#the fear: that nothing survives. the greater fear: that something does.

[catilinas]

cic. att. 14.10.1 trans. e-pistulae / lucan, pharsalia 7.638-46 trans. a.s. kline

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

as soft as a misty rain

cw. f!reader (no specified anatomy), recently established relationship, allusions that sanji's past is more complicated than he lets on, reader has a defined devil fruit ability

pairing. vinsmoke sanji x reader

synopsis. it is all typical sanji; there is no deeper meaning to his actions. until it isn't all typical sanji and now there are many meanings to everything he does.

notes. a back to school treat for pookie @hash-slinging-slasher-trash because we both survived the first week of the new semester. title comes from rain by swv, it just felt like it would really the vibes i was going for because established relationships are sweet, but the buzzing honeymoon phase of a recently established relationship can be a bit sweeter

Sanji has always handled you with care.

There is nothing to realize. It’s an objective fact that has been apparent from almost the very moment you met on Charmed Enclave. Aside from children, there are very specific individuals Sanji will always be gentle with. An enthusiastic softness, eager and ready to serve at the drop of a hat.

I’m not special, you had told yourself, clutching Zoro’s previous warnings tightly. He does this for every woman, with or without a pulse.

It didn’t matter how many treats he brought you, reserved solely for you.

There was no deeper meaning to when he held out his hand to help you down a few steps.

Nor did it matter if he’d push Zoro onto a puddle for you to walk across like a coat taking in all the liquid, amusing as it had been.

It’s all typical Sanji.

The question is raised when it isn’t typical Sanji; that is what makes your skin buzz as Sanj’s fingers thrum across your own. What makes your chest warm as you watch as he wraps a cloth around your palms and your fingers, how he touches you as if protecting a thousand treasures.

“I won’t lie and say the Nervy Nervy Fruit isn’t useful,” Sanji murmurs with a sigh. “But if you can’t feel pain, how are you supposed to recognize your limits? Like the other day.”

You chuckle sheepishly and Sanji’s expression is uncharacteristically sharp, unamused at the display. You are sure he will be sour about your turning off your pain receptors to test the heat of the stovetop a while longer. The blond has been fretting over you like a mother hen even since. “I’ll try to be more mindful,” you promise when your chuckles subside, letting your gaze rest on your connected hands. As of now, you’ve only dulled your senses to a light discomfort. Enough to feel everything without wanting to croak from your injuries. “But this time I was distracted, I normally don’t singe myself when I check how hot the stove is.”

That does little to sway Sanji in your favor.

“I’ll be more careful,” you dramatically let your head hang as if you’re being reprimanded by your boss.

“You’ll make Chopper sad otherwise,” despite his words, Sanji sounds satisfied with the conclusion. “Think about Chopper. That’s what you told me, remember?”

Your shoulders shake with hearty laughter, “don’t use my words against me,” you beam brightly with a hint of challenge. “And you should be thanking me. Quitting smoking is going to help you in the long run. What if they started calling you Black Lung Sanji? What would you do then?” Not to mention with how impressionable the young reindeer is, the last thing you want is to see him attempting to take a smoke break between patients.

With how hectic things tend to get for the Straw Hats, it is too easy to envision.

Sanji’s cigarettes and lighter had to go for the greater good.

As your laughter subsides, a comfortable silence settles over you both.

“So,” you feel possessed to break it. Comfortable as it may be, you fear you’ll drown in it. Sink deeper and deeper in it until you do something foolish, whatever foolish thing that may be. It’s easy to drown as a power holder, it is why you are always careful around the water’s edge. What happens when you find a piece of the ocean you aren’t afraid to fall into, however. You’ve never been prepared for that. “Have you always wanted to become a cook? I know that’s what you were doing before you joined the crew.”

At your query, Sanji’s eyes shine like a child’s, “it is.” As if he’s water flowing over a dam, Sanji tells you about his home in the East Blue. The floating restaurant, the Baratie ー a concept you’ve never certainly thought possible ー and the fighting cooks that reside in it.

He tells you about Zeff and the many cooks that joined his ranks over the years. Laughter falls from your lips as easily as the stories leave Sanji’s. 

The Baratie sounds more like the Waffle House restaurant chain throughout your home island than anything else. At the tail end of Sanji’s story about how a line cook named Peter got into a fist fight with three drunks and a cranky chicken, you finally ask, “what made you love cooking so much?”

“I’ve always enjoyed it, but I’d say my mom is the one who really encouraged it,” he tells you thoughtfully, his hands moving slower against your own as he recalls the woman. He should have long since finished, you know, but you don’t mind that he’s stalled in his 'wound tending efforts'. It’s nice feeling as if it is only you on the ship when in reality you are just the only ones awake. “I liked making her lunches, not that I was always good at it. But even if it tasted like garbage, she always ate it,” the blond’s dark eyes are miles away from where you sit on the Sunny. “Then she’d ask me to make her something else again.”

“I can’t wait to meet her,” you try to imagine what such a gentle person looks like. I think you probably look a lot like her. A good portion of the woman’s character certainly had been imbued in her son. He’s always been gentle and kind, you’ve seen it in how he treats Chopper.

It’s easy to baby the crew’s smallest member, but there is something unique in how everyone does it. Vinsmoke Sanji was meant to be a father. It’s a thought that flusters you, but you know it is true regardless. It’s a bit too soon to think about that though.

“It,” Sanji’s gaze doesn’t meet yours as his thumb brushes over the back of your cloth-covered hand. You aren’t able to dwell long on what exactly your newly minted boyfriend means, however, as he continues on. “will probably be easier meeting Zeff than my mother. He’s a stubborn old fart but he means well. You’ll like him. Just don’t believe anything those jackasses at the Baratie tell you about me. I just know they put up that god awful wanted poster of me where everyone can see it.”

A giggle slips from your lips at Sanji’s distressed expression and you recall how he begged for you to pretend the portrait didn’t exist. 

It’s easy to imagine all the cantankerous characters he mentioned growing up with. Zeff, Patty, Carne and you can easily picture the boisterous men hanging Sanji’s wanted poster for all to see like proud parents and uncles. Ones very good at teasing their group’s baby. The men who made Vinsmoke Sanji ‘Vinsmoke Sanji’.

“I can’t wait to meet them.”

Sanji pauses at your words before he lips stretch into a dreamy smile and you let yourself arrogantly assume he’s picturing the same things you are. “I can’t wait to introduce you to them.” With that, his tending to your hand is finished, cloth gently knotted so it can’t move. “I’m no Chopper, so he’ll probably have to redo it once he wakes up.”

You smile at his handiwork, “thanks again.” You think that will be the end of your little moment, but rather than let your hand go Sanji holds your fingers a touch tighter.

“Can I kiss your hand,” the cook asks earnestly, dark eyes reserved yet hopeful.

“You don’t have to ask permission for that,” your chest burns a gold the color of Sanji’s hair. It’s unfair how easily he gets your heart pounding like a drum. In spite of your words, he doesn’t lean forward an inch. “Of course you can,” you grumble, eyes darting to a particularly interesting piece of wood in your embarrassment.

The hair of his chin dances across your skin like raindrops.

[madwomansapologist]

YOU LOVE BLOOD TOO MUCH (BUT NOT LIKE I DO)

★彡 synopsis: awakened in a new era, sukuna found endless opportunities to hurt and maim others. he also found you, a sorcerer with an ever-expading soul bonded to oaths of pacifism and self-control. allured by the strength you decided to hide, sukuna realized this era could be far more fascinating.

chapter three: the first night or the one ryomen sukuna contemplated suicide.

warnings: ryomen sukuna being a bully, thoughts about violence, he isn't beating the flower lover allegations, a bit of hurt/comfort (c'mon yuji deserves a hug), cannibalism thoughts once more, tw human earthworm.

word count: [1,8K]

kill count: [0]

“Their blood will warm your hands”, his mocking echoed in the empty dorm. The large room felt smaller. “I’ll keep their heads intact for you to stare at their dim eyes.”

Yuji bit his tongue, tasting a bit of iron. He forced himself to concentrate solely on taking his clothes out from his backpack. It was hard. For the first time in his life, smoothing clothes he didn’t fold well enough was the best thing to do. The less annoying, too.

Ryomen Sukuna. A strong and arrogant imaginary demon, as Gojo-sensei explained earlier. Yuji witnessed firsthand the King of Curses’ unending taste for bloodshed—a heart stopped beating in his hands last night.

Yuji knew better than answering those constant provocations. What difference could it made? Not when his new roommate had no real power to hurt him. Not when this is all his fault. Not when Yuji fears those shallow threats may prove themselves not so shallow.

But no wit or willpower could make Yuji ignore a mouth ripping into his palm. “And don’t forget, brat, that it all will be your fault.”

After the slap, silence came. Except, it wasn’t after. The mouth disappeared on its own accord the moment before Yuji slapped his hand. The silence wasn’t his doing. There was no fulfillment in it.

Arguing with him is pointless, Yuji tried to convince himself. He knew it was the truth. Sukuna threatened to massacre, tried to eat a human heart, promised to kill his teachers. If a part of him feels guilt, it’s a really silent one. Then why am I not convinced?

Yuji kneeled down on the floor to grab his uniform, and the act felt too much like admitting defeat. Maybe it was. After all, confronting Sukuna only resulted in pain. But that’s fine. As long as Yuji is the only in pain, he doesn’t mind.

His frustrated silence made Sukuna rejoice.

A host for something greater. A weak receptacle that hasn’t earned respect. A walking dead body. That’s all the brat is. Sukuna will remind him of that at every change he gets, a promise he’s more than willing to keep.

The kid thinks having control over this body makes him untouchable and fails to comprehend how profane it is for him to keep on breathing. Unless this decadent era made them weak and stupid, sorcerers all across the country know about Ryomen Sukuna’s return. And they’re all terrified of it. Who wouldn’t be?

Control won’t protect him. The only thing that someone can always rely on is strength, and that the boy lacks immensely. His mentors won’t be near all the time, and because of them Sukuna understood there is friction between sorcerers and those in command. It won’t take long until control isn’t enough.

Does the weakling even understand his situation? If this world remembers his titles, then every sorcerer knows this peaceful era will be destroyed. Curses, humans, sorcerers: they all died the moment Ryomen Sukuna reincarnated.

Nothing will survive because nothing can stop the King of Curses, but anyone could kill this brat. He can bite his tongue to not argue and fear being the reason for someone’s death, but Sukuna knows it will be sorcerers to send the boy to his death. A wrong shot, a stupid move, and Yuji Itadori will bargain.

I’ll give you anything, Sukuna can almost hear his cries, taste his tears.

I want everything, Sukuna is ready to respond.

Except there is an obstacle. Someone that should’ve died. Someone smart enough to understand he would take full advantage of the boy’s naivety, valiant enough to restrain his possible movements for the near future, arrogant enough to do it with a smile.

A knock and the boy moved from the floor. He took a deep breath, forcing a smile to spread on his face. With the door unlocked, your silky voice and lily perfume reached them both.

“Good. You’re still awake”, you sighed. Showing him the box in your hands, Yuji’s smile became a bit more genuine. It made Sukuna want to puke. “I got you a few things.”

The boy took a step back, allowing you into his dorm. You dared to smile. Passing by them, the fluidity of your soul made Sukuna’s flesh crawl. The stupid boy assumed you were a monk, Sukuna don’t think you could ever be one. A fervid torment. That’s what you are.

Closing the door, Yuji looked at the wall and became aware of how embarrassing his poster was. “Are you still working, sensei? It’s super late.”

“I’m staying on my old dorm for a few weeks, my house is under renovation”, you put the box on a desk. You were right, Yuji only brought his clothes. And that poster. “Most days, I work until 2am, so consider this a deserved break.”

Yuji came closer, sneaking a glance inside the box. “You studied here too?”

“The director used to be my teacher.” Humidifier, bed sets, table lamp, towels, pillows, trash can: you placed everything on his bed and leaned against the table. “Talking about Yaga, did he hurt you a lot?”

“I’m fine, sensei! No worries. Thank you. For everything.”

You cocked an eyebrow. Crushing the box between you thumb and index, you transformed it into a one-inch cardboard ball. “If you need me, feel free to knock on my door. Goodnight, Itadori.”

He opened the door for you, hand stiff against the knob. You passed by Yuji, fingers tracing lightly at his knuckles. A heartbeat later, all of his hidden injuries were gone. “Sleep well, tough boy.”

“I meant it”, Yuji rubbed his hands. Sitting on the bed, he started fiddling with your gifts. His defeat diminished, giving place to a twisted gratitude. Sukuna considered biting you once more. “Thank you.”

Your hand lingered on the knob. There is so much you need to do, but there you were watching Yuji’s light withering. You imagine no one can escape a lonely night. Not on their own, that is.

You took a step back, tilting your head to check the hallway. Megumi was still awake hence the shadows moving through the doorway. Looking at your phone, you faced once more the fact it was late late and you have much to do

“Or would you rather watch a movie?” It wasn’t an empty offer; one you silently hoped Yuji would decline. You meant it. This kid is worth accumulating some work.

Yuji faced you, eyes widening as his energy suddenly came back. He didn’t bother pretending it wouldn’t be a nightmare to spend the night alone—with Sukuna. “Can we?”

“Fushiguro is awake”, you said. “He slept all day to recover.”

Yuji knocked on Megumi’s door until he opened it. Eyes small and hair damp, it took Megumi a moment to take off his headphone. The way Yuji smiled gave him chills. Something bad was about to happen.

“I was trying to sleep”, Megumi muttered.

“With that loud music?” Yuji taunted. Megumi said nothing in response. After all, the three of them were listening to Evanescence. “Let’s watch a movie, Fushiguro! You don’t have anything better to do, right?”

“Tea for you, popcorn for us”, you decided. Walking away, you threw Megumi your keys. “Don’t waste my time with a boring movie.”

In an instant, you were gone. Megumi took a deep breath, gesturing for Yuji to follow him. “You weren’t annoying her, right?”

“I wasn’t, Fushiguro”, said Yuji. “I’m polite.”

As they crossed the campus dependencies, Sukuna perceived the residuals of different cursed energies. Some recent, some about to disappear. He saw amulets at every amenity, seals on the training grounds and classrooms, felt different barriers beneath the earth. It all smelled like Tengen.

There are things time can’t change. Sorcerers intruding his plans, weaklings displaying underserved courage, Tengen adding a touch of rot into anything she does. Or is it a he now? Not that it matters, they always stink the same.

Once the darkhaired sorcerer unlocked a wide door, another presence overwhelmed Sukuna’s senses. Dense residuals, tart and menacing. Your cursed energy is nothing like your soul.

Sukuna wonders how your technique feels like. You can use weapons, reverse cursed technique, tolerate fatal wounds. Still, you haven’t attacked him with everything you have. What sort of damage can your own hands do? Can you entertain him for long enough?

It won’t matter. Sukuna might taunt you, drenched in the warm blood of the blindfolded sorcerer, and allow your battle to last more than a couple seconds to drink on your fear and rage. At the end, killing you will be easy and forgettable, a disappointment just like every other dispute.

 Every sorcerer with impressive positive energy forgets how simple it’s to defeat them. Cursed energy comes from the gut: one doesn’t feel anger in their toes or jealousy with their eyes. Heal yourself all you want, ignore the loss of a heart, but positive energy still comes solely from the brain.

And Sukuna’s specialty is cutting meat.

It’s convenient, really. That your blood tastes so good. Eating is a privilege of the living, and that Sukuna will demonstrate to you by finally sinking his teeth into your heart. He hopes your meat doesn’t disappoint him too.

“She calls this a dorm?” Yuji whistled. As he sat on the couch, Megumi turned the lights on. “This place is huge.”

“What movie should I put?” Megumi sat with the remote control on his hands, searching for something interesting. He frowned as if it was a life-or-death situation. “Do you like terror?”

Yuji walked around the living room, not touching anything but wanting to. Tall stacks of books besides your already filled bookcase, sealed dagger and axes on the kitchen counter, lavender incense burning near bloodstained yukatas.

On a sash, Yuji noticed a symbol. One that you wore earlier too. “What does that beetle on sensei’s robes means?”

 “It’s a scarab, Itadori”, Megumi explained. Yuji took the control from his hands, searching for something fun. “The sigil of the Minamoto clan.”

Yuji put on a movie and paused. “Can I ask you something?”, he whispered. After Megumi nodded, he leaned closer. “Why Gojo-sensei called her a monster? Are they really friends?”

Megumi sighed. Of course he did that. “She’s been called that since her birth.”

“But why?”

“She wasn’t supposed to be alive”, Megumi hesitated. “There are rumors. Too many rumors. That her mother did everything to abort. Surgeries, teas, hairpins. Sensei wasn’t supposed to be born. I don’t know the whole story.”

“So that’s why I sneezed.” The two boys jumped in place, but all you did was laugh. You placed a tray with popcorn bowls and a teapot on the coffee table. “What movie are we watching?”

It took Yuji a moment to breath again. “Earthworm man.”

That night, Yuji had fun meanwhile everyone else in your house considered suicide as a viable option.

all rights reserved to © madwomansapologist

[zaritarazi]

"Because people die. The fear: that nothing survives. The greater fear: that something does." (insp)

[edenmemes]

tloz: twilight princess (manga) starters

❝ i was shattered. i lost everything. ❞ ❝ i warned you not to take me lightly. ❞ ❝ we’re partners, aren’t we? ❞ ❝ ever since we’ve met, you’ve been disobedient and rude. ❞ ❝ take suffering as your companion, and unease and fear as friends. if you do, darkness will become light. ❞ ❝ it’s a cold world out there. you’ve gotta learn to trust folks. ❞ ❝ as you stand before me now, you’re all desperation and bravado. that is not true bravery. ❞ ❝ you can’t change your past and you can’t change who you were. you can only decide who you’re going to be. ❞ ❝ resentment is a trap of the heart into which everyone falls. ❞ ❝ you don’t look well. are you ill? ❞ ❝ you were born into life with a destiny. you cannot run away from that. ❞ ❝ you carry a smouldering darkness inside you. ❞ ❝ it’s considered impolite not to give your all in a fight. ❞ ❝ at dusk and dawn...it’s easy for all sorts of things to sneak by. ❞ ❝ since that day, so much has changed for me. ❞ ❝ i’m sorry. it’s been hard, huh? ❞ ❝ a true hero must shoulder a heavy responsibility. ❞ ❝ stay calm. move cautiously and remain vigilant. ❞ ❝ one more time. try telling the truth. ❞ ❝ why keep fighting until you’re just a broken wreck? ❞ ❝ if we start a fight, we must be ready to hit back. ❞ ❝ in the end, it’s easier just to be selfish. ❞ ❝ i was lost without you. i was lonely. ❞ ❝ why do i so often taste this sense of loss? ❞ ❝ i think both our journeys are pointing to the same place. ❞ ❝ power does not inhabit a blade without bravery. ❞ ❝ did you hear something? like the cry of a beast... ❞ ❝ what’s wrong? if you’re too weak, then just leave. ❞ ❝ what is strength? is it displays of power mocking the weak? destroying beauty simply to satisfy your greed? ❞ ❝ you get too worked up over things. ❞ ❝ easy for you to say. i’m the one getting beat up. ❞ ❝ i don’t need thanks. i didn’t do it for you. ❞ ❝ depending on your attitude...i might be able to help. ❞ ❝ if you don’t do as i say, i’ll take your arm off. ❞ ❝ as leader, i will not choose the path of pain and death for my people. i must protect them. ❞ ❝ strength isn’t about power...it’s about being brave. ❞ ❝ you have good eyes. the eyes of a proud beast. ❞ ❝ if the need arises, i will not hesitate to pick up a sword and fight. ❞ ❝ i guessed you had a secret past.   people can try to hide it, but nature shows through. ❞ ❝ i was lying when i said i’d never held a sword.❞ ❝ there’s no time for sentimentality. ❞ ❝ if someone comes in who knows about your past, i’ll protect you if they try to hurt you. ❞ ❝ is there something strange about me? ❞ ❝ be careful...there have been monsters around here lately. ❞ ❝ choose...surrender or die. ❞ ❝ when i feel uneasy or afraid i just think: ‘this is my mission’. ❞ ❝ don’t take me for nothing more than a fine doll good only for decoration. ❞ ❝ i’m nothing more than dirt. i’m not worth all that effort. ❞ ❝ why do you think we’re any safer here? ❞ ❝ don’t die on me now. ❞ ❝ ha! even you have a good idea sometimes. ❞ ❝ i fought through all kinds of monsters to get here...and i survived. ❞ ❝ i’ve spent so long looking for you! i’m so glad you’re safe. ❞ ❝ people are always hovering over me...and it’s so suffocating! ❞ ❝ some detours lead to unexpected good luck. ❞ ❝ you say whatever you think...i’ve never done that. ❞ ❝ there is no greater joy than helping a friend. ❞ ❝ what do you mean ‘never mind’? ❞ ❝ these days such peaceful travels are rare indeed. ❞ ❝ wildly rushing into danger isn’t courage. ❞ ❝ didn’t you say there’s something you need to do, no matter what it takes? ❞ ❝ i sense unprecedented danger approaching. ❞ ❝ how do you feel now, looking back upon yourself at that time? ❞ ❝ as usual, you’re a wimp. ❞ ❝ resentment is dangerous. it comes in through the slightest crack in your heart. ❞ ❝ i’d go to the ends of the earth for you. ❞ ❝ it really hasn’t been that long, but you’ve grown into a fine man. ❞ ❝ now is the time for us to take back all that was stolen. ❞ ❝ one thing’s certain --- those aren’t human. ❞ ❝ what do you fight to protect? answer. ❞ ❝ i wish you wouldn’t do such dangerous things. ❞ ❝ if you got hurt due to my mistakes...i don’t think i could live with that. ❞ ❝ why would you do all that...when we’ve only just met? ❞ ❝ it’s a pretty name. perfect for you. ❞ ❝ once your wounds heal, you’ll need to leave right away. ❞ ❝ the hero on his knees! quite a sight. ❞ ❝ how does it feel to be so strong? quite a rush, isn’t it? ❞ ❝ you’re all puffed up on your own arrogance...drunk on your own pride. ❞ ❝ i once wondered how good you are...now i see you’re really skilled. ❞ ❝ i’m not physically strong like you...but my wits, brains and analysis can be helpful. ❞ ❝ don’t say you can’t accept that this is the end. ❞ ❝ you just want to satisfy your own ambition and lust for power. ❞ ❝ it’ll be all right because we’re together. ❞ ❝ why would you leave me at a time like this? ❞ ❝ for the first time i feel like i’m overflowing with incredible power. ❞ ❝ there’s no time for doubt. you are the chosen one. ❞ ❝ your problem is that you demand absolute perfection. ❞ ❝ there is no easy path. but you can definitely overcome it. ❞ ❝ i’m so very sorry. i broke my promise. i hurt you. ❞ ❝ that’s the spirit. hate me more. only then will this fight be worthwhile. ❞ ❝ i thought you were dead. ❞ ❝ well...? say something. or has my beauty left you speechless? ❞ ❝ i never forgot you. not for one moment. ❞ ❝ sorry for killing the mood. ❞ ❝ light and shadow are two sides of the same coin. one cannot exist without the other. ❞ ❝ if you desire something...then that is my desire too. ❞ ❝ who says i’m afraid of you? ❞ ❝ your weapon is little better than a toy. ❞ ❝ all that awaits you is despair. ❞ ❝ i’ve done the unforgivable. i betrayed you. ❞ ❝ i’m here to repay you for what you’ve done. ❞ ❝ since i’ve met you, we’ve travelled a long way...and a lot has happened. ❞ ❝ are you on a journey of self-discovery? ❞ ❝ that was a great strike. if i was a hair slower, you’d have gutted me. ❞ ❝ when i was young, i wanted to be a hero. ❞ ❝ your struggle is futile. ❞ ❝ as you can see, i know how to fight. ❞ ❝ my hatred toward you will not be satisfied by merely killing you once or twice. ❞ ❝ you’ve been through a lot. ❞ ❝ whose side are you on? light or shadow? ❞ ❝ if you run then we’re done for! fight to survive! ❞ ❝ i’m not strong enough. not good enough. ❞ ❝ i must crush your bones, rip out your organs and relish your lingering cries of pain. ❞ ❝ that was close, huh? ❞ ❝ rest now. you don’t have to fight any more. ❞ ❝ i bear this sword so i can protect my home in times like this. ❞

[echantedtoon]

KNY Swap Au Ramblings

I've seen a lot of others make their own versions of a swap au and I wanted to create one too just for fun. None of this is cannon, and not everyone will be swapped out and it'll have my own twists on things. And have some things added for new story elements.

Most of the role swaps I've seen are usually with either Sanemi and Genya or Gyutaro and Ume replacing Nezuko and Tanjiro. Or the rolls are swapped with Tanjiro being the demon instead(personally my favorite interpretation of this is by @yuramec). But for this I'm swapping out the Kamado Siblings for the Tokito Twins. I won't go into depth about everyone but I will give important differences to the story.

WARNINGS: Mentioning of killing, death, lose of a child, etc.

EDIT: If you don't agree with any of the placements or head cannons that's fine. This is only my take on things.

PROLOGUE:

I'm swapping out Muzan for Kagaya for this purpose. Most of the story remains the same as it did in cannon with Muzan. Kagaya is born deathly ill, he's given the medicine made with the blue spider lily, however instead of killing said doctor out of anger Kagaya is completely overjoyed and taken by the doctor's success. He wants to make MORE medicine. He wants to give this to MORE people like himself! At first the doctor accepts this. He's excited for the success of his medical treatment. However something isn't right.

Kagaya is twisted by the medicine and it's effects on his body. He begins to crave human flesh as Cannon Muzan (who I will refer to as CM), however he sees it as a greater mercy to the masses. Why live such miserable lives when you can join him? Be a part of him? Death is a mercy. Life isn't. The doctor is appalled at the way the medicine twisted Kagaya into a far worse person. (His mindset would be a similar one to Cannon Douma. Seeing it as a mercy or better fate to become a part of something bigger for the greater good overall not really seeing his twisted thinking is only harming hundreds of others and not really caring believing the end goal is worth all the bloodshed to get there.) In a fit of frustration, he attempts to turn the doctor into a demon in order to force him to make more medicine after the doctor refuses to do anymore research disgusted by the results, however as he was still fairly new to making other demons, the doctor instead dies from the infected blood. Frustrated Kagaya attempts to make the next hundreds of years perfecting his technique and turning people into demons as 'sharing his gift'. The first few demons was his beloved wife Amane and their five children.

He attempted to turn the rest of his family into demons too but that did not go so well. (Apparently it's cannon that Kagaya used to have two younger brothers). As with the doctor his youngest brother's body didn't react to him changing and Kagaya accidentally ended up killing his youngest brother. His other younger brother and their father fled and went into hiding. His father later blamed himself heavily for all of the evil Kagaya does and takes his own life. Kagaya's brother later goes on to create the demon slayer corp in search of a way to stop him. Later down the line the Ubuyashiki name is lost and replaced by the last name Kibutsuji, their bloodline cursed due to creating the first demon progenitor.

KAGAYA UBUYASHIKI AND FAMILY AS DEMONS:

He sees his demons as 'beloved children' and as such sees what they do (eating humans, killing, etc) as nothing wrong and only as a means for survival and to spread his 'gift.' Don't underestimate him however. He may not rule by fear but his voice and mind is able to manipulate and soothe most demons into submission, and he is not afraid to use force if needed. Amane and their demon children are the ones that he allows to eat disobedient demons if they're hungry and he does so with a warm smile on his face. It puts the fear into anyone who sees it if they aren't already loyally following him. He is also crazily strong physically and mentally.

Desperately looking for both the blue spider lily and the Kibutsuji family. He doesn't want to kill Muzan and his family per say. Merely to put a endless mercy to his beloved little brother's family's torment and free his own 'children' from theirs. Whether it be by turning them or by 'sending them to heaven' he hasn't decided yet. Created the Infinity Castle as a safe haven for his newly turned family and any demon deciding to live there.

Amane is his beloved spouse and is actually the one who controls the Infinity Castle in place of Nakime, and constantly rotates it keeping track of their children. She usually just blinks and any demon her husband wants is immediately teleported to them. Their children are absolutely NOT allowed to leave the Infinity Castle. AT ALL. 

He created the twelve Kizuki as a way to reward his most obedient 'children' and as extra protection for himself and his family. The lower three moons are usually killed off not by him but usually by Sanemi in anger or by slayers. Otherwise he has no problem with how the Kizuki interact. Although his favorite is Yoriichi who happens to be Upper Moon One, and his most loyal and powerful demon.  He usually doesn't have any trouble blending into society Thanks to his personality but he still eats, kills, and makes demons. 

UPPER MOON ONE YORIICHI:

This one's sorta obvious but also an idea I haven't seen explored too often also he's not as OP as he is in cannon. Essentially everything proceeds to happen with Yoriichi the same as in cannon. I mean everything is the same except for Uta's death. As Yoriichi is late to getting back to Uta and their unborn child, Uta unexpectedly went into early labor losing the child and her own life due to complications. Unfortunately Yoriichi arrived a little too late and was devastated by the discovery of his family, but as the causes of death was natural instead of by the hands of a demon, Yoriichi does not develop the hatred for demons he has within the normal timeline. Yoriichi still buries Uta in the mountains where the blue spider lily grows unknown to everyone, and leaves to wonder aimlessly until coming across one of the strongest demon slayers at the time battling a powerful demon. Being the kind person he is Yoriichi helps him with his own sword skills where afterwards the slayer is impressed with Yoriichi's skills and invites him to join the corps. Without the drive of hatred for demons, Yoriichi decides to join instead for a desire to help others and a place of belongings. From there everything also continues as in cannon. Yoriichi meets Tanjiro's ancestors saving them from a demon and becoming good enough friends to teach the Hinakami Kagura dance, and gifts them his earrings as a keepsake. He still comes across Michikatsu and everything continues as it was.

Michikatsu's own story proceeds the same without much change. His entire backstory up to this point does not change in the slightest. His pride, his jealousy, his drive. All of it remains the same. The only real difference is when Yoriichi and Kagaya happens to accidentally come across face to face. 

Because of the real driving hatred of demons Yoriichi would've previously had, and Kagaya's own nature, it would inevitably end up differently. Kagaya's compliments of his strength and the genuinity of his compliments and kindness has Yoriichi confused. He was different than all the regular blood thirsty demons that he usually killed, so why was this so.. Different. His hesitation and confusion leaves Kagaya with an opening to explain himself and to explain his twisted 'help' and Yoriichi finds himself entranced. Kagaya's talks leads the two to genuinely bond over their own personal losses and lives and Yoriichi finds himself oddly at peace listening to the Demon King's words. What if he was right? What if this new medicine could've prevented Uta from dying and had made it possible for their child to survive? What if his mother could've also been spared such a tragic fate? What if this entire tragedy could've been prevented? 

Kagaya genuinely likes Yoriichi's personality and genuine drive of the same goals he has. Sure he manipulates him a little bit but in the end it's 'for the greater good for everyone'. So when he offers the haishira his blood, Yoriichi only needs a few minutes to think it over before accepting. Yoriichi as Upper Moon One is stoic, distant. Barely speaks. Somewhat twisted by the blood in his veins. He's been rejected and cast aside for so long and been dealt so much grief that it was easy for him to follow Kagaya. He has a place now, with a purpose. A GOOD purpose. He loves playing with the Ubuyashiki quintuplets and gets along with most of the other Kizuki, although during his long reign as a demon he's become numb to most feelings making him a ruthless asset on the battle field for Kagaya's purpose. 

His one regret is Michikatsu. 

Michikatsu's reaction to his brother ascension to a demon was rather mixed to say the least. He's angry. Enraged that his brother had not only gotten stronger, but was just handed that power essentially without even working for it as he had. (Context for that see @lavenderdrxp's character analysis of Kokushibo/Michikatsu's work ethics and character drive for this next bit.)  Not to be out done, not to be bested by his brother anymore, not to allow his work to be undermined- He rejects Yoriichi's offer to join him in serving Kagaya disgusted by the thought of joining only to never surpass him for eternity and have the proof constantly living with him. So he rejects Yoriichi's offer, opting to try and kill his brother instead. It ends with Yoriichi killing his brother in battle. The death of his (for now) only remaining family member drives Yoriichi further into his emotionless state. 

His prized possession is the flute Michikatsu gifted him which he carries with him. He fights using his sun breathing techniques and making six swords with his arms. After being changed into a demon, Yoriichi's body suffered some permanent damage from the side effects of Kagaya having problems creating demons. To make up for this, Kagaya gifted him six arms to replicate the movements he once originally had. In similarity to Yoriichi Type Zero.

UPPER MOON TWO GYOMEI: 

Most powerful Haishira becomes second most powerful demon. Gyomei runs a (cult-) refuge in the same way Cannon Douma does, the only difference is that he actually believes what he teaches, deeply believes in Kagaya, and believes sending the helpless people that flock to him to 'Eternal Paradise' actually helps them and spares them from their tragic lives.

He fights using stone manipulation demon arts similar to Cannon Douma's ice manipulation abilities.

UPPER MOON THREE MITSURI:

Not much to say about upper three. She's very strong and flexible and uses the strength to claw her way up the ranks to just under Gyomei who she couldn't bring herself to challenge because he's too nice to fight for Upper Two. She was changed after running away from home and striking a friendship with a snake demon. Obanai changed Mitsuri out of greed and selfishness. Mitsuri clawed her way up the ranks because she heard that she could get more attention from demons and slayers if she was an upper rank. Originally joined Upper Ranks looking for a husband.... Obanai is still sitting in the sidelines trying to get her attention back on him.

Her demon arts are similar to Akaza's that she fights using physical strength and reflexes, but she can also use a charming affect to lure in prey.

UPPER MOON FOUR SANEMI:

Scary. Very, very, VERY scary. But also very protective of his younger demon brother Genya whom doesn't remember his life before becoming a demon. Sanemi and Genya were the only survivors after their own mother was turned into a demon and slaughtered their own family. Their entire life was pretty much the same until Sanemi just so happened to run into the demon king Kagaya. The king felt sorry for the two brothers and forcibly turned them both so neither could be separated again. Sanemi doesn't remember much of his human life except for the love and protectiveness he feels for his brother. Extremely loyal to Kagaya and and hot tempered. Physically wrestled Tengen out of Upper Four and wouldn't let him go until he agreed to give him the placement of Upper Moon four. The only two people who he'll listen to is Kagaya and Gyomei. Although he respects Kanae. Constantly starting fights with the lower moons and weeding out the ones he doesn't think is worthy no matter how much Kagaya and Gyomei scold him.

He uses Air blood demon arts in a similar fashion to Karaku.

UPPER MOON FIVE TENGEN:

Not much to say about him. Kagaya found him depressed after leaving his father and remaining brother after being forced to fight to the death with his other siblings.  It did not take much convincing to change him. Demon Tengen changed his three wives and forcibly changed his best friend Rengoku. Is scared of Sanemi after the air demon physically held him down and forced him to give up his previous place as Upper Moon Three. Best friends with Rengoku.

Tengen fights in both numbers with his wives in ambush style attacks and by sound baced demon arts such as Urogi's screech abilities and using sounds to distract, destroy, or decoy his enemies.

UPPER MOON SIX RENGOKU:

Not much to say about this demon. He was actually forcibly turned by Tengen and doesn't remember too much about his previous life although he has glimpses of a woman who's kind with red eyes and a little flamed haired boy that looks like him sorta. Much of Rengokus positive attitude is still present but as a demon it's toxic positivity only contributing to Kagaya's toxic 'merciful' agenda. He currently is content with his place as Upper Five and gets along with most of the others. Although he has to stop Sanemi and Tengen from fighting a lot as Tengen likes to tease others. 

His blood demon arts is fire based which is why he usually doesn't leave shelter if it rains or go places where water is present. Making his abilities limited.

DEMON KANAE AND SHINOBU:

The real powerful demon is Kanae who shares it with her sister Shinobu. To be honest no one is really sure where they came from or how Lord Kagaya found them. He just introduced the demonic butterfly duo one day to the rest of the Kizuki and placed them in with the others. Kanae is the much kinder of the two sisters and believes that not all slayers are bad. Shinobu heavily disagrees with that sentiment and prefers to poison her victims slowly with a smile. The sisters have two younger butterfly demons, Aoi and Kanao, and together the four of them run a laboratory for Lord Kagaya in his research of his specialized blood. They also have three small helper girls that they took in out of pity. The three butterfly girls often can be found playing with the Ubuyashiki quintuplets in the Infinity Castle.

Similar to how Cannon Nakime didn't have an official number in the Kizuki ranks despite considered a part of it, the sisters are considered part of the official Kizuki despite having an official number. It's rare that they are in fights usually spending their time doing research, but the sisters can use flying attacks, poison, flying petals sharp enough to be blades.

LOWER MOON ONE GIYUU:

Like the sisters, not much is known about where the most powerful Lower Moon originated from. Lord Kagaya brought him back and he's been tailing after his approval since. His is mostly an outcast by choice being very quiet and reserved but Shinobu likes talking to him and Mitsuri, Gyomei, and Rengoku go out of their way to be polite to him unlike Obanai and Sanemi who openly detest his presence. Yoriichi likes him well enough though. Both are quiet and don't talk too much. He finds Giyuu's character and presence similar to his own and thus likes him.

Giyuu's blood demon arts are water manipulation similar to Sanemi's wind manipulation but because of waters flexibility he's can do much more with it. A reason why Sanemi hates him and why Rengoku keeps his distance.

DEMON OBANAI:

Similar to the Butterfly sisters, Obanai doesn't really have an official number despite being considered a part of the Kizuki.  Is the one to forcibly turned Mitsuri. After meeting the girl and starting a friendship with her (at the time she was engaged and he respected that despite not liking her fiance) , he eventually fell in love with her and forcibly changed her after her deadbeat fiance dumped her later eating him in retaliation. Obanai himself was changed by the very snake demon that killed the rest of his human family although he really doesn't remember, however he has a general dislike for most women he can't explain. Usually he just lounges around waiting for prey to ambush.

His blood arts are unique. He's able to fling sharpened scales from his serpent tail, contrict his victims, poison them, shoot darts of venom from his mouth, and a series of ambush snake strikes to take down his prey 

LOWER MOON TWO RUI:

One of the ones I didn't swap out. In a similar fashion to Muzan, Kagaya gave RUI some of his blood and allowed him to remake his own family out of pity from his own mortal life. Not really much changes  except for who kills Rui later.

TAMAYO AND YUSHIRO:

Again nothing really changes with them too much. Kagaya originally was interested in Tamayo's abilities as a doctor nevermind the fact her family tragically was killed by his own demons. Tamayo was one of the rare demons who remembered her human life and saw right through Kagaya's twisted justice agenda. She was able to mentally break free from his hold after Yoriichi's encounter with Michikatsu and witnessing the strength and driving force the Moon Haishira had endured to withstand against him.

The story from there continues as normally.

That's it for now. Might do a second drabble with the SWAP Haishira if anyone's interested in hearing more about this.

[poisonheiress]

To start this lovely commentary, I will place my cards out in the open:

Blitzo is not the villain in his and Stolas' relationship nor is Stolas the victim in this realtionship either.

To some, this statement is a recognizable fact, one the canon caste system even supports. However, many of the current fanbase seems to disagree with this idea, comparing Blitzo to abusive characters like Stella, Crimson, and even Mammon. Others even put him on the same level as those previous characters. Besides this being one of the greater leaps of logic I've seen come out of this fandom, it is simply not true.

Yes, Blitzo does not treat Stolas kindly outside of their sexual agreement with Blitzo appearing to outright ignore him most of the time if not purposefully avoiding him. However, notice the wording I used there: sexual agreement.

Stolas and Blitzo have never been in an official romantic relationship and their current agreement is not one Blitzo entered in on equal footing with Stolas nor out of affection for him. Blitzo agreed to be with Stolas as a means of survival for his business, somethings that is extremely rare for imps to have due to their caste position.

Time and time again we are poorly shown that a rather strict caste system does exist in hell. This means that relationships with people in different castes carry different problems and consequences for those involved.

For those in higher ranking castes in a high-lower rank relationship, the worst outcome of being with a lower ranking demon appears as a diminished social standing and lack of respect, but the lower ranking partner doesn't get that. For the lower ranking demon of the relationship, they risk dehumanization by their partner with them loosing all autonomy and independence. They are no longer themselves; they become an extension of their higher ranking partner, an object that can be tossed away if the partner

Blitzo, who was raised in this system and still suffers under it, is right to fear stepping into a relationship with Stolas, and he has more than a right to refuse to be kind and gentle to a being that is literally hanging his livelihood over his head for sexual favors.

It does not matter if Stolas truly cares about him or not. Their relationship from Day 1 was not something Blitzo could walk away freely from nor even wanted to be in. In physical, social, and economical might, Stolas holds all the cards in their relationship, and nothing Blitzo can do can change that. Stolas could kill Blitzo and no one would turn an eye because he is an imp and Stolas is a Prince.

As a result, Blitzo has no obligation to be kind to someone who is a high ranking member in the system that views him as equal to dirt nor can Stolas be upset about Blitzo doing such when their relationship was born from Stolas taking advantage of Blitzo in a vulnerable situation.

Stolas is no victim here, and if Viv had researched caste systems, the true victim of the relationship would be clearer: Blitzo.

Because at the end of the day, Blitzo remains under Stolas' thumb, an unwilling subject to whatever tasks or desires Stolas forces on him. That is all the caste system of hell allows him to be.

[xjulixred45x]

Can you imagine how interesting it would be to have Penthesilea as a character in Hades? more than anything because of her interactions with Achilles.

a little context: Penthesilea was an Amazonian queen who fought on the side of the Trojans in the Trojan War, she died fighting against Achilles, who apart from recognizing that she was a great fighter (having fight him face to face) HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.

obviously in a setting where Penthesilea and Achilles can get along, similar to Asterius and Theseus, who became friends after death and share a fairly strong bond. This is GOLD.

(although it would definitely be fun if she harbored some hostility towards Aquil over the war🤣 she's a daughter of Ares, what did you expect?)

Imagine if they had a friendly rivalry with their disciples or sparring together now that they don't have much else to do in death. Let them talk about what their lives were like, what they were doing or why they were in Troy, etc.

Achilles would practically be that meme of letting your muscular girlfriend crush your face with her arm🤣

Yes yes yes, I already know about Patroclus and everything, but what I want to say is IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL OF POLY.

and when you add Pat to the mix, you have some good drama.

Penthesilea would probably be the most impulsive of the group, who has already tried to return to Elysium several times either to meet this Patroclus or to see his Amazon girls. He is the one who tries to advise Achilles to be more open about what is happening (and happened) between him and Pat and would definitely tell him his hard truths.

Achilles is the most emotional in a way, even with how much he has calmed down and accepted his place in the Underworld, he is still someone who has a hard time expressing...certain things ("fear is for the weak"). although he is definitely the quickest to get ballistic for his loved ones.

and Patroclus is basically the peacemaker, the calm one, the relaxed one and above all the most in tune with his emotions (post reunion), and he is practically the only person who can handle both Achilles and Penthesilea. and on top of that when this melancholy man recites poetry. a total catch.

Put the three together and you have the traffic light trio. or the meme of "this is my boyfriend Achilles, and that is his boyfriend Patroclus"

simply Poly Achilles -Patroclus -Pentesilea😩

although of course, it wouldn't be my post without anguish :)

In the alternative where Penthesilea does not like Achilles, I can imagine that rather than resenting him for his death, she resents him for the death of several of her companions. The society of the Amazons functions as a BROTHERHOOD, so for Penthesilea it must have been horrible to see that none of her sisters managed to survive the war...

There is also the factor that although Penthesilea is considered a warrior, a HEROINE, really the only myth about her is that of Troy, nothing more. I feel like she would hope that she could have done more in the world, that she could have done greater things, instead of just being remembered for what she died for...

She feels that she was destined to be remembered for something BIG, and although she is remembered, it is not how she expected it...

ANYWAY, PENTHESILEA MY PATRONA.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

[prismatoxic]

i was struck with inspiration, as tends to happen, and wrote a quick oneshot about matt. it's another second person character study, like the one i did with felix a while ago.

matt doesn't talk about his past in depth. not really. it's easy to find the legends and myths of his old cults, track the path of the godking across time. that's surely more than enough.

but he wasn't always the godking. for a while, after he was banished from his home, he wasn't anybody at all.

-----

You do not belong here.

This world calls to you, its presence familiar and foreign, strength and weakness in equal measure. There are beings here just as immortal as you. Yet when you land on the earth like a meteor from the heavens, you find yourself writhing, twisting, aching. Unwelcome. This is not home, nor is it the cosmos. It is something else, something visceral, something real. It clashes against the very fabric of your being.

You do not regret. You have no remorse. You did what you felt was necessary, and your banishment was a price worth paying. They will remember you as long as the universe draws breath. Even so, for all this was something you knew would happen wherever you went, it draws such horrible things from you. Not regret, no. Pain. Rage. Fear.

You find a beast and enter its body, devour it from within. Its soul teaches you about the way the world feels, how to navigate it, how to survive. Your essence is too large for its form. You burst out of it in new limbs, greater mass, a gaping maw and gnashing teeth far greater than what it had before. Terrified, furious, lost and alone, you do what you do best: you consume.

They are such fragile things. Not like the beast you became, no. They are like you: the apex entities of their world, those who control, who rule, who become. Yet they are nothing like you, for their bodies break in your jaws like glass, blood and viscera squeezed out from beneath delicate bones that cannot withstand your countless teeth.

You learn nothing from this. It isn't the same as eating from within. Nothing is imparted to you but the taste of their flesh, the weight of their organs. You do not belong here, and the laws of this world are alien to you. The carnage does not stop until a whole village is naught but blood at your feet.

You exit the beast. Its form cannot survive without a host and falls apart under the weight of the changes you made. You leave it far behind, sweeping over vast swaths of land and sea, searching. For what? You have no idea. Much like you knew this world when you found it, surely you will know your new life when you find it.

A lone body. A fragile soul. You slither inside and swallow everything within, and this time you learn things. So much more than the beast knew. You learn language. You learn culture. You learn song and dance and love and loss. You are overwhelmed, and once more your essence is too large for this vessel. You bleed out in scales and feathers and rows and rows of teeth, and that is how the vessel's people find you.

You are afraid, and you are alone. You sink your teeth into one of them and hold on with intent to crush, to kill. What is it that they see in you? They free their companion—your body is small, and you don't know how to exert your full strength from within it—but they do not seem to resent you. You kneel trembling in desert sands with teeth bared and they offer you things: fruits, carvings, animals, clothes. You begin to calm down. They think you're something else… something divine.

They think you're a messenger from their God.

The one you bit claims it's a sign of favor. You observe their bodies, their dialect, and with the vessel's memories safely in your grasp, you reel the edges of your essence into a more compact shape. You become human. The people celebrate the return of their neighbor, and you feed them lies that align with what they believe: you were inhabited by their God. Perhaps now you even speak for Him. They believe you without question, and you are crowned a prophet, a voice for their God to speak to them with. If this God truly exists, you're not sure how to find Him, but you're not particularly worried. You can be their God.

It feels good, you think. To be respected. If only this was what they'd given you back home.

Things are not always easy. Sometimes you are still too vast for your vessel. The fear and fury seep out through the cracks again, and you become larger than this consciousness can contain. These events are seen as visitations from a being beyond their knowing. That works in your favor until it doesn't, until the village is naught but blood at your feet. You leave your vessel behind.

You don't belong here. You don't know how to be them. You find the others, the not-humans in the shadows of human societies, but you don't know how to be them either. They fear you, can smell you from miles away and avoid you outright whenever possible. They have power, control over this world that you don't understand, but it's beyond you to grasp. That leaves you with the humans. They are the core of this world, its heart and lungs and spine. They are the foundation of all you need to know.

Your first vessel's memories take so long to fully bleed away. By the time they do, you've taken on another. You'll do better this time. More clean. Efficient. You'll drink in their worship and learn their world, fulfill your own need to be respected and valued. Your desire to be important. As their God you are their everything, and they throw their lives at your feet… sometimes literally. You begin to gain a real taste for their flesh.

You grow bored. Restless. You devour too many of them and leave in the dead of night, vessel broken like the rest. In no time at all you find another to become. You crave it, now, this being, this existence of blood and bone. This one, however, when you devour it from within… This one gives you new things. Things that had been white noise in the vessels before but are now too loud to ignore. The vessel is married, a wife expecting child. She is shocked by how forward you are. How insistent. His desire courses through you, unchecked and uncontested, and you learn pleasures of the flesh firsthand. The wife bores you, however. She is sacrificed to the God—you, of course, but obviously you're only a prophet—and with newfound freedom you take several lovers before picking one who pleases you most.

The actions of your people gain notoriety in ways they haven't before. There is a ruler here who claims to supersede you, a king and his vast army. Something stirs within you as you are informed of your treason. A being higher than you? Higher than a God? No. No, that isn't allowed. No longer will you be beneath anyone.

You devour the soldiers. All of them. With energy overflowing from your essence, you warp your vessel into something horrible, something violent and ugly, something beyond your people's comprehension. You storm the capital by yourself, and with a rapt audience screaming at your feet you tear the king's throat out with your teeth. There is no king, now. There is only you. Only their new God.

Their Godking.

Yes. You love that. You love the power of it, the weight, the presence. You, a winding serpent, a canopy of stars, a glutton and a traitor… you are the Godking. You are all that there is and all that there can be. The highest authority, the greatest being.

You do not know how to rule a kingdom. It falls to ruin, and you leave, none the worse for wear. You have an identity now.

That's where the routine begins. You become a prophet, forming a cult around the Godking. You take lovers, often choosing one to be your closest companion. You toy with their lives, their hearts, taking what you please and devouring them as you see fit—the Godking requires human sacrifice, after all—and all the while they worship you to the detriment of all else. Dissenters are made an example of. Would-be assassins are consumed. No one knows the truth, and any who get close are too afraid to look further.

When is it that it grows dull?

You know you don't belong here. You never have, and you never will. You cannot go home and you do not wish to leave, but you don't belong here. No matter how many people you become, that will always remain true. You are the Godking now, but that in and of itself is just as alien a concept as you truly are. And underneath it all…

Who are you, exactly? The serpent feels so far away, and the canopy of stars is even farther. Frustrated, afraid, you begin to give your followers the name of the Godking, but their throats cannot make the sounds. You show them how it looks and their runes are crude approximations of the images it should be. They translate it into their languages, but it's never right. It's never you.

Who are you?

A thousand lives, a million eyes reflected back at you across eons untold. You have been everyone and you have been no one. You have been countless different people, but you've only ever been you. Or is it that you've only ever been the Godking? Who are you?

Are you anybody?

Have you ever been?

Can you be somebody without a name?

Does the one you gave yourself count?

Does any of it matter?

You drift. You devour. You live, and you exist. You escape the confines of time and progress in the deepest depths of the sea, calmed by the tides. You emerge again to start anew. A new cult, but the same story. The same Godking. The same you?

The call surprises you. An invocation of the runes you tied to your name. Were you not in the area, you'd never have heard it, but you were and you did and you answer it on a whim. There is no cult this time. There is a plea of the Godking, yes, but when you elect to respond in that name, it isn't a new religion you thrust yourself into. You agree to help a company prosper, and the man who begs for your aid falls apart when you tell him to. His body doesn't interest you. His son, however, feels just right.

It's new. It's different. You adopt the boy's mannerisms as well as you ever do, but you do not use this vessel to lead. Not quite. For once, you work from the shadows, allowing the established leaders to believe they still have control. There's a certain thrill to it, really. Having them believe you to be naught but a figurehead when you're puppeting everyone around you. The others are here in great numbers, and you begin to craft your ideas for an ideal takeover using their strengths to your advantage. This is fun.

In the sea of employees, one doesn't stand out until he does. You just barely turn your head to acknowledge his presence when he sends a bullet through your skull. You're no stranger to assassination attempts—if anything, you love them. The fear on his face when you don't stay dead is exactly what you want to see. Yet something about his response strikes you as unusual. In the end, he does not run, even when you give him the chance. He fears you, but not in the way you're used to being feared. You try to break him and find that it only strengthens his resolve.

You've always enjoyed taking on lovers. Special companions. This life may be different, but surely it's fine to keep the parts you like most from all the others. He falls into a dynamic with you easier than any human ever has before, and in no time at all you find yourself swept up into an obsession unlike any you've ever known.

You do not belong here. You never will. Yet the more you let him in, the more you take and demand from each other, the more you begin to feel things you've never thought yourself capable of feeling, you begin to realize something—

He doesn't belong here either.

[multbasa]

I never got into the Archie comics for a variety of reasons, but one of my issues with it was the portrayal of the future where Silver is from. I really really dislike the idea that the future is "stable" and it doesn't matter what happens in the past even with time travel because it won't affect the future. I honestly hate it.

What's the point in traveling back in time if it affects nothing? It doesn't reflect the actual canon future in the Sonic games which is clearly volatile and changes often in response to present events as we can see with Silver's numerous appearances where he had a good future in Colours but a bad future in Forces.

And this will offend some people, but I didn't like the Article future cast either. Silver having his own crew of friends in some unchanging future really defeats the purpose of his time travel and I much prefer the existential horror of the delicate existence of everyone Silver may meet in any one future.

The idea that some existences will be erased or changed when he goes to the past all for the greater good is much more reflective of Silver to me. He's someone who considers the bigger picture over the few which contrasts him from Sonic who had seen what Eggman has done but still would not go so far as to kill him.

We see this side of Silver in '06 where he and Blaze promised to fix the world at any cost, and he struggles with the thought of killing one to save the world. He ends up being unable to choose the world over his only friend and when the sky clears, he looks away even though that was what he wanted all this time.

We also see this in Rivals 2 (albeit more aggressively because every character is super aggressive in that game) where Silver is very driven to complete his goal even at the expense of others for the greater good. He and Espio end up leaving Eggman Nega to die in the Ifrit dimension.

And even though I hate Forces' portrayal of Silver being a "realist", the fact that he prioritizes the bigger issues over finding Sonic does make sense for that part of his character—my issue with Forces is that he can't be a realist because a realist wouldn't travel back in time, and Silver being pessimistic about Sonic surviving while he was optimistic in '06 even when Sonic was dead in front of him is such a mischaracterization.

Silver is the way he is because of how volatile the future is with how much is on the line. He's an optimist who holds onto hope that he can fix everything (which also gives him a bit of an ego). Giving him a stable future defeats the purpose of his time travel and diminishes his motivations. He is the way he is because the future can be changed and changes often.

The IDW comics have Silver in the past for "no reason" which is fine to keep him around in the main cast, but they are not allowed to show details of the future created which is mandated by SEGA. A lot of people hate this, but since the writers are from the Archie comics, I'm actually glad because I fear they would just tread the same ground and make the future impossible to change because it would affect original characters. I'm happy that Silver can be involved in present events because he gets to interact with the main cast a lot more. In Sonic Team Racing, he is shown to be a bit paranoid about things that could happen with a bit of a strong intuition which I think is something that can be explored in the present. He's so focused on the future that he struggles to relax when there isn't an obvious threat. IDW already touched upon this which I think is great and I want to see them explore his character more.

Also give us more depictions of Silver's power. I love the fact that Silver is threatening but everyone is fortunate that he is so focused on doing good. I like seeing characters in the series like Mimic see Silver as a threat.

I think there's a lot that can be explored without establishing some cushy happy future with cushy happy friends. Silver is alone in his time travel and the people he meets in the futures he creates may not exist in the next one and that is way more interesting to me and includes a moral question that is more meaningful than "Silver goes back just to make the past a little nicer which has zero impact on the future because the future doesn't change."

[itstimetotheorize]

They don't like what they see...

Near the end of chp. 6 of the sounds of nightmares, as Noone gazes upon the giant red eye entity/all seeing eye and its many eyes, Noone takes note of them staring into her...and knows they like what they see....but what exactly does this mean? We have always theorized the eye entity and its many eyes had always maintained a constant watch over the children,

and with Residents like the Ferryman pushing children like Noone to realize the cruel and hopeless reality of their lives, to persuade them into believing the sanctuary they so desperately desire is in the Nowhere, we finally know now more than ever of one of the most crucial details about the eye entity...its preference.

Back when Little Nightmare 2 released, we theorized structures like the Tower and Maw always had a consciousness of their own and were some of many extensions of the eye entity, they were some of the many eyes theorized to have existed and remained linked to the eye entity itself.

When we thought of the Tower, we realized it had been observing Mono and Six through the t.v.'s, throughout their entire journey...and it didn't like it one bit. It disliked seeing Mono and Six together, their teamwork and above all...it disliked knowing they could overcome anything if they stayed together, and had they stayed together, well...the Tower wouldn't be able to keep Mono anymore.

In chp. 3 of the sounds of nightmares, when Noone met the Mall, another living structure like the Tower and the Maw, it tried to offer her everything she could ever desire, only to be left in a state of devastation and frustration as Noone told it she did not want anything from it and never intended to stay. Now, what does all this mean exactly? It means the eye entity has always presented itself as a being who could fulfill the desires of its visitors and Residents...though to a twisted degree...but it could never claim them so long as they did not fully grasp and fall into despair over the true devastating reality of their situation and the world around them, all so they could succumb to its hypnotic light and accept it as their only means of escaping a life filled with nothing, only suffering.

We have always theorized the eye entity detested those who did not crumble at the reality of their tormented lives, who denied the comfort it could provide them, but if what we have theorized over the years is true then, it didn't just hate it...it feared it. We have seen what happens when a child learns to accept their reality for what it is and reject the eye entity's comforting light. Not only do they become capable of resisting the eye entity's influence, they become capable of becoming far greater monsters than the Residents who tormented them, but above all... they could even become far more powerful than the eye entity who continued to watch over them. Much like with Mono and Six, we theorized other children could take the power of other Residents for themselves and harness it to cause devastation onto the eye entity and everything it has built.

We have seen Mono use his power to drag the Tower towards himself and we have seen Six lay waste to every Guest who dared cross her path as she made the decision to leave the Maw, making I and many other theorists realize something...children such as Mono and Six, have always had the capability to destroy the very structures which were desperate to keep them...they were always capable of destroying the world around them...they needed only to realize and accept the opportunities and the truth which stood before them.

We have always theorized structures like the Maw and the Tower feared the loss of their host, because without a host like Mono and Six, and the power they inherited, the Maw and the Tower could not survive, they would be doomed to die...just like the Mall from chp. 3 of the sounds of nightmares (more here), leaving the eye entity to suffer at the the loss of the most powerful structures it was linked to. Although Mono and Six's story remain unfinished for now, this does beg the question...what's going to happen to Low and Alone, our newest protagonists for Little Nightmares 3 ?

Despite spending years in the spiral, Low has never lost hope in finding a way back home, and despite the horrors we know he has faced during those years, Low appears to have managed to persevere through it all thanks to two things, 1. a single piece of paper which we have theorized details the "mythical place" he is obsessed with finding, a place he believes holds a gateway home and will finally allow him to escape the nightmarish world he has been trapped in, and 2. his friend Alone, the incurable tinkerer who can't help but uncover the secrets of the spiral, down to its very source. From what little we have seen in the trailer and limited gameplay, Low and Alone's teamwork has allowed them to surpass obstacles neither would be able to overcome on their own, an all too familiar partnership and an all too familiar scenario we have seen in Mono and Six as they journeyed together through the Pale City to make sense of the Tower/Transmission. Such friendships between characters have always been a comfort to see in the world of Little Nightmares, it has always been a comfort to the characters as well. However, it is this very sense of friendship which has made I and many other theorists realize a cruel and unforgiving reality time and time again...such bonds...are detested by the eye entity who continues to watch over the children.

The eye entity and all extensions of itself, have always been theorized to maintain its survival and control over everything and everyone through the use of its hypnotic light and its many corrupted Residents.

But it is precisely this level of control which has allowed the eye entity to break the will of others and leave them vulnerable to its influence, allowing it to continue to survive and thrive.

It separates anyone from those they held dear and forces them to accept the only hope they have in escaping their cruel reality is by giving themselves to it. Those who fail to realize its existence and the control it has had over everyone and everything, are doomed to fall prey to it and its world…so then....what would happen to Low and Alone if their hopes were crushed??

As mentioned before, Low wants to find a way back home and escape the spiral, while Alone wants to follow the secrets of the spiral to its source. The two of them have thus far been shown to be loyal to one another, determined to accomplish their goals together...and yet...perhaps it is this very hope and drive which has displeased the eye entity.

What am I trying to say? Well, if the eye entity truly has a preference for those who have lost all hope in their lives, if it truly wants children like Noone to surrender themselves to it, to its world, and if the Residents are truly devoted to helping the eye entity accomplish it all, then...what would happen if everything Low and Alone believed in was put on the line?.... what would happen if whatever it is they found at the end of their journey... was not at all what they hoped it would be? Would they fall into despair, turn against each other and relinquish themselves to the Nowhere, to the eye entity itself? ... just as Noone did near the end of chp. 6...just like Mono did to the Tower near the end of Little Nightmares 2?(more here).....or.... would they discover the same truth Six did about the all seeing eye(more here )? Discover what it planned for them, what it did to them, and if they did...would Low and Alone make the decision to accept their cruel reality for what it is.... and fight against the very creatures, the very world, which has and will continue to torment them?....honestly who's to say.

At the end of the 18 minute gameplay which was released to the public back in 2023, we see Low and Alone together as a dark mist slowly surrounds them, the same dark mist Noone saw in the Halfway place(the space between the human world and the Nowhere), the very place the eye entity has always been hiding in.

As Low and Alone stay close together, fearful of whatever is behind the mist, they take comfort in each other's safety as they hold each other's hand. As the two hold hands, all we hear is the sound of whispers beyond the dark mist, whispers we know all too well as the whispers of the eye entity and its many eyes...the eyes are watching Low and Alone, two children who continue to surpass the spiral together...and they do not like what they see…and if they do not like what they see, then....what will they do to Low and Alone?...I guess we will have to wait and see... For now, it's just a theory...a Little Nightmares 3 theory.

[catilinas]

lucan, pharsalia 6.719-25, 6.762-70, 6.820-7 trans. a.s. kline / hadestown obcr, way down hadestown (reprise) / tamsyn muir, gideon the ninth / richard siken, the language of birds / lucan, pharsalia 9.980-6 trans. a.s. kline

poetic immortality (this is a threat)

[spyskater]

The quotes I believe are every characters' thesis statement in Willow (2022) and why. Elora: I believe that love is the most powerful force in the universe. Kit: You're afraid. So am I. But you know what? My fear, it doesn't get to decide. It doesn't get to, to define me. I'm not giving it the power. I'm giving it to you. I have never believed in anything my whole life. I believe in you. Jade: Yeah, and when you love someone and they need you, yes, you jump off the edge of the world to go and get to them. Graydon: One day you and I are gonna be in charge. And when that day comes, we don't have to do things the way our parents did. Boorman: I finally figured it out. This isn't my story. It's yours. You're the one. And all you gotta do is believe in yourself, and you'll be unstoppable. Willow: You know, it's taken me a long time to learn, it's okay to fall, to make mistakes. I've made lots... The trick is to embrace your defeats as well as your victories. You pay for both in the end. Be decent. Be fearless. And know this, wherever the adventure leads, I'm with you. Airk: You know, defend the realm and just be the best brother, and husband, and father, and son that I can possibly be. Because that is what you do when you have honor, right? Scorpia: All we have ever wanted is our freedom. That our children would not have to live in fear. They'd serve no master... We have no barrier to hide behind, no army to defend us. All we have is the fear our masks evoke, the determination to survive, and each other... Freedom, rebellion, passion, joy. To the break of dawn! Sorsha: Everything I've done, I've done to protect the people I love. It costs a lot. Madmartigan: It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But love is sacrifice. You've gotta be willing to give up what you want for what you believe in.

Elora's is extremely obvious. As the heroine and chosen one of our show, her quote not only represents who she is and what she believes, but the most important message that the show wants to leave us with. At the end of the day, love above all things. Let that be your guiding force. It's what all of our characters come away with. Jade lets go of her ideals of duty to follow her heart to Kit. Kit learns to love and gains courage through it. Airk is saved by Kit through the power of love. Graydon becomes who he's always dreamed of, partially due to his love of Elora. Elora is able to fully grasp her power through her love of Graydon. And Elora tells us throughout the season that love is the most powerful thing in the universe, at first taken as a joke by Airk, Kit, and the audience and evolving into the hopeful statement we're meant to latch onto.

This is Kit's big moment. She spends the entire season having everything she thought she knew stripped from her. When you have nothing left, it'll make you reevaluate what you truly want and what you believe. We know that all Kit has wanted is to be brave and loved and I would argue that quote is part one of the thesis of Kit. It's Jade's love that gives Kit the bravery to take the leap of faith. As she stares at the edge of the world, she's probably at her most fearful. But she's spent her whole life giving into fear, fear of loss, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment. She knows what it means to give fear power, so she chooses to give the power to Elora, to love, to hope, to finally believing in something greater than herself. And by choosing not to give into fear, she also inspires Elora to do the same. Fear no longer gets to control Kit and we shouldn't let it control us either.

Like Kit, Jade is completely stripped of everything she knows about herself. Her honor, her duty, her history, her beliefs, her identity, it all comes into question. But she had to lose all of the things that she thought made her Jade Claymore in order for her to truly follow her heart. You don't jump off the edge of the world out of duty. You do it out of love. Jade does it for Kit. Graydon does it for Elora. Elora and Kit do it for Airk. And while I don't think Jade fully knows what any of what she's learned means for her and her future, the one thing she does know for a fact at the end of the season, which was the only thing that she was uncertain of at the beginning, is that she is totally, ridiculously, desperately in love with Kit and that love is returned. It's like Elora said, love is the most power thing in the universe and Jade now knows that.

Graydon's quote, I find, is one of the most important quotes of the show. This is the story of the next generation learning from the previous one’s mistakes and trying to do better. All of our younger characters are forced to confront the mistakes of their elders, especially Willow, Sorsha, and Madmartigan’s. Kit as Elora’s protector and learning that love comes before dutiful sacrifice (her parents). Jade learning love before duty and honor (Ballantine). Boorman facing the mistakes he made with the older generation and making the better choice with the younger one. Going on this adventure with the others, Graydon is able to find his true self and make his own choices. Just because his father wants him to be one thing, doesn't mean that Gray has to be that. He gets to be his own man. You get to be who you want to be, not what your parents want.

Boorman desperately wants to be the hero of the story and that’s probably the source of a lot of his bravado. He feels shame for leaving Madmartigan for dead, for lying about his escape from Skellin, because it’s not a heroic tale. He was a teenager/young man when he went after the Cuirass with Mads. He was Jade once upon a time, a squire in service to Tir Asleen royalty. The problem is that Boorman thinks the cuirass is the only way he can be a hero and being a hero is the only way to make up for his mistakes. But the cuirass is not meant for him; it’s not his story. The way for him to come full circle and become whole is to make up for his sins against Mads by giving the cuirass to his daughter. He’s not the hero of this story, but I do believe he’s the hero of another.

Willow gives us another important message of the show that we've seen throughout the season. Our mentor's journey over the course of the season is to let go. Willow can't seem to accept the consequences of the past. The loss of his wife. The departure of his son. The loss of Elora. The fact that he never became the sorcerer he thought he was meant to be. All of this causes him to be incapable of training Elora with any sort of true openness or understanding. Where Elora needs freedom and a safe place to fail, Willow only provides restrictions and pressure. The world can't afford for Elora to fail. And if Elora fails, she dies. But in the end, it's only his ability to accept his failures and victories that allows him to help Elora grow to become the hero she needs to be. And it's an important lesson for us.

Airk is a character that could have easily played into his own trope of charming playboy prince without a care in the world, but this quote helps separate him from stereotype. In episode one, I'm sure we would all admit we all believed, like Kit, that Airk didn't know Elora's public name. But he did. And throughout his time resisting the Crone, Airk proved time and time again that he truly was honorable and that all he wanted was to be good. Madmartigan's departure and Kit's future ascension left Airk looking for his purpose and trying to prove to his family that he was everything his absentee father couldn't be. He does everything he can to be a good boyfriend, a good brother, a good son, a good diplomat, and, in episode seven, he does everything he can to be a good man.

Scorpia is an inspiration. She has lost so much, but still finds the strength to care deeply in the face of her grief. She's lost her mother, father, and several brothers and sisters, but finds it in herself to keep loving. She may be mostly concerned about her people, but it's their philosophy of life, of freedom and liberation (another analysis yet to be written) that sends her on a crusade to save all of those people in Skellin. Not just her people, but all people. And I think that will be important in the war to come. As much as Scorpia will want to avoid war, her belief in freedom for all and rebellion will convince her that it's necessary. The entire Wildwood episode shows us the joy and passion and freedom that's a stake, what's worth fighting for. There is no freedom under the Wyrm and Scorpia will not accept that.

I think it's important to discuss Sorsha and Madmartigan's quotes together, because they explain their mistakes as well as layer them with complexities. One of the things that kind of irritates me is when people paint Mads as saint and Sorsha as awful, because they're cut from the same cloth (Kit, I love you, but I blame you for this). At the end of the day, they were willing to make the hard sacrifices if it meant protecting their kids and saving the world. Neither one of them could have foreseen the harm that their choices would have, but they did what they thought was right. They are one and the same, united in their cause and parenthood. But every single choice also cost them so much sacrifice, the biggest one being their chance at parenting Elora, and I think a lot of people forget that, especially when it comes to Sorsha.

[blackjackkent]

Next on the docket is... Gale!

Or rather the god formerly known as Gale.

Oh boy. :P

I've been looking forward to this, to be honest, because a) I know literally nothing about this ending beyond the fact that Gale sort of looks like he's cosplaying as the love child of Zeus and the Tin Man, b) Rakha considers his surrender to his hubris one of her greater failures, because she briefly encouraged his spiral in this direction and there was no pulling him back afterwards, and c) there is no way that Gale's ego has survived this experience without becoming a Hilarious Mess.

Tara is here as well, and has been mercilessly roasting him while I've been wandering around.

Gale: "Haven't you any ambitions, Tara? I could help you, you know." Tara: "Oh? At what cost? Gale: A prayer or two would suffice. Is that so bad? Tara: The day I pray to you, Gale, is the day up is down, left is right, and tressyms are cats. Gale: So very stubborn. Tara: And don't you forget it!

Gale: Tara, you must practice acceptance. My new powers are to be utilised, not feared Tara: The only thing I fear is the ever-growing size of your ego. Gale. Gale: Oh, Tara. It hurts to be so misunderstood by my oldest friend.

Tara: *Hiss!* Gale: Tara, did you just hiss at me?! Tara: Sorry. It's a reflex when I clap eyes on something distasteful.

I decided to have Rakha talk to Tara first, and Tara immediately pivoted to roasting the shit out of Rakha in addition:

"Well, there he is. Gale in all his glory. I hope you're happy. 'The God of Ambition' - have you ever heard anything more ridiculous?"

Rakha winces. "I agree, Tara," she says. "He's not who he used to be."

(She's never met Tara, but she has heard Gale talk about her many times, so it's not hard to guess the name here. And Tara is certainly not making any pretense of not knowing who Rakha is.)

"Not in the least," the tressym snaps back acerbically. "And who lead him straight to such ridiculous notions, hmm? Who left that crown in the river where any foolish wizard could swim down and pick it up?" She hisses softly. "You were looking out for him. I expected better of you."

(A/N: The camera does not cut to Rakha at all during this conversation. I was going to use flycam to get at least a reaction shot or two but it turns out that while we're in this cutscene, Rakha's model disappears from the world entirely, as does Gale's. Very odd.)

Rakha lets out a long, heavy sigh. She can't dispute any of this; she knows perfectly well that it is her fault Gale felt emboldened to pursue this in the first place. That she was picturing a leveling of the playing field between god and man, and not Gale's unilateral ascension, doesn't change the fact that she is ultimately responsible.

"I can't deny," she says quietly, "part of me wishes I'd stopped him."

Tara squints at her for a long moment, and then matches Rakha's sigh, her wings fluttering rapidly. "As do I," she murmurs, and her tone is softer now, with less of a bite. "As do I. I know there's nothing you could've done to stop him. Not really. Once he'd decided to learn nothing from his mistakes, what use were either of our protests?"

Oddly enough, this comment makes Rakha feel rather more comforted than actual absolution might have. She feels a curious sort of comradeship with the little tressym in this moment - and perhaps Tara feels it too, for she pulls her paws under herself and peers up at Rakha thoughtfully.

"Perhaps you'd be willing to come meet Gale's mother some time?" she asks. "She misses him so, and I know it would do her heart a world of good to discuss her son with someone who knew him as he was."

(A/N: Oh. This is sad actually. :( )

Rakha blinks; this question is so outside of anything she expected from Tara that for a moment she simply stares, befuddled. She did not know Gale very well, not really; the two of them clashed as often as they agreed, if not more. What could she possibly say to his mother, who has had to watch him vanish into an ill-advised divinity born of hubris?

But who else is there, if not her?

She and Gale channeled the Weave together, shared talks of magic. Perhaps... perhaps she can speak of that...

"I'll consider it," she says hoarsely.

Tara makes a soft rumbling noise low in her throat, then nods. "See that you do. We'd love to have you," she says. "Things have been rather quiet without himself cluttering up the place."

She stretches, her tail flicking up over her back. "Enjoy your party, dear. I've heard you quite deserve a celebration."

-----

The conversation with Gale himself kicks off to a fine start:

"Goodness. Was Faerun always so... dull? Still, at least the company was worth the trip, if not the view."

Oh, boy. :P

Rakha squints slowly at him. Normally she might be concerned about the already-weird new notes to his attitude, but for a moment her attention is entirely caught by the magic soaking the air around him, dancing over his skin. She can see the intensity with which it swirls in little eddies through his very being, rather like it does for Withers, or for that demi-god playing the lute at the center of camp.

It would be stunningly beautiful if it weren't for the dark, serrated edge that reminds her all too clearly of the thrumming power of the crown in the moments before it split apart.

[WIZARD] "You carry the aura of Netheril about you," she says, her tone deliberately neutral. "Is this what the power of Karsus has done to you?"

"Not to be overly pedantic," Gale says with a slow smile, "but they are my powers now." His voice is strange; there's an odd, resonant echo around it, as if he is speaking in an enormous, high-ceilinged room rather than the open clearing where they stand.

"I imagine you're wondering how all this came to be," he says cheerfully. "The finer points of divine ascension are beyond mortal comprehension, I'm afraid, but I can provide the rudimentary sequence of events." His smile widens. "First, I retrieved the Crown of Karsus, and reforged it using a series of precise and highly-complex Netherese incancations. Then, I used it."

Rakha listens in silence. She wishes that she had the leisure to be unequivocally fascinated with the process he describes - but she is too displeased with its outcome to be able to interest herself in the magical machinations. Also, Gale is speaking just a tad slowly, his enunciation too sharp, as if talking to a child, and it is setting her teeth on edge.

"As you know," he goes on, "the orb within me was the half-formed Karsite Weave, a magic left incomplete by Karsus's self-destruction." The pale white glow of his eyes seems to flare with intensity. "I finished it. Using the Crown of Karsus, I turned it into a new form of magic, fused with my being, driven by my purpose. And then I put it to work."

He flicks his fingers, sending a ripple through the Weave around them like a small thunderclap. "As expected, Mystra was unwilling to hand over the reins of the Weave, so I've claimed dominion over another area with which I've passing familiarity."

"Ambition."

(A/N: One of the dialogue options here is "If that's the criteria for choosing a domain, you should be the God of Wasting Valuable Loot," which, while not Rakha-ish, is very funny.)

It is hard for Rakha to put her finger on exactly what is bothering her about Gale's new attitude. Perhaps it is something about the way he seems to look through her, or the way that his tone reminds her just a little too much of the Emperor, keen to establish its authority, or Raphael and Minthara and Astarion, hungry for power.

"What does the 'God of Ambition' offer to his followers?" she asks slowly, taking care to keep her tone neutral.

Gale laughs. "I 'offer' them nothing! I inspire them to seize their destinies for themselves. Great as the heights I've reached thus far may be, I've not forgotten my humble origins. In fact, they're central to my doctrine! Those drawn to the Galerian creed don't merely seek my guidance as the impressive, all-powerful being I've become."

He leans forward with a conspiratorial air towards her. "Ambition is about beginnings. It is not just about the heights, but the lows that preceded them. I was nothing - a drifting dustmote of a wizard, abandoned by my goddess, my powers lost, my reputation destroyed."

He spreads his arms wide. "And look at me now. I'm their proof. Proof their hopes are not barren wastes, but the loamy soil in which their future achievements will flourish. Proof that with ambition, anything is possible."

(A/N: There are two different dialogue options here that I like for Rakha; they're mutually exclusive in-game but I'm going to squish them together.)

Rakha's jaw works. Suddenly it clicks into place, another reason that this is making her skin crawl. It reminds her of herself - the version of herself that she has seen in scraps of paper, fragments of handwriting that she does not remember putting down. The memorandums of a blood-crazed godspawn, eager to overwhelm the whole world and crush it under her bootheels.

"And what of those with evil ambitions?" she asks tightly. "Do you encourage them too?"

"I am the god of ambition," Gale says airily, "not of the consequences of ambition. Nor am I the arbiter of good or evil, for that matter. At best, those concerned with the consequences of their actions might consult with Savras, god of divination. Though these days, I doubt he'd see them coming." He barks a soft laugh.

Rakha scowls. He is not listening to her - or if he is, he is not hearing the import of the question. "I defied my divine fate to live the life I have now," she growls. "The gods prove nothing to me that I haven't already proven to myself."

Gale's lips curl up at the corners, intent, implacable. "But you could be so much *more*," he hisses. "Trust me - I am ambition incarnate, and like seeks like. I sense it within you, even if you don't." He looks her up and down, that pale glow of his eyes seeming to burn through her. "You're not content to fade into the history books just yet," he murmurs. "In time you'll come to see that. This is only the beginning."

Rakha shudders. Does he not see how what he describes is the fulfillment of all of her worst nightmares, the return of that driving, mindless need to consume and destroy? Does he not see what he is accusing her of? Does he even care?

No. Of course he doesn't. He is lost to his own myth.

"I think it's the end," she says coldly. "Of the Gale I knew, at least."

Gale's expression goes hard. "I believed in you for so much of our journey," he says, equally icy. "It's a pity you won't do me the same courtesy."

His lip curls as he looks her up and down again, then turns away. "I suppose it was foolish to expect a mortal to understand."

[lady-moonflower]

Steve Rogers is a Hufflepuff and here's why.

Basically, I agree that he's brave and courageous, but what really drives him, in my opinion, is loyalty to his friends, fairness and doing what’s right, not a thirst for heroics or adventure. In the end of the day, he's willing to lose everything he ever gained from being 'popular' if that means helping his best friend survive or not agreeing with something that goes against his personal sense of justice.

Here's more specific why:

1. Loyalty: Steve isn't just out there risking his life because he has a nerve; he's doing it for his friends, his principles, and his country. The reason he fights so hard isn't for glory or recognition, but because he’s loyal to the people he cares about. He wants them to be safe and happy, and that's what matters to him. Steve’s loyalty is pure and without manipulation. He doesn’t use people to gain an advantage, and he isn’t calculating in his actions. Steve’s loyal to Tony Stark, even after Civil War: though they had a brutal fallout, he still leaves Tony a phone in case he ever needs him, demonstrating that even when their relationship is strained, Steve remains loyal at a fundamental level. When Wanda accidentally causes a tragedy in Lagos, he’s the first to console her, assuring her that her intentions were good and standing by her despite the fallout.

2. Fairness and Justice: Hufflepuffs value fairness, and Steve has that in spades. He stands up for the little guy, against group of bullies before he becomes captain America and fight against an organization like Hydra. Steve opposes Sokovia accords because he believes they undermine individual freedoms and could be used unjustly. He's not cunning about it, he states clearly that he does not agree. This decision highlights his belief in personal autonomy and justice. Steve Rogers’ sense of fairness and justice is a mix of personal loyalty and broader moral principles. While he aims to do what's right, his justice is often tailored to protect his friends and uphold his personal values, even when it conflicts with legal or societal norms

3. Kindness: Throughout the Marvel movies, he treats everyone with respect and compassion, regardless of their status or abilities. In The First Avenger, he makes time for his fellow soldiers, encouraging them and lifting them up rather than seeing himself as "better" after he becomes Captain America. In Civil War, he’s one of the only Avengers who reaches out to Wanda Maximoff, understanding her pain and fear instead of blaming her for what happened in Lagos. He always prioritizes helping people over winning battles or making enemies.

4. He'll Go to the Ends of the Earth for His Friends: He’s willing to take on anyone and everyone to protect the people he loves. His dedication to his friends goes way beyond the call of duty, which is very Hufflepuff. In The Winter Soldier and Civil War, he risks everything—his reputation, alliances, and even his life—to save and support Bucky. This steadfast commitment is deeply Hufflepuff, showing that his true priority is the people he loves rather than the ideals of bravery and adventure.

5. Commitment to Hard Work and Patience: before he had super-soldier abilities, despite being physically weak and often bullied, he kept pushing himself, embodying hard work and determination. Steve started out as the scrappy kid with nothing going for him physically, but he never gave up. He kept pushing himself, showing that Hufflepuff-style hard work and patience. He doesn’t back down, even when it’s tough. He’s just there to do the right thing, even if nobody’s watching. Steve’s journey—from the scrawny kid in Brooklyn to Captain America—proves he’s all about hard work and perseverance, not just getting to the top quickly. He’s never afraid to take the long road if it means achieving something meaningful

6. Dedication to Others Above Himself: While Steve does prioritize his friends, he also consistently sacrifices himself for the greater good. In Endgame, he returns to face Thanos with no expectation of personal gain, ready to lay down his life if it means saving others. Hufflepuffs are known for their willingness to work tirelessly for the benefit of others, and Steve embodies that selflessness perfectly.

At last, I just want to say, that yes, he has some Gryffindor traits. As well as Ravenclaw and Slytherin. But these other traits are not the ones driving him forward.

Ps. If anything I would say, Steve is a great example of Slytherpuff. I think he has a mix of these two houses. But that's for another discussion.

[euxellis]

What is alive and what isn’t and what should we do about it? Theories: about the nature of the thing. And of the soul. Because people die. The fear: that nothing survives. The greater fear: that something does. The Language of the Birds, Richard Siken

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