#surname: Nine

[ssaalexblake]

i know there’s the whole starfleet is compromised thing going on but every time Shaw refers to Seven by a name she’s indicated she is not comfortable with I imagine the HR report she’s filling in to be submitted once they’ve sorted this all out. 

[valdrift]

thoughts on the nine eyes of lucien so far at chapter 24 bc ohhh my god. oh my god. ok

seeing what lucien was like before becoming the nonagon ltr makes my heart hurt 😭 he was a normal guy (as normal as u can be as a run orphan) who joked with his friends and cared for them and loved them. like he rlly did love his friends u can see it in the way they interact. and the dynamic and banter between them was soo.....AUGH. it wasnt like lucien was the leader and they all followed him with distant respect, they all Cared for each other, and the tombtakers expressing worry when lucien started getting entranced by the journal....good lord. theyre like the m9 but things just. didn't work out for them and it feels so tragic.

confirmed last name for lucien! lucien tavelle....still got a surname starting with t lol

ALSO U KNOW WHAT ELSE IS CONFIRMED? GENDERFLUID LUCIEN LETS FUCKING GO!!!

ok so lucien's past with his family. it's just. Wow. right off the bat we learn he's got a background with performance tying into molly being in a circus, and lucien's tendency to perform constantly and put up a mask. we also find out he's a middle child! he's got a younger sister and an older brother who got Turned Into A Fucking Skin Puppet ???? and lucien's parents forced him to be a lure for the same witch that turned his brother into a skin puppet by getting her more people to turn into skin puppets?? SO much to unpack, we just know lucien has preexisting trauma surrounding soulless and empty husks.

and speaking of lucien's family--aldreda. oh my god aldreda. their reunion hit me like a sack of bricks. it felt like the start of ppl lucien cared abt distancing themselves from him bc of his own choices. it was like he was so caught up in meeting the expectations he set for himself, to protect and provide for aldreda (the performance theme!!), tht he became someone his own sister couldn't recognize. his inability to be honest abt himself and the things he's done only driving a wedge between them further. and it is actually kind of heartbreaking to see how excited lucien is to see aldreda again only to be met without the same enthusiasm and tht she doesn't want him in her life anymore.

brevyn/lucien killed me so fucking bad. the casual intimacy, the silent communication, the way they clicked, the muddled gray area of friendship and smth more, the obvious adoration lucien had for her. ltr every scene brev showed up in, lucien can NOT stop thinking abt how shes so strong/beautiful/charming etc. like can you STOPPP 😭😭 and their final scene is so painful.......when the book is starting to sink its claws into lucien and brev sacrifices herself to get it for him, smth tht will ultimately be his downfall...SCREAM.

the way the book and the effects it has on lucien is described is genuinely kind of disturbing. the more u read, u can practically See the start of luciens spiral and the way his mind starts to splinter. the little details of him not realizing the passage of time, not eating or sleeping because he's so absorbed in it....Wow. and the change in his personality is subtle but still noticeable which i think rlly adds to how unsettling it feels. he's still mischievous and cocky but theres smth Off abt him with his obsession over cognouza and the somnovem.

EDIT: ALSO. I LIKED THE SMALL DETAILS OF HIM BEING A LIL SILLY :) the scene where hes like "hey cree look at this funny hat i found!" and when vess derogna yells at him he's just like >:( and puts the hat on and sits down by the wall LMAO

[sheltershock]

Thought of the evening: how does the nuances of the agent [surname] system work?

Because it seems like most agents just use their surname(Oleander, Nein, Vodello, Mentallis, Forsythe, etc.), but some agents have numbers(33)?

But also, what if your surname changes? Hollis has a line about a husband, so does that complicate the naming system? In her memory vaults she was going by Forsythe since her intern days, so either she was married back then or it’s possibly her maiden name. Do all agents go by their maiden names? If Milla and Sasha got married and changed their surname, they’d have the keep the old names right? You can’t have two “Agent Neins” or “Agent Vodellos” that would cause too much confusion.

But what about sibling agents? Norma and Lizzie are sisters, and are both in the intern program. Are the Psychonauts going to have two Agent Navidads? Or if Frazie joins to be an agent, would the chaos of having two “Agent Aquatos” cause problems? Maybe in the case of siblings they’d go by their middle names? So Agent [Middle Name].

And what about the numbered agents? Did the Psychonauts start at one and have since climbed to thirty-three? Why do some agents get to have their surname attached and not others? My personal headcanon for the numbered agents I thought of while planning a fic is that numbered agents are actually agents recruited who are part of a witness protection program, and thus it’s to hide/contend with changing identities. But there’s no in-game explanation as far as I’m aware.

Also not really apart of the Agent thought, but there’s the tiny paradox of Sasha and Milla being “international secret agents” who work for an espionage agency, but also being celebrities in universe and are getting their names and faces printed on magazines. Does the world assume that the names “Sasha Nein” and “Milla Vodello” are false identities? Honestly the idea that True Psychic Tales and all the terrorists they fight believe that these are fake names/stage names when in reality they’re just their real names is a little amusing. That they just believe that they wouldn’t be open enough to use their real names, but its like reverse psychology. Or the idea that they’re able to sneak in places and not immediately get caught is because their enemies are like “no, that can’t be Agents Nein and Vodello, that would be too obvious.”

[moonhuit]

can i request a prompt from the hurt/comfort list for j/7? <3

set vaguely around ranger!seven time: "there's nothing you could have done"

janeway did not need a medical tricorder to assess how terribly injured her ex-borg was. the bruises and the lacerations spoke for any speculations about what hell seven could have crawled out of. any remnant of consciousness in the blonde seemed to have been working towards homing her soul back to safety.

she’s alive. janeway thinks–almost persuading herself. she’s alive and incredibly stubborn. seven carried a weight unbearable and impossible to get rid of–the inability to forgive herself which always ends up in her repenting and bleeding on janeway’s doorstep. the older woman knows only seven could help herself–so she does the second best thing, care for her. only this time around, they had traded their 2 am philosophical debates for 4 am ‘i hope you are home because i am bleeding at your doorstep’ conversations.

either way, janeway’s door was always open to seven.

“if you’re going to tell me off, ” seven starts, when gentle fingers are done passing over her split lips and janeway is looking less angry at her predicament. “there’s nothing you could have done about it…”

i wasn’t going to let you resign your commission for my sake.

it was always a layered conversation between them. even when janeway is hyperfocused on tending to her wounds and all seven could do is feel. guilt and shame. she feels like time had pulled her back in voyager. conversations where she’d inadvertently fish for confirmation of her assumptions–that she’d disappointed janeway, broke janeway’s faith on her—that she had failed janeway.

“i know.” arguing with seven about the rangers had been a moot point–at least that’s how janeway looked at it given that seven is a straightforwardly stubborn individual. so she observes instead–keeps tabs on where seven could be, in official and at an unofficial capacity. because it’s convenient–it also helps janeway remember to refresh the stocks on the safehouses she’d shared in confidence with seven.

“promise me this, darling,” the healing hands stop hovering above her bruises—and her breath hitches. seven had come prepared with a whole argument and there was not going to be any. “don’t force my hand to drive another ship through a binary pulsar to get to you, okay?"

[8lue8ird]

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[yotd2009]

my naming scheme for the resurrectionists causes me undue stress a lot of the time but when it works it Works

[frontlinebicepsoftheninth]

*searching up the numeral prefixes wikipedia page and twirling my hair while scrolling to the latin ordinal prefix for 90* hey there cutie :)

[liliuzan]

INTO1 - Dancing on the Moon MV

[theinsomniacindian]

It's so funny how my chosen name is somewhat related to my IRL name

[russellsppttemplates]

Reader makes 'I'm saying my husband's name wrong' trend to Charles

"What's the name on the reservation, please?", the man in front of you asked while Charles took a picture with a group of fans that were eating in the same restaurant as you would be.

"Charles Leclerc", you offered, purposely exaggerating the R pronunciation as the man led you and the rest of the group to the table for the night.

Charles didn't think much of it until you were the one to give the address to the veterinary when she asked the details with which she would update Leo's health bulletin, "you can put my boyfriend's first and then mine, Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc", you offered and Perceval came out of your mouth in a away Charles was sure not even anyone who had messes his name big time ever said it like. Sometimes, your voice breaks, and he didn't want to call it out like that when you were in public.

When you said it in front of your friends to celebrate Joris' birthday, though, he knew something was up because no one else pointed it out, "Charles! You're too cute!", you cooed, "I've been butchering your name nine ways to Sunday for the last week and you haven't said anything!", you chuckled before hugging his side.

"You were doing it on purpose?", he checked, "At first, I thought it was just a mishap, and then I was so worried about correcting you and I even asked my mother if she had trouble with our surname because two nights ago I dreamt that we were married and you couldn't say our surname properly!", he blurted out with a confession in the middle.

"I'm fine, mon coeur, just wanted to see how long it would take you to notice it", you giggled, pecking his lips as an apology, "also, Leclerc just rolls off the tongue", you winked.

(Thank you for sending this in ✨️)

[evielmostdefinitely]

a hazy shade of winter |young!coriolanus snow x capitol!reader|

prompt: wedding nuptials and coriolanus' upcoming inauguration, leads to press.

my first work lol <3 reader's surname is "duke" for the series. i picture the duke family being a rothschild similar type if that makes sense???

contains: possessive snow, nothing too graphic, he's manipulative and a little dark. established relationship. mentions of corio's mom. alludes to smut but none.

Coriolanus stared back at his own reflection, fastening the buttons to his shirt. A nicer fabric, Tigris still selected it but did not have to mend it together like before. No, now the Snow’s were back in power, still climbing that ladder of socialites and success- thanks to you. 

A small rapping on the door pulled his attention. “Just a moment.” Corio huffed, looking at the clock. Flickerman’s producer said nine sharp, he still had twenty minutes. 

The rapping didn’t stop, following again, heavier this time. Corio’s spine straightened, icy with fear. His mind raced with possibilities- a rebel outside the door, here to kill him; or perhaps it was the guards, they’d found the guns he threw in the river years ago and we're here for him too. 

Corio reached for his own weapon, slinking to the door, peeking under the crack. Two white heels. 

“Corio,” Your voice whispered, a hint of a giggle. “Let me in, Corio.” 

Coriolanus relaxed, setting the weapon down, tucked under his jacket. The door opened, you in your pristine white outfit, the sapphire fixture on your ring finger. “What are you doing?” Corio scanned the hall. “You’re supposed to be in your dressing room.” 

“Tigris finished with me.” You waved him off, slipping under his arm into his own dressing room. “She went to join my parents in the audience, and I wanted to see you.” You hum, eyes rolling down his frame. 

Corio scoffed lightly, shutting the door. “This is improper.” 

“I think they’ll forgive us, Corio.” You giggle. “We are married.” Your hand laid gently against his chest, smoothing out a crease on his collar, engagement ring sparkling even in the low light of the room. 

Corio’s hand found yours, admiring the ring himself. His mother’s ring turned yours, one of the few items he had left of hers- that they hadn’t lost or sold to stay afloat. He added the halo of diamonds. After all, he was marrying into the Duke family, he needed it to be flashy- to be worthy. 

“We’re not married yet, my love.” Corio muttered, thumb swiping over the ring. “Still two more sleeps.” 

“And a press conference,” You sighed, leaning into his soft touch. “And a press tour.” 

It had been your father’s idea. Coriolanus was to be President come the new term, and since marrying into Panem’s wealthiest, the press tour to each District seemed fitting. The communication was less and less now, Corio wanted to keep it that way, but have them still feel involved. Your father loved the idea. 

“Mmm, but a solo press tour.” Corio hummed, nose brushing against yours gently. “Just us for weeks, days on the train. By ourselves.” His voice rapeseed, tone dropping to that dark octave that left you squirming, tummy flipping with excitement. 

“We won’t really be alone.” You pouted, lip jutting in a petulant sort of sulk. It made Corio’s lip twitch. “There will be the peacekeepers and guards and Tigris and-” 

“-But we’ll have a whole carriage to ourselves. A private one. I’ve made sure of it.” Coriolanus nodded, the pad of his thumb brushing over your lip. “Just for us. A honeymoon before we come back.” 

You smiled softly, hands raking up the soft fabric of his shirt, careful not to bunch or wrinkle the fabric- you knew how much he hated that. Corio’s hands found your waist, pulling you into him, lips slotting over yours. He always took the lead, and you’d let him, his domineering personality never settling even in moments of intimacy. 

Two sharp knocks pulled the two of you away, Coriolanus pausing rigidly. “Come in,” You called, your hand moving respectfully to his arm, smoothing out your skirt. 

“Ah, the love birds.” Lucky Flickerman grinned. “See, Juno, I told you they’d be together, and it looks like they’re decent.” 

Corio’s face swelled with heat, mouth settling in a fine, thin line. Once he was sworn into oath, he’d have his tongue cut out for that vulgar comment. Your hand squeezed his bicep lightly, soothingly. 

“So, I wanted to give you the run down before we are live on the air to all of Panem.” Lucky grinned, you knew he was smug at his rising fame. “President Snow and the First Lady… Do you want me to address you as Snow or Duke?” 

“Snow.” Corio hissed before you could respond. His hand was firm on your waist, pulling you possessively into him. “She is a Snow, now.” 

Lucky blinked, awkwardly cutting his eyes to you. “Right. So President and First Lady Snow, we’ll talk about the wedding- the dress, the ring, the proposal, the details, the guest list. Really lean into that, ok? Get the viewers excited for the district press tour after.” 

You nodded, Lucky’s droning instructions a blur to you. Your eyes caught sight of your and Coriolanus in the mirror. How tall he stood next to you, proud and boasted- powerful. He always had his chin held high, looking down his nose at others. You were just glad he had lessened the way he’d glare down at you, traded it in for a softer side you weren’t sure you’d ever see. 

His hand stayed on the small of your back, respectfully, but holding that same ownership, leading you through the small studio. “You look beautiful.” Corio whispered, pushing a loose strand of hair back into place, tucking it behind your ear. 

You blushed under his praise, looking down at your white kitten heels. “Don’t do that.” Corio frowned, hand pressing into the middle of your spine. “Stand up, darling. Don’t hide from them. Let them know.” 

You followed him out, hand in hand, waving to the studio audience under blinding lights. Since the success of the Hunger Games, the donors- your family included- had poured in money to have the studio revamped. Something nice, more enticing. Your father and mother sat next to Tigris. Your fathers eyes were narrowed, watchful in nearly a predatory sense, a warning to the both of you. 

“Mr. and Mr. Snow,” Lucky grinned, a toothy smile that dazzled under the lights. “Or so it will be soon, yes? The wedding is…” 

“In two days.” Coriolanus nodded, shoulders squared, eyes sparkling, his hand rested on your knee. 

“Marvelous, just marvelous. And what a beautiful couple they are, aren’t they?” Lucky turned to the audience, nodding at their applause. 

You felt hot, skin boiling under the harsh lights, under your father and Corio’s even harsher stares. The pressure to not falter, not even for a moment, was making you dizzy. Do not stutter, sit up straight, smile. 

“And don’t forget, President Snow and his First Lady will be making their way to each of the Districts out there before the Inauguration and of course, before the fifteenth Hunger Games.” Lucky called exaggeratedly, clapping with his cards with the audience. “Don’t forget to join us for the reapings, it’s only a month away, folks. And as always, Panem today, Panem tomorrow, and Panem forever.” 

A pause and it was done. The lights went up, producers nodding, pulling out screens and wires. You looked to Coriolanus, but his attention was elsewhere. 

“That was amazing.” Tigris greeted you with a warm smile. “You did not have to mention me as your designer. I told you to say the company-” 

“-The company didn’t design my dress, you did.” You nodded, squeezing her arm affectionately. “And I’m not letting that bitter, miserable woman get the credit that you deserved, Tigris.” 

Tigris beamed, hugging you briefly, before your father made his slow approach, your mother on his arm. He took slow, calculated steps, looking nearly bored, unimpressed. It made Corio’s heart race- he wanted to mimic it, perfect it to have the same reaction. 

“My girl,” Your father gave a half smile, lips curling in nearly a snarl. “You did wonderful.” 

“Thank you,” You nodded politely. “I was afraid I spoke too much.” 

“Nonsense,” Your mother waved you off lightly, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “You did marvelous.” Her eyes cut over to Coriolanus. “You as well, dear.” 

“Thank you, Mrs. Duke.” Corio nodded, hands clasped behind his back respectfully. 

“Are you happy, boy?” Your father looked at Corio, eyes beady and sharpened. “Excited for the wedding? The inauguration?” It was no secret your father and his pull were behind the election, Corio knew that. 

“Of course,” Corio nodded, his hand finding yours gently, squeezing it. “I’m overjoyed, Mr. Duke. Moreso for the wedding, of course, but the inauguration as well. It will be hard to replace President Ravinstill but-” 

Your father lifted his hand. “Save it, boy. This isn’t a political rally, you’ve already won.” He scoffed, shaking his head. You didn’t miss the way Coriolauns stiffened, his grip tightening on your hand. “As long as you keep my daughter happy, then you have my support.”

“Thank you, sir.” Corio forced out a smile through clenched teeth. 

“The rehearsal dinner is tomorrow. At the Trinket Estate Gardens, dear.” Your mother nodded at you, like you’d forget. 

“I’ll see you then.” You hugged her briefly. “Thank you for coming.” 

“Of course, darling girl.” Your father hugged you, pressing a chaste kiss to the top of your head. “I wouldn’t miss it.” 

He shook Corio’s hand firmly, a shake and a head nod before they were both whisked off, chatting to his other friends who showed. Corio wished he would have introduced him to a few, helped him build a rapport that way. There would be time, he reminded himself. 

“Tigris,” You held Corio’s arm, craning around him towards his cousin on his other arm. “The white rose was a lovely touch.” You smiled, looking down at your corsage. 

“Oh, that was Coriolanus’ idea.” Tigris hummed, looking at the blonde next to her. “He wanted you to have that.” 

You beamed, looking up at your fiance. “You wanted me to have it?” 

“I thought it was a nice touch.” Corio hummed, glancing down at you. “Thought you would enjoy it.” 

“I do,” You mutter, lifting his hand to yours, lips brushing across his knuckles. Normally, he’d scold you for doing it in public. He was against any signs of PDA, a sign of weakness, he said. But he allowed it, even blushing from underneath his stiff collar. 

“Save the I do’s for tomorrow.” Tigris grinned playfully at you. “What are you doing on your last night as a Duke? Going to District Two?” 

Coriolanus glared at her, jaw set firmly. You shook your head lightly. “Packing.” You sighed. “We leave from the reception straight to the train.” 

“Oh, I can help you-” 

“-That’s alright.” You shake your head politely. “It’s just a few things. Sleepwear, toiletries- minimal things. But thank you.” 

Tigris nodded back, pulling from Coriolanus gently. “I’ll wait for you in the car?” 

“Go ahead without us.” Corio nodded. “We have to speak to a few sponsors after.” 

Tigris nodded, waving goodbye to the both of you politely. You stepped into Corio’s dressing room, smoothing out your skirt. “We have to speak to sponsors?” You hummed, reaching for your zipper. “I thought you already did that?” 

“I did.” Corio’s tone was chilling, clicking the lock to the door behind you. You stilled, eyes catching his gaze through the mirror. 

Coriolanus stepped towards you, slow, calculated, with heavy footsteps. He grinned, satisfied, at how you shivered. His hands moved yours, unzipping your dress slowly. You stayed still, watching him for any sign of what was to come. You knew he’d never hurt you, purposefully, never risk what would happen if he laid a hand on you. Still, Corio was unpredictable- you hated the way it excited you. 

“I just wanted a moment alone with my wife.” Corio’s breath was hot on the shell of your ear, shuddering under his touch when he pushed the fabric off your shoulders, exposing you. Bruising love bites on your chest from the night before. You wondered if his back still bore your long scratches from where you’d clawed and raked at his skin. 

“‘M not your wife yet, Corio.” You met his gaze, rounded eyes that had his cock twitching. “Still another two sleeps.” You repeated his words from earlier, the tiniest grin on your lips. 

“How do you want to spend your last night as a Duke, my love?” Corio’s lips ghosted over the skin of your cheek, hands gripping your waist. 

“With you.” You whispered, leaning back against him. “I want to spend it with you, Coriolanus.” 

Corio grinned, salacious and satisfied, fingers splaying over your jaw, holding you while he kissed you, slowly, passionately. Your pristine dress was on the floor, his hands in your hair, legs tangled around his waist while he melted you with every hot kiss.

[aryomengrande]

thought i should give back to the kokonui nation today cause it’s my birthday lol a couple of ppl in tiktok asked for a koko exhibition art to match the one i made for inupi so thought i might share it here as well ! (*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ)♡ also it looks like kokonui are fighting each other in the anime rn but not in my art they won’t so i put them side by side 😤 (wasn’t able to do this one in my own style; i’ll save it for another day)

details: still based off shinichiro’s exhibition art bc he’s the only one from black dragons w an official exhibition art. also tried to mirror the one i made for inui as much as possible. the patterns in his outfit resemble mining areas bc his surname kokonoi means ‘nine’ (九) (kokono) and ‘well, mine shaft, pit’ (井) (i). koko loves swimming thus the presence of waves and daisy is his birth flower. he loves fortune telling thus the astrology themes in his lower garments (his and inupi’s astrological signs (aries and libra) are there along w the black dragons logo (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧). koko has no official image color so the color palette is from his previous exhibition art but red works just fine bc akane means ‘red, crimson’ (赤) (aka) and since ‘ne’ means ‘sound, noise’ (音), you’ll find a couple of music notes among the heavenly bodies (and speaking of heaven, it’s what inui (乾) means (˘ ˘ ˘)). can’t help but feel koko emulates the line ‘end in burning flames or paradise’ from taylor swift’s style (tv) lmao

inupi ver. | koko ver.

[pennyblossom-meta]

A short study on the origins of Gale Dekarios

Going through some game information and Forgotten Realms lore, I found some interesting tidbits about the possible origins of Gale and the Dekarios clan. So, what do we know?

After finding Tara in Act 3, there's a dialogue tree (as of yet still bugged 08/12/2023) where Gale tells us that his surname comes from his mother, Morena Dekarios.

Gale: (...) Courtesy of my mother, the inimitable, dare I say it, sometimes unavoidable, Morena Dekarios.

There isn't much to go on from this. Other than a brief mention that Gale's parents denied him a kitten, we don't know where his father is or what happened to him. Indeed, the surname Dekarios could be inherited from Gale's mother or even his father's side — and for the latter we can assume Morena took on the surname sometime after marrying Gale's father, thus becoming her son's main reference for the rest of the clan upon her husband's absence/death.

That being said, I can't find anything about the Dekarios surname within DnD lore. What we do know, is that Gale's clan is scattered far and wide, perhaps even beyond the Sword Coast.

We also know that Gale is of full human heritage, at least from his closest ancestry.

Now, let's dig in a little deeper.

There are several human ethnicities throughout Faerûn.

As of DnD 3.5, there are seven major ethnic groups widely recognised: the Calishites, Chondathans, Damarans, Iluskans, Mulan, Rashemis, and Tethyrians.

However, as of DnD 5E, the Player's Handbook adds that there are actually nine major ethnic groups in Faerûn, including the Shou from Kara-Tur and the Turami who are native to the southern shore of the Inner Sea. In 3.5E, these groups just receive a brief mention, while in 5E there's more of an attempt on expanding their lore.

Note: If you're interested in knowing more about the different ethnic groups in Faerûn, I would suggest reading the Forgotten Realms: Races of Faerûn (2003), the 3.5 Player's Guide to Faerûn, the 5E Player's Handbook and the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.

Here's a useful map of Faerûn from 3.5E.

It's actually the 3.5 Player's Guide to Faerûn and Forgotten Realms: Races of Faerûn that gives us more in depth information about which communities have a major presence in different areas of the Sword Coast.

For example, while Gale and his mother live in Waterdeep, we don't know whether they moved to the city when Gale was a child or, perhaps, his parents always lived there. Perhaps generations of Dekarios lived in Waterdeep — including Gale's aunt Agnes.

Without further information, it's possible that the Dekarios clan even has their ancestral roots beyond the Sword Coast. Who knows?

According to 3.5E, the recommended human subraces in The Sword Coast are the Illuskan and Tethyrian.

In Waterdeep, it's the Chondathan, the Illuskan and Tethyrian.

Given what we know of Gale, lorewise, what would be the most accurate ethnicity for the Dekarios clan? Let's see what the handbooks say about the three major groups in Waterdeep.

--

The Chondathan

Races of Faerûn (2003): (...) Although Chondathans make skilled mercenaries and cunning rogues, Chondathan culture, has not encouraged study of the Art or great religious fervor. Notable exceptions exist, particularly in the study of the Art among the Netherese influenced Chondathan cultures that lie north and west of the Inner Sea.

(...) Those Chondathans who dwell north and west of the Sea of Fallen Stars (except in Sembia) are more likely to have blue eyes and have fairer complexions and darker hair than those born in the South, evidence of a Netherese heritage. In Chondath itself, particularly in the lands bordering Sespech, a significant Shaaran influx in recent centuries has given many natives of Chondath more of an olive skinned hue.

(...) Chondathan Society (...) As Chondathans place a high value on book learning, many receive some amount of schooling while growing up.

(...) Animals and Pets (...) Chondathans favor small felines as pets and hunting companions (...). Tressyms are highly favored by those who can afford them, as are lynxes.

3.5E: Descended from the natives of the Vilhon Reach, these hardy folk have spread to settle most of the western and central Inner Sea region and much of the Western Heartlands. Chondathans form the primary racial stock of Altumbel, Córmyr, the southern Dalelands, the Dragon Coast, the Great Dale, Hlondeth and both shores of the Vilhon Reach, the Pirate Isles of the Inner Sea, Sembia, and Sespech. They are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal.

The Chondathan domination of central Faerún came about largely by virtue of extensive trade and settlement rather than by force of arms. Many Chondathans are merchants of one sort or another, and they are not afraid to take risks, travel, or settle new lands.

5E: Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal. Humans of Chondathan descent dominate the central lands of Faerun. around the Inner Sea.

Chondathan Names: (Male) Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; (female) Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele; (surnames) Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag

--

The Illuskans

Races of Faerûn (2003): (...) Wizards are rare in Illuskan society. They are widely feared and assumed to be in some way affiliated with the Arcane Brotherhood. Of those who do study wizardry, perhaps the most common specialization is the school of Evocation. Sorcerers and bards are more common among Illuskans, as many Illuskans have a trace of draconic ancestry in their heritage.

(...) Illuskans are not inclined to keep animals as pets, companions, or familiars, as relatively few species are native to Ruathym or nearby islands. Goats, sheep, and geese do better in the cold Illuskan lands than do cattle, swine, or chickens.

3.5E: : The seagoing, warlike people of the Sword Coast, North, the Trackless Sea, and the Desarin river valley, Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes. Among the islands of the Trackless Sea and Icewind Dale, their hair color tends toward blond, red, or light brown. On the mainland south of the Spine of the World, however, raven-black hair is most common. Iluskans are proud, particularly of their ability to survive in the harsh environment of their northern homelands, and they regard most southerners as weak and decadent. Illuskans make their livings as farmers, fishers, miners, sailors, raiders, skalds, and runecasters.

5E: Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes. Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the extreme northwest have blond, red, or light brown hair.

Illuskan Names: (Male) Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth; (female) Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra; (surnames) Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stormwind, Windrivver

--

The Tethyrian

Races of Faerûn (2003): (...) In recent centuries, these disparate groups have gradually coalesced into a relatively new ethnic group known as Tethyrians, occupying a vast territory stretching from Calimshan to Silverymoon and from the Sea of Swords to the Sea of Fallen Stars. After centuries of enslavement and oppression by one group or another, Tethyrians are fiercely independent, protective of their freedoms and suspicious of threats posed by powerful kingdoms and empires. Given their disparate ancestry, Tethyrians have never developed a unique language of their own, instead adopting the language of the latest wave of conquerors or refugees. Today most Tethyrians speak Chondathan.

(...) Outside Calimshan, many Tethyrians are craftsmen or caravanners, while others find employment as mercenaries in the employ of other realms. Tethyrians make skilled fighters and rogues, reflecting the struggle to survive successive waves of conquest and generations of warfare. Tethyrian culture has a long tradition of bardcraft, reflecting the absence of a Tethyrian empire at any point ni history and the corresponding reliance on itinerant bards to preserve and spread Tethyrian oral history.

(...) Tethyrians view life as a struggle to be survived through ties to Family, clan, and tribe. To a Tethyrian, freedom is the most precious gift, and the enslavement of another is the greatest sin.

(...) The paths of the loremaster and archmage are both attractive to Tethyrian wizards.

(...) Aside from bards, Tethyrians have not traditionally had access to book learning, although those who do are much esteemed by their peers.

(...) Familial, clan and tribal bonds require that adults look out for one another, so the elderly and those who cannot earn their keep turn to relatives and friends for support.

(...) Tethyrians have strong arcane and divine spellcasting traditions: Bardcraft is revered, and many master bards are of Tethyrian stock. The varied mature of Tethyrian heritage has produced many sorcerers as well. Likewise, the strong influence of Calishite and Netherese cultural traditions has echoes in the large numbers of Tethyrian wizards, although most learn their craft through a traditional master-apprentice relationship, not by attending a formal school.

(...) Animals and Pets (...) Tethyrians are partial to canines, particularly those bred for herding, hunting, or working. Falcons (treat as hawks) and swamp ferrets (treat as weasels) are commonly employed in hunting and often serve as familiars. Ravens are also favored as pets or familiars, particularly in the vicinity of the High Moor.

3.5E: The Tethyrian culture is a melting pot of Calishite, Chondathan, Illuskan, and Low Netherese elements. This unique background makes Tethyrians among the most tolerant, though fiercely independent, ethnic groups in Faerûn. They inhabit a vast territory stretching from Calimshan to Silverymoon, and from the Sea of Swords to the Sea of Fallen Stars. Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that grows fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color varies widely, but brown hair and blue eves are the most common. Tethyrians are proud of their diverse heritage and protective of their freedom, so they tend to distrust powerful kingdoms and empires.

5E: Widespread along the entire Sword Coast at the western edge of Faerun, Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color varies widely, but brown hair and blue eyes are the most common. Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.

--

Verdict

After analysing these descriptions, I would say that it makes sense that Gale Dekarios can be of either a Chondathan or Tethyrian heritage — though I'd venture a guess that there's a fair mix of both.

Given that the Dekarios clan is "scattered far and wide", it could imply that they're of a mercantile affinity (Chondathan) and thus have settled in various cities along the the Sword Coast and beyond for trade purposes. Further migration patterns veering west, towards the Sword Coast, and an affinity for magic that can be related to Netherese ancestry (Chondathan and Tethyrian) are valid backgrounds for what we know of Gale.

Some things to consider:

The Tethyrians have more of a natural arcane leaning than the Chondathans (Gale was casting accidental fireballs at the age of 8, among other funny accidents).

The Tethyrians form strong familial and clan bonds (Gale has strong ties to his mother, is very family oriented).

Gale has more of an olive skinned hue, brown eyes and hair, as the combo is more common with the Chondathans ethnicity in contemporary Faerûn. It speaks of a Mediterranean background, if we were to compare it with Earth.

The Chondathans also have an affinity with felines, while the Tethyrian veer towards employing animals for hunting and favor birds of prey as familiars.

The Chondathans place a high value on book learning.

Both ethnicities have ties to the Netherese, which creates a compelling narrative device — especially after Gale's fallout with Mystra due to the Netherese orb incident. However, opportune irony aside, I think that what we see of Gale points to a mix of both heritages and that they reflect different sides of him that go beyond ethnicity, as they also affect his background from a socio-economical standpoint.

[sunnitheapollokid]

I desperately need a daughterofposeidon!reader x leo valdez with the brother's bestfriend trope (the brother being Percy duh) 🤭🤭 can be hc's or a blurb!!

🌅 ┊ ༉‧₊˚✧ MY BEST FRIEND’S SISTER!

↳ leo valdez x daughter of poseidon blurb!

☀️ sunni’s notes : THIS REQUEST HAS BEEN IN MY INBOX FOR SO LONG IM SO SORRY ARTIST!!! guys i swear— i’ll try to be more punctual with this LMFAOOOO <3 thank you all so much for being patient with me. 🥹💝 i’ve done lots of headcanons for these cutie pies, so i should give out a blurb now!! wanted to do something short and sweet ⭐️. (ALSO LEO IS DEFO A PHOTOGRAPHY GUY) happy reading bebis! sunkisses, sunni!

ೃ࿔₊•

LEO DIDNT start it. it was a stupid bet! and jason and piper knew it too, the minute they had dared him to. they snickered under their breaths as they watched leo heat up like a match on a bbq summer night. "lee, seriously, it's not that bad of a dare."

"yes it is, when she's literally my best friend's sister!" he cried, his voice echoing in bunker nine. "hey, not my fault you lost." leo grumbled as he stared at the uno cards laid out in front of him, smug looks painted on both his very close best friends.

"you guys are the worst."

ೃ࿔₊•

IT WAS just like any other day in camp half-blood for (name). the regular swim, the peeking of the arts n' craft room, the good 'ol teasing towards percabeth. being the second child of the god of the sea felt like a breeze.

"hey jackson!" she heard her surname called from the back of her head. "oh hey leo." she waved, the skipping of her feet had made it's stop. she knew leo. she had acknowledged him multiple times when she hung out with her brother's friends. he was always just the hot-head gremlin friend of his brother to her.

"i," he coughed.

"you mind doing something for me, sirena?" she felt her ears grow hot. she waved the thought off, "sure, what is it?" she skipped on over towards him. he then pulled a camera out of his pocket, it looked old and rusty, but it looked like he had tweaked it a little to make it work again.

she cocked a brow, "i thought.. technology attracts monsters." leo let out an over-confident chuckle. "when you're the son of hephaestus, you manage to work out a few trinkets."

"wanna try it out with me?"

(name) suggested an amazing view for leo, just by the docks. they walked side-by-side as they sauntered towards the place she had recommended. "here we are!" she beamed. leo couldn't lie, it was incredibly captivating. "great! now, uh, just stand over there."

her eyes grew bug-eyed. leo laughed lightly, taking his eyes out of the lens to stare at her, "what? did you think i just wanted a view recommendation? i need you as my muse, sirena." she felt her breath hitch, what was this?

leo pressed his lips together in a smile. she didn't want to protest, so leo watched her walk towards the wood railing and she leaned over it, the sun hitting her eyes perfectly. a little too perfectly at that. leo felt himself freeze, staring at her for a good couple of seconds before,

"leo! are you going to take the picture?" she giggled. "oh-" he stumbled over his words. "just about to!" he held the camera in his hand, just about to take the picture when..

BOING!

of course it was one of leo's pranks.

(name) jumped, startled, leo began to cackle, but had stopped when he noticed her tipping over the rail and her body falling almost instantly in the water, making a big splash, the curls of his face drenched.

"(name)!" he called, running towards the railing, and leaning over to check if she was okay. she was gone. shit! percy's going to kill me!

a hand had submerged from the water and took him by the collar, pulling him towards the water and his body falling into the lake with whoever it was.

"let me- (name)!" (name) had created a bubble for them underwater. she giggled lightly, then punched him on the shoulder. "god you got a punch!" he winced in pain, rubbing his arm. "that's what you freaking get." she grumbled, she was totally dry.

leo had forgotten she was the daughter of poseidon. he had gotten worried over nothing. he playfully rolled his eyes, "it was a good prank though, no?" she gave him an "are you kidding me right now?" look, before a muffled voice from above the surface started calling for her name, percy!

the thoughts began to spin in (name)'s head. "oh he's going to kill leo for sure if he found them like this. it might take a while for us to get out. what about food? god, and it's getting dark. what if-"

"uno?" leo pulled out the card game out of his tool belt.

(name) stared at leo and to the cards, then back to leo.

he'd already pulled a prank on her, he might as well cheer her up. she smiled, it would help the time pass.

"okay valdez."

[lassieposting]

Concept:

Post-tadpole, Tav offers to help Astarion find a way to walk in the sun again, and she starts by going to different libraries and repositories and archives around the city to look for books that might be relevant. Astarion, obviously, has to stay in the rental room with the shutters closed during the daytime, so he can't come with her.

At some point, this takes her up to the posh part of the city, where the fancy ✨ scholarly ✨ archive is. She remembers most of the walk - it's not too far from the graveyard Astarion took her to, in the neighbourhood where he once used to live.

And like, it's never actually occurred to her that he could still have Actual Blood Relatives still living? It's not a topic she's ever thought to raise with him. But she has to sign in and out of the archive, and she just happens to notice the name three or four lines above hers: an initial and a surname she recognises.

Ancunín.

The same name from Astarion's gravestone.

A parent? A sibling?

A niece or nephew Astarion has never even met?

Thus begins a secondary quest of trying to reunite a broken family. Astarion is willing enough to talk about the few memories he still has of the thirty-nine years he had with his family before turning - a drop in the ocean compared to the 200 years spent suffering under Cazador - but he shuts down when she nudges him towards the likelihood that Mr & Mrs Ancunín are still alive. He retreats back behind the selfish, catty survivalist he was when she first met him and claims he has no interest in ever reconnecting. The pain in every clipped syllable says drop it, so she does.

But then he asks her, very quietly, several days later, what the initial was. He doesn't really react when she tells him - there's no obvious recognition, and he doesn't ask any follow-up questions or try to discuss it further. He just goes back to his book. She watches him out of the corner of her eye though, as she skim-reads her own giant tome of magical artifacts. A very long time goes by before she sees him turn a page.

For a good long while, the family issue gets put firmly on the back burner. They have other shit going on. Sometimes, it's following promising leads on a possible workaround for Astarion's sunlight allergy. Other times, it's the kind of ugly, ragged-edged breakdown that so often follows a period of relative safety and stability after a major trauma. He's been running in survival mode for two centuries, and now he's finally starting to feel secure enough for the rest of his mind to come back online, and all the trauma he couldn't handle at the time, all the pain and fear and tangled emotions survival mode was protecting him from, is catching up to him. During those sporadic episodes, trying to keep him from falling apart is her top priority and, well, time gets away from them and by the time he brings up his parents again, months or more have gone by, and they have a fairly good idea of what artifact of daywalking they need to find.

By the time it comes to actually meeting with them, still more months have passed, and they have already found it.

It's horrible, and heartwarming, and heartbreaking, and healing, and hurting, and so many other conflicting things that for a while - a long while - Tav doesn't know whether she actually did the right thing encouraging him to reach out to long-lost loved ones. It's a mess of moments that makes her heart ache for a dozen reasons. She finds out that Astarion looks most like his mother, but has his father's nose. She holds him for hours while he shakes and sobs into her shoulder because they never even left the city, they were here the whole time, and they never found him - and he's so angry and full of grief he doesn't know what to do with himself. She accompanies him to the home he was raised in, and the once-familiar surroundings jog memories he thought lost for good - he's glassy-eyed, recounting them to her, but she's fairly sure it's the good kind of glassy-eyed, so she doesn't mention it. She tries to make conversation at family dinner while he stares at his hands in his lap, dissociated, looking even more uncomfortable than she feels, utterly lost in a world that once fit him like a glove. There are a lot of feelings to try and mediate. They are all hurt, all damaged, all afraid, all looking for the ghost of a loved one in the face of a stranger.

But, eventually, there is a day where she overhears Astarion having a conversation with his father, and he sounds like himself - not the persona he puts on in public - and his father laughs at something he says in a way that's entertained rather than awkward. There is a day where his mother reaches out and he doesn't shake his head or step away - he lets her hug him goodbye. They have not slipped back into the graves they crawled out of in each other's lives - they are all very different people now - but they are learning new ways to fit together, and he seems to be pleased about it.

So she thinks, yeah, it was worth it.