#you ask ''what about SotF"

[jupitersrising]

I am pushing the "Brand Bowman was swim team captain in high school and Kenji was on the team before camp™. So they bond over it when Kenji starts living with them. It's what makes him feel like he's not just Darius' brother, but Brand's too" agenda.

(Plus Brand loves getting to have a sporty brother bc he'd never got that...mentorship feeling that comes from teaching a younger sibling/cousin sports. Unless video games count bc that definitely Darius and Brand's thing.)

[selfproclaimedunicorn]

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

This has been sitting in my inbox for a few days, straight up I forgot it was here till right now. Lmao, oops

I feel like it's the obvious answer since it's the only one I've published, but I would kind of love to see some sort of adaption of SOTF. The Royce siblings can have a WWE Smackdown with their dad in a visual medium, as a treat. Plus all the Royces are incredibly well dressed & we all deserve to see that. I know they only gave Ser Gerold 1 outfit in HOTD, but I have done a better service to my Daemon Anti King. It's what he deserves

[kaka-iru]

do you, perhaps, have more kakairu fics you’d recommend? :)

-sotf

hello, of course! i'm happy that you enjoyed my previous recommendation ♡ here are some more of my favourite fics, in no particular order (most of the authors listed here have many more fantastic kakairu fics, I recommend checking out their profiles)!

some of these fics are explicit, please read the tags and warnings before reading ♡

KAKAIRU FIC RECS

☆ guess your trajectory by ohwickedsoul

Rating: T

Length: 56k (Complete)

That’s a fucking kid, is the first thing that Iruka thinks. That’s the fucking jinchuriki, is the second. The first thought comes back, even stronger, overwhelming him with outrage, with fury, with a sick sort of disgust, and now it comes out as a shouted, “That’s a fucking kid.”

Tags: Slow Burn; Found Family; Anbu Hatake Kakashi; Umino Iruka Adopts Uzumaki Naruto; Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Wards; Fuuinjutsu; Canon-Typical Violence

☆ a road leading home to you by emlof

Rating: T

Length: 13k (Complete)

There are benches near the gates of Konoha where people wait for their loved ones to return from missions. Kakashi is used to ignoring them; it’s been a long time since someone has taken anything more than a professional interest in his comings and goings.

Tags: Developing Relationship; Hurt/Comfort; Slow Burn; kakashi is maybe a little emotionally constipated but it's fine

☆ not so practiced by leeflet

Rating: E

Length: 14k (Complete)

Iruka is only mildly surprised when he blinks his eyes open against the ache pounding behind them to find a bare face close enough to kiss. He lets his eyes trace along a soft jaw line to the cupid’s bow of thin lips with too big canines peeking out from behind them, and then up along a narrow nose to the scar crossing his eye, and oh. It’s Kakashi.

Tags: Light Angst

☆ in which certain things are crossed out by rokudaime

Rating: E

Length: 20k (Complete)

It's not always about what you say. Sometimes it's all about exactly what you can't.

Tags: Chuunin Exams; Post-Naruto Time Skip | Naruto Shippuden; Slow Build; Friends With Benefits; Friends to Lovers; Accidental Voyeurism; Konoha's jounin are relentless gossips and no one can tell me it's not canon; Eventual Romance; Implied/Referenced Homophobia; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD; Soldier Life

☆ bring dog treats by kageillusionz & rocketpunchh

Rating: T

Length: 44k (Complete)

Iruka peruses the mission board when he overhears some kunoichi talking about a C-rank babysitting mission. Curious by the rumours, Iruka takes a look.

Mission Rank: C-Rank, Chuunin and above only.

Mission Duration: ???? One week. An arrangement can be made for recurring services if you survive.

Mission Description: Feral baby. Please feed and water. Bring dog treats. He likes those.

Signed: Henohenomoheji.

Iruka untacks the mission brief, walks over to the mission coordinators and asks, “This mission is a prank, right?” Or: The continual well-being of Uzumaki Naruto rides on a C-Ranked mission.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Pre-Canon; Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Found Family; Slow Burn; Slice of Life; Mission Fic; Humor; Fluff; Kidnapping; Major Character Injury; Angst; Hurt/Comfort; Implied/Referenced Homophobia; Adoption

☆ put into words by themidnightguardian

Rating: T

Length: 12k (Complete)

Hatake waved his hand dismissively. “I’m sure it’s fine—” Iruka finally snapped. “It’s illegible! Our cryptology department wouldn’t be able to read this! There are first-year pre-genin with better handwriting. No, there are nin-dogs with better handwriting. And where did the mud even come from? You were supposed to be in Sand!” ***5 times Iruka wanted to kill Kakashi at the mission desk + 1 time he kissed him instead***

Tags: Kakashi's mission reports are a disaster; On Purpose; flirting by way of causing homicidal rage; Iruka is trying his best; but he ends up yelling a lot; Hatake Kakashi is Bad at Feelings; Mutual Pining; if by that you mean Kakashi thinks they're dating; and Iruka has no idea; the whole village knows they're together before Iruka does; Jealous Mizuki; Mission Desk Shenanigans; Misunderstandings

☆ research mission by charab

Rating: E

Length: 250k (Ongoing)

Little did they know what would happen when one puts two male shinobis under the same roof for a month.

Tags: Research; Absurd; Romantic Comedy; Everyday ANBU; Enemies to Friends to Lovers; Slow Burn; Consensual Violence; Medical Experimentation; Near Death Experiences

☆ chasing butteries by averil

Rating: M

Length: 30k (Ongoing)

Iruka wakes up in his younger self's body determined to change things.

Tags: Romance; Drama; Time Travel

☆ table scraps by thehoyden

Rating: T

Length: 1k (Complete)

He's making different excuses now, and all to get back into Iruka's apartment, and more specifically, his kitchen.

Tags: N/A

☆ the worst mission ever by hazelbeka

Rating: T

Length: 21k (Complete)

“Iruka, how would you feel about taking on a solo mission for me?” Sandaime asked. Thrown by the change of topic, Iruka blinked at him. “What do you want me to do?” he asked. “Befriend Hound.”

Tags: Anbu Hatake Kakashi; seals master Iruka; Kid Fic; Found Family; Friendship; Humor; Iruka was raised by ANBU; bickering idiots to friends

☆ my lips, your teeth by wizardinblack

Rating: E

Length: 2k (Complete)

Ahead of their first date, Iruka is shocked to hear a rumor that Kakashi never takes off his mask - not even for lovers - and goes into it planning to leave him high and dry. Except, it doesn't actually happen that way. OR Iruka teaches Kakashi how to kiss, among other things.

Tags: Eventual Romance; Dogteeth kakashi; Never been Kissed Kakashi

☆ exigent circumstances by karaboo

Rating: E

Length: 26k (Complete)

“Are you fucking with me, Kakashi-san?” Kakashi’s eyes widened at the unexpected outburst. He opened his mouth to reply, but Iruka cut him off. “Because if this is some kind of joke and you’re just trying to get a rise out of me, I promise you I will take advantage of your incapacitated state and kill you right here.” His eyes flashed with anger. “No one would know.” -- Wherein Kakashi finds himself chakra exhausted a bit too far from home, but is saved through the work of an extremely competent chuunin sensei and an unlikely forbidden jutsu.

Tags: Competent Umino Iruka; Fuuinjutsu Master Umino Iruka; Canon-Typical Violence; Sassy Pakkun; Sassier Tsunade

☆ taking a break by ohmygoshwhatascream

Rating: T

Length: 47k (Complete)

With Naruto gone, Iruka finds himself left with nothing but loose ends. Lonely, but not quite willing to admit it, life goes on. He takes more shifts at the mission desk, avoids his friends and tries to convince himself that the shadows in his apartment are not growing larger and larger with each passing day. It doesn't help that Hatake Kakashi, a man who Iruka tries to avoid at all costs, is suddenly lingering in each and every corner of his life. No matter what he tells himself, there's something about Kakashi that makes it impossible to stay away. The remnants of an age-old crush that never quite faded offer the promise of something he'd promised to forget and, even when it burns, Iruka finds himself captivated. His back bears the cruel memory of weakness and he knows that this can't last.

Tags: Fluff; Angst; Slow Burn; Past Mizuki/Iruka - Freeform; Mizuki Sucks; Implied/Referenced Past Abuse; Trust Issues; Miscommunication; Emotional Hurt/Comfort; Iruka is a bit of a mess; Eventual Happy Ending

☆ fortune hold you (she's not your friend) by alpha_hydra

Rating: Unrated

Length: 28k (Ongoing)

Kakashi hears it first from Genma, who is whispering it to Anko while wringing his hands together. Umino Iruka’s new interrogation technique is pulling Jonin from active duty. They're dropping like flies. Kakashi decides to see for himself what's so ground-breaking about it. AKA: Wherein Kakashi is forced to acknowledge that he's not actually doing okay, all things considered.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Canon-Typical Violence; Canonical Character Death; Anbu Hatake Kakashi; Hatake Kakashi Has Issues; Touch-Starved Hatake Kakashi; BAMF Umino Iruka; Mission Fic; Fix-It of Sorts; Pre-Naruto Canon Era

☆ you belong with (someone better than) me by vulcanhighblood

Rating: T

Length: 28k (Complete)

Exasperated with the ever-increasing number of well-meaning but annoying busybodies who seem to think he needs a man in his life, Iruka finally breaks down and asks Kakashi to be his fake-boyfriend in order to keep the wannabe-matchmakers off his back. The only problem is, Kakashi turns out to be a much better boyfriend than Iruka anticipated.

Tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship; Angst; Pining; Mutual Pining; Hatake Kakashi Needs a Hug; Protective Uzumaki Naruto; Idiots in Love

☆ dream alone, dream together by flailinginlove

Rating: T

Length: 2k (Complete)

Iruka finds it hard to get over perfection, even if it had only been a dream.

Tags: Infinite Tsukuyomi; Pining; Angst with a Happy Ending

☆ recommended for admission by pentapus

Rating: Unrated

Length: 25k (Complete)

The war ends. Iruka gets promoted. Things go differently for Kakashi.

Tags: so much ANBU; how to spot a naruto story by me; Everybody Lives; except for the bad guys; (and also sasuke is dead though it's only mentioned in passing)

☆ of riceballs and jello cups by 100demons

Rating: G

Length: 3k (Complete)

Iruka has lunch with the Legendary Sharingan no Kakashi.

It was not not peaceful. In a way, it was rather like having lunch with a chair. A chair that read porn and was also capable of assassinating people with a dull spoon.

Tags: Pre-Slash; Gen or Pre-Slash; First Meetings; Canon Compliant

☆ the mirror wheel eye by pentapus

Rating: T

Length: 31k (Complete)

Iruka saw his first execution barely a year after the Kyuubi. The executioner was a wire thin ninja in combat uniform, one eye covered and his hair almost white in the brutal sun.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; alternate history to canon; Pre-Canon; Ninja Politics; Slow Build; Hurt/Comfort

☆ interested by flailinginlove

Rating: T

Length: 5k (Complete)

Iruka sees Kakashi without his mask and suddenly seems a lot more interested in him than he's ever been before.

Tags: vicious balls of fluff; gigantic crushes; Kakashi Has Issues

☆ venenum by mythoughtbubbles

Rating: E

Length: 32k (Complete)

He would lay waste to the world if Iruka so desired. He would bring Konoha to its knees and kneel in the ashes before Iruka in supplication if only to see Iruka’s smile directed towards him.

Tags: Dubious Ethics; Stalker Kakashi; Non-board certified usage of the sharingan; Iruka worship; Psychological Manipulation; Dark; but not TOO dark; technically there's fluff; Falling In Love; Emotional Manipulation; Dark Hatake Kakashi

☆ foreign tongue by anjelle

Rating: T

Length: 75k (Ongoing)

While on an ANBU retrieval mission, Kakashi triggers a curse seal that leaves him without sight, hearing, or speech. On his own and a week's travel away from the village, he has no choice but to rely on an unknown Konoha-nin that he meets on the road to get him home safely. That Konoha-nin is Iruka Umino, a freshly graduated genin, who may be even more lost than Kakashi is. But at least they're not alone.

Tags: Sensor-type Iruka; Sensory Deprivation; Anbu Hatake Kakashi; Slow Burn; Travel; Hurt/Comfort; Genin Iruka; ANBU - Freeform

☆ you can stand under my umbrella by hazelbeka

Rating: G

Length: 3k (Complete)

Iruka shelters Naruto from the rain. It’s a small kindness, but it’s more than anyone else has shown him. Kakashi vows to follow his example.

Tags: Found Family; Anbu Hatake Kakashi; seals master Iruka; pre-genin Naruto; starts with angst and ends with feel good fluff

☆ honest when it rains by panda_shi & subcognito

Rating: E

Length: 154k (Ongoing)

Kakashi and Iruka wake up hungover in a hotel room together and discover that they'd made some terrible decisions that forever change their lives. --- There are too many broken pieces of him for someone to hold; too much ugliness, and too many scars, and too much blood on his skin that he’ll never be able to wash off. Kakashi doesn’t know what it would even mean to love someone, or to be loved like he’s read in these kind of books. He’s only ever glimpsed what it might feel like in passing, in the looks Minato-sensei and Kushina-san exchanged with one another when they were still alive, and in the way their shadows held hands as they walked down the street together at night. In the smiles and in the laughter of families that live in the light, who don’t smell of dirt and blood and the decay that is the smell of men like him who go to war in the night. Love was never meant for men like him, who don’t even know what it means to be alive.

Tags: Slow Burn; Eventual Romance

☆ spring, neap by flipthebits

Rating: M

Length: 50k (Complete)

Kakashi has captained hundreds of missions over the past decade. One random chuunin beneath his command getting injured shouldn’t prompt more passing concern than any of the other casualties he’s witnessed. And yet, something keeps him in his orbit.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Slow Burn; Mutual Pining; Friends to Lovers; Not Actually Unrequited Love

☆ and feeling lost by justdoityoufucker (orphan_account)

Rating: T

Length: 4k (Complete)

Umino Iruka apparently does stupid things while high on painkillers. For example, yelling at the Hokage and his elite guard. Completely hypothetically, of course.

Tags: N/A

☆ b-movie love story by pentapus

Rating: Unrated

Length: 4k (Complete)

Iruka had barely touched the beer in front of him; it was the end of the school year, and he'd had a low grade headache for days. Somewhere halfway through this stack of student papers, the headache had kicked up into dizziness.

Tags: Soul Bond; fluid relationship with fourth war canon

☆ missing by decaf_kitty

Rating: E

Length: 6k (Complete)

Kakashi discovers his ninken sneak off to be spoiled by Iruka... Naturally he wants to be pampered, too.

Tags: Hurt/Comfort; Ninken | Ninja Dogs; Slow Romance; Platonic Cuddling; Sexual Tension; Forehead Kisses

☆ willful concealment by rengonemad

Rating: E

Length: 13k (Complete)

“Are you planning to keep my hair tie?” Iruka asked suddenly, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I’m holding it prisoner for crimes against the citizens of Konoha.” “What are the charges?” Kakashi smiled, twirling the band around his forefinger like a kunai. “Perjury and willful concealment.” Iruka huffed and shook his head, lips thinning in a way that made Kakashi think he was holding back a grin. “You know, if I’d realized you had such a thing for long hair, I would have started wearing mine down years ago.” Kakashi’s thumb caught the hair band, halting its revolution. “Years?” (Or, in which Iruka asks for a single night, and gets a whole lot more.)

Tags: Pining; One Night Stands; Love Confessions; Canon Compliant; Canon - Manga; POV Hatake Kakashi

☆ eye to eye (fist to fist) by terrorfecta

Rating: T

Length: 20k (Complete)

Umino Iruka had never made it a secret that he disliked the last Hatake. Kakashi never questioned why, used to people deciding what he was like before they even met him. Unfortunately for Konoha as a whole, their mutual distaste for each other soon got picked up by the gossip mill and blown out of proportion after a particularly charged discussion at the mission desk. To stop their escalating social war, the Hokage quickly sent the two on a mission to Iron, where the duo are forced to work together whether they like it or not. Kami help them all.

Tags: Enemies to Lovers; Slow Burn; Canon-Typical Violence; inappropriate use of jutsu; Prankster Umino Iruka

[rainbowolfe]

All About the Fanatic

I’ve been mulling this over since Sins of the Flesh dropped, but now I finally have the time to make a formal post about it. It’s about the identity of the Fanatic.

First things first, who is the Fanatic? Like as a person (beast).

The Fanatic was deemed worthy of a Crown by Chemach after surviving some sort of conflict. They are someone who is incredibly devoted to the First Gods/Great Ones even after ascension. And before receiving their own Crown, they too were just a Follower worshipping a Crown Bearer for protection. Timeline-wise, this probably places the start of Fanatic’s story shortly after the Great Ones leave this realm/world (though haven’t completely abandoned it yet. Maybe).

Right off the bat, we get confirmation that Crowns are living things. “I will nourish this Crown and be worthy of this power.” Crowns are something that have to be fed, and in exchange, the wearer gets to use its powers.

Fanatic has deemed themselves judge, jury, and executioner in the name of the Great Ones. If their weapon-set didn’t come with the Crown, then I believe that’s what they’re asking for in the second tablet. (“I seek your understanding.”) Though they’re being vague about what it is they want, they’re asking for something. And they’re offering further dedication/sacrifice in exchange.

Alternatively, they feel they’ve done something wrong and are asking for forgiveness. Either way, their weapons allow them to (effectively) convert Fervour into Devotion. They have a direct incentive to kill as much as possible. They technically don’t need Followers to feed their Crown either, putting them in a very unique position.

While they seem to start in Silk Cradle (they make mention of seeing the weapons used by the Great Ones), when they grow older they go on a pilgrimage that lands them in Spore Grotto. This may be a point in the “did something wrong and now they feel guilty” category, cause no one goes on a pilgrimage just because. The Mushroomos are present but don’t reveal themselves. Maybe they just haven’t evolved to the point of mobility at this time, but they can speak (to each other). And they can see.

Fanatic comments on how the air smells sweet, which could be a few different things, but it all relates back to either illness or decay. It could be the scent of the menticide mushrooms/Mushroomos. It could be the bacteria thriving in the dead carcass of a god. Or it could be a sign of what killed the God in the first place. Certain illnesses make the body give off a sweet smell in death, such as cancer, sepsis, or diabetes.

Loosely off-topic, but I believe this dead carcass of a Great One is why the rest of them ditched this realm. It’s one thing for First Gods to kill First Gods. It’s another for a Beast, an Idol, or even some random monster to do so.

“Hatched beneath the First, they crave no power, seek no other fulfillment, for it is not in their nature. And it is by nature that we must abide.”

The Fanatic values nature above all. It is the thing they’re most concerned with when they see the state of Chemach a hundred years later. Whatever cult they were originally apart of most likely worshipped a nature-oriented idol (which is one of the Aesthetics we can take on in SotF). For as much as they praise the Great Ones and seek their favor, they don’t actually value them. Not more than themselves. (as we see later)

As Fanatic passes the triple digits in age, they’re more inclined to keep a better record of the world around them. It seems that, post whatever happened to Chemach, Crowns are distributed randomly at any time. Some are hidden away to be found, others are taken by force. With no real “benefactor” save for the Crown itself, many probably just. Died from their own incompetence. And some other Beast was there to scoop up their Crown.

“Rise and fall like tides cut free from the moon” loosely implies (to me) that either a major Ocean deity or Moon deity has died. It’s weird wording you wouldn’t ever use unless something has happened to your moon. The tides are explicitly controlled by the moon. So if they’re cut free from it…

Fanatic is approached by what’s presumed to be a war god. And it most likely is. But technically, it could be any of the surviving five, as they’re all apart of this purge. The new faith that calls themselves the Old Faith. Fanatic isn’t interested in turning on their peers or worshipping… whatever it is the Old Faith worships.

It is very funny that Fanatic is on a first name basis with exactly one god. Hundreds of them. Hundreds. They name one. And it’s interesting that their domain is tied to “change”, much like Shamura claims Knowledge is.

Yngya is a made up name, as far as I can tell, so it’s not obvious what their domain was. What we do know is that they were responsible for changing the color of the leaves. So, some sort of season-based god, if not specifically Fall.

I suspect they’re a Death God. The Blood Moon Ritual is associated with the changing of seasons, and with it souls are allowed to pass on peacefully. If their domain specifically has to do with Fall, they’re most likely a Harvest God and those are often Death Gods.

I do wonder what it is Haro did that allowed her to keep her life and her Crown. There’s something off about her Crown, sure, but she still has it. She’s still powerful/capable based on the bodies you can find in her room. And she’s in a close enough range of the Bishops to have a pretty good idea of what happened between them.

The Fanatic may not recognize it, but there is/was some sort of relationship between them and the war god. Some sort of history. Maybe it’s a Mr. Incredible-Buddy thing. Where the Fanatic was the war god’s idol, but the war god was nothing to Fanatic. Regardless of the details. Every other God (save for Haro) was completely wiped from the record. They weren’t just killed. Their Crown, their Domain, and their Shrines are gone.

And though Fanatic is forced to revoke their Crown, they’re spared. (“How easily pain made a defector of me.”) I don’t believe it’s possible that none of the other hundreds of Gods were unwilling to defect in exchange for their lives. I think it’s that Fanatic was the only one given that choice.

From the beginning, the War God sought out Fanatic to give them a chance to join their new cause/religion. They were turned away… but came back near the end of the purge. Not to kill Fanatic, but to torture them into submission. “No” was never an option. The game implies that re-education is a painful process. If you reeducate someone at night, Followers will wonder about the screams they heard in their sleep.

*insert segue here*

Sozo was worshipped by Mushroomos, but also held deeply rooted contempt for them that manifested through cannibalism. I spent a bit of time stalking Sozo in my playthrough, and I noticed that he hates Mushroomo. Rightfully so, considering what happened to him. Under the influence of the menticide mushrooms, his true feelings bubble to the surface. But that’s not the important part for this. The point is, when we complete the requirements of Sozo’s quest, it’s not an ant follower form we’re granted. It’s a Mushroomo.

Therefore, I don’t think the serpent skin we get represents the form the Fanatic took. It represents the being the Fanatic has unfinished business with. Business we somehow resolve by learning/seeking “the truth”. Which is what the Ancient Tablets represent. The tab you read the Ancient Tablets (and the extra notes) in is explicitly called “Knowledge”.

 Shamura is the only character we’ve encountered that has two domains. Knowledge and War. Something more had to have happened behind the scenes for them to acquire their second domain. The Bishops killed hundreds of gods, but the Bishops didn’t acquire those domains. They were lost. When Yngya is killed, the Bishops don’t inherit the ability to change the seasons, it just doesn’t happen anymore.

So the question is, was Shamura the God of War first? Or the God of Knowledge? Based on how everyone in the game speaks about them, I’m inclined to believe it was Knowledge.

What Shamura is praised for most is their mind. Narinder reminisces about the strength of their mind and how they were once the wisest out of all of them. What’s taken from them is their intelligence—the information they’ve acquired over the years. (“I may no longer be wise, but I am no fool”). Their followers give offerings to them to ask for knowledge and guidance. And it’s also the domain they tell Lamb about first.

In fact, if Lamb doesn’t challenge them and instead bows when they request it, Shamura doesn’t share that they’re also a God of War.

Even the status effect they’re afflicted with (Dissenting) is more related to Knowledge than it is War. When Dissenter’s dissent, there’s the chance you get dialogue from them. And in that dialogue, they speak of knowing the truth. The truth and knowledge are inherently connected in this world. Dissenter’s don’t encourage violence or fighting, but a mass exodus. Dissenters steal, but they don’t destroy anything.

The Fanatic admits to relinquishing their blessing, aka their Crown. BUT, we see with Narinder/TOWW that giving up your Crown doesn’t mean giving up your godhood or the abilities that came with it. He was still the God of Death (and had complete control over that domain) until Lamb defeated him. Even after his defeat, he’s still immortal (unless you have Mystic Seller put him through the godly washing machine).

Therefore, even after giving up their crown so they would be spared, they would still be the God of Knowledge. Just without a cult or any real power to wield.

“Five becomes… becomes… Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Even pre sins of the flesh, I thought it was an interesting detail that Shamura doesn’t include themselves in their countdown. When you go to fight Shamura, they consider themselves not as ‘one’ but as ‘nothing’.

Then, there’s their final line before you fight them. Lifted straight from the Fanatic’s chronicles. These ancient tablets aren’t, like. Laying around, free for anyone to read. Lamb gets to see them because they’re the chosen one. And they have to sacrifice a full heart to have it (a pound of flesh, in Fox’s terms).

And if Shamura was the one who subjugated/killed the Fanatic, I don’t think they’d be allowed access to these tablets by the higher power guarding them. If they are the one who purged all the other gods to hide the fact that they started a new, fake religion, then they’re not exactly someone who “values truth over all else”. They have to be the one who came up with this little rhyme.

“He of havoc, he of blight; she of hunger, they of might.”

It would be weird for anyone to refer to themselves in the third person, but people gave Shamura a pass because their brain isn’t completely contained within their skull. But I have to wonder if Shamura actually is that kind of crazy. They struggle with memory and the wide-eyed stare makes them look incredibly lost at any given moment. And it seems like they have trouble tending to the needs of their followers as a cult leader. But they aren’t insane. When they’re speaking to Lamb, they seem very aware, actually.

Shamura’s issue seems to be that they spend so much time trying to remember the past, that they’re not reliably “present”. They’re effectively day-dreaming, even when they don’t mean to. Off in their own head. But they’re not like Chemach. They aren’t giggling at inside jokes they share only with themself, or talking to inanimate objects. They just aren’t as smart as they once were, because they can’t retain information.

Even when left without their Crown, it’s still just memory they struggle with—just more so than before. They still don’t speak in third person. They speak in rhymes to help them remember distant things (which they did with their Crown too). Which like. That is a thing. Mnemonic devices are known to be useful for boosting memory for everyone, not just people who struggle with memory loss.

I posit: Shamura was never speaking in the third person. There were five siblings. Five Gods. Five bringers of the end. And Shamura was a sixth, an outsider looking in. Shamed and conquered, and indoctrinated into this group unwillingly.

We see in-game, that there’s something about indoctrinating someone that makes them incredibly… complicit? Passive? Narinder explicitly did not want to join Lamb’s cult, but if you spare and indoctrinate him, he doesn’t leave. (Excluding various game mechanics that apply to all followers) He’s very critical of Lamb and the cult, but even that fades into a begrudging acceptance. He never expresses that he wants to leave. Same with all the Bishops.

The brief memory Shamura has when you give them Spider Silk would reinforce the idea that they weren’t exactly a willing participant in the Old Faith.

“In my silk, I snared a Crown… to their faith, irrevocably bound…”

The Crown given to the Fanatic by Chemach was clearly very revocable. There were no strings attached to their faith in the Great Ones. In fact, their devotion was given by choice. They offered it up. There’s also this decoration:

Of a Red Crown trapped in a web. This seems pretty connected to the memory they’re reciting.

Shamura, still a God of Knowledge just without Crown, would eventually kill and usurp the then-God of War. Granting them two domains. One granted to them by the Great Ones, the other granted to them by another force. Again, whatever force the Old Faith serves. Turua, I suspect.

All with the help of Narinder, the one they love the most.

“Bond forged by the spilling of blood… I know you hear me, God of Death.”

Whatever brought these two together was the death of another. They killed someone. And there are not a lot of options for beings that would require two gods (well, a god and a half) to take them out. Thus it would be really fitting if who they killed was the God of War that made Shamura revoke their Crown in the first place.

In that scenario, of course Shamura would love Narinder the most. They would not only appreciate the gesture and favor him over the others, but they would feel indebted to him. They would do anything for him, as he did for them.

Which includes doing whatever the hell it was that got their brain squashed and Narinder imprisoned, despite their best judgment.

[ethanjhake]

I'm curious, why have you chosen Neocities to host your comic, as opposed to a mainstream webcomic site such as Webtoon or Tapas?

Well actually, now might be a good time to mention that I will also be posting the comic to Webtoons.

I haven't said anything about this before, and that was because I wasn't sure I wanted to post on either Webtoons or Tapas. The main reason for that being that I'm using the classic page-by-page format, and Webtoons and Tapas are both built for mobile apps and are better suited to the infinite scroll format.

I know you can still post single pages or even a sequence or pages on those comic apps, but the format just doesn't lend itself well to that, and I wanted to go with a more page by page format like indie comic websites do (like gunnerkrig court, daughter of the lilies, etc.)

However, I will be posting the comic to Webtoons just to help with visibility (I'm going with Webtoons just because I'm more familiar with it than Tapas). It's just a little harder to find out about an indie comic if it's only available on some random website. But even still, I want to have my own random little website.

So why go with Neocities then? The short answer is: I hate working with corporations.

In our modern day, big companies call the shots and tell us what we can and can't do. If I post my comics to Webtoons, some executive higher up can just decide that they're "moving in a different direction" and dump me and my comic out on the streets.

I used to work for a company that seemed to have actual people's interests at heart. I was skeptical at first, and then I grew to love working there. But just over the course of a year and a half the company changed so drastically that I was forced to resign. It was all about making more money, shoving out more products, and they simple stopped listening to anyone who complained. Not even any of the managers liked this either, and they had no way to voice their concerns in any way that mattered.

I know this sounds like an angsty back story, but you seriously cannot trust companies for anything. One of the reasons I want to be an independent comic artist is so that I don't have to rely on a company for consistent pay. Companies aren't built for people, they're made to make more and more money in an endless cycle.

Neocities is different. it's almost like a workers union for internet freedom. They feel to me like a group of rebels united against the conglomerates. A rag-tag group of people who still believe that you should be able to do what you want to do, how you want to do it, (within reason of course) without having to ask some company for permission and paying upfront first.

Neocities lets you customize your website to make it look exactly the way you want it to, and they let you do it for free. I tried looking into making a website with Wix (what I determined was one of my better choices for a websites builder) and I was bombarded the whole time with little pop-ups trying to make me use their Ai assistant to do everything for me. What is even the point of making my own website if I have to follow some set template and use an experimental technology to set it up?

But all this to say, I want to have more freedom in how I publish my comic to the world, I've been burned by companies before, so there's no way I'm entrusting them with my labor of love.

TLDR: I chose Neocities because I wanted more freedom, but I will be posting SotF to Webtoons for more visibility.

Thank You for the ask! :D

[ratcandy]

OH YEAH and yeah idk maybe the big skull fungus very well could be like, a god. that it could be like, the one god shroom. i remember people before sotf were wondering if the mushroomos infected sozo(nious) on purpose because of the implication that its a god was in the file name even before the lore tablets mentioned it.. i think. i havent seen them for myself either besides small glances IT ALSO HAS A WHITE STEM?? INSTEAD OF A BLACK ONE LIKE SOZO HAS?? like?? is it a different type? what if its from an ancient ancestor? whats going on, whats the relation of the mushroomos to these similar but different fungi? im honestly just as confused as you are. i think about these things about the game, especially with sozo, so often and im glad someone else also does just as much LMAO. at this rate ive posted 3 fucking anon asks in a row im so sorry

COTL DEVS ANSWER ME WHAT IS THE SKULL SUPPSOED TO BE

If it is a god shroom then everything explodes because It's A God Shroom it could do whatever it wants for any reason . In which Sozo has a god in his body/brain(???) and that's why it can drag him with it when it's revived. and that is a Theory I've proposed before but then it's like. WHY would a god shroom NOT infect more than just Sozo. Surely it wants to propagate right??? Otherwise why infect at all?? Unless it just wanted a vessel??

I mean fuck if we really want to go insane about it, the fungi that kills Sozo doesn't even look like the same fungi

and it split the one on his head in HALF so like. I assume it's the same fungi and it just spores in a strange way, because otherwise we're going into complicated ass hyperparasitism territory (parasites that infect other parasites) which we COULD do but like WHY, but i mean.

like. maybe this is a neverending spiral of endless fungi. who knows Throws my hands into the air.

AND DIFFERENT STEM COLORS YOU'RE RIGHT I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE?? COULD THEY BE DIFFERENT SPECIES THEN? BUT WHY ... Or is a maturity thing and maybe the one on Sozo is younger and will lose its darker colors as it ages????? I mean. And bear with me here, but. The shroom on the skull has fuckin age lines. So like. Old shroom? Old shroom gone white with age? Old? Shroom? Aged? Elderly shroom?

and don't even get me STARTED on the mushroomos who are themselves seemingly menticide (given they drop it when killed and sozo will eat them). like. the worldbuilding here is so fucked and I can only barely try to contain it into digestible boxes that make a vague amount of sense in my brain

[return-of-a-space-cowboy]

🧚‍♀️ Anon

To be honest I’m a little unsure for a Part 1 for Sins of the Father (I really love that title though)

So I’m completely fine and curious about what you would write for it (I currently have no ideas at the moment for SotF but I might get some later, I might need to watch the newer Scream Movies)

Here are a few ideas I have though in general, I’d like to hear what you think

Mostly I can see Darling use her mother’s last name to hide being related to Kira

Does Darling move back to Morioh?

What if the shock of the murders results in a Horror Movie being put in production (Maybe it’s called ‘Morioh Massacre’ or something) and a bunch of rumors spread about it being based on a True Story about Morioh’s infamous Serial Killer

I definitely like the parallel with Kira, Darling just wants to have a normal life (But unlike her father she doesn’t have his murderous impulses, but maybe she did inherit his rage whenever she feels like she can’t get away from his legacy) only someone in Morioh is after her, calling her, cryptic messages and gruesome murders whenever she goes

Maybe this is how her Stand finally manifests (Her Stand has always been apart of her life when Kira got it, but either she’s never been strong enough to fully manifest it or she new about its existence but never could grasp it’s full potential and abilities until her life was threatened and thrown into turmoil)

Darling uses her Horror Movie trivial, sarcasm and dry humor as a coping mechanism (In reality she’s angry and tired, but she doesn’t want to be the helpless victim, especially since she knows they’re always the first to die)

Maybe Josuke knew Darling? But she was known as that quiet nerdy girl? (His mom and her mom knew each other, before her disappearance) Maybe Josuke and Darling we’re friends but grew apart when she had to move away because of the bullying?

I wasn’t very sure with this and I just wrote a few ideas (My mind kinda went ham)

Also that fanart you drew was very cute I liked it a lot

Ok so I have a few idea, still want to keep things cryptic for now.

Reader was in her last year of middle school when the truth of yoshikage Kira came out and due to her last name this led to a lot of negative attention. Thus her grandparents moved and had her last name changed to her mothers.

I'm thinking that darling knows who Josuke was as he was a year above them. Probably though word of mouth as well as seeing him after leaving class but they never knew eachother personally. Perhaps Josuke knows her through association due this grandfather being friends with her grandparents, he probably saw a couple of photos that his mother had been shown. Perhaps even a slight push to befriend her but didn't do so.

I'm thinking that After graduation Josuke may have taken a gap year to America to see his dad and such before going to university and ending up in the same course not entirely sure on the subject yet.

The horror movie idea is really interesting. Perhaps it's brought up by a work colleague. They're really excited and start going on about it and darling is saying some stuff that is out of character from what they know. Leading to them asking why they aren't interested.

"Oh I just think it's a bit exploitive" she'd say.

"But you really like chainsaw massacre and that's kinda based off of Ed Gein" they'd point out. (It was the only example I could come up rn with that wasn't an out right exploitation film)

Perhaps it's brought up the case again as well and some of former students of the middle school bring up that there was a girl there related to him. She might even be confronted by a relative of one of the victims.

Putting her really on edge and Josuke might just walk in on a situation without context and immediately rush in to help. And probably gets some clues that she's being stalked or harassed.

Her stand probably developed after a particular incident back in marioh cho before leaving, she'd had hit her breaking point and retaliated against one if the other student. Her first outburst. After she left she started to receive texts and most likely followed by subsequent injuries. Act 2 probably developed a few years later after another incident. Perhaps her stand was trying to get revenge on someone on her behalf. (Sometimes it targets particular people who threaten darling, other times it chooses random victims)

Thanks for liking the design I came up with, currently sharing my laptop with my partner so I can't use it as often. If I could I would have done some photo bashing to get a idea for act 3s Appearance.

[starboundanon]

Hi Herbie! I read the last chapter of SotF and it was very well written, and wow you really know how to throw in those conflicting emotions and feelings. Masterfully done! Like Luke feeling trapped and wondering if he will be allowed to leave, but also wanting to be there at the same time! Thank you so much for posting.

So after I read that chapter, I was really thinking about it and kinda wandered into “what if” territory. And I wanted to know what you think would happen if this:

What if…. “Somehow Padmé was alive…” (LMAO mocking sequel trilogy) and for whatever reason, she either thought they were dead or was kept from them. So anyways she finds Anakin and Luke, around the time of this most recent chapter (but doesn’t know what they have been up to) and of course they are both delighted, Anakin to have his Angel back, and Luke gets to meet his mom! In this scenario, would Anakin suddenly have less physical interest in Luke, now that he can be with his wife, or would he still be trying to sneak to be with Luke? If he stopped going after Luke, would Luke become hurt and jealous of his mom? Would he do bad things to try and I get more attention back? Or be relieved and happy with their new “normal” family?

Oof, anon. I love this ask.

I was talking about this with @hornyfandomtrash, but there really would be only two options, if Padmé was alive.

The first, as HFT said, Anakin would have to extend his relentless, controlling behavior equally onto both of them. His jealousy would force him to keep them separated, except for when he wanted the three of them to be together, similar to how he already restricts Luke's time spent with Obi-Wan until it suits him. He would probably never let Luke and Padmé be alone together, and even that wouldn't be enough to really stem his possessiveness. Padmé would, most likely, be driven away, forced to go back to wherever she's been these last 18 years. Anakin wouldn't take it well, but I think Luke would be relieved. She isn't the parent he spent his life idolizing, after all. She was a stranger to him, really, in the end.

The only other option is a lot darker, but the only way the three of them could really stay the three of them is if Padmé knew, and refused to intervene, regardless of how she actually felt about it. I personally can't see her joining in — Anakin probably wouldn't let her, even if she wanted to — but maybe she's willfully ignorant, or distantly consumed by guilt. Maybe, when Anakin "tucks Luke into bed" at night, she pretends to be asleep when her husband finally comes to bed, pointedly ignoring the fact that it's two hours later.

Regardless of which way it went, no, Anakin wouldn't lose physical interest in Luke. I think he crossed that boundary with no intention of ever turning back — knowing he never could, once he did. I don't think a "normal" family is possible for them, not from the beginning of this story. The moment Anakin took Luke for that bike ride on The Lady, things were too far to turn back from, Padmé or no.

[backtraf]

If you’re still taking prompts for sotf, I think it cute to see something about about Kelvin getting sick/injured and Tim having to take care of him or vice versa.

The sun was just setting as Tim walked back into the camp, making his way to the fire and shrugging off his pack. Virginia was off a little ways, showing Kelvin something she had found. Tim smiled and made his way over to them, waving his hand to get Kelvin's attention.

Kelvin turned at the movement and smiled, walking towards him. Tim stopped, his vision going a bit blurry at the edges. He shook his head as Kelvin made it to him to clear his vision.

"Did you find anything useful?" Kelvin asked before frowning. "Are you okay? You look tired."

Tim forced a smile and nodded before pulling Kelvin in for a hug. Virginia skipped over and presented a flower to Tim. He took it gently and looked it over before looking back at her.

"This is a very lovely flower, Virginia. Thank you." Tim carefully tucked it behind his ear and turned back to Kelvin, signing, "I think I'm getting close to figuring out this place and maybe a way off the island."

Kelvin's frown deepened, and he pulled Tim towards the fire. "You're working too hard. You need to rest."

Tim sighed and let himself be pulled, but his vision began to blur again, and his foot caught on a rock. He was too disoriented to catch himself, so he fell ungracefully to the ground, nearly pulling Kelvin with him.

Kelvin let out a noise of shock and concern, trying to flip Tim onto his back. Tim's eyes were closed, and Kelvin panicked, his hand pressing against his forehead and almost flinching at the heat. Virginia was at his side in a moment, shock written on her face as well. She cupped Kelvin's face to get him to look at her, seeing that he was on the verge of a panic attack.

Once she had his attention, she signed, "Let's get him to bed."

Kelvin nodded and grabbed Tim's upper body while Virginia grabbed his legs, and together, they carefully took him to the small bed, laying him down on it. It wasn't much, but it was better than laying on the hard ground.

Kelvin dug through Tim's pack and pulled out a cloth, running to the stream to wet it and gently placing it on Tim's forehead. Virginia moved around him and grabbed the flask from the pack, bringing over as Tim started coming back around.

"What happened?" Tim asked as Virginia handed him the flask to take a drink.

Kelvin looked at him, anger written on his features as he signed, "You fainted, idiot. You're sick now, lay down."

Tim did as he was told, finding it hard to argue when he was as tired as he was. Sleep took him quickly.

[evviejo]

“think how the doctor would do it. swan in there like she owns the place, big smiles, loads of chat, total confidence.”

this is what yaz says prior to walking into barton’s office with ryan in spyfall part one when ryan is freaking out about their undercover assignment. wwtdd?

and with that in mind, look at what yaz does later, especially when she’s not with the doctor, and has to get something done. remember her when she’s with graham in hong kong and they meet jake. she whips out those skeleton keys, grins confidently, a total show-off. when she’s with the refugees in aotc, telling them there’s hope and they were going to keep them all safe. when she’s in the temple of atropos and is asked to repair, when she meets vinder and babbles on, despite not having any idea what to do. even when later swarm and azure show up, all skully and threatening. then again, in vota, in sotf, even in lotsd. same thing.

this is the basis on which the whole doctorification arc rests. yaz does not “become the doctor” in tpotd by accident. it’s not fully deliberate, it’s not her goal to become her, but to take the things that make the doctor successful in helping people, in getting the job done, and help people herself.

and exactly this is what i find so compelling about this arc. she knows what she’s doing, she sees the doctor’s actions for what they are, she knows just how the doctor sometimes fibs and puts on a mask, she really, truly admires her, with all the flaws that she has, but sees the way that it works and takes on those traits and behaviours herself when faced with a mission or a task to complete.

yaz’s doctorification is not done to be flashy, it’s understated, but consistent and obvious when you just take another look at it. it’s a profound, intentional change in yaz’s actions. it’s yaz working on herself to be better, to be bolder, to be braver, to be a hero.

[localguy2]

I've watched the first 7 episodes of Dragons Rising and while yes I haven't finished it I have so much to say.

First of all, the animation, holy fuck the animation looks so good, and here I thought that it couldn't get better than Crystalized's animation.

The fight scenes are once again, incredible, standard with Wildbrain's animation, the set pieces and backgrounds and just everything is so incredibe and including the Ninja powers & Spinjitzu, which may I add both look absolutely gorgeous.

Wildbrain has taken it to the next level, so amazing job to them.

Arin and Sora and Riyu.

Fuck me i love them already so much-

poor Sora got treated so badly, she reminds me of Nya when she was still figuring out her powers, she's frustrated of herself and feels responsible for the Photacs despite it not really being her fault, she was still young when she made them and the Imperium used her technology for things she resented can't wait to see where she goes next.

Arin.

I don't even know what to say, he's just so damn loveable, it broke my heart to see him ask the Cloud Kingdom writers to bring his parents back, because despite being at least a bit more mature and skilled, he's still just a kid at the end of the day, and that scene with him in Imperium when he finds that group of kids like is just... Fuck man, he literally says he feels so seen, he saw people sorta like him but that was also taken away with how they immediately started talking about serving the Imperium Claws, such a good character and I'm hyped to see what they do with him.

Riyu.

Little dragon baby, that's all I'm gonna say, you just can't hate on him, are you seriously going to pick a fight with a little guy like that?

Okay now, old team members.

Finally, we got actual RGB siblings content, not like a few seconds worth of interaction, and hell it's really good as well.

They just take the piss at each other and mess around, I especially like the scene in the Cloud Kingdom archives, and the one on the new bounty where Sora explains how Arin told a barber to give him "The Zane", only for Kai to interject and tell Arin to get "The Kai", it's such a fun scene.

Nya is badass as always, great to see, I especially love how she's respected by the craglings to the point that their leader takes her word for a lot of stuff.

Kai has taken a more responsible role while still being himself, which I love so much because he's being serious while also being the dumbest guy alive

And Lloyd is well, Lloyd! He's just chilling and I'm happy that not all focus is on him, actually that brings me to another the point, the show doesn't really focus on 1 character all that often, it keeps changing POVs constantly and it's really nice, props to them.

Sidenote: this scene... Ugh man it hits...

Lloyd is so surprised by this, and the kids coming along to explain it is just uhhhh I love it.

Finally, dialogue, lore and the humor.

One of my biggest gripes with Ninjago from SotFS to Crystalized is was that it was no longer a story with some elements of comedy, rather it was a comedy with a story.

It still told really good stories don't get me wrong, but the comedy just didn't land most of the time, and that sorta unintentionally affected the story as well, it felt too childish and while Ninjago is a kids show, the jokes were just too on the nose sometimes.

But, with Dragons Rising?

Haha, NOPE!

I love the comedy here, it's so goofy and fun at times but it's never on the nose, I found myself constantly smiling when they joke about something, the gags are aimed at kids and adults as well, and it shows.

This scene for example.

This is such a ridiculous and goofy gag I can't help but smile each time I see it, and the series keeps this type of humor up the whole time, it's fantastic!

The lore.

Jesus man I love the world they've built, it's so good and you really feel the sheer diversity and verity of the Crossroads, you really get a feel for it.

It basically screaming: The Merge displaced so many many people, which is everyone is welcome here regardless of what you are, Nindriod, Frog, serpentine, Human, anything! You're accepted here.

And I think that's lovely.

And for the Dialogue, it's excellent.

It reveals what you need to know most of the time using Flashbacks, and these flashbacks are nice as well.

The dialogue isn't boring, not at all, even if it's a small comment and it feels really fitting most of the the time thankfully.

Now, the only issue I have with DR is potentially the pacing, but I literally don't have it in me to blame the predoucers.

This is the first time this team has tried writing 22 minutes long episodes, and they have done an absolutely spectacular job at that so far.

Remember, this team is used to writing 11 minute episodes only, so you could imagine how challenging it was for them to write a 22 minute episode.

And the best part is, they pulled it off almost flawlessly, they hit perfectly with the humor, world building, lore and just everything, seriously amazing job to these guys!

So overall, Dragons Rising Part 1 so far is absolutely awesome, I still haven 3 more episodes and I honestly can't wait to finish them, I'm so excited for part 2 and I hope yall are as well.

[selfproclaimedunicorn]

Perspective Flip from the fic ask game for Sins of the Father?

Finished up chapter 20, took a brain break for a few days, & then cranked this out in a single day. It being a rehash of an event I already wrote helped. Hope you enjoy seeing part of the wedding from chapter 13 of SOTF

Shireen leaned into Yorick as she held onto his arm so that she would not fall behind him as she gawked at Runestone’s great hall. Food was piled high on the tables that lined the open expanse of the tiled floor, fires blazed in braziers and in the great hearth behind the dais, and banners for Houses Baratheon and Targaryen had been hung alongside those with the runes of House Royce. An extra table had been pushed up against the high table on the dais, making it long enough to accommodate all the guests of honor who had come for the wedding. Her parents were up the two steps first, going to the far left end of the table as she and Yorick followed them. Lady Royce and the prince, as well as the adult members of House Targaryen, came to the high table behind them to all take their places at the center and right end of the tables. Yorick helped Shireen to take the heavy, bronze and black cloak from about her shoulders, and then pulled her chair out for her. She smiled at him, big and bright with her lips parted, and took her seat. She was too excited to be as demure as she wanted. Even if it was just their wedding day, even if they had only been looking at each other with want for two months, Yorick was going above and beyond to meet the standards she hadn't even put voice to. Shireen’s eyes darted towards her parents, their clasped hands propped on the table between them as Lord Boremund idly stroked his wife's thumb with his own.

She turned her gaze back to Yorick as she heard him shifting next to her, leaning forward to look around his mother at the princess and the queen. She leaned forward as well, returning Alicent’s small wave she did. Rhaenyra's lavender eyes flicked towards Shireen for only a moment, and she leaned back in her chair, disappearing from view behind Alicent and the men. Shireen's smile faltered for the first time that day since she'd finished getting ready that morning and begun the procession to the sept, and she leaned back in her chair as well.

“I don't understand, Rhaenyra liked me before.”

“My cousin is…I don't even know,” Yorick sounded weary, as if this were just some new addition to a long list of regular events he was tired of, “she has been odd about our marriage ever since mother announced it formally.” Princess Rhaenyra had been in a mood about much lately it would seem; more so than was usual for a Targaryen. She could not blame her, she supposed. A brother being born after she had been named heir and all the lords of the realm having to swear themselves to her, the mother of that boy being Alicent of all people. Shireen would not be pleasant either.

Her mind swam with images of the two girls in Storm’s End’s gardens, flower crowns on their heads as Rhaenyra pressed her lips to Alicent’s, and with recollections of her spat with Ella five months ago when overheard snippets of complaints were taken as a personal slight independent of their source. “Maybe I should talk to her. She was odd about Ella at Aegon’s name day hunt, but she seemed fine after they talked in Ella and Alyssa's tent. Perhaps…perhaps she has just worked herself into some kind of conviction about some way I did ill by her while she was not looking.”

“I could speak to her with you, if you like. I've gotten quite good at smoothing things over with her.”

“Oh! Um, no, that is fine. I think it would be best if it was worked through between women. Your offer is very kind though.” Yorick couldn’t be there. She couldn’t accidentally do what Princess Rhaenyra had potentially convinced herself happened while talking her down from thinking she’d told someone. Because that had to be it, right? What else could she possibly think Shireen had done?

“What kind of husband would I be if I did not offer to help my wife with things that trouble her?” He asked. Shireen smiled again, giddy with barely held back giggles, and took his hand in hers. She leaned into Yorick again, and kissed his cheek. When she pulled back there was color on his cheeks, and a smile pulling up the corners of his bow shaped lips.

“A different husband than the one I got.”

The feast was a haze of rich food and strong smells and the spiced wine her uncles brought from Pentos. Servants came and went, filling plates and goblets, as speeches were given and songs drifted down from the gallery over the great hall. Ella came up to the dais at one point, coming to talk to Yorick and Shireen before she was replaced with Borros and Elenda, who in turn were replaced with a seemingly never ending exchange of Uncle Vararo, Maroquo, Yorick’s cousins, Rhaenys, Laena, and finally Uncle Lysillos and Aunt Velysa.

His time before the high table was one of the few times Magister Lysillos Hotin of Pentos allowed himself to overtly boast. He would not turn down the opportunity to point out the barrels of spiced wine and boxes of saffron, the volume of the floral smelling spice so high that it had stained the skin of the multiple roasted capon cooked with it yellow, had come from him and his family–not in front of the King of Westeros.

By the time the pie was brought out, all Yorick could do was pick at a crumbling and mostly untouched almond cake set on a plate between him and Shireen. He got up first, and he helped her to ease her chair away from the table. Shireen clung to Yorick’s arm as they stepped down from the dais, the eyes of the hall packed full of nobles following their walk to where a squire waited with the sword for them to use to cut the pie.

Her hold shifted from his arm to the short cape hanging diagonally from his left shoulder. The sword looked so natural in Yorick’s hands, and Shireen bit into her plump lower lip as he swung it down into the pie. Over a dozen skylarks, now freed from their prison of crust, flew away, but she didn’t watch where they went. The only thing that mattered to look at was Yorick. Tall, elegant featured, knightly Ser Yorick. With this final bit of ceremony before the bedding, the wedding felt so much more complete and if she was not so full from the, perhaps overabundant, offerings from the feast Shireen would have happily snuck off with him to his apartments long before they were supposed to.

She turned back towards the dais with Yorick, but Shireen could only look at him as Lady Rhea made the final speech of the wedding before the opening notes for an almain drifted down from the gallery. Chairs scraped against the bronze, black, and green tiles as other noble guests moved to join them, and Uncle Vararo was already heading to the dais when Yorick pulled her attention again and began leading her through their first married dance.

He was not quite as good as he had been when he was a boy, but Yorick was not bad either. Their dance very well could have been like something from a story if Ella had not made a face at him as she swept past with her betrothed. Yorick scrunched his face, returning her playful rudeness with his own. Shireen laughed at them, and her husband's gaze fell to her again.

Yorick’s eyes, an uncannily bright purple, stayed on her through the last few turns of the dance and as he took both her hands and lifted them to his lips to kiss her knuckles. Her gaze fell from his, it was too overwhelming to continue to hold, and her teeth worried with her lower lip again. Shireen's face felt warm, and she considered suggesting they find a way to leave early, but before she could talk herself into one decision or the other their attention was being called for again.

“Yorick, Lady Shireen.”

Yorick stiffened at his father’s presence, and he did not even bother to hide his contempt, glaring at him as he spoke. “Is there something you needed, father?”

“I would have the next dance with my son’s new wife. If I may be allowed.” There was a teasing edge to his voice, and a lopsided smile on his face as he responded.  Prince Daemon’s eyes, so similar to Yorick’s, shifted from him to Shireen and he seemed to relax ever so slightly as he looked away from his oldest son.

She didn’t know what to make of Yorick’s father, he was more story than true man to her. They had barely interacted in the handful of times they had been in the same location, and why would they have? She was little more than his very young, fairly distant, cousin for so long. Yorick did not like him though, that much she was sure of.

“You honor me with your offer, my prince.” Shireen said simply, bowing her head as she did. That was all Prince Daemon needed, apparently, extending his hand for her to take as he subtly inclined his head towards a part of the open floor further away. She smiled, soft and unsure of herself, and placed her fingertips on her good father’s upturned palm.

He led her further into the crowd of dancers just like that, neither of them daring to move more than was necessary until the music swelled once more. His hand was warm when she pressed her palm against his, and calloused from years of sword fighting and ill-advised gloveless flights on dragonback. It wasn’t dissimilar to Yorick or her brother or her own father, but it felt like it should be. The silence was full, like it was waiting to be pierced with a sword for birds to fly out of like the wedding pie. Or maybe fire, or dozens of tiny dragons would be more apt for a Targaryen.

“Tell me about Yorick.” He spoke sooner than Shireen had thought he would, but even if Prince Daemon had waited through most of the dance his words would have caught her off guard.

“He is your son.”

“Humor me.”

This felt like a test. What could he do if she failed, though? She and Yorick were already married. And how could she fail? They had known each other since she was nine. “Yorick is…thoughtful. About everything–other people’s feelings, their actions, what they may be thinking. His dragon, both the good and bad, about every way a situation could go. About his own duties, about how he must be careful with people. He fears himself, I think.”

Prince Daemon scoffed, his smile growing bemused. It was so much like Ella’s. “Himself?”

“He was claimed by a dragon everyone has always feared, that eats its own–who would not feel unease at whatever in them drew him to them?”

“Do you fear whatever that is?” His eyes bored into her, intense and probing. Shireen forced herself to hold the prince’s gaze.

“He was kind to The Cannibal, he respected him. Why would I fear that?” She did not fear whatever darkness Yorick had convinced himself was there either. She could never be scared of him; he was too thoughtful and careful, too deliberately gentle. He probably could hurt her if he wanted to, but he wouldn’t. That was not Yorick’s character.

Prince Daemon’s eyes were still searching, but some of the intensity was gone. Her soul was not being peeled away layer by layer and inspected now. “He is angry, you know.”

“Not with me.” Shireen was kind to him, she respected him. What reason did he have to lash out at that?

“Yorick is happy, isn’t he?”

“He is.”

He was silent again at that, remaining so through the final few steps of the dance. Shireen felt awkward as she let her arm fall to her side, unsure of if he would say anything else or would simply walk away to stew in whatever verdict he’d reached on her answers. She almost opened her mouth to speak, just to fill the silence, but words finally found the prince again.

“Good. My son should have some happiness in his marriage.”

Shireen ached to say something, but what exactly escaped her. Prince Daemon hated his own marriage, Yorick disliked his father but his father did not dislike him, she did not think the prince disliked her…although maybe he had wanted to. There were so many things that should be fixed, and maybe could be, but many more that probably could not.

“Lady Shireen.” He nodded to her, and turned on his heel to stalk further into the great hall. Even tall and white haired like Yorick, Prince Daemon seemed to disappear into the throng, unable to be found again. Although she did not look for him terribly hard. Shireen could not find Princess Rhaenyra to try to speak to her privately either, and she tried much harder to find her.

[darksouls2yuri]

Hi, is there anything you like about Dark Souls 2 in particular? I have the game and I somewhat want to play it? But I haven't heard many positive things in particular, and it's leaving me sorta discouraged. I'm just really unsure if I'm gonna like it. 😅

so upfront anon, you'll never know if you like it if you dont play it!!! be free have fun and try it since you already have it. with that being said;

AAAAA ANON DO YOU HAVE DS2 OR DS2 SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST SIN? I have both. sotfs on ps4 and vanilla on pc, I like vanilla ds2 worlds worlds better than sotfs. So in my opinion which version you have determines enjoyability, but just my opinion. I really dislike sotfs for the changes it made to the game. (see this ask) also upfront if you've already played dark souls dark souls 2 is not going to be the same experience. dark souls 2 is pretty much a different beast gameplay and storywise <- obviously there are lots of tie ins with dark souls but ds2 is set in a different place in arguably almost like its own bubble in time as well. which well is something i like. i really enjoy how different it is from dark souls as well as dark souls 3

As far as what I enjoy about ds2, I love the atmosphere, it is in my opinion the best looking souls game. It has the best environments and design choices. The soundtrack is amazing as well. Something I know others dislike is the amount of bosses (ds2 is like what, double the length of either ds or ds3??) & types of bosses there are. Im a big fan of the optional bosses. I also am insane and love the gank fights between multiple bosses, Ruin Sentinels is my favorite boss!!!! Its just super awesome and theyre so fun to fight. dark souls 2 does have an issue with crush being like. the main damage type a shit ton of bosses are weak to, but tbh i dont find it that annoying except for stupid bitches like smelter demon (just bring lucatiel or a buddy with you for it. smelter demon sucks 😑) i actually really like the combat feel. i really disagree with the sentiment i see where people say you have to fill out the paperwork to attack; my experience playing dark souls has been like that. ds2 has been really responsive and feels good to play. also ds2 for pc is very well optimized i can play it on my shitty laptop from 2010 whereas dark souls stutters on my pc from 2019.

i really really like ds2 and i would really suggest trying it!! its okay if its not for you also, be free have fun forever. i will say ds2 is also much easier than the other two for a few different reasons (first that comes to mind is the amount of healing options you get. on my main save i have an insane surplus of life gems) so if you feel like itll be hard dont worry i can play it and well. im definitely not a gamer im literally about to go play peggle after i finish this ask.

if you do play try out hexes!!!! hexes are awesome and bc of their stat requirements you can use sorceries and some miracles too. also the choice to level adp is yours and yours alone. i really genuinely dont see a difference in iframes personally eventhough i know functionally it does increase them. attunement also increases your agility alongside adp so if youre going for a caster then. yknow 😃

[cotlfanficspromptsblog]

COTL SOTF Fanfic(Reboot)

Chapter 1 : "Welcome to The Midsummonar Cult of Sin!"

1-16-24(The Rise of Sin)

Day 23 of Midsummonar Cult..

"Twas The Dawn of a new day at Lambert's Cult which the young lamb now fully adult sheep becoming the rich, worshipped & faithful leader towards all of his cultists! but things weren't always gonna stay the same forever though like most things in life..

Things Change for The Better or for The Worse. but thankfully for Lambert & his Cult along with his Sister Angelique, The Old Faith was rather genuinely faithful towards them.

Lamb was then going indoors into the Temple with his Oldest & Newest Members/Followers all ran and gathered into the Temple like a herd of sheep and waited excitedly to hear today's sermon and become inspired by their leader's words of inspiration.

One of those Followers were Lambert's First & Oldest Members a Black Cat named Chapplin, a White Sting bee named Camila & one of The Ex Minibosses of Darkwood Valefar(or Mrs. Val or Val for short) Lambert's Most Trusted Missionary Forager.

The 3 were chatting together in the crowded temple filled with other members while their leader was setting up the podium & donation chest to store today's temple charities.

C : "Gee today might be another great sermon! don't you think ladies?

C (Camellia) : Sure it is chappin, we've been in this cult for only 23 days now *scoffs* you think you realize the routine of the leader by now right?

V : Oh cmon now sugarcube i feel's like somethin different gonna happen today, i can feel it in my bones & blood!

Chapplin & Camelia both shrugged their shoulders and turned around to see their leader announce today's sermon & good word of the day.

L : *ahem* Good Morning my Wonderful Cultists!

Everyone : Good Morning, Oh Mighty Leader!

L : TY!. Now Today's sermon is.. what the hell? why's everything rumbling..

All of a Sudden The Temple started rumbling & everyone in the temple started looking around until their heads all looked upwards at the lamb's red crown floating on it's own sentience until all went red..

The Void Lambert entered into was not the same as Reality's but only saw the bright red void the crown had created but not only that but the crown had no longer looked like the same as before but rather much different appearance & form..

The Crown had took the form of a Serpent like form as it slithered towards Lambert rather sinisterly like.

The crown then looked at lambert with it's piercing red eye and suddenly slithered towards him all while the young fluffy lamb stared hypnotically back at it in confusion but wonder and curiosity. but before Lambert could say anything the crown finally spoke to him!

R.C : Hello there young lamb, i seen i've haven't fully shown my true form yet nor have i decided to show my sentience to you. but as you've probably wondered now can speak & talk but not only that i am here to give you a new purpose now that you have grown from being a weakling to a mighty powerful little wooly god!

"The Reason i'm coming to you now is to guide you new position & put it the highest test imaginable. Changes in the scenery!

The Serpent Crown then asked Lambert answer his question and waited for his answers to them aswell as at least trying to be out of the trance it put him in.

R.C Puts Lambert out of The Red Trance

L : Ugh my head.. oh yeah as for you question, mind telling me whatever it is?

R.C : Why yes little lamb, my question is to you, do you love being a cult leader?

L : Why of course, it's my job & i quite enjoy doing it besides cleaning the poop all the time gags.

R.C : Second Question, do you love your followers, and most especially your wives?

L : Oh Yeah, I absolutely can agree to that answer! and yes i really adore my wives esp. my sweet samantha swoons

R.C : Final Question, will you accept my request in sin?

L : Uh, that one i'm a bit confused about, mind having a better explanation for me please?

R.C : As you wish little lamb, my request to you is a new cult changing quest for the future of you cult, by mostly having fun but in your own way..

in life most creatures like yourselves may have innocent looks on the outside, very pacifistic i've noticed but on the deep insides of yourselves lamb & most esp. your followers, they are born with sin.

and by being born with sin, their born with flaws.. and sins your little followers haven't released in eons even your sweet samantha & her 2 best friends.. possibly even Narinder himself.

L : so what are you saying then?

R.C : I'm saying to let your followers all commence in celebrating sin & releasing them of said sin and to help you with it i gift you some tools for the task!

The Crown then added 3 new structures to the shrine for lambert's cult which included : a Drinkhouse(with a 2nd upgrade), a drum circle & most surprisingly a mating tent as well as a extra new strucure during crusades but that's for another time.

Lambert was super shocked & filled to the brim with sinful nature & happiness because that meant he could raise the next generation of cultists through mating, give his members drinks and so much more.

to him it felt like he has power over his cult and that everything was gonna change for the better in his eyes.

L : Gee thanks Crown, i will do my best in this new task you gifted me as your vessel!

R.C : Do Well little lamb, do well indeed & farewell!

The Crown the returned to Lambert's head as it old crown shaped form while he then smiled proudly at his cultist, with them being unaware of the new challenges that not only their leader but life in general will bring them to the everlasting growing cult of midsummonar..

tbc..

[goremet-chef]

behold!! a long ass ramble about sotf and the forest cuz im super hyperfixated and love both with all my heart

my bestie had a super old computer and she wasnt able to run the forest anymore so we couldnt play it for like a year or 2 😭😭 but she bought a laptop and we finally played again after all that time and it was so fun and we met a worm (by we met a worm, i mean SHE met the worm, it was right behind me and i had no idea except for when i jumped down the cliff to get into our house cuz i kept forgetting we had a zipline, i saw 3 little worm bits fall down to my right after me and then i left the game as fast as i could cuz im not about that!! (no fr it was fucking horrible i was so scared my hands were shaking for like 5 minutes 💀 its fun i love it))

and then we beat it and ugh man i wanna play it again like. DONT GET ME WRONG i love sotf so much and i was literally stimming so hard when i heard it was coming out so soon like i was so fucking hype, but the newer creepies arent as scary to me i think? EXCEPT THE CATERPILLAR fuck that noise but otherwise like i think the main this is cuz right listen here is my tale okay

so it was our first playthru of the forest, we saw markiplier and his friends play it (their newer one) and so we were like wow this looks great guys lets get this game so we got it and listen man i just thought it was CANNIBALS thats all i had no fucking idea there were mutants, sooo

i was logging with them above our house area (we built it the same spot as mark shush) and i hear a deer running right and im like okay whatever it was so unimportant i hardly remember that detail, and then i am got!! i am gotten something has got me and i turn and its a fucking armsy and i dont remember since it was a while ago but i know i freaked the fuck out and i was like GUYS theres a fucking. a thing theres a THING come down from the cliff we gotta go and mannn

let me tell you that FEAR has never left me, armsy is the mutant im most afraid of just cuz of that first initial encounter. like the way it TOWERED OVER ME BRO and i didnnt know what i was looking at, shit man. AWFUL, i love it. the newer creepy mutants are just smaller i think, but i still think theyre very cool

i will say tho no shade (full shade) but my friends arent like. they arent GOOD at listening or looking out for danger, so i am our eyes and ears most of the time

i am SO OVERLY PARANOID IN THE FOREST its like actual hell i can feel the stress taking over my body (believe it or not, i do enjoy playing this game) its crazy and theres been so many times ive saved our asses cuz i can hear an armsy coming from a mile away 💀 its fun tho we have fun here

yeah idk i miss it i might ask if we can play more cuz i kinda want megan to spawn around our base (also speaking of megan i kicked her ASS MAN all the fear ive ever felt and the nerves i had before the fight were completely turned to dust because fighting something that size activated my monster hunter instincts and i wasnt scared anymore i kept staggering her with my fire club and i did the finishing blow it was epic. my friend died like 4 times somehow but its okay we did it)

[kimageddon]

So if it comes to asks about your OCs I have one for Zayia. How easily does she make friends? Like is she someone who can trust others easily and if she does how does she handle the whole friendship? Is she someone who likes to go out with them or maybe someone who is more revered and needs them to just grab her hand and show Zayia the fun of the world?

Thank you! All your works are amazing 😍👍🏻😘

Well... here's the thing.

Zaiya is not a very good friend. At least not in a more modern setting.

In APOD is works because her associates are soldiers, dark side users and bounty hunters. She thinks of them as associates and doesn't really think of them as friends (even if she would give her life for them - but she's contrary like that.)

For a more more modern setting, Zaiya has a great difficulty making friends. She doesn't do much small talk, and is task-focused so it's not often she will remember to check in with people.

She quite honestly doesn't know how to handle relationships, they don't make much sense to her. She struggled a lot and was hurt as a child because of it. So for the most part as an adult, she does her own thing and then people seem to gravitate to her, though she can easily be seen as standoffish and cold.

She does have rare moments of fun where she can crack a few jokes or entertain, but she is putting on a performance more than being a friend. It's a little sad really, but it's no wonder she so easily sees herself as a monster in APOD and can stand apart from most of the others in SOTF.

"Alone is what I have. Alone protects me." - Sherlock Holmes.

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👑Ask me about my OCs!👑