#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.

[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.

[teastainedprose]

I want to ramble about Homelander in bed. 

Blah blah "Homelander is a sub!", "NO, he's a Daddy Dom!", "No, he's!" He's whatever you want to fap to, who the fuck cares

He's none of the above. I don't think any D/s dynamic roles encapsule Homelander, not even Switching. (It's not his scene, bondage is a waste of time, this collar look stupid, don't call me that, that's weird...)

He's simply not into sticking to any set kink dynamics. (The vibes are off, fam. He'd be the vanilla boy within the BDSM dungeon. Confused and bemused.)

He doesn't have some innate desire to give up control to someone constantly, or to lead someone with a firm or gentle hand. Switching, yeah but he doesn't care enough to begin with. He's too insecure and uncertain of what he is as a person to even understand slipping into a role in the bedroom. Too volatile and what he wants and needs switches depending on his mood and/or partner.

What he is, is a starving man and his partner is the feast.

Poor idiot doesn't even know how to do intimacy properly and has gotten all of his sexual education from someone grooming him, someone paired with him for publicity, and porn.

The dude is lost. What he in bed I feel like boils down to three specific things:

Sadistic - He's a bully, he's mean, he likes watching others suffer in some form or another. (Giving pain play, orgasm denial, edging, forced orgasm, overstimulation)

GGG - Good, game, giving. He'll try anything and be up for whatever as long as his partner is into it. The dude can't be harmed in conventional ways, what's he got to fear?

Attention whore - Craves positive attention in any form (wanting to please his partner, praise kink to the MAX, receiving worship play, demanding attention, bratting, pestering and teasing, topping from the bottom)

-and then how those three things manifest depends wholly on his partner.

With Madelyn Stillwell, he wanted to be her good boy. He craved her praise and affection and he was restrained because she wanted him to be. He's a brat, he's petulent. He's needy. He's picking a fight with a toddler. She's his Mommy Dommy. I suspect she denied and teased Homelander endlessly and he took whatever scraps she gave him because he was starving for it.

With Maeve, they would have been two equals that he was horrifically territorial of. She was his and he had no issues broadcasting that to the world while emotionally intimidating her, but never getting physical. No, she's a god just like him. You can't hurt gods so why would he try?

With Stormfront, she encouraged all of his bad behavior, so Homelander was reckless and hungry. Break shit and fuck like animals, push and pull and playing with their combined strength. They're primal and at war and it's fun.

Soyeah, Homelander is going to fill whatever role suits his partner best. He's going to pay attention to what gets his partner off because he wants that positive response from them. It can be a good thing, or it can lead to the most toxic relationship possible. The man is fucked so it can go sideways fast. You're gonna need a strong constitution, a steel spine, and willpower to survive Homelander at the start else you'll get steamrolled and dropped by the plot like Becca AUGH.

Is it the fear mingled with arousal that gets them all hot and bothered like I imagine poor Hughie would feel with Homelander? Fuck, he's going to exploit that. He's gonna make that twink jump in fright every chance he gets.

What about little Starlight getting a spine and trying to play his game? Yeah, he's going to push those buttons and show her how good he can actually be for her. The gnawing need for the praise from the girl next door would eat him alive.

With Butcher? Scorched earth, baby. They're going to destroy each other in the most toxic, hate-fuck filled fest. Just tearing chunks out of each other to show the other that they can still feel. Raw and painful.

Until Homelander actually figures out who he is without his powers, status, or fame? He's going to play whatever role his partner needs, be that god, perfect gentleman, monster, or sweet boy. Then again, he's all of that and then some at once. He'll want to devour his partner in one moment, consume them wholly and just taketakeTAKE and the next he wants the intimacy that comes with being inside them/them inside him and he's so so so soft and gentle and reverent when he strokes them, and then he's a bastard who wants to twist the knife and make them beg and cry and scream and just tell him what to do, he'd do anything just to know he's loved.

-and anyway, this man is broken and the perfect putty for anyone to mold sexually consciously or subconsciously.

Not a Dom, not a sub, or a switch, but a chameleon.

[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.

[illuminatedferret]

The Politics of the Heavens

The heavens are kind of a cesspit, right? Lots of big names hanging out together, dressing themselves up as above mortals and pretending like their very lives don't depend on winning a popularity contest. Like, oh, I'm sure no one talks about it, but everyone is fully aware that each and every one of their peers is a competitor in the endurance race that is the life of a god.

So if you're a god, and you don't want to die, what do you do? Well, there are a few strategies we see employed over the course of Tian Guan Ci Fu that seem effective.

1. Make alliances.

Gods making alliances with each other up in the Heavenly Court to weaken their enemies and bolster each other is, like, central to the politics of the heavens. Do I need to say any more? It's the Three Tumors in a nutshell. Pei Ming(and also apparently SWD in the censored version?) drove Jing Wen out so Ling Wen could take his place, Ling Wen at minimum helped Shi Wudu cover up what happened with the Reverend of Empty Words, and who knows what else. Technically, the Shi brothers have an alliance as well- even though it feels very weird to phrase it like that, Shi Qingxuan definitely benefits from his relationship with his brother. Also, y'know... those thirty-three gods that convinced Mu Qing to drive Xie Lian off the mountain so that they could cultivate and ascend, rather than him.

2. Incite passion.

With the prevalence of social media, we all know that if you wanna get big, you have to maintain the interest of your followers. It's because of that that it's really funny to realize that Feng Xin and Mu Qing are probably so well established because they fight so much. Their rivalry and their competitiveness encourage their followers to compete against each other. We see the perfect example of this at the Mid-Autumn Festival! Every year their followers push themselves harder and harder in hopes of just beating out the other side. Having a target to focus their energies on keeps them invested and engaged in their worship. On the flipside, we see what happens when two gods fail to compete against each other when Quan Yizhen eclipses Yin Yu as Martial God of the West(not that QYZ would have ever intentionally pit himself against his shixiong like that- another way they were doomed as peers). It's a very delicate balance for two gods to keep up a relationship like this. This sort of competition can also be seen between Quan Yizhen's followers and Pei Ming/Pei Xiu's followers.

3. Exert influence.

We have two different types of influence demonstrated in the heavens. The first is coercive influence, seen from gods like Shi Wudu. While his actions attacking the ships of merchants who don't pray to him certainly doesn't earn him goodwill, it also ensures mortals are too scared of the consequences to stop praying long enough that he would lose his position. The other type is charismatic influence, which we see from Yushi Huang. I'm not talking about the influence she has as Rain Master, and the impact she would have if she stopped responding to prayers- I mean her ability to convince her followers to listen to her on a personal level. Perhaps it's because they are actions her followers, as farmers, are already inclined to find sensible, but she has both successfully convinced her followers not to offer Blessings Lanterns, and to take back any offerings they give before they go bad. Those sound like simple things, but we also see Xie Lian fail to convince his followers not to kneel in prayer during his first ascension. It takes power to convince people to break from tradition.

[a-998h]

Heyy, guess who’s backk😁💕

Anyways, 🍉 ANON here and I would like to make a SAGAU request

{Reader} is a teen in this one, so obviously all of their relationships are platonic with each character

So in this scenario when {Reader} descends down to Teyvat, higher ups like gods and Archons [I don’t know if those are the same in thing in Genshin] but immediately get pampered

You see, the Archons think that {Reader} wasn’t strong enough to go into their full form—so they came back as a teen, and as well lost some of their memories

{Reader} half of the time barley can grasp what’s going on because they just got randomly teleported to their favorite game, and now they’re suddenly being showered in diamonds and the richest gifts

I also feel like there would be times where people would gather in where {Reader} resides to worship them, offer gifts and ask for favors

And honestly the archons were expecting {Reader} to be an adult [Not in a weird way] so when they wear their ceremonial clothes they look so adorable in them because their arms can’t even fit through the sleeves

And I feel like {Reader} would take advantage of their role in Teyvat, like they would complain of their feet hurting and people would rush towards them, offering to carry them on their backs or their already building something to carty them with that’s equally comfortable

And randomly people would see {Reader} outside with a character as they plan to build a building of {Reader}‘s choice

Scenario: “And the buildings gonna be pink! And have clouds painted on the walls, yes! And with comfortable seats and flooring! And lots of stuffies!” {Reader} yelled enthusiastically as they waved their arms around which was hidden by their ceremonials long sleeves which covered almost all of their hands, as they excitedly explained what their building was going to look like

So now there’s just random vibrant ass buildings in the middle of towns that anyone can visit— and they all treat it like a sanctuary

I also feel like people would obviously give them special treatment, and {Reader} would try to wave them off like “I’m not a piece of glass, I’ll be fin-“ and as they say that their trip on their robe and fall face first on the ground.

Or like {Reader} would run away from important meetings, and they would lie to get away with it because the Archons would never think the Divine one would ever lie to them—so like the Archons, soldiers like Gorou waiting for {Reader} to arrive and it’s dead quiet, the only sound is the clock hanging on the wall ticking as some of the characters count the seconds of how late {Reader} is—before eventually someone goes looking for them responsibly or everything goes to shit as everyone tears the place up to find {Reader}, while they’re like up a random tree or something giggling mischievously, while behind them where they reside is burning down because they’ve disappeared/j—

Or I wonder how the some characters would react if {Reader} had a crush on someone their age, like an Npc and I wonder how overprotective they would be while the parents of that kid are just like “The Divine one has chosen my child” and the child in question is scared shitless because the most powerful people hate their guts because {Reader} likes them

But yeah, that’s all I request! Have a good day!

-🍉 ANON

Thanks 🍉 ANON, but next idea only have one idea per request so the post doesn't get too crowded.

But you are right, the Creator is getting pampered by everyone. Whether it's Venti braiding your hair, Furina sharing her sweets with you, Xiangling cooking for you, etc. You're their devine creator, they love you. They think something happened to your powers to make you teen sized. They love you regardless of your age.

The building idea is funny. Every nation has shrines for the Creator. They would decorate the shrines with the local style mixed with however you want. They're grateful that you welcome them into your sacred spaced.

Running away from important meetings would never happen because they wouldn't make you go to any. You're powers haven't fully returned, meaning you got injured in some way. They also knew you wouldn't be able to focus so no important meetings for you.

If you had a crush, everyone would fine it cute and kind of sad. If the crush was on someone who is immortal then it would be OK because then you two can date and be with each forever. If the crush was human, they would feel upset having to crush your hopes. Humans won't live as long as you will, so they want to try and save you from that heart break. Zhongli would try and set you up with Xiao, Xianyun would try and set you up with Ganyu, and everyone who wants to date you would try to win your affection.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Don't know about divorce watch, but it does seem like their Diana arc is right on track. Those horribly awkward joint engagents that Charles and Diana did in the 80s, where they could barely contain their disdain for eachother... Uff! The latest CBS interview seems to be pretty much thesame thing. And for a change, I think this is genuinely the same.thimh, not just Diana cosplay.

There were a few years of this for Diana and Charles till it all came to a head. So if say another couple of years of this weird, awkward, barely contained resetment for them. The question is during the divorce who gets to do the Diana cosplay? Harry being her son, is the obvious conteder, and God knows, he has legit grounds to play the victim here. But Meghan, being Meghan, would probably put amber heardto shame.

That being said, do you think there is any credence to the billionaire boyfriend rumours? I just don't see her losing focus by getting a boytoy. Plus she looks too miserable and angry to be getting it on onthe side. If she was having an affair, she would have been able to put a better act with Harry. Her relationship with Cory was very rocky for nearly a year but she looked her best and acted so happy.

I think we need a tour with incredibly awkward, very visible "we're separated and not getting along" body language, like Charles and Diana in Korea. Don't get me wrong - the Sussexes' tours and foreign trips are cringe, but they're not cringe in a "divorce watch" kind of way. Not yet. Colombia could be it, though.

Whoever gets the Diana cosplay for the divorce (aka the victim edit) will be whoever files the paperwork and gets their story out first. But the caveat to that is also "whoever controls the narrative." For exactly the reason you mention - Amber Heard.

Amber intended to "win" the divorce with the victim edit and, for awhille, she was actually successful at it. Her mistake was the Washington Post editorial, which gave Johnny's team the opportunity to poke holes in a very public, very televised, very controlled way that eventually collapsed her narrative.

And this is 100% Meghan's blind spot. She loves editorializing how awful everything is, in interviews, op-eds, and books as an anonymous source. It's all but guaranteed that she will one day write something - or have something published that's attributed to her - that will give Harry's team something to use in a point-by-point rebuttal that turns her from victim to villain.

(I'm not worried about Harry having something in writing because, well, he doesn't write to begin with.)

Yes, her relationship with Cory was rocky but it looked much more stable than her marriage to Harry - and that's the power of illusion. I made a Wizard of Oz reference in an earlier post: "Pay no attention to the real lady behind the curtain, just worship the illusion that appears in front of you." That's applicable here too. With Cory, because that relationship was shown in public through Meghan's photographs and Meghan's stories on Meghan's blog, she controlled the illusion we saw; that they were stable and happy.

But with Harry, the curtain has been pulled back and we see the real relationship, warts and all. Their marriage is being shown in public through everyone else's photographs, everyone else's video footage, and everyone else's stories on everyone else's platform. Meghan can't control the illusion we see, so we see everything happening behind the curtain. That's why her platform includes censorship - so she can control what we see of her. That's why her tools include Sussex Squad and Christopher Bouzi - so she can control who says what, and what we say, of her.

As for the billionnaire rumors, I think it's just gossip. We know that she'll only leave Harry for something better, and the only thing that's better than him (according to her narcissm) is someone with a buttload of money who can finance her goals, aka billionnaires. But Meghan talks too much about money and private business for that to be attractive to billionnaires. Billionnaires don't talk publicly about money or their private business. Just look at Bezos and Lauren Sanchez - for as much as we see them in PR and as much as Lauren flaunts the relationship, she actually keeps her mouth shut about Bezos's money and his business. Meghan could never.

My feeling has always been that if there's a divorce, Meghan's next partner will be someone in tech. Tech is the only "industry" left that she hasn't tried (Trevor was acting, Cory was lifestyle and foodie, Harry was charity, society, and business. All that's left is tech and politics). Especially since in today's world, tech is the framework for almost everything. You want to get into content? You need tech. You want to be in media? You need tech. You want to be in politics? You need tech (big Tech is a huge donor and lobbyist in politics). You want to be in charity work? You need tech. You want money? It's all in tech.

Plus, there are dozens of centimillionnaires in/around tech than there are billionnaires in the world. It'll be so much easier for Meghan to meet, and get into a relationship with, one of those guys than it would be for her to get into the same room as a billionnaire.

(Just for the disclosure, since I am Rumor Tracking Anon, there's an astrologist who's seen Meghan marry a Middle Eastern billionnaire after leaving Harry. So it's not totally out of the question. I think it's implausible given everything, but never say never.)

[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."

[yanderes-galore]

Can we have Yan!Uppermoon!Uzui and his Yan!Demons!Wives capturing a Slayer and deciding to keep her?

Sure! Demon Hashira AU ^^ Not really the best with writing him and the wives so I'm going to warn this'll be short. I'm also having trouble being into Demon Slayer lately... I tried, I hope it was good even if it struggled with it lol.

Harem

Yandere! Demon! Uzui Tengen Short

Pairing: Romantic - Implied Poly

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Violence, Blood, Near death experience, Manipulation, Forced relationship implied, Swearing.

Everyone has heard of demons being powerful on their own. One basic demon could devastate an entire village. However, they are not the worst.

There's demons who are chosen as they are the most powerful. Sometimes they cultivate their power from experience, other times... people join them willingly.

Uzui is a strong demon who utilizes sound in his attacks. Alongside him are three female demons whom he calls his lovers. He's a demon dedicated to only them and his leader.

He also has a God complex, wishing for those lower than him to worship him.

When Uzui found you, a Demon Slayer meant to slay him, he laughed. He will admit upon meeting you for the first time he thought your determination was admirable, but laughable. You really thought you could beat him?

Uzui applauded you for putting up a fight. Unfortunately, you were fighting a losing battle. The slayers alongside you were no match. You see, even if you had a group, Uzui's much stronger.

Especially with his wives sneaking up from behind.

Uzui's shockwaves were enough to land your team on their ass before they were torn to bits. Soon you are at his mercy... Uzui's status as an uppermoon really showing in his strength.

"This mission they sent you on was suicide..." He comments, red eyes flicking towards your injured form. "You know that now, don't you?"

You say nothing, blood dribbling from your lips. Your eyes weakly look behind Uzui to see his wives. They stare at you hungrily, you're nothing but injured prey.

"It's a pity... wasting such good potential. It's like throwing a pebble at an attacking beast. You had no chance at harming me."

He steps closer, kneeling down to wrench your chin up. He thinks thoughtfully over your broken body before grinning. You could see his sharp teeth so close to your face.

"Don't you want a second chance?"

You have a questioning gaze. You're dying and a demon suggests a second chance. Of course he's attempting to use you even now....

"Poor thing can't even speak. That can easily be fixed. I think you have the potential to be my fourth."

Fourth...?

"You'd fit alongside my wives, dear. I'd treat you well and you can take your revenge. The slayers clearly see you as fodder, why not show them your true strength?"

The demon wanted you to commit treason. You either become a demon or die... a decison that held heavy consequences. You could die with honor... or-

"Look at you, thinking hard as your brain fails. What have you got to lose? You could die a human... or live as a demon. Be honest, which one sounds better?"

He picks you up as if you're a ragdoll, smiling. Charisma oozes with each word he says. You're in no place to fight him-

"I bet you were alone with the slayers, huh? No need to look so sad... you've proven to me you have the ability to fight. You'll never be alone if you join me. You can have... a family."

You feel him dig claws into your neck, causing you to sputter. Uzui looks disappointed in your silence or lack of response. He scoffs, slinging your bleeding body over his shoulder. Probably shouldn't have gouged your stomach....

"Your determination to cling to human life is sad. No matter, I wasn't going to give you a choice in the end anyways."

He turns and walks off with his wives in tow.

"If I say I think your worthy of being mine, there's no fighting it. Even if it means dragging your bleeding body where I want it to make you a demon. So sit tight, you're going to be mine, doesn't matter if you like it or not. I'm a GOD! You are foolish to even think of not joining me."

Far as the corps know, you're considered dead like the rest of your team.

What they don't know is you became victim of the infamous demon Uzui...

Forced to give up your humanity even if you were against it, all because he happened to like your fierce spirit.

[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.

[fdelopera]

I....I tried to write a response to the latest Moon Knight discourse and ended up writing a 10 page annalysis on the first four years run of Moon Knight. I'm not good at things...

BUT ANYWAYS.

I haven't read City of the Dead yet (I will read it because I need to see the directions Moon Knight is being taken by each writer so I can keep up my scarily intense spread sheet), but I have seen the discussions and images.

While Marc is not practicing his religion, he is still wrestling with G-D.

He has wrestled with his own sense of self, his spiritualism, his upbringing, his family, his own life and death, and even swaying from being materialistic and giving up everything.

He wrestles with G-D constantly. Challenging the teachings, circles back to them, follows them, breaks them... Every step of his way has been in direct defiance or on the path.

He ran from his father's teachings to be violent and live a life of destruction and pain. In doing so, he learned guilt and forgiveness. He learned the value of life when he took it.

In his death, he saw his own mortality and then rejected it.

I also am starting to wonder if his relationship with Khonshu (comics only) is in his own mind a reaction to his relationship with G-D and his culture.

He serves Khonshu for the life he was given but he resents Khonshu for the path he has taken. He views the powers he was given as a gift and a curse. He goes long stints of ignoring him then grows angry when he calls out and Khonshu doesn't answer.

He argues with Khonshu, rebels, defies him, and always comes back. He hates him and he honors him. He wears the outfit, the mission, the symbols, but he is not going to pray to him or follow the path as dictated.

The biggest difference is that Marc would never declare Khonshu a superior god or outright worship him. He view Khonshu as a being that has a higher power, but that cannot control him. He was not made by Khonshu or in his image. Khonshu is a being that has latched onto him like a parasite and Marc speaks to him in challenge to his ideal of G-D.

I always found it interesting that Marc, written as a Rabbi's son, would fall in with an Egyptian god. A god that was probably around and being worshiped during the exodus.

I've always seen Marc's relationship with Khonshu as another way for him to fight who he is. Who he was supposed to be and who he turned out to be.

Steven, on the other hand, has never been a big Khonshu fan. He loaths the jerk and sees him for what he is (something the show got right). He accepts Khonshu because he recognizes that he can give Marc what he needs to thrive. Keep him alive. Keep him from harming them. Keep him fighting and searching for himself.

I think Steven is not exactly practicing the religion, but upholds a lot of the culture. He's fancy and snotty, but he likes the comfort of ritual.

You are 100% right that Jake is probably the one that keeps the faith in their system. He guards their soul and keeps them humble. He probably would have gotten along with their father to a point. Be a member of the people and help those that need it.

I don't see Marc as an atheist or a true agnostic, but at times he would probably claim he is. I think he is a man that struggles with his religious upbringing so hard that he accidentally embodies it.

While Moon Knight is about a lot of things, I think catholic guilt needs to stay with Dare Devil. I think Moon Knight is about finding and struggling with identity. Always has been. Identity of where you come from, who you are, who you were supposed to be, who you are spiritually and with yourself. Perhaps that is a very Jewish thing to seek?

And I think that this gets written very poorly at times and often forgotten. He will never stand outside of a church and moan about failing god and his culture. But he will put on a kippah and wonder about who he was supposed to be if he had seen that his father was not a coward, but a man trying to change his own path in a world that fell down.

Your analyses are brilliant, as always. What a gift to receive this in my inbox!

Marc's Jewish journey is the journey of so many Jewish people, especially in the decades following the Holocaust and the attempted eradication of the Jewish people.

MacKay describes this beautifully in his run. He captures the sorrow and anger that many Jews have felt towards G-d for the pogroms, the Holocaust, the thousands of years of persecution. Why has G-d abandoned us? Why should we worship a G-d who feels like He is indifferent to us and our suffering?

Marc's anger at G-d is understandable. He witnessed his father, an Orthodox rabbi, be measured and compassionate in the face of antisemitic violence. Marc wanted to take up the Shield of David and destroy those who would hurt his people further.

But that is not the way, not anymore.

After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and razed Jerusalem to the ground in 70 CE, Judaism had to change. It had to adapt. The Temple was gone, the priesthood was destroyed, and the Jewish people had to figure out how to continue to offer up to G-d. Without the priests offering sacrifices to G-d in the Temple, how would the Jews continue on as a people?

Out of the ashes of that war, Rabbinical Judaism was born. Torah study became the way that Jews offer up to G-d, as it still is today. Judaism became a religion of learning, debate, and discourse, not a religion of war. That is how Judaism would survive.

It's understandable then that Marc would look at the nearly two thousand years of history that came after the destruction of the Second Temple and see only weakness. Jews were slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands. They were sold into slavery and forced to emigrate to Europe. They were sentenced to live in squalor in ghettos and slums. They lived in constant fear of violence at the hands of Christians. And once they seemed to have reached a place of equilibrium, a new Christian power would rise and force them to flee, convert, or die. Pogrom after pogrom, ghetto after ghetto, Jews were marched throughout history towards what was intended to be the utter end. The final solution to the "Jewish question." Then they would die by the millions in the kind of coordinated extermination that only the Romans had been able to attempt before.

Marc looks at Jewish history and he rightly sees a history of pain. He is filled with righteous anger at the way his people have been persecuted, and he wants to lash out. But his rabbi father tells him no, that is not the way. That is not who we are as Jews.

And so Marc rejects the G-d of his father, and he joins the military. He needs a place that will let him channel his anger. And when the military rejects him, he becomes a mercenary. And finally his anger reaches its logical conclusion: death. And yet he does not die. He is resurrected by a god who allows him to pursue justice in the way he has wanted to, through blood.

But Khonshu takes Marc’s righteous need for justice — “tzedek, tzedek, tirdof” (justice, justice you shall pursue) — and the old god twists it into a desire for vengeance and retribution.

Marc has never worshipped Khonshu as a deity, but he does contractually serve the old god as an entity of vengeance. He sees Khonshu as a means to an end — as a means to protect the vulnerable and enact justice on evildoers — and yet he knows deep down that this end doesn’t justify the means he used to get there.

There is a responsibility, a burden, to being a Jew. We are responsible for leading a moral and ethical life, and we are responsible for working towards justice and equality in society. Our duty is to community, not to individualist desires. We have an obligation to the mitzvah of tzedakah, which comes from the word tzedek (justice), and means charitable giving that advances social justice. We have an obligation towards “tikkun olam,” or “repairing the world.”

These are all aims that Marc has pursued, and yet he’s pursued them out of a place of personal pain and anger. He has burned his life down more times than he can count, which has only fueled that pain and anger more.

Yet he’s still trying. And he’s starting to recognize what that pain and anger have cost him. As MacKay writes in the panels above:

“You couldn’t understand before why I take being the fist of Khonshu so seriously, when it’s cost me so much. Cost me everything. It’s because I don’t have anything else left. If I’m not the Fist of Khonshu, whatever I choose to understand that as, then I’m just Marc Spector, the man who makes the wrong choice every time. The man who threw away his religion, his heritage. Killed what family he didn’t bury. The man who brought harm and trauma to everyone who ever cared about him. The man who can’t breathe from the guilt closing over his head, thick as seawater and twice as bitter … I’d rather be anyone else other than that guy.”

While MacKay’s assessment of why Marc is part of a system is pretty problematic in these panels (really wish he hadn't included the line, "No wonder I developed DID," because that only increases stigma), MacKay does get the essence of the Jewish guilt that Marc feels.

Jewish guilt is not guilt for individual sin, like it is in Catholicism. This is one of the big problems that I have with the way that David Pepose is writing Marc in "City of the Dead." Feeling guilty about sin is a Christian notion, and doesn’t really figure in Jewish thought. Jewish guilt is the anguish we feel when we choose selfish, individualist aims that harm our community, our people.

And this is the beauty of MacKay’s run. MacKay understands Marc’s experience of guilt. MacKay’s Marc feels that he “[brings] harm and trauma to everyone who ever cared about him.”

And the natural resolution to that guilt, the way Marc is trying to atone for his actions that have hurt so many, is the establishment of the Midnight Mission. Marc starts the Mission without Khonshu’s direction. This is not part of his contract with the old god.

I think that in the Midnight Mission, we see Marc’s effort to reconnect with his Jewish faith. This is Marc trying to give tzedakah, this is his attempt at tikkun olam. He wants to serve the marginalized and disenfranchised, as he once did (during Moench’s original Moon Knight run). He wants to help his community, his people. And so he opens his doors to those that society has also rejected, and he gives them a home.

And this is really the path forward for many Jewish people. This is how we can channel our sorrow and anger at a legacy of thousands of years of persecution. This is what it is to be the "chosen people." As Jews, we are chosen to have extra responsibilities based on the covenant with G-d. A simple understanding is this: we are not "chosen" to be special; we are "chosen" to do the dishes. As Jews, it is our duty to pursue justice and help those in need.

And it is incredibly meaningful that Jed MacKay, a gentile, has taken the time and done the research to really understand this.