#which to be clear i won't because i also would be among the people pissed off by such an effort

[sigmaleph]

a campaign to turn 'D&D' into a genericised term for all ttrpgs would have the neat side effect of pissing off a) WotC and b) literally everyone who hates WotC

[spoiledblogif]

So you've mentioned Carter has enough of a reputation that there's a reason mc lived in a supernatural town and never experienced anything supernatural for ten years and also have compared him to John Wick and mc to John Wicks dog (in terms of how they may lose it)

Carter sounds terrifying. Kind of like a fearsome warrior who is a farmer now, and people don't know why conflicts and bandits steer clear of a ten mile radius around "that cabin"

So here's the question, how is the relevant supernatural circles reacting to Carter going John Wick mode?

Ooh someone's been taking notes! Love that.

Anyway, we're going to try to do this without spoilers:

The "fearsome warrior who is now a farmer etc" comparison is actually pretty accurate. Carter is technically a cop, but also gets treated like the village handyman by all of the old ladies and everyone thinks it's just so sweet he adopted MC. Basically the town didn't just adopt MC, it adopted Carter too.

And on one hand, Carter's softened a lot over the years and he's not what he used to be and he has the MC now and emotions and love and weakness etc etc. On the other hand, he has the MC now and that's probably actually made him even scarier because he would do some pretty heinous shit, without blinking, if it meant keeping them safe.

As for supernaturals reacting to him, most would know that Carter won't do anything to them if they haven't pissed him off. Even Carter going full mask off "I'm back" mode, might be scary, but the boogie man only comes for you if you speak his name. Those who stay out of his way don't have anything to worry about.

For others, they might make the mistake of thinking Carter's old now (the problem with being a mortal with immortal enemies) and that's made him an easier target, so he's not a threat even if he does decide to come for them. And that might be true in some ways. But being older has also made Carter a lot more ruthless to compensate. Which they will then have to find out the hard way.

<and I can't resist so spoilers below the cut>

For perspective, in chapter 6 we learn that Carter has a particularly strong reputation among the Fae, to the point that they have given him a title. And basically the whole supernatural community knows to stay the fuck out of the way of anything that scares the Fae.

[greenerteacups]

If there was one major plot element that you could change in the original canon what would it be?

The Marauders' deaths. With the exception of James, I don't think any of the Marauders die in a way that's narratively suitable — or, to be more particular, they die in a way suitable for a narrative I don't like very much. James is an acceptable (though, obviously, tragic) death to me because it completes his arc: he's an obnoxious, arrogant bully who grows into a selfless soldier on the side of the light, and lays down his life as a final gesture of abnegation. It's not Proust, but it's good, right? His death represents a symbolic triumph over Voldemort because it's something Voldemort would never do.

None of the others make the same kind of sense for their subplots. Sirius dies at the Ministry because Harry fucks up and lets his abandonment issues override his judgment, and while that's a compelling moment for Harry — whose hamartia is a trauma-forged combination of hot-headedness and desperate fear of losing people — it's not for Sirius. Sirius's problem in Book 5 is that he's emotionally stunted by his years of imprisonment and refuses to grow up, because he's clinging to the life he thinks — rightly — he should have gotten to have. This is made painfully clear in the Department of Mysteries, wherein some of his last words to Harry are "Nice one, James!" He refuses to treat Harry like the child he is, and he keeps acting like he's this fun-uncle type, blowing off rules and pissing off Mom (Molly), because that's the dynamic he should have had with Harry if Lily and James had lived. Sirius doesn't want to be Harry's guardian and role model. He wants a brother and a nephew, and he's trying to force Harry to be both, because he's all he has left of that family. His death doesn't tie any of those threads; they're left dangling. That's a valid narrative move — every death cuts a story short, and you can't give everybody an arc — but I loved Sirius. Giving Harry the "grieving loss of a parent" arc that was originally meant for Ron (Arthur was the original Big Death of the OOTP, in JKR's drafts) also means that Ron spends a lot of Book 6 without anything to do, whereas Harry goes through what's essentially a more intense version of the grieving-and-recovery arc he did after Cedric's death.

Remus, on the other hand, is just — first off, a Mess, I agree with so few of the choices made with Remus in the later books, but let's say he's deep in the trauma, the grieving, and whatever living among werewolves as a spy does for your mental health. So he gets into this will-they-won't-they with Tonks, gets married, tries to abandon pregnant wife, then goes back and gets to be with his wife and son for about half a year before dying, with said wife, in battle. Okay. So like:

I think the Remus Weirdness in Book 7 is actually an attempt to close a plot hole, which is that the Horcrux Hunt happens completely without adult supervision, despite the fact that there are lots of adults the Golden Trio could and should ask for help. Harry's insistence that he doesn't want to risk anyone's life except for Ron and Hermione's is, while understandable as a character move, utterly ridiculous, because the other Order members are risking their lives anyway. One of the biggest holes is Remus and Tonks, who are (a) both already targets for Voldemort because of who they are, and so have nothing to lose, but also (b) both care for Harry on a personal level, and would never accept his reasons for pushing them away. So Teddy Lupin is conceived in order to bench Tonks, who's safely out of commission while pregnant. But that leaves Remus, who probably in fact would have super complicated torn-loyalty feelings about the situation, and who is scarred and traumatized and probably has enough abandonment issues to try and walk out, but — in my view — never resolves any of those things. He doesn't suddenly realize that he loves Tonks and wants to be with her, or feel a sense of duty to his son; when Harry's justly furious at Remus abandoning his kid in Harry's name, Remus gets pissy about it and goes "well, if you don't want my help, fine," and leaves. Which is, again, fine, a character flaw, it's childish, he's allowed to be, and he is, in fact, similar to Sirius and James — but it left a bad taste in my mouth, because that's one of the last conversations we get with Remus, and it's such an impoverished vision of his bonds with others. It doesn't delve deeply into why he loves Tonks or Harry, or the substance of his conflict between them; like always with the Marauders, he just invokes James, and Harry throws James's name right back at him, and it ends there.

And then he dies, so that baby Teddy Lupin can be an orphan, and we can do a parallel to baby Harry Potter. Even though we don't see Teddy Lupin on the page ever, so we have no idea what that comparison means, or how their experiences compliment or contrast one another, or literally anything more substantive than the series beginning and ending on the same event. Which: great. Okay. To quote a Roger Ebert review that I think about, on average, once every thirty-six hours:

"J.K. Rowling has learned from better novels that authors sometimes create narrative parallels, but she has not learned why."

[frost-felon]

Including your tags:

No need to apologize--I suspected that you weren't trying to change my mind, but wanted to make my understanding clear. Thank you for keeping mind of your demeanor, though. I'm no stranger to dealing with people who are genuinely combative, lmao.

Oh, absolutely. In a way, Megumi being his natural vessel is perfect, because they both have a tendency to think they know better than everyone else around them; but Megumi is a kid growing into his place in the world and discovering who he is, surrounded by people that care about him (Tsumiki, Gojo, Yuji, and Nobara, among others). Sukuna, meanwhile, acts like he's a twenty-something who hasn't had his worldview shaken, and because of his power, hasn't had to do any real soul-searching/self-evaluation. For the first time in a millennia, at least, someone he can't (or won't¹) be rid of so easily is holding him accountable.

Also, as for Uraume...they definitely come off as an enabler, and while Sukuna does seem genuinely glad to have them in his life, it's unclear how much Uraume has impacted Sukuna's psyche. Going over the dialogue in 245, it looks like Uraume does genuinely believe in Sukuna's Right of the Strong ideology, though. Particularly, Uraume notes that "Sorcerers today" are different, valuing their "humanity" over strength, or at least letting their "fear of alienation" decide how they fight. This directly contrasts them against 'Sorcerers of the past', and is a small hint towards what Sukuna and Uraume may have been used to. Personally, I'd love to get more elaboration on what Jujutsu society was like back then, during the "Golden Age of Curses". Did Sorcerers of the Past fight with less restraint due to choice, or due to circumstance? Both Sukuna and Uraume may not be used to people who have either that choice, or that compassion. Certainly, Yuji pisses them both off, lmao.

I absolutely agree that Sukuna being so powerful has meant that he's never been appropriately challenged--unlike Megumi, he hasn't yet (given what we know as of 248) been forced to face the repercussions of his actions (Megumi lost his autonomy and failed to stop his sister and his legal guardian's murders because he didn't trust Yuji's perspective)...except for Yuji's continued existence, which has caused him to have foes who won't leave him alone, and especially, to start finally examining his sense of self and philosophies. It's not necessarily that he deluded himself into thinking he was right in choosing power's solitude, but that he's never given real weight to opposing viewpoints and the values of others. Still waiting to read the officially-translated version of 248, so I can't reference exact dialogue, but Sukuna notes that he'd never considered the dying words of other Sorcerers as more than fearful babbling. Until Yuji, he hasn't been forced to consider that someone may not only have ideals worth living and dying for, but also that someone he considers 'weak' could foster a reality of their ideals.

I've written about Kashimo and 238 before, and definitely, I don't think Kashimo truly believed in what Sukuna told him. I think he died dissatisfied, but having realized the source of his dissatisfaction, whereas Sukuna dismissed his dissatisfaction with a much more self-centered outlook. Sukuna seems to correctly peg that Kashimo wanted to treat others with care, but fails to really engage with why Kashimo would want that. Hell, when Kashimo asks Sukuna if he's satisfied, and why he would bother "...divid[ing] his soul and cross[ing] the ages as Cursed Objects...", Sukuna dodges the question. We know now that he sees life as time to kill before his death, which he may not even have as a Curse (except by an opponent able to kill him), but doesn't answer for that part, and instead chooses to focus on how he doesn't need to be satisfied by anyone else. Unlike Kashimo. But then, I don't think Sukuna espousing his beliefs there really has anything to do with Kashimo at all--it's another form of self-justification. In all of his fights, Sukuna seeks to belittle his opponents' beliefs and ideals, and impress upon them that His Way Is The Real Way. That's true for Yorozu, who he believes to be little more than a useful annoyance²; Gojo, whom Sukuna treated as a waste for caring for his students; Kashimo, treated like some 'poor, silly bastard' who just doesn't get that you don't need others to be happy; and so on, with Higuruma and now Yuji. Yuji unsettles him like no other, because none of Sukuna's usual bullshit makes a difference in how Yuji regards him.

Constantly, Sukuna acts as if he'll break if he doesn't re-affirm himself; whereas Yuji refuses to break, and adapts to whatever life throws at him. Yuji won't give up his 'heart'³, and will re-evaluate his beliefs when challenged, like in the interview with Principal Yaga and directly after Sukuna used him to commit mass-murder. Note how he talks about being a "cog" against Mahito and then Hakari. It's not a healthy philosophy. But what Yuji is doing is confronting the realities of what he wishes to achieve and his role in making his ideals reality. He is lessening his own self-importance and actively working with others. Sukuna is ultimately too self-absorbed and without purpose for him to consider doing this. Really, he struggles with comprehending not just the how, but the why of Yuji doing this. That's why Sukuna is so put-off when trying to figure out why he's getting so bothered by Yuji existing.

In a weird way, Mahito had a better understanding of himself than Sukuna ever has after the story's start. He knew what he wanted from Yuji, and why he was obsessed. What he didn't understand was Yuji: Yuji's steadfast nature, the people whose support Yuji has gained, and that Yuji had the will to pick himself back up, with said support. Mahito knew that he could put Yuji under enough pressure to nearly shatter, but he underestimated--or simply didn't understand--the devotion and support that Yuji receives from others could help him keep going. And to that end, Mahito failed to consider the monster he was creating.

Sukuna, too, has failed to consider that he's made his own worst enemy. Though whether that's Yuji or Sukuna himself has yet to be seen.

¹Sukuna absolutely COULD have killed Yuji earlier, but keeps pushing this off, for whatever reason. Most notably, when Uraume offers to kill Yuji after 212 (like 213 or 214). It might actually be a really bad idea for him to do so, given as their souls used to be "combined" and no one's quite sure what the ramifications are for that yet, but Sukuna hasn't given any indication that he was even thinking of that until 248. Even then, he hasn't fully thought through it. There's a real sense that Sukuna is keeping Yuji around for reasons even he isn't sure of.

²And as I've joked to my friends, got mad that she practically called him an incel. He's still bothered by her supposed misunderstanding of him, well after her death, and seeks to prove...a dead woman he didn't care about wrong? So much for Mister "I've never needed anyone to satisfy me."

³I'm specifically referencing the discussions of 'heart' that Mahito had with Junpei, and Junpei's breakdown to Yuji over how he can't accept that humans have 'heart', given how that would mean that someone with 'heart' hurt him and killed his mother.

I'm gonna be waiting for the full translation of 248 with a fake calm. Inside, there will be bite and kill energy.

Looking at the preliminary info, Sukuna straight-up admits he has no ambitions, which was all but outright-stated in 238. More than anything, this is why he's become so lame to me. How the fuck can you criticize someone else's choices for what they strive for (Yuji wanting to protect people, for instance), when you have nothing to work towards? Mans has no upward momentum, since he only cares about the present.

[nerajaana]

Rhaegar (a married man and the father two children) kidnapped Lyanna and raped her to fulfill a prophecy, not even caring about what was going to happen to his family. Robert fought a war in her name trying toget her back. What did he do, sleep with women? Rhaegar did the same and he already had a family

Are you....are you expecting me to admit both are equally worse or something???? did you not get the memo that i like neither but my hate for robert, who's character is adequately fleshed out for me to violently despise the dude in comparison to rhaegar, whom i dislike for the actions which are CANON??? Or are you expecting something else here?

Listen, i don't care about how many women rhaegar slept with (which was TWO according to the canon, btw. not the whoring type i'm afraid. sucks for you) but if the two were REALLY in love and it was absolutely mutual and consensual, i wish he had went about it in a manner that wouldn't have resulted in the deaths of Rickard and Brandon but instead, an alliance which could have resulted in a war with him having more allies than reach, dorne and crownlands. Aerys (with viserys as his heir) vs Rhaegar should have happened, but it got all messed up and that pisses me off the most.

Also, the rhaegar/lyanna business isn't clear cut enough. was it consensual, did it start off consensual but later got complicated, or was it outright kidnap?? We won't know until the books come out, or that play- whichever comes first.

What i DO care about is how he went about it.....the crowning of lyanna in front of all the lords of the continent indirectly lowering the political power of his wife- which, given how the feudal society works, depends on her husband's regard for her. Which over time, could've been restored. but at that moment, it was an insult to her in front of the people. Next, the elopement. She was still in Crownlands while he took off to Dorne, his wife's homeland. How the personal dynamics were between them, we don't know. I doubt we'll ever know. It's all speculation and headcanons and fanfics nonnie.

Which is why I don't have anything against rhaegar stans/rhaelya stans. Now, had their attitude towards the critics been deplorable, (i didn't have to start shipping r/l btw to be friends with them) I wouldn't be interacting with them. They're a hell lot more accepting than the "we're the only ones right here, if you don't agree with us you're cancelled. Also #RadFeminism #PseudoActivism" crowd. As long as you have the basic decency and decorum to accept the opposing views of obscure af aspects like the issues among these three (because let's be fucking real here, we don't have the entire picture yet) and, idk, focus on the shared love for the main characters, who, y'know, are the ones actually driving the plot and who's heads we're very much acquainted with? over five whole books??? it's pretty easy to bond with people with whom you don't agree with on everything i would have had exactly four people to talk with if i had to avoid everyone i don't agree with on everything jfc

And now, let's talk about the actual, canonically proven rapist in the discussion, Robert Baratheon(derogatory). I'm assuming you didn't finish reading the books because i doubt anyone with a working braincell who's read the very extensive Cersei Lannister povs would woobify that motherfucking dumbfuck criminal but, my guy, he IS a rapist, an abusive piece of shit who beats his wife, and doesn't care for jack unless he can eat it, drink it, or fuck it, and also Jon Arryn and Ned Stark. That's all. He may have been a dear friend of Ned, but that means jackshit when he's, well, the way he is. He's disgusting, period. He deserved getting killed by that boar, period. I only wish Cersei had a son with him (because, politics and political stability, wars ain't good for the commonfolk) and had him die years before. A betrothal with Margaery to secure the realm further. and dany & viserys being brought back to the country by the very honourable ned stark and dubiously honourable Jon A and betrothing her to robb because pact of ice and fire babey ohmygod i've gone off topic i'll shut my trap also send viserys to the Watch to secure the line honestly those motherfuckers could have done many things to secure their rule without having to kill children that's on their fucking heads where's your rage for them all nonnie?

Also, newsflash. The fucking war happened because Aerys illegally murdered the Lord of Winterfell, the Warden of North and his heir very brutally in front of the Court. He killed off many heirs illegally. The motherfucker broke all sorts of laws that exist between the monarch and his feudal lords. On top of it all, he demanded the heads of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon from Jon Arryn. That was the final fucking straw. Bitch was in the middle of the rebellion because his life would be forfeit otherwise. He could dress it up in whichever fucking way he wants to years after the events but that's the gist of it. The war would've broken out either way, that's the reality of unstable regimes with piss poor monarchs as the heads. The speculations and conjectures that you've employed to confirm that Rhaegar's a rapist could've been applied to understand the political scenario of it all, it's not rocket science.

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Unexpected Places (Pt. 02 of 11)

Pairing: Ivar the Boneless X Reader/Bjorn X Reader

Word count: 3 K

Summary: As a princess, you've lived in a golden cage all your life, always a piece on someone else's game. But everything changed when the Norsemen came crushing down on Wessex, like waves in a violent storm. Their king spared your life and decided to take you with him to his kingdom, in what felt more like a rescue than a kidnapping. There, you were not only confronted with a completely different culture and lifestyle, but also with two of his sons. The oldest one has his eyes set on you, but it's the youngest one, Ivar, who gets who claimed your attention since the first sight. And he seems to have an unnamed interest in you. Of course you hoped whatever that was would pass, but when unexpected feelings start to flow a different way, things begin to change.

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{Vikings Masterlist}

×

A Christian Among Vikings

It takes two days to share your entire life with the Queen of Kattegat, but she did seem interested after you started. Mostly on the parts where you give voice to everything you couldn't stand. The lies and hypocrisy. That, Aslaug loves, and you have no trouble telling her that. It feels good to say all these things without the fear of being caught.

So, since today you'll finally go to the feast they're still having for the third night on a roll to celebrate this year's raid, you relax in the tub, the warm water slowly getting colder, a sign that you'll have to leave soon.

You're stretching your legs, watching the water drops rolling from your ankle to your knee, before falling back into the water. “Aslaug, where's the–” The voice makes you turn your head at the door, pulling your legs down to the safety of the water. Ragnar stands there, wide eyes and mouth half-open. “I thought this was my wife.”

“Well, it isn't so go away.” Thanks to the distance, you know he can't see anything, but even so, it makes you uncomfortable.

“I live here, do you know that?” He snaps back and you roll your eyes.

“I don't care. I'm not your wife so get out.”

“This is my–”

“Get out!” You raise your voice, throwing water at him. “Or I'll scream for help.” You're not scared of Ragnar, and you don't think he'll try anything. But you know him enough to know he's a teaser, and he loves putting people in uncomfortable positions.

He raises an eyebrow, shrugging his shoulders. “Then do it.”

Squinting your eyes, you move closer to the edge, making sure he won't be able to see anything. “Help!” You shout, trying not to laugh. The situation is quite funny, and, if he wanted to try anything, he'd already moved. So you decide to play along. “Somebody help me!” When you hear footsteps, you smirk victoriously. But, when another man comes in, the smile fades, and out of instinct, you cross your arms over your chest.

“What's going on here?” The guy asks, confused as hell, furrowing his eyebrows at you and then at Ragnar.

“Princess, this is Hvitserk, my son, who so bravely came to your rescue.” Ragnar starts, pacing around to the other edge of the room. “Hvitserk, this is (Y/N). Aslaug has been keeping her in here I have no idea why.” He sounds a little pissed, but you don't mind him in the back, your eyes focused on his son.

“Hi.”

“Would the two of you just leave?” Now you're annoyed, running a hand through your soaked hair. Relieve washes over you when Aslaug comes through the door, her eyes quickly finding her husband.

“What's going on here?” She mutters, and through the corner of your eye, you see Ragnar already moving.

“Just came to take this.” He answers, showing her something you can't see, right before leaving, grabbing his son's arm and pulling him along.

“Your husband is a complete idiot.” You say, relaxing once again.

“I noticed.” She gestures at the dress she brought you, laying on a chair. “Get dressed. I'll do your hair like a Viking woman and you'll join the feast tonight.”

Doing as she says, you put on the dress, which is different from everything you ever wore. The fabric is strong, yet beautiful, in a wonderful shade of blue with golden details that look like flowers. Aslaug braids your hair, way too patiently, and when she's done, you do look like a Viking. She even teaches you how to paint your eyes, and you wonder why she changed so much in these two days. As you wait for her to get ready, with the aid of her slaves, you decide to ask.

“Why are you being so nice to me now?” Playing with the tip of one of the many braids, you rest your back against the chair you're seated on. “When I got here I thought I'd end up living with that Lagertha.”

“Because it's more than rare to find a Christian I don't find stupid.” Dismissing the girls, she stands up. You're not entirely sure that was a compliment, but you decide to take it. “And I have the feeling, mostly after everything you told me, that this was most of a rescue than a kidnapping.”

She has a point. “It certainly does.”

“Now, come. Today I want to introduce you to the town.”

“Introduce me?” Following her, you wonder what that's about.

Aslaug doesn't answer, and it doesn't take much until you start hearing the feast. How long do these things last? Is the third day and it doesn't seem like anyone is tired. The moment the Queen enters, some heads turns, and, as she stands right before her chair, a silence starts to fall. You stat in the back, waiting to see what's going on when she gestures for you to come. Taking a deep breath, you move to stand next to her.

Many eyes lie on you. Probably all of them. You can identify hate, curiosity, disgust, indifference... And other things you can't quite place. At least you look like one of them... It must be of some help.

“People of Kattegat, this is Princess (Y/N), daughter of King Ecbert of Wessex,” Aslaug speaks, loud and clear. “She was brought here by my husband, and now will live among us.” That gets some people talking. They're not particularly excited about a Christian among them... You can't blame them. Your people kill them, and they kill your people back. They're like natural enemies. “I'm aware of the fact that you have no affection for her kind, and neither do I. So that's why she will tell you what she told me.”

A breath gets caught on your throat, and for a moment you feel like you're back home, forced to admit your sins, even though you haven't committed any. You've been in situations like this, but now, it's different. You can speak. You can let out the very thoughts that once had you imprisoned, confined to your chambers for days no end. Maybe they'll understand, unlike people in Wessex. Aslaug did. “Tell what?” You ask because you did speak great too many things with her. You have no idea where to begin.

“Tell them about your relationship with your faith.” She seems so secure, unbothered by how some men and women look so angry at this whole thing.

Taking a deep breath, you look ahead, eyes scanning through the room for any kind face... But it takes a long time until you find that Ragnar son who went to your rescue, Hvitserk. He doesn't look like he hates you, so you focus on him. “I have no love for the Catholic faith.” You start, stepping forward. “Since I was little, they've been telling me you worship false gods, made of stone, wood, iron, and silver. But they do the same.” Hvitserk furrows his eyebrows as if asking something. “My father himself spent hours repeating prayers for a cross made of gold. They accuse you of doing the same things they do.” If your older brother heard this, you'd be whipped, probably. “They're all hypocrites, punishing and condemning people for the same sins they commit, over and over again, and that I could never accept.” Chuckling, you move your eyes from Hvitserk, noticing how some angry faces are now... Inquisitive. “I was told you're all murderers, but so are they. So what if you come home covered by the blood of your enemies? Isn't that what a battle is? If it was me on the battlefield, I'd rather kill a hundred men than die by their hands.” The hall erupts on yells and shouts, hands being raised. It takes you by surprise, and for a moment, you're scared they heard enough, and decided to end your life right here and now. But the yells are from... Praising, approval. “And, as Ragnar Lothbrok as my witness, I'd rather face death than go back into the life I had there. If I can even call that a life.”

“That's true.” Bjorn raises his voice, coming from behind some men. “The moment she learned her father was dead, he stood before my father, ready to face her fate. I've never seen a Christian girl do that.”

“Don't forget about how she stood in the pouring rain with that idiot over there,” Ragnar says, pointing out his hand at Floki, who's standing on a chair or something, at the very back, watching the commotion.

Floki giggles, tilting his head at Ragnar. “Even though she can't swim. And don't get me wrong, I'd still rather she fell off to the mighty waves than have her here with us.”

“Don't say that Floki,” Aslaug warns, moving to sit on her chair. “I plan to make a Viking out of (Y/N) since she's more than eager to leave behind everything she once knew.”

“No doubt.” You mutter, wondering if this is it, if you can go sit down somewhere.

“What about that man, Edward?” Bjorn asks, coming to stand before you. He's so damn tall. You don't think you ever met a man this tall before. “You said something about a marriage.”

“Oh, that.” Rolling your eyes, you shrug your shoulders. “My father would have me dragged down the aisle in chains if it was necessary since the political implications of the union were... Delicate. But you guys decided to show up and ruin his plans. Thankfully.”

“Was he that bad?”

“The most disgusting man I've ever met in my life, so, as the Queen said herself a few moments earlier...” Turning at the people once again, you sigh. You don't expect to be accepted by everyone here, you just hope they won't hate you. Not so much, at least. “This was more like a rescue than a kidnapping.”

“Well, now that you know our new resident, I must make something very clear,” Aslaug speaks up, her voice rising above everyone else's. “(Y/N) is a free woman.” She takes a cup from the small table set next to her chair, spinning it in her hand, not bothering to look up from it. “Whoever touches her loses the balls, the hands, and the tongue... As a start.”

You giggle, thinking she's joking, but by the way, the silence persists for quite a long time, you understand that was no joke. And that's very good. That will surely keep them away from you.

“Well, let's celebrate!” Ragnar shouts, and everyone sets in motion again.

You're not sure where to go, so you find a table that's half-empty to sit down, taking a cup and filling it. Being isolated for two days with Aslaug didn't really help you being sociable, and it does feel like you're from two different worlds now. Because that's the truth, even though you're dressed like them. There's an invisible barrier keeping everyone distant, and not only for what Aslaug just said.

“Hey there.” Someone says as they settle down by your side. Hvitserk glances at you, kindly smiling. “Sorry about earlier. Heard a girl screaming, thought something bad was happening.”

“Well, something bad was happening. Your father was annoying me to death.” Taking a few sips from your drink, your eyes find that man again, Ivar. He's seated on Ragnar's chair, chatting with his mother. As if being called, he stares straight at you, suddenly angry.

“I see you already met my little brother,” Hvitserk mutters, and only then do you notice he had followed your gaze.

Clearing your throat, you look away. “Not really. But by the looks of it, he hates me.”

“I wouldn't say he hates you. Ivar is just... Not really fond of the idea of–”

“Of a Christian girl among us.” The voice comes from the head of the table, and when you raise your eyes, you see the man himself. But this time, you don't let his eyes pull you. Somehow, you manage to distract yourself. “You know you're only here because my mother wants to turn you into a Viking.”

“I'm not interested in being anything else than myself.” Drinking what is left on your cup, you sigh. “Haven't had the chance since I was born.”

“Do you really expect anyone here to believe you didn't like being a princess?” His tone is mocking you, a fake pity expression on his face.

“Being a princess in England might be fun if you just do as everyone says, no questions asked.” For some reason, you're pissed. Ivar pushed some button that got you suddenly annoyed, so you stand up, bending over the table to get the jar and refill your cup. But before you can reach it, Ivar takes the thing, drinking straight from it, some of the liquid dripping on his chin. Sighing, you squint your eyes at him, a humorless laugh escaping your lips.

“Here.” The voice gets your attention, and when you turn at him, you see Bjorn filling your cup again. “This one's better anyway.”

“Thanks.” Sitting back down, you give Ivar one last glance before taking long sips.

“Are you going to live here?” Bjorn asks. “Or are you going to live with my mother after all?”

“I'm staying.” Nodding, you look at him. His mother is the most famous shieldmaiden in the world, a skillful fighter. Also Ragnar's ex-wife, reason why Aslaug can't stand her. “The Queen already helped me settle on my chambers.”

“That's good.” He smiles, and a man pushes his shoulder quite violently. Bjorn turns to face him, cursing, but soon enough bursting into laughter.

Ignoring the two men, you look down at your cup, now almost empty again. Music starts playing suddenly, and it doesn't take much for people to start dancing. It gets louder as the minutes go by, and Ragnar and Floki stand on your table, moving around and laughing, kicking everything out. Your eyes follow the whole commotion, standing up and stepping away from the table when they get a little too close. But you don't mind. You've never seen people acting so... Crazy. So happy. And you can't stop smiling, seeing as other people join them.

“I bet you never saw anything like that,” Hvitserk says, raising his voice a little to make himself heard. “I know how boring the feats are in England.”

“This is so much better.” Ragnar jumps to the ground, but one of his legs get caught in between the bench and the table, making him fall. But on the next second, he's up again, a smile on his lips. “My brother would have a heart attack if he ever saw this.”

“Aethelwulf?”

“Yeah.” Someone bumps on your back, making you almost fall. But Hvitserk holds you up, and he seems quite confused to find you laughing. “What? It's alright, I like it. At least this chaos is real, people aren't faking it.” As your eyes move through the hall, you find Ragnar, behind this weird curtain made of leather. You didn't even know he left. “What's that weirdo doing over there?”

“He's observing.” Hvitserk answers, leaning closer and lowering his voice. “From back there, he can see who's sleeping with who. Who's not sleeping with who anymore, who may be plotting something to put him in a dangerous position.”

“Smart guy.” Nodding to yourself, your attention is stolen by the crowd, that starts moving outside, shouting something you can't really understand. “What's going on?”

“Someone's gonna fight. Come watch.” Hvitserk helps you walk among the people, all the way to the beach. Torches came out of nowhere, illuminating the night. Everyone seems oddly happy for this to be about a fight, but Hvitserck wasn't wrong. On the sand, the two men pace around each other, shouting, cursing.

“What's this about?” It happened out of nowhere, and you're not sure how serious this is. The warriors are clearly pissed at each other, but the public is cheerful. This is when you feel how new and different this culture is. Something like this would never happen back at Wessex, and it will take a while for you to get used and understand how things work here. It's a shock, a sudden impact.

“They're both in love with the same woman. She claims she loves both, but they won't share.” Hvitserk explains, as someone passes him a torch, which he holds up high. “The one who survives gets to be with her.”

“Damn.” You mutter as the two men start attacking each other. You've never seen an actual fight. Girls aren't allowed on the battlefield, mostly not a princess. The only glimpses you had were from soldiers training, and it was nothing compared to this. This is violent, powerful, and you can't help but be impressed by their skills. Of course they're good. They're Vikings, a freaking force of nature, they had told you back in England. It's impressive how they keep getting back up, even after so many wounds. Cuts, punches, everything.

A particular loud shout coming from the crowd gets your attention. It's Ivar, seated on the sand, eyes shining and a bright smile on his lips. He's enjoying this. Everyone is, actually. And once again, as if you called his name out loud, he turns to look at you. And somehow you know exactly what he's looking for. Fear, desperation. He wants to see if you're scared.

But... You're not.

Every single person here is joyfully yelling, and those two men choose their fates. They're not being forced to it, it was their decision, as it was yours to stand up, neck exposed, ready for the ax Ragnar was holding. They're choosing to face death, fearlessly.

Then, your eyes aren't on Ivar anymore, but following the men's every move. It doesn't take much for you to gasp and yelp when one or the other successes to throw a blow. You feel like a savage, laughing at the thought of what your father and brother would say if they saw you now.

When the tallest man, with long dark hair, falls dead, the crowd goes insane. The victorious raises both his hands, still holding an ax. A woman comes from the crowd, hugging and kissing him. “That's insane.” You chuckle, running a hand through your braided hair. “Teach me.” The request comes out suddenly, and you don't even give it much thought.

“Are you sure about it?” He asks, looking down at you. Hvitserk is being nice to you, and that's a surprise.

“I mean, I could never be a shieldmaiden but... I'd like to know how to defend myself.”

“Well, I've got nothing to do tomorrow, so I guess we could start.”

Furrowing your eyebrows, you smile. “Thanks. You're the quickest and... Probably the most real friend I've ever made.”

“Yeah, you'll need someone to help you out around here until you get the hang of things. Ragnar gave me this task.”

“Oh...” Looking down, you start walking back to the hall, following Hvitserk's pace. Maybe it was a little stupid to expect him to be so nice to you. “You don't have to. I will get used to things on my own.”

“I didn't mean it like that.” He quickly responds, leaving the torch on some post along the way. “You're pretty cool, actually. For a Christian. You've been a good friend so far.” He gives you a glance and a smirk. “And I don't have to obey my father, you know.”

Blushing a little, you giggle. “Thanks again, then.”

“Now, get a good night sleep and get ready for tomorrow, I mean...” Hvitserk takes a look over his shoulder, a little too dramatic for your taste. “If my older brother doesn't mind it.”

“What do you mean?” Following his gaze, you find Bjorn staring. He doesn't seem angry, but he's not happy either.

“I think Bjorn likes you.”

“And? If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have watched the fight.” Shrugging your shoulders, you stop at the entrance of the hall, waiting as the crowd moves inside. “You've done more for me than he did tonight.”

“So you enjoyed the fight?”

“I have no idea why, or how, but I did.” Nodding, you smile again. “Now, friend, let's drink some more, and maybe I'll consider dancing.” Gesturing at the hall, you both walk in.

The warmth is welcome, and you soon find your way back to the table. But, as you sit down, you see Ivar again, crawling. He moves fast, talking to a man. As he moves past your table, he gives you a stare. It's different from before, but you can't read it. His eyes, like magnets, attract you in a way you didn't even know was possible. You think about waving, or smiling, but then he looks away and disappears inside the house.

“Don't mind Ivar,” Hvitserk says, and you look down at your cup. “He'll get used to your presence.”

“Let's hope he will.”

×

@multific @revolution-starter @crackhead1-800 @youbloodymadgenius @clown-boyyy @kitten0394 @castielsangelx-blog @goldlion07 @midnightmystic @readsalot73 @xvxcarolinexvx @momowhoo @fangfoxy @msrawog @walkingonshunshine @alytavzla

[kannra21]

Monoma loving hours and I'm actually very tired by now

*I know many of you have already discussed similar things so I decided to add my own opinion as well. Hope you enjoy!*

Still announcing my general disappointed with ch215. Whatever, I'm glad to know Monoma's Quirk better and that the clocks he's working with are more than just some accessories on his belt.

I think they're really cool and help him overcome his small disadvantages a whole lots *well, not in the circumstances he was currently in but I'd like to see him more in action and actually using them*.

So basically he snaches them from his belt. Destroys them and-

Voilà, the Quirk is out.🎊

5min limit doesn't mean anything to him if he can use 4 different Quirks in 20min. However, he needs to use them very wisely because every Quirk doesn't work the same way and they also have to be suitable for the problem he's facing at that moment. That's where his ability to adapt and manage new situations comes in.

I don't want to exaggerate or anything but I think in terms of intelligence, he comes right after Yaoyoroz because damn, you need to have a top-notch brain for such tricky things.

Too sad that strength plays the leading role in their hero world. If you have power, it doesn't matter how or why you're doing the things you do. As long as you can destroy everything that comes in your way, there's nothing that can stop you from getting what you want which sounds... kinda villainous in a way, don't you think?

Shigaraki is right. The main difference between a hero and a villain is that heroes are fighting for the good and villains for the evil. But the main question remains- are the heroes really good and are the villains really evil? First of all, heroes and villains both came from the same type of society- people, normal civilians.

Becoming a hero or a villain is a choice, not a lifestyle. Heroes are there to protect people and villains are there to harm them. Why? Heroes want to make them feel happy and safe while villains want the opposite. What's the matter with the villains? This-

People are constantly judging and not thinking about the consequences they're causing to others. They always ended up comparing themselves to those who are much more superior and successful, making them building a sense of insecurity and fear.

They were forced to push themselves beyond their limits in order to prove themselves and show how far they can possibly go. They had to let them know that their criticism didn't reach them as they were facing their challenges with anticipation.

They could easily turn villainous but no, they choose to protect those same judging idiots who repeatedly let them down/hurt them/accused them/ignored their efforts, all for the sake of becoming their better selves. By choosing the right path, they already confirmed how strong and capable they are and they'll make exceptional heroes one day. In conclusion, there is no way Monoma will become a villain because he already reached this far and gained other's trust. He made friends who are looking after him. He's already a part of something big which he can't abandon this easily.

BTW

This is the ultimate proof that Monoma isn't entirely obsessed with class a as many think he is. He's simply mad at anyone who's trying to show off class b by stealing their spotlight. His class is the best, try to prove him wrong and he won't give you any piece of mind.

He's so dedicated to his rambling that he doesn't mind Kirishima's friendly exchange with Tetsutetsu in the background. It's clear that the hatred he feels is directed towards Bakugou for obvious reasons. While Monoma is the group's person, Bakugou does everything on his own and hates when someone interfers with his business to the point where he becomes arrogant and rude. I can't recall Monoma being any of it because he only uses people's failures as an example to make them feel bad about themselves and we all know that the truth hurts the most.

I'm not defending him or anything, what he does is certainly not nice, but I want to say that his way of expressing bitterness is much more effective than Bakugou's because he makes sense at some point. Bakugou just acts like a thug.

And while he certainly does behave like an absolute madman, I'll still love Bakugou and Monoma equally because there's that one thing Monoma doesn't really understand about Bakugou's personality and that's his undying wish of becoming no.1 world's greatest hero. It's his ambition from an young age which pushed him further into accomplishing his goals. Yes it sounds selfish and yes it seems like he doesn't give a damn about others, but that's his lifelong dream which he can't give up to a friend just for the sake of being nice to each other.

From the flashbacks of the kindergarten we could see how many expectations and how much pressure people were putting on him because of his talent. His mom accused him of being weak and causing trouble for the entire U. A. when in fact, the school was guilty of his kidnapping and took responsibility for it's mistakes. He was raised to solve his problems through violence, he doesn't know for any other way. So it's not arrogance, he's just ambitious but shows it in a rearher inappropriate manner.

Monoma doesn't like that and I can understand why. Unlike Bakugou, Monoma is an underdog. No one ever cheered for him or supported his goals. When he saw Bakugou and his indifference or rather ignorance towards his audience, he thought he was acting ungrateful and that pissed him off. Especially because Monoma is the most grateful out of all the characters.

He wants to be recognized among the crowd and accepted by his peers by means of finding a place where he truly belongs, something he couldn't achieve when he was little. Bakugou doesn't yearn for fame or money. He wants to prove himself and push his limits because winning is what heroes do. Their life goals are different but their ways of dealing with things are surprisingly similar. They're throwing shade wherever they go and they're incredibly noisy, with Bakugou spreading insults and Monoma mocking every living soul but that's the way they are and people grew accustomed to it.

I mean look at this-

Similarities:

blond

smart

rude

sad

sarcastic

uncomfortable

embarrassed

In conclusion:

They share the same level of bitterness + their friends(Tetsu and Kiri) are also very good friends which indicates their similar tastes in people they appreciate.

Also something from Noragami:

"YOU HATE THOSE THE MOST LIKE YOURSELF"

Tbh if bnha was all about class 1b, Monoma would be, in fact, favorable because everyone would have a bad impression of class 1a for being rude and arrogant thanks to Bakugo since we'd only see 1b's side of the story. And although everyone made friends with each other and now are staying on good terms, they're still having this sort of rivalry between them which is completely normal considering the fact that 1a still precedes in particular aspects.

Despite this friendship, Monoma does not believe them in a slightest. He looks at their relationship in a way that class 1a uses their friendship to distract them from trying to be better than them. If you are in good relations with someone, it is natural that you will go easy on them because of the empathy we feel towards others. He thinks they're playing them in order to get what they want. It affects their reputation as a hero and class 1a represents their concurrency so it isn't all about some friendship between kids, it's their future and their careers that get affected as well.

But then again, Monoma isn't fighting for his own selfish purposes, he's doing it for his class. He loves his class from the bottom of his heart and he wants them to succeed, that's why he's so annoying. Class 1a represents their concurrency, they're taking away their spotlight. They're limiting their chances of becoming pro heroes while class 1b is so much better than them and that's what actually bugs Monoma.

They’ve worked just as hard as class 1a, they’ve overcome all the same scholastic obstacles and yet it’s always 1a on the news, 1a in the papers, 1a surviving yet another dramatic and utterly glamorous supervillain encounter. See, 1a gets all the luck.

If he was selfish, narcissistic and egoistic, he'd constantly complain about deserving his place among the best in class 1a but no, he's proud to be with his friends because b class is all about solidarity and teamwork. His class loves him and he's getting along with everyone just fine. His cooperation stats are 4/5, he's a very friendly person.

His intelligence and tactics stats are 5/5, he's a smart person and he obviously doesn't do shit without a reason. His power and speed stats are 1/5, he's weak and very insecure in himself. Naturally he would develop a inferiority complex to protect himself but at the same time trash talks himself to talk up his class which I find very funny and kinda sympathetic in a way.

I bet everyone's just seeing this annoying side of him but there's so much more to his character and Kendou understands that all too well. That's why they're never arguing or fighting for their own beliefs because she knows how much he's hurting. And it's not just him, most of his classmates are also having a sort of rivalry with class 1a but they're being less obvious about it.

Seing this side of him made me start to really like him. He's a sad character with a great desire to belong somewhere and that's probably the reason why I can't possibly hate him. That's just my opinion but I hope others can relate as well. ❤️❤️❤️

[monsata]

First thing i saw on it.

"Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Days after Illinois passed a law banning assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines, dozens of county sheriffs say they won't enforce the measure, claiming it is unconstitutional.

DuPage County and its 920,000 residents is the largest so far to defy the law.

Lawmakers passed the "Protect Illinois Communities Act," on Jan. 6, banning the sale, manufacture, delivery and purchase of assault weapons across the entire state.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law Tuesday night, which also prohibits most individuals under age 21 from buying any type of firearm in the state.

"No Illinoisan should have to go through life fearing their loved one could be next in an ever-growing list of mass shooting victims," Pritzker tweeted, after signing the bill.

The legislation became effective immediately, although to what level individual counties enforce the rules remains to be seen.

Opponents argue the law violates the 2nd Amendment's right to bear arms.

"I, among many others, believe HB 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution," LaSalle County Sheriff Adam Diss wrote in an open letter, posted on the Illinois Sheriffs' Association Facebook page.

"Therefore, as the Custodian of the Jail and Chief Law Enforcement Official for LaSalle County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law-abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance with this Act," he wrote.

Several other sheriffs have posted similar letters on the page, which were crafted by the association. At least 74 different sheriff's departments say they will not enforce the new legislation.

Local law enforcement agencies do not have the power to determine constitutionality, supporters of the law counter.

"Their job is to enforce the law, it's not to interpret the Constitution. We leave that up to the courts," Ed Yohnka of the American Civil Liberties Union told WEEK-TV in Peoria. Ill.

___________

So basically the governor said "nobody under 21 should have a weapon at all, and assault weapons are illegal, so go round 'em up and get 'em out of the hands of people."

And the police said "uhh, no. We *like* the masses to have the ability to kill dozens of people in seconds. We *want* them to be able to do that. Because the people that *would* do that kinda shit also have a serious hard-on for those blue line stickers and if we piss them off, they'll kill us, and we really only like subjugating and terrorizing people who can't shoot back."