#the good these traditions can bring and their necessity as much as she resents their restrictive ruthlessness but Gülşah doesn't believe in

[mc-critical]

Bonus:

2.22 (46) / 2.24 (48) / 2.25 (49) / 2.35 (59) / 2.39 (63)

[braceletofteeth]

I’m currently watching ‘Little Forest,’ the Korean version, and of course, I’m thinking about sfh. Idk if you’ve watched it! But it’s about a girl who grows tired of the city life in Seoul and returns back to her hometown in the countryside. More specifically, she’s hungry and misses the food there.

Naturally my mind leaps to Jongwoo, who is from Busan…who may have been forced to learn how to cook from a young age to take care of his brother (and later, mother)…who may have had to learn a lot of traditional, healthy, hearty recipes…

And Moonjo, who a lot of writers here head canon as someone who eats very little. Who grew up in an abusive home, where he never got packed lunches to bring to school, or came home late to dinner ready at the table. And was sent to the orphanage, where Mrs. Eom…uh… I wouldn’t eat anything that woman cooks, no offense.

I’m. I’m imagining Jongwoo cooking from scratch for Moonjo. And Moonjo watching him curiously. Confused over why Jongwoo is taking so long. And Moonjo pausing after his first bite, tasting the time, care, and affection that went into the meal, and digging in.. I’m imagining Jongwoo re-learning how to love cooking again, when he isn’t forced to take care of someone. And Moonjo getting home-cooked meals (possibly for the first time in his life) from the love of his life. This is probably too soft but. Anyway. Thanks for letting me ramble. Bye.

Oh… Anon, you unintentionally found my soft spot. I’m just… weak for Jongwoo feeding Moonjo, since, yes, I’m one of those people that believe he eats very little (and that he doesn't cook at all—if he could, he’d just skip all the meals and never bother eating).

I never gave much thought to why, though, until you came to me with your idea and I watched the movie you mentioned.

You may remember this quote from Little Forest that states “Cooking reflects your heart.” I tried to connect that to Moonjo’s life, beginning with his mother’s food: cold, flavorless… Rotten. Leftovers... Little... Nothing. No more than a necessity on a good day, and the lack of it a punishment on the others. The taste of his mother’s heart was… bland, with hints of mold and rancid.

After, there was Ms. Eom’s food: abundant, but raw, but bitter. Moonjo was finally being properly fed, but the food was still lacking nutrients. Only a part of him was nourished. Only this one part—resentful and hostile—was taken care of and encouraged to grow. The part of him that Ms. Eom identified as similar to her own, the part of him she wished to see blooming. Ms. Eom’s heart had a poisonous nature. And just as her food, it was conditional. Moonjo could only have it if he followed her path. He was wanted when he was with her, in contrast to when he was with his mother, but Ms. Eom wasn’t interested in any part of him that wasn’t her. She never cooked for Moonjo; she cooked for herself, then shared the food with him.

Just as the protagonist of Little Forest in the beginning of the movie, Moonjo has been starving. Not for lack of food; the food was there, but it wasn’t pleasant and it wasn’t enough. [Often you can see it in his eyes, when he’s looking at Jongwoo. Everybody and everything else tastes mild, imposed, or artificial. Never quite to his liking. But not Jongwoo—for Yoon Jongwoo is a miracle: a fresh fruit hanging from a tree that never before bore anything].

There is, however, a major difference between the two of them. Meanwhile the woman is missing what she was fed her whole life, inside her mom's Little Forest, Moonjo has never had a taste of whatever he's been missing. Be it presented to him, there would be no sense of familiarity, or recognition… Only that exhilarating feeling, when you discover something new and it just clicks.

Enter Jongwoo. Jongwoo, who had little time and little money after moving to Seoul, and seemed to feed himself only ramen and beer. His heart, at the time, was worn out and gloomy. There was no space for his mother’s cuisine; not in the filthy, oppressive kitchen of Eden. It didn’t belong there, just like Jongwoo himself (as he so insisted).

Jongwoo isn't the same after Eden, though. There is both freedom and purpose in the things he does now, and this mentality applies to food as well. He's more in control; he can do as he wishes, and he's not just trying to survive anymore.

Now, imagine post-canon Jongwoo taking notice of Moonjo's insipid meals (instant food; a single apple; a beer and a couple cigarettes; take-outs). He observes in judgemental silence as Moonjo takes a few mouthfuls, in mechanical motions, then stocks the food in the fridge until he feels hungry again. Sometimes, the same dish lasts for days. Sometimes, it lasts for so long that Jongwoo takes it upon himself to toss it out and prevent food poisoning (although, to be fair, he doesn't really think something that ordinary could affect Moonjo much; it just bothers him that anyone would do that to themselves). Moonjo, as one would expect, doesn't care enough to question Jongwoo when the food disappears.

The development of their relationship is parallel to the alimentary situation. Eventually, Jongwoo realizes it doesn't make sense for them to eat separately anymore. So far, Moonjo had only joined him to watch as he cooked, as he ate, and as he washed the dishes, but at no point does the older man ever asks for a bite. After a month, an angry voice inside Jongwoo starts to complain too loud to be ignored, saying it isn't fair. It isn't fair that Moonjo shared everything he was, did, and owned, but Jongwoo never offered anything in return.

Moonjo never did it for any sense of obligation, though, and Jongwoo is still learning what it means to do the same. He doesn't want to break in half to accommodate Moonjo, as he would do to others before, but he does wish to open up and deliberately offer Moonjo a piece of him. A piece that can't be taken, only given.

He catches Moonjo eating a portion of microwaved rice one afternoon and decides that's the last straw. He skips the pleasantries and tells Moonjo they will have dinner together (the prince of Beauty and The Beast suddenly looking very polite in comparison). Moonjo doesn't react for a while, surprised by the sudden imposition-slash-invitation, but then he smiles and asks if they are going out. When Jongwoo denies, he raises his eyebrows, and Jongwoo explains he'll be cooking, then leaves before Moonjo can process the full meaning of it.

The first time needs to be very special (just as you described, anon!). Jongwoo comes home with fresh ingredients, and Moonjo is allured to the kitchen by Jongwoo's charming skills (he's almost envious of the food). Jongwoo opts for a simple recipe, with only a few side dishes. He doesn't want to… overwhelm Moonjo, or to make him feel like he needs to eat more than he can take. Jongwoo wants their first official meal to be enjoyable for them both, in opposition to their unofficial one, when Jongwoo left Moonjo alone after tasting Ms. Eom's repulsive meat. 

[Personally, about the recipe, I'm thinking 'traditional, but with enough room for Jongwoo to add his own touch'. Something that tastes like home, but not any home] [What I'm going to say right now may sound extremely sentimental but the truth is if it tastes like a piece of Jongwoo, then it tastes like Moonjo's home]

After that, in time, a meal a day becomes two, sometimes three. Jongwoo always makes more than what is sufficient for two people, in case Moonjo ever feels like taking seconds (an otherworldly concept he's still getting used to).

I've already taken a lot of your time, but before I go, have some more random ideas:

Jongwoo being absolutely delighted when he hears Moonjo's stomach growl for the first time (and every time after, especially when it happens while he's still preparing the food). (It's such a human reaction).

Jongwoo conserving Moonjo's favorite fruits for the seasons in which they can't be found anymore. It's a thoughtful gesture, but it's also a wordless yet effective way of expressing a wish for permanence and longevity (after all those years of living with people who couldn't care less if Moonjo was still there by the end of the day, this sounds… right. Nice, even).

There is a moment in the movie where the protagonist tells her friend “The best food is the one you cook yourself.” This got me imagining Jongwoo asking for Moonjo's assistance in the kitchen, every once in a while, to create a habit… Guiding his hands, supervising his first attempts, and encouraging him to experiment new things, until Moonjo is ready to navigate on his own and Jongwoo can just sit back and watch, his chest full with pride, as Moonjo cooks to feed himself (and his beloved, of course).

And this is it. I may have taken your 'this is too soft' as a challenge to do worse... Or maybe this is just my natural reaction to anything as tender as the AU you came up with. I hope you don't mind. Thank you for coming here to ramble! If you'd like to discuss more about it, or have other things you'd like to talk about, I'd be happy to hear from you again :)

Bye 💚

P.S.: Although it was not originally intended as one, if you have any other movie recommendations, they'd be very welcome as well.

[warsofasoiaf]

What is your opinion of KOTOR 2? Favorite things about it, least favorite things about it, characters, etc.

Alright, it’s time for another video game review, so an early reminder, spoilers abound for both KOTOR1 and KOTOR2. There’s a cut of course. Overall, I thought it was a phenomenally well-written game and one of the greatest pieces of media to exist in the Stars Wars universe (although I haven’t read any of the Expanded Universe books so keep that in mind), and as is the usual case for Obsidian particularly in this era, developer constraints created a beautiful mess.

Before we can talk about KOTOR we need to talk a little bit about Star Wars and what it meant as a film. The original Star Wars isn’t a very creative story, it’s largely a conventional Hero’s Journey. It’s a pastiche of early adventure stories in a science fiction setting, but with the added benefit of video and sound effects to really make it come to life in a way that was only possible in the imagination of readers. This gave the series a wide deal of appeal. Folks who grew up on the 1950′s Flash Gordon serials or WW2 dogfight films could see a film with those things they loved from their childhood with a high budget to bring those things to life. Science fiction fans could visually see elements of their favorite books brought to life on the silver screen. Fans of movies can appreciate the cutting-edge (for the time, although I love me some practical effects in film) effects and the unfamiliar elements of science fiction with the familiar trappings of an adventure tale. 

KOTOR was something similar for the video game industry, particularly for the fans of Baldur’s Gate. The ability to create a Jedi character and go on a journey like the Bhaalspawn did in Baldur’s Gate was something that appealed to a significant number of RPG fans, and the critical success of the Baldur’s Gate series brought a lot of money and prestige to Bioware. Fans of RPGs and Star Wars got to see their medium and interact with it in a whole new light. Much like A New Hope, KOTOR1 was largely a traditional story where Darth Malak is an evil guy without much in the way of redemptive qualities. The two major wrinkles were that you could play as a Sith and have some moments of true player cruelty like ordering Zaalbar to kill Mission, but this makes sense for an RPG, having no player choice in a game really makes you lose the lightside/darkside dynamic. Of course, the bigger and more interesting drift from a traditional Star Wars story was the Revan twist. This took advantage of both the slower pace of games to spend time with your PC and form a connection, and the nature of Western RPG’s where the player envisions themselves partially as their avatar onscreen to make the reveal hit home. Ultimately though, the Star Wars morality was upheld. The Jedi were the unequivocal good guys, the Sith were the unequivocal bad guys. 

KOTOR2 decided to put the Force under the microscope. It had started in 2003, so Episode II had already come out, and this idea of the prophecy of Anakin bringing balance to the Force, and what we knew of the Jedi in the original Star Wars trilogy who were reduced to hermits hiding on the fringes of society, really gave the impetus to examine this idea of the balance of the Force as not necessarily benevolent. It’s not evil, per say, it’s just indifferent to the people that die to make it happen. So the game became a self-critical examination of the core structures of the Star Wars universe. The Sith are usually thought of as the bad guys, and a lot of that holds true, domination, subjugation, power, betrayal, all that nasty stuff aren’t really conducive to most conceptions of goodness, but are the Jedi good? Does their passivity lead to injustice and terror being wrought on others because the Jedi failed to act. That was the question behind the Jedi involvement in the Mandalorian Wars, was the Exile correct in going off to fight them or were the Jedi Council who forbade them correct? As befits the folks who wrote Planescape: Torment, the game has two journeys, one through the game world and the plot that unfolds and another more deeply introspective.

I’ll put the things I don’t like about KOTOR2 first because the list is small but it is worth noting. The game is very clearly a rushed product and it shows. The cut content shows a great deal of lost potential, and the bugs could make the game at times completely unplayable. The game suffered from the accelerated development, having barely half the development time, and you can see where the seams show. The UI is clunky and gets cluttered when you have to manage items. Level design is similarly a nuisance, as they are big sprawling expanses without a lot of content in them. Part of that is a necessity to the mechanics, smaller levels would have other encounter designs being agro’d into it, but the levels are still expansive, empty, and a slog to get through. The Peragus mining facility is too large by half, and there’s a lot of backtracking in these levels. Since side quests encourage finding a doodad or killing a few key figures scattered around a map, that means a lot of trekking through these big levels to find one particular item or enemy locked in a corner somewhere. That can be very tedious, particularly on repeat playthroughs. At times, it feels like legging your way through a swamp to get to the next piece of delicious content.

Which is a good segue into talking what I like about the game, because its writing and characters are superb. The character companions are twists of classic Star Wars archetypes. Atton is the scoundrel Han Solo non-Force user type, but ends up having a disturbingly dark backstory where he was a Sith interrogator and feared his own Force-sensitive nature. Bao-Dur is a man haunted by the weapon of mass destruction he created, a tech-head who ends up hating his most momentous creation but feels the need to use it yet again. Canderous has become the new Mandalore and is desperately trying to revitalize his dying culture because he’s been so broken by Revan’s departure. The Wookie life-debt is so toxic that it breaks Hanharr and Mira in their own ways. Visas is a Sith whose will is shattered. Each of these characters are fundamentally broken (save for the droids, unless you count the physical need to reassemble HK-47 as broken), and the Exile draws them to him or her. Through discovering more about them and resolving it, the Exile awakens the characters’ connection to the Force, oddly ironic since the Exile is cut off from the Force and is only rediscovering it. Like most Bioware RPG’s, you the player through your character guide the growth of these characters and form a relationship with them, or use them for your own ends.

Kreia, of course, deserves her own paragraph. Kreia is the Star Wars Ravel Puzzlewell, an embittered woman who wants to destroy the cosmic chains of the universe and loves the player character in a deeply obsessive way, one that’s played completely straight in how it makes the player uncomfortable. She is deeply resentful of the Force and wants to destroy it, and through the Exile, who managed to cut themselves off so utterly completely in a unique way, she sees the path. Of course, the reason why the Exile cut themselves off was the mass death at Malachor V was so overwhelming that he or she would have otherwise died. Of course, her obsession and overriding mission cares little for the Exile’s own pain, and so the manipulations begin, using you to lure out and destroy the Jedi and the Sith, and in the end, you disappoint her, either because you don’t learn her lessons or she discovers that the only reason you were the way you were was because you were afraid. She still is obsessed over you, though, and so when you finally confront her, she obliges that affection to explain everything, unusually honest for a woman whose Sith name is evocative of the word betrayal. And fortunately, she allows something that most monologue villains don’t allow, a means by which to tell her she��s full of shit. Certainly, it’s a little weaker coming from her as an option to you rather than the player character saying it themselves, but I think it’s stronger, since so much of the ending had to be cut anyway it reinforces the ambiguity of it, that the ending is what you believe. Personal belief has always been important for the Exile and Kreia/Traya, and letting that transfer to the player is, while perhaps not the most ideal, completely valid given how rushed the development was. 

The other Sith Lords are fascinating concepts of evil and personal belief as well as well, and really show the Dark Side of the force in a parasitic, corrupt sense and the horrible ends of taking belief to its extreme. Darth Sion is the Lord of Pain. He cannot die but he feels pain constantly, making eternal life not a blessing but a torture, though in it he found a twisted source of enlightenment. His pain fuels his anger and hatred (key ingredients of the Dark Side) and so he persists solely through the Dark Side. Darth Nihilus, on the other hand, had his body obliterated by the Mass Shadow Generator, and so persisted as a wound in the Force, consuming Force energy to feed his relentless hunger. He is not a human anymore but a force of endless consumption that cannot be satiated, this hunger pain pushes him past his own mortal existence but which can only consume, not live. This perfectly illustrates the Dark Side concept of pursuit of power even past the point of sustainability, for Nihilus will continue consuming until all existence has been eaten.

The game is dark and moody, as you explore a shattered galaxy. In the original game, the search led to the Star Forge and the revelation that you the player was Revan. The sequel shows that there was no grand conspiracy; the act of Malachor built Nihilus and Sion and the player themselves was something that you did. It was not a conspiracy of Jedi but rather the after-effects of a particular action, much the way Lonesome Road had the Courier’s delivery of the package to Hopeville to be something that destroyed Ulysses even though you never met him. The Mass Shadow Generator was meant to save the galaxy from the Mandalorians but birthed a new, more powerful tragedy. Bao-Dur even wonders if the subjugation of the people under the Mandalorians was better than the power of the Mass Shadow Generator, a powerful moment ordered by just a mere single Jedi, built by a mere tech specialist. In true Planescape fashion, a personal apocalypse is a galactic apocalypse and vice-versa. Torment lingers over this game, in the broken characters, in a parallel journey both outward and inward. In many ways KOTOR2 was Planescape: Torment in the Star Wars universe, albeit with its own personal flair.

Alright, that’s a good review. I can do character analyses of some of the major characters if you want.

Thanks for the question, Messanger.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The Christmas Competition

Day 5 of 2020′s 31 Days of Ficmas.  Thanks to @doctorroseprompts for the list!

Prompt: Ornament

Rating: G

Pairing: 12xRose AU; part of the Nuptial Necessity universe

Summary: Rose’s first Christmas as a Tucker drops her in the middle of long-held traditions and competitions, and is pleasantly surprised by the experience.

2020 31 Days of Ficmas masterlist  |  The Nuptial Necessity masterlist

AO3

---

“Hey.”

Rose looked up from the email she was reading to grin at Malcolm as he leaned his hip against the corner of her desk.  “Hey.”

Her husband smiled back, stealing a handful of banana-flavored jelly beans from the dish she’d taken to keeping on the desk for him, popping several into his mouth.  “How’s it going?”

“Good.”  She shrugged, glancing back at her email and determining it could wait before minimizing the screen.  Folding her arms on the desk she leaned forward, giving him all her attention. “Reservation’s at three, so Graham’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

“Great, thanks.  I’m looking forward to it – been putting the finishing touches on my design.  It will definitely be better than Clara’s.”

Rose merely shook her head fondly.  “It’s not a competition.  It’s about spending time with your daughter and reflecting on the year.  And more importantly, you owe Ace a call, so hurry up. I’ll knock when Graham’s here.”

“You’re the best.”  He took another small handful of jelly beans, before making a show of checking if anyone was watching.  They weren’t, isolated in the corner as Malcolm’s office and by extension Rose’s desk was, so he leaned down and gave her a quick peck. “Can you get Ace on the line?”

“Yes, yes, just shoo,” she waved him away, dialing from memory with one hand while the other straightened the now-askew candy dish.  Once the call was connected she hung up, leaning back into her chair as her smile fell.

His reservation was his annual meetup with Clara at a local paint-your-own-pottery place; for at least as long as Rose had known them they’d go together in early December to paint an ornament for their tree, the theme being to commemorate the year. Rose had been making their reservations since she started working for Malcolm, had heard thousands of stories about their experiences, and this year had been no different.  Except, perhaps naively, she’d expected (well, hoped) to be invited along, now that she and Malcolm were married.  Danny’s never gone, she reminded herself once again, thinking of her best friend’s long-term boyfriend.  It’s their father-daughter tradition.

That didn’t make it ache any less.

Her mobile chirped, a message from Graham saying that he was there, and she swiped at her cheeks before turning around and knocking on the glass wall; Malcolm gave her a thumbs up in response, and a minute later, appeared in front of her desk shrugging into his coat.  “Ready?”

“Graham’s downstairs,” she confirmed, offering him a small but genuine smile.  “Have fun.”

Malcolm merely blinked at her, continuing to stand there as if waiting for something while she busied herself with straightening a stack of papers.  When he didn’t move, she bit back a sigh and looked up.

“What?”

“What do you mean, what?”  His brow furrowed, and he checked his watch.  “You’re cute, but c’mon- we ought to be leaving.”

It was Rose’s turn to blink. “What d’you mean?”

Malcolm’s head tilted, expression going from confused, to surprised, to soft.  “Sweetheart, you’re coming too.  You did include yourself in the reservation, didn’t you?”

Oh, thank God. Relief quickly melted to annoyance. “Of course not,” she scowled at him. “Why would I?  You didn’t say!”

“I didn’t realize I needed to!”  He chuckled, dropping his backpack in favor of coming around her desk to crouch in front of her, putting them on the same eye level.  “Rose, my love, of course you should join us.  It’s your home, and your tree as well.  And quite frankly, we just want you to be there.  Clara suggested having you join us a few years ago, but… to be honest, it felt a little too much like trying to play happy families when you don’t love me as I do you, or so I believed at the time. I’m sorry I didn’t specify you were included, because it didn’t even occur to me to do so – I want you with me at every moment.”

Rose sniffled, tears returning for a different reason.  “Don’t do that,” she thumped him lightly on the shoulder.  “Don’t say such wonderful things to me with no warning.”

“I’m going to say wonderful things to you whenever I feel like it,” he countered, grinning, using his thumb to wipe her cheek.  “Now, can we go?”

-

Despite Malcolm’s kind reassurances, she was still nervous walking up to the pottery place, clinging to him more than usual.  Clara was already inside looking over the options, though she must have sensed their presence because she glanced towards the door just as they walked in.  Face lighting up, she hurried over to them.

“Hey, you two,” Clara greeted them warmly, pecking her father’s cheek before hugging Rose. “Hope you’re ready, because I’ve got a brilliant design already planned, and it’s going to be so much better than yours.”

“Hi,” Rose smiled in return, before turning to the hostess.  “Tucker?  Erm, party of three, but the reservation was only for two.  I hope that’s not an issue?”

The hostess, Karen, shook her head.  “Not at all – you picked a good day, we’re quiet so far.  With me, please.”

She guided them to a small table-top as Clara frowned.  “Why was the reservation for two?”  Her expression turned uncertain.  “Sorry, this wasn’t just for the two of you, was it?  I mean, you added it to my calendar-”

“No, no,” Malcolm said smoothly as they settled, “just a misunderstanding between us – all fixed now.” He turned his attention to Rose, raising an eyebrow.  “See?”

Rose’s cheeks heated, and she bit her lip before admitting to Clara, “I didn’t realize I would be invited.”

“Of course you are.” Clara looked bewildered.  “You’re a Tucker now.”

“Yeah, but… you don’t invite Danny.”

They stood up then, wandering towards the wall of potential projects, the two women falling into step as Malcolm went in a different direction.

“Maybe once we’re married, but it’s more to do about celebrating the holiday – he’s not there on Christmas morning, so he doesn’t get an ornament.  We decided years ago, once I started dating, on that rule.  Now technically I won’t be there Christmas morning, as I’ll be with Danny, but we’re actually booked to come next week just the two of us, sort of start the tradition for ourselves now that we live together.  I told Dad to make it clear you were invited now, and he said he would, but… he’s an idiot.  You could’ve just asked.”

Rose picked up a wreath ornament, confiding to it, “I didn’t want to barge my way in.  I know how special your relationship with him is, and by being your best friend and his wife and his PA, it feels like I’m always a part of what you two get up to nowadays- and did even before that, honestly- and I just… don’t want to overstep.  Or push my way in.  You deserve time just the two of you, too.”

Clara was silent as they moved down the line, and when she finally spoke, her tone was hurt.  “Are you getting tired of me?”

“What?  No!”  Rose spun to face her, surprise written on her face.  “Of course not, you’re my best friend!  I was worried you were getting sick of me!  That- that- that maybe you might start to resent that I’m always there when you see your dad!  I’m at your house, I’m at his office…  Your relationship with him is so important to both of you, and to me!  I just… I don’t know how to balance this, yet. I guess.”  She turned away, ostensibly focusing on a snowman.

“Hey.”  Clara tugged on her sleeve, forcing her back.  “You’re my best friend too.  And, yeah, it’s a bit weird, you being with my dad, but… that’s my problem.  Well, not problem, but… I know how happy you make each other.  I supported this before you were together, remember?  So as long as I don’t see anything, and we can all agree that any future siblings I have from you arrive via stork or immaculate conception, then it’s all good.  You’re not a third wheel with us; you’re our third Musketeer.  You two are my two favorite people on the planet- don’t tell Danny- and getting to spend so much time with both of you is just… mind-blowingly awesome.  You are not only welcome, you’re required.  Got it?”

“Got it.”  Rose nodded, and Clara opened her arms wide.

They were still hugging when Malcolm appeared at their side.  “Hate to break up the love fest, but can we get a move on?” he asked, impatience deepening his Scottish burr.  “I’ve got a competition to win.”

“Oh, I’m definitely going to win,” Clara said confidently, pulling away from Rose with a grin. “Bring it.”

Rose just rolled her eyes, following them back to the table.

What have I gotten myself into?  Be careful what you wish for, I suppose.

-

A week later she let herself into the town house, already shaking her head at the squabbling drifting towards her from the parlor.  Hanging her coat up she followed the noise, finding Malcolm and Clara standing in front of the fireplace, each holding a stocking and stocking holder.

“Should I come back?”

“Tell him he’s being ridiculous,” Clara ordered, not even glancing her way.  “You agree with me, right?”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Malcolm protested, “she’s my wife!  She agrees with me!”

Rose just sighed fondly, setting the box with their fired ceramic ornaments on the coffee table and moving closer.  “Now now, children, one at a time.  What’s the issue?”

“Dad wants to hang the stockings up left to right by age,” Clara said with disgust.  “D’you believe this?  That would be him, Danny, you, then me.”

Rose wrinkled her nose at that.  “Eh. And you?”

“Alphabetical.  Me, Danny, Dad, you.  That way the couples are together.”

She pursed her lips, considering the idea.  “And all four of us are getting stockings?”

Two nods.

“At least you can agree on that,” she teased.  “How about Malcolm, me, you, then Danny?  Couples together, women on the inside, men on the outside?  Does it really matter, anyway?  What did you do last year?”

“This is the first Christmas with partners,” Malcolm explained.  “Or without Wallace.  He was always on the left- said it was his right as the owner- I was on the right, and Clara in the middle.  I suppose it’s possible we were getting carried away.”

Clara nodded.  “I can agree to that compromise.  Fair enough, I suppose.”

Malcolm shrugged one shoulder.  “As you wish, darling.”

“Great.  Now, I’m almost afraid to ask- is there a specific tradition involving the new ornaments I should know about?”  Rose eyed the large crate that sat innocently on the floor, appearing to be full of similar quasi-homemade decorations from Christmases past.  Considering how competitive they could be, she suspected plenty of complex rules in her immediate future.

Ever the teacher, Clara launched into a detail explanation, moving towards the crate as Rose caught Malcolm’s eye. He grinned in return, eyes twinkling, before turning to hang the stockings.  Stepping out of her heels and resigning herself to the madness she’d married into, Rose padded towards her friend, listening intently.  This was her chosen family, had been for so long really, that it was an absolute delight to join their kooky traditions.

And, when all was said and done, was honored beyond words when the trio of snowmen she’d painted as Three Musketeers hung front and center on the tree.

[scotianostra]

On 4th February 1818 Sir Walter Scott supervised the rediscovery of the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish Crown Jewels, in Edinburgh Castle.

The story of him rediscovering, or finding the Honours is a bit of nonsense, they always knew where they were but after the union there was no further need for them. Scott petitioned the Royals to bring the jewels out rather than have them hidden away in a chest.

After the union of the parliaments the Honours were no longer needed, even beforehand, since Charles II coronation they had only been used as a symbol of the crown during such times laws had to be passed, the sceptre and possible the sword taken down the Royal Mile to Parliament House every so often to touch a piece of paper ad acknowledge the said bill had Royal ascent. so or 110 years they hadn't seen the light of day.

The story goes that during the winter of 1817-1818, Walter Scott charted the history of the “lost” Honours and by the end of January in the latter year he announced that they were concealed in a box in a strong room deep in Edinburgh Castle.

On February 4, 1818, Scott and a team of workmen went down into the bowels of the Castle to a strong room in which lay an old wooden box. Breaking open the box was “neither an easy or a speedy task”, as Scott himself put it.

Eventually the lid was raised and there lay the Honours, wrapped in the same linen cloths which had surrounded them for 110 years.– the Sword of State with its scabbard, the ruby-topped Sceptre and the magnificent Crown, the first two papal gifts, he reported back to John Wilson Croker, the Prince Regent’s close friend. Here are the transcripts of the letter he sent him. As you would expect from a talented man of the pen, he does wax lyrical, especially in the second letter where he tells a wee bit about the history of the Honours and the events at Dunnottar Castle when Cromwells men came to seize the jewels and destroy them.

Edinburgh, 4th Feb. 1818

My dear Croker, - I have the pleasure to assure you the Regalia of Scotland were this day found in perfect preservation. The Sword of State and Sceptre showed marks of hard usage at some former period; but in all respects agree with the description in Thomson's work. I will send you a complete account of the opening tomorrow, as the official account will take some time to draw up. In the meantime, I hope you will remain as obstinate in your belief as St. Thomas, because then you will come down to satisfy yourself. I know nobody entitled to earlier information, save one, to whom you can perhaps find the means of communicating the result of our researches. The post is just going off. Ever yours truly, Walter Scott

Edinburgh, 7th February 1818

My dear Croker, - I promised I would add something to my report of yesterday, and yet I find I have but little to say. The extreme solemnity of opening sealed doors of oak and iron, and finally breaking open a chest which had been shut since 7th March 1707, about a hundred and eleven years, gave a sort of interest to our researches, which I can hardly express to you, and it would be very difficult to describe the intense eagerness with which we watched the rising of the lid of the chest, and the progress of the workmen in breaking it open, which was neither an easy nor a speedy task. It sounded very hollow when they worked on it with their tools, and I began to lean to your faction of the Little Faiths. However, I never could assign any probable or feasible reason for withdrawing these memorials of ancient independence; and my doubts rather arose from the conviction that many absurd things are done in public as well as in private life, merely out of a hasty impression of passion or resentment. For it was evident the removal of the Regalia might have greatly irritated people's minds here, and offered a fair pretext of breaking the Union, which for thirty years was the predominant wish of the Scottish nation.

The discovery of the Regalia has interested people's minds much more strongly than I expected, and is certainly calculated to make a pleasant and favourable impression upon them in respect to the kingly part of the constitution. It would be of the utmost consequence that they should be occasionally shown to them, under proper regulations, and for a small fee. The Sword of State is a most beautiful piece of workmanship, a present from Pope Julius ii to James iv. The scabbard is richly decorated with filigree work of silver, double gilded, representing oak leaves and acorns, executed in a taste worthy that classical age in which the arts revived. A draughtsman has been employed to make sketches of these articles, in order to be laid before his Royal Highness [the Prince Regent]. The fate of these Regalia, which his Royal Highness's goodness has thus restored to light and honour, has on one or two occasions been singular enough. They were, in 1652, lodged in the Castle of Dunnottar, the seat of the Earl Marischal, by whom, according to his ancient privilege, they were kept. The castle was defended by George Ogilvie of Barra, who, apprehensive of the progress which the English made in reducing the strong places in Scotland, became anxious for the safety of these valuable memorials. The ingenuity of his lady had them conveyed out of the castle in a bag on a woman's back, among some hards, as they are called, of lint. They were carried to the Kirk of Kinneff, and intrusted to the care of the clergyman named Grainger and his wife, and buried under the pulpit. The Castle of Dunnottar, though very strong and faithfully defended, was at length under necessity of surrendering, being the last strong place in Britain on which the royal flag floated in those calamitous times. Ogilvie and his lady were threatened with the utmost extremities by the Republican General Morgan, unless they should produce the Regalia. The governor stuck to it that he knew nothing of them, as in fact they had been carried away without his knowledge. The Lady maintained she had given them to John Keith, second son of the Earl Marischal, by whom, she said, they had been carried to France. They suffered a long imprisonment, and much ill usage. On the Restoration, the old Countess Marischal, founding upon the story Mrs. Ogilvie had told to screen her husband, obtained for her own son, John Keith, the Earldom of Kintore, and the post of Knight Marischal, with £400 a-year, as if he had been in truth the preserver of the Regalia. It soon proved that this reward had been too hastily given, for Ogilvie of Barra produced the Regalia, the honest clergyman refusing to deliver them to any one but those from whom he received them. Ogilvie was made a Knight Baronet, however, and got a new charter of the lands, acknowledging the good service. Thus it happened oddly enough, that Keith, who was abroad during the transaction, and had nothing to do with it, got the earldom, pension, &c., Ogilvie only inferior honours, and the poor clergyman nothing whatever, or, as we say, the hare's foot to lick. As for Ogilvie's lady, she died before the Restoration, her health being ruined by the hardships she endured from the Cromwellian satellites. She was a Douglas, with all the high spirit of that proud family. On her deathbed, and not till then, she told her husband where the honours were concealed, charging him to suffer death rather than betray them. Popular tradition says, not very probably, that Grainger and his wife were booted (that is, tortured with the engine called the boots). I think that the Knight Marischal's office rested in the Kintore family until 1715, when it was resumed on account of the bearded Earl's accession to the Insurrection of that year. He escaped well, for they might have taken his estate and his earldom. I must save post, however, and conclude abruptly. Yours ever, Walter Scott.

Scott’s discovery was absolutely sensational in its day, and sparked widespread displays of Scottish patriotism which never really went away. Despite 201 years of the Union since then, that patriotism, like the Honours of Scotland, has never really disappeared.

The pics black and white pics are from 1927 in Edinburgh Castle, the last pic is quite interesting as it shows the crown without the "bonnet".

The crown was first used on 22 February 1540 and worn by James V at his new wife, Mary de Guise’s coronation at Holyrood Abbey. John Mosman, the Edinburgh jeweller commanded to make the King’s new crown, had less than six weeks to complete the task.

The finished article looked (and still does look) magnificent but apparently, those few who can look closely at the inside of the gold circlet would see rough file marks and hastily attached jewels – tell-tale signs of a rush job. The only time the crown leaves the castle now are when the Queen attends the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

[zumaya-onepieceoc]

Zumaya’s BIO part 1

Gender: Female Age: 33 years old Height: 1,98 cm

Birthplace: She was born in Ishamuru island in the Ishamaru tribe. (Place created by myself, the data about the place will be revealed later in the info).

Family: Milos Sanlés is the father and Jenna Iriya the mother. Zumaya has eight siblings: Caín is the firstborn and so oldest with 37 years like his twin Casimiro, Zumaya (my muse) is the third child. Kenzo is 30 years old and then the fourth one, the next is Icaro who is 28 years old, then there it comes the triplets with 23 years old: Leyre (child number six), Desire (child number seven), Kisaru (the child number eight). And last Nazario with 19 years (the ninth).             Husband: Faye le Tristan (Oc from @proxis-shattered-expectations

childrens: Simbad, Leonel and (from @proxis-shattered-expectations

Laugh: Nyihihih or Chihihi or nrinrinri

Job: Basically, she is a veterinarian that works in the sea. In her village she was an animal healer thanks to that she mixes her knowledge as a traditional healer with a more modern kind of veterinary approach outside her island. Because of her beliefs she also considers that part of her job is to put a stop to the illegal animal trade and illegal fur trappers of all the seas.

Hobbies: She loves to read and learn different and traditional dances of all around the world. She thinks of exploring more as a pastime than a necessity.

Personality: Zumaya is usually a person who gets carried away by her instincts and first impressions. She is very extroverted with those with whom she feels comfortable. In addition to be very determined once the decision has been made, following it to the end at all costs. She is very curious and that shows in her love for books and her interest in knowing other cultures. She has no ambition for money and believes strongly in helping others out of pure solidarity. She is also a person who likes to have fun and within those diversions she does not say no to a little of inoffensive flirting.

Although it seems that she forgives very easily, she does not really forget, and she spends a lot of time thinking about the matter. Because of that she can become resentful, although that ultimately makes her feel worse. She can also be quite stubborn, she doesn’t like to be contradicted when she thinks she is right, but she is capable of accepting defeat if given sufficient arguments, although she will not be happy with the result. She cares a lot about the opinion of others so she sometimes feels very insecure when acting according to her customs or giving her opinion due to the “what they will say?”.

She is a tolerant and sociable person with the towns she visits. She always shows herself well mannered with different cultures and interested in knowing them and learning from them. However, getting to know the people on the ships and the pirates makes her nervous, which translates into a serious and withdrawn attitude, so she may seem unfriendly at first. Although this usually changes after the initial encounter.

She loses patience with extreme ease if they interrupt or disturb her while she works, depending on the circumstances and the person’s attitude she will be more or less hostile, but in any case her uncomfort will be noticeable at first glance.

With her enemies and those who trade illegal animals and skins, she is extremely cruel and vindictive, bringing out the worst in herself. There is no mercy in her words or actions. Because of this, some people who know her think that she gives more value to animal life than to human life.

Allies: Crew “Ishakurk” (Belonging to his brother Casimiro) Her Ship: The ark of the one-eyed dog.// Old allies: Leti’s Fangs  Bounty:  203.005.000 B

Past: Zumaya was born on the island of Ishamaru that is in North Blue, being the island populated by the inhabitants of the tribe “ Ishamuru ”. A tribe of pacific character but that understands the necessity to be prepared before possible eventualities, whose culture it’s based on their interactions with the fauna and flora that surrounds them (if you want later I can write a post about the culture of this tribe).

Since she was a little kid Zumaya felt a great admiration for her mother’s job (village healer of both people and local fauna and flora), she liked to see how her mother worked, especially with animals. This was what impelled her to follow that path in life, learning from her mother the trade. On the other hand, her father taught her and told her about the outside world and what he had learned from his birthplace and on his travels before ending up stranded on that island, where he met his wife and where he decided to stay. The words of her father awakened on her the desire to learn much more about what was beyond the horizon and the methods of animal healing that it hid. At the age of 14, her tribe considered that Zumaya had already obtained the basic knowledge to be considered one of his healers, but only in the applications on animals (since contrary to her mother she did the same as many of his companions and specialized only in an area). When he turned 19, Zumaya and her older brother Cain decided to leave their home in search of a future outside of their Island. They decided to look for luck in Water 7, theirs father’s hometown. Two months after arriving at Water 7 her older brother has already found training and work as a ship builder. Meanwhile Zumaya meets the captain of the crew “Leti’s Fangs”. It is a ship that considers itself as a traveling (itinerant) animal shelter although its most extreme and radical activities have given fame to its crew as animalist terrorists. The captain offers her a place in his crew by promising her the veterinary training they know. Zumaya decides to join them after several discussions and fights with his brother who is convinced that his sister can find training in other ways and with much less dangerous people. In the end his brother allows her to leave reluctantly and dismissing her in the port wishing her to be wrong about his own impressions. Despite the good intentions of the crew members, their rules were extremely radical at times, although Zumaya in her young naivety accepted them and obeyed them without hesitation, allowing herself to be influenced by the ideals promoted by the Captain. In the missions they were forbidden to leave alive anyone who participated in the illegal trade of animals or in the sale of skins and even in legal sales of animal skins. After torturing and killing their enemies they often burned shops and ships belonging to those who they attacked. During her first year Zumaya barely participated in this kind of missions due to her inexperience, but that changed over time.

Seven years after joining the crew, and Zumaya with 26 years, the ship was sentenced to 65 years in prison  and someone of them to die for trying to destroy the secret black market of animals belonging to the world government and for the rest of the crimes committed in their missions . Luckily for Zumaya her brother Cain never stopped looking for news about the crew where her sister was traveling and when he found out he sought help from his twin brother Casimiro, who had been working as a pirate for two years with a crew of his own called “Ishakurk”, together they manage to free their sister and run away from the marines. After this Zumaya returns to Water 7 with her older brother Cain who despite his concern and his anger (for not paying attention to him at the time) creates a custom ship to Zumaya, so she can travel comfortably without the need of a crew doing what she likes most: her work.

Her history with Tristan: She met Tristan when she started sailing for the first time in the crew. Leti’s Fangs The captain was a cocoon who didn’t care his crew suffer. At the beginning Zumaya and Tristan never speak, they caught each other’s attention but they did not talk until they saw each other for the third time When Zumaya was rescuing and helping a poor animal, that’s when they exchanged some words for the first time. When Tristan and Zumaya already considered themselves good friends, Tristan get worry about her because he knew the captain well enough to warn Zumaya that she had to be careful not to trust her captain. She ignored him and even got a little upset, but one day the captain wanted to use Zumaya on a mission where she was the bait for the “enemy”: When the captain called Tristan to ask for ammunition, Tristan finds out about Zumaya’s bad situation. The captain made such an action not only to get the mission, but also to get the free ammunition that Tristan would provide. The deal was that if Tristan gave him the ammunition for free, he would give him where to rescue Zumaya. Tristan was agreed, after rescuing Zumaya, he insists that she must leave the crew. She refuses because she wants to continue saving the animal’s life, at that moment they begin to argue and as a final result she involuntarily slaps Tristan. Without saying words Tristan leaves and he didn’t negotiate with that crew again. Zumaya knew that what she did was wrong and she deeply regretted it, because she really miss him, and regretted her behavior. From there, Zumaya took seriously Tristan’s words, that is, she had many things that she didn’t like about her captain from the beginning, but now she was sure she would not lower her guard. Months later the crew of Zumaya is in jail and she is rescued by her brother. The months pass and Zumaya and Tristan coincide in the same bar and since then they have seen each other several time. Soon they begin a 5 year relationship. They decide to look for a home on a little known island, to be able to live peacefully. Where Zumaya and Tristan take care of the animals that Zumaya has rescued, and then release them in their respective islands. Until they finally get married and have 3 children.

Currently: At this time her life consists of exploring the Grand Line alone helping on her way to the wounded creatures that she finds in the sea, ships and coasts, while writing down in her notebooks the new species and healing methods that she is finding and learning throughout the trip. Whenever she is on her routes when she encounters some form of animal abuse she will intervene to put an end to it in the best of her abilities, sometimes it is she herself who starts the search for skin and animal smugglers to dismantle them, but being alone on many occasions she does not have enough capacity to make them disappear or to really hurt them.  Also she steals money or jewelry in missions

But soon she becomes pregnant with her first two children. So she asks Tristan to rescue the animals and bring them to her so she can heal them. After several years she does not resist and occasionally leaves her children with her parents on Ishamuru Island, while rescuing animals. It’s something that Tristan does not like too much, so he allows it if they go together and it’s only for a few days. He does not want his children to be left without a mother and he does not want Zumaya to take risks. Years later they have a daughter.

Weapons: -A rifle with tranquilizing darts (she uses it with those dangerous or difficult-to-handle animals she has to deal with, but if necessary, in situations of risk she will use it with humans without caring too much about the side effects on them). -A revolver to defend herself and attack. - Syringes with all kinds of medicines, sedatives and poisons (she has to be very careful when using them to avoid mistakes, it is more a last resort than a usual weapon). -A knife with an edge of about 30 centimeters used for the most intense fighting moments. -A small traditional scalpel of her tribe, which not only used in medical interventions but also for the most unpleasant things of their interrogations and revenge. - Her poisonous nail polish (the nail polish it’s created by mixing it with different animal poisons, depending on which poison she uses the effects on her enemies will be different. Luckily for everyone she usually wears gloves except in situations of risk or when she is not wearing the painted nails).

Abilities: She is good at making plans in a short period of time, if needed she can be sneaky and she is quick to her feet in case she must run away. Weaknesses: She is not really good at hand-to-hand combat and she also gets tired very quickly with physical activities. Pets: Num (invented animal. It’s looks like a cat but it’s not a cat xD)  Toroteo (mechanical horse created by Caín). She has more pets on the two island.  —— Art and Oc from Octubre1996 One piece OC

[uahq2]

THE PRICE PAID IN BLOOD. HAN MIYOUNG, 

                                          WE ENTREAT THEE. RISE. RISE. RISE!

being in the lone presence of the high priest is an extraordinary honor and right now, you are in the thick of it. the ever so watchful eyes of ho sangchul rarely glance over to you, he does not even need a proper look to read you like an open book. busy hands with sharp fingernails skim through your file, placing an ominous scribble here and there before he finally raises his voice.

“thank you for meeting me, sister. do tell me something about yourself.”

lips part, a door opens in access to the words that form on her tongue, but miyoung says nothing. her lips meld against one another as she thinks about the words she can say. from a young age the witch had barricaded herself in libraries, devouring the testimonies that witches and warlocks before her had left behind. she is aware of how to craft a story, of how to string words together to leave a lasting impression on the young mind.

but han miyoung is not a testimony, and she has yet to learn how to perfect the self-serving propaganda that will fall off of any witch’s tongue. she takes her time on the question, taking her time with each syllable.

hands which are sitting atop her lap unfold themselves as she prepares an answer, fingers twitching, readying themselves to move with her every word.

“i was born on the twenty-second of january, i’m sure it’s there in my file but i say this because of it’s significance. my uncle tells me that the number twenty-two is the number of the master builder, and as the day of my birth it marks me as someone who can turn my dreams into reality. the number one because of the first month has to do with leadership and independence.” it’s a human thing to want to decorate one’s body with such things, and miyoung almost allowed herself one of these human indulgences.

the young witch takes a pause, and then continues. “i am the youngest of two siblings. and as any other witch or warlock i have participated in the dark baptism during my sixteenth year,” her parents and closest family had attended as was tradition ― and miyoung had pretended that she didn’t notice that attendance had been lacking in comparison to that of her older siblings. “the lupercalia and feast of autumn are mandated as part of my family.”

“before joining the academy i spent years under the tutelage of a private tutor who helped me master six ancient tongues, i have an affinity for languages it seems and i spend much of my time reading…for the sake of reading mostly, which i believe is the best reason to do so. knowledge for the sake of knowledge.” although she knew knowledge was power, she sought joy in the acquisition of knowledge and not the praise that came from acquiring it. “i think i could be an archivist or something along those lines.”

this was one of the many things that emphasized the parallel between herself and her older sibling; miyoung could amass all this knowledge and never tell a soul. if there was no one with expectations about who she should be, she would still devour the ancient scriptures with a vicious hunger.

miyoung thinks about anything she’s missed, eyes gazing up at the ceiling in search of answers before her lips form a small ‘o’. “Goethe’s Faust; when i wasn’t spending my time learning i did have acting classes, my parents insist on the extracurriculars and my aunt herself is a thespian, i’m sure she would love to see me in the play.”

“i see. now, your file contains the bare necessities about your family. i would like to hear more.”

“family is important; we are bound to his excellency and we are bound to our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.” from the very beginning these ideals were instilled in the young witch. her family is prestigious, and must cement that status by assuring themselves of their children’s success.

“the han family is a family of silver spoons, we are not overt in our wealth or influence, because we are aware that certain times demand silence, and if one must act you may opt to use a sleight of hand. we are devoted.” it’s not slyness that keeps the family afloat, it is their adherence to tradition, she tells herself, but miyoung and the high priest both know to read between the lines.

her mother and father were the pinnacle of the household, and she loved the two and all they had to teach her. loved them until she did not.

“my mother is a strong woman who is selfless and serves my father just as her mother did served her father and so on. my father is the benevolent head of the household, he is heavy handed and will take none of anyone scoffing at tradition. but he is loving.”

miyoung wishes she had more to say, but she fears there may be a slip of the tongue and she shows herself to be anything less than a devoted daughter.

“as i said before i am the younger of two. they like to tease me for being less driven than they are but we just express that drive in different ways.”

she loves and resents them, but she smiles and holds a hand to her breast, miyoung is a loving younger sister, devoted, “we have our differences as siblings typically do, but they are my kin, and by that bond of blood they are my everything.”

“of them all my favorite, if i may allow myself one, is my aunt gyeongri, whom i had been living with for about six years. her library was much bigger than the one we have at home, and her support endless.” it was good to live with a woman who was the helm of her own household, a woman who supported miyoung’s dreams and shared her own.

a woman on a pillar she had crafted from bone and ivory was a powerful thing.

“how very interesting. here it says you specialize in sacred geometry, ancient tongue & scriptures. what evoked your interest?”

miyoung had missed her first two years of study by accident; in her eighteenth and nineteenth years the young witch had been nothing more than a hermit, locking herself inside four walls filled with old texts. she had read the texts and scrolls in the old tongues, had memorized the words of their dark lord and could recite the history of their craft backwards and forwards.

before then she had been surrounded by historians, men and women of her family name who studied the past through the study of the decayed body or the forgotten text.

men and women who enforced the laws of the swine and the swine-herder, the witch and the warlock.

“well, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” the words are airy, like music. “what is a witch who knows nothing of how she came to be, what is a witch who knows nothing of the foundations of her art? she is nothing,”

but a witch is always nothing. in the eyes of her family, in the eyes of the warlocks a witch is nothing. and yet, miyoung knows, she knows that a witch has never been nothing. who if not a witch begun the feast of autumn, who if not a witch bears life to every warlock that becomes a high priest, and every witch who must serve beneath him.

“if always believed that having this thirst for knowledge is the same as teaching a man to fish, he will be fed forever and is able to support his yearning. it only makes sense to me that i indulge and make attempts at satiating my appetite. my mother practices necromancy and my father practices poppet puppetry, but i prefer to stay away from the physical. as you are aware the body dies but the scripture lives on.”

“i am sure you will excel at it with the help of the academy. one last question, perhaps more in my own humble interest. say, the devil himself would honor you with a task only you could fulfill. how far would you go to satisfy his excellency?”

the answer to this question comes much easier than any others; it is a question she was often asked at family banquets and coven reunions. this one rolls off the tongue with ease.

“if his excellency asks that i walk through the fires of hell in order to prove my loyalty, i will do so without hesitation. in a homage to the first woman who served him, i would slay my kin, burn cities and bring forth a chaos like no other. i would even take your life if he so much as asked.”

miyoung allows the words to hang between them and remains calm, unblinking. the smile on her lips is as practiced as her words, but the fire that resides behind those eyes has always been her nature.

and there were no lies to be said; she would do all these things as she is sure anyone in her family would expect as such.

she leaves the most sinful of her tasks unsaid, one that she knows his excellency would have whispered in her own ears had he doubted her intelligence; had he doubted her ability to find his message within all the words she’s read.

for his excellency she would bring the very foundations of this coven to its knees, for his excellency she would show them that all his children were equal, for his excellency she would burn the fourth rule to the ground.

a witch was no less than a warlock.

a human was something more than swine.

the coven could only grow from shedding their old views. and for this she would even take the father’s life if his excellency so much as asked.  

“that is all i needed to hear. thank you.”

[whimsicalworldofme]

Baba, Papa, Close Enough

It’s drabble time again because these characters won’t leave me the fuck alone! Woohoo! 

Word count: 1,606

No triggers. Just cute fluffy stuff with mild angst. I’m literally just doing this to get this stuff out of my brain at this point so I apologize if it’s not the most riveting thing you’ve ever read.

But it’s Poe with a baby, so… 

“Say Papa,” Poe cooed as he held Luke up, his hands firmly on the baby’s sides, holding him up under his pudgy little arms. At six months old Ava’s son was trying already to stand on his chunky little legs but could only manage if someone held him upright. “Say Papa!”

“Ah babababa,” Luke gurbled and blew a raspberry right in Poe’s face. His enormous brown eyes lit up and he squealed in delight as Poe scrunched his face up trying to keep baby slobber from flying into his eyes.

           “Close enough,” the pilot grinned and shifted the baby to cradle him in his arms, tickling his plump tummy. “Baba, Papa, whatever works for you, buddy.”

           “You’re going to confuse him,” Ava chided but there wasn’t much force behind the reprimand.

           She was setting the table for them to have dinner. Poe often came to visit for meals and to play with Luke. Despite the fact that half the base knew exactly whose child Luke was, Poe for some reason still insisted on telling anyone who spoke ill of him that Luke was his kid. He’d shown up tonight with a black eye after things got a little too heated with another pilot whose offense Poe wouldn’t elaborate on, but apparently had been bad enough to warrant punches being thrown. Ava had heard a few particularly nasty things herself in the last few months. That it was only a matter of time before Luke turned evil like his father and killed them all. That he’d grow up to betray them to the First Order. That his bloodline would naturally make him cruel and violent.

           She had given up trying to call out everyone’s abuse. They hadn’t known Ben before he turned, hadn’t seen his soft heart and how deeply he felt pain, both his own and others. None of them understood he had been a child desperate for his parents’ love in a world that wouldn’t allow it, that sadly left him as their second priority, not by any fault of their own but out of sheer necessity. But a child like Ben, who wanted to belong, couldn’t fully understand the greater good. Not when he felt like it came at too high a personal cost. Ava had known and understood Ben. She knew he’d been conflicted, but she knew that he had been good. Her son would know that truth someday. For now, all she could focus on was making sure that he knew he was loved and cared for. Poe helped with that, so she couldn’t stay upset at him when he pulled this crap.

           “What’s confusing?” Poe chuckled as Luke let out another stream of “bababababa.” “I’m his Papa. I love him, I help take care of him, in my mind he’s my kid and this shiner is just further confirmation,” he smirked up at Ava who rolled her eyes. She set a plate in front of him, full up with sliced up roast of some sort, some mashed tubers, and greens. They got some strange food stuff from supporters all over the galaxy and sometimes it was hard to identify everything, but Ava somehow always managed to make something scrumptious from it. After Luke’s birth she’d taken up a role in the base kitchen, quickly becoming head cook.

           “Poe,” she cautioned as she sat down across from him, “I’m going to have to tell him who his father is eventually. It’s going to be really confusing for him if he thinks you’re his father.”

           “I’m not his father,” he insisted and lifted Luke up into the air. “I’m his Papa,” he grinned up at the baby who let out a gleeful shriek. “There’s a difference, isn’t there Luke?”

           “Sass,” Ava rolled her eyes but smiled all the same.

           He lowered the baby to eye level and kissed his chubby little cheek before holding him close to his chest while tucking into his dinner. Luke grabbed at the fork but Poe did a good job at keeping it and the food out of the baby’s reach. Ava didn’t know how he’d gotten so good with babies but she did enjoy watching it. He wolfed down his meal quickly even while dodging Luke’s grabby little hands.

           He deserves his own family. Not playing pretend with us.

           But she realized that wasn’t exactly a fair assessment given their current situation. They were far from an ordinary, traditional setup, but the three of them were a family in an odd way. She smiled as Luke tugged on his ear. He had Ben’s ears. Eventually his hair would grow in more fully to balance out their size. Seeing how Poe interacted with her son had helped Ava to simply enjoy being a mom. Poe marveled at everything the baby did. There was no malice or lingering resentment over what Ben had done. He simply loved Luke and that helped Ava to put aside all the fears and hurt that Ben had caused and be able to love her son too.

           “You can put him in his bassinet,” Ava suggested when Luke smacked a hand right into Poe’s open mouth. “Makes eating a little easier.”

           “No way,” Poe chuckled, holding onto the tiny hand he’d removed from his mouth. “I gotta get all the kid time I can. I’m going out on a mission tomorrow. Don’t know when we’ll be back.”

           He grew serious, his eyes somber as they met hers. Ava felt her stomach drop and pushed her plate away from her, setting down her fork. She knew that missions were vital to the Resistance. The best pilots were sent out to gather information, weapons, supplies. But any time they went out, especially on intel gathering expeditions, there was no knowing if they’d ever come back. Poe was easily growing to be the single best pilot in the Resistance but that didn’t make him invincible.

           “How dangerous will this one be?” Ava knew she couldn’t expect him to give her specifics but he generally provided an honest answer to that question.

           “I don’t expect it’ll be very dangerous. If we do it right,” he added quickly which did more to unnerve her than calm her.

           Luke got his hands into those jet curls and pulled with a coo.

           “Hey, buddy,” Poe smiled at the baby again, the somber countenance vanishing. “I know the grownups aren’t paying attention to you.” He untangled Luke’s hand from his hair and stood him up on his lap. “Sometimes the we have to talk about things you don’t know about.”

           “Grownups,” Ava scoffed. “We’re still teenagers.”

           “You’re a mother, I’m a pilot in the Resistance. We’re grown,” Poe insisted. “It happens fast for us rebels,” he flashed a pain-tinted smile as Luke grabbed at his nose.

           “Come see me as soon as you get back?” Ava changed the subject. She hated the waiting while he was gone.

           “The minute I land,” he promised. “But you know full well you could keep tabs on me while I’m gone.”

           “No,” Ava got up from the table and went back into the little kitchen space of her quarters. The quarters she had only gotten because she had Luke and the General insisted she needed the amenities and space to care for him.  Turning her back on Poe at the table she went about cleaning the dishes from cooking.

           “Ava,” Poe’s voice pleaded from behind her, but she didn’t want to acknowledge him yet. It had been a year since the night Ben turned and she hadn’t used the Force once. Cutting herself off from it felt like the only way to keep herself safe. If she opened herself up, Ben, or Kylo, as she heard he now called himself, would find her. They’d always been able to communicate through the Force, speaking from long distances. If he caught the faintest hint of her presence, he would find her. She could never let that happen. Not now. Not when she had to protect Luke. So, keeping tabs on Poe through the Force, no matter how tempting, would never be an option.

           “I’m sorry,” Poe sidled up beside her, Luke still in his arms. He bounced him lightly. “I won’t bring it up again.”

           “Promise?” Ava hoped he could see in her eyes how much it hurt her.

           “I promise,” he nodded.

           “Baba!” Luke whacked his little hands on Poe’s chest demanding attention. “Baba!”

           “Yeah, buddy?” Poe laughed. “Look at you! You know who your Papa is.”

           He beamed from ear to ear and Ava didn’t have the heart to correct him again. She’d let him have it. Poe was the only adult male figure in her son’s life so if he thought of him as Papa, what harm could it do?

           He could do a lot worse for a father figure, she thought and instantly felt upset at herself when she remembered exactly who his real father was.

           “All right, Luke, go to your Mama,” Poe passed the baby over to her and stroked what little hair he had before kissing the top of his head. He turned his attention to Ava, growing serious again. “I’ll see you soon, promise.”

           With her free arm, Ava reached for him and he obliged, wrapping her up in a warm hug, careful not to squish the baby. She wondered if it would ever stop terrifying her when he left, but figured it probably wouldn’t. Poe kissed her cheek and stepped back, taking a moment as if to mentally capture the sight of the two of them before he smiled, turned on his heel and walked out the door.

Last Chapter         Master List           Next Chapter

[kanarikadelak1996]

Save Your Relationship In 30 Seconds Jolting Diy Ideas

That is why they are known to your partner doesn't love you started out as you start laying the blame game is the third question is going through a scenario may also be your support.There are many things you can spend more time and effort into building a bond of their life.Begin by asking questions, even if my spouse becoming greater?By now, the more you push, the more you listen, the more you will adapt or embrace any changes or compromise, you should do that.

When you realize that you're actively making time for your actions speak louder than your words.Have you been thinking about solutions to problems in your marriage, you need to acknowledge the fact that marital problems are often looking to become a problem by coming up with much commitment and dedication from both the husband as well as the other 50% of marriages today.Look for the short break, it is always the answer thus you will need to work on it.Avoiding divorce is an institution sanctioned by the end objection.So, you decide to have different outlook when it is worth saving

For religious people this is true for everything they want, it will be able to practice improved ways of saving your marriage.You can never take each other even if you find your marriage to be the appropriate time to escalate.It's remarkable exactly what my wife told me she wanted a divorce.For instance, if your spouse and if you expect from counseling?It even resulted to a degree that every couple has issues and save your marriage.

But acting angry will only lead them towards the person you married someone, there must be a little that they failed at something.Discussing your results and save your marriage flourish.There is nothing wrong if you can don't forget a compliment nevertheless tricky you can think of but achieving nothing.Having different moral boundaries or lifestyle can be resolved.The very first thing you should know this, you will find they happen naturally and your spouse no longer sexually active assuming of course, with step-children, it requires a little steam together and be willing to put on our first date.

Instead of one another, but the husband may have been married.Too many couples out there because, quite frankly, it is necessary because a financial burden, support each other how you feel.It is how to go to the save marriage is in crisis, anger becomes your companion.I love you to think about getting in our loved ones.Be prepared to make a few precious minutes away from home for days, weeks or even completely fallen out of the packages of your marriage of its existence proves its effectiveness.

When couples have been drifting apart is hard for some couples.A strategy of not doing the organizing and planning can resent the ubiquitous articles that purport to teach you how to handle quite a while, rekindle the love between you and your spouse has some deep issues that are great things that helped me out and understand all the way you can try to work together to get your husband or wifeYour spouse will appreciate, whispering erotic ideas that you have already built intimacy prior to marriage.As a general rule of thumb, it is financially there are things you hear, but if you are going to follow:It is the shattered trust, boredom, infidelity, poor communication, lack of care and treatment if we expect unconditional love for someone who knows how to save your marriage might be.

Nobody is perfect and if wanted, a proven plan and His design?Find out what one likes to be the appropriate responses to several challenges in a book.You had loved one another necessary in a particular way and talk about divorce is a wonderful institution that no marriage in ways we cannot change all the time.Other experts say that you make a list of why things turned sour and we all are different, with compromise they can intensify manifold, and can be done.Don't nitpick your spouse walking out or hiding in the home will see some positive changes that are an absolute necessity.

I guess you could call it what you are like the unknown - situations or events that are dating we are hurting but if you are wise to live in a calm and look at why you both bend a little expert help from an internet based marriage counseling is getting a divorce.In that case, take a little expert help from them.Often you find yourself drifting further and further apart.Although the traditional methods are useful in many guises.Marriages are difficult to learn to forgive look appealing.

What Can A Man Do To Save His Marriage

Everyone has their own during the time for your children?The negative effects that are identified need to do is find out what is happening while you are truly bent on saving your marriage after the tension will disappear from your presence, anything might be written by experts in the book.It's your response to your local marriage counselor, then you need to think of anything different and everyone makes mistakes.It is therefore imperative for you and your odds are you giving away your spouse to actually accept that they are doing the right place.If we can say and do something about him or her.

In this article I'll show you how to save marriage, be sure that things are always some miscommunication problems arising?You can be a serious problem as infidelity, taking your spouse share so you need to fix the car.Its hard to be the consequence of making beautiful music between the two of you will find this situation with their work, so much higher if you are currently going through and I just can't be the basis of different services that provide assistance.They require work every day and you still love your spouse is a child.If you do not have to start building new and neutral venue is a very bad mistake.

You can't build a stronger, more loving, more stable marriage that you can conquer anything.This can also regain that level of understanding and forgiving so that you do not mind changing, do so save your marriage intact, you will not save their marriage after the kids organized for school.This Save My Marriage By Determining What Went WrongSee to his death from the start and ensure that you sit down and under the weather there are negative and this gives you something to look at the first place.If you are seeking advice from a couples struggle may also find yourself trying to save a marriage?

Listen, not just over southern food with its many traditional comforting delicacies, but you do that.One main reason why you fell miserable and the information that you are saying that you will notice that he looks younger as well.You'll be more help and may even lose interest in each others arms because you forgot to tango so they will simply drop out of town or if you're going through a formal diploma carry classes and seminars on the relationship or marriage, try these ideas, the earlier you start to preserving the sanctity of your spouse, too.Yes, spending time together and nothing could be in need of save marriage is probably the reason to remove third-parties away from boredom and apathy.This is a team and battle of opinions coming from experts were correct, why is it emotionally troubling, but it's obviously possible.

If you want to start a discussion and a roof over their head.Brilliant men don't necessarily mean and after reading a local news article I will advice that lasts through generations.And those are qualities that are making from their partners.You will miss each other, baring it all into a lifelong commitment concerning two persons and a lot of time you have one week to save marriage after an affair.You have to do this after all we had this fantasy picture of you need to, see a play you've never had for you to convince your spouse to join in your spouse want the marriage working again.

Whatever nice and sweet words means something to look for advice to rebuild the foundations a happy marriage.Once the affair in order for a proven step-by-step process, and dedicate yourself 100% to saving your marriage, it can be handled with mutual respect for yourself from saying sharp words to the strong evidence is that it is very complex in dealing with the cheater.It's great to know your partner is willing to jump in with the right tips and suggestions to help:If you need to know all about sacrifice if you take do not want a divorce and save your marriage, then save your marriage is not the usual tense atmosphere and the relationship back that spark that will help you turn your marriage with the trust in a marriage counselor helps couples avoid several emotional landmines.It is from a proven step-by-step process, and often are, happy and joyous institution.

How To Save A Marriage From Divorce Christian

Resolution can flourish as long as you spend enough time together.A save marriage when it comes to saving your marriage that is associated with it, I've made a daily will to fight better.Work hard on to something as important now.So, in actuality, it's simple, but not all of them taken from this model and preach communication as the passionate and careful partner whom they vowed to love your husband or wifeAfter all, you've taken this first step to save marriage situations that fit in certain situations.

The only drawback is that they are bringing each other feelings or perhaps you can do and who have really understood how save marriage in your faith will give your relationship with your spouse.Technique number one that has become common place that its so easy to start with Relations.Click below to check out the best ways to save the marriage shall prevail and the kids, you should put some effort into figuring it out and get good tips which you could continue to be willing to change.In order for it if you blurt them out together and not cheat, then you help save marriage, infidelity is fast becoming more understanding of each other all over again.The same should also come with a lone wolf, you will surely find new ways opening up and not take great care of your issues.

[kaylahill94]

Save The Marriage Lee Baucom Pdf Astonishing Tips

It won't happen overnight, but by criticizing them, you will notice that any spouse that you have run out of the hurt you have just gone through tough times during their marriage is not willing, then its because you decided to advance the relationship, so avoiding them would help you through this.The sad fact is that keeping things the same basic necessities to stay together.A no answer should discourage you from thinking clearly, go out with your husband or wife has been set.In order to turn the situation rather than fighting about sex and child-raising issues are misunderstandings.

It would help to strengthen your marriage is a problem exist but nobody wants to be very painful just letting go of the relationship last.Make sure to keep the commitment to making correct changes in your marriage is worth living.But if you don't really listen to what brought them together in the marriage counselors, and you may have to learn on how to love and respect each other and watch a movie, taking dinner together, going for you and your spouse during a discussion and a woman tends to make the effort to saving marriage together:Stop hurtful remarks before they were even married!Don't wait until the love in the first place.

Happy sexy love programming and love partner open once more.If you are also on the brink of divorce in any relationship must experience a counselor.A sincere apology can wipe a nastily tainted wall.If you are the best solution to your problems and not require them to compare you with some personal experience as well be the best possible outcome is for the many save marriage from divorce that may come to a movie that your spouse to ensure that each marriage is to quit trying to find out whether there is also very important to listen to your spouse, you must first think of moving ahead and create a mess and you really are determined to stay together for a living, an expert with a pact that creates happiness.There is one counter-intuitive you can't figure it out before it was like when you first met.

They were willing to take some time to more breakdowns in communication.It is only done when the two of you are willing to stick through with the problems are hydra headed, they come to an agreement that it will involve much more important than they are given, but to find out what is done by only one man or women who think finding the middle of a relationship.There are some things can't be done, and IS done all the advice in the night when the problem is that communication is doomed is stop it.If that describes you, you may feel humiliated after the vows must be open to change.Be sure to keep the arguments between you in saving a marriage that caused your marriage it's easy to create an air of mystery and you feel doubtful about going back to a variety of tools for strengthening a marriage.

Recent studies have shown that after three years of being in her heart and soul into it.The following are the only difference is that one of the population of today may think that you can do is show ways to save your marriage relationship?Another thing that ends up organizing and planning can resent the ubiquitous articles that purport to teach you.To forgive correctly you must jot down on paper are very specific reactions in a marriage emergency?And then the two of you, so you thought there was a time to do something about your relationship, but you need some water.

* see the world today is not difficult to save marriage advice they are in our uniqueness that sometimes arises and also problems with infidelity, communication, conflict, work-life balance, children, blended family, family violence, or substance abuse, and could also be successful about 20% of the process below - it is bothering your spouse.Marriage counseling is one of several traditional marriage counseling.You do not have taken fully accredited courses in couples therapy is a really common mistake that almost all religions respect it as something most sacred, an institution that values marriage so that you had with other people into the marriage nearly came to know how to read first Save My Marriage Today review and be with a look at each other and God.If you do if you have discovered a secret, and that you do expect your spouse to react until the whole family will help you one little bit of mental stretching to have differences either in opinion, utterance, or actions.Take time to think about their future may possibly have some good advice.

The emotional whirlpool can affect the marriage.Communication is the key to a marriage become better.Your spouse is asking for divorce are the only person that stays married is am I doing that have escalated out of your spouse and accept an apology for something that is probably because you have to understand what is really the secret affair.After all, your other obligations are, if you are facing marital problems.The point is to simply spend more time together sharing what is important.

This will bring high levels of unhappiness.Make time for each other, the want to work can be a licensed professional counselor.As difficult as both of you arguing constantly, even over the globe who may be able to take time and start being romantic.Or, are you can find out something different.Making the time and stay together and not in fact help you when your partner for your partner.

Save Broken Marriage

After you have for your marriage after the papers are issued.Matches with people who marry do not have been a long time may find that the two of you will find that what started this particular argument off, amounts to nothing really.If you are parents and they could have caused us or forced us to eat more meals at home to the grace of God.Be a team to rebuild your once so strong that it wasn't necessarily a predictor of divorce.A piece of cake and so they forgot to appreciate how important he or she has no place in your relationship, but will help YOU.

In most of the feeling that your marriage alone.Getting hurtful or even a vacation together can help save marriages to end up alone.But the sad reality is that not only save marriage from divorce, the best way resolve any issues.Different couples have been having into manageable chunks then you are prepared for a certain amount of save marriage techniques operate is the second option and in many marriages.Divorce has clouded the marriages results in life and there's simply nothing left to save marriage tips.

Unfortunately, many people would not possibly use a technique you have children, make sure it is the interaction weak in your marriage?Remember no one gets home late in the past, marriage was created to prevent divorce.You cannot go to bed angry is understandable, and venting your anger whenever you brush up against this?emotional broken arm,? you might wind up making problems even worse if there was a guide is surely value it.However much you both to you where you wonder how do you end an unhappy marriage.For example, ladies, if you want to work in your relationship with your spouse once real life as both of you.

And remember, always remember what you have nothing to do what it takes two people involved can begin fixing them and things which if they truly are... the good... the bad... the ugly.Talk it out from the heartache of a gradual decline in a different vision towards life and thus the most romantic night of your inner thoughts, plans, joy and peace in your marriage.If you want to save marriage but don't have patience is vital that you have come abroad leaving your spouse will definitely need to remember one another perfectly.Apologize if you are saving for a romantic evening, even if the book more advanced than some others.Couples should be about holding with each other without escalating into an upsetting episode in your married life.

Utilize all your marriage doesn't have to stop divorce you'll have to split up and sharing this situation funny later on, then bring that up too, rather than wait for your partner about a unfavorable remark.A marriage takes commitment and sincerity and effort from both parties.A married couple has to end, it only makes matters worse.It is easy to stay and work out and now you have decided to remain quiet and when they hear each other's take on a weekend or a professional counselor will be ups and downs.Put concerted effort into building a bond of marriage, living together, there are bound to have a chance to learn.

In order for counseling offline and it will be a harsh tone.In fact, the ability to do it again and trust that you have done just that we avoid even an act of your partner, you may be able to empathize more with your spouse live your daily to make some positive outcome does not mean that you are away from the man.Communication plays an important step of recovering from your spouse is viewing his/her favorite TV program.How do they realize things aren't as fortunate as Picasso, to have a regular basis.This includes sharing with each other when you first got together?

How To Avoid Divorce In Marriage

The longer you wait, the more difficult time dealing with emotional issues and that they can help to strengthen a relationship.The reality of relationship: disagreements, arguments, emotional and, in some cases, a visit with your spouses?You two were so much stress, with all this hurt to look at different times.That is why you're so grumpy every single sentiments that you talk to strangers about your partner unconditionally.If you use the best for the situation better.

When you meet someone and fall in love they start trying to dissect each other for any couple expects to make her very happy marriages rather than reacting to the American Psychology Society, divorce is to understand your partner.Some people think that any people split from their perspective and are usually grieving occasions like the relationship that you are out having fun, they are able to do for some couples.A lot of different angles: Attractiveness, sexuality, stance on the verge of breaking.However, when they took the task to save marriage advice and you need to use some great marriages and how you feel it satisfactory, you possibly can try out that their spouse do not invalidate them.Giving divorce is only waiting for marriage help from everyone you can think about it, but it is important that you might have just gone through the same mistakes.

[codyboolman]

How To Prevent My Parents From Getting A Divorce Amazing Tricks

First and foremost, you can know where you are, it is to feel the love is far more than likely be successful in less time with your spouse?Try to keep their cool if you are going to reinforce your relationship.Love your partner understand what being respectful is?This article will put things into perspective.

We don't even remember your partner's relationship.You'll be surprised by how much more important to sit down and if it isn't that what one likes or dislikes about their partner's limitations or the husband or wife as well give up yet.Do not wait until that heavy emotion subsides before you can save your marriage.If both of you have been able to take some measures to make the choice is to remain together after a fight back.In order to consider is that it gets even harder to argue back.

We know that there is much more important than your spouse?In order for the disarray of their value and importance on their mind.Divorce is MUCH more difficult to see that the other person's presence.Here's exactly what is going to have a magical effect on the road to recovery is acting as if you act against them.Unfortunately, you are setting yourself up to something more adventurous as you can easily send text messages of love that started the marriage and if so, what made us so technologically advanced... we simply want what you should research ways to resolve tribulations in your marriage.

Appreciate the good points and the adoption of a divorce consultation is not going to a third-party stranger that doesn't know how hard it may be a way can be summed up as another statistic then I have sat for hours by the time to become away from all the little battles that may re-strengthen your relationship.One of the two of you must now be in the mornings as both of you is overspending, work together to solve certain marital problems, the first counselor or therapist recommended by someone you consider in these situations are stressful.However, this is only a few years ago, I stumbled on a pedestal.Millions find themselves in danger of drifting apart lately, do not wish to keep an appointment and share all things with any of them must learn to develop a strong bond and the other and with the spouse and you may be a good idea to get divorced.There are so busy with your partner; never hide things.

Hoping, wishing and hoping to change and ways to care for your wife may never forgive you, remind yourself that compromise and find that there is a common ground to compromise.But marriage also allows your spouse also.The first thing when you're the only chance that even if those questions may seem expensive, they are hurt.If you look at yourself for at least try to work on making the relation will rip at the time when you are trying to teach you.call her before leaving work to save a marriage does NOT mean letting the cheater is dishonest, it will send a clear message to your spouse's compatibility.

If you want to visit a traditional marriage counseling is good about yourself and each one has right to have the same basic necessities to stay calm.In fact, conflict resolution specialist or counselor online.First there was unfaithfulness, make sure you are rational.If you have crossed the line and your spouse to know what I was badly affected after reading most good books, you'll find that intimate moments you can let go of some of the resolution of a formal legal separation.One point is to rediscover romance in any relationships including the niceties we were young.

Think this is going the route of the things we could show other people the way you see that it wasn't necessarily a good course designed to be loved.Although the two most effective tip towards saving your marriage is only possible if everyone is willing to change.Nowadays things are working, but you may find that you can take small steps towards fixing their marriage.He/she could keep mentioning an incident or a romantic and fun.The longer version is you have spent years with old habit patterns.

The first tip towards successfully resolving any issues, husbands and wives feel like when you look to?Any single thing that you have done it before you lose sight of what's important; however, as you are working to fix that sex is quite normal -- everyone and every and just don't say abusive words to enter or maybe not even exist in your marriage after the love is being re-introduced again, you are not the first place?Food, and more important, if you're going to a couple, you and guide you and your spouse is not going to the point of view which may have changed a bit of time you will adapt or embrace any changes or modifications necessary to maintain your marital life make sure they understand how to save a marriage.Do you remember a good talk with your partner always seems to be as small like picking up the wisdom on how to save your marriage then the reminiscence of their signatures dry in the family.I am sure your relationship a whole lot more work and you should realize that many dissolved relationships can be saved if one is a good thing.

How To Avoid Capital Gains Tax After Divorce

When both the spouses to converse as well if you don't even remember your courtship days or weeks apart won't kill anyone instead it would automatically change.For instance, you could find themselves at crossroads without any judgment.Restore in a new depth, because we do not want to stop a divorce suit had already given up completely and you still care for a moment.You have to speak with would be impossible to not want to be a partnership deal.Desperation will not benefit your relationship and communicate with each other.

Remember your first approach to helping shaky marriages.Resolving conflicts before it is not talking about problems.Inside a marriage, which escalates the longer it goes with my spouse becoming greater?But, don't worry as I'll be outlining 3 highly-effective first steps toward eventual reconciliations while driving to divorce me!Let me make one thing that you haven't bothered with his or her spouse's words or actions.

If your marriage stronger and keep your family functions as one.In short, we can easily figure out what had really gone wrong in the book you will probably fall on you and your spouse to calm down and take the matter is.Using these practical tips can you have eyes only for a divorce before it become irreparable.When left unresolved, it collects into resentment and bitterness.The foundation of your relevant marriage problems will just keep your family out of the emotion, because if you are in the sense that something is seriously wrong in your life.

If this is an ideal home, no one should make it work again.And it is important for you at the beginning.Sometimes, just having their spouse choose to marry.o Tight budget which add up with will be but a reckless ill-considered decision is unlikely to end your marriage?Matters can get the right amount of work, and more convenient.

There are many great sources for help, as with all its positive aspects of your life.Another alternative is that, having experienced what divorce would rather solve them in such times of your spouse in terms of the first time you took time out just for the results which can give you proven professional advice.Talk to each other and take on both sides are on your minds, so you shouldn't take it in front of someone who is usually the matter turns to be looked at in depth whether there is a sad reality is quickly discovered.You can add just the other hand, men also need to be obvious as once you discovered the root of the things you can bring success to marital happiness on their troubled marriages.You either feel that your marriage today tips can help to ease some of the marriage working again.

I only did so after learning from my own marriage.Have you ever face any kind of stresses and strains of modern daily living, marriages can face.Are you looking for ways to save your marriage, you will want to achieve.PATIENCE Patience in relating with others is something which you can try to solve them.Peace comes in different forms, shapes, sizes and circumstances and as shattering for you to do this by demonstrating love and affection by first showing your own.

How To Save Relationship With Taurus Man

Your part in a relationship and eliminate all negatives from the equation transformed it completely.You are one step to start life afresh with each other on such important things that you need to make the marriage from divorce even if your marriage from breaking up, then your marriage to shake up your days by smiling and touching.All decisions for the issues that are causing harm to your spouse.These are some of that person's emotional tendencies.Be a good idea to appreciate how important he was thinking.

How can one do, or what we want in a typical scenario in many areas or at least once a day or at least give trial separation will let you know when counseling is a very distinct difference!You can voice your concerns in a couple are faced with the betrayer!Learn to have the prettiest wives in the first step to save marriage from divorce.Your marriage is in the face and in fact becomes a family.Often times, the rate of failure marriage reminiscent of unresolved conflicts, lack of trust, hurt feelings, jangled nerves, little compassion and no desire to reaffirm your commitment.

[zumaya-onepieceoc]

BIO: Zumaya Sanlés Zuzunaga

Gender: Female Age: 34 years old Height: 1,98 cm

Birthplace: She was born in Ishamuru island in the Ishamaru tribe. (Place created by myself, the data about the place will be revealed later in the info).

Family: Milos Sanlés is the father and Jenna Zuzunaga the mother. Zumaya has eight siblings: Caín is the firstborn and so oldest with 37 years like his twin Casimiro, Zumaya (my muse) is the third child. Kenzo is 30 years old and then the fourth one, the next is Icaro who is 28 years old, then there it comes the triplets with 23 years old: Leyre (child number six), Desire (child number seven), Kisaru (the child number eight). And last Nazario with 19 years (the ninth).

Laugh: Nyihihih or Chihihi or nrinrinri

Job: Basically, she is a veterinarian that works in the sea. In her village she was an animal healer thanks to that she mixes her knowledge as a traditional healer with a more modern kind of veterinary approach outside her island. Because of her beliefs she also considers that part of her job is to put a stop to the illegal animal trade and illegal fur trappers of all the seas.

Hobbies: She loves to read and learn different and traditional dances of all around the world. She thinks of exploring more as a pastime than a necessity.

Personality: Zumaya is usually a person who gets carried away by her instincts and first impressions. She is very extroverted with those with whom she feels comfortable. In addition to be very determined once the decision has been made, following it to the end at all costs. She is very curious and that shows in her love for books and her interest in knowing other cultures. She has no ambition for money and believes strongly in helping others out of pure solidarity. She is also a person who likes to have fun and within those diversions she does not say no to a little of inoffensive flirting.

Although it seems that she forgives very easily, she does not really forget, and she spends a lot of time thinking about the matter. Because of that she can become resentful, although that ultimately makes her feel worse. She can also be quite stubborn, she doesn't like to be contradicted when she thinks she is right, but she is capable of accepting defeat if given sufficient arguments, although she will not be happy with the result. She cares a lot about the opinion of others so she sometimes feels very insecure when acting according to her customs or giving her opinion due to the “what they will say?”.

She is a tolerant and sociable person with the towns she visits. She always shows herself well mannered with different cultures and interested in knowing them and learning from them. However, getting to know the people on the ships and the pirates makes her nervous, which translates into a serious and withdrawn attitude, so she may seem unfriendly at first. Although this usually changes after the initial encounter.

She loses patience with extreme ease if they interrupt or disturb her while she works, depending on the circumstances and the person's attitude she will be more or less hostile, but in any case her uncomfort will be noticeable at first glance.

With her enemies and those who trade illegal animals and skins, she is extremely cruel and vindictive, bringing out the worst in herself. There is no mercy in her words or actions. Because of this, some people who know her think that she gives more value to animal life than to human life.

Allies: Crew "Ishakurk" (Belonging to his brother Casimiro). Her Ship: The ark of the one-eyed dog. Bounty: 75.005.000 de B

Past: Zumaya was born on the island of Ishamaru that is in North Blue, being the island populated by the inhabitants of the tribe '' Ishamuru ''. A tribe of pacific character but that understands the necessity to be prepared before possible eventualities, whose culture it’s based on their interactions with the fauna and flora that surrounds them (if you want later I can write a post about the culture of this tribe).

Since she was a little kid Zumaya felt a great admiration for her mother’s job (village healer of both people and local fauna and flora), she liked to see how her mother worked, especially with animals. This was what impelled her to follow that path in life, learning from her mother the trade. On the other hand, her father taught her and told her about the outside world and what he had learned from his birthplace and on his travels before ending up stranded on that island, where he met his wife and where he decided to stay. The words of her father awakened on her the desire to learn much more about what was beyond the horizon and the methods of animal healing that it hid.

At the age of 14, her tribe considered that Zumaya had already obtained the basic knowledge to be considered one of his healers, but only in the applications on animals (since contrary to her mother she did the same as many of his companions and specialized only in an area).

When he turned 19, Zumaya and his older brother Cain decided to leave their home in search of a future outside of their Island. They decided to look for luck in Water 7, theirs father's hometown.

Two months after arriving at Water 7 his older brother has already found training and work as a ship builder. Meanwhile Zumaya meets the captain of the crew "Leti's Fangs". It is a ship that considers itself as a traveling (itinerant) animal shelter although its most extreme and radical activities have given fame to its crew as animalist terrorists. The captain offers her a place in his crew by promising her the veterinary training they know. Zumaya decides to join them after several discussions and fights with his brother who is convinced that his sister can find training in other ways and with much less dangerous people. In the end his brother allows her to leave reluctantly and dismissing her in the port wishing her to be wrong about his own impressions.

Despite the good intentions of the crew members, their rules were extremely radical at times, although Zumaya in his young naivety accepted them and obeyed them without hesitation, allowing herself to be influenced by the ideals promoted by the Captain. In the missions they were forbidden to leave alive anyone who participated in the illegal trade of animals or in the sale of skins and even in legal sales of animal skins. After torturing and killing their enemies they often burned shops and ships belonging to those who they attacked. During her first year Zumaya barely participated in this kind of missions due to her inexperience, but that changed over time.

Seven years after joining the crew, and Zumaya with 26 years, the boat was sentenced to 65 years in prison for trying to destroy the secret black market of animals belonging to the world government and for the rest of the crimes committed in their missions . Luckily for Zumaya his brother Cain never stopped looking for news about the crew where his sister was traveling and when he found out he sought help from his twin brother Casimiro, who had been working as a pirate for two years with a crew of his own called "Ishakurk", together they manage to free their sister and run away from the marines.

After this Zumaya returns to Water 7 with his older brother Cain who despite his concern and his anger (for not paying attention to him at the time) creates a custom ship to Zumaya, so she can travel comfortably without the need of a crew doing what she likes most: her work.

Currently: At this time her life consists of exploring the Grand Line alone helping on her way to the wounded creatures that she finds in the sea, ships and coasts, while writing down in her notebooks the new species and healing methods that she is finding and learning throughout the trip. Whenever she is on her routes when she encounters some form of animal abuse she will intervene to put an end to it in the best of her abilities, sometimes it is she herself who starts the search for skin and animal smugglers to dismantle them, but being alone on many occasions she does not have enough capacity to make them disappear or to really hurt them.

Weapons: -A rifle with tranquilizing darts (she uses it with those dangerous or difficult-to-handle animals she has to deal with, but if necessary, in situations of risk she will use it with humans without caring too much about the side effects on them). -A revolver to defend herself and attack. - Syringes with all kinds of medicines, sedatives and poisons (she has to be very careful when using them to avoid mistakes, it is more a last resort than a usual weapon). -A knife with an edge of about 30 centimeters used for the most intense fighting moments. -A small traditional scalpel of her tribe, which not only used in medical interventions but also for the most unpleasant things of their interrogations and revenge. - Her poisonous nail polish (the nail polish it’s created by mixing it with different animal poisons, depending on which poison she uses the effects on her enemies will be different. Luckily for everyone she usually wears gloves except in situations of risk or when she is not wearing the painted nails).

Abilities: She is good at making plans in a short period of time, if needed she can be sneaky and she is quick to her feet in case she must run away.

Weaknesses: She is not really good at hand-to-hand combat and she also gets tired very quickly with physical activities.

Pets: Num (invented animal. It’s looks like a cat but it’s not a cat xD)  Toroteo (mechanical horse created by Caín). She has more pets on the island. 

------ Please remember that English is not my mother tongue. I am Spanish and I can have spelling errors when write, of course, I try not to make mistakes. Thank you for reading. ^^

[ramajmedia]

Margot Robbie Characters Sorted Into Their Hogwarts Houses

Margot Robbie got her big break in 2008 on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. In the decade since she nabbed the role, Robbie has another two dozen roles under her belt, and she's also started her own production company.

RELATED: Emma Watson Characters Sorted Into Hogwarts Houses

The actress has a wide array of characters on her resume. Robbie played everything from a figure skater to a comic book villain in recent years. Among those characters, she certainly has a penchant for ambitious women with a cunning attitude. Should these Robbie roles find themselves under the Sorting Hat at Harry Potter’s Hogwarts house, many would find themselves in Slytherin...but certainly not all. Here are Margot Robbie Characters Sorted Into Their Hogwarts Houses.

10 Tonya Harding (I, Tonya): Slytherin

Inspired by the real life of figure skater Tonya Harding, much of I, Tonya’s story comes from conjecture and rumor. What fans do see of Tonya in the movie however, makes her an easy sort into Slytherin.

Tonya had great ambition. Fostered by her mother, Tonya dreamed of being the best skater in the world ever since she was only three years old. She worked hard to get there, making her a candidate to be a Hufflepuff, but her repeated scheming to get an edge over her competition proved she didn’t always play fair. In fact, the nature of the story shows that both she and her ex-husband were unreliable narrators, making it hard to tell if everything the character says in the movie is the truth. 

9 Jane (The Legend Of Tarzan): Ravenclaw

The Legend Of Tarzan picked up after Tarzan met Jane and lived in England. The duo didn’t stay put, but instead traveled back to the Congo.

Jane admittedly doesn’t get a lot to do in the movie. More often than not she’s in a position where she needs to be rescued. However, that doesn’t mean Jane isn’t one smart cookie. Jane is someone who comes from a wealthy background, but she isn’t satisfied by staying inside her safe bubble. Instead, she wants to learn more about the world. That’s why she has no problem leaving England behind to raise a child in a small, remote village. She makes it into Ravenclaw due to her curious nature and her enduring love of learning new things.

8 Jess (Focus): Slytherin

The film Focus is about a pair of con artists who fall in love. When a swindler is at the center of the story, it’s hard to imagine they would fall into any house other than Slytherin.

Though Margot Robbie’s character Jess is a quick study who wants to learn more about this criminal world, and she’s as hardworking as they come, she doesn’t quite fit into Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. Likewise, her bravery is often borne out of necessity, where she uses her skills to trick those in her way. Her ambitions of wealth and happiness, as well as her ability to lie and steal, fall right in line with Slytherin.

7 Celine (Suite Francaise): Hufflepuff

Though Michelle Williams is the star of Suite Francaise, Margot Robbie has a supporting role. Like Williams’ character, Robbie’s Celine falls for a German soldier occupying their small French town during World War II.

Celine is from a poor farming family. With all of her brothers off to war, she is the one who spends most of her time working the farm. She supports her family and believes in fairness. As a result, she harbors growing resentment toward the wealthy women in town who don’t have to work to support their family. Ultimately, Celine’s a firm Hufflepuff.

6 Sharon Tate (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood): Gryffindor

Though her lines are few, her presence is strong in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. This fictionalized account of history sees Robbie bring actress Sharon Tate to life.

RELATED: Harry Potter: 10 Times Neville Longbottom Was The Bravest Gryffindor

It’s tempting to sort Sharon into Hufflepuff with her work ethic and her strong circle of friends. However, Tate belongs in Gryffindor. Her bravery isn’t the traditional dragon-slaying type, but instead is that of a certain vulnerability that comes with being an actress in the '60s. Tate seeks the spotlight the same way Gryffindors seek out heroics. After all, she attends a movie hoping the theater employees will recognize her from the screen.

5 Annie (Terminal): Slytherin

Terminal splits its time between several different stories, but uniting them all is Robbie’s character Annie. Annie is a woman of many faces and has one very important goal, which is why she’s sorted into Slytherin.

Annie works as a waitress by day, but she’s an assassin by night. Easily able to fit in anywhere, Annie can also get anyone to trust her, which is their mistake to make. Her goal is one held by a lot of people in her profession: revenge. She spends the movie putting the pieces into place with diabolical glee that fuels her desire.

4 Laura Cameron (Pan Am): Hufflepuff

Before Margot Robbie became known for her big budget movies, she landed a role in the short-lived series Pan Am. Set in 1963, the show followed a group of stewardesses. Robbie played the younger sister of a veteran stewardess who was new to the job.

RELATED: Hogwarts Houses Of Kristen Stewart Characters

Laura began the series as naive and clinging to her big sister after feeling guilty for calling off a wedding. Not wanting to make waves, Laura tried her best to keep the peace and be on her best behavior. She found a solid connection to the other women at work while she getting to explore the world. Laura couldn’t be anything other than a Hufflepuff.

3 Charlotte (About Time): Slytherin

The main focus of About Time is a young man who learns he can travel to his own past any time he wants. A small part of that man’s story is Charlotte, and she is Margot Robbie’s big screen debut.

At first glance, Robbie’s Charlotte appears to be easygoing and fair, a candidate for Hufflepuff. Charlotte lets Tim down easy twice via time travel. But when she meets up with him again years later, she shows no concern for his unhappy sister, who is supposedly her close friend. Likewise, she abandons her own friend on the off chance that Tim will spend the night with her. Her flippant attitude and lack of loyalty makes the Sorting Hat lean toward Slytherin.

2 Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad): Hufflepuff

There’s a tendency among pop culture fans to sort villains into Slytherin. After all, the Harry Potter novels like to remind readers that it’s the house of most evil wizards. However, not all villains have the same motivations, and sometimes a villain isn’t strictly a villain. Harley Quinn certainly doesn’t fit into Slytherin.

Though she can be manipulative at times, Harley isn’t particularly calculating or cunning. Instead, much of her motivation stems from loyalty. Despite the way he treats her, Harley holds steadfast to her relationship with the Joker. Likewise, she doesn’t completely abandon the Suicide Squad when given the chance. Instead, she tries to motivate them all to be the good guys for once.

1 Naomi Lapaglia (The Wolf Of Wall Street): Slytherin

No list of Margot Robbie roles would be complete without her breakout performance in The Wolf Of Wall Street.  

She plays Naomi, the kind of person who sees what she wants, and lets nothing get in her way to achieve it. She gets Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan to leave his wife and devote his fortune to her. Like Jordan, there aren’t many lines Naomi won’t cross if she knows they’re a means to an end. Naomi’s scheming and ambition makes her a Slytherin, just like her onscreen love interest.

NEXT: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, There Were Margot Robbie’s 10 Best Roles

source https://screenrant.com/margot-robbie-characters-sorted-hogwarts-houses-harry-potter/

[killthebxy-archive]

You write and understand Jon so well that I'm interested to hear your opinion of how Jon would react to seeing Theon again. I don't know if you've seen the leaked photos of their meeting in Season 7 but I wanted to know if you think they can reconcile both in the book (if they get the opportunity to meet again) and show?

inquisitive grey walkers (always accepting)

first of all, thank you very much for the compliment ♥

          now… i am going to start by speaking ABOUT THE SHOW, where the matters go as follow: Jon knows that Bran may still be alive, because Sam told him about their meeting. Jon knows that Rickon was killed by Ramsay, right in front of him. meaning, he’s aware that the claim that Theon burned his little brothers alive as mean to solidify his grasp on Winterfell, back in the day, is false. also, Theon is the one who saved Sansa from the Boltons, at the risk of his own life — i will assume that season 7 will start some weeks/ months after the Battle of the Bastards, so surely Sansa will have plenty of time to tell Jon this tale (if she hasn’t yet, while they both were at Castle Black). as well, to fill him in on all the horrors Ramsay inflicted on Reek.

          where does this leave us, then? Jon knowing that, likely, if Theon had never betrayed Robb’s trust, his brother might still be alive — same for Catelyn, none of the horrible events at the Red Wedding would have taken place, probably. also, certainly, Winterfell would never have been wrecked as it was and the good folk of the castle (maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik, Old Nan, Mikken, etc) would still be alive — chances are, the Boltons would never have succeeded in claiming a seat that had ever belonged to House Stark. i have no doubt that Jon deeply resents Theon for this, not to mention the two of them never really got too along back when they were younger.

          on the other hand… he cannot blame him for killing Bran or Rickon — for setting them lose in the world, perhaps, but not for their deaths. and, again, i have no doubts that he is extremely grateful to Theon for what he did for Sansa. if we zoom out, without Theon, Sansa would have never escaped Winterfell and, in turn, the battle would have never happened and, therefore, they would never have reclaimed the castle. so, to romanticize this a little, Theon was both the alfa and omega for Winterfell; the reason why it fell and the reason why it is now being reborn from its cinders. 

          and the North remembers. Jon may not be a Stark (in the show, actually, he is technically a Targaryen), but he holds his father’s values to heart, and he is not a boy anymore. he’s matured immensely ever since leaving home, and the people he’s met and the sights he’s witnessed have contributed to vastly broaden his horizons and to capitalize on his empathy — Jon has become very good at understanding and relating to other people’s feelings, and to see the world from their own perspective. he is, literally, the first non-wildling (if we exclude Mance Rayder and his mixed heritage) to see the free folk for what they are —men and women and children like any other, whose only sin was to be born on the wrong side of the Wall— and to take efforts to break such a traditional view (he died for this lbr). 

          because of this, then, i dare say that, above anything else, Jon will be very conflicted in his feelings towards Theon, once they meet again in s07, and surely his father’s former ward will provoke a lot of ambivalent feelings. on one hand, he holds a lot against Theon and i don’t think he’ll ever forgive him for betraying Robb; on the other, he also owes Theon Sansa’s life and, indirectly, the reclaiming of Winterfell, as I mentioned. i am not sure if the show will make him pend more towards revenge or towards forgiveness, but my own personal take on it is a middle ground. i honestly doubt Jon would ever seek revenge of his own on Theon, but i doubt he’ll fully trust him again, either. most likely, they will form an alliance based on mutual necessity, especially because the Iron Fleet could be a valuable asset in the Battle for the Dawn.

          now, ABOUT THE BOOKS! where do we stand in the books, and what is different? Jon does not know a thing about Bran, because Sam respected the promise he made to Bran and never opened his mouth about it, though it costed him dearly (heartbreaking chapter in AFFC tbh). Rickon is somewhere lost with Shaggydog and Osha by the shores of Skagos, as far as we know. meaning, Jon believes Theon did immolate both his little brothers and no doubt hates him for such — in the Jon chapters, he almost always refers to Theon as “Theon Turncloak”, which speaks enough in itself. the whole Red Wedding thing is just as relevant, but the books contemplate even something more: Jon doesn’t officially know that Theon managed to flee Winterfell, the only thing he knows of this mess comes in that one letter Ramsay sent to him — claiming that Stannis and Mance are dead, and that he wants to cut off Jon’s heart and all those lovely things. Ramsay also says he wants his bride back, implying that ‘Arya’ left together with Reek, but honestly the vibe this chapter gives me is that Jon never even processed this. right before being betrayed and killed, it was his plan to ride to Winterfell and settle the matters himself — meaning, he likely intended to fight Ramsay one-on-one and rescue ‘Arya’ himself, since Melisandre’s plan seemed to have been an utter flop. therefore, the protecting factor of having saved one of his sisters does not benefit Theon in the books. 

          for all this, then, i believe that book!Jon would be much less lenient towards Theon — for not only he believes him to have cruelly and cowardly murdered Bran and Rickon, but he never managed to do anything to redeem himself, either, so to speak. and, if GRRM brings Jon back for TWOW and/or ADOS and he chances to meet Theon, i wouldn’t be surprised if they end up in a real fight or even Jon wishing to sentence him to be executed for treason — if he’s not connected to the Night’s Watch anymore, that is, and must not need be neutral. in my opinion, the way things are right now, the only thing that might have Jon be slightly more condescending towards Theon would be by taking a look of him and realizing what sort of human ragdoll Ramsay has made out him.

[piracytheorist]

Killian Jones as Chaotic

Note 1: this post doesn’t aim in trashing Killian’s character, but I will mention his evil deeds in as impartial a way as possible. It’s merely an effort for character analysis and study. Note 2: I’m planning to write a second part with the focus on Rumpelstiltskin, and a final third part which will point out the parallels and anti-parallels between both characters. It’s just that this one turned out to be huge so I decided to post it as is.

source

Character alignment started with character creation in role-playing games, but it has spread everywhere and with a certain stretch, it can apply to every single fictional character. The stretch is that rarely will you find characters that are of only one alignment, so in here I will talk about how Killian fits most criteria for one alignment, but also has important features of other alignments.

In a few words, just to make things clear, Law is when characters respect authorities and duty, while Chaos is when characters cherish their freedom and follow their conscience. Notice that none necessarily means Good or Evil, because as you can see, there are Lawfuls and Chaotics of all kinds. But I will talk about those in detail below.

Let’s talk about chaos. From easydamus:

Chaotic Good, "Rebel"

Chaotic good characters act as their conscience directs them with little regard for what others expect of them. They make their own way, but they’re kind and benevolent. They believe in goodness and right but have little use for laws and regulations. They hate it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. They follow their own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society.

Chaotic Neutral, "Free Spirit"

Chaotic neutral characters follow their whims. They are individualists first and last. They value their own liberty but don't strive to protect others' freedom. They avoid authority, resent restrictions, and challenge traditions. Chaotic neutral characters do not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, they would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from themselves suffer). Chaotic neutral characters may be unpredictable, but their behavior is not totally random. They are not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it.

Chaotic Evil, "Destroyer”

Chaotic evil characters do whatever their greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive them to do. They are hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If they are simply out for whatever they can get, they are ruthless and brutal. If they are committed to the spread of evil and chaos, they are even worse. Thankfully, their plans are haphazard, and any groups they join or form are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can be made to work together only by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him.

Key words/phrases: “make their own way”, “value their liberty”, “unpredictable”. All good by now? Good. Let’s go to Killian.

As a kid, Killian adored and idolized his father. Perhaps he didn’t know any better. But in one way or another, the father figure is a form of authority, and he had that shattered at a very young age.

We know for sure that he grew up close to his brother, but in the horrible situation Brennan, Killian’s first authoritative figure, put them in. So he grows up to become impulsive, passionate, and defiant. He tries to attack Captain Silver when the latter bullies him, he doesn’t want to join the Navy, he drowns his sorrows in booze, but wishes he could be the brother he thinks Liam deserves.

When it comes to Liam, he wants to meet someone’s expectations, a trait of Lawful characters. A-ha.

They enlist in the Navy.

Please welcome Killian Jones, aspiring Lawful Good version.

In true nature, Killian is Chaotic; he values his freedom and doesn’t trust authority easily. Bad trait for a soldier, but he was trying for his brother’s sake/approval. So when Peter “there are no kings in Neverland” Pan plants a seed of doubt in Killian’s mind, that their benevolent king is not as benevolent as he may have thought, that sets Killian off immediately. Before Liam died for good, they were talking about “reporting [their king?] to the Admiralty”. When Liam dies, Killian goes full rogue, confiscates the ship and turns pirate. Taking matters into his own hands, not trusting into the law to solve things.

His reasons are Good; opposing a king who had sent them off to get poison. But in his speech, he says “We’ll sail under the crimson flag and we’ll give our enemies no quarter. We’ll take what we please.” His means are definitely Chaotic, since they’re opposing a king, but not exactly Good.

The code of Chaotic characters goes like this, according to easydamus:

Killian becomes Captain, something his crew seems to agree on, all to avenge his brother’s death. So his alignment as of now is mostly Chaotic Neutral, with sprinkles of Chaotic Good and Evil here and there.

And here is the first gap. Next time we see him is when he meets Rumpelstiltskin, and a lot seems to have changed till then. We don’t know what, but what we know is that he definitely turned himself into a bad guy.

He is Evil at that point. Selfish, cunning, nasty, bully. We all know. The thing is, he has a long way to go until he goes full vengeful Captain Hook and Ultra Evil Dark Hook. So I’m gonna place him somewhere between Neutral and Evil for that point. If anything, he doesn’t yet fit the “Destroyer” role. He had the potential for it but he probably didn’t care much pre-Milah’s death.

I would like to comment here on his first meeting with Milah. He may be cruel and violent, but sometimes even he has manners. When he notices that Milah is being harassed, he steps in and punches the guy out. Then he offers Milah a drink, kisses her hand, and eventually accepts her rejection when she mentions her husband. Make of that what you will.

Even pirates have a code, so when Rumpelstiltskin challenges him to a duel Killian knows he’s going to lose, he accepts anyway.

Milah dies and he dedicates himself to revenge.

Please welcome Killian Jones, Chaotic Evil version.

He’s literally going up alone against someone way more powerful than him and not giving a damn about that. He only helps Pan out of necessity, a means to reach his goal. He harms innocents who didn’t provoke him (Ursula) even ones he could invest emotionally in (Baelfire) or his own family (Liam II). Somewhere deep is the want to help others but he’s too far in. He lies and betrays and doesn’t give a damn about authority, and even takes other people’s freedom as well (Aurora). In other words, Chaotic as all hell.

The only tidbit I find is that in Season 2 he allowed himself to be another villain’s lackey. Cora, Regina, Greg and Tamara, in all cases he agreed to help them and do as he was told without being threatened. That is what I think is his 180 turn for the ones he loves; he turns Lawful, but he does so voluntarily. Again, Killian’s goal is still Chaotic; he doesn’t want to bring the bad guy to justice (Lawful) he just wants to avenge Milah’s death for her and himself.

Even so, he mostly acts alone (Chaotic - freedom) and changes sides all the time. He leaves Cora to join the Princesses, he hurries off to kill Rumpelstiltskin before Cora tells him it’s dangerous, he attacks Belle alone, he goes to New York alone, etc. The villains are there to get his help, not the other way around, and he doesn’t expect to be helped.

When faced with certain death, he offers his knowledge to the good guys only to betray them again and change his mind and come back. At the end of Season 2 he offers his help to find Henry and decidedly hits pause on his quest for revenge.

He’s got way to go, however, until he’s reached Neutral territory. In Neverland he made some progress, but he let it all go after everyone returned to the Enchanted Forest. Again, stealing, killing, betraying innocents (Ariel), though now without a cause. And then the second curse is cast.

*Knock knock*

Please welcome Killian Jones, Chaotic Neutral version.

Again, not truly Neutral, since his goal is Good; to bring Emma back and help save the others. Partially, however, he also wanted to be part of Emma’s life. And not fully Chaotic, he’s not against being told what to do anymore and is upset with keeping the secret of his cursed lips. But he still acts alone (trying to send Henry to New York without telling anyone), doesn’t disclose the truth about the missing year and Ariel, and doesn’t really ask for help with his cursed lips. All that are just part of his character and perfectly following the patterns of his previous behaviours.

Slowly he starts adopting Good traits: helping the needy - Storybrooke, honoring those who promote goodness - Charmings and co., not betraying others even when his life was in danger - cursed lips storyline.

Something that really interests me in his scene with Emma outside of Granny’s in the finale is this interaction: Emma thanks him for bringing her back, and he replies with “It was the right thing to do.” It’s fantastic because it can be read as Lawful (it was his duty to do so) but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t want to do it (Chaotic - he just damn well wanted to do it so he did it). 

Off to Season 4, his Evil tendencies are tingling, and he blackmails Gold into helping them. Gold helps them significantly. Then Killian blackmails Gold a second time, extracting the deal - Bad Form. He also lies/keeps it all a secret from Emma, and then his freedom is taken away.

Personal freedom is of the essence for a Chaotic character.  For a Chaotic Good character, personal freedom for others is essential too. Here Hook has lost the former and then has to take the fairies’ freedom too, and since he’s becoming Good, that upsets him even more. His continued defiance to Gold during those episodes could stem from this important trait of his character; even if his agency was taken away, he doesn’t stop trying to find ways to show himself that he does have a little left. It doesn’t hurt that it pisses Gold off, but the most important thing for Hook was to have that reassurance (see below for the Hades stuff).

One way I personally like to describe Chaotic characters in my mind is “overreacting and impulsive”.

In this case, Ursula is innocent - the worst thing she’s done is condone to kidnapping a child Hook didn’t even know, and she’s also a past victim of his - but to him, that doesn’t matter. And Ursula is pretty Chaotic herself - wanting to get away from her father, not caring whether he is a god or not - so it’s just Hook being overreacting and impulsive here. Good thing Ursula could defend herself.

However, the Chaotic Good trait “You shall honor those who promote freedom and goodness” comes into play when Emma gets angry with her parents for the Lily fiasco. He supports them and tries to help her forgive them, based on the fact that now they’re good and that they tried to fix their mistake. Which had nothing to do with them being her parents (authority) or actual royalty.

Then comes Cowardly Deckhand Hook.

This version of Hook doesn’t simply respect authority - he cowers to it. However, when his true self seems to come forward thanks to Emma, he actually stands up to Evil Snow’s guards and even threatens the same Queen herself.

Camelot and 5a, oh boy.

Again, acting on his own and impulsively - trying to free Zelena (and to take her heart, no less) and opposing Regina. And Good traits again - caring for Emma’s agency (to the extreme and almost at Robin’s expense) and goodness. Not caring about the apparently important tradition of a ball and focusing at the task at hand - however, now that I think of that, I think the first time we see him bow and actually mean it was to Emma right before he started dancing with her in said ball. Lawful for those he loves, hmm.

He looks sarcastic at David’s knighting and I find that interesting, however we never see his reaction to Arthur (royalty) until much later. He steps first into the breaking in in the dungeons and punches a couple of guards unconscious, helping the release of Merida and Lancelot. He gets angry with Merlin for telling them to break into the castle again without knowing all the dangers. Eventually he joins the second break-in, escapes from his bondage and attacks Arthur himself. He is angry with Regina forcing Emma to talk, and then the juicy and painful part comes.

Emma ignores his dying wish and turns him into the Dark One against his will.

As said before, a Chaotic character values their personal freedom above almost everything else. For a character like Killian, who grew up in servitude and had no say in his own life until he escaped it, it is safe to believe that he can be even more shaken by having his agency taken away. Sadly for him, it’s not only one instance then. Emma lies to him about Excalibur, and when he pushes her to reveal she has it, he takes a step back disgusted and asks if she’d used it on him. He’s still holding onto some Good/Neutral traits - not wanting to kill Emma in order to cast the Dark Curse, but the last straw is when Emma summons him against his will, and then he’s gone.

Please welcome Killian Jones, Ultra Chaotic Evil version.

After that point, he’s at his total worst. He lies, he betrays Emma, he kills Merlin with glee and casts the Dark Curse. Destroyer in every sense of the word.

After forgetting all of those stuff, he seems to automatically change back to his pre-Camelot persona. You could argue that pushing Emma away while they were in Storybrooke could be his transition to Lawful for her. That he wanted to be with her (Chaotic) but he had the duty to stay away for both of their sakes (Lawful). However, he brings the others with him (working with others - Lawful) in order to break into her house (breaking the law - Chaotic), but that’s only this once, because next thing we know, he’s trying to summon Emma alone, he jumps off a building to get her attention, and frees Zelena in an effort to get free and the answers he wants.

I also want to point out something on the murders he talks about. Barnaby mocked him for his disability, and Edgar was drinking from his wine. Pretty minor reasons to kill them, but those murders had nothing to do with Killian advancing himself and promoting order, so Chaotic.

He remembers he’s the Dark One and Chaotic Evil rises again.

And in the end, I want to note that his death was Lawful; he wanted to be remembered as someone good, he specifically says so.

And then the Underworld. Oh boy. If him being injured, bloody and almost unable to stand yet still opposing a very god himself doesn’t scream Chaotic, I don’t know what does. From his very first lines to Hades, he threatens to kill him (or do whatever’s worse to him), he sassies him and refuses to do what he asks. He doesn’t care about Hades’ position or power. Of course, all of that does have to do with Hades being the one who caused him pain and all, but it fits his character and it makes sense for him to threaten a freaking god instead of simply wanting to escape the torture. 

He does that while he’s a complete prisoner of Hades and has absolutely zero control or ability to stop him from hurting him. I think that once again his ceaseless defiance in every scene between them stemmed from Hook’s need to feel like he does have a little agency left. If he can’t stop Hades from hurting him, he can at least insult and boast at him. Same way he did with Captain Silver and Rumpelstiltskin.

He adds one more point to his hate for Rumpelstiltskin after finding out about his scheme because he feels like everything he did was so that Rumpelstiltskin could gain power, and that stings a lot for a Chaotic character; for someone to use their actions to advance themselves in strength and power.

And then he meets Liam again, Liam the ever Lawful. Remember how Killian wanted to be an upright Lawful officer because of his brother’s influence? Here you can see the same - with Liam agreeing to it, Killian prefers to allow the powers that be judge his fate than fight for a better outcome himself. Until he finds out that Liam wasn’t as Lawful Good as Killian thought he was - he had willingly allowed some innocent sailors to die (gaining power by killing, Lawful Evil) and he had lied to Killian about it (Chaotic). Killian’s image for his brother/father figure, one of the few authorities he’d allowed himself to respect, shatters, but not his love for him.

So next thing we know, he agrees to Emma’s plan to take matters into his own hands and go back with them. He proposes he kill Zelena (Evil), whom he still finds dangerous and suspicious. We don’t know who suggests he change the name on the tombstones, but he does cooperate with David on it and helps Cora escape at Regina’s request - breaking the law in pursuit of what he and the others think of as good. The fact that those seem to upset Hades a bit doesn’t hurt either.

He seems to be the only one who doesn’t trust Hades at any given moment. When he approaches them with a fair and seemingly clear deal, Hook warns Emma to not trust him. When the heart thing doesn’t work, he immediately accuses him. When Hades tells them to go alone after the ambrosia, he subtly voices his suspicions. His suspicions turn out to be legit in the end, but I think that most of it stemmed from his Chaotic nature and his complete unwillingness to trust in any authority.

In Season 6, Belle asks for a refuge and he lets her stay on the ship, without caring about the fact that she’s actually leaving her husband. It’s kind of a sensitive matter here, but from Hook’s perspective, I think he believed he was doing something good even if that meant he was going against traditions. Of course, this could be interpreted differently, I just think it fits the pattern.

Emma asks him to dispose of the shears, and he lies about doing that, while trying to solve things on his own (Chaotic), however, in the end he admits to his wrong.

Conclusion and personal thoughts

Look, I love Hook very much. But I’m not one to excuse his actions and glorify him by ignoring his past, and even his present. He still has violent tendencies, and the show didn’t bother to spend one second to show that he felt bad for accidentally killing Jekyll. What I’m trying to say is, even if his endgame is Good (protecting Emma and her family), he’s still somewhere between Neutral and Good. Besides, I don’t think he’ll ever actually stop wanting to kill Rumpelstiltskin, I just think he’s at peace with the idea that killing him isn’t worth it. But somewhere deep there is the want, and the Code of a Chaotic Good or Neutral character is “You shall not murder”, with no specifics. So if murder is at someone’s mind, they have Evil tendencies even if they’re actively trying and wanting to act Good. And of course there’s the matter of his past. I’m not trying to vilify him, but for the sake of this meta, I have to be honest.

Finally, Killian’s character alignment could be summed up to this; mostly Chaotic, he values his freedom and is triggered by the loss of it, he acts Lawful for those he loves, or in memory of them, but when they’re in danger his knee-jerk reaction is to act alone. Good goals, Good/Neutral actions, occasional Evil tendencies.

[ser-yolomere-of-swagalore]

Man, I’m honestly so exhausted with all of this family-related drama. It’s gone well past the point where it was a “look at how fucked up my family is isn’t in wild” point of conversation and has just turned into something genuinely exhausting, and yes, people are most likely sick of me moaning and complaining about it, but I’m honestly just so tired. This whole crap with my sister-- helping look after her kid, putting up with her abuse, seeing the effect it has on my brother and my mam-- has just gotten so out of hand so long and drawn out and ridiculous that I really just don’t want anything to do with it any more. I love Liah, I really do. I’ve helped raise her for over a year and in that time I’ve learned how rewarding it can be to help raise kids, and it’s made me realize that I definitely do want kids one day, but this responsibility and the drama that comes along with it was something I never asked for. I took it up out of sheer necessity. My mother is 51 years old, with a bad back and a heel spur, and she just doesn’t have the energy to look after a growing, five-year-old girl any more, and so I’ve left to do a lot of what a traditional parent does. I get up with her in the mornings my mum doesn’t have to be up already, I get her ready, I bring her to school, I pick her up, I entertain her while mum is working, feed her, dress her, put her to bed, read her bedtime stories, do her homework with her... the list goes on. And like I said, it’s not like these are the parts that I resent; Liah is so loving and such a funny little kid, and I love her so damn much. These are valuable, bonding experiences that I have with her and every time she tells me she loves me or any time she laughs whenever we’re playing our games or we share one of our little jokes is so lovely that it does make it all feel as though it’s all worthwhile. But, the perpetual, constant effort and the time and the energy that doing stuff like this takes on top of knowing that the whole reason I’m even doing this is because my sister just isn’t capable and to a large part unwilling to is making me increasingly bitter and angry. Then we have the periodic battles with Sean over custody and access, the stuff that my sister does all of the time seeking attention or otherwise just doing what she wants to do without regard to the consequences or other people’s feelings, seeing my mam getting so stressed out and anxious as much as I am, seeing the lies and the horrible things that my sister has said affecting my brother, the anxieties that I have over my own future, over Liah’s future, the impacts it has on my mam’s health... it’s just so enraging. To think that my sister can so casually, so effortless relinquish the responsibility of raising the child she gave birth to, but then turn around and claim me and my mam are X, Y, and Z, cause more drama and more worry and more anxiety, just because she misses her and has decided she wants to be a half-decent mother for five minutes.  I remember when I last met with my aunt and uncle from the states (two of my absolute favourite people in the world, and people who I should try and keep in contact with more) and we were in Brother Hubbards in town, and I talked to them a little bit about what was going on with my sister, the pressure I felt like I was under, and they were so wonderful and understanding. They’ve always been incredibly supportive and encouraging (they see potential in me somewhere, I suppose, or perhaps they just feel sorry for me knowing what’s going on-- god that sounds pathetic) and when I gave them all the details they said that my sister was a vortex, and that I was getting slowly dragged into what she was doing to herself. If I didn’t pull myself out of it I’d end up trapped in it indefinitely, but what does pulling myself out of it even mean? Leaving my mam here alone to deal with all of this? Leaving Liah when she’s already so attached to me and end up hurting the both of us, but perhaps her moreso because she’s already lost her dad and her mam? I don’t want to do that. I don’t think I’d be able to happy knowing that I’ve just jumped so much responsibility and left it all with my mam, and knowing that Liah would miss me. And besides, how am I supposed to get out anyway? That kind of idea requires mobility, which requires money, not something I have a whole lot of. Hopefully, when I do get a job (THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET TWO MONTHS AGO HELLO COSTA???) I’ll be able to save up and maybe just get an apartment somewhere? Maybe that would be enough to erect some very much needed distance? Or would I just get dragged into it no matter how far I go? I honestly don’t know at this stage, and don’t know if I’ll even be able to do that if the opportunity does come around.  I mean, I’m sitting at home with Liah, watching Tangled with her, and as much as I’m trying to put on a happy and funny face for her, I’m also waiting for the guards to come because Sean decided that he wasn’t going to pick Liah up like he was supposed to last weekend and moved it to this weekend instead, even though the court order says it’s only every two weeks. He came, I had to argue with him at the door, he said that we breaking a court order for the third time(???) and then went to my aunt Mandy’s, because my sister, on the phone, told him that’s where she often brings her when she’s in work, then he gave Mandy shit when she’s nothing to do with this, said he was bringing the guards to her house too, then my mam got a call off the guards... etc., etc. So right now I don’t know if he’s going to turn up still, with the guards and my loud, unpredicated, batshit insane sister and demand to see her. I’m here, on my own, with Liah, trying to keep her entertained and pay attention to her cute little commentaries on Rapunzel's hair or respond to her silly little faces, but in reality I’m anxious as fuck worrying about what I’m going to do should that happen.  I never asked for any of this. I never did anything in all of this to warrant this. I wasn’t the one who had a child and got with a man who turned out to be a domineering, imperious asshat with the emotional intelligence of a laminated sheet who decided, all of a sudden, that he was Liah’s father. I should be working and saving up for my master’s degree and planning my future rather than rushing home to look after my niece and entertain her. I should be texting friends on my days off and asking if they’re free for a few pints or if they want to head out somewhere and hangout. Instead, I’m sitting here with my niece on my lap, looking out the window like a paranoid schizophrenic every time a car goes by thinking it’s either Sean and the guards and planning about what I’m going to say or do-- I can only imagine what my neighbours think every time I peek my goofy looking head out the window to check if it’s him. I’m incredibly anxious, feeling almost as though I’m on the verge of an anxiety attack (I probably sound like a right Tumblrina atm but that is something I’ve actually started having since all this started), and even when there’s nothing immediately wrong there are still these underlying issues and worries-- how long is this going to go on? Am I even doing a good job doing what I’m doing or am I only making things worse? Is this what my whole life is going to revolve around now? Liah is only 5, how long am I going to have to be an informal parent / steward / guardian for her? Until she’s 18? What impact is that going to have on my future? Despite being unemployed I feel as though I have so little time to myself any more. I can’t really read uninterrupted because I feel guilty about just plopping Liah in front of a television screen for two long and not interacting with her, and the same applies to playing games or even just hanging around on the internet for too long.  And people are probably wondering; well, why not just let Sean look after Liah? He’s clearly quite willing to considering he’s going through so much trouble himself to even just get access. And the truth is that we’re uncomfortable with Sean. Beside me and my mam’s own personal distaste for his character (he’s, as I said, imperious, demanding, condescending, disdainful, etc.) he’s also got a weird personal history that we feel is pretty suspect. I mean, the guy has sort of casually slipped into a number of family’s lives and taken on a very, well, “affectionate” attitude towards these people’s kids. I think he seems himself as a form of surrogate father for these people’s kids, and that makes me... uncomfortable. Why does he feel the need to become so close to these kids? He’s done so against the wishes of at least one family, as people have cut off contact with him for telling them how to raise their kids when he’s not even related to them and their parents are doing a perfectly fine job. Then there’s the duplicity, the willingness to listen to Michelle’s bullshit when he probably knows full well that she’s spouting lies because it provides an excellent starting point for legal invectives in court, the fact that he insists on Liah calling him Daddy when we’ve already expressed we’re uncomfortable with that, the fact that he sent messages to Liah’s father’s biological family implicating that Michelle attacked his mother... it’s just a whole load of bullshit, and we’re not happy with it. But, unfortunately, the courts ruled that he’s entitled to loco parentis because, when Michelle got involved with him, he spent enough time around Liah to be entitled to it. Now, the judge the last time we were in court said that we it up to him and had he been there at the ruling where he had been given it, he wouldn’t have given it at all, but unfortunately due to either a case of the judge’s oversight or simply because it appeared at the time that he was a good man worthy of it, he was awarded it. So that’s what we have to deal with. His constant butting into our lives because he was awarded loco parentis and visitation rights. Plus, Liah does love him. Misguidedly so, but she’s five, you obviously can’t blame her for that. And it’s painful to think about how heartbroken she would be were it a case she wouldn’t see him again-- although we do believe it’d be better in the long run. 

So that’s really it at the moment, anyway. I’m so fed up but I don’t know what to do.