it, though.

from my drafts! i might add more later.

ALNST royalty au

->royalty are able to convey the words of god through song; the more talent a royal has at singing, the more destined they are to ascend the throne.

->ivan is the only prince of his country, and is well-loved by the citizens. twice a year, he hosts a performance to prove his talent in song.

->luka, a prince from another country, is arranged to have a marriage with him to unite the two countries.

->till had experienced the worse parts of the country, such as corrupt power, and believes that he is destined to usurp the throne with his own song skill.

->hyuna is a rebel in luka's kingdom after her brother was found dead at the hands of soldiers who are at prince luka's command.

->ivan watched, jealous, as his cousin sua lived a relatively normal life with a noble's daughter, mizi. he was never really close to sua; he just wishes to have a carefree life like her.

->till had been a servant, and at a ball, mizi had shown kindness to him. he fell in love with her at that moment, and firmly decides that he will ask for her hand when he rises to the throne.

->at a ball, when he was really young, ivan had met till who'd been thrown in a cage after instigating a fight. he was curious, and fell in love a bit later.

[syndrossi]

I am about to make you cry.

Your thing about Rhaegar writing a ballad gave me an idea. This is Rhaegar, who sings sons of the death of kings and makes wolf maids cry. The Ballad he writes is a haunting, lamenting song that is about this world's dance of the dragons - but its Regnal!AU (Or even the AU where they're found in time for the tourney, but not before) and the Blacks here were Jon's side against the Green's - and Jon, much like Rhaenyra, died. And most of his children died, except for a little girl he named Daenerys. So did Aegon and his kids, of course, cause Usurpers always have their lines end - but Rhaegar has lost his twin and almost all of his nieces and nephews. Rhaegar REFUSES to become King, naming baby daenerys because godsdammit Jon's only remaining child will be Queen! And his and Laena's son her king consort - and then he writes of the Dance, and the Death of Dragons, and puts it to music.

For the next few hundred years whenever anyone hears that song they cry.

The only reason this can't hurt me right now is because I'm writing newborn Jon and Rhaegar AU right now and they're very alive and everyone's happy.

Even so, ahem, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO RHAEGAR, YOU MONSTER? You're going to take away Rhaegar's father, his twin, his beloved nieces and nephews (save for little Daenerys), and leave him to sing of their tragedy? No Death of the Dragons, I declare it. He and Jon have to have accomplished something for such a high cost.

(TBH, I don't think Rhaegar can refuse to be king if he wants any stability for the realm. Naming a young child queen means she's at the mercy of her regent, and even if it's Rhaegar at first, regents can be politically removed, leaving her vulnerable. I like to think this means Laena does a lot of co-ruling with him, and Rhaegar is adamant that Daenerys is his heir.)

The Red Keep is basically haunted, tbh. Rhaegar's singing elegies every night, and no one can sleep, every single inhabitant is perpetually on the verge of depression. Even Daenerys can only make him smile sometimes.

[esther-dot]

Beauty and the Beast

Tokens of Life (give me) 9k WIP by @ihaveastorminme

Jon thought of his mother's family often. But he never heard a whisper from them. Not once. Until the day the northern wind howled through the ancestral halls of the dragon Queens, bringing with it snow and wolves’ cries at its tail. Five hundred different deities in that hall, and nobody whispered when she walked in, tall and forbidding, the skirts of her dress swirling about her like mist and snow glittering unmelted in her flame hair. She looked at him... and everything changed.

No Rose Without a Thorn 24k

Ten years ago, the Others were defeated, the Starks took back the North, the Targaryens reclaimed the Iron Throne, and the Old Gods transformed Sansa Stark into a dread and dangerous beast. Now, winter is coming, the beast remains, and the family would really like Sansa to be a full time human again.

The Beast, the Beauty, and the Bastard 3k

It is a reworking of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, but with a bit of a twist. Hope you enjoy!

Certain As the Sun 22k, incomplete

Sansa is bright, beautiful, and out of place in her little town. After her father is captured in a forgotten castle, she moves to take his place with the cursed prince.

Gifset by @dcbicki and Gifset by @yenstarkofrivia

Rapunzel

From Tower to Tower 10k incomplete

Locked away in a tower for eighteen years by a witch claiming to be her Mother, long-haired Sansa seeks freedom and a chance to regain her crown as Princess of the kingdom. But the tower is high as she has no means to get down, aside from her incredibly long hair, and no guarantee of safety in the outside world she has been warned about. One night, when the witch is out, and a thief who climbs the tower seeking refuge happens upon her, she stuns herself by taking a chance and asking him to help her escape. Assuring him that she will have all charges against him dropped when he returns her to her rightful parents, she embarks on a series of first discoveries with her new bandit friend Jon.

I'll not be climbin' up, I'll only be calling good morning 13k @violetcoloredglasses

Princess Sansa, the rightful queen, has been trapped in a tower by her usurping step-mother for nigh on three years now. Between the benevolent interference of a local woods-witch, the seemingly random appearance of a dashing young man on a horse, and a magical book that Sansa uses to turn a man into a crow, she may have found a way to change her stars.

flower shaped heart 25k, incomplete @missfaber

Alayne Stone has lived her whole life in her hidden tower, forbidden by Mother to leave. But she yearns for an adventure like the ones in the songs, so when a man named Jon Snow crashes into her tower and into her life, she seizes the chance. They travel to King's Landing where the floating lanterns shine each year on her nameday. The new world is exciting and frightening, but Jon Snow is there to guide her every step. He is not nearly as terrible as Mother said men are, though the rest of the world might be. Danger, betrayals, and lies form the steps of their journey as Alayne uncovers terrible secrets. corresponding moodboard

Let Down Your Red Hair .6k

A Jonsa Rapunzel story told in verse. With her father beheaded and her brother marching against the king, the last thing Sansa expects is for her hair to never stop growing. She is soon locked away in the tallest tower of the Red Keep, withdrawn from court as the War of the Five Kings rages on. Elsewhere, rumors of her magical hair have spread to the Wildlings, who see her fiery strands as their last hope against the coming winter.

Tangled edit by @kitten1618x, Tangled edit by @queen-sans-in-the-north, Tangled edit by @sardoniyx

Tangled gifset by @dcbicki

Sleeping Beauty

La Belle au bois dormant 4k

When The North celebrates the birth of Lady Sansa, all the realm is invited to celebrate with them. Each Lady of a Great House bestows a gift upon the little lady, including Cersei Lannister, whose presence at the celebration is both unexpected and unnerving.

Once upon a Dream 1k by @azulaahai

Sansa is under a curse - fallen into a magical sleep, she, according to the prophecy, can only be awoken by a kiss from a dragon. Arya rides south to ask for help from the dragon king Aegon, but the king’s grumpy half brother Jon might prove to be an obstacle.

Visions are Seldom All They Seem 14k

Sansa Stark is sure her life is a great song. She's a beautiful princess. She's been cursed. And the only way it will be broken is to sleep for a hundred years and be awoken by true love's kiss, given by a king's son. She's more then happy to prick her finger if it means getting her happily ever after with a handsome prince all the sooner. But a hundred years is a long time. To be fair to Sansa, Jon did not realize how long it would be either.

Sleeping Beauty Gifset

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

you are my sun, my moon (and all of my stars) 133k

When the white wolf came, the Lord of Winterfell had no choice but to give him his eldest daughter. Eddard Stark had grown up on legends of wolves, on the stories of bargains made by the First Men, on the knowledge of the price that he and his family might one day be forced to pay.  His father had explained the reason their house had taken a wolf as its heraldry and “Winter is Coming” as its motto, a reminder of a promise to honor, a recognition of a debt owed that would need, one day, to be paid. Ned had breathed a sigh of relief when his sister’s twentieth winter arrived and the beast had not. And he had watched the dawn sky for the first signs of the snow that would mark that his daughter, too, might also be spared, might escape the fate that had been handed down by their ancestors. But no man could be so lucky.  Sansa, too, had been born with the North in her blood, had been raised on the stories of white wolves, had lived her life with the knowledge that one might come for her.

this is the map of my heart, the landscape after cruelty 22k by @dialux

“I fell,” Sansa says softly. “I flew.” [When a strange, hooded man appears out of nowhere, demanding a woman in return for keeping the Others and dead out of Westeros, Sansa goes with him. It’s the best and worst decision of her life.]

PRE CANON - WESTERN - REGENCY - LITTLE WOMEN - HOLIDAY - SEASON 6

[11queensupreme11]

imagine that baby percy, besides causing tsunamis, is also fascinated by storms

whenever she's crying all it takes to calm him down is a good and violent storm, It would be lovely if whenever Baby Percy starts to look sad, the gods who have weather-related powers (Susanoo, Thor, Rudra, etc.) create a storm to cheer up Baby Percy's mood.

Maybe baby Percy just likes the sounds and vibrations that storms and storms cause, it lulls him to sleep in the same way as a lullaby (the death whistle of Poseidon and Hades)

the human world is in chaos and the valkyries and humans and perhaps Hercules and Buddha are begging demanding to know the reason for these storms that are destroying entire countries only to receive the answer that the storms are just an alternative form of song for make baby percy sleep peacefully

their looks of surprise would be priceless, their jaws would be hanging open on the floor, just the idea of ​​baby percy once again accidentally causing chaos and pain to humans is hilarious

If this continues, she could end up usurping the position of zerofuku's God of Misery

i get excited every time i see you send me an ask cuz you always got the best scenarios 😭😭😭💖 i ESPECIALLY love the baby percy au ones 🥺

baby percy is suuuuuuuuch a fucking menace but i like to think she mellows out and becomes the nice percy we all know and love. the humans would be TERRIFIED of her at first (cuz of her baby days), but maybe they switch up once they realize that she's outgrown her "homicide phase" or whatever they would call it 💀

(poseidon would be disappointed at first, but that's ok cuz he still loves his baby 🥺)

[mistresslrigtar]

Master Work List 2024

One-shots inspired by song prompts featuring various Zelinks throughout the ages.

First chapter is up! Read on AO3 This is a sequel to my modern rock star au I Belong to You. Read it here on AO3 before September 1st. Weekly updates.

Summary:

As Zelda begins her doctoral fellowship at the Ghirahim Institute, she finds its founder’s intentions toward her may extend beyond professional admiration. Meanwhile, Link is forced to step in as the frontman for his band, Hyrule Warriors, when crucial member Revali decides to go solo.

They'll face the ultimate test of their relationship when they find themselves juggling their demanding careers and being caught in the midst of a scandalous tabloid storm.

Summary:

Link is a down on his luck pirate with a bounty on his head large enough he could buy an island. He thinks his luck may have changed when the fallen King Gustaf Harkinian implores Link and his crew to rescue his daughter, Zelda, before she's forced to wed the usurper of the crown, Ganondorf Dragmire.

Link isn’t as interested in a princess, all prim, proper, and boring as he is in obtaining treasure beyond his wildest dreams. However his tune quickly changes when he sees her and decides to woo her. Too bad she thinks he’s a dirty rotten scoundrel.

Read Captain Link Araki and the Harbinger of Destiny

Summary:

A written montage of snapshot moments between Link and Zelda post-TotK, as they come to terms with the traumatic events of the Upheaval and slowly rediscover each other and their love. How many times can two people be forced to start their lives over?

Each chapter will be under 1k, so easy to read. Read Third Time's a Charm

Summary:

Link’s stride slows to a stop as he holds her gaze. “Would you care to play hide and seek with us, Princess?”

Zelda blinks down at him, feeling a flush creep from her breast to burn her cheeks. Did he just ask her if she wanted to play? No one has ever before asked her that question–either in her past life or this new one.

Read Playtime With Zelda

Summary:

When Sophie’s son was born he didn’t cry and his skin was the dusty hue of blue nightshade after it’s been hung up to dry.

Sophie was determined she’d make the most of the time she had with him and nurture his spirit as best she could. She’d instill in him the kindness and compassion that his father possessed. Tucked away in the rolling foothills of the Lanayru Mountain range, she would shield him from the harsh realities of the world outside for as long as possible.

of recipes and courage is a companion piece to my series collab with the fantastic @bahbahhh ! Read mine and then click on the the series to read hers about Zelda's mother, the Queen

Summary:

Across Time - A zelink timeline project - Tears of the Kingdom

Zelda and Link have been so busy rebuilding Hyrule they’ve hardly had any time for themselves. When they’re invited to officiate the first annual Tarrey Town hot air balloon festival, they jump at the chance, hoping for some well-deserved alone time while there. Of course, it doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Read Just Our Luck

My collab piece with the amazing @zeldaelmo for ZAT!

Summary:

Across Time: A Zelink Timeline Project — Skyward Sword

Zelda sneaks away to prepare for her performance during the Wing Ceremony, hoping Link heeds her advice to practice flying with his Loftwing. Link, however... well, let's just say that's not exactly how it's going.

Read Practice for Keeps

Summary:

It's an annual tradition in Hateno for women to offer gifts of appreciation to those they care about on Sowing Day. Little does Zelda know that the gift she gives Link expresses more than platonic affection. Will she realize that perhaps he means more to her than she has dared to realize?

Read Sowing Sees of Love

Summary:

Zelda surprises Link with an unexpected birthday celebration in a hidden courtyard of the castle. Written for my birthday prompt.

Read Moonlit Interlude

Marital Bliss at its Finest Summary:

Zelda tasks Link with the daunting task of building her secret study, but all he really wants to do is take a break. Written for CJRacing.

Hyrule Warriors Dénouement of War 'zine one-shots

Trials for a Chosen Hero summary:

Unlike Princess Zelda, Impa’s not so certain Link is the Chosen Hero. She puts him through his paces to test his limits. Will he prove himself worthy enough to wear the Hero’s garb?

Unconditional Summary:

How deep is a horse’s love? Just a sweet one-shot from Epona's POV after a long day's travel.

Residents of the Wild 'zine one-shot

Champions at Play Summary:

Today, a frazzled Professor Symin does his best to be heard over the cacophony of his young students' voices. His latest lesson plan, that he thought would lead to animated discussions and speak to his students' creative sides, has proven to only incite them to heated debates. As a matter of fact, he wonders if his idea to produce a school play reenacting the defeat of Calamity Ganon will ever come to fruition, and is beginning to rue the day he ever introduced the notion to his students. 

Drabble Challenge

Summary:

A collection of short, easily digestible one-shots

Previous lists:

Master Work 2023

[duckapus]

[a few days after the CCC Avatars and their games are taken, most of the characters relevant to the situation (notably all the Avatars except for the missing ones (obviously) and all the SMGs except 7 and 10 (for spoiler reasons)) are called to a meeting at 4's Meme Factory (since it's one of the few places that many people can meet comfortably) by Susie]

SMG3: Alright, why'd you call us all here?

Susie: I'm glad you asked *starts rummaging through a storage device* As you know, I've been studying code samples from the missing Avatars in the hopes of finding out the reason behind their memory suppression-and hopefully a cure for it-since before they were taken. And as it happens, a bit before I was informed of their capture I managed to synthesize this! *pulls out a large beaker of faintly glowing green liquid with lines of binary occasionally scrolling through it*

Several audience members: Oooooooooooo...

Mario: ...What is it?

Susie: This is a replica of the trojan program used to lock their memories, written is such a way that it can be represented as a liquid for ease of analysis. *she sets it on a table behind her* Most likely a similar method was used to administer their doses in the first place, possibly as some form of penetrating projectile designed to dissolve into their bloodstreams upon entry. AND, it just so happens to be completely identical to the code that made up the energy field generated by Lawyer Kong's so-called "firewall." Thus, the cure is obvious; Memes.

SMG6: But...we tried that already. It only worked for a few minutes, and only once.

Susie: That would be because of the one way the two afflictions differ; the firewall was an external source that people could be shielded from, while the trojan program is internal and needs to be overwhelmed and purged, and the latter will require a far more potent Meme than the former.

Which, unfortunately, is my current roadblock. See, if we make the memes too potent, they'll trigger a Meme Overload. That wouldn't have been a problem before they were captured-well, apart from Juliano given his condition, but still- but now they have to be administered while we're rescuing them from wherever they ended up, and we most likely won't have the time to bring them back down to manageable levels of insanity in the middle of that. So, we need to figure out the exact right dosage of Meme Energy that will cure them without making them go crazy.

Bob: ...Which means you need a test subject.

Susie: *nods* Now, in the interest of fairness I've put the names of everyone here who isn't an OC into a random number generator so-

???: *minecraft potion drinking sound* Mmm, kiwi flavor.

*everyone slowly turns with a comical creaking sound effect to see Franky holding the now-empty beaker*

Lily: We probably should've seen that coming.

Franky: *after a second or so there's the same audio and visual effect as when Mario got firewalled in the Lawsuit Arc, causing Franky to fall to his hands and lack-of-knees as the energy takes hold. His model slowly reverts to his old look as a generic Toad with glasses, and when the transformation is over he falls onto his face*

Desmond: FRANKY! *runs up to him and picks him up so he can see his face* Are you okay?

Franky: ...Who's Franky?

Everyone: *stares very intensely at Susie*

Susie: *weakly* ...Well...that's one way to choose I guess. *feels Peach, Toadsworth, Sage and Desmond suddenly looming ominously behind her* Right, let's go see about cooking up that cure, shall we? *grabs all the SMGs, Franky and Luigi and Books It deeper into the factory* Alright team, to the Meme Kitchen on the double!

[misguidedasgardian]

The White Dragon (44)

44. The Great Council

MASTERLIST

Summary: you gather a council to decide the fate of the Seven Kingdoms

Pairings: main Harwin Strong x Fem!Targaryen reader

Warnings: cursing, medieval and A song of ice and Fire AU customs, injury, burns, dragon fire, death, violence, armies, death, war and all that comes with it. Might miss some warnings but you know what this is about :) 

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 3.333 words like WHATTTT

Notes: UUFFFF THIS IS IT PEOPLE, THE LAST ONE, I MEAN THIS ONE AND THEN THE EPILOGUE! CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO READ IT

You let yourself move at the rhythm of the maid washing you with a rough sponge, the water of the tub had already had to be changes thrice for becoming black with the remains of the dragon blood in your body

The boiling dragon blood that bathed you as your dragon slayed Aegon

The maids took the good part of an hour and the help of members of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard to remove the melted armor from your body, and then the pieces of leather that melted into your skin

But you were unharmed and your skin untarnished

While you were inside the tub, your gaze was setted in some point on the wall, trying to fit into your head everything that went down in the last 12 hours…

You watching the capital being conquered by Aegon from above

“Please raise your arms your grace”, whispered the maid and you did, she scrapped the rests of melted fabrics from under them

The adrenaline that took a hold on your body when you fought for your life

You flinched when she pulled a piece of leather from your skin, the water again was black, dark black, the smell of smoke and sulfur almost making you dizzy

Finding soldiers and civilians alike dead in the steps to the Dragonpit

The maid signaled for you to reach with your leg out of the tub, your skin still smudged with dried dragon blood

Rhaenyra was dead, and Aegon was well

That made you stand up, and wait there for them to replace the filthy water for more clean one, they were quick in their labor and you didn’t have to wait more than five minutes, to sink again in the boiling water 

Finding out that Jacaerys and Joffrey were too

Another maid washed your hair, you watched as the dried blood melted back with the water, tainting it black once more

So much darkness

Oils with scents were placed in the waters this time, the last bath this was, after other four, finally you would get dress and abandon your chambers

The toll of all the deaths in your finally make you want to sink in the bathtub

As the sweet maids cleaned the last smudged from your body, you finally felt like you could breathe again, it hurt, but you could, and that was improvement, you believed, you wanted to believe 

You didn’t know what to do now, how to proceed, you had never taken a city before, you had never witnessed the death of two monarchs in front of your eyes, you had never witnessed the deaths of so many members of your family before

What now?

But for a second you forgot about all the people in the keep, in the capital, in the Realms, from the servants to the Heads of the most important families, everyone around you

They did now what to do

As you gazed upon the outfit the maids had chosen for you to wear

it was a dark black outfit, a loose skirt boots for underneath, and a leather vest over it, the sleeves seemed to be made of scales, and the details in black leather, and a red cape fixed to the suit in a silver chain with a head of the dragon to be placed in the right side of your chest 

An outfit to mourn, to rule, to conquer

They dressed you, they braided your hair in magnificent braids, and finally you were ready

And you were ready, as the sun fell over the horizon, also did the reigns of Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Aegon the Usurper

Steffon was right outside your chamber, guarding you like he always did

For a second you thought you were sixteen again…

Only for a second

He smiled softly at you, he found another white armor, that tricked you for a second

“Aren’t you tired?”, you asked him as you began your walk back to the throne room

���A bit”, he whispered, “I bet you are”, you barely smiled, “lord Cregan Stark had taken many prisoners, from the houses that supported Aegon”, he started filling you in, “the ones that won’t bend the knee to you”, you raised your eyes to his in concern

You stakes a claim to the throne, and you had won

“Where are my nephews?”, you asked, and he knew what you meant

He took you there, to the hall at the side of the throne room 

You didn’t notice when you stormed the city, but Aegon’s damage was worse than you thought

A tear fell from your eye as you saw the silent sisters preparing Jacaerys and Joffrey’s bodies

Jacaerys was slain by Aegon’s treacherous guards,as he tried to fight back to defend Rhaenyra, and Joffrey had tried to take flight on Syrax to save his mother, and the golden beast shook him off of her mid flight, he fell to his death in the streets of King’s Landing. And in another table, you didn’t even dare to look, were the remains of your sister, an arm and part of the chest… 

This was the consequences of war 

Harwin was already there, by Jace’s side, you didn’t say anything, neither did him, but you stood by his side guarding the princes’ bodies for an unknown amount of time. Until Cregan came 

“They are ready for you”, whispered Cregan sadly by your side, you turned to look at him and barely nodded, wiping the tears off your eyes

They were your nephews

Harwin stayed in the chamber, mourning the loss of his first born child, you touched his shoulder as you passed by him, he barely nodded

You are going to let him mourn, but you have a Kingdom to rule now, or rather, see who was left to rule it…

A great council has been assembled to put in order who was going to rule the Seven Kingdoms, although you had claimed it when you decided to take the city, you still did not want to impose your rule on reluctant subjects, that was going to lead to nothing

Representatives of the great families, (the ones who were not incarcerated for treason) gathered in a huge table in the throne room, as well as Rhaenyra’s acting council and those most loyal to yours

They all stood when you walked in, and you nodded acknowledging them all

“We have been discussing the line of succession, your grace”, muttered one, and his title to refer to you meant nothing, everyone in the royal House were regarded as such

“Please continue, I would like to hear what your thoughts are”, you muttered, they nodded and resumed their discussions, you took seat in the head of the table 

“Rhaenyra was the true heir”, he sentenced, you nodded, knowing this, “we, as Tyrells, the Tullys, Starks, and Arryns sentence the Rule of Aegon as null and void, and is to be known as the Usurper, your eyes went to the representatives of the Lannisters, Baratheon and Hightowers, their eyes were on the table, ashamed, but nodded nonetheless.

The representatives were now the new heads of their house, being third of fourth sons, or far off cousins from the main string of the family, but those were the ones who were going to bend the knee, and that is all that matters now 

“I’m glad to hear it”, you said firmly

“Now, we follow the line of the succession from there”, continued the same Lord, from the House Bar Emmon, from the crownlands, serving master of laws for your sister, “sadly, King consort Daemon had perished, as well as her true born heirs, Aegon and Viserys”, you nodded, “there is only Prince Lucerys left”

“We can say it freely, Rhaenyra’s three first children are bastards, her legitimate children are gone”, said another Lord, and they all hummed accordingly. Lucerys was no true son of the late Ser Laenor Velaryon, but Corlys considered him as much, and that must have counted for something 

And you voiced that outloud

“Lord Corlys had named Lucerys his heir”, you said

“The boy as well as lord Corlys are on their way here”, said Cregan

“I will offer Driftmark to him”, you whispered, “he will want to say a last goodbye to his family”

Difficult days were upon you, but they supported what you just said 

“So, Queen Rhaenyra had left this world without issue to succeed her, then, is you”, said Cregan, “you are the second born daughter of the King Viserys Taragryen and Queen Aemma Arryn”, he continued

“Hear hear!”, said a lord, and all followed

“through the line of succession, and the right of conquest, the throne is your your grace”, said the old maester

“Right of conquest? And what is that?”, you asked out loud

“You made alliances, you took the city under your yoke, it is yours, My Queen”, said the maester, and everyone again agreed

“There is one more thing left to discuss”, said Lord Lannister, always having to have some sort of control on the situation, it came with blood you thought 

“And what would that be?”, you asked, already tired of him

“When and where would you like the coronation to take place?”, he asked with a sardonic smile

And then it hit you

You were now Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

You dressed in black, with red capes all week

In mourning, and in representation of your house

Your children followed your lead, but as when they were children, Maekar dressed with a Green cape, Rhaegar with a blue one, and Aemma with a red, and walked together, signaling their father’s house

You buried your families under the stones of the great sept, one day, your sister Rhaenyra, and her sons Jace and Joffrey, and the next you held court for the first time

The first one brought to you was Queen Alicent

Aemond was standing by the foot of the throne with your children, but he walked towards her and held her while she presented herself in front of you

She asked for your forgiveness, for betraying your sister, and trying to put her son on the throne, even though Rhaenyra had forgiven her, you were the one that told Aemond to release her from her golden chains

“You were the love of my father that stood by his side trough his worst and his decease, and gave him sons and a beautiful daughter, you were my friend when we ruled together as protectors of the realm, and you gave me my half siblings, you are forgiven, and I will ask of you to remain in court, or go as you please, you are here free to do as you please”, she smiled, as she held onto Aemond, and Helaena that joined you when the city was secured

The next ones to appear where Corlys, Rhaenys and Lucerys, who had reached the capital for the funeral rites, but where now presenting his respects to you

They called you their Queen, and bowed, bending the knee to you, as Rhaenys smiled warmly at you 

Lord Corlys rejected your proposition, but Rhaenys didn’t, now she was the master of ships 

The next day, you let your family, Aemond, Helaena, her children, and Alicent, to have the funeral rites for Aegon, you did not participate, but send guard to held mourning and protect them, that mourn their son, brother and father, in the sept of the Red Keep, and later buried him under it

Like it or not he was your half brother.

Your daughter accompanied her husband, and brought them moral support

And you had decisions to make

You didn’t even wanted to decide where, when and how you were going to get crowned, but rather, you had to select your small council, you had to anoint your Queensguard

They were so many things yet to do

It was overwhelming

You constantly had supper with your family and lord who were still in the capital, and then sneaked into the library to read tomes about King Aegon and King Jahaerys, the decisions they made, the way they cared for their subjects…

It was too much

Harwin had come many times to collect you as you had fallen asleep in the library over the books

And carried you to your rooms

The rooms of a princess

The chambers of the King and Queen had been used by so many people in your family, that you felt strange sleeping in them.

But Steffon, besides finding men to be a part of the Queenguard, was organizing the redecoration of the chambers, to adapt them to you

it was going to be funny, but you were to take the chambers of the King and Harwin the ones of the Queen, or vice versa

But Harwin protested and said you had been sleeping together for 20 years and he was not going to start sleeping apart now, you had to agree

Now, the council

You named Cregan your hand, who promised who was going to stay in the capital for two years, as you named Sara, his bastard sister, legitimate and as so was acting as Lady of Winterfell.

Harwin was the commander of the city watch, as he was many years ago

Rhaenys was your master of ships

Tyland Lannister came back to court, and you named him master of coins

You named the maester from Dragonstone as Grand Maester Munkun

You named lord Bar Emmon as master of laws

Of course Lord Steffon was commander of the Queensguard 

You were lacking a master of whispers, but it was not mandatory to have one. But you thought it was necessary 

The first thing you had to do was unite back the Kingdoms, so you took the vows of all the Lords, and that took whole months

Lords of all the far corners of the Kingdom were to make the journey to the capital, and all of them, may of them

asked you the same question

Who was going to succeed you?

You had many children, but it was whispered in court that the next King or Queen had to be a full blooded Targaryen, to continue the stability to the realm.

Or that is what you thought 

Many advised you to name Maekar as your heir, so one day, after you were fairly settled, you called in your three eldest children

“I don’t want to be King”, Maekar said surely, “i want to be lord of Harrenhal… that was my fate”

“I’d argue that maybe fate is for you to be King one day”, you whispered, but he shook his head

“I’ll mary Helaena, her children are the ones of Aegon, I think is best for me to step down”, you then looked at Rhaegar, who shook his head

“my duty is to my wife, and winterfell now”, he said, taking her hand, they were soon to fly to Winterfell and wed under the eyes of the Old Gods, so then you looked at Aemond and Aemma, who had their hands intertwined, and looked at each other

It was settled 

Your children were Strong and even though they could change their name, there was someone else, a Targaryen, loyal to you, and worthy of the throne…

Aemond, and Aemma, they were going to rule together, they had the strength, you knew it. 

So you asked them to go and live in Dragonstone, as Prince and Princess of Dragonstone.

The coronation day was set, the day was approaching, you wanted to wait for the people to forget and for the capital to thrive after the horrible events that occurred, but it was necessary for you to make proclamations as Queen 

IN the meantime, it was Cregan who incarcerated all the traitors, and judged them accordingly, acting as your hand

Many called it “the hour of the wolf”

The first one to go, was the man from House Royce, who had rebelled against your cousin, the lady of the Vale

His head rolled first, and many followed, even Larys Strong

you Harwin dishonored him, didn’t even buried him with his family, he let them be buried in a common ditch

You understood him, he had murdered your father in law, and effectively helped the green took the throne

Even though Rhaenyra had cleaned the court of many of the traitors, happily for you who didn't want to bathe the Keep with blood

Even Tyland, acting master of coins, was put on trial, but was spared, as he had bent the knee to you. 

Lucerys was named heir to Driftmark, and future Lord of the tides and was set to marry the Lady Rhaena Targaryen, as accorded 

And it came, the day of the coronation was tomorrow, and you found yourself sipping wine in the balcony of the chambers of the King

Harwin hugged you, kissing your shoulder softly

“My Queen” 

“My King consort”, you giggled, “what have I done?”, you asked out loud, looking at the horizon

“You are to be Queen, it was your destiny”

“Perhaps I forced it, perhaps if I had made different decisions…”

“But you didn’t”, he said firmly, “it happened what it had to happen”, you only nodded, “you are tomorrow to be named Queen, and you succeeded, you won this war”

“Daeron is still at large”

“the war is over”, he whispered, “he is on his way, Stark told me this evening”, you barely nodded, “now let's get you crowned before our oldest children bare sons and daughters out of wedlock”, you giggled 

“That’s true”, you whispered

“Let’s name you Queen”, he whispered, “but first, let me have my wife”

You giggled as he grunted, grabbed you roughly and threw you to the bed. You giggled, enjoying this side of him, and he climbed up your body, discarding your night shirt and dropping kisses everywhere he could find.

it was good to know some things may ever stay the same 

. . .

You didn’t let anybody see you that morning, not your council, nor your children, nor your husband, only Aemma and serving girls were allowed in 

thye bathed you and prepared you, Aemond smiled dreamily as she helped you get dressed. It was the most magnificent dress you had ever seen, with a black background and intricate designs in rubies and gold designs over.

And you decided to wear your hair loose, for the crown to be placed over your head with only a single braid to hold it.

“You are ready mother”, Aemma whispered as she pinned the white dragon on your dress, the one you gifted your father after your travels, the sight made you smiled

“Let’s take my crown”

It was like a dream, the throne room was decorated in its entirety for white flowers, giving it a feeling like you were in the heavens 

“I present to you, Queen (y/n), of House Targaryen, the White dragon, Queen of the Andals, the Roynar and the First men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and protector of the realm”

Said Lord Steffon out loud, you walked slowly towards the throne as he claimed all your titles, and you said when he spoke the last one.

In the throne room you recognized all the members of your family, and all the most important lords of the realms

“I crown you with the crown of King Jahaerys the conciliator, hoping it will give you wisdom”, you looked ahead as he placed the golden crown in your head

“I give you the crown of the conqueror, to give you strength to unite back the seven Kingdoms under one rule”, he said then, placing the black, heavy crown on your lap, “and the Sword Blackfyre, to give you the power to protect the realm”, he said then, taking the sword front he maester and giving it to you, you placed it by your side

“HAIL THE QUEEN!”, they chanted all, and it ricocheted all over the room, and all over the capital. 

Taglist! ❤️

@tearsarcane @integra1127 @aestmilky @thanyatargaryen @tythaitie @lostinworldofdarkness @voodoogoul @wildmindedbeauty32 @lil-pudd @alicattx @electric-bloo @astaaan-lol @stargaryenx @kaitieskidmore1 @bregarc @lilpnd @jcpenneyyy @janelei @fexibau @ladyoakenshield157 @danielle-leah1997 @lady-ragnvindr @cecilyjmorgenstern @omgsuperstarg @bugheadskid @batprincess1013 @her-fandom-sanctum @holb32 @blue1006 @stargaryenx @grippleback-galaxy @mikariell95 @genesisliveson @mendes-bae @caspianobsessed @notmundane3000 @kamisunshine @just-someone11 @ietss @joliettes @whodis-26

[eri-pl]

Can "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" be canon?

Discussing the athra... anthrax... discussion again (and positively), so to protect the dashboard of anyone disintrested, it goes under the cut.

So, my first thought: yessss!!! Of course it's canon, I love it, I HC it, I'm all for it.

My second thought: wait. The conclusions may be canon (yes, I HC them very much), the Mannish lore maay be canon, probably... if it's not widely known it makes sense that nobody else would mention it... but

the conversation cannot be canon. Because with the scale and general shock value of the conclusions Finrod reaches, there is no way that he would shut up about it. No way at all.

So, since we don't see Finrod talking about all that metaphysics stuff later, the conclusion is that this discussion could not have happened. (OK, the time he would have to talk about it was short, 10 years or so, but still you can talk a lot in ten years.)

But. My third thought: Who says Finrod never mentioned it? Who says it?

Pengolodh.

The stiff, Valar-make-no-mistakes, "if you say that inviting the Elves to Valinor was a mistake, you are speaking with the tongue of Morgoth" Pengolodh. The guy who would go to any length (save maaaaybe kinslaying) to censor anything that looks even a bit dubious philosophically. (Yes, I do have a beef with later-writings Pengolodh. I don't hate him, I understand that it's his Exilic trauma causing this, but still. I disagree with his editorial choices)

So.

It's a perfectly valid HC that this discussion have happened and Finrod talked about it a lot, and probably so did later some other people after having talked to Finrod (Beren comes to mind, some people from Nargathrond maybe? Orodreth? This goes from HC to a "hidden AU / reinterpretation" territory), but Pengolodh censored out any suggestion of anything going against the official Eldarin theology.

I'm not saying I HC this version (I think both 2 and 3 work depending on what I need in the moment), but it is possible.

(Now I really want an uncensored version of the whole Taur-nu-Fuin situation, the song contest etc :) ) (Also, did C&C think Finrod went insane and it was one more reason to usurp him?) (yea, safer for the story to HC that the talk did not happen)

If this post is interesting for even one person, that would be more than I expected. But life is full of surprises. Also, I write as a way of organizing my thoughts.

Also, if you are not interested or disagree but still read the post and not to criticize it, you are a very kind person (like Finrod) and thank you. :)

[bonesartblog]

Your powerless Raphael AU has so many possibilities it's almost driving me insane. There are so many good story ideas here I just- 🤩

*WARNING: Massive Rambling Incoming!*

If Raphael ended up human by the characters we play as finding a way to remove the fiendish half of his blood - in a manner similar to what Bhaal does to a Bhaalspawn who rejects him - does that mean he will have lost most if not all of his magical abilities? If we assume a cambion's magic comes from their fiendish heritage, similar to how a sorcerer's would, I imagine that this would leave him without any of his magic.

If Raphael ends up losing his magic, would he try to learn how to use the Weave like a Wizard and, more importantly, would he actually get very far? I think he might try but I don't think he would get very far because he basically seems to be in indentured servitude in your artwork (which is top notch, by the way) so I doubt he'd have access to the resources to actually learn wizardry (pair that with his likely frustrated and thus frazzled mental state and that doesn't make it very conducive to learning a new skill like wizardry). However, that leaves the door open for him learning the skills of a Bard (like how to use an instrument to channel magic), but that also requires resources that he might not have access to (like an instrument he can carry around) without someone giving him regular access to such things as he learns.

Since you mentioned Raphael ends up falling in love with a woman in your AU, maybe this ties into how they meet? Maybe that woman is a Bard who is working/indentured at the same place Raphael is. Perhaps she recognizes another artistic spirit like herself in Raphael, likely by overhearing him recite poetry (songs are typically like poetry put to music after all), and the two end up spending time together as a result.

Maybe Raphael at first intends to manipulate the woman into teaching him her skills as a Bard so he could not only learn magic but also potentially be able to steal her job so he is not stuck cleaning floors to pay off his debts. Likely none the wiser, the woman could agree to teach him because she simply enjoys the company of another artist and lends him her instrument during their lessons so he can practice. Assuming she doesn't ask to be paid for these lessons, I can imagine that Raphael would be waiting for the other shoe to drop - for the woman to demand he give her something in return - because nothing is ever free and everyone always wants something.

Perhaps Raphael gets reminded just how much he relied on his magic, servants, and debtors for everything when a string on the woman's instrument breaks while he is playing it during a lesson. After the woman checks to see if the string nicked him when it broke (quickly using a Bard spell to heal him if it did) and she assures him that he can just fix it real quick so they can resume the lesson, Raphael has to admit to her that he doesn't know how to fix it himself and she has to show him.

Maybe after a while, the woman ends up surprising him by gifting him his own instrument so that he can practice without having to borrow hers and it's only after their lesson ends for the day that he realizes that he accepted a gift without expecting there to be an invisible price tag attached. Maybe he also realizes that he has long already stopped expecting her to demand something in exchange for her lessons and that he actually in fact looks forward to them, to spending time with her.

As the fruition of his plotting to usurp her job gets closer and closer, he could find himself dreading the idea of actually going through with it more and more. Maybe he gets frustrated with himself over his uncharacteristic reluctance to follow through when he should feel excited over his plan working. This could all then culminate in him realizing that he has fallen in love with her (which, as you said, he handles about as well as you can expect) and probably results in him having an identity crisis over it. Or perhaps what pushes him towards the realization is the woman not showing up for a few days due to some kind of misfortune that unexpectedly befell her (if you want to twist the knife a bit more, maybe a few of Raphael's former debtors mug her and leave her badly injured for "consorting with a devil" even though she might not understand what they were talking about), thus causing Raphael to realize just how much he enjoys her regular company and how deeply he cares for her wellbeing.

*Massive Rambling Warning Over*

Then there is the absolute comedy gold of Raphael having to work like the common folk do while the new heroes of Baldur's Gate and his former clients/debtors clown on him or whoop him so hard his bruises have bruises (which, as much as I adore the character, I kinda have to admit he deserves).

Not to mention him having to learn how to do things manually and for himself for the first time ever. Does this man even know how to properly clean a floor without magic... or is he going to need to be reminded to rinse the rag he is using every now and then so he isn't just moving the dirt around? What about preparing himself food? Has he ever experienced getting sick before and how would he handle that for the first time if not?

The possibilities are literally endless and I am ravenous for them all!

I didn't mean for this to get so long, but I'm just so hyped to see what you may come up with (even if it ends up being nothing like the ideas I was spitballing here - which you are more than free to use if you want, but only if you want - it's your story after all, you do whatever the heck you want and I'll read it 👀). Sorry for the wall(s) of text; I hope that wasn't breaking any kind of Tumblr etiquette. 😅 I can assure you that it probably won't happen again as I am usually too self-conscious to send anything to blogs where I can't be anonymous (even though I 100% get why people want that option turned off).

Anyway, I love your work! Again, it's truly top tier! Keep being awesome! I'm gonna go look at the images some more! Bye!

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'VE BEEN THNKING ABOUT THIS ALL DAY AND I'M DRAFTING A FIC BC YOU'RE INSPIRING ME LOL.

I'm gonna DOUBLE YOUR MASSIVE RAMBLING WITH MY OWN

-Raphael ends up human through something very similar! I thought it'd be great irony for something of his in his own collection (like a ring that he obtained that has the power to seal the fiendish power of a foe) and have it used against him. Initially it's supposed to be used like a genie's lamp where the wearer is just, sealed away but since Raphael is half human, it locks away his powers and reduces him to whatever is left after the devil in him is essentially stripped away.

-He ends up losing his ability to use magic in its entirety because the ring shackles him in a perpetual limbo where he can exist as a human but all his power is derived from his lineage as a devil, which is negated by the ring--so it's like shutting off a light in a breaker box and raphael being the room the light was connected to lol. And yes--he absolutely does try! I like to think he intended the ring to be used on mephistopheles once he'd been given the crown--but it all backfired once it was placed on him after the house of hope fight. He has to also contend with the new human elements that comes with his curse--which comes in the form of underestimating his ability to temper his emotions that he can now FEEL with raw intensity. Since he's a bard he absolutely relies on his charisma to navigate around people since he doesn't have the means to physically defend himself. (He's put in Sharess' Caress by karlach and astarion because everyone there is familiar with him which makes it harder for raphael to talk his way out of anything. and it's also to keep him where he'll be easy to keep an eye on--he has every opportunity to leave, but they tell him a de-clawed devil is easy prey and his overzealousness of making deals made him easily recognizable by other spurned clients. He's safest in the brothel and he's guaranteed protection on that property only--but Mamzell tells him he has to work to earn his keep or she'll throw him out so he's made to do gruelling tasks lol.

-The woman he meets is called Circe who is another bard that is hired to replace a murdered employee! She's a retired dominatrix and she plays music and sings in the performance area--and you absolutely nailed it! She doesn't meet raphael immediately, since he sort of squirrels himself away until nightfall when he can work unbothered, less likely to be recognized, and also bc he has a wounded ego lol. I wanted to write her as another egomaniac who's obsessed with the sound of her own voice and her own beauty and i thought it'd be hilarious if raphael found it ironically off-putting. But they absolutely do end up spending time together by mocking local plays because they're both snobs which usually turn into them mocking each other for their own tastes. The majority of their first interactions involves Circe talking about herself and constantly getting raphael's name wrong (she calls him 'Ralph' which he has to correct) and a lot of it is raphael getting a taste of his own medicine while exchanging barbs with her.

-As for the rest--you're not far off at all ;) I don't wanna spoil everything but Raphael absolutely has to reckon with experiencing manual labor and all the physical pains that come with it. Also with people that recognize him and want to do him harm / controlling his temper whenever a patron says something off-putting to him / learning how to defend himself since his devil magic is lost to him / and my favorite: HAVING THE HEART OF A MAN AND BEING EXPOSED TO ALL IT VULNERABILITIES LOL

[lara60]

Hi! I wanted to ask if you could share some things about Daareios (I love viltrumite ocs and your art is so pretty!!!!). Like what happens to him at the end of invincible? what's his reaction to Thraggs manipulation AND death (and maybe some hcs?)

HELLO ANON THANK YOUUU FOR THIS ASK!!! 💜 So the thing about Daareios is that I initially made him as a joke/meme OC, as he was only supposed to be a guy that annoys Thragg by merely existing. But I got attached and turned him into a very tragic character instead. His story is not a happy one.

MAJOR INVINCIBLE COMIC SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

In the most canon compliant version of his story, his role would be that of Thragg’s loyal dog until the very end.

He’d side with Thragg after Nolan takes the throne, and he’d be exiled along with him. During the years in which Thragg builds his army on Thraxa, Daareios would do his best to fulfil his every whim, and he’d desperately wish that Thragg would eventually consider him someone important to him. He’d latch onto this foolish wish and wait patiently, looking for signs that the Grand Regent considers him something more than just a subordinate, deluding himself into thinking that he just needs to do a little more, be a little bit better, until Thragg finally gives him that honor.

But it never happens. Daareios would keep chasing that dream, and it would lead to his death.

During the big conflict between Thragg and Nolan’s Empire, Daareios would try his best to keep Mark busy, so Thragg can deal with the usurper. But he’d underestimate his foe and make a mistake, which would lead to Mark killing him.

Daareios wouldn’t die immediately – he’d still be conscious for a few moments, floating in space, trying his hardest to stay alive and help Thragg. In his last moments, he’d reach out to him .. and realize that Thragg doesn’t even spare him a glance.

And instead of finally realizing that his loyalty had been misplaced, he just thinks that he should have done better. That he wasn’t good enough for Thragg to care after all. He dies feeling like a disappointment. 💔💔💔

ITS SO CRUEL I KNOW … but fitting for his journey, he’s been doomed by the start … im sure that in some other timelines he had a happier ending 💜 Regarding some random lore bits that come to mind:

He’s kind of a clean freak, doesn’t like getting blood on his clothes and definitely not on his skin.

He’s secretly very intimidated by Thula and likes her and Conquest the least.

He’s usually very quiet unless a superior asks him to speak or he has to report something. He has a very strong case of ‘resting bitch face’, so nobody really approaches him otherwise.

His feelings towards Thragg are very complicated and can’t really be labeled. He sees him as a superior first of all, but there’s also an almost childish need to have his attention/praise/to make him proud, which is far from professional. Perhaps he also sees a pseudo-parental figure in him, but at the same time he’s also attracted to him. It’s a mess because Daareios (like any other Viltrumite) has no concept of love, but he also has trouble controlling his emotions, unlike most other Viltrumites who are so perfectly composed all the time. It makes it doubly difficult when his crippling self-doubt combines with his need for approval and attachment issues. He’s just … really not okay. 😢

ON A LIGHTER NOTE … in an AU where he makes better choices and ends up alive by the end of the story, AND joins the other Viltrumites on Earth, he’d be really into music. Specifically, he’d enjoy metal, and he’d wear appropriate fashion and grow out his hair. He’d also learn to play various instruments, guitar being the first. Maybe he’d even try to write songs of his own.

His favorite food on Earth would be anything sweet – not really chocolates, but fruits rather. Give him an apple pie or a peach cobbler and he’ll do anything for you.

He’d be fascinated by Earth nature/flora/fauna and travel a lot. He’d take hikes and spend a lot of time away from civilization. His favorite animals would be reptilians and snakes of any kind. I bet the first time he visited an animal sanctuary and had the opportunity to put a friendly python around his shoulders he had tears in his eye.

WOO CANT REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE RN .. thank you sm for asking about my little guy, he makes me very sad but I love him

[the-cosmos-withinus]

Shadow Puppets AU - The Golden Guard

By the time Hunter was created, Belos had used about half of Caleb's bones, however because Grimwalkers are so difficult to make, only fifteen grew to maturity including Hunter himself.

I decided not to use any of the Grimwalkers shown in canon. A lot of them are still in development but here's a brief summary of them.

Adam- was active 2 years, Philip initially tried to use the Grimwalker spell to resurrect Caleb, but Adam's birth proved that wasn't how it worked, and Philip never quite stopped resenting him for that. Adam was roughly 19 when he was born and died protecting Belos in the early years of the Crusades. He never had the title of Golden Guard in life, but Belos bestowed it after his death and gave it to the subsequent Grimwalkers.

Nathaniel - Active three years, appearing to be in his early 20s accidentally killed by Belos during the Crusades when he was experimenting with artificial magic.

Levi- was the youngest Grimwalker until Hunter, he was born at the age of twelve and lived five years, he was assassinated during the Crusades when he was seventeen. After his death, Belos started telling everyone that Levi was his son.

Isaiah- Was active four years, appeared to be roughly eighteen when he was born, he was Golden Guard when Belos became emperor, and served for a year before he was killed by Belos after getting caught with a Wild Witch. He was proficient with plant magic, and in particular loved roses. His lover was a male witch who got away, Belos never saw him again.

Ezekiel - Active for five years, born at twenty and was a dedicated Golden Guard until he was murdered by an ambitious scout that wanted his position.

Jasper -Appeared to be about seventeen when he was born, and was active two years, hunted down and executed by Belos after meeting Flapjack and betraying him. The blue markings on his face are tattoos, not scars.

Noah- Born at sixteen and active four years, he was drowned by Belos during paranoid episode

Eden - Active for 6 years, the only female Grimwalker that grew to maturity she was roughly 25 when she was born. Eden had a proficiency for Bard magic and could sing a special song to put Belos to sleep when his curse was acting up- that song being a lullaby that Caleb used to sing to him. She confused her devotion to Belos as romantic love and committed suicide by jumping off the balcony when he rejected her.

Brutus - He was born at age 21 and was active for four years. He genuinely believed in the Emperor's philosophies, but also that Belos was being too kind to the Wild Witches. He was executed after he attempted to usurp power.

Milo - Was sixteen when he was born, and lived three years before he was publicly petrified by Belos after showing sympathy for, and releasing captured Wild Witches. Milo was especially good at brewing potions and the burn on his face is actually from a potion that exploded on him

Matthew and Alexander - The "twinwalkers" Matthew served as Golden Guard while Alexander was the head of the Emperor's Coven. They were born at twenty-three and lived five years before Alexander fell in love with a while Witch and abandoned the Coven. He and his lover were hunted down and killed by Matthew, but he let their child live. Upon returning to the palace, he was killed by Belos who claimed it was a mercy since he knows the pain carried from killing a brother.

William - was the most loyal of the Grimwalkers he lived around Eleven years and unexpectedly died on a mission. Will knew he was a Grimwalker and that whomever he was made from was important to Belos but never knew their actual relationship. He also thought he was the only Grimwalker Belos ever made.

"Golden Guard" - Because Will was still active when he was born, Belos didn't bother naming this Grimwalker and mixed him in with the general scouts where he later grew to be Darius's mentor. He was promoted to Golden Guard following Will's death but Belos was devastated after losing will he refused to learn this Grimwalker's name and only ever called him "Golden Guard". Because he had relationships outside of Belos, this Grimwalker was more defiant than some of the others and was ultimately killed after standing up to him one too many times.

Hunter - Currently active. Hunter became the youngest Grimwalker when he was born at eight years old. Belos raised him as his nephew, and originally called him "prince" with no intention of him ever taking the position of Golden Guard, Hunter only took it up after the death of his predecessor and it was meant to only be temporary until the next Grimwalker was ready. When Hunter asks Belos about his father, he tells him stories of Caleb and Will

The Bone pit- The rest of the Grimwalkers all either never made it out of the ground or were defective Grimwalkers he mercy killed. Regardless of their status, Belos buried them all in a mass grave with a Golden Guard mask etched with a name on the back to mark them. The ones that reached maturity were buried in the same grave alongside their "siblings"

[hellkitepriest]

been tagged in this tag game by @skullunter. i’m doing it. it’s funny

favourite colour: orange (always has been)

last song: pom poko — my blood, a song i got into via the uploads of jeremy’s radio show from 2018. i discover an alarming amount of music this way

currently reading: trust the plan by will sommer, one of the several Books About QAnon i own. love to have an interest

currently watching: yeah, nothing. i’m probably going to watch the simpsons later while i eat dinner if that counts

currently craving:

- going home and writing my shit

- being run through a mangle or something in the hopes my body will stop aching for no reason

coffee or tea?: coffee. i’m simply not a tea guy. i’m barely a coffee guy unless there are stupid sweet syrups involved

hobby to try: started virtually experimenting with modular synthesis this week (i bet none of you are surprised by this). i have no fucking clue what i’m doing. if only someone could teach m—

current AU: obsessed with the selection of questions here. bunch of fairly standard ones and then at the end they assume you’ve got some deranged AU on the go. luckily i do, but it has been usurped overnight by ANOTHER idea which is less an idea and more a demon i need to exorcise from my body <3

tagging @pliablehead and @enswbl, if they feel like doing it

edit: AND @abattoirstars i am so sorry. you do this also

[a-world-of-whimsy-5]

The seduction of Fëanor

Day 4 prompts: Friendship | Alliances

For: @silmarillionepistolary

Rating: General Audience

Characters: Fëanor

Epistolary format: Journal entry

Themes: Corruption | Seduction of Fëanor AU

Warnings: Manipulation

Wordcount: 1.4k words

Summary: Fëanor writes of Melkor calling on him after he is exiled to Formenos

This is also available on AO3

Fëanáro Curufinwë’s journal

65th day of Y.T. 1492.— Lord Melkor called on me in Formenos, offering his friendship and aid in my quest to deliver all who would follow me from life under the Valar’s rule. 

“You are a thrall of Manwë, the brother who supplanted me in everything,” he declared. “Lord Námo pronounced it freely, and to all those who had gathered to hear you explain yourself to those who think themselves to be your masters. He claims that this is your fate, and that this is the fate of all the Eldar that dwell in the Blessed Realm and beyond! And to exile you, to place your freedom in the hands of a lesser prince who speaks against you in secret! Bah! Do you now see, my prince, the truth in my words? Do you now see through their lies and schemes to place your half-brother above you?” 

“Aye.” I gestured for Lord Melkor to join me in the gardens. My sons have taken my father on a grand hunt, but many of the servants remained in the palace. I cannot trust them. Despite their many oaths of loyalty, I cannot fully trust them. I cannot risk them repeating whatever they might hear to others. We spread our cloaks on the grass and sat beneath the branches of an apple tree already rich in fruit. “You have spoken the truth of the other Valar, the scheming of the half-brother who wishes to supplant me like yours did with you. The scales have fallen from my eyes, my lord, and I like not what I see.” 

The Vala smiled. “It pleases me to know that there are those born into the House of Finwë who are not afraid to open their eyes and see. It also pleases me to see that the words and deeds of others have not put out the fires within your heart. Join hands with me, Fëanáro, prince of the Noldor. Join hands with me, and I will aid you in all things. I will carry you across Araman and the icy wastes of the Helcaraxë. I will deliver you and all those who follow you from thralldom. I can make you a mighty king. High king of all the elves in Endórë. Am I not a Vala, also? I am that, my prince, and I am so much more than those who sit on their great thrones in Valimar. There are many things that I am willing to do for the Noldor, for I am their friend, and I am a friend to you most of all.” 

His words struck a chord within me. I confess, Lord Námo’s proclamation was humiliating to hear. To live the life of an exile is a terrible thing. To have my half-brother, the son of a woman who usurped my mother’s rightful place by my father’s side, and a prince who secretly speaks against me hold the key to my freedom within the palms of his hands, was even worse. The knowledge of it would have been more than I could bear if my spirit had been weaker. Woe be to my foes! I am stronger than they think, and I will not yield. I will not bow my head and live my life according to the whims and wishes of others. I studied Lord Melkor and pondered if I could indeed trust him to honor his vow to aid me. The others branded him a liar and a schemer, a Vala who was most dark and cruel and cunning. I do not think such is indeed the case. He pulled off the mask my half-brother used to hide his true self, did he not, and showed the other Valar for what they were? Beings who placed my half-brother above me by making him Regent of Túna, and who expect the Eldar to live their lives shackled to the Valar’s feet? It is too much! Too much! But to leave the only home I have ever known and to begin life anew in a land I have only heard of in songs and my father’s many tales… my hesitation must have shown, for Lord Melkor placed his hand over mine and gave it a soothing squeeze. 

“Take hold of this hand, Fëanáro, prince of the Noldor,” he said anew, “and I will help you find freedom from those who dare call themselves your overlords and mine. I will never restrain you, nor will I place others above you. I will make you a king who rules all other kings and a master of your own destiny. I will help you carve out a great kingdom in Endórë, a kingdom that will live on for a thousand ages and beyond. No one will hinder you, not even the weak, short-lived beings the Valar intends to place above the elves. I will make certain that they do not. Pray tell me your answer.”

I considered his words and his offer to aid me. I thought of what I could become if I joined hands with him: a king who rules all other kings, a master of my destiny. I could lay the foundations for a kingdom that would thrive through the ages. I will have no one to restrain me. I will have no half-brother plotting to usurp me. I will have no one to say that I go too far, no one to declare that the works of my hands are unlawful and unjustified. 

But the Silmarils, came the unbidden and worrying thought. What will become of the Silmarils? What will become of the hallowed jewels? What will become of your father, your wife, and your sons?

I knew then that if I took Lord Melkor’s hand and agreed to leave with him, many preparations would have to be made. I could not leave the hallowed jewels here in Formenos. Even if I left my father, my wife, and my sons behind, I could not leave the greatest and most treasured of my creations behind. I could not leave them in the care of others. It would only lead to their destruction if I did, and that was something I could never allow. 

“A great many preparations have to be made, my lord, if I do decide to leave with you,” I replied. The hand over my own squeezed gently again. “For I cannot simply leave on a whim. I need to discover who among my followers and my kin will be most amenable to leave with us, and there are a great many things that we must take. Provisions to guarantee our comfort, treasures that I cannot bear to part with, arms to protect us from the short-lived race that the Valar hope to place over us. I trust these things will not be a hindrance in any way.”

“I understand very well, my prince, the need for such measures.” Lord Melkor lifted his other hand to one of the low-hanging branches and plucked a crimson and gold apple. He offered the first bite to me. The fruit was uncommonly ripe and sweet, and I savoured the taste. Lord Melkor then helped himself; his bite was as hearty as mine. He turned to face me and smiled. That smile was dreadful and beautiful—even more beautiful than the hallowed jewels themselves. Then he set the fruit aside and reached out to brush his thumb over my chin and wipe away the juice that dripped down. 

“But I hope you will have faith in my ability to provide for you and keep you and yours safe,” he continued softly. “Nevertheless, sound out your allies and make your plans! And do not take too long! Word of my coming here will fly to the furthest corners of Valinor on the swiftest of wings. Others will not take kindly to my calling on you, and they will not forgive you for listening to what I say. My brother may not forgive you for listening to what I say. We must be ready to leave when they are ready to move against us.”

“Indeed, my lord.” I made my decision. I will leave. Even if the others insist on staying behind, I will leave. I will forge a glorious new life and name for myself—one that will live on in tales and songs. It is my destiny. Lord Melkor squeezed my hand a third time. This time, I reciprocated the gesture to show him that I agreed. He was pleased. “Indeed.” 

tags: @cilil @asianbutnotjapanese