#the only thing she won't sacrifice is the snake

[adreamfromnevermore]

You ever think that Monty might not be Esther's first familiar? Oh he's the one she has now. And maybe she's had him for a while, a couple years maybe even a few decades. But he isn't her first.

Because Esther isn't the type to keep her old toys around, she finds them and makes them into what she needs and keeps them for as long as they continue to be useful to her. And eventually there comes a spell or a potion or something of the type that requires a sacrifice of something close to her. And what do you know, she has this quaint little familiar right here. Something that relies on her, and knows only her and is oh so replaceable when you live as long as she does.

Monty isn't her first familiar, and he's probably not the first one she's ripped apart and put back together, but she's all he ever knew.

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Incomprehensible's Chapter 327

Brief summary: Cale's plate is broken. Source of the world saves Cale and repairs his plate. Cale briefly sees the true appearance of the ancient powers. Aipotu is revived.

==========

We now had actual confirmation that Cale's plate was broken. Mila was cursing as she tried to fix it, but CH could tell that she was scared of Cale dying. Even CH felt helpless upon feeling Cale's body that was getting colder. Only Ron remained calm and wiped the blood off Cale's face.

Meanwhile, Cale's anger and annoyance at DHB's sacrifice was what kept Cale from losing consciousness. Fortunately, the Source of the World came to Cale's rescue, infusing him with the power of life, as well as using Cale as an air purifier... 😂

Amidst the brilliant pillar of light that enveloped him, Cale's body and plate was healed and upgraded??? The reactions of the ancient powers to Cale's upgrades were hilarious though. 🤣🤣🤣

SR: What? This, huh? This is getting bigger than I thought. Fire to VoH: Hey, hey! Youngest, if this continues, won't Cale's plate be in a problem? SEW: What problem! You piece of shit! It's a good thing! We're fighting gods, not dragons, so we need to strengthen it to this extent! Shield: Mmm. This tastes better than the source of the world. Everyone: silent at glutton's words Shield: munching the life power of the source of the world DA: …I'm scared…

Our poor cowardly DA, scared of all the APs... 😂😂😂

But during Cale's plate upgrade, he managed to get a glimpse of what the ancient powers looked like:

Vitality of the Heart - an elderly man with a sobbing face

Indestructible Shield (glutton priestess) - a woman who looks like a young girl

Sound of the Wind (the thief) - a middle-aged woman with both eyes closed

Fire of Destruction - A jovial, playful-looking young man

Sky-Eating Water - a woman with a pure impression but a disgruntled face

Super Rock - a hulking, rigidly built man who reminded one of a rock itself.

Unfortunately, DA never got a physical description. 🙁 And Wind seems to be taller than Shield because she patted Shield's head.

Air Purifier Cale's appearance though... 😂

There was Cale. And there was a great energy radiating out from him, a stream of light, a pillar of light, stretching out into the world. And the air was so refreshing, warm, cool, and clear, yet also cold, hot, and chilling. It was like- "Yes. This is nature." Heavenly Demon said to himself as he looked at the marvelous sight. Then he heard the voice of a man in his ear. "The world-" No. "It's returning." His enemy, the dragon, gasped. "The world is returning to normal." I didn't have to hear the voice to know it. The world is being redefined. A return to the way things should be. It could only mean one thing. Something they wanted so badly. The white snake of the beast people, Wisha, cried out, unable to contain her excitement. "The world is coming to life!" Aipotu is coming back to life. And we live, too. No, we can live more. In this place.

Is this the birth of God Cale's legend? The birth of Caleism in Aipotu? And with Cale rejuvenating Aipotu, will he be known as some sort of creator god? 😂

Clopeh-nim, where are you? Are you recording this now? Please record it! Cale is now one more step closer to godhood! Slacker life? What's that? 🤣🤣🤣

Ending Remarks Ah, the flags of God Cale keeps multiplying. 😂 Next chapter will be about the aftereffects of Cale and the source of the world's actions. The Aipotu arc is finally reaching its end.

[raayllum]

like Callum made the right choice in 5x08 for his character and the thematic narrative. Thematically, Rayla cannot permanently die (she's too sacrificial) nor can she have a partner, honestly, who'd be willing to sacrifice her like that. Callum also cannot be willing to sacrifice her like that for the life of a stranger dragon he's never met, or not take the dark magic risk; not only is this how he's always clearly been ever since S1 ("But not everything [has changed]: I would do anything for you") but doing so would make him exactly like the worst of Viren: "If you have to choose between [the world] or your brother, pick the egg." Callum is having a dark path arc, but he's not having an antagonist or villain arc.

That said, there's a reason Callum is Chained Up when he gives the spell and locked in a damp dark brig and has to use the snake-chain spell specifically, because TDP loves its irony: what gets more ironic than freeing yourself from chains in order to free and save your girlfriend, when you know in doing so you're chaining yourself further and further to the main villain and his will in doing so? When you know that you would?

There's a reason 5x08 ends with Callum looking scared and sad and the shot of the snakes, because those aren't fun things (hi Ocean arcanum epiphany) to learn or fully accept about yourself. There's a reason that what characters justify with "I had no choice" or "this is the right thing to do" isn't always the literal case. "I had to, to save my friends" or you could've left it. You could've tried something else than dark magic. But you didn't, because you thought that was the one thing you could do in order to not lose your friend, so you did it; You Made Your Choice.

For example, if we're talking what happened in 5x08 in a "this would keep The World 100% safe" type of deal? Callum fucked up twice. He gave the spell and he didn't know Finnegrin would be dead or unable to use it by episode's end. He did dark magic — with no idea that it wouldn't let Aaravos automatically possess him in that moment — because a world where he didn't even try and save her was worse to him. But it was a risk! Both of those things were massive risks!

Just because they didn't amount to the extreme consequences they could have had, yet, doesn't mean that they won't, since soo much of TDP is just "this thing had unforeseen/unwanted consequences as a result of the choices you made" (the loss of Rayla's team, Harrow's death, Sarai's death, the possession at all, Karim's banishment, Zubeia's corruption, Claudia's 5 season long descent, and I'm sure going to the Starscraper next season, just to name a few quick examples off the top of my head). As Harrow says:

H: But I do know I will pay the price for the choices I've made. I've done terrible things. I thought they were necessary. Now I don't know.

Rayla thought she had to leave; she didn't. Rayla thought she had to find Viren, twice; that wasn't true. She chose to leave both times. She also chose to come back both times. She could've doubled down, but she didn't. Viren, finally, didn't.

Every step forward is a choice.

That's true for Every Single Character in the show.

To deny them that is to deny the agency they do have in the circumstances they find themselves in; Soren could've not stabbed his father, Terry could've chosen to tackle rather than stab Ibis, Viren could've chosen to grieve his son. That doesn't mean they didn't have good reasons to do the things they were doing, that doesn't mean their justifications weren't strong, that doesn't mean they were necessarily wrong to do so. But they made Choices.

So did Callum. And he chose what regrets, sacrifices, and losses he could live with, in order to save the person he decided he couldn't live without.

It's that simple, and that complicated.

[blondeaxolotl]

Finally found the time to draw my re-vamp of Pluto... I had this planned for a while but I didn't do anything until now!!! so here he is! The guy!!!

Since I probably won't talk about Pluto that often, I'm deciding to just drop his re-vamp here and his lore that I made for him in this post!!

Personality wise: Pluto is a human who was formed into a "Hell-hound", unlike "Canon Pluto", Pluto here has more of the personality of a human instead of a dog in a mans body. He resembles a dog yes, but he talks, walks, behaves like a person, and prefers to be treated as one, otherwise it makes him feel de-humanised if he's being shoo'd away like some house-pet (which is what Sebastian often does, they don't like eachother that much). Pluto seems to have a close bond with Finny and Snake, considering them truly family first before he starts viewing the others as such as well (Not Sebastian). He does not recall his human life, he doesn't even remember his own name. The reason why he's referred to as "Pluto" is because it's what Angela called him when she was in charge of him, and the name stuck within the phantomfam, but he did eventually gain the nickname "Plu-Plu" by Finny, which Pluto seems to not mind, but he prefers if it's only used by either Finny or Snake (or his snakes). Besides his obvious close bond with Finny and Snake, he's slowly starting to show more trust with the others, Like Ciel, Mey-Rin and Tanaka. He doesn't like Baldroy that much but he doesn't hate him (they'll eventually bond when Baldroy starts to cook better food). Though he seems to hate Sebastian and refuses to be near him or listen to him (unless Ciel tells him to), poor fella is uncomfortable around him.

BACKSTORY/LORE (Warning for Human experiment, demon sacrifice, implied animal abuse, physical abuse and torture) Please read with caution if any of this things might discomfort or trigger you

I'm going to keep things short and simple I won't go into deep detail or such, it's just a summary of what "Pluto" went through from beginning to end and how he got to where he is now, also sorry if the writing is shit this is my first time writing anything like this so my bad.

On a bright sunny day, a 17 year old boy, Maxwell, and his pet dog were both kidnapped and taken away while alone working on their family farm while his parents were away for the week. Max and his dog were taken away by a group of men and taken to a mad doctor who wanted to create the first ever "half-beast half-man" and sell it off to a freakshow for alot of money, pretending to have "found" the beast instead of "creating" it. Unfortunately, the boy and his dog were not the first. While being dragged away to their new long-time home, Max noticed cages upon cages of "people" with animal parts attached to them (from the looks of it, it seemed like a few of them were already lifeless and decaying). With now knowing what's going to become of him, Max and his dog were thrown in an empty cage together, a cage which will be known as his long-time home and thus 2 long years of torture began. The torture of him and his dog becoming one.

After many forced injections, body parts being taken apart and stitched together, Max slowly grew weaker and weaker as more as he went through, not only did his body grow weaker, but so did his mind. Who was he? Who were his parents? Where did he come from? Why was he wearing a dog collar? Answers who he did not know for, at least not anymore. The doctor, who was getting more and more irritated realizing the only thing keeping his creation alive right now was his weak breathing, has grown sick and tired of all these failed experiments. The doctor had one last option to make his half-beast man become fully alive and functional, one last chance of becoming the rich man he wished to be.

Max being yanked by his collar and forced to walk on his hind legs (which was already painful enough to stand) was dragged down to a lower, darker part of the building(?) he was in, his vision was blurry and his ears were muffled but upon entering a room, he could see the figure of who believed to be the doctor standing above something and surrounded- what Max believed to be a weird circle.

After being thrown into the circle, he struggled to stand up and fell down to the ground, rubbing his eyes trying to handle this brain-spliting headache while the doctor rambles off non-sense, for a second he felt like he heard something being impaled but wasn't sure. Barely a second past and suddenly the whole room felt like it was spinning, weird black goop and furniture started circling around him and the doctor as if there was a hurricane accruing right this moment.

Max finally looked up and saw a strange tall lanky figure leaning over the doctor (at least what he thought was a figure), his vision was still blurry but he knew he felt unsafe the moment that thing appeared in the room. Not even trying to comprehend what the two of them were talking or even trying to figure out what that thing was or where it came from, he tried his best to regain his strength and attempt to crawl away to safety- Which didn't last long as he felt a sharp pain within his chest suddenly, as if a hand went through him and started crushing his soul. Whatever that thing was, he knew the doctor told it to do it (since he heard loud cheer coming from that freak)- He felt like he was being killed and reincarnated at the same time.

Moments later, Max found himself running out of the building he was once kept in for what felt like an eternity. Blood was dripping down from his mouth but he no longer felt pain every stepped he took, his vision and earing have improved as well, as if all that pain he went through never happened.

He did not know what that thing was, (he did not recall what he did or what happened after the experience with the figure and the doctor, but he knew he did something- did he hurt someone?) but it seemed to have helped him more than it helped the doctor, whatever it was, he did NOT want to encounter it again nor something similar to it. Despite feeling physically better, his mental state still remained fragile, he still couldn't remember anything nor how he even got here. Who was he again?

Months after finally fleeing his personal hell, walking for days and hours as far away as he could. He eventually found himself in a forest, and finally decided this was a good place to rest for a bit, he was far away from his abusers, but also isolated enough to where no one could find him and take him away again. At least, that's what he thought.

A minute has past with his eyes closed, only to quickly open them up again after feeling something hover over him, a strange woman in white was standing over him. “Oh dear, what are you” she muttered.

He didn’t know if she meant it with disgust, but she seemed surprised nonetheless. They both stared at each other for a short period of time, before the lady look away for a moment and then looked back, as if an idea clicked in her head.

“You’re a strange looking demon hound” A demon hound? Is that who he is? What's a demon hound? “But you seem to be lost and scared, come now, as an Angel, it’s my duty to help those in need, even if one is a demon”

He had no idea who this woman was, but the moment she spilled out that she was an angel he immediately jumped back onto his feet, an angel? Did she come to help him? Did she come to fix him? If only she would’ve come sooner but he would rather not complain “What’s your name?” she asked but all he could do is stare, what was his name again? Did he even have one? After receiving moments of silence, he felt a tug on his collar “Pluto” The angel said

“Nice to meet you Pluto, we’re going to be friends for a while now” Pluto? That felt familiar, but he didn’t know why.. But it was his name now, and it’s what he will be referred to from now on according to the angel. With his tail wagging and his spirit high now, Pluto finally found someone he can trust, I mean, it’s an angel after all, and angels are always there to help, so of course he's going to trust her, she did say she is going to help him.

Without hesitation, Pluto began following the angel after she gestured to him, leading him to a village. Believing that this village might be his journey to fixing himself, though unfortunately, he does not realise that the angel tricked him into becoming the monster of this villager, leading to long months of now being treated like monster that deserves to be hunted down by the towns people, and only bringing hatred towards the villages own dogs because of him being a "hound dog". That is, until help finally arrives.

______________________________________________

Okay yeah I yapped a little too much my bad I got carried away, but basically long story short, Ciel and Sebastian get there, they found out it’s not some evil spirit and it’s pluto instead (Sebastian beats the fuck out of him) and later on Angela hands Pluto over to them to “train him better” or whatever. Which Ciel agrees to and next thing you know Pluto ends up becoming a trio with Finny and Snake because he feels the closest to them and believes they’re the only ones who relate to him the most with the experience he went though and yeah. This took longer than I expected and it's now 3am lmaooo, as a bonus for reading my edgy story have a doodle:

[ilikekidsshows]

Hello. :)

Can I asked for your opinion? I've talked with some of my friends and they said ladybug miraculous is exclusively a leader miraculous while I think it's more strategy related miraculous, not necessarily a sign of a leader, just like the snake.

This discussion is started when I want to write a story about Adrien take over as a leader of the miraculous team after Marinette got vetoed as a not good leader by the team (the story take place three years after s5 finale and they're all adults, Adrien also take times to heal and not Marinette boyfriend). so while she remain as a guardian and strategist, Adrien will be the one leading the team and my friends said it won't work because of the reason that I stated above.

I've seen some example where the leader and the strategist are two different people that's why I think it will work, that ladybug miraculous isn't an exclusive leader miraculous. What do you think? I'm confused because while I was pretty confident before about my opinion that any holder can be the leader, my friends keep saying the same thing that only ladybug holder can lead because the lucky charm ability and it make me doubt myself now.

Thank you and take care.

---

You are absolutely correct, the fact that you can find examples of the team strategist and team leader being two different people with the team still functioning proves it. Your friend has simply fallen into the trap of thinking that, since one thing is what we mostly see, it's therefore the only way to do things. The team leader and the strategist being interchangeable is what we more commonly see, which is why I, too, used to think Marinette's strategic thinking made her a good leader back during the pretool era.

Furthermore, the Lucky Charm ability is not what makes the Ladybug hero indispensable, since Luka has also shown that he can strategize with the Snake Miraculous, it's the Miraculous Ladybug and purification abilities. The reason Marinette is the most important member of the team is because only she can purify Akumas and fix the damage caused by any fights. Basically, Marinette has three times the amount of abilities any other Miraculous, outside of the Dragon.

Regardless, post-retool Marinette has repeatedly failed at everything else a leader should do outside of strategy. What Miraculous she's holding can't change that. Who cares that you can purify Akumas when you lead your team like a dictatorship and are inconsistent with what the rules that you yourself alone enforce are? That's extremely stressful for the team members. Who cares that you can fix the buildings after the fight when you play favorites on your team and never listen to any dissenting opinions even when they're absolutely correct? This tendency has caused problems that could have been avoided if Marinette just stopped viewing her teammates as drones.

Her go-to tactic in a fight is “keep my distance and think of a plan while others actually fight the Akuma”, which makes it obvious she should be more of a strategist instead of a front-lines leader. But, I’ve even grown disillusioned with Marinette's strategic ability. It's one thing to, in a desperate situation, after deep deliberation, make the sacrifice play, to sacrifice something or someone else so that more can be saved. Even with the Miraculous Ladybug ability, Marinette treats sacrifice plays extremely casually and she's very willing to make them when they're her idea. Way too often, Marinette comes up with a convoluted plan that can still be summed up as “sacrifice Cat Noir and fix him with my Miraculous Ladybug later”. Backwarder is the most obvious example, but whatever she was doing to him in Reverser is pretty up there too, never mind how casually she leaves him as the sole cambatant every single time she's getting backup and whenever she's busy implementing a plan. Way too many of Marinette's plans rely on having Cat Noir do most of the heavy lifting for her to sacrifice his well-being so casually even from a logical perspective.

Frankly, the only reason to argue that Marinette should still remain the leader after all this is if you want her to keep doing a bad job or shield her from criticism. Like, her tendency to treat Cat Noir as expendable cannon fodder would be brought to question by everyone on the team if Cat Noir was the leader instead of one of her drones. Marinette's standard for leadership can only be maintained in a team where only she's allowed to do any of the thinking, with everyone else going “Well, she's Ladybug, and she can do no wrong”. If she loses this cover, she's far more likely to get called out on her willingness to sacrifice anything or anyone but herself.

Meanwhile, Cat Noir brings a lot more to the table as a potential leader. He’s friendly to new team members even when he doesn't pick them (contrast how these two greet Volpina, who they had no reason to be suspicious of the time), he considers how their team members might be feeling (even when they aren't on the team anymore like Chloé) and he's concerned over things like having consistent rules for everyone on the team instead of playing favorites for his favorite team members (he was appalled when the found out Nino and Alya were being held to a lower standard than anyone else even though Nino is his best friend). He’s also far more open to perspectives other than his own and he'd never hold others to standards he doesn't also hold himself to.

[moonyasnow]

My OCs in 'Dungeon Meshi'

What the title says: if they were in the world of Dungeon Meshi

Forgive Spike's…everything— I was in a moving car when I drew him. I also changed what race I wanted him to be halfway through, hence the two pairs of ears

I did not have access to an eraser when I drew any of these

More thoughts below!

How each of them would react to eating monsters:

Tomoe wouldn't be…hostile to the idea. She understands very well it not only saves money, things they'd need to carry, and how long it'd take to traverse the dungeon; practically eliminating the need to return to the surface unless something drastic were to happen. When she brings up the idea, she can already guess how each of the others would react to it. But she won't force anyone; she's understand unwillingness. As for her own feelings: before they begin to cut the monster up to prepare food, she thanks it for its sacrifice. She's…a bit reluctant to let herself admit it tasted good, though. But she decides to ignore it and instead focus on the 'sharing a meal with others' aspect. Partly so none of the others will get cold feet about it, which she definitely knows could happen if they saw their leader hesitant to her own idea.

Favorite monster meal: Griffin Soup

Veronica grumbles about it at first, but ultimately eats it, understanding they don't have much choice. And Tomoe framing it to her as a means of survival made it easier for Veronica to accept. Gotta do what you gotta do to survive to see another day. She gets used to it rather quickly. And she also quickly started to pick anything bitter off of Victor's plate and exchanging it with something else from her plate, like she always had. Despite how the gruesome the scenario was, she was happy to see him that happy; he hadn't had that look on his face in who knows how many years.

Favorite monster meal: Nightmares Steamed in Sake

Victor is thrilled. He's called first dibs on dissecting ALL the monsters before they eat them. He often saves little parts of them, mostly bones, to use for more undead minions medicinal reasons. He's particularly interested in the humanoid monsters, like mermaids, harpies and dryads. Also finds a lot of joy in studying monsters. He's sad the others wouldn't let him keep one in a bag to torture and experiment on study.

Favorite monster meal: Exorcism Sorbet

Irina would not be able to eat it at all if she saw it get killed, or it has an even vaguely humanoid face. It'd probably give her nightmares if she tried. The whole situation forces her to think more about the fact that all the meat she eats was once alive. It makes her feel incredibly guilty. She's never been picky with food, but she can barely scarf it down.

Favorite monster meal: Changeling Dumplings from Fairy Ring

Junia, lover of all things macabre and monstrous, is very open to the idea, and curious about it, thinking it'd be interesting to try out new recipes. She treats it the same as eating any other animal, and quickly develops favorites. But she's also sad they haven't found too many friendly monsters. She thinks Victor is just interested in monsters like she is.

Favorite monster meal: Jack-o-Lantern Potage and Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese

Spike feels kinda sorry for the monster, especially if it didn't attack them right away. But he knows he has no choice; it's a dog-eat-dog world, after all. Especially in the dungeons. And he's gotta eat lots to keep up his strength so he can help the others. But he just would not be able to eat anything he considers 'cute'. As well as anything wolf-like; that just feels like a step too close to cannibalism— both just feel too wrong! He thinks eating things like snakes or dragons is cool as all hell though and is very excited to try it.

Favorite monster meal: Red Dragon Meal

Artemisia has been so sheltered that the concept of eating monsters isn't any more strange to her than anything else she'd encounter in the dungeon, or even on the surface in regular life. Besides, she'd read books about monster cuisine before. She's the only one who doesn't know eating all kinds of monsters isn't common, so has 0 qualms about it. Asks Junia to teach her how to cook.

Favorite monster meal: Boiled Mimic

Lisle hates every single bite and wants to throw up. It disgusts him that he's making such gross, 'unclean' and monsterous— well, monsters, part of him. But since Junia always seems so excited to have him try it, he knows he couldn't turn it down, even on the grounds of 'being a vegetarian due to his compassion for all living beings' (lies, he does not care that much) without making himself seem less kind. So he eats it.

Favorite monster meal: Portable Meal Set for Adventurers (does that even count as a monster meal?)

[goodnightmemes]

MOCKINGJAY - PART ONE (2014) SENTENCE STARTERS

❛ Start simple. Start with what you know is true. ❜

❛ I wish she was dead. I wish they were all dead and we were, too. ❜

❛ Please know how welcome you are. I hope you'll find some comfort with us. ❜

❛ I apologize. I wish you had more time to recover, but unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. ❜

❛ [name] was the one who was supposed to live. ❜

❛ This revolution is about everyone. It's about all of us. And we need a voice. ❜

❛ No one else can do this but her. ❜

❛ Obviously, we need to make it personal. Remind her who the real enemy is. ❜

❛ She can't handle it. The Games destroyed her. ❜

❛ People don't always show up the way you want them to. ❜

❛ I can't believe you're going through with this. You can say "no." ❜

❛ I won't say "rebels." These are senseless acts of defiance. And I won't legitimize them. ❜

❛ Never let them see you bleed. ❜

❛ To those who ignore the warnings of history, prepare to pay the ultimate price. ❜

❛ To murder innocent people, that costs everything that you are. ❜

❛ No, we were not part of any rebel plan. We had no idea what was going on. ❜

❛ I'm sorry. It's just a nightmare. ❜

❛ Will you stay with me? ❜

❛ Tell me what's happening. I'm good at keeping secrets. ❜

❛ If you want something, you just have to ask. ❜

❛ This is worth the risk. She's worth the risk. ❜

❛ You're not a prisoner. ❜

❛ If you wanna play a prisoner of war, fine. Stay here and rot. ❜

❛ The thing with revolutions, they're a tender flame. They need to be nurtured with a little kindling and warmth. ❜

❛ You know what could use a revolution? That hair. ❜

❛ I never knew anyplace could be so strict. ❜

❛ You know, everything old can be made new again. ❜

❛ Everyone's either gonna wanna kiss you, kill you, or be you. ❜

❛ And that, my friends, is how a revolution dies. ❜

❛ This how you greet an old friend? ❜

❛ Maybe I don't recognize you sober. ❜

❛ You'll never be able to guarantee my safety. I wanna go. ❜

❛ This has gotta be fast. In and out. ❜

❛ Any hope you can give them, it's worth it. ❜

❛ I can't help them. ❜

❛ You here to fight with us? ❜

❛ If you think for one second that the Capitol will ever treat us fairly you are lying to yourselves. ❜

❛ We know who they are and what they do. This is what they do! And we must fight back. ❜

❛ Fire is catching. And if we burn, you burn with us! ❜

❛ There is no progress without compromise. No victory without sacrifice. ❜

❛ Together, we will become an alliance to be reckoned with. ❜

❛ You don't like hearing a fight song at a funeral? ❜

❛ He's changed so much already. What are they doing to him? ❜

❛ You must love her very much to be able to forgive her. ❜

❛ And ask yourself, can you trust the people you're working with? Do you know what they really want? ❜

❛ I would never say what he just said. Not if they tortured me. Not with a gun to my head. ❜

❛ 'Cause I'm in pain. That's the only way that I can get your attention. ❜

❛ Little on the nose, but, of course, so is war. ❜

❛ What have they done to you? ❜

❛ Think about it. How will this end? What will be left? No one can survive this. ❜

❛ We have to get him out before they kill him. ❜

❛ I wasn't gonna leave him behind. I couldn't live with myself. ❜

❛ Talk about something. Anything. ❜

❛ You love him. I'm not saying in what way. Maybe you don't even know yourself. But anyone paying attention can see it. ❜

❛ I drag myself outta nightmares and there's no relief in waking up. ❜

❛ Takes ten times longer to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart. ❜

❛ He's punishing [name] to punish me. ❜

❛ I suppose you're just gonna hide down here forever? ❜

❛ You know, you're the only real friend I have down here. ❜

❛ To make themselves feel better, my patrons would make presents of money or jewelry. But I found a much more valuable form of payment. Secrets. ❜

❛ Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake. ❜

❛ I don't imagine you're calling to thank me for the roses. ❜

❛ I never asked for this. ❜

❛ Please, just let him go. I will disappear. You will never have to see me ever again. ❜

❛ You couldn't run from this... any more than you could have run from the Games. ❜

❛ Please. You've won. You've already beaten me. Release [name]. And take me instead. ❜

❛ We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice. ❜

❛ I've always kept my promises, haven't I? ❜

❛ I doubt you know what honesty is anymore. ❜

❛ It's the things we love most that destroy us. ❜

❛ It's the worst torture in the world. Waiting, when you know there's nothing you can do. ❜

❛ Whatever strength, courage, madness, keeps us going, you find it, at times like these. You have it. It's what's kept you alive all this time. And it won't fail you now. ❜

❛ They let us go. ❜

❛ They turned him into a weapon. To kill you. ❜

❛ The fear is the most difficult thing to overcome. We're hardwired to remember fear best. ❜

[writingsofwesteros]

chained beneath the waves :)

Oh, Alicent avoids looking at Rhaenys 🥺 Rhaenys' knee buckles momentarily in her shock at seeing Alicent there suddenly, but she is able to hide it behind Corlys and has to keep a straight face because only her and Corlys know of them, but gods.. seeing her here.. the last time she actually set eyes on her was when she escaped King's Landing during Aegon's crowning. When Alicent stepped in front of him.. closing her eyes as if she thought Rhaenys actually capable of burning them, of burning her... it's secretly haunted her ever since, that she thought her capable of that, and now here she is. And still, she won't look at her :(

Alicent is too afraid to look at her and see the burns left by Aemond and Vhagar, too afraid to see Rhaenys bear any evidence of other injuries from arrows or bolts from or slashes from the Triarchy's men... too afraid to look at the Sea Snake who's eyes she feels burning into her, surely he knows of them by now.. she thinks he must despise her... oh how wrong she'll find herself to be later on...

Aegon and Jace just ignoring each other lmao these boys. They're both far too happy to have a chance at having both the women they desire tethered to them, they can ignore each other for now.. until they can't... two jealous, possessive boys... they'll come to a head eventually, oh that'd be delicious..

I imagine Aemond and Daemon are by and far pissed off about it and want to keep fighting. Otto and some greens protest greatly, the point of Aegon is not wanting a woman on the throne. Daemon and some blacks also protest greatly, insisting she can't keep any opposition alive. But many supporters on both sides are secretly relieved and find the compromise to be acceptable, relieved Rhaenyra offered it and that Aegon accepted, having lost many or witnessed any of the bloody battles and sieges, just wanting the dragons to stop dancing amongst themselves in the realms. But one thing the half-siblings seem to share is a mirrored thought: what the fuck was the point of all this then?

Whether they like each other or not, they both start to wonder after the bloodiness that was Rook's Rest and the Battle of the Gullet, and how the family itself is so divided, how long before their own house tore itself apart and led to it's own ruin, how long before they make kinslayers of themselves, or lead to their dragons dying? The risk is too great, something they agree on. Aegon is secretly relieved, I think. He never wanted to be king in the beginning. He was never taught anything of it, of how to rule, they just needed a puppet to keep his sister from getting it. Now he'll have time.. to learn.. to actually be given a chance to try, to be a good king later on, even if he has to do it with Jacaerys.. plus, it would help eventually with them close, I think, Rhaenyra doesn't know her siblings. Truly know them. And they know nothing of her but growing up with this looming threat of her taking their heads if she got on the throne... Rhaenys may help her with that, as she was so close with them... before anyway.. I'd imagine she can't blame them if they hate her and feel betrayed, so she avoirds them at first, thinking they want nothing to do with her now... hopefully, this olive branch will rectify that. Though I believe Rhaenyra will have to make a sacrifice as well, as Aegon is sacrificing the throne to bend the knee until he gets it back way later on with the other 3... maybe she has to make the hard decision that Viserys was too cowardly to do.. punishing Luke for taking Aemond eye, finally making Aemond agree to stop fighting and take the knee for her.. maybe Luke will have to give his eye, an eye for an eye.. he may accept it, out of guilt over taking his uncles eye those years ago during their childhood tift..

Aemond would delight in the thought of taking his eye; the fear Luke shows at the beginning before he becomes accepting of what is to happen. The act near happens; until the one eyed Prince remembers the sweet boy he used to be. He remembers his mother. Annoyed with himself, he grabs the knife Luke was about to use and throws it in the fire before leaving.

"Did you really think he would do it?" Aegon chuckles; his fingers dancing on his own dagger and for a moment he thinks of doing this for his brother. He can protect him. He can give him revenge..alas, he realises that is not what his brother desires.

[hotmonkeelove]

Do you know why in one databook of naruto Masashi Kishimoto said that the relationshio between orochimaru and anko was intense? And in what page of one of the databook he compares a tecnique like lovers suicide? For me, anko loves him since a long time and orochimaru too but when she grew up! ♡

Here's the link to the first source pace. The pages on Anko are 122-123, where her relationship with Orochimaru is described as intense/ very deep (depending on the translation, but it means the same thing). Page 206 is where the Twin Snakes Mutual Death/ Twin Snake Sacrifice jutsu is compared to a lover's suicide. Here's my post on that, where I cite Narutopedia as my source. I don't own it personally. I can only point to the online sources/ translations.

As to why Kishimoto said that, I can only give you an educated guess. So here goes, I can't see how Anko wouldn't have been in awe of him/ crushing on him big time when she was his student. He was a Sannin, he was still the favourite to succeed the 3rd Hokage at the time, he thought she had incredible potential- short of having a kekkei genkai (the Sharingan is the only reason he gives for Sasuke having more potential than her), the fact he accuses her of being jealous of Sasuke, his intelligence and how (though he held some stuff back) he taught her everything she knows, and how, despite everything, she still copies his behaivours. I mean, if she really hates him that much, you'd think she'd quit waving her tongue around like she idolises him. Not to mention, she still keeps the photo of the two of them together on her headboard. To have someone's photo be the first and last thing you look at each day, they have to be very dear to you. I think she feels a hell of a lot of guilt for the things he did, but he'll always be the only one who means the world to her. No one can take his place.

With Orochimaru, he must have seen her as his "pet." Recall when Sakon reveals his curse mark to Sasuke, he says, "Did you think you were Lord Orochimaru's only pet?" Pawns get experimented on like easily disposable lab rats. Curse marks are reserved for his most valuable pieces. And the Heaven's curse mark is the most powerful of them, which is why he risked it on Sasuke. I would also go further with the snake summoning contract. Orochimaru has (that we know of) initiated only three others into a pact with Ryuchi Cave. Those are Kabuto, his right-hand man; Sasuke, his ideal vessel; and Mitsuki, his child, whom he hopes will be the Moon who aides the Sun in saving the world during the next great conflict. That's a pretty exclusive group, and the snakes are not especially welcoming. He must've had a lot of faith in her and viewed her as a valued apprentice, not simply a student or subordinate. Also, in their team photo, it's just the two of them. She doesn't have teammates till the Chunin exams, when they're required. Jiraiya is not shown with only Minato, but two other students we never see or hear about again. It must've been the two of them for several years and she must've been very important to him. Otherwise, why would he bother?

I get the feeling that there was a Genji/ Murasaki element there (in The Tale of Genji, Murasaki is the young girl he abducts, educating her to be his ideal woman, and eventually marrying her. She remains devoted to him, despite his faithlessness, including a marriage to another woman. She tells him she wants to be nun, but he won't let her, and she dies soon after). Then there's the story that most likely influenced Anko's character and relationship with Orochimaru, The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya, which the Sannin are based on. Orochimaru is the master of snake magic. He is betrothed to a princess, but she becomes frightened of him as his villainous behaivour worsens. Jiraiya and Tsunade end up rescuing her.

[dulcemaiden]

The coming conflict between O!Ciel and Snake

In the recent events of Doll coming back to the manga and diverse opinions about which side Snake will choose, there is something I haven't seen anyone consider that can become crucial to this dilemma: The mysterious incident of Snake keeping silent about OCiel sneaking into the tents of the first strings in Noah’s ark circus. Why he did?

The anime played for laughs that it was Wordsworth the one who didn't tell and Emily scolded him.

But in the manga is different, because it was Snake himself. Smile was caught up by Wordsworth, and we all know the rest: Doll found him, grabbed Wordsworth and gave it to Snake telling him to keep the snakes inside his tent (curiously, it's the same snake that Doll caught in F.O.L.)

Actually, Wordsworth told him that precise moment what was really happening, and Snake seemed nervous and trembling, not knowing what to do: Doll was hiding Smile, who had sneaked into the tents of the first strings. He would have done something about the intruder inmediatly, but this time it was Doll who intervined. Unsure of what to do, he walked away and kept silent about the situation.

But when Snake got in his tent, his snakes must have told him how they were tied up in knots by Black, and that Smile went to investigate the tents. Given how alarmingly suspicious the situation was, and how all the first strings could be in a potential danger, he finally decided to tell Joker. When he was asked why he took his time to tell them, he couldn't give a proper answer.

So he only kept silent because of Doll.

If this assumption is correct, the whole dilemma between Snake and OCiel worsens. Unlike the rest of the circus members who irrumpted in Ciel's manor, and Joker who was with Kelvin, Doll was alone at that time, and she was actually the only one who died under OCiel’s command. Snake has seen how skilled is Sebastian when it comes to kill...

So he won't believe that Doll was a real threat to them. Snake is also aware that she hid Smile from him and his snakes, and from the others first strings in an attempt to protect him, but OCiel still took her life, and that won't be a forgivable thing for Snake.

I've read opinions that in hopes that Snake will keep loyal to OCiel and the servants, expects that he will prefer them because unlike the circus troupe who kept him in the dark, he is one of them now. But maybe that would be underestimating how deep Snake's love for Doll might actually be.

She was the first one who reached a hand out to him, and she took care for him back then. His first reaction to see her again was to effusively tackle hug her while crying. We still have to see Snake's flashbacks, but from the little we have seen, Doll is practically the main one in his memories when it comes to the circus troupe.

Maybe there is the possibility that if OCiel explain to Snake about the children's abduction for Kelvin, and how the servants protected themselves and Lizzie, with time Snake will comprehend it, but he still won't comprehend why OCiel spared his life and not Doll's, not after she went out of her way to protect him, because even if Doll tried to kill OCiel later, Snake tried to kill him too.

Even more so, I don't think OCiel will try to justify himself, since he feels guilty about Doll's death.

Back then, when Snake tried to avenge the circus troupe, OCiel had every reason to kill him: Snake had tried to kill OCiel and killed a guest by mistake, he was not innocent and he was a danger. It is hinted that he let Snake live mainly because he reminded him of Doll.

I would like to point out that OCiel is a more empathetic person than most fans give credit for. He is aware that Doll trusted him and genuinely cared for him back then.

And he had to got rid of her, seeing her as a sacrifice. Doll's death was one that deeply traumatized OCiel as we see in his nightmare in ch95.

He probably don't even judge her, as he didn't judge Joker back then, as Yana mentioned in her blog years ago. You can read it in this post traslated by @akumadeenglish.

No matter which way it goes, this conflict will be inevitable, which is really sad for both OCiel and Snake, because they have grown to genuinely care about each other.

And to finish this post, I personally think that out of all the circus troupe, the fact that it was Doll the one who has returned makes sense from a narrative perspective; because she is the central character between Snake and OCiel: Snake let OCiel had his way in the circus because of Doll, and OCiel let Snake live because of Doll.

[caduceuss]

#𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐄𝐔𝐒𝐒    -    private    &    selective    /    mutuals    only    BAIZHU    of    GENPACT.    highly    NSFW    and    dark    themes    present.    DO    NOT    FOLLOW    IF    TRIGGERED    BY    SNAKES.    minors    do    not    interact.    mun/muse    25+.    heavily    headcanon    based.    MULTIVERSE    /    MULTISHIP    /    AU    /    CROSSOVER    /    OC    /    DUPLICATE    friendly. penned    by    Goose    (    29    /    she    +    her    /    CST    -    5    ) carrd.  -  art credit. -  temp.

𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: @eunoirous , @zhongshen , @raeso , @foliarlight , @ksharhrewar

𝐈. This blog is PRIVATE, SELECTIVE, and MUTUALS ONLY. I follow people I would like to interact with, as well as to make a point to keep my dash clean. If I follow you - please know it means I want to write!

This blog is also MULTIVERSE, MULTISHIP, CROSSOVER, OC, AU, and DUPLICATE friendly. I rarely do EXCLUSIVES or MAINS - unless my partner requests it. If that is the case, all relations will be listed here!

  𝐈𝐈. My activity can be sporadic at times, as this is a HOBBY and I refuse to force myself to write. Additionally, I run a number of other blogs on top of this one. However, given tumblr's penchant for not NOTIFYING me of things, please feel free to send me a poke of it seems like I have lost track of our thread.

I am a WORDY writer. I have a hard time doing short threads seriously, though I can make an attempt. I don't expect my partner's to match me word for word, and QUALITY over QUANTITY is always appreciated.

I DO format my posts and use icons, but do not expect the same. At this time I am able to use LTE - but if I notice my partner is using BTE I will switch to that as well!

  𝐈𝐈𝐈. None of the ART on this blog is mine unless stated otherwise. Any and all graphic resources will be credited here or on my carrd.

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A few other standard pieces of business: I hate DRAMA, do not drag me into it. I won't unfollow you for reblogging CALL OUT POSTS lest they be in excess. DNI if you, as a mun, condone or write pedophilia, incest, rape, etc. Racism, homophobia/biphobia, transphobia, ableism, etc by MUNS will not be tolerated here as well.

  𝐈𝐕. I absolutely love SHIPPING. Not only is it an excellent character development tool, but it is a great way to familiarize yourself with certain aspects of your muse. I am a HUGE shipper at heart and will ship about anything - from TOXIC, ROMANTIC, to PLATONIC. Obviously this does not apply to minor muses/minor muns or incest ships. No thanks.

I prefer to develop a bit of a repertoire with a mun before diving HEAD LONG into a ship so please feel free to slide into my DMs with any ideas or shipping suggestions you may have! Or even just to say hello. Seriously, I probably can find away to ship it.

  𝐕. AN IMPORTANT NOTE: Given the state of Baizhu's canon, a lot of this blog is headcanon based. As such I have made much of my portrayal morally grey/darker. I will not sacrifice this characterization for the sake of ships, or soften it in general. Additionally, this will blog contain a plethora of references to snakes and medicine, if either of these topics bother you, I would suggest not interacting.

I cannot reiterate this enough: NSFW may be highly present on this blog. If you are a minor or if your muse is a minor PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW OR INTERACT. NSFW includes, but is not limited to: smut, violence, gore, drug use - etc. I will always make an attempt to tag triggers and place sexual content under a read more.

  𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐘 - my discord/UID is always available to mutuals on request. Please never be afraid to approach me!

[nekurooma]

@raytm asked: HC tell me all about mukuro rn 🔪 // SEND ME " HC + A WORD " AND ILL WRITE A HEADCANON ABT IT <3

mukuro never got to meet his mother in her life, her blood already on his hands before even taking his first real breath. it is the first thing they remember ; blood and death. it haunted his steps ever since, a large looming shadow over him. it keeps them near, and yet it won't hold them. nothing ever does except for the restraints binding him to the cold metal table underneath fluorescent lights.

his first death is an illusion of relief, of happiness. he sees the back of a woman, her long dark hair moving gently as she walks and she seems achingly familiar. he knows he never met her. he knows he would remember if he did, as he does everything else in painful detail. they're overcome with the intense desire to call out, to reach for her hand and look at her face, to laugh with her, to be with her. to apologize. but his feet are sinking into the ground. it's swallowing him up and blood fills his lungs, his ears, his nose , his eye. she's leaving him behind, walking further further away and mukuro is screaming, voice nothing more than a gurgle, begging his mother to take him with her. she doesn't hear him, keeps walking as mukuro descends into hell, as it curls within his veins, making itself at home in his soul and marking him a sinner forever. 一. ichi. Jigokudou.

the second time he dies, he dies of hunger. hunger for what, he can't tell, not anymore. only that it is all consuming, starting with himself. he's already thin, bones poking at their skin ; so what follows next is his mind. colors swirl in their vision, taking shapes he's never seen before but can't help but think beautiful. ethereal, pure - they're flowers that bloom from the filthiest of dirt and yet stay forever clean of it. not even his fingers, covered in blood and grime as they are can stain the beautiful pale pink. mukuro reaches, reaches and reaches - but collapses before he can touch. they grow around him, so close and yet so far, mocking and soothing. mukuro is so hungry for it, death rejects him once again in fear of being consumed. 二, ni, Gakidou.

mukuro is a sacrifice for the family. the sacrificial lamb to lead them to prosperity. they take his blood, his skin, his bones, nothing is left to waste. they apologize, they laugh - they get everything they want. snakes curl along what is left of his arms to hold him in place, on the altar of war as bullets are made in his image that will bring them salvation. are the snakes truly holding him down though? or are they holding him together - it doesn't matter. in the end, they are his - and he is them. 三, san. Chikushoudou

how long can you cut a human for, until there's nothing left to get ? not that it matters for the family, or mukuro himself. he is neither human anymore, nor does he ever stay dead. no matter how long it takes, he will always take a breath again. the cursed child - the devil. mukuro has stopped speaking a long time ago. has stopped screaming even longer. they think he has given up, that his spirit is broken as they passively watch him bleed out in front of them - but what they don't see is the flame in his eyes, the dying will to tear it all from their rotten hands. to keep living so that he can eventually, turn this entire domain upside down and become his own lord. he will tear them apart, limb from limb - and he will watch the world burn. this is his vow. 四, shi, Ashuradou

they can not hurt him, everything they could have done to him - they already have. pain has become inconsequential in the face of his obsession. mukuro knows that they have grown powerful - that each one of their deaths has brought them further and further down a path that will lead them to something devilishly divine.but it's not enough, not yet. there's something more, more power lurking behind a closed door - they can feel it. dangerous, pulsing, alive. the doctors have been treating him more and more carelessly thanks to his broken act. it is almost laughably easy to steal a scalpel and take it back to his room. he knows exactly what needs to be done to unlock that door. pain is inconsequential. mukuro is already dead before his body hits the ground, the blade wedged deep inside his cursed eye. his last thought as a comfortable warmth envelops his body is how laughably human it is to be so confident, so prideful about oneself and their potential. and yet it is still not enough. 五, go, Ningendou

六. roku. Tendou. to become exalted, mukuro dies for the sixth time with his fingers around his handlers throat and a bullet made of his own bones lodged inside his head. his sixth death is liberation. the end. mukuro takes a new breath but his handler doesn't. the barrel of the gun still smokes as mukuro idly wipes away the blood on his forehead. there is no control over him anymore - gone with the color of the other man's face. pale, distorted in fear and pain. a pitiful end, and yet too quick all the same. the time has finally come, his patience paid off. there will be no one to ever hold his leash again - his family will die - and so will all the others. he will be the judge and executioner in this broken world - in all his rotten, manmade divinity.

[injupsorbit]

the elements of jupiter—

The hurricane's eyes are nothing but blistering chocolate brown, a scorching color that appeases the people who would never think to look past them into the depths of tears they collected from others.

Medusa, some say. (One.) Whose eyes will flash their calming nature at what looks like something of an elk, but in reality, a porcupine with its quills ready to prick at the multiple snakes of her fiery red hair.

The eyes that tell you the words you dread to hear, because they ring in your ears like sirens of the raging waters. They draw you in, just enough to get you to curl into the shoulder of the one who's been taken over, blurred with dark swirling realities that aren't true. When you pull away, sniffling, you beg to see the tears that have soaked the shirt in their eyes. But they're never there.

The snakes tangle with your hair, the unfamiliar brown, and it sends an uncomfortable roar of hot bumps against your neck, like there are millions of people trying to lift the skin enough to push her off of you, to stop her from getting in.

“You’re okay. It’s gonna be okay.” they say, and you want to believe them, you do, but there isn't a big enough part of you that can sacrifice knowing that it won't be. Even if you ignore it, and even if you hide in your closet, they're still there. And they're looking at you.

“Everything you have is because of me. Everything.” she slithers against your ear, and you fight the urge to raise your quills and strike, because you know how it will end. She will grab your cheeks and force the look in her eyes that you hate, the one that reels back her cheekbones and furrows her brows until she finds the bald spot where the needles have yet to grow back… and she will charge.

Their eyes are clear and calm, and you stand inside, looking up at the hollowed section of sky that feels like it has been etched out just for you, so you can have the perfect view. At least for a little while.

And as her eyes bore into you, the skin is the first to be destroyed, denying you the pleasure of the forming of a singular finger. The organs next of course, smallest to largest, making the heart the last thing she takes. When your eyes harden, your vision blurs, but just before it is wiped completely from you, she reaches her hand near one, and plucks a lasting tear from it, letting it drop against her dirt floor and waiting for the orange glow of your path. And when it comes, she looks past you for a moment, and then whispers the last words you hear. “I have taken the life that I brought. I will be happy forever.”

The sunlight is directly above you, blinding you from the top of your head to the heels of your feet, where they curl against the sudden feeling of sand. No. Dirt. And they’re plastered into the cool feeling, telling you. “Don’t be scared. Everything’s gonna be fine.” while they cave in the security around your toes, and your arch, and then your waist deep, staring into the hurricane's eyes… not realizing the roiling of water that is coming, not caring that you can’t breath, not feeling the depths of your cold stone body 130 feet underwater.

I sink. And land on my feet.

Shit. I think, and then remember that if I’ve hit rock bottom, I can only go up from here. And so I take my arms, and I cup them up well, I bend my knees, and I swim.

[melpomeneprose]

She had been running through the woods too fast to properly see anything, so of course Emma's first reaction to a human figure had been to lift her sword ready to strike, but she was trained better than to hit blindly; she jumped back and lifted her hands in surrender to show she meant no harm: "Sorry, sorry! Thought you were another bandit!" //more a starter than ask, but for Ben!

@smiletimeisrunningout

'Oh, I won't be hiding,' Tallmadge boldly told himself.

As with most of his exceedingly pretentious words, it was a lie. Granted, a well-placed lie, one he could sell to most he happened upon, but he couldn't lie to the fair-haired woman before him. It wasn't even on purpose! He was caught out in the woods, separated from Agent 725 Caleb Brewster, and the rest was ill-fated circumstances. Caught in the woods, alone, on the run.

Had his crisis and struggle truly afforded no mercy? Was his life fated to amount to nothing? Had Robert Rogers, Simcoe and the rest of the scum of Queen's rangers caught up with him?

He would not make a very good spymaster or even spy, had he no semblance of discretion or 'hiding.' At least, for all his many shortcomings, he could attest to being better at hiding than Agent 722, Abraham Woodhull.

Tallmadge didn't like hiding, he found such a thing humiliating, even so, he could sacrifice his ego, if it meant not crossing some grand mortal divide. But at least he was alive, and thus far, out of danger.

Now, it seems, he's only made a fool of himself. No pistol, or sabre. But he has a codebook and an alias and the wagging tongue of a well-intentioned liar, not just any liar as well, but a Yale graduate, class of 1773.

He takes a few polite steps back. "Forgive me, madam, I didn't see you," he said, thus far speaking true. "John Bolton," he said. He isn't giving his real name, not here, and not under such potentially dangerous circumstances. "No, madam, not a bandit, though, the English possess the nerve to call us... ruffians. Well, some snakes possess venomous bites. I think they'd do well to tread lightly upon us. But no, not a bandit, perhaps worse... it depends on who you ask."

[regnismemorias]

"Fuck you, fuck me, and fuck all of them." - Nathaniel leaving before Lia has the chance to tell him the ✨news ✨

Bloodshot, jade green eyes. Mascara-stained cheeks. Throat raw from desperate pleas turned screaming match when they fell upon deaf ears. She never shouts. Never yells. It's rare enough to ever see her so exasperated, but he pulls it out of her. Forces it out of her. Makes her out to be the monster she fears that she is. She catches a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror—a trembling, delicate hand presses against her stomach.

It's a misunderstanding that chases him out of the door & into the frigid night air, but the damage his words had wrought is done.

'Fuck you.' A dark, misty evening. Fog rolling in amongst a field of bright, white roses. Drawing closer to decrepit stone walls, a lane of flowers lay trampled, ripped violently from their roots & splattered in deep crimson. In the clearing, a crumpled, fur-laden body, broken & battered. Their first meeting. She didn't know what more than visions of near death & unrest brought her to him; what fate beheld her as she dragged his massive canine form away to safety. Even when he roared awake, the clawed hands of a beautiful man violently slamming her into a wall, eyes wild with confusion, fangs bared & dripping with venom, she remained. Comforting hands faintly cradle his face. 'It's okay. You're safe. I've got you now.'

'I've got you.'

'Fuck me.' Tinkling laughter filled the bedroom as bare limbs wrestled beneath soft, billowing sheets. His hands, deadly as they were, sought to tickle & caress her smooth, angelic skin. To offer her the softness she afforded him in kind time & time again. Even so, he was still a dangerous being. It took him no time to catch her—as if he even had to try. He held her impossibly close, then, her back against his chest, one arm wrapped around her waist, his other hand at her throat. Her hand snaked up his wrist to quietly guide his knuckles to her lips. She could feel him tremble slightly through her kiss. 'Fanny-?'

'Never leave me, Ophelia.' Their first confession.

'...I love you, too.'

'And fuck all of them.' This isn't their first fight. She's lost count of how many times his harsh, cutting words left her heart bleeding in her hands, wounded & scarred. Couldn't fathom the hours she'd spent waiting wide-eyed & afraid in the night for him to return after storming out of the door. The wasted tears, the unearned apologies, excusing his anger, his rage, his obsession for vengeance against an immortal force that tore apart his family only for him to turn around & do the same thing to her. To them. To their unborn baby.

'Nathaniel, I know you want to make him pay for what he's done, for what he's stolen from you. I understand-'

'NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!' His fist slammed into the wall. 'I have been hunting down this- this foul, loathsome, vile cocksucker for centuries to avenge my mother and father, and I will not throw away my closest lead at your mere, quivering insistence!'

'I don't want to lose you! Please, just listen-'

'I am more than willing to die. I have sacrificed everything!'

'AND WHAT ABOUT MY SACRIFICE?! WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE TIMES I'VE ALMOST DIED BY YOUR SIDE?!' Her nostrils flared, flaming hue adorning her face & neck. 'You would have never gotten as far as you did without my help. You'd still be broken in that field, licking the salt from your wounds if I hadn't found you! If I had abandoned you! If I never loved-'

She drew a sharp, stinging breath in, lungs aching & heavy. Apprehensive digits reach out to take his stern face in hand, urging him desperately into her waiting embrace. 'Stay with me.' Leaning up on her toes, she pressed her forehead against his, eyelashes fluttering closed as her chest heaved. 'There will be another chance to find Felderod. We'll do it together, just as we have been. I won't leave you. So, please. Please, just... don't go.' She reached for his hands to press them against her abdomen. 'Nathaniel, I-'

'If you won't help me, then you're just in my way.'

Her eyes shot open to gaze into his hardened, sinister stare. In one quick movement, he yanked her hands from his face, grabbed his keys & turned for the door. He stopped, his hand tightening around the doorknob.

'If you won't help me... then you're useless.'

It had been hours since he left, his words ringing in her ears as she lay slumped against the front door. She didn't know when she fell to the floor, nor when the painful, violent sobbing had ceased to rock her frame. Her hand never left her stomach, as if she could have shielded the unborn life growing inside her from the agony they faced together. Protected it from the new reality she was forced to endure.

This isn't their first fight. It was their last.

[luxmaeastra]

Rigelus gripped the railing, looking out over the city.

"It's not that simple, I was - I have missed you Bryce. But they didn't force me do do anything. At 13 I began my formal training, at 16 I -"

Bryce swallowed, Danika's words came back to her:

"At 16 the males who we think are worthy to reproduce leave. They hopefully get picked by another Family to -"

"And if they don't?"

Danika had held her gaze, the night had tugged at her braid. She'd sipped at her wine, the jewelry on her wrist flashing in the light. Bryce had gotten the distinct impression she was seeing a different side of her. A side she didn't see, the feminine version in its softness. In the delicate jewelry, the dress, the braid - she had looked homely and it had made her stomach twist.

Why did no one else see how fucking messed up this was? What century were they in to think females had to be homemakers?

"They get hunted and killed. A sacrifice to appease the Asteri and Demons trying to kill us."

She had said it so matter of factly, as if their deaths didn't matter. Bryce remembered all those pups born in the compound, her heart breaking for it. For them, for the life they never got to choose.

It was barbaric.

Bryce blinked back at Rigelus, coming back to the moment at hand.

"Did you leave? Are -"

"No. I - my father had Asteri blood. At 16 I went to capital to be with him and train. I've earned my place but I wanted to be here. I - Selestra, she's 20. She's to be Married soon, from what I heard the male that is picked will be a good match for her."

Rigelus exhaled and looked to her, his grip easing on the metal as he fully faced her.

"I know your judgment, I mean it makes sense. I grew up in that in the capital, my parents adore each other but....did you know Asteri and Demons had this belief it was more honorable to kill their mate if they turned out to be a Changeling? Did you know the Changelings are hunted for the magic in our bones?"

He rubbed at his wrists, frost coating his fingers.

"I'm not saying it's a good life Bryce, I'm not seeing I agree with it. But the Family is all they know. It's all they have, the Family must survive. Did - have you met Sebastian yet? He's a noble here, I think - it doesn't matter. He's reported to have an entire functioning spear made of Changeling bones."

Rigelus sighed, running his hands through his hair.

"I'm in a privileged place to see both sides. But I can only change things in my life. I am not bound by their laws, I can wait to find my mate as is the Asteri custom. I - you can come see how my sister's wedding happens if you want? I can sponsor you, they won't like it but we both know those Wolves won't tell you the actual way the world works."

It was a lot to take in, a lot to understand and at moments she felt as if she was drowning. This world seemed so backward from what she knew, it seemed confusing and convoluted. When did females become so powerless? When did it become normal to chase off, marry or kill someone at the age of 16?

Listening to Rigelus she could understand there was much more than she knew and understood, honestly she had thought changelings were a far-off world issue. She'd heard about the Wolves in Hybern and Prythian, she had heard the old stories and lore. To think they were so close?

She looked away from him as she felt the bile in her throat, her nerves churning within her as she was presented an insight into a world she wasn't sure she had a right in. His sister was getting married into, and even if he said he didn't follow those customs it seems his family did to a degree.

"I mean...it would be interesting," she finally admitted. "To help me understand a little more." She looked back at him, her heart aching slightly as she yearned to reach out for him. "You talk also as if you're not wolf, Danika has said there are different families. Snake and Wolf are all I know."