#the relationship with a worshiper and a god who doesn't give them those powers in a world where they could... well idk!

[chronurgy]

I think that before Gortash and Durge started working together, they were both very lonely. And part of why their relationship is so intense is that they both see the other as the only person in the world who can handle them. The only other person in the world who could possibly understand them or be on their level, and to some degree, chosen as they are by evil gods, they're not really wrong.

Because as worshipers of dark gods, both Gortash and Durge have very specific paths laid out before them. As a worshiper of bane, gortash needs to become a tyrant - he needs to end up on top of the world. And as they said in the Prayer for Forgiveness, Durge is well aware that Bhaal created them to be the last soul alive.

But both of those things, being on top of the world and being the last soul alive, are very lonely ways to be. And I think both Gortash and Durge have both had periods in their lives where they were very lonely - Gortash in the house of hope (or frankly even before that, his parents hardly seemed loving) and Durge was likely treated more as an instrument than a person in the Bhaal cult. Neither of them want to be alone again, and after meeting the only other person in this world who can possibly be on their level, they seem to immediately set out to find ways to work the other person into their rigidly planned out lives.

Gortash genuinely plans to share power with with Durge, to rule alongside them. He gives you, his co-conspirator, his partner in crime, half the credit for the plans - calling them "our" plans. He's happy to hear you're alive, he's genuinely pleased to see you again, and he's ready pick right back up where you left off. He tests your resolve with the netherstones because he very specifically doesn't want another flunky, he wants an equal. He doesn't want to be alone up there on top of the world, with no one who could ever hope to understand him. He wants Durge right there with him and he's willing to commit a Banite sin (sharing power! the horror!) to get it.

And Durge, well, we saw the Prayer for Forgiveness. Durge plans to kill Gortash on Bhaal's altar, the same place they hope to die. I do think that Durge intended to kill Gortash last, and kill him slow. So that when they kill themselves he'll still be there. So they can die together, hand in bloody hand on that altar. Because being created to be the last soul alive is such a lonely fate, to know that you'll die completely alone, without even someone to hold your hand. And that is Durge's sin, the one small comfort they'd allow themselves - not dying alone, but dying with Gortash, holding his hand, knowing that there was someone there who loved them as they both breathed their last. Imagining dying in a loving embrace instead of alone in a cold world.

It's interesting to see how they both can't escape their gods plans for them (ruling and dying), can't bring themselves to imagine any other ending, but also go on to explicitly sin against their respective gods in the name of their relationship (ruling together, dying together). They're both drowning and they know they can't escape but goddammit they're going to go down together, the only two people in this world who can handle each other, the only two people who matter.

[beanghostprincess]

I will forever love seeing Luffy and Nami holding Zoro's swords. He's so protective of those three but it's not even because he fears something might happen to them, but because he's scared something might happen to the crew and himself if he doesn't have them with him. They're like extra limbs. The ones he uses to fight and protect and breathe. He feels uneasy whenever his swords aren't around him, and that is just a fact. You can't deny that he feels comfort in having them by his side at all times, knowing that he'll be able to protect the crew from any dangers. They're tied to his heart and soul in a way that if he loses sight of them he might actually lose himself too. So he does not enjoy seeing his swords in somebody else's hands. They can disappear, he will find them. They can run away, he will follow. They can break, he trusts them not to but if they do, he will keep going carrying their bond with him still. But he doesn't like seeing them in somebody else's hands because those are his swords. His limbs. His heart. His soul. It's just not right. It never feels right. But.

But.

But sometimes Luffy acts like he knows what he's doing and actually asks for permission instead of just taking what he wants. As if crossing Zoro's boundaries would be unforgivable, when he knows Zoro would give him anything he wanted to take from him. But he asks. He asks, with a careful, polite, deep voice Zoro isn't used to hearing. But it always ends with the softest of smiles and the petition reaches a place inside of Zoro's heart that he just knows has also touched his swords. So he lets him, because how could he not, and he runs his fingers through all of them. Amazed. Astonished. Respectfully talking to them as if they could hear him. And they can. Zoro knows they hear and feel and love and crave and long for his captain's touch. He knows, because he does too. Because who wouldn't? Luffy holds them in a way he never holds anything else- Carefully. Like they aren't his. Like befriending somebody he fears might reject him. Like taking hold of Zoro's heart and holding him so gently in case he might break him. He worships them as if he weren't the god in this relationship. He looks handsome, too. Not pretty. Not cute. Handsome. Mature. His hat covers his adventurous gaze but leaves his mischievous grin for the whole world to see. And yet, the swordsman trusts him enough. Without any look or any word. He knows Luffy's face by heart, he realizes, now that he can picture his eyes quite too perfectly under his hat. His skin glistens under the sun and his tender fingers hold the sword with so much clumsiness it looks dumb. He doesn't know how to hold them, yet they don't want to move away from him. It's clumsy but it takes over them. Maybe it's his haki. Maybe it's the effect the future king of the pirates has. Zoro thinks it's just him. Luffy. And his heart stops the second Luffy smiles, as if he had just heard the sword respond to him. He wants to kiss him. Bite him. Let him bite back and draw blood and eat him. Let him hold him the way he holds the swords but tighter. Closer. Maybe he's in love. Zoro. With Luffy. It's not a maybe. Who is he trying to trick? He knows he is in love. With the way he smiles and the way he holds and the way he wants but respects and loves. It's funny like that, the fact that Luffy keeps being so careful when Zoro would let him tear his heart apart and eat it if he so desired. It's funny that the swords love him with such gentleness when they often demand power. Perhaps kindness is the most powerful weapon of all or, at least, Luffy's most powerful skill. Zoro hates it when somebody else holds them because they don't own them. They don't own him. He doesn't even own his swords, anyway. Nobody can. They're his the same way he's theirs, just with a bit more dominance and respect. But Luffy isn't owning them. He's praying to them. Talking to them. Befriending them. Loving them. And they would bow to him if he so desired. Zoro knows they would, as fierce as they are and violent as they seem and as sharp as they cut. They'd bow to him because Zoro would too. The uneasiness does not exist when Luffy is the one to hold them because, if Zoro had to give out his soul for somebody to take care of, that would be Luffy. And if he has to be unprotected. Naked. Bare in front of a thousand soldiers. He will if it's Luffy the one fighting instead.

Sometimes Nami wants to hold them just to feel what it's like to be in Zoro's shoes. It's a stupid reason. He refuses to let her do it as an instinctive reaction at first. She doesn't seem as interested in following the protocol as Luffy is, but she knows where to stop and she knows what to say to get on Zoro's nerves, anyway. She's equally as fierce. Equally as sharp. He won't let her hold any cursed sword, but it's not like she wants to. She's smarter than that. Careful and respectful but not that interested in the swords and what they mean, more in how they feel. Zoro gets it. Kind of. Somehow. She says something about always letting them eat her precious tangerines, so he should humor her by letting her hold Wado at least. She isn't pushing him. He knows she wouldn't. She's just teasing because she knows. She always knows. She knows he will say yes. Because he always does what she says, although he keeps demanding a bit of respect to not be treated like a dog. But Nami never forces him to do anything. He could refuse. She would give up at some point. But there's just something about her- Stubbornness. Strength. Love. So much love and care and worry and anger. And Zoro likes her. She's selfish, too, like a pirate should be. Stronger than Zoro in the ways that matter. Smarter, too, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud. But she leads the way and he follows, not because that's a dog's job, but because he wants to. He trusts her. Something he never thought he would. But he does. She's smart. She leads the way. She knows where they're going. They somehow are the same and totally different at the same time. Zoro grounds Luffy when he gets lost. Nami leads them both so they won't. So there's something about her curiosity that makes him soften. He never knows exactly why he does what she says. Why he indulges her like that. But it's satisfying, for some reason he refuses to read within himself, the satisfactory and pleased grin on her face when he hands her Wado. She's careful with her. Awful at holding her. Bad posture. Great smile. Horrible movements. Beautiful eyes. It's okay, though, he thinks. Wado likes her because Zoro likes her. Nami loses interest within a minute, complaining about the weight and the sudden realization of "you always have this thing in your mouth" which makes her want to give her back. But she stares at her for a whole minute. It isn't her thing, but her eyes spark when the sword is returned to Zoro. Trust. A smile. Thankfulness. Her bangs are getting a bit longer and one strand of hair gets in the middle of her teasing smirk. She says she prefers her clima-tact, but swords are fine, "I guess". "She's pretty" she says. Zoro thinks she is pretty. Nami. In a way he can't quite describe because he has never really been good at that. But she is. Like a blade. Sharp. But in the right hands this time for her not to cut the ones she loves anymore. She hands him a tangerine next, every time he lets her hold his sword. An exchange. "I give you something that matters. You give me something that matters". Zoro wants to say it's not the same, but the tangerine is sweet. Juicy. His fingers then smell strongly of citrus. Almost as similar as steel. If he can feel Nami's heartbeat in every bite, he wonders if she has been able to hear his in the hilt of his sword. Calm. Peaceful. Safe.

Zoro doesn't like seeing his swords in somebody else's hands because those are his swords. His limbs. His heart. His soul. It's just not right. It never feels right. But.

But sometimes it does.

[allastoredeer]

Hello there! I want to gift this offer to the bottom Alastor god above. (you)

May we all follow you and worship you for your amazing gift to this world that is called bottom Alastor content.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/56124580/chapters/142562617

The offer I shall give to you is a smutty radiostatic fic.

Containing: Vox owning Alastor's soul, obsessive Alastor and Vox, dubious consent, an amazing world set up for this little au and lots of smut. If i'm correct (its been a while since I read this fic) it has power bottom Alastor, but if it is top Alastor it certainly doesn't feel like top I can assure. More a dominant bottom.

And as the god of bottom Alastor is there food left up there in heaven? (hell)

We shall end this prayer with a thank you for your service for bottom Alastor. Amen.

I'm answering at once. Sorry for taking so long to get around to it. But that's only given me more time to gather fics for ya'll.

Being referred to as the bottom Alastor god is such high praise considering I haven't posted a single bottom!Alastor fic (yet). T.T Thank you for the delicious offering! I think I actually started reading the fic recced! I'm excited to pick it up again!

Here's some bottom Al fics! I'll mark which pairings they are for those looking for a specific ship! (KEEP IN MIND: I enjoy reading dark content, so a lot of my recs might be Dead Dove. I will also mark which ones those are for those who prefer lighter fics).

A lot of these first ones are AppleRadio cuz I joined the AppleRadio server and have found so many good fics through it. There will be more StaticRadio as we go.

Cool to the Touch by StripestheBoar (AppleRadio - Omegaverse)

Super recent fic posted just a few days ago and there's only 1 chapter so far, but I'm a sucker for Alastor hiding his omega-status and it being found out. Super excited for the next chapter!

Smoothing Things Over by StripestheBoar (AppleRadio - Dead Dove)

Alastor is in a relationship with Lucifer and things are great, up until Lucifer finds out about the deal Alastor made with Lucifer. Definitely read the tags. The Alastor whump is real.

Say It Like You Mean It by issu (Issushaim) (StaticRadio - Check Tags)

Vox finally has Alastor in every way he wants, until he realizes this isn't what he wanted at all. Fantastic. Loved it. Made me feel so many things.

Cursed by the Unholy Spirit by Anonymous (AppleRadio - Dead Dove)

Alastor keeps having strange dreams and his shadow is acting sketchy. The ending gave me chills. I felt as on edge as Alastor.

Not Yours, But Not Mine by TheValravn (AppleRadio)

Love the characterization of Lucifer here. He's got that dark undertone that I've been craving in fics. Fantastic. Love it.

Through the Broken Mirror by Anonymous - as well as its sequel Poisoned Apple (AppleRadio)

If any of you have been wanting a dark!Lucifer fic, these are the fics for you. Oh my god, I can't wait for it to update. It's been scratching that dark!Lucifer itch so well.

Favors for Favors by The OwOSheep (AppleRadio)

Another fantastic dark!Lucifer fic. This was actually rewritten before the season 1 dropped and hhhhhh its so good. Love the pre-show Lucifer characterization.

Wrong Recipient by Anonymous (AppleRadio)

Lucifer and Alastor get whammied with an aphrodisiac. Nuff said.

Witching Hour by bakunawa_moon (AppleRadio)

Alastor and Lucifer meet up in the kitchen late at night, shenanigans ensue.

Loves Godawful Lawlessness by dddaikon (StaticRadio)

These two are so complicated. Both of them. They drive me insane and I love it.

Singing That Twisted Praised by MothballMilkshakes (AppleRadio)

Alastor with a praise kink. This is exactly how I imagine Alastor's praise kink would be. It's so good.

Sturdy Railing by ohdeercoffee (StaticRadio)

Alastor's in heat. Unaware of this, Vox traps in him in a cage. I think you know where this is going.

Hot Blooded by titantic_trash (AppleRadio)

Lucifer (consensually) hypnotizes Alastor into having a mating cycle.

It Was An Itsy Bitsy, Tweeny Weeny... by Princeliest (StaticRadio)

Fem!RadioStatic. Vox gets Alastor to wear a bikini >:3

Do We Have A Deal, Then? by sunnybriefs (StaticRadio)

Definitely check the tags on this one but oh my god O.O I'm obsessed with the characterization and backstory of these two, this fic has me hooked, and I rush to read it whenever it updates.

Harlem Sunset by Kyprish_Prophetess (StaticRadio)

I don't actually think this has smut in it, but its one of my favorite StaticRadio fics and I will always recommend it.

Losing Control by lelepandewritium (RadioHusk)

Sneaking a RadioHusk in here because this ship also intrigues me.

The Art of Overcompensation by Princeliest (StaticRadio - Omegaverse)

Another one of my favorite StaticRadio fics

Jerk My Leash by MixkaRules18 (StaticRadio)

If Alastor were into pet play, this is how I imagine it'd be. Loved reading it.

I Want Your Violence, Your Silent Sedation by spoondrifts (StaticRadio)

This doesn't have smut, but ohhhhh my god it's so chilling.

Rose In My Hand by Binturong Rose (StaticRadio)

Aftercare and gentle sex T.T My weakness

Keep Running For The Sink by Binturong Rose (StaticRadio)

First times <3 <3 I'm so grateful to the Hellaverse NSFW Week.

Don't Touch That Dial by Sparkling Ganymede (StaticRadio)

Another one of my favorite StaticRadio fics. Divorced StaticRadio is so funt o read.

A Bad Deal by Green_Ghostwriter (StaticRadio)

The owner of Alastor's soul gets furious with him and transfers ownership of him to Vox in punishment.

The Contract by Turkaholic (StaticRadio)

Alastor and Vox need to get along. They draw up a contract (¬‿¬)

Software Update by StripestheBoar (StaticRadio - Dead Dove)

Vox giving Alastor's brain a reboot.

This list is getting super long so I'll stop it here for now (~��▾˘)~ enjoy the fic!!

[yanderes-galore]

I also have one more request in regards of Cult of the Lamb.

Do you think it's possible to do a (platonic/romantic) concept of naridener(toww)

Towards a cult leader lamb reader?

Ooo! This is another interesting dynamic I think will be fun to explore :)

Yandere! Narinder with Lamb! Darling

Pairing: Platonic/Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Religion, Cults, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Worship, Ownership, Corruption, Indoctrination, Sacrifice, Violence, Dubious companionship/relationship.

Narinder is the being that gave you another chance.

You were brutally slaughtered by his siblings and the last of your kind.

He's the being who decided you deserved a second chance at life.

A useful pawn... forever in his debt.

A common start of yanderes is usually if the obsession sees them in a light no one else does.

Not in this case... well, not until much later I guess.

Narinder likes the control he has over you as TOWW.

You are his chosen vessel and he originally just sees you as such.

This is different from the typical format as, for most of the obsession, you're worshiping him.

You make a cult in his name because there's no other choice you have.

Narinder is a powerful force in your life, lending you his power to carry out his message.

Just where would you be if you didn't have him?

Narinder, as TOWW, primarily sees you as a pet or just a pawn.

Although... The Bishop does enjoy seeing you conduct sermons and pray in his name.

He praises you for your work and duties.

You grow your cult, sacrifice in his name, brainwash those stupid little followers to work tasks.

In a way... Narinder is proud.

He likes what you do in his name, you'd only do it in his name.

Narinder would feel you're already his, no matter what.

You're forever tied to him in your deal.

After all... You need him to use the Red Crown.

You'd be nothing but prey if he didn't step in.

Narinder feels prideful about this as he feels confident to be in control.

It's hard to pinpoint where the obsession starts.

I feel the moment he realizes you'll be the perfect vessel, he feels he claims you.

You can't do anything against him, can you?

He does everything for you.

Resurrection, upgrades, influence, power...

You need him and he enjoys that fact.

You're so small when you visit him in his realm.

He often summons you to praise you.

He may be in chains, but his grin says everything.

Narinder would have a field day with you.

Even more so when his obsession starts.

This isn't your traditional yandere, of course.

It's the equivalent of a God falling for a mortal.

He is a big presence in your existence.

He will not let any harm bring you down.

You are his strong disciple, loyal to him.

As he watches you take down his siblings, part of him is pained.

But for the most part... He is happy to have developed such a strong lamb.

He listens to your every prayer.

Every sermon meets his ears.

Every sacrifice he takes greedily.

You get power... and he gets you.

His cute little lamb.

This dynamic can work platonically or romantically.

This is primarily just Narinder enjoying your worship.

In a way, the deity is possessive of his lamb.

Part of him wants to thank his siblings for giving him such a... gift.

Them giving you to him was their own downfall.

All revenge for not only imprisoning him... but sacrificing you.

Doesn't it feel good?

You get to feel this good... this powerful... all due to him.

This would be the first half of the obsession, perhaps even most of the obsession.

You worship him and he enjoys every minute of it.

He loves knowing you're his.

Even when you show attention to your followers, he doesn't care.

They're fodder.

Your devotion truly belongs to him.

Your Bishop.

The roles would only reverse when he demands his crown back... when he can finally have his revival, you just need to give yourself to him.

Only for you to refuse.

The nature of his obsession changes once you beat him in combat.

He's made you too strong... he fully expects to die by your hands...

Then you spare him... and he wonders if your feelings are mutual.

Are you still his? Even now?

Narinder's obsession with his lamb changes when you make him a follower.

He's still upset you managed to beat him... but you're still his in his eyes.

After all, you have to like him somewhat if you spare him.

You could've slaughtered him, removed his oppressive presence from your life entirely.

But you didn't.

Now he's in your debt, just like you were with him.

Narinder hates to admit it, yet you mean a lot to him as his lamb.

Now he's forced to listen to your every whim as you're his new leader.

As TOWW, Narinder is sadistic along with being possessive of his lamb.

He has you tied to him due to your deal, you're his to control.

What he says goes.

Now, as your follower, Narinder becomes a possessive worship yandere.

He used to not mind your followers before.

Now he can't stand them around you.

In a way he's happy this new form allows him to interact with you in ways he couldn't before.

Yet he misses his power, that ability to make you listen to his every word....

Now, Narinder dedicates himself to you as much as he can.

He tries to outperform every follower, he sticks right by your side.

While he appears moody... Narinder doesn't want to be away from your side.

He misses when he didn't have competition.

Now he has to try and force it.

Imagine if Narinder had to frame other followers you had to get rid of them.

He does everything to be your favorite.

He needs you... just like you need him.

Narinder wants to be yours, in return, he expects you to be his lamb.

In terms of which version is my favorite, I'm biased towards TOWW.

There's just something more intimidating about a God of Death falling for a follower of his.

You couldn't get rid of him and he'd always be there to summon you back to him.

So, hopefully, during your final confrontation...

Maybe you'll just roll over and give yourself to him...

Then you'll be forever his, his little lamb.

[astralleywright]

ok re-reblogging bc i like the addition and also this is a side blog and i can't reply like a normal person

but yeah @dadrielle this was probably just me getting my biology mixed up; i agree that mutualism is probably the best term for it! a relationship between a follower and a god isn't necessarily exploitative. i would consider it inherently unequal though, at least in terms of what a god can offer an mortal (and what it means to deny them that) vs what the average mortal can offer a god (any one individual mortal stopping worship is not that noticeable i would think).

Thinking about how Tuldus said "we are not their beautiful children. We are their food." Thinking about Ludinus saying "Everything scales in the universe, even ecosystems. Tonight, we unleash the natural predator of the gods." Thinking about how the good shepherd loves and protects his sheep no less for eating them when the need arises. Thinking about how the Primordials were natural, wild things - destroying the gods' creations...but was it wholesale destruction? Or wolves taking advantage of the new concept of the domesticated? If mortals are the gods' food in Exandria, is that even a bad thing? If the afterlife is, as Deanna suggests, nothing to do with the gods, is life just a way of giving that ocean (of energy? of magic?) temporary, consumable form? Is the mortal concept of being alive just the side effect of gods cultivating fruiting trees of magic? Thinking about how people who think of themselves as children of the gods might balk at the idea that they are simply a flock, even if nothing else in that relationship has changed or was untrue. Thinking about why humanoids might think they must be special in order to matter. Thinking about whether when it comes down to it, Ludinus simply couldn't bear the thought of feeding anyone else, so he went looking for a wolf to let into the house.

I don't got any conclusions right now, but it's awful interesting to ponder.

[syn4k]

hi

i have some ideas about halos.

so heres the idea: someone with a strong connection to their god (or demon or whatever it is that theyre worshiping) gets a halo from their affinity with said god. these are granted specifically by the god themself so not everyone has them. depending on their specific relationship with their god, the halo will appear in different places!

here's my expanded ideas for a few, as introduced in the drawing above:

classic halo

its your standard everyday floating above the head halo, nothing special about it

normally granted to priests

collar halo

hovers around neck

for followers who are Really, Really dedicated to their god. i mean really dedicated. "i will do anything even if i don't know what 'anything' actually is" level dedicated. you know how dogs are, right?

some wear it casually, some wear it like a noose, some wear it like a necklace.

basically works like a normal collar but can only be manipulated at the god in question's behest

armband halo

hovers around bicep, which arm it is depends on the follower's dominant (or preferred if they're ambidextrous) hand.

amputee followers are rare but in the case that someone doesn't have an arm the halo hovers at an angle above their shoulder instead

generally reserved for generals and other military leaders within the god's army if they have one

the hand

appears around the follower's dominant wrist

only seen on those who carry out the plans and will of their god down on earth. gods tend to not get involved in messy stuff so they find someone to do the dirty work for them down on the mortal plane. is also a play on the phrase "right hand man"

voice

appears around tongue

i feel like this one speaks for itself, really (HA).

not for proselytizers- only for those who speak directly for their god

the follower in question may be selectively or forcibly mute the rest of the time. it varies depending on the person and the god.

eyes

also quite self-evident. appears as a glowing band around the followers' irises (or iris). if they don't have eyes then the halo settles around the level of their eye sockets instead.

whatever they see, their god can also. this isn't a 24/7 thing unless said god chooses it to be. still, they tend to not get a lot of privacy

there have been a couple of blind followers designated their god's Eyes on Earth, which is pretty damn cool if you ask me (and also more than a little bit fucked up)

ears

halo manifests vertically around an ear

works the same way as the eye halo does but for hearing instead

the exalt

rarest

only seen with gods and possessed followers

appears as a filled-in circle of light behind the god or follower's head- if you're familiar with catholic iconography you'll understand what i mean. if not, just look up the wikipedia page for halos (religious iconography) and scroll the examples of christian art including halos

followers are rarely possessed by their gods because commonly gods have enough power to manifest a form on their own and need no vessel. a god in physical form may hide or obscure their halo at will. however, in the case that the god is too weak to assume a form of their own, they will sometimes take over a follower's body to intervene directly in a situation. the follower's body will assume the halo in this case and it cannot be hidden

shoutout to christianity for giving me the idea for this one. i got my problems with the jesus fandom but their character designs fuckin slap

some notes:

followers of one god can only have one halo at a time. polytheists can have several at once, one for each god, although this is extremely rare

followers with halos can naturally see each other's halos. those without have to look harder and nonbelievers (of any god) often cannot see them at all

i didn't intend the collar halo idea to be interpreted as a sex thing but if you want to do that then you can ig. im not a cop

yes the halos are customized depending on the god! some of them put time and effort into it. most don't though

[coolkat223]

Oh great, you're in a cult!sagau. Everyone wants you. That said you do have godly powers at your disposal. Whenever a character gets a bit too worshippy of you, they get a SMITE! Which is to say, a bonk on the hand, giving them a cartoony lump. Anyone calling you "Your Grace" also gets a SMITE!ing. (Xingqiu is allowed to say "My Leige", though he's on thin ice.) I prefer the SMITE!ing to come from a cartoonly large hammer, but other means are welcome. Most importantly, it doesn't majorly damage or injure them but it does hurt like heck. (The younger ones get a simple flick on the forehead, I'm not that cruel.)

In more simple terms, cranky GN!Reader using their power to vibe check those who annoy/simp over them.

Now this will be very interesting. A GN!Reader who have enough of being called "Your Grace" decide to SMITE them to stop being overboard of what they are doing and added to it might be scolded them to stop doing it.

•You awaken in Teyvat, discovering that the inhabitants revere you as a god.

• All of the characters from Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine flock to you, calling you "Your Grace."

• ...And then you getting very annoyed by them calling you 'That' so many times and also that they all are getting too worshiping you...So you decide to teach them some valuable lessons 😈.

• Venti is the first to receive a SMITE! for his overly enthusiastic worship, resulting in a comical lump on his head and a lecture from you.

• Noelle tries to build a shrine in your room. SMITE! You remind her that her dedication to helping others is what truly matters.

• Klee, excited to meet you, gets a light flick on the forehead, making her giggle.

• Xingqiu greets you as "My Liege," narrowly avoiding a SMITE! but receiving a stern warning glance.

• Zhongli, with his deep reverence, gets a SMITE! for his formalities, resulting in a cartoonish lump and a lecture about normal greeting and a exter lecture of to not use Mora on over exaggerating stuff.

• Childe challenges you to a duel to prove his loyalty. SMITE! getting a very large lump on his head. You lecture him on the importance of peace and understanding over conflict.

• Ayato's elaborate bow and flowery speech result in a SMITE! and a reminder to keep things casual.

• Itto boldly proclaims you as the "Supreme Oni Overlord," getting a hefty SMITE! making him have the largest lump on top of his head and a lesson in humility.

• Kokomi devises a complex strategy to maximize your worship. SMITE! You encourage her to use her skills for the people's benefit

•Collei's shy reverence leads to a gentle flick in the forehead and encouragement to be more relaxed.

•Dehya's bold proclamation of your divinity results in a SMITE! and a lesson on equality.

• Clorinde's formal salute earns her a SMITE! and a lesson on casual interaction.

• Sigewinne's scientific curiosity saves her from a SMITE!, but she receives a cautionary note

• After each SMITE, you patiently explain your desire to be treated as a normal person, emphasizing the importance of humility, community, and genuine connections.

• Over time, the characters begin to understand, shifting their focus from worship to building meaningful relationships and working together for the betterment of Teyvat.

[sodafrog13]

mm. thinking about how ferryman fight to the death over who gets to man the ferries. how the victor claims the loser's skull as their prize, how their skulls are so powerful that they're used to unlock certain areas of hell.

this means nothing to V1, obviously; sure the terminals tell them this information, but why would they give a shit? they have one objective and one objective alone: kill anything that moves. sure they could take their skull and use it to their own ends, but there's enough of those lying around the place for them to manage without it. simply put: not their problem.

but i can only wonder how gabe feels about all that. i mean obviously he doesn't have a personal relationship with every single one of the ferrymen; i'm sure that would be impossible, even for an angel of his prowess. but he does care for them, to some degree. turns a blind eye to their supposed acts of blasphemy and saves (at least one of) them from destruction in a starless sea, even though he quite clearly doesn't have to.

does he simply accept it as how things ultimately have to be? does he mourn at all, for those who do not make it? feel anything when he sees the remains of their failure scattered about hell?

how would he feel, then, knowing that V1 had killed one of the beings he adores so much? the one he'd saved from certain destruction, who painted portraits of him and called him the light in their darkness, who referred to him as though he were their own god? was it simply par for the course, another drop in the bucket of losses he'd been forced to take? or was that one different, somehow?

does he, too, find value in their skulls? as something to be coveted? something you have to be willing to die for, even? because if he does, i'm imaging a world where he lives and they do not. a world where he takes their skull to keep, to a possessive degree, even.

not as a trophy. not as a symbol of triumph. but as a reminder of how he was made to inherit nothing. because if you were made to inherit nothing, and the being who made you no longer exists, then why not just take whatever the fuck you want?

why not give love to the being who worshiped you, even if you can only now love them in death? it's just you left now, isn't it? you make the rules. you control your own end. and if you arrive to that end with the skull of your beloved in your hands, as a last fuck you to the beings who would have told you your love for them made you worthless?

then that's your choice. that's your end. not like anyone can say anything otherwise anyways.

[lizzaneia-elizalde]

Yandere! Vaniteas

I was on a horrible writer's block but here I am, writing fanfic. This is for a special person who yeeted me out of my creative slump LMAO

If you don't know who Vaniteas is, he's a vtuber I follow! A lot of things happened and i'm now writing a fic bout him lol. This is just going to be a short fic... But then you guys know what short is for me :D

An alternative Universe where a Demigod is now living in the modern era as a streamer, turns out has a past he could never take out.

He's an insane man.

Here he is, looking at the screen blink and blur for about ten times before sighing.

He's been streaming for 6 hours at this point. And the fact that he streams 2 hours on the regular, this was a bit of an eye strain at this point.

But he can't. Not yet.

His fingers danced across the keyboards as he tried to defeat Blackgaol Knight in the DLC, trying so hard to defeat the boss but he's about to slam the keyboard from frustration.

Doing an endurance stream while drunk isn't a good idea. But here he is, losing his mind while looking at a screen that almost swam from the lack of other stimulation other than this... Damned game.

Who knew doing a "Every defeat is a drink" stream will be the death of him? Not him, that's for sure.

He taps his finger on the desk, wondering what will happen next after this stream. His eyes flickered to the chat, and saw his regulars beefing on god knows what in the chatbox.

Then, out of nowhere, a raid happened.

He scrambled up, trying to straighten himself and be a bit more sober to greet the people who are now spamming their raid message. The raider, a friend of his, brought new viewers and old to his stream.

"Oh! Thank you for the raid..."

His heart stopped.

Was his eyes still being affected by the liquor, or is he actually seeing things?

An entry. Just the same raid message that he usually sees whenever his friend raids his stream. But the username that accompanied that message was someone he would never, ever forget.

Surely, it was just a coincidence? It was not you. It's impossible. It's been what, over 500 years since he last saw you?

Yeah, just a coincidence, he thought.

Because if it wasn't, he doesn't know what to do.

"Vani! Come on!"

"Wait up!"

A field filled with lush green grass that stretched out of the horizon, a lone cottage in the middle with a stream flowing down from the forest, the wind cold yet comforting, and the sky blue untainted.

It was the picture perfect scene for a picnic.

Vani juggled to balance the picnic basket in his arms, but his lips were stretched to a soft smile as he watched you dance and prance around the field.

This demigod was in love.

At first, it was just a simple curiosity. After all, with you being a witch finding a god to worship was a rare occurrence nowadays. Higher beings like him are trying to find worshippers just to ease their boredom.

So, he decided to bless you a bit. And that was supposed to be all of it.

But why? The fates were playful that day and struck him with a slow burn effect of the cupid's bow. And now, he's hopelessly enamored with your whole existence.

Your delighted face when you looked up at him sent his heart racing a bit. It was truly something he hadn't seen before, even with his previous worshippers.

His relationship with you was promptly a give or take. You do a ritual, he grants you powers to do simple tasks like fire bending to light up torches, cook, or even bless up your luck.

It was not until you laid there, one night on your bed, talking to the air as if talking to him.

"My Lord, why do you think the people hate witchcraft?" You asked, your face pale. "I didn't know I would be kicked out like that two months ago. What about my family? I don't..."

With a sigh, you turned to your side to weep your life that could have been.

His heart ached for you.

Yes, that was one of the reasons why people rarely worship them anymore. The act of witchcraft renders these witches burnt at the stake. Even to those who are not witches, if they were deemed too smart for the people, then they will face the wrath of the fire.

The same fire that Vani nurtures.

"It's unfortunate."

You scrambled up when you heard a voice seep into your mind. It was deep, a bit boyish yet mature.

"H-hello?"

That voice chuckled.

"Hi."

Things escalated quickly at that. You, who was lonely in the small cottage in the middle of the field, now has a friend. Weirdly enough, it's the god you worship and do rituals for.

It didn't take much long for a relationship to nurture when he starts showing up in front of you.

Everyday was filled with laughter, innocence, a budding relationship blossoming from a dire situation. His heart never beats this fast for another being, let alone a human or a worshipper, but here you are. Defying those same principles he held dear.

It was bliss, not until the other gods got hold of his... Escapades.

Things went downhill after that.

They said it was purely coincidence, but Vani swore it wasn't.

A person from a nearby village snooped you out, and has accused you of being a witch.

The worst part is, Vani was away since the gods decided to talk about him and this weird relationship he had with you.

The gods swore they were just scared for Vani.

But Vani never felt fear, until he let out harrowing screams with his fellow gods holding him back from trying to stop the people burning you at the stake.

The fire was angry. Deep harboring rage licked at your skin as you screamed out in pain. Screamed out his name in pain.

You wanted nothing more but to live peacefully.

"NO!"

Your body, which was once whole and filled with love he gave you, is now a pile of ashes and bones.

And as if nothing happened, the people scattered and went on with their lives.

Scrambling to his feet, he ran towards the stake and knelt at your ashes, desperately grabbing as much as he can and hugging it to his body to feel your warmth. But the warmth he felt was the remaining fire that burnt his skin. But he doesn't care. All he wants is you back again, in his arms, as he whispers his confession to you.

He failed to protect you.

Fate was cruel indeed. 300 years after that incident, another god fell in love with a human. And the others accepted it and decided to welcome this change.

But why only then? Where was their compassion when you were burnt in front of him? Where's the welcoming arms that this couple received when you were in Vani's arms, nothing but bones?

He deeply resented them at that time. And still do but in secret.

He shook his head to focus when he realized that the people were asking in chat if he's okay.

"Oh i'm fine! Don't worry. Something just came up." A smooth lie, he smiles to his audiences and decided to welcome everyone.

"... And hello, y/nTheWitch."

His voice was merely a whisper in the wind when he said that. After all, his heart was beating out of his chest when the familiar formation of the tongue and lips moved to blurt out your name.

A chat from you popped up on his screen and he almost wept then and there.

y/nTheWitch: Hi! I saw your name and was curious since you sound so familiar... I don't know where I heard it though, it's my first time seeing a vtuber.

y/nTheWitch: It's like a sense of deja vu, lol

Vani smiled bitterly. It must be you then, it's impossible that it's not you at all.

"Really? I think I heard of you too. You sound really familiar, and I also kind of have that sense of deja vu. Maybe we knew each other in our past life?" Vani joked, and the chat erupted in jeers thinking it was a pick up line.

It kind of was, but not the intention, really.

He can feel it. The connection with you that was once dull is now a weird numb ache in his meridians. You were alive again, and he hopes that it's you in the chat.

He hopes that it was truly, really you.

So that his past guilt of not protecting you will be lifted.

And the guilt of burning down the whole village who burnt you will also be lifted.

Countless of ashes and bones were scattered in your name.

And he's determined to not let that sacrifice in vain.

"I hope I'll see you next time I stream, y/n."

[yuseirra]

The idea of Hikaru and Ai being "gods"

There's this idea that struck me about onk.. this whole idea of Ai and Hikaru being gods who don't realize they're ones makes even more sense if you think about the relationships they've formed with other people.

When you look at Hikaru's life, it seems he had close to no one who could understand him, while he had so many people who approached him due to "how good he looks". They just take what he can offer, appreciate him a bit, then leave, and he ends up craving a lot of love from people while having never really found anyone who understands how he feels until he met Ai, who he considers to be the only one who does.

This sort of life he's had strangely resembles of how humans interact with gods. We pray to gods and appreciate them for their abilities, but we never really consider things from their perspective or what they want from us, don't we? They're not really entities we befriend, they're something we worship or admire from a distance. We want them to "look good" and grant wishes for us. (And Hikaru mentions about "wishes being granted" quite often when he appears in front of his kids in the later chapters) In this case, maybe Hikaru IS actually a god who wanted to live alongside people and chose to become one but never really blended in until he met someone who shared a similar fate with his.

Ai seems to have had a kind dad from what's been mentioned in the interview, but when you look at how her mother's treated her, she wasn't a good one, and for a really terrible reason. Ai's mother says that Ai was "too attractive" for her age and she got jealous of her, and her family started to fall apart when the mother's boyfriend(who she started dating after Ai's father passed or left?) started eyeing her. That whole situation is horrible and this doesn't excuse her mom or her bf about anything, but maybe there really was something special about Ai that drew people's attention even from such an age...

An "idol" is worshiped and desired as the ideal figure by their respective admirers. This goes both ways for the "job" idol and the god "idol". If you listen to how the song IDOL goes, there are chants in the background going "You're my savior, my true savior, my saving grace". This is closer to the latter- how you react to an "idol" that's "a picture or object that people pray to as part of their religion", more than "someone who is admired and respected very much". I mean, an idol can be someone's savior, it's not impossible, but to wholeheartedly consider a young person in their teens-early twenties to be the saving grace of one's life, huh... I would suggest it'd make sense for Ai to have some sort of godly powers for that person chanting it to believe such a thing. (Or, it could be that the person who's saying that is Hikaru. She IS literally his savior and that makes sense too)

Earlier, I mentioned about what Hikaru's interactions with other people were like. The relations Ai's formed with others were really similar to how his went as well. No one around her really understood her so deeply, and many wanted her to become the "perfect idol" without any human flaws. Ai's desire to form a heartfelt interaction only started to succeed a little when she had her own children, and she wanted to love Hikaru too, going as far to say he was the first person she wanted to love. I think those two were really similar, perhaps even in more ways than one. Maybe they really were drawn to each other because they are similar entities. People are attracted to them, and they gaze at them, but they don't come to understand them. Who'd try to do that with a god other than the gods themselves? But Ai kept trying, by "giving love" to her "fans". This reminds me of how a god would react to their worshipers, love does go both ways, but the way Ai spreads love feels more like a blessing.

Ai is essentially who gives. She tries her best to meet her followers' expectations with all she has. She actually doesn't seem to wish for a lot in return for her efforts. From what I've seen, her mindset is that if she can love someone, that'd be enough. And that's how a god would react to a human being... Of course, Ai is still "just a normal girl you can find anywhere". It's funny how it's Hikaru who says that because if this theory is correct, Ai and Hikaru's essentially the same type of being. They are gods, but they are also "just normal people". Or it could be that they could be gods who chose to become one and live alongside humans. Anyhow, their lives are full of wishing to obtain and give genuine love. The more human type.

Their names are very interesting when you think about it too, Ai's name is hoshino Ai, which'd mean the "love of a star" and hikaru's name's kamiki hikaru, it has the words "god" and "light" in it.

I've written about the significance of "stars" in onk in another post, and in short, I think the stars are actually "gods" in this universe.

So yeah, some food for thought!

[one-flower-one-sword]

(this is illuminatedferret)

One little thing I am curious to hear your thoughts on, but that I don't really want to clutter our ongoing monster discussion with: considering his track record with orchestrating events across canon, if Jun Wu already knew about the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods, do you think Xie Lian and co. stumbling upon it was genuinely happenstance, or do you think he was conspiring for them to wind up there?

it did indeed become a monster discussion, didn't it XD I cherished it though

ok so hi, this is an excellent question, thank you for sending it!! I wondered this exact thing myself many times while pondering those chapters. caveat that I honestly don't know if I can give a satisfying answer because iirc it's never stated clearly by the text. We do get this:

Mu Qing tore at the silk as he yelled. "I knew you were the one who threw us into that pit!"

[...] With the match decided, Hua Cheng sheathed his scimitar. "I threw you in to save you from disaster. Otherwise, you would've never had a chance to find this Cave of Ten Thousand Gods," he jeered. "And it was your yelling that caused the avalanche. Why don't you thank me for saving your puny little lives?"

(Vol 6, page 64)

but it has to be kept in mind that Mu Qing and Feng Xin accidentally causing the avalanche that landed them in the cave is based only on the information they have at the time.

so, on the the one hand, I don't want to fall into the trap of attributing everything that happened to Jun Wu's manipulation, and he could have simply used the aftermath of that avalanche to his advantage. on the other, he is the master of the Kiln, and the Mount Tonglu area is a place he has immense power over. there's also the fact that 1. Xie Lian had a nightmare/vision of seeing Bai Wuxiang after the avalanche and that B., it separated Xie Lian from Hua Cheng, at least temporarily.

I mention the separation because it provided Xie Lian some time to explore the cave without Hua Cheng there to try and steer him away immediately. I'm trying to side-step our whole "did Jun Wu know Hua Cheng is Wuming" discussion so we don't get entangled in that again, but I think what we did agree on is that Jun Wu knows, to some extent, that Hua Cheng worships and desires Xie Lian, yes? and also that he's correctly deduced that Hua Cheng still hasn't dared to tell Xie Lian any of this because he fears his reaction. so from that angle, it would make sense that he'd conspire for them to wind up there, especially with Mu Qing and Feng Xin in tow, since they basically do Jun Wu's work for him in how they try to change Xie Lian's opinion on and view of Hua Cheng as a person and of Xie Lian's relationship with him by force, by painting Hua Cheng's love, devotion, and desire as something twisted, disgusting, and dangerous. And when that isn't enough to sway Xie Lian, Jun Wu uses their likeness, as we've discussed previously, to try and manipulate Hua Cheng into hurting Xie Lian himself, because surely then Xie Lian would finally reject Hua Cheng and tell him to stay away :

It seemed like they were purposefully trying to provoke Hua Cheng. But there was no reason for that; they knew they couldn't beat him, so what did they want? Moreover, their tone subtly pointed the spear in Xie Lian's direction. It was like they wanted to stir up confusion - as though they wanted Hua Cheng to do something to Xie Lian in a fit of anger.

(Vol 6, page 72)

Then when all of that doesn't work either - and, in fact, only brings hualian closer together by causing them to confess their feelings for each other - Jun Wu immediately tries to fracture their relationship from another angle :

"Don't worry, I simply sent him outside the Kiln. Even if he wants to rush back in here, it's too late now." [...] "But it's probably for the best that he doesn't come in," White No-Face continued. "Even if he wouldn't agree right now, who knows if he'll still want to be with you when he sees what you'll become."

(Vol 6, page 106)

Of course, Jun Wu's main objective in getting Xie Lian and himself alone inside the Kiln is that he wants Xie Lian to walk the exact same path as him, to become exactly like him. But I'm bringing all this up because I think it can't be overstated how much Xie Lian and Hua Cheng's relationship was an obstacle to those plans, and how far Jun Wu repeatedly went to try and "prove" to both Xie Lian and himself that no one can be trusted not to hurt and betray you, and that no one will stay with you no matter what. Because, in his mind, Xie Lian would then come to the same conclusion Jun Wu did - "understand" the same thing he did:

"He guessed what I was thinking and asked me slowly, 'Are you leaving too, then?' [...] And then His Highness murmured to himself, 'It's all right. I expected that. No one would stay now that I've become something like this. I can manage on my own. I understand now - I've always been alone! I don't need anyone!"

(Vol 7, page 215-216)

All this to say - I'm not sure. But with what we know about Jun Wu's power and the way he tries to make it look like he's not meddling while actually meddling all the time, plus the way he repeatedly manipulates events to try and keep Hua Cheng away from Xie Lian... it wouldn't surprise me if he wanted them to land in the cave, and used an avalanche as a cover to make that happen.

[kotamagic]

This week's Lore Olympus is PACKED, so strap yourself in, cuz shit's getting wild!

Starting off with Hebe, who ran to the Mortal Realm at Apollo's horrible suggestion. Immediately, she notices that something is very, VERY wrong there. It's not Spring, Summer, or Winter, but something in-between.

Today, we would call it Fall or Autumn, but given her reaction, that wasn't a thing in those days. Additionally, the scale of seasons is way off by her count. If the four seasons are split evenly across the span of the year, they'd be 90 days/3 months apiece.

Winter? Only five days? Pfft, I wish!

On another important note, the mortals are dying of plague. Starvation could absolutely be part of it. This is big trouble for the Olympians...

I had made a comparison in one of my previous LO posts to @neil-gaiman 's American Gods. In that narrative, the Gods wither away and die if there us no one to worship them. It seems not too different with what Hermes is saying here. No believers, no powers, no existence.

Apollo REALLY wants to get murdered at this meeting, doesn't he? Where's Psyche so that she can shoot his ass again?

(Fuck, she's in Leto's prison right now, damn it.)

Apollo's got a lot of nerve pointing fingers when he hasn't done jack-diddly-squat-shit to help. Hell, a big portion of this fuck-fest is his fault to begin with!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP WITH THE KRONOS PROBLEM, APOLLO? OH, THAT'S RIGHT! NO SUN GODS ALLOWED IN THE UNDERWORLD.

Even if he could go to the Underworld, he'd just be a train wreck there as well. Honestly, before Ouranos was revealed to be the one helping Apollo, I would've suspected Kronos to be the culprit. Not sure which is worse.

Let me be clear. I have had A LOT of complaints about Demeter in Lore Olympus. The toxic, controlling behavior made me hate her because I have experience with someone much like her. And to be fair, Demeter still sits on my shit list.

But...

She has finally taken some difficult steps. She went to therapy with Persephone to try fixing their unhealthy relationship. She is struggling hard to be better, and it isn't a TOTAL loss.

This moment here, where she gets in Apollo's face, gives me another crumb of hope for her. First, she attacks his blatant disrespect of Persephone. (True, she has done plenty of her own, but I feel her putting a stop to it here is an important step forward.) Second, she voices how much she is against Apollo being anywhere near Persephone. I'm still not sure if she knows Apollo SA'd Persephone; I think that if she did, she'd be doing much worse than pulling his cape over his head.

Oh, hi Eris! It's been a hot minute since the last time that we saw you! Is this a mental conversation just between you and Apollo? The arrow through the chest bit brings back memories.

Part of me is confused as to why she appears to be beside Persephone in the Underworld in the 3rd shot. Maybe it's a visual in Apollo's head as well? The line "That sounds like something you would do." comes across as her saying it to Apollo, but for Persephone to hear.

Artemis already knows about what happened to Persephone. Her finding out that Apollo poisoned Zeus would NOT come off as farfetched to her at this point.

The blatant, unfiltered disrespect to Hera here is horrific. Hera has NEVER rested on her laurels for what she did to bring down Kronos. She has been mentally and emotionally suffering in silence for millenia. Persephone and... Hestia, I think? have worked to support her and lift her out of her depression. It has helped, but Hera still has a long way to go.

This fucknugget has BEYOND the FUCKING AUDACITY to not only put down the Queen of Olympus, but stab her where it hurts the most.

I hope that when everything falls apart for Apollo, he suffers HORRIBLY and for an extremely long time. I want him to suffer so badly that he begs for mortality and is DENIED so that he KEEPS suffering, just as his victims have suffered. ARGH!

Anyway, thanks for coming to my LO post!

[locuas642]

The Mighty Nein and Gods

If I were to consider a theme for The Mighty Nein (aside from the obvious family theme), I think it it would be that of the relationship between Gods and Mortals. Which Vox Machina touched a bit upon but, which Campaign 2 goes further into.

Starting from the very setting of Wildemount, the Dwendalian Empire is the first instance in the show of being shown an enforcement of which of the Prime Deities people were allowed to worship, with the reasoning being Pragmatic in nature because the nature of the approved deities was in agreement with the empire's controlling nature and philosophy of Law and Order (All the approved deities are Lawful or Neutral in nature). The second biggest player of the continent, the Kryn Dynasty, is a literal theocracy, with the difference being that they dont worship any god that can actually speak to them, but it is based purely on worshipping a seemingly mysterious object with no certainty that their faith is well-placed or even will be rewarded.

One entity uses religion as another way of keeping the populace in accordance with their worldview. While the other is defined by their religion to the point that the government exists to benefit that religion, with a literal war starting because of it.

Going to the party, we also see that in contrast with the previous campaign, more than half of them has a deity associated with them since the beginning.

Fjord has his Warlock deity.

Molly has the Moonweaver

Yasha has the Stormlord

Jester follows the one true deity of the entire Multiverse that is The Traveler.

And while not religious herself, Beau is a member of the Cobalt Soul, who are servants of Ioun.

And with the later addition of Caduceus, we have The Wildmother.

It's from them that we see the different ways in which the relationship between gods and mortals happen. And this is contrasted by the different ways in which Matt represents their involvement with the party.

U'Kotoa, a Monster created by an evil deity that seeks it's liberation and a lust for power is primal, He communicates with Fjord in dreams with Simple words filled with command and purpose. And those words are very telling: "Consume", "Reward", "Punishment". Combined with the sick, twisted green that comes from Fjord spells, it represents something bad, something dangerous. SOmething that cant be good because goodness feels like an Alien concept for it.

Which then is contrasted with The Wildmother, who as Matt becomes more comfortable portraying, also communicates in a way not dissimilar to U'kotoa, in the sense that she doesnt use words. she doesn't speak, because verbal speech is an almost alien concept for Nature. But she communicates, through the beauty of nature. Through it's warmth and also it's coldness. Her interactions with Fjord are warm and comforting, U'Kotoa's horrifying depths of the ocean get replaced with Melora's serene beaches. His sick green gets replaced with the green of life, and while Fjord's original sword was part of a contract, a transaction to be retracted at any time, his second sword, the Star Razor, was a gift from a follower of the wildmother, to be given regardless of what Fjord chose to do next.

The difference between Demanding servitude and asking for love.

And it's not like The Wildmother only really began to show it with Fjord, because even then she was an almost always present entity through Caduceus. She was the Nein's strongest ally through the campaign, offering guidance and comfort to Caduceus countless times. answering his questions, giving him visions and saving people's life. In fact, when Jester casts Revivify for the first time, it is stated that The Traveler called upon Melora for her help in reviving a fallen Caduceus.

Speaking of The Traveler. we also see a very different interaction between Jester and her god compared to every other cleric in the campaign. which is that while usually a Cleric is a servant of a god, someone who wears their colors and seek to do good on their name, the thing tthat might define JEster's relationship with her god is how much of her powers reflect... herself.

The traveler as Artagan is themed Green and Red. but the colors that define Jester's spells are Pinks and Blues, Most particularly her Guiding Bolt, arguably her signature move, is colored a bright pink.

That is because, as Artagan implies through the campaign, Jester is not a vessel for Artagan's Power, Artagan's Powers are a tool to enhance Jester and he sees their relationship of one of helping Jester reaches new heights, than in wanting Jester to do his bidding.

This unique relationship is also presented in how their interactions are the most cordial and familial of the entire cast. they joke, they laugh, they make fun of each other. Which only grows in closeness as the campaign goes on. and if someone reads Artagan as the Father Figure Jester never had, that closeness while Jester learns of Artagan's status as a fey not a god, can also be shown as that of a child growing up and understanding their parents aren as omniciesnt as they thought.

Finally... Yasha with the Stormlord.

The Stormlord is the definition of "I work in mysterious ways" in that he saves Yasha, but in that he gives her the tools and strenght to break her chains. Her makes her confront the things she instinctually is too afraid to confornt, but deep down knows she has to. He gives her protection at key points. He pushes her so she can see how much stronger she is.

And he does so without ever actually asking anything of her. What he seeks or why he helps Yasha, he never says. It might be that, like Obann, he sees a champion on her. Maybe he sees a survivor who needs help. Maybe he has a plan. but we never learn. Because it is not his way to give answers.

And that's interesting because it shows different ways in which people interact with the gods. sometimes it is helpful, other times closer to a toxic relationship. sometimes with a renewed sense of purpose, others with fear because they cant be sure what their god even wants.

[honey-minded-hivemind]

Okay! So, I have an idea for an au. It focuses a little more on the platonic yan X-Men and Reader and their relationship, but the au is a bit more... wild? Kinky, maybe? It's more for an older audience. I am a bit inspired by Genshin and those weird playlists i find for dancing and being... "down bad"... but it isn't about or for Genshin. And it's all platonic. Because that is what I do. Let's discuss it:

So, imagine each teen/adult is a small god/entity of a territory/kingdom. They live as long as their territory does, and the people who worship them and live in their kingdom add to their strength. Of course, each kingdom/deity has their own special skills, trades, and traits. But they also have the whole... conquering, problem. It isn't romantic or s*xual, but... it can get weird, at times. They're deities who are older than the human race and some of the other younger deities, but they're a bit like... young adults. A little childish, sometimes petty. Still ancient by human standards, but they can make most of their own choices and own up to them in full.

To avoid wars and the like with each other and to avoid risk of death or fading away, they will have games to deal with issues. If they want to rule or conquer another region/deity, they have to win the game they're playing. If you win, the deity/ies who lost are in their control and their kingdom and people are too until the next games. If they/you lose, you are under the control of the winner and whatever they want to platonically do with you.

The problem is they're all weird, they have their own platonic kinks, and they like having friends/kids who can't leave them. If they want to make them into a drone for a bit, only able to feel their love for them, then that's what will happen. If they want to tie them up and cover them in platonic kisses, then that is set in stone. If they want to make them forget for a bit, make it so they can't worry at all or remember to and only feel at peace, then it will be. (None if it is s*xual, okay? I am so sick of everything being about s*x and romance. So are the platonic yans and Reader. Why can't kinks be platonic, too? Who doesn't want to platonically blindfold their friend and do a trustful trustfall, catching them and then rewarding them with a slice of cake and butterfly kisses? Who doesn't want to take away the pain of a companion for a bit, just letting y'all cuddle in bliss for awhile? I hope y'all get what I mean). They all need to smooth over issues, and this is the healthiest way they can think of doing so. There are safety rules set up, plans in case something goes wrong for even a minute. Look, the winning platonic yan wants their friends/wards/kids to feel good for a bit while also letting them have all the power. So, it's a win-win in their eyes.

It all gets a little fierce when Reader is involved, though.

A deity around their age or younger, and their traits are kind, loving, caring, and down for a good time. They are always giving gifts, letting everyone know how much they care, and always dressed to their best, handsome and beautiful and gorgeous. So the other platonic yans are always trying to catch them, to win a game against Reader... But it is near impossible. Reader is good, and they are a polite winner. With a sly, warm grin, a kiss to the knuckles regardless of which platonic yan it is, and pushing a bowl of sweets towards them with twinkling eyes. They don't mind losing against Reader... But they really, REALLY want to win against them, even just once. Reader never even keeps their control over them, backing out of the games before it can be set in stone.

Of course, they all love Reader. Who doesn't?! Their kingdom is one of the largest, full of art of all kinds, and is one of the most peaceful. They are cute, they're nice, and sometimes they all just really really really want to put them under and get them so relaxed. So completely under, that they can't fight any love they give. So they can relax for once, so they aren't worrying over anything. And to have that kind of power over them... It would be special, wouldn't it? To be caring for them and being cared for in return, with no issue or doubt or fear. Because those wouldn't be allowed, not one bit.

Of course... They'd have to actually WIN against Reader, which no one has ever done before... Well... except once... But THAT was ages ago! And no one will fess up who won over them, or what game it was, or how it went! It drives them mad, not knowing!

But the games are coming up again, and this time, if they win... They want to try out a few ideas with their favorite friend/sibling/rival/kid...

(Y'all see what I mean? This AU is kinda new, and the best I can manage. I also maybe want to give us all a way to relax a bit more, and this seems like the perfect way to do it. If y'all want to ask questions, please do. Just please keep in mind this all PLATONIC!!! So anyone who wants s*x or romance, get out. NOW. Okay? And find that somewhere else. For those who enjoy the platonic stuff, feel free to stay. And those who want to have some more relaxing and cute and slightly (insert word for platoncially hot) (IS there a word for platoncially hot?) snippets and prompts with Reader, feel free to read it and send in a prompt idea or two).

(Why aren't there more platonic bad*ss songs? Or friendship songs that AREN'T for a cartoon?? Come on, music makers! Please please PLEASE do a playlist or song or album about platonic hotness and being cute and being friends and being kick*ss buddies til the end!!! At least one that isn't about romance... or... eugh... s*x...)

(I need to come up up a name for this au...)

(🖤Ace of Hearts💖 AU it is!)

[convexicalcrow]

Love how Pharaoh Cub and Scar's relationship is in your stories. Defiantly want to see Scar being smug when he wins against the Pharaoh, only for it to vanish when he still gets dominated by that man. lol. (Side note, can I ask for some details on the Pharaoh's personality vs Cub's? And in how they differ in treating people?)

Oh yes, when I have the last chapter of the first part of the Lost Prince AU posted tomorrow tomorrow, I'll have to get back to the Pharaoh TCG fic, now that Scar's finally won. I have a few ideas brewing. >:D

As for the Pharaoh vs Cub, I have some thoughts. Here I'm talking just about them as characters and how I tend to write them. And this does touch on shippy things and D/s dynamics but more to illustrate the differences, just as a head's up for ppl not comfy with that kind of thing. <3

in the context of the Pharaoh as his own separate being, he's very... domineering, in a way. He's a god, of course he's better than everyone else. He knows his own power and how to use it. This is not to say he's just a tyrant, because he's not. He just demands respect and will punish anyone who fails to give it. In his land, in his pyramids, the Pharaoh's rule is absolute and you will obey him. But he will be sweet to those he cares about and loves. Even in submission to, say, Beef, it's a choice, a command, he's setting the rules of their engagement and their dynamic so he gets what he wants out of it.

also ofc he possesses Cub, he IS Cub, he knows what that boy likes ffs. XD

Cub isn't like that. He's more of a brat. Maybe he'll obey, but maybe he won't. He does his own thing, but it's not coming from a sense of divine authority, of being over everyone else. He's just entertaining himself. Cub's the 'seek forgiveness rather than ask permission' kind of brat (most of the time anyway). He's also not a mouthy, loud brat either. He's the quiet type, the ones you don't really notice until you realise the mess they've caused lol. Not really interested in leadership; more interested in building secret tunnels and stealing artefacts lol. He's a sneaky boy. :D But he also cares a lot too. He knows their boundaries and where to draw the line, because he's silly but he's not stupid.

Unlike the Pharaoh who is in control when he submits, for Cub, he really isn't. At least, obedience is earned (or taken) by higher powers, whether that's King Ren or Scar or the Vex or the Pharaoh, it doesn't matter. For the Pharaoh, there is no higher power than him; for Cub, that isn't the case. Lack of control is what he likes.

You can contrast this nicely with Cub and Scar and their relationship with the Vex. For Scar, there's a more business-like feel to their arrangement. He doesn't kill Vexes bc he's not allowed, and they give him all the riches he could ever want and place him in positions of power like the Mayorship. For Cub, it's totally different. It's subservience to a higher power, a possessive power, something deserving of worship and respect. It brings power too, and magic, and prosperity, as long as he gives his body to the Vex to do with as they please.

This is why Scar is the Power, and Cub is the Vessel. Scar represents the power and magic of the Vex, and Cub is what that power fills and is channelled through. Adding False as the Will gives that magic purpose and direction. She makes their work more effective, though they've done plenty on their own.

The Pharaoh would never bow to the Vex the way Cub does. He has his own magic that is just as powerful, if not moreso, than that of the Vex. He sees his Vex magic as useful, but he has better tools at his disposal, so he uses them instead. After all, he is a god. Gods do not bend their knee to silly creatures like Vex. But he does lean on it a little with Cub, because Cub is weak to it like Scar is.

The Pharaoh's magic is also very hot and fiery, whereas the Vex prefer ice and coldness. They are opposites in that regard. The Pharaoh's magic simply burns all the effectiveness of Vex magic away, which is why he doesn't really use it himself. He's the son of Ra, the sun god. Ice magic is useless against him. The Vex can't possess a god either; he's not a player, in the way Cub was a player before he was Pharaoh. I mean, he IS, but he also really isn't. The Kingly Ka, the divine soul of Horus that makes someone Pharaoh, is what makes him divine. He's no longer simply human after that point.

The Kingly Ka was never passed on to young Cub tho. It's not young Cub we see as the Pharaoh in the TCG arena, but old Cub. Pharaoh Cub. The one who is divine. It's on the card, too. Cub is not the Pharaoh, he's a separate being now. He died at the end of s7 after building a pyramid, which is traditionally the tomb for a king, and s8 is Cub's metaphorical journey through the afterlife before he returns for s9. This is me getting back on my Book of Caverns bullshit, but it is the title of a real Ancient Egyptian book of the afterlife, and what did Cub spend s8 building? A canyon filled with caverns! The moon crashing into the earth can be seen as his way of understanding his death and transformation/rebirth into his young skin in s9. bc that's how I'm dealing with the whole 's8 was a simulation' lore from RenDoc.

Anyway. I think that's enough brainrot for now. I don't want this getting any more unhinged than it already is lol. :D If you have further questions, please do ask! I'd love to ramble about this some more. <3

[thatwritingho]

27 and 23 for the lovely Ms Olive!!!

27. What is their romance’s theme song?

Olive and Pickles don't really have 'a song,' but if I'm picking for them, the first one that comes to mind is Howling by Syml, a song about worshiping and being insatiably hungry for your partner.

We made a fire in the purest way/When you explode, it's my holiday

Their relationship - as it stands currently in story, at least - got very intense very fast, both physically and emotionally. They have great natural chemistry.

I took too much, it was my mistake/But I can be blamed/I'm insatiable

Like I said in her vent post here, Olive feels a sense of intense hunger and voracity, and Pickles is desperate for love/acceptance/commitment(whether he wants to admit that or not). So, two love starved characters feeding off of each other. Things got too intense too quickly, Pickles got scared off and ghosted her for a few weeks.

Keep me howling, baby/I'll be your beast, I'll be your dog/Keep me howling, baby/And I'll keep begging you for more

But he came back, they talked it out, and the last 27k words of so story have been them having filthy, nasty, raunchy, makeup sex hehe. Pretty self explanatory, here. Olive is a sub, she very much does beg him for more. Many times. Her choker could be considered a collar, too, I suppose ;)

I lay me down at the feet of your beauty/Power my spirit, awaken within me/My blood and my body will sing out your praises/Save me save me save me now

Things get a little kinky. There's some god kink, some worshiping. And perhaps some actual godklok powers are triggered and some glowing red eye awaken whoops who said that? It gets religious, she's really blowing up his ego and giving him a god complex, here. At one point, Olive is at his feet. There's no blood this time, but her body is definitely squirting singing his praises, many, many, many times. And, well... they kind of want to save each other. They kind of need to save each other. They kind of will save each other. :)

23. Would they prefer reading books or listening to an audiobook? Besides, would they rather read for someone or have someone read for them?

Reading! Olive loves books - if it's something she doesn't have to pay a lot of attention to, she can do an audiobook, otherwise she prefers to devote her full attention to reading. Plus, she collects old medical books, and those don't have audiobook counterparts haha. And she reads a lot of manga, which, again, no audiobook for those.

And it depends on who is doing the reading. In general, she'd rather neither, and just read in silence haha. she doesn't much like talking, so if forced to pick would want to be read to, but... if it's Nathan? Toki? Skwisgaar? No. Nope. She's reading, or they'll be there all day. Pickles is the only one of the boys that can be trusted, and even then... depends on how sober he is.