#we conveniently need a new heir

[chososcutie]

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ ─── BOUND BY VOWS, TORN BY DESIRE ─── ۫ ׅ ✧ ⊰

pairing ── satoru gojo x reader

teaser ── your kingdoms have been at war for what seems the longest time, ancient ancestors dating back bloodlines never ceasing in their feud. but now, with the upcoming of a new age, and a desperate need for heirs with an old, dying king on the throne, you are forced to resolve and seal the peace by marrying prince satoru, of an opposing nation.

content ── fluff, slow burn, heavy angst, eventual smut, royal!au, forced proximity, arranged marriage, one bed troupe, mommy issues, jealousy, historic!au, language, mention of drinking, kissing

count ── 5k

author��s note ── thank you to everyone who voted for this series!! this is going to be a multi part story, and i hope to continue if it does well, also i think i’m going to make more series’ down the line because this was fun :)

in two days you were to marry prince satoru.

it was at the crux of the two kingdoms' warring, and father was weak and desperate in those times.

your mother had grown unusually cruel, even more so than usual, her voice sharp and reprimanding, put under pressure by the ongoing conflict that never seemed to be getting better.

you were heartbroken when they told you, but not surprised. you had hoped you would get to choose your own partner to spend the rest of your life with, but it seems cruel fate had other plans.

you had tried to reason with your mother to get out of it, that there were other ways to resolve a war other than sending off your daughter to be married to an unknown man from another kingdom, but she was having none of it.

it was really a matter of convenience. a way to set up a peace treaty, arrange a marriage, and combine two impossibly rich kingdoms? you had known your parents long enough to know they never loved in the way they were supposed to, always king and queen before mother and father, and that they’d take this opportunity in a heartbeat, no matter the cost.

you hadn’t however, known how soon everything would progress, until days later when you received an invitation in the mail, unsigned, and enclosed in a thick brown envelope, complete with the royal seal stamped pristinely on the front.

we hereby invite you to the royal marriage of… it read in rich gold lettering, looping cursive filling the page. little illustrations litter the margins, and a single grainy folded-up picture flutters out upon its opening.

when you unfurl it, it reveals the man you were to marry.

prince satoru gojo, in all his glory, wearing a pristine white and gold suit, a coy smile curving his lips, and soft, cloudy white hair fluffed up, a sword at his hip and azure blue eyes boring into yours.

for a second all you can do is stare, taken aback by his beauty.

you had heard of how gorgeous the prince was, being the talk of almost every woman in the kingdom for his good looks and charm, but you had never seen him up until now.

he was drop-dead ravishing. the kind of beauty one saw only in dreams.

“i see you’ve received the invitation.”

your mother’s calculated voice.

you quickly wheel around, her eyes fixed on you coolly. “we’ve gotten word to head to the gojo clan estate now. they will receive you there.”

“but..” you start, hoping against hope that maybe you could get through to her, and beg her not to send you off.

“please don’t disappoint us.” she eyes you disdainfully. “this arrangement means a lot for our kingdom, and it’d do you well to start thinking about what’s best for your disciples rather than your own wants.”

you stare at her. was she calling you selfish for not wanting to wed a man you had never met?

suddenly, the heavy hoofbeats of a horse-drawn carriage breaks the silent tension stretching between you two, a graceful steady gait of horses coming toward you causing you to quickly turn back to your mom, eyes pleading.

“please.. don’t make me.”

in your wildest dreams, her eyes soften and she looks at you with something different then, something resembling love, before scooping you up into her arms and kissing you on the forehead like a mother would, calling you her precious only daughter, and promising to never send you off, and what was she thinking, before calling off the wedding completely.

but instead, she stares at you, detached as if you were nothing more than a pawn in her intricate chessboard of royalty, your worth determined only by what you could provide for the kingdom.

the carriage comes to a halt in front of you, horses snorting and whinnying as you stare back at the face that looks so much like your own, only lacking the empathy you had always longed for.

“get in the carriage.” she says simply.

and realizing she’s not going to change her mind, you study her face for the last time, as if committing it to memory, that same stony unchanging expression that had been with you all through your childhood, before opening the door, and looking ahead, eyes hollow.

maybe this new husband wouldn’t be that bad, after all.

after a few hours of the carriage lurching and bumping along cobblestone trodden pathways, your head craning to look out from the slightly drawn curtains, you make it.

and just as you imagined, prince satoru's estate is big.

in fact, big didn’t even begin to describe it, with towering iron-wrought gates, and a winding driveway all leading up to a fairy-tale like palace.

statues of noble figures stand tall, outlined against its magnificence, and the castle itself is a rich ivory color, accented with shimmers of golden turrets reaching up into the sky, their tips brushing the clouds themselves.

quickly, you are ushered out, the carriage door held open for you by the coachman, and before you get a chance to take in the elegant grounds of the estate, royal servants are already waiting to greet you, all polite smiles as they advise you to follow them inside.

on the way, they tell you that you were to be properly welcomed to the gojo clan before tomorrow's highly anticipated ceremony, in the form of meeting the king and queen in charge, along with your husband to-be.

you take the chance to glance around, taking in all your surroundings, everything ancient and wooden, with small adornings of mythological figures decorating the walls along with paintings dating back to centuries-old wars, history written all across the panelling prominently.

finally, the royal attendants come to a stop in front of a long-winding corridor, leading all the way down toward an ornate wooden door, its magnificent size amongst the others causing it to stand out notably.

"this is master gojo's suite, and where you will be staying with him for the rest of your time here." says the servant nearest to you, beginning to back up slowly, the others in tow. "the king has asked that you meet with him beforehand, so you two can become acquainted. we shall leave you to it."

and with a final bow of his head, he's gone, leaving you to stand in front of the intimidating mahogany door, its broad outline almost menacing in the dimness of the passageway.

as you make your way to it, you push on it hesitantly, only to be met with resistance as it groans in protest, unwilling to budge.

you try the door handle. locked.

you look up again. you know this is the right door. so why isn't it..?

it opens so suddenly, you with all your weight resting on its frame can't stop yourself. you immediately topple over, letting out a soft oof! of surprise as you crash into something warm yet solid, your body pressing hard against it.

budging.

regaining yourself, you can't help but feel the flexing muscle under your palms, looking down to see a man's chest, his quick exhale of breath making you retract immediately.

and looking up, you're met with the sight of none other than soft white hair and blue eyes coming to blink hazily at you.

a vaguely familiar smirk curving his lips as he sets sights on you.

the man in the picture.

your husband to-be.

satoru.

"hello wifey.." he drawls out, tone almost mocking as he stares down at you, dressed in traditional heavy white robes. "i take it you're excited for the marriage?"

pointedly, his eyes fix on where your other hand is dangerously close to gripping his... lower half, so to speak.

flustered, you instantly step back, face blushing immensely. "m-my apologies my lord, i didn't mean to be so forward. i was sent here to meet you before the meeting, and.."

you notice his teasing grin seems to drop for a moment, eyes searching the halls for signs of life. once he knows you two are the only ones, his expression hardens, blue eyes becoming unreadable.

you were alone together.

"lets get one thing straight, princess. you're here to fulfill your role, nothing more, nothing less. i don't care for pleasantries. there's no reason for us to pretend we're anything other than strangers bound by a marriage of convenience."

you try to back away, eyes wide as you make a small involuntary noise in the back of your throat, but he doesn’t let you, coming closer.

"we'll carry out the duties expected of us, and that's all." he continues. "do what is necessary, but don't make the mistake of thinking i'm interested in anything beyond that."

you bristle slightly at his words. "oh, you think i want this? you think i want to be married to you? in a foreign enemy kingdom i don’t even know? because i don't! but there's no way of getting out of it, so why can't you at least afford to be nice?"

he scoffs. "nice? you and your kingdom have ruined my life! you've robbed me of any chance i had at making my own life choices, and i'm supposed to be "nice?"

"why are you acting like i made this marriage? it's not my fault! that's the whole point of an arranged marriage, it's arranged for you!" you don't even realize you're raising your voice until your words begin to echo off the vast walls, bouncing around you tersely. "and if i had, i certainly wouldn't have picked an asshole such as yourself.”

he steps closer, tilting his head at you. “careful what you say about your husband, sweetheart. or you just might get yourself in trouble.”

you know you should stop before you escalate things, but you can’t help it, jutting your lip out at him in a mocking pout. “yeah? make me then.”

in a heartbeat, he has you pinned against the wall behind you, one thigh holding up your weight as the warmth of his bulky frame surrounds you, cerulean blue eyes raking across your face steadily.

you let out a small gasp of surprise, but quickly recover, eyes narrowing on him fiercely.

he leans ever so slightly closer, crowding your space completely as his loud, sultry patchouli cologne surrounds you, alluring and familiar all at once.

his breath ghosting over your lips, is warm and cinnamon-y, as he stares down at you, eyes lidded and just daring you to defy him again.

"excuse me, mister and mistress gojo? your presence is requested now."

immediately, satoru jumps back as if stung, eyes lingering on you a moment longer, before stalking away in temporary surrender.

you push off the wall, feeling the servant's eyes on you questioningly, but not bothering to indulge him, simply brushing yourself off before rapidly following suit.

“your majesties, it is truly an honor to meet you both.” you take a small curtsy to the king and queen you were standing before, lifting your dress to show respect.

satoru rolls his eyes subtly, shifting beside you.

his father shoots him a look, all graying hair and wise crinkling eyes. “the pleasure is all mine, my dear. it’s nice to meet someone with proper mannerisms and respect for the crown.”

you smile. “yes, well i was raised in a kingdom, after all.”

beside him, satoru’s mother, the queen, grants you a kind smile, long white hair flowing around her mirroring her son's. “that you were.” she agrees. “which is why we are so honored to have you here at our own, and to finally resolve the peace that has been fleeting for so long. you have no idea how much this marriage means to both us and the kingdom.”

satoru sighs.

instantly, the queen’s eyes bore into him. “i’m sure you’ve been acquainted with your husband, prince satoru. he is just as pleased as the rest of us for this opportunity you and your kingdom have bestowed upon us, it was rather benevolent of them, and we are eternally in their debt.”

you get the feeling that they've been having disagreements with the arranged marriage, judging by their body language, and instantly the air grows thicker, more tense.

before the situation can progress however, the queen clears her throat, smiling politely at you. "why, it's been a long day, and i'm sure you're tired, sweetheart."

her attention turns toward her son, her voice holding a warning to it that you can't ignore. "satoru. walk with her to your rooms please, and accommodate her."

he nods, and doesn't even wait to see if you're following before retreating hastily, leaving you to chase after him.

finally, you find yourself back in front of the long-winding hallway leading to his─your─ bedroom, and he pauses, as if remembering something.

"we're going to have to share a bed."

your heart skips a beat, breath catching in your throat as he opens the door to reveal a mahogany bed, draped with quilted covers and over-extravagant silk pillows slightly rumpled by sleep. you had forgotten that as a married couple, it would be custom for you two to sleep together, just the thought of being in such a close, intimate space with him causing your pulse to race, whether with anger or.. something else, you can’t tell.

"no we're not." you move toward the bed, grabbing spare pillows and blankets to make your own on the plush carpet, vowing to stay as far as possible from that stuck-up prince.

you hear him sigh from where he's leaning against the doorway watching you.

footsteps pad across the floor toward you, before coming to a stop. "listen. i know this isn't ideal, but it is part of our arrangement to sleep in the same bed, as a married couple."

you gaze up at him coolly. "i'm sleeping here."

he runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "this is part of what is expected of us, and we need to fulfill our duties as a royal couple. just.. get on the bed, and face the other direction, if you must."

you ignore him, tucking yourself into the blankets you had set up with a small yawn, turning to face away from him pointedly.

all is silent for a single, peaceful moment, but then, two unfairly muscular arms are wrapping around your frame, and lifting, scooping you up into him as with a squeal, you kick, trying to get away.

one of your feet makes contact with his side, and he lets out a low grunt before throwing you roughly onto his stupidly huge bed.

"keep fighting all you want, sweetheart. i can do this all night."

for some reason, his words come off more provocative than anything, and you can't help the fact that the stern sultry purr of his coupled with it tinges your cheeks pink ever so subtly.

"i'll tell you one thing about this arranged marriage. as my wife, you are going to listen, and you are going to obey what i tell you, okay? i will not put up with attitude and immaturity.”

your cheeks warm at being scolded like a child, and all you can do is scoff in disbelief before turning over, resigned to your spot on the bed, vowing to stay as far away from him as possible.

you scoot all the way to the edge, squeezing your eyes shut angrily as tears of frustration prick at you.

just who was he to boss you around?

a few terse minutes tick by, with both of you silent, facing away from each other, the only sound being satoru's soft puffs of breath, sleep eluding you further.

you’re trying your best not to let your skin make contact with his in the slightest, but it’s proving difficult with the way his weight makes the bed dip in the middle, trying to draw you toward himself.

this was going to be a looong night.

you figure you eventually fall asleep at some point, because when you open your eyes again, sunlight is peeking through the windows, and something hard and hot is pressed stiffly against your back, insistent with its prodding.

you reach down, half-asleep, to move it away, but your hand connects with something pulsing and.. large. you trail your hand further up, eyes scrunching in confusion only to feel a small shudder under your palm, someone breathing fast and loud right next to you.

satoru.

you instantly scramble away, eyes wide, in your haste falling off and hitting the floor with a low thud.

this wakes him up, half-lidded eyes opening to take in your tangled form on the ground. “what are you doing?”

“y-you..!” you sputter out, frozen as you stare at him in disbelief.

he follows your gaze to his pants, a straining bulge printed on the front clearly.

his cheeks warm, and he looks down, mumbling under his breath. "mornin' wood.."

before you can bring yourself to speak however, two sharp knocks against the door break the awkward silence, followed by the voice of a servant outside.

"madame and master, it’s time to prepare you both for the wedding ceremony."

“ow!”

you scrunch your eyes tightly, pain washing over you in waves.

the stylist pauses, taking in your expression sympathetically before resuming to tug at your poor hair, putting it up into an intricate updo, a plaited bun with face-framing hairs and bangs, hot curlers and bobbypins attacking you left and right.

"just sit still, dear." one pushes your head back, while another tilts your face to the side to furiously blend foundation on your cheeks.

this day would only come once, in your lifetime at least, and being a royal wedding, of course, everything had to be perfect.

you and satoru were being relied on as human peace treaties to prove to the world that for the first time, your kingdoms were united, marking the official end of the war.

which is why, not only were appearances important, but also your actions towards satoru had to be convincing enough for the clan to wholeheartedly believe you two were in love, and effectively stop the fighting at hand.

so today was more important than ever that you look fully and maddeningly in love with satoru gojo.

you sigh to yourself, but suddenly your thoughts are cut off by the proud voice of your main stylist taking a step back to admire her handiwork.

"perfect. absolutely perfect." the rest nod in agreement, and with a few last touches, you're ready.

and as you all head to where the ceremony would be held, to describe how you're feeling right now as overwhelmed would be an understatement.

currently, there's about two thousand people waiting for you, all elegantly dressed, their heads held high with self-importance.

even the palace is decorated for the occasion, banners and emblems of the gojo clan stamp hanging proudly over the room, while decorative flowers in vases cover every available surface.

you shift your feet nervously, waiting for your signal to walk the aisle, praying that you wouldn't trip or embarrass yourself, fidgeting with your dress anxiously.

the wedding dress in question, was a classic take on a vintage ball gown look, with a too tight-fitting cream-colored corset billowing out dramatically from the waist into a poofy, tulle skirt, and currently it was killing you as you tried to take deep breaths, its taut stiffness practically constricting your lungs.

to make matters worse, it pushed your breasts obnoxiously up, and showed off your outline far too much to be comfortable, contouring every curve distinctively.

before you can try and pull it down however for what seems the hundredth time, the renowned quality of a simple elegant instrumental begins playing, signifying your entrance, and time seems to stop.

your heels click softly on the marbled stone, each step seeming to magnify in the large room spread out before you.

highly prestigious people, who had dismissed you before as nothing but a simple child princess living in her daddy’s kingdom were now all craning their heads to get a better look at you, hushed gasps and chatter sweeping through the crowd as you pass.

slowly, you begin to make your way down the dramatically decorated aisle, and as you get closer to the altar, you spot satoru, leaning slightly, cerulean eyes focused solely on you.

he’s dressed elegantly, in a frilly suit that matches the color of his eyes, all extravagant buttons and poofy sleeves, with crisscrossing gold lace, and a white overspilling cravat on the front.

he tilts his head as if to study the dress you're in, intense blue gaze raking up and down to ravish your clearly outlined figure.

your cheeks flush, his effect on you instantaneous as unbearable though he is.

slowly, you come to stand at your spot beside him, nervous as you look around at the crowd.

what happens next, you hadn't been expecting at all.

as one, they get up, and shower you both in applause, claps as precise and unified as their owners, the sound heard all the way around the entire palace, as they all give a standing ovation to their new king and queen of a new era.

the blush creeps up your neck, and you look around at your new subjects, all of them cheering for you.

after a minute or so of this, they begin to gradually quiet, sitting back down while both you and satoru turn to face each other.

the royal priest clears his throat for attention, and begins his long winding speech, garbled words slurring together as you stare at satoru.

he was so beautiful, breathtakingly so. his white hair is fluffed up, showing his high cheekbones, and he even has a bit of makeup on him, contour and powder.

in fact you’re staring at him so intensely, so swept up in him, you don’t even realize the priest is talking to you until he’s raising an eyebrow at you expectantly, the crowd hushed.

“huh?” you hear yourself say, embarrassment pinking your cheeks.

he clears his throat, speaking a little louder. “do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better..”

when you glance back at satoru, he’s looking at the priest, but there’s a curve to his mouth, amusement glinting in his eyes.

insufferable.

you take a second to let your eyes roam the audience, and happen to land on a particular face, one you hadn’t seen before.

she's wearing a knee-length navy blue dress, one that highlights her chubby figure and pudgy stomach, and a hat which covers most of her face. her head, though covered, is bowed low, as if in shame, which stands out to you as most of the audience is gazing up, at you and satoru, heads perked for a better look.

before you have time to further analyze however, you’re snapped back to the priest who is finishing up his speech.

“..till death do thy part. do you pledge your faithfulness and devotion, and promise to be thy loving wife, forevermore?”

your head starts to spin, the weight of his words sinking into you fully. you were to be with this man, whom you hadn’t even met before yesterday, for the rest of your life. all your hopes and dreams outside of the kingdom may as well come crashing down on your head once you were to speak those forsaken words.

after today, you would be queen, alongside your husband, the king.

at the very thought of being so responsible, the words stick in your throat, face paling. you have the urge to say no, to call the whole thing off, to truly disappoint your parents and disgrace satoru’s family for eternity, because this was your life. your life, and nobody got to take that from you.

you force a smile. “i do.”

the ring-bearer comes up to you, a ring on a fluffed pillow for you to take, its band gold and cool in your palm as you pick it up, a baby blue gem encrusted with the gojo symbol across it staring back.

you had never chose, nor seen this ring in your life.

he turns to satoru. “and do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to..”

you turn to satoru, expecting to see that same playful smirk, but something else has replaced it, more open and raw.

maybe he was feeling the implications too?

“..promise to be thy loving husband, forevermore?”

he swallows, pauses for a second too long, before speaking, the words cool and strangely detached. “i do.”

his ring comes, silver and chiseled with symbols of royalty, all sleek metal and polished, shining pristinely in the light. it has diamonds encrusted all over it, each worth more than a house, along with his precious initials, s.g, carved into it.

he takes it without looking at it.

“then by the power vested in me, i now pronounce you man and wife.” he turns toward satoru. "you may now kiss the bride."

your mouth goes dry, and for a second, all you can do is gape at satoru while the priest's words register in your head.

shit. how could you have forgotten you would be expected to kiss him? it was a wedding after all.

satoru's mouth curves up as he leans in slightly toward your ear, his hair brushing you. “c’mon princess, kiss your husband for the audience, yeah?”

you blush, and oblivious to all the people and the priest standing less than a foot away, he goes on, “although, don't be too good of a kisser, or i might get used to..."

before he can continue, you grab his face in your hands, pressing your lips hard against his, if just to make him shut up, and he pauses, taken aback, before slowly his hand creeps up to cup your cheeks gingerly, hesitantly leaning in to it.

the crowd all cheers around you, but you can’t even hear them anymore, all of it fading around you.

he's your first kiss.

he tastes like cinnamon and clove, like something spicy and reckless, his tongue already coming to meet yours in a brash tangle.

as quickly as he had been on you however, he draws away, wiping his mouth with that same lopsided smirk tilting his lips upward, leaving you practically dizzy.

and as the rest of the ceremony drones on, you can't help yourself from wanting more.

it wasn't enough to leave you satisfied, and now that you've gotten a taste, you fear you might not ever get enough.

after the wedding ceremony, there was to be a reception where only the most prestigious and important of people would attend.

it was held in the palace ballroom, lavishly decorated for the occasion with crystal chandeliers, and silk draped tables filled with shiny silverware, everything overly classy and elegant.

when you enter beside satoru, they're already serving flutes of champagne, people milling about amiably and making pleasant conversation.

and if you thought you were popular before as a princess, you had no idea the kind of attention being a hot topic like you were now would bring.

before you're even two steps inside, there's already people surrounding you to congratulate you on your marriage, kiss you on the cheek in greeting, and welcome you as newfound queen to the throne.

after a few minutes of this, with no sign of the crowd of people easing up, you begin to get nervous.

there's just no way you can see to get out of it, and as you start to feel claustrophobic, your body being pushed and jostled by all these people wanting to meet, you feel a warm hand on the small of your back, guiding you away from the crowd.

satoru.

“i think it’s time for a dance.” he says before grabbing your warm, gloved hands in his, and twirling you out to the center of the dance floor, where a few couples were already swaying to a slow tune.

satoru takes his hands, placing them on either side of your waist, just above your hips, a lazy smirk curling his mouth up as his touch seems casual, natural almost.

it seems almost genuine, the way he flirts with you in the public eye only to blatantly disregard you in private.

well, two could play at that game.

you wrap your arms around his neck, and draw yourself closer, lips hovering above his, your front rubbing against him dangerously.

he inhales sharply, eyes flickering with heat for a second but before you get the chance to revel in the fact you could draw a reaction from him, he starts spinning you.

you gasp as he whirls you around, before starting to glide back and forth with you across the dance floor, a smug grin on his face as you try and keep up.

luckily for you, as royalty you were expected to know how to dance, and your parents had enrolled you in private lessons weekly, your feet falling into familiar steps as you swept along the floor with him.

he takes notice, hands gripping your waist tighter as he sways with you, quickening the pace. “who taught you to dance, princess?”

you can't tell if he's teasing, or being genuine so rather than answer, you glance down, pretending to focus on your steps as you try to ignore the fluttering in your chest.

and finally with one last dramatic twirl, your hands tracing delicate arcs in the air, the music crescendoes and satoru catches you in a perfect dip, your head tilting back with a flourish.

instantly, cheering erupts, the room absolutely filled with clapping and whistling as your chest heaves up and down, still in his arms.

you had been so caught up you hadn't even realized everyone had stopped to watch you two, and with your finish, you were now the center of attention.

and as you seat yourself in a chair across from satoru, the formal banquet about to begin, you finally answer his question, seemingly out of nowhere, making him come to a start as he looks at you.

"my mother put me in dance classes from a young age." you smile bitterly as the memory washes over you. "you know it's funny, she was always the most beautiful dancer in the ballroom at my kingdom, but she wouldn't teach me. said i was "too slow", "had two left feet", "didn't pick up quickly", and i was nothing like her. she had someone else instruct me, and every day i would go and practice as much as i could, in hopes of getting better and pleasing her."

"did you?" satoru presses.

you sigh sadly. "i did, but it was never enough for her. nothing was. i remember thinking when i was younger, that maybe there was something wrong with me, and that's why she couldn't love me. why anyone couldn't love me, really. i've always felt like just a mere decoration in my palace, just another step on my mother's agenda."

what he says next surprises you. "i get what you mean. ever since i was little, my parents have been telling me, "you're going to be king" "one day you're going to overtake the throne" and "think of your future kingdom", when all I ever wanted was to be a child."

he draws nearer to you. "but, that gets taken from you once you're born into a monarchy, right?"

you nod. "that, and everything else down to your way of life, your interests, your dreams.." you break off, eyes flickering down to his lips for a moment. "..your husband."

the conversation between you becomes more intimate as he leans in too, lips above yours, and just as you start to close the distance..

the distinct sound of a fork clinking against a glass.

the royal toasts were starting.

it was from satoru's father, the king, his wise, crinkled smile looking around at all his subjects. "hello everyone. we thank you for coming out tonight to celebrate the birth of a new age, as my son and the daughter of a rival kingdom have come together in marriage, forever binding our palaces as one. this marks the start to a new era."

he pauses, letting the people around break out into clapping, some cheering, before going on.

"as you are aware, i will be stepping back from my role as king, knowing our future is in capable hands, by your new king and queen.."

at that, he lifts a glass toward your table, winking solemnly.

"to satoru, my successor, my pride, and the future of this kingdom. may your reign be long, your rule wise, and may you bring many heirs to this kingdom."

wait.

heirs?

you turn to look at satoru, his face paling.

"to the future, to the kingdom, and to the continuation of our legacy!"

"long live the king!"

[blorger]

Here I am, back at it again, continuing in my life mission to read too much into every interaction Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter ever had (pt.1, pt.2 and pt.3).

I think book 1 is especially interesting to me since, besides it being the Beginning of it All, it also sets up some of the major themes in Harry and Draco's interactions. Also it shows that, regardless of what JKR wants us to think, their rivalry is just normal kid stuff and not nearly as life or death, good guy vs evil bully as the fandom usually makes it out to be (take, for example, just how much of a bully Draco isn't to Neville)

With that out of the way, let's get back to it

We pick up where we left off, at the tail end of the Remembrall Incident. Here we have another significant first: this is the first time Draco approaches Harry after the train. Draco has finally settled on a way to interact with Harry and he's going all in in the role of Rival (very often and with gusto).

Also, note how Harry seems to know instinctively that the best way to get at Draco is to act dismissively towards him.

This is one of Draco's best schemes in all the books. 10/10 in terms of execution, a seamless acting performance on his part. Also note how Draco is also able to zero in on the right thing to say in order to bother Harry the most (his outsider status). Both Draco and Harry demonstrate a PHD level of understanding of each-other from the get go, no learning curve needed.

It's also interesting to note that Ron plays a non insignificant part in the escalation of Harry and Draco's rivalry. In the first books - and especially in the second, where he's the major driving force behind the "Draco is the heir of Slytherin" conspiracy - Ron is there for most of their interactions, egging Harry on. Even when Draco is not present Ron is there to remind Harry that Draco is Evil. Part of this is because Ron is a convenient mouthpiece for JKR, who uses him to convey what we're supposed to feel, but it also forms a very interesting dynamic. Ron's influence is a major driving force in Harry and Draco's rivalry and I think that, as a fandom, we don't concentrate enough on this.

Harry is 100% in. I find it interesting that, once they've settled on a way to interact, Harry and Draco are quick to jump headfirst into this new dynamic. This is not how either of them behave with all the other people they dislike, this is a bespoke relationship that only works with Harry and Draco.

I imagine Draco was at that very moment rubbing his hands in glee as his Machiavellic plan worked out just how he wanted it to.

This scheme is a good example of Draco's preferred confrontation style and how it differs form Harry's. As we saw during the Remembrall Incident, Harry is all for addressing issues head-on and also somewhat physically (he's not afraid to throw hands) in complete contrast to Draco, who prefers asymmetrical warfare and whisper campaigns.

This is another important first: this is when Draco settles on the theme of his insults to Ron: his poverty.

Draco has been aware of Ron's financial status all along; when they meet on the train and Ron laughs at his name - which, by the way, rude - (and also another instance of Ron escalating the situation for Harry) Draco is quick to mention his poverty. Draco didn't have a reason to antagonize Ron before but now that he's officially the henchman of his Nemesis he can finally let the insults fly.

I think there's also an interesting facet to Ron and Draco's relationship, and it's something that is going to be a major theme in book 2: Arthur and Lucius are fighting a proxy war through their sons. We see this from both Ron and Draco's constant parroting of their fathers' views to attack one another; the two have long been primed to dislike eachother by the time they meet on the train.

Let's be honest here: this is mad unfair. Harry is getting a major privilege on account of his protagonist powers but, in Draco's eyes, this is a major injustice and just the first of many instances of blatant favoritism towards Harry (I'm on your side here drazza).

Draco has discovered another major way to needle Harry: by mentioning his orphans status.

I don't buy that everyone was so very impressed with Harry, (at the very least the Slytherins wouldn't be) but it's interesting to note that Draco only settled on using Harry's orphanhood against him because nothing else was working.

Also, "Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family"? This is either JKR putting the cart before the horses once again or it's incredibly sloppy writing. Are we to believe that Draco has been weaponizing Harry's orphan status all along and Harry didn't find it worth mentioning? It's one of the insults that affect him the most, this makes no sense.

and

Ron is such an essential part of the Harry+Draco equation: Draco feels the need to insult him because he's Harry's henchman (and also because Harry chose Ron instead of him) and this in turn stokes Harry's dislike of him like crazy since he is incredibly protective of his friends.

Speaking of Ron, I find it interesting how him and Harry are on completely opposite courses in their relationship with Draco: Ron starts all in, already hating Draco to the max but by book 6 he's kinda lost interest in him (I'm guessing because he's seen way worse people than him by then) whereas Harry has to be needled (by Draco and Ron both) into being Draco's Nemesis and yet, by book 6, he is completely (and canonically) obsessed with him.

TBC

xoxo

[veiledvellichor]

baoshan sanren: a symbol of sacrifice and non-conformity

warning: mdzs spoilers ahead

in canon, baoshan sanren really isn’t mentioned all that much. off the top of my head, the only times i recall her name being mentioned is when xiao xingchen is brought up in relation to wei wuxian’s mother and yanling daoren, and when wei wuxian has to trick jiang cheng and pretends that he remembers the location of her mountain.

then why does she even exist? sure, it provides a convenient background for why jiang cheng believed wei wuxian about the core transfer, and how wei wuxian has a connection to xiao xingchen, but it really doesn’t serve that much use plot-wise. we never see her, she never helps out any of the characters, and the fact that she has her own mountain isn’t actually explored on.

so my opinion on why mxtx decided to make her a character is that she’s important symbolically, if not narratively.

wei wuxian, in his upbringing, repeatedly has the fact that the jiangs took him in out of kindness beaten into him. he even mentions multiple times that he owns them a debt because of it, since he would have otherwise died. when he gives jiang cheng his core, he uses his own “connection” to baoshan sanren to justify how jiang cheng received a new core. when wei wuxian lies to jiang cheng, he takes this symbol and uses it to defend his own actions. he says that since jiang cheng is needed for the rebuilding of the yunmeng jiang, his core is needed more than his own. he then gives him his core in an act of selfish self-sacrifice, where he gives him his heart in return for taking back his debt. between brothers, there’s not meant to be a debt, yet wei wuxian leverages a “debt” that was never there to justify why he can rip his golden core out of his body and give it to his brother.

wei wuxian didn’t have to use baoshan sanren as a justification—it was definitely convenient, but he could have just as easily said wen qing found another way or that he found a rare scroll. in jiang cheng’s state then, he would have honestly believed anything as long as it gave him hope. hence why i think the use of baoshan sanren in this instance is meant to emphasise to the readers how baoshan sanren is a symbol of hope to jiang cheng, but in reality the mention of her is only a facade used to hide the incredible self-sacrifice that wei wuxian had in him.

in regards to cangse sanren, she manages to befriend many cultivators, to the point where a lot of them were willing to marry her. but instead, she takes the head disciple of a sect for a husband and becomes a rogue cultivator. she even shaves off lan qiren’s husband for endangering others in a night hunt with his too-strict rules. from the beginning, she’s seen as this saint who disregards societal rules and lives for justice and her own interests. and yet, after her death, her son is left to languish in a village for years, homeless and fighting for his life.

the cost of her choosing a husband that had little political backing other than the jiangs was such—if she had chosen a sect heir as her husband, her son would have been found within weeks. if she had chosen to stay within a sect as a cultivator, her sect would have had a duty to find her body and avenge her. her choices defined who she was as a person—kind and proud, but they also caused her downfall. the imagery of her on a donkey while her husband led them over to a night hunt shows a glimpse of the happiness she had. it’s repeated in wei ying, showing how he managed to break the cycle. still, her fate of dying so young is an extremely tragic one, and one that shows how those who chose to be kind and not falter in the face of the jianghu’s demands weren’t met with kindness in return. in the end, in return for living a life that helped strangers and didn't conform to the traditional route of sect cultivation, she sacrificed the ability to have her son found earlier, safe and sound.

as for xiao xingchen, his work as a rogue cultivator was the subject of much praise. he even earned a nickname with song lan (the bright moon and the gentle breeze), showing at first, he was held in high esteem. but when they brought xue yang in, it went against their interests. suddenly, the jin felt that these people that they had previously praised were a threat. when they let xue yang go free, they knew exactly who he would go after. and yet, even though all xiao xingchen and song lan had did was just by the jianghu’s standards, the jin held enough sway that after quieting nie mingjue, no one dared speak against them.

suddenly, when song lan was blinded and his sect massacred, all of their kindness was met with blank stares and empty hands. xiao xingchen had to beg his master to give his eyes to song lan, sacrificing his own sight for his friend. this act, parallel to wei wuxian’s core transfer, does actually have baoshan sanren in the equation. an immortal should have the sense to deny her disciple, or at least tell him to only give one eye. instead, she fully enables the sacrifice, helping him move his eyes to his friend's empty sockets. her role in this equation is as a enabler, a safe place where xiao xingchen can ask for help and not be denied, showing how in this, mxtx might want us to further draw a connection between baoshan sanren and sacrifice.

lastly, for yanling daoren, his story isn't really given in detail, but what we can glean from the story is that he was kind and virtuous at first but ended up hated by the jianghu. this is awfully similar to wei wuxian's own story, and honestly it only serves to show how history will repeat its mistakes. while we don't know if he was innocent or if he deserved the hatred, we do know that he died under thousands of swords after a drastic personality change. this implies that at the start, he likely helped many of those people holding the swords, yet after a "sudden change" he was resented and killed.

again, any theories is just speculation since we don't have many details, but i think it's entirely possible that he likely angered someone and was framed, hence the drastic change mentioned in canon. this works off the premise that everyone who’s related to baoshan sanren is a parallel to wei wuxian’s journey—he gets cangse sanren’s happy ending; his death is the same as yanling daoren’s; xiao xingchen’s sacrifice is so so so similar to his core transfer.

so what does this all mean? in my personal opinion, i think baoshan sanren is meant to be removed from society, a symbol of what humanity can achieve away from the gossip and strict societal structures that we have come up with. all of these people who came from baoshan sanren faced the world with such kindness and were met with such cruel fates in return.

tl;dr: i think the fact that baoshan sanren is a deux ex machina but never expanded on is a purposeful choice as she serves a greater symbolic purpose this way :)

(if u want more bssr content u can check my fic out: wild winds by @veiledvellichor on ao3)

[starboishifting]

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ || autumn court d/r intro

★‧°𖦹 "𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔… 𝒊 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔…" "𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚?" "𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏." 𖦹°‧★

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ || who i am

my name is lyra, and i live just outside the capitol city of the autumn court. i live in the woods, somewhere hidden and safe, where foxes play and faeries hardly dare tread. except me. it was where i was raised, where my mother and sister raised me, until illness killed my mother and lord baron killed my sister, who was the lover lucien never speaks of. i only met him twice, but his face has been engrained in my mind ever since. we didn't grow up so isolated from society, but after 50 years of witnessing the people of autumn become more cruel and conniving with each passing moon, i decided to cut off the majority of faerie kind. after all, i had nothing to offer them anyway, and therefore no value, so i went unmissed and unhindered. i befriended a fox whom i dubbed aaravos, which is to say that he entered my home one day and didn't leave unless i was, too. and i was happy. i lived among the apple trees, harvesting them at my own convenience. i survived mostly off the land, but when i needed money, whether to fund a spur-of-the-moment passion project or to buy materials for a new gown for the solstice, i sold what i baked; pies, cobblers, the like. i ran a small stand, though it was only open a few days a month, where i sold my pastries and spiced-and-candied nuts. until he came.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ || eris vanserra

eris vanserra, eldest prince and heir apparent of the autumn court of the faerie lands of prythian, is as manipulative as he is beautiful. with amber eyes and crimson hair, the male walks with a certain... arrogance. as if to say, look at me. fear me. underneath, of course, he's just as soft as autumn leaves after rain, and as sweet as they smell. he needed to be feared because he had no other choice, not until he could dethrone his father. not until he could keep his court safe. until he stops one day in a random square, the scent of cinnamon and apples drawing him to an alley he's not been in for... well, centuries. not since he was a boy, playing at running from his father and his guards. it's there that he meets the female with the ram-like horns and sky blue eyes nestled between the scarlet curls barely held back by ribbons and wildflowers. she's scooping nuts into a paper for a child, smiling down at him with eyes so bright he knew they'd haunt his dreams for centuries. she didn't feel when the bond hit; but he did.and the princeling knew that his new mission, his only mission in this life, was to be loved by her. not respected. not feared. loved.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ || how i fell

i didn't know who he was when he came up to me. i didn't know he was a prince, or that his father was high lord, least of all that he was my mate. so as i asked what i could get him, i gave him the same kind, bright smile i gave every customer, something warm and gentle. he stared at me for a moment, like his heart had stopped, like he'd never been looked at so kindly before. before i could say anything else, though, he asked for my favorite. "whatever is good enough for a female half as beautiful as you really ought to be good enough for a bastard like me, eh?" i'd giggled gently, used to the wayward comments and misplaced affections of fae, male and female alike, that had (supposedly) traveled days to be in the city when i came; some citing their grandmother needed my nuts for a recipe, others outright admitted to coming just to see me in the flesh, determined to prove that i'd not really been as beautiful as they'd heard and not at all disappointed to be wrong. so i think little of it as i cut him a slice of chai-spiced pumpkin pie and hand him a cup of cider. i'd giggled again when he moaned at the taste of the pie, kept warm by my own magic, missing the way his face went soft with every little laugh that bubbled from my lips. he paid too much, by a lot. an obscene amount of gold, the likes of which i hardly see in two months. he was gone before i could give it back. but every week, without fail, he found his way back to my stand. i'd refuse to take his coin, he'd toss it into my coinpot and winnow away before i could stop him. it became a routine, one perfectly engrained in my life. a part of my week that i looked forward to, and hardly for the gold he'd leave me with. because before the squabbling, we'd talk. about nothing, about everything. about my pet fox, who must be around here somewhere, about his hounds, who he think might just be able to outrun aaravos despite my avid protests. i found his voice comforting. safe. eventually, i learned who he was. eventually, i cut him off, citing the stories i'd heard of him, of how cruel he was, that he was baron's perfect son, how he'd hidden his identity as well as a mating bond. and eventually, i forgave him, trusting myself over some stories from village gossips. and by the gods it was not a happily ever after, but it was the closest to it we could possibly have gotten, what with his father being evil incarnate and a war going on with hybern. but i had him, and he had me, and that was all we needed.

[blade-liger-4ever]

Hey there a question for ya . Why do you hate the chiss race especially thrawn ? I am curious to know your take.

I don't exactly hate the Chiss, or Thrawn. He's a great villain, though the Chiss as a whole from the society Zahn/Legends made them are kinda - not weak, but I feel they're overblown.

The reason I hate/hated Thrawn is because of how he kept figuring out the New Republic's tactics. In hindsight making such an OP non Force-sensitive character feels rather convenient, but for the most part it was because 1 I wasn't prepared for Zahn's writing style (which in and of itself I'm feeling more and more like it's lame/over-hyped), and 2 I just hated how easily he was turning the tables on everyone. I get it, things weren't easy for the Rebellion/New Republic when simply dealing with the Empire, but Lord Almighty, can this new guy (Thrawn) stop making his predecessors from my favorite movies seem like such amateurs?

I suppose that's one of the reasons why I like his appearance in Rebels more. He's still a believable villain, but he's far more relaxed and paced in his manipulation of things with the Rebellion as opposed to this random, never-before-heard heavyweight of the Empire (plus we got that awesome prophecy about his end from Bendu, which is the EXACT form of karma I needed after suffering through Heir to the Empire for almost a year - random aside, but that should tell you how horrid those books were: I couldn't find it in me to finish a book in under a month or two, when I usually speed through them.)

In short, as long as Thrawn and the Chiss aren't written to be this oh-so-perfect/advanced race that came in via the books as opposed to the films' Jedi and Mandalorians (who were canonized by the films which, you know, set the bar for the lore and what counts as intimidating forces), then I'm all for it. Otherwise they come off as very suspicious creator's pets.

Hmm. Maybe that's one reason I have a hard time with Jaina getting saddled with Jagged Fel: as if his father wasn't so wonderfully popular and cool enough, Jagged got thrown at the Chiss for Extra Specialness for Han's Daughter.

That's my hot take, though. How about you? What do you think of Thrawn and the Chiss?

[findroleplay]

21+ here looking for 21+ MxM

Hi everyone! I'm currently looking for a MxM roleplay partner to explore various types of plots with. Specifically, I am looking for someone interested in an enemies to lovers slow burn that contains angst, drama, uncertainty and romance. This may also include heavier and darker themes, I am completely open.

I have many ideas that would interest me, some of which I included below, but also love creating brand new ideas and plots.

Muse A is a reaper, an entity known for bringing about misfortune, chaos, and despair. That traffic accident you just witnessed? It was because he was standing across the road and happened to put on a pair of sunglasses. That sinkhole that just opened up, swallowing five vehicles? He had been around the corner, exiting a convenience store. Every action, no matter how small and seemingly unimportant, always has a consequence. Misfortune, chaos and despair. It's why he calls himself Doom.

Muse B is a human who, due to unforeseen circumstances, wishes for the destruction of the world- for doom to fall over all. This wish didn't fall on deaf ears and instead, invites Doom himself over who offers a deal; they will see to the destruction of the world, for a price- something that benefits him.

Other ideas I am interested in and can elaborate if needed include:

Vampire society vs human servant whose not all they are made out to be

Mafia heir and their new, challenging bodyguard who is unwilling to submit

A hitman who refuses to finish the job.

Rival celebrities caught up in the toxic, sticky world of fame and Hollywood.

If it helps, I am looking for someone who:

Is a third person writer + semi-lit to novella, I tend to mirror what my partner writes.

Okay, with including and writing aspects of nsfw/mature, possible dark themes.

Active roleplayer preferably (at least once a day - as I know we are all busy).

Doesn't mind talking ooc too.

Writes on Discord.

Uses IRL face claims or drawn/anime ones, I'm not picky.

If interested in anything I mentioned, or you have your own idea, like this and I will reach out to you.

-

[kwancat7]

|| Rival Hearts | Joshua Oneshot

You have hated Joshua Hong since high school. It’s been seven years, and that resentment still burns brightly. Joshua, the heir to one of the most prestigious families in Korea, was always the arrogant, untouchable figure in your life. The mere mention of his name would send you into a fury.

Back in high school, you were the girl who stood up to him, the one who called him out on his privileged behavior. He, in turn, was the guy who enjoyed making your life difficult. The rivalry started with petty arguments and escalated into full-blown confrontations. Your disdain for him was so palpable that your friends often joked about it.

—

When you found out that your family’s financial troubles had reached a breaking point, you were devastated. Your parents had always been supportive, but their debts were too overwhelming to manage alone. The final blow came when they announced their plan to marry you off to Joshua Hong in a desperate bid to save the family from bankruptcy. You were horrified and refused outright.

“No, I will not marry him!” you shouted, your voice trembling with anger and fear.

Your parents tried to reason with you. “It’s the only way we can save the family from financial ruin. Joshua’s family is offering a substantial amount of help in return.”

You shook your head. “I don’t care about the money. I can’t marry him. You know how much I hate him.”

But despite your protests, the marriage was inevitable. The wedding was arranged, and it became a media frenzy. The Hong family’s reputation and your family’s desperation intertwined, creating a spectacle no one could ignore. Your anger simmered beneath the surface, and Joshua seemed just as indifferent, his smile always radiating that same smugness you despised.

The day of the wedding arrived, and you walked down the aisle with a heavy heart. The ceremony felt surreal, and every moment was a stark reminder of how far your life had shifted. Joshua’s gaze met yours with a mix of curiosity and amusement, his eyes glinting with that familiar arrogance.

As you exchanged vows, you felt trapped. Your voice wavered, but you held your ground, determined not to show weakness. Joshua’s responses were polite but detached, and the ceremony ended with the expected fanfare of a celebrity wedding.

The first few days of married life were stifling. Joshua maintained his distance, his behavior as cold as ever. You avoided him whenever possible, focusing on your own routines and trying to adjust to the new reality. Your feelings of resentment were matched only by your loneliness.

—

One evening, you were sitting in the living room, reading a book, when Joshua entered. He looked different—his demeanor was softer, his expression more contemplative. He hesitated before speaking.

“Do you mind if we talk for a moment?” he asked, You glanced up, surprised. “What is it?” ,“I know things have been rough between us,” Joshua began, sitting down on the opposite couch. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our high school days and how I treated you.” You raised an eyebrow. “Really? After all this time, you’re suddenly feeling reflective?” , Joshua nodded. “Yeah. I was a complete jerk back then. I thought I was above everyone, including you. I’m sorry for everything.” ,You were taken aback. “You’re apologizing? Why now?”, “Because I don’t want us to keep hating each other,” Joshua said earnestly. “I know I messed up, and I want to make things right. I’m trying to understand you better and not just be the guy who married you for convenience.”, You were silent for a moment, processing his words. “You think saying sorry will fix everything?” ,“No,” he said, shaking his head. “But it’s a start. I want to show you that I’ve changed. I want us to at least be civil, if not more.” , You studied him, noticing the sincerity in his eyes. “Alright. But if you want to change things, you need to start by actually getting to know me.”, Joshua’s face lit up with a small smile. “Fair enough. How about we start with dinner tonight? Just us, no pretenses.”, You hesitated but then agreed. “Okay. But don’t expect me to be friendly right away.”

The dinner was a mix of awkwardness and tentative conversation. Joshua made an effort to ask about your interests, and you found yourself surprisingly open. As the days turned into weeks, his gestures of kindness, though small, started to chip away at the walls you had built.

—

One evening, as you sat together watching a movie, Joshua spoke up. “You know, I never realized how passionate you are about your hobbies. I always thought you were just another girl with a grudge against me.” , You chuckled softly. “And what did you think of me then?”, “A bit of a troublemaker,” Joshua admitted with a smile. “But now, I see there’s more to you than I ever gave you credit for.”, You were beginning to see Joshua in a different light. “And what about you? What do I see?”, He looked thoughtful. “Maybe a guy who’s trying to make up for past mistakes. Someone who’s not perfect but is trying to be better.”

—

As the weeks passed, the animosity between you began to fade. Joshua’s efforts to connect with you slowly transformed into something deeper. Conversations became easier, and you found yourself laughing at his jokes and enjoying his company. The barriers you had built began to crumble, and you realized that your feelings were changing.

One evening, after a particularly enjoyable dinner, Joshua looked at you with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. “I know this is sudden, but I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”

“What is it?” you asked, curious. , “Do you think we could give this—us—a real chance?” Joshua asked, his voice earnest. “I know it’s not going to be easy, but I really want to see where this could go.” You took a deep breath, feeling the weight of your past resentment lift. “I’m willing to give it a try. But it’s going to take time.” , Joshua’s face softened, and he reached out to take your hand. “I’m willing to wait. I just want us to start over, and this time, to do it right.”

As you looked at Joshua, you realized that the journey from enemies to lovers was not only possible but also genuine. The love that had emerged from the most unlikely of places was something you both cherished, and you found yourself hopeful for the future.

[anonymityisfunwriter]

The Heir and The Spare - Part 1: "Family and Strangers"

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Stark!Reader Summary: Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Heaviest is the head that was always second best.

The Heir and The Spare Chapter List | Steve Rogers Masterlist

Your nails impatiently thrum against the hard leather of the common room's chairs.

You check your watch again.

23 minutes late. 23 minutes of time and money. 23 minutes he could hold over your head. 23 minutes of power.

Power was all that existed in your relationship with Tony. His constant grabs for power. His need to remind you that you would always be second to him. It was the only language either of you spoke.

Dramatic, but true.

The whole room was so very Tony Stark. Ostentatious. Ultra modern. A nose dive into the future. And not a person in sight. No doubt Tony sent all his precious team mates away. How convenient. Heaven forbid any of them actually meet you.

You have half a mind to leave. You know Tony. This whole waiting game was one big power move to prove that he could summon you and you would appear. You shouldn't have come in the first place.

He didn't have the courtesy to call you, not that you would've answered in the first place. No, he sent Happy to tell you that he needed to speak to you. You weren't invited. You were summoned.

And now, he was making you wait. Just to prove that he could.

You've half convinced yourself to leave when an unfamiliar man stands in the very corner of your peripheral. He meekly waves, clearing his throat, "Um... excuse me, can I help you?"

With a bored, borderline unimpressed look, your eyes flicker up, "No."

He clears his throat again, that polite smile never faltering as he rubs the back of his neck, "Um, well, ma'am, this floor is closed off to the public. We don't allow Stark Industry guests or visitors up here."

You look up at him again with the most polite smile you can muster, "It's fine."

"It's not, ma'am," he insists. "It's a security issue."

You offer another, tighter smile, but patience was never your strong suit. "I'm waiting for Tony. It's fine."

You almost feel bad for your curt tone, it's not this stranger's fault for your terrible mood. It's Tony's.

"Well, the thing is, Tony is well aware of the protocol. It's his building after all."

You snort at the statement. Tony's building. Even if it weren't for the way the building stuck out like a sore thumb on the New York skyline, the Stark name in bright lights, the whole building screams Tony Stark. Stark Tower makes your head hurt as much as Tony Stark himself.

You resent every second you're in the building.

You hate being here as much as Steve Rogers hates you being here.

You tilt your head, quirking an eyebrow at the man, "Do you just take care of imagined security threats or is there something you actually do here?"

Steve quirks an eyebrow back at you, resting his hands on his hips with a bemused smirk, "I never said you were a security threat, a security breach, absolutely."

"And how did you deduce this?"

"A strange, mild mannered yet very attractive woman is sitting in a restricted area of Stark Tower. I, someone who does have authorization approach, and said women tries to distract me -"

"Is it working?"

"What?"

"Am I distracting you? Keeping you from going about your day? What exactly is it about me that you find distracting?"

"Well, you're very - hold on a minute, you just did it again," Steve points out with a wry grin.

"The way I see it, Mr. Rogers-" You stand up out of your chair, heels clicking onto the sleek marble floors of Stark Tower.

"How did you -"

"You have two options." You hold up two fingers, spelling it out for Steve. "You can go and get Tony and let him know that I'm sitting here waiting for him or you can sit here with me until Tony pulls his head out of his ass and waltzes out of his office - just to make sure I'm truly not the security threat you imagine. Your choice."

"Or, third option, I can call security and have you removed," Steve challenges you, a triumphant smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

You return the smirk, resting on the arm of the leather couch. "You can certainly try."

He chortles, "Are you always this stubborn?"

"I prefer insistent. And yes, I am." You plant your hands on either side of you, teasingly shrugging your shoulders. "If I'm bothering you so much, why don't you remove me yourself?"

"I would never put my hands on a woman, and I never said you were bothering me, I only said that you're not allowed to be up here."

"I've given you your options. Take your pick."

The elevator dings before Steve can choose either option. Happy steps out of the elevator, looking like his normal frantic self.

Steve sighs in relief as Happy bustles over in your direction, "Happy, can you let security know that there's an unauthorized person in our residential quarters?"

You look over your shoulder at Happy, "Happy, you can let security know they aren't needed. Mr. Rogers is currently having a senior moment."

"Got it," Happy nods, immediately agreeing with you. "Have you -"

"What?" Steve guffaws, "Happy, don't -"

"You're a lot less charming in person," you blithely observe. "Has anyone told you that?"

"Have you talked to Tony yet?" Happy asks you. "Please, tell me he didn't leave you here waiting this whole time."

"Not yet," you scoff, looking down at your watch. 31 minutes late. "He's been more than content to keep me waiting here with Mr. Rogers as my companion."

"I'm not your -"

"Ah, speak of the devil and he shall come," you mutter, rolling your eyes as Tony strolls through the common room as though he's not over 30 minutes late to your meeting. "Brother."

"Sister," Tony coldly greets you from a distance.

"Sister?" Steve squawks. There is no warmth in the greeting. If Steve didn't know any better, he would say that a frost entered the room when Tony did.

"30 minutes late, Anthony," you chastise. "Maybe I should get you a watch for Christmas."

"Really? I thought you were too busy stealing Christmas from Whoville to celebrate," Tony quips.

You purse your lips at Tony, folding your arms expectantly, "To what do I owe the displeasure, Tony?"

"Maybe I've just missed that sparkling personality of yours," Tony sarcastically retorts.

"Jealous that actually I have one?"

"I'm so confused," Steve whispers, mostly to himself.

"Happy, fill in Capsicle, we have some business to attend to," Tony instructs, wasting no time before turning on his heels and heading to the conference room.

"On it. Do I need to call Pepper to mediate?" Happy calls after you. He shakes his head with a furrowed brow like the answer is obvious. He mutters to himself, "Never mind, I know the answer to that."

"What just happened?"

"You just witnessed the eighth wonder of the world, the warm and loving relationship of the Stark siblings." Happy claps a hand over Steve's shoulder, dialing Pepper's number with the other hand. "Consider yourself lucky to have come out unscathed."

"The Stark siblings? Since when are there two of them?"

"Sometime after you went into the ice but before you came out," Happy sarcastically replies. He shakes his head, taking a moment to fix his suit as he looks at Steve with an apologetic glance, "Sorry, their stress becomes my stress and stress is one of their favorite pass times."

"Uh..." Steve awkwardly lilts.

"Look, they aren't exactly on good terms."

"They're siblings," Steve chortles, dissmively rolling his eyes. "All families fight, Happy."

"There's a reason Tony doesn't talk about her. Just like there's a reason that Miss Stark doesn't come here."

"So they got into a fight, they'll make up eventually."

"They got into a fight two decades ago. I wouldn't hold my breath." Happy turns on his heels, pacing back and forth as he dials Pepper's office. "And I strongly suggest that you don't mention that topic to either of them. It's a bit of a touchy subject."

"I'm still confused."

"Tony Stark," Happy begins, dialing Pepper again. "Oldest child of Howard and Maria Stark. And a whopping 12 years younger is the youngest Stark, the second child and first daughter of Howard and Maria Stark. And I feel like I need to say this again because I don't think it sunk in the first time, this should not be brought up to Miss Stark because this is a very sensitive subject."

"Why?"

"Pepper, please pick up the phone. The last time they were left in a room alone, I was plucking shards of glass and splinters from my suit for a week," Happy rambles into the phone. He drops the phone with an aggressively exasperated groan, "As you can probably tell, they don't exactly have the closest or warmest or not hostile sibling bond."

"I'm still confused on the why?"

"I feel like you're not hearing the very sensitive subject of it all."

Steve apologetically winces, "Sorry."

"Let me offer you some advice, whatever you do, whatever superhero compulsions you may have, don't get involved. Not even a little bit. I promise you, nothing good comes from getting between those two."

"Alright, I'm hearing you," Steve acquiesces, raising his hands in defeat. 

"Are you?" Happy questions. "Because I am strongly considering going to find a football helmet before I walk into that room. Let's not add a super soldier to that mix."

"I'm hearing you."

If only he had actually listened.

Next Chapter AnonymityIsFun Masterlist Steve Rogers Masterlist

As always, let me know what you think! Reblogs and comments are always appreciated! 💛

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[ellas-journey]

It’s time of another history nerd moment in Demon Slayer

In the 1st episode of the new season, we see an anime inedited scene. In the 1st minutes of it we see Iguro Obanai and Shinazugawa Sanemi following an Oni to a faraway province, were they found an abandoned castle that turns out to be the entrance to the Infinity Castle. Obanai proceeds to tell us that “After the castles got worn down from the Restauration, this one being in such a remoted area must’ve been abandoned and forgotten” this is, once again, a reminder of the times were Demon Slayer takes place.

The moment that I saw the castle I was immediately reminded of the Edo Castle.

Let’s take a step back to remember the Edo period, also known as the Tokugaea Era. After his rise to power and successfully obtaining the Shogun title, Tokugaya Ieyasu installs the Bakuhan - a military way of ruling the country. As a way of supervising the Daimyo, the land was distributed regarding the convenience of the shogunate. There were also a lot of rules that the Daimyos has to follow: every time one Daimyo ascended to the position it had to meet and swear fidelity to the Shogun; They would also have to meet various times and follow the written rituals; Every marriage has to be accepted by the Shogun; Each daimyo could only have one castle, as well as a small army; And the most famous rule in the Shogunate was that a Daimyo had to had a family member, better of an Heir, residing the Shogunate state.

This vigilance tactics would also be applied to the Imperial Family, were they were manipulated and humiliated by the Shogunate. Even if they had some territories, they would receive money from the Shogunate house as a donation. Some military offices would be placed at the entrance of the Imperial State, just as 2 figures called Kufe would enter the household staff to basically spy on the royal family. There would also be build an extra castle, to act as a country house to the Tokugawa family, and it was purposely placed next to the imperial estate. Also, every marriage, chief priest and household staff has to be approved by the Shogunate. Just as the marriages between the Tokugawa and Imperial family were basically forbidden.

Japan would then start to see the birth of big cities. Even if the shogunate tried hard to maintain the status quo and an idea of a “time stop”, the stability that was created was the perfect place to create new structures and creations. Since the circulations were now easy, we start to see migrations to the urban cities. From the moment that someone from de daimyo family needed to be in Edo, there was a new demand for necessities like food, clothing and art sources. This all happened at the shadow of the Shogunate, a Japan that would evolve insteed to be stuck in time.

But talking about the castles: there where 2 main castles in the Tokugawa era that clearly are the inspiration for the castle in Demon Slayer.

Tokyo, or better, Edo, was just another region in Kanto. The town would develop after it was passed town to Tokugawa that had a clear plan for its planning. The Tokugawa estate was devided in various citadels: Hamaru, Ninomaru, Sannomu, Nishinomaru, Nishiomaru-shita, Furikiage and Kitanomaru. The inner compounds – Sankinkotai- were the residencies of the daimyo. Because of this, in the outskirts the people that migrated to the city to start businesses also started to build small towns. Like so, the Shogunate started to build defense buildings like stone walls, watchtowers and palaces. The central castle, residence of the Shogun was then designed by Todo Takatora. And since the estate was such vast, even after calamities like earthquakes, tsunamis, fires and wars we can today see some of its ruins, even if what remains of the castle refletcs the later alterations. A fire consumed the Edo palace in 1873 and the area around the old keep after the Meiji restauration, would be adopted by the Imperial Family to become the new Imperial Estate.

The other castle would be Osaka Castle.

Funny enough, the palace was built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Sengoku Jirai. His vision for the castle was a better version of Oda Nobunaga’s castle in Azushi. Since he was obsessed with gold, he wanted all the interior decorations with it, but also some reflection of it in the exterior. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt during various times. Like in 1660 lighting ignited the gunpowder warehouse which resulted in a explosion that set the castle on fire. By 1665, lighting struck again burning down the Tenshu. In 1843, after decades of neglect from the bakufu it got a repair. The most recent reconstruction in 1928, being able to survive the WW2.

A lot of castles were built during the Sengoku Jidai, and it would give birth to a new architecture, that would turn out to be one of the most iconic ones in Japan. Before the Muromachi period, the military fortifications were made out of wood that would then develop to permanent strongholds that would turn out to be the residency of the daimyo and his army. They were built on hills, and the crest would turn into the tenshu (meaning the highest tower) having as an exemple the keep on the European castles. The other basic component would be the stone wall that would follow the hill’s slope.

“Above all, palace-castles such as Azuchi, Momoyama, Osaka and then Edo were a stage set that proclaimed the power and importance of their lord” (Manson,2004)

INSIDE OSAKA - Osaka Castle [https://insideosaka.com/osaka-castle/]

JAPAN ENDLESS DISCOVERY - Edo Castle. [https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1734/#:~:text=For%20260%20years%2C%20Edo%20Castle,are%20open%20to%20the%20public.]

JCASTLE - Edo Castle [https://www.jcastle.info/view/Edo_Castle]

MANSON, Penelope. 2004 - History of Japanese art.

OSAKAINFO - Osaka Castle [https://osaka-info.jp/en/discover-kansai/osaka-castle/]

[theghostwife]

Daemon vs. Alicent

So I saw a post on Twitter stating that if Daemon is responsible for Jaehaerys, then Alicent is responsible for Larys killing Harwin and their father and I have so many many thoughts about this. Firstly, I hate that fans of the show constantly attack Alicent. I'm not saying she's a good mother or a good person but blaming her for the acts of the men around her makes little to no sense. Normally, I'd just ignore tweets like this but the parallels I saw could not be ignored and so here I am.

Disclaimer: I'm not going to name the Twitter account I saw. I just don't want them to get attacked or anything.

First of all, their defense of Daemon stems from the fact that we never see him tell B&C to go for anyone else and because those words never left his mouth that we could see, they took it as it's not his fault. However, it was heavily, heavily implied that he did. Cheese asks what should they do if they can't find Aemond. The show allows us to fill in the blanks like we're playing hang-man. The sentence is there, the order is there, we merely need to fill it in.

Then we have his reaction to the news. Did we see surprise on his face? No. Did we see a bit of remorse for a 4-year-old getting killed in place of Aemond? No. He was pleased with the news.

In fact, when Rhaenyra turned to look at him, he was smirking.

He knew exactly what was going to happen and he's happy that at least someone was killed. It didn't matter that Aegon did not send Aemond to kill Lucerys. It did not matter that Jaehaerys is not Aemond's son. It did not matter that Jaehaerys was a child who had no part in the war or conflict. He was collateral damage. Even with all the feelings and expressions of horror around him, including that of Rhaenyra, he did not care.

At least until Rhaenyra spoke to him herself.

When she first confronted him, he says that he sent the Queen's vengeance for her son.

—————————————————————

Rhaenyra: "What did you tell this vengenace? What did you say to him? Daemon? That a boy lies dead and I am accused of killing him."

Daemon: "Mysaria provided me with names and subterfuge. I was clear in my instructions. Aemond, the brother of Aegon the Usurper. I cannot be responsible—"

Rhaenyra: "Cannot be responsible?"

Rhaenyra: "If Aemond was not to be found, what were your instructions then?"

Daemon: "They did not concern in any way that of a little child."

Rhaenyra: "You said it was your aim to spill Hightower blood. If not Aemond, then anyone would do."

—————————————————————

Despite the fact that he denies her accusations, she then goes on to say she doesn't believe him. Then there is this little number.

Now, here they get to the argument of Daemon, his resentment and bitterness that he was passed over as heir for Rhaenyra, and the fact that Aegon now sits on the throne. Even in the book, Daemon hates his nephews solely because they pushed him down the line of succession, so this one sentence here matches up perfectly with how Daemon truly feels.

It wasn't just "revenge" for Luke. It was revenge on the Targtowers, specifically, anyone in their family, any male. The death of Luke, Rhaenyra's declarance just served as a convenient excuse. If Aemond was not to be found, Daemon could have easily told them not to harm anyone else if he truly cared for Rhaenyra and her claim.

On a side note, I think this is really funny considering just before Rhaenyra accused him of using her as an excuse to kill Jaehaerys, she flat-out asked him if she was merely a tool he used to grasp at his stolen inheritance. It seems that in the show, Daemon using her as an excuse has come up more than once. Hell, even Viserys accused him of doing the same. It's just an interesting thing.

Anywho, let's compare this to Alicent and Larys Strong now shall we.

Unlike Daemon who commanded Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond, Alicent gave no such order. She didn't command anyone to be killed, nor did she want anyone to be killed. She merely stated she wanted her father back in King's Landing.

She lamented the fact that there was no one in King's Landing on her side. So what was Larys's response to this?

Larys took her words and acted on his own which resulted in the death of both Harwin and Lyonel. Alicent literally had nothing to do with it so I find it funny that someone compared the two together.

Then they mentioned that an episode later, Alicent rewards him. She wasn't rewarding him. Larys intentionally trapped Alicent with his deeds by stating he did it for her, in her name. If she were to ever expose him for his crimes, all he has to do is say she ordered him to do it in order to have her father back as Hand to the King and he would be believed.

As proof of this, in the next episode, Daemon accuses Alicent of killing Harwin and Lyonel anyway, without much justification other than her and Otto gaining from it. If Daemon thinks this, who else already believes either Alicent or Otto had something to do with it?

Later on in the same episode, Larys once again offered his services and Alicent knew better than to deny him, especially after she attacked Rhaenyra with the dagger, which damaged her reputation with the nobles and Viserys. That was Alicent accepting that she may in fact need his special brand of help later on but it's clear from her face, that she does not want it.

Also, to add to this fact, I think another reason why she said,

—————————————————————

"But your devotion has not gone unnoticed. These are dangerous times. The day will doubtless come when I require such a friend. With not only skill but discretion as well."

is because right before this, Larys subtly offered her the eye of Luke.

"If it's an eye you want to balance the scales, I am your servant."

—————————————————————

So that was her way of leading Larys away from maiming Luke but still allowing him close to her. Alicent with Larys is stuck between a rock and a hard place. This is very evident with him forcing her to sell herself, even if it is just her feet, he gets sexual satisfaction from both her feet and the act of sexual coercion as it gives him power, for basic information.

So the comparison between Daemon with B&C to Alicent and Larys with Harwin & Lyonel is in fact not at all comparable. I'd say that Alicent plays a similar role to Rhaenyra in that aspect and that is the parallel I saw. Saying one thing, making one wish/demand, and having a rogue man take your words, twist them to fit their own intentions and actions, and then say they did it your name while you bear the brunt of blame.

Speaking of the foot scene, this one could be a little different. Larys offers to have Mysaria killed because of her spy network which Otto is aware of but has left in place. Of course, here Alicent knows what will happen and essentially...pays Larys by showing him her feet. It's still an act of sexual coercion but in the end, Alicent says,

—————————————————————

"I assume this task falls within your expertise."

Which Larys responds with,

"If you wish it… it will be done."

—————————————————————

However, I don't think Alicent wanted the entire brothel to be up in flames but we never see her reaction to it, although I have a feeling she could have already known how Larys planned to solve that problem. Nonetheless, had the person on Twitter used that event in particular, it would have been a better comparison.

[chillbusinessax]

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 10 analysis & Implications

Sarada vs Hidari & the Mangekyou of Sarada: As we know, the fight between the last survivors of the Uchiha lineage is approaching: Sarada & the Shinju of Sasuke. Sarada’ll face a Shinju that’s absorbed Sasuke’s chakra & powers, plus the power of the Ten Tails. It’ll undoubtedly be a fight that’ll offer one of the most impressive battle choreographies & 'll foster necessary character development as she faces a formidable enemy. The first time Sarada encounters Hidari, he automatically attacks with Chidori. Sarada dodges & counters with Chidori. This symbolic act kicks off the fight, as only two living people can execute Chidori: Sasuke & her. However, she’s confused; although it’s clear her opponent possesses Sasuke’s chakra & powers, Hidari isn’t Sasuke. (This topic’ll be addressed in another section of the post). Sarada holds one of the most important positions & stories in the manga, being the heroine of the story, heir to the Uchiha power, immune to omnipotence & possessor of the Mangekyō. Why have 10 chapters passed & nothing has been revealed about the Mangekyō? Even the rebirth of the Kyubi was revealed before the powers of the MS; the answer is simple: the abilities Kishimoto’ll grant Sarada in the Mangekyou’ll be convenient to the story’s context. When the power of that Mangekyō is discovered, it’ll be a pivotal axis that’ll mark a before & after in the narrative of Two Blue Vortex. The Mangekyou Sharingan is meant to be a decisive point in the plot. To contextualize, among the special abilities known so far in Mangekyou users, there are dangerous & high-level powers like Kotoamatsukami, Tsukuyomi & Kamui. Theoretically, Sarada should awaken with the Mangekyou two special abilities (they can be both new & those already mentioned, for example, Itachi & Sasuke had Amaterasu in common), in addition to the Susanoo (considering the divine weapons of Susanoo). The Sharingan is a dōjutsu of Ōtsutsuki lineage that comes from the Rinne-Sharingan; it was Indra Ōtsutsuki who awakened & bequeathed this ability to the Clan descended from him, the Uchiha Clan. It’s important to highlight that, with just the Sharingan three tomoe, definitive techniques like Izanagi, a technique based on Hagoromo’s Banbutsu Sōzō no Jutsu, & Izanami, both Kinjutsus characteristic of the Uchiha clan, could be used.

The last thing to discuss in this section (which’ll likely generate antagonistic opinions in the fandom) is the fact that, observing how events are unfolding in chapter 10, where Kawaki had (and was the only one who could) intervene in Himawari’s fight against Jura, the complexity of these enemies, representing not just an individual but a collective problem, being a monthly manga & mainly, the way Boruto is (and has always been) emotionally involved with Sarada, I wouldn’t be surprised if, sooner or later, he joins in Sarada vs. Hidari. He knows the danger these enemies pose & won’t hesitate to support the fight. Only two people have, on an emotional level, the authority to intervene & support this fight: Sakura & Boruto. This position of Boruto is something Kishimoto has made clear from the beginning of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, just as Sarada intervenes without regard for her own life when Boruto needs her. This feeling is mutual between them & is fully justified. Although some of the fandom may see it as a regression in Sarada’s character, it’s actually an enrichment of the characters & an added value by Kishimoto, a shōnen where, beyond the fights, bonds & expressions of human feelings are valid to show & are present. Additionally, it would allow us to see quite an interesting team battle choreography, as Boruto & Sarada have always formed a formidable combat team. The heir of the Hiraishin & the heiress of the Mangekyou united in battle.

2. The Shinjus: They’re still a mystery. In fact, they don’t even know exactly what they are. Hidari asked himself & the other Shinjus: “Exactly What… are we?” We know they’re the result of a “claw grime” absorbing a person’s chakra. They’re a divine tree evolved & self-aware, produced by Code’s Ten Tails, created from the chakra of the person they’re absorbing, but the implications of this are still unclear.

We also know that the people the Ten Tails has absorbed are still alive. However, how long’ll they remain alive after the “claw grime” absorbs them? Will there come a time when Sasuke & the others sealed’ll die if not released? If Sarada kills Hidari, or if someone kills one of the Shinjus, does the person get released or die? And when releasing the person, does the Shinju die? These are questions still without definitive answers. Only time & the plot’s development’ll provide us with more information about these mysterious beings.

We could see this as the birth of a new species, or rather, the Ten Tails’ species becoming conscious. Moreover, they have a goal linked to the person from whom they’re absorbing chakra, which, if they manage to fully absorb, they’ll find a higher degree of evolution. The powers of the Ten Tails, the human abilities of the “sealed” person, the Rinnegan, the ability to launch bijudamas with their eyes, & even their wisdom & thirst for knowledge, make these enemies something totally unknown & formidable. Keep in mind that, in addition, their main goal after their “target” is to devour an Ōtsutsuki, therefore, they have the capacity to face enemies with levels of power that humanity isn’t capable of facing.

It won’t be a short battle & everyone’ll probably have to support each other to achieve something against this threat. Kawaki, upon learning that Himawari was in danger, quickly headed to the battle. Boruto, due to the resonance between the Karmas, can’t be near Kawaki, so he’ll likely assist in the battle within Konoha.

The battles against these enemies’ll be fought in teams & will likely be more than one confrontation. Although symbolically each Shinju has its target, it’s clearly a global problem, so it’s normal for third parties to be involved, even mixing scenarios. Everyone is in a conflict on the scale of the Fourth Shinobi World War, where everyone had to ally to achieve something against the common enemy. But, to summarize, the protagonists of the battles go like this:

Kawaki & Himawari vs Jura

Sarada & Boruto vs Hidari

Konohamaru & Team 10 vs Mitsuri

Eida & Daemon vs Bug

3. Himawari & Kurama: It’s interesting to see how they’ve imprinted on her the concept they initially had with Boruto (Byakugan + Kyubi). With lineage from Hamura’s line (Hyuga clan) & Ashura’s line (Uzumaki clan), & now with the Kyubi, she’s placed among the most powerful characters with raw chakra of the new generation. It’s surprising that Kurama’s return has caused astonishment in readers, considering it’s predefined that the tailed beasts don’t die definitively but reincarnate. A precedent for this is Isobu. Moreover, there’ve been hints (especially in the anime) that Himawari would somehow be related to the tailed beasts. She’s always shown interest in them; she even coexists with Shukaku in an anime episode.

The relationship between Kurama & Himawari started on good terms. Kurama retains his memories, including his time with Naruto, with whom he formed a bond of friendship & familiarity after they understood & accepted each other as equals. This precedent opens the opportunity for a friendly & mutual collaboration between Himawari & the Kyubi. An interesting fact to consider is that Kurama retains his past memories. There’s a possibility that they haven’t been altered by omnipotence, & if that’s true, he could convey to Himawari that her brother is actually Boruto, & that all the experiences she believes she shared with Kawaki (before omnipotence) were lived with Boruto.

Some believe that Himawari’s suspicions are due to the hidden power in her (the Kyubi), but that’s not the case. Sadly, Himawari was affected by omnipotence, & the fact that she feels Naruto & Hinata are alive & that “Boruto” would never harm them is because, due to the effect of omnipotence, her experiences lived with KAWAKI make her believe they were actually with Boruto. In short, what’s really being conveyed to the reader is that Kawaki would be incapable of harming Naruto, & that’s why she feels Naruto & Hinata are alive. Remember that omnipotence exchanged in people’s subconscious the memories & concepts they had of Kawaki & Boruto, but it didn’t alter reality.

4. Regarding Inojin: Another event that caused a stir is that Inojin was impaled by Jura. There’re already people who’ve prematurely concluded that Inojin is dead, but the truth isn’t definitive.

If Inojin survives, this’d mean 2 things:

Himawari might use some special power of the Kyubi to heal Inojin.

Inojin could be saved by the ninja medical unit, or by interference of ninja technology, although it’s important to understand that ninja medical jutsu & ninja technology have their limits.

Otherwise, it’d bring many implications to the plot. It’d be an emotionally shocking blow for many characters, starting with Ino & Sai, the Ino-Shika-Cho team that was raised as siblings, & other close friends of Inojin. It’d be the first character from the descendants of Naruto’s generation to die in battle just as the conflict begins, showing how dark the situation in TBV could start to turn. For Himawari, already the fact of losing her parents hardened her character, seeing the death of a special friend for her, who also died trying to protect her, would awaken a deep desolation.

For others like Boruto, Sarada, Sumire, & Mitsuki, who’ve known & shared time with Inojin at the academy, & Sarada & Boruto who’ve known him since childhood, it’d be an important before & after. It’d show them that no one is safe in the situation they’re living & that they’re facing dangerous enemies who don’t value human life. For Boruto, it’d be a hard blow to know that he might’ve helped, but the activated karma didn’t allow him to do anything in that situation. For the older generation, the loss of Inojin would make them aware that they failed in their mission to bring an era of peace to their children & the new generation, & the harsh reality that a new war has begun.

5. Boruto & Kawaki: Kawaki identified Boruto’s weak point in the previous chapter. It’s impressive that all of Boruto’s shinobi feats in the first 9 chapters were due to his pure training, without relying on the power of Karma. This is a great source of power, but at the same time his greatest weakness. Something must’ve happened over those 3 years that led Boruto to radically avoid karma. That fear has to do with Momoshiki, who finds a way to materialize & take over Boruto’s body by channeling through karma.

As we know in advance, in the battle Boruto vs Kawaki on the faces of the Hokages, Boruto can already activate his Karma at will. That is, by that point, Boruto’d probably have full control of his powers. But, seeing that Kawaki noticed that Boruto’s weakness is the activated karma, a possible scenario is envisioned: The cause of the destruction of the Shinobi era & what subsequently leads to the last confrontation between brothers is that Kawaki exploits Boruto’s weakness, causing him to lose control & Momoshiki to cause destruction. For some reason, Boruto regains control of his body & enters battle to defeat Kawaki.

Considering Boruto could lose control of the Karma at any moment & is emotionally affected by it, you can be sure that Sarada’ll be the one to help him channel those emotions. She’s the person he calls home, the intact fragment of his past, & she’ll be the one to show him he has the strength & will to stop Momoshiki. Sarada has always been a light in his life & was the one who thwarted Momoshiki’s plans to take over Boruto. The fight against Momoshiki is a battle waged on the plane of emotions & wills. And rest assured, Sarada won’t let Boruto fall into darkness; she’s the love that’ll turn Boruto’s vortex into a spiral. As always, Kishimoto gave us a great reference to this in Minato’s one-shot: Sarada is to Boruto what Minato was to Kushina & what Hashirama was to Mito.

There’re many more points that could be discussed, but this is what I wanted to highlight from the chapter. Boruto TBV is just beginning, there’s a lot to go through before drawing definitive conclusions.

Before closing, I’d like to point out that to know what ideas & projections Kishimoto has for the characters & their interactions, it helps to know chapter 700 of Naruto, “Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring”, & the novels belonging to Boruto’s timeline, some of which are written by Kishimoto & others directly supervised by him. These fit very well with how the characters are behaving in TBV. After Kodachi delegated the writing back to Kishimoto, a change in perspectives is noticeable. TBV is a pure concept of Kishimoto, so for those who like to theorize, analyze, or simply have a more complete understanding of the work, I suggest reading those stories that are part of the canon.

And lastly, beyond criticizing or causing fights in the fandom, enjoy the canon! Kishimoto has great things prepared.

[beliscary]

@necromycologist #<< Prev. who is this guy i need to know more rn

omg. okay.

so there's a supporting character in a videogame called final fantasy 16 and he has like THE most wonderful two hours of screentime, a potential ally with noble intentions amongst antagonists. that's Prince Dion Lesage. and then there's his boyfriend Sir Terence w like 8 minutes. and at this point I've glued his face on top of a prayer candle in my heart

I have to set the scene a bit first. this is broad strokes I hope it makes sense.

calling them catholic is a shorthand but their religion is ehhhh basically that. their emperor is the pope and also conceptualized as god on earth. they live in a world that's dying from overconsumption of magic as a resource(accessible materially through mined crystals)—crops failing, the land being blighted, that kind of thing. people who are born w the ability to draw on magic are enslaved, branded, and used up for their power/the convenience until they die from it (they turn to slowly to stone! it's very painful and visual dehumanization! the whole thing is awful!)

Dion is one of these people who can use magic, but he's extraordinarily powerful and in a position of some privilege bc of that. but also he's trapped by it. So like, dragons are sacred in their religion, and Terence's boyfriend Dion (I have to point out that I don't say this glibly, they are together) can transform by his magic into their Sacredest Dragon, whose entire thing is Light and Hope and Deep Religious Obligation, etc etc.

this power is a once in a generation thing that happens to a single individual (there are more of these godlike lineages for other elements like fire, ice, darkness, etc scattered across the world, as well as massive crystals to mine. you can see where this might lead to some instability and power jockeying esp with massive areas of land rapidly becoming blighted and unlivable. so he's kind of also the empire's nuclear deterrence.)

he's trying desperately to believe that by fighting wars and using his power he's doing good for his people who are trying to survive in this dying world, but his dad the god emperor is the resource hungry warmongering ruler of an expansionist slave empire with bloodline supremacy at its heart. so. (also dad had another kid that he likes better because that kid's not a bastard. as though that's dion's fault. a golden boy bastard imperial prince who upholds evil bc he Has to be a good and dutiful son.... ugh)

he's been at war since he was like 15 and he's 28 now. and his father just keeps sending him out to fight. like whatever he's already got another heir to inherit it all, and now dion is the spare. dad can reaaally use the bomb without worrying abt the continuation of his line now.

SO. boyfriend Terence. he's 2nd in command of Dion's holy knights, and we learn he climbed his way up through the ranks to get there. and he did this just to be able to be near dion and support him through all these wars and most likely watch him suffer and die horribly anyway. bc Oh Yeah none of the phenomenal cosmic power exempts dion from the turning to stone thing.

so anyway, in the 8 mins we do have of them together, we see Terence:

-subtly chastise his prince for his recklessness and then pray for his safety

-deliver a missive intended for his prince which he clearly already opened & read. just so he can soften the blow of the bad news himself as dion reads through it

-bandage and salve his man's arm, showing us they both know and see the inevitability of the slow creeping death dion keeps throwing himself towards

-suggest dion rely on his army rather than his magic, gently defying dion's father (whose word is holy decree)

-kiss his prince

-smile and yearn and make a sad face so cutie cute cutely

-declare very purposefully to the man who is constantly ordered around and used as a weapon that he will always be his servant, while on his knees. concise! thorough!

(i hope I'm establishing a pattern here that it appears when it comes to His Place In Society he knows the boundaries perfectly but also knows the location of every single hole in the fence)

-crack a joke about the death of a titan being a small mercy. king 👑

-shoo a messenger one piece of bad news away from getting his head bitten off out of a tent with Perfect economy and comedic sensibility

(god this is small but huge TEW ME... you see him react to bad news by lightly balancing his fingertips on a table and thinking carefully... this is in contrast to Dion throwing a guy around, punching a table, and having to visibly count backwards from ten)

-nearly throw down with another god-lite and only halt on his boyfriend's command. it's immediate too he's got great brakes !!

(seriously if you pay attention this man has like nooooo respect for authority or divinity on their own so-called merits and yet he's so calm and polite and steady and measured and kind in his demeanor and we KNOW he still prays too. it's. it's GAP MOE)

-continue to call dion His Prince. even after dion has been removed from any chance of ascending to the throne officially. like yes he is technically still a prince just not crown prince so it is a proper form of address but atp dion's purpose is pretty much expected just to be an obedient weapon of conquest who will die if ordered to, with no hope of that changing. so it kind of feels Pointed.

-like, yeah no, I heard what "god" said. but my prince is My Prince. he earned that. you can't tell me shit. my prince can't tell me shit about my prince either. what are you gonna do, fire me? that won't stop me either, my prince.

-get asked by THE sacred dragon if a coup is the right course of action. should the opinion of a mortal matter at all to a god? hm well it does to this one

-functionally do 300 wife nod dot gif in order to:

-support a coup against the newly declared emperor (the not-bastard brother) (who is, amen I say to you, theologically god)

-👆 do this without ever once telling his ordered-around-used-as-a-weapon/seen-as-the-symbol/the-potential-of-his-power-rather-than-as-a-man boyfriend what he should or shouldn't do

-seriously terence had all of dion's power laid down at his feet like frodo offering galadriel the one ring and what he ends up saying is p much 'whatever you choose to do, your men are with you'. even starts with an "I" statement and then cuts himself off and starts over!!! CONCISE. THOROUGH. KING 👑 POWER REVEALS!! AND IT HAS REVEALED terence has always wanted dion to have control of his own life and choices 🥺

-the rest is deep spoilers but My God. He's the Patron Saint of Smiling Through Tears. also and most importantly he's nobody he's doesn't even get a last name he's not even an important noble he's got no magic to speak of he's just a guy w a sword kneeling in front of a man asking him to stop killing himself for nothing (or, more accurately, an evil that undermines all the light and hope he thinks he champions--),,,,

(there was a loredrop later that explained they were childhood friends to lovers and had been together for 10 years by the majority of their in game scenes... terence had been in love with dion since they were both young and was gonna be quiet about it forever until dion took a blow defending him in battle at age 18. and I almost died in real life bc I had assumed it was a mutual agreement that the good of the People always took precedence and dion would never choose terence over that. but he almost died to save this one guy. he was ready to give up everything he could do for the world with his power... for his boy best friend. and they hadn't even kissed yet)

anyway yeah I Like Them I Like Putting Them Under A Magnifying Glass And Into Situations 🥰

[haleswallows]

Chapter teaser:

If Danny didn’t know his brother better, he would say Dan was excited for the final request. In fact, Danny had expected the League to interject before he even got this far. A part of him had been hoping the conversation would get caught up in one of the more important pleas, that he wouldn’t need to bring up the final request at all.

Ancients, this was going to be awkward.

Danny took a moment to gather himself. There was one last request. The throw-away, the one he most expected to be quickly declined. He hoped it served its purpose to make the other pleas more reasonable. King Clark’s hand clenched as the silence in the room grew bloated. He could do this, Danny coached himself. He had come too far to bail out now. He had already voiced the things he needed. This last request, silly and as embarrassing as it was, was easy compared to everything else.

Oh, fuck it. Get to it, High Chief, Danny scolded himself. 

“Our final petition is a union of ruling families. To establish a long future of peace, new alliances and shared cultures, we would propose a marriage of convenience. I will act as one party - we request an heir of Justria be the other.”

All air was sucked from the room.  “What?” King Wayne hissed.

[apomaro-mellow]

Taking Care of Business (And My Business is You) 16

Part 15

If yall wanna watch the scene that inspired the motorcycle bit and some beautiful 90's animation, check out episode 5 of Golden Boy

Also some warnings for this chapter and the story going forward: pill tampering, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, religious guilt

The very next day, Eddie was spirited away onto a plane that took them down to Florida. Robin came along as it was supposed to be a mini vacation and a bit of pack bonding before Eddie had to do real jobs for the family. Eddie found flying to be less scary than he had expected, but maybe that’s because he had Steve next to him. 

The property they came to was right on the beach and bleached white from the sun. Eddie was hoping Steve packed sunscreen otherwise he’d be competing with the lobsters on the menu. There were attendants at the villa but for the most part the three of them were left to their own devices, which suited them all just fine.

This wasn’t just about relaxing. Robin had found some leads and Steve was helping to connect the dots. The trio sat outside on the patio, under an umbrella. The pool beside them glittered in the sun. Steve was a bit of a distraction, wearing an open shirt that billowed in the wind that blew. Between their cocktails were photos and files. One that Eddie had seen before. The man who had taken out Francesca Marini.

“Nando Orellana. He was found a few days after what he did, died of bullet wounds”, Robin said. “Before now, he just seemed a random thief, caught in the act.”

“But recently, we found out he worked for the Pedrazzi family”, Steve said before taking a sip.

Eddie blinked at the new information. “Pedrazzi…the guy I was roughing up last night said some Pedrazzi were in town.”

Another family being in the area, and Eddie knew for a fact that they hadn’t come to meet with the Marinis. That slight couldn’t be overlooked. Even brief visitors paid their respects to whoever ran the town. 

“My mother and nonno hated the Pedrazzis”, Steve said. “But they wouldn’t put a hit out on her so blatantly. If one of their men was under orders to kill my mother, they might’ve made an agreement with my father.”

“Like what?”, Eddie asked.

“Like trading me for something he wanted”, Steve replied with a shrug.

Marriages of convenience weren’t odd in the mafia world. But to marry your heir off to a family that was hated by the previous don and your own wife. It was spitting in the face of their values. Steve appreciated the look of disgust on Eddie’s face.

“We all know that man doesn’t care about the right way of doing things”, Robin said. “He doesn’t care if the Marini name is dragged through the mud so long as he comes out on top. He’s always been a Harrington first and only.”

“He doesn’t care about this family”, Eddie said, surprising himself with how much conviction was in his voice.

“We’re still looking to find a concrete connection”, Robin said. “Something that points to him having contacted one of the Pedrazzi or even Nando.”

“If they’re in town, it’s likely my father is planning something else”, Steve put his drink down. “And if that’s the case…my grandfather could be in danger.” If the objective was to arrange a marriage for Steve, first his grandfather would need to be taken out. It felt like they were running out of time.

Robin reached out and grabbed his hand. “We’re so close Stevie. And as soon as we can implicate your father, we can oust him.”

Steve held tight to her and smiled. His scent had started to turn bitter but it went back to sweet right away. After that debriefing, Robin went out shopping, leaving the two of them alone. The beauty of having the place to themselves was having no need to hide away and keep things limited to the bedroom.

Steve had him pushed up against a wall, not that far from the pool. “So what are we going to do with ourselves now?”

There was an image that hadn’t left Eddie’s head the moment Steve had brought it up and since they were all alone…

“You wouldn’t happen to have a garage here?”

Steve grabbed his hand and led him around, taking him to the garage where there were two sports cars and a motorcycle. He’d been confused at Eddie’s request until he saw the bike and remembered what he told the alpha about his induction night. Sure enough, the moment he released his hand, Eddie held him from behind, hands taking advantage of the open shirt to tease his chest. 

“You said you almost got off while riding”, Eddie breathed into his ear. He kissed down his neck slowly. “I want you to show me.”

The garage was closed and anyone who worked here had been in the business for years. They knew to keep their distance lest they saw something they shouldn’t. But still, there were a couple of windows and they hadn’t done anything this open since the car. Steve’s body warmed as his nipples were pinched. Then Eddie pulled his hands away.

Steve walked over to the motorcycle. He bit his lip as he ran his fingertips across the seat. He only took a second to think about how the leather would feel before he was pushing his swim trunks down and swinging a leg over. He looked up and Eddie was already palming himself through his own pants. Steve sat down and the seat was warm. He let out a sigh as he started to grind, letting his mind go back to that night. He had seen in that moment a future with Eddie. He lifted up and saw a tiny wet spot already on the seat.

With a grin, he turned the key in the ignition and got it started. His eyes met Eddie’s and without breaking contact, he sat back down. A moan bubbled forth from deep in his chest as the engine rumbled between his legs, vibrating against his lips and clit. That night he had seriously thought about stopping on the side of the road and doing this, just because he had been so keyed up.

Eddie would have smelled it on him right away then. Everyone would have. The thought of showing up in front of all those men, scented of arousal and then letting Eddie take his prize…show them all that only this alpha was worthy of him…only this one could make him like this…

Eddie grabbed Steve’s chin. When did he get so close? He kissed him, almost too gently for how far gone Steve already was but then he pushed his tongue inside.

“Bellissimo…go ahead baby. I wanna see you cum, wanna see it drip all down.”

“Eddie…”, Steve’s hand squeezed the throttle and he ground down even harder.

He felt Eddie’s hand come up to the back of his head, gripping it tight and forcing him to look into his eyes as he came, clit throbbing against the leather as more slick made him slide up and down. He turned the engine off and when he looked down the seat shiny with it, as was the inside of his thighs. Eddie bent down and grabbed Steve’s discarded trunks. Steve’s lust-addled mind was a little confused as he walked away and put the trunks on the counter, pushing a few tools out of the way.

But then he came back over and picked Steve up, an easy feat when his legs were jelly, and sat him on top of the shorts. He lifted a leg over his shoulder and pushed down his pants. He rubbed the head against him and Steve’s hips bucked, already trying to get it inside.

“You ready for me?”

“Always”, Steve moaned.

Eddie began to push in, his forehead coming to rest on Steve’s shoulder. It was so fucking wet and hot it was like his dick was melting in ecstasy. He got it honestly, how others vied for his hand, all just wanting a taste of what Steve’s body could offer. But they’d never get it, what it really meant to be in this position. To have this trust. Not only that but to have this duty, this sacred mission to bring him over the edge and love on him in all ways possible.

For the next week days were for Robin and nights were for Eddie. But sometimes Robin got nights and Eddie got days. Sometimes all three of them spent all day together. Walking the beach, enjoying the boardwalks, gazing up at stars, debating each other’s tastes in movies. Robin and Eddie found they shared a love for niche titles and a general disdain for rom-coms.

But while Eddie and Steve both enjoyed action movies, Robin found them mostly trite trash. Steve felt content on the way back home. He had both a right hand and a left now. And during their vacation, Steve made it clear that as his capo, Eddie answered and reported only to him. He wasn’t his father’s errand boy, nor did he work for anyone else.

To which Eddie replied that he’d been Steve’s since the moment he sponsored him. The first order of business was making their rounds and introducing Eddie and his new position. Of course, that info would have traveled already that the Marini heir had his own capo now, but it was only respectful to go out and introduce yourself. Word of mouth was only gossip until it came out of the right mouth.

Steve took Eddie out on the same collection route as before, this time, heads inclined Eddie’s way as they acknowledged what he’d already done for the family and what he would do. 

Going from sunny and warm Florida to Indiana in the winter was definitely a change. But it gave Eddie an excuse to adjust Steve’s scarf. Christmas approached and Eddie wondered what sort of gift a capo got their boss. 

Steve had been trying to think of gift ideas, the holidays were in a week and things would get busy for a while, when he suddenly had to rush to the bathroom as a wave of nausea hit him. Robin looked up from the card game they had been playing. 

“Did you eat something weird?”, she asked when he returned.

“No”, Steve said, throat wrecked a bit from vomiting. 

Robin’s eyes narrowed. That was the third time this week he’d gotten nauseous out of nowhere. She’d seen Steve through some of his more wild days, when he’d been drinking himself stupid. He didn’t do that anymore, so hangover sickness wasn’t it. And if he hadn’t been eating anything weird…

“Steve…”, Robin looked around before getting up. They were in one of the many sitting rooms the mansion held. And walls had ears. She whispered something in his ear and then sat back down. He was frozen for only just a moment before he picked up his cards and continued to play until the game was done. 

Once it was, he called Eddie and sent him out on a simple errand. When Eddie arrived, he could tell something was off about Steve but kept himself neutral. The three of them had dinner with Steve’s father and a few other members of the family. But afterwards, Eddie was sent home. Steve and Robin went up to his room and he let out a breath.

He took out what Eddie and brought to him earlier. Feeling extra cautious, he had taped the small box of birth control pills inside the water tank of his toilet. He took a pill from his box and then opened up his bathroom cabinet, taking a pill from the dispenser inside there. He put them both on the sink and used a shampoo bottle to crush them.

One broke apart into fragments, all the same color throughout, some of it powdery as it was crushed to a fine dust.

The other cracked like a shell, revealing a dark brown center. Chocolate.

Someone had tampered with his birth control. And now he was carrying Eddie’s pup.

Robin put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a moment to let him process it all. She could feel him shaking under her touch. He wanted to shout, to break something, anything. But whoever did this was waiting for this moment. Waiting to catch him in the throes of finding out and then… and then he didn’t know what. Either way it was clear this was a part of someone’s plan.

So he needed to keep the facade that nothing had changed. He did turn into Robin’s arms and hug her tight though. No one outside this bathroom had to know that they both sunk down to the floor and that she stroked his hair as he cried.

Part 17

[eliteseven]

Hi, so sorry to bother you, I absolutely love Serena, but sometimes I feel I don't know her very well. I've been able to pick up bits and pieces from your fanfictions and some of the asks here, but sometimes I feel I might be missing a few secrets, fears or motivations in that beautiful head of hers. If it's not too much trouble and if you get the time I'd love to know more about her, maybe some neat HCs or other such things that maybe aren't talked about as much. I just love her so much and I wanna hear more about her (not that I don't absolutely LOVE hearing about her adorable interactions with Shadowheart) 👉👈 🥺

🥹 it’s no bother! Thank you for asking!! I’m so flattered you’d like to hear more! I try not to talk about her as much as Shadowheart because she’s the one we all have in common, and I don’t want to bore anyone with OC lore 🫠

Unfortunately, I simply cannot shut up about OC's once asked. So anyway here's her life story: (this is so long I’m so sorry)

Her past:

-We all know her past: she grew up in a partriar family, as the product of a marriage of convenience. She enjoyed a life of luxury, is learned in history and etiquette, but always craved a life of adventure.

-As a little girl she was so curious, and got into trouble often for exploring where she shouldn't, for being late to her lessons. As she grew older, the severity of her punishments increased. Her once kind father turned on her; he sought to kill that “rebellious” streak in her- to make her a proper heir.

-Her father was heavily abusive, getting worse with age. He succumbed to his vices. He gambled the house into debt. He unilaterally decided to marry Serena off to recoup some losses, to join his house with another. And so at 18/19 she and her mother fled to Cormyr with next to nothing to their name. She became a knight, they were avidly recruiting for rebuilding efforts as defense. For a decade, she dreamed of facing her father, getting revenge, getting the estate back for her mother.

-She eventually returned to Baldur's Gate, only to find her father had died a while ago, but not before taking a mistress and a child and leaving the estate to them! Ouch! She...cannot bring herself to take anything away from them, let alone let them know she exists. She decides to return to Cormyr, completely lost, when she's taken by the mind flayers.

Her wants/needs:

-Serena's main purpose was to secure a home for her mother, to regain what their father had taken from them, and to confront the man who terrorized her for so long. Of course... that didn't work out.

-Her new purpose is ridding herself of the tadpole and surviving with this weird, rag-tag group of individuals. It's through this journey that she realizes that they're kind of like a family- and that's something she never had. Her mother and father were always practically at war, everyone around her was fake, a bootlicker to her father, or interested in wealth and material gain only. She realizes she craves close companionship, domesticity. More than that- intimacy. She's had lovers- but only had one lover that she actually got to know. Until…along comes a sharp-tongued, very enchanting Sharran. Not the poster child for domesticity and love, but...Serena sees something twinkle in her eyes, when she looks at animals, at children. She wants to bring out that side of Shadowheart, to protect that kind streak she’s seen in her.

-I think Serena's motivations are simple. She was a frightened little girl, with no agency, and no means to protect herself from her own kin. She never wishes to feel that way again. She wants to protect and provide for her loved ones. She wants to have loved ones. She wants to bring her mother back from Cormyr and give her a home.

-Her fears are also simple: She fears being weak. She fears being vulnerable like she used to be. She fears losing her loved ones- her mother, first- and eventually, Shadowheart, when they fall in love. Not necessarily losing them in the sense of them dying: her father changed. She watched a once decent man grow crueler with each passing year. She fears change, in a sense, or abandonment of the emotional variety.

-She really fears returning to high society in Baldur's Gate- as you will see when she attends that feast Wyll is having at High Hall. She remembers the scorn her family faced in their later years, she remembers the cruel whispers behind her back as she and her mother were nearly swallowed whole. She does not have fond memories of those times, and does not want to attend. She's noticeably very nervous about returning and doesn't want to bear her own last name (which Shadowheart thinks is RIDICULOUS because it's her name and she earned the right to be proud of herself, and it).

Personality:

-She's even-keeled, and kind, just like her mother. She’s generally approachable and easy to talk to- residual effects of all that time spent socializing. But she’s been humbled into this kindness. She knows what it means to struggle. She’s been at the figurative top of the mountain and rock bottom. She couldn't fathom not helping the tieflings. She makes a good leader because she isn't too hot-headed and seems to understand that people have intricate, complicated pasts.

-She's still very much a noble at heart lmao. Just because she's had to rough it, doesn't mean she's lost her taste for finery. She spent almost eighteen years in luxury! She takes care with her appearance (Lae'zel definitely mocks her for this at the beginning)- she holds her wine cup with her pinky out subconsciously (everyone mocks her for that except Wyll lol)- she's still soft and posh sometimes, hardened as her edges become.

-Her best friends are Wyll and Karlach (aside from Shadowheart ofc). Wyll knew her growing up in court- and though he's younger, they bond over those memories of festivities and other gatherings at High Hall.

-She can be playful- sharp tongued, but not like Shadowheart- she's much kinder. She's a traditional romantic- as seen in the fics. She's nowhere as experienced as Shadowheart. Her flirting style is just being honest and having a lovesick look in her eyes, tbh. She's oblivious to her own charm- but really, she's been a little too occupied to notice.

-She's so patient. She has a certain grace that never seems to go away, even as a soldier. She has a posh accent that was a dead giveaway for her in Cormyr.

-Conversely- when she’s upset, she can make cold, cutting remarks. She retreats into herself, bottles it up. It takes a lot to get her there, but she can be feisty when provoked. After all- she knows how to wield words as a weapon- surrounded by both diplomats and scheming politicians in her youth.

-She has forsaken religion (but she secretly prays to Selune). She was technically raised a Selunite, but her father's cruelty made her skeptical. He never worshiped anything other than coin and ale. He used to joke about how they ought to worship Umberlee, when nearly half of their trade fleet never made it back to the docks. When she helps Shadowheart along with her faith- that's when she returns to Selune, quietly. She prays for Shadowheart. Not even herself.

Obligatory gallery if you made it this far:

[themculibrary]

Arranged Marriage AU Masterlist 2

part one

A Marriage Between Realms (ao3) - professnerdiness loki/sylvie E, 16k

Summary: “She and I are both the offspring of Kings. The son of Laufey and the daughter of Odin. Two children whose fathers have been mortal enemies for millennia. They stole us from each other when we were babes, and raised us far from our lands and people. And now, we’re being married in order to reunite our families and bring peace to the Nine Realms.”

Prince Loki of Asgard and Princess Sylvie of Jotunheim are wed in a marriage of convenience and political necessity. Can they find something deeper between them?

A Sylki Arranged Marriage AU

A Promise of Peace (ao3) - neonheartbeat loki/sylvie E, 107k

Summary: Sylvie Odinsdottir knows her duty as a princess: to place Asgard above her own wants and desires. But when she meets the Jotun prince she's been promised to marry since she was young, she finds her loyalties begin to shift, and trust is a luxury she may not be able to afford for long...

Arranged (ao3) - NotEvenCloseToStraight steve/tony T, 8k

Summary: Royalty AU-- Howard arranges a match between Tony and Steve, but when Tony tries to run away with Tiberius instead, Steve goes after his betrothed and brings him home. Things are difficult between the couple at first, but an impulsive kiss leads to softer moments, and finally the arranged pair find happiness together.

Come lay with me, You're safe with me (ao3) - annunziatina tony/bruce M, 48k

Summary: In exchange for a military contract that would save his family from financial ruin, Tony Stark is forced to abandon his desire for love. But the reclusive scientist to whom Tony is promised is far from the army grunt he imagined. And maybe love isn't really out of reach.

everybody wants to rule the world (ao3) - bevioletskies peter/gamora T, 109k

Summary: Peter is the one and only heir to the Celestial throne. Gamora is expected to successfully lead the Titans to conquer the galaxy. A political alliance is in the works, and there may or may not be wedding bells in the air.

Alternately: Peter and Gamora find themselves in an arranged marriage and want nothing to do with it, but might need each other more than they think if they want to escape their genocidal fathers forever.

heavy is the crown (ao3) - Anonymous steve/tony G, 17k

Summary: “Why did you pick me? As a match. Howard forced you to marry, but you had - there were other options. Many of them.”

“Maybe I wanted to help you,” Tony says. “To help - anyone, for once. Your people needed it.”

Oh, Steve thinks dully. So it wasn’t about him at all. It’s - a comfort, in some ways. In others, it’s… less so.

“And-” Tony hesitates. "Everyone said you were kind. I thought… if I had to marry, I’d prefer to marry someone kind.”

(Or, Arranged Marriage AU.)

I’m With Him Until the Death Do Us Part (But It Doesn’t Do for this Hungry Heart) (ao3) - Just AnotherMarvelGirl wanda/vision E, 4k

Summary: I really tried to come up with a better summary, but I keep going back to the basics: an arranged marriage royal AU, with cheating, smut, and murder.

In the Hall of the Mountain King (ao3) - Hippiebuckyharrington steve/thor, background bucky/tony E, 26k

Summary: Thor doesn't mind taking the throne when his father dies. He doesn't mind giving up his partying ways with his brother in order to be the responsible King Asguard deserves. What he does mind is having to marry the prince of the neighboring kingdom of Midgard. He doesn't need a spouse to run his country, and he isn't ready to settle down.

Steve really would just like love, a family maybe, and to not be stuck watching his newly married brother mooning over his new husband. And he'd rather be painting anyway, so an arranged marriage is not the worst idea. What Steve doesn't want is to be married to the strange almost barbaric King, who shows up spectacularly hungover to their wedding. Now he's alone, and scared in a place miles from anything he is used to, saddled to a King who doesn't want him.

But maybe, maybe all hope is not lost, even with the disaster their wedding turns into. Maybe, just maybe, there is something to be salvaged from the less than ideal circumstances that brought them together.

just wrong enough to make it feel right (ao3) - thelilacfield wanda/vision M, 7k

Summary: “This is Vision. He is my personal guard. And he will be yours, my lady, whenever you ask.”

She thought that coming to the kingdom would be the end of all her troubles. Marrying a king would be her happy ever after. And yet, as Vision steps forward and shyly bows to her, she can’t help thinking that troubles are only just beginning with the way her heart flutters when those blue eyes meet hers.

Marriage and Mate Chases (ao3) - NotEvenCloseToStraight steve/tony, bucky/natasha, sam/clint E, 439k

Summary: A Regency-ish AU:

Strict, stern Alpha Captain Steve Rogers is firmly in control of himself, his army, and his life and intends to marry an Omega who shares the same ideals while wild, flighty Omega!Tony loves to flaunt Howard's rules, society's expectations and has no intention of settling down.

An arranged marriage forces Alpha and Omega together, but Steve's constant disapproval and Tony's refusal to compromise leads to anger and arguments, missed heats, harsh ruts and a lack of bonding bites. Vicious rumours fly about the Omega's fidelity and the Alpha's ability to control his mate and when Steve runs away to war to distance himself from his unpredictable husband, Tony turns to new friends and illicit activities to hide his hurting heart.

Steve returns from war a changed man ready to be a good husband, dedicating every minute of every day to winning Tony's heart back, but Tony is tired of being ignored, busy with his own projects and unwilling to give the Alpha another chance.

With outside forces plotting to ruin what little happiness they have, are Steve and Tony doomed to be unbonded husbands, married but never truly mates?

marry the sunset (ao3) - becuille t'challa/m'baku E, 5k

Summary: On the night before his wedding, T’Challa is not surprised by his inability to sleep. He is plagued by thoughts of M’Baku from years ago, pushed back in his memory like a long forgotten dream.

Of Broken Dreams and Mended Hearts (ao3) - Kellyscams steve/bucky, peggy/gabe, clint/natasha, pepper/tony, bucky/rumlow M, 354k

Summary: When the House of Barnes is left in massive debt after the death of George Barnes, their oldest son and heir, Bucky, is forced to sacrifice his own hopes and dreams by entering an arranged married to Steve Rogers. Steve seems kind enough, has a prominent job in the government, and was even voted Society's Best Catch. But the House Rogers is significantly higher in status than Bucky's family, which means Bucky is marrying up in Society, and marrying up doesn't only come with rewards, it also comes with certain...expectations and losses--some of which Bucky might be willing to do anything to avoid. And those opportunities might come his way.

Unless, of course, he actually starts falling in love with his new husband...

Seasons of Time (ao3) - ABrighterDarkness, britbrit99 steve/thor T, 56k

Summary: Thor hadn’t put much thought into what marriage and bonding might look like for him. The consideration only ever went as far as acknowledging that it was something that would need to happen, that was expected of him. He certainly didn’t ask questions or press for answers he was wholly uninterested in hearing.

Someday he would be required to court potential mates that would inevitably lead to marriage and, of course, bonding. He would be expected to have a child, at least one, preferably born with an Alpha designation, who he would then be expected to raise to take his place some many, many years down the road.

Someday, the time would come where he would need to conform to the role of King that he would eventually fill and that included the aforementioned expectations.

The Norns Write Right in Crooked Lines (ao3) - Anny_Franny loki/tony T, 17k

Summary: Two princes are forced into an engagement to form a military alliance and save thousand of lives. Thor and Tony had everything to be a happy couple: they were friends, they liked to drink, they knew how to deal with their weapons. Maybe they didn’t love each other, but hey, given time, who knew? Except…

Well, except Tony kinda fell in love with his hot dickish brother-in-law.

The Robot King (ao3) - betheflame pepper/tony T, 27k

Summary: Howard Stark has been a narcissistic control freak for a long time, so no one should really be surprised he added his son’s betrothal to a business merger, even when said son is 4 at the time.

Pepper and Tony are soulmates and all is looking peachy, until a tragic car accident, a well-placed lie, and years of emotional abuse conspire to force them apart.

Can they make it back to each other? And despite Howard’s indifference, find true love?

+++++++++++++

(Of course they can. I only write happily ever afters.)

Basically, this is Lion King, which means it's Hamlet, because evidently I only write AUs now.

The Selection (ao3) - worrisomeme steve/bucky, riley/sam, peggy/angie, clint/natasha M, 20k

Summary: The Department of Spousal Selection. Anyone not married by age 25 gets a spouse assigned to them by the government. And it’s fine, really. The matches are almost always a perfect fit. Steve Rogers is a successful tattoo artist who’s about to have his world turned upside down when he’s matched with a one Bucky Barnes. As they navigate their new life together and learn to deal with each other’s baggage, will their match prove successful, or will their inner demons tear them apart?

we deserve a soft epilogue, my love (ao3) - zashizawa tony/natasha N/R, 9k

Summary: "Love. . ." She trailed off, brows furrowed, "Love isn't always enough to make someone stay, Tony."

His eyes met hers, the green shining from the weak streetlights nearby, and he wondered when that had become his favorite color.

"It can be." He argued, because he knew his parents loved each other, and that was enough for them. He didn't know why, but they did.

"But, not always." She replied pointedly, looking between him and her. He knew where she was coming from.

They'd gotten closer, he didn't know how, but he could feel her leg brush against his under the water.

They both locked eyes for a moment, and Tony found himself gravitating closer. "It can be." He murmured yet again, his fingers brushing delicately against her bare side, his eyes flickering from her eyes to her lips.

"It can be." Natasha finally agreed, looking at him just as intensely as he stared at her.

(Or, the arranged marriage au nobody asked for)

What Comes on the Stage (ao3) - buckybarnesdeservestobehappy (hutchabelle), chaosmanor steve/bucky E, 11k

Summary: Living in Wyoming Territory in the 1880s, recently widowed Bucky Barnes needs a wife—someone to help him on the farm and bear him children. When he arranges for a bride from the East Coast to join him on his homestead, he’s met with a surprise. What he doesn’t foresee is falling in love, especially when Steve Rogers isn’t at all who Bucky expects to step off the stagecoach.

wish you were the piece to get me out of the game (ao3) - disaster_energy loki/mobius T, 10k

Summary: “It is only courteous of us to propose an option as well, the peace between the realms would-”

“Propose me.”

-- Or; King Mobius is looking for a consort among the Nine Realms. Loki discreetly throws himself as tribute.