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#Actually give each of them both a hunting and a riding dragon
puppetmaster13u · 10 months
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Crossover 3
Y’know, there could be a really fun batman and httyd crossover where the entrance to the Hidden World, or at least an entrance, is in the Batcave.  Bruce fell into the cave as a kid, and totally could have stumbled across it as he was fleeing from the swarming bats. Now I don’t know about you, but even with all the bats, I would definitely be intrigued and go back down again at some point because A, the hidden world is gorgeous, and B, freaking dragons.  Alfred is just relieved he’s showing interest in something, and probably goes down with him too at some point for safety reasons. 
Why does Bruce become Batman instead of something dragon themed? Well, he has Chiroptophobia canonically. To him bats are scary, and dragons aren’t. 
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spaceless-vacuum · 9 months
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Hi my friend sent me the request you did for them. And I love it so much
Can I request yandere gagons for yandere links playtonic x baby dragon's female reader ( been playing tears of the kingdom. And you can ride and climb the dragons.)
Like the found the little reader coming out of her egg and is kinda different then the other dragons she More like a naga dragon looking one but is to cute
Please and thank you ( I didn't know if you do ganondorf's so I put links on there to if you can't do the ganondorf s have a great day
Oot Ganondorf was a powerful sorcerer who was born to the Geurdo and raised by two witches. He has stolen from everyone and knows no bounds and murdered people, nothing can or will stand in his way. When he first finds your egg he's more confused with what's inside. Will you even hatch?
He doesn't know the power he holds but he can’t tell from the moment he sees your egg that you're his. The rare object is his birthright. In his eyes and no one was going to stop him from keeping it.
After some research he found out he came across a rare dragon egg. One that hadn't been seen in centuries. Despite it being such a rare gift the limits and knowledge on you were limited. He had no clue what to think, what you could or would do, or even how to raise you. He thought about passing you along to someone else to raise but as he kept you close and spent more time with you the two of you began to imprint on each other.
He brought you with him to Hyrule as he swore allegiance and he often rants to your egg about news and how the days pass. His plots and schemes remain his to know about but he loves to just talk to you. Once you hatch it's after the young hero emerges from the woods but before he faces or challenges Link.
The serpent-like creature was too small and weak to care for itself. He took care of you. Keeping you close all the time (not that you would stand to be put down) he kept you with him hidden in his pockets. Sneaking your food during meetings. You ate fruits and meats most happily and he was glad to see you thrive even in these conditions. It would take awhile until you grew up but he had hoped it would be sooner rather than later. He had plans that needed to go underway soon. 
Wind waker Ganondorf has this deeper character to him where he states his reasons for wanting to take over Hyrule is so he can give his people a better life. While i dont think this is actually the case, I think it stems more from the fact that he believes by some sort of bid he owns hyrule by right and can rule it better. What better way to take it all over than a dragon?
Flying through the air or swimming in the ocean either way will be a wonderful tool for conquering. At first when he finds the egg he assumes he'll use you like a tool the same way he does his bird. Once you hatch though he takes one look into those beady little eyes and realises, no… No, I can't do that to this creature. He does care for even his bird (he uses chickens hidden around the rocky shores of his fortress as enrichment and will throw the hideous creature people who cross him for food to hunt down)  but he can't think of you as a tool. Not even as a pet.
You're intelligent, far more so than he would ever expect and you've… What's the word? Tamed? Imprinted? Like the rito- eh it doesnt matter.
He doesn't know how to care for you but you're very smart and intuitively the both of you work it out. As you grow older and his plans start to grow bolder as he starts to kidnap the maidens. He keeps you by his side for this. Planning to keep you safe and by his side for his final fight. Talking to you and keeping you safe as you grow older.
Totk Ganondorf would have found you while planning to challenge Raru. Leaving his kingdom to swear fealty also meant being able to travel through hyrule proper and taking claim to whatever he figured he might need. He found you hidden away in some temple and was skewed with jealousy. Raru never did know what power he wielded and this was just another show of it. Items of rare and extravagant power are best suited to those that would use them.
This man is tainted with hate and the moment he sees the egg he has his claws in you. Planning for what he'll do once you wake up. A dragon is a terrible thing to waste. He keeps you warm with blankets and hides you until he's back home. You sit still until it's time for you to hatch and he trusts few with the task of guarding you.
You're a very sweet dragon in comparison to his cool exterior.  He only allows you to circle his keep and to go no further than that, lest you be discovered before he can put his plans into motion. When he goes to kill Sonia and enact his revenge he takes you with him. Hiding you in the room he killed the queen in so you may witness his rise as king in front of zelda and everyone else.
When he manages to slip away you dash after him, remaining out of sight. He also takes you with him to the keep that was made his tomb. He knows that as an immortal dragon you're doomed to stay alive all those years without him, and it stops you from running off. He impressions you with him. 
Unless you showed absolute fealty, keeping you here with him is a mercy. Otherwise he'd have to hunt you down and corrupt you with malice and neither of you would want that. He believes in you to stay there. Staying asleep until he wakes up himself. After damaging Link and ensuring Zelda is gone he goes underground with you by his side. Waiting for the fabled swordman to challenge him; he plans to fight with you by his side.
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skylerskyhigh · 1 year
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So... this is either gonna be a terrible idea or a great idea.
Hear me out. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x How to Train Your Dragon.
The turtles messed with of Draxum's mystic stuff and got sent into another world where dragons exist. Depending on the time, either during the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd movie, the turtles would be both revered and terrified by the Vikings. They'll probably be treated as cryptids or trolls or something. And it's not like the turtles couldn't handle the Vikings.
But can you imagine Leo riding one of the faster dragons? He would love to ride a dragon. Or Raph happily taking care of dragons cause they aren't as scared of him as animals are. Or Mikey riding with a flock of dragons, just being wild in the air. Donnie would be fascinated by it all- and also losing his mind due to the lack of technology.
But what would the turtle's dragons be?
Leo would probably have a Strike class dragon. I can just imagine him with a Skrill. Befitting for someone who's powers of teleporting can leave off arches of electricity. Plus, I'm sure he can keep up with the Skrill easily. Powerful, intelligent, quick, and extremely mistrusting of other people and dragons. However, they're also very loyal. I can see Leo saving a Skill's life and they just begin to bond. Plus, those two together? With the Skrill's power and Leo's teleporting? Terrifying.
Raph would have a Boulder or Tracker class dragon. I can see him with a Rumblehorn. A large dragon capable of doing a lot of damage but who's also very loyal and kind. Plus, the tracking ability helps when his brothers are lost.
Mikey would have a Stroker class dragon. Maybe a Typhoomerang since that dragon would fit Mikey's powers and his razzmatazz. Also, it'll be terrifying to see this small turtle ride on the back of a giant dragon. A Monsterous Nightmare could work for him as well.
Donnie would either be Sharp or Mystery class dragon. I can see him with an Armorwing. Kinda fitting that a dragon that doesn't have protective scales, one that needs to make armor using melted metal, would bond with Donnie. A softshell who uses a fake metal shell as protection.
There are probably better fitting dragons but that's what I can come up with.
Their adventure would probably be surviving in a world without modern tech, filled with dangerous dragons, and being the only mutants in the entire archipelago. And if they find the main cast, probably a language barrier too, but that depends.
It'll be interesting if the Vikings thought that the turtles are able to control the dragons when in actuality they just befriended them. Their existence is shrouded in mystery, yet they are rumoured to be very powerful and strange. Creatures of myth they were told as children, but never seen up close. Maybe they'd be terrified, staying away from areas where they are spotted. Maybe they'd give offerings to appease these strange creatures. Or maybe they'd hunt them down to prove that they are stronger than these creatures, for fame and fortune to bring its body back.
The turtles would have to find a way to get back home in a world where they don't understand anything. A world with no yokai or even a hint of mysticism to help them find a way back (maybe there is, for an AU where magic exists).
Maybe they'll be split apart, each on their own and finding a dragon to bond with. Raph might have an issue with that due to his Savage side. Or maybe they'll be together and trying to find a way to get back home.
Maybe the httyd gang find them and help them find their way home. They've helped dragons, why not these strange creatures?
I'm very tempted.
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anneapocalypse · 10 months
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They’re all pretty related, so in case you want to merge or skip some: I’m curious about 9, 20, 21, and 22 for 🔥 choose violence 🔥
For the 🔥choose violence 🔥 ask game!
Disclaimer: provocative name aside, I am not actually trying to be mean here, these are just my opinions offered for Entertainment Purposes™️, and I’m not mad at anyone who has a different opinion.
9. worst part of canon
The lack of forethought about representation when the series began. The first game was like, "Seven skin tints! The dark ones looks Bad in our engine! Your family is white no matter what! Brown people are from Over There somewhere! Asians????" Since then, I think the games have each improved on that situation, with increasingly better character creators, more diverse companions, and a more diverse world generally. But I think that there's still a lot lacking, and part of that is because the first installment laid a pretty weak foundation, so all subsequent canon is having to correct for better representation rather than building on a strong start. A few big things I would love to see in DA:D are a better variety of hair textures and styles, a better variety of Asian features in the CC, and more Asian (coded) characters in the world generally since that's an area where it's really been lacking. (Lighting that doesn't wash out medium skin tones to ghosts wouldn't hurt either 😉 but when it comes to video game lighting I assume that we'll just be trading one problem for another. I look forward to experiencing a New Problem.)
20. part of canon you found tedious or boring
Inquisition's Too Many Collectibles. I don't mind collectibles, especially when there's an actual reward for collecting them, but Inquisition just has too many. Was it really necessary for us to discover landmarks and regions? Like, could those not have been the same thing? It's fun to treasure hunt and everything but did we need to hunt for astrariums and shards and mosaic tiles and bottles? None of those things are bad on their own, but there's such a thing as Too Much, and I think Inquisition crosses that line somewhere.
21. part of canon you think is overhyped
Marrying Alistair to become Queen! Like, that's fine if that's the ending you want. Me, I've romanced Alistair multiple times and I've never felt like becoming Queen Cousland was like, the Ultimate Ending to that story. My first ever Warden, Jolene, was a Cousland who romanced Alistair, and while I'd watched Mr. Apocalypse play parts of the game, I was unspoiled for the romance, so I wasn't gunning for any particular ending, and because Alistair clearly didn't want to be king and because he seemed so uncertain of what would happen to their relationship (despite her being a perfectly valid candidate for queen), Jo ended up deciding to let Anora keep the throne and ride off into the sunset with Alistair. I wanted a happy ending for that first run and to me, that seemed the happiest for both of them.
Since then I've also done a tragic Alistair romance with an Aeducan, who starts out a real asshole and has kind of a redemption arc as a Warden, culminating in her giving Alistair the throne because she believes it's his destiny, and sacrificing herself to kill the archdemon because she knows she can never be his queen. I loved that one too! It was so juicy.
I'm not opposed to Queen Cousland or anything, I just remember a time when it was so venerated as the ending for Origins. Really, I just don't think of any outcome in an RPG that way. What I enjoy is exploring all the possibilities.
22. your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores
Once again, consider "everyone" to be a bit hyperbolic, but I am really, really interested in the politics of the setting, something I think maybe a lot of fans consider to be boring or "not that deep." 😂 Dragon Age does not always handle its power and oppression narratives perfectly, for sure, but I also think a lot of the worldbuilding shows a level of understanding of structural power that it maybe doesn't always get credit for. When a group is marginalized in this setting we can identify actual systemic barriers to social advancement for that group, not just "people being mean" on an individual level like you sometimes see in lazier narratives. Orlais isn't just fancier and snootier than Ferelden; it actually has more barriers to upward mobility in place! Society is more stratified, and power is more concentrated, even though both nations are monarchies.
I love the fantasy politics--of people in day to day life, of factions, of nations, of religion. I love it because, at its best, Dragon Age does have some interesting things to say about the nature of power. It's easy to say "Chantry bad" or "nobility bad," but to me it's much more interesting to explore why these institutions function the way they do, the ways in which they concentrate power, and the means they employ to keep it. And controversial statement, maybe, but you can't effectively explore the politics of revolution and social change without understanding the structures you're trying to change. Sera's right about one thing: it's not as simple as just lopping off the top.
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adarkrainbow · 1 year
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The Yaga journal: A system of supernatural characters
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Baba-Yaga’s house, as depicted in Bill Willingham’s Fables 
The second article of the journal is “The Baba Yaga and the other supernatural characters of the fairytale. Do they form a system?” by Lise Gruel-Apert.
The Baba Yaga, or the crone. The princess, or fair maiden. The dragon, snake or devil. These are a few of the several supernatural characters that the hero or heroine of the fairytale meets during their quest. Vladimir Propp heavily talked about them in his “Historical roots of the fairytale”. This article doesn’t want to study these characters from a psycho-analysis point of view, because Gruel-Apert considers that the psychoanalysis doesn’t include enough the economical and socio-cultural context of the fairytale. This article will try to study the baba Yaga in her context, in the socio-cultural environment of which she belongs. 
However the writer mentions that such a reading can lead to many mistakes - because no matter how many interpretation and analysis one gives to a fairytale, it will stay blurry and unclear, for the fairytale itself is a foggy and unclear material. It is the realm of the “Once upon a time”, of the “In a certain kingdom, in a certain State”, where nothing is clarified. Ever since the 19th century, numerous fairytale interpretations were created, each following the different fashion of the time (first were the “moralizing” interpretations and the “Christianizing” interpretations, then came the “mythology” interpretations and the “meteorological” ones, then the “psychanalytic” ones, etc...). Gruel-Apert shares the opinion of a certain Luzel on this subject: that the mistake is that each searcher tried to stick only to one theory, reducing the fairytale to this exclusive theory. So the author of the article wishes to do an “inductive” rather than “deductive” study - that is to say, just like Propp, going from the text towards the formation of a theory (instead of taking a theory and applying it to the text). 
As Propp repeatedly said, the fairytale relies on the separation between our world and the “other world, the other side”, and on the travel from one to another - and the supernatural characters of the fairytale belong to the “other world”. The baba Yaga is the most emblematic, fascinating, and yet mysterious of those supernatural figures.
I) The Baba Yaga
Should we say “Baba-Yaga” or “the baba Yaga”? Should there be an article? It is hard to tell since the Slavic languages do not have articles, so technically speaking both ways are correct. However the Russian term “baba” is not a first name, or a person’s name, it is actually a word meaning “the woman of the lower class, the female peasant”. As for the name “Yaga”, it might be a deformation of “snake” - so her name might mean the “Snake woman”. The baba Yaga has several “aspects” to her character.
1) The abductor baba Yaga. Appearing suddenly out of nowhere, she steals away a little boy to roast him. But tricked by the boy-hero, she rather eats her own daughter. She appears as a huntress, and moves around in her mortar - she waits until she can rush on her prey (a prey that “smells like a Russian”, that is to say is alive). She is a cannibal, and she is a character revealing a society that is based on hunting but also knows primitive agriculture (the use of the mortar). She appears in tales such as “Small-Thomas” or “Filiouchka” (tales number 78 and 80 of Afanassiev’s fairytales). 
2) The warrior baba Yaga. In the tale “Small Piece” (tale number 76), tricked again by the hero, the baba Yaga kills her forty-one daughters instead of the forty-one brother-protagonists (including Small Piece/Small Bit). Near a lake, the baba Yaga fights them: she is as an Amazon, riding on a horse, with a fire-projecting shield. There is a clear divide between girls and boys. In the fairytale “Ivachko-Bear-cub” (tale number 105-106) she fights the companions of the hero, and cuts from each of them a strip of skin on the back. The hero inverts the situation by cutting three skin-strips from the back of the baba Yaga. The baba Yaga escape him, and returns under the ground, where she lives with her daughter - but the adult daughter betrays her mother to go away with Ivachko-Bear-cub. There is a divide baba Yaga/hero, but also daughter/mother. 
3) The donor baba Yaga. The hero of the story reaches a small isba in the forest, undergoes there trials, and receives gifts allowing them to cross from one realm to another and fulfill their goal (the quest of the desired person). According to Propp, the little isba marks the frontier between the two worlds.
4) The baba Yaga guardian of the realm of the dead. According to Propp’s analysis, the small isba is equivalent to a coffin: the Baba Yaga fills it from one corner to another, she is lying down on her stove with her nose touching the ceiling. She has a leg of bone, and she hates the smell of living things. Propp interprets the stay in the small isba as a remnant of the initiation rite of primitive societies, which caused a “temporary death”. For him, the baba Yaga is a caricature of the ritual’s leader.
5) The baba Yaga (or the Crone) mistress of the forest and of the wild animals. In “The Beauty of all Beauties”, tale number 119, she is said to rule over all the animals of the world - the beasts of the forest, the fishes, and the bird. In the sylvan world, the woman/mother/crone is the ruler. 
6) Baba Yaga as a sexual or familial character. The author rejects the analysis of Propp that claims “While she is mother and mistress of all animals, she doesn’t have human children”. She points out that, while it is true she doesn’t have a husband or a son, she has daughters (sometimes one, other times three, sometimes many more). As for her sexual attributes, fairytales insist a lot on her breasts, instead of her genitalia. She is said to have her “teats tied to a hook” in one story, which proves that it is rather the maternity of the baba Yaga that is interesting, rather than her sexuality proper. 
7) The soldar side of the baba Yaga. In two famous stories (Vassilissa the Beautiful, number 75, and Maria Marievna, tale 121) she commands the celestial phenomenon, but this aspect is quite limited in tales. 
In conclusion: if the Baba Yaga was perceived as the leader of an initiation rite, as a great goddess with multiple attributes - but she is before all a spirit tied to the forest and the hunt. She has daughters rather than sons, and her behavior changes depending on genders: she defends girls but attacks boys, there is a clear “maternal clan” at work. Like many spirits of nature, she is benevolent and malevolent at the same time, which manifests in the trial she imposes to the hero. For Propp, her ugly appearance and old age were meant to say that she belonged to a “dead and outdated religion” - she is an “archaic character”. 
II) The princess
The character of the princess also corresponds to the various names of: The Maiden-Tsar/the King-Girl ; the frog princess ; the daughter of the baba Yaga ; Vassilissa the Magical ; the Beautiful Daughter. 
She is of a beauty that is hard to describe - her beauty is equivalent to the one of the sun, as she is tied to the day and to gold. The princess is also tied to the water of springs - in “The Water of Youth and the Beautiful Girl”, tale 135, the water of youth and life appears out of her hands and feet. There are three different “subtypes” to her. First subtype: she is the beautiful girl ravished away, but strangely in the other world she is found as a ruler and not as a prisoner, the captured prey becomes the one giving orders. This contradiction hasn’t been studied enough for the writer of the article. Second subtype: she is the Girl-King, an Amazon character with an immense strength and leading a group of female warriors. When the hero finds her sleeping, her breath is “like the one of the oak tree’s leaf” (Water of Youth and the Beautiful Girl), and in one version of the story collected by Khoudiakov “apple-trees grow from her arm-pits”. She symbolies the sleeping earth. Third subtype: Vassilissa the Magic One, the frog-princess, they are the creators of a civilized nature, they invent agriculture, they invent marriage, they are cultural heros. 
III) The snake or the adversary
The snake is the main form taken by the “Adversary”. But he appears under different names: the she-snake, the dragon or she-dragon, Tchoudo-Youdo, the devil, the Hurricane, Kactcheï the Immortal. 
The word meaning snake in the Slavic languages is “zmeja”, a word coming from “zemlja”, the earth - the snake is the animal that comes out of the earth. In Slavic legends, the snake has positive sides: he has the power to heal, he owns riches, he guards the hearth. In some fairytales he is even the magical helper (Helena the Wizardess, tale number 182). 
However, most of the time, the dragon wishes to live with a maiden or a woman that was ravished (Roll-little-pea, tale 96-98) or to devour her (The Apple of Youth and the Kingdom below, tale 133). The dragon will also try to eat the hero (The Dragon and the Gypsy, tale 111, The two Ivan-sons of soldier, tale 117). Hence why the hero has to fght the dragon: the hero will cuts his heads, which will be difficult because he has many and they grow back. A second fight, more dangerous, is the fight with the mace - the head of the snake or dragon has to be placed under the earth. It is an archaic fight that highlights the monster’s tie to the earth - the same way the creature tried to eat the hero, the hero needs to have the creature “eaten” by the earth. The third type of fight, the most dangerous of all, is the one that happens when the dragons are killed, and when their women and mother enters: the mother-dragon opens a maw that goes from the heaven to the earth, and gulps down everything in front of her. The hero is only saved by a miracle, and never by his own means (it is a group of blacksmiths or a winged horse that saves the day). We have here a fight with a female figure of devoration. So the female dragon is extremely unpredictable and dangerous.
Another role of the dragon is to try to marry the hero. He has so many females around hm that he can ask the hero, before the fight “Do you come to marry one of my sisters or daughters?”, while the hero answer “I am not here to marry in your family, I am here to beat you up!” (Hurricane the Brave, tale 100). While this function of “wedding-planner” is not that present for the dragon, it is very present for the Tsar of the Water or for the devil. The Tsar of the Water, Tchoudo-Youdo, the devil/Tchort, all belong to the category of the “Adversary”. Surrounded by wives and daughters, they are tied to the motif of the “sell in advance”, aka “Give what you have in your house without knowing it”. These demonic characters take a son away from his father to marry him. They are marriage-creators as much as devourers. 
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IV) The relationship between the Baba Yaga and her daughter, the Hag and the Maiden
Sometimes the Baba Yaga is merely the guardian of the kingdom of the Beautiful Girl, and she is submissive to the latter (variations of the “Water of Youth” tales, tales 134, 136-138, 140). However these two characters, of different generations and cultures, are often tied by a parentage. Sometimes they are mother/daughters (the hero married the Baba Yaga’s daughter in “Go I don’t know where, bring back I don’t know what, tale 164) ; other times they are aunt and niece (in Tchoudo-Youdo and Vassilissa the Magic Girl, tale 172) ; and they can be grand-mother and grand-daughter (the tales on the Finiste bird, tales 179 180). The young girls or the maidens are always descendants of the baba Yaga - a baba Yaga who herself has sisters. However the baba Yaga is never part of the hero’s family - she is of the family of the wife, of the bride-to-be, of the searched woman. 
However these characters are opposites. Sometimes the opposition is direct: in Ivachko-Bear-cub, the daughter of the baba Yaga wishes to leave the world of her mother, and tells the hero how to kill her. The character of the baba Yaga daughter’s is simple: is she is a child, she will be killed accidentally by her mother, if she is adult, she will have her mother killed. Meanwhile, the characters of Vassilissa the Magic Girl/the princess frog are more complex. They create a wold different from the one of their mother/aunt/grand-mother, a world not relying on the forest and the hunt, but on field and agricultures: they realizes agricultural and domestic chores, which are unusual in the wild and sylvan world they come from, they train and domesticate animals, they build bridges and palaces, through their dance they create civilization or prepare weddings. They do not attack directly the baba Yaga, but they create a new world, and so they wish to leave the archaic world - and thus fight other supernatural beings.
There are however many common points between the Old One and the Young One. The princess of the silver-kingdom in “The three kingdoms”, tale 93, welcomes the hero by saying “Until then I had never seen nor smelled the body of a Russian man, but today one is here before me!” - which are the exact same words the baba Yaga uses in other tales. In “The Two Ivan-sons of soldier”, the story ends when the beautiful maiden turns into a lionness, swells up to monstrous proportions, and devours the two heroes. So the maiden can eat people, just like the baba Yaga... In a variation of “The princess-frog” tale (number 207), the character is indeed the regular frog-princess that can “create from a gesture of her hand, gardens and meadows” - but she has a threatening cannibalism. When she arrives at her mother’s home where the hero is hidden, she says “It smells like a Russian man! If Ivan-tsarevitch was under my hand, I’d rip him to pieces!”. Strangely here it is the mother that moderates her daughter, and advices the hero: the mother/daughter roles are inverted, the daughter fulfilling the role of the ogress, while the mother is civilized. But the hero still ends up figuratively devoured, since the frog, now in love with him, takes him away to her “seventh kingdom”. In the tale “The Water of Youth and the Beautiful Girl”, the titular Beautiful Girl, raped in her sleep by the hero, kills him, then after calming down and finding him to be a pretty boy, she heals the deadly wound with the water of youth-and-life that comes from her hand - the man is resurrected and they marry. So in conclusion, between the two different generations, we find two characters malevolent and benevolent at the same time, two cannibals, two characters tied to nature (be it wild or civilized nature), two characters placing trials on the hero, and whose advice always leads to a wedding.
V) The relationship with the male monster
We saw that the male monster (the dragon, Tchoudo-Youdo, the Tsar of the Water, the devil) is at the same time concerned with devouring and marrying. His second role, as a marriage-driven character, is quite enigmatic when present in the dragon’s character - and to see things a bit clearly, we must look at other male supernatural characters. 
The water monster, the devil, Tchoudo-Youdo all have an unclear physical appearance, but their names reveal their heretical nature. They are called the “Miscreant Tsar”, “Tchoudo-Youdo the Outlaw”, “The Tsar with an unbaptized forehead”, “Satan”, “the devil” or “Hell”. They have a female entourage: they only have daughters, sometimes a sister. The daughter is an essential figure that can even be part of the tale’s title (The Devil and the clever girl, tale 173). But the baba Yaga also appears though this female parentage. In “Tchoudo-Youdo and Vassilissa the Magic One”, tale 172, baba Yaga reveals that Tchoudo-Youdo is her brother. And just like the male monster, the baba Yaga also has sisters (such as in “Finiste-Clear-Falcon”, tale 180). And we also saw earlier that Vassilissa the Magic Girl, who can be the daughter of Tchoudo Youdo, also is regularly the daughter, niece or granddaughter of the baba Yaga (or of the Old Woman of the Forest): we are here in a family. But which type of family are we confronted with? If we study the members of the baba Yaga’s family, we discover the intervention of a “father” or even of two fathers. 
For example, let’s look at “The Tsar of the Water and Vassilissa the Magic Girl”, also known as “The Devil and the clever girl”. This tale is as ancient as it is famous: in the fairytale Aarne-Thompson Index, it is the AT 313. It is found in numerous places in Europe, its most ancient traces date back to Babylon, and the myth of Jason and Medea relies on its structure. It is very present in the oral fairytales of France, and of course in Russia it has numerous rich and archaic versions. The starting scene in the Russian tales is relatively stable: a travelling tsar is thirsty. As he is about to drink from a lake, a monster appears out of the water, holds the tsar’s beard and says he will only let him go if he gives him what he has in his home, without knowing what it is. The tsar, who believes he knows everything, agrees, but in truth he gave up his recently newborn son. The son will only be given when he reaches puberty - this is the motif of the “sell in advance”. However the monster out of the water - the Tsar of the Water - turns out to be the father of Vassilissa the Magical Maiden. So we have a fairytale with two fathers - the father of the hero (Ivan-tsarevitch) and the father of the intended bride, Vassilissa. But we have an anomaly here: the first father, Ivan’s father, didn’t know that he was about to have a child, while the second father, Vassilissa’s father, knew that the first father was about to have a child. As a result it seems that the first father’s isn’t regularly in the presence of his wife, or maybe doesn’t form a true couple with this female partner - he might be a man from a different clan than her. But the father of Vassilissa seems to be from the same clan as Ivan’s mother, since he knows what is happening to her, he knows that she is pregnant. The first father is a new father, an ordinary and biological father, with a very limited power, while the second is a powerful sorcerer, talented when it comes to marrying his daughters - because Vassilissa has variously numbered “sisters”. 
The daughters of the powerful sorcerer can be three, twelve, or seven 77 in the tale 172, or a hundred - and nothing is ever said about their mother, so maybe they are not actually sisters, but cousins, and maybe the tsar of the water is their uncle rather than their father. We can take into account the fact that, even in modern Russian, the wors “brat” and “sestra” mean as much “cousin” as they mean “brother/sister”. So the father of Vassilissa might be her father-uncle, and we would come back to an archaic form of family. The father-uncle is the male leader of a family unit where only girls and wives are taken into account when drawing the bloodlines. The baba Yaga, who is also defined by her descendants, belongs to this clan and, by her role of guardian, by her orders, she “leads” this clan in her own way. It seems thus that Ivan’s marriage is organized by the clan of his mother, while the father of Ivan has no voice to the chapter. So, in the Russian fairytale, there is a very clear clan-structure, of “maternal clan” type, with an old woman, guardian of the order, a male leader, father-uncle, and numerous daughters or sisters, forming the uterine bloodline. 
Maybe we can have more clues if we look at the epic Russian songs - much more misogynistic than the Russian fairytales. For example, in the famous novgorodian song “Sadko”: after a shipwreck, Sadko is at the palace of the sea-king. The sea-king wants to marry him with one of his three hundred girls, but Saint Nicholas appears and tells Sadko: “Choose the last girl that will be presented to you, but do not make love with her, only then will you be able to return to Novgorod”. Through his abstinence, Sadko finds himself the following morning all alone, but back in his hometown. If he had not restrained himself, he would have been absorbed, “drowned” by the maternal clan of the sea-king. We find here again the “swallowing” theme: for the hero, champion of the patriarchy, marrying in a maternal clan means disappearing, be absorbed, be swallowed. 
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morporkian-cryptid · 1 year
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✨Lupin III Discworld AU✨
What happens when you drop Earth's greatest thief in a world with werewolves, a Thieve's Guild, a postmaster who's a former conman, and Commander Sam Vimes? Chaos. Chaos is what happens.
Characters introductions here!
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Headcanons and random ideas!
Lupin III and Moist Von Lipwig
They get along like a house on fire, both figuratively and literally. They're both adrenaline junkies and Lipwig (pronounced Lip-vig) hasn't completely shed his kleptomaniac tendencies. Lupin regularly attemps to rob the Post Office, the Royal Bank and the Royal Mint (all under Lipwig's responsibility). One of the reasons Lord Vetinari tolerates Lupin's presence in Ankh-Morpork is because he gives Lipwig enrichment.
They also sometimes challenge each other to thieving competitions. One of the contests’ goal was to steal Vetinari’s manuscript, The Servant. Fujiko won. She wasn’t even in the race.
When they're not busy competing, Lupin and Lipwig are actually great friends. Lipwig infected Lupin with his pencil-stealing tendencies, to Yata's great despair as he finds his pencils disappearing every time Lupin is brought to Pseudopolis Yard.
Fujiko ended up befriending Adora-Belle Dearheart (Lipwig's rather explosive wife), they get together to lovingly trash-talk their respective S/O. Completely unrelatedly, Fujiko acquired a horse golem (which Adora-Belle swears she didn't give to her).
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Jigen, sharpshooting, and Archchancellor Ridcully
Jigen is a self-taught sharpshooter, proficient in anything from a slingshot to the infamous gonne (DW's first and only firearm, with a regretful tendency to possess its user and send them into a murderous rage). Jigen religiously reads every issue of Bow and Ammo, and knows by heart the entire crossbow catalogue of Burleigh & Stronginthearm.
Jigen is crossbow-hunting-buddies with Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully of the Unseen University. They bonded over their love of shooting anything that moves, and Mustrum brok- hum hum, circumvented the University's rules to teach a non-wizard a spell. Jigen can now shoot fireballs, to Lupin's endless delight and the Watch's horror. At Jigen's demand, Mustrum also enchanted the Gang's bright-ass yellow carriage to make it go supernaturally fast, in exchange for the opportunity to take a ride in it.
The Gang also had the misfortune of stealing the aforementioned gonne (we're going to ignore that there's no canonical window allowing this to happen). Jigen had heard of it, and Lupin decided to steal it as a gift for his partner. The second he got his hands on the gonne, his moral compass evaporated. He would have even shot his friends, if Jigen hadn't taken the gonne from him... and immediately gotten possessed himself. In the end, Goemon managed to take the gonne from them. He was completely unaffected, a phenomenon he later explained as "being confident in the blade's superiority to filthy morporkian artifacts".
(The gonne doesn't so much "possess" people as by-pass their moral restraints to unearth whatever urges for violence, power and destruction they have. Which I think would be a very interesting thing to happen to Lupin.)
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Lupin and dragons
The Gang owns a swamp dragon (very small and pathetic creatures with a tendency to explode at the slightest inconvenience). Lupin uses it to melt safes open, and to light his and Jigen's cigarettes.
Aside from this blatant mis-use of an endangered creature, the dragon is actually very well treated, and in time has become a sort of mascot of the Gang. His name is Sir Arson Burp-A-Lot Lupin.
Lupin (the human) is a regular at the Sunshine Sanctuary for Sick Dragons, and has a false identity entirely dedicated to visiting the Sanctuary. He managed to befriend Lady Sybil Ramkin, owner of the Sanctuary and wife of Commander Vimes of the City Watch. Goemon disapproves of the whole situation, and Jigen finds it hilarious, regularly joking that Lupin is playing with fire.
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The Gang and lycanthropy
It is common knowledge that Lupin's Gang includes a werewolf. Lupin thinks that everyone thinks he is the werewolf (because he's posh and has a wolf-related name), but actually everyone knows it's Jigen. It's a bit baffling as there are no werewolves in the Agatean Empire, and Jigen has no known Überwaldian ancestors.
Thanks to Jigen's lycanthropy, the Gang is fully aware that the Watch's resident werewolf is Angua Von Überwald (and not Nobby Nobbs as is the common belief). They unfortunately can't use scent bombs to ward her off as it would hurt Jigen, but following these stinky thieves is just as bad for her nose. They smell like a tobacco factory that has caught on fire.
It took a lot of time for Jigen to tell Lupin about his "condition", and Lupin (who easily put two and two together after seeing Jigen leave to gods-know-where every full moon and growl when he's angry) didn't press him and waited for him to open up about it. Growing up, Jigen had always seen his lycanthropy as monstrous, but Lupin's delight at having 1) a big fluffy cuddlable boyfriend and 2) someone who can smell the police coming, eventually made Jigen feel more comfortable with his gift. Lupin and Goemon both adore Jigen's wolf form (although Goemon would rather die than admit it out loud). Jigen almost bit off Fujiko's hand the only time she tried to pet him.
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More miscellaneous headcanons here!
If you have ideas, headcanons, or even just vague vibes for this AU, please do reblog, comment or send me an ask!
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braxiatel · 1 year
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Ok so I had most of an ask written out, but the tumblr decided to delete all of it. So here's what I can remember!
Ngl I read most of 'Til our compass stands still at 3 am, so. most of my thoughts are incomprehensible. But that was so good??
I had a huge httyd phase a while back, so the dragon riding was very nostalgic to me... I love this concept so much<3 and the way you brought it to life?? Amazing.
From the beginning, you can feel there's a deep sense of sadness and loss tied into everything scar and mumbo do. (while continuing to carve out a new existence in a new place, just the two of them.) Getting a look at the life they've been living, secrets and lies and sorrow... Relationship/life dynamics go brrrr
The bit on the bakery?? Scar goes to far this is too important and. Just seeing how he deals with maybes and what ifs... Then the lovely 'stranger' (loved that reveal) and them giving more questions than answers... The botched sneak in to the presses... The realization?? All of it??? AUGH. What a rollercoaster for him (and us, but in a very good way)
I can't imagine what it would be like to not only lose a partner, but to blame yourself too. For a really long time. And now? Suddenly you have a second chance. Maybe this time you can save him. Maybe this time you'll be there. And for Mumbo?? Who's ALSO been living with the guilt? Not just about grian but about scar as well?? I'm laying face down in a dark room/pos
The plan... The limited knowledge... The ticking clock... Scar thinking he'll have to leave, to be alone- mumbo overhearing?? I AM AFFECTIONATELY SHAKING YOU
Then the actual thing. The tension in the ballroom during scars dance with Feldran... I could feel it. The way you describe things brings me so much joy:D (and scar beloved. You can't sweet talk your way out of every situation. Even if it works like 70?% of the time.) Dragon bone sword I will hunt this mf down myself
MAGIC AND LORE ARE MY FAVOURITE THINGS<33 And this world has so much of both!! All the details are beautifully crafted, and just. Face planting a keyboard (The different smells attached to different magic... The way scars powers work... ahsbdjdhndjdb)
Prison break :DDD gotta say, for a high-stress-near-death-minimal-planning event, the whole affair went quite well. I'm in denial can you tell._.
AND THEN THE REUNION- holding them close<3 or holding something above their heads to stop the caving dirt. Both is good.
High stress escape scene... Mumbo with the guards, their confessions in the rain... I could go on about this for ages. Seriously. This- yeah this
The gaurds, being surrounded, no way out... Then bam, get roasted idiots! Dragon/horse car chase through the woods, SUPER OVERPOWERED BADASS SCAR MOMENT as he bleeds to death on the forest floor. Sounds about right.
Imagine me on the couch at 3 am, happy hand flapping while i read this:)
Scar waking up and thinking everyone is dead- hugs. Lots of hugs. (Grian and mumbo provide)
Then Grains "about that..." Before mumbo comes in? What does that mean?? Is her highness not dead👀 THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. IN MULTITUDE. /pos
...may have gone a little overboard- point is, I loved it:D No proper thoughts, just happy yelling. (I might go into may more detail in another ask later if I have time, this is all very small chunks and. I have lots more to say! but this ask is getting very long ajhdjfkfj)
-🍂
Don’t mind me, 🍂 anon, just having some emotions over the fact that you would write such a detailed ask about my fic twice over <3
I am really glad you thought so! I had to get a lot of information into the intro, so it’s good to hear the limbo-like stage of grief Mumbo and Scar were experiencing came across alongside all the essential world building I couldn’t fit in anywhere else haha. They are very deeply in love, but being in love is hard when both of you are also mourning. Their whole world was ripped away from them - their home, their family, their husband - and all they have left is each other. They’re terrified of losing that as well, and it leads to some,,,, questionable choices. 
This is where I reveal to you all that most of this fic was made up as I wrote it. I only had time for a vague outline and some basic world building, and that was what I had when I set out to write what I assumed would be a 5-8k oneshot. That’s to say, the moment Martyn walked into Scar’s view is the moment I realised he was going to even be in the fic. But I am so glad he did. He opened my eyes to an entire corner of dragon lore I hadn’t even considered, by needing to be someone affiliated with the Hermits without actually being one.
Good, 🍂 anon, because so am I! I may have been the one to subject them to the horrors, but I have had Many emotions about it. 
I am going to be entirely honest here. The reason everything went wrong in the heist is that I too was working with a time limit akjhdkakjsdhs. Planning a complex heist would have been so much fun, but I just didn’t have time. Instead, I embraced the fact that Scar and Mumbo were working with very little information, and made the decision that every bit of Mumbo and Scar’s original plan would have to fail. No going halfway either way, as I wrote the planning section I knew that I absolutely could not do any of what they had talked about. 
Ah, the ballroom scene. That took me completely by surprise, to be honest. Originally Feldran was not supposed to have a big role in the story at all, but she decided that she wanted a dance and a personality, and who was I to deny her? 
Fun fact about the dragon bone sword: I recycled the concept from a DnD campaign I used to run, and it has been a delight to tell the players that more people share their hatred of a dragonbone-sword-wielding OCs of mine. 
I am very pleased to hear you liked the magic system! I had a lot of fun developing the rules of dragonriding + magic. I may even get back to it someday, there’s a lot of stuff I didn’t get to include, as well as things I am yet to work out and want answers to myself. I also only know what types of dragons some of the hermits are bonded to, but if people are interested I may sit down and try to work out what dragon types everyone is bonded to👀 
*sigh* The dirt cave. I naively thought that section would take a few hours to write. Instead, the full section (which was shortened a lot in the final draft) took up four days of my life. It was fun to write, of course, but I did celebrate in the Vault’s writing channel when I they finally escaped.
The confession in the rain was definitely the most pivotal scene in the writing process. Up until that point, I had a very vague outline of where the rest of the fic was going, but once I put them in that situation I realised exactly what scenes I had left to write and how they would turn out. 
When I started writing the fic, three scenes were clear in my mind: Scar leaving the potion shop to go to the market, Grian’s arm around Scar’s waist as they rode through the forest on Jellie’s back, and Scar’s badass magic moment. (Well there was a fourth, but that didn’t actually make it. It did happen, but Scar was unconscious at the time). That’s to say: I am incredibly happy to hear that scene felt as epic to you as it was to me. I had been imagining it for about two months when I finally got to write it, and I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out in the end. 
This is a fun coincidence, it was also 3 AM when I wrote most of that section while half the Vault were threatening violence upon my knees if I didn’t go to bed. I am very glad to hear you enjoyed it! I hope to tell at least one more story set in the same universe post-beach scene, but I certainly have thoughts for many more. 
So someone noticed the ‘about that…’! All I will say is, did you actually see Feldran die? or did you see her very injured and humiliated in a way that might make her likely to hold a grudge against Scar should she survive? Food for thought, hmm? 
Please, 🍂 anon, I need you to know I kept this in my inbox for a few days just so I could reread it. Your happy yelling is not only welcome, it was in fact a really lovely boost to my mood the past few days.
Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely message not just once, but twice. Any and all future thoughts you may have are always welcome <3
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samieree · 3 months
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Born in Flames || Game of Thrones
OC x ?😏
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-> Chapter XV ''Mother''
Chapter XVI ''Happy heart, broken heart''
Shortly after capturing Yunkai, they set out for Meereen. By this time, the dragons had already grown and could only rest their heads on Visenya's lap. They hunted on their own, they didn't have to feed them. On the one hand, it scared her a little to look at it, but on the other hand, she knew she had nothing to fear because they wouldn't attack her.
But she had another question - if she couldn't control them, how could she be sure they wouldn't attack anyone? Hunting a goat is one thing, but what if they start attacking innocent people? She wouldn't want to have to cut them off from the world, but if it was the only way to save people...
She doesn't have to worry about it for now, they've had plenty of opportunities but haven't attacked anyone yet.
She walked among the Unsullied, looking for someone, but she couldn't find the person anywhere. Or rather, two people.
"Missandei, where are Daario Naharis and Grey Worm?" she asked.
"They're gambling."
"Gambling?" she stopped abruptly and turned to her. "For what?" her friend didn't answer her, she just looked expressively at the place where the queen's losses probably were. "I already know who will ride in the rear guard." she muttered more to herself, moving forward in the direction indicated by Missandei.
It took a while for them to get past all the rows of Unsullied and the people who had walked with her from Astapor or Yunkai. At the end of their path, Daario and Grey Worm were actually sitting on the grass, facing each other. They had their arms stretched out in front of them, straight, holding their weapons.
They found an interesting game for themselves...
"How long have you been sitting here?" she asked, stopping in front of them. She put her arms on her hips and looked at them in a reprimanding way. They should have been on the road for at least half an hour.
"From the midnight." Daario replied to her in a casual tone. "Grey Worm is stronger than he looks, but I think his arms are starting to shake."
"And what did you think of as the prize for the winner? Massaging arms that will definitely hurt after this stupid competition?"
"An honor to ride alongside you on the road to Meereen."
"Oh yeah? I know nothing about it." she raised her eyebrows and looked at them. "You can give up, this honor goes to Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan. Especially since none of them kept me waiting in the morning." Daario didn't seem too bothered by these words, well, maybe a little disappointed, but he still smiled slightly. "You will ride at the back and guard the rear. You can have a competition to see who could walk longer without a horse."
"I would win."
She rolled her eyes and was about to leave, but saw that they weren't done with their stupid competition. So she turned for a moment and added:
"The one who holds his sword longer will really go without a horse, but not in the rear guard, but to look for a new queen." after these words, she turned around, but heard both swords fall on the grass almost immediately. "Do men ever grow up?" She asked Missandei with a smirk on her face as they walked back.
"Some don't." she replied with the same smile.
* * *
Suddenly, on the way to Meereen, she was informed that Daario would like to talk to her about something related to the strategy for conquering this next city. Everyone continued walking, and she and Missandei stopped and stood at the edge of the cliff to at least have a nice view, waiting for that smartass. Why do I feel like he has nothing to say about strategy?
"Have you ever been in Meereen?" Visenya asked, finally breaking the silence between them. The only thing she knew about Meereen, apart from the fact that it was another slave-based city, was that it had large pyramids. She even saw an image of them once in a book from which she was learning history. Then she dreamed that one day Lord Tywin would let her go see them. Or that he would take Selaria and they would escape from Casterly Rock and go see the great pyramids.
"Several times, with Master Kraznys." she replied.
"And?"
"A thousand slaves are said to have died in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Meereen." honestly, she expected the number to be much higher, after all, the safety of slaves working on construction sites was not taken care of at all. But still... A thousand people lost their lives so that some Masters could live in the high pyramid.
"And now the former slaves will take this city. Do you think the Great Masters are afraid? Or do they think they can stop us?"
"If they're smart, then the first thing." they smiled at each other.
At that moment, Daario appeared. Missandei retreated to leave them alone.
"Apparently you wanted to talk to me about a strategy for conquering Meereen?" she said, crossing her arms on her chest. "So I'm listening."
"It's the Dusk Rose." she rolled her eyes as soon as he took the rose from behind his back.
"Why did I know you had nothing to tell me about strategy?"
She couldn't say that she didn't like - at least a little - that he was obviously trying to get closer to her and even was flirting. It was nice to feel like someone was pursuing your affections, even though it reminded her of how she treated Jaime. He didn't deserve this, he was always nice to her...
No, enough of this blaming. He's a big boy, he's definitely forgotten about it by now and turned his feelings back to his sister. By the way, she wonders what the situation in the capital looks like now, what do they know about her? Have they heard about what she did? Are they planning to do something to stop her?
Or maybe Tywin decided that she isn't a threat because his pride wouldn't allow him to think otherwise? Ah, she wished she could see his face when he found out she had run away...
"And this is Amine, or Lady's Lace, they call it in a few ways..." he hid the blue rose behind his back and now showed her a flower with white petals.
"I didn't know you were a gardener." she sighed, looking ahead at the stretching sea waters. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"You must know the lands you intend to rule. Plants, rivers, roads... And people." he explained.
She couldn't help but agree with him, so she remained silent. She knew the maps of Westeros by heart, but she actually knew little about Essos, only a little about the most important cities. And she knew people as well as she knew their mentality.
"Dusk Rose tea lowers fever, everyone in Meereen knows that. Especially slaves, for whom such tea is often the only salvation." she turned to him and let him continue. "You can't just walk into these people's lives, set them free, and expect them to follow you. You are a stranger to them. You must become part of their community, not remain some goddess-like figure. And that's what strategy is."
She almost laughed, amused that he actually, in some sense, wanted to talk to her about strategy. The fact that he was clearly trying to seduce her in the process is another matter.
"What else are you holding behind your back?" she nodded at the hand he was still holding behind his back.
"Harpy's Gold." he held out a rather peculiar-looking red flower. "We don't make tea from it, it's beautiful but poisonous." he shrugged, grabbed all three flowers with one hand and gently held them out towards her.
"You're still riding in the back." she said, accepting the bouquet from him.
"Of course, Your Grace." he bowed slightly to her and went back to his horse.
She was left alone for a moment, with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She felt a special warmth in her heart when she looked at these flowers again. Somehow she was... Happy that she could flirt so freely with someone. No judging glances like in the capital, no plans to marry her off, nothing to limit her, only her own feelings.
She slowly became convinced that this boy had actually simply fallen in love with her beauty at the beginning, and now he was trying to win her heart.
Maybe she should let him? She was tempted to let herself be seduced and see what would come of it, especially since he wasn't completely indifferent to her either...
Her amorous reflections were interrupted when everyone in the march suddenly stopped. She looked up from the bouquet and looked around. No one attacked them, why did they stop? The Unsullied parted, allowing her to pass. Taking big steps, she quickly reached the very beginning and stopped for a moment when she saw what was going on. She had to swallow and take a deep breath before she moved closer to the crucified child pointing the way.
"On every mile from here to Meereen there is one." Ser Arthur explained to her.
What a sick way to mark the way... It seems as if they wanted to scare people away from the city, rather than show the way to lost travelers.
At first she wanted to look away from the body, but she restrained herself. She has already caused the death of many people, and will condemn even more to death. And somehow she endured the sight. She can endure this too, each such slave killed will only give her strength to move forward.
"And how far are we from Meereen?"
"One hundred and sixty-three miles, Your Grace. I'll tell a few people to go ahead and bury them all one by one. You don't have to look at this."
"No." she said quickly, not even looking at him. "I will see worse things in my life, I will not avoid them." she assured. "Don't forget to take off her collar before you bury her."
* * *
I should have died there. It's all my fault, I failed, I should have died, not them. They hailed me as King in the North and paid with their lives for my mistakes. I shouldn't have run away from there, even if they wanted me to, even if they gave me the opportunity.
But then they would have died in vain...
Who am I trying to fool, hasn't everything already been wasted? The war is over, lost. And the North? The North is lost to the Boltons. Who will fight them, condemning themselves to certain death for the honor that I lacked? Mother was right, people won't keep their word if I don't do the same.
Mother... She also died because of me. If I had listened to her more, maybe this wouldn't have happened... And Talisa... She was innocent, she died because I married her. She and our unborn child died. Is this supposed to be my punishment? Living with guilt eating me up inside? Living somewhere in the shadows, seeing my home no longer mine, remembering that one evening at the Twins every day until I go crazy?
It would be wonderful to just lie down on the ground somewhere and wait for death, or inflict it yourself. But then, I will fail the people who gave their lives so that I could escape. I would let them down a second time. What can I do? When they find out that my body is not there, they will search the entire land just to find and kill me. Is there even a place I can hide from them?
Will I ever be able to live a normal life and look at myself in the mirror?
Will I ever feel anything more than disappointment with myself?
All I can do is find my sisters. But how? There's also Jon...
~
-> Chapter XVII ''Meereen'' -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist
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vivacissimx · 2 years
Text
The Wall's magic and it's effect on familiars
day 8 → ghost
The Wall, the largest structure known to man, is a conglomeration of ice, magic, stone, blood (!), and something eerily alive. It wasn't actually built by men, but a legendary line-up of three races who had been at war with each other for centuries prior.
Whether the legends are true or not, it is plain that the First Men and the children of the forest (and even the giants, if we take the word of the singers) feared something enough that it drove them to begin raising the Wall. And this great construction, as simple as it is, is justly accounted among the wonders of the world.
-TWOIAF: The Night's Watch
According to Ygritte, the wildlings have a different view of it (although of course the threats of the Others is greatest against them):
"You know nothing, Jon Snow. Daughters are taken, not wives. You're the ones who steal. You took the whole world, and built the Wall t' keep the free folk out."
-ASOS, Jon V
Regardless the point of this post is about how the Wall manages to weaken connections between humans and their animal familiars, whether these be wargs or dragonriders as we've seen:
The direwolf had run off three times as they climbed, twice returning reluctantly to Jon's whistle. The third time, the Lord Commander lost patience and snapped, "Let him go, boy. I want to reach the crest before dusk. Find the wolf later."
-
But when they reached the ringfort, Ghost balked again. He padded forward warily to sniff at the gap in the stones, and then retreated, as if he did not like what he'd smelled. Jon tried to grab him by the scruff of his neck and haul him bodily inside the ring, no easy task; the wolf weighed as much as he did, and was stronger by far. "Ghost, what's wrong with you?" It was not like him to be so unsettled. In the end Jon had to give it up. "As you will," he told the wolf. "Go, hunt." The red eyes watched him as he made his way back through the mossy stones.
-ACOK, Jon IV
Though it was summer and the Wall was weeping, the chill of the ice could still be felt whenever the wind blew, and every gust would make the dragon hiss and snap. “Thrice I flew Silverwing high above Castle Black, and thrice I tried to take her north beyond the Wall,” Alysanne wrote to Jaehaerys, “but every time she veered back south again and refused to go. Never before has she refused to take me where I wished to go. I laughed about it when I came down again, so the black brothers would not realize anything was amiss, but it troubled me then and it troubles me still.”
-Fire & Blood: Jaehaerys & Alysanne
Is it that the dragon couldn't go, or wouldn't? Ghost certainly could but direwolves still exist beyond the Wall (per Benjen) as do wargs of whom most commonly warg into wolves/direwolves. The Wall doesn't sever these ties because Alysanne continues to ride Silverwing and Ghost returns to Jon.
“Gods, wolf, where have you been?” Jon said when Ghost stopped worrying at his forearm. “I thought you’d died on me, like Robb and Ygritte and all the rest. I’ve had no sense of you, not since I climbed the Wall, not even in dreams.”
-ASOS, Jon XII
Notably Arya experiences wolf dreams with Nymeria all the way from Jupiter so the Wall is the factor of separation, not the distance.
Varamyr also steers Orell's eagle above the Wall and there seems to be no problem (although he's killed by Melisandre's magic):
"Once a beast's been joined to a man, any skinchanger can slip inside and ride him. Orell was withering inside his feathers, so I took the eagle for my own. But the joining works both ways, warg. Orell lives inside me now, whispering how much he hates you. And I can soar above the Wall, and see with eagle eyes."
-ASOS, Jon X
What I think is interesting is that the Wall is built on magic from men, the Children (who forced the separation of the Arm of Dorne & the Neck), the First Men, and giants alike. It locks away the Others, presumably, but it also seems to have mutual safeguards against each other built in. Whatever Coldhands is, he can't travel to the other side of the Wall. The Black Gate that Bran travels through only allows Black Brothers in and out. Giants can only enter through one door, too large and heavy to climb, and that door is right beside Castle Black. The Wall defends itself, the Wall has moods of it's own, the Wall is weeping. These are all Jon Snow's descriptions of the beast.
This is where we get into my personal theory.
The King's Crown was the Cradle, to hear her tell it; the Stallion was the Horned Lord; the red wanderer that septons preached was sacred to their Smith up here was called the Thief.
-ASOS, Jon III
"It is not that we fear these barbarians," Illyrio would explain with a smile. "The Lord of Light would hold our city walls against a million Dothraki, or so the red priests promise… yet why take chances, when their friendship comes so cheap?"
-AGOT, Daenerys I
"Ghost." Melisandre made the word a song.
The direwolf padded toward her. Wary, he stalked about her in a circle, sniffing. When she held out her hand he smelled that too, then shoved his nose against her fingers.
Jon let out a white breath. "He is not always so…"
"…warm? Warmth calls to warmth, Jon Snow." Her eyes were two red stars, shining in the dark. At her throat, her ruby gleamed, a third eye glowing brighter than the others. Jon had seen Ghost's eyes blazing red the same way, when they caught the light just right. "Ghost," he called. "To me."
The direwolf looked at him as if he were a stranger.
Jon frowned in disbelief. "That's… queer."
"You think so?" She knelt and scratched Ghost behind his ear. "Your Wall is a queer place, but there is power here, if you will use it. Power in you, and in this beast. You resist it, and that is your mistake. Embrace it. Use it."
-ADWD, Jon VI
The magic in the Wall is a mix of things, but the fire magic Melisandre wields is clearly part of it. Her touching Ghost mimics the separation effect Jon experiences when Ghost is beyond the Wall. It's one of the "hinges of the world" according to her, as in, it both strengthens her and... confuses her.
She was stronger at the Wall, stronger even than in Asshai. Her every word and gesture was more potent, and she could do things that she had never done before.
-
Melisandre had practiced her art for years beyond count, and she had paid the price. There was no one, even in her order, who had her skill at seeing the secrets half-revealed and half-concealed within the sacred flames.
Yet now she could not even seem to find her king. I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hllor shows me only Snow.
-ADWD, Melisandre I
Melisandre is as at home with her magic as Jon is with Ghost (Ghost is a part of me). Yet both of them feel those bonds changed by the magic that exists in the Wall, just like Alysanne Targaryen did with Silverwing.
The Magnar nodded. "Even in far Thenn we know the tale of Arson Iceaxe and his tunnel."
Jon knew the tale as well. Arson Iceaxe had been halfway through the Wall when his tunnel was found by rangers from the Nightfort. They did not trouble to disturb him at his digging, only sealed the way behind with ice and stone and snow.
-ASOS, Jon III
Here's something both wildlings and Northerners know: the Wall will swallow you whole just to keep you out.
The Wall is an exclusionary force by nature. Ayesha A. Siddiqi said: every border implies the violence of it's maintenance. The magic in it isn't only about the Others; it creates binaries on every axis and then tears the two apart - Northerners from wildlings, human from animal, Others from humans. To even join the Night's Watch as stewards of the Wall, you have to swear off all family, effectively severing yourself.
The Wall survives on the chaos of separation because that's how it defends itself. It was raised by a coalition never seen before and it refuses to let that happen again.
The Wall is alive and that is a threat.
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baka-monarch · 3 years
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Man, can I just say I love the idea of Dream being a human and doing manhunt against his giant friends?
Just- the first time they do it, George is overly confident that he's gonna win, because of course he'll win he's a fucking giant- but he's surprised when his human friend actually does pretty well against him, Dream still looses (since this is the first time), but he still held his own fairly well
The next time they do manhunt things get a bit harder for George as Dream goes all out- turns out there's alot of advantages Dream has that the giant didn't realize before, such as: fitting into small places he can't reach, staying out of sight easier, being able to make better traps, the ability to collect more food, having more agility, and several other advantages George didn't notice the first time
After that, every manhunt is fair game with Dream's advantages in size and George's own advantages I'm size they both quickly start to adapt to the different styles of hunting it takes to get through a manhunt
Of course things would get harder for Dream when more giants are added- but it can be a bit easier at times as well (especially with dodging giant hands when they all bump into each other while trying to grab him at the same time)
Some other stuff I've thought about
Giants standing up next to the towers in the end (cause their the same height and maybe even taller-) and blocking the end crystals with their hands (which even though it would seem like it'd stop Dream, it'd actually make it easier since he can then just climb their clothes instead of piling up, and if he can stab a finger in the right place the hand will flinch enough for him to get past)
My personal Minecraft cube law that says that of you scale up a player by a certain percent you scale up the amount of cubic squares they break- meaning breaking one block for them would be the equivalent of breaking hundreds of blocks at the same time-
To go with that last thing, giants digging for Dream, or digging a hole to trap Dream in
Physically breaking a nether fortress while Dream is trying to get blaze rods
Just- mate just imagine them giants letting the ender dragon climb all over them, and holding the dragon like large lizard or cat- they can just carry the dragon and run from Dream
The Antfrost disguise could've been Dream drinking and invisibility potion and grabbing onto Ant's tail to hide- XD
Dream can just- turn around and run under the giants and it'd take them a moment to process what kind happened which would give Dream plenty of time to escape
Just- block the End Portal- they have giant hands!
(for how they get in portals Uuuhhhh stick a finger/arm in and they just teleport the rest of the way like using an ender pearl)
Dream can sneak into their quiver and grab onto an arrow as they're about to shoot it so he can get further away
Hide in hair
Holy shit he can grab Bad's tail and hitch a ride-
Imma stop here or else I'd be here all night thinking of things-
Mcyt g/t list:
@trashpumped @lorie-the-little-ghost @encaos @i-am-a-weeb @wyforyu-gaming @shy-septic-dragon @5unfl0writ3r @colorfulsiren @moonmwah @iwasgoingtohellanyways @echoslime @wilbur-simp @trouble-off-grid @lilsyxx @smogs-0 @hello-world-im-snow
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zozophoenixxx · 3 years
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Serotonin Booster :D 🐉
How to train your dragon edition
Here are some things I had forgotten or little details I just noticed on my rewatch, maybe even Unpopular Opinions 🤭👀
✨Race to the Edge✨
SEASON 6
I love how the twins were basically the reason Hiccup figured out that Johan was the spy
NOOO THE WAY GOTHI WENT TO TRY AND STOP STOICK FROM THROWING AWAY HER MEDICINE AND THEN GOT THROWN OFF THE CLIFF WAS SO FUNNY [ep2]
Omg that fight between Hiccup and Stoick in ep2 was crazy whenever Stoick said "I'm talking to the expert in getting duped by Trader Johan" and THEN HICCUP WAS LIKE "but I was only duped for half as long as you were. So what does that make you?"
Awww the way both Toothless and Skull-crusher were trying to get them to talk
And also Astrid being the only one that wasn't caught by the Hunters right away, she's just superior bro
I love how both of them were right - Stoick was right to not trust the merchants and Hiccup was right about Johan's plan
Toothless is actually so strong like he's not only agile and clever, I mean he just flew up to the ballista and crashed against it and destroyed it without using his Plasma Blast 😎🤩
Mala and Dagur fighting over where the Dragon Eye lenses are gonna be hidden is hilarious. Mala is so calm I love it
I got chills when Atali was like "no, Hiccup, this is my island I will defend it"
I really want to know the origin of the Wingmaidens, like where did all these women come from? How come they're still there?
I love Minden and Snotlout's relationship, the way he tried to convince her to not give up AND SHE KISSED HIM!!!
Krogan's Singetail actually cares about him
Never gonna get over Adelaide Kane voicing Mala
Also Snotlout running when the dude had the razorwhip on him LIKE HE WAS LITERALLY FLYING AND HE WAS STILL RUNNING Y'ALL HAVE TO WATCH THAT SCENE I JUST DONT KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT ITS IN EP3
Generations ago Fishlegs's ancestors were dragon hunters
The Loyal Order of Ingerman - decimated the Dramillion dragons, pushing them to the brink of extinction
Grump is amazing I love him
Dramillions - have both a lava blast and a magnesium blast. Omnivores. Still being hunted.
The Hunters were founded by Ingar Ingerman
The Dramillion trying to take the manacle off his tail🥺
And when Fishlegs threw his helmet and THEN THE HAND THING 😭🥺
I love the Dramillions they're so smart they learned how to get rid of the manacles by just looking at what Meatlug and Stormfly were doing 🥺
I just realized that the twins are 19 AND I FIND THAT ABSOLUTELY CRAZY HOW CAN THEY BE THAT OLD
I really wish we knew each of their birthdays like I wanna know which one's older and which one's younger
I feel like for some reason the twins would be the oldest ones then Fishlegs then Astrid then Snotlout and lastly Hiccup. Idk I'm still iffy on this
Most Thorstons don't make it to 19
I love the twins' relationship, they love each other so much that they would rather be alone and not form part of a clan than leave each other alone and the fact that other people know this too? Plsss like the only reason Gruffnut got them back into the fake induction trials was by telling them how bad it'd be for each other to not be part of a clan.
Titanwing Zippleback HOW DO THEY KNOW ITS A TITANWING IT LOOKS THE SAME AS THE OTHER ZIPPLEBACKS
"Ughh, what's the point of winning alone? Being a Thorston means nothing without him. We are one Thorston."
I love them and also technically Ruffnut won the induction trials.
THE LAST LENSE GOSH
Love how Fishlegs cares about global warming
I'm all Snotlout, Toothless and the Triple Stryke reacting to Mala and Dagur- I'm also Mala whenever someone tickles me I'LL KILL U
UGHHH I HATE HOW SNOTLOUT MADE HICCSTRID UNCOMFY FOR HAVING A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP
Astrid overthinking 🥺😭
"How would you like your yak cooked?" JSHDHHA
bro I love how both Tuff and Toothless noticed the betrothal necklace
"So want to deliver some scrap metal?" Hiccup baby? Why are you so oblivious?
At least he asked her if she was alright in the armorwing's island 😩
No but if I was Astrid I'd be pissed too, the dude saw a dragon eye lens from far way and didn't notice her betrothal necklace? 🙂😤
No I can't that scene was too harsh to watch, I mean I loved to see Hiccup noticing something was wrong with Astrid but then the way Astrid compared their relationship to Mala and Dagur's and then threw him the betrothal necklace... And the way he caught it too I can't- 😭😞😖😭😓🤧
Seeing the twins trying to capture Mala was hilarious JAHDHDHHSHA
I love how when they're fighting Astrid's still there for him whenever he's expected to have all the answers. She ignored her anger and went over to him and grabbed his hand and that single thing was what gave him confidence in a moment of panic 🥺
"I'm with you"
"I know"
That final Hiccstrid scene in Mi Amore Wing was just too perfect, we have Hiccup grabbing Astrid's hand to bring her outside and talk to her, the sunset in the background, every little thing Hiccup told her about being there for her and loving her with everything he had and that he should've noticed the necklace right away AND THEN THAT KISS WAS JUST AMAZING❗️❗️❗️ it was passionate and sweet and Astrid was blushing and then Fishlegs was all uncomfortable and Mala was like "okaaayyyyy😏" and Dagur like "alrighhtttt👌🏼" ig the only thing I didn't like is that Astrid didn't say I love you back 😭 but it's ok cause yk she does I just wished she had said it.
Baby razorwhips love the water
Tuffnut named the baby razorwhip that bonded with Ruffnut, Wingnutt
Top scenes of Ruff Transition ep7
Tuffnut throwing up in Ruffnut's mouth and Ruffnut throwing up in Wingnutt's mouth just do that he could be fed- seeing the windmaiden's reactions is the best lmao
Hiccup trying to teach Ruffnut how to fly (with his dragon flight suit) and then Ruffnut losing balance but Hiccup helping her regain it BUT we still get overprotective Tuffnut jumping off of Toothless to try and help but all he did was make things worse HIS SCREAM WAS HILARIOUS nonono and the way Toothless tried to help BUT AGAIN MADE THINGS WORSE 😩😮‍💨😂
Ruffnut finally figuring out how to connect with Wingnutt and fighting the dragon hunters and saving Atali was so badass and then Atali riding Barf 😭🤩
Hiccstrid kiss count (approximately) : 6😘
The way he slightly and carefully touches her face to reassure her that he'll be fine
The Singetail's only predator is the Skrill
The Berserkers used to use metal daggers to lure Skrills into traps. The dragon is drawn to it due to its electrical properties
VIGGO JUST DID THE HAND THING THING WITH THE SKRILL WTF
If I could have any dragon it'd be in this order
Skrill - it's so badass and powerful
Nightfury - it's badass, powerful, pretty, strong and fast
Deadly Nadder - it's extremely fast and agile, has multiple attacks and the spikes
Dramillion - has multiple attacks and is very smart
Just realized that ep8 is called Triple Cross because 1st Johan crossed Viggo 2nd Viggo fake crossed Hiccup and 3rd Viggo and Hiccup crossed Johan and Kogan
That episode was basically jusr to show Viggo's arc and the way he changed for the better and learned to respect dragons
That's why the Singetails wouldn't leave in ep9 whenever they were trying tp free the Deathsong- their eggs! They're in that island.
I can't with Hiccup and Astrid sitting together just chilling but with Astrid feeling guilty and Hiccup assuring her that he was also at fault 😭
I love Narrator/Author Snotlout! The titles of the chapters of his book remind me of the ones from Pjo
Stoick and Skullcrusher acting as 1 and being worried about each other 🥺 I love their relationship
Also the way Stoick bats off the shots from the Singetails with his axe just like Astrid. They're both truly warriors
No but Toothless asking for a head scratch from Gobber bc he's worried abt both Hiccup and Stoick🥺
The way Toothless tried to make Hiccup feel better- I mean the man blamed himself for putting Stoick in "his deathbed" it was just so awful seeing Hiccup in that state and the way everyone was trying to make him feel better but it was ultimately Astrid who managed to get through to him😭
I love it when they put scenes of the movies
I love how Astrid always knows what to say without lying
Looks like it's you and me, then.
Always... was that corny or-
Probably. Nice, though.
The way Astrid is so natural at being a leader and putting everyone on their places 🤩
That lil moment they had in ep12 where he holds her face and thanks her for everything and I just love them too much 😭
I love how Spitelout is so happy when he's beating ass, this dude literally goes "I'm sure I've had more fun than this. But at the moment, I can't remember when"
Have I mentioned I love the Dramillions before? I love them way too much they're amazing and the sound they make is so 😩 I love it
The Dramillion is a distant cousin of the Changewing which means the Titanwing Dramillion shares the de-cloaking ability with its subspecies.
Stormfly's spine clone was literally so badass, my girl was surrounded and she finished every single dragon flyer with it. Badass move. Wish we had seen it more throughout the series
It really pissed me off that Hiccup had to choose between getting Tuff, Ruff and Snotlout out of that sinking ship when he could've been following Krogan. Like ofc it was the right decision but that wouldn't have happened if the twins and Snotlout didn't follow Gruff into the ship :/
I love how strong Barf and Belch are! They literally carried the a Titanwing Dramillion on their own.
That scene when they figured out that the Titanwing Dramillion is not the King of Dragons but instead the last piece of the puzzle to get to the King of Dragons
When the Wingmaidens got to the battle it was amazing
Also the way Dagur was so proud that the King of Dragons was a Berserker and how Ruff was so excited to see Wingnutt and Snotlout to see Minden🥺
THEY REALIZED THAT BBYS AREN'T AFFECTED BY THE KING OF DRAGONS BC OF THE BABY RAZORWHIPS
that last Hiccstrid Scene where Hiccup is worried about Astrid's safety- I mean his face 🥺🥺🥺 and she told him that his dad would be proud and that she's proud too and when she was about to leave he held her back and kissed her 😭😭
Ik I said this before but I simp for Astrid as a leader, she's just so natural at it
Also I love how the King of Dragons has ice powers instead of fire
WAIT SO IS THE EGG THAT HICCUP FINDS IN THE FINALE THAT THEY GIVE TO VALKA IS THAT THE KING OF DRAGONS THAT VALKA CARES FOR IN HTTYD2?!!
Valka being friends with the Wingmaidens sits absoluteky right with me
no but the way Toothless hesitated when Hiccup told him to leave him and get the egg
I love how all the dragons arrived to fight the dragon flyers, it was just so poetical to me, the dragons finally getting to fight the people that hurt them 🤩
I FINISHED IT AND NOW I'M SAD!!! I loved the end tho and I'm glad we got to see Shattermaster at Dagur's wedding, also Astrid's outfit change- we love that. And them leaving the edge is just so sad bro 😭but I love how we got to see some "insight" ig u could call it on HTTYD2 😭 also seeing Snotlout and Fishlegs's love for Ruffnut start forming was hilarious
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wolf-and-bard · 3 years
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The Geraskier Dungeons and Dragons AU of my dreams (inspired by the TAD AMA and Joey apparently being an amazing dm):
-"Why do you hate fun," Eskel complains - for the fifth time that day - after Geralt refused his invitation to a new DnD campaign - for the fifth time that day. Geralt doesn't hate fun. He hates play-acting and games, especially if they rely on luck and are overly complicated, he hates big groups of people, and he hates being told stories. Dungeons and Dragons encompasses all of those aspects and that is why Geralt avoids it like the plague. "It's not for me," he mutters and hands Eskel the sandwiches he made for him to take to work. - "But this Jaskier guy is legendary, like I heard he's the best Dungeonmaster in the state." - "Likely an exaggeration...." - "Pleeaaaase. I had to bribe the hell out of Aiden to have him give up the two spots he had." That piques Geralt's interest. "What'd you bribe him with?" Eskel scratches his head sheepishly. "I may have sold our brother's hand in marriage." - "That's ballsy for you... does Lambert know of his luck yet?" Eskel shakes his head and Geralt huffs a laugh. His brothers are unbelievable, one so nerdy it makes up for Geralt's complete lack of interest in pop culture, the other an oblivious prick that tends to get arrested for being offensive. Ciri is their only hope. "So are you coming?" - "Absolutely no way."
-Geralt doesn't want to go and until half an hour before the game is supposed to start, he keeps his resolve. But then Eskel bursts into their shared living room - their flat is still attached to their father's house, but separate enough that it feels like their own; Lambert has a type penthouse suite to himself and Ciri still lives with Vesemir in the main house - with an excited blush and wearing a WoW shirt and the biggest, brightest puppy eyes, and begs Geralt on hands and knees to come with him. "Why though?" Geralt asks. "Would be more fun if I stayed away..." - "But I'm awkward and your pretty face may distract from that." - "Esk, we have the same face." Which is true, save for... oh. The scars. Of course, Geralt wants to smack himself. Eskel always tends to be more self-conscious in groups of new people because of his marred face, an accident in the zoo when they were young. He believes having Geralt with him shows other people how he is supposed to look like. Geralt doesn't believe it's a great coping mechanism, but he can never deny his twin anything. "Fuck," he grumbles and a triumphant grin blooms over Eskel's features.
-That first session is to go over the basics for anyone who needs a refresher and to talk about what each player expects from the campaign bla bla bla; Geralt doesn't contribute more than the odd grunt and is soon distracted by Jaskier's bright eyes, his pretty mouth, his whole energetic demeanor... he develops a little fixation over the course of the evening and gives up on trying to understand the game
-Jaskier approaches him after, while everyone else is exchanging notes on their characters, excited and electric and Geralt hasn't the first clue on what to do. A light hand on his shoulder, a welcoming smile. "Geralt, right?" Geralt nods curtly and Jaskier pulls up a chair and sits. Way too close for Geralt's comfort. He doesn't... mind? Fuck are those butterflies? Already? "If you have trouble figuring out your character, we could always do a private session to get you going. What do you say?" - "Saturday," Geralt grunts in reply. Jaskier claps delightedly, then is distracted by one of the women, Calanthe Geralt recalls, asking if she can play a lioness shapeshifter. He lets Eskel collect him, endures his brother's constant prattle on the ride back. He dares to give the whole thing a shot.
-Their private session starts out with Jaskier explaining different classes of characters, a few bottles of Geralt's favourite Redanian Lager on the side. He tries to listen, at least at first. But then Jaskier keeps licking froth from his lips and some of the perspiration from the cold bottles runs down his exposed neck and fuck, Geralt just can't stop himself. Eskel said over and over that Jaskier was basically a magician, but Geralt thought that would be restricted to the game. Nope. His dick definitely twitches when Jaskier leans over him to grab the dice Geralt brought upon Eskel's recommendation. Geralt catches a whiff of his shampoo - vanilla? - and Jaskier's arm brushes Geralt and well. He lets out a low whine. Jaskier hums a question mark, but when he sees the look on Geralt face his encouraging smile turns devilish, knowing. "Good," he breathes, drops the dice and climbs onto Geralt's lap. "I thought it was only me." Geralt catches Jaskier's hips and they kiss. No classes are studied that day, no alignments picked, no attributes determined. Instead, Geralt learns all the beautiful noises Jaskier can make, learns some of his own anew. They will need another private session to make up for lost time
-"Perhaps I should just design a character for you," Jaskier pants into Geralt's neck as he slow-fucks him on their couch, Eskel being out with Lambert to clear up the whole Aiden thing. It's the third time they're meeting to figure out Geralt's character. Geralt grunts and accelerates just enough to keep them both on the edge. His skin is burning and Jaskier writhes, his shoulders littered with bite marks. "Oh, fuck, Geralt, please." Later, Geralt agrees to Jaskier's suggestion. He makes him pancakes for breakfast.
-When the first session is well underway, everyone quickly realizes that this game really isn't for Geralt. He tries, he does. Jaskier was kind, gave him a stoic half-orc warrior that communicates mostly with grunts, but he still doesn't get all the rules and Calanthe is getting impatient with him, her boyfriend Eist amused by this, and Eskel keeps throwing the dice for Geralt, and these girls, Téa and Véa, stare daggers at him. Jaskier's watches it all with amusement, gently steering the group back towards their adventure - not that Geralt has the first clue what their objective is. But Geralt wants to keep playing if only because Jaskier is so fucking beautiful in his element, imitating voices, using the most ridiculous vocabulary, glowing with pure joy. It's a privilege to see, Geralt understands that now. And he has to thank Eskel for taking him despite his reservations
-"Won't you go on a normal date with me?" Geralt asks one night when they are wrapped up in Jaskier's bed, contented and tired from their earlier activities. "I could take you hunting or whatever." - "That's what you call a normal date?" Jaskier laughs and kisses him lightly. They haven't defined whatever it is they're doing, but Geralt is in no rush. Especially because he hasn't yet dared to breach the topic with Eskel who quickly befriended Jaskier (and everyone else of course, at the end of the day Eskel is a social butterfly, no matter what scars he bears). "Just... go out with me." - "You know, usually I have a strict policy for dating players, but... well that's already way out the window so, yeah, okay. I'll go out with you. But we're absolutely not going hunting, I'm a vegetarian." Alas, there had to be some catch.
-Geralt keeps playing and his permanent confusion becomes part of his character as well. It isn't ideal, but the others - and Jaskier's forgiving storytelling - drag him through to the end of it. By then, Geralt almost gets it. "Well," Jaskier concludes. "That was a bit of a different campaign. Hope you all liked it." The bastard acts abashed. Hah. Geralt and Eskel are the last ones to leave after they all toasted and talked about playing again some time. "You coming?" Eskel asks, hovering near the door. He's long past his initial anxiety, his fangirling, his self-consciousness. That too has been a glorious part of this, seeing Eskel unfold, gain confidence, be at ease. He likes that he could give his brother the safety he needed. "I, uhm," Geralt starts, but Jaskier interrupts by threading his arm through Geralt's. "We are! What's for dinner?" And he drags Geralt past Eskel who raises a brow. Geralt tries to communicate with his eyes all he neglected to tell Eskel. It's only because they're so close that Eskel at least understands that they are something like boyfriends now. He laughs.
-"My baby brother," Eskel lulls later when Jaskier is already passed out from too much wine and Geralt and him stand outside, sharing a rare cigarette. He ruffles Geralt head. "I'd wondered why you stuck around so long." - "Fuck off," Geralt says.
-The next time Eskel invites him to a campaign, Geralt tags along. Not because he particularly wants to, but because now there are two pairs of puppy eyes, begging him, and he can't say no to either of them, let alone both (maybe someday he will actually enjoy the game for its own merits)
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prof-peach · 3 years
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If you could cross over two of your favorite games, which would you choose? Please explain, why that crossover would be a good match.
Oh you’re going to regret asking this one, I’m bout to GET SERIOUS.
So Pokemon, obvs, I love the whole world it’s built in, but the games imo are REALLY boring, I haven’t enjoyed one a lot since gale of darkness, the main ones just are a little too linear obvious plots, pretty standard setups for story and style. Speaking of style, the games lack personality, the models aren’t animated well, moves have no dynamic energy or visual difference at times, and the turn based battle style just feels kind of, I don’t know, old? Slow? Just doesn’t suit what I enjoy personally, gives me a FInal Fantasy vibe and I just cannot stand the speed at which things happen in those games, plus not into 3rd person ‘let’s build a team of people’ much, but that’s a problem for another time. With this all in mind, the game I wish would happen is like gen20 Pokemon, far future sadly, I doubt I’d see it in my lifetime but god I’d be happy if I did!
Ok so take the newest Zelda graphics, the visual treat that was BOTW, open world, puzzles, not JUST combat, you got side missions, hunt the chickens, find missing pets, parcels, items, whatever. Love it! The horse taming?! Amazing you funky little game. Now take the bad guys and beasts from that. And put Pokemon in instead. Give them the diversity, the life and believable natures that BOTW gave the animals, I followed a frog in BOTW for 15 minutes, and it was a great experience, it felt like it was believable. Above world spawning, ACTUAL difficult gameplay, rare spawn rates, make dragons hard to get again, cmon, it’s too easy now, make it so we need a certain set of Pokemon for certain tasks. Water types big enough to carry you will be able to get you to new areas, rock types that can help you climb mountains faster, or break through blocking boulders. Actual towns with more than 4 houses in them, shops, barns, farms, homes. Like little link with the heat, maybe ice types would struggle in volcano areas, or bug Pokemon not be so comfortable in gale force winds. Give the weather more of an effect on your partners. Mounts, don’t even get me started that Pokemon Let’s go had you able to ride any of the larger species, but swsh did not???? Bitch please, give me my rideable Pokemon. The wild area too was far too closed, limited, online was laggy and a mess, camping is limited, let me do more with my team. Pokemon for me is all about the actual creatures, how they live with humans, and the many wonderful things they’re capable of. Yes of course it’s cool they can fight, but like what else you know?
I’d love a game that lets me buy a plot of land, maybe plant things, custom build things. I’m a sucker for the fallout4 settlement builds when they’re modded to hell and back, they’re fun! It can be a really calm and creative process. If I could do that and skip the main campaign and all the battles for a bit? Amazing, it sound perfect for me. I am that distracted hoe collecting flowers while the kingdom burns in the background. Side quests are everything to me. Let me give homeless people enough money to get them in a home? Let me adopt Pokemon that are stray around the town? Plz oh plz bring me a Pokemon game that allows me to work WITH my team to do more than KO other species. I want to save and buy a plow for my buddy gogoat, and grow amazing foods to sell to get currency to spend in decorations, to spoil my team. Give me actual game consequence, if I ignore that sick and injured Pokemon I find in the wild, later maybe it’s family don’t want to help me out with a different problem, too stricken from grief. I am all about the average bits, the old women who need help, the lost pets board in town, the general day to day stuff. Let me get cosmetic items for the Pokemon I keep, cute outfits, special gemstone items, let me actually live with them, or even feel remotely like they’re realistic.
Ok so in game, if it’s looking like BOTW it’s pretty beautiful but also stylised, I’d have it so you can send out a maximum of 3 Pokemon from your 6, using bumpers and such to throw them out. If you hit the trigger you switch from controlling the human trainer, to the Pokemon you’ve targeted with a standard lock on targeting system. You then can be the leader, but be the Pokemon. You could technically defeat the game without a human if you wanted, which incorporates the mystery dungeon games I think, and caters to that crowd. I’d love to see the use of attacks out of battle, things like using water gun to grow plants, using ember to start a campfire faster and stave off the cold. There’s no consequence to Pokemon anymore, and I think that’s where it’s lost me. I have to admit I miss the days of a poisoned pokemon fainting if you don’t heal them soon enough, I miss gym battles that were actually tough, damn, try picking charmander in red and beating brock without grinding in viridian forest first, it’s not easy. And I loved that. Yes it’s a child’s game, it will never be difficult again, but god it’d be nice to have a bit of a challenge, or maybe a difficulty setting, so some could play it with hostility turned off, great for kids, or you can be n adult like I know so many Pokemon fans are, and play it on expert mode and ACTUALLY have to work hard to beat the game. Alternate skill trees anyone? Train gun a fire type to ACUTALLy combat water moves?? Please! Cmon! It frustrated me that every challenger has pretty much a systematic set of moves to use to win. Grass opponent? Fire attack spam until you win. It’s dull, so at least with very difficult tricks to either find or learn in game would make it more achievable if you can send that fire type in and I don’t know, train them so much the heat evaporates the water mid-battle and you suddenly have a shot at winning. Pokemon has taught me that if you work hard enough you can achieve something, but the games just have such strict ways to win. Feels wrong.
In terms of battling, let us BE the Pokemon, let us learn to dodge, train our speed, train our defence, make a team of truly tough Pokemon instead of just, average? Some species have a cap on their skills, a squirtle has lower stat points than a Charizard, but you can’t ever change that? Let me choose the Pokemon I believe in, and let me work with them until they’re just as good, if not better than the game tanks. This would also make online battles more interesting. Everyone picks the top trio. Fairy, dragon, legendaries. And yknow what? It’s boring. That one IRL fight with the monster Pacharisu that won in the world tournament with follow me and the situs Berry? Unbelievable, I love that little rat so much because of this, so let us all have a chance to build a team that’s strategically viable, strong, and potentially a winner formula, even if they aren’t fully evolved, or the biggest Pokemon in the world. Yeah maybe you have to grind way harder with your unevolved Pokemon, but you get to the end game and win, because you put love and time into species that you enjoy, not just good fighters.
Unfortunately I am beholdent to Todd-idiot-Howard, and I love the Eldrescrolls and fallout games (before they got dumb, not that I don’t play the new ones. 76 I’m looking at you, you big asshole game.) honestly I hate online games, so none of that junk, just a good old fashioned open world sandbox game is plenty. Games for me are an escape from others, not an invitation to socialise. To each their own of course, and I do play online games sometimes, just pretty short lived ones, over watch and rdr2 for example. Would they be sometimes better on private servers? Yes of course, fallout76? Want to play with others? No. I do not. Please leave me alone. And if you buy a private server you’re feeding the monster that is Todd Howard, the man the myth the asshole, then we’ll get more bad games like 76. I just so desperately want the Pokemon company to see what a beautiful potential game they’ve got on their hands, that could be suitable for far greater audiences, but instead they’ve focused on the kids. It’s fine, it’s functional, but it’s lost to the fans from day 1, that are all 20+ years old now and want something meatier to play, something far more broad and inclusive. I also hate that there’s no wheelchair option in any Pokemon game. Like cmon, it’s not hard to include that.
In short, BOTW + Pokemon, with a sprinkle of open world sandbox to it, less fighting, more fun. Or, at least both options. Sure, go fight everything, great, but I want to farm carrots over here with 6sunflora, plz let me have some peace.
Edit: I forgot about harvest moon, chuck some of that in there too.
SECOND EDIT: someone in the comments mentioned to put this in Unova? Plz love yourselves, this game would be ALL MAPS. Stuff one singular location, this is the ideal game, put every map in it, join them, put islands in, make them more explorable, more detailed!
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malereader-inserts · 4 years
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To Serve Our King and Queen
Fandom: Game of Thrones Pairing: Daenerys Targeryen x Baratheon!Reader, Sansa Stark x Baratheon!Reader Summary: A story of heart break, love and heart break again. Word Count:  2,407 Request:  Hey can u do a Daenerys x Baratheon reader where he is the son of cersei and Robert the true son. He used to be In love with Sansa but she wanted Joffrey so she break his heart. Reader leaves king’s landing with tyrion and meet Daenerys where both fall In love with each other. Later Sansa sees the reader with dany and Jon when they arrive to the north. Sansa is being disrespectful towards dany and reader put Sansa in her place and tells her to not talk to his WIFE like that ever again please. A/n: I changed it a bit, I wish it was a little bitter but oh well. 
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Cersei and Robert were married before he even became king, Tywin had faith that the Baratheon would overrule the Mad King. It was the start of the downfall of their marriage, the sex was lousy, but it got the lioness pregnant. You were a beautiful babe that Cersei had fallen in love with your looks.
You were a year old when your father overthrows the throne and becomes king of the seven kingdoms. You had a somewhat happy childhood, you were spoilt by your father more than your younger brother - Joffery. Whilst your mother somewhat loved you, you knew that she loved her golden crown children more than you, you had a suspicion about your siblings, they look too much of your uncle Jaime than your father, which was known that Baratheon seed was strong.
So, you were more of a father’s boy than your mother’s. At a young age, you were trained hard, went through advisers and teachers - teaching your expanding knowledge, your father demanded that you were to start off young in training to be king, making sure you know how to fight and be a respected knight just like your father. When you were growing up, you were told tales from your uncle Tyrion, who adored you because he could hold an intellectual conversation with you.
As you grew up, often at times you went with your father to go on hunting, even met with your dad’s best friend and his children. You often had playtime with them, being good friends with Robb and Jon, but you were always wanting to be with Sansa, your father laughs that you would marry Sansa when you two were older - Ned would laugh too.
As years gone past, you tried to ignore your father’s debauchery and your mother’s ever growing hatred towards you. You grew up to be a fine young man, despite being the son of two fucked up people, you were a loved prince - charming, caring and a fighter. You were too familiar with your mother’s manipulation that you were just as smart as her in playing games.
Tywin saw your potential to rule. The people will love you, they already do, because you weren’t fake but you knew when to stand your ground. You weren’t going to be pushed around, you knew your worth to that throne and you will be king whether your mother likes it or not. 
You knew what you wanted but sometimes that’s not how it works out.
You wanted Sansa as a bride, when you arrived at Winterfell after so many years later, you saw how beautiful Sansa was. But, you could see how she was ogling on your brother Joffery, you scoffed - he’s not that big of a deal. 
“Sansa be wise, pick (Y/n),” Robb says in their little family circle after being dismissed in greeting the king, “Jon and I know him better than you, and he’s a delight.”
“But, he’s not Joffery.”
Arya snorted, “Of course, you would want a little prat than an actual prince.”
“Joffery is a prince,” Sansa argued, “He’s handsome and I love him.”
“You barely know the boy,” Robb says with concern on his voice, “How do you even know if you love him?”
You tried winning Sansa’s heart, but before you left Winterfell, Sansa had pulled you aside, you had a little bit of hope but you had seen how she was all over your brother and was by his side every opportunity she could get.
You got your heartbroken by her, she was honest and you were thankful for that, but it hurt your heart. Sure, the two of you were still young, feelings can change like the wind and nothing is certain in the future. 
When you arrived home, you talked to your dad about it and for once, he got serious - talking about that even if you were rejected you should always try to pursue her. He then laughed it off saying Baratheon men don’t have much luck with Stark ladies, but you could see in the pain in his father’s eyes as he remembers Lyanna Stark. 
When your father died there were talks about who will inherit the throne, Cersei was quick on her game to get Joffery on the throne, you were livid. There was a screaming match between you and your mother in front of the small council before venomously bidding her hell. It was Varys, who started to tell you to leave because there were talks of your mother that she was going to hire people to kill you. 
You couldn’t risk that, so you took a route down to the deepest part of Kings landing, keeping yourself out of sight, picking up a stray sword that caught your eye.
That’s your story really.
Anyone back home would believe that you were killed or dead, and suffered in the rule of Joffery Baratheon. People called your the lost prince of hope, their last strand of hope.
Tyrion did not expect to see you alive and by Daenarys side when he entered Esso, running away with the potential of execution on his head. When he saw you, it had been a few years that had past, you were a lot different. 
Your hair was longer, you had grown more muscle mass, must of because you trained with Greyworm. You stood up straighter as if you had a purpose, but you looked happier. What your uncle did not expect was to look at the silver haired woman with such love.
It was a familiar look that he had seen, it was the same look you used to stare at Sansa with. But, to Tyrion’s surprised the look with returned. When you weren’t paying attention or was looking away, Daenerys would give you the same look of love. Tyrion asked Barristan, who laughs and nods.
“Those two? In love like any other teenagers!” He laughs, shaking his head, “They’re betrothed to each other, looking for the perfect time to marry. Daenerys has explicitly said that she wanted no one by her side when she becomes Queen, but learning Ser (Y/n) story, she realised that the two of them have the biggest claim to the throne, rightfully, and on the way, she fell in love with him as did he.”
“Of course,” Tyrion nodded, “I would have liked to see my nephew rule the seven kingdoms, at least he has the birthright unlike Joffery and his siblings.”
“Bastards?” Ser Barristan asked as Tyrion nodded, “Well, that explains the blond hair.”
“I know for the fact that (Y/n) would rule with a good heart, he was trained and he has compassion, he fought any manipulation and lies that were fed to him.”
“Yes,” the knight nods, “I wonder what the people of Westeros would think when they find out a Baratheon could ride a dragon.”
As months past, years past on, Tyrion watched his nephew enjoy his life fighting for what is rightfully his alongside his wife, who loves him as much as he did. There was no one better to rule the Realms other than two great leaders. Tyrion watched how Daenerys freed slaves and took control, Tyrion remembers how you were as a prince. 
“Was there someone you loved before me?” Daenerys asked once, it was on the sail back to Westeros, she could see how excited you were to return home.
You looked at her, “I did, once,” You say, remembering how Dany had disclosed her lovers to you before, “She was fiery, but unlikely you who is made of fire and blood, it was her striking red hair - her name was Sansa Stark.”
“Is she-?”
“My uncle has told me before he had fled that she was alive, but I have no idea where she is now or if she is alive. I’m sure she turned to be a fine young lady.”
Dany raised an eyebrow, “Do tell more.”
“Well, as you know I am of Lannister blood.”
“I am aware,” Dany says distastefully, cringing that you were of blood of the man who murdered her father and you were the son of the man who killed her brother.
“She was more in love with my brother, Joffery. Half-brother because I had my suspicion that he wasn’t of Baratheon blood. You could say he’s pure, like you.”
Dany nods, knowing what you mean, after all, she is in a long line of keeping her blood pure as her relatives were all related one way or another. She hates to think the fact if she were to marry her narcissistic brother, Viserys, whilst both of you acknowledge that you two were distantly related - it was a fact that she was willing to ignore. 
“He was a cunt,” You laughed whilst your wife giggles next to you in bed, “Spoilt and full of himself, I don’t want to imagine what his rule was like, but stories from my uncle it seems to appear as hell.”
“And she picked him over you?” Daenerys asked, raising an eyebrow, “Well, her loss, I think I have a great man before me. A true king.” 
You chuckle, smiling at her lovingly, kissing her forehead, “Shall we sleep, my love?”
“No,” She pouts as you can’t help but find it adorable, “I think you should tell me tales of Westeros, after all, it’s more of your home than it is of mine.”
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You weren’t expecting to return to Winterfell, but, it demanded it’s independence, which you thought was outrageous - really. You were reunited with Jon, who greets you with a smile, a joke and good hug - it has been a while since you’ve seen your best friend, glad to see him alive.
You thought that you were going to take over Kings landing, but having to take a detour route to Winterfell to battle in a war of the undead. Although, you get to see your mother before going to the North.
You relish the sight to see her and your uncle Jaime astonished that you were alive and knowing you were going back to claim for the throne. Cersei did not miss how your eyes darken and the glimmer of your sword.
“Mother.”
“Son.”
It was the only interaction you had with her, she refused to come to talk to you, you weren’t surprised - you lacked a mother’s love as you grew up. But, Jaime tried his best to get you to talk to him. You shook off his advances before turning to Jon and Daenerys.
You were surprised to see Sansa, as she was with you. Arya had noticed how she was staring.
“You’re staring, do you have regrets?”
Sansa cleared her throat and stood up straight, “No, he’s just grown.”
“So, have you, perhaps you have a chance at wooing him,” Arya hums looking over to you, talking to Jon with Daenerys by your side, “I can’t deny that he is very handsome.”
You barely got to talk to Sansa when everyone was preparing to war, luckily that your group of people survived the war. But, Missandei was down in the tombs with Sansa and Tyrion where she had heard that Sansa was disrespecting your wife.
Missandei was going to tell her Queen, but rather think other when she sees you walking towards her with a smile - she knew that you were better to handle it. She saw how your jaw locked, no one was going to disrespect your wife.
“Thank you, Missandei, please be with Dany, I’ll sort her out.”
You went to Jon first, who was confused at his cousin after you and Dany told him that he was actually the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna. Jon had his whole heart to support you and Dany’s plan to rule the seven kingdoms, agreeing that despite Winterfell wanting independence, they would struggle.
Sansa was trying to find the right ways to talk to you, perhaps try and mend the relationship. But, when you were looking at her as you stride towards her - she thinks differently. 
Tyrion was in the room, trailing behind you as well as Varys. Jon followed closely behind whilst Arya looked confused, looking at her sister. 
“How dare you disrespect your Queen!” 
No greetings, no smile upon your face, fury on your expression and for once in her life, Sansa no longer recognise the sweet boy from many years ago.
“You should owe her your life after she came to rescue your home! She brought dragons and not once has she spoken about the clear disrespect that you and your people wore. She is not mad like her father at all.”
Tyrion, Varys, Jon and many other people could agree to that, Daenerys was nothing like her father and it was mostly because of you. You were her constant grounding, bringing her to reality and knowing that you will always be by her side. 
“She’s not my Queen!” Sansa snaps back, gritting her teeth, “I don’t think she should be if anything if someone was to take the throne it should be you! It’s been rightfully yours since your father died.”
“It is my throne,” You sneered as Sansa stops upon hearing your words, “You’re not only disrespecting your queen, you are disrespecting my wife.”
Wife.
Her hearts shatter, she wonders is that how you felt when she had rejected you. Your eyes were cold, your stance was stiff and the lost Valyrian sword matches it’s current owner - you. It reflected who you were, shiny and attractive, but can cut so deeply - it was hard to recover from it’s inflicted wounds.
“You shall never bad mouth the throne, you hear me?” You pressed on, your tone turning stern that she reluctantly nods, “Don’t test me, Stark.” 
With that, you turn on your heel and leave the room, leaving the occupants confused and somewhat terrified. 
“Well...” Arya breaks the silence, “Sansa?”
Her heart was broken, she thought this time she could find love. She was never Joffery’s, she refuses to be claimed by Ramsey and she lost Theon. But, she could not let a man ruin her thoughts, putting up a wall as she looks away from where you last were.
“I believe we all have a meeting on how we will accompany our King and Queen to the throne.”
She dreads to see you because she knows when she arrives - you will look at Daenerys with love and it’ll be returned. 
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wyverian-lady525 · 2 years
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Hello, hope you're doing well! Can I get Kyle with a n s/o with a protective nargacuga? You can do either a fic or headcanons, both work for me! Bonus points if the nargacuga has a bunch of dragon element moves like dragon eater and dragon blaster
omg...this is literally how I make my nargacuga!!😂
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Fear The Dragon Kitty
If there’s one thing that’s ever stood between you and Kyle, it’s your rather protective monstie.
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It’s not that Kyle didn’t appreciate your monsties, he did, but sometimes things got a little overboard. All your monsties, even Ratha, seemed cool with him. However, your nargacuga, M/N, was the most protective of you.
He tried to ask you why, and you gave a rather lengthy explanation of how M/N was the one who helped you push back the hunters who were after Ratha. The two of you were closer than most riders and their riders. The bond between you two could rival that of yours with Ratha.
Ah, so this is why your nargacuga wouldn’t let him get close to you. He wanted to respect that, but it was when he first found out about your monstie’s instincts that he first felt absolute terror.
It was a nice day, you and him were resting in a camp you made while hunting an anjanath. He knew you brought M/N, but that was his first time ever encountering them. Kyle had no idea how defensive your monstie was when it came to you. 
All he wanted to do was give you a hug. However, before he could even reach you, an ominous red blast (of what the hunter assumed was a deviljho’s dragon blaster) shot between you two, causing him to fall flat on his ass. He looked around wildly, hearing the stomping of quick steps. Kyle could then see a familiar black shape, followed by an even more familiar roar, making its way towards him. With its eyes glowing red in rage, it stalked towards the blonde hunter, its spikey tail thrashing. However, what frightened him even more was the fact that its fur was beginning to stick on end with red static; a clear sign of the move dragon surge.
“Kyle, meet M/N. Say hi M/N!” You said cheerfully, as if nothing just happened. The nargacuga just growled at him.
That’s how he first met your monstie.
Since then, it’s been a real ride. Kyle couldn’t even get close to you without M/N intervening. It was beginning to get on the hunter’s nerves. You would just laugh it off which might’ve bugged him even more.
It also didn’t help that this nargacuga was obviously infused with some of the most powerful dragon elemental moves. I mean, seriously, a nargacuga with a breath attack?!
However, you managed to keep the two from killing each other. 
In fact, there was a time where you got separated form the both of them. A rockslide caused you to be on one side with Kyle and M/N on the other. Your monstie was in quite a panic, but Kyle was more terrified of being stuck with them. 
It took a lot of trial and error, but eventually they worked together.
“Look M/N,” the nargacuga just snorted at him.
“We both want to get back to Y/N, so can’t we just agree to hate each other in secret. Work together to keep Y/N safe.” Kyle felt like his words were getting no where with your nargacuga, who sat with its back to him, tail thumping against the ground in irritation. However, eventually, it snorted and turned to face him. 
They reached common ground at that point.
It was on this same journey that Kyle saved M/N’s life. A rathalos was attacking and your nargacuga had expended all of its energy, however, it refused the hunter’s help. Kyle didn’t care about that. 
If your monstie was precious to you, then they were precious to him.
He stood before M/N and fired a flash bomb before bouncing several arrows of the enraged wyvern. Irritated, the rathalos flew off, leaving Kyle to heal M/N. Your nargacuga actually accepted his help, going so far as to lick his cheek.
The sun had set when they finally found you again. However, you noticed they were walking side by side and no worse for ware. With hands on your hips, you exclaimed, “Hey guys! You’re actually getting along?”
M/N ran over and accepted your embrace, purring affectionately. Kyle smiled and walked beside your monstie while crossing his arms.
“No need to worry, Y/N. M/N likes me now.” It was at this moment that your nargacuga used their tail to flick under Kyle’s calves, causing him to fall flat on his back. He could hear them growling in amusement.
Well, likes him in their own way.
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gingermintpepper · 3 years
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After thinking it over for a bit, I've decided that I might as well do a proper underrated 3DS game rec list. I'm a bit of an ATLUS junkie and that's gonna be pretty disgustingly apparent in this list, but it's not my fault that they released hit after hit and all of them were duly ignored.
Due to tumblr's 10 image limit (and my struggle to keep motivated to do one thing for more than three hours) I'm definitely gonna have to break this up into parts and I'm fairly certain one of these lists is just gonna be MegaTen games lmao but I'd like to let people know about these excellent titles and see if I can't at least get people interested in them so they can get more traction.
So, without further ado:
Some 3DS Games that were criminally slept on (part 1)
Monster Hunter Stories
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God, where do I begin with this game. Well, the basics: It's a JRPG spinoff title of the now widely successful and popular Monster Hunter series featuring a different take on interacting with the varied and intricate monsters populating the world: Riders.
Yep, instead of hunting the beasties, you play as a young rider who's completed their intiation ritual and can now bond with 'Monsties' as they've cutely labelled the usually ferocious monsters of the wilds. The great thing is that you still fight Monsters--tons of them in fact but this isn't a paid review and in my humble opinion, the most impressive thing about this game is the visual style. The landscapes, the armour, the way they redesigned and 3DS-ified the classically hyper realistic and monstrous beasts to not only be absolutely adorable but still capable of being intimidating when the time calls for it, the stellar animation of special moves and combination attacks--it's delicious, nutritious, stupendous, I can and will consume it like it's part of my recommended caloric intake.
It's very akin to Pokemon in the way its basic gameplay premise is set up, however, instead of catching--or even indeed befriending--the Monsties in the game, you rummage through their nests and steal their eggs, later hatching them and getting yourself a brand new lightly kidnapped monster pal!
Other general things about the game:
Pros:
The armour and weapon sets for both male and female characters slap along with the general character customisation options. They're incredibly diverse (though limited in body type) and you can switch around traits and features whenever you want from your house.
The POGS--these porkers are everywhere and they serve as tiny little achievements for exploring every odd and end of the world. Also they have little outfits. They're so cute. 🥺🥺
You can actually ride the Monsties. All of em. Or, at least the ones that you have available to be your buddies. They all have exploration skills and traits that not only make exploring much more interesting but encourage you to swap out your active Monstie and play around with your options a bit.
Y'all breeding Monsties is complicated and I live for just how intense and ridiculous you can get with optimal builds for these things.
The story is really competently put together! The characters, character designs and even the internal conflict with your starting trio of characters is really compelling along with the mystery of the blight that's infecting Monsters across the world. It's not anything worth awards but it's compelling and it makes you care about the characters if that's what you're in the market for.
Amazing sound design, expansive world, everything about the presentation of this game oozes that Monster Hunter charm even if the art is cutesier than usual. You'll never get bored of its stellar visual presentation!
Available for around twenty quid on the Google Play store, so if you want, you could actually get the full game on your smartphone or tablet. Note though that it would be a battery nuker.
Cons:
If you're on a regular 3DS, frame rate drops are a given. This game kinda pushes the visual capabilities of the 3DS to its absolute limit--a lot like Okamiden did back on the DS.
One save file :( It's pretty much for the same reason as above but still.
If you're playing as the girl, you can't get male armour and vice versa. Since there's only one save file, you'll never be able to have all of the armour sets in a single playthrough and that's criminal because both of the sets for the genders are absolutely breath-taking, thank you.
I 👏can't 👏make👏my👏 own 👏Palico👏
Multi-player for this game is pretty dead seeing as it's almost five years old by now and never got much press or traction. Usually this wouldn't be an issue - this game is 99% singleplayer and you don't really need to fuss about with multi-player to have fun, but if you want to collect all the Monsties, you'll need it since the only way to get Glavenus is through pvp achievements. :/
Final thoughts: Play it if you find yourself getting tired or disappointed with 3DS Pokemon games but still want something that feels as fantastical as Pokemon. It outshines the 3DS Pokemon games at every turn and I will never be over just how thoughtfully put together and fully realised these games are. Of course, if you've ever played Monster Hunter, then you know just how intensive these games are with the lore, biology, cultures and world of their Monsters but seeing that translated into JRPG format was just very sobering and it's a game that, to this day, continues to awe me with just how much love and attention went into it.
Last note: If you're still unsure about it, there's a demo available on the e-shop of the 3DS that allows you to play through the entire initial area of the game. Your data does carry through to the full release and to give you an idea of how much I've been able to squeeze out of it - my playtime for that demo is currently sitting at 22 hours. Make sure to get a hold of that Cyan-Kut-Ku!
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7th Dragon III Code: VFD
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The title may sound intimidating but the premise is not! A mysterious disease called Dragon Sickness spread by the Dragonsbane flowers that have cropped up all around the world. You and your team are recruited by the Nodens game company after you display extraordinary prowess in their hit virtual reality game 7th Encount. As you go through the adventure, you are tasked with finding out the truth behind the Dragon Sickness and asked to stop both it and the Dragons that are destroying the world.
This game is fun. It's another turn-based JRPG however, in this game you create all of your characters yourself from the myriad of classes available to you from the jump. Different classes of course have very different specialisations - Samurai focus on high powered cutting damage with their swords, Duelists are summoners who can influence the element of the battlefield as well as summon monsters from each element, Agents can hack into your enemies and inflict a barrage of nasty ailments, just to name a few - and you are given three teams of three characters each to experiment with different team comps and find the balance that works for you. There's also a wide variety of Dragons to hunt and kill in the game, which directly affects how infected your world is with the Dragon Sickness causing Dragonsbane. Along the way you will also come into contact with many interesting characters, concepts and confrontations that will make the task of saving the world all the more imperative.
Pros
1. The character creator and differing classes give way for tons of experimenting and playing around with your own unique approach to combat and carrying out your missions. Granted, 'character creation' is generous, it's little more than palatte swaps but the classes are really where VFD shines. Eight main classes may not sound like a lot, but the expaniveness of the character skills, their synergy with their fellow classes and the uniqueness of some of the classes in and of itself allows for so much flexibility and creativity in approaches to even tougher bosses. It also encourages the switching about of your party members to really finagle with the options available to you.
2. God this game is pretty. The locations, the character art, the creature design - all of it is gorgeous and this game capitalises on every bit of the 3DS's presentation limitations as it can.
3. You can romance anything and everyone - yes, you can even be gay/lesbian/poly in this game. In fact, one of the main characters - Julietta - is gnc and he's a constant source of joy as well one of my personal favourite characters, right behind Yuma.
4. Exploration is very very forgiving as the game has healing spots and teleport nodes all over the world to allow for quick, seamless travel between quest points without feeling like anything is too much of a hassle. There are also special enemies that allow for quick grinding as well as quick farming of money. In general, the game does a really good job of making sure that the grind is never unbearable or inconsiderate of your time.
Cons:
1. This is the fourth game in a series the West has never seen any other title for, and from the looks of it, will probably never see any other titles for. Because of that, there are some elements that may seem confusing or revelations in the plot that may seem to come out of nowhere.
2. While the visuals are great, the OST of this one is pretty short making for a lot of reused soundtracks that can get really annoying if you're like me and need your audio to be interesting or consistent so it doesn't distract you too much.
3. This one isn't really a con but it is divisive: This game gets pretty difficult at times. A few of the main dragon enemies including and especially the final boss can give you a serious run for your money in the annoy-o-meter in terms of the kind of absolute JRPG fuckery they can pull out of their magic bag of bullshit movesets and while I generally enjoy that kind of thing, I know it's not for everyone. Most regular combat shouldn't be too tricky once you have a team comp that works well together but you also need to pay attention since the same team that carries you to victory one time might be worth beans against another dragon.
Final thoughts: This is... a really good game. Interesting story, really interesting characters, pretty world and a battle system that really makes you sit down and think. There's also a demo for this available in the e-shop and while your data doesn't carry over - you do receive multiple perks for carrying over your demo data including some exclusive items that, while not game breaking, do help a ton in the early stages of the game.
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This isn't a final list by any stretch of the word; I only have the energy to do these two right now, but the next games up for coverage are Ever Oasis and Stella Glow! If you're interested in my full plan of games I want to cover here then my current lineup includes: Theatrhythm: Curtain Call, Project Mirai: Deluxe, Culdecept Revolt, Alliance Alive, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, Etrian Odyssey V, Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse.
Finally, if anyone has played any of the games I mention, cover or plan to cover PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, I AM SO LONELY IN MY FORTRESS OF SAND. On a serious note, I'd love to hear what other people who've played these games think!
Thanks for reading,
-Ginger
PS: @feralpeacock Because a million years ago, on my first underrated games post, you asked that I remember you. :D
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