#who does he relate to? who does he feel kinship with? who does he turn to for guidance or reassurance?

[malaierba]

I really feel like one of the main tragedies in Toshiro's character is that there's allll these hints, blink-and-you-miss-them little things, that point at how he was encouraged to change from the person he would've been if allowed to develop with more freedom, and that at one point it became something he was ACTIVELY forcing himself to do,

That he's always self-monitoring and controlling his behaviour, trying so hard to fit into this idea, this "proper way for him to be", and all for a place where he barely belongs.

[rubywingsracing]

It is with great honor that I present OUR Winner of the 2024 Hungarian GP…..

the man, the myth the legend:

Oscar Jack Piastri!

This is by far my favorite piece I’ve done so far and I’m so so so proud of the way it’s turned out, I put so many hours of pain and pure focus into this one to get it done by tonight.

I feel a kinship to Oscar as an oldest sibling and the way it feels to have something you’re passionate about that is uniquely your own that you can’t be compared to your siblings in(either by yourself or others). I also relate to his clear drive and passion for what he does, the way he puts his head down and gets shit done, he works hard and he doesn’t always get the recognition for it, which made me so incredibly sad on Sunday to see that first victory celebration podium, moment of pure wonder and revelation overshadowed by McLaren’s inability to manage a racing strategy at a professional level. But I think we’ve talked enough abt that what we should be talking more about is what an incredibly skilled and remarkable man this 23 year kid is growing into. Truly cannot wait to see both what the rest of the season and his career have in store for him! Congrats Osc! Never stop being your sarcastic, bashful, kind and humble self!

💀Not me writing a pseudo love letter to a man who doesn’t know I exist💀

Pls do not repost or use this work without my explicit permission thanks!

Tags: @formulanni

[ryuichirou]

Which twst characters do you and katsu relate to the most or which match your personalities the most?

Oh Anon, you have no idea how excited I am about your ask… Because I already had the pleasure of agonising over this question a year ago, but Katsu didn’t! Now it’s Katsu’s turn to be uncomfortable and vulnerable! So I am as pumped to read this post as you are to be honest lol

I’ll still give you a TL;DR about my situation first though, in case you don’t want to read my old post: I relate to a lot of characters in for a lot of reasons (I think all of us do), and I definitely named a lot of boys lol But those who I have the most kinship with are probably Kalim, Rook, Ortho, Sebek, Azul, Lilia. I mentioned a couple of other guys in my old post, but they either have one specific trait that I find very relatable, or wishful thinking lol

If I had to pick three that I feel second-hand embarrassment from because of recognising some of my traits in their bullshit, I’d say it’s Kalim, Azul and Sebek. What a combination, I know. But my reasoning from the linked post is still the same….

But also! You know what? There is one addition to the list I’d like to make. I think it’s time to admit that I also want to strangle Trey from time to time because of how similar his attitude feels. I don’t think that I  as much of a people-pleaser as I used to be when I was a teen, but there are still moments when I catch myself thinking “I don’t even want to bother with that, it’s easier to give them a non-answer and keep my actual opinion to myself”. This + a bunch of other corny and stupid shit argGghhhh wait do I hate Trey Clover? 🤔🤔🤔🤔

Alright, I’m done lol Thank you for your question! Now for the Katsu’s part:

Katsu:

I’m about to make this post 100 times more awkward with my list lol There’s practically no difference in both of your description, so I’ll treat them interchangeably, Anon, as you probably intended.

I asked for Ryu’s assistance for these explanations because my mind went blank when I sat down to write them.

Also, I’m sorry I wrote so much 😱 I wanted to explain everyone to some extent and it seems I can’t shut up... I’m also very sorry if I sound very entitled. It’s surprisingly hard to write something like this, and I end up sounding like I’m constantly sucking my own dick with “look at how cool I am”. This is very embarrassing, please don’t read this post.

I’m a very generic bitch, so my most relatable/similar character is Idia, like he is for a lot of other people. He has it all: our takes on a lot of things is similar, including the nasty ones; apparently, we’re both good at reading other people’s character; he’s very cynical and has a negative outlook on life; the way we view certain things; our priority for quality time and spending it with those we care about; all the teasing and rude things that he does I actually do as well; our... ehh independence of our views?? idk how to say this better, just coming to conclusions on our own instead of taking the most popular option; Ryu thinks I’m smart (I’m not, and I’m especially not a tech genius and I’m actually bad at playing videogames), but I’d rather name it swings between “I’m a genius” and “I’m shit”, this constant desire to be as objective as possible even when referring to yourself while acknowledging subjective opinions when they’re unavoidable; our relationship with people is terrible in a similar way; the way he puts others down and then himself as well is sometimes word for word what I’ve said to Ryu for all those years we’ve known each other, so self-criticism; our love for art and anime in particular, though I don’t watch or read much anymore; his social... everything, his fear of interactions, his confidence in other people judging him all the time and thinking he’s cringe; his attempts to disappear and go unnoticed; the fact he gives up before even trying a lot of times. I can go on and on... It’s easier to tell where we’re different – I’m not that bold online, I just silently lurk; my internet slang is lackluster at best; I don’t play games that much and I’m not a huge fan of multiplayer games... which might seem nitpicky, but I consider it to be an important part of his personality. I feel like I’ve just tried to describe Idia instead of explaining anything lol Sorry

Jamil is also very relatable, he’s pretty similar to Idia personality wise (at least some of the qualities I mentioned), so I won’t repeat myself in terms of his personality. He’s also tired from everyone’s bullshit. Jamil’s desire for travelling and his love for calm times where everything around is quiet should be mentioned. He has to babysit Kalim, and sometimes I have to do something similar – nobody asks me to, but all this micromanagement that he does for Kalim like organising perfect conditions for him, making sure that everything’s right and being prepared to unpredictable events, although I’m not as consistent as Jamil in this regard. I’m the one to buy tickets, book places, come up with routes, make sure nothing’s forgotten, figure out at what time happens what, where to buy this and that thing, how to get to some place, and other things like that. It’s not like Ryu can’t do this stuff (except for getting somewhere, this bitch has no sense for directions), I just don’t allow it a lot of times lol We don’t want accidents. Ryu also sometimes gets praised for things that I do, that can be super annoying, that’s why I hate it when Ryu tries to brag about me.

Vil... gets a similar reaction from me as he does from Epel. I’d hate to know him irl, although a lot of points he makes are actually very true. He holds himself and others to a very high standard which is what I also do, but we do it in different areas. We both workout, although I’m nowhere near his routine or his diet, of course, but the discipline aspect of it is important. The most similar thing is our passion for True Art, the way we view it, the way we approach it, and the way we understand how audience works. Our love for cinema, I watch a lot of movies, but I’m not a nerd when it comes to them. I’m not a film bro- oh wait I actually am. The more you know. Also, all the movies Ryu watches usually come from me.

Ace – the entire first book, from the moment he got a cauldron dropped on him (before that I wanted to punch him). He’s somewhat chill, he doesn’t like anyone’s bs and he hates rules that don’t make sense. He’s relaxed to a certain degree (sometimes too much lol), and the things he appreciate in relationships (both friendly and romantic) are the same for me. Our love for fun stuff, to a certain degree for me though, but not the same level of irresponsibility, as I’m usually the one to chicken out and bail. Not always, though! Ace also gets a grasp of things quickly, but forgets them just as fast.

Floyd – the desire to tease/bully serious people is too strong 😔 Plus, extreme mood swings with losing interest, but these are not nearly as common as his. Sometimes you have tons of fun, and then a second later, in an instant, you lose the spark.

Malleus – we just like to wander somewhere... his love for ruins, but I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t like them or their aesthetics lol His isolation, and Ryu says the way we say/ask/do things sometimes is similar. Also most based overblot reason ever (same for Idia and Vil though). I’d probably be able to point out his character traits better if we saw book 7, but that’s it for now.

Epel – he hates girly stuff lmao His toxic masculinity is relatable for my teen years, and the way his speech is impolite (in my case, I just swear a lot though). He’s somewhat of a slow learner and he cringes from doing cute and girly stuff.

Deuce – he is so adorable... ahem. The way he struggles with learning is relatable, and the feeling when you put yourself fully into something and still fail. I managed to get great/normal marks, but the amount of knowledge I actually have is laughable. Deuce is very earnest, me too, in some ways, but I’m not nearly as proactive as he is. I wouldn’t bother.

Leona – sometimes I get bored in the middle of the day and go to sleep lol Usually it happens when Ryu’s around and draws something, and we have only one desk, so there’s nothing for me to do. Leona’s also lazy. That’s the entire reason Leona is on this list.

[phlve]

Fi as a base (1st) function (ESI and EII)

The individual sees reality primarily through static personal ethics and stable interpersonal bonds between individuals, including himself, where the status of such interpersonal bonds is determined by his personal ethics. The individual is very confident in evaluating the ethical or moral qualities, and their consistency, of other people. This makes the individual seem “judgemental” or “self-righteous” to people less so inclined. If he has difficulty in deciding the status of a personal relationship, he will take action to try to reach a conclusion but if that continues to elude him, he will regard the relationship as not worth it. His own sense of constancy in personal ethics and in his relationships with others is a very strong factor in his sense of self-worth.

Fi in this position implies the ability to almost instantly recognize whether someone is a friend or an enemy, whether they are demonstrating good will or ill will, and whether they are drawn to or repelled by the individual.

Fi as a creative (2nd) function (SEE and IEE)

The individual is very adept at perceiving, establishing, and maintaining personal bonds between people. However, these bonds are often perceived as being situational and flexible rather than static. The individual is inclined to focus on establishing personal bonds with other people in the context of realizing or following perceptions from his base function.

The person easily creates a sense of closeness and kinship between people by expressing like and acceptance, but these sentiments are situational rather than an expression of permanent feelings. If the person’s mood or external situation changes, he or she may “turn off” the feelings instantly, even forgetting whom they had created the feeling of kinship with.

Fi as a role (3rd) function (LII and LSI)

The individual recognizes the existence and importance of personal relationships, so he is usually cautious at first about offending others if he does not know them well. To minimize this risk he adheres somewhat simplistically to the relevant social conventions (e.g. political correctness). However, if taken too far this produces stress, as it inhibits his natural introverted logic (Ti) inclination to voice exactly what his thoughts are on a given issue or situation, with the expectation that others will appreciate his straightforwardness, rather than accusing him of being insensitive. This caution gradually disappears as he gets to know people better.

He prefers to develop relationships indirectly with others based on open conversation and common activities, and only reveals his innermost personal feelings to those he has known for a long time. He may become confused and suspicious if they are directly solicited by others.

Fi as a vulnerable (4th) function (ILE and SLE)

The individual does not normally pay attention to the nuances of interpersonal relationships; he is either overly suspicious or overly assuming of his relations with others when they are not clearly defined. More importance is given to these relations as they pertain to objective mutual benefit; entertaining one another and accomplishing mutual goals are seen as the main focus, rather than seeing the relationships as rewarding in and of themselves. The individual does not expect others to be actively aware or concerned with his own personal sentiments, and so sees little reason to be concerned with those of others, unless they have direct consequences for the individual. Statements by other persons reflecting their inner feelings are not fully registered by the individual if not accompanied by external emotional expression or actions. Suggestions that the individual may have acted unethically in the eyes of another person who has not clearly expressed disapproval are met with bafflement by the individual; those that are expressed without tact are either dismissed or reacted to aggressively.

Expressions of deep personal sentiments are awkward for the individual, whether coming from another or himself. He does not see it as his “right” to place the burden of his true emotions on another, both because he knows how uncomfortable those of others make him (even when they are positive and genuine), and because of his own awkwardness in expressing them.

Fi as a suggestive (5th) function (LIE and LSE)

The individual longs for close personal relationships where personal and private experiences can be shared easily in an atmosphere of mutual trust, sustained by shared sentiments and ethical beliefs that make external expression of emotions unnecessary. The individual is inclined to take first steps, but he is not confident of his ability to correctly evaluate the existence or status of such a relationship and therefore is attracted to persons who value clear and unambiguous personal relationships with others and who follow a clear set of ethical principles, which gives them credibility and makes them deserving of trust in the individual’s eyes.

The individual tends not to consider whether people are friends or enemies or whether they feel good will or ill will towards them. Instead, he or she usually acts right from the start as if the other person were a friend or an enemy based on their prior knowledge of what the person does. This makes it possible to mistake a friend for an enemy and vice versa. Only gradually does the individual come to recognize what feelings others have for him, and there is always an element of doubt unless others express those feelings verbally and unambiguously and act in a way that clearly matches their stated feelings, over a sufficient period of time. The individual is easily made insecure about the status of personal relationships and needs frequent reassurance that the other person’s feelings have not changed.

The individual is sheepish about expressing his personal feelings about people (“I find you really interesting” or “I like you a lot”), but responds very well to these statements, as if they were unexpected treats. Instead, the person tends to focus on whether others’ behavior makes sense or not.

Fi as a mobilizing (6th) function (ILI and SLI)

The individual longs for establishing stable personal relationships with other individuals based on mutual trust and understanding where deeper and private feelings and experiences can be easily shared. However, the individual lacks the initiative to establish such relationships and usually expects others to make gestures in that area, admiring those who do so. In the context of extroverted ethics (Fe) as a vulnerable function, it should be emphasized that these types especially value emotional bonds where feelings go unsaid between partners, and are simply “understood.”

Fi as an ignoring (7th) function (ESE and EIE)

This is manifested as a skepticism about, or reluctance to decide on, the status of a deeper personal bond in a relationship between two individuals in the absence of signs in external emotional expression that should reflect that status. For instance, the individual will be inclined to regard as “loveless” or lukewarm the relationship of a couple who do not obviously display their mutual affection and remain rather subdued in their emotions in the presence of others.

The individual understands discussions or explorations of one’s own inner feelings regarding other individuals but finds them less interesting and relevant than those focusing on one’s emotional state in the same situation.

Fi as a demonstrative (8th) function (SEI and IEI)

The individual is quite adept at understanding the interactions in personal bonds between two individuals, even in the absence of an obvious external emotional expression; but he is inclined to regard them as of lesser importance, and less interesting, than the broader emotional interactions in the context of a larger group. Moreover, those personal bonds are perceived as situational and dynamic rather than static.

Source: Wikisocion

[murdasblog]

Feeling the urge (heh) to talk about my Durge playthrough in BG3. It's my current playthrough and I'm feeling very attached to her.

This is Amelia. She's a high elf wild magic sorcerer. She is resisting the Urge and is becoming very attached to her people.

Shadowheart is the person she considers her closest friend of the group. She feels a kinship with relation to the whole missing memories thing and Shadowheart was the first to stick with her after the Nautiloid.

She's romancing Gale. It's still early, they just met Elminster, but she's been head over heels for the wizard since pretty early. She likes his intelligence, drive, and humor. He was the first person she trusted enough to tell about her urges. She looked to him in the beginning to help nudge her moral compass in the right direction.

She is very fond of all the others as well. Astarion was very cold with her to start but now she enjoys teasing him and they get along well. She respects Lae'zel and admires her resolve and strength. She admires Wyll's ability to know what is right and his drive to fight to help whomever he can. Karlach was the last to join the group but Amelia really enjoys her positivity and is also coming to rely on her moral compass. Karlach eventually starts calling her Meli and eventually the whole group does as well.

Halsin hasn't been with them too long, but she respects him and really appreciates his perspective with regards to her urges.

She is enjoying having Scratch and the Owlbear Cub around camp.

So far her favorite place was the mountain pass, I mean, look at that view! She was less enthralled by the locals. But the view was worth it!

Favorite wild magic surge was when the whole party were turned into dogs, except for Gale who was a cat😂

We're finishing up things in the Underdark, so that's about where she is for now. Thanks if you made it this far!

[hiraethprinmec]

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

its crazy how lighting can make a difference. I lit a candle an incense and turned on the lights. it helps with the mood, around 5 the sun starts to set and i feel worse. today I woke up at 12 , which is better for me sold some shares and tonight I need to schedule my prescription for delivery. I had some lunch and now I'm having some coffee. I'm glad I'm here for day 2 , I'm happy to tell my therapist there's something I like to do. I'm imagining doing this everyday it feels nice.

listening to some high energy music. that helps me too. vanilla iced coffee, I opened my last pod for the weekend and I feel worried but I know ill be okay. tonight I don't know what ill do. I should paint , I didn't last night . writing and painting everyday is the goal. I'm tired from waking up early , I went to sleep at 6 am so about 6 hours of sleep its okay I could do this some days.

I feel safer when I listened to music with one earphone on so I can hear my surrounding, someone calling for me in person or over the phone. tonight I need to shower. ill keep my conditioner in my hair extra long try and get my hair super blonde. I like that word blonde. its pretty and soft like the color. juul isn't hitting the way i like , grateful for it though. i still don't know what I'm going to say to Michelle. therapy is tomorrow morning. what will we talk about? I'm thinking of asking her what she thinks we should talk about.

I need to drink more water today. feeling dehydrated I have that habit of not drinking enough. tonight ill paint flowers ,a longing figure. what does longing look like what will the pose be? put on a dramatic song that I like , I used to paint to it a lot . its sad and I feel a kinship to it. I relate to her. its from silent hill she's lonely unloved. in pain.

sometimes I wonder if the men who hurt me are living good lives maybe they got hit by buses or maybe they're in the arms of their lovers maybe they're still hurting children. do they look back in their memories of what they did to me and feel aroused? guilty? do they feel a sense of longing.

I felt so desired, I knew it wasn't love and I knew it was wrong I was just so lonely. why did they do that to me. that's all I can ask why did they seek someone like me out. talk to me for hours in their own houses with other people in the room next to theirs, people that had no idea what they were doing to me, living with undercover monsters, nightmares. he listened to an action movie in the surround sound while he hurt me.

i remember it was too loud. I couldn't focus and I asked what it was and he said don't worry about it focus on what I was doing, to keep going. what movie was it? was it their favorite? was it just background noise to drown out what they and i were doing. do they feel guilty about me. do they confess me to their priest or will I be imagined on their deathbeds as a last ditch effort to save themselves. selfish again I hope they aren't saved. I hope they're mad at themselves I hope they're alone and scared. I hope they go to prison, I hope they're alone.

Some days I just want to cry and I wish I wasn't here, why did this happen? this is the biggest reason why I don't think there is someone in the sky, a God. they say he loves you but not enough to save you.

some days I don't think about it much or at all and then some days its like a bus hitting me like a wish. I see where I was when this happened, in the loft at my moms house. in my old room.

In my head I am there still, and I see their faces, I see his eyes. I remember sketching once and seeing his eyes. I don't like to draw I like to paint simple expressions just two dots and maybe a line for the mouth, I don't want to chance that again. that sketch was like seeing him again and I wasn't even trying , just drawing the general shape of an eye and I was there again looking at his picture obeying this man that was old enough to be my father .

I wish I could go back in time and protect myself , nurture myself. tell myself everything I always needed. I always feel so bad for my younger self walking around raw with no protection, shield, wall, barrier. loving freely , feeling quickly and deeply, letting everyone in. I wish I knew what i know now , I would do so many things differently. she was so opened to this world, had no idea what would happen, how it would change her as it went on ,who she would be later in life. somedays she doesn't feel real, i don't feel real . like none of this happened and i just go on with my day like i dodged a bullet.

when I'm in bed in the mornings i remember everything that's happened in my life and I wonder why. why was this allowed? this world feels so cruel like a lawless ball of energy with nothing binding it , atrocity's around every corner no justice,

I don't know if karma is real because I don't know what these men are up to now days. are they married? children of their own? did they set a new years resolution? have a vanilla iced coffee this morning? are they relaxing for the evening after a days work? I just don't know.

I think of what I would want to happen to them and imagining cruel things like an eternity in hell doesn't feel right. or dying a early or painful death doesn't feel right either. in my mind I just wish they were plucked from this earth, vanishing into thin air all memory wiped form the minds of people they know like they were never there as soon as the offense was made like being benched at a basketball game for commit a foul. just like what they actually did. gods a bad referee.

[atalossofwords]

YOU TASTE THE SILVER - IvanTill WIP (Part 4)

And we're back to Ivan's POV! This one has some more on Ivan's life, and Sua and Mizi make an appearance!

part one - part two - part three

Ivan is having his mandatory once-every-two-months lunch with his sister when his phone pings with the notification set up for Till-related notifications.

He unlocks his phone, clicks on the Twitter notification, and is greeted by a picture of Till, green eyes standing out against his pale skin, awkwardly positioning his phone to take a picture of the silver ball nestled on his tongue, the surroundings still tender and puffy.

TILL ☑ @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS got a new piercing to celebrate the new place. will have to skip the next stream, sorry guys! [ IMG DESC; a picture of Till holding his phone up to his face to show his new tongue piercing. He is wearing a black t-shirt, with his hair pushed back with a headband. The piercing is a simple silver ball, the area surrounding it redder than the rest. You can see his eyebags below his green eyes. ] 2K Views | 15 Retweets | 4 Quote Tweets | 1K Likes

Ivan chokes on his kimchi, and it takes almost a minute of him dying on the floor before Sua deigns to pat his back. He bets she took pictures, like the evil, evil sister she is.

Mizi, god bless her heart, she is too kind for his sister, hurries over to offer him a glass of water. He thanks her and focuses on drinking the water instead of focusing on the picture still open on his phone.

"What did your boy-toy do now?" Sua asks, and he almost chokes on the water. Instead, he puts it down to glare at her.

"He's not my boy-toy." He says, turning back to his phone to save the picture and scroll through the replies.

K-K-KIRBY @kirbitch ↳ replying to @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS HELLO. TILL???? EXCUSE ME. WHO ALLOWED THIS. 5 Views | 1 Retweets | 1 Quote Tweets | 3 Likes

hyunjin @hoejin ↳ replying to @kirbitch Deep breaths babe 2 Views | 0 Retweets | 0 Quote Tweets | 1 Likes

…to his roses 🌹 @FieldOfFlowers ↳ replying to @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS I'd like everyone to know my girlfriend just made a sound like a dying whale and is on the ground now. Should I worry? 3 Views | 0 Retweets | 0 Quote Tweets | 2 Likes

the guns… @bulletcase ↳ replying to @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS NFSNOWEIFSNF 7 Views | 0 Retweets | 0 Quote Tweets | 1 Likes

womp womp @woonie_ ↳ replying to @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS quick who has TillStepOnMe socials i need the reaction 4 Views | 0 Retweets | 1 Quote Tweets | 3 Likes

Ivan feels a kinship as he watches his fellow frequent chatters lose their minds, and tweets from his private fan account. He doesn't have many people there, besides Sua and other frequent Till-watchers.

I🚐 (🔒) @bl4cks0rrow ↳ replying to @TILLTHEWORLD_ENDS i think i died and went to heaven 3 Views | 0 Retweets | 0 Quote Tweets | 2 Likes

Mizi makes a curious noise and leans in, and Ivan obligingly scrolls back to the picture.

"Boy-toy is better than stalkee, you know." Sua comments, raising one eyebrow at him. From where she's leaning on his shoulder, Mizi lets out a giggle, letting go of his phone to sit back on the table.

"He's cute! Is he an actor as well?" Ivan shakes his head, taking a deep breath. His heart is still hammering away, but he's enough in control to continue his lunch.

"No, a streamer. He does sing, though." He says, because he knows Mizi will be more distracted by the possibility of getting to know about a new singer than she will be interested in prodding over his love life. Sua rolls her eyes at him, but fuck her anyhow. She's a pest.

Ivan spends the rest of lunch showing Mizi all of Till cover's and original songs. They're too rock-punk for her tastes, but Mizi does incredibly well with grittier songs, for someone who looks like the human incarnation of an angel.

By the way she leaves murmuring the lyrics to 'till the world ends', Ivan thinks that Till just got a new fan.

He has the urge to keep Till to himself, of course. Ivan is the one who has been supporting him from the beginning, who has kept a close look on his growth and career. He wants to keep all of Till to himself, where only he can love and cherish the most beautiful person Ivan has ever seen.

But he's aware that's selfish, that Till is a devoted Mizi fan, that Till doesn't even know Ivan exists. If Mizi covers one of Till's songs, that's an opportunity of a lifetime. Ivan would be the worst human being on earth if he kept Till from such opportunities.

Sua pats his back, a wry smile on her face. She's his evil older sister, and they did as much as they could when they were young to differentiate themselves, but in this they're the same; they fall once, and they fall hard, and Sua is not a good enough person to introduce her girlfriend to people she may like better than Sua.

Ivan shrugs. They're not dating, and Till deserves the best. He doubts they could ever actually be something, with their worlds so far apart, and Mizi is gone on Sua. The worst that can happen from this is Mizi adding some rock songs to her playlist.

Till deserves to have his music heard, to have people appreciate his talent. The least Ivan can do is support him from afar.

(Doubting they'll ever be together also means Ivan has absolutely zero shame in opening the picture that night, propping it up on his sink and jerking off to the image of Till on his knees with his tongue out, ready for Ivan to use.

They'll never meet. Ivan doesn't need to feel bad about his obsession.)

part 5&6

[princesssarisa]

For the character ask: Elphaba and Glinda (Wicked)

Well, I'm not deeply familiar with this show, just casually familiar, but here goes. Musical only, because I haven't read the book.

Elphaba

Favorite thing about them: I admire her for standing up against injustice and fighting to free others from oppression, even if it means being labeled a "wicked witch" by all of Oz and risking her life. Beyond that, I like how relatable she is, both in her anger and in her vulnerability and yearning for love, to anyone who feels different or cast out. For a wide array of reasons – race, neurodivergence, sexuality, gender identity, political stance – countless people identify with her and feel validated because she exists. This makes her a valuable character for much the same reason as her spiritual sister (and sound-alike) Elsa from Frozen. It's probably the main reason why the trend of "famous villain reimagined as an outcast hero or heroine" has become so popular throughout the last two decades – a trend that as far as I know, Elphaba single-handedly started.

Least favorite thing about them: I hate the catfight scene with Glinda after Nessarose's death, although I blame Glinda more for it – at least Elphaba's anger is righteous and not jealousy-based. Morally, though, the worst thing she does is imprison Dorothy.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I often feel like an outsider.

*I'm outraged by social injustice and do what I can to help the marginalized.

*I have a temper that I try to control, though fortunately mine doesn't cause magical mishaps.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I'm not brave enough to become the most hated and feared outlaw in my country in the name of fighting for justice.

*I don't pretend not to care what others think of me.

*I don't have green skin.

Favorite line: The lyrics to "The Wizard and I," "Defying Gravity," and "No Good Deed."

brOTP: In-universe, Glinda. In crossover-land, I'd also love to see her meet Elsa from Frozen and Angelina Jolie's Maleficent (both of whom arguably owe their existence to her), and maybe Enjolras from Les Misérables, since he's a fellow revolutionary – there's a funny fan comic that shows them getting drunk together at a slumber party for musical characters.

OTP: Fiyero. (Yes, I know that for some fans it's sacrilege not to ship her with Glinda, but I just like her better with Fiyero romantically, and besides, if we don't believe she really loves him, then the emotional power of "No Good Deed" and the sweet part of the bittersweet ending both fall flat.)

nOTP: The Wizard, even if he weren't her father.

Random headcanon: Someday she'll learn that the Wizard was her real father, and she'll be shaken by the revelation, but ultimately it will matter less to her than it does to him. He was just a sperm donor.

Unpopular opinion: Two of them.

(1) I think some fans – and maybe the libretto itself – view her too much as a "morally ambiguous" character. "She's neither a good guy nor a bad guy," they say, "there are two sides to every story." But IMHO, the real morally ambiguous figure in this show is Glinda. Elphaba is never perfect, it's true, but she's a straightforward sympathetic heroine until the 11th hour, when she only temporarily turns "bad" because she's emotionally broken. For the most part, she is a good guy.

(2) She's not a lesbian, she's bisexual. While she might have some unspoken feelings beyond friendship for Glinda, she truly is in love with Fiyero (see OTP above).

Song I associate with them: All her solos, but especially the iconic "Defying Gravity":

Favorite pictures of them:

Idina Menzel:

Eden Espinosa:

Rachel Tucker:

Dee Roscioli:

Jackie Burns:

Willemijn Verkaik (also the Dutch voice and German singing voice of Elsa in Frozen, reinforcing the Elphaba/Elsa spiritual kinship):

Mary Kate Morrissey:

Glinda

Favorite thing about them: Her sheer three-dimensionality and growth as a character. Of course she's not the purely good, fairy-like Glinda from The Wizard of Oz, but neither is she the shallow, bubble-headed "mean girl" she seems to be at first. She's probably the most complex character in the musical. I think she's very comparable to the King in The King and I, her relationship with Elphaba corresponding to his with Anna. Like him, she's funny and she sometimes seems like a silly, spoiled jerk, but she has real warmth, cleverness, and sympathetic qualities too, and is torn between a flawed status quo and risky changes, as well as between her conscience and her ego, while navigating a position of power. This is rare for a female character, especially an unabashedly girly one.

Least favorite thing about them: That she turns against Elphaba and tries to get her captured by the Wizard, taking advantage of her sister's death to do it no less, just because she's angry that Fiyero left her for Elphaba. Yes, she regrets it and they have their heartwarming reconciliation in the end, but it's still very bad.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I like pastel colors like pink and pale blue.

*I'm not always brave enough to stand up for what I know is right.

*I can be very lively and exuberant about things I enjoy.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I've always been an "odd one out," not part of the popular crowd.

*I don't tend to be cutesy or flirty.

*I can't imagine myself becoming a political leader.

Favorite line: Most of her solo lines from "Thank Goodness," showing her inner conflict under her happy facade.

brOTP: Elphaba.

OTP: None. I know this is unpopular among fans who ship her with Elphaba, but I ship her first and foremost with personal growth.

nOTP: Fiyero or the Wizard.

Random headcanon: Someday she'll meet Elphaba and Fiyero again. I don't know the details, but it will be an exciting sequel, and even if they part again in the end, she at least won't need to live the rest of her life thinking they died because of her.

Unpopular opinion: I can't agree when I see people write about what a wonderful friend to Elphaba she is, how she's the best person in Elphaba's life, or how she's actually wiser than Elphaba because she knows that to achieve anything socio-politically you need to be liked. While of course she's more sympathetic than she seems at first, she's still deeply flawed both as a person and as a friend – that's part of the point – and while it's true that she, not Elphaba, is the one who frees Oz from the Wizard's rule in the end, she never would have done it without being "changed for good" by Elphaba.

Song I associate with them: All her songs, but especially "Popular":

Favorite pictures of them:

Kristin Chenoweth:

Megan Hilty:

Kendra Kassebaum

Gina Beck

Erin Mackey:

Sophie Evans:

Brittney Johnson (the first black Glinda):

[bontenten]

The Choosing

Pairing: Daichi x f!reader (ft. Captain Squad <3 and Sakusa)

WC: 3.2k

Genre/Warnings: Crack/Bad Humor, Smut, Romance, Reverse Harem, Royalty AU!, mention or hints of size kink, exhibitionism, creampie, breeding kink, dick and ball worship, you’re perverted and gross

Summary: You are the Princess of the Kingdom of YoreNaym and you need to choose a husband.

Repost from my main because I say so. Lee... :gru: i miss u

Also, no beta we die like Daichi.

It’s a tradition carried through many, many generations that the daughters of nobility from the Kingdom of YoreNaym must choose a suitor from the eligible bachelors from the neighboring kingdoms. It’s a show of kinship to the other kingdoms and also a means of securing peace.

At some point, everyone’s sister’s cousin’s second uncle’s sworn brother’s adopted daughter’s nephew twice-removed will be related and connect back to the Kingdom of YoreNaym. In short, the blood of this kingdom’s daughters unite the lands. No incest, there’s enough genetic diversity, if you will. And because you are also a princess of this kingdom, it’s your turn. Yay.

While growing up, you hear the elders say that the youngsters should be grateful that they have the agency to at least pick a suitor. They spin their looms and cackle, reminiscing that, “Back in our days, we didn’t get to have a choice. Our elders appointed a spouse for us from whichever kingdom had a suitor. Unlike you girls who get to choose, ungrateful wenches…”

Does it really matter? It’s just the false pretense of choice, isn’t it? At the end of the day the selection of eligible bachelors are all chosen ahead of time, deemed worthy, and then after the initial picking, you are just allowed to pick. It doesn’t matter who you choose, any one of them will fit the criteria. Maybe you’ll just close your eyes and pick one randomly. Can you actually say, “I’ll choose my own hand and marry myself.”

That’s pretty brave, hell yea that’s a main character move right there. Speaking of which, who are the eligible bachelors you can choose from today? It’s practically your engagement day, yet you really haven’t been paying any attention at all.

“Hey,” you whisper, lifting the curtain of the palanquin. A maid quickly answers to your beckon.

“Yes, my lady?”

“Who are the candidates today again? You have a...list or brochure of sorts?”

“Just a moment, my lady, I’ll retrieve the scroll for you.”

You open the scroll and peruse the contents. Huh, all the neighboring kingdoms are going all out this year. There’s the Kingdoms of Nekoma, Inarizaki, Fukurodani, Aoba Johsai, Shiratorizawa...Wow, even Johzenji and Nohebi have candidates? Funny, all of these are all presenting their crown princes too. As they should, you are the most beloved princess of the Kingdom of YoreNaym, and the suitor you choose will bring you back as a blessing to his kingdom. It’s a total bummer that the Kingdom of Itachiyama isn’t participating this year. Sakusa’s crown prince succession is next year! You have heard so many swoon worthy stories about that princeling, even paid handsome amounts of money for paparazzi paintings of the beautiful man. No one will find out that the princess of YoreNaym actually hoards little pictures of Prince Sakusa in her panties drawers. It’s a shame you aren’t picking your husband next year.

There’s one more Kingdom on the list that surprises you. Kingdom of Karasuno, or more commonly referred to as the Kingdom of “Fallen Crows”. According to legends, they used to be quite a prosperous kingdom, but after a few generations of inept leadership, a drought, and poor trade economy...the Kingdom has mostly faded into obscurity. It’s been years since a suitor candidate has been offered. So who is it?

“Sawamura Daichi,” you whisper to yourself, “Interesting.”

The festival ground outdoors is especially grand. There are a huge number of tables prepared off to the side for guests. Trays of food, fruits and wine are provided for every single guest in attendance. You are led by the attendants to the temporary throne seat as the guest of honor. As you make your way to the throne, all the guests stand up to acknowledge your entrance. It’s so pressuring and a part of you wishes you can just dig a hole and bury yourself on the spot. You don’t even want to think about how many eyes are on you. They are all just jealous because, really. Take my word for it, I’m the narrator.

When you take a seat, the guests reseat themselves. A shaman comes to the center stage and bows to you.

“My lady, the time is auspicious, let us commence the Festival of Unity. At this time, I’ll be introducing the eligible bachelors from neighboring kingdoms near and far. They have passed the arduous tests and come as the best to offer in asking for your hand. Each of the suitors will present to you with a talent or skill, as to show you their excellence. After the demonstrations, you will be allowed to take your pick. Whereupon you will—”

“Okay, I get it! They will participate in a talent show, we clap, and I choose a husband, I got it!” You snap, cutting the shaman’s words off. Your patience is wearing thin.

A number of guests can be heard mumbling in the crowds, probably commenting on your behavior. Your eyes scan the guests, you can care less. Judgmental eyes, scheming eyes, lecherous eyes, disgusting eyes....Your gaze meeting with a pair of eyes that are absolutely blank. Wait, not blank as in emotionless. Non-judgemental? The opposite of unkind? Dare you say, polite? He gives you a smile and returns to taking a sip from his goblet. You scan his clothing up and down to look for his family crest. Black and orange. A crow. Karasuno.

Your thoughts are jumbled as an increasing amount of questions fill your mind. He? Karasuno? That Kingdom of Fallen Crows? You barely hear the shaman announce the first candidate.

“Bokuto Koutarou from Kingdom of Fukurodani.” Bokuto is a very large, very well built man. He is wearing his family crest of an owl across his back proudly. You can tell his chest is incredibly broad, the bulge of his big tiddies stretch the tight shirt he’s in. If you squint hard enough, you can maybe see the outline of his nipples through the training shirt, but maybe that’s just your perverted imagination too. Bokuto comes to the center stage and greets you.

“Hey! I’ll uh, demonstrate my strength to you, my lady.” He easily picks up a huge hunk of metal and lifts it with ease above his head. Damn beefiness, those arms of his. Seeing the bulges flex when he flexes has you dreaming of mouth along that delicious flesh. And when he pins you down under his massive body? Ooh, if this is the first demonstration, you’re excited to see the whole lineup today. Gasps and murmurs can be heard in the crowd. Bokuto grins and drops the load on the ground. You can almost feel the tremors beneath your feet. Truly, a herculean feat.

“Thank you, Bokuto, I have seen your demonstration and all those here are witnesses.”

Bokuto’s demonstration is a showy start of the competition for your hand. The shaman announces the next candidate. “Ushijima Wakatoshi from the Kingdom of Shiratorizawa.”

Ushijima walks up to the stage exuding the regal aura of nobility; a byproduct of his strict upbringing. The twin crests of an eagle decorate his shoulder pads. His expression is quite cold, but there’s a saying, “it’s always the quiet ones.” You lick your lips and study him some more.

“Greeting to the princess,” he says with a deep bow. “I also bring a demonstration of my martial prowess.” Ushijima takes off the bow and quiver of arrows from his back and nods at his attendant who then catapults three apples high up into the air. Everyone’s eyes follow the  trajectory of the objects, squinting to see what’s happening. No way.

Ushijima draws the bow back and calmly shoots one arrow, perfectly spearing the three fruits along the shaft. The crowd bursts into cheers. You also find your tight grip on armrest loosening, the tension from the scene dissipating in a moment. Ushijima’s calmness, accuracy, decision-making...he would make a very suitable partner for sure. Co-workers of sorts, that is.

You know your marriage carries a lot of weight politically and the fate of the whole universe will rest on your decision. Maybe not the whole universe, but close enough. But, marital bliss is important too right? Is Ushijima the right choice? There are still many more candidates, it’ll be best not to make a rash decision. Your gaze wanders over back to the Karasuno prince who is clapping earnestly for Ushijima’s performance. He’s acknowledging a rival’s strength, you think to yourself. Well, that’s certainly a rare but admirable trait. A confident man, he is.

After Ushijima’s demonstration, Oikawa Tooru’s enchanting musical performance offers a much desired change of pace. The rhythm and melody from his zither carries both the energy of fortitude as well as a graceful spirit. Quite stunning, but just not quite the musical vibe you’re feeling at the moment. Bummer, maybe a different day, really. Could be friends?

Kuroo Tetsurou from the Kingdom of Nekoma offers a particularly memorable performance too. Kuroo comes to the center stage with a trough filled with flames. Everyone is at a loss as to what is going on. Kuroo flashes you a grin before taking out a few pouches containing some powders. In a poof, the flames burst alive with colors blending blues and purples. And moments later yellows and greens, even reds. No one has ever seen fire change color like so.

“Witchcraft!” someone gasps.

“No it must be alchemy. Dangerous craft,” another adds.

Kuroo bows to you. “My lady, this is called chemistry, a discipline of science.”

Kuroo’s smiles teeter on the edge of flirtations and you cannot deny that your heart flutters just slightly when you see his crooked grin. He’s intelligent, humorous, and attractive. Definitely also a contender. A union with him might be fun. And especially when you see Kuroo run a hand through his messy, black locks and give you a piercing gaze, you almost wonder if this is the feeling of chemistry. It feels like you are naked under his seductive, golden eyes, completely submitted to his will and absolutely drugged. And you fear that if he sends you another one of his grins, you’ll come untouched. Dangerous, send him off immediately.

“Thank you, Kuroo, I have seen your demonstration and all those here are witnesses.”

After Kuroo, many more candidates also come to the center stage for their demonstrations. Kita Shinsuke from the Kingdom of Inarizaki composes and recites poetry on the spot. His literary talents and mastery of public speech move a very large crowd of the literati officials. Kita is a charismatic leader and commands confidence. But he doesn’t seem to be the best fit. Your brain says ‘yes’, but your coochie just isn’t feeling it. The nerve signals say no.

Terushima Yuuji demonstrates a one-man comedy show, but his storytelling skills, although humorous, fall just a little short after Kita’s. Had Terushima been slotted for a different position, perhaps he would make a stronger impact.

Daishou Suguru. Interesting. But tongue itself will eventually get boring too.

A few more candidates demonstrate their talents to you. Most of them fail to impress you at all. Your blank expression is more than enough to make a few almost shit their pants or cry on the way they exit the stage. It’s really not their fault, you’re just a bit tired after seeing so many performances and demonstrations. You are just trying to find the best fit after all. It’s your duty and responsibility as the muthereffing princess of the Kingdom of YoreNaym.

“Sawamura Daichi from the Kingdom of Karasuno.”

The crowd is silent as Daichi stands up from his seat and makes his way to the center. His shoulder is relaxed and his head is held high. He doesn’t have the large build of Bokuto nor is he decked out in regal fabrics like Ushijima. His hair is simple and clean. His expression is polite and pleasant. Amongst the sea of beautiful and talented men, Daichi is like an ordinary seashell buried in the sand. But like how too many bites of dessert beckon the simplicity of water, Daichi’s humble presence makes him stand out in particular.

Daichi bows deeply. “I send my deepest regards to the princess. I am Sawamura Daichi from the Kingdom of Karasuno.”

“Please rise, Sawamura. What demonstration do you bring to me today?”

“My lady, I have nothing showy in particular. I only bring myself. And please feel free to call me Daichi.” You can feel his piercing gaze on you, confident and assertive. So he has some guts. It beckons you to submit, but you bite back. Grrrrr.

“Just yourself? That’s quite cocky of you Daichi. Others bring talents and demonstrations of qualities that make them fit as my suitor. What do you have to offer for me to choose you? Or is that something you are not looking for at all?”

“Karasuno,” Daichi begins, “Karasuno is a good kingdom. For many years long ago, our people have suffered greatly and we have gained a poor moniker. However, for the last few years, the kingdom has made significant progress and improvements. Alongside my brethren and officers of my court,” Daichi gestures to his entourage sitting off to the side, “We have come a long way. ”

“You tell me much about your home, Daichi, but what about you?”

Daichi pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts. He is well aware of the pressures you are putting on him, testing his convictions to the limit. You are a princess after all, so it’s only natural that you test his qualifications. Diachi swallows his nerves and faces your confrontation head on.

“I come to tell you the truth, my lady. I cannot hide these facts about myself or my kingdom. I am truthful, honest, but I have an unshaken belief that my kingdom will prosper because I have my closest and trusted with me. Each of them have their talents and strengths. Karasuno is a band with a bit of everything, and we’re family.”

You inwardly sigh. It seems like Daichi won’t be completely living up your hopes. At first you thought that his confident yet humble demeanor must hide something. Something incredible, because he can sit back and freely applaud other men for their talents. Something remarkable because he doesn’t feel the need to jump out in front of others. Something big. Very big.

“I don’t doubt your family’s bond or strength, but I am here to choose a suitor, a husband in layman's terms. So, I suppose that—”

“Wait,” Daichi cries out, and gestures towards his Karasuno brethren.

A tangerine head jumps up and brings out a scroll. He skips a few steps towards you and passes the document over to the shaman who brings it to you.

“My resume, if you will, my lady. I have no other talents but what is shown there.”

You glance at Daichi, studying him closely. From his clenched fist, you can tell that even in this moment, he’s a bit shaken and nervous. You undo the ties on the scroll and unravel the contents.

All eyes are fixed on you, trying to decipher every microexpression you make. The slight widened eyes, the twitch of the brow. The slight part of the lips and the deep breathes from you trying to calm the invisible fire that’s building in your core. It’s big. If the resume is accurate, Daichi’s demeanor truly is hiding a beast. A massive, humongous, schlong. Finer than any specimen you have seen in banned pictorial books you read and hide under your massive princess bed.

The sheer size and girth of the XL 2d image is rendered in X-TRA fine detail. You brush a finger onto the parchment, tracing the lines depicting the veins running along the shaft. You gulp, rubbing your finger down what is drawn as a big, swollen tip that’s glistening. Artists these days are so detail-oriented, it looks as if precum is just dripping from the tip and shimmering. So realistic, you just want to take it all into your mouth. To gag or to choke. Neither are a question.

The balls, those massive balls that are the storehouses for an endless supply of fresh cum. Organics from the finest the kingdom has to offer. Precious jewels hanging at the base, ripe for your licking. It looks so juicy and plump and you want nothing more than to rub your cheeks, cooing at how cute they are.

You know it’s good. It better be good if the painting is depicting something this sumptuous. If this is the real deal, then you really have nailed the jackpot and secured a brilliant future for yourself. Marital bliss. Bedroom adventures. Bedroom adventures where he’ll fulfill every nightmarish fantasy you ever have. It’ll be hard at first, your cunt’s so tight and he’s so big! But it’s okay, you’ll take him like the royal princess you are because the Kingdom of YoreNaym raises whores and sluts only!

No scratch that. Coital activities can take place anywhere. Maybe you’ll cockwarm him while the two of you hear what the morning court has to say about the affairs of the kingdom. Maybe you’ll find yourself tumbling around in the garden after a cute game of hide and seek, skirt hiked up, as he fucks a grass stain into your back! Okay. That might not be the best idea. Perhaps just once. For novelty’s sake.

But hear me out, when you are sneaking into the kitchen for some snacks, he’ll pin you on the large baker’s table and just take you right there to fuck his babies into your womb. His cock pumping into you as the table creaks and shakes from his thunderous movements. He’ll fill you to the brim with copious amounts of his hot cum, heaps and heaps of them, just like the baker fills the buns with cream custard in the most obscene fashion ever. Watch your belly rise and bulge up like pastries in the oven. Oooh cummies.

You sigh and squirm in the seats as you continue examining the masterpiece of a dick. You feel your heartbeat racing wildly as if you are caught tinkling in the castle fountain. It’s unknown if you ever did that, by the way. Just saying, your memory is failing you just a tad. But oh gosh, you’re wet already. The slick pooling between your folds is just soaking through your princess panties; the ones in the drawer where you keep all your secret prince Sakusa drawings heehee. But Sakusa’s pretty face aside, you are now face to face with the most magnificent dick pic you’ll ever receive. Not really unsolicited, but damn work of art. Literally.

The crowd is silent when you clear your throat and roll up the scroll, taking extra care to not let anyone else touch your new precious treasure. You lean forward and perceive Daichi. Daichi gives you a cocky grin, showing his teeth. Slightly stained with the wine, but it’s just temporary. It doesn’t matter as long as the real deal is...well, real.

Daichi catches your eyes wandering to the outline of the bulge between his legs. The glorious dickprint that he’s casually showing to everyone present. It puts Herculean Bokuto to shame, Ushijima into a blushing mess. Kuroo nearly snorts his colored powders. Daishou’s tongue hangs out and dries. Oikawa is sent to the medics. Kita no longer waxes poetry about the weather. Terushima leaves the party early.

Daichi is smug and casually asks, “My lady, would you like to examine the goods? I am a pure man and would not carelessly offer tastes to anyone. But you are a princess of the Kingdom of YoreNaym. You can have a sampling before you commit. Satisfaction guaranteed.”

[worldoshaking]

@ferrocyan more Arcadion Fyfnar thoughts!

I think a big part of Arcadion for Fyfnar is bonding with other insane miqo’te… catgirls who beat him up are automatically his besties (he is also disposed to approve of Honey B. Lovely even if he regards her with caution). Everyone there is on a feral wavelength he immediately relates to.

On a broader worldbuilding level, I think there’s a mixture of horror at the premise, and a weird exhilaration that he can’t help but feel at watching people transcend their limits. He realises he loves this, he loves the fights and the insanity and the absurdity, and simultaneously he is a little appalled that he does.

It’s also a fascinating exposure to fan culture for him, because in Eorzea there’s a kind of distance between him and the people who look up to him (they often don’t know who he is when they encounter him irl, and their opinions are generally more ambivalent) so he’s fascinated and slightly terrified and also strangely exhilarated by the neon lights and the excitement. But he also recognises the uglier side of it, in how people talk about Yaana now that she’s lost. He thinks it’s fascinating but he doesn’t really care for the attention himself, and he’s inclined to be defensive of others who have fallen victim to the crowd’s caprices (he’s seen how people turn on their idols before; he’s definitely picturing what Fray would say to all of this, which helps him stay grounded). But despite all of that he is also quite awed at the sheer power of a crowd’s enthusiasm.

He has fought in the Colosseum in Ul’dah before, as a Paladin and in the Hildibrand quests, and based on what he’s seen he’s definitely coming to this with an inclination to be wary. The commodification of everything in Solution 9 (from warrior’s bodies to souls) is not unfamiliar, but it is more salient in this instance, to a degree that’s a bit of a shock.

When he meets Eutrope his first thought is that what she says makes sense; it matches the vague feeling he’s had that all this glamour is hiding an ugly side. And he’s immensely sorry for her but he also feels a great kinship with her, because she is like him. She is someone who was drawn to doing things precarious and preposterous, who pushed herself to limits that couldn’t and shouldn’t be transcended, because she was drawn to the impossible. She has found tragedy at the end of it, as he did in Shadowbringers, and so he’s determined to help her (but also very excited to fight her).

I think lightning is perhaps an element he’s not very good with as a fighter, but also a thing he’s the more fascinated by for that reason. It makes the fur on his ears stand and his tail fluff up. He doesn’t understand it, but he feels it deep inside him, as he did when he fought Ramuh before (and as someone from the Black Shroud, he has always regarded Ramuh with reverence). He is fascinated by this fellow Miqo’te who has mastered lightning, which he has always thought of as a thing that couldn’t be mastered.

He isn’t willing to give up his soul to Eutrope (he’s fought for it! it’s his and Ardbert’s and Fray’s!), but he is going to try to help her, and fight to dismantle the system. He also has a weird feeling that whatever’s going on (capitalism) is something he doesn’t entirely know how to fight, but he will do his best with the kind of fighting he knows how to do. He has learned that many things in his world can be solved by facing up to them with absolute sincerity, a refusal to see anything as impossible, and a very big sword that can shoot bullets.

Through it all, he’s feeling Fray’s grim amusement and willingness to let loose, and Zenos’ exhilaration at the prospect of a splendid battle. He’s mastered those sides of him, but they are still part of him, and they are laughing.

Eden taught him to give free rein to the transcendent power of the imagination, creating primals out of nothing, and in Arcadion he is learning an extension of that lesson: what can the imagination do when it isn’t acting on empty land, but on flesh-and-blood people with bright aether and complicated souls?

i think in my canon one of the Arcadion bosses Fyfnar fights will be a house.

’houses don’t have feral souls’ unfortunately, this one does

[reddpropaganda]

It's interesting how like,,, mythical/mystical? creatures in the ac universe, as far as we know, are rare to come by. Nook and the twins are the only tanuki, and Redd is the only kitsune for example.

Now, there might be a fair population of them around living life same as other animals but we just don't see them.

But what if instead mythical creatures in the ac universe are regarded with suspicion and stigma and treated like second-class-citizens? And that's part of the reason why Tom Nook had it so rough growing up?

We don't really see mythical species because they're living out of slums and struggling for work as other animals think they're scary or strange.

Cue the only other business partner he could find was another yokai-- Redd. And that's why they became friends, having shared a mutual experience with prejudice. It's implied Nook has a past with Sable as well, and they grew up in the same town together. It's then revealed her parents died when Mabel was still very young.

Was it from overworking or a work related accident trying to keep their three daughters taken care of? If so, it's a tragedy to see Sable copy this pattern of working tirelessly at her machine, and... not much else. Even ignoring customers to work as her social life suffers.

Perhaps poor, working class animals and mythical animals are kinda put into the same boat when it comes to classism and so, are more likely to be empathetic of eachother. But Tom Nook leaves for the city anyway.

Was it more openly discriminatory there?

If this is any indication to think so.

That's why Nook takes in Timmy and Tommy. Because without him they,, don't really have a fighting chance out there. It's rough for mystical creatures. He couldn't leave them there in good conscience. Redd can't seem to stick to a legitimate gig and is constantly poor. Himself, broken by the harsh realities of city life.

And what happened to Timmy and Tommy's parents???

The world of Animal Crossing is supposed to be this peaceful utopia land where bad things don't really happen-- or is that only what we're supposed to see? It's odd that both of them are out of the picture and that no other living relative could take them in?

Did they mayhaps leave young Timmy and Tommy someplace they knew the successful Mr. Nook might find them in hopes that they'd be adopted for a chance at a better life? Is this why, despite having no blood ties to him, they're referred to as his "nephews"?

For Tom Nook hasn't forgotten his roots. He still feels a kinship to other tanuki and knows their struggle. He still speaks the old language and respects his ancestors.

He's promised himself to look after these children-- not as their parent, but for the misfortunate parents who had to give them up. He doesn't see himself as having taken their place, as it's likely they're still alive somewhere and could someday be reunited.

Strangely coincidental is that only Tom Nook, the Able sisters, and Redd are known to have had "rough childhoods" compared to all the other animals we see breezing through life, able to afford cushy housing who are financially stable enough to relocate at the drop of a hat with the biggest worries on their plates being "do I wanna do (leisurely activity) or other (leisurely activity) today?"

Joan, the old turnip seller before Daisy Mae, talks about Redd like this:

And yeah, we all know Redd in particular is "untrustworthy," but... why she just start being racist against all foxes in general ajsjs.

(Which, mind you, he's a kitsune in the Japanese.) So she's really saying "don't trust those damned kitsune."

And look at this:

"Wears a raccoon suit." Which sounds like a roundabout way of saying "he's not really one of us, but just looks like it" since tanuki appear like regular raccoons.

The wiki interprets it as "oh haha they think he's a human man in a raccoon suit that's funny" but like,,, why would they think that. What behaviour, displayed by Nook specifically, would be "human-like" when they all act like humans? They'd all be accusing eachother of being humans in animal suits. So that doesn't make much sense.

Maybe that's why Isabelle and himself are his only employees. Because most other animals just aren't that willing to work so closely with a tanuki. He relies on her, not out of choice, but obligation as there's so few options. That would make her a pretty good ally™ in this case.

I adore their dynamic! Since in folklore, dogs are loathed enemies of tanuki and they kinda flipped that on its head in a nice way.

Speaking of Isabelle, her and her brother, Digby are the only different dog breeds we see-- aside from the mysterious K.K Slider, (a Jack Russel) and the only animal with hands. Maybe they're the only few in the world but are able to get by blending in as others obliviously believe they're regular dogs with weird ears or something.

Shih tzu have mythos attached to them as well in which they're able to turn into giant tigers when threatened sjdjs, so maybe Isabelle receives some of that flack and fear, too?

In fact, villagers describe her as going "Isabellistic," framing her irrationally when they "break a window," something that could reasonably incur anger.

Does it imply villagers can be callous and rude because they have no sense of consequence from living such privileged lives?

I hate reading so into the lore of such a happy, soft game but ajsjs I also love seeking the depth and angst™

[rosequart]

i compiled a bunch of direct quotes about pink diamond/rose quartz from the newest artbook, end of an era. some of these quotes are taken from charts and scribbled notes, so the sentence structure might be weird.

let me know if there are any typos/missing information you think i could add!

quotes from rebecca sugar: on pink diamond/rose quartz

Pink Diamond is so sure that she’s powerless, but she’s actually profoundly powerful, so much so that she devastates people’s lives without understanding it because she thinks that she has no real power or sway.

The thing that she really lacks is balance, any ability to temper her extremes. This is part of her character throughout her forms: she’s always very extreme. 

Pink fits into those older tropes, too: the restless princess, the little Winsor McCay clown.

Pink is pure want. Impulse, desire—she’s infectious. She is the flip side of White; she can bring out a Gem’s hidden personality—their deepest wants. This isn’t necessarily a Diamond power (she has a handful of Diamond powers both destructive and constructive), but she has this power in a very human sense. She is an enabler and very manipulative when it comes to getting what she wants, so when what she wants is to get closer to someone, her intensity, and her sincerity, opens them up and draws them in.

White and Pink were always clashing. The Diamond body repressed Pink’s wants, as directed by White, the self-critical conscience. Pink’s shield made it impossible for White to override Pink’s identity, so she had to find other ways to repress her.

Episodes like Bismuth make much more sense when you know that Rose is Pink, and even more sense when you understand how poorly Pink treated friends who became inconvenient.

Rose is tracked carefully through the entire show. She makes sense once you know she is her own worst enemy. She dreams, achingly, that she could become compassionate, because she’s sure she’s incapable of compassion. Her lack of respect for herself makes it impossible for her to respect everyone closest to her. She reveres them instead, because they are better than she could ever be, and that reverence is so honest and intoxicating that it draws everyone closer to her, without them understanding the deep self-hatred that pull is coming from.

She couldn’t stand herself; self-destruction is a huge theme throughout the show—the struggle of the feeling that you shouldn’t exist, and what that can do to a person. A lot of the themes of the show exist within Rose, like her inability to be honest with other people or herself about what she’s done. She’s so deeply ashamed of herself and her past, with very good reason. The truth is that the people in her life would be so much more understanding than she believes they will be. The contempt that she has for herself gets turned outward as contempt for other people when she can’t trust them. When she can’t trust herself, she can’t trust other people, and it makes it impossible for her to be close with anyone. It makes life extremely difficult for her. It makes living difficult for her.

Rose wants [honesty and trust and being able to grow and change] so badly, but she can’t really accomplish any of that until she accepts herself—and she never does.

quotes from rebecca sugar: on rose and greg

Rose and Greg have a very specific relationship. They parallel each other: Greg left his unsupportive family to follow his dreams. He changes his name and begins living as his stage persona...He invents himself.

Rose is instantly interested in Greg; he’s so human, sweet and funny and pliable. But as they get a little deeper into their relationship, Greg starts to realize how alien she actually is. She objectifies him, she laughs at him...she can’t seem to relate to him or pick up on how he’s feeling. They have a physical relationship, but they’ve never had a meaningful conversation. He starts to feel used. So he challenges her in a way she’s never been challenged before: he asks her to treat him like an equal. This is huge for her. She’s always been less than the other Diamonds and more than everyone else. She opens up to him in a real way, and over time she’s ready to confess everything to him. But he understands what it is to run away from home and reinvent yourself. He doesn’t need her old name and he’s not going to drag her through whatever it was she ran from; as far as he’s concerned, her old self isn’t the real her anyway. The real her is her in the present, the person she decided to be. [...] This is an incredible relief for her! With him, she can live authentically in the moment...They both can, but on the flip side, they enable each other. She never unpacks what scares her about her past, and neither does he.

They really wanted to have a child [...] It’s something they are genuinely excited about. And that’s something that’s left a little open-ended—just how selfish it was for Rose to do this knowing that she would disappear. What Rose is doing is outrageously selfless and outrageously selfish at the same time, and you can really read it both ways and neither is untrue.

chart notes: on pink diamond/rose quartz

Pink learns to keep secrets. She tells her new Pearl to keep them too. (She puts on an act. Behaves better.) She doesn’t trust herself...keeps asking her Pearl what to do...

The Game: Rose plays Batman on the ground. (Pearl is Robin and Alfred.) Pink tries to use Rose as an excuse to call off the invasion. This backfires when Blue and Yellow send in reinforcements.

Rose finds herself the head of a family. Determined to be everything White was not—she is close with everyone, flexible in everything. Love & fun are the rule—and there are no rules—and everyone is the most special!

chart notes: on rose and the crystal gems

Pink keeps asking Pearl what she thinks. Pearl understands she should have no opinions, and should follow orders. She is caught in a paradox. Her head swims. She laughs—feels scared—what is this?

Pearl is falling in love. Pink, as Rose, is intoxicating. She’s free somehow. They both are, when they’re on Earth.

Rose falls in love with Pearl’s surprising boldness that comes out of left field—!

Pearl and Rose start fusing a lot.

Pearl and Rose—the dust clears, revealing an endless honeymoon. Pink is gone and Pearl is free—free to love Rose.

Garnet trusts Rose, respects her secrets. She sees in Rose a self-made gem, a quartz that transcended her station out of sheer will and the power of self-love. Garnet loves Rose and her mystery, the way she learns to love & embrace the mystery of herself. Rose is her rock and inspiration.

Rose teaches Amethyst: you can be anything you want to be! Huge advocate of shapeshifting, self-expression, anarchy—however, Amethyst can sense shame from Rose and Pearl over the Kindergarten.

chart notes: on rose and the crystal gems, post-pink diamond reveal

Amethyst finally understands Rose: wanting her to shapeshift, not feel obligated to be a quartz, suddenly feels sympathy...kinship. It wasn’t Amethyst being inspired by Rose—Rose was inspired by them!

Garnet shocked: Rose taught her to love herself. If that was a lie—if Pink Diamond was self-hating, and wanted to disappear—than what does that mean for Garnet? No—it wasn’t Garnet being inspired by Rose—Rose was inspired by them!

Pearl is finally released—but, a rift—! Garnet feels betrayed! But, Pink did change! Pink did grow! Rose was different! That’s why Pearl was inspired by Rose—or, wait—Rose was inspired by them!

chart notes: on pink and the other diamonds

Pink, the littlest diamond, is largely ignored by Yellow, Blue, and White. Her silly impulses and eccentricities are not particularly helpful to the other diamonds in their endeavors. No one wants to play with her. Pink desperately wants White’s attention and approval (she will never get it).

Pink’s [original] Pearl is the only one who sees how much this upsets Pink. Pink is bright in front of Yellow, Blue, White—but when they don’t have time for her, she privately takes it hard.

Noticing Pink’s behavior, Yellow and Blue think she should have her own colony. White insists—she hasn’t really changed. She’ll never change. She gives Pink a colony—if only to prove Pink will fail.

White knows Pink is out there. This expensive, embarrassing tantrum is not worth her attention. Pink will come groveling back when she’s done running away from home.

Yellow and Blue are relieved to have Pink back—but White is vindicated. I knew you’d be back, your silly game is over—get back in place.

Steven gets Yellow and Blue to understand who he is now. But White won’t have it [...] In an ultimate act of self love, Steven fuses with himself, as White realizes—she can be wrong, and she’s truly lost her ‘daughter’.

[osovereign]

the  other’s  words  captures  kratos'  attention  almost  immediately  ,  hues  flicking  towards  her.  early  severance  fees?  as  if  this  could  be  compared  to  something  so  little  ,  something  far  from  being  grandiose.  even  so  ,  there  is  a  dark cloud  above  kratos'  head  (  a  reminder  ,  an  image  ):  invisible  to  the  watchful  eyes  of  those  around  him  but  he  knows  they  can  feel  it  ,  maybe  even  as  deeply  as  he  does  (  lingering  reminder  of  the  selcouth  resilience  of  the  human  spirit  ):  what  it  means  to  care  for  another  ,  regardless  of  the  current  state  of  the  world.  the  image  of  the  chosen  of  mana  was  the  sacrificial  lamb  who  would  regenerate  and  bring  prosperity  back  to  the  world.  even  so  ,  half-elves  where  the  enemy  ,  the  bulk  of  the  desian  organization  who  sought  to  keep  the  world  in  chaos  and  disarray.  how  ironic  was  it  that  the  kharlan  four  ---  or  rather  three  ---  could  turn  so  much  lie  into  truth  and  fiction  into  fact  but  they  could  not  loose  the  hatred  of  those  caught  inbetween  two  wholes.  cruxis  could  control  many  things  but  in  the  end  people  would  always  remain  fickle  ,  no  matter  how  much  indoctrination  and religious  conditioning  was  done.

in  a  way  ,  this  was  a  bane  to  some  and  a  boon  to  others  --- a  comfort  of  better  days  to  come  mayhaps.  priests  of  the  church  where  meant  to  guide  the  chosen  ,  aithra  until  she  was  nothing  more  than  a  hollow  puppet  standing  before  death's  door.  but  cruxis  ,  knew  everything  and  by  extension  lord  yggdrasill:  even  if  the  sixth  chosen  of  mana  failed  the  next  would  be  far  better  ,  the  seventh  girl  born  to  die  would  be  nearly  identical  to  martel  in  all  the  ways  that  twins  shared  a  mana  signature.  ❝  i  have  no  complaints  ,  the  chosen  may  do  as  she  wishes.  ❞  his  tongue  softly  brushes  against  the  roof  of  his  mouth  in  subtle  knowing.  in  turn  ,  it  was  a  kinship  pulling  at  kratos  long  hardened  heartstrings.  a  human  helping  a  half-elf  even  in  the  midst  of  tragedy  and  war  and  famine.  change  a  few  things  and  this  scene  could  be  pulled  from  his  memory  spanning  thousands  of  years  ago.  though  the  admonition  of  what  could  very  well  happened  to  the  four  bound  by  the  ancient  holy  grounds  of  kharlan  stayed  tied  to  their  past  even  in  the  present  in  their  mind’s  eye  ,  kratos'  couldn't  help  but  relate  to  her  unspoken  reasoning:  that  could have  been  me. 

❝  your  decisions  are  that  of  heaven  itself  ,  to  go  against  the  chosen  would  be  to  go  against  the  betterment  of  the  world.  ❞ his  lie  this  time  is  as  a  solivagant  traveler  and  a  sword  for  hire  all  in  one.  one  that  treaded  sylverant  on  a  pilgrimage  of  salvation  after  desians  took  everything  he  once  loved  (  the  truth  buried  in  the  life  ,  a  man  that  lived  only  in  halves  ):  when  he  had  met  aithra  ,  kratos  had  made  sure  to  show  the  pain  of  his  journey  all  over  his  face.  all  the  pain  and  agony  of  someone  that  would  directly  benefit  from  the  world's  regeneration  and  as  such  ,  aithra's  death.

༶♡༶❝ @osovereign / sc. ❞ ♡ ೃ༄

༶♡༶ ❝If you wish to complain about my decision you can simply leave. I will personally handle any early severance fees.❞ it was a tiresome day, having to deal with the cruelities of her priests, and she didn't need to hear it from Sir Kratos either. She wasn't going to abandon a child because of his lineage or the harm it'd inflict on her reputation. Just because she was softspoken and went along with others' wishes of her didn't mean she lacked empathy or her own free will.

[nevermindirah]

part 6, past and future: How every character in The Old Guard (2020) dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood relates to the main character, Nile Freeman

We know almost nothing about Lykon in canon. We know he was fucking gorgeous, and we know his permanent death was sudden and surprisingly early compared to Andy and Quynh. We know from that deleted scene that he was playful in battle. I want to know more about Lykon.

Nile will never see a picture of Lykon let alone meet him. But she's connected to him. As far as we know, they're the only two immortals of African descent who've existed so far. Nile, whose ancestors were stolen from West Africa and whose histories white supremacy did its level best to erase, might feel an especially strong urge to learn about Lykon.

What might Andy or Quynh remember about Lykon's history that Nile might treasure as a restored piece of her own stolen history? I don't know what comics canon says about his birthplace or where he lived, and I doubt Greg Rucka put that much thought into it, but what Andy and Quynh remember of Lykon and his family might have some kind of link, some kind of at very least spiritual kinship to ancestors Nile has been separated from since before she was born.

Nile might also find a kind of solace in hearing Andy and Quynh talk about Lykon, a solidarity with her own loss. I think the three of them will talk about Lykon how Nile's little brother and his potential future children will talk about Nile, and Nile will think about that, and when it's too awful to bear, she'll ask her big sisters to hug her and tell her stories about her big brother who died before she was born.

Quynh, though. Quynh is alive.

We know Nile got flashes of Quynh alongside the others at first, and we see her have one devastatingly visceral dream of Quynh. We don't know whether Quynh can have the dreams, because there's no fucking way she's getting REM sleep while constantly drowning to death, but if she does, her first dream of Nile would probably be the same as the others': snippets of her deployment in Afghanistan. We don't know if the dreams choose to show details that would make it easier for the immortals to find each other, or if it's more of a general highlight reel. Quynh might get snippets of Nile entering and then, uh, exiting the Merrick building — the dreams would probably consider that a helpful landmark. She might see both Nile and Booker's perspective on the family turning around up those stairs and leaving Booker behind at the bar.

Between the end of the movie and their eventual meeting (2 Old 2 Guard now also confirmed by Veronica Ngô Thanh Vân what!) Quynh is likely to dream snippets of Nile traveling, training, getting to know her new family. If she hasn't been having the dreams underwater, when Quynh finally resurfaces she'll start having dreams for the first time of both Nile and Booker. What a confusing juxtaposition that would be. We don't know how long Quynh and Andy took to find Joe and Nicky, but Quynh does, and if this is the first she's learning of both Nile and Booker she's liable to be confused as shit why the seemingly newer immortal has been found and brought into the family but they don't seem to be searching for the other one at all.

Once whatever happens happens and the family is reunited, Quynh and Nile will both be playing major catchup about family history, just from different directions. Quynh will be able to join Andy in telling Nile about their adventures from before Joe and Nicky came along. Nile will be able to tell Quynh about modern history (at least what she's able to given that she may or may not have interest in it, and the basket of yikes that is US public school curricula) and what the family have been up to lately. Nile and Quynh both missed the first 200 years of Booker, so they'll be united in watching the others puzzle at and grieve and rage over whatever the fuck happened that sent Booker into such a catastrophic spiral.

Based on that gorgeous red coat alone, I think Quynh is going to prioritize beauty and pleasure and comfort whenever she can, now that she can. Nile wanted to get an art history degree after her Marine service. I think these two alongside Joe are going to enjoy the shit out of all the modern fashions their mercenary bank accounts can afford.

And that's all I've got, for now at least, on what movie canon shows us of how every character in The Old Guard relates to the main character, Nile Freeman. You can find the whole series here on Tumblr and here on AO3. I love getting asks if you want to talk more about Nile and her new family!

[sigil-stone]

12, 13 and 16 :3

What is your Dragonborn’s occupation, be it current or otherwise?

khier styled himself as a fearsome wandering mercenary in his youth, but in reality he was a scavenger! most of his "Battle Scars" came from accidentally slicing himself up on some dead adventurer's old rusty sword.

Does your Dragonborn have any hobbies? Are they particularly attached to any of them?

it's a running joke in my current playthrough that khier's main hobby is getting himself injured in fights. beyond refusing to learn what 'defense' means, khier is just beginning to learn the fundamentals of magic! he considers it a 'hobby', much to sethesi's frustration.

he also used to brew beer. he's considered selling it before but claims its taste is too godly for mortal tongues to comprehend, and the only reason he can withstand it is he's dragonborn (the hunter he travels with says it tastes like sewer water).

How many factions is your Dragonborn in? How would you describe their ties to them?

in-game, the bard's college and that's It. he cares very little for the politics and inner workings of skyrim, and feels out of place in every faction. the companions are so... nordic, the thieves' guild is arrogant, the college is dangerous (especially to someone who only uses magic in a religious context), and the brotherhood is... edgy.

out-of-game, however (bear with me it's gonna get long), khier still isn't a fully fledged member of any guild, but has particularly strong ties to the college of winterhold thanks to his kinship with three(!) separate folks there - sethesi, who is a master wizard and lecturer, tels, who is The Master Wizard and a candidate for the archmage position after tolfdir resigns, and rusia, a student there!

because of tels, he also has a tangential connection to the psijic order - it's more like the order is aware of khier and his power, and khier has very reluctantly worked with them in the past at tels' insistence. he also has loose ties to the almsivi temple, almsivi themself, the alessian rebellion, the mythic dawn, and an underwater herma-mora cult because of the time-related shenanigans tels drags him through.

he also has very loose ties to the thalmor (beyond being hunted for sport by them and hunting them for sport in turn). he's not entirely sure what this connection is, but he often wonders if it's to do with the mysterious altmeri hunter he's been traveling with...

thanks to rusia, he also has a very strained relationship with the imperial legion. he despises the empire (it's one of two things in skyrim he hates more than the stormcloaks), but he respects rusia on an individual level, despite her being a high-ranking legionnaire and a member of the penitus oculatus. he respects her rebellious streak, they click really well, and their fighting styles blend together smoothly. khier has taken the fall for rusia's actions before (mostly in situations where the punishment for him, an outsider unassociated with the legion, would be far lighter or sometimes nonexistent for him), and in turn, rusia helps supply him with the latest and best supplies the empire has to offer. don't worry where your sword is, tullius. i'm sure it's fine.

they're thalmor hunting buddies.

[inquisitorius-sin-bin]

😭😭😭

How many times in this work has Dralla thought about being married to Tsino? And when that moment finally arrives, it's nothing like the celebration she was hoping for in the beginning.

She was always focused on the survival of the Kite clan, but that vision has become so warped over these last 30 chapters. She wanted to help Tsino make peace between Theo and the Empire. She wanted to have a baby to boost her dwindling clan's numbers. She even allowed herself to imagine Tsino joining Kite clan before she knew who he really was. Now that focus has shifted to protecting them by destroying their ultimate enemy, the Empire, and more than doubling their numbers with her dowry.

But there's this other driver too that is a very recent development, and it's starting to tick Tsino's awareness, that her feelings for him are taking a dark and desperate turn. In saving her family, she is pushing them away. Her fathers don't condone her actions, and to receive the dowry she has to give up her kinship to her clan. That leaves her lonely and vulnerable, and who has been by her side, giving her encouragement and physical affection, goading her increasingly extremist thoughts and behaviors? Tsino.

He can say he won't allow her to fall to the Dark side all he wants, but he is also very wrapped up in his own philosophical struggles, his plotting, and trying to fit in with his family. She gives him the affirmation he desires, is physically offering to fulfill one of his father's greatest desires, and helps him navigate his new life. He doesn't have a strong motivation to distance himself from that. If anything, I'm sure the constant reminders that he is accepted and wanted even after fully admitting his crimes is pleasing to him.

It only becomes frightening to him once he realizes how focused she's getting in this downward spiral of hers. I'm sure he's making mental notes about what kind of training he's going to try to demand of her later, or at least the conversation they're going to have. He even gives a small lesson in attachment during their ceremony which I think was also aimed at Dralla.

All and all I think during the ceremony Theo, Talion, and Dralla are mostly focused in the right place.

Theo is acting as a spiritual guide, doing his due dilligence to make sure the ceremony is performed correctly with all parties' consent. Comforting Dralla on a difficult life transition, offering advice to his son.

Talion is hesitant about this, with good reason. But he doesn't object, merely offering his own thoughts and trying to lift the mood (as you mentioned). This is obviously a big thing for him and Theo, their (and Talia's) little boy is grown up and crossing a huge threshold. They skipped a huge portion of his life, but it is comforting to them for him to make this step, because it does show a level of commitment to his new life.

Dralla is meloncholic about leaving her family, but I think she feels the effort everyone else is putting in to comfort her. Even Tsino, as detached as he is from this process, recognizes that this is a big transition for her, and gives her affection and reassurance throughout.

For Tsino, though? He even admits how strange this is for him. As a Jedi and then an Inquisitor, there is no way the concept of marriage has crossed his mind at any point in time until the last month, probably not seriously until the past two weeks. His thoughts dwell on philosophy, the nature of attachment, the Dark and the Light side of the Force, the Jedi. He does get excited when Dralla has a vision of their future taking on the Empire together, and riding side by side. He asks what he's supposed to do, and he's eager to share about the mark he chose and what it means.

I think opening up is a form of affection for him. Everyone else is concerned about the spiritual aspects of the ceremony, which he can't really relate to. To him, all the Spirits are the same. The Force is the Force, so there's no such thing as a Great Kite or Great Dactillion and switching shouldn't be of significance. He's relating to everyone else the best he can, but he does not share the same belief systems. His concept of what a marriage is isn't well developed. But the moment the other Seerdei enter? He's immediately standing at his father's back.

Regardless of his current lack of understanding, he's definitely curious about the rituals and he can feel that everyone there cares a great deal for him, and that has earned his loyalty. He's moving in the right direction, but not much time has passed yet for him to change into a full-fledged family man.

To some of your other questions!

Brunlai- this was mentioned once before in Talia's chapter but it's essentially being cast out/exiled from one's clan. Theo and Talion spar and mention there's a large Brunlai clan causing trouble at their borders, so that would be a number of former Plainsmen who have left or been kicked out from their kin.

I think both Tsino and Theo have pretty compelling reasons to be fire-adverse. Talion has moved past his grief enough to still be able to interact with fire, which is good, as we've seen it's important to Plainsmen rituals. But Theo won't even LOOK at a fire. And Tsino has a pretty fresh reminder, in addition to his own physical experience. I personally HC that the burned skin is also just more sensitive to extremes in temperature, and having it close to the fire is just uncomfortable. I don't really know if that's how large burn scars work or not, but at the very least, I'm sure it would be an unpleasant reminder of his experiences

Dralla's riding gloves have been mentioned throughout, as early as chapter 2 or 3 I believe. They were given to her by Bolen when she tamed Kaisarion, which would mark her transition from Seda to Seersda. She has already removed her gloves once, when Tsino gives her the Dactillion clan furs, and she carefully packs her old gloves away to keep them safe. So even early on, Tsino was coming between her and this gift from her father and something that symbolized her appointment as Kite clan's Seersda. Now she's back in her Kite clan clothes so the riding gloves are back, but he removes it for their Versddai ceremony. So yes! Absolutely. He is pulling her away from that attachment to her clan, to her father, and she is no longer the Kite clan Seersda after the ceremony.

Interesting that she visualizes a Kite when she's leaving the protection of the Kite spirit, but once she's falling under the protection of the Dactillion spirit, she has a different animal in her vision. I mean, there's a Dactillion present too. But also. Another pyrefalcon.

Funny how Drago has a strongwind kite (majestic, acrobatic, delicate bird), Bolen has a stingerbuzzard (based on honey buzzards, which steal honeycombs from bee hives- and he has a sweet, romantic personality but is quick to anger), and Dralla has a pyrefalcon. I think their birds suit them well.

In the end, we get to see THAT Theo we know is there again. He's been so tender the last two chapters, because he's around his family or someone he is welcoming into his family. As soon as someone else is there, he's back to being the Lord of the Plains.

I'm curious as to what your assumptions are on what is happening next, now that Nagee has shown up alongside Drago and Tangris.

Poor Drago though... the shock. The sadness. I don't think it has even really set in yet and Theo is already rubbing it in his face.

I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter! It was a heck of a project getting to this point! But hey... they're newly wedded now! I hope their vows and such were good. I wrote my own wedding ceremony and vows from scratch too but it was far less dark than this 🤣

Ride or Die

Grand Inquisitor x F!Reader

18+ Fic (Minors DNI)

Chapter 1: The Stranger | Chapter 2: Wet Moon | Chapter 3: Favors | Chapter 4: Negotiations | Chapter 5: The Eagles' Fall | Chapter 6: Survivor | Chapter 7: Flight | Chapter 8: First Watch* | Chapter 9: Lanternbeetles* | Chapter 10: Youngling | Chapter 11: Kin | Chapter 12: Birthright | Chapter 13: Theo | Chapter 14: Handprints | Chapter 15: Vella* | Chapter 16: Fletchers | Chapter 17: Awaited | Chapter 18: Unwell | Chapter 19: Temple Guard | Chapter 20: Home | Chapter 21: Juleper Berries | Chapter 22: Forgiveness | Chapter 23: Listening | Chapter 24: The Weavers | Chapter 25: Guilt | Chapter 26: Pyrefalcon* | Chapter 27: Mother | Chapter 28: Precipice | Chapter 29: Operating | Chapter 30: Flesh and Blood | Chapter 31: Worthy | Chapter 32: The Comet

Working Glossary

*chapters containing porn

Summary:

It has been seventeen years since your rebirth on the plains of Utapau. An orphaned child with nowhere else to go, you were adopted by your clan leader Drago and his mate Bolen, who made you their own daughter through the unique tattooing rituals of the surface-dwelling Pau'an.

Now you lead a group of your kin to trade with a neighboring clan, when you come across a lone stranger riding across the grasslands. Nothing about him makes sense, least of all the marks he bears on his forehead in conflict with the symbols he carries on his shoulders.

You must guide him on his mission, while you ponder the secrets of his past that might just align with yours, and balance the survival of your small clan amongst two powerful opposing forces.

Content Warnings:

Canon-typical Violence, Graphic Depictions of Sexual Situations, Smoking, Drinking, Descriptions of Death, Manipulation, Gaslighting, Animal Death, Xenobiology, Fingering, Breast Fondling, Mourning, Mind-probing, Order-66 Flashbacks, Pregnancy, Nipple Play, Major Character Injury, Blood, Needles, Medical Procedure, Surgery

Current Word Count: 126,264

Tag List:

@oh-three @nobody-expects-the-inquisitorius @keebeees @stardustbee