#toba writes

[trans-ralsei]

[cloudbattrolls]

The Starfish and the Flame

Tobria Tatura | Thousands of Sweeps Prior

This is the beginning of the first part of the plot Harbinger, The Prophet of Scars, and is followed by Conquest, Set Forth.

Imagine Alternia thousands of sweeps ago, when all that was then is now dust, except the empire itself.

That was new then. New and thriving like the most sickening kind of weed, creeping across the continents and the oceans.

Normally we did not care what trolls did. They were simply another occupant of this planet, and I was partially an immigrant myself, as my fellows loved to remind me.

Tobria’s gazing into the sun again. Like one of those troll undead do with their empty eyes. Do you think he truly sees any wisdom in something so profane?

Fae are always slow to understand anything that is not themselves. 

That’s the half-angel, you know. The seer. Maybe we should have read his entrails instead.

It wasn’t said out of malice. They were genuinely curious. What wisdom might be gained from my death? I was unique, after all.

I also wasn’t easy to kill.

Blackened, withered fae found this out the hard way.

I was no simple undead enchanted by the reanimating heat of the sun.

I carried it with me.

I could see truths within its light.

One of those truths led me to a man. A man, and much more, yet still ultimately a man.

A man whose name I would one night curse in the same breath I wept for him.

Uryali.

—

The moons were covered by clouds on the night we met. Not a very auspicious sign, but I had made do. Perhaps it was better that this was destined to be of little importance, I had believed. 

I descended on my fiery wings, invisible to trolls in the sprawling coastal settlement. They would only feel a trace of extra heat as I passed among them. if they noticed anything at all.

As I drew close to the workshop I sought, I dropped my concealment, showing my troll form. I had given myself a tall stature and long hair, keeping my orange eyes and adding horns that resembled flames. My clothing was light and sensible for the warm weather, brown and gold. I had even added a symbol, as trolls often possessed.

I walked in. I could feel the power here, the burgeoning power of growth tamed enough to not overwhelm. I found him quickly, his presence clear before I even saw him.

I planted my spear in the tile near his feet, cracking the gray ceramic. 

He didn’t seem to move or flinch, though he was half-covered by the construct he had been working on - positioned below it to meddle with something on its underside. At the moment I could only see his legs, covered in boots and gray pants.

“Uryali, the first of Growth’s line. Inventor, scientist, desecrator. Why do you side with trolls as they encroach further and further across the world? Why do you aid in their designs? Are you not from the furthest ring?”

I walked to the side, hands neatly twined together. Troll flesh was soft, easily bled, but at least it was flexible, unlike my natural carapace. I had worked to perfect this guise, so I could walk among them unnoticed.

“Do you not realize this is an offense against your own aspect? The empire may grow, but it stifles all else. If they do not stop, all other peoples shall suffer. And it will be you who aided them enough to prevail. Can you answer for this? Or will you slip back into the sea and never return?”

He slid out from underneath his construct, looking both bemused and annoyed. Small tendrils curled in the lower part of his fins, and I noticed he had carefully shut eyes within them as well, difficult to notice if one was not looking.

Why? Did he not want to see fully?

His tightly curled hair was drawn into a braid as his facial eyes, a deep violet, examined me. 

“Can I help you? Or are you going to monologue at me more.”

I stared at him. His lackadaisical tone and distinct air of amusement at me, matched by the slight smile curling at the edges of his jagged mouth, were not at all what I’d expected.

“You can help by ceasing your work, hybrid.” I said, imperious. “Stop arming the trolls. Their empire is strong enough already. I see great horrors in the future - ”

“That’s me, I’m a great horror, and I’m already right here. Mystery solved.”

My eyes narrowed. Why was he being so flippant? Was it some ploy to distract me?

He looked away from me and back at his project. I wanted to set it on fire to get his attention.

“You should heed my warning. Other fae will come, and they will not care to give notice before they destroy your works.”

Instead I made my words as cutting as I could. Disdainful. Shaming this shallow miscreant.

He only chuckled and stood up, brushing himself off. His construct gleamed a dull silver-gray in the low light of the bioluminescent patches stuck to the tile walls - I could tell they were his creation, based from his own flesh. 

“Well, cheers, but I think I’ll be all right. I don’t just make weapons, you know, but thanks for acknowledging I’m an inventor. Sometimes I think they only keep me around for my pretty face.”

I was taller than him, but not by much. I squinted at Uryali. 

“What does that have to do with anything?”

He sighed, playing with a few curls of hair, his fins flicking as their tendrils waved.

“You are a bummer to talk to, enough to give Rae lessons. You haven’t even told me your name.”

“I am fae.” I said. Not the full truth. Not a lie. “We don’t give our names away so easily.”

“A nickname?” 

I blinked. 

“Fae do not have nicknames.”

“Horrorterrors do.” He said, still amused. “Most people just call me Yali.”

My eyes narrowed.

“They disrespect you and you still dwell among them? You could rule them.”

He snorted.

“You ever try to rule trolls? No thanks. I like my workshop, I like my friends, and I like walking around only getting attention in the form of ‘hey look, it’s the eldritch monster, does he do his own hair, it’s amazing.’” He grinned, long sharp teeth tipped with black.

“Respect isn’t everything, either.” Said the hybrid, waving a webbed finger. “Sometimes it’s just nice to be liked. Have some drinks together. Get a smooch or two or ten.”

I recoiled.

“You dally with them?”

He laughed loudly.

“You are so cute.”

I fumed. Quite literally. Smoke radiated off me as my eyes glowed orange. He seemed completely unbothered, merely waving a hand to get it away from his gills. 

“You are a degenerate.”

“A handsome degenerate.”

“That is meaningless.”

He put a somewhat work-grimed hand to his mouth in what was clearly insincere shock.

“You like them ugly? Well, I guess everyone deserves love.”

“I am not here for this.” I snapped. “You attempt to distract me, but I will not be swayed.”

He raised his eyebrows, his flippant demeanor becoming more serious. Finally.

“Do you know what fuchsias are like when you say no to them? I’ll give you a hint: people tend to die. Now, I can’t die, and I could easily get away from whatever Peixes wanted to do to me if I crossed her, but I know she’d take it out on Rae or whoever else was left. I like trolls, even with all their faults. No race is superior to another. If you’re too blind to see that, then I can’t help you.”

He paused, then spoke again.

“Well, I could, but you wouldn’t like it.” He said, flashing me another one of those insufferable grins. “I don’t like forcing others’ growth, most times. Doesn’t feel very good.”

I considered that. We fae used our powers on trolls as we willed, as we needed. Trolls’ emotions were of little concern to us. We were meant to be separate races. We had believed horrorterrors were as well…

…then Uryali had happened. A hybrid.

An upset to the natural order.

Yet he was not using his power on me.

A fae wouldn’t have hesitated.

I shouldn’t have hesitated. I should have made him see what I had seen. The future that awaited if he kept serving the fuchsia empire.

But I too was a hybrid.

“Uryali Varzim.” I declared. “I will pursue you until you abandon your heretical acts and stop serving trollkind. You will not know peace until you cease your machinations. You will never know it until the empire falls.”

I said it grimly, for I had seen it. It was true. If he continued down this path, it would not end well for him, for fae, or even for trolls.

“Is that a date? I’d love to, but I’m busy tonight.”

I looked at him, face clearly showing what I thought of his absurdity.

“That is not a date.”

He scratched his neck.

“Why not?”

“I have no interest in trolls.”

He smiled lazily, his jagged mouth wide across his face.

Then he became more of himself. He was a shapeshifter, yes, but it hardly felt like a change. It was more as if he had drawn back a curtain with a single flick of his hand to show the rest of what he had been hiding.

He became tendrils surrounding me, fringed with teeth and eyes and tubes. He became cilia, a gently waving mass of limbs and spines, of humming so deep I could feel it in my bones. He smelled of saltwater, whispering of yet more futures, quiet things I dared not dwell on too hard, for I knew horrorterror predictions could cause insanity.

He filled the room, covering the way I had come in while glowing in dozens of pink, violet, and purple hues. He gazed at me with amusement with all those eyes…

And extended a tendril to gently flick my nose.

I picked my spear back up and pointed it at him, largely to have something to do.

“You will answer for that insult.”

He seemed entirely unmoved. 

“Do I look like a troll now, prophet?” His voice was deeper. Resonant. Those undercurrents of whispers were…I had to ignore them.

“No.” I answered, slightly irate. 

He was still half one. I kept repeating that to myself because I had to, had to ignore the gently glowing patterns, the watchful eyes, the intricately threading tendrils spiraling into fractals, ever shifting, changing material and shape.

“So, how do you find me in this form?”

Truly I hated him in that moment.

“Beautiful.” I said, extremely reluctantly, and all his mouths grinned in satisfaction. 

For once I envied trolls’ ability to lie.

“Don’t I get to see yours?” He asked, playful.

“No.” I said tightly. I was not going to let myself be drawn in by him. He had not earned my name or my true face. He was clearly only attempting to distract me with meaningless flirtations. 

Fortunately, fae were above such crude charms.

I touched my spear to what had recently been his throat.

“Let me go. Or I will burn you.”

“I wouldn’t mind too much.”

I scowled at him. My fingers itched to set him alight, even if it would only be a minor annoyance to a regenerator.

“Let me go now.”

“Well- "

His flesh shifted obligingly aside to form an exit in his mass.

“You didn’t ask politely at all, but I’m generous.”

I strode for it, spear now held by my side.

“You are insufferable.”

“See, whenever I am you do the most adorable thing with your eyebrows, so I kind of want to keep it going.”

I growled. “I am not adorable.” 

“You kind of are, in a really grumpy way. It’s the earnestness that does it.”

I ignored him, walking out. In a blink, he was troll-shaped again.

I shouldn’t have looked back at him.

I shouldn’t have seen his amused yet genuinely charmed smile, one clearly meant just for me. He waved to me, his hand covered in violet spots, and then returned to his work.

This would require strategy. The situation was more complicated than I had realized.

I would have no choice but to come back. 

[askganondorftobadragmire]

✍ + [ OOT Ganondorf ] 👀

Ganondorf already regrets coming out to the Desert Colossus, but knowing the alternative is every single Gerudo in the fortress hearing him and this specific past life argue, this is his best option. Instead of stepping foot in the Spirit Temple, he heads into the little cave nearby. That'll make it less likely for anyone to see the two, yet he still glances behind himself before comfortably staring at the stone wall ahead.

Closing his eyes, he takes in a deep breath. "I call upon my past life, Toba, so that he may speak with me." Ganondorf feels that familiar tug at his chest before it separates. He sighs, knowing he's in for another lecture, before opening his eyes and staring at the Gerudo male in front of him. The man's form is partly see-through, with a slightly red glow around his shadowy body. There's a wound through the lower part of his neck, black-colored blood oozing out of it.

"Alright, what the fuck do you want now?" he snaps, glaring at his previous life. He wouldn't usually swear, but by the Sand Goddess, Toba's annoying the ever-loving shit out of him.

"You need to reconsider the acts you aim to carry out," the ghost replies.

"I am going to strangle those little brats, and you will not dissuade me!" Ganondorf growls back. It's that young hero and princess' fault that he forcefully fled to Gerudo Fortress and lost one of his most trusted friends subordinates. Now he is obliged to retaliate, and Toba expects him to roll over and submit? Like hell, he'll do that.

"They are mere children, Tundral. Your focus should be on King Rokolph and the Royal Court."

He can't stop the bout of laughter coming out of him. "Oh, you, of all people, are telling me to spare some kids? That is your best joke yet."

Unsurprisingly, Toba doesn't like that (the increasing flow of blood coming out of his death wound signifying it), but before he can get another word out, the Gerudo King continues. "They are but insects in my path to glory, precisely like the rest of Hyrule. Once they are out of the narrative, I can focus my ire on the foolish king and his followers."

For a moment, Ganondorf thinks he's finally getting the ghost to shut his mouth. Then the bastard has to reply. "You will regret this." Toba's body fades before clumping together in a ball of bright aura. The orb rushes back to him and merges with his body, making the Gerudo shiver at the feeling. (By the Sand Goddess, he'll never get used to that.)

With that mess of a conversation out of the way, he can focus on finding the Twinrova and planning their next course of action.

[unfreethinker]

Ternyata Andaliman Itu Keluarga Jeruk?

Andaliman (Latin: Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) merupakan salah satu rempah yang paling banyak digunakan oleh masyarakat Batak di Sumatra Utara. Andaliman juga sering disebut sebagai merica Batak karena bentuknya memang mirip dengan merica, bulat kecil- kecil.  Rempah ini digunakan di hampir semua masakan tradisional Batak seperti sangsang (saksang), arsik, dan lain- lain. Selain tumbuh di Sumatra Utara, andaliman juga banyak ditemukan di Asia Timur dan Selatan, meski diduga berasal dari Cina dan Himalaya. 

Bagi yang sudah pernah mencoba, pasti tahu bahwa andaliman memiliki aroma yang unik dan cukup kuat, menyerupai aroma kulit jeruk dan lemon. Jika digigit, maka akan ada sensasi menyengat dan sepat di lidah, hal ini dikarenakan andaliman mengandung hydroxy alpha sanshool (molekul pada tumbuhan yang diyakini menimbulkan mati rasa  dan kesemutan).

Tidak banyak yang tahu, ternyata andaliman masuk ke dalam famili Rutaceae (keluarga jeruk- jerukan), yang artinya juga mengandung vitamin C dan E alami yang berfungsi untuk menjaga daya tahan tubuh. Itu sebabnya, dalam bahasa Inggris andaliman disebut dengan lemon pepper. 

[jerzwriter]

Welcome Brooke Vivian Carrick!

In my headcanon for Tobias & Casey, little Brooke joins the family on August 30, 2025. But I'm delivering this incredible artwork to you one year earlier! This lovely commission is from none other than the incomparable @/artbyainna on Instagram. I've run out of amazing things to say about her, but she never, ever disappoints.

I had hoped to write more about Brooke's birth story—and maybe one day I will—but I really wanted to share this before the end of August. Some HCs about Casey's pregnancy and Brooke's birth can be found below. Maybe I'll write a little more about them one day. I sure do love this little family!

You can find some stories about this time in Round Two and more about Tobas x Casey on Tobias x Casey's Masterlist.

Caption Pietro (the cat): To me, he's saying "Not impressed!" 😂

Pregnancy/Birth Headcanons:

As with her first pregnancy with Sammy, poor Casey was pretty much nauseous for the first three months. That was even more challenging with a toddler underfoot. Fortunately, Tobias was always quick to tell her to rest, and grandmas Vivian and Rose were all too happy to step in when needed.

The minute morning sickness ends - Casey is famished and has tons of cravings. Tobias was better prepared for that this time. This time around, she wanted Greek salads and French fries most of all. See a little Insta edit about that below.

Tobias made it clear he wanted a big family; Casey made it clear she was the one who had the babies, and he agreed; it was her call. They never said definitively that this was their last, but they both believed it was. They really took time to cherish every moment of this special time.

Casey and Tobias were happy to see her sex drive was insane during this pregnancy, their friends asked how they noticed a difference? lol

Tobias arranged a 'babymoon' vacation when Casey was seven months pregnant. He wanted to go to one of their favorite islands in the Pacific, but he wasn't keen on Casey traveling so far from home while pregnant. He also wasn't about to take her to any states that could jeopardize her life if she were to have complications, so that limited his choices. They ended up at a luxury hotel in Cape May, New Jersey. He got a suite on a separate floor for Vivian and Rose, too. This way they got some relaxation and they could all spend time with Sammy - but Mom & Dad got plenty of alone time, too.

Once again, Tobias insisted they were having a daughter, so he never even looked at boy's names. Girl's names were also a challenge; neither could come up with anything they loved. Finally, his Aunt Cher suggested Eden or Brooke for Edenbrook. They loved the idea and decided to wait until the baby was born to see if she looked more like an Eden or a Brooke. Obviously, Brooke won! She was given Tobias's mother's name, Vivian, as a middle name.

For most of Casey's pregnancy, Sammy was unimpressed about the idea of a new baby, but toward the end, she decided it would be fun. So she was eager to meet her little sister, and when they brought Brooke home, Sammy really thought it was a present just for her.

Pietro, their cat, was obsessed with her baby bump throughout her pregnancy but had no interest in Brooke once she was born. Casey and Tobias joked it was an odd way to learn their cat was a Republican.

Like her sister, Brooke was anxious to enter the world and came a little earlier than expected. Her due date of September 20th became a birthdate of August 30th. Casey was in labor for 5 1/2 hours, but there were complications, and it was decided it would be best to have a C-section. Tobias was at her side through it all (and she was telling him to get a vasectomy most of that time....)

They were overjoyed when little Brooke was safely delivered, and they spent the next few days in the hospital suite marveling over her and trying to wrap their heads around the fact that they now had two little girls. Tobias was outnumbered, and he loved it.

Here's a little edit about Casey's cravings - well, at least the food cravings - this pregnancy lol

[denzelhart]

His delighted star (1)

Summary: You get sent on a mission, it ends successfully but the place where the mission took place is too far away from base. While staying on the helicopter, waiting to land. You start thinking about your relationship between you and your Lieutenant, Ghost.

Warning: Swearing, slow burn (maybe?) deny feelings, a little fluff, you have a friend name Tobas, reader has no pronouns.

- C/n: Code name

Wordcount: 1.1k

Note: This is a male reader fic but can be read as gender neutral! There maybe some error grammar because this is my first time writing this, hope you enjoy!

Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Male!reader

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2

Many hours had passed since you and your team got onto the helicopter, you weren't aware of the time or when you'll land. But you know it won't be soon, especially when the place where the mission's located is very far from base. It's a pain in the ass.

The mission was simple, there weren't many enemies left out there due to C/n's teammate taking good care of them, Ghost. Well, the name "teammate" doesn't suit what's going on between the two people, when your relationship is far more complicated than you think.

Neither of you two was a person who likes physical contact, especially Ghost. You don't know anything about that man which got you curious about him, only hearing about some rumors from other people wasn't enough, when you 'accidentally' look at his files and get scolded later from captain Price. Yet with all the information you think you have about the man with a skull face? Still nothing. Ghost was a mysterious man and he sometimes scared you. That's what you thought when you first saw him.

The day you save him from an enemy, he starts to acknowledge you as an 'acquaintance' or 'companion' after a few months, which makes you two hang out more often. It wouldn't be rare seeing you together. Practicing gunshot? Right next to him, making some coffee? You always make an extra cup for him,.. Everything was great and even Price was happy to see Ghost had a companion aside from Soap. Until it didn't go well, as a person like Ghost who doesn't into much affection or physical contact. At first it only starts with the shoulders touching, thighs, sometimes hands. You thought it was only coincident, Oh boy it didn't just stay as 'coincident' which to the point Soap starts to get suspicious between the two of you. Like, who doesn't get curious about you and him? The two of you always hang out with each other and sometimes get a 'little' touchy. On the other hand you don't feel anything about those touches right? It's just a feeling, it'll go away someday. Oh you were wrong, not only did it not go away but it grew even more.

You weren't into physical contact due to your past trauma caused by your 'beloved' father, which led to you startle whenever Ghost touched you or even praised you. Make things more complicated. But from time to time you get used to it and eventually you start to like it and the things that happen between C/n and Ghost. You like it so much, it begins to consider your relationship.

"Fucking hell, there's nothing happening between me and him." You argued with your friend, Tobas. "That's some bullshit, C/n. You do know that right?" Yes, you do know about it and you do know it's bullshit but you're still denying it. All you do is give him the silent treatment.

"Cut the bullshit C/n, do you have feelings for him, mate?" he looks over to his friend, watching C/n busy as you are cleaning up your knife but deep down inside you know you have tried to avoid that question from Tobas. "I don't know! I'm not supposed to have feelings for my Lieutenant, mate." You denied looking over to Tobas, you knew you were right at this point. You shouldn't have feelings for anyone, you're afraid of opening up for a new relationship knowing it will end like your last one, you're afraid that war will take someone you loved away from you, afraid it'll take him away, Ghost.

It's hit you, you do have feelings for your Lieutenant but all you do is keep denying it because you know well how it ends. Pushing it down is the best option you can do. "Damn, you're right." You mumbled. "What was that?" Just when C/n about to say something but was interrupted by a voice, you know damn well who the voice is.

"You two cut it out, I'm not going to deal with you too again." Oh it's Ghost, the man you just talked about a few minutes ago now is standing right in front of you. Glanced at you and your friend like a predator. "Sorry, sir." Both of you said. “Now get up, there’s a mission we need to deal with right now.” He scolds, as you and Tobas quickly get up so you can get ready for the mission, walk away from the place you just sat down. But you didn't catch the way Ghost's eyes watching over you walking away.

That's the last conversation you have before going on the mission.

Now you’re on the helicopter, not knowing when it will land. Your back is going to kill you one day for sitting too long until someone slightly nudged your arm, it was Tobas. “Oi mate, he’s been staring at you for like an hour” he whispered, you didn't say anything. You move your gaze a bit to make sure Tobas didn't make things up, only to find Ghost's eyes already glance at you. His gaze is still like the first time you have met but it's more soft than before and more.. lonely.

"I know, quit staring at him or he'll be in your sleep." you chuckled a bit, looking away from Ghost's gaze while Tobas nudged you again. Another silent in the helicopter, not knowing what to say or to do because the team was already tired. Just when you're ready to close your eyes, another nudges your arm again to get your attention. "Hey C/n, look outside." Tobas laughs a bit at your confused face. Again, you look outside the window wondering the hell Tobas is talking about and there it is. Star in the night sky.

You liked watching stars when you were little, always watching it from afar but the more you grew the less time watching it. Now you gotta see it again, gazing at stars outside the window. Wondering when was the last time you have watched them.

Ghost has watched you since the team finished the mission, now his gaze has softened when looking at a happy C/n. He has seen your happy face with the team before but not this one, it's different. It's more precious. Knowing how the war has done to you or the trauma you have been through. Your smile still looks delighted to him.

"Get ready, we're landing."

That's what Ghost heard before got a pat on the shoulders by Soap. "Y'all like C/n? Just curious of how you look at C/n." Ghost stares at Soap for while. "No"

Ghost knows damn well that's a lie.

To be continued..?

[tequila-solar-storm]

Natlan trio is soo wholesome!!! I find the idea of Mualani and Kinich dumping their grainfruit on Kachina's plate extremely hilarious HAHAHA

Speaking of Kachina I personally hc kinich being surprisingly good with kiddos. Just smth smth about how doting he is in the web event. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew how to knit. Seeing that the girls don't seem morning people I can picture kinich helping braiding their hair if he's around in the morning. Also his in game lines scream mom friend. Which is honestly adorable.

I too hc kinich as being affectionate in a quiet way but if he's directing his affection towards someone, there won't be room for doubts. Elder Leik as his father figure is absolutely canon in my heart and kinich being affectionate with him is such a sweet addition! I can definitely see it, kinich crashing at his house maybe helping with the cooking so they can enjoy a meal together. I am surprised there aren't actually fics about these 2 yet.

Also Leik knowing his son habits and just looking away is SO hilarious xD I wonder if he ever tried talking to Kinich about it and ultimately giving up (he doesn't need to know any details thank you very much)

Thank you author for answering had a blast reading your hcs!

—🌻

Previous Post

Kachina realising that she’s the real adult among the three:

Jokes aside, thank YOU for sending these lovely asks!! Answering them has been incredibly fun!!

Response under the cut! Spoilers for Kinich’s character stories + mention of ‘Kinich’s Deal’ from the Yupanqui's Turnfire Tribal Chronicles!

You’re so right about Kinich being the Mama of his group!! His relationship with the two especially so! Why stop at just braiding their hair? He’ll be helping them brush it too!

Since Kinich is canonically good at housework and other domestic jobs (Out of unfortunate necessity 😭), I won’t be surprised if he can knit as well! I can picture him knitting stuff for his friends, like new gloves for Kachina or a little pouch for Mualani! The possibilities are endless!

I do think he’ll be great with kids! Provided they’re not too intimidated by his seemingly cold demeanour + badmouthing from the adults HAHAHAHA Evidence of this is Huni and Toba, despite not having spoken to him before, calling him ‘big brother’ in CN! Which is super cute! Though it might just be a cultural thing, since Natlan in particular is pretty liberal with all their ‘big brothers/sisters’ and ‘aunts/uncles’ in CN. EN didn’t translate most of it over and I’m not sure about JP and KR…

With what he said to the Traveller at the end of the ‘Kinich’s Deal’ quest, it’s safe to say his affection for someone can’t be more obvious when it’s there!! He’ll definitely cook for Elder Leik, but looking at Kinich’s specialty dish, let’s just hope Leik can handle his spices! I definitely want to write something about Leik and Kinich in the future, but I’m drowning under a whole bunch of WIPs. So I think it’s best if I don’t start anything new until I’m done clearing through them HAHAHA

I don’t think Leik would feel the need to have ‘the talk’ with Kinich since Kinich is beyond mature for his age. He’ll probably just do the ‘ur an adult now so u make ur own decisions but remember to stay safe and yadayada’ song and dance but otherwise won’t bring it up. He’s covering his ears and closing his eyes at all the crazy rumours getting flung around. He doesn’t need to know. It doesn’t exist if he doesn’t perceive it HAHAHAHA

[slashersgostabbystabstab]

Flesh (NSFW)

Singularity x Reader Smut (Sort of)

Hi guys! I know it's been a hot minute since I've posted anything and I apologize another thousand times. I feared school would take up too much of time and I was unfortunately correct, and today is my last day of Spring Break so I'm posting whatever I can as fast as I can ;7; Might just have to try to write HC's which can obviously be done faster

Anyways, have a small fic that doesn't necessarily involve the reader/you but it begs the question...can a robot dream? Imagine? Just trying something here lol

Warnings: Horny thoughts, mentions of gore(?), smut, vouyerism (?)

After a thorough inspection of some areas Hux had access to, he came to the conclusion that the Entity had called you. The greater being clearly required your services, much to his disliking, but as long as you were not running into the arms of another or purposely avoiding Hux he could be considered at bay. 

Before he had actually come to this finding, Hux had found it peculiar that you had not been waiting for him in the Huxlee Caracas when he departed from his latest match. Upon this realization he quickly sought you out, leaving Toba Landing to give you a piece of his mind once he found you lazing about at the survivor campfire. However, your form was nowhere in sight as he scrutinized every bit of the site. His sensors only caught sight of all the other worms, a handful missing because they were being put up against Hux’s “associates”, as he called them. 

A rather dissatisfying sight. Nonetheless, Hux continued on his way through the foggy woods that lead to each of the maps in the realm. Although as he made his route back to his own map, he was quick to sense a nearby presence. In fact, he was able to identify that there were actually two different bodies.

Worms that had strayed too far from their soil. 

Despite the stealthiness Hux sometimes lacked, he made it his new mission to find exactly where in the woods these two were located. But after much scouting around, it  almost made sense why he believed there was only one specimen after it seemed as though there was only one.

Once he was able to locate these beings deeper in the woods, as he used the fog and trees to conceal himself, in an open area he found what appeared to be a singular shape. Such a shape was perceived as something consisting of entangled limbs, humidity and so, so much flesh. The bundle of heat elicited various sounds, sounds he had only heard in the past in which he was another. Sounds that could only be made by humans who wanted to release their energy when the stresses of their tasks overcame them. Sounds made by something he comprehended now.

Upon closer inspection, it now registered in his mind that the entangled mess was not a mere web of flesh, but it was a pair of worms squirming in each others’ hold as they copulated on the cold ground. Their rags were spread underneath them to protect them from the ground’s dampness: one human on top while the one beneath them lay with ankles hooked around their hips. The dominant one of the two could be seen thrusting their pelvis into the other; forceful jerks that moved back and forth, increasing in pace by the second. 

Perhaps they were “blowing off some steam” like the crewmates tended to do in the Huxlee Caracas before they met their demise. 

It was not yet in Hux’s understanding why humans performed these actions, other than for reproductive reasons. He questioned why they decided to create a writhing mess of flesh where one entered the other’s body. It seemed pathetic and like such a waste of time. It was pitiful how, in between thrusts, the human on their back released the other’s shoulders to instead cradle their face. They pulled the other’s face down, pulling them down before they smashed their lips against each others’. If Hux had given himself eyes similar to a human’s, he would have easily rolled them at the sight of something so piteous. 

What he had instead were his sensors that zoomed in to watch these humans even closer than before, and he caught sight of what allowed one human to be inside of the other without them being torn limb from limb: an appendage that he lacked. Yet it was something he did not care for. 

However, Hux’s CPU did something he did not think possible.

Yes he was able to revisit moments he had recorded, and so images from earlier instances before you were forced to part from him played through his head as he continued to watch the couple. Images of you sitting before him with his body in between your legs as you held his face in your palms, features hidden in the crook of his neck as you planted a nibble on his faux flesh. It was like he felt your nibble all over again, and then your kisses, like a phantom touch as he replayed the moments. But suddenly the image of you changed: your body lacked every bit of your clothes. 

Never had he witnessed you completely unclothed, only having come across you in your undergarments when you were changing from your usual clothes into a jumpsuit from the ship. With this alone the image of you holding him was reconstructed, all your flesh in full view for his sensors to scan as you pulled him towards you. 

You lay on your back as Hux felt your ankles hooked around his hips. He thrust himself into you, forceful jerks that moved back and forth and increased in pace by the second. And with every jerk he elicited harmonious sounds from you, sounds that were breathy and desperate as you called out to him. Cried his name out for everybody in the Entity’s realm to hear. 

But only he could hear your cries that his CPU played for him, your cries that begged him not to stop. To move faster. To move harder. To fill you up with his genetic material.

He watched himself move faster and harder than before, watched as every move made you grip onto him like your life depended on it.

Your eyes were shut so tightly, head thrown back as your heart pounded in your chest hard enough for Hux to sense it. But even as you pulled yourself away from him to press into the surface behind you, you managed to crush his body against yours.

You were an entangled mess of flesh and machine, wriggling against each other like you were one. Hux could feel every jolt of pleasure as he pressed against you, the appendage in his lower region sending every signal throughout his self-made flesh. 

But suddenly his CPU made a realization: your legs were not wrapped around him and his body was not melding into your own. You were not in front of him, you weren’t sobbing at the feeling of his appendage inside you as he hit every sweet spot imaginable. 

He found himself yards away from the survivors, taking notice of the one on top giving one last powerful thrust before they each gave a sigh of elation. He watched them release each other, sharing one last kiss as they rode out their high, right before an uncomfortable and tingling sensation crept up their backs.

In an instant they whipped their heads around in Hux’s direction, looks of fear and embarrassment apparent on their expressions as they hurriedly parted ways and attempted to gather themselves. 

Hux did not care for their current conditions, already limping his way towards them with cruel intentions as they tried to make a run for it through the foggy woods. But Hux was faster than them, better of course, facts he already knew as he caught up to them in no time. 

He didn’t care much about the worm that had been on the receiving end, letting that one slither away as he downed their other half in an instant. He overlooked their body before his sensors caught sight of the very thing he was missing, a laughable attachment that required more genetic material. 

Hux had no need for this, he very well knew this. But Hux wanted it, DESIRED it in fact. He craved the ability to bury himself inside you, feeling your flesh from the inside without his killer instinct forcing him to open you up to feel your own human wirings. He craved becoming one with you without ending your pitiful, little life. 

Copulation was not a necessity for him in the slightest bit, but if these worms could enjoy it, why couldn’t he?

[shinsengumi-archives]

I’m back (after writing a 55 pg fic so far). I’m trying to wrap my head around Soji’s timeline and pouring over the timeline you have posted.

In September 1867 Soji becomes seriously ill - does he stay with the Shinsengumi still during that time I’m guessing?

January 1868 - I assume he went to Osaka for the battle of Toba-Fushimi but he doesn’t take part in it? He stays behind with Kondo who was shot in the shoulder?

February 4 - they sail to Edo, and I assume Soji is with them? And this is his first time on a ship?

Feb? ?? - Okita’s sister Mitsu and Okita Rintaro left (which I’m guessing they were in contact and it’s unknown how they parted)

February 28ish - This is when Soji goes to Matsumoto Ryojin’s clinic and is staying at Matsumoto’s house at Imado shrine.

March 24 - so a month later the Shinsengumi goes to Kofu Castle and stays in Hino which is still in Edo where I’m guessing Soji gets bad/feverish and can’t travel so this is actually where they officially leave him at Uekiya Heigoro’s house? In the “site of Okita Souji’s death” post you say it was the end of February when he moved there (which would be a month prior to this when he was going to Matsumoto’s clinic - so I just want to clarify that it was around the end of March that Okita moved to Heigoro’s house.

Sometime in March (before the 28th) - the Shinsengumi visits Soji and he smiles and doesn’t let them know how sick he is so they won’t worry.

March 28-April 25 - the shinsengumi are pretty much all around Edo until Kondo is beheaded in May and Hijikata gets injured at the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle - Where does Hijikata go?

July 19 - *sobs* we lose him. So he’s at the house alone and suffering from end of March to July? 4 months. And in those four months, he did visit Kondo’s wife Tsune and daughter Tama at Joganji Temple in Nakano (when was this?).

Let me know if I missed anything we know about Soji here as well!

Thank you so much and super grateful. I want to learn as much as I can and flesh out the timeline a bit so I can fully understand what he experienced and how he lived up until the end.

Hi @sayitcanonlybeme, sorry for the extremely late reply. I've gone back to grad school and have been busy with classes/projects for the past few months, so I haven't been able to be active on Tumblr until the holidays.

The timeline was posted a long time ago when I first started learning about the Shinsengumi, so there are inaccuracies, especially mixups between Lunar calendar and Western calendar dates.

Here are the events with details and corrections:

September 1867 Soji becomes seriously ill

It's not clear exactly when he became ill, but according to Japanese Wiki Corpus:

according to Kanefumi NISHIMURA's "Mibu Roshi Shimatsuki", he [Okita Souji] was seriously ill around September when the quarters were moved to Fudodo Village; and in a letter to Kondo dated October 13, Kojima wrote that he was worried about Okita's worsening condition. Given the above, when Okita's health condition worsened so critical that he could not bear fighting was from autumn to winter in 1867. It is also thought that his intense exercise might have been an added burden on his lungs and aggravated his illness.

I'm not sure whether the dates are Lunar or Western calendar, but September is October on the Western calendar. Here's a useful calendar converter.

January 1868 - I assume he went to Osaka for the battle of Toba-Fushimi

He was first staying at Kondo Isami’s mistress’s house in Rokujo, Kyoto, not far from Fushimi (according to this article and this article). Abe Juro arrived there on the morning of December 18 (Lunar calendar, Western calendar: January 12, 1868), hoping to assassinate Okita. He later mentioned in the "Shidankai Sokkiroku" (史談會速記錄), "However there was no one there but one woman, who after interrogation admitted that there was an Okita Souji the other night who at 10PM returned to Fushimi. It was really regrettable."

December 18 was also the day Kondo got shot in the right shoulder on his way from Nijo Castle (more info).

They were both sent to Osaka Castle to receive medical care, so neither of them participated in the fighting that started on January 3 (Lunar calendar, Western calendar: January 27).

February 4 - they sail to Edo

According to this article, Kondo, Hijikata, and Okita boarded the Shogunate's ship Fujisanmaru on January 10 (Lunar calendar, Western calendar: February 3).

(image sources: [1] [2])

Nagakura boarded the Jundomaru which left a day earlier. Out of the 150 Shinsengumi members, 116 remained. They went back to Edo on those two ships along with the rest of the Shogunate army.

The Fujisanmaru arrived at Shinagawa, Edo on January 15. Kondo and Okita went to a medical clinic in Kanda Izumibashi (神田和泉橋) to receive treatment from Matsumoto Ryojun. The rest of the Shinsengumi stayed at a garrison in Kajibashi Gate (鍛冶橋門).

This is likely Okita's first time traveling on a ship since the Shinsengumi originally arrived in Kyoto on foot and there are no other records of Okita making long journeys.

Feb? ?? - Okita’s sister Mitsu and Okita Rintaro left

Okita Mitsu and Rintaro evacuated along with the Shinchogumi's sponsor, the Lord of the Shonai domain Sakai Tadazumi, to the Shonai domain in northern Japan (source).

Since Souji wasn't fit for travel, he was left behind in Edo. According to the Okita Family Records, they left him on February 26 (Lunar calendar, Western calendar: March 19, 1868). However, according to this article, Mitsu and Rintaro left in March (lunar calendar), so I'm not sure which date is more accurate.

According to the Shinsengumi's financial records, Okita withdrew money to pay a carpenter on February 26 (lunar) to repair Uekiya's house in Sendagaya where he spent his final days, so he had either just moved in or was about to move there when Mitsu left.

February 28ish - This is when Soji goes to Matsumoto Ryojin’s clinic

I think February 28ish (lunar) is when he left Matsumoto Ryojun's clinic.

According to this article:

In January of Keio 4, Matsumoto Ryojun was summoned by a certain Hiraoka, a young official of the shogunate, and receive news that "The wounded from the Battle of Toba-Fushimi were returning to Edo, and that they should be given temporary hospitalization at the residences of the lords". As if following in the footsteps of the Shogunate's army, news spread that Satsuma-Choshu army had moved eastward and was coming to Edo. Most of the wounded had already been cured, and more than 30 patients were treated at Imado. He built his own dormitory in a corner of the grounds of the shrine in Imado, where he lived, and built a hospital building in Shofukuji Temple, which was used as a field hospital, and moved his own patients there as well. The Shinsengumi, defeated in the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in Keio 4, returned to Edo aboard the Fujisanmaru and were transported from the Kamaya (釜屋, an inn/teahouse) in Shinagawa to a medical clinic in Okachimachi, Kanda Izumibashi, and then to a field hospital in Shofukuji, where Kondo Isami and Okita Souji were treated by Matsumoto Ryojun, but this is only speculation.

So it's not clear when they went to each location, but from that article, it sounds like Okita went to Matsumoto's clinic at Imado Shrine shortly after arriving in Edo.

March 24 - so a month later the Shinsengumi goes to Kofu Castle and stays in Hino

They went to Kofu on March 24 (Western calendar, Lunar calendar: March 1), so it makes sense that after Okita got too sick in Hino, he was left behind and eventually sent to Uekiya's house in Sendagaya.

He was probably either about to move in or already living in Uekiya's house before he left towards Kofu, since he took out money for renovations on February 26 (lunar).

Sometime in March (before the 28th) - the Shinsengumi visits Soji

Since Nagakura assumed Okita died at Imado in his diary, most Shinsengumi members probably didn't know that he was staying at Uekiya's house starting from March. They were probably trying to keep his location secret to keep him safe.

Since Kondo was captured soon after the Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma, it's unlikely that he ever visited Okita again.

Hijikata did go back to Edo for a short time after that battle, so it's possible that he could have visited Okita, but he was busy pleading Kondo's case and preparing for battle.

It's also possible that a few other trusted Shinsengumi members knew Okita's whereabouts and visited him. Since they didn't want to tell Okita about Kondo's death, it could mean that Okita was still in touch with some Shinsengumi members.

March 28-April 25 - the shinsengumi are pretty much all around Edo until Kondo is beheaded in May and Hijikata gets injured at the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle

At the Battle of Utsunomiya, Hijikata was shot in his right foot on April 23, so he was carried from the battlefield on Shimada Kai's back.

On April 29, Hijikata arrived near Aizu-Wakamatsu and stayed at Shimizuya Inn, which had hot springs, to recover from his wound.

He learned about Kondo's death while he was there and built a tombstone for him at the nearby Tenneiji temple.

On July 1, he left to visit his men.

A month later, he went back to the battlefield to fight the Battle of Aizu.

(source)

July 19 - *sobs* we lose him. So he’s at the house alone and suffering from end of March to July? 4 months. And in those four months, he did visit Kondo’s wife Tsune and daughter Tama at Joganji Temple in Nakano

He died on July 19 (Western calendar). He might have been lonely without his loved ones, but I don't think he was alone since Uekiya’s rice cooker was taking care of him and he probably saw other doctors after Matsumoto left.

He visited Kondo’s wife and daughter at Joganji Temple, but I don't think there would be any records where we could find the date since he was in hiding and trying to keep his movements secret.

According to the quote from this article from "Shinsengumi Imon" (新選組遺聞) by Shimozawa Kan:

Isami's family, his wife Tsune and his mother-in-law Keiko (瓊子), moved out of their house in Ushigome shortly after Isami left for Koshu and moved to the outskirts of Edo. They rented room at a temple called Joganji in Nomurahongo.

In the Shinsengumi's financial records, there's a withdrawal on February 28 (lunar) for the house in Ushigome where Kondo’s wife and child lived, which might be related to the move.

So Okita probably visited them in Joganji some time between March and July.

This article (from the "Joganji Records" (成願寺誌)) describes what his final days were like:

Edo was already crawling with government troops with Imperial Brocades, but Uekiya, where Souji was staying, was a safe haven in Ikejiribashi, a very lonely place at the time, where the sound of watermills over the river echoed and there was hardly anyone to be seen at night. Although safe, it must have been too lonely for the young Souji. Sometimes he would go by palanquin to Joganji temple, about a ri away [a 1 hour walk]. He would stay there for days and days. He had an incurable disease, and he probably knew better than anyone else that his death was approaching. Unable to endure the loneliness and desolation, he would come to the temple and soak in the warmth of the unchanging affection of the mother and child, and how comforted he was by that.

Let me know if there's anything I didn't cover or if you have any more questions.

I would really like to read the fic you wrote, if you don't mind sharing it - nvm, found it :)

[sivavakkiyar]

I was flipping thru this collection of Manto’s short stories because I wanted to give amma ‘Toba Tek Singh’ (she loved it) and I realized that introduction has a little observation that’s lived in my head ever since: and this critic observes that Manto ‘has typically a profound sympathy for women that is related but not quite feminist.’ And I suppose I do have a kind of interest in things like that when I’m reading ‘literature’ from the past—-these kind of tendencies of recognition that are not grounded neccessarily in ideology, ‘just through attention’ etc.

anyway I have this collection of Norman Mailer’s essays I got for a few bucks and he has this whole early essay where he’s writing for ONE magazine about homophobia, his own (he openly refers to his own earlier characters as explicitly homophobic) and then writes:

which, I dunno. What does it mean that I found this refreshing in 2023? Reasonable, principled? Mailer’s a weirdo for sure but

[bbygirl-aemond]

Stormbreak House Strong Family Tree

Hello all! I thought I'd post the below graphic for your reference since it'll be relevant in Chapter 32. Fun fact: Every single character within this family tree exists within ASoIaF canon, so they're not quite OCs. Most of them were never explicitly named, though, so it was basically a big game of fill-in-the-blank.

I know this introduces a ton of new characters, but don't worry; they're only going to be in one-third of this chapter when Jace first arrives at Harrenhal and most of them won't be referenced in plot-dependent ways beyond that within the fic. This counts as very slight spoilers, so if you want to go into this chapter blind as to what Harwin's side of the family looks like, hold on until after you've read the chapter, which should be up sometime tomorrow.

(Pink and blue correspond to gender. Pastel colors mean that the person is dead. This tree would also be a lot simpler if Lyonel Strong, Harwin's father, hadn't fathered children on four different women.)

Here's a breakdown of these unnamed-but-canon characters:

Jace's great-grandmother (Edeline) and great-grandfather (Tobas)

Lyonel's three wives (Laisa, Miranna, and Katlyn) and his baby mama (Camille)

Lyonel's two daughters (Clarysse and Celesse)

Simon's wife (Helna)

Simon's son (Erac) and daughter-in-law (Roslyn)

Simon's grandsons (Dorran and Derrock)

As we'll see in Chapter 32 and can see in the family tree above, I'm going a bit rogue with my depiction of Alys. I planned this fic back in October, and I was really interested in this idea that Fire and Blood was super inaccurate and misogynistic in its portrayal of women, especially when they were flouting societal norms (so think Rhaenyra, Alys, Nettles, etc.). It made me decide that most of the information about book Alys was probably wildly inaccurate and designed to paint her as crazy and evil. So instead of writing Alys as she was depicted in the book I wanted to write Alys as a woman whose story could conceivably be bastardized and twisted into her book depiction.

I also had to fill in the blanks for a bunch of birth and death dates, so most of these ages aren't canon. I'm setting the fire that killed Harwin and Lyonel in about 123 AC. I decided that Simon's son (Erac) died in that fire as well for reasons. I also decided that Larys and Alys's mothers both died giving birth to them.

[roguelibrarian]

Book club with Rogue, part 2

The book: The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan

CW: the plot involves antisemitic persecution and violence, so I'm gonna be touching on that a bit in this post

I literally just finished this one last night and damn. damn. Okay. So, brief plot overview:

Our main characters are Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques, two Jewish young adults living in the fictional city of Rimon. Toba was raised by her grandparents since her mother died giving birth to her and she's Weird. Naftaly is also Weird, and when his father dies shit gets even Weirder because Naftaly is entrusted with a book that's been in his family for generations but that they're never supposed to open. When the Jews are expelled from Rimon, Toba falls behind a group that's heading for the border and gets attacked by a man who believes she might be smuggling valuables with her. She escapes but gets lost in the woods and stumbles through a magical gate into another world. Toba's grandmother Elena realizes she's missing and doubles back to find her. She meets up with Naftaly and the nameless old woman he's traveling with and the three of them stick together for safety and begin their search for Toba. On the other side of the gate, Toba meets Barsilay, who doesn't particularly like her (don't worry, they become friends later), but offers her shelter with his uncle so she won't get killed for being a human who crossed the gate. Toba learns she's stuck there for a month because the gate only opens on the night of the full moon. While there, Toba learns that there's a reason for all her Weirdness: she's not actually completely human. Turns out her father was a Mazik (one of the magical beings who live on the other side of the gate) and she has supernatural abilities that her grandmother suppressed with an amulet that she told Toba never to take off.

I'm ending the plot overview there because I don't wanna give the whole thing away and also because so much happens in this book. It's nearly 600 pages long. There's a lot of plot. If I summarized it all, we'd be here all night.

Now, thoughts:

this book is so, so unapologetically, beautifully, proudly Jewish

like, I'm honestly having trouble putting into words just how Jewish this book is and how much it means to me, but I'm sure other Jews will get what I'm saying

like at the very beginning of the book there's a list of characters and just seeing so many extremely Jewish names in one book was like...relief

see also, in the first few pages of the book, when Toba is reflecting on how even when she was a small child her grandmother would play the 'where would you go if you had to flee?' game with her

Toba is extremely autistic coded and you may quote me on that

seriously, there's this one quote that's just very Autism Vibes: "It was one of the peculiar things about Toba, and there were several: Toba could walk, but she could not run; she could talk, but she could not shout; and she could write faster-with either hand-than she could speak."

see also: "She was too quiet, too peculiar" and "Food often tasted poorly to her, and she ate little as a consequence."

Like yes, all of this does end up being related to her magic and the suppression thereof, but it's also very Autism Vibes and even after the suppression of her magic stops there's a lot of Autism Vibes still.

she's also very asexual coded imo

Naftaly is also very autistic coded

someone needs to cut Naftaly a break like yesterday

like let's see (SPOILERS), his father dies, his entire community gets kicked out of the country, he almost gets eaten by wolves, he gets drugged and sealed in a coffin, almost gets thrown into the sea, gets kidnapped and tortured, and that's just the highlights of bad shit that happens to him (END SPOILERS)

they're only around for like a page and a half but heck yes Jewish pirates I am always here for Jewish pirates

I absolutely called the plot twist about (SPOILERS AGAIN) the Big Bad being Toba's father (END SPOILERS) which does not mean it was a bad twist, it was in fact a very good one and I'm always here for this specific type of twist

my one big complaint about this book is that after over 400 pages without a hint of romance, I got ambushed by some unnecessary romantic nonsense. luckily none of it took up too much focus in the story because more important stuff was happening.

this book was just so damn good, okay? I was hooked by page 4, that's how good it is, and in almost 600 pages it never got boring. it never felt like it was too long. that's skill, right there.

also I'm weak for good, complex fantasy worldbuilding and boy was there a lot of that.

anyway, it was good. go read it. highly recommend for people who like long, dense fantasy novels, and portal fantasy in particular (though I will say I normally don't even like portal fantasy but I loved this one)

[finleyforevermore]

Toba the Tura and Pallis from Razia's Shadow for the character bingo?

Thanks so much for this ask, Clyde!!! :D

Toba:

I think Toba is really cool and interesting!!! It's a shame they're a one-off character, because I honestly wanna know more about their job of being a sort of judge and decider of others' fates. Also their song goes so hard and I love it-

Pallis:

Okay, hear me out. (More under the cut)

Pallis starts out pretty interestingly. We know that even though Pallis threatens Adakias during The Exit, it's all out of love and concern. He's took care of and watched over his younger brother, and for him to want to leave their kingdom for a (in his mind at least) false prophecy? It's absurd! And when thought of like that, his viewpoint kinda makes sense, and it's interesting! It makes you wonder who's in the wrong? Pallis for threatening his brother and not believing in the prophecy, or Adakias for abandoning his kingdom and being kinda egotistical.

...and then Pallis doesn't show up again until the final song.

I don't have much to say about him BECAUSE he's underutilized! I would honestly like to enjoy him as character because there's so much interesting characterization given to him in The Exit, then nothing much is done with it. We know nothing other than what Adakias says about him and how he acts towards Adakias. But i wanna see/know more! I wanna see what his relationship with Adakias was like before the show/album! How did he react when Adakias left? How did he know how to track him down? Like give me more info on this guy please!!!

When he returns in The End and the Beginning to make Adakias prove his love for Anhura, even though he's playing the part of the villain, even though he'd be much better as an antagonist, there's still good characterization! He admits he was wrong about the prophecy and apologizes to Adakias! Pallis had a lot of potential to be a really complex and interesting character and make the listener think, and he still is compelling, but there's potential missing, and I wish he appeared more than twice.

TLDR: Pallis is very well-written, but he only appears twice and there's definitely more that could be done with his character!

OK, I've been writing this for too long sksjsjsjsj thanks again for the ask, Clyde!

[askganondorftobadragmire]

~

[lirhyapetitpain]

The events of Immortal Hulk depict a timeloop in which a desperate message from the end of all things reaches Sam and he takes that message to enact the events we see unfold, preventing the destruction of all.

Where do you feel Sam, who wanted to bring about this calamity, went wrong and ended up preventing the One Below All from claiming Banner?

Hah, that's a good question. I hope we'll now more about this, how did it reach Sam, of all the universe and time and people and infinite possibilities ? Is it because he was the only one who could prevent it or was it an accident ? Did he, somehow, was smart enough to intercept it himself ? Why did he want to bring a future where he's dead too considering the One Below All is the last entity remaining ? Did he even fail ? We don't know, the future he witnessed is so far away, TOBA/TOAA is still here so it can still happen, Immortal Hulk's ending is an open door (pun intended), it's not an ending and it left our characters with choices, all of them. Bruce is still wondering if he's going on the right path, Sam is no longer the Leader, they both can still pick a different path and it's up to other writers to write that and with all the references to Tamuz and Green Doors we get in Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run I really don't think the Green Door story is over, so far we can't really tell if that calamity was really prevented imo.

As for what Sam did wrong, as always his own arrogance, I guess he was bold enough to think he could trick TOBA itself and kinda become it and get its power, as he called himself a God (of hate) which TOBA is. And he did become that but not as intended, he was the puppet and not the puppeteer, TOBA's mask, possessed like a simple tool. Sam is connected to Bruce, they share a destiny and it seems TOBA needs both of them, something Sam failed to see 'cause he thought Bruce was the one and only missing link for the gamma flow or whatever when it was apparently him. They both have a part to play in this future and if anything so far Sam totally served TOBA's goal. After all Sam could manipulate the Green Door way easier than Brian and I don't think it's because he's smarter, Sam was always able to possess Gamma irradiated (Omnibus) and always able to create connexion with them (Rick, Bruce), he just never realized he could, it was an "accident" each time, even if when he reached Bruce he says that "somehow, through some door" (so Bruce's door) he was able to reach him. Sam always had access to it (and he's not the only one, I don't know if you ever read Al Ewing's first Defender run with Red Harpy but you should). Same for the shapeshifting, Sam had a shit tons of transformations already and being able to shapeshift is just the natural evolution of his manipulative power and liar personality so to me everything he got through TOBA's power is just a better advanced controle over his own, not a new one. Sam is about hate and so is TOBA, Sam is a connexion, he's not the host it was planning to keep but the connexion between gamma and irradiated it needed to reach Bruce. Or at least that's how I see it. Just like how Jackie is the eyes and can see the truth (I'll develop that one day, the link between truth and gamma), Bruce the strength and destruction etc etc to me the main irradiated all have a specific role to play, kinda like a chest game. As such I would say Bruce is the King, the one needed piece, Sam the Queen, the one that can make every moves and will kinda create the path y'know (I should draw them all as chest pieces now that I think of it...), you get my point. And ironically through his own over confidence he understimated himself and his role in this calamity, leading (lol) him to his own demise.

Anyway, feel free to ask more about the lore even if it's unrelated to art ! It makes me very happy to talk about that and feel free to agree or disagree, my answer is mostly interpretation, as I said Immortal Hulk ending is an open door and it left us free to have our own interpretation and that's something I really love about this story, while it gives us a real story with a beginning and an ending, we are free to have our own vision. Hulk forgiving Sam was a perfect exemple of this with Savage being for forgivness, Jackie being against it and refusing to forgive him and Joe being like "heh idk I guess that depends on what he'll do next" so you could relate to yes, no, maybe. And I think having a story ending with such endless possibilities is great so I really don't mind earing your own version of it, you or anyone else. That's why when I commission an artist to draw Sam I let them free, I don't want them to draw MY interpretation, I want them to draw THEIRS, I love sharing headcanon and theories with people. In fact the way I see Sam (and Hulk's lore) changed so much through people's own interpretation, it's truly fascinating and it's what a fandom should be about, sharing. Oh it doesn't mean you have to agree and adopt these headcanons, far from it, but other people's headcanons won't prevent you from having your own different ones and listening to others can bring very good point you didn't necessarly think about. As much as I love Sam and as much as I know everything about him, comics lore is way too inconsistant to have only one truth and one vision about a character.

[littlediscoveredstars]

I have no idea if the community is still alive, but I’ve been slowly concerted toward Doomcio lately (as a lucio main of course).

So, naturally, my little hamster brain starts running. I wanna write a very specific fic about them but idk if anyone will read it. I’ll still do it, but I really do hope I haven’t missed my people.

The basic premise of this fic will be Talon taking Lucio not long after the re-call. They have a few files on his tech but after Lucio stole it back from Vishkar, Talon really wants to know what it can do. Besides, they’ve wanted that kid gone for a while.

So, they steal him during a mission or something. Moira then goes straight to work with her experiments while Sigma is left to figure out his tech, along with Sombra (idk who is more in character to be responsible for that).

Then -and this is the juicy part- Moira uses Pavlov’s dog style experiments to make it so Lucio CANNOT hurt Doomfist or allow anyone else to. His body reacts before his brain and he’s drawn to Doomfist immediately. She makes him physically and unknowingly emotionally reliant on his safety.

But unknowing tot hem, the same effect happens to Doomfist! He also CANNOT hurt lucio or allow him to be injured. Then starts the frustrating pull they both have physically but they still hate each others guts for lots of reasons.

It’s not the most healthy relationship ship, but it’s the start of this fic, so I’ll work more on how it develops. It may never be healthy, but I highly doubt that’s why the Doomcio fans are here to begin with. It’s juicy and opposites attract Toba dangerous level!