#that relishing in their suffering was for the greater good??

[labyrynth]

*opens jgy tag*

“the difference between WWX and JGY is that JGY is straight-up evil. he isn’t a victim of circumstance or anything, he was just BORN dirty evil. he had so many options and he GLEEFULLY chose to murder little boys and girls.”

“(unlike WWX, who is NEVER selfish and is ALWAYS selfless and ALWAYS knows what’s RIGHT and WWX saves CHILDREN’S LIVES. how many children did jgy save?? NONE.)”

…*closes jgy tag*

[kikyoupdates]

Otherworldly Attraction ⭑˚🔮⭑ 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

yandere!jjk x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, isekai, jujutsu kaisen x fem!reader, slowburn, slowburn yandere

You don't know how or why, but you've been isekai'd into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Although your first instinct is to stay away from the plot, you've been blessed with an abnormal amount of cursed energy, and for better or worse, you find yourself sucked into the storyline. You decide that you may as well use your newfound powers for the greater good, and if you're lucky, you might succeed in rewriting some of the characters' fates. But it turns out that your presence in this world is an even bigger deal than you first thought, and soon, everyone wants to make you theirs.

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“Draw two,” Sasaki says. 

“I’ll add another draw two. So now [Name] has to draw four,” Iguchi follows up, throwing another card onto the pile.

You stare at the two cards left in your hand, and then you cast a glance beside you, over to poor Itadori, who’s easily holding more than ten. Part of you wonders if you should be nice and spare him, since he’s clearly suffering more than enough already, but then again, this is Uno. 

Uno is just about as cutthroat as it gets. 

“Sorry,” you mumble, wincing a bit as you add another card onto the pile. “I still have a draw four card left… which means Itadori has to pick up eight cards in total. Also, um, Uno.” 

“No way!” he cries out, and you swear you see his soul leave his body. 

Sasaki throws her head back and starts laughing. “Man, Itadori, you stink at this! I swear you’ve placed last every single time we’ve played. It’s actually kind of impressive how unlucky you can be sometimes.”

“I haven’t lost yet,” Itadori stubbornly refutes, but of course, within the next round, you win, and Sasaki and Iguchi quickly follow suit. 

You watch as Itadori’s shoulders slump in defeat. 

“Fine, now I lost,” he sighs. Most people would probably be pretty frustrated seeing as he’s lost more than four—or is it five games in a row now? In any case, Uno tends to ruin friendships and drive people insane, but since this is Itadori, it only takes a few brief moments of adorable sulking for him to perk up again. “Alright, well, I’m ready for the next round!” 

Iguchi shakes his head. “Sorry, but no more. I’m starting to feel bad about beating you this badly.” 

“Really?” Sasaki blinks. “I’m having the time of my life.” 

“You don’t always have to voice your intrusive thoughts aloud, Sasaki.” 

“We can play more next time,” you say, gently patting Itadori on the shoulder. “And I’m sure you’ll win a bunch then. Enough to make up for all the losses from today.” 

“Doubt it,” Sasaki muses. 

“Sasaki, that’s seriously enough out of you,” Iguchi sighs.

“Alright, fine,” Itadori relents. He quickly glances towards the clock on the wall. “I guess it’s about time for me to head out anyway. It’d be nice to get to the hospital early for a change.” 

More than a week has passed since you first awoke in this world, and during that time, you’ve spent pretty much every day hanging out with Itadori. It’s quite literally a dream come to true to be able to talk to him like this. From the moment you discovered you attended the same school, you were already starstruck, but you figured you would only ever be able to stare at him longingly, from afar. Never in a million years did you imagine that you would actually become his friend. 

Even though your friendship is destined to be cut short, you’re determined to enjoy these blissful moments for as long as you can.

You and Itadori say goodbye to Sasaki and Iguchi, and the two of you walk out of the building together, stopping by a vending machine to grab some canned drinks. You crack your can open and sit down next to him, relishing in the fresh air paired with the cool liquid running down your throat. 

“Visiting your grandpa again, right?” you affirm. 

Itadori takes a big gulp, then nods. “Yeah. Same old, I guess. That’s another reason why it’s nice being part of the Occult Research Club. A lot of people have pestered me to join athletic clubs, but they run way too late. I wouldn’t be able to make it down to the hospital in time for visiting hours. It just works out better this way. Plus, hanging out with those guys is a lot of fun.”

“It’s nice that you always make an effort to visit him,” you say, smiling gently. “I’m sure he really appreciates the time he gets to spend with you. It must mean a lot to him.” 

“Well, I’m the only one he has left, so I’d feel really crappy if he had to spend every day all on his own.”

“Still. Not everyone would make sure to visit every single day, like you do. You’re really kind. You’re a good person, Itadori.” 

You hold your smile as you take another sip of your drink, and you don’t notice that Itadori is staring at you wide-eyed, at least, not until you turn and realize he’s nearly breathing down your neck. 

“Um,” you say, feeling a bit embarrassed by how close he is, “y-yes? Is there… something on my face?” 

Itadori scratches his neck. “Uh. This might sound like a bit of a weird request and all, but I was just wondering if… maybe you wanted to come with me today?” 

“Come with you?” 

“Yeah. To visit my gramps. Since we got to talking and all, I figured maybe he’d like to see someone other than me for a change. To be honest, I don’t think he has much longer left. He’s always snapping at me for visiting him, saying I shouldn’t waste my time going to a depressing place like that, and that I should be spending time in clubs with my friends instead. Maybe he’ll feel better if he sees me bring a friend along. He won’t worry that I’m lonely, like he is.” 

You proceed to just stare at him, and although you didn’t intend for your gaze to be unsettling, Itadori lets out a nervous chuckle and quickly shakes his head.

“Aw, man, what am I even saying? Sorry. That was kind of weird. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to waste your free time going to a hospital, of all places. I didn’t mean to try and pressure you into anything. Just forget what I—” 

“I'll go,” you blurt. “If you're sure you want me to come with you, then yes. I'd be happy to meet your grandpa.”

Itadori blinks rapidly, clearly bewildered, but it doesn’t take long for one of those ridiculously cute smiles to spread across his lips. 

“Awesome! Thanks so much, [Name]. That’s really cool of you. I feel like you’re always the one doing me favors, even though it should be the other way around.” 

“It’s not a favor,” you reassure. You pause, smiling shyly. “I really like spending time with you, after all.” 

Itadori’s smile shows no signs of disappearing, and together, you make the trip to Sugisawa Hospital, where his grandfather is currently admitted. 

You have to admit, you feel a little nervous. His grandfather is his only remaining family, and naturally, you want to make a good impression. Even more so because you know that he doesn’t have much time left. You may not be able to stay by Itadori’s side once the canon plot begins, but at least for now, you’d like to put his grandfather at ease. 

“Don’t worry,” Itadori reassures, smiling brightly. “He might seem like a crabby old man at first, but he’s not actually that bad. I know he’ll be happy to see me with a friend.” 

You smile back and quickly nod, and after a moment’s delay, Itadori slides the door open. 

“...you again, Yuji?” a gruff voice immediately barks out. “I thought I told you to quit wasting your time stopping by. Don’t you have anything better to do? What about your school club?” 

Itadori steps into the room first, rolling his eyes as if this kind of reaction is typical, but once you follow behind him and make your presence known, his grandfather’s expression does a full one-eighty. 

“Oh,” he blinks. “Who’s this now? Yuji, don’t tell me… you finally managed to get yourself a girlfriend? Good going, kid. I didn’t know you had it in you.” 

Itadori blushes a bit, but his embarrassment dissolves once he lets out a sigh. “Cool it, old man. Don’t make me regret bringing her. This is [Name]. She’s my friend. You always seem so worried about me not spending enough time with other people, so I invited her to come, and she accepted. Make sure to be nice to her, okay?” 

“It’s very nice to meet you, sir,” you say, bowing your head. “I hope me being here isn’t an inconvenience.” 

“Itadori Wasuke,” his grandfather introduces. You watch as he sits up a bit straighter in his hospital bed. “Hm. Are you sure you’re not dating Yuji? You seem like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You’ve got manners, unlike this brat. Hey, Yuji. Don’t be stupid. You don’t want to lose a pretty girl like her to someone else.” 

Itadori rolls his eyes again. “It might be easier said than done, but try to ignore him. Sometimes I think he just says things because he likes hearing the sound of his own voice.” 

“See that?” Wasuke points. “Do you see how this ungrateful grandson of mine treats me?” 

You bite back a chuckle. Naturally, you’ve already gotten a glimpse of what their relationship is like, well before meeting either of them in person. Wasuke may have a sharp tongue, but it’s clear that he loves his grandson, and he wants him to have a good life. He wants him to be surrounded by people who care for him, and even though Itadori will face plenty of hardship in the future, the fact remains that he will have plenty of friends who are willing to stand by his side. 

“Itadori’s a really good guy,” you say, lacing your hands together and smiling. “Everyone likes him. He’s got a lot of other friends besides me. And I know he’ll make countless more friends from here on out.” 

You pause to gauge their reactions. Itadori is blinking at you, perhaps a bit flustered by your sudden declaration, and Wasuke’s expression hasn’t really changed much, but you notice that his eyes are a bit wider than they were a second ago. 

It’s awfully subtle, but for just a brief moment, a smile rises to Wasuke’s lips. 

“Is that so?” he chuckles. “Thank you for saying that, young lady. I’ll admit that it brings me some relief. I’m glad Yuji isn’t just wasting the best years of his life tending to a sickly old man like me. If he’s got friends like you who speak so highly of him… then I guess he must be doing something right.” 

“No way,” Itadori marvels. “Did you just compliment me, gramps?” 

“Don’t get used to it.” 

“Still! You actually said something kind of nice for a change!” 

“Alright, I take back everything I just said.” 

The two of them go back and forth like this for a while longer, and you’re perfectly content to just stand there and watch. It’d be nice if Wasuke could stick around longer. It’d be nice if Itadori didn’t have to lose the only family he has left. But without a doubt, Wasuke will live on in his heart, and you get the feeling that even when he passes, he’ll be watching over him for a long, long time. 

Wasuke clears his throat. “Seriously, though. If you don’t act fast enough, by the time you know it, [Name] will be dating someone else. Don’t live a life filled with regrets, kid.” 

“...gramps, come on.” 

Uh-oh.

You’re not an idiot, so of course, you know what this means. The wooden box he’s referring to is where Sukuna’s finger was being kept. Up until Itadori found it, that is. 

Which can only mean that soon—like, very soon—the main plotline will begin to unfold. 

You nervously chew on your lip. Truth to be told, you want absolutely nothing to do with that stinky finger. You already know that everything will be fine until the Occult Club members remove the seal, but still. The whole thing just freaks you out, and it’s way too scary to even fathom getting involved in. 

While you struggle to come up with a reasonable excuse, your phone buzzes again. 

Balls. He’s just too goddamn cute. It makes it downright impossible to turn him down. 

With a heavy sigh, you text him that you’re on your way, and you eventually get there, unsurprised to see him standing in front of the same storage box that Fushiguro was frantically searching at the start of the series. 

Itadori grins widely. “Thanks for coming! Here, check this out. Have you ever seen something like this before? It looks kind of supernatural, doesn’t it? I bet Sasaki and Iguchi would go crazy over this.”

He proceeds to hold up a small, visibly old wooden box, and you gulp as he opens it up to reveal the cursed object inside—one of Sukuna’s fingers.

Of course, he doesn’t have the slightest clue what it actually is. It’s completely wrapped up in the seal, making the object inside indiscernible. He probably wouldn’t be grinning ear-to-ear if he knew it was some wrinkly old finger. 

…then again, he swallowed said finger without even hesitating, so maybe he wouldn’t actually care that much. 

“Oh, c-cool,” you say, doing your best to mask your discomfort. “Yeah, it definitely gives off that occult vibe. I’m sure the other club members would like it a lot.” 

“I really wonder what it’s even supposed to be, though.” Itadori frowns as he picks up the sealed finger—much to your horror—and leans in closer to get a better look at it. “Yep, I honestly have no idea. You got any theories, [Name]?”

Without warning, he tosses the cursed object towards you, and out of pure reflex, you lurch forward to catch it. 

The second it falls into your hands, you experience a sense of dread that is almost too nauseating to put into words. 

It’s only for a moment, but the scene before your eyes changes. All of a sudden, you feel something wet sloshing around your feet, and you look down to find crimson liquid, red water, or perhaps—blood. 

You try to choke out a few words, but no sound escapes your lips. You’re understandably disoriented, so your gaze then pans upwards, and to say that you’re terror-struck would still have been an understatement. 

Right there, sitting on top of a pile of skeletons, is Sukuna.

It seems as though you’ve lost the ability to speak, but even if you could speak, you doubt you would have been able to find the right words. You’re too overwhelmed with fear to even think clearly, and right before you collapse onto your knees, just shy of a meltdown, Sukuna knits his brows together and leans forward.

“...who are you?”

You snap out of it with a gasp, only to find that you’re still standing in front of Itadori, who has a worried look on his face. 

“[Name]?” he frowns. “What’s wrong? You don’t look so good. Sorry, did I freak you out by tossing that thing at you? I probably shouldn’t have done that. I get why you’d be startled.” 

He crouches down to pick up the cursed object, which you apparently dropped to the ground without even realizing it. You place a hand over your chest, exhaling shakily. Your heart is pounding relentlessly, and you feel dizzy, like you might pass out at any given moment.

Just now… that was Sukuna’s Innate Domain, right? But how is that even possible? He hasn’t even been incarnated through Itadori yet…

You swallow hard. That finger is completely sealed. Even though the seal is old enough to be torn off by even a regular human—like Sasaki, for instance—Sukuna shouldn’t have appeared before you. Or at the very least, you shouldn’t have been able to see him. 

Maybe it was just a strange vision. Maybe the shock induced some kind of hallucination, or something. None of this makes any sense in the first place. The fact that you’ve been transported into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Itadori places the cursed object back inside the box, then tucks it into his pocket. “Sorry again for catching you off guard like that. Are you okay? You look a bit faint. That was my bad. You even mentioned before that you don’t really like scary stuff, so I should have thought twice before doing that.” 

“I’m okay,” you reassure, and it’s true. You feel perfectly fine now. That sensation of choking up and being overcome with fear is already a thing of the past. It seems more and more likely that it was probably all in your head. 

Yeah.

You must have just been imagining things. 

“Kokkuri, Kokkuri, please tell us… which creature is the school council president weaker than?!” 

Ah. So, it’s finally starting. 

The question is all too familiar, of course, and as you allow the coin to be guided around the board, the word formed is exactly what you expected. 

“What? A fish?” everyone laughs in response, and just like in the canon series, the door abruptly slides open, revealing none other than the student council president himself. 

He starts berating everyone in the room, of course, but you're not really paying attention. 

Instead, you gaze at Itadori with a wistful smile, realizing that after today, you will no longer be part of his life.

There's no place for you by his side. It's simply too dangerous, and even if you were strong enough, you can't risk upsetting the delicate balance of this world. Everything will unfold the way it's supposed to, which means that your role here, albeit small as it was, is over. 

…or is it?

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[corviiids]

i know you just said you don't want to talk about this buuuuut: wondering what you think about takuto maruki in light (🥁) of your thing for the light yagami archetype. i know goro akechi is supposed to be the light yagami expy in persona 5 (🤪), but i think light and maruki might have a lot more in common -- and more interesting differences between them, too.

i think you make a great point! i love maruki this is a surprise to no one i love a good martyr complex i really do. im putting this under the cut again i seriously can talk forever abouot just like.. fucking anything

honestly i think people tend to impute a lot more sinister-ness to maruki's personality and intentions than i personally find fair? like don't get me wrong, his plan is plenty sinister. his character is plenty sinister. the sheer uncanniness of the So Happy World in third semester is really pretty disturbing and in itself. very sinister. but i do see people characterise maruki as, like, secretly a dark person with dark desires and intentions (with some variation as to whether he's aware of them or not). and like, look that's fair enough, i don't want to say that's an unfounded interpretation because i think there's plenty to support it + people can do whatever they want forever and if that's what they enjoy in a character then hell yeah, so, you know

for me personally though i do think the naivety and the absolute purity of intention in creating a perfect world and not realising how fucked up and unrealistic it gets is what makes maruki so compelling and tragic as a character. even at his most mad-scientist-shadow-self, i don't read him as being driven or even really dramatically distorted by a power trip (there's a difference between him and light, who does get visibly distorted quite fast). maruki obviously does kind of get a bit of a trip in that sense but i think it's less of a driving force for his actions. i honestly think that, like... light's a guy who starts out with this combination of pure ideology and denial who spirals when he falls victim to his own ego and his own eagerness + desperation to find something meaningful and challenging to do with his life. vs maruki is a guy who is just really fundamentally tortured by how much he cares about people and would leave by the wayside any ethical or moral concern in order to achieve that ultimate goal of lessening people's pain. light's got a cocktail of bullshit going on but i really truly think maruki's sin is that he's too kind and cares too much and the danger that eventuates is almost a cautionary tale on the consequence of too much compassion, too much kindness, too much pain felt at others' pain without considering the more complex factors of life (eg that some measure of hardship is necessary to live and thrive)

so i kind of think, like, light and maruki are two characters who start from similar but different locations, take kind of different paths, but... well, not end up in the same place, but both end up very flavoured by this grand sense of martyrdom and self-sacrifice for a greater good where they both really relish in their own suffering because it makes them Good and/or Great. super compelling. great flavour. i really like that a lot.

akechi on the other hand has superficially a lot in common with light but ideologically is so different it's almost funny

[navree]

I love all of your brilliant analyses through the answers!

There’s not much information about the historical Targaryens, so could you please give us a check up for the Conquerors? Can you describe each of them in a few sentences? Especially Rhaenys, because she died young and beautiful per Lana del Rey, and didn’t have much time to show her personality. I would really love that because the book did all of them dirty

You're too kind, thank you so much!!!

How to describe my precious most beloved Conquerors (especially Rhaenys, my fave who, as you said wonderfully put it, did get Lana del Rey'd and did die young and beautiful)? Toughie, because there really isn't a whole lot of information about them that hasn't been warped via mythologization, either in a positive and negative direction, and also because it seems like they were particularly tight lipped about their personal lives in both words and actions. But I will endeavor to do my best because I love them. I also have a lot to say about their interpersonal relationships with each other and with other people, especially once the children start getting thrown into the mix, but for now, simple personality descriptions of Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys for me are as follows:

Aegon - Aegon, first and foremost, appeared to be an introverted and deeply private person. Likely not someone who relished solitude, but didn't necessarily have a need or want for a lot of people around him, choosing instead to intensely value the few that he had, like his siblings and his children or, well, at least Aenys. For all the talk of the dragon's temper and all that, Aegon also didn't appear to be someone with that tempestuous a personality, and certainly no fits of fury, as exhibited by the way he waged a very methodical conquest and the way he was willing to deal with the North peaceably, as well as his willingness to sit down and end the conflict with Dornish even after Rhaenys's death (really, the two years of the Dragon's Wroth appears to have been the exception to the rule, motivated by very understandable extenuating circumstances to allow for such a breach in character). And in spite of what appears to have been pretty consistent neglect of Maegor, Aegon also seems to have been a devoted family man, never proving unfaithful to either of his sisters, deeply loving towards his eldest son, and an almost constant babysitter to his grandchildren, all the signs of someone who valued family and, if my own theories about how he got around to conceiving Maegor are to be taken as fact, valued duty even in the face of his own wants. And lastly, between being willing to negotiate with Dorne and accepting peaceable Northern surrender and the fact that the dragondreaming thing was a piece of lore that came from GRRM himself, Aegon seems to be someone who always did what was best for the greater good of the people, things like ending wars he might not have personally wanted to end for the realm

Visenya - Some of the more pervasive perceptions of Visenya are actually right, in my view; she was a stern and unforgiving person who could be as implacable as a wall when she wanted someone to suffer, and never willing to take anyone's shit, whether it was an enemy defying her or a little sibling (most likely Aegon) being irritating when they were children. But Visenya was also a dragon, and she did have that classic dragon temperament, we know that she had a temper given how involved she was in the Dragon's Wroth, and her determination to continue the war even after it was clear it was exacting a heavy cost and the more pragmatic move, the one that Aegon saw, was to try to come to a peace. Visenya was passionate, clearly, not just from those examples but from the way she was willing to keep on keeping on through the force of her feelings alone, like pushing through injuries to keep on fighting, like at the Field of Fire. She also had a bit of a cruel/sadistic streak, though that didn't really come too much into play when things were serious, more like it was an outlet for some of her darker thoughts. Then, there's this part, which is vital to understand: like Aegon, Visenya was family oriented, but not in the way Aegon was. While Aegon was a family man who valued time with them and only showed his true self to those loved ones, Visenya's devotion to family was exhibited in the way that there was nothing she wouldn't do for her family. There was nothing she wouldn't entertain, no line she wouldn't cross; she would usurp rightful leaders, go to war happily, burn a country to the ground in revenge, engage in dark arts in order to keep her family secure, everything she did she would say was in the service of her family, without compunction. Also, Visenya was a lesbian.

Rhaenys - Most important thing to know is that Rhaenys was absolutely perfect, so jot that down quick. I do subscribe to the way that Rhaenys's personality is described in the book, that she was kind and curious and occasionally impulsive and had a wide imagination, the last of which is what helped inform her love of poetry and music. But I also firmly believe that she was quick witted, not just witty but genuinely fiercely intelligent , and because she was so personable and able to make people love her as quickly as she did (because I will always subscribe to the belief that Rhaenys was very well loved by most people), Rhaenys was also incredibly gifted at not just reading situations and finding out the best outcomes, but also at just reading people, at understanding them and their motivations even at just a glance. Rhaenys was also a fascinating political mind, she knew exactly what she was doing with the propaganda she was creating through singers and minstrels, and though I don't think she ever consummated any relationships outside of her marriage, she absolutely flirted in order to get more people fond of her and her family by extension and spread the Targaryen agenda throughout the land, an early precursor to what her grandson Jaehaerys would do with the Doctrine of Exceptionalism. Rhaenys, while kindhearted, was also both capable of holding long grudges, and absolutely not a pushover; she had a spine of steel and sometimes could just continue on a course out of sheer stubbornness, nothing else. But she was kind, and extraordinarily loving, and the most openly affectionate out of all her siblings, capable of bringing a smile to Visenya's face and getting Aegon out of his shell, and she was an attentive and loving mother to Aenys for the three years that he had her. And this emotional openness is what allowed her to also be more "spiritual" than her siblings, but not in a way that we typically see it, as ascribed to religion, but in the way she was able to bond so fiercely with Meraxes, to really love her and spend so much time with her and want to be free with her, to be the only one out of her siblings to really forge that "one heart, one mind" kind of dragon bond that they never did with Balerion or Vhagar.

I'm sticking to just what I extrapolated based on the book that I use to then flesh out some of the stuff that's pure speculation on my part (like Visenya's romantic feelings towards Rhaenys specifically, Rhaenys's dynastic ambitions when it came to her family with Aegon, or what I believe to be passive suicidal ideation from Aegon following Rhaenys's death) but these are basically the core personality traits of the three Conquerors as I've interpreted them.

[namig42]

I've got the next part of Gardon's Lair written, but I still have to edit and polish it so that it feels just right. In the mean time, here are

Some Parallels between Sahed and Gardon That I Think Are Very Interesting

For context: Gardon is a red dragon who found himself inspired by a gold dragon named Agas to be good and fight his chaotic evil nature. He was successful for a while, becoming a protector of humans until he was cursed with dark magic that infected him. Not only was his magic tainted, but he also found himself being intensely compelled to do horrible, evil deeds. He's found a few ways to alleviate the intensity of these compulsions, but his methods all involve hurting and using others, so he is very conflicted and has a great deal of self loathing. No matter what he does, people are hurt and it's always his fault.

Meanwhile, Sahed is a gold dragonborn who should naturally be lawful good, but is an aurak draconian - an evil dragonborn - that was created with dark, hellish magic. He is similarly cursed in a way, though unlike Gardon, he embraces this evil nature of his and relishes in it, using his magic and the assumptions of others to his advantage to gain more and more power and knowledge.

Anyways, here are some interesting dynamics I see between their characters!

Sahed accepts his nature completely, where Gardon rejects his and suffers even more for it.

Sahed should be good and loyal by nature, but the dark magic in him makes him evil, which he embraces wholeheartedly. Gardon should be chaotic evil by nature, but wants to be good. The dark magic in him forces him back into his expected role, and so he accepts the idea of evil out of reluctance and submission rather than choice.

Sahed craves power and dominance, where Gardon craves honor and dignity. Both have a desire, but only one of them can achieve their goal since Sahed embraces what he is, where Gardon cannot.

The idea of accepting yourself leading to a greater power, even if accepting yourself is a morally bad thing to do, is something I think gets explored really well between these two, and I just think it's so neat.

[xxdungeon-stuckxx]

Rage

Opposite-

Hope

Neighboring-

Heart, blood

Presides Over-

Rebelion, truth, anger, negativity, deconstruction, madness, chaos

Themes-

Most rage players from the canon are destruction classes, meaning that most of their traits mimic that of hope aspect players. For this reason, it is hard to clearly define rage-bound traits.

Most notably, rage players hold control over negative emotions and negativity in general. They hold power over anger, depression, and fear.

Personality-

Rage players are passionate about the things that they think matter. They are also more than willing to convince others why their passion is completely justifiable as well. A rage player is someone who wants to convince others to take their side, to see their perspective, and to share their beliefs. They want other people to be just as passionate as they are.

When a rage player sees a problem is society, they will wreak havoc on any and all systems that cause a problem. They are rebellious by nature for this very reason. However, rage-bound players might not tear down societies structures for the greater good. Their judgment can often be flawed and they may find problems where there are none to be had. How rage players based their judgment is through what they personally think is an issue, regardless of how much good or bad fixing this issue may cause.

Rage players are natural anarchists. They don’t want others to tell them what to do and how they should live their lives. They think that structured society leads to deception and corruption, which a rage player can’t stand for. They thrive on chaos and are held back by nobody but themselves.

When a rage player believes in something, they will believe in it until the day they die. It’s hard to convince a rage player when they are wrong or disillusioned.

Despite the aspect that they have control over, rage players are positive individuals. They bring joy wherever they go, and they are social butterflies. They may seem strange to those in their social circle, but most people find their jovial nature to be appealing in some aspect. They care deeply for their teammates, and they can often be found comforting those who are going through hardships.

Other’s are likely to say that rage players suffer from “mood swings”. They can flip their emotions on a dime, without any warning. A once happy and carefree rage player may suddenly become enraged at seemingly miniscule things. Rage players feel that their emotions have a good reason for changing so quickly. When they see something they hate, they cannot contain their hatred.

Rage-bound players don’t bottle up their emotions. They let them flow freely and they don’t care who sees them unleash them. They are extremely expressive people who have a hard time toning down their emotions during a given situation. They physically cannot hide their feelings in the form of outward expression.

Rage players are unpredictable, and the next actions they take are never known by others. Being chaotic by nature, they love the feeling they receive from their capriciousness. In a battle, their enemies never know their next moves. Their allies never know what they may do next. A rage player may seem like they are about to do one thing, then do the exact opposite instead. They relish this unknowingness of their actions, and use it to their advantage.

Rage players have secret motives that they may not tell others about. A rage-bound player, for instance, may plot against their teammates in order to favor their own personal motives. They may even work with the enemy in order to secretly aid their party and deconstruct the obstacles surrounding them. They aren't opposed to “working dirty” in order to gain success.

Rage players may fall into abuser mindsets if they are not careful. Part of their journey is to learn to control their emotional outburst, otherwise they may harm others. Their emotions become overwhelming to them though, and any negative feelings may result in physical and/or verbal altercations with others. It’s best to leave a rage player alone when they are experiencing negative emotions of any kind, or else they may lash out. The term “anger issues” defines a rage player quite well. 

A rage player can become so angry that they can't see straight, in a metaphorical sense. The choices they make when they are angry are not done through logic, but through feelings alone.

If a rage player thinks something is stupid, then a rage player will outright hate that thing. If a task is given to the rage player that they don’t see the point of, then they will resent the person who gave them the task and the task itself. Oftentimes, they will go against what is asked of them or they may simply not do it at all. They do what they want because, to a rage player, what they want is the only worthy task for them to complete.

In Canon-

Gamzee Makara (Bard of Rage), Kurloz Makara/The Grand Highblood (Prince of Rage), Xefros Tritoh (Player of Rage), Nihkee Moolah (Player of Rage), Lynera Skalbi (Player of Rage), Vestri (Player of Rage), Helion (player of Rage), Charun Krojib (Player of Rage)

[skelerenwrites]

There are three very important people needed to understand Sanguinous, two of which he goes nowhere without. While they needn’t have large roles in the thread, it’s important to remember that they are always nearby or otherwise in Sanguinous’ brain.

Amalia

Sanguinous’ eternal love. Amalia was Sanguinous’ wife and his sire, often described as being of "unparalleled mind and beauty." The pair spent most of their unnatural lives together, Amalia having turned Sanguinous after falling in love with him and his ruthless mind. Amalia was fierce, cunning, and cutting; where Sanguinous is often saccharine-sweet in public, Amalia never was. She had the greater appetite for making new vampires, ultimately seeking to establish for herself an immor(t)al family with which to take back and rule the night. Amalia would never see her plans to fruition, having been ambushed and killed by vampire hunters while outside of Carmilla.

In retaliation for her murder, Sanguinous had his contacts look into the matter: he has since taken to systematically hunting down every last member of every bloodline involved to extinguish them in return for the death of his wife, his bride, his lover, his other. To the best of his knowledge, he has already been successful in fully eradicating one bloodline--he disposed of his wife's potential killers in one blow, but faced with their offspring, elected to take one with him and leave the other behind to die a slow and painful death (being so young he doubted she would survive alone). The boy he had originally intended to raise as a replacement for his own, but his bloody inclinations proved too powerful to resist. He drained the boy dry and dreamed of Amalia that night. Although he did return to take the sister, she was nowhere to be found, and he presumed her dead.

He is still hunting to eradicate the last of his wife's murderers, an act of personal vengeance he indulges in whenever doing so is not to the detriment of their former life-long plan: the installation of vampires as superior over all others.

J.D. Dean

JD Dean—born Riley Sinclair, later Ryan St. Claire, later Jane Doe, then eventually JD and JD Dean—is something of a fluke. Their tragic backstory is theirs to tell, a tale of corruption, politics, love, betrayal, and remarkably bad timing. Or perhaps good timing. JD was brought back to life through the ministrations of Amalia, and was immediately adopted as a sort of daughter and pet project for the vampire. JD never took to the role of offspring but grew loyal to and protective of Amalia and, by extension, Sanguinous.

Amalia’s death served as a wake-up of sorts for the far younger vampire, prompting them to become Sanguinous’ personal bodyguard. Though not a position they relish, until or unless something more interesting comes along, they will serve their lord king with pride.

Lilith Marlowe

Lilith Marlowe is a conniving, backstabbing bitch—but Sanguinous hasn’t figured that out yet. A “litter mate” of Sanguinous, Lilith is actually his only living blood relative, a very old, very powerful witch. Back when Sanguinous was still a mortal, he and his sister survived on her magic; she had found ways of staying eternally young and powerful without the aid of vampiric blood, but it was hard, brutal, nasty work. Lilith remains constant and untroubled by what she must do to survive; Sanguinous, she feels, took the easy route in the name of love and suffers now for it.

Lilith’s ultimate ambition is to take Carmilla and all power associated with it for herself. For the time being, she is content to orchestrate her plans from the shadows, building a stronger and more stable Carmilla that will thrive under her leadership without any of Sanguinous’ ego making a mockery of her hard work.

Every witch in End of the Road has a specialization, a power only he or she really has. It is their strongest power and sometimes their best-guarded secret. Although Lilith will say that her specialty is dream-walking, that is a lie: her true power is the power of Suggestion. So long as she establishes eye contact (and maintains it until the suggestion is fully delivered), Lilith is able to bend others to her will. The less inclined the subject is to follow her suggestion, the more Lilith must enforce her will to make the other act on it—and, as a result, the more unnatural the subject’s actions become when fulfilling the suggestion. Obviously use of this power will be established with the individual writing partner as needed!

[adventuregeartech]

Safety Gear Essentials: Protecting Yourself on the Trails

Mountain biking is an electrifying way to immerse yourself in nature, push your boundaries, and revel in the exhilaration of the trails. But as with any high-octane sport, safety should always be your top priority. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just embarking on your mountain biking journey, the right safety gear is crucial to protect yourself from potential injuries and ensure you can fully savor the ride.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essential safety gear every mountain biker should have. From helmets to protective padding, these mountain bike accessories keep you safe and ready to tackle any terrain.

Why Safety Gear Is Crucial for Mountain Biking

Mountain biking isn’t just about riding on paved paths—it’s about conquering rocky trails, navigating narrow ridges, and sometimes taking a tumble. The nature of the sport puts riders in challenging environments, and while the thrill is part of the fun, it also increases the risk of accidents. This is why having the right safety gear is non-negotiable.

The Importance of Preventing Injuries: When you’re out on the trails, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and overlook the potential hazards. Rocks, roots, steep descents, and unpredictable weather can all heighten the chances of a fall or crash. Proper safety gear is your shield against serious injuries, whether you’re tackling a technical downhill or cruising a smooth forest path.

A high-quality helmet, for instance, can make the difference between walking away from a crash with minor bruises and suffering a more severe head injury. Similarly, gloves, knee pads, and other protective mountain bike accessories can cushion the impact and prevent scrapes, cuts, and fractures.

Building Confidence on the Trails: Riding with confidence is a pivotal aspect of mountain biking. When you’re equipped with the right safety gear, you can concentrate more on relishing the ride and less on fretting about potential injuries. The assurance that you’re protected empowers you to take on more demanding trails and ride with greater freedom.

Now, let’s dive into the must-have mountain bike accessories that should be a part of your gear collection before you hit the trails.

Must-Have Safety Gear for Every Mountain Biker

From head to toe, every piece of safety gear is important in keeping you safe on the trails. Below, we list the essential mountain bike accessories that every rider should consider. 

Helmet – The Most Important Accessory: No mountain biker should ever ride without a helmet. It’s the most critical safety gear you can invest in, and for good reason. Helmets are designed to protect your head from serious injuries in the event of a fall or collision, absorbing the impact and reducing the risk of concussion or more severe trauma.

Full-Face vs. Half-Shell Helmets: There are two main types of helmets for mountain biking: full-face and half-shell. Full-face helmets provide maximum coverage, protecting your entire head and face. They’re ideal for downhill riders who tackle steep, technical trails with a greater risk of a high-speed crash. Half-shell helmets, on the other hand, offer less coverage but are more lightweight and breathable, making them a better choice for cross-country riders and those who prefer less aggressive trails.

Whichever style you choose, ensure your helmet fits snugly and is certified for mountain biking. Many modern helmets come with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) technology, which helps reduce rotational forces during impacts for added safety.

Gloves – For Better Grip and Protection: Gloves might seem like a minor accessory, but they play a huge role in trail safety and comfort. A good pair of mountain biking gloves can improve your grip on the handlebars, especially when your hands get sweaty or riding in wet conditions. More importantly, gloves protect you if you fall, preventing painful scrapes and blisters.

Full-Finger vs. Half-Finger Gloves: When choosing gloves, full-finger gloves are usually the best option for mountain biking. They offer complete coverage, crucial for protecting your hands during a crash. Half-finger gloves might be comfortable, but they expose your fingertips, which can be problematic on rougher trails.

Look for gloves with reinforced padding on the palms, breathable fabric, and touchscreen compatibility to use your phone or GPS without taking them off.

Knee and Elbow Pads – Extra Protection for Joints

Knee and elbow pads might not be required for every trail, but they’re a must if you plan to ride more technical or downhill routes. These pads are designed to absorb impact and protect your joints from cuts, bruises, and fractures in case of a fall. 

Hard vs. Soft Pads: You can choose between hard-shell and soft-shell options for knee and elbow pads. Hard-shell pads offer more protection as they have a solid exterior to shield your joints from sharp objects like rocks and branches. Soft-shell pads are lighter and more flexible, offering comfort without sacrificing too much protection. If you’re a beginner or enjoy cross-country trails, soft pads might be more suitable, while hard-shell pads are perfect for downhill riders who expect more aggressive falls.

Body Armor – Full Upper Body Protection: For those who like to push the limits on technical trails or downhill runs, body armor is an excellent addition to your safety gear. While not necessary for every rider, body armor provides full upper-body protection, shielding your chest, back, and shoulders from impact.

When Should You Wear Body Armor: If you’re riding in particularly challenging conditions or at higher speeds, body armor can provide protection worth the investment. It’s typically worn by riders tackling downhill courses or bike parks, with a higher risk of a serious crash.

Look for body armor that’s lightweight and breathable, so it won’t restrict your movement or cause discomfort during long rides.

Eye Protection – Keep Your Vision Clear: One of the most overlooked mountain bike accessories is eye protection. When you’re speeding down a trail, dirt, dust, and debris can easily fly into your eyes, disrupting your vision and potentially causing a crash. Good sunglasses or goggles can protect your eyes from these hazards while shielding them from the sun and wind.

Sunglasses vs. Goggles: Sunglasses are perfect for casual rides and cross-country trails. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and can easily be taken on and off. Goggles, on the other hand, provide a more secure fit and better protection from debris. They’re the go-to choice for downhill riders who often tackle muddy or rocky trails. 

Look for lenses that are impact-resistant and provide UV protection. Some sunglasses and goggles even offer interchangeable lenses for varying light conditions.

Additional Mountain Bike Accessories to Consider

While the essentials listed above are crucial for safety, a few other mountain bike accessories are worth considering. These items can improve your comfort, enhance your ride, and offer protection.

Hydration Packs – Stay Hydrated on the Trails: Hydration is key to maintaining your performance and preventing fatigue while riding. A hydration pack allows you to carry water and other essentials without bulky bottles. Most hydration packs have built-in water bladders and offer plenty of storage for snacks, tools, and even extra layers.

Multi-Tools – Be Prepared for Quick Fixes: No one wants to be stranded miles from the trailhead with a mechanical issue. A good multi-tool is compact and allows you to make quick adjustments or repairs on the fly. From tightening bolts to adjusting your seat, a multi-tool is essential to your gear kit.

Bike Lights – Visibility for Early Morning or Night Rides: If you enjoy riding at dawn, dusk, or even during night adventures, bike lights are a must. They ensure you’re visible to other riders and help you see the trail ahead. Front and rear lights are essential for both safety and navigation.

How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike Accessories for Your Ride

With so many options available, choosing the right mountain bike accessories for your needs can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you make the best decisions for safety and comfort on the trails. 

Consider the Type of Trails You Ride: The type of trails you frequent will largely determine what gear you need. If you’re riding smooth, cross-country trails, you might not need full-body armor, but a helmet, gloves, and knee pads are still essential. Opt for more comprehensive protection like a full-face helmet and hard-shell pads for downhill and technical riding. 

Prioritize Fit and Comfort: Your safety gear should fit snugly but not restrict your movement. When shopping for mountain bike accessories, try different sizes and styles to find what works best for your body type. The more comfortable your gear, the more likely you will wear it consistently. 

Don’t Skimp on Quality: While it can be tempting to opt for cheaper gear, investing in high-quality safety equipment is essential for your protection. Look for reputable brands and read reviews from mountain bikers to ensure you get durable, comfortable, and effective gear. 

Conclusion

Mountain biking is an adventure that’s packed with excitement, but it’s crucial to prioritize safety with the right mountain bike accessories. From helmets to gloves, each piece of gear protects you from injuries and gives you the confidence to tackle any trail. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rider, ensure you’re equipped with the essentials before heading out. 

If you’re looking for the best mountain bike accessories, check out Adventure Gear Tech for top-quality gear to keep you safe on every ride. Ready to hit the trails? Gear up, stay safe, and enjoy the ride!

Continue Reading-

[theestervashti]

"The Strand." From Esther 6: 4-5.

The conflict between Haman, a populist, and Marduk, the god of humanity over the fate of the Jewish people in the Court of Persia continues. The King, Xerxes, wants the nonsense out of the his life, and chose to hear the Jewish goddess Esther , who represents sentience regarding a proposal to spare them.

The court represents the intersection of all of these, the ways communities make their choices. Obviously it takes a significant number of people to perform a genocide, far more than those whom the government is planning shall no longer be with us. The prophet argues now there must also be many more than even these if they are to be spared.

There is something wrong with mankind that the subject even comes up. We are told, all of us, killing is wrong, spite is wrong, everyone knows the Prime Commandment of Jesus Christ and every kindergartner is told "do no harm." But as adults we do whatever happens next. The permissiveness of the Biden White House and Department of Justice towards the Republican Party and the Trump Campaign for example resulted in an attempt at a final genocide of the Jewish people. And for a time the idea actually had momentum, it was safeguarded and relished.

The gathering of the fukchucks with houndstooth towels on their heads with drums at college campuses all around the world are symptoms of a human race that follows populism rather than the Words of God. It is the secular government's duty to ensure, much like a kindergarten teacher around little ones that no harm is done.

4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

To be impaled on a pole means to be persecuted if not prosecuted by populists. Populism is a kind of gaslighting, means it teaches victims to reframe their suffering at the hands of their abusers. Gaslighters teach their prey how to endure the suffering they cause as if it is a flaw for them to question what is happening.

Populists do this en masse. Like the Republicans they frame the issues, like immigration and abortion as if they are dire threats to human life and the future of America and it is deeply flawed, morally, spiritually, and ethically if not inherently dangerous to disagree.

Populism manipulates miscreants into thinking they are a unique and special group that has a destiny but are temporarily being persecuted for the sake of the greater good, which they are not. It is a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. Civil rights laws are always thrown under the bus because of populism in spite of the fact they are fully enforceable at all times.

The persecution of Jews, Muslims, Africans, LGBTQ persons and immigrants is very popular as a result even though it is absolutely illegal. So the challenge of secular governors who employ spiritual principals is to disengage from the popularity contest surrounding certain issues and pound the hammer on the debate as firmly as possible.

In our times this means President Biden needs to tell America there is no such thing as Pro-Life, we have signed treaties with other nations stating we will not interfere in pregnancy it is a federal law and care practice guideline for the medical community as well. In spite of the fact Pro-Life is very popular, it is utterly illegal to challenge the government or the public on this issue and closing the argument down will be healthy for the rest of the social system for all time as it will kill the persecution and prosecution of persons the government has permanently pledged to protect.

The Values in Gematria are

v. 4: The King said. The Number is 7845, זחדה‎, zahda, which means to teach a child how to catch and hold a poisonous snake.

v. 5: His attendants answered. The Number is 3419, ג‎דאט‎ ‎, gdat, "the shore, the banks of the river, the strand." AKA "the proper political positions."

"Our noun γη (ge) denotes land as the opposite of sea (Mark 4:1), and heaven (Matthew 5:18). It denotes land as that which yields vegetation and produce (Matthew 13:5), or land as supporting a political entity: a country or region (Matthew 2:20), or the whole human realm (Luke 11:31, Romans 9:17).

Our word also denotes the foundation of man's stance, poise and stride (Matthew 15:35, John 8:8, Acts 9:4), and is as such a metaphor for knowledge and certainty (see our article on πιστις, pistis, meaning faith, or "the dry land of the mind").

The feminine noun דת (dat) is a loanword from Persian (the original word is data), and it means decree or law. Because it's Persian, it occurs only in the Book of Esther (Esther 1:19, 2:8, 4:3 and seventeen more places) and once in Ezra (Ezra 8:36). And because it refers to Persian law (which could be decreed by the king on whatever of his whims) it should not be confused with the Hebrew sense of Law, which only came from God.

Still, perhaps the Persian word for law could be so readily incorporated into Hebrew — truncated to דת (dt) instead of a more accurate דתה (dth) or even דתא (dt') — because it is identical to the Chaldean word דת (doth), meaning well or fountain.

In Deuteronomy 33:2 occurs the curious statement אשדת למו ('sdt lmw), which some translations explain to come from אשדה ('sdh), meaning mountain slope (NIV) but others interpret as אש דת למו ('s dt lmw), meaning a fiery law for them (KJV, JSP, ASV, Darby)."

The White House, has of late not taken positions that one might say equate to "fiery law" in order to protect women, children, or religious and ethnic diversity in this country. The Republicans are a sick and disgusting group of people with terorrism in their hearts and on their minds. Thousands of people are dead because of them. They cannot be allowed to participate in the government or community life alongside the rest of us.

Something has to be done. They are not trendsetters or rule breakers they are killers. After what happened on January 6, and then on October 7 and due to the casualties associated with the abortion ban, I insist all of them get the death penalty. The world needs to see us take our honor back.

[veese-gorbins]

So how do rationality and virtue contribute to a greater life? One has to consider their current life. For me, I feel a never-ending aura of guilt clinging to every inch of me. I bathe and it does nothing, I breathe and I choke on it, I sleep and I wake to it thicker than before. This aura originates from the universe and its natural flow of random chance. I was born in a good house to a family. Many, many others weren’t. It is no one’s fault that I can live well while others suffer. Unfortunately, it is no one but myself who is at fault when I suffer. When I can’t bear to go through the motions of living, when all I want to do is turn to dust and be taken by the wind, it is my own fault for feeling this. The feelings and thoughts are encouraged by many different factors, so many that it is impossible to pin down even a few origins, and only a handful of which I have a say over. It is a complicated, disgusting world we live in. It is permanently marred by the ones who hide themselves, and the rest are left to deal with the apocalyptic fallout.

Children should not have to live here.

Good people should not have to suffer.

Selfishly, I should not have to suffer.

The only plan of action I have is a long one. I am stuck at the beginning. I have to keep going. I am exhausted and I have so much more work to come. I need to change something, anything that will let me see through this smog. I cannot live the rest of my life here. I cannot let others live the rest of their life here. 

I’m insignificant now and I can’t bring myself to relish in it. The idea of being unknown. Peace, rest, and simple work. I don’t appreciate it now. I don’t know how to appreciate it. Everything feels so loud.

[prying-pandora666]

I think that’s a terrible misreading of Azula.

Of course Azula would’ve left. For the same reason the Fire Nation hasn’t colonized the Water Tribe yet despite their years of raids and attempted genocide.

They don’t see value in the Southern Water Tribe’s lands the way they do in the Earth Kingdom’s lands.

Azula never would’ve menaced the SWT because there was nothing there to gain. And if she did need to get something or someone out of there, she’d likely infiltrate and use subterfuge rather than charge in and demand things with ineffective threats the way Zuko did. I don’t know why people have the impression that Azula would run around terrorizing people for no reason when we never see her attack a single civilian for the entire duration of the show. Zuko meanwhile burns down Kyoshi village and menaces multiple others! Without regard!

The difference between Zuko and Azula at this stage isn’t that one is so much more intrinsically moral. It’s that Azula is simply more competent and thinks tactically, while Zuko is a hothead who relies on his raw skill and doesn’t actually bother to make exit plans. Nothing proves this better than how Zuko, when given the opportunity to join in on one of Azula’s plans of conquest, jumps at the chance! Even when it means betraying his own beloved Uncle.

Zhao? Maybe. He was that kind of loose canon bully at times.

But Azula?

She’d be in and out of there with the Avatar before anyone knew what had hit them.

Just like she stole Ba Sing Se under Long Feng’s nose.

That said, it notable that both Fire sibs were brainwashed to think this was all for the greater good of the world, and how they reacted the moment that vision of the world started crumbling for them. Zuko had days of fever and visions. Azula suffered a complete mental breakdown including hallucinations.

Zhao, meanwhile, seemed perfectly happy to relish in being that kind of arrogant bully. Right to the moment of his karmic death.

I've been rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender because why not and I'm losing my mind at Zuko's proper introduction. I don't know if it's hindsight, shifting characterizations, or just me not watching this in a long time, but this was amazing.

We start off showing he's an impatient and very angry kid. Reasonable, and the sort of flaw we might expect to see in a villain. Kinda funny that he expects to go up against an adult and fully 4-Element realized Avatar, but the kid is desperate and Iroh clearly expects his nephew to get the banishment-denial kicked out of him.

What's important here, though, is Zuko's introduction to the Southern Water Tribe.

Here, we have a very intimidating entrance where his entire ship just sails through the ice right up to the village's front door. It's quite ominous and this is our first proper introduction to how the Fire Nation interacts with a foreign people.

Sokka charges, I'm assuming fully prepared to die, and Zuko casually knocks him out of the way. Okay, so clearly the Water Tribe are entirely outgunned.

He asks "Where are you hiding him?" and the people of the Water Tribe go silent. I assume they're either just too scared to talk or actually protecting Aang.

Whatever the case, it's important to note that the Southern Water Tribe know the terror the Fire Nation can inflict. We have a whole episode dedicated to tracking down a division of raiders. Sokka was able to not only identify the ash-mixed snow as signs of an incoming attack, but estimate how many ships the amount of ash measures to. These are a people who have experience being terrorized and are probably expecting something terrible to happen.

And then, after they don't answer, Zuko grabs Gran-Gran. There was a horror sting to it, and everything the tribe knows about the Fire Nation suggests that Zuko is about to threaten or straight up hurt her to get answers. Classic "terrorize the elderly" bad guy stuff.

And then...

He goes "He's (the Avatar) be about this age and is a master of all four elements!?" and lets her go.

And all of a sudden, the tension that was built up is shattered as Zuko went "I know, I'll give them a reference for the person I'm looking for because clearly they're confused and I wasn't specific enough."

This went from a show of villainy to a show of Zuko being totally socially awkward and misreading the situation entirely. Not helping is that when he does try to menace them a moment later, his fire is slow and angled quite safely.

It still worked on the Water Tribe because they're understandably scared, but all I could think of is that this was the equivalent of a playground bully trying to make someone flinch with that fake-out lunge thing.

Because the fact-and something we'll come to learn-is that Zuko is TERRIBLE at being a Fire Nation oppressor. He's capable of doing morally dubious things and is a competent fighter. But he's lousy at terrorizing people and cruelty-that's kind of the point of his banishment.

And while we can see the story paint this picture of Zuko's true character as the story goes on with hints of good and conflicting loyalties, here we get to see just how bad he is at being "the bad guys".

[toa-arania]

"Good evening, darling. I hope you slept well."

A light clicks on, and a comfortable room comes into view. Across from you, a woman you recognise sits with one leg crossed over the other, glass of wine in hand. As you properly come to, you realise you've been handcuffed to a chair. Of course she has handcuffs.

"You must have so many questions. I can't answer all of them, but you deserve an explanation of sorts. I'm sorry to tell you it won't ever leave this room. I don't suppose you know what I am, do you? I should hope not. My… contemporaries, let's call them, wouldn't like that. I'm sure you'll work it out as we go."

She hums in amusement as she watches you struggle. If there's emotion in those eyes, you can't see it. Just that inscrutable fucking smile she always wears.

"Tell me something, darling - do you consider yourself to be cruel? I won't judge you. Under the circumstances, it's hardly my place. But it interests me. Many people like us don't think of themselves as cruel. We do what we must in order to stay on top. To maintain the way of things. Some would say that is cruel. Some would call it natural. What do you think, hm?"

She gestures at you expectantly. When you don't answer, she rolls her eyes. She stands, starting to wander around the room. She downs her wine with practiced, showy technique. It doesn't even seem to affect her. She walks back towards you slowly, as if trying to build anticipation for something.

"Personally, I try not to be cruel. I'm very careful, you see, about a great many things. I maintain my life as the Silver Siren with the utmost precision. The picture of decorum and style. Worthy of my name and reputation. The same goes for my "other" life. After all, I have many responsibilities; Mistress Harpy of Bristol, Whip of Clan Ventrue... I suppose you don't know what any of those words mean, darling. I must be perfectly composed. Utterly unflappable. I take pride in it, and even greater care. A single mistake could be my undoing in more ways than one. I've had my brushes with the edge of grace, but I've never fallen, and that is because I show restraint."

She tilts your chin up with the tip of her finger. You aren't sure why you don't resist. She gives another one of those hums and walks around behind you, trailing her finger along your shoulders and behind your neck.

"That must not sound that difficult to you, darling. You mortals have to keep your tempers in check all the time. It's different for us. Inside every one of us, even me, there is a Beast. A cruel, savage monster, an urge to harm, wound, torture. An instinct that, if you allow it, will define you. Many of my kind bow to it often, and allow it to dictate their lives. Some are even subsumed by it entirely. I survive and I build my life by taming it. By controlling it."

She runs a fingernail up your neck. It's strangely gentle, given your treatment so far. You struggle again, and she presses just a little harder into the base of your skull. She almost breaks skin before she steps back into your view, caressing your cheek.

"You know, darling, there are many people I see who enjoy pain, and I'm all too happy to facilitate that. Those little tastes help me satiate my Beast… but they aren't enough, truly. I must still show restraint when I feed. The Kiss makes it simple so long as I do not lose control. But constant discipline is not possible, darling. If I try, the Beast will claw its way out and I will lose myself to it. Every so often I need something a little more... indulgent."

There's a different look in her eyes now. She hides it well, but her self control is slipping. You see hunger. Ravenous, barely suppressed hunger. When she opens her mouth, you could swear you see fangs that weren't there before.

"I try not to be cruel, darling. I do not kill, for my own safety. I follow my ambition but I do not inflict suffering without purpose... and yet when I allow myself to punish someone, I relish it like nothing else. If it's any comfort, I've enjoyed our trysts these last few months. It isn't your fault that your disappearance will simply be blamed on your rivals. This truly is nothing against you; I just need someone. I respect you enough to give you one last gift."

She leans in close to whisper in your ear.

"I will make your agony beautiful."

[ballpoint2point0]

Da Champ

Posture. Demeanor. Charisma. Swag. I sit in the chamber, tuck. I do it and I do it well. I'm a living embodiment, image of greatness, of stellar performance and prestige. I'm better than you and you know it. I know it. I look like it. And that's what matters, because image is everything. Like a bomb ready to blow, the world in an apprehensive state; I am the one.

I am not timid, I am not flinching, I am not unsteady, I do not waver, I can not cry, I am not weak, I do not doubt, I am not shaky, I grip pins and needles and I am heavy.

Scary. Like a menacing, prowling and overly forward overshadowing, oversized black dog, panting, breathing, approaching, conquering. My mouth is open. My energy is hot. In this moment, we both know it. My strength is greater, in the overwhelming way, you'll get used to it by now.

Da Champ isn't someone to get to know... I might come across as user friendly, even inviting. Let's say it's lure, an attraction state. I am not your friend, I am your competition. If you wanted someone nicer to play with, you can get with the losers. Bravado reeks... And it rubs off too, you might treasure the chance to get to know me closely... With that being said, get to know me...

My stance is ultra. My position is optimal. My physique is prime. My attitude is nonchalant. My prose is large. My pleasure is valuable. I am the one. Easily. It doesn't take much to be me, winning is effortless. Breathe. Take it into the lungs, it's an astrology component. Feel the power deep in your chest, gaurding your rear, burning iniquity, melting transgression. The pressure is good, it's massive and tangible all in one. Momentum is chance's best friend. I thrive in the moment of the flesh. I kill. I'm ruthless in the cut... Like hot water on the stove before it's boiled. My latent energy will melt you, let's see what you're really made of.

I am light, I am dark. I am ice, I am fire. I am spirit, I am soul. I am brittle, I am bone, I am stone, I am good. You can be nothing. I regret to inform you... Well you know, it can be this way sometimes, life's little unfortunes... I am hard, I am heavy; I am power. I am live, I am dense, I am tension like tug of war. I am war, I am peace; I am death in iniquity, I am sins forgiven. I am strength, I am virtue, I am powerful. Who are you? Most likely, who are you to me? Again, I am bitter, I am sour, like suffer in defeat. I am tar, I am shadow; like reaped benefits in of luck. I am true, I am truth; I am one with you as nature in wild. I am clean. I am certain. I am original. . . How shall I put it bluntly???

I sit here and I consider greatness. Thou be it with you in mind... Every move to be, a decisive action with delicacy in every way. I have standards and you have many weapons formed against me. My value, my merit, always at the expense of to be dispensed. I wait as patiently as I can in as little time that there is allotted... Who am I? At first glance, all is at a lost to it, because that's who I am. I wish not to upheave or upend anything frail and dying... In a moment's notice anything and perhaps everything can change. How am I? I am the sword in it's sheathe, very little indeed.

Grave consequences stem from monumental action. I have hope and it is required of me. I can't begin to describe the order in chaos that I middle about for it is life itself that takes care of me. Downplay my words and be forever at whim: Winning is a responsibility. You are already in danger because of me, in harm's way. The top of your head I hear screams and cries and nothing. Smoothly pet is the cat that crept.

You must get to know me and I am the champion. What am I? Is it for certain, I relish in the moment of uncertainty. I flourish in the movements of life, blossoming and unyielding to death. Like a great boxer, my gloves are red.

[frontproofmedia]

ANTHONY JOSHUA RETURNS HOME TO FIGHT JERMAINE FRANKLIN ON APRIL 1

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Published: February 07, 2023

BLOCKBUSTER BOUT TO BE INCLUDED IN DAZN SUBSCRIPTION  MATCHROOM AND DAZN ANNOUNCE FIRST 2023 SHOWS INCLUDING TAYLOR VS. SERRANO II ON MAY 20 IN DUBLIN  

Former two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World Anthony Joshua returns to our screens to face Jermaine Franklin live from the The O2 in London on Saturday April 1

ALL fights to be included in £9.99 monthly DAZN subscription, marking the first time in over eight years that Joshua has not been on pay-per-view in the UK

Taylor vs. Serrano II, Callum Smith, Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez and Joe Cordina all return to the ring

Former two-time unified Heavyweight Champion of the World Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) fights at The O2 in London for the first time since 2016 as he begins life under the tutelage of new head trainer Derrick James. ‘AJ’ returns to the scene of his first World Title win over Charles Martin to face another American contender in Jermain Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs). Saginaw’s ‘989 Assassin’ pushed Dillian Whyte all the way in a close points loss at Wembley’s OVO Arena last November and is relishing his shot against one of the biggest names in the sport. British megastar Joshua is ready to begin his ascent back to the top of the Heavyweight division after suffering back-to-back losses to pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk in London and Saudi Arabia.   This fight will be the first in Joshua’s new five-year partnership with DAZN to be streamed live, exclusive, and worldwide on the digital sports entertainment platform, which is fast becoming the undisputed Global Home of Boxing. Joshua vs. Franklin will be included in the £9.99 per month DAZN saver subscription, making it the first fight in over eight years that fans do not need to pay an additional pay-per-view fee to watch Joshua. Beyond the UK, DAZN is available in over 200 territories. Simple to download as an app on Smart TVs, games consoles, tablets and mobiles, and subscribed to with one-click, being on DAZN will make this the most accessible Joshua fight ever.    “I'm looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London.” said Joshua. “Mentally and physically I feel ready. I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards. Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights. This will be my first fight broadcast on DAZN in the UK and it will be globally available on the platform. I want to thank DAZN for supporting both myself and the sport of boxing as a whole. I would also like to thank the team at 258 and Matchroom Boxing.”  “I’m ready to show the world why it’s time for me to take my place at the top of the Heavyweight division,” said Franklin. “Joshua had his time.  It’s my time to shock the world! This fight isn’t going to the judge’s card. I will have win number 22 come April 1. That ain’t no April Fool’s joke.”   Alongside Joshua vs. Franklin, Matchroom and DAZN have announced its largest ever schedule of content for the first half of 2023 that will see even more iconic and emerging boxing talent, including five other premium fights, on its platform alongside an ever-greater roster of other sporting entertainment.     The following shows will be shown live and exclusive on DAZN with further fights and full undercard details to be announced shortly:

Saturday, February 18: Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara

Hometown hero Leigh Wood (26-2, 16 KOs) puts his WBA Featherweight World Title on the line against big-punching Mexican Mauricio Lara (25-2-1, 18 KOs) as Matchroom’s 2023 schedule in the UK begins with a bang. ‘Leigh-thal’ memorably stopped Michael Conlan in the 12th and final round of his epic first defence of the WBA 126lbs title back in March 2022, knocking the Irishman out of the ring in brutal fashion to end their Fight of the Year stunner. ‘Bronco’ has been waiting patiently for his shot at Wood after their eagerly anticipated September 24 fight was postponed following a torn bicep suffered by Wood in sparring, but the Featherweight KO artist finally gets his dream World Title opportunity this month in what promises to be an epic battle between two knockout artists.  

Saturday, March 11: Callum Smith vs. Pawel Stepien

The WBC’s No.1 ranked Light-Heavyweight contender Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) returns home to face undefeated Pole Pawel Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena as he looks to secure a showdown with unified WBC, WBO and IBF ruler Artur Beterbiev later in the year. A stacked undercard sees Australia’s WBO Global Super-Lightweight Champion Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) put his title on the line against local favourite Robbie Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) following his sensational first-round KO win over fellow Aussie Brock Jarvis last October. One of the hottest prospects in America Diego Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) fights in the UK for the first time as faces another step up against Little Lever’s all-action Super-Middleweight Jack Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs). Full undercard details to follow.  

Saturday, March 18: Cyrus Pattinson vs. Chris Jenkins

Matchroom’s first NXTGEN card of the year at the Utilita Arena Newcastle features some of the very best prospects in the North East looking to take the next steps in their promising careers. Former Team GB standout Cyrus Pattinson (5-0, 3 KOs) faces his toughest test so far in the professional ranks against Wales’ former British Welterweight Champion Chris Jenkins (23-6-3, 8 KOs) while Tokyo 2020 Olympic Silver Medallist turned Welterweight prospect Pat McCormack (3-0, 2 KOs) looks to wow his home crowd against Italy’s Dario Socci (15-7-2, 6 KOs) in his first scheduled eight-round contest. Also on the card, Birmingham’s Solomon Dacres (5-0, 1 KO) squares off with Newcastle’s Robert Ismay (11-0, 4 KOs) for the English Heavyweight Title.  

Saturday, April 8: Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez vs. Cristian Gonzalez

Boxing’s youngest World Champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) attempts to become a two-weight ruler when he clashes with Cristian ‘El Chicharito’ Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBO 112lbs at the Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio. The 23-year-old sensation from San Antonio, Texas enjoyed a stellar 2022, becoming boxing’s youngest active World Champion in February, stepping in late to meet Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC Super-Flyweight strap in Phoenix and then putting on a stunning display in his first defence, stopping Thai star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home turf in June inside eight rounds. He was named the Fighter of the Year by ESPN in their midyear awards for 2022 before outpointing Israel Gonzalez on the ‘Canelo’ vs. ‘GGG’ undercard in September.  

Saturday, April 22: Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Joe Cordina

Unbeaten Welshman Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) attempts to win his IBF Super-Featherweight World Title back against current belt-holder Shavkatdzhon Rakhmiov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) at the Cardiff International Arena. ‘The Welsh Wizard’ captured the famous red and gold belt with a stunning one-punch knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa on a memorable night at the arena last June. Cordina was scheduled to make the first defence of his World Title against Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi last November but suffered a hand injury that required surgery and was subsequently stripped of his title by the IBF. Rakhimov won the vacant title by stopping Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in nine rounds on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez.  

Saturday, May 20: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2

Irish legend Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) fights in Ireland for the first time in her professional career, putting her Undisputed Lightweight World Title on the line once more against Puerto Rican star Amanda Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KOs) in an unmissable rematch. Taylor cemented herself as the greatest female fighter on the planet by edging out Serrano in an epic fight for the ages on an iconic night at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York last April. The global superstar retained her belts after a Fight of the Year contender with multi-division World Champion Serrano – the first women’s boxing bout to headline the famous MSG in its 140-year history, attracting an unprecedented audience of 1.5 million tuning in globally on DAZN. Alongside this jampacked schedule of boxing, in the last 12 months DAZN has added 75 media properties to its UK offering, giving – in particular – combat sports fans access to the widest range of live and on demand content. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) partnered with DAZN to launch PFL Europe, the inaugural event will be held in Newcastle on 25 March and broadcast globally on DAZN.     In the UK DAZN is available as a Monthly Saver (x12) at £9.99, an Annual Super Saver priced at £99.99 and a Flexible Monthly Pass priced at £19.99.   How to watch DAZN 

Watching on DAZN is simple and easy. 

Go to the app store on your chosen device, search for and download the DAZN app.   

Create an account, choose a plan and start watching anywhere – on your phone, tablet, smart TV and gaming consoles. 

You can log in to multiple devices and enjoy top sporting content anywhere.  

"What an incredible year Matchroom and DAZN have in store for fight fans around the world - and this is just the beginning," said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. "The UK's biggest boxing star Anthony Joshua returns to our screens on April 1 as he looks to reclaim his spot as the number one Heavyweight on the plant. 'AJ' has reset and refocused and he is on a mission to defy his critics as he kicks off his exciting new partnership with DAZN. Modern legends Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano run it back for all of the marbles at Lightweight in what will be one of the most iconic sporting events that Ireland has ever seen on May 20 in Dublin. Their first meeting at MSG last year was one of the very best night's I've experienced in boxing and the rematch promises to be even bigger and better. "Callum Smith is within touching distance of a shot at unified Light-Heavyweight ruler Artur Beterbiev and can't avoid any slip-ups against Pawel Stepien on his Liverpool homecoming on March 11 and boxing's youngest World Champion Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez attempts to create even more history on April 8 when he goes for gold at 112lbs against Cristian Gonzalez. 'The Welsh Wizard' Joe Cordina attempts to recapture his IBF Super-Featherweight World Title against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in Cardiff on April 22 and the young guns are out to impress in our first NXTGEN event of the year in Newcastle on March 18 - not forgetting the small matter of Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara in just under two weeks' time in Nottingham. It is without a doubt the best schedule in boxing and there's still so much more to come. Watch it all live on DAZN." “This is the most eagerly anticipated fight of Anthony Joshua’s career, and, at DAZN, we are delighted to deliver it to fans in the UK and around the world as part of their monthly subscription, making it the most accessible 'AJ' fight in a decade”, DAZN CEO Shay Segev said. “Beyond our unrivalled boxing schedule, we are committed to building our library of sports content the UK. Our tie-up with KSI’s Misfits to create X Series and joint venture with Professional Fighters League to launch PFL Europe are just two examples of what we will do to deliver top sports content to DAZN subscribers.”  “We have worked with Anthony Joshua for five years, and we are incredibly excited to be kicking off our new UK relationship with him on April 1," said Joseph Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group. "Being ringside for Taylor vs. Serrano at a sold-out MSG was one of the great sporting moments of my life; what an incredible atmosphere and fight. Alongside this blockbuster, the schedule we have curated so far features some of our best talent, Jesse Rodriguez, Callum Smith and Joe Cordina. All live and exclusive on DAZN.” “This is the start of a hugely important phase for 'AJ' and it is exciting to be kicking it off exclusively on DAZN and at The O2 in London, a place he has had many memorable nights," said 258 Managing Director Freddie Cunningham.

[certainempatheticturkeymuffin]

-------

Zhongli knows what happens, when a sufficiently powerful being dies. Their power destroys the land around them, and though he does not remember gaining such power, clearly he is stronger than his mother and father combined at their peaks.

He knows he is dying, and does not know why. The melting of their reality provides a hint, but nothing can truly explain why he finds himself here, with the most beautiful being he's ever seen crying over him.

He must've gotten lucky, he thinks, for such an individual to love him so much. To cry as his mother had when his father died. He's weak. Too weak to ask why this is happening, too weak to ask the beauty to step away, lest they turn to stone so unlike the wind they are made of Too weak to demand even their name or relation to him. Too weak to hurt this loving god any more, with the knowledge that their Zhongli has already died.

Instead, he tells them not to cry, and dares to touch those pure white feathers. They are soft, and they do not belong in this destroyed world. He strokes them, for in his last moments he is permitted some turpitude, and watches as his beauty smiles through the tears, as if his words have given them hope. It is such a beautiful smile.

And he barely manages to ask for a promise, when they claim they can fix this, so they may never again suffer his death, so tears may never again stain their beautiful face… and yet he cannot help but feel he's done something terribly wrong, as their smile fades into one so similar to those duty-bound to be pleasant. Peaceful, but for the unease roiling underneath. He is too weak, physically now, to ask them to beam at him as they had done but moments before. To put aside that promise so his last view may be of his beloved smiling so beautifully once more. The beauty grips his crumbling hand, and their voice echoes with a power greater than all he's known combined.

“May this contract be bound in stone.”

And he knows he has made the worst mistake of his life. Has tied down the air itself to an impossible promise. He feels the remnants of his incredible power escape, to bind this impossible contract, and he cannot help but feel disgusted with himself as yet another tear falls. As those beautiful blue eyes turn gold, and a clock reverses. He cannot help but feel as if he's doomed this loving god to an eternity of misery.

As he dies, there is no power left to escape, none left to destroy an already destroyed world, and the last thing he sees is who must be the love of his life rewinding time.

His mother has always said he was ill-suited to words.

-------

When no disaster follows those words, when the rest of the geo archon's incredible power vanishes in an instant, Venti knows.

He knows that even Zhongli, a thousand times stronger than his strongest, would never be able to break this contract. Venti knows he has tied the wind to an impossible promise.

But nothing is irreversible to the Shade of Time.

And never again will Mondstadt fall.

-

Figured I may as well lean into the ZhongVen fully lol. Dunno if I'm continuing this, but it was fun to spit out!

And yes, Zhongli is a simp and his body remembering that he cared about Venti a lot is enough for him to go "ah yes, this must be my beloved, i am so lucky to have found someone that loves me as much as my mother loved my father, how weak i am for relishing in their affection instead of telling them to back away for their own safety — oh how soft their wings are, and how shameful i am for touching them. if they are allowing this, i must be their mate, they must not know i've already lost my memories of us, i mustn't hurt them more by revealing this!"

Meanwhile venti knows damn well he doesn't have his memories lol

Zhongli's regressed to a more mellow point btw. I headcanon that he was a good hatchling, then both his parents died and he became a bit of a fight-hungry maniac, then Guizhong came along, tamed him, and then she died and he went "oh fuck i have to be the responsible one now — i have to lead now."

so yeah. thanks for reading!

Unawakened Dream really awoke the plot bunnies! Enjoy!

-

The very fabric of Teyvat is unraveling — shattering into unseemly pieces; leaving gaping holes for the Primordial Sea to flood in. Mondstadt has long fallen — Dvalin and Andrius with it — and Venti thought he had no more tears to cry.

And yet…

“Zhong– Zhongli please! You can't leave me too!”

The geo archon lays at his feet, slowly crumbling to dust as erosion dared to claim him in the worst possible moment. The leaking of the geo archon's power destabilizes Teyvat even further. It brings Venti to his knees — threatens to turn him to stone alongside his last and oldest friend…

But Venti can't bring himself to care, as he grips onto Zhongli's crumbling hand and cries into his chest.

Zhongli does not remember Venti's face. He does not remember their shared battles, nor their hopeful songs or idle conversations. Venti is a stranger. And despite that, he gazes upon the image of their melting, shattering, dying reality, and dismisses it: deeming the sobbing archon above him more important.

Despite everything, Zhongli offers a calming smile, laying a half decayed hand upon Venti's unstained white feathers — a speck of soft and clean perfection in a disastrous painting. His voice is quiet and weak, missing his authority and wisdom, but it is still Zhongli.

“You… are important to me. Do not cry; one needn't waste tears over the inevitable and irreversible.”

‘Inevitable and irreversible.’ The thought stills him.

Because nothing is irreversible. Not to that spark split in three. Not to the power long abandoned. Not to the Shade of Time.

It has been millenia since the use of such power. Centuries since he'd thought of it…

Mondstadt would live.

Zhongli would live.

The tears don't stop at this realization, but Venti's grin isn't dampened as he looks into the clouded eyes of the only one left, “Nothing's irreversible Zhongli — not to me! I can fix this! I will fix this! I'll fix Teyvat– I'll save you!”

His words seem to send Zhongli into deep thought, but he speaks before Venti can even begin to draw upon those dimmed sparks, “Is that a promise?”

‘A contract?’ And Venti pauses. Because Zhongli does not know what power those words hold. Does not know that he is the God of Contracts, does not know that a promise bound by him is one impossible to break without severe consequence.

Venti has never entered a proper contract. Though he has always protected Mondstadt (he failed them), if he really felt like it, he could walk away without consequence. He has always retained the freedom of choice, even if the choices are mere illusions.

But what freedom is there if everyone is dead?

So Venti smiles — face marred only by tears, he is a picture of clean perfection amongst muddled destruction, untouched even in the final hour of Teyvat's demise. Untouchable, for even Teyvat's destruction is no guarantee of his own. He draws upon those faded remnants of Istaroth's power — of the power of the First Descender — and his voice is clear, echoing through the remnants of Teyvat and through the Primordial Sea, touching even the realities beyond their dream,

“I'll fix Teyvat, or die trying. May this contract be bound in stone.”

-

So yeah, may or may not make an actual fic, and did NOT intend this to be as ZhongVen as it was, but that image of Venti using Istaroth's power (of BEING Istaroth) really refused to leave me alone lol. I think it's mostly because I ADORE writing time loops, so even if I do already headcanon Venti as a time manipulator, seeing it in animated form... the temptation was too strong lol

[tinypurplewizardfan]

Tyrant

Mordekaiser

The tyrant. The shaper of legacies. This is a man of intense will to impose on others. Respect is not asked for, respect is forced; there is only violence in his world, and those who do not comply will be shattered against the cobble.

Perhaps he believed in inherent worth once, but that man was betrayed by his own faith upon death. To have his entire world broken at the gates of suffering. He was told he was worth nothing after all, to nothing he mattered and to nothing he would return. He was told to let go.

But Sahn-Uzal refused to fade.

Swain

The tyrant. The receiver of legacies. This is a man of intense will to impose on others for the good of the order. Respect is asked for but never expected- he knows there are few that truly listen to the undertones beneath his words. Violence is not a game he relishes but the heritage presses onto him like stones and he is forced to lash out.

Perhaps he believed in a better world through better actions once, but that man was betrayed by his own faith upon near death on the battlefield. Staring up into the cloudless sky as his lifeforce slowly seeped from his wound. He knew he'd been nothing. There in the field where all truths laid bare he was told that everything was beyond his grasp and always shall be.

But Jericho Swain refused to close his eyes.

Veigar

The attempted tyrant. The wayward legacy. This is a yordle of intense will to impose on anyone who will listen. Respect is desperately demanded. Violence is the only tool that will accomplish it. This is the only truth he knows.

Perhaps he believed in other truths once, but that yordle was betrayed by his own faith upon being shattered. Hundreds of years alone in the dark and robbed of all autonomy. He was told, forcibly, that he was nothing, nothing more than the dirt that lined the cobble, grinded down by the eternal heel. And oh, how he told himself to listen.

But Veigar refused to give up.

Return

Mordekaiser

There is nothing but cruel dispassion when he returns. One would expect efficiency in his conquest now but there is none to be found. Terror is the salve he spreads across the land. Nothing tangible matters to him anymore, to say he cares about the outcome is a gross overstatement. Something else fuels him now. Something stronger.

Swain

There is nothing but quiet cunning when he returns. The others think he has given up. They see him skulking in the garden alongside the ravens and think nothing of it. Perhaps he has been reduced to nothing greater than instinct, they say, but they fail to see the newfound glint in his eyes that tinges red with blood. He is rising. He will leave them all behind.

Veigar

There is nothing but hot, boiling rage when he returns. His perseverance has been rewarded but he feels no joy. He hurts and he hurts and he so desperately yearns for all that he's been robbed of, so he goes for the taking. No one will ever make him feel that way again, and he will bathe the entire world in blood to make sure of it.

Followers

Mordekaiser

Does Mordekaiser have any attendants? Of course he does- voiceless, willowy spirits who will not even move to save themselves unless he gives the word. Does he have a council? He did. They were useful tools, but tools with minds of their own are so costly to maintain and prone to. . . unfortunate acts.

He will not be so careless this time.

Swain

Does Swain have any attendants? He has some- few people in the machinations of the game are safe, so few people in the empire are trustworthy enough to rely on. Does he have a council? More than that- the two he confides in he has also chosen to bear the burden of leadership alongside him. Loyalty reciprocated. He depends on their input as much as he depends on his need to breath.

The Trifarix must hold. The future of Noxus depends on it.

Veigar

Does Veigar have attendants? Of course he does! Anyone and anything willing to pledge service he gobbles up hungrily. If they don't follow his orders, then they aren't loyal, and he has nothing to do with them. Does he have a council? Of course! Unique individuals with useful skills are a valuable asset. It'd be foolish to squander them. Threats of violence keep them in line, of course. . . but an asset that doesn't want to work is not an asset. This is where his predecessor faltered.

He just cannot think too hard about why everyone in his castle brightens whenever he enters the room instead of quaking in fear.

Morality

Mordekaiser

Morality is a shackle. "Good" is an inconvenience, a barrier to be shattered. There is no room for "good" in his vision of the world. After all, where was "good" for him when he needed it most? The only constant in his world is iron. "Good" is as foreign to him now as the most distant of stars- and equally as useless to his conquest.

Swain

Morality is an aspiration, but "Good" is not a reality he can afford. The road to hell is paved in good intentions, and he is very good at paving forward. He will do whatever is necessary to keep Noxus alive. He understands that this might take him down roads none should ever follow.

Veigar

Morality is an obstacle. "Good" is terrible, horrible, foolish, unrealistic, and painful. "Good" is a thing he's lost- it was torn from him, and he must rationalize it was for the better. "Good" is weakness, like hives under his fur, a lingering itch he must ignore. "Good" is absolutely not the thankful look given by villagers when he obliterates their former tyrant and brings them under his rule. Absolutely not.

Power

Mordekaiser

Physical strength. Violence. This is intrinsic to him, like how breathing once was. He has dozens of lifetimes of experience that tell him this and it is a lesson he passes along dutifully to all that will listen. Those who don't, crumble.

Swain

Secrets are power. Physical might is a useful tool but no populous can ever be forced to submit. They must be persuaded; at best convinced, at worst, coerced. He learned this in Ionia. It is a lesson he will never forget.

Veigar

Magical strength. Violence. It's the only way to ever mean anything. He was a very good student in the heart of the Immortal Bastion. It is a lesson he will never forget. But in his years since, he's come to supplement this lesson with something else: reputation. Names have power. He is learning how to wield his.

Regret

Mordekaiser

Don't be foolish. Regret would imply that he has faltered. Regret would imply that he was, at some point, misguided. Regret would seem to say that he erred in his actions, or that he had even misplaced his faith.

He had not misplaced his faith. He had not misplaced his faith. The afterlife promised to him by his faith did exist after all- he simply had to build it, seize it, soul by soul. And everything he had done in his prior life to do so had been, in the end, worth it. It had to be.

Swain

Don't be foolish. Noxian court politics would eat him alive if they caught a whiff of regret. Regret, like all other emotions that would betray a sense of humanity, would be easily taken advantage of. Regret would seem to say that he'd let his failures in the military consume him.

Which, to be fair, isn't far from the truth. He is more regret than man at this point. He keeps this fact bundled with the rest of his miserable little secrets beneath his trench coat, only a few inches away from where perhaps his biggest regret lives, pulsing where his arm used to be.

Veigar

Don't be foolish. Regret would imply that he was not in control. Regret would imply that he didn't relish every body he obliterated and every life he ruined. Regret would seem to say that for all his impressive presentation and immense power, he is hurting

He is not hurting. He is not hurting. Hurting means weakness, weakness means powerlessness. He cannot afford to hurt, so any twinge of regret he may feel, he banishes before it can take root. Where does he banish it to? He doesn't know. It doesn't matter, as long as it's out of his way.