#these eggs better not die ill start a war path

[embers-archive]

What are they fighting? Idk but they win obviously

[mxgilray]

Loki Season 1 Thoughts

Overall, I really liked this series. It has some issues without question, but I sincerely don't think it's the dumpster fire so many viewers on this site treat it as. Did it go how I expected? Not at all? Did I enjoy the heck out of it and look forward to it every Wednesday? Hell yeah!

Loki's Good Guy Personality

A big complaint many have had with it is how much Loki's demeanor has changed and how his emotional growth feels rushed or his personality is ooc. Truth is, he saw his entire future, saw what his angry, power hungry, I-work-alone persona would get him in the end, and it snapped him back to reality. He has always been shown to be quite emotional and craving attention and lacking in self assurance, it's just in the past movies he's masked it with violence and fake narcissism, and he's always been a secondary character so his perspective is rarely shown. But if you really pay attention it's obvious he isn't truly villainous; we all know that, it's largely why he has such a huge fan base.

Right after meeting Mobius, Loki got an infodump of his future, saw his parents both die, found out that free will means jack shit, and learned he's absolutely powerless in this realm. On top of that, this is 2012 Loki, fresh off of being under Thanos' control, suddenly being shown that the guy who controlled him is going to end up killing him. Frankly,, I think it all broke Loki. He was too shook up by it all and by the sheer helplessness he found himself in at the TVA that he let all his barriers down momentarily. Just long enough for him to open up to Mobius about his motivation and his lack of self confidence. And you know what I bet? Loki felt relieved after talking to Mobius. A weight was lifted, because he bore his heart to someone and wasn't rejected or laughed at or treated like a psycho. And after letting his walls down fully, Loki didn't feel the need to put all of them back up. He stayed guarded around other people, but he didn't need to pretend around Mobius. Mobius has seen under the mask, so Loki doesn't feel pressure to perform as an all knowing, all powerful God around Mobius. That freedom is life changing.

People who gravitate towards broken, pseudo-villain characters do so because we relate to their internal conflict, their mental illness, their need to fake it around everyone close to them. Their turmoil and depression and self destructive behavior are familiar and we see ourselves reflected in their actions. Now, when a person really truly let's their guard down, drops all their layers of facade, and embraces themself, they tend to change demeanor and even personality pretty drastically. It's jarring in real life, so of course when it happens to a fictional character who you usually relate to it is going to be jarring, maybe even more so because it feels like a change you yourself would never go through. I know this sounds bad and people might get at me for it, but...

I believe the issue here is that a large part of Loki's fan base doesn't want him to get better. They don't want him to move past his mental illness, to learn how to cope with anger and disappointment in healthier ways, to be happy. They like his damaged persona, they like the internal conflict. Maybe it's because they're still at that low place themself and feel like a relatable character is getting taken away from them, maybe it's because they don't understand how much being at peace with yourself can alter a person and to them it feels like he's been changed too much. To those of us mostly on the up and up from battling depression and mental illness, it's comforting to see Loki getting a chance to be genuinely happy and accepting of himself.

Sylki and Lokius

First things first, I'm not anti anything. Ship what you want, idc. Personally, I do not see the Sylki dynamic as romantic, but I get why people read it that way. I thought the series did a good job of showing unrequited love, namely Loki falling for Sylvie and Sylvie feeling zero romance towards him. This was aware of his attraction and in the end used it as a distraction so she could get the upper hand. The show played up the potential romance because we are viewing things from Loki's perspective and he's become smitten as a kitten. I do think in the long run they'll have a more sibling-like dynamic, one Loki realizes that you can feel extreme love and care for a person without it being romantic. I enjoyed how the show explored their relationship, though I do wish they hadn't had every character under the sun mention their moment on Lamentis-1 like it was some big deal to bond with someone you're about to die with.

I'm bitter towards the development of Lokius. It had a strong start in the beginning, and in ep 5 had some potential reignited, but then they had Mobius not know who Loki is at the end. I'm still hoping they're playing the long game with this ship and that it'll come to fruition partway through season 2. The chemistry is there, and Mobius knows Loki very intimately and isn't put off by his past. Loki also feels much more at ease around Mobius than he does around Sylvie. It's the comfort of a deep loving bond with Mobius verses the nervousness of a new crush that he feels for Sylvie.

I don't think Loki is quite aware of his feelings for Mobius, simply because it's based in friendship and mutual respect and isn't a hot and heavy lust. Plus, as soon as he was away from Mobius he was thrown into a near death experience with Sylvie and developed a surface crush during their heart to heart. Since Loki's still figuring out what genuine feelings are beyond anger and sadness, he sees the simplistic crush he has on Sylvie as love and the intimate bond he's been forming with Mobius as friendship. He doesn't understand his own feelings yet, but I think he'll figure it out next season. I mean, he was probably already rethinking his feelings for her after she kissed and betrayed him, mentally kicking himself for expecting her to not pull a Loki betrayal like he would've in the past.

The Time Variance Authority

I really like the concept of the TVA, the structure of it, the methods they use, the deeply fucked way they recruit employees, the cult like motto, shady Miss Minutes who is definitely playing her own long game, and the blind acceptance TVA agents have of the Time Keepers' will. It's all very well done... until your dig into the core, aka He Who Remains. They built up the idea that the Time Keepers created the TVA to prevent a multiverse war and that they created agents to enforce their will. Then the creating agents turned out to be fake, the Time Keepers were fake, I expected the reason for the TVA's existence to be fake to. It felt too simple to have it genuinely exist just to keep the multiverse in check. Why the anonymity, unless it's to keep from having agents target and prune versions of himself which.. songs like a decent solution. HWR made it sound as though the multiverse war was just a bunch of versions of himself screwing shit up, so why isn't the TVA's focus on eradicating every other variant of this guy? Sounds a lot easier and nicer than fucking with the free will of every other living being. So either Marvel made a bad call when choosing what HWR's motive was for creating the TVA, or he was lying about it all to cover up something sinister.

Overall Storyline

I'm fairly happy with the plot as a whole. There were some pacing issues and I think a few missed chances for deeper conversations between various characters. While I enjoyed the Loki variants, I honestly would've been happier seeing Tom playing most the variants (except Kid Loki and Classic Loki since they are clearly different age ranges). If there is supposed to be one sacred timeline, it seems off to me that Lokis would be allowed to vary so extremely without it causing a nexus event(an alligator, whose nexus wasn't that he's an animal who obviously can't do any magic much less command Thanos' army, but that he ate someone's cat) and not just in appearance but in life path (ie boastful Loki collected all the infinity stones but it wasn't till he had 6 that he caused a nexus event even though him gaining control of the Soul, Power, and Time stones should've each caused nexus events since on the sacred timeline he never interacts with those 3 and taking any one of them would've fucked up a lot of other timeline parts)

I love the display of Lokis raw power, and 2012 Loki coming to the realization that he's way more powerful than he ever thought. And it wasn't just Classic Loki who spent thousands of years alone honing his skills, 2012 Loki reversed time on a goddamn falling building! I also liked the small magic, the fireworks, the tablecloth blanket, Loki yanking Sylvie away from HWR with just magic.

As someone who is both bisexual and genderfluid, I would've really loved more concrete representation. The comment about there never being another female Loki hit me in the gut; it undermined the Easter egg "Sex: Fluid" on Loki's TVA file. With how big a deal Sylvie being female was made out to be throughout the season, I expected her gender to play a key role in taking down the head of the TVA, like it was foretold that only a female Loki could end it all or some shit.

I don't mind the idea of Loki finding love in a straight passing relationship. I don't even mind the selfcest all that much. It just feels so obvious to me that Sylvie is written as not having any romantic inclination towards Loki, while Mobius is clearly written as falling in love with someone he shouldn't and trying to maintain an heir of professionalism to keep from wrecking his bond with Loki. I really really hope they come through on season 2 and give Lokius the canon relationship and proper representation they deserve.

Mmkay I thinks that's all the thoughts I've got right now. If you've been feeling cheated or clowned by how things went this season, maybe my perspective of things can help ease your pain.

[wakraya]

Epilogue Content Warnings

So as I said! Let me just. Pull these up real quick and talk about what each of them may mean for the Epilogue as a whole.

SPOILER WARNING FOR THE EPILOGUE BENEATH!

And let’s start with the characters actually!

John Egbert, Rose Lalonde, Dave Strider, Jade Harley, Jane Crocker, Roxy Lalonde, Jake English, Dirk Strider, Karkat Vantas, Kanaya Maryam, Terezi Pyrope, Calliope, Caliborn, Lord English: Obviously they would be here. 

Aradia Megido, Tavros Nitram, Sollux Captor, Vriska Serket, Gamzee Makara, Eridan Ampora, Feferi Peixes: Also likely to be either mentioned or to have Ghost Shenanigans. It’s quite the Troll the Meowrails aren’t around though- Equius is not around I guess because he IS a Heir of Void after all. Nepeta not being there though, come on Hussie. that is just you Trolling us with another Dead Nepeta joke.

Aranea Serket, Meenah Peixes: Makes me think we’re not going to see the Dancestors at all. They’re the two more prominent ones, and part of the whole plan to defeat LE, so they would easily be mentioned.

Davepetasprite^2: Please come back, Birbcat.

Barack Obama: This is almost DEFINITELY Dave rapping.

Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s): Likely to be any new resident of Earth C. Honestly, just the Salamanders and Carapaces already fill this.

So now let’s go for the warnings! It should be noted, while all of these do appear, a lot of them are juxtaposed to be humorous with the more heavy-seeming ones, so let’s get into it.

Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Alternate Universe, Death, Incestuous Undertones, Meta, Manipulation, Rapping, Furry, Anthropomorphic Characters, Power Imbalances, Blood, Trickster Mode, Interspecies Relationships, Guns, Murder, Black Romance, Existential Crisis, Xenophilia, Daddy Issues, Robots, Gore, Aliens, Assassination,  Theft, Ghosts, Mind Control, Teenagers, Possession, Kidnapping: This is just Homestuck 101.

Eating, Food, Clown Dynamics, Fridging, Feet, Early 20th Century Dance Movements, Clown, Honk, Faygo: These seem largely peppered in for the fun factor, and to break the... Concerning nature of some of the other ones.

The Economy, World War, Political Intrigue, Genocide, Political Rebellion, Fascism, Religion, Capitalism, Reality Television, Propaganda, Super PACs, Prison Camps, Gerrymandering, Revolutionary Rhetoric: This in general seems like it’s gonna be societal commentary talking about either Alternian or Earth Society, and perhaps some talk of stuff that’s happened in the past of Earth-C. With how messed up Alternia is and the stuff Condy did... Yeah it all checks in.

Xenophobia, Speciesism: The Snapchat Updates hinted at the possibility of anti-Human Trolls, and likely of anti-Troll Humans in the same vein, for literal Xenophobia and Speciesism, or grouped with the prior category for... You know. Sadly truthful commentary on social issues.

Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Misgendering, Gender Transition, Nonbinary Character(s), Identity Questioning, Detransitioning: These are likely some of the ones that people are the most worried about- Specially regarding the one about ‘Detransitioning’. However... Honestly my two bets here are that, John is going to bump into Davepeta and have a brief moment of misgendering them before being corrected and some talk about gender identity, and that Dave may give John a big talk regarding identity and fucked up societal stuff.

Sexual Abuse, Rape, Non-Con, Dubious Consent, Slut Shaming: These may easily tie in with the previous one too, as V mentioned, these aren’t things we’re going to see at all, but they are going to get briefly discussed. So no one’s going to get coerced into anything. Bad themes but, stuff to talk about.

Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Abuse, Unhealthy Relationships, Domestic Abuse, Bad Parenting, Toxic Masculinity: I’m going to be honest. This. This just sounds like Dave’s gonna talk about Bro again.

Body Horror: This could be MANY things. Some awful wound described in full detail, it is gonna tie in with ‘Gore’ for certain. Maybe talking about Gamzee being split in half.

Alcohol Use, Drugging, Drug Use, Chronic Illness, Vomit, Addiction: The drug mentions already happened with Rose, and she’s medicating herself. Thankfully I trust she’s not falling in any sort of addiction, but the ‘Vomit’ tag could imply it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. Or maybe it’s entirely unrelated and Gamzee just barfs blood again.

Mental Illness, Depression: Someone get all of these Kids to a Therapist. Honestly.

Starvation, Suicide, Funerals: These are the ones I’m the most... Worried about. Suicide there could be talk of their Immortality, hell maybe it’s even a morbid but still joking thing that’s not serious, but I’m kind of concerned it may be more. Starvation though, I can’t... Think of anyone who could Starve, except perhaps Terezi having been outside searching for Vriska for so long, and I worry... And Funerals, please just talk about Mutie’s and Rose’s Funerals, please no one die. :I I mean except John, which I’m assuming may die, but I’ll talk about that later.

Poisoning, Pica: Another possible alternative for the ‘Vomit’ warning? It may also tie into some assassination attempt. There’s no ‘overdose’ tag, so I am ruling out the idea that Rose IS gonna start going too far. Like straight up. Pica is also a disorder in which someone eats non-edible stuffs, which could cause poisoning and vomit? But. Honestly? I think... Pica is just going to be Terezi eating chalk.

Friends to Lovers, Polyamory, Infidelity, Marriage, Cuckolding: Now BEFORE any of you crucify me for putting Polyamory and Infidelity together. I know. I’m not implying anything. BUT while it’s possible that like. Rose or Kanaya had some talk about their marriage. I think it could be quite hilarious if John saw Jade, Dave and Karkat like. Making out amongst themselves at different points and assume that they’re cheating on each other, or worse, that they tease him for having that come to mind immediately. ‘wow karkat i cant believe youre cucking me with jade im hurt’ ‘SHUT THE FUCK UP STRIDER, OH MY GOD-’

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Breastmilk, Diapers, Children, Babies, Milking: I know everyone’s IMMEDIATE thoughts is that someone’s gonna get pregnant. But honestly it could just be pregnancy talk and... Breastfeeding and Milking that’s just. That’s just gonna be ARquius isn’t it.

Eggs, Alien Biology, Ovipositioning: No! Stop! There’s not going to be any weird Troll Stuff! Shame on all of us. This is most likely regarding the Mother Grub, although I wouldn’t mind hearing more about Canon Troll Anatomy.

Cannibalism, Vore: I am. I am going to go ahead and think this is because of the drawing of Roxy eating a baby??? Honestly who even KNOWS at this point. Is Caliborn going to try to VORE anyone like a god damn snake? Good lord.

Mind Break, Rough Sex, Light BDSM: Remember that there’s NO sexual content in the Epilogue. Confirmed. So uh... Yeah. Okay I added ‘Mind Break’ here for humorous effect but honestly it may be better suited for some of the messed up warnings above, maybe alongside Mind Control? Oof. Rough Sex... I can imagine someone joking about it? Maybe someone gets really shameless with the innuendos. And Light BDSM I’m just going to say we’re going to see Clover. Or... Gamzee DID get tied up. Does that count?

Bimboification: This fucking one. This one is the one that throws me out for a limb the most. It may be relating to the Trickster Mode? It may also be related to Caliborn and him like. Objectifying the characters or something, but that isn’t as ‘ification’. Another thing that’s got me wondering is ‘Bimboification’. As FAR as I understand this term to go, the correct way of saying it is ‘Bimbofication’? So either it’s a typo, OR ‘Bomboification can apparently be used some times for specifically males? What I’m saying is, I can’t believe Lord English really is a Himbo.

Redemption: V... Vriska? Maybe. But also I kinda hope not. I’m really wishing ‘Redemption’ comes from everyone working their shit out together and being a big bunch of friends again.

Canon Compliant, Canon Divergent, Self-Sacrifice: Finally! The last ones! This is both Canon Compliant and Canon Divergent, which should be easy enough to parse through the Meat-Candy choice (And what I believe will be a split-path with the next update). Self-Sacrifice... Yeah that is what’s going to happen with John isn’t it? At least in the ‘Meat’ path. But I’ve talked already too much and gotten too Spoilery, ssssh!

So hey! These warnings don’t look so intimidating when you realize 90% were already things that happen in Homestuck proper, and the rest can be discussed in an adult manner without having awful things happen to people.

I’m mostly worried about people dying and getting hurt.

[disregardcanon]

that one long ass rayllum fake marriage/ theon greyjoy style hostage au 

After the dragon king is killed and the dragon egg is killed (stolen), Xadia strikes each human kingdom one by one. They aren't seeking revenge, though, as much as insurance that this will not happen again. The humans will not act against Xadia in the foreseeable future after they do what they're planning to and they might be deterred from acting against them ever again. 

The dragon queen methodically travels the kingdoms, demanding a hostage from each monarch in exchange for not burning their cities to the ground. King Hawthorne of Del Bar refuses to give one of his sons up to the dragons, and the queen strikes him dead where he stands. The King's widowed husband, Rowan, decides to go to prevent the dragons from burning the city to the ground. Rowan’s oldest son, newly made King Florian, tries to talk him out of it, but he won't be swayed. Rowan, the Dowager King of Del Bar, will be the Xadians hostage to ensure the good behavior of his kingdom. 

Then they take Queen Aanya of Duren's aunt, Queen Fareeda of Evenere's closest advisor, and King Ahling of Neolandia's younger sister. These hostages are sixty three, thirty five, fourth two, and twenty eight respectively. 

Word of the dragon queen's intentions and tactics spreads, and King Harrow decides that he will offer himself when she comes. 

The dragon queen does not accept, saying that she knows she would kill Harrow if he were to leave with her and it would spark another war. Then, Viren offers himself. Fareeda offered her best friend and closest advisor, why should he not qualify? The dragon queen refuses, stating she will not allow the dark mage who killed her people into her kingdom. 

There aren't many options left. It must be someone Harrow can prove his closeness too, and beyond his sons and Viren.... the only option is Amaya, who is currently on a mission. 

His sons, however, are not an option. Until Callum offers himself. Harrow tells him that he can't, tries to talk him out of it, tells him all about how vital his presence is and about his PLANS for Callum at Ezran's side, but Callum knows this is the only option. 

They can't offer their best general and they can't offer the heir to the throne. He is the only one who qualifies they can spare. It takes a lot of convincing, but eventually callum does. He talks Harrow into letting him go to save the kingdom. Harrow writes Callum some letters to open when he's feeling homesick, and helps him pack and embraces him deeply. He apologizes for not being more affectionate, for never openly loving him openly the way that he should have. He calls Callum his son and tells him that he will get him back someday, somehow. They will bring Callum home. 

Callum nods, and he cries, and he hugs. He does not believe his father, but he lets Harrow believe that he wants. 

The group crosses into Xadia over the moonshadow path, and then they travel the land for what seems like months until they reach the palace of the thunder dragons. 

When they arrive, the hostages are all given the chambers of one dragon royalty share. They're enormous, big enough that the five humans don't have to act like roommates if they don't want to. They don’t. Sadly, they don't seem to cling together for warmth the way Callum'd hoped. They're the only five humans in the whole continent, the only humans they have for company, but most of them don't seem to want to be around each other because they're different ages and from different countries. 

He misses Katolis. Xadia is large and lonely and oh so different and he feels isolated and alone. He doesn't know their foods or their magic or their history or their culture. He just wants his dad and his brother and his castle and to smell the Katolis air and joke with Claudia and lose at sword fighting with Soren and celebrate their holidays and do human things and be home, warm and cozy with a book in his room. 

He doesn't get that, but at least the hostages are given semi free rein of the castle. Semi. They're each given a bodyguard for "their own safety". Mainly it's to make sure they don't escape. In the mind of the dragon queen, the ax over their heads is the only thing keeping their countries from invading Xadia. Callum's guard is named Rayla. For a while, she hates him for being human. Then she hates him for being a prince. Then for being an idiot, then he thinks she warms up to him. 

He warms up to her, at least. Rayla is good company, better than any of the other human hostages, at least. They're all grown people, worried about grown people things. Sometimes he can get Rayla to dick around with him and just do dumb teenage stuff like silly games, or exploring, of talking about magic. He's really interested in magic. He's told he can't do it, not because he's a hostage and he can't do it, but because he's a human and he can't. The palace magician is adamant about that, even when he insists that Viren and Claudia do magic. He's seen it. 

"That is dark magic," the palace magician says, "it is an abomination. I will not hear anymore talk of that or I will tell the queen." Who will ban him from coming to see her and learn about magic and maybe even confine him to the human quarters. 

Great. Callum really should shut his mouth, but he's never been great at that. 

"But my friend Claudia does it," he says, "that can't be evil." Claudia isn't evil. He knows that. 

The magician tells him a story about a group of humans who crossed the border, intent on murdering a nobleman on the edge of the kingdom. 

"His poor wife was gutted. His daughter had to become queen as a child and grow up without a father." It reminds Callum of Queen Aanya, orphaned by a mission into Xadia. 

She tells Callum how they killed him in cold blood for their magic and then dragged parts of his corpse across the border. 

"Wait," Callum says, "that was my dad- that was- that saved Katolis!" That was what left Aanya an orphan and killed his mother. He says that she must be mistaken, they did that to save hundreds of thousands of people. They killed a monster. Right? Right?

"He wasn't a monster. No one was except you people. As you say in your half, the giant they killed for their own benefit was human too." He wasn't, but he had a wife, a kid. He had feelings. They killed a man in cold blood and drug his heart across the countryside to save their own skins. Suddenly Callum feels uncomfortable in his. 

"I'm sorry," he says. He still gets why his people did it, but he feels less certain about it. Was that right? He feels even sicker when he realizes that his mother's heroic sacrifice was over this. Now it's tainted. His memory of his mother is tainted and- Callum feels ill. 

Callum leaves the room, Rayla on his heels. He asks her to leave him alone, she demands that she can't- it's her job not to. 

If he's left alone, these people fear that he'll go on a killing spree just because. He thinks about all the times he admired Claudia's magic, thought I want to do that, and realizes they're not that far off. 

He decides that he wants to learn to wield the arcanum. 

Maybe that can be the bridge between humans and magic- learning to utilize it without harming anyone else. Maybe he can fix things. 

It takes a long time to convince the palace magician to teach him and then even longer to learn. The years pass, the Xadians allow the three hostages from countries that have never directly attacked them to go for peace treaties and assurances and promises that the dragon queen will burn their counties to the ground if they ever break them. 

That leaves Aanya's aunt and Callum. They keep to their own end of the chambers and don't talk much. Lady Aalexa is not quiet in her suspicion that Callum has turned traitor from spending too much time with Rayla and learning magic. He's not great or anything yet, but he can do primal magic. Humans aren't supposed to do able to do that but he can. 

He's not behaving the way a proper human should anymore, but he knows now that proper humans are not always right. Sometimes they kill people just to keep themselves warm and he won't do that. He refuses. 

He keeps learning, and he hangs out with Rayla, and when he's lonely he rereads his dad's letter or hugs the stuffed animal Ezran sent him with or clutches his mother's locket or writes his family letters they may never get to read. 

He's eighteen years old now. He's been in Xadia four years and he worries he'll never see home again. 

That worry increased tenfold when Katolis gives Xadia a reason to kill him. He hears the whispers before the queen calls him, hears the servants gossiping that the queen is finally going to kill the littlest human because his kingdom attacked the border. 

Then the queen calls him and he knows that his life will soon be forfeit. Most of the human kingdoms do their executions by beheading, but he thinks the dragon would breathe lightning in him until he died. He doesn't know if that would be worse or better.

"There's been a Katolan attack at the border," the queen says. Callum bites his lip to keep from screaming. Nothing he says can change this now. He could fight, but his magic is feeble compared to the queen. He could run, but he'd only get a few feet before she would strike him down. 

Better to die with dignity, then. Then it's an execution instead of her putting him down like a mangy dog. She starts reciting words that he knows will doom him, but he hears Rayla's voice cut through the court. 

"You can't kill him!" Rayla shouts at the queen. 

"Why not?" The queen asks in her booming voice. 

"We're uh. We're engaged!" Rayla chirps. Callum sends her a look. We are? He mouths. Go with it, she mouths back. 

"Why have I not heard of this?" The queen says, "if the boy were to marry into our kingdom, then we would not kill him. I do not execute citizens without just cause." 

Citizen. Rayla is suggesting he marry her and become a citizen? How- what- 

don’t you have to forswear your homeland to get citizenship other places? 

"We've been keepin' it secret," Rayla says in that accent of hers, "we didn' want anyone to know before we made it more official. We haven't even talked to families yet after all." The queen chuckles 

"You expect to speak to King Harrow about this?" 

"Well. My family. Can't exactly go waltzing into Katolis to ask King Harrow for son's hand." 

"Quite technically, King Harrow has no claim to Callum's hand at the moment. He gave him up to me. Therefore, his hand is mine to do with as I please." 

"You may have it, Rayla of the the moonshadow elves. After I have one more piece of him." 

"Wait, what?" Callum squeaks. 

"Your finger. I need something to show King Harrow I make good on my threats."  

"You want to- to cut off my finger?" Callum asks, feeling like the air is being sucked out of his lungs. He hasn't felt this scared since he got settled in Xadia. They're really going to cut off his finger. 

Somehow that's scarier than the execution. He doesn't know why, but it is. 

"We won't take the ring finger, I promise." 

"Could I maybe, um. Just send a toenail? Dad'll know it's serious if we send him a toenail." 

"Or it could be your head." 

"Nope!" Callum squeaks, "a finger is good! I can um, blend in better! If you take a pinky! Then I'll look more like an elf! Four fingers Callum!" He can't shut up and he feels the air in the room thinning and even though he can control the wind he can't make it go fast enough into his lungs. 

He wants his mom, but she's dead. He wants Rayla, but there's nothing she can do to save him right now. 

They take the pinky of his non dominant hand to send to his father. It hurts like hell and it bleeds like hell but he gets through it. He has nine fingers but he's still alive. Being alive gives him options. 

His options are marrying Rayla or dying. So yeah. He accepts. 

He and Rayla wed. Eighteen years old and thousands of miles away from home and wed to an elf girl who used to hold his chain. What would the rest of Katolis think of him now? 

Especially since one of the vows they made him read was "I renounce my allegiance to all lands but Xadia, all rulers but her rulers, all laws but her laws." 

They're just words. They burn like acid on his tongue, but they're just words. They keep him alive to say the right ones later to his king, his kingdom, his land and laws. He is Prince Callum of Katolis even while he is Callum et Rayla of the Moonshadow Elves. He will not ever give himself up no matter what words he says or who he gives his heart to. 

He has a little more freedom as Rayla's husband than as the queen's hostage.  

Rayla is a respected guard as well as a trained assassin, and now that guarding him isn't a full time job she gets to take on higher paying more respectable employment like guarding the queen's nobles. 

But now that guarding him isn't a full time job, he doesn't get to see her nearly as much. It kind of pisses him off. He marries the woman and then gets to see less of her. What's the deal with that? 

But at that point, they realize that they both realize how much they value their fine together and become more intentional about making and spending time for each other. Then, they decide that maybe, just maybe, they do like this being married thing. 

They consummate, and their marriage is real in all ways except for where Callum's allegiance lies. He might not have pledged himself to the dragon queen for real, but he pledged himself to Rayla and he will keep that promise. He loves her. That part is real. 

Another year passes. Callum is nineteen. It's been five years since he saw his father last. It won't be a day more. 

King Harrow shows up at the gates of the palace, an egg in his arms. 

"Is that-" 

"The egg of the dragon prince," the King says. His dad has something in his arms that could end the conflict and all Callum cared about is seeing him. 

"Dad!" Callum screeches. His dad explains how Ezran discovered the egg, how Viren held it for years, how Viren is sitting in a cell awaiting his return and justice as they speak. 

"I wish to trade the egg for my son and the other hostage." 

"You may have the Duren," the queen says, "but it is no longer my place to decide where your son goes." 

"What do you mean?" Harrow asks cautiously. The dragon queen inclines her head towards Callum. The gesture asks: explain? 

"This is Rayla," Callum says, "my wife." 

"Oh," his dad says, "that's... fantastic?" Callum sighs and pulls his dad and Rayla into their chambers to discuss. They tell him dad that it was necessary to save his life, that if Rayla didn't marry him it would have been his head they sent his father and not a finger. 

"Well, thank you for marrying him to save him. I'm sure that was a sacrifice." 

"I'm not that unattractive, dad. I look like mom-" 

"I just meant because you didn't love him. A farce marriage is always difficult to maintain. I appreciate the favor you've done him." They both turn scarlet. Harrow looks scared. 

"You fell in love, didn't you?" 

"Well" 

"Uh" 

"That's just my luck." They talk for hours about possible ways to solve this problem. 

"Summers in Xadia and the other four seasons in Katolis!"  

"One year there one year here?" 

"Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth" 

They suggest option until his dad suggests Callum come back to Katolis and return to Rayla in Xadia when he feels ready. 

The way he said it implied he would never be ready. And, no matter how much Callum loves Rayla, he doesn't know if he could force himself to return to Xadia if he goes home without her. Trying to make the trek back itself might just kill him as a single human. 

"Please, Rayla," he says, "come with me. Just for a while, at least. I need to go home." 

Xadia has been a prison to him, but he knows that the human kingdoms won't be much better for her. Until they can fix things, there won't be a land that's good for both of them. He supposes that they'll just have to make due with what they have. 

They go home to Katolis and he sees everyone he loves and finds out how much things change and stay the same. He introduces Rayla to mixed reviews, but he defends her at every turn. 

They travel the human kingdoms with Ezran, promoting peace and tranquility, and then they return to Xadia for a time, and decide to travel back and forth and try to hit every shrine to learn magic and see the world. It's more peaceful nowadays, partially due to them, partially due to Harrow and the dragon prince, and partially due to a dragon queen who backed out on her hostage policies. And also, of course, love and marriage. But like, that was kind of a given, right?

[paladin-andric]

An Even Game

Hey, everyone! After finishing Blackheart I had a few ideas for some shorts, so I think I’ll be posting some! This one’s about a bunch of mercenaries taking some time off to play some rather elaborate games...

Sofia’s entrance into the company hall was far from silent, but with the boisterous shouts coming from the table, it might as well have been.

None of the group of five could hear her coming as they laughed and complained, the sound of rolling dice and shuffling paper being heard.

“It’s nonsense is what it is!”

“You’re just mad you’re losing!”

“Hey, I’m only losing ‘cause you stacked the game, you rat!”

The woman was a member of the Drakebloods, a mercenary company that had been successful enough to found their own hall. While small, as the company was, it was a pretty massive achievement for them.

It appeared several of the members were using their downtime to play games at the hall, all of them crowded around the round, wooden table and sat in cheap wooden chairs.

Sofia, a soldier within the company, chucked her things onto an empty table as she made her way to the end of game room. Ahead of her they sat, a massive map, a mess of cards and papers, and dice and miniature figurines taking up the entirety of the table.

“Hey boys,” she said casually, most of them turning to look at her.

“Oh, hey Sofia!” David answered, a notable chipperness in his voice.

David was one of three humans at the table, the others being Michael and Emanuel. The fourth member of the group was a koutu, one Sofia knew very well as Con. Though his true name was Conchobhar, enough of the company called him by the simpler nickname that he was now known by both.

The final man at the table was a saalik, one of the lizards from the desert kingdom across the seas. He was Bahim, one of the largest and most intimidating warriors in the whole company. His great size, plainly apparent strength, and frightening reptilian visage did little to show his true nature.

Emanuel smiled at her. “Hey, wanna join? We’re short a player!”

“Pona Federation’s still not taken,” Michael added, sounding a touch irritated.

“Uhh, actually I’d just like to watch, thanks,” Sofia answered, hands on her hips.

“Come on!” David said, trying to egg her on.

“We’d love if you joined us!” Conchobhar said cheerfully, clutching onto a slip of paper.

“Really, thanks but I don’t want to. I don’t even know what you’re playing.”

“We could teach you,” David said softly, a playful grin on his face.

“That’d take ages.” Michael’s voice was low and carried frustration in it. “This game’s already an hour in and we’ve barely done anything. Can we get a move on?”

“Hey...if she doesn’t want to play, we shouldn’t make her,” Bahim’s voice was quiet and meek, as it usually was. Quite a mismatch for the brutish-looking warrior.

“Tsk, whatever,” David said with a roll of his eyes, “If you say so…”

Sofia pulled a chair from another table and joined them, leaning over the massive map and piles of papers. “What in the world is this game, anyway? What needs THIS much work to play?”

“Deacan Kings!” Conchobhar said excitedly.

“Deacan Kings…?”

“You mean to tell me you’ve never played it?” Emmanuel asked, his tanned face staring at her in confusion.

She shook her head. “Never heard of it.”

“Wow…I thought everyone in the whole damn company played this at least once,” David mused.

“Not me. What IS it, anyway?”

“Deacan Kings is like playing history!” Conchobhar cried. “Err...well, like playing how history could have been, anyway. You pick a nation and try to manage your kingdom, and build up the administration, deal with court intrigue, and conduct politics with other plays, forge alliances, scheme, and try to conquer all of Deaco! It’s wonderful!”

Sofia crossed her arms and frowned. “Manage politics and administration? Sounds complicated.”

“Oh, it is!” Bahim said, a sort of shy happiness dancing on his face. “B-but it’s really fun! Once you learn everything, there’s just so much you can do! There’s so many different paths for you to take your nation! There’s dozens of laws you can change your stance on, and nation get their own bonuses, and your ruler gets personality traits that change things and limit what you can do, and how the game goes…” The large lizard stared off into the distance, lost in his joyful recollection of the rules like a child telling his parents about his favorite play.

“Hey, speaking of ruler traits…” David tapped the map. “Turn 20. Time for everyone to get one.”

The group all grabbed for a stack of notes in the corner, each taking one off the top one by one. As they looked at what trait their ruler now had, varying reactions came from all over the table.

“Oooh, I got workhorse!” Conchobhar said excitedly, “Yes!”

“Ah, whatever,” Michael said angrily, tossing his card to the table.

“What, what'd ya get?” David asked.

“Soft-hearted.”

“Hey, that’s not bad at all!” Conchobhar said, “That’s amazing for the endgame!”

“Yeah...for when you have a massive empire,” the irritated human said, “I’ve got two regions, man. TWO. All cause David’s mad that I’m better than him.”

“Aww, what are you talking about? I thought you were GOOD at this game!” David laughed mockingly.

“Literally no one plays the kobold tribes, you ass. They get annexed by turn three, tops.”

“Michael’s the best Deacan Kings player, basically ever,” Conchobhar explained to Sofia in a low whisper, “Whoops everyone here every time we play. David complained so now he’s handicapped.”

The woman nodded, now understanding why Michael seemed so annoyed. He was too good to play with, so they had given him a nation so outgunned it would be hopeless to win in most other players’ hands.

“Oh, and soft-hearted boosts happiness and lowers unrest in every region,” the birdman added, “Pretty amazing when you’ve got dozens of places to keep under control.”

The woman nodded, becoming more interested in the game. “I see…God, this is complicated. Interesting, though...”

“And yet here you are at turn 20. I don’t see what you’re complaining about…” David was grinning like mad.

“Cause you’re BAD,” Michael said, flashing a grin of his own, “Five thousand tribal warriors, and you just can’t stamp me out.”

“Tsk. You got lucky!”

“Nope. Learn about terrain and maybe your massive army could beat a couple of kobolds with sticks,” he shot back.

“I’m gonna kick your ass!” David shouted, “Just wait til ya-”

The man’s eyes went wide as he stared down at his card, his mouth freezing in place.

“Oooh, I think he got something good,” Emmanuel said, looking over at the other man.

“What? What did you get?” Conchobhar asked, trying to peek over his card.

“...GENIUS!” David announced triumphantly, “King Bohem is now a genius!”

“Horseshit,” Michael grumbled. The others all chattered in excitement as he tapped the table, deep in thought.

“That’s a good trait, I’m guessing.” Sofia said, the others turning to look at her.

“Are you kidding?! It’s the best trait in the whole game!” David answered, still ecstatic.

“It lowers civil unrest, boosts tax and trade revenue, increases your military command, gives a nationwide boost to prosperity, and makes you able to change laws three times as fast!” Conchobar explained giddily.

“I haven’t seen anyone get genius in a long time,” Emmanuel said quietly, “Speaking of which...I’ve got agriculturalist now.”

“Aww, come on!” Michael complained, “Did EVERYONE but me get a good trait?!”

“Soft-hearted’s a good trait, just-”

“Just not for the current situation, yeah yeah yeah,” the increasingly frustrated man cut Conchobhar off, “I know.”

“A true ruler serves the people,” the koutu said with a sly grin.

“Chieftain Stonebark giving his slaves hugs doesn’t really matter when they’re all about to die, does it?” Michael said with a roll of his eyes.

“...ah.” Bahim’s eyes rose from his card, a sullen expression on his muzzle. “Err...cheer up, Michael. Stonebark’s got it better than the Sultan.”

“Oh dear. Get one of the negative traits?” the man replied.

“Ahaha...you know how David got the best trait in the game?” the large lizard smiled sheepishly. “Err...Sultan Venhim is now...insane.”

There was a brief pause, the entire room bathed in oppressive silence for a moment...before everyone erupted into laughter.

Sofia watched them all lose it, confused by their reactions.

“O-oh, God!” David slapped his thigh. “Oh, WOW!”

“Rest in peace, Abinsil,” Emmanuel said, trying not to laugh.

“Oh dear...that just leaves the kobold tribes as allies to the Koutu Kingdom,” Conchobhar said with a notable amount of worry.

“Tsk...sounds like I might need to sail down there and take a few regions, Bahim,” Emmanuel said.

“W-what?! Aww, come on!”

“Hey, my back’s been against the wall this whole game! I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do,” the human answered back.

Michael’s anger seemed to have evaporated. “Huh. I guess things really could be worse…”

“Uhh...why are you all talking like he’s just out of the game?” Sofia asked, “Is it really that bad?”

“Yes, and he basically is,” Conchobhar answered.

“Insane makes you roll the dice at the start of every one of your turns,” Michael explained, “If you roll lower than 20, every one of your actions, changing laws, moving troops, diplomacy and troop movements...is decided randomly by rolling to see what happens.”

“Insane rulers basically flail about doing nothing until their entire nation is wiped out, since they can’t even move their troops to defend or attack anything,” Emmanuel added.

“That sounds...really, really dumb and unfair,” Sofia said, rubbing her chin.

“Yeah, but it makes civil unrest skyrocket too.” Conchobhar flashed a scrap of paper with lists of names and traits. “If they survive long enough there should be a civil war, and since the player usually can’t respond in any way they’re beaten and overthrown quickly...not that anyone should TRY to keep an insane king in power! Once they roll for their new monarch they can start playing again.”

“Ugh...PLEASE don’t invade me,” Bahim whined, “I don’t wanna get kicked out now!”

“I don’t know…” David gave the lizard a predatory grin. “You’ve been developing your regions SO well. They’re so rich…”

“Aww, come on! Don’t! Pleeeaaase?”

“Hmm...I’ll send you a marriage proposal!” Conchobhar announced, “Then we can form an alliance and I’ll take the heat off of you!”

“R-really?! Wow, thanks!”

“Don’t thank him yet, your loony king still has to roll to accept,” Michael noted.

“I’ll just keep trying til we succeed!” the koutu said happily, “Then I can deploy in your regions!”

“Hey, now everyone’s in a coalition against me!” David cried, “No fair!”

“Hey, you’re the one who picked the overpowered nation,” Michael said with a grin, “It’s only natural.”

“Bah! I’ll just deploy dragons against you all!”

“Once my capital gets to the next prosperity level I can summon dragons too,” Michael said, “You’d better watch out…”

“Argh! I won’t let you live that long! I’m attacking you!”

Michael shifted miniatures as David did the same, the two of them moving their “soldiers” into lines across their borders.

“Better hope that this doesn’t end up like the last assault…” the kobold player said with a grin.

“Whatever!” is all David, the Geralthin player managed in response, grabbing a sheet of paper. “Pah...forty to one, you see that?! You’re hopelessly outnumbered.”

“Than it’s an even game.”

Sofia leaned back as she watched them all go, everyone shouting encouragements and playful insults as the two players prepared for battle.

Perhaps I should learn how to play, too…

Tag list: @thereisnothingwrongwithbeingmad, @lady-redshield-writes, @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword, @sheralynnramsey, @tawnywrites, @writer-on-time, @oceanwriter, @zwergis-spilledink, @fluffpiggy, @elliewritesfantasy, @homesteadhorner,  @laurenwastestimewriting, @elaynab-writing, @the-ichor-of-ruination, @disheveledcorvid-deactivated201, @reya-writes, @bexminx

[felinedetached]

In my palace, there is said to be a lock. As the wheel spins, the world is changed, and only in one is a person’s true soul.

J-6-þ

The city is burning. I walk alone, now, as the palaces and people I built and protected fall, one by one. There is no pity in my gaze.

On the end of my path of flame and desolation is a cave. Sandstone cradles are carved into the floor. Once they held life, eggs of my own brood. But that was then. I gently place my son’s limp corpse into his hatching place, and watch for years as it degrades. Only when the stone has been worn flat do I begin again.

X-1-þ

I walk the sands around my home cautiously. There is a guard, now, but I doubt I will ever truely let my creations go free. It is a creators instinct to protect, and I have not been weaned of it.

It is hard to remember to check on progress once a birthing-cycle. My creations grow and die in so little time, and few have ever met me twice. It is better this way, as the Archive says. I am not swayed by bias, and they never make me live through my grief. It is better this way, even as my creations grow their city and build it around them, taller and taller. Perhaps someday, I will challenge the Archive, but not now.

T-3-þ

Laeva is the first of my creations to challenge me.

The chaos had subsided, and even as I controlled this world, still my creations fought against me. Laeva lost their lover in the battles, left behind with their son. The soil was red with blood, and I cut my fair share of wounds upon taking control.

Laeva, who would come to challenge me on all of my efforts, attacked me for that first.

“How can any of us trust anyone willing to kill for power?”

They were too good then, black and white in thinking and downright furious at me. I was evil, the enemy who took advantage and kill. I am evil, it is true. But I never take advantage.

“Would you trust someone unwilling to do anything to gain power? Murder is a tool, like any other, and my actions are selfish, but I will not rescind them. Is that what you wish?”

There were many things to come. But that was where it started.

L-4-þ

All of my creations are judged when they die. But they are not judged by me, or Laeva, nor any other sole creature.

They are judged by their memory.

Laeva hated me, in many ways. I am evil, in almost every way. But I will not forget the day when the ambassador arrived.

“This city deserves Thorn. She may be evil, but you are worse.”

Evil is the nature of mankind. There are those who use their evil, and those who work against it. Laeva was the latter. I am the former. The worst are those who do not work with their evil at all.

In the time after the debates, I could see the drain on Laeva’s fave. They nearly collapsed as I drew them in, warping directly to their house.

Simony hugged my waist as I slid quietly into the tight house. My son fluffed up beside him, trilling in happiness and joy at seeing me.

Cloudlings rarely raise their children.

The house is quiet as I lay the children to bed, then Laeva. My own form of feathers is colder than it should be, but somehow they didn’t mind my presence more than usual.

Friendship founded on debate can work out surprisingly well, and it is the only friendship I have found. Solace in my debate.

U-2-þ

When the Undoing comes, it is sudden and terrifying.

A being that lives centuries has no idea how quickly a civil war can start and end. My creations fought amongst themselves, killing a great deal of the city and wounding many more. I took action as soon as I could, but not soon enough to prevent the massacre.

My climb to the top was vicious, yes, but it was by and large bloodless. My opponents did not die, they simply fell ill. Iller than usual. It is better to cripple than kill.

There were many acting within the city against me, but none fighting or killing each other. That was good.

Let my creations hate me, so long as they do not die.

(Sometimes I wish I had offered them that much trust.)

E-5-þ

The fire was swift and destructive.

Almost all of my creations died. Laeva was burned alive in their house. Simony escaped the flames only to die in the subsequent raid.

In the end, there were only a few left.

I let them go. My son was dead, and I owed it to the ones who lived with him and gave him his wonder a chance to be free.

In the end, I almost forgot.

þ

I die, in the end, of the sky.

A cloudling must work to die. Fire can kill a hatchling, but not much can kill an adult, in the end. Water, drowning, and another cloudling. Time is a rare murderer.

I die in a flight to survey my creations. Most of them are gone, grown up and left the nest. All that remains are the eggs in my nest and the rocks and lizards of the desert.

My time catches up with me, and I die.

F-1-þ

I wake into the coldness of the cave.

I am Questant, and my mother was Thorn. My history is spread out before and after me.

I spread my wings and fly, letting the wheel of my vault turn behind me.

Each reality is different, strange in their similarities. Humans are the same, and the ways to live on are the same.

Laeva presses a sleepy hand into the fluff of my neck.

A world and its splinters fade out of view.

oh my god this is amazing thank u writing anon

[thetaekooklibrary]

Do you have any fics with mental illnesses? (Also I love your blog so much thank you!!!)

we have depressed jungkook and depressed tae tags and tw tags for anxiety/panic attacks, eating disorders, and self-harm

but here are a few that I know focus very much on the mental illness, and I’ll add a few that aren’t in our tags yet

make this chaos count by aetoms - Taehyung struggles and battles with himself a lot during a three-month break the band is given. Jeongguk is somehow always there despite everything.

sound of music by wowoashley - Jungkook can’t hear the music.

Outlier by taekookmusings - Kim Taehyung is an outlier and should not have been counted. // Prompt: Jungkook does not like people, but one day he meets Taehyung and everything changes.

sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette by hoesthetic - because no one puts trigger warnings on eggs, bacon and toast.

All You Hear Is White Noise by minki - To some, the Left Brain/Right Brain concept is a legitimate psychological theory. To others, it is nothing but a wistful myth long outdated by the piles of current research present to prove otherwise. After all, anyone educated enough in the field would laugh at the idea that the left brain and right brain can clash into a conflicting war. To fix the problem, we must separate them from each other.

Where The Wind Blows by Kavbj - Sunlight licks at the side of his face, warm and comforting and so fucking happy - just like the boy beneath him, who grins into the kiss and continues to hold Jungkook’s hand tightly to his chest.

Blossoming Youth by jeontime - When Jungkook was six—the year before his grandmother passed away—the two of them would sit together at the kitchen table, counting up and then down for each year he had been alive. Starting from zero, when he had nothing, to where he had reached a new full year of life and then back down to remember where he had come from; that’s probably what she wanted to get through to him. Or, where Jungkook discovers the beauty of life.

fics that weren’t in those tags

Hiraeth by haruguk - Jeongguk has learned the hard way from the tender age of thirteen when his father pushed him down the stairs, that people are a disappointment. They always will be and so he breaks hearts instead. Hurt people hurt people. Jeongguk likes hurting girls, but he doesn’t like hurting Kim Taehyung.

Forever and Ever by nightynight - Sometimes, Jungkook has a bad day. Taehyung is there for him, though, and that makes things so much better.

It’s hard to stay awake, (but when I am I wanna be with you) by love4155 - Kim Taehyung is a college shut in, who just happens to have narcolepsy. But as he starts to let in the outside world, someone might find their way into his life too.

Prisoner of the Mind by pastelkitty - When your mind traps you inside its cold and dark cell, how will you escape?

i’m not a gamble [you can count on me to split] by Yenelai - Everything has its price, Jungkook thinks, so it’s not a big deal. The freshly opened purple blue scabs on his knuckles on his hands aren’t a big deal. The fatigue, swollen cheeks, headaches, and tingling hands aren’t a big deal. He’s okay. He’s okay, he’s okay, because he’s Jeon Jungkook.

To Walk On Air by AriesBaby - For me, dancing is a lot less like perfection and much more like falling in love. When I’m on stage in front of all those people, I feel powerful and weightless, like I’m walking on air.

Close my Eyes (and hope to die) by LunaireDreams - It started small, as these things tended to. Somewhere along the path of increasingly hectic schedules and lack of sleep, Taehyung noticed.

got a question or request? check our tags page first to see if what you’re looking for is already there, or use the search bar on our blog! if you don’t have any luck with that, feel free to send us an ask when the inbox is open^^