#v: I'm FINALLY Emperor!

[boombambaby]

Woooow

Looks like I'm not the only one after Malina's hottie hot hottie heart.~

what little old me? pfft--

[verysium]

attractive things bllk characters (unintentionally) do?👀

i received this ask and decided to write this entire thing through a caffeine-powered fever dream. may have gone a little overboard. please pray for both your sanity and mine. thank you anon for your strong sense of imagination (or delusion, whichever you prefer.)

nagi lifts the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face, and you accidentally (or not so accidentally) get a good look at the droplets running down his abs and v-line. he also does the doorway lean while waiting for you to get ready. since he's so tall, he puts his one arm up on the top of the door frame while scrolling through his phone. when he feels drained of energy, he clings to you like a koala, face buried into the crook of your neck.

rin pushes his hair back when his bangs get in the way, and it shows off his ridiculously sharp side profile. sometimes you have to pause mid-conversation because the direct eye contact gets too intense. he has the brightest turquoise eyes in existence, and they stare right into your soul. pair that with the height difference and him towering over you. hang onto your ovaries because this man is about to snatch them. if isagi or sae are anywhere remotely close within your vicinity, he will personally drag your chair closer over to him. you know, the whole nick jonas chair pull thing? he also unintentionally clenches his jaw when pissed, the vein popping out and everything.

barou is polite to his elders. he holds the door open for others. he tips extra at restaurants. he is kind to service workers. he's just a gentleman overall even though he likes to act tough. he rolls up his sleeves while cleaning or cutting up vegetables, and you can see the veins bulging in his forearms. wears those form-fitting aprons where you can see the outline of his waist and the muscles in his back. he is not immune to raging pit bull moments, but he will calm down immediately when you ask him to.

kaiser requires physical touch to function. all concept of personal boundaries goes poof in his little ego-driven brain. he holds your chin so you look up at him while he's talking. also has that husky growl when he wakes up in the morning. he speaks german. what else is more attractive than that? if you stroke his ego, he will puff his chest out like an emperor penguin and flash that movie star smile. does not slow down his pace for you, and will laugh at your expense when you trip in heels and fall. but then he feels guilty about it and begrudgingly picks you up and carries you home. however, before that he will make you swear on everything holy to never tell isagi about his moment of weakness. (tbh kaiser is a menace and has some serious self-esteem issues. pls avoid dating a man like him in real life until he is fully mature. i still love him tho.)

reo mansplains but not in the condescending way. he does so in the "omg i'm so excited to finally get to share something with you and you're never going to believe it" sort of way. rambles on and on about his interests and gets that little glint in his eye when he's passionate about something. also not sure if this counts but he gets extremely depressed when you don't message him back within five minutes. what do you mean you were busy? he was out here dying from a literal famine. he needs your affection to survive. last but not least, he is good at styling. he knows what colors work best for you, and he will put together three new looks for you in record time.

hiori dreams that you left him for good and wakes up crying with his arms around you. will refuse to let you leave the bed even if it is just to get a glass of water. his rare moments of emotional vulnerability are what gets to you.

shidou does not condone any of your bad decisions. you want to get shit-faced and party until early morning? no complaints from him. you want to wear sexy outfits to the club? say less because he's about to enjoy the view and knock out the front teeth of every guy who dares to ogle you. i don't know if this qualifies as being attractive, but he would never be the controlling type. you can dress and act however you want. unfortunately for you though, this is also a textbook case of the blind leading the blind. if you get horrendously hungover, so does he. if you get pulled over, he's going to be too blackout drunk to even comprehend the officer's words. you can count on him for a good time, but not anything else. do not take any of his advice at face value.

oliver likes to show you off even if he doesn't notice it himself. any talk with his team, and he will find a way to make the entire conversation about you. at this point, the entire u-20 team is done with him. they placed bets that you two wouldn't last more than a month due to his philandering reputation, but the universe seems to think otherwise because you and oliver hit the six-month mark and are still going strong.

ness guards your drink with an unnecessary amount of protection. while you left to go use the restroom, he was looking left and right, and the hairs on the back of his neck were prickling every time someone even came close to your cup. he also shoos away any person who opens their mouth while standing next to your drink because apparently the condensation from their breath could be dangerous. definitely covers your cup with both hands even if it has a lid. no suspicious shit is happening on his watch.

yukimiya is well-read, and he wears glasses. he has a copy of every single classic out there in existence and will fangirl along with you over your virginia woolf collection. he was written by a woman with two cats and a wine glass. not much else to say.

loki absolutely clears the entire carnival/arcade game. you want that giant teddy bear that costs over three hundred ticket points? say less because he's about to win the whole damn pot. of all characters, i would say he's one of the only green flags. like celery green.

isagi always looks for you when he enters the room. intentionally or not, he always seeks your presence. if someone says a funny joke, he turns to you to see if you're laughing or not. also does that somewhat creepy stare thing where he just looks at you quietly while you do mundane tasks. internally he is screaming cus what do you mean you actually like him?

chigiri gives you that thankful little smile whenever you stand up for him. i feel like people don't understand how goofy he can get as he's canonically good at doing impressions/impersonations. also has the prettiest laugh. if he ever cuts his hair, i think i'm going to get a nosebleed.

noa unconsciously says yes to every question you ask of him. he'd be giving bastard münchen a hard time (and denying isagi's requests) but then immediately once you come over, he's automatically acquiescing to everything you say. the rest of the team is low-key shocked you can win him over so easily. when they confront him about it, he just shrugs and goes "y/n is always right."

kurona's entire existence is attractive. he's just perfect. nothing is ever wrong with him. will let you check out his shark teeth and lightly pokes your finger to leave an imprint. hopefully you'll always remember him that way. he's also quiet so he will listen to everything you say and give ample weight to your words.

sae is my baby girl so he gets a whole section dedicated to himself:

absentmindedly plays with your hair. when you're sleeping in his lap, he'll gently run his fingers along your scalp. sometimes in the morning when you're sitting up on the edge of your bed to do your makeup, he'll come up from behind you and brush back your hair. might also press a kiss to the back of your neck.

helps you put on your face mask. when he's shopping, he will buy you lotion along with his own skincare products. says that it was just a convenient store run but you know he personally made sure to get you the best quality ones.

this is canon because i said so: when he gets out of the shower, he slings the towel over his neck or his shoulder. he also involuntarily flexes his biceps when he bends down to grab something. has the world's most defined deltoids.

when you're stuck in large crowds at the airport, he puts his hand in your back pocket to keep you two from getting separated. if the TSA pat-down is anywhere too personal for his liking, he will openly glare at the officer once you've passed the security checkpoint.

bonus point: when you two brush your teeth early in the morning, he has that little bed head where his shorn-off bangs stick up in cute little tufts here and there. will have a dead look on his face, but his eyes soften when he catches your gaze through the mirror.

[anyarose011]

Agape

Pairing: Lucius x Reader

Summary: After the Roman Empire had fallen, birthing the Republic, you and Lucius had finally found a moment to breathe in each other's presence. Over a few years' journey of healing, you find that is both exhausting, yet all the more fulfilling at the same time.

Part 2 of 2 (Masterlist)

Warning(s): Past SA, Depictions of Grief, Violence, Angst, Miscommunication, Historical Inaccuracies [I tried my best to make it kind of accurate], Nudity (sexual and non-sexual), Mutual Masturbation, Oral Sex (f receiving), P in V Sex

Paul Mescal's facial hair in All of Us Strangers, if you can hear us, please save us. Nobody ask me how I went from "’Oh, I’m just gonna write some scenes about healing from trauma, and the rest is smut! Easy!" to then making it just a little longer than the first part. I'm a yapper, but holy shit XD. Anyway, this is just shameless pRopAgAnDa at what I personally view a husband to act like (even in modern times). So, without further ado, thousands of words of hurt/comfort and smut.

Word Count: 16.4k

You were a lucky child. When you were twelve and your friend was married off to a man who was forty-two, you asked your father when you would be married.

He tucked you in that night, saying that he wasn’t certain, and that you had nothing to fear; for he wouldn’t promise you to a man who was in a war the same year you were born. He would have to know him personally as well, saying.

“It’s easier to like a man than have to plan his assassination if he dared lay a hand on you.”

You like to think he would have approved of Lucius; he was the once heir to the Roman Empire.

You don’t think he would have approved of your…informal marriage.

“A year.” Lucius stated as the two of you sat together in one of the piazzas. “As long as we are not separated from each other for more than three days, Rome will view us as married if we live in the same household for a year.”

You hummed. “And why should we care what Rome views?”

“Men won’t stop their advances on you if they saw you as my sister.” he explained. “Even as a wife, that doesn’t stir them.”

“It’s a very Christian belief of you to have.”

“But it makes them think thoroughly on if they want to risk tainting you.” Lucius finally looked at you. “Knowing that I would break every finger they touched you with.”

Even with his proclamation, you merely shrugged. “Being the emperor’s favorite whore, I doubt they would care.”

He sighed. “Do you want to know what my mother wrote? Her final words that will forever be with me because they are in ink? ‘Take her as your wife.’”

It had only been one day since Lucilla’s death, since Rome had become a Republic, and no one knew exactly what to do.

Yet…even at the mention of her presence, you felt tears spring to your eyes.

How you hated crying; and crying and crying.

“It is wise.” You finally settled on. “The people here too must see me as a traitor.”

“You would be dead if they did.”

“It’s still early.” You smiled sadly. “I desired to be free of the emperors, but all they must have saw was lust for power.”

Lucius sighed. “If it is a concern, then I believe it is best to leave Rome.”

Suddenly, you were no longer afraid for your life. You scowled. “Leave the city you risked your life to liberate?”

“It is not just my own life I need to think of now, is it?”

“Then think of mine.” you began. “I don’t wish to leave. Where would we even go? I know nothing outside of Rome.”

This would have been solved if you somehow still had the house you grew up in. The moment Geta claimed you, it was gone. Even with the fall of the Empire, and the birth of the Republic, you could not take it back.

Among many other things, you could not take it back.

“We’ll live just outside the walls.” Lucius suggested. “A farm perhaps a few miles from here-.”

“-A farm?” You questioned. “You know how to farm? Because I sure don’t.”

“I’ve lived longer on a farm than I have in a palace.”

It shouldn’t have surprised you, but it did. You also weren’t in the position to bargain. Even though it wasn’t going to be what most would deem an ‘official’ marriage, he still owned you. That was how it always was, whether living outside of the Roman walls or not. Still, you had to try.

“I will learn as much as I need to,” You shook your head. “but I will find a job in the city. You cannot believe I will be shut out-.”

“-Do you want to share a room, or would you like your own?”

You furrowed your brow. “What?”

Lucius restated. “We don’t have any money to buy a farm, so I’ll build us one. Do you want your own room?”

You had only known him for a grand total of a day and a half (if you were to add up all the previous times you had spoken to him before Macrinus’ death), so needless to say, his offer shocked you; more so, it impressed you.

“Isn’t it odd for a man and wife to not share a bed?” You asked.

“So, you want to share a room?”

“No.” was your immediate response. “I just…”

Am not used to compromising with men without them threatening my life.

“Won’t it cost money to build a house?” You asked instead. “None the less, more for another room?”

“I only want you to be happy, if we’re to be married.”

There you were, asking every question and not being satisfied with his answers, yet he was remaining patient.

“Thank you.” You bowed your head in thanks for just a second before questioning. “I am still allowed to have a job in the city? It will help with the cost, of course.”

 “Where exactly do you intend to work?”

He said your name; not ‘Julia’, the name you had whispered to him in his cell. Lucius was the only one who had said it to you, for you did not even tell Lucilla or Marcus. It still felt strange hearing it on your lips, nonetheless, his.

Still, shaking your discomfort away, you hummed humorlessly. “I know two women who run their own businesses; hairdressing and tailoring. I’m better at hair than clothes, but not so much. And you?”

He sighed. “I’ll see if there’s any other farmers needing a hand.”

“You’re going to work for a farmer to build a farm?”

“It sounded more bizarre in your head than when you said it aloud, did it not?”

That was the first thing you found out about Lucius after all the bloodshed and heartbreak of the last week:

He spoke with such a straight tone, you did not know he was joking until he would smile just a hint; you couldn’t really call it a true smile.

You managed to grin. “I suppose it makes sense. You should find one that will let us sleep there.”

And he did. A farm just a few miles outside of Rome took both you and Lucius in. It was substantial, housing five chickens, two cows, three pigs, four horses, and seven human children. Albeit the children helped with the chores, but the eldest was only ten and could not manage any of the heavy lifting whatsoever, which was where Lucius came in.

From sun up to sun down, he’d work on the farm. The farmers, Atticus and Diana, let you sleep in the barn of all places. The hayloft was nice for the both of you; enough space to spread out but not be right next to each other. There was also somewhat of a wall between the two of you, giving the illusion of separate rooms.

It was certainly an adjustment for you; had been sleeping on the softest of beds for months, but even so, you just missed the bed from your old house.

Lucius fell asleep the second he laid on the hay.

Dreams and nightmares were always a peculiar thing. Some days, you would dream of your mother and father, some days, they would be of Lucilla and Marcus.

You had nightmares of what befell you before coming to the farm; Macrinus and his manipulation, Caracalla’s temper, Geta…

Yet, the worst that would happen would be you waking up more tired than the night prior. You knew Lucius was having nightmares too, but every time you approached him, he would lie and say he was fine, or simply not want to speak of it.

You stopped asking.

For the first few days on the farm, you were put to work by watching over the younger children when their mother was busy. Somehow, it was the older ones you didn’t mind, it was the youngest baby who was a handful.

It’s morbid to say, but you always wondered how any of them survived infancy.

Luckily, you managed to get back to Rome after perhaps a week of being stranded on the farm. It was almost an hour walk, and you had gotten up even before Lucius had, but it was worth it.

It wasn’t that you felt dead as you were on the farm per say, but walking through the streets brought a certain kind of life back into your steps.

You spent a good portion of the day trying to find the hairdressers you talk to Lucius about. Just as you were about to give up and try again tomorrow, something caught your ear.

Hebrew.

You turned over your shoulder and saw a man speaking in Latin to another man and a pregnant woman. The father had spoken in broken Latin before turning to his wife, speaking quickly in Hebrew as if to ask her what to say.

One of the men began to yell, and you rushed over, speaking to the patriarch of the family.

“What’s going on?” You asked quickly.

His eyes grew as if you were the first person in Rome to understand him (you probably were). “I paid for a bag of peaches fairly; two bronze, yet they’re saying it wasn’t enough.”

You turned to the men behind you. “He says he gave you two bronze for the peaches.”

“It was three.” The Roman man gritted his teeth.

Tilting your head, you tried. “Show me your stand so we may see.”

It was perhaps stupid of you to challenge him; yet, he controlled his tempter and led you to his fruit stand. The sign by the peaches indeed said ‘2’, but there was also a good amount of peaches blocking the bottom half of the sign.

When you moved a few, it read ‘3’.

You smiled, looking at the man who spoke Hebrew. “It is three, but it’s not your fault this brute didn’t notice either.”

He nodded, returning your grin before handing the men another copper. With an few mumbled exchanges, the man and his wife were on their way.

“You have Judeans in your family?” The man crudely asked.

Still, you decided to reciprocate his crassness with kindness. “I actually speak five languages.”

He rose his brows. “Is that a fact?”

“Yes, yes it is.”

He hummed, holding his hand out. “Isidorus.”

“Julia.” Was your immediate response as he took your hand and kissed your knuckles. It wasn’t even your own choice to say that name; it was what you lived by. Retracting your hand, you shake your head and said your own name. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-.”

“-All of Rome knows who you are.” He interrupted. “Do not be afraid of your own people. Most of them were there simply a week ago when you tried to slay Macrinus but was there to comfort lady Lucilla in her final moments.”

You only nodded, not wanting to be praised. “I thank you for your kindness.”

“With certain.” He nodded. “You are with child; only a monster would harm a woman carrying.”

The events of the past weeks had made you forgotten about the false babe. Luckily, the fear upon your face could be used to your advantage.

“Are you not well?” Isidorus questioned.

You dropped your gaze, stammering your tone. “The…I lost the child.”

He looked down as well. “Oh…I’m so sorry.”

“No,” you shook your head. “it’s…it feels odd. His father was terrible but…”

“Why are you perusing Rome unchaperoned?” He changed the subject.

 “My betrothed is being put to work,” you immediately answered. “and I am scouring the streets to find my own.”

“What has your luck been?”

“Nothing.”

Isidorus hummed. “I could change that.”

Even at the thought of what he was alluding to, you smiled. “Good sir, I am not in the position to sell my body-.”

“-None of that.” he waved his hand. “My brother works down at the entrance of the city gates. They’re always in need of translators.”

You nodded, considering. “When may I meet with him?”

“Tomorrow?” He asked. “Midday at the gates with many people watching so you do not feel threatened?”

The two of you laughed, and you agreed. “I shall be there. Thank you.”

“Anything to help a woman of the people.”

You walked all the way back to the farm with a skip in your step. Even at dinner, you were more talkative with the rest of the family. Lucius certainly took notice as the two of you were settling down for the night.

“You seemed better today.” He complimented, laying onto his bed of hay.

“So, I’ve been absolutely horrible the rest?” You teased, peeking around the wall of the hayloft.

 “No, just what I think you were like before everything; more yourself.” He explained. “Did the hairdressers go well?”

Leaning against the wall, you crossed your arms. “I’m actually working as a translator down by the city entrance.”

He gave you a look. “How’d this come about?”

“Well,” you began. “I overheard two men arguing, one was speaking Hebrew, and I asked him what was wrong. There was a misunderstanding over peaches of all things, I helped them talk it out, and it was solved with no bloodshed. The vendor said his brother works at the gates and is always in need of translators and offered to meet with him tomorrow. It will be midday and so many people around; do not worry.”

Lucius nodded. “I’ll accompany you.”

“Did you not hear what I just said? I shall be fine.”

“I have no doubt you would.” You knew that was a lie. “One of the scythes broke today, I’ll need to buy another one in the city.”

You didn’t know if that was a lie or not, but it wouldn’t surprise you if Lucius would sneak out in the night and break equipment simply to go with you.

Sighing, you went behind the wall to your side of the hayloft. “Fine.”

To no one but Lucius’ surprise, Isidorus had not lied about his brother, nor the job offer. Of course, the brother had been off put at a woman being the translator (because everyone knows that they are the lesser sex). Still, after some convincing (you talked to a Greek family, a man from Anatolia, and two brothers from Persia), he said you could be put to work.

Lucius stood there the whole hour you had proved yourself.

“You couldn’t have gotten the scythe while I worked?” You questioned him while walking home.

He kept his gaze on the road before him, carrying the farm equipment. “It was engaging to watch.”

You hummed. “I could see how engaged you were while you stood like this.” You crossed your arms and scowled.

“I did not look like that.” He scoffed.

“You did so!” You refuted, lowering your voice. “My name is Lucius Verus Aurelius, the Last Gladiator, son of Lucilla and Maximus, grandson of Marcus Aurelius.”

He looked down, mouth upturning a little. “I do not sound like that.”

“Is that a smile?!” you gasped. “Gods above, I never thought you could unless you were attempting humor!

“Away with you, woman.”

You only laughed as the sun was starting to set.

There was something called a “Fullmoon” period in a marriage. Most now would say it’s “Honeymoon”, but the period in time where a man and woman were in a complete state of euphoria together was called “Fullmoon” because it only lasted for a month.

You and Lucius (even with your strange circumstance) were not immune to this.

A month later, when you had fully settled into a mundane life of working in different areas for hours upon hours, the only times you saw Lucius was when you ate dinner with the farmer’s family, and before going to bed.

It didn’t’ effect you that much for the first three months, as you both were still on good terms and were fine simply cohabitating without affection. This marriage was purely for protection and to honor Lucilla’s wishes.

Then…Lucius came to you one day, saying that together, you both had enough money to build a farm. He already had a patch of land picked out from the help of the famer who employed him. It was five miles away from the farm you stayed at. Five miles more of a journey to the city.

You would move in once the walls were built, which he said would only take a week or two.

It was too fast for you.

Still, you had to go along with it, because you were to be his wife; nothing more. Even so, nothing out of the ordinary besides your hidden, simmering annoyance happened between you two.

The first day construction was to be done was when light was shed upon it.

“Lucius!” You called his name as you approached him and a few other men hauling the wood and stone that would be used. It was mid-twilight when you ran to them.

He furrowed his brow, walking towards you. “Aren’t you meant to be in the city?”

Grinning from ear to ear, you shook your head. “I asked for the day off because of the house. He said I-.”

“-You need to go back and tell him you’ll work.”

Your smile fell from his usual, monotone demeanor. “He doesn’t expect me to come in today-.”

“-Then he’ll be happy to see you.”

“May I just talk for a moment?!” You yelled.

His said nothing.

Sighing, you began. “I will be useful in any capacity. If you need me to help dig for water, measure supports, lift anything-.”

“-Your shoulder cannot carry-.”

You retorted. “-It might be the shoulder you shot, but it’s the shoulder I have to live with, and I will tell you if something is too heavy to carry.”

It hadn’t been the first time you brought up your shoulder after Rome was free. Yet, in the past, it was always out of good fun; something to say to him when you didn’t want to carry as little as an egg from the chicken coop. You told the children the story too why you had to set one of them down after carrying her for so long.

You expected them to cower away from Lucius when he returned for supper, but instead, they all tackled him to the ground to defend your honor.

They didn’t hurt him of course, and you laughed until you couldn’t breathe.

Yet, at that moment, you said it with nothing but disdain; and he heard it in every word. You thought it would have been enough to guilt him into letting you help, you made sure of it.

Lucius titled his head back toward the main road. “Go on, now. The sun will be up soon, it’ll be better to walk without daylight beating down on you.”

The audacity he had. Usually, on the times you’d have disagreements of sorts, you’d try to leave with dignity; perhaps a word of sarcasm or two.

No, you simply turned on your heel and marched away in a huff.

You were harsher that day when translating, and you were still angry by the time the day ended. You ate dinner outside by yourself (until three of the seven children came outside to eat with you), and did not utter a ‘goodnight’ to Lucius before laying down to sleep.

Neither of you spoke to the other for days after that.

It was one morning, not even when the sun was out, as you tried to tiptoe around him, did he ask from his makeshift bed.

“Do you remember where the house is?”

You nearly fell off the ledge of the hayloft. “What is wrong with you?!”

“Do you remember?”

“Yes!” you whispered, afraid to wake the whole farm. “Why?”

“We made the water pump, and the walls and floors are finished. We’ll be able to sleep there now.”

“I don’t see the appeal in sleeping in a house with no roof.”

“I’ll put half of it on today. Tell your foreman too that you won’t be able to work for the next week.”

You furrowed your brow. “Why?”

“I’m teaching you how to tend to a farm.” He wrapped his blankets tighter around him and turned his back to you.

And you continued on your way; making the long trek to the city, which would only be longer when you moved to the house.

When your work was over, you walked and walked. You took a short break at the farmer’s house, making your final goodbyes to the children, and gathering what little belongings you owned.

As you tried to leave, Diana stopped you. She was leading one of the horses, a berber, behind her.

“Take her,” she handed you the reins. “you shouldn’t have to walk so far.”

You shook your head. “I simply cannot-.”

“-I insist.” She smiled. “She’s yours now. Think of it as payment for helping me with the little beasts that are my children.”

Smiling politely, it soon faded. She took notice. “What is it?”

“…I’ve only ever ridden once, and I was a child.”

She sighed yet was still kind. “Come on, my husband’s horse is at your farm. I’ll ride back with him.”

Despite your inexperience, it was actually nice riding a horse. It was perhaps the closest you could ever come to flying in your lifetime; maybe that’s why you enjoyed it. As you were nearing your soon-to-be home, you saw a familiar silhouette along with some others.

Atop the house, against the setting sun, you watched as Lucius continued to add tiles to the unfinished roof. His shirt was off, and even with night beginning to set in with the cold air, he was still breaking a sweat from the rigorous work. You would be a liar if you say that you didn’t catch yourself staring, and it was Diana who had to take the reins.

“What a fine home!” She broke you out of your trance, and when Lucius looked in your direction, you snapped your gaze away.

Lucius nodded. “All that needs to be done is the roof.” He jumped onto the ground just as you were sliding off the horse. He gave you his hand as you were, and you took it.

“Thank you.”

Atticus and the other workers went to a lone tree where their horses were tied. Atticus then approached both you and Lucius.

“Well,” he smiled. “it was lovely hosting the both of you. Please come back as often as you can; I’m sure the children will miss you.”

You all exchanged your final goodbyes, and it when everyone rode off away from you, did you realize something. This was the first time in a while you were alone with Lucius that wasn’t when going to sleep or waking up.

“Do you have a name for the horse?” Lucius asked.

Turning over your shoulder, you led the steed to the tree, petting her as you began to tie her up. “Not at the moment. She’s yours too, do you have any?”

“You’ll be with her more; you should name her.”

Humming you looked at him when you finished securing the horse. “You asked them to give her to me, didn’t you?”

He shrugged. “They asked how they could repay you for taking care of their children, I mentioned how it would be a longer journey to the city once we moved here. That’s all I did.”

…He was better at asking for forgiveness than for permission; that was another thing you learned about him. Still, you nodded your appreciation, inspecting the area around you. It was quite beautiful even with its plainness. The fields stretched on for miles, and there were no tall buildings to cover the night sky. Even the unfinished house brought a sense of happiness to you.

Something that was, at least partially, your own.

“Where will the barn and chicken coop go?” You questioned.

A hint of a smile played on his mouth, but in Lucius fashion, did his best to hide it. “You were complaining about not having a roof, and now you wonder about things for the animals?”

“Perhaps I’m more interested in farming that you are.”

“I’ll teach you.” he led you into the house. “Come on.”

 The front living space was large, and in the corner of it had an oven, so that was where the kitchen would be. Lucius showed you the two rooms as well; each having a single pillow and a blanket.

“We’ll begin planting tomorrow.” he announced. “I don’t think I’ll have to wake you up.”

“You won’t.” You nodded. “Goodnight, Lucius.”

“Goodnight.” He said your name.

You didn’t think you’d ever get over the sound of your own name from his lips.

You named the horse after your mother. Well…not the exact same name, but a similar one. It was quite a scene too when confessing to Lucius you could exactly remember how to ride a horse by yourself.

He didn’t laugh at you, that was what greatly surprised you. He spent an hour teaching you, and you were able to ride her on your own.

Farming was more difficult than you thought it would be, but not so horrible either. Yes, where Lucius was patient with you for the first few days, he made a few snide comments as time passed. Nothing outright mean, but still enough to get under your skin.

Still, you managed to pick it up within the few weeks after that.

He had even let you help him finish the roof of the house; something you didn’t expect him to do. After living in the house for a month, both of you managed to buy actual beds for your rooms, among other luxuries like a few tables and chairs for the main living area, and utensils both for cooking and for eating.

The bathroom was completely bare. Having spent all the money on everything else, it would take time for the both of you to buy a bathtub. Bathing wasn’t a problem back on Atticus and Diana’s farm, but now being away from them, you would be forced to rely on the public baths in the city…

Even with some bathhouses having baths only for women, that did not stop men from forcing their way into them.

You didn’t mind being dirty for weeks on end.

The two of you fell into another pattern of life; you going into the city and spending hours translating foreign dialogue, and Lucius working on the farm for most days, sometimes accompanying you.

There was…something else strange as well.

It was always a coin toss on what weeks Lucius would speak to you or not.

Yes, he was always a man of few words, but this was different. There were some days when you asked him about his day, he would tell you what boring tasks he did. Than, on others, it was just one word: “Good.”

Never “Bad”, never “Just okay”; only “Good”. Even when you knew it wasn’t, that’s all he would say.

And you could endure it.

It had already been a little over half a year since the two of you started living together. In the eyes of Rome (as mere Plebians), you would be married once a year passed.

This was perhaps the best marriage you could as for as a Roman woman. Still…every day that Lucius would not speak to you only brought more dread upon your shoulders.

When he stopped even looking at you, that was when you went to Diana one day.

“It’s so lovely to see you.” She smiled, setting down two cups of wine and sitting. “It’s felt like ages!”

With her youngest baby on your lap, you chuckled, taking a sip of your drink. “You honestly didn’t need to get the wine out.”

“Nonsense!” She waved her hand. “It’s a celebration just to be in your presence. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you as well.”

“How’s the farm? Lucius?”

“Well,” you took another sip, setting your cup down. “the farm has been alright. I know at least how to properly water crops and know when they’re ready to harvest or not. I help Lucius sometimes, but…he likes things his own way. He was a farmer too, I understand.”

She hummed. “And as a betrothed? I hope having your own home would help; to me, you two treated each other more like acquaintances than anything else.”

All you could do was avoid eye contact and bounce the giggling baby on your knee.

“Ah.” She sighed. “So not much has changed?”

“We both talk more than we had at your far, but somehow, less at the same time.” You explained.

Diana reached over and held your hand, asking softly. “When was the last time you were intimate?”

As if she were a man, you tore your hand from hers. “What?”

“I do not wish anything to be forced upon you,” she stated first. “especially with what has happened to you. But…it is still important, especially to your future marriage.”

“We…we haven’t done anything in…months.” You were not going to tell her you hadn’t even seen him naked. You were not going to tell her you hadn’t done you “duty” as a woman.

She nodded. “There must be something plaguing his mind terribly.”

“I know that!” You cried. “He just won’t tell me.”

“Men do not like talking,” Diana sighed. “I have been married to Atticus for fifteen years, and even after ten children, there are parts of his past I still do not know of. What Lucius frets over is important though. You must dig your heels into the ground and let him know you are not doing anything until he tells you what he has issue with.”

The baby on your lap cooed as you held her, reaching for parts of your clothing. Diana took her from you once the baby started fussing, and you offered her a grateful smile.

“I’ll try my best with him.”

She squeezed your shoulder. “He will come to his senses. If not, then he truly hit his head too hard in the Colosseum.”

Except, you couldn’t confront him when you got home. Even though the sun was only beginning to set, when you arrived, the house was silent. You peeked into his bedroom and saw that he was already fast asleep.

With a sigh, you finished your nightly activities, and when the sun went down, you were in your own bed.

The nightmare was unlike any you had before.

Hands from all around you reached out to you. Some grabbed clumps of your hair, stuck their fingers into your mouth, caressed the most intimate parts of your body, or even tear your skin off.

You blinked and then you were in the palace, surrounded by cloaked figures. Someone forced you onto your back, and you looked up and saw Geta, raising a knife high above his head before diving it into your stomach. He carved it out before digging his hands into the opening he made and pulled out your womb.

After sitting up in bed, you had thought you awoken. When you opened your bedroom door, you were welcomed to a field of reeds, seeing nothing for miles. All but a silhouette in the distance. You could not make out it to be a man or a woman; all you knew was that you needed to run to them.

Yet, even as you dashed through the fields, calling out a name you do not even remember, your feet sank into the ground with each step.

The earth swallowed you whole before you could even reach them.

You didn’t awake with a scream; you didn’t even awake with a cry. You did awake in a sweat. Sitting up, you slowly pulled the blanket away from your body. Your stomach was unwounded, and nothing had happened.

Without knowing why, you rose from your bed and slipped on your sandals. Not even putting on a robe, you walked out of the house into the cold, night air. Numbly, you treaded through the tall grass away from the house and stopped.

The stars above you watched as you fell to your knees, and the past finally had the last laugh.

You wept for your mother (whose touch you never felt).

You wept for your father (who you had to take care of the same way he took care of you).

You wept for Marcus (the first man outside of your father to ever see you as a person).

You wept for Lucilla (the woman who saved you in more ways than one).

You wept for the innocence you lost to the twin emperors (and how you mercilessly killed them).

You wept and wept, until you felt bile claw its way up your throat and out of your mouth.

The tears did not stop even after you were finished.

Two hands grabbed your shoulders from behind, and you tried to tear yourself away with a sharp cry. You were turned around, and even though your tears blinded you, you could see that it was Lucius.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, his eyes grown.

You couldn’t speak clearly, only shaking your head and saying ‘No’ over and over. Lucius led you to the water pump and sat you down by it. Cranking the handle until the water flowed freely, he cupped his hand to catch some of it before gently washing your face.

The cool water grounded you, and your sobs began to slow. Once you were only left with shallow breathing and a stuffed nose, Lucius finally sat beside you.

“What happened?” He asked again, although, returning to his normal, straight-toned self.

“Bad dream.” Was all you said.

He said nothing at first. Then, looking down at the grass beneath him, he said. “Would talking about it help you?”

It was meant to be a helpful question, but it only angered you. “You ask that now? After I run out into the night screaming?”

Lucius squinted his eyes. “Why does that bother you?”

“I know you have nightmares too.” You scoffed. “I have asked you dozens of times if you wish to talk to me about them, and you have always said no. You’ve never once asked me about mine, so how dare you expect me to tell you about it now when you cannot even share yours with me!”

“That’s not fair.” He shook his head.

You stood up, walking back to the house. “You’re right, it isn’t fair.”

He jumped to his feet. “You can’t walk away without telling me why this is troubling you.”

“You first.”

“What?”

You turned to face him. “We are to be married in less than a year, at least ‘In the eyes of Rome’ as you say, yet you do not even look at me anymore!”

His shoulders fell, and he shook his head. “I am looking at you-.”

“-I ask you how you are these days, and you lie to me every time.” You interrupted. “The few instances you allow me to work beside you, you criticize every little thing I do. I understand that I am the farthest thing you wanted for as a wife-.”

 It was that word that struck a chord. Despite saying it every so often those past few months…it was only then it occurred to you that where Lucius was your first husband…you were not his first wife.

He tore his gaze away from yours, as if he knew you had figured it out. You sighed. “Gods above…I’m sorry for what has happened to her, and I will never know the loss of a love like that��but I cannot be viewed as her replacement-.”

“-Who told you that you were?” He sharpened his tone.

You swallowed, knowing that this would all end in tears no matter what you said. “You do not tell me anything. I will never ask you to care for me the way you cared for her, but she is gone-.”

“-I couldn’t do anything after she died but weep and watch her body float into the ocean.” He hissed. “I vowed to kill the man that slaughtered her, and I didn’t. It had been perhaps just a month since her death, did I promise myself to another woman. I have dishonored her memory three times.”

“I do not know how long you need me to apologize for something I could not control, but I will if that means you will stop hating me.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“You hate that I will be your wife!” Your voice was growing hoarse. “I don’t understand it at all. I will be whatever it is you wish me to be in few months’ time, because you will own me. Even if you wish me to be dead, it shall be done because what I want will not matter-.”

“-Must you make everything about yourself?!” He finally yelled. “Would it soothe you if I said I despised every part of you? That if Jupiter himself came down and offered me my old life in exchange for you, I would give you up to him?! Would it give you any peace of mind if I told you I would have rather died in the arena than live a thousand years with you?”

You had expected him to at least pause after he made his confession. To at least have the courage to look you in the eye and watch as the words sunk into your being. Yet, as soon as he finished, he stomped back to the house; and you were alone outside again.

The tears upon your face glimmered from the light in the sky above you, for all you could do was stare at the little farmhouse Lucius had built for you.

How strange that something you once saw as a sign of devotion, was now revealed to be one of complicity.

He had admitted his disdain for your future marriage. You knew that it would be loveless (you would never escape that), but you wished at least for respect. Seeing as how you were not even going to have that, you dragged your feet over to the tree where your horse was tied up.  Mounting her with nothing but the clothes on your back, you raced down the pathway.

For the first day, you had stayed at Diana and Atticus’ farm. You said nothing about Lucius, and tried to spend the most time with the children to avoid any questions.

On the second day, you finally went back to the city. Even though the man in charge of you yelled louder than Lucius had at you, it did not phase you. You merely nodded and returned to work. With what money they paid you for the day, you spent it on a room at the safest inn you could find. You had another nightmare that night. Not as horrible as the one two days prior, but awful enough for you to lay awake until the sun rose.

The third day seemed to be ordinary, until you finished your job, and you were promenading along the market. As you eyed the fruit at Isidorus’ stand, a man came to stand beside you.

“Good sir,” you heard Lucius’ voice. “do you have a wife?”

Isidorus nodded. “I do.”

“What from your stand would you give her if she was angry at you?”

He eyed you before smiling at Lucius. “My ears to listen.”

You turned, promptly walking away. Of course, Lucius followed.

“I didn’t know you confided into strangers about our qualms.”

“He’s not a stranger.” you kept trying to lose him. “And gifts will not suffice for an apology this time.”

He got in front of you, uttering your name. You stopped, sighing. “What else have you come to say to me?”

“That I am a fool.”

Although you weren’t necessarily expecting him to admit it, you only nodded. “You very much are.”

He began. “For my entire life, I was not allowed to be entirely truthful with others. Whether it was how I felt in the moment, or even my own name. I’m not used to the freedom of being candid with one another. And I have been mistreating you; I have provided a home, but I haven’t provided your wellbeing. Ari-.” Lucius paused, breathing through his nose. “Arishat and I lived on a farm, that was all I knew while being a husband. I will love her until the end of my days, but that does not give me the right to neglect you. I will…I will try with all my being to share my thoughts with you.”

You stared at him, feeling as if you would blink, and you would awaken from another dream. Yet once you did and saw that he was still in front of you, you said.

“I didn’t mean to insult your memory of her.”

He shook his head. “I believe she would hit me if she were here and saw how I treated you.”

“Thank you.” You nodded. “Truly, for everything. I…it’s not only you, I don’t know if I will ever feel like myself after…everything.”

Lucius already knew. Still, looking around himself, he then said. “Where is your horse?”

“The inn I’ve been staying at has a stable. You walked the whole way here?”

“It’s what I deserved.”

“You smell horrible.” You mustered a shy grin.

He mirrored you, looking away. “I have for a while.”

“I do as well. I was…I was going to brave the baths; would you like to join me?”

Your offer took him by surprise. Usually, a question like that would be an invitation to more salacious activities to take place. Still, what took him aback more was how you were initially so afraid of the public baths, yet there you were.

“I shall.” He agreed.

Thus, the two of you walked beside one another. There were many baths in Rome, yet it would be challenging to find one that had a separate bath for women and one for men. By the time you reached the third bathhouse, you sighed.

“This will do.”

Lucius shook his head. “I’ll ask the workers at this one if they know-.”

“-No.” You stopped him. “It’s fine. I wish to speak more with you.”

He was still hesitant, but gave in. The two of you entered and drifted off to the separate changing rooms. It was strange that the bathhouse had rooms for the different sex to disrobe, but not baths itself.

After locking your clothes away, you ventured out into the main pool. You were welcomed to an array of naked bodies. You weren’t entirely innocent of course, even before everything. You were never to see any of these people again; it was Lucius you would live with.

Quickly, you disappeared half of your body under the surface of the water and clung to the wall of the large bath. Other people around you laughed and socialized, only putting you more in the eyes of men who only came to the baths for one thing.

Yet, before you could take a moment to worry, your eyes fell to Lucius who entered. You soon averted them and felt the water shift beside you as he entered. You turned to look at him, leveling yourself with the side of the pool, essentially shoulder to shoulder with him. The hear radiating off of his body onto yours reminded you too much of that night months ago; the one where you whispered your name into his ear.

“What were you like as a boy?” You questioned in an attempt to hide how flustered you were.

He hummed. “Why do you ask?”

“If you wish to be more honest with me, than I think it should be best to stary with something minor.”

“I understand. I was spoiled growing up in the palace. Still, I wished nothing more than for adventure. All my life, the mere thought of war and battles were taught as a way to bring glory to the empire; pride for one’s family. I had gotten my foolish wish when Maximus died, and my mother sent me away from Rome.” He paused momentarily, before continuing. “I ran all across the land until I was thirteen, where I finally settled in Numidia. I had changed my named too many times to count and settled upon Hanno.”

Your attention did not waver for a moment. When he was finished you asked. “How old were you when you left?”

“Eight…” There was a sad silence between the two of you. A silence held in almost reverence for all the troubles he had been through. “What about you?”

Even with your uneasiness to answer your starkly different childhood, you did so; also have been promising to be honest with him. You spoke of your father, your past friends, the house you grew up in. He never once looked upon you with envy or hatred.

“Your father sounded like a good man.” He said.

“He was.” You nodded, feeling a weight settle in your chest. "I think he would have liked you.”

“I can only hope.”

The conversation halted after that, unknown if you should wait for him to ask a question, or for you to ask another. Both of your eyes drifted around the bath house as people filtered in and out. When your gaze fell back onto Lucius’ you watched his eyes flicker to something behind you. Before you could utter a word, he placed his hand upon your bare back, bringing his lips to the space between your ear and your jaw.

It all happened so fast you had no time to react, and your body shivered upon the feel of him being so close to you.

“There’s a man eyeing you from behind.” He whispered into your skin. “Don’t look at him, just keep looking at me. I’m sorry.”

You pulled away slightly, doing as he told. He traced circles on your back with his thumb, staring intently at you. Even as you shrunk under his eyes, they did not frighten you.

Deciding to play along, you trailed your hand up his bare arm until resting on his shoulder. You felt his skin erupt into goosebumps and he took a sharp intake of breath.

“Okay?” You asked.

He nodded. “Yes, it’s just…it’s been a while.”

Anyone with any sense knew that meant more than one thing. It had been a while since he felt anyone’s touch; nonetheless, a naked woman’s.

From behind him, you saw a small group of girls all looking at you. They all looked a little younger than you, and acted like so, giggling loudly and talking without a care in the world. It was only then that you noticed they were looking at Lucius.

“Is there someone eyeing me now?” He attempted to tease you when he noticed your gaze.

You nodded, no hint of humor behind your voice. “A good few of them.”

“Is that so?”

You removed your hand. “I wouldn’t mind, you know.”

“Wouldn’t mind what?” He pinched his eyebrows together.

“…Getting your release from a woman that isn’t me.” You were puzzled by his seeming ignorance. “You’re a man, I understand-.”

He said your name with somewhat of gasp. You didn’t listen one bit.

“No, I mean it. I will not be more selfish than I already have been, expecting you to remain celibate because I don’t think I will-.”

Lucius said your name again and you stopped. Even when you did, he said it a third time as if to know he had your attention. He continued to run his fingers up and down your back.

“I will not dishonor you-.”

“-I have been dishonored several times before, it does not matter-.”

“-Listen to me.” He said softly yet firmly. “Even if I desired someone carnally, it is not selfish of you to want my loyalty. I’m not a boy who wishes to bed anything that breathes. I don’t think I can do so with someone I do not have any deep feelings for. You are my wife, and I will not treat you less.”

He didn’t call you his ‘betrothed’. As if, the moment you accepted his apology, you were already his other half. To hear him speak with so much certainty after neither of you knowing what any day would bring…it brought an astonishing comfort you never knew you needed.

“Thank you.” You felt like your heart could beat again.

“You don’t-.”

“-No but I do. I don’t…I don’t think I could give you anything of myself if you wanted it. It’s still…I remember a lot of what Geta did to me, and I forgot it at the same time. It doesn’t happen a lot in my nightmares, but it still does. That one night you found me he…he cut out my womb and held it in his hands. I thought I woke up, but I didn’t, and I think I was in Elysian Fields, but I only saw a shadow. I don’t know what any of that means.”

Lucius let you finish all of the anxiety you had thrown onto him. Still, releasing a shallow breath, he said.

“You die in most of my dreams.” He clarified. “The bad ones, I mean. A lot of people do, but you’ve been in them the most. There are times I see both you and Arishat, or my mother, or all three of you and…those are the worst. The night I found you outside, I couldn’t…I had a horrible dream that I couldn’t even see your face, but I knew it was you when I found you hanging in the Colosseum.”

If the both of you weren’t naked and, in the bathhouse, you would have embraced him. Yet, with the most understanding look in your eyes, you brought your hand to the base of his neck, his loose curls between your fingers. You swore you felt him relax into your touch for just a moment.

“I’ve known everyone to have their own beliefs of dreams.” You whispered. “They’re meant to predict the future, they reflect the past, they are punishments, they are blessings, and they mean nothing. I wonder if it’s possible they are all of them.”

He nodded. “I don’t know what I believe in anymore.”

“I do.” Lucius unknowingly leaned into you just ever so slightly. You grinned from ear to ear, pulling your hand away from him. “I believe you need to cut your hair.”

He chortled. “I’m not spending anything on cutting it. It’s fine.”

“I’ll cut it then.”

“I would rather be stabbed.”

“Oh, quit being dramatic.” you playfully swatted him. “There’s a reason I would’ve been a better hairdresser than tailor.”

The two of you teased one another for a minute longer after that. Than, even though the conversation died, it was not in vain. There was a quiet gentleness and protectiveness as you both shared a short distance between each other while bathing. Lucius kept his eye on you more than you did him, knowing that it was always possible a man could try to take advantage of you.

When all was said and done, you got your horse from the stable at the inn, and the two of you rode back to the farm with a newfound understanding of each other.

More than a year and a half have passed since the fall of the Roman Empire and its subsequent birth of the Republic. Your strange marriage with Lucius grew into a friendship of respect and understanding. You both talked more than you had when you were first betrothed, even if your busy schedules remained the same.

The farm had improved after its first harvest, even raising enough money to build a chicken coop and house a few chickens. The house itself was more furnished, and the two of you managed to purchase a bathtub, no longer needing to use the public ones in the city.

Both of you had changed as well. Even with what minimal farm work you did, it built both your strength and stamina. Lucius had begun to grow out his facial hair; not much for it to be an actual beard, but more so just under his nose. You’d joke about it looking like a caterpillar, to which he would lightly shove you away.

After the intimate discussion the two of you shared, it was only then you both realized you still didn’t know much about each other. Most importantly, the little things that made each of you a person.

So, you’d take time to get to know one another.

You were helping Lucius pull weeds around the crops when you found out he had ripped a monkey’s throat out with his teeth during his very first gladiator fight.

You were reading a collection of poetry one night when Lucius told you that you mouth the words of whatever you’re reading if you find it most interesting.

During supper one night, Lucius ate the entirety of the plate only to then eat whatever else you hadn’t. That was when your theory was proven right; he does forget to eat sometimes.

Both of you had tried to keep the housework to an equal amount; if he cooked one night, you’d clean the kitchen and vice versa. Yet, some remained stagnant; you always cut his hair, yet he always changed the horses’ shoes.

Cutting his hair was perhaps your favorite way to speak with him.

“Remember to clean your sandals before coming in next time.” He reminded you as he sat on a tree trunk outside. “You tracked in mud.”

Standing behind him while trimming small hairs, you shook your head. “My apologies, master of the house; it was downpouring and I was freezing.”

“Serves you right, I’d say.”

You placed the tip of the shears against his neck. “What else do you have to say?”

He snickered. “That you’re an astonishing woman who I am blessed to have.”

“Wrong answer, all lies.” You pretended to stab him, only to bring the shears back to his hair.

“I’m not lying!” Lucius laughed.

You only gave him a ‘tsk’ before continuing. “Are you sleeping any better?”

He said nothing at first. Your eyes drifted down to his hands and saw him pull on his tunic; another telltale sign of his nervousness.

“I keep seeing my mother’s face.” He admitted. “Only her face, nothing else.”

“It was the third night last night, right?”

“Yes.”

You sighed. “Would you want to hear a dream I had a few days ago to make you feel better?”

“Better because it was happy, or because you think I’ll feel happy I wasn’t you?”

“The latter.”

“Tell me.”

You turned his head to the side gently, continuing your work. “I stood in front of the entire senate of Rome, and they were all laughing at me. I don’t even know what I said, they only laughed and laughed.”

“Is that not what happened to you in the waking day?”

“No, they listened…I think.” You shook our head. “It more so angers me that, in the waking life, I presented logic to them, and they still chose Macrinus who showed nothing of the sort.”

“Some men like to speak of only desiring logic yet run away with their emotions once it is presented.” Lucius stated. “What had you told them?”

“That all of Rome would continue to riot if they killed Lucilla.” You said grimly. “I still don’t understand; they had their proof of the rage Rome’s children could feel when their general was killed, the only reason the city did not fall was because Macrinus was slain. I’m done.”

You set your shears down and Lucius stood, shaking the fallen hair off his clothes. He turned to you.

“If it matters at all, I think the only reason this house hasn’t fallen is because of you.”

Grinning from ear to ear, you shoved him playfully. “Away with you, you’re just as much of the reason as I am.”

“I do all that I can.”

There were moments like this where you would not speak of childhood memories or events of your day. These moments were reserved for the days where it felt like time slowed down just to give you two the grace to speak about them in more detail.

With only a single candle between the two of you one quiet night, you told him how you have to walk a different path in the city sometimes simply to avoid brothels; hating the sounds you would hear from inside, the stench of cheap perfume and sweating bodies burning your nose, the men who would brag to their friends about the women they had.

At breakfast one day, before the sun had even rose, Lucius told you about a time when he was ten, still on the run. He had gone into a man’s house with the promise of food, only to then be hit the head with something so heavy, he was knocked out. He had awoken in a dark room, but managed to find a curtained window, and escaped. He never knew what would have happened to him if he had woken up just a minute later.

There was tenderness you shared with him that you had never shared with anyone in your life.You sht

That was only more apparent on one fateful day.

The first bad omen for the day that morning was when you had run out of sugar for breakfast that morning. The second was when your horse was extra stubborn as you rode her into the city; it was so out of the ordinary, you wondered if you did something to make her hate you.

Still, everything was fine once you went to work. At least it was for the first half of the day.

There were aggressive people from across the land coming into the city you certainly had to deal with, but the worst was when a man twice your size bluffed you with a slap. Even so, the other men you worked with had yelled and sent her away.

That day though…there was a woman with a look in her eyes.

You thought you had seen pure rage when you had been with Geta. Yet, that day was a lesson to you; wrath had many faces.

She mumbled in Greek, but you did not know what she said at first. Then, she attempted to speak Latin. You politely told her you could speak Greek, and so with exhaustion, she told you that she was going to visit her mother.

When asked for her mother’s name, she didn’t say it. After asking again, she became enraged, yelling at you that she should just be able to be let in. When you resisted, she grabbed your bad arm, yanking it to pull you closer to her.

The pain shot through your shoulder like a bolt of lightning, and you cried out. She tugged on your hair as the men beside you tried to pry her away from you. Luckily, she didn’t manage to yank any of it out once the men forced her away from you. Tears fell freely over your face as you cradled yourself, unable to stop the sobs from leaving your lips.

They let you leave early yet paid you as if you were there the whole day.

The ride back to the farm wasn’t any better, but at least your steed took notice of your heartache and was more merciful to you. When you made it home, you slowed her down when you saw Lucius limping towards the house.

You both stopped where you were, staring at one another as if you weren’t supposed to be seeing the other.

“Why are you back so early?” He asked first.

“Why are you dragging your foot?” You asked second.

Lucius took a deep breath, and you saw tears in his eyes. “I fell.”

The only time you had seen him cry was when burying Lucilla; it wouldn’t be from simply falling. You slowly pulled yourself off your horse but did so quick enough before he could rush to help you. You wished nothing more than to pull him into the warmth of the house, to sit him down and tend to his wound to distract you from your own.

Yet, the moment you took his hand, he began to weep.

“Oh Lucius.” You whispered, bringing your hand up to cradle his face. He wrapped both of his arms around you, bringing you onto the ground with him. You yelped a little when he squeezed your bad shoulder too tight, and he pulled away.

“What happened?” He asked.

You shook your head. “You need-.”

“-What happened?!”

Knowing he wouldn’t stop asking, you told him. “Someone at the gate attacked me. Pulled on my bad arm, my hair…it wasn’t as bad as you’d think-.”

“-Where is he?” He lowered his tone and his demeanor.

Your jaw dropped into a surprised huff. “She is long gone by now, and even if she wasn’t then as my husband, you should stay with me instead of wandering the streets of Rome hoping to find someone to be your anger’s victim!”

Though he still wore that rage upon his face, it soon fell once he saw your own tears fall from your eyes like dewdrops on flowers. Lucius laid himself flat on the dirt, and you sat above him.

“I have been married to you longer than I had been to Arishat.” He confessed. “I knew her for longer, but-but not as deeply; no, I-I knew her more than…I don’t…It’s been long since her death, yet there are moments I think of her, and I cannot stop crying.”

You never knew this was in his heart. You knew to never speak of Arishat, only listen whenever he would bring her up (even so, it was once in a blue moon).

“I’m sorry.” He sniffled, trying to pull himself together. “I know she is gone, and I shouldn’t be-.”

“-You shouldn’t what?” You interrupted. “Remember her? You think I wish for you to forget the woman you so loved?”

He shook his head. “No, but it’s selfish of me to-.”

You were the one to make him lose his words this time. With both hesitation certainty, you placed his head into your lap. It was too late for you to stop once you did, and you felt your own body tense. Then, upon taking a look at his body battered from rigorous work, and another at his face, which relaxed with his eyes fully shut, you ran your fingers through his hair.

“Lucius,” you sighed. “never will I think you are a horrible man for mourning her. You missing her shows just how much you adored her, and how she was a treasure to you. In another life, above all, I wish I could have met her. You are not in the wrong for wanting to see her again. I know you do not love me-.”

“-I do love you.” He opened his eyes upon saying it.

Your heart felt as if it was going to beat itself out of your chest and run away when he said those four words. To preserve your sanity, you took it a different way and smiled sadly.

“Not in the way you loved her.” You said softly. “But what else more can I ask for in a husband than one who treats me with a gentleness I did not know was possible? One who has been there to protect me even before we were married?”

Lucius took a deep breath, rubbing his face to clear away his tears. “You’re too good to me.”

“Gods above,” you groaned tiredly. “we can go back and forth on who deserves each other. Let us just go back into the house, have supper, and sleep.”

“I would like that.” He hissed as he went to stand.

Helping him, once he was on his best foot, you said. “You never told me what you did to your leg.”

He looked behind him at the field. “There was a snake and a rock.”

You gave him a look. “And what happened with them?”

“I don’t wish to speak of it.” He said grimly.

In any other instance, you would have laughed. Yet, as his eyes were still heavy from crying, you just nodded. The both of you helped each other into the house, and you sat him down on one of the several cushions in the living area.

“Your arm,” he asked. “how bad is it?”

You shook your head. “Just really sore. I think she might have left a nasty bruise or two somewhere, but I won’t know yet.”

“Put one of the cloths in the pot with water and put it over the fire.” He told. “Take it out after a few minutes, let it rest for another, then put it on your shoulder. It should help.”

“Thank you.” You stood, doing so, saying. “I swore we had bandages somewhere. I’ll make something for you to drink too; I bought some herbs just last week.”

He nodded, not taking his eyes off of you as you worked. If it were any other man, you would have felt unsafe; yet, it was only Lucius.

Little by little that night, both of you helped heal one another.

Half a year passed since that night, and you and Lucius had only grown closer. Perhaps as close as you could be with a man who was not your husband by choice.

Not much on the farm had changed; you two were living comfortably, and happily, almost making all the turmoil from the first year worth it. The both of you decided to make more visits to Atticus and Diana’s home, realizing just how much you both missed having someone to talk to outside of each other; but that did not mean you had to keep things hidden of course.

If anything, you shared everything with each other.

So much so, that when Lucius asked you why you held onto him longer when he embraced you on your birthday, you told him the truth.

“I don’t want every time we touch to be when it is in turmoil.” You explained, growing meeker. “And I…I’ve missed the feeling of it when it has not been forced upon me.”

Lucius stared at you with a look you had never seen from him. He had been gentle with you many a times, but they way his eyes fell into yours…

He took a step closer to you, and when you showed no sign of discomfort, he took your face into his hands. Your eyes shut at the feeling of him, and he pressed his head against yours. Never in your life had someone’s breath upon your skin feel so immaculate.

From there on out, it always seemed like you had to have a hand on each other one way or another.

It started with holding hands whenever walking through the city together. He used to ‘lead’ you through the crowds in the past, but more so with a hand hovering over your back. No, him holding your hand meant he would have to go where you would go if anything were to happen.

Alongside this, he’d reach over and hold it at Atticus and Diana’s house; whether it was during dinner, or simply just talking. The eldest child had said what the rest of the household had been thinking.

“They’re finally acting like they’re married!”

Because even when there were no other eyes besides yours, he would still hold your hand. You wonder if it ever became a way for Lucius to ground himself; because it certainly did for you.

You hugged him more often as well. Those used to be for ‘substantial’ occasions; those being celebrations or heartbreaks. Now, they were incorporated into greetings and goodbyes. Of course, it only took a few weeks before they were than made into simple desires.

He would be cooking dinner, and you would come beside him to embrace him. You would be gathering eggs from the chickens, and he would wait for you to set the basket down before tossing his arms around you.

At night, it was normal for you both to trade spots as one of you would read a story, and the other would have their head in the other’s lap.

This happened on so many occasions, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise for what Lucius proposed next, but it did.

“If you don’t favor the question I’m about to ask you, then you are allowed to never speak to me again.” He said, his feet hanging off the arm of the lecti couch you both bought that year.

“Well,” you scoffed, sitting on the end of it. “I will have to speak to you again because we live together.”

“Would you want to sleep in my room tonight?” Never in your life had you thought that would have been his question. When you didn’t speak right away, he backtracked. “I don’t expect you to. I understand if-.”

“-The nights are growing colder.” You stated, no visible uneasiness. “I’ve noticed it, and I don’t think any number of blankets could warm me.”

He swallowed thickly, and this was perhaps one of the first times you’d ever seen him like this. “Yes…it’s cold.”

You nodded, and another beat of silence fell between you two. Standing up, you tugged at the seams of your dress. “I-I’ll go change.”

“Yes,” he sat up. “I shall as well.”

Disappearing into your room, you tossed your day clothes off then slipped on a nightdress. After pacing around the floor for a few moments, you gathered the courage to go out into the hall and knock on Lucius’ door.

It was opened as if he was standing right behind it.

He wore just a plain, tattered tunic, and said nothing; yet, you caught his eyes run down you before immediately bringing them back to your face. You were not even in his room yet, and already your body grew warmer.

“May I come in?” You asked.

“Yes, of course.” He stepped aside and you entered.

Somehow, you were no longer man and wife; you were two people who had just discovered a strange, yet burning, feeling that you both held for one another. A feeling that you were both afraid to say aloud…because then it would be real.

The only light in his room was from the moon just peeking through the curtain of his one window. Looking around, you saw that it was still just the bare minimum; a bed, a small table beside it with a lamp, and a dresser. The only others things of note were his sword leaning against the wall, and just a few dirty clothes on the floor.

“I-I tried to clean before you came.” He mentioned.

“Is the rest under the bed?” You asked.

He chuckled. “Yes.”

Before you could change your mind, you pulled the covers off one side of the bed and slid under them. Glancing behind at Lucius, you saw him wear a look where you knew he wanted to say something.

“What is it?” You asked.

“That’s usually the side I sleep on but-.”

You rolled over to the other side. “Are you content now?”

He wheezed, moving to his designated side, slipping under the covers. “Very.”

“Good.” You smiled up at him.

His own mouth lowered as you could see him thinking. He then said. “I don’t expect us to do anything.”

You watched as his eyes dropped from you, as if it was too invasive just to merely look. Thinking from only your heart, you scooted closer, resting your hand on his arm. You ran your fingers up and down his muscles, but then guided his arm to wrap around your waist.

“Okay?”

He hummed, pulling you just a little closer. “Yes.”

“And we’ll just lay together?” You whispered. “Nothing else?”

“Nothing else.”

And that’s what you did. The compete truth was that you would caress him only to remind yourself that it was Lucius and not Geta. His arms, his back, his face…he was nothing like him.

After a few more nights, you told him that as you both lay awake, unable to sleep. He had pulled you on top of him that night, saying that you could see his face better in the moonlight. You only giggled, hiding your face in his chest; even that was too much for you.

It was easier to tell each other things in the darkness. You always knew that, but with being in the same bed (you had not gone back to your room for a week), the words flowed out of both your mouths.

“After my father died,” you said one night as you laid on your side facing him. “I would stroke my own hair or even my arms and pretend they were someone else’s. Even when I was with Geta.”

Lucius stared at you, then immediately began to caress your cheek. You shut your eyes, sighing at the feeling.

“I never thought I’d be able to sleep next to another woman again.” He whispered.

“And now?” You looked into his eyes.

He stopped his movements, but did not remove his hand. You watched every part of him. How his chest heaved shallowly, his arms tensing ever so slightly, but his eyes…gods his eyes. They were heavy as they looked at you; a look that made your heart flutter and not shutter.

Swallowing your fear, you sat up and inched closer to him. Your face hovered above his, and your breath heated his skin. His hand continued to trace shapes about your cheek, and shutting your eyes, you placed your lips upon his.

It was the gentlest kiss you ever shared with a man.

You had pulled away, dreading to see how he felt. When your eyes befell his gentle smile, and his other hand came up to cup your face, you kissed him again.

And again, and again, and again.

You climbed upon his lap without pulling your lips away from him, wrapping your arms around his neck. He sat up, his own arm encircling your waist and drawing you impossibly closer.

Lucius parted from you, and as you whined at the loss of his lips, they soon settled upon your cheek, and then your jaw, and then your chin. Your heavy pants turned to soft grunts as he kissed down your neck, his mustache scratching your skin in just the right way.

Your hands settled into his hair the lower he traveled, moving your night gown off your shoulder to kiss your collarbone. You felt yourself becoming intoxicated from him, and only then noticed you had been for a while.

Oh, how you wished you could bottle up his laugh, his strength, his stubbornness, and get drunk every night. His kisses only added fuel to the fire that was your desire for him.

He sunk his teeth into your skin, and your body, once enflamed, ran cold.

“No!” You tore yourself from his lap, nearly falling off the bed.

Lucius said your name, leaning forward on instinct but soon stopped once he saw you crawl away. “I’m sorry.”

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. All you knew was that you needed to go, so you did. Cradling yourself in your arms, you got up from his bed, rushing out of his room and into yours.

You half expected him to knock on the door, then, when you wouldn’t answer, him yell and curse you before breaking it down. Yet nothing of the sort happened. You heard his own door open, and you saw his shadow on the other side, but he did not touch your door. He left after a moment of waiting.

When his own door shut, did you finally cry.

You told yourself that night, you would wake up far earlier than Lucius would so you simply wouldn’t have to see him.

When you awoke, you did the exact opposite. You laid in your bed, trying to return to sleep, only to be forced to lie in the dark. The sun rose into your room, and you heard Lucius’ door open. Still, you did not get up.

It was quite comedic, actually. With your door still shut, he knew you were still home. How he tried his best to keep quiet for you, yet his footsteps had always been heavy, the front door had always creaked, and you could always hear him cursing under his breath every time.

When you knew he had left the house, that was when you stood from your bed, slipping on your sandals. You didn’t bother changing out of your nightdress, leaving your room, and then the house.

Lucius was amongst the chickens when he saw you. He didn’t bother hiding the surprise upon his face at the sight of you. You walked to him until there was little space between you.

“Last night-.”

You took his hand from his side, placing it upon your face. He rubbed your cheek with his thumb as if it was natural. Kissing the palm of his hand, you trailed it down to your clothed breast. He breathed your name with hesitance, but you shushed him. You held his hand there, not taking your eyes off him.

“I will show you, one day.” You told him. “I will show you the mark Geta had made. The one where I myself can scarcely see it, yet I know that it haunts me. But now…” You brought your other hand up to his face, tracing your thumb over his lip. “I just want you to understand.”

He kissed the pad of your thumb, nodding. You embraced him, and he held you with both gentleness and ferocity. The rest of the day carried on as normal, yet you aided him with the chores on the farm.

You went to bed with him that night, but it was the first time he did not entrap you in his arms. You knew he was still afraid of hurting you, but you would be a liar if you said you weren’t thankful for the space.

Still, he would feel your touch every day; whether it was something as small as brushing his hand, or as substantial as kissing his cheek.

As the both of you lay awake one night, you played with the sleeve of his tunic.

“Could I lie on top of you?” You asked.

Lucius looked over at you, nodding. “You never need to ask.”

“I want to.” You climbed on top of him, straddling his lap. “I never want to force you to do anything.”

His eyes fell to your hips before returning them to your face. “I’ll tell you if I wish to not do something. I hope you know you can as well.”

“I do. Would you like to touch me?”

“Where do you want me to touch you?”

You moved his hands to your hips, which he held firmly, yet not enough to hurt you. You leaned down so your lips touched his.

“No teeth.” You said.

“No teeth.” He repeated.

Lucius sighed into your mouth as you kissed. Despite how you were on top of him, the kiss was sweet, shy even. When you pulled away, you trailed your lips from his cheek to his ear.

“Do you dream about me?” You rasped.

He said nothing, and you continued to kiss every part of his face besides his lips.

“It’s okay.” You kissed his Adam’s Apple. “I want you too.”

“Yes.” His breath hitched.

“What was I doing in your favorite one?” You kissed his pulse point.

“You,” he breathed sharply through his nose. “you’re touching yourself.”

“Would that please you?” You sat up in somewhat surprise, resting your hands on his chest. “To watch me do so?”

He shook his head. “I want to do what pleases you.”

It felt foreign to hear someone say they want you to feel good. Instead of cowering from it, you faced it head on. You kneeled for a moment, hiking your gown up to your hips before sitting back on your ankles,  exposing yourself to him. Lucius’ jaw clenched at the sight of your naked center, and he drew his hands away from your hips, falling them into fists upon the mattress.

“I wish to watch you as you watch me.”

Without looking away from you, he drew his hand down to his cock, pulling it out from under his tunic. Your eyes grew just a hint. There was no doubt upon him being more well-endowed than others, but it was still different from how you imagined.

Shutting your eyes, you trailed your fingers over your cunt, your thumb playing with your clit. The sounds of Lucius’ smothered grunts, and the skin of his cock on his fingers only added to your pleasure. Digging deeper and moving faster, you felt a coil within your stomach tighten when you opened your eyes and saw as Lucius’ gaze bore into yours.

Light moans escaped your lips as your hips moved with a mind of their own, watching the man beneath you take pleasure from his own hand. It was him chanting your name like a prayer that sent you over the edge. With your eyes shut, the coil within you snapped, and pleasure filled your veins.

Not long after, you felt a warmth coat your nightdress. Opening your eyes, you looked down and saw the white-hot residue of Lucius’ release. Your gaze drew to his cock, still clutched in his hand, yet red with droplets of white running over his knuckles.

You don’t know what possessed you to, but you lowered your mouth down to clean him with your tongue.

“Gods be good!” He huffed, laughing your name.

“What?” You wiped your mouth.

 “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Grinning like the devil, you slid off the bed, walking towards the door. “I hope it’s a pleasant one then.”

He sat up. “Where are you going?”

“To change. You dirtied me as well.” You teased.

“Take one of my tunics from the dresser.”

It almost made you laugh that he didn’t want you to leave for even a second. You opened the top drawer, grabbing the longest tunic you could find before facing him. “Close your eyes.”

He laid on his side, putting a pillow over his head. Many would find it strange how the both of you would see the most intimate parts of yourself while doing one of the most intimate acts together, yet you didn’t want him to see you naked.

But Lucius never thought of it as strange. He knew what you had been through, and never once judged you.

When you were clothed, you slid into bed, wrapping your arms around his body and pressing a quick kiss to the back of his neck.

“You’re a good man, Lucius Verus Aurelius.” You whispered. “I will tell you that until the day you die, or when you finally believe me.”

He squeezed your hand, relaxing into your touch. You never slept so peacefully until that night.

You always had to see him whenever he would touch you so intimately. There would be nights where there was only a single candle in the room either while he caressed the swell of our breasts, or the inside of your thigh as you sat on his lap.

His fingers were too much for you at first, but he never ridiculed you. When you whimpered at the feeling, he retracted them, kissing your eyes. You asked him again to try, and he whispered praises into your hair as the pain from a dry spell soon turned into pleasure.

It was usually at night did these moments of exploration occurred. In the day, the most you would ever do was kiss. That is, until the first time you cut his hair since the discovery of feelings.

“I don’t want to get hair on your floor.” Lucius said as he sat on the floor, leaning his back against the foot of your bed. It was hotter than sin that day. He wore nothing but a loincloth, but that barely did anything to help him from the heat. You wore essentially a thin shift that would usually be under your dress; yet again, because of the heat, that was all you wore.

You sat on the bed, legs draped over his shoulders as you cut his hair. “It’s your floor too. You built the house.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I haven’t slept here for a while now. Besides, I will clean up.”

“I had no idea you favored doing domestic work now.” He turned and pressed a kiss to your knee.

You slapped the back of his head. “Don’t move! I’ll give you a bald spot if you do so again.”

“Yes, my mistress of the house.” He joked.

“You’re horrible.”

“You just told me I was a good man not so long ago.”

“And I can just as easily revoke that title.”

He stayed silent the rest of the time, but not from any underlining anger. Simply from his at ease posture, you knew he was smiling.

He smiled more those days.

When you were finished, you tossed your scissors aside, but Lucius’ hands settled upon your thighs, not allowing you to get up. You scoffed.

“What is it?”

He turned to face you, kneeling up to meet you. “I wish to try something, but only if you wish it as well.”

You rose your brow, but smiled, kissing his nose. “It will be difficult if I do not know what it is.”

Without drawing his eyes away from yours, he slid his hands up your thighs, bringing the bottom of your shift with it. It seemed normal at first, but once he lowered his mouth, your chest tightened.

“What are you doing?” You asked.

“I want to kiss you there.” His breath caressed your cunt and you mewled at the feeling. “I think you’ll enjoy it, but we don’t have to.”

Your heart changed from beating in fear, to then in anticipation. You loved how he kissed your lips, and every inch of your skin that was not covered, what would it feel like to have his lips there?

Kissing the top of his head, you laid on your elbows, nodding.

“Let me hear you say it.” He nosed the inside of your thigh.

“Yes.” You sighed. “Please.”

He lowered his mouth back down, pressing the lightest of kissed onto your center. You groaned through shut lips, only for them to part open as the hairs of his mustache tickled you whilst he began to lap at your wetness.

Tossing your head back, you sat up, running your hands through his hair, unconsciously rolling your hips to meet his mouth. His groan reverberated through your body, only adding to the pleasure you were feeling.

“Lucius, Lucius,” you babbled his name until it didn’t sound like a word.

His nose bumped against your aching clit the same time his tongue penetrated your cunt. You yelped as that familiar, tightening feeling swept over you. His half-lidded eyes would stare up at you every once in a while, as he would continue to drink from you as if he had been stranded in the desert. Just as you were on the brink of release, you drew him away from you.

“What-what is it?” He huffed. “What’s wrong?”

You shook your head, pressing your lips to his before scooting further up the bed. With one last breath, you pulled your shift over your head, revealing your bare body to him. His gaze ran over your figure unashamedly.

“Come here.” You beckoned.

He crawled onto the bed and over your body, yet still looked at your face. You took his hand and laid it over your breast. His body ran cold at what was on the side of it. A bite mark.

“He branded me all those years ago.” You confessed. “And it has not left since.”

Geta…

You ran your hand up his chest. “I love you, and I trust you with every part of my body. I need you to know that.”

“I love you.” He echoed, pressing the tenderest of kisses to the mark and you gasped lightly. “I have for so long now; I…I need you.”

“Then have me.”

He sat back on his knees, unwrapping his loin cloth and tossing it to the floor. Precum leaked from his sweltering cock as it stood upright like a pillar. You crawled over, kissing every inch of his face and climbing into his lap. He drew his arms around your waist, his finger tracing circles into the small of your back.

“I don’t know how long I will last.” He puffed heavily. “It’s been so long.”

“I just want you inside of me.” You kissed his jaw, taking his cock into your hand and sinking down onto it. It had been a while for you too, and while you were soaked, it was not enough to completely subside the tightness. “Just…wait.”

“I could die happy if all you wanted was for me to remain still as you’re above me.” He said into your ear.

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, sinking your nails into his skin because that was the only way to remind you that he was still there. The further you sunk down on him, the easier and more pleasureful you felt.

“I’m going to move now.” You said into his shoulder, and you did.

Slowly, at first you relished in the quiet slapping of skin and the breath moans leaving both you and Lucius’ lips. He trailed a syrupy line of kisses down your throat until he bowed his head to place them upon your chest.

“Your name,” Lucius said into your skin. “tell me your name.”

You gave him a look as you rolled your hips into his, yet sighed your name.

“Again.” He breathed, latching his lips around the tip of your breast.

You did.

“Again.” He kissed the hollow of your throat.

You leaned into his touch, saying your name a third time.

He repeated your given name, than following it with ‘Aurelias’. Your movements stilled, yet he did not care.

“You are the most cunning woman I have met, and you are my wife.” He stated, never looking away from you. Tears sprang to your eyes when you saw the same for him, and you gave him a messy kiss before resuming faster this time.

After months of being called a name that did not belong to you, especially whenever in the bedroom, Lucius was doing everything to remind you that you were yourself again as you felt pleasure.

It felt as if, after two years, ‘Julia’ was finally gone.

You chanted his name as if it was your favorite prayer, burying your hands in his hair and kissing his lips.

“Lucius, Lucius, Lucius…”

Because, just like you, how long had it been since his true name was uttered whilst in the throes of pleasure?

He moaned into your mouth, holding onto you tighter. You squealed when he rose up onto his knees, latching your legs around his waist and only crying out sharply when your throbbing clit ran across his pubic hair.

“Come on, come on,” he urged into your ear. “I know you can give it to me.”

“Lu-Lu-!” You moaned, running your nails over the thick field of muscles that was his back.

He said your name over and over again, until it was one word that was the end of you.

“Please.”

You came with your vision blinded from the state of euphoria you had reached. Lucius still held you above him even as his legs began to quake, bouncing you on his cock. You felt as though you were suspended in air when his groans stammered, and you felt strings of his cum paint the walls of your cunt.

Slowly, he lowered the two of you onto the mattress, laying you on your back like you were the most precious treasure in the world. You kept your legs around his waist, breathing with him with your chests glued together from your sweat.

“Lucius-.” You began, trying to shift under him.

“-Just,” he grunted. “just another moment. Please.”

How could you deny him? Every kiss he gave was loving as he laid upon you. His cock had grown soft, and even you were aware that you could’ve fallen asleep if you weren’t careful.

When he pulled away from you, you let out an involuntary whine.

“I thought you wanted me to get off you?” He kissed your stomach when he stood up.

You shoved him playfully. “Just clean me up and come back.”

“So controlling.”

Still, he did what you asked, bringing a soaked washcloth from the bathroom and cleaning you. You groaned out of both the cold water hitting your hot skin, and the heat from the air itself.

“We should’ve waited until night.” You whined.

“Why?”

“I’m suffocating from the air outside!”

Lucius hummed, tossing the washcloth aside and looming over you. “Then that forces us to wear nothing today, so that we might cool down.”

You nodded. “Perhaps you aren’t as feeble minded as I thought.”

He settled behind you, tossing an arm over your waist and pulling your back to his chest. Even though his cock pressed against you, the two of you were completely exhausted from the heat of the day’s work, and the heat of what took place only moments before.

The only sound was that of the cicadas singing in the summertime. Sometimes, a breeze or two of wind would bounce the curtain off the window, but for the most part, just the even breathing you shared with Lucius was all you could hear.

Lucius’ mustache rubbed your skin when he placed a kiss to your neck. “What’s going on inside of your mind right now?”

You grinned. “A proper wife would say that I was thinking of you.”

“But that’s not what it is.”

“It’s something that has nothing to do with anything of note.”

He squeezed you. “Spit it out, woman.”

Sighing, you felt a sense of dread in your heart; both for your thoughts, and also how your husband would react. So, you tried your best to explain it.

“Do you even wonder how you will be remembered?” You began. “Spoken from mouths? Written in books? Painted on walls? They’ll remember Lucius, the Lost Son, the Last Gladiator…What will they remember of me, if anything? Rome’s Cleopatra? Her Delight? A whore to the twin emperors? I like to fantasize that they will name me the first woman who sat upon the emperor’s throne, even if it was as the last of its consul. Yet, even if they name me…I will be Julia. The name of a slave, the name I only accepted when he would press me into the bed so roughly. I only survived because I would need to tell myself that he was doing all of it to Julia, not to me.”

It felt quieter in that room, even though the sounds outside did not cease. Lucius gently turned your body towards him, and he stroked your face with the back of his hand.

“You’re crying,” he uttered your name, frowning.

You wiped your eyes, wanting to hide from him. Yet, he did not allow it, pulling your hands away from you and wrapping them around his shoulders.

“Would you wish I remain silent, or share with you what is in my head?” He asked.

“Talk to me.” You answered.

“I never cared of what history would see of me.” He stated. “Even as a boy. I know that we are different in most aspects of life, but I believe it serves no one to wonder away how we will be viewed long after we are dead. I do not care if or what a stranger thinks of me in a lifetime later. I care how Atticus and Diana see me. I care what their children think. Above all, I care of what you see me to be.”

You pressed your head against his. “You’re pigheaded and quite foolish sometimes.”

“And it matters you say that.” He pulled you closer. “Because that is what you will tell others when I pass on.”

“You know I don’t think that is all you are.” You remined him.

“I do.” He nodded. “I will know you for your wit, and your protective nature, and your kindness.”

“I never truly thought of myself as kind.” You gave a pained smile.

“That is how I see you.” He kissed your brow. “And what I will say with my last dying breath.”

You wondered how such a man as himself could exist at the same time you did. A man who hated you prior to everything yet laid with you in bed. A man who treated you with a tenderness you never thought possible.

A man who could be the last person on earth with you, and you would only feel at peace.

You did not need to say anything to him. Simply by the innocent smile that spread across your lips, did he know. You fell into the most comfortable of silences together as you laid naked in the summer heat.

The both of you were lost to time as we all shall be one day.

Perhaps you lived on that farm for the rest of your days, or perhaps you moved to a different land.

Perhaps you had ten children, perhaps you had only one, or perhaps you had none and were content with each other’s company.

Perhaps you died before him, perhaps he died before you, or perhaps you both passed onto the Elysian fields together.

All that truly matters, at the end of all things, is the life the two of you led together, and what you and loved ones remembered the most of it.

[edenesth]

Scarlet Requiem

Pairing: emperor!Baekhyun x empress!reader

AU: historical au (Goryeo era)

Word Count: 4k

Summary: In his reign, Baekhyun strived to be a virtuous emperor, all for the sake of his kind-hearted empress, steadfastly resisting the temptations of power that had corrupted those before him. He held onto the belief that this was the key to securing her eternal presence by his side. Yet, he learned, to his heartbreak, that this very resolve would lead to the cruellest loss of all.

Genre: heavy angst

Trigger Warnings: major character death, violence, gore, lots of blood

MAIN MASTERLIST

"Capture that demon before she flees!"

Her hands trembled as she gazed at her reflection in the ornate gold mirror. Once healthy skin now bore a sickly pallor, brown eyes turned crimson, tears staining her cheeks red. Even her jet-black hair had transformed to snowy white. Confusion and fear gripped her as she struggled to comprehend the inexplicable transformation.

As guards roughly seized her arms, she pleaded, "No, please! I've done nothing wrong! I don't understand any of this!"

"Of course, you'd deny it, Your Imperial Majesty," sneered the Minister of Rites, one of many who had urged her husband, the emperor, to accept their daughters as concubines. "Little did you know, those potions you received from the royal healer for the past month were meant to reveal your true nature by shedding your human guise."

Horror pierced her heart as realisation dawned. The tonics meant to maintain her health had been a ruse. She had been poisoned, it explained the sudden and alarming changes in her body and health.

"You," she whispered, the weight of the truth settling heavily upon her. "It was all you."

She was not naive; she understood the ministers' discontent with her influence over Baekhyun throughout his reign. Their persistent attempts to sway him, offering their daughters as concubines to bolster their own power and threaten her position, had not escaped her notice. Their frustration must have reached its zenith when her husband adamantly refused their advances, steadfast in his commitment to her as his one and only empress.

"Hm? I'm not sure I understand what you're implying," the man smirked, his deceptive tone belying his words. "We've long suspected there was more to you, Your Imperial Majesty. It appears you're indeed a demon, effortlessly manipulating the emperor. Surely a man of his stature would desire more than one woman by his side?"

Struggling against the guards' grasp, she retorted weakly, "You vile cowards. You'll rue the day my husband learns of this..."

The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, revealing their sinister plot. They had bided their time, seizing the perfect opportunity amidst the chaos of war. With Baekhyun, the virtuous emperor she had wished him to be, leading the army, they saw their chance to poison her, framing her as a demon to eradicate her while he was away.

"Or perhaps we'll witness the rise of the ambitious emperor we've long awaited. He will finally be able to reach his full potential without you here obstructing his path," he sneered, gesturing towards the approaching healer with another bowl of poison. "Just comply and drink your tonic, Your Imperial Majesty. Your suffering will soon end, and our nation will thrive under the rule of a new emperor, liberated from your naive ideals."

As the sinister men tightened their grip, she sobbed in agony, the relentless headache from the past month resurfacing with a vengeance. Each touch felt like a dagger through her skull, each word a cruel reminder of her plight.

With an apologetic bow of his head, the healer cupped her jaw, his hands trembling as he forced the bowl of poison towards her lips. "Forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty," he whispered, his voice trembling with remorse. "This will be the last one, I promise."

She gagged as the bitter liquid slid down her throat, burning with each swallow. Crimson tears streamed down her white face as she choked on the vile concoction, feeling her strength wane with each passing moment. In that desperate moment, all she could do was pray for salvation from the nightmare consuming her.

As the healer finally released his hold, she felt despair engulf her. The bitter poison settled within her damaged insides, coursing through her veins like a silent killer, slowly consuming her from within.

"It is done, my lord. The empress will not survive through the night," the healer declared, his voice carrying a finality that chilled her to the bone.

The minister's grin widened with satisfaction. "Excellent. Arrange for someone to confirm her death by dawn. Let her enjoy her final moments in the comforts of her own chambers. His Imperial Majesty will surely be grateful we've rid him of his treacherous demon of a wife upon his return from war."

Laying limply in the centre of her grand chambers, the very space she had once despised before ascending to empress, memories flooded her mind. She recalled the scepticism that clouded her heart when she first found herself falling for the crown prince of the nation. After all, history had taught her that no happy endings awaited the women who loved emperors. But Baekhyun was different—he was loving, caring, and considerate, going to great lengths to prove his devotion to her.

He swore never to take concubines, to resist the allure of power, and to remain hers, and hers alone. Despite the admiration of the entire nation, he remained committed to prioritising her above all else, even if it meant drawing the ire of his ministers and officials. Their accusations of his partiality towards his empress over his nation only served to strengthen his resolve, his unwavering loyalty to her.

But now, as she lay weakened by poison, she realised the tragic irony of his goodness. It was his very commitment to righteousness that led him to the battlefield, refusing to let his men fight in his stead. And it was this decision that ultimately sealed their fate, leaving her to face the consequences of his noble intentions.

As the darkness closed in around her, she couldn't help but wonder how Baekhyun would react upon returning to find her lifeless form in this state. Would he succumb to the poisonous words of his ministers, believing their accusations that she had been a demon all along? Would he entertain the notion that she had bewitched him, clouding his judgement and leading him astray?

Or would he remain firm in his loyalty, unwavering in his belief that this was nothing more than a cruel ploy to rid him of her for good? In the depths of her fading consciousness, she desperately clung to the hope that he would see through the lies, that his love for her would prevail over doubt.

On the brink of death, she yearned to trust in his endless devotion to her, to believe that he would never doubt the love they shared. It was a fragile hope, but in that moment, it was all she had to cling to as she slipped further into the darkness, awaiting the inevitable arrival of dawn and the fate it would eventually bring.

"Forgive me for not being strong enough, Baek," she whispered into the stillness of the chamber, her voice barely a breath against the heavy silence. "Please don't blame yourself for any of this."

As the darkness threatened to swallow her entirely, she couldn't help but reflect on the warnings of history, the cautionary tales of women who loved emperors, only to meet tragic ends. Once again, it seemed, she had fallen victim to the same fate.

Her vision blurred with crimson tears as memories flooded her mind—moments shared with Baekhyun before he departed for battle, blissfully unaware that they would be their last. Each memory stung with bittersweet intensity, a painful reminder of what could have been, had fate been kinder.

As her life ebbed away, flashes of cherished moments with him flickered through her mind like scattered stars in the night sky.

Wrapped in the warmth of silk sheets, doubts clouded her mind one morning, questioning her husband's resolve to remain faithful amidst the pressures of his position.

"Would you truly refuse to take any concubines, Baek?" she inquired, her voice laced with uncertainty. "You're aware that the ministers and officials desire it, and perhaps even the citizens of our nation. For all we know, the people might have grown weary of this same dull empress who has yet to bear you an heir."

He drew her close, pulling the silk sheets higher to shield her bare form from the chill seeping through the open windows. Pressing a tender kiss upon her head, he smiled reassuringly. "Never, my love. I do not care for their political machinations. I won't forsake my vow to you. You will remain my only wife, that is final. I did not ask to be emperor, the role was thrust upon me. Now that I am here, they should at least be grateful I am fulfilling my general duties."

She chuckled, nestling into the crook of his neck as he added, "Besides, if the ministers and officials are so displeased, they could just dismiss me. That would be even better; we could live in a quiet little village, just as we've always dreamed."

In another memory, standing before her reflection, plagued by insecurities instilled by the scheming ministers, his unwavering admiration melted her fears away.

"You look beautiful, my empress. You always do," he reassured, approaching from behind to envelop her in his arms.

"Not as beautiful as those young maidens, I fear. I am old," she confessed, feeling a twinge of self-consciousness after witnessing the ministers' attempts to seduce the emperor with their daughters.

Baekhyun gently turned her to face him. "If you're old, then I must be ancient," he teased. "I believe it's only fitting that I am with someone my age, and that's you, my empress. I have no interest in marrying children or anyone else for that matter; I am a taken man. Don't you dare compare yourself to anyone else again, you hear me? You're the most beautiful woman in my eyes, and that's all that matters."

In the final embrace before he departed for war, hearts heavy with the uncertainty of his return, they clung to each other.

"I will be back before you know it, my love. You'll wait for me, won't you?" her husband murmured against her neck, his arms tightening around her.

"Where else would I go, you idiot? Of course, I'll be waiting right here," she retorted, tightening her hold around his shoulders.

Amidst tears and laughter, he leaned in to kiss her deeply, pressing his lips against her soft ones over and over again to imprint the sensation into memory.

"I love you, my empress," Baekhyun whispered against her lips before pulling away, his eyes full of love and determination.

In the quiet of her chamber, she found solace in the fleeting recollections, clinging to them as the darkness threatened to consume her entirely. And as the crimson tears clouded her eyes once more, she resigned herself to the inevitable, silently bidding farewell to the life she once knew.

"I love you too, my emperor."

"I will not ask again, where is she?!" the emperor's voice thundered through the throne room as he stormed back into the palace, abandoning the battle upon learning the shocking revelation. According to the Minister of Rites in his letter, the empress had been discovered to be a demon all along, concealing her true nature under human skin to manipulate him and bend him to her will.

The eunuch panicked and fell to his knees. "Th-the empress is confined to her grand chambers, Your Imperial Majesty!"

Without uttering another word, Baekhyun stormed over immediately, his heart thumping loudly against his chest as fury overtook his being. Betrayal flooded his veins; he was seething with anger.

"You will regret lying to me," he growled under his breath, his vision zeroing in on the path towards her chambers, the place he frequented more than his own. "You will regret deceiving me."

Upon reaching the entrance of her chambers, he turned to the eunuch. "Gather all the ministers and officials who played a part in discovering the empress as what they claimed her to be in the throne room. I wish to speak with them soon."

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," the eunuch hurriedly replied before darting off to carry out his orders. Baekhyun steadied his breaths, his hand resting on the door as he prepared to face her once more. Under his breath, he vowed, "I swear, you will all regret it. How dare you accuse my wife of being what you are—demons."

I'm here now, my love.

Stepping into the familiar room, the emperor's heart raced with anxiety as he mulled over a perfect apology. He needed to express his deep remorse for not being there when she needed him the most, for failing to shield her from the treachery of those vultures. Reflecting on his actions, he realised he should have never left her behind. In his rush to leave for war, he had neglected to arrange proper protection for her. In hindsight, he understood that he should have never left her side in the first place.

Determined to make amends, he vowed to do better. He resolved to never again allow those ministers or officials the opportunity to torment her in his absence again. From now on, he would be her shield, her staunch protector, and her unending support.

But it might be too late for any of that.

His steps faltered, his breath caught in his chest, and his heart skipped a beat as he beheld the sight before his eyes. The sword in his hands slipped, clanging loudly as it hit the ground, and he sank to his knees in disbelief at the last thing he expected to see.

His shock deepened as he took in his wife's unrecognisable appearance. Crawling towards her limp form on the ground, he pulled her into his arms, his voice trembling with anguish. The horror settled within him like a heavy weight as he tried to imagine what atrocities these monsters had dared inflict upon her while he was gone. His mind raced with images of torture and torment, each one more gruesome than the last.

"Oh god, what have they done to you?" he whispered, his heart fracturing into a million shards as he struggled to comprehend her pale skin, her white hair, and the blood-like tears staining her cheeks. With shaking hands, he gently cupped her cold cheek, his fingers tracing the contours of her face as if seeking reassurance that she was still there, still his beloved wife.

"Please wake up, my love. This isn't funny, stop scaring me," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "You promised to wait for me. You promised..." His words trailed off into a broken sob as he refused to accept anything but the truth, shaking his head in denial even as he searched desperately for a pulse, even when she remained unresponsive.

"No, no, no... this can't be real. It can't be," he murmured, his mind reeling with the unimaginable horror of what he had found.

Despair and regret enveloped him as he sobbed painfully, holding her lifeless body tightly against his chest. The realisation that she was truly gone, that her final moments were spent alone in the very room she despised just to be with him, weighed heavily on his heart. He grappled with the bitter truth that he had failed her, just as she had feared when she hesitated to be with him.

Gradually, his sorrow gave way to seething rage as he recalled the faces of the ministers and officials responsible for this atrocity. They had callously taken her life, foolishly believing he would be deceived by their feeble attempt to frame her. With trembling hands, he picked up a shard of the shattered bowl nearby and brought it to his nose, recognising the metallic scent of mercury.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

They had poisoned her with lethal doses of mercury, causing a myriad of symptoms—tremors, headaches, muscle weakness, kidney damage, and breathing difficulties. And the deliberate administration of such high doses to turn her hair white revealed their sinister intent from the outset.

Just how much had they fed her? It was evident they had intended to kill her from the start. Anguish and fury surged within him as he vowed to make them pay.

Gently caressing her cold cheek, he leaned in to kiss her unmoving lips, his own trembling against hers. He blamed himself for everything that had transpired. Perhaps if she hadn't been with him, she would have lived a better life—a normal life with a normal man. She wouldn't have to endure such a painful and cruel death.

It was all because of him.

Regret hung heavy in his heart, but dwelling on what could have been served no purpose.

"I'm so sorry, my wife," he whispered, his voice thick with grief. "Just hold on a bit longer, alright? I'll join you soon, but first, I'll make those bastards pay. Wait for me—I won't let you face this alone. Not again."

With resolve hardening in his heart, he retrieved his sword and sheathed it once more before lifting her lifeless form into his arms. Like a man burdened by death itself, he trudged towards the throne room where justice awaited. Kicking the doors open with a forceful thrust of his leg, he was met with a sea of horrified expressions from the ministers and officials. Clearly, they hadn't anticipated the emperor's dramatic entrance, cradling his beloved empress in his arms.

Ignoring their shocked gazes, he strode past them, his eyes fixed on the throne at the far end of the room. With careful tenderness, he laid his wife down upon the ornate seat, arranging her robes and ensuring her comfort as though she were merely sleeping. Pressing a solemn kiss upon her cold forehead, he turned to face the assembled council, their unease palpable in the air.

The guilty culprits remained frozen in their places, uncertain of what awaited them.

As the emperor's gaze swept over them, the ministers and officials for the first time felt a cold shiver of fear trickle down their spines. His expression was unreadable, his appearance wild and dishevelled compared to his usual polished demeanour. Specks of blood and dirt stained his robes and skin, his hair a tangled mess, half tied up in a disarray that mirrored the chaos within him.

Gone was the warm smile that often graced his features; instead, a slow, unsettling grin crept across his face.

"My dearest ministers and officials," he began, his voice low and laced with an eerie calmness. "Your message has been received loud and clear. I hope you're satisfied now that you've succeeded in eradicating the empress, as you so desperately desired. I've given it some thought, and perhaps... you were all right."

The Minister of Rites, attempting to feign nonchalance, cleared his throat. "A-about what, Your Imperial Majesty?" he stammered.

Baekhyun's eyes gleamed with a frightening intensity as he smirked, his demeanour bordering on madness. "About what this nation truly needs," he replied, his voice carrying a chilling edge.

"Not a good emperor, but a mad one."

Without giving the men before him time to register his words, all Baekhyun saw was red. In a split second, he unsheathed his sword and transformed into a bloodthirsty animal, cutting down anyone and everyone in his path. The Minister of Rites tried to flee but to no avail. He watched in complete horror as his colleagues dropped dead one by one, their blood splattering over the grand walls of the throne room, their screams echoing.

The emperor went on a rampage, leaving no man behind. The Minister of Rites, who had been behind the idea of poisoning the empress, smearing her name by labelling her a demon, and executing her, was now filled with regret. They had turned him into the mad king his empress had feared. Perhaps they had finally achieved their goal, but it wasn't what they were prepared for.

The minister collapsed to his knees before the emperor, realising that His Imperial Majesty had saved him for last. Trembling, he rubbed his hands together in a desperate plea. "P-please, everything I've done, it's for the betterment of our nation."

Baekhyun's humourless laughter echoed through the hall, sending shivers down the minister's spine. "You truly believe that, don't you? Of course, that includes subjecting my wife to all that torment. Yes, because that is exactly what the nation needs. Unfortunately for you, I am the emperor, and I determine what's best for the nation. And in this case, I think it's better off without traitors like you. See you on the other side," were the last words the minister heard before his head was severed from his neck, rolling off to join the others on the floor.

The emperor finally turned back, his eyes softening as they landed on his beloved's lifeless body. Making his way back towards her, he knelt down beside her, tears streaming down his face as he reached for her hand. Holding it to his cheek, he missed the warmth it once had.

"I'm coming now, my love," he whispered brokenly. "I'm sorry you had to wait for so long. I'll be there with you soon."

"Yes, I understand His Imperial Majesty's orders not to enter, but it's been hours. Surely, any assembly would have concluded by now, wouldn't it?" With apprehension and curiosity, a senior court lady pushed open the doors to the once-bustling throne room, expecting to find His Imperial Majesty and his council of ministers. Instead, she was met with a horrifying sight—a scene of bloodshed and chaos spread across the grand hall.

Her piercing scream echoed through the silent room, jolting nearby palace staff into action. Rushing to the scene, they were met with a scene that chilled them to the bone. At the end of the room, amidst a sea of lifeless bodies, lay the empress on the throne, her appearance shocking all who beheld it. Beside her, her husband remained, his head cradled on her chest, their hands tightly clasped together. A gaping stab wound marred his chest—it seemed he had taken his own life before joining her in death.

Following that, the next prince in line promptly ascended the throne and found himself compelled to appoint an entirely new cabinet of ministers and officials. The entire nation descended into chaos, particularly since it was still embroiled in a war, with endless theories circulating about the events. While some speculated that the emperor succumbed to madness and killed his own council, others whispered of a conspiracy, suggesting that the ministers had orchestrated the demise of both the empress and the emperor.

Amidst this uncertainty, the new prince faced the daunting challenge of restoring order to the kingdom. With a heavy heart, he pledged to uncover the truth behind the tragic occurrences and ensure that justice was served to those responsible.

In the end, the truth of what truly occurred remained shrouded in mystery. All those involved had departed from the realm of the living. As centuries passed, that chapter in history became known as the Scarlet Requiem, a haunting tale that lingered in the collective memory of the kingdom. Despite countless efforts to unravel the enigma, the events surrounding the tragedy remained obscured by the sands of time, leaving future generations to ponder and speculate about the dark secrets of the past.

"What do you think really happened?" a woman asked her boyfriend as they studied a painting depicting the throne room scene in a museum dedicated to the events of the Scarlet Requiem.

He pondered for a moment before responding with a shrug. "It's hard to say. But judging by the way he's holding onto her, it seems he must have truly loved her. Let's hope they've found peace and happiness, whether in the afterlife or their next life."

She nodded in agreement, leaning into his comforting embrace. "Yeah, I hope so too."

He flashed a mischievous grin. "I'm just saying, if I were him, I wouldn't have left her for war in the first place."

She rolled her eyes and gave him a playful smack, though a smile danced on her lips. "I'm sure you wouldn't. I bet it's because the empress was described as beautiful as a celestial being."

He scoffed. "Doesn't matter to me how pretty she was. I'll stay only if you're my empress."

Unbeknownst to them, the couple had been contemplating their own past lives. Perhaps the emperor and empress had indeed found each other again in another existence.

Believe it or not, this has been on my mind for months ever since seeing those AI-generated photos of Baekhyun. I had an epiphany while looking at them again yesterday and just had to write this. It's my first EXO fic, and I hope it's decent hehe~

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

Master Tag list:

@the-kpop-simp @itstheghostofmypast @green-agent @vantediary @tinyteezer |

@hollxe1 @pandabur666 @lilactangerine @oddracha @evidive

All Rights Reserved © edenesth // DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARISE OR REPURPOSE.

[enchantrum]

Body Language of the Emperor

NOTE: I have a habit of using they/he for Emperor but I understand that as a Mind Flayer, his gender contains multitudes.

So, I'm really eager to explore the body language behind the Emperor, and specifically how the body language of the DG reflects his own expressions and is essentially a V-tuber avatar.

I obviously have to replay the game and examine his animations for this, so a full examination will take some time. However, I'm already intrigued by his body language as DG and want to make some points.

Scott Joseph, actor for the Emperor, has remarked that a big challenge in playing the Emperor is their restricted movements. He'd leave filming/recording with pain in his shoulders, due to how restrained the Emperor's posture is.

The Emperor is extremely deliberate in all his motions, almost like he doesn't want to startle you, or is trying to contain his greater powers. While I played a recent scene, I noticed this is true for the DG.

This is their sort of neutral stance, but it's firm. Everything about them is tightly held. Shoulders, jaws, lips. The only exception are the eyes, which always look at the player with a very open expression.

A moment later, his posture firms even more, but is still restrained. He's leant forward in a beseeching manner, almost confrontational, but it's very subdued. Then in his shoulders and back, you can see again that rigidity. Interestingly, their eyes barely change. They continue to look on almost pleadingly throughout your conversation.

Now look here! A flourish of the hand! Something we see Emperor do a few times, but still very restrained. In scenes with the DG, it's very easy to miss these quick yet dramatic motions. But his shoulders, his jaw, his neck. The restraint is still there. And again, I must point out how his eyes betray all this restraint.

Finally, we have this. In this moment, he's pleased. I can't remember which dialogue option I chose, but it was an agreeable one to end off the scene positively. His shoulders have relaxed, but not much, and his jaw and mouth have relaxed, implying the hint of a smile. Yet, you can tell he's still not fully reassured- most notably, his eyes are no longer pleading, but they are withdrawn, darkened. I wonder if he might feel some guilt that he can't give you all the answers right then.

But overall, he's feeling a bit more confident here, a bit more trusting of you, but he knows he still can't fully relax.

All these screenshots were taken from the scene that starts with "you haven't been using your tadpole powers, you think you don't need them" in act 1, after speaking to Halsin but not eating any tadpoles.

Anyway, I'm really intrigued by all this. A big criicism of the Emperor is that he approaches you in an altered form, and rather than demonise him for this, I'm more interested in pointing out how his astral avatar still corresponds to his true feelings.

One thing I can say about BG3 is the animation is stunning and purposeful and really shows off the actor's physical skills through their mocap, and this is evident most of all with the Emperor, whose body language is micromanaged to communicate his purposes. Big shout out to Scott Joseph, I really believe he was given the hardest role to portray, and he killed it!

[plumbum-art]

Regarding this post.

I think I did come to a conclusion regarding this whole bishop!Aziraphale mess.

There could be a thousand reasons, why he was a bishop. Could be curiosity in human religion, could be his roleplay hobby showing, could be for a mission and so on. I don't think he was lying here. As far as we know, Aziraphale takes his jobs very seriously. He wouldn't do anything half-heartedly (for example: learning french the hard way or insisting to take a driving test, although he doesn't need one).

My personal hc is, that it was a disguise for a mission.

But let me explain.

So Neil did mention a scrapped “15th century papal” minisode for S2. This could refer to a lot of things of course. For my hc I'm choosing the following event.

At the beginning of the 15th century there was a split within the catholic church, also known as the Papal Schism. Long story short, there where three rival popes (Pope Gregory XII in Rome, Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon and Pope John XXIII in Pisa), who claimed to be the rightful head of the catholic church. The increasing secularization of the church in general was a problem too.

So to unite the catholic church again, a council was held (also known as the Council of Constance) to decide, which pope was the rightful one. The whole council was a single chaotic mess. The only pope, who showed up, secrectly fled again and was later put in jail. The other two didn't even appear and also disqualified themselves so to speak. Finally in 1417, three years after the council started, the joint Pope Martin V. was elected, which ended the schism.

Just some bishops and cardinals chilling together, debating with Pope John XXIII.

Anyway my point is, the council was attended by a large number of cardinals, abbots, bishops and archbishops from different nations, such as England, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Scandinavia, etc. One can imagine the council as some kind of medieval Wacken, the biggest party at this time with emperors, nobles, peasents, handyman, merchants and generally thousands of people from all around the world, who gathered in the small city of Constance.

It would be easy for a certain angel to dive in the mass and disguise as a bishop. Why? Maybe he got a strong word from Up ("Hey Aziraphale, what's going on with Gods representative on earth? Humans make a mockery of Her ineffability!" "Um, it gotten a bit out of hand, yeah." "Sort this out immediately!" "As you wish...")

So Aziraphale thought of a plan and attended the council as a bishop to make sure that this time a righteous person would be chosen as Pope. After the election though he was quick to get rid of his regalia. Human religion didn't fit what he envisioned and he decided that angels shouldn't meddle with it.

[annabelle--cane]

oh my god i love watching someone else go through the (absolutely batshit insane) masterpiece that is the locked tomb

i promise it will all make sense even if it seems impossible with harrow

i swear it is worth it. the worst part is that when it finally does start making sense you'll want to read the books all over again because it was right there this entire time

please keep us updated i love scrolling through your liveblogs in the morning, makes waking up early for work more bearable :)

v v intriguing + thank you!

latest happenings: god has officially absolved harrow from worrying about the circumstances of her birth and quoted a bit of king lear while explaining about blood of eden. I'm finding his characterization interesting, he has a bit of charisma and gravitas but it's more "summer camp director" gravitas than "immortal necromancer god-emperor" gravitas. he's being kind to harrow in ways that other powerful people haven't been, but the way he talks about the blood of eden rings some alarm bells for me. feels like he's playing the good cop to the other lyctors' bad cop, yknow?

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 02x04 - King of Darkness, Digimon Kaiser / Iron Vegiemon

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Channeling the ancient powers of great mythical forces like Horus, Pegasus, Queen Nefertiti, fire-breathing dragons, and the digging of holes, the Chosen Children are finally all together and ready to stop the Digimon Kaiser from kicking any more puppies.

Starting with a loose end the last episode left hanging.

We open inside the Digimon Kaiser's gladiator pit from the previous episode. Daisuke, Iori, Takeru, and Hikari are there, along with Taichi.

Agumon: BABY FLAME!!! V-Mon: V-MON HEAD!!!

A shot of Agumon's Baby Flame blows open one of the cells. V-mon's signature headbutt breaks open what's left of the wrecked bars. As he crashes inside, he creates an opening large enough for the Gotsumon inside to escape through.

V-Mon: Everyone, run! Daisuke: Hurry! This way, everyone!

Daisuke leads the escape with six rescued Gotsumon. They keep running until they're safely out of the arena. The Gotsumon collapse, exhausted, into the grass of a nearby field while the children stop to catch their breath.

Taichi: Mission complete! Agumon: Great work, guys.

No idea what's become of those two Elecmon.

This connects to the three Gotsumon we saw outside the gladiator pit last episode. Back there, they mentioned that the Kaiser had taken their nakama. The dub made the assumption that they were talking about the captured Elecmon, but here we see there were four other Gotsumon imprisoned here. Or three, if the Kaiser caught that one that got away since then and now.

In the dub:

Agumon: PEPPER BREATH!!! Veemon: VEE HEADBUTT!!! (Agumon and Veemon break two of the Gotsumon out) Veemon: C'mon, let's rock! Davis: (out of breath) That... was... easy.... (They escape to the field) Agumon: You guys are officially fugitives!

A little shallow; I don't like that Davis is gloating instead of participating but it's not a big enough deal to make a thing out of.

Once they catch their breath, the children have a moment to unpack.

Daisuke: I'd love to see the look on that Digimon Kaiser asshole's face when he finds out about this.

Man, they are pissed about last episode. Up until now, the Kaiser has been referred to as yatsu, which is a generally rude and disrespectful way of saying "that person". But now he's been downgraded to yarou, which is "that person" spit out as a profanity.

He was a jerkwad, a prick, a douche, but now he's a fuckstain, a piece of shit, a motherfucker.

Takeru: It's weird, though. Patamon: What is? Takeru: There was barely any security here, and he wasn't here either. Maybe he had business somewhere else and had to go there? Daisuke: What!? He just got scared and ran away. Isn't that right, Hikari-chan? Hikari: Mm... I agree with Takeru-kun. Daisuke: -_- Hikari: But what could he possibly be doing? Taichi: Hmm... In any case, let's head back to school. Koushiro and Miyako-chan must be worried about us.

As the children leave, Tailmon stops. She turns to look at the ominous black obelisk in the distance.

Once again, Daisuke tries to be macho and expects Hikari to back him up but, like Takeru, Hikari knows better.

Takeru mentions that the security was poor, but that implies that there was some security. Maybe that's what became of the two Elecmon?

In the dub:

Davis: If that's the kind of puny defense that the Digimon Emperor's gonna put up, then this fight will be over in the first round! T.K.: Something was weird. Patamon: What was? T.K.: Well, the fact that it was so easy for us to break out of that prison. There wasn't a single guard anywhere around! It's like he wanted us to do it. I think he's up to something. Davis: You're crazy! He took one look at our awesome skills and he hit the road! Isn't that right, Kari? Kari: Um... Actually, Davis, I'm gonna have to agree with T.K. Davis: -_- Awww.... Kari: This guy is not gonna let us get away that easy without some kind of reasoning. Tai: We'll worry about it later. Let's get back to the real world. I'm starving! I can practically smell the cafeteria from here! Davis: That's my peanut butter and jelly bean sandwich I've had in my pocket since last week. Kari: Yuck! (Gatomon stops to look at the obelisk) Gatomon: What's that tower?

I... don't know why Tai thinks an elementary a middle school cafeteria would be open at like 6 PM.

The dub got the part where it's weird that this was so easy, but didn't quite grasp the part of why it's weird. The question here is, "What is the Kaiser doing that's so important, it takes him and his forces away from defending his territories?"

The dub seems to imply that the Emperor let us take the Gotsumon on purpose as part of some sinister machination he has in play.

Let's find out. Time to check in with the Digimon Kaiser, inside his command center with only Wormmon for company.

The Kaiser's attention is focused on a grid of white and black squares. Suddenly, one of the white squares clicks over to black.

Kaiser: Another one just became mine.

At a hillside town for Digimon, a black obelisk now stands atop the hill. The Kaiser lays down the new law to an assembly of Gazimon and one familiar Gabumon, backed up by five black-ringed Veggiemon.

Kaiser: Do you see that black tower? That is a Dark Tower. Wherever it stands becomes my territory. And you are all my servants. Do you understand? Gabumon: (thinking) They're all being controlled by those Rings....

I don't think Gabumon's on the same page as the Kaiser here. Call it a hunch.

In the dub:

Emperor: The next one should be in place right about now.... There!

The dub has no audio cue when the grid square turns black. The Emperor himself is the audio cue.

Emperor: Now to let everyone know who's the boss. (Cut to the hillside town) Emperor: This Control Spire is the most dominating object in the Digi-World! Wherever I build one, that area will be under my control and all those around it will be my slaves! It's useless to try and escape! Those who do will have to answer to my soldiers! Gabumon: (thinking) How do I get myself into these things?

Dub Gabumon does seem to be on the same page, and is regretting it.

Love the name Control Spire, by the way. Dub Team went hard on that one. It's a lot more creative than Dark XYZ.

While the Kaiser lays down the law, we return to elementary school to give the kids who stayed behind a startle.

Koushiro & Miyako: EHHHHHHHHHH!?!?!

Koushiro: Why did you bring the Gotsumon here!? Taichi: What else could we do? We have no idea when the Digimon Kaiser might return. Right? Hikari: Yeah.

That agreement might be more convincing if it wasn't coming from your baby sister. Let's see what Daisuke-- no, he's your kouhai. Anyone else want to weigh in?

Miyako: How am I supposed to explain this to Fujjiyama-sensei if he finds out? Iori: It will be fine. We've prepared something just for that. Now, pose!

The six Gotsumon each take their own pose and hold it.

Iori: See? Don't they look like sculptures? Miyako: -_-

Okay. Follow-up question, why are you doing sculpting projects in computer club?

Koushiro: Miyako-kun, can I borrow your Digivice? Miyako: Eh? Why? Koushiro: The power from your Digivices must be what's opening the Gate, right? Taichi: Ahhh. Yeah, ours can't do it. We can have Daisuke and the others open the Gate and follow them through it, but.... Koushiro: I'd just like to examine it for a bit. Would that be okay?

Saying nothing, Miyako smiles and hands over her Digivice to Koushiro.

(You know, seeing them onscreen together, I suddenly realize that Koushiro is only Miyako's senior by one year. As the oldest of the new kids, she's 12-13 while Koushiro and Mimi are 13-14.)

In addition to finally exploring what those black obelisks are, we're also moving towards explaining why the unreliable Gate conveniently always happens to be open whenever one of the new kids is around.

In the dub:

Izzy: ARE YOU CRAZY, BRINGING THE GOTSUMON BACK FROM THE DIGITAL WORLD!?!? Tai: But we didn't have a choice! We couldn't just leave them for the Digimon Emperor to make into slaves, right? Kari: Yup. Yolei: But how are we gonna explain it if Mr. Fujiyama happens to come in here!? Cody: Don't worry, I'll tell him I'm taking a sculpting class and these are some of my early masterpieces. Hit it, boys! (The Gotsumon pose) Yolei: Yeesh. Early rejects might be a better phrase. -_- Izzy: Yolei, I've got a big favor to ask. Would it be alright with you if I borrowed your Digivice? Yolei: But what for? Izzy: Well, it's obvious the power from your Digivices opens the Gate to the Digital World. Our own Digivices don't seem to work. Tai: Izzy's right! I've tried using mine, but no luck. The only way we can get into the Digital World is if one of you opens the Gate for us. Izzy: So I wanted to try an experiment with the new Digivices, if that's okay with you. Yolei: Mhm. (hands over her Digivice)

This is good. They play up the Gotsumon posing a bit, but the joke is already that Miyako is unimpressed so having Yolei outright shit-talk the plan fits in pretty well.

Also, I guess the dub team also had questions about why they'd be doing sculpting in computer club because Cody offers a reasonable explanation for where the "sculptures" came from.

Back in the Digital World, the Kaiser has already erected a prison to house the Gazimon and Gabumon.

He cracks his whip at a pair of Veggiemon workers, startling them so badly they jump and leave poops behind.

Kaiser: C'mon, to the next area! Move it!

The Kaiser takes his seat on a litter, which eight Veggiemon are forced to carry. They move slowly enough that it'd probably be faster to get out and walk, but he seems satisfied with himself.

Gabumon watches through the barred window of a cell, which he shares with five Gazimon.

Gabumon: Yes, he's leaving! Now it's time to escape. PETIT FIRE!!!

Gabumon's Petit Fire blows the door off its hinges, crushing a Veggiemon guard on the other side. He and the Gazimon make a break for it, only for the spiked club tendril of a RedVeggiemon to smack Gabumon in the face and knock him off his feet.

Gabumon: AUGH!!! RedVeggiemon: Did you guys think you could escape!? That's impossible. Gabumon: You're.... RedVeggiemon: The fearsome, ripe vegetable REDVEGGIEMON!!!

Y'all remember RedVeggiemon. Pinocchimon led an army of them against the Chosen Children in his final battle. Cutting one down when they wanted to flee with him was his final mistake that got him killed by Yamato.

RedVeggiemon is an Adult-stage Plant-type Virus Digimon. They're Veggiemon, but stronger because they're an RPG palette-swap. The "Goblin Elite" to Veggiemon's "Goblin Soldier".

Narrator: RedVeggiemon. A sly and cunning Adult-stage Digimon. His special attack is a gust of intensely bad breath called Hazard Breath.

The original rundown specifically mentioned that RedVeggiemon is bigger and meaner than a regular Veggiemon. I suppose that much is already implied by this one's status as the big scary boss to beat, amid all the Veggiemon grunts.

RedV isn't appearing as part of a grunt swarm this time, so the show's letting their actions speak for themselves.

(Their name is still RedVagimon according to the official romanization. I'm so, so sorry. At least someone has it worse than Holsmon.)

In the dub:

Emperor: Let's move out! I've got an early tee time in the morning.

Not sure if he said "tea time" or "tee time" as both are things, but "tee time" makes more sense contextually to me. Tee time is what they call when you're scheduled to "tee off", beginning a round of golf.

Golf is commonly known as the Rich Asshole Sport, so that's more likely to be the reference here than "tea time", which would be a snooty British reference.

Gabumon: We're bustin' out tonight, boys. Ahhh, why wait? Everyone, stay to the back of the cell! BLUE BLASTER!!!

To soften the blow of Gabumon being punched in the face, they add the sound effect of a bowling bawl colliding with pins. Additionally, a white flash obscures the point of impact.

RedVegiemon is voiced as a noticeable celebrity impersonation of Jack Nicholson, best known for playing batshit unhinged characters like the Joker from the "first" Batman film and Jack Torrance in The Shining.

RedVegiemon: Apparently you don't listen to INSTRUCTIONS. Gabumon: Who are you!? RedVegiemon: I'm the Digi-World's biggest salad bar REDVEGIEMON!!! RedVegiemon: (rundown) I am the biggest and the ripest of all Vegiemon. My Stink Jet attack destroys my enemies with NOXIOUS FUMES!!!

"Noxious fumes" is one way to describe it, to be sure.

Unsurprisingly, "RedVagimon" does not make it onto the screen in the dub. They censored that right out and replaced it with "RedVegiemon".

Gabumon faces down RedVeggiemon.

Gabumon: What are you going to do? RedVegiemon: Trying to escape is a serious offense. The penalty is 100 lashes!

RedVegiemon strikes Gabumon to the ground and proceeds to carry out his whipping, counting each lash. The Gazimon shield their eyes, unable to watch Gabumon's gruesome punishment.

They don't make it to 100, though. The 73rd lash comes out more as a jab, which knocks the prone and battered Gabumon off a nearby cliff. Gabumon, barely conscious, falls into a raging river.

RedVegiemon: We only made it to 73? That's fine, he's probably dead by now.

God, imagine dubbing this for Fox Kids. "Oh, that last series got pretty dark but now they just have to fight another kid so how bad could--"

ONSCREEN WHIPPING OF RUNAWAY SLAVES. And to a character we know and love.

I mean, it's not the .44 magnum episode but still. Have fun, Dub Team!

Gabumon: Try to stop us, Stinky! RedVegiemon: For trying to escape, you get to smell my roots! AND I HAVE ROOT ROT!!!

Yeah, they're. Not. Doing the whipping. They cut the shots of Gabumon being lashed, but keep abstract shots of RedVegiemon's tentacle being swung, which they recontextualize. They also keep the Gazimon averting their eyes and a wider shot of the region.

RedVegiemon: (swing) Smell this! (swing) Smell it again! Gabumon: That's disgusting! No more, please! RedVegiemon: You kidding!? I'm just warming up!

Freeze-frame of Gabumon lying prone on the ground without any of the lashing animations.

RedVegiemon: Hey, if you can't stand the smell, get out of the kitchen! YAAAAAGH!!!

And then the one hit they can't avoid: The 73rd lash that knocks Gabumon off the cliff.

Gabumon: (sinking into river) My fur is dry clean only! RedVegiemon: Let that be a lesson to all of you: Don't try to defy the power of the DIGIMON EMPEROR!!!

And we close with an ominous warning but also a quip to keep things light and silly.

Despite what RedVeggiemon thinks, Gabumon's alive. He pulls himself out of the river, too weak to even stand but within fifty feet or so of one of those Gate access televisions.

Gabumon: (weakly) I can't die here... I have to spread the word....

With what little strength he has left, Gabumon crawls towards the Gate.

Gabumon: Everyone... Yamato....

He doesn't make it. Gabumon collapses in front of the TV.

Meanwhile, in the other reality, Yamato's band is in the middle of a concert. He's playing his guitar onstage to a crowd of screaming fangirls waving glowsticks.

In a bit of fourth-wall breaking fun, Yamato is singing "Walk on the Edge". The song was released on a music and drama CD around the time the Pinocchimon arc started, and here it's contextualized as a song he wrote for his band about his experiences in the Digital World.

Specifically, it seems to be about the fight he had with Taichi, and where his headspace was at during that time. The full lyrics are:

We're not ready yet; Just look at us! If I'm right and they break us, then what was even the point? If this is what you want, then I won't stop you. But just because you're passionate, it doesn't mean you're right. Cool off. Keep a level head. No matter what the game is, there's always a chance to win. I'm just fine on my own! I'll walk the edge of the knife. I'm not trying to act tough. But the weaker I get, the less bratty I become. Still, I can't find the data. But you'll see me become myself. I'll be cool. Won't give in to myself. No matter what the rules are, I'll break through them. Possible. Impossible. But we, the Chosen Children, can do it. I have a passionate heart too, but I can't use it as a shield. I'm just fine on my own! I'll walk the edge of the knife. I'll walk the edge of the knife!

I love the implication that Yamato's musical career came out of him unpacking the events of Digimon Adventure. It's such a natural extension of him pouring his feelings into his harmonica.

And also, out of everything he says in this song, "I have a passionate heart too but I can't use it as a shield" is the sickest burn he delivers to Taichi. That lyric is, without question, about Taichi's retaliatory "We'll fuck 'em up and get revenge and then I won't have to feel this way!" trauma response.

And now he's playing it to a giant crowd so that every girl their age in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area knows how much Taichi sucks. Yamato truly did get the last laugh. Though we only come in at "I can't use it as a shield" and the closing chorus.

In the dub:

Gabumon: (straining) I've got to... tell the others... They need to be warned.... (Gabumon crawls towards the TV) Gabumon: I have to find Matt.... (Gabumon collapses) Gabumon: Man, I stink....

Again, closing with a laugh line to try and ease off the darkness here.

Dub Team also has an original song for Matt and his band to sing. It's called "I Turn Around" and was recorded exclusively for the show. The lyrics are:

You've got a boy, you've got a girl, sitting' underneath a tree. They sit there everyday and even though, you may think this is the way the things should be, it may not always be that way. You can't take nothing for granted! You've gotta live life today! I turn around and I can see what's behind me. I turn back around and I can see what's ahead. And if you don't believe I'll be here all along, just turn around. Just turn around You wanna get, you gotta give. There is no other way to be. So give it a try. If what I say is really so, you got to let somebody see. You can't just keep it inside. You can't take nothing for granted! You've gotta live life today! I turn around and I can see what's behind me. I turn back around and I can see what's ahead. And if you don't believe I'll be here all along, just turn around. Just turn around You can't take nothing for granted! You've gotta live life today! I turn around and I can see what's behind me. I turn back around and I can see what's ahead. And if you don't believe I'll be here all along, just turn around. Just turn around I turn around and I can see what's behind me. I turn back around and I can see what's ahead. And if you don't believe I'll be here all along, just turn around. Just turn around

It's a bit more Generic Pop Song but still has something to say about life's unpredictability. Which makes sense for something a kid that was Isekai'd suddenly one summer might feel about life, but isn't referencing any specific moment of Matt's journey.

Once Yamato's concert finishes, he meets with Takeru out in the hall.

Yamato: So then, the immediate problem is that we need a place to hide the Gotsumon? Takeru: Onii-chan, do you know of any good places? Yamato: I don't know....

Nipping that conversation in the bud, one of the girls from the crowd runs up to Yamato with a marker.

Girl: Hey, can I get an autograph? Yamato: Sure.

Yamato takes the marker. The girl turns around so he can write it on the back of her white shirt.

Yamato: And your name is...? Girl: Motomiya. Motomiya Jun. Takeru: Eh!? Motomiya Jun!? You wouldn't happen to be Daisuke-kun's older sister, would you? Jun: That's right, but... who are you? Yamato: He's my little brother Takeru. Takeru: It's nice to meet you. Daisuke-kun and I are classmates. Jun: Is that right? Well, aren't you cute? You sign too!

Having collected Yamato's signature, Jun hands the marker over to Takeru and presents her back for his autograph.

Takeru: Eh!? Jun: Daisuke isn't cute at all. I wish my little brother was more like you guys.

Takeru's startled by the request, but he goes ahead and signs Jun's shirt. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Daisuke sees that signature.

The dub kicks us off with a tortured pun.

Matt: Listen, T.K., just because I have a rock band, it doesn't mean I can hide a band of rocks that happen to be Digimon! T.K.: Well, think about it. Maybe they can be your backup singers. Matt: They sound too gravelly.

Goddammit, it was a bait and switch! The bad pun lulled me into a false sense of security only for Matt to follow up with a killer dad joke. XD

Girl: OHHHH!!! Can I have your autograph!? Matt: Sure. What's your name? Girl: Just make it to Jun Motomiya. T.K.: Did you say Motomiya? You wouldn't happen to be Davis's sister, would you? Jun: Yeah, that's right. Who are you? Matt: His name's T.K. He's my little brother. T.K.: It's nice to meet you, Jun. Your younger brother Davis and I are in the same class together. Jun: Will you sign my shirt too? I get all the cute boys to sign it. (Jun gives T.K. the marker) Jun: You may not know it, but I haven't washed this shirt in two years! T.K.: There's not a lot of room. Jun: I know. I think all boys are cute!

In the original, Jun's fangirling out over teenage rock icon Yamato and wants signatures from him and his cutie-patootie little brother.

Dub Jun, I guess, is a boy-crazy shirt fiend committing crimes against laundry, who roams the land with her marker looking for anyone male-shaped to sign her shirt. She isn't here for Yamato in particular.

Additionally, the "All the boys sign my shirt" thing replaces Jun shit-talking Daisuke, which will have ramifications for the plot down the road.

As fun as Jun is, beeping from Yamato's Digivice interrupts this conversation. He pulls it out, seeing the same flashing red symbols on his Digivice as Taichi got back in episode 1.

A moment later, Takeru's pocket computer goes off.

Takeru: Ah! My D-Terminal too!

Finally have a name for those little devices.

Takeru isn't getting the same message as Yamato, however. Instead, his is an email from Miyako.

Takeru: "SOS Signal Received. Come to Clubroom. Miyako." Onii-chan! Yamato: Is it Gabumon!?

The boys race off as fast as they can, leaving a confused Jun behind.

Once they're all gathered in the clubroom, nobody minces words. With a fierce look in her eyes, Miyako opens the Gate.

Miyako: Chosen Children... Roll out!

Here we have the start of a Miyako catchphrase. Pretty much everyone who's ever watched the subs knows Miyako for repeated phrases like "Bingo!" and "Chosen Children, let's roll!"

While she does say the English word "Bingo!", you have the subbers to thank for "Let's roll".

The phrase is "選ばれし子供たち出動! Erabareshi Kodomo-tachi, shutsudou!

The first part is, of course, Chosen Children. 出動 Shutsudou is a military-style order to dispatch into the field. Chosen children, deploy! Roll out! Engage! March!

I went back and forth about whether or not to change "Let's roll" because it's pretty iconic. But I ultimately settled on changing it for one reason, which we'll get to in a second. I went with "Roll out" so that it retains some semblance of "Let's roll", but there is a critical flaw in having her say "Let's roll" here.

In the dub:

Matt: There's some kind of trouble in the Digital World. T.K.: I just got an email. It's from Yolei. It says "Emergency! Hurry back to school!" Emergency? Matt: I hope Gabumon's okay. (Matt and T.K. return to T.K.'s school) Yolei: Back off, Davis! You're making me nervous! Davis: Can't you go any faster!? Yolei: Alright, the Gate's open. Shall we go?

Gotta add a bit of dialogue because we haven't made Davis out to be a dick in a while.

Minor nitpick: Yolei asks "Shall we go?" but she's not coming with us. She's staying behind, so it's weird for her to include herself in the group of people who will be going.

This, incidentally, is also the problem with translating 出動 shutsudou as "Let's roll" in this instance. We are not rolling anywhere. You are deploying but I am not.

Daisuke, Iori, Takeru, Hikari, and Yamato all cross over into the Digital World. They arrive right in front of Gabumon's prone body.

Yamato: Gabumon! Gabumon: (slowly picks himself up) Ugh... Yamato...? Yamato: Hang in there, Gabumon!

Yamato quickly moves to Gabumon's side. However, his presence seems to rejuvenate Gabumon, who leaps to his feet with excitement.

Gabumon: Ahhhh! I've missed you! Yamato: What's wrong? What happened? Gabumon: Uh, you see--

Before Gabumon can get into it, the TV screen changes to show Miyako over in the human world.

Miyako: Everyone, I'm going over to Izumi-senpai's place to get my Digivice back. Poromon: In the meantime, I'll be serving as your contact. Daisuke: Got it.

Once that's settled, the TV shuts off. Tailmon offers some dry exposition.

Tailmon: This TV sends the SOS Signal to the other world. Agumon said the TV was how he contacted Taichi. Hikari: Is that right?

So as long as you're near one of these TVs, you can send one of those flashing red SOS messages to your Partner's Digivice. And not necessarily just your Partner, as Miyako picked up Gabumon's SOS as well.

In the dub:

Matt: Gabumon! Gabumon: ...oh, Matt.... Matt: Gabumon, are you okay? Gabumon: Let's just say... I'll never look at steamed vegetables the same way. Matt: Okay, I want you to tell me everything that happened. Gabumon: Good! We never talk anymore....

Gabumon sounds delirious. The smell must still be getting to him.

Yolei: Hey, everybody! I'm going over to Izzy's to get my Digivice back and then I'll meet up with you there. Poromon: (speaking rhythmically, as if reciting a poem) Have no fear while Yolei's gone / This place shall be guarded by Poromon! Davis: Stay in touch! Gatomon: Why do they call those things on top of the TV rabbit ears? Why don't they call them cat ears? After all, when was the last time you saw a rabbit sleeping on top of a TV? Kari: This is what you think of?

Miyako says nothing about joining them later. She will, though, so it's fair for Yolei to say that.

I don't know why Poromon is rhyming but I dig it.

They cut out Gatomon's dry exposition, replacing it with rambling. So we don't get to find out how the SOS Signal works in this version, but you can still glean it from context. It was pretty obvious that Gabumon was trying to reach the TV to send the signal out.

While Daisuke and Hikari were over at the TV, Yamato and Takeru have been debriefing Gabumon.

Patamon: Guys, we know our destination.

Gabumon leads them through the woods until the hillside town comes into view.

Gabumon: That is the city of Santa Geria. It used to be a beautiful city until the Digimon Kaiser came and imprisoned all of the city's Digimon. Tailmon: That tower! There was one at the place with the Gotsumon too! Gabumon: That's called a Dark Tower. The Digimon Kaiser built it. Daisuke: Alright, let's go-- Yamato: Wait!

Before Daisuke can get ahead of himself, Yamato stops him.

Yamato: Let me remind you that our goal is to free the captured Digimon. Daisuke: (dismissive) I know that! Armor Evolution will get it done in no time-- Takeru: That won't work. Daisuke: Huh? Takeru: If we do that, they might use the hostage Digimon as shields. Hikari: He's right. We're here to rescue the hostages. You're putting the cart before the horse. Daisuke: Gehhh!?!?

Everybody is trying to nip a Taichi Incident in the bud right now.

In the dub:

Patamon: Okay, break's over! Let's get back to work. (Gabumon shows them to the city) Gabumon: It's a small village called Santa Caria. Davis: Cool! Sounds like it's in California! Gabumon: It was always a quiet place. Everyone minded their own business. And then the Digimon Emperor came along. Gatomon: Look! There's one of those things that scared the Gotsumon! Gabumon: The Emperor calls them Control Spires.

...that scared the Gotsumon? The only person who reacted in any way to the Control Spire at the previous location was Gatomon.

Davis: Let's go-- Matt: Wait! Davis: Huh? Matt: We can't just rush in there. For all you know, he's in there waiting for us and this whole thing is just some kind of ambush! Davis: All we have to do is Armor Digivolve and blow them apart-- T.K.: It's not that simple! Davis: Huh? T.K.: He might be using some of the Digimon hostages as a shield to protect himself. Kari: T.K.'s right. We have to find a way to rescue the hostages and make sure that none of them get hurt. Davis: Gahhhhh....

Yamato, Takeru, and Hikari are all very clear in the original that this is a rescue mission and they can't have Daisuke compromising that mission because he's itching for a fight.

In the dub, T.K. and Kari still bring up the possibility of hostage Digimon used as shields, but Matt's main concern is that this is a trap.

It's not. The Digimon Kaiser is not out there claiming territories to trick them.

With Daisuke's passion now tempered, the strategy talk continues.

Patamon: The Guards are Veggiemon, right? They throw poop at you. Yamato: What do you know about RedVeggiemon? Patamon: Well....

While the veterans discuss shop, Daisuke gripes to Iori.

Daisuke: Tch! They're leaving us out of the loop. Iori, let's just go do it. Iori: No, I want to hear the plan. (Iori leaves Daisuke to join the others) Daisuke: TCH!!!

Iori joins the rest of the team as they start walking. It's time to move out.

Yamato: Alright, we'll infiltrate the prison-- Daisuke: H-Hang on a second! We're bringing Hikari-chan with us!? I'm against that! What with the poop enemies and all.... Hikari: It's fine. Takeru: You already saw the poop attacks in our last adventure, right? Hikari: Yep.

SHE WAS QUEEN OF THE FUCKING NUMEMON

Daisuke: Fuck you, Takeru! Don't you have even a bit of Telepathy!? Takeru: Telepathy? Iori: He meant to say Delicacy.

Specifically, he was trying to say the English word "delicacy" and landed on the English "telepathy". This joke will not translate into the dub. Nonetheless, Takeru, Hikari, and Iori all have a good laugh at the expense of Daisuke's poor grasp on English.

Iori humbly recognizes that he's new here and should defer to the wisdom and guidance of the veterans. But Daisuke is chomping at the bit, and is becoming increasingly a problem as his pride gets more and more wounded.

In the dub:

Patamon: They're being guarded by the Vegiemon. Watch out for the Digi-Sludge! Matt: Patamon, tell us everything you know about RedVegiemon. Patamon: Okay! Davis: (griping) Well, it looks like we're not needed around here. Let's go off and do things our own way! Cody: I think we should all stick together. Davis: UGH!!! Matt: Alright, I've got a plan to sneak into the prison. Davis: Wait a minute! It's too dangerous. We can't take the chance that any of us, especially Kari, might be attacked with that Digi-Sludge. Kari: No big deal. T.K.: Yeah, we've been attacked by a lot worse things than Digi-Sludge. Right, Kari? Kari: Yeah! Davis: GAH!!! I can't even believe you're not worried about Kari's wellbeing, T.A. T.K.: T.A.? Cody: He forgot how to spell T.K.!

Yeah, doesn't translate so they fit the running "Davis either can't or won't say T.K.'s name right" gag in. Though it doesn't quite fit; Davis has been doing this since episode 1 but they react like this is new.

But there's the added problem that they need to censor out poop. Davis refusing to let Kari encounter "Digi-Sludge" isn't something that makes a lot of sense. With poop, you kinda get what he's objecting to.

So they rewrote his objection to just... patronizingly feeling like this situation is too dangerous for Kari.

Which comes right out of left field as opposed to the poop thing, but still gets across the core point of this moment: That he's patronizingly talking down someone who's already walked these roads before.

Daisuke still sees Hikari as just this cool girl he has a crush on, and not the experienced Digimon veteran that she is. He only knows her as Taichi's little sister, and not as the Light of the Eight Gods. Which comes across just fine in Davis's dialogue.

The words themselves are a little awkward, but the spirit of the scene is captured pretty well.

Time to put the plan into action. The Chosen Children approach the front gate of Santa Geria, where five Vegiemon stand guard.

Veggiemon: HALT!!! Who are you supposed to be? Tailmon: We've captured the escaped Digimon and his nakama.

Per Yamato's plan, they've created counterfeit black Rings. Tailmon wears one over her right glove. Patamon and Armadimon have theirs around their waists. Then V-mon has his on his left forearm.

All are easily visible to the Veggiemon, as proof that they too serve the Digimon Kaiser. Meanwhile, the five children and Gabumon are tied together and forced to march.

Patamon: We'll throw them in prison! Armadimon: Come on! Double time it dagyaa!

The "minions" march the children into the city at a jogging pace, while the Veggiemon guards throw poop at them for funsies and laugh mockingly.

Once they're in the city and no longer in sight of the guard, they stop.

Patamon: They didn't even notice the fake Rings. Tailmon: That may be, but don't let your guard down. We're in the middle of enemy territory.

Seems like a solid time to go to commercial!

In the dub:

Vegiemon: STOP RIGHT THERE!!! Identify yourselves! Gatomon: It's okay. We're one of you. We just captured a Digimon and their friends. Patamon: Where are you taking us!? Armadillomon: Pipe down! You're all going to jail where you belong! (They march the children past the guards) Armadillomon: Move it, move it, move it! Patamon: Those guys didn't even notice these Rings are plastic. Gatomon: Don't start feeling too frisky yet. The first set of guards were just flunkies. We haven't even faced the pick of the litter, and even if we get past them, we still have to find a way to destroy the Control Spire!

Man, it's amazing that they didn't get caught given that Patamon blows his fucking lines. He's supposed to be one of the escorting troops but he talks like he's one of the captives. It's a good thing Armadillomon rolls with it so well.

Also, we are not trying to destroy the Control Spire. The dub is making the same mistake as Daisuke. It thinks we're here to kick ass and make the Digimon Emperor's forces eat dirt.

Coming back from commercial, a Veggiemon hurls the "prisoners" into a cell with the Gazimon.

Veggiemon: Quit wasting time and get in there! You'll each be punished with 100 lashes tomorrow! NYEHEHEHEHE GREAT JOB EVERYONE--eh?

While the Veggiemon is busy gloating, the other Digimon remove their fake Rings.

Tailmon: Great job to you too. NEKO PUNCH!!!

Tailmon's hit sends the Veggiemon back against the bars, knocking them out. V-mon and Armadimon jump the other three Veggiemon, with Armadimon pinning two while V-mon pummels the third.

(V-mon, your opponent is totally helpless. Punch the Ring, you dipshit.)

In the dub:

Vegiemon: Thanks for bringing the prisoners in. The Emperor will be pleased. We could have gotten 'em ourselves, you know. But I guess you beat us to the punch--DAH!!! (The team removes their fake Dark Rings) Gatomon: By the way, speaking of punch: LIGHTNING PAW!!!

I mean. They weren't about to have Veggiemon threaten the whipping, so instead they set up an ironic pun.

Jailbreak successful; Now we just need to get these Gazimon out of the city. Patamon scouts ahead and guides the team through Santa Geria's streets.

Rounding a corner, he does a sudden 180 and turns on the others.

Patamon: ACK STOP!!!

There are five Vegiemon down the stairs.

V-mon: This place is crawling with guards all of a sudden. Daisuke: (pulls out Digivice) Looks like we're up.

Daisuke takes a step to round the corner and confront the Vegiemon, but Yamato grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back.

Yamato: Wait. After all the trouble we went to to rescue these Digimon, you're going to drag them into this? Daisuke: ...geh....

Daisuke isn't happy about it but he relents.

Gabumon: Let's go back up. We can head for the black tower on the hill. Patamon: Sounds good to me!

Patamon flies over Gabumon and the Gazimon's head, taking up a new scouting position for their new direction. The team moves out, except Daisuke and V-mon who hesitate in the back for a moment.

Daisuke stomps the ground in frustration.

Daisuke: WHY!?!? WHY!?!? V-mon: (concerned) Daisuke....

He's losing it.

In the dub::

Patamon: Quiet, there are more guards! Vegiemon: (faint) I got a straight, GYAHAHAHA!!! Veemon: The exit is blocked! We'll never get out now! Davis: (pulls out his Digivice) I'm tired of hiding anyway. Let's fight! (Davis tries to go out there but Matt stops him) Matt: Easy there, junior. You have to learn that fighting's not the only answer. It should only be your last resort. Davis: Mrrr.... Gabumon: Let's go back this way. We'll come out on top near the Control Spire! Patamon: Good idea! (Everyone heads that way) Davis: NNNNNNNGH WHY WON'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME!?!? Veemon: What'd you say?

I love that the Vegiemon are playing poker. The original offers no explanation for why five of them are clustered together in this one random corner of the city.

Yamato offers a clear and concise reason for why Daisuke shouldn't go start a fight: It would endanger the Gazimon we came here to save, who are with us right now.

Matt only offers anti-violence platitudes.

The team makes its way up the hill towards the Dark Tower. Patamon seems to have given up scouting and flies near the back with Takeru. Yamato leads the way while Daisuke takes up the rear, pouting with his hands in his pockets.

Takeru: Oh, by the way, Daisuke-kun! I met your big sister today. Daisuke: Yeah, so what? Takeru: So what? Daisuke: My sister was talking trash about me. Takeru: That's not quite-- Daisuke: No, she was.

Yeah, she was. She called him uncute and said she wishes she had a brother like Takeru instead. It's pretty mild, but she was trash-talking him.

Incidentally, Daisuke refers to his sister with the slang term 姉貴 aneki instead of the more respectful お姉さん onee-san or お姉ちゃん onee-chan. This doesn't convey anything about their relationship; Just that, like Taichi, Daisuke's the kind of boy to use slang language.

Daisuke: My sister always has to badmouth me to every single person she meets. She hates me. Well, I hate that scary girl too, so that's fine. Yamato: HEY!!!

Overhearing this conversation pisses off Yamato, who comes running to yell at Daisuke.

Yamato: What the hell is wrong with you!? Daisuke: What!? Yamato: If you were my little brother, I wouldn't let that slide. I'd knock you on your ass! Daisuke: That's funny. Go on and hit me then! HIT ME!!!

Takeru grabs Yamato from behind, holding him back.

Takeru: Stop it! You aren't going to hit him, Onii-chan. You wouldn't do it, would you? Yamato: (puts down his fists) I won't. (to Daisuke) But watch your mouth!

With that, Yamato and Takeru turn back towards the front of the group and leave Daisuke in the back.

Daisuke's been pretty much a shit for this whole episode so far, but I feel for him with this one. Everybody's family situation is different. Daisuke isn't the good guy here, but he isn't the bad guy either. It's clear that his relationship with Jun is strained, but we don't know enough to know why.

By contrast, Yamato's behavior here is way out-of-line. He is, by his own admission, projecting himself and Takeru onto Jun and Daisuke's relationship. We don't know enough to know if Daisuke's being a brat and neither does he. Depending on context, Daisuke's statements may warrant correction, but "Shut the fuck up or I'll shut you up" isn't helping.

In the dub:

T.K.: Hey Davis, I almost forgot. I saw your sister today. Davis: Yeah? So what? T.K.: So nothing. Davis: She probably had a lot of bad things to say about me, didn't she? T.K.: Well, actually-- Davis: I know! She said that I bite my toenails and spit them on the floor and I used to suck my thumb until about a month ago! That I wet the bed every other Thursday; It was laundry day so it was alright. Well, she talked too much so when I see her, I'll teach her a lesson! Matt: Thanks for sharing but she didn't mention any of that! (Matt angrily runs to the back of the group) Davis: Say what? Matt: Your sister didn't say anything bad about you! In fact, she didn't even mention you! YOU'RE the one with the big mouth! Davis: If you've got a problem with me, why don't we settle it right now!? Matt: Hmph! (raises fists) (T.K. grabs Matt from behind) T.K.: Come on, Matt! Don't fight! He's younger than you are! He doesn't know any better. Matt: (puts down his fists) I don't care how young he is. He'd better learn some respect.

Here we see why they jettisoned Jun badmouthing Daisuke. It's so that they could rewrite this conversation as Davis being, just, the worst little shit who ever lived. Making wild, unreasonable accusations about his sister and then threatening violence against her to retaliate for the things she never said.

Absolutely wild to have Matt saying "Your sister never said anything bad about you!" and then it's true but only because they rewrote the scene where she did.

Now Jun is completely innocent of the accusation. At the same time, Davis is so much more nasty and aggressive and violent that it implies he might be abusing her.

Additionally, they cut out Yamato snapping and threatening to hit Daisuke. Instead, it's Davis who nearly provokes Matt into fighting because he's such a piece of shit.

What especially sucks is that the laundry day bit is a pretty solid joke. "It's laundry day so it's okay to wet the bed every other Thursday" implies that this is premeditated. That he plans to wet the bed at the time of least inconvenience. That's... absolutely hilarious, but it's ruined by the context it's in.

Once Takeru and Yamato are gone, Daisuke grumbles about how attacked he feels.

Daisuke: Asshole should stay the hell out of it! I can say whatever I want about that stupid girl. Hikari: Stop it, Daisuke-kun! Daisuke: Eh? Hikari: I hate anyone who'd badmouth his own big sister! Daisuke: Hate...?

Daisuke flinches as if struck. In his mind, he envisions a rose, with Hikari plucking petals as he imagines her speaking.

Hikari: (pluck) Hate. Hikari: (pluck) Hate. Hikari: (the entire rose disintegrates) Hate. Hikari: I HATE DAISUKE!!!

Apparently that was the end of the conversation, because Hikari returned to the group while Daisuke was spiraling into despair. As the team and their rescued Gazimon truck onwards, Daisuke remains behind, paralyzed.

V-mon: Daisuke.... Daisuke: She doesn't like me... Hikari-chan doesn't like me.... V-mon: (thinking) I've never seen Daisuke so depressed before. I have to cheer him up. V-mon: Daisuke!

Whatever V-mon intends to do, we cut away from it so we don't overhear.

In the dub:

Davis: Who does he think he is!? It's my sister and if I wanna call her names, that's what I'm gonna do! After all, that's what brothers are here for! Kari: That's enough, Davis! Davis: Huh!? Kari: I can't stand anyone who talks bad about their brother or sister! Davis: Me!?

Hikari specifies お姉さん onee-san, meaning older sister. She can't stand someone who'd badmouth their own older sister. She's clearly singling out Daisuke specifically.

Kari doesn't like hearing badmouthing of any sort of sibling.

In Davis's hallucination, he talks as if he's the one plucking petals even though it's clearly Hikari's hand.

Davis: (Kari plucks) She loves me. Davis: (Kari plucks) She hates me. Davis: (Rose disintegrates) She loves me. Davis: SHE HATES MEEEEEEEEE!!!

It's not well-timed to the animation. He almost gets all the way through "She hates me" before Kari's second pluck.

Veemon: Davis! What's the matter? Davis: It's Kari. She hates me. She thinks I'm a disgusting, worthless piece of dirt. Veemon: (thinking) I've never seen Davis so depressed. I've gotta cheer him up. (gasp) I know! Veemon: Knock knock!

That'll do it. Thanks, Veemon.

Once at the top of the hill, the group runs into a problem: There isn't a way down. The other side is an overhang above a vast chasm.

Takeru: We're going down from here? Hikari: It's too high! We won't make it!

(Hikari getting Piemon's observatory flashbacks. If anyone sees a basket with a rope in it, you leave that the fuck alone.)

Yamato: We'll need a rope or something.... Gabumon: I'll double back and try to find one. Gazimon: Wait for us!

Two of the Gazimon approach Gabumon.

Gazimon: To repay you for freeing us, we'll go. Gabumon: Thank you. In that case, let's go together.

Gabumon and the Gazimon head back the way they came. But as they pass Daisuke and V-mon, they're taken out by a poop barrage. The Gazimon in front both take poops to the face and fall back, knocking over Gabumon.

Gabumon: Euuuuugh....

While Gabumon whines, poops nail him in the face and shoulder.

The Veggiemon horde has found them. And, at their head, is RedVeggiemon.

RedVeggiemon: We won't allow that!

Okay, Daisuke. I think it's finally fight time.

In the dub:

T.K.: How do we get down from here!? Kari: There's no way to do it! It's too steep! Matt: If we only had a rope or something, we could climb down. Gabumon: No problem! I'll go look for one. Gazimon: Wait! We'll be the rope. We'll just hang onto each other and you can climb down the bunny slope. Our way of saying thanks! Gabumon: That would be great! Okay, let's go! (Gabumon and Gazimon descend past Davis and get hit by Digi-Sludge) Gabumon: Eugh.... RedVegiemon: Ha! No one's going anywhere!

Okay, first off, there are five of them. That isn't nearly enough Gazimon to form a monkey-chain all the way down this huge drop. Especially when they're like two feet tall apiece.

Second, this bizarre plan makes the following choreography confusing. There is now no explanation for why, after agreeing to this plan, Gabumon and the two Gazimon leave the cliffside and descend past Davis and Veemon on the way back to town.

Alright, we're boned and the stealthy approach is dead. Now is finally Daisuke's time.

V-mon: Yes, I'm in! Check this out, Daisuke. Daisuke: Eh? V-mon: They might be red, but they're still part of the Veggiemon nakama, right? They can't be that strong. I'll show you how cool I am, and that'll cheer you up!

V-mon charges into battle without another word.

Daisuke: Cheer me up--HEY, V-MON!!! Gabumon: V-MON, WAIT!!!

V-mon charges straight into RedVeggiemon's spiked club of a tendril. The hit knocks him back and causes him to briefly stumble, but he manages to keep his footing.

V-mon: Tch! RedVeggiemon: If this hits, it'll really hurt. RED HOT MACHINE GUN!!!

RedVeggiemon opens their mouth and fires a barrage of chili peppers. The attack completely blindsides V-mon, with multiple pepper bullets striking him in the face and knocking him on his back.

V-mon: WAUGH!!! Daisuke: Everyone, Armor Evolve! Iori: Right!

It's too late, though. The Veggiemon jump Daisuke and Iori, binding them with their tendrils so they can't activate their Digimentals.

Veggiemon: We won't let you!

With Takeru and Hikari also bound, Patamon makes a Hail Mary charge straight for RedVeggiemon. Their Red Hot Machine Gun shoots him out of the sky.

RedVeggiemon: HAZARD BREATH!!!

For the rest, RedVeggiemon lets out his noxious fumes, incapacitating them from the foul stench. Yamato, Gabumon, Tailmon, Armadimon, and the Gazimon are helpless against the foul odor.

Gabumon: Ugh, it smells like a bathroom.... Tailmon: It's killing my nose! Armadimon: I can't move!

The Veggiemon quickly descend upon them as well.

In the dub:

Veemon: Alright, Davis, it's time for action! Davis: Huh? Veemon: I'm gonna take that overgrown tomato and turn him into vegetable soup! RedVegiemon: Hehehehehe.... Veemon: I'm gonna make vegetarians around the world proud! That ought to cheer you up! Davis: But-- Veemon: VEE HEADBUTT!!!

Veemon calls his attack here rather than simply charging in blind. Still gets popped in the face for his trouble though - With a white flash to obscure the impact.

RedVegiemon: And now for side dish: CHILI PEPPER PUMMEL!!! (Chili Pepper Pummel takes out Veemon) Davis: VEEMON!!! ARMOR-DIGIVOLVE!!! Cody: YEAH-- (Vegiemon take out Davis and Cody. More chili peppers drop Patamon.) RedVegiemon: STINK JET!!! Digimon: (miscellaneous noises while being gassed)

They took out a few lines of fight banter. Davis directs his instruction to Armor Digivolve to Veemon, whereas Daisuke was calling out to the whole team.

With the Chosen Children soundly defeated, RedVeggiemon triumphantly hoists V-mon aloft, wrapped up in both tendrils.

V-mon: I-I'm sorry, guys.... RedVeggiemon: An apology won't save you now!

RedVeggiemon slams V-mon down hard on the ground and releases him.

Daisuke: V-MON!!! V-mon: (pained) Daisuke.... RedVeggiemon: Now, it's time for this guy to take his 100 lashes! Watch closely!

Calling out his lashes, RedVeggiemon strikes V-mon first in the face, then the second and third go to his gut. V-mon stands back up, defiantly facing down his torturer.

RedVeggiemon: You've got some guts, don't you? But how long can you hold out?

Lashes four, five, and six are all shots to the face, trying to knock V-mon back to the ground. To his credit, he manages to stay standing through four and five, despite offering no resistance to speak of.

Gabumon: I can't watch! Yamato: There's nothing we can do! Daisuke: L-Let go.... V-mon!

Despite having three separate Veggiemon holding him back, Daisuke manages to take a couple steps forward. It's a futile gesture, however, as they wrestle him to the ground.

V-mon, back on the ground, tries to crawl to Daisuke.

V-mon: Daisuke--AUGH!!!

A hard lash to his back puts a stop to that. As the beating continues and V-mon screams and yelps offscreen, we pan over the rest of the team. Everybody's averting their eyes from V-mon's torture.

In the dub:

Veemon: Put me down or I'll toss you like a salad! RedVegiemon: In case you've forgotten, I have the upper hand here! (RedVegiemon slams Veemon) Davis: Urgh... VEEMON!!! Veemon: ... RedVegiemon: The key to good cooking is to always tenderize thoroughly like so!

Yeah, no getting away with "smell my stinky roots" this time. It's hard to disguise Veemon's beating.

They do, however, obscure the first three hits. They use a white flash to obscure the impact from the first, though you can still see it pretty well. Then they cut away before the second hit, going to a wider shot from a distance that keeps the pair in silhouette for a second, third, and fourth lashes.

(I think they played the footage of the third lash in reverse and then let it play forward again, because this shot was originally for one hit. It showed him moving from second to third, but they managed to get three hits out of it. Pretty clever, honestly.)

Veemon: (standing up) Is that your best shot!? RedVegiemon: Are you kidding? We're just getting started! How do you feel about flying!?

They cut lashes four and five, keeping only the sixth that seems to knock him off his feet. They also add an "object sailing through the air" sound to go with RedVegiemon's comment, even though the distance between them isn't going to grow any.

Gabumon: I can't watch this! Matt: Veemon doesn't stand a chance against him! Davis: VEEMON!!! I'M COMING!!! (Vegiemon wrestle Davis to the ground)

The scene of V-mon crawling on the ground and taking a hit to the back gets cut.

Lot of slicing and dicing needs to happen to get this scene to broadcast without the censors having a conniption, and we're not even done beating V-mon half to death yet.

The brutality continues, with V-mon grunting and yelping in pain with each count.

RedVeggiemon: 69! 70! 71! 72! 73! 74! 75! 76! 77! 78!

For the 69 through 72, they replay the footage from 4, 5, 6, and 7 but make it transparent, transposing it over a slowly zooming shot into the Dark Tower atop the hill.

73 through 76 appear as triangles showing V-mon's face contorted in pain, appearing once after another as RedVeggiemon calls the hits.

77 just shows Daisuke looking away with his eyes closed.

Then, at 78, we return to V-mon right after the hit has landed. RedVeggiemon lifts their tendril off V-mon's back, and V-mon picks himself up onto his hands and knees. Slowly, he climbs back to his feet.

V-mon: I can't give in... If I do, It'll make Daisuke's depression even worse!

Though RedVeggiemon doesn't call it, 79 hits V-mon right in the gut, knocking him back a couple steps towards the Dark Tower behind him.

Daisuke hears that, looking up suddenly.

Daisuke: (thinking) This is my fault. It's because I was feeling so dejected. He's trying to help me through it.

Despite the three Veggiemon holding him down, Daisuke finds the strength to stand up again.

Daisuke: HEY!!! CUT IT OUT!!! BEAT ME UP INSTEAD OF HIM!!! V-mon: DAISUKE!?!?

Daisuke's outburst distracts V-mon right before the next hit lands. The shot glances across his face and keeps going, hitting the Dark Tower behind him and cracking it. Still, it's enough to knock V-mon off his feet.

In the dub, we're getting some more editing.

RedVegiemon: Combine all your ingredients into a bowl. Next: STIR!!! BLEND!!! MIX!!! FRAPPE!!! And VOILA!!! The first course!

The transposed shots of V-mon getting hit are kept as made into non-animated still-frames of him recoiling in pain. Each one timed to RedVegiemon's cooking instructions. The four triangle slices of pain are presented together instead of one-at-a-time for the final hit.

The brutality here is implied, but still unmistakable.

RedVegiemon: Now, the entree! Veemon: (standing) No matter what you do, I'll never give up! I have to do my best to cheer Davis up, whatever the cost! Davis: (thinking) This whole thing is my fault! Veemon is doing this just for me!

A couple more hits are cut, replaced by a frozen still-image of Veemon looking defiant before the beating starts anew.

Davis: VEEMON, YOU CAN STOP NOW!!! I'M HAPPY!!! I'M HAPPY!!! I'M HAPPY!!! Veemon: You are!?

A white flash obscures the point of impact with the hit that breaks part of the Control Spire.

Davis still tries to intervene, but stops short of volunteering to take Veemon's lashes for him. It's a little awkward that he's pleading with Veemon to stop being beaten instead of pleading with RedVegiemon to stop beating Veemon.

Davis might not realize that, from Veemon's perspective, the alternative to sticking it out for him is giving up and dying.

Daisuke: I'm begging you, let V-mon go! Don't do this! RedVeggiemon: Isn't this a beautiful friendship? Don't worry, once he's done, it will be your turn next. Daisuke: STOP IT!!!

RedVeggiemon cracks their tendril down on V-mon's back while he's trying to crawl to safety.

As he explained at the outset, RedVeggiemon intends to administer the 100 lash penalty for every single person here. There is no 'instead'.

Yamato has managed to fetch his Digivice from his pocket but with the suppression from the Dark Digivice in effect, it's doing nothing.

Gabumon: If I could evolve.... Yamato: It's not responding! Gabumon: It's hopeless.... RedVeggiemon: 99!

The 99th hit lands in V-mon's gut. It shoves him back against the Dark Tower, cracking it further. I guess the Kaiser did not program his Rings to instill respect for his property. Seems like a pretty major oversight for a programming super-genius.

Daisuke: V-MON!!! RedVeggiemon: You've held up pretty well! This next one will be the last. I'LL SEND YOU TO HELL!!!

Saying the quiet part out loud, RedVeggiemon confirms that you're not supposed to survive the 100-lash penalty. It's a form of execution.

For the final lash, RedVeggiemon raises both tendrils and shoots them forward.

Daisuke: V-MOOO-- Daisuke & Yamato: --OOOOOOO-- Daisuke, Yamato, & Gabumon: --OOOOON!!!

As the fatal shot hurtles towards V-mon, Daisuke, Yamato, and Gabumon all appear one by one, crying out for him in chorus.

V-mon ducks away from the attack, darting to safety while RedVeggiemon's tendrils slam hard into the Dark Tower.

Energy surges through the Dark Tower. It crackles, malfunctioning from the damage inflicted to it by Ken's shitty programming.

In the dub, Davis finally starts talking to RedVegiemon.

Davis: Leave him alone now, you hear me? He's had enough! RedVegiemon: I don't doubt he's getting a little full, but he must have saved room for dessert and I've cooked up a sweet SURPRISE!!!

The lash to V-mon's back while he crawls away is cut.

Gabumon: If only I could Digivolve! Matt: There must be a way! Gabumon: But how...?

Matt and Gabumon are feeling a lot better about their chances of getting in this fight than their Japanese counterparts.

The gutshot that slams V-mon into the Dark Tower is kept, with a white flash to obscure the hit.

Davis: Veemon! RedVegiemon: And now here's the surprise I promised you: A double helping of SPIKE PUNCH!!! Davis: VEEMON!!! Matt: DUCK!!! Gabumon: NOW!!!

Matt and Gabumon might just be offering tactical advice. However, with the "There must be a way to Digivolve", there's a kinda-sorta implication that they might have planned to disable the Control Spire? Gatomon also mentioned earlier that destroying the Control Spire is part of their agenda here.

In the original, the team never intended to destroy the Dark Tower and have no idea what it does. RedVeggiemon breaking it with their reckless brutality is a happy accident. It's this moment when everyone finds out what, exactly, it does.

Suddenly Yamato's Digivice lights up. Gabumon wastes no time shaking off the Veggiemon holding him. Gabumon SHINKAAAAAA!!!!

With the old familiar sound of Show Me Your Brave Heart firing up, Gabumon evolves into Garurumon.

RedVeggiemon: W-WHAT!?!? Patamon: Gabumon.... Yamato: He was able to evolve....

With RedVeggiemon too busy olive oiling themselves to intervene, Garurumon turns on the Vegiemon. The horde releases the children and flees for their lives, to no avail.

Garurumon: FOX FIRE!!!

As Garurumon's flames wash over the retreating Veggiemon, we'll... Uh... We'll hope for the best, that the attack only destroyed their Rings.

In the dub:

Matt: Gabumon! How did you Digivolve!? (Garurumon scares the Vegiemon into retreat, then attacks) Garurumon: HOWLING BLASTER!!!

RedVegiemon doesn't get to react with more than just his face, sadly.

With the children no longer restrained, the tide has turned. Daisuke whips out his Digivice to join the fray.

Daisuke: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

Leaving punishment mode behind, RedVegiemon goes back into attack mode with another volley of Red Hot Machine Gun. Their chili peppers ricochet harmlessly off of Fladramon's right palm.

Fladramon's left punch, on the other hand, sends RedVegiemon cathartically tumbling across the hillside.

Daisuke: V-mon, you endured the enemy's whipping and managed to evolve! Now it's your turn! Fight with everything you have and finish this! GANBARRE, FLADRAMON!!! Fladramon: RIGHT!!!

V-mon has persevered through great adversity, and now it's time for him to push through to the end and overcome.

In the dub, Flamedramon calls his left punch as an attack.

Flamedramon: FLAME FIST!!! Davis: Boy, am I glad to see you, Flamedramon! It's time for a little payback! I think we should give this overgrown houseplant a real cooking lesson! Flamedramon, get 'em! Flamedramon: HIYAH!!!

Davis's triumphant energy doesn't quite match Daisuke's ganbarre speech but he's giving it his all nonetheless.

Ganbarre, Fladramon.

RedVeggiemon: What the hell!?

RedVeggiemon sends both spiked tendrils forward. Fladramon catches them, gripping them between his armored claws, and yanks RedVeggiemon forward onto their face. Then, using the tendrils for leverage, he hoists RedVeggiemon into the air and slams him down onto the ground again and again for some cathartic retribution.

RedVeggiemon: Is that all you've got!? Fladramon: KNUCKLE FIRE!!!

RedVeggiemon immediately regrets asking that, as Fladramon's fireballs tear into them and set them ablaze. They scream in pain until the fire relents, then fall flat on their back.

RedVeggiemon: I give up.... Daisuke: We won!

In the dub:

RedVegiemon: You want a piece of me!? (Flamedramon slams RedVegiemon over and over) RedVegiemon: That hurt.... Flamedramon: FIRE ROCKET!!! RedVegiemon: (on fire) Augh! I've heard of grilled vegetables, but this is ridiculous! (The fire recedes and RedVegiemon collapses) RedVegiemon: Ugh.... Davis: You did it!

Unsurprisingly, the dub covers up RedVegiemon's agonized screeching by giving him a quip.

Miyako: GUYS!!!

Only now, with the fight already finished, does the cavalry arrive.

Miyako arrives with reinforcements. She's brought Taichi and Koushiro as well as Hawkmon, Agumon, and the Gotsumon. They're all excited to see Garurumon in his Adult stage.

Taichi & Koushiro: GARURUMON!!! Agumon: How did you evolve!? Garurumon: Ah, I'm not sure either. Patamon: You were able to evolve after that tower cracked, right? Miyako: Eh? Then, if we destroyed the tower...? Armadimon: Got it! That's right up my alley. I'd be best for this dagyaa. Iori: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

In the dub:

Yolei: DAVIS!!! (Reinforcements arrive too late) Tai: Garurumon! Agumon: How were you able to Digivolve!? Garurumon: I'm not quite sure. Patamon: You know what I think? When RedVegiemon's punch cracked the Control Spire, we were free from its power. Hawkmon: They're certainly going to need a lot of glue. Armadillomon: We should destroy the Spire once and for all, and who better to do the job than Digmon? Cody: Yeah! DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!

Yolei calls out directly to Davis instead of the whole team, and Hawkmon and Armadillomon rob her of her line. Rude.

Armadimon Armor Evolves into Digmon so he can take the entire obelisk with his Big Crack.

Digmon: BIG CRACK!!!

Once the Dark Tower falls, RedVeggiemon pulls off their Ring.

RedVeggiemon: Huh? What have I been doing all this time?

The other Veggiemon slide their Rings off as well.

Iori: Ah! The Evil Rings have lost their power! Miyako: So that's how it works. That makes sense. Hawkmon: What makes sense? Miyako: The tower isn't just for decoration. It's like a radio tower, channeling the Digimon Kaiser's power and spreading it across a wide area. Isn't that right, Izumi-senpai. Koushiro: Yes, I believe your theory is correct.

We officially have a name for the control devices beyond just calling them "the Rings". They are now Evil Rings, in English. I think Iori came up with that on the spot.

In the dub, Big Crack is no longer Gold Rush.

Digmon: ROCK CRACKIN'!!! (Digmon brings down the Control Spire) Digmon: Sorry, I forgot to yell timber! RedVegiemon: Whoa, did I get married while I was asleep? (The Vegiemon all remove their Dark Rings) Yolei: Oh, now I see how it works. Hawkmon: May I inquire as to what you're talking about? Yolei: The Spire. It acted like an electricity rod. The Digimon Emperor set it up to send out power to the Dark Rings, making it possible for him to control all of the Digimon throughout the area. Isn't that right, Izzy? Izzy: Yeah, I'm quite impressed with your theory, Yolei.

I'm not. She specifies that the Control Spire powers the Dark Rings, which is an incomplete explanation. It's also suppressing evolution. It's providing the signal for all of the Digimon Emperor effects in the region, not just the Dark Rings.

With this new discovery in mind, it's time to talk shop.

Taichi: The Chosen Children's objective is clear! Yamato: Yeah! To visit each area controlled by the Digimon Kaiser and destroy the towers he's built there. Takeru: We'll help with that (ganbaru), Onii-chan. Daisuke: So will I! Agumon: Plus, if we destroy the towers, we'll be able to evolve! Tailmon: It'll be easy! Taichi: Yes! Agumon, let's get to the Gotsumon's area! Hikari: Yeah! We'll come too!

Taichi and Hikari leave with their Partners and the Gotsumon. Yamato climbs up on Garurumon's back.

Yamato: We'll take responsibility for defending this area. Gazimon: (together) THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

In the dub:

Tai: I wonder how many more Control Spires there are scattered around the Digital World? Matt: Well, whatever the number is, one thing we know for sure is they all have to be destroyed. Quite a tough mission for the new DigiDestined, don't you think? T.K.: Leave it to us! We can handle it! Davis: You said it! Agumon: I guess someone should take the Gotsumon back to their homes now. Gatomon: I'm all over it! Tai: Come on! I'll lead the way! Kari: I'm right behind you, big brother! (Tai and Kari leave with their Partners and the Gotsumon) Matt: Garurumon will stay here and protect you guys from the Emperor. Gazimon: GARURUMON!!!

Matt is eager to wash his hands and be done with all this. He singles out the new kids as solely responsible for destroying the Control Spires. Then he hands Garurumon over to the Gazimon and excludes himself from responsibility for their protection.

In the original, destroying the Dark Towers is now the responsibility of the Chosen Children as a whole, and the Gazimon will be defended by 俺達 ore-tachi, the pluralized first-person pronoun.

Leaving Taichi, Hikari, and Yamato to finish up in the Digital World, the rest of the team returns to Computer Club.

(Taking Hikari was a good idea. She's gonna be the boys' ticket home since their Digivices can't open the Gate.)

Daisuke: I know it was all my fault. You were worried about me. I'm sorry, V-mon. Chibimon: Daisuke, you've grown up a bit! Daisuke: Eh!?

Daisuke has learned a valuable lesson from all this. We're just not sure what it is.

No, I kid. Daisuke's learned that his attitude and behavior has a knock-on effect on the people around him. His foul attitude led directly to V-mon going off half-cocked to try and impress him, and getting his teeth kicked in from a fight they would rightly have won if they'd approached it more cautiously from the beginning.

V-mon made reckless mistakes trying to impress Daisuke because Daisuke was mad that no one liked his reckless ideas. He let his bad attitude compromise the mission and get his Partner hurt, and he's taking responsibility for that.

Once Daisuke's done apologizing to Chibimon while using the wrong name, Koushiro grabs their attention at the computer.

Koushiro: Everyone, please have a look at this. Miyako: What's this? Koushiro: While I was examining the Digivice I borrowed from Miyako-kun, I found this.

Koushiro pulls up the same grid of black and white squares that we saw in the Kaiser's control room earlier.

Koushiro: It looks like a Digital Map.

Koushiro taps a white square in the middle of a field of black squares with a pen.

Koushiro: This used to be black, but now it's white. Therefore, that must be the region where we brought down the tower. Iori: But the black areas of the Digital World are spread out so wide! Daisuke: (determined) Then that means we're just getting started.

Yeah, we're on episode 4. This ain't wrapping up that quickly. :P

The dub takes a commercial break before we return to the human world.

Yolei: I'm glad the Gotsumon aren't staying with us anymore. Every time they touched my CDs, they scratched them! Cody: And they clogged the sink when they brushed their teeth! Davis: They were kinda cool, though.

Davis's apology wouldn't hit nearly as hard when he didn't try and take Veemon's punishment for him. It especially doesn't hit as hard when the dub doesn't even bother. It spends that time having Yolei and Cody whine about the inconvenience of sheltering refugees for one day.

Izzy: Hey, everyone, I really think you should take a look at this. Yolei: Wow, what is that? Izzy: I found it when I was examining your Digivice, Yolei. It seems to be a map of the Digital World. (Izzy taps the white square with a pen) Izzy: Do you see this white square? Well, it used to be black until we destroyed the Control Spire. Unfortunately, there are a lot of black squares left and they all have Spires. Cody: Gee, Izzy, it's going to take a long time to turn all of those black squares into white ones. Davis: And how do we know he won't build new Spires?

Daisuke's gung-ho moment is turned into Davis asking what is honestly a valid question. We'll never be rid of the Spires as long as the Kaiser's still out there erecting more. We're basically playing Risk.

Meanwhile, back in the Digital World.

Greymon brings the Dark Tower back in the Gotsumon region crashing to the ground.

Taichi: (thumbs up) Agumon can evolve into Greymon too!

In his control room, the Digimon Kaiser seems to have noticed the second black square in his territory suddenly turning white.

Kaiser: Oh? That must have been their handiwork. Well, no matter. That area isn't tactically important.

It's just the gladiator pit where he makes slaves fight for funsies. He can always build another one.

Kaiser: At this pace, I'll have conquered the entire world in less than a year. (Digimon Kaiser stands up dramatically) Kaiser: Every last Digimon will bow before me, serve me, and worship me! Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

While the Kaiser laughs maniacally, the camera slowly zooms on Wormmon's concerned face, watching silently as Ken-chan loses it.

In the dub:

Greymon: They don't make Control Spires like they used to. Tai: Ha! Way to go, Greymon! You're a one-mon wrecking crew!

Yeah, the Emperor's been skimping on the materials to save money lately. The new ones they're building now are basically papier-mache over a wooden frame. Turns out a child's allowance only extends so far.

The cut to the Digimon Kaiser begins with his Dark Digivice and then cuts to a wider shot of him in his control room. The dub has his Digivice beep to alert him that a region's been lost.

Emperor: What!? A Spire was destroyed!? Must be those meddling kids! Oh well. Doesn't really matter. That area was pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Within a year, I'll have every area under my full control. (Digimon Emperor stands up dramatically) Emperor: And then finally, every living thing in the Digital World will become my slave forever! And that includes those kids too! Hahahahahahahaha!!! Narrator: What is the Digimon Emperor's master plan? More pieces to the puzzle revealed on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

...

This.

His master plan is this. He's going to build Control Spires all across the Digital World and enslave everyone.

He just. Told you.

Were you in the bathroom getting high all episode, Narrator?

Assessment: Surprised, after all the Yamato vs Daisuke build-up, that the episode never resolved that. V-mon's impulsive mistake to try and help Daisuke succeeded in pivoting the plot away from the growing tension between Daisuke and Yamato.

Daisuke learned a valuable lesson that relates to where he was at all episode emotionally, but he and Yamato never had the chance to bury the hatchet or have it out or what have you.

Yamato was definitely out-of-line when he threatened to hit Daisuke for trash-talking his sister. There is clearly hostility in Daisuke and Jun's relationship that we have insufficient information to assess, and it will be interesting to learn more down the road because this isn't the last we're seeing of Jun.

[empiredesimparte]

Interview : Louis Simparte, free above all else.

Journalist: You quit Maison Simparte as a teenager to join the Socialist Party. You claim to have found your freedom in this way.

Louis: At university, I took part in drunken student parties and joined student union groups. The final straw: I hung a portrait of Che Guevara in my room. It drove my parents crazy! It wasn't much, I'm sure you'll agree, but members of the imperial family are narrow-minded.

Journalist: Despite your family's exile at the time, did your parents hope to see you one day ascend the imperial throne in Francesim?

Louis: Oh yes. When I was a child, on my way to school, Simpartist soldiers and supporters would greet me as if I were a prophet. I lived completely out of touch with reality: baptized by the Pope, surrounded by old aristocrats who fantasized about empire and the old ways. My father fed off these fantasies and was convinced that one day we'd be back at the helm of Francesim. I had to be prepared to embody his dream.

Journalist: Your grandfather's dream was realized through his grandson, Charles, who became Emperor Napoléon IV.

Louis: My father forced me to marry an aristocrat, and I had Charles and Henri. To please the head of the family. But I was soon divorced, I couldn't live chained to my father any longer. So my father disinherited me and took it out on my son, Charles. He separated us from each other and made him think that I was the enemy of the family.

Journalist: And now? Would you like to reconcile with the imperial family?

Louis: I've come to terms with myself and my family history over the years. Charles and Henri never invited me to ceremonies in Francesim, and Napoléon V didn't either. None of them considered me in the Imperial Constitution, even though I am the true dynastic head. Today, I think I'm a blot on their imperial history.

Journalist: Did the tragic death of Emperor Napoléon IV change your position? Perhaps in the future, your destiny will be to return to Francesim, to the Emperor.

Louis: You know… I don't think so. No. I have a parallel life to all that, and I took my responsibilities when I left the Simparte family. For the past ten years, I've been working for the United Nations, helping countries and associations all over the world. For my part, I'm no longer angry with my children Charles and Henri. I don't know Napoléon V, my grandson, nor his sister Hortense. But my republican ideas are undeniably interfering with their lives.

Journalist: Yet you've decided to move back to Francesim next year.

Louis: With all due respect to the imperial family (sic), I think it's important for me to illustrate all the facets of Simpartism. I'm still a Simparte. And Napoléon isn't just a dynasty, a tyrant or an emperor. He's also the revolutionary, the general, the first president of the French republic.

Journalist: Your book is selling like hotcakes in French bookshops. You are conducting numerous interviews. From the shadows, you entered the light at the dawn of Napoleon V's reign. With your arrival in Francesim, few people think it's harmless. Some call it a "family settling of scores".

Louis: I don't want to challenge the Emperor, or Henri, or anyone else. I simply assume who I am without any complexes, I don't feel any scruples and I don't want to run away from debates either. I simply want to set the record straight, for the young Emperor's sake too.

Journalist: Do you think Emperor Napoléon V will read your book?

Louis: Probably not, but I sincerely hope so.

⚜ Traduction française

Interview : Louis Simparte, libre avant tout.

Journaliste : Vous avez claqué la porte à la Maison Simparte depuis votre adolescence pour rejoindre le parti socialiste. Vous dîtes avoir ainsi trouvé votre liberté.

Louis : A l'université, j'ai participé à des fêtes estudiantines arrosées et j'ai rejoint des groupes syndicaux étudiants. Le coup final : j'ai accroché un portrait du Che Guevara dans ma chambre. Cela rendait mes parents fous ! Ce n'était pas grand chose vous en conviendrez, mais les membres de la famille impériale sont étroits d'esprit.

Journaliste : Malgré l'exil de votre famille à l'époque, vos parents espéraient-ils vous voir un jour monter sur le trône impérial en Francesim ?

Louis : Oh oui. Lorsque j'étais enfant, sur le chemin de l'école, des militaires et des soutiens Simpartistes me saluaient comme si j'étais un prophète. Je vivais complètement déconnecté de la réalité : baptisé par le pape, entouré de vieux aristocrates qui fantasmaient l'empire et les vieilles mœurs. Mon père se nourrissait sans cesse de ces fantasmes et était persuadé que nous reviendrons un jour à la tête de la Francesim. Je devais être préparé à incarner son rêve.

Journaliste : Le rêve de votre grand-père s'est réalisé à travers son petit-fils, Charles devenu l'Empereur Napoléon IV. Pourquoi lui plutôt que vous ?

Louis : Mon père m'a marié de force à une aristocrate, et j'ai eu Charles et Henri. Pour faire plaisir au chef de famille. Mais j'ai divorcé rapidement, je ne pouvais plus vivre enchaîné à mon père. Alors mon père m'a déshérité et s'en est pris à mon fils, Charles. Il nous a séparés l'un de l'autre et lui a mis en tête que j'étais l'ennemi de la famille.

Journaliste : Et maintenant ? Souhaitez-vous vous réconcilier avec la famille impériale ?

Louis : Je me suis réconcilié avec moi-même et avec mon histoire familiale, au fur et à mesure des années. Charles et Henri ne m'ont jamais convié aux cérémonies en Francesim, et Napoléon V non plus. Aucun d'eux ne me considère dans la Constitution impériale, alors que je suis le véritable chef dynastique. Aujourd'hui, je crois que je suis pour eux une tache de leur histoire impériale.

Journaliste : La disparition tragique de l'Empereur Napoléon IV n'a rien changé à votre position ? Peut-être que à l'avenir, votre destin sera de revenir en Francesim auprès de l'Empereur.

Louis : Vous savez... Je ne crois pas. Non. J'ai une vie parallèle à tout ça, j'ai pris mes responsabilités en quittant la famille Simparte. Je travaille depuis une dizaine d'années pour les Nations Unies, pour aider les pays et les associations du monde entier. De mon côté, je ne suis plus fâché contre mes enfants Charles et Henri. Je ne connais pas Napoléon V, mon petit fils, ni Hortense sa soeur. Mais mes idées républicaines nuisent à leur vie indéniablement.

Journaliste : Pourtant, vous avez décidé de revenir vivre en Francesim l'an prochain.

Louis : N'en déplaise à la famille impériale. Je pense que c'est important pour moi d'illustrer toutes les facettes du Simpartisme. Je reste un Simparte. Et Napoléon, ce n'est pas qu'une dynastie, que le tyran ou l'empereur. C'est aussi le révolutionnaire, le général, le premier président de la république française.

Journaliste : Votre livre s'arrache dans toutes les librairies françaises. Vous menez de nombreuses interviews. De l'ombre, vous entrez dans la lumière à l'aube du règne de Napoléon V. Avec votre arrivée en Francesim, peu de gens pensent que c'est anodin. Certains parlent d'un "règlement de comptes familial".

Louis : Je ne veux pas défier l'Empereur, ou Henri, ou qui que ce soit. J'assume simplement qui je suis sans complexe, je ne ressens pas de scrupules et je n'ai pas non plus envie de fuir les débats. Je veux simplement rétablir la vérité, aussi pour le jeune Empereur.

Journaliste : Pensez-vous que l'Empereur Napoléon V lira votre livre ?

Louis : Probablement pas, mais je l'espère sincèrement.

[psy-kylo-gy]

Finally, Act V Day 3 of A Day in the Life of TchaikovsKYLO Ren! Our favorite messy boy has at last renounced the dark side and reclaimed his true self: Ben Tchaikovsolo! Surprises await for both him and his headstrong waifu who is challenging Emperor Ovaltine all alone. Reylo chaos ensues but can love save the day?

Catch up with the entire series here

Well first off I'm so sorry for the wait on this, I had it 99% finished since 2020 but just lost the heart to post it during Covid and my subsequent depression. I really wanted the people who love this series to know that I haven't abandoned it, and the finale is mostly done as well and I'm so excited to bestow Reylo with a GOOD ENDING they deserve.

As always, I want to dedicate this to some special folks who've motivated me and given me such kindness and patience over the years. I'm SO grateful for the love and support and I really hope you enjoy this one, Ben is (of course) a lot of fun: @pandoraspocksao3 @blackeyedlily @violet1979 @missrenaeann-blog @maryloki3000 @fangiosfriend

[skitskatdacat63]

catie I NEED more vettonso lore for your au. please. (love u)

Aaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! C!!! Thank you so much for asking!! This took me a bit cause there’s a lot of stuff I want to cover and I had to figure out how to balance the explanation of the historical context and how I apply it to my AU. But seriously thank you for asking because I did more research to write this post and learned a lot of things that make me feel deranged but I cannot bring any of this up to anyone irl without sounding like a lunatic. I’d apologize for the length but you should expect this from me by now! (I realized this doc for this was 1.5k+ my god)

Basic Info: early 1700s historical AU with arranged marriage plot 

Historical Context:

Okay, so this AU is based on a real historical event: The War of The Spanish Succession. Which is when the Spanish Throne was without a clear line of succession because the bloodline(Spanish Habsburgs) died out. So then, even though the previous Spanish King named his successor(Philip V, a Duke related to the French Royal family - representing Fernando in this AU), the Habsburgs still thought they should be allowed to keep the throne within their dynasty, thus offering up the second son(Charles VI - representing Seb in this AU) of the Holy Roman Emperor. So obviously they had to start a war because of it. But then the end result ended up being that because Charles VI’s older brother, the Holy Roman Emperor at the time, died during the war(because of illness though so it would have happened regardless), he became the next Emperor and Philip V ended up becoming the Spanish King after all, rendering it all pointless imo.

How does this relate to Vettonso?:

I'm not overly interested in either Charles VI and Philip V as people, but rather the roles they fulfill in this conflict, but obv I can’t help but draw on details from their lives. As I mentioned, Fernando is now Fernando I of Renault/France Spain and Seb is Sebastian I of Red Bull Austria. This is supposed to be like 2010-2012!Vettonso with Ferrari!Fernando and RBR!Seb(but like Fernando's title of Duke coming from France, because of his championships with Renault.) This AU is kinda just me looking at this historical event and thinking: wouldn’t a gay arranged marriage solve this succession quandary? But also just that it reminds me of Fernando and Seb’s rivalry, and the nationalities/kingdoms fit pretty well!!

Think about the throne of Spain as akin to winning a race, but becoming Holy Roman Emperor as winning the whole entire competition.(Also side note: real life Charles VI didn’t become a king until he became Emperor and adopted all of his brother’s titles, but I want Seb to be a boy king in this AU, so he can have a title as a treat.) Imagine you’re competing for something and you win it, but the only reason you win is because the other competitor won an even bigger prize!!!! Yay you got what you wanted but the boy king is now the emperor of most of Europe. And now you are stuck with him through lawfully wedded arranged marriage because they let you have what you wanted but only under the condition that the two kingdoms are still united. Yeah Fernando got the title, but Seb gained even more titles(get it???) 

They probably have a lot of animosity coming into the marriage, like “how could I ever build a relationship with the man who tried to steal my birthright?” but then realize they’re pretty similar after all. Though obviously Fernando has a lot more resentment than Seb because Seb won the whole damn thing! He would have control over Spain as he’s the king but since it's still within the domain of the empire, Seb would always have the final say. And Seb tries to be magnanimous like “Don’t worry, I won’t interfere”, and Fernando is all snide with comments like “Oh thank you great imperial majesty, can I really? Would you really allow me to do so?” But eventually become loving co-rulers that still constantly snipe at each other over different decisions the other makes. 

Some headcanons(I guess you’d still call it headcanons even if it's your own AU bcs it still comes from your head) + some fun facts from real life that have brainrotted me so I’m putting them in:

Their dynamic is just Seb being a very righteous, bratty boy king emperor who is unabashed about being that way, because he feels that it is his right, but still has a heart of gold and wants to treat his husband well no matter the circumstances leading to their marriage. And then Fernando is like a stray cat that keeps hissing and scratching because it’s really hard for him to accept the circumstances because he still feels humiliated, even though he got everything he wanted, but he still can’t help but be charmed by this baby emperor because he sees attributes of himself in Seb, and can’t really fault him because he would be the exact same, flaunting his power, if he were in Seb’s shoes. 

They would have to speak in French to each other because that’s their shared language but eventually attempt to learn each other’s native languages! Imagine Seb has to travel to Spain to give some Emperor speech and Fernando then bullies him for his bad Spanish. 

They would probably split where they live based on a schedule or by need. Yes, Fernando is the King of Spain but he is also the Emperor’s husband so he does have to spend time in the capital, Vienna. And then since Spain is a part of the empire, Seb has to go routinely, but y’know also to spend time with his husband. They find that their marriage as well as their politics is full of having to make concessions and compromises in order to make it work. 

Something I find funny is that as compensation for not getting the Spanish throne back, Spain had to cede some Italian territories to the Empire. That is literally the Ferrari plot with the transfer from Fernando to Seb!!

I’m not sure how the titles would work in this AU because obviously a m/m political marriage has not ever happened(as far as I know.) But I guess Fernando would just be King Fernando I of Spain and then Seb would be Holy Roman Emperor Sebastian I with the million titles that come with being in that role(though like most importantly Archduke of Austria and King of Bohemia and Hungary, etc.) I like the idea that Seb tries to share some titles with Fernando as a show of good will but Fernando is so affronted, mostly just from embarrassment, like “oh you think I need your good will?? I can’t be happy with what I earned in my own right??” But their kids would receive both titles and would be split in the traditional way, like first kid getting it all mostly, but the others still being nobility obv(yes.. there would be mpreg because of the plot need for succession….don’t ask who…)

They bond through their love of horses, particularly fast horses. The first time they go riding together, they’re both like awkwardly trying to act very proper as a sense of showmanship to the other like “I’m more mature than you”, but then can’t stop trying to get ahead of the other person and eventually break into a full-on race. Their aids are mutually like “oh god, they’re both the same type of insane.” 

Irl Charles VI was so salty about losing the throne that he wouldn’t stop dressing like a traditional Spanish monarch. I can totally see Seb doing that and Fernando getting so pissed with him like “you became emperor!! What more could you possibly want???’ and Seb then fixing him with his biggest pout and saying “your throne!” But also Fernando being weirdly into it because it’s basically Seb presenting himself blatantly as Fernando’s spouse. 

In that same vein, I’m going crazy over how there’s a painting from before the war, of Philip V wearing vestments from both the French order of chivalry and the Habsburg order of chivalry. Like basically stating the desire to see those two lines combined into one kingdom, which fits so well into this AU. Just Seb going crazy over how Fernando is willingly branding himself as belonging to Seb’s house. 

A testimony of Philip V’s personality is that he was a “neurotic, vacillating ruler, concerned with outward decorum and brave only in battle,” god can you not sense the energy of Fernando in that statement???

Very important to me that Charles VI reportedly had many male lovers, and that his soulmate was one of his courtiers. Maybe there can be a bit of Martian or Sebson cheating plot with them being his courtiers hahaha  

Not very relevant in this AU but there’s something about how Philip V had the longest ever reign of a Spanish monarch. Is that not Fernando??? Old man who will rule on forever, or should I say, forever keep his seat 

I already obv posted the wip for this but I'll include it here again as visual rep hehehe:

I've spent way too much time lately trying to research the fashion of the time ugh. But this, as I said, is like first joint portrait session into the marriage. And I guess I kind of want them to be wearing their corronation clothing, which I'm pretty solid on for Seb but still need to research more for Fernando. I think I'll maybe try and just put him in the afformentioned traditional Spanish monarch clothing, but the fact that it's all black kinda bores me, I'd rather he wear red!! This is like a typical royal couple type pose, except they're being more tactile. Also there's something to be said about the symbolism of Fernando being the one standing and Seb being the one sitting hehehe....

[boombambaby]

🌹 For the sweetest Emperor in the world. I'm so proud of you.

I'll even let you take me out on many dates as you'd like.

Ooh, I like the sound of that!

You like me-- I like me! This is perfect!

[eluari]

BORN TO THE SEA - A long overdue update

Genre //Adult Fantasy // Status // Finished 💕 Themes // a fall from grace | vengeance | justice | action & consequences | magic | loyality | survival | love | war | fate | rebellion | sacrifice | queer

Hi there, apologies because you may not remember me, or how you´ve ended up on this taglist. But I still remember you. 2019 you were by my side when I wrote the very first draft of my fantasy novel "Born to the Sea". Until 2021, when I finished my final draft tumblr felt very much like home to me. I shared my thoughts on writing, met new friends, and I’m forever grateful for all the encouragement, interest and love towards what has become an experience of a lifetime ...

I'm truly sorry for not keeping you updated. It's been over a year since I found a literary agent. Back then I wrote “Born to the Sea might actually be published – but only time will tell.”

What happened in the summer of 2022 surpassed my wildest fantasies: One of the major German publishers picked up the manuscript and I met the editor of my dreams: A person who understands the story and its characters on its deepest level ... and here I am, knowing that Born to the Sea will get published; knowing that I'll see my own book hit the stores next year and I still shake my head in disbelief … because all of this started here. With a rough Idea.

And it started with everyone who supported me. It started with you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Lots of love Elya💕

PS: Born to the Sea will be published under a different name, but I fear I can't reveal it just yet. PPS: If you have any questions, by all means, feel free to ask. If you want to keep following my journey to the release, I’m on Instagram these days, being a little more official. You’ll find me *here*. There is bonus art, too - I’m still painting. It would be lovely to see some familiar faces there.

Taglist: (love you, forever.)

@ardawyn @cirianne @elfrooted @somedeadmagic @relevy @alternativeforensicscientist @doro-writes @pen-in-hand @wanderers-minuet @skyfireflight @darth-salem-emperor-of-earth @monaramis @rookie009 @re-writing-h @lady-redshield-writes @zachatari @owl-writes @noxstories @quilloftheclouds @illyriandreamer @writemares @lordkingsmith @kosmosian-quills @reeseweston @ladywithalamp @the-violent-writer @phoenyxrisenfromashes @fantasy-shadows @v-writes-stories @ntbogoni @notiziarios @cawolters @adie-dee @wildswrites @siarven @semblanche @unfortunatelyunfocused @furysreign @a-tear-in-the-veil @acaranna @themidnxghtwriter @songsofaleria @wqtermelon-gloss @august-the-third @waterfallwritings @drunkinbook @doriians @homesteadchronicles @inky-duchess @silas-the-reading-addict @vesrayn @vorskra @miladaydreams @halfbloodlycan @smilelovefat-e @slothssassin @writer-somewhat @twoseeds

Also tagging @gingerly-writing because you might remember me. 💕

[villain-connoisseur]

Dropping by the ask box again to get your thoughts on the Karasu and Yukimiya interaction mehehehe 🤭

i hope you are ready hahahaha

Starting with Ch 288

First off...FINALLY....WE GET YUKIMIYA BACK (APOSTLE OF VICTORYYYYYYYY ZOMGGGGGG). I had a feeling he was going to come back in and with the current rankings...I do suspect more of a showdown between him and karasu. I can't wait to see what the rankings will be after this final match since they are literally next to each other (pleaseeeee let them make the team). yukimiya's dribbling (and boy needs to score another goal...it's been years...come onnnnnn) vs karasu and charles....uyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Next...we get a nice ass shot of karasu's thighs so I had to contain myself. The most important part ahahahaha so relevant to the series.

karasu just analyzing, as usual, is just *chef's kiss* uyyyyyyyy. AND the line "That's when I'm gonna hunt"...PLEATH SIR. his panels were dangerous because i swearrrrrrrrr *blush*

I just hate how short this chapter was. I mean granted it was right before their break, but still...the next chapter better make up for it. I really want karasu using his metavision and just 1 v 1ing yukimiya because come on...their rankings clearly indicate that they have to match up against each other and they need to battle it out. it is the last match of the league.

now in regards to the last two episodes.

look...i BARELY survived. you've seen me simping HARD with the posts i've made. i had to crawl my ass around just to even move because we were SERVED SO WELLLLLLLLLLL.

*replays episodes*

*inhales*

KARASU CALLING HIM YUKKI. WHEN THE HELL DID THEY GET SO COMFORTABLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I REALLY REALLY REALLYYYYYY need to see more bonding time in the facility. the starting eleven and the subs had what...fifteen days (I think) after the third selection to practice their plays and pretty much learn each other's styles...so I.WANT.TO.SEE.HOW.THEY.ALL.WORKED.TOGETHER.TO.PULL.OFF.EVERYTHING.

I feel like we were robbed so much during the third selection and the lead up to the match. there was so much potential for development TT_TT

the fact that yukimiya and karasu are able to strategize on the spot and immediately establish roles...like pleaseeeee can you two be any more.....*urghhhhhhh*...and that ball...fucking lucky ball was able to be in between them. how i wish i was that ball. LOL. all kidding aside, i really wish we could see more team bonding and practicing because i want to see how they became trusting of each other's skills that they can make an on the spot decision of who does what in that split second.

don't even start me with the last episode. i nearly died when i first saw THE scene. i knew it was coming. i thought i was prepared. i thought my body was ready, but my spirit was so weak and thirsty. i do think we were robbed of the scene with aryu, karasu AND yukimiya from THAT manga panel. i can tell that karasu is the crowd favorite (according to the latest popularity poll), so i can see why the animators chose to focus moreso on him. I wish we saw him being a momma crow to otoya and bachira, but hey...we got shirtless caw caw bitch.

i sound like a broken record....but damnnnnnn these two know exactly how to bring me to my knees......they are our top two gentleman in all of blue lock for a reason. best boyssssssss

they also brought me to you so for that...i'm thankful for our 1v1 emperor and our assassin <3 <3 <3 TT_TT

[signor-signor]

June 27, 2023 - 7 Years Later

And now a TED Talk-type presentation (a DET Discussion) by Lord Hater.

Attention, fans of Wander Over Yonder (and Lord Hater, #1 superstar), I'm reaching out to you today to give you the current status of our show and explain why you need to pull yourselves together and pull your own weight in acknowledging the show's need for one more season! For those who are completely clueless, Wander Over Yonder is a sci-fi comedy cartoon show created by veteran cartoonist Craig McCracken, and it debuted in 2013 on Disney Channel before being moved to Disney XD. It ran for two seasons, but one more season was planned and probably primed for production.

Seven years ago, the second season showcasing our lives came to an end, in which I single-handedly stopped Lord Dominator, who, by the way, nearly destroyed the entire galaxy and spurned my affections for her. HOWEVER, because of the uncalled-for cancellation that was decided by the "higher up bosses of bosses of bosses," the majority of the world keeps calling this event the... ssseries... finale... oh, it's painful to call it that... and frankly, I'm really, really sick of it. So let me tell you this...

Our show is NOT dead! It's just left in limbo! Two seasons were NOT enough! The End of the Galaxy is NOT the true series finale and I have the information to prove it!

As you can plainly see, the people who worked on our show NEVER planned on stopping after two seasons. The show itself even has some details pertaining to the plans for our third season, which was pitched back in early 2015.

For instance, in The Waste of Time, there were two images that briefly appeared during the final time travel sequence: one of an orbble-powered ship called the Star Nomad, where, according to Craig McCracken, I'd have to bunk with Wander (shudder), another is one of what fans are speculating to be me in a past life as a space ape. I can see the resemblance, but the facts remain to be known and proven true. Nevertheless, neither of them appeared anywhere else in the first season or the second.

Another telltale sign of our show's unfinished business is the absence of the other villains, including Emperor Awesome. Last time I saw them on the show, they were still on Suburbon V; oddly, they never reappeared when Dominator seemingly destroyed every planet except the one Wander and Sylvia found. As a result, after I defeated Dominator, I was unable to brag about it to the villains!

(EMPEROR AWESOME (off stage): Dude, just because I wasn't in that episode doesn't mean I don't know what happened!)

Anyway, another reason our show is not finished is this: In Craig's Tumblr post announcing that gropforsaken cancellation and concession, he told the readers, and I quote, "We had plans for new characters, the return of old characters, and even a bit of backstory!" Back in 2015 at Comic-Con, just a couple of weeks before our second season premiered, he confirmed he had an origin story planned out for me; the second season only revealed that Major Threat's evil deeds inspired me to take up villainy, but no origin story explaining how I, Lord Hater, came to be!

(MAJOR THREAT (off stage): I'd sure love to hear all about it, man, but for reasons beyond my understanding, we have to keep it in the vault until the big cheese himself gives Craig the okay.)

Yes, Jeff, I get it. Just so you know, you were planned to be a recurring character. Now, in the case of the new characters, I heard they would include a team of space cops called Star Forcement Forcen Force.

(COMMANDER PEEPERS (off stage): It's Star Force Enforcement Force, sir.)

Whatever. Apparently, these new characters were set to be introduced in the third season we were denied years ago, and because we don't have that third season, they have to hide themselves under question marked sheets and we're not able to say their names, like [NAME REDACTED], [NAME REDACTED], or [NAME REDACTED]. AAHH! It's so annoying!

And don't get me started on how Craig ended his post with some of the words from a song Wander sang to cheer me up, or rather, reignite my ire. Believe me when I say his post will ignite your ire when you read all the way to the end, unless, of course, you're a hardcore fan of some overrated show that gets so much attention. I'm talkin' to you, blue cat boy.

Moving right along, in the finale of one of Disney's underappreciated shows, Future-Worm, the titular invertibrate and his companion Danny warped to various universes, including the alternate version of the one in which our show takes place. And guess what they saw when they arrived in it... Wander and Sylvia aboard the Star Nomad! Remember when I said I'd have to share a room with Wander on the ship? This is the very ship, the same one you saw in The Waste of Time, and if there's something I know about it, it's that it started out as a regular airship seen in The Secret Planet, and Wander and Sylvia would use it as their new mode of transportation to bring any refugees remaining on the planet I saved back to their home planets. You know, the planets I wanted to conquer as soon as I saved the galaxy. The point is, this ship was planned to play a BIG role in Season 3, and while I'm thankful for not bunking with Wander at this time, I'm still determined to know more about it.

(WANDER (off stage): Hey, Hater, if you wanna know more about the Star Nomad, you can join me at Underappreciated Cartoons Anonymous and Fyootch and I will be more than happy to tell you all about it.)

No thank you, and I'm still not your buddy. Oh, that's another reason our show's not finished: Wander has not yet befriended me. Even if he did, I'd still keep my distance from him, but I digress.

Now, what else is there? Waste of Time images... absence of other villains... origin story... new characters... Future-Worm cameo... Oh yes.

Fans, I have saved the most obvious reason for the show's total lack of closure for last... A DOWNED SPACE CAPSULE WITH GREEN LIGHTNING AND MONKEY-LIKE SCREECHING FADING INTO MY EVIL LAUGHTER! Words alone cannot describe how serious this is for a show that got canceled prematurely. If you look up "cliffhanger" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of that space capsule. To add insult to injury, Disney kept shunning us and continued to show more love for that strange Oregon town show, which the Internet never seems to stop talking about even though it already ended perfectly, and that anime-influenced show about a naïve princess with a powerful, cutesy-wutesy wand that got not three seasons, but FOUR seasons! Honest to Grop, I'm really fed up with their popularity. They ALWAYS outrank us!

(Clears throat) Thankfully, the SaveWOY campaign was flourishing since the day Craig made that dreadful announcement, but as the years went by, most supporters simply gave up and moved on, almost as if they were telling us that we can't reason with those "higher up bosses of bosses of bosses." It’s pathetic. You know what I say to that? Giving up is quitting, and quitters never win! Don't make those bosses think they were in the right when they canceled the show. Not doing anything gives them the impression that you're giving in to their demands. If a show has more to tell, THEY should be giving in to YOUR demands. And if you dare to discourage the curious fans from fighting for a proper conclusion, consider yourself likely to be struck by lightning.

Don't forget, our show is currently accessible on Hulu and Disney+, but with Disney being focused on the present, the future, and the shows that are hard to surpass in popularity, like that one about the school girls and cold-blooded critters and that one show about a Hispanic girl in a fantasy world, saving the show has become more impossible than difficult. Seriously, what has an entertainment conglomerate got against shows with guys as main protagonists? What does it have against a show that doesn’t feature Earth? And for that matter, why is it still not swayed by the SaveWOY campaign? How are they not comprehending what the fans have been trying to communicate on social media? We’re in the 21st century, for crying out loud!

After seven grueling years, the SaveWOY campaign's efforts to save the show have been absolutely futile, leaving the public perpetually in the dark about the plans for Season 3. That's why I, Lord Hater, propose we start up an entirely new campaign where fans old and new come together to meet a common goal: FinishWOY! Instead of begging Disney to bring back the show, we can make it our mission to collect the missing details, put the pieces together, and create that third season in the cheapest format possible! In doing so, we can spare Disney the trouble of getting the crew back together and spending tons of money to make it. At this time, Craig is back at his alma mater working on that Powerpuffed Girls revival and the Foster’s preschool retooling for Imaginated Friends, and he said that "movement, music, and McBrayer” would do our show’s third season justice. However, in these difficult economic times when he can't be bothered to spill the beans, the crew is already scattered, most of the world fails to acknowledge our existence, and the bosses don't give a zbornak’s pajamas about the show's unfinished business, it's probably best if we make it ourselves, and if it has to be relegated to web comic form, I'm willing to take it as it is!

In conclusion, if a show is suggested to be incomplete, it would be totally foolish to say it ended and even more foolish to leave it ignored. If you do that, you push it further into obscurity and let it bite the dust. If that third season bites the dust, everything planned for it bites the dust as well... my origin story... that orbble ship... Star Forks and Forks Galore... and most important... MY CHANCE TO CONQUER THE REBORN GALAXY! Yes, we may be lucky enough to have two seasons and that instance where I defeated Dominator and won, but it’s hard to be happy about it when there is CLEARLY a space primate in peril! There are people who know all that was planned for Season 3, but they pledged to never share everything they know about it to anyone in any instance for any reason, whether that’d be their children, their neighbors, or at a convention center. Now, if you want to see me back in action, stop lamenting on "what could have been" and start ruminating on "what there could be." Why wait for Disney to make Season 3 a reality when you fans can simply do it yourselves? You don’t need their permission. Nothing's gonna stop you. You've probably watched Seasons 1 and 2 multiple times, and we have just enough information to get an idea of what might happen, so make that third season and the show will be revived, at least in your imagination. Or if the bosses finally decide to revive the show themselves for one more season, that would be a miracle. Either way, this wrong is still waiting to be righted, and I’m not gonna wait another seven years for that to happen. Tag and support "Finish Wander Over Yonder" and I shall resume upholding my reputation as THE GREATEST IN ALL THE GALAXY! Hater out!

That’s right, FinishWOY is a brand new campaign where we fans get the facts we have about Season 3 (SFEF, “Monkeyboy,” the Star Nomad, etcetera) and figure out the overall plot. It’s just like Team Sea3on, who are responsible for giving Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) the third season it was never given back in the ‘90s, but the animation is totally optional.

Mind you, this is entirely a suggestion. If you endorse the idea, though, then welcome to the club!

[tiaramania]

For the coronation usually monarchs don't attend, but what about countries like Spain? They don't really have a heir of age that can attend and sending a former king and queen isn't a really good look...Or like Japan, Naruhito is an emperor and he outranks a king, but there are rumours that he at least will attend, so do you think that everyone will throw the "rule" out of the window and attend such a big party? hahaha

Yeah, I think the rule isn't as strict as people make it out to be and I'm not as sure as I was about who will be attending the coronation.

First there's the countries that are part of the Commonwealth and monarchies in their own right (Brunei, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Tonga) most of which sent the monarch not the heir in 1953. I would not be surprised if they did the same this time around. There are also more countries following the Dutch example of the monarch abdicating as a form of retirement so former reigning monarchs are in the mix in a way they weren't before.

Then you've got the young heirs. For Spain I think it will either be Queen Sofia or Queen Letizia. My dream would be for Queen Letizia to accompany Infanta Leonor since she's underage but both of them go. I wouldn't expect her to wear a tiara or anything and I know it's not going to happen but I can dream. There's also the heirs that are technically of age but still pretty young like Princess Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, and Prince Moulay Hassan of Morocco. I can't imagine being 19 and attending an event like this on my own. Are they going to send someone else with them or send someone else entirely?

Now we seem to have other sovereigns saying that they are planning on going. I was surprised when Prince Albert told People that him and Princess Charlene would attend because at the last British coronation Prince Rainier III sent his father, Prince Pierre, as Monaco's representative. I was expecting Princess Caroline to go but I'm hoping this means Princess Charlene will finally wear a tiara at a royal event.

A couple of weeks ago there was an article in Aftonbladet where Margareta Thorgren, the head of the Swedish Royal Court's press department, seemed to say that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are planning to attend the coronation. I assumed that something got lost in translation but now I'm not so sure. They use kungaparet which means the king couple not kronprinsessparet which means the crown princess couple.

I Sverige kröns inte längre kungar, det började med att Gustav V avstod från ceremonin. I Storbritannien kröns däremot prins Charles den 6 maj i Westminster Abbey. Att kröningen kommer att bli lika spektakul��r som när hans mamma, drottning Elizabeth, kröntes 1953 är inte troligt. Men det svenska kungaparet kommer att finnas på plats. Det är planen, säger Margareta Thorgren.

In Sweden, kings are no longer crowned, it started when Gustav V refrained from the ceremony. In Great Britain, on the other hand, Prince Charles is crowned on May 6 in Westminster Abbey. That the coronation will be as spectacular as when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, was crowned in 1953 is not likely. But the Swedish royal couple will be there. That is the plan, says Margareta Thorgren.

I didn't see the rumors of Emperor Naruhito attending but now that I read back how Prisma translated this article it does kind of sound like that's a possibility.

So I'm just really not sure about who we're going to see at the coronation.