#and he feels like he can't maintain that legacy even though it's all he wants to do

[banmitbandit]

Shoutout to a few of my bloodswap Solluxes :) Infodumps about them in the Keep Reading if I formatted Tumblr Correctly. I just couldn't stop myself from writing a bunch about all of them Q~Q

I always wanna draw more of Sollux so more bloodswaps is obviously the way to go about it :)

Burgundy!Sollux - telosAutotelic

Sollux dies pre-SGRUB, and can't bring up the energy to care about anything anymore, let alone his whole red and blue schtick. Shortly after the game begins, he's "gifted" a new robot body by Equius in return for having done some extensive troubleshooting for him in the past. He's horrified to find his new metal husk has all the features wrong- the horns are wrong, the teeth are wrong, fuck, even the stupid red and blue are wrong, and he hates it so much - he had no idea he could even feel hate anymore - he only uses it when it's more efficient to be a robot than a ghost. He quite literally doesn't have the time to fuck around these days. Equius is miffed his psychological warfare to get Sollux pitch with him fails so spectacularly.

Mutant!Sollux - tacticsAllogeneics

Sollux tells everyone he has red blood, but no one believes him because that's totally not a thing. This is all according to keikaku (Keikaku means plan). Despite this, everyone seems to think he's a pretty cool dude, and so when SGRUB comes around, everyone kind of just looks to him to lead. His only experience with leading is strategy games and a few FLARP sessions. He's absolutely miserable. He ends up learning just how fucked up his friends are in the thinkpans, and it falls on him to have to try and haul their asses into being useful. It causes some ire with his friends who come to the conclusion he sees them as chess pieces rather than people, but really he just wants to get through this game without people kicking the metaphorical bucket. He's forced to play the healer in video games.

Purple!Sollux - tamedAnimus

Sollux is the descendant of one of the most notorious purplebloods of all time, who had the art of subjuggulating down to a science, and he wants nothing to do with his legacy or the church, only maintaining a few rituals out of routine habit. He's found a good couple of heretics who are pretty chill, and as loathe as he is to admit it, he wants to see them thrive. He makes a conscious effort to keep his violent highblooded tendencies in check for them, though his mood swings are both frequent and intense. One problem, a rather big one, is that he can quite literally feel the emotions of those around him, hyper-empathetic to the point where strong emotions from his peers during the game give him migraines. When things start kicking off and people start dying, Sollux acts on the fear, panic, and rage that's flooding him like adrenaline and attacks two of his friends, losing his eye in the process. When everything cools down, guilt eats him into hypervigilance, leaving him paranoid and self-destructive.

Violet!Sollux - trenchantAnglerfish

Sollux has spent his entire life deep underwater, where few seadwellers dare to live. The Continental Catfish keeps itself well fed but Nepeta has difficulty finding the thing most days, so Sollux's small army of fishbots keep an eye on it for her, tracking its movements. Because he's never gone above water, he's something of a NEET, and Nepeta is glad she can push him onto some of her friends when the game starts because he really needs to get out more. He's not the worst, all things considered; he's somewhat petty and spiteful when wronged, but this is mostly a result of his on-again, off-again relationship with Karkat, who happens to think he's a huge tool with an even bigger ego (and his best friend). The first thing he alchemizes is a pair of dark-tinted glasses for his extreme light sensitivity.

#homestuck #Sollux Captor #Bloodswap

[theheirofthesharingan]

I'm usually not affected by deaths in fiction. Quite the contrary, even though I get teary eyed, feel bad for the dead and those who live on, I end up getting over them. Itachi is the first character whose death I'll never get over. It makes me sad and angry and makes me want to burn the world (Sasuke's reaction, in a nutshell) every time his face comes to my mind, especially in the end.

Even until this moment he is pretending. About to plan Ametarasu in Sasuke's eyes, pretending he's the bad guy, after Sasuke's eyes. Pretending he might do something horrible any instant now. He's maintained his cold demeanour so far.

His hand moves to Sasuke's forehead, while he's still pretending.

Until he's not. He's done his job. He can rest now. At this point, he's probably completely blind. He was nearly blind in the beginning of the battle. He looks exhausted. Not only from the battle but from life itself.

Then he gives the saddest, purest smile. A smile when he's not lying anymore. He cannot. In his last moments, after lying his whole life, he wants to be Sasuke's big brother, even if it's for a handful of moments that he needs to steal away from the death. He knows he doesn't have enough time and it doesn't matter anymore because Sasuke is going to hate him even now, but he can't help it. Since his childhood, he was repeatedly thrown in the circumstances that continued to take his life away, little by little. This is the smile when he's completely free, under no obligation to do what he doesn't want to do for someone's sake.

This is the smile after knowing his clan, his parents have found justice with his death. This is the smile after Sasuke has defeated him and will be able to live without him. This is the smile of someone who found solace in the last moments of his life. He knows he's hurt Sasuke too, and with his death, Sasuke finds his justice. What he did to Sasuke, in Itachi's eyes, there's no forgiveness. No, don't tell me he didn't feel any guilt for what he did to Sasuke. The narrative didn't have to yell at us to know his guilt.

He smiled in the end because Sasuke was strong enough to protect himself. Because the legacy of the Uchiha would be Sasuke, his little brother. The honourable Uchiha clan has a rightful heir in Sasuke. The one that made their parents proud.

This is the face of someone who is exhausted beyond measures. At this point, no love can fix him, no warm blanket can offer him warmth in this arctic cold his life was. Nothing. He finds his comfort in death. His nightmares end when he dies.

His life - an endless battle - ends when he takes his last breath, as do his sufferings. He was sick, quite literally, not only from his illness, but of himself. His body weak, almost-blind, coughing blood, too much medicine - he endured all of it for years, tortured himself because an easy death was not option for him.

And he did all of it for the sake of his beloved little brother...

______________

[It's a request: if you really hate Itachi or have something negative to say about him HERE, please don't. If someone is too bothered about a character they don't like, rant about him elsewhere.]

#i should not have watched this episode today #but i'm a masochist so no one is to blame here #but i'm sad #uchiha itachi #itachi uchiha #itachi #naruto shippuden #naruto #mine

[nicolesainz]

Within The Limits (Ben Chilwell x Jenson Button x OC) Chapter 5

warnings: angst, slight sexual themes, fluff and possessive jb

next chapter

author’s note: i have to clarify that I LOVE JENSE! he is one of my fav ex drivers and he is behaving badly in the story solely for the plot! as for benji, i love him as well and remains a sweetheart everywhere!

“Have you seen that guy around the neighbourhood?”

“Who?”

“Chelsea’s guy, friend, boyfriend, I don’t know what he is to her.”

“Ah, you mean Jenson. Not really. I mean, I did just move in a few months ago and so far whenever I see her she’s alone. I don’t know if he’s ever sneaked in or anything.”

I have never seen a guy this jealous before. I don’t know if Jenson has noticed the way Chelsea looks at him every time he talks to the camera or their co-workers. She must admire him very much. And yet it seems like all she is to him is a girl to mess around with.

"Why do you care this much Chilwell? Huh? Already smitten?" Mase is trying so hard to force the feelings outside as if he isn't gonna be the first person I talk to about Chelsea.

"Again, not a pervert. I just want to make her feel more welcome to England again." Must be difficult travelling the world every other weekend. Plus, getting to know her better, wouldn't hurt, right?

Well, it would hurt me if Jenson ever saw me close to her again.

"You're so sweet it almost breaks my heart. But in all seriousness, I will praise you in Chelsea's eyes. She seemed to be really fond of you. Barely even looked at me during the tour."

"You are so sneaky. How did you manage to get the tour with her? And its wasn't my first Grand Prix you know. I have visited Silverstone before."

"Yeah but she doesn't need to know, right? Plus, Lando and the rest of the drivers really love her, given she is our age, so they want her to leave behind a sort of 'legacy' in the f1 commentating world."

"They clearly love her, especially Jenson. Did you even see the way he was grabbing her? Mate, I would have punched him right there and then if I had the guts to." Remembering that moment, makes my blood boil. What an absolute dick he is. Groping her in front of so many people and co-workers.

"Easy there loverboy. Plus, you've got a reputation to maintain too. And yes I saw, it was truly horrible. I understand to do such things privately but Jesus not in front of so many strangers and coworkers. That was borderline weird."

"So you don't know if they are dating or not?"

"Nope, sorry. But why don't you stalk her insta a bit? It's public and I am sure you will find something juicy in there."

Should I? That does sound kinda creepy. On the other hand though, she would've given me her insta right? Better now than never, I guess. And I am not gonna like, stalk her. Maybe give her an innocent follow. I can't look through her profile like a pervert.

“Here’s here insta if you wanna check it out. I shared you the link. I’m sure she’ll be happy to follow you. After all, you’ll probably be seeing each other every week.” Mason says and I click on her profile.

“I don’t know. I’ll think of what I’ll do. Thank you eitherway Mase.”

“Don’t waste this opportunity buddy. She’s a good girl and people like her don’t come around very often.” He usually doesn’t say things like that without a reason hiding behind it. Why is he saying all those things?

I lay my head on the pillow and think of how things will be after I come back in action. I can’t wait to play football again and feel alive. It’s been quite the time and I need this trill again.

—————————————————————————-

A trail of kisses is being left on my body as Jenson scans me one last time. He looks so vulnerable yet so pleased. I can’t read him like an open book anymore and I fear that once I leave for England permanently, it will get worse. I love him very much but what’s the point of even being with me if he can’t trust me when my job requires to be around a bunch of men?

“I love you so much Chelsea, you don’t understand.” He kisses my temple before taking me into his arms.

“I love you too Jenson. So much.” My response has a cold hint to it, which Jenson spots immediately.

“But?”

“What do you mean ‘but’?”

“There’s clearly something else you want to add here. Come on, tell me.”

“Why don’t you trust me, Jenson?”

“Of course I do. Why are you talking nonsense?”

“Didn’t seem like it today. You were so scared of me being around Mason and Ben, constantly touching me when you’ve clearly said that public display of affection isn’t really your thing. Not to mention how you were holding onto my ass during an interview. What is going on, this isn’t you?”

“All those footballers want is to get in your pants, just so you can spare them a good word or two once you start commenting on the games”

I get out of bed and collect all my clothes, wear everything I was before hand and walk out of the room before Jenson can react. I don’t even manage to make it to the elevator when he comes running towards me with just his pants on. He tries to hold my waist but I slap his hand away from me. How dare he?

“I’m not some kind of slut, that will open her legs to a man just to please him, if that’s what you’re trying to say. And before we got together I had feeling for you and I remember very fondly of you praising my work and professionalism with the drivers and team principals.”

“I’m so sorry baby. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s not you who I don’t trust. It’s them.”

“And yet you said it Jenson. What you were trying to say doesn’t matter anymore. The damage is done. Goodnight.” I walk into the elevator and watch his saddened expression pierce my heart as the doors shut.

I take out my phone and the first thing I see brings a smile to my face.

user benchilwell wants to send you a message

‘Hey Chelsea. It’s me, Ben, although you can tell from the username and the fact that all the pictures are filled with my face and a few of my teammates. I hope you’re doing well and uh, wanted to text you before I followed your insta. Anyway, Mase gave it to me but I couldn’t follow you like that out of the blue. Didn’t want to seem like a weirdo or anything. So yeah, see you.’

—————————————————————————————

My phone clings and underneath the message that Reece had sent me, a notification from instagram had appeared.

user chelswinster3 started following you

#ben chilwell x reader #jenson button x reader #jenson button #ben chilwell #formula 1 #football #fanfic writing

[i-choose-the-danger]

EEEEEEEEEEE! I was hoping you'd decide to do a Hogwarts Legacy fic an you did not disappoint! I echo what others have said. I love Ominis being a little shit and Seb getting what's coming to him. And I'm curious about payback for that payback. 🤣

But now you have me curious. Would you be willing to share your headcanons on both of them as a lee and a ler? 😁🙏🏼 Please and thank you much!

I honestly did not realize so many people love the HL cast, but I'm thankful y'all do because the feedback and messages have been so sweet! <3

Lee and Ler headcanons, huh? Of course I'll share. Under the cut.

As a Lee:

Ominis

aside from Anne, Sebastian, and MC, he isn't comfortable with anyone else touching him because he doesn't trust anyone, so those are the only three people who dare try it

his family only ever touched him to inflict pain, so the first time Anne did it he had no idea what was happening or why it was making him laugh and he freaked out at first

his sense of touch is heightened, so he's ridiculously sensitive to light touches

he'll only really tolerate it in private because he uncontrollably giggles like a little kid and he feels embarrassed when he hears himself laugh like that

he won't actively fight them off unless he gets overstimulated, because he's so touch-starved and he knows this kind of interaction is done out of love

not gonna lie, sometimes he lowkey craves it and will instigate to provoke it... he'd never admit it though

his defense is to curl up in a little ball because since he can't see,q he doesn't want to risk clocking somebody in the face... he may have accidentally on purpose punched Sebastian in the ribs once or twice though

if he's tickled long enough his giggling will get broken up by snorts and it's the cutest shit you've ever heard in your entire life

his worst spots are his sides and light touches on his neck; if you barely touch his neck, he will immediately jam his shoulders up into his ears and squeak

Sebastian

this boy is deathly ticklish EVERYWHERE

because of that, he will put up a hell of a fight but will tire out quickly

his hips and above his knees are his worst spots and he will scream and go into maniacal cackles if you get him there

if you get him in public, he will resort to growling to try to cover up his laughter... got that tough guy reputation to maintain you know

he will be unintentionally violent and flail, so if you're brave enough to attack him you'd better know how to dodge and weave or you're gonna get chickenwinged in the nose

he'll try to fight it and repeatedly say he's not ticklish... even in the middle of frantic giggles and high pitched squeals

he's also overdramatic and will tell you that he's dying and can't breathe and sees a bright light etc.

being tortured like that makes him have a potty mouth that would cause a nun to faint

he'd rather die than tap out, so if you don't stop on your own, he will let it get to a point where his laugh goes silent and you just see him shaking and slapping at your hands like a fish flopping out of water

when you finally stop he will lay there for a good five minutes still giggling and twitching because all of his nerves can still feel it

As a Ler:

Ominis

with his heightened senses of touch and hearing he'll be able to figure out your worst spots quickly based on how your body tenses and how your laughs and squeaks sound

he'll jump from spot to spot just to hear how your laugh changes and it's like music to him

he's meticulous but playful, and he has pianist hands so his agile fingers will dance over your spots and make you crazy

he wouldn't tell anyone, but he's kind of obsessed with affectionate touching (handholding, hugs, cuddling, etc.), so it only makes sense that he loves being able to do this to people he cares about

he will be stone-faced and emotionless like a Vulcan aside from an occasional smirk when he finds a weak spot

his verbal teases are more matter-of-fact than making fun (ex: "My goodness, that sounds like a sensitive spot. I'll need to remember that one for the future.")

if he hears you getting hoarse or running out of breath, he'll stop and ask if you're alright or if he went too hard on you

aftercare is important - he'll let you rest against him, he might rub his palm over the spots he attacked so your nerves calm down

he's gentle with Anne and MC... but Sebastian always does something to deserve it and Ominis frequently makes him beg for mercy

it's not uncommon to find Sebastian facedown on the floor in the Undercroft with Ominis straddled on his back torturing him and demanding for him to yield; Sebastian is the only person he will be that ruthless with

Sebastian

I send your loved ones my condolences and I shall miss you, because if you become his victim, you gonna die lol

he's a ruthless ler, especially if it's retaliation

he'll resort to it if he's trying to get you to do something for him or divulge a secret and you're being stubborn

once he finds your worst spot, he'll exploit it every time

he'll sneak up behind you and give your sides a quick squeeze to spook you

he's not above doing it if you're in a sour mood and it'll make you smile, but only as a last effort if nothing else worked

verbal teases... this boy will playfully tease you about your laugh, your sensitivity, how cute he finds it when you try and fail to break out of his hold, how flustered you're getting, anything

if you're dating him, it's a part of flirting and foreplay

he used to tickle Anne when they were younger because the carefree laugh she had could light up the whole room, but after she was cursed he felt like he would break her if he so much as hugged her and he misses that closeness

that's part of why he loves that kind of bond with others he feels comfortable with; he loves being able to make people he cares for laugh like that

I think that's all the headcanons for both of them that I have for now. I might add more after I finish playing through the whole game myself. I honestly did not expect to love two Slytherin boys so much. They're written so much better than JKR ever wrote Slytherin characters.

And dang it all, writing this out has put a fic idea in my head.

#inbox #anonymous #headcanon #Hogwarts Legacy #Sebastian Sallow #Ominis Gaunt

[talesofourworlds]

🌟 || How about a round for Chloe? C:

🌟 Drop one of my characters’ names in my inbox and I’ll tell you 10 facts about them 🌟

I've talked about this one before, but the reason Chloe addresses men by their last names is a sort of respect thing. She knows she's in a position where she's not likely to gain a lot of respect from other people in her field, particularly knights, so even though she knows she'll be looked down on she still tries to maintain that level of respect to some degree. The only exception she tends to make is if she doesn't know their last name, for example Jay having no last name. She also tends to alternate between addressing Senel by his name and by his last name. This could be due to how close she feels to him, though.

When Chloe learned she was an iron eren, there wasn't a lot that was done about it. Her parents felt like she wouldn't need to make use of her skills in that field, since they planned on having her take over as head of the house when they passed, so focused instead on noble lessons. She agreed with them at the time, but understandably chose to take up the sword after everything she knew was flipped on its head.

After the events of the game, Chloe does eventually get an actual house to stay in back in Werites Beacon instead of staying in the hospital's spare room. She also makes fewer and fewer trips to the mainland, having less and less reason to set foot in Gadoria as she moves on from her past. Now and then she'll still return to her homeland, mostly to visit her parents' graves, but the Legacy is her home. She's content enough with that.

Even after the events of her character quest, Chloe still harbors feelings for Senel. She isn't sure if he feels the same way about her, but she can't deny she still has a crush on him.

She also still harbors guilt over what happened between her and Senel in the graveyard during her character quest. She knows Senel doesn't hold it against her, but the guilt of hurting him still lingers at the back of her mind. She's trying to forgive herself, though, considering at the time she was fueled by a lot of feelings related to her past. Besides, if Senel forgives her and is still willing to trust her then she should be able to try and forgive herself. Right?

Chloe does want to eventually learn how to swim. It's still something she considers one of her biggest weaknesses, and it's something she wants to overcome so she can just grow in general. She has considered the idea of asking Senel for lessons, but hasn't gone through with asking yet. (I think there's a Legendia audio drama or something that makes this canon but I haven't found it so maybe something for a future thread we'll see)

Honestly, Chloe does prefer her hair short. Her decision to cut her hair before training to try and become a knight was partly made out of a desire to change. It also was partly a tactical decision, to prevent herself from potentially having her hair be something opponents could take advantage of. She grew used to having her hair short, though, and so keeps it that way. These days, she can't imagine herself with long hair in general.

Had things actually worked out and she'd been able to take over the Valens household without the trauma, she could have made a good head of the house. She was practically raised of it. Because of the circumstances of everything, though... yeah, a twelve year old was never meant to take over a noble household all by herself.

She still somewhat resents the nobility of Gadoria for not stepping in to try and help her when she needed it the most. It's a part of her reason for eventually deciding to go to her homeland less and less. They turned their backs on her and mocked her when she was at her lowest point. Though she wouldn't say she wishes any ill will upon them, she can't ever look at the nobility back home the same way she did when she was a child. Part of her is glad she isn't a part of that world anymore.

Sword Rain: Alpha is Chloe's favorite arte. It just gets the job done and feels satisfying to use.

#ooc #Seeking Victory (Chloe) #From the Earthen Historia (headcanon) #Bless you for asking about one of the Legendia characters

[charcherry-weekly]

Charcherry Weekly - Issue 148

Its another week it seems. This is Mage of Light Nick Card and we've got a doozy of an event to cover this time around.

This week of course was the week of the Korosian presidential debate at Snake's Mouth. This would be an event featuring the opinions and policies of the two main candidates, Heir of Time Thoren Emit and Page of Void Dylan. It ended up being rescheduled to wednesday nearly last minute, the reasoning being that Dylan caught the time flu and wouldn't be able to stand in front of an audience on thursday, though wednesday was forecasted as being just fine for him. This was chalked up to the strain of time flu being of the occasionally shifting variety. Apparently time player Jorell of the jojo squad also caught the time flu, though it is unknown which direction the virus has spread from first, if that even matters with a time flu.

In mostly unrelated news, an unknown submariner has recently discovered an underwater city off the coast of Snake's Mouth, tentatively being called "Squidlantis". Reportedly, it is home to "squidfolk", a squid-like people who had been driven out of temporic reach hundreds of years ago, during the Grand Hunt of 249.

On Wednesday, the debate was held, and both major candidates showed up in-person. A number of the dungeon crashers also were present in the crowd. Most others simply watched it all on tv. A few topics were discussed, listed below.

Policy questions:

Currency issues-- Thoren: Encourage the adoption of the Credit, with an intermediate boondollar exchange program to avoid sudden economic collapse Dylan: Devaluation of all current currencies with the friendcoin instated as the official legal tender (Note: Friendcoin is a voidco cryptocurrency which has crashed in the past)

Labor-- Thoren: Encourages worker's rights and collaboration with unions Dylan: Prefers defined revenue quotas

The Legacy of Chronos-- Thoren: Examination of the old ways, keeping the good while changing the "ill-intentioned" Dylan: No changes expected, retains respect for the rich history

Child Labor-- Thoren: Advocates for responsible age limits Dylan: Denies the existence of child labor (even if he technically had at least one child slave on record)

Taxes-- Thoren: Wants to implement a sliding scale income tax based on percentages, an emphasis on avoiding hardship to taxpayers Dylan: would apply a sales tax to sold products

Natural Resources-- Thoren: Ordinary planting programs beyond grand nursery and incremental retrieval of reckoning-era seas via time travel Dylan: Wants to import resources from elsewhere using his own company

Squidfolk-- Thoren: Plans on reaching out to the Squidfolk in hopes of peace and reconciliation after centuries of separation Dylan: Has already contacted the Squidfolk and have promised them equal citizenship in return for their support (journalist's note: I do wonder if this is meant to sound so conditional the way its worded here)

Place of Residence during term-- Thoren: Will maintain a physical office location, visited when possible (how much this will be possible is unknown) Dylan: Feels no need to relocate, will likely stay based in the furthest ring

Maintenance of historical sites-- Thoren: Plans on granting protection to publicly recognized historical sites and hiring restoration experts via public funding Dylan: Plans on paying for restoration via general admission fees at each site

Encouragement of Repopulation-- Thoren: Plans to seek out ectobiology equipment after more resources are made available to the public, with an adoption program in place Dylan: stance unknown, dodged the question by complaining about potential objections over ectobiology

Support of foster children-- Thoren: Adoption program will involve an interview process and case workers, with a priority on child welfare Dylan: Dodged the question with the following statement: "If a family can't support children, then they shouldn't have gotten them in the first place."

Plans for Reconnecting with space-faring temporics-- Thoren: Will consider if this is publicly desired Dylan: No plans whatsoever

...Murder?-- Thoren: Illegal, with a focus on due process and representation to avoid false accusations Dylan: Illegal, with a number of loopholes and lawful avenues for excusing death under specific circumstances, supports capital punishment as well.

After this point, it was revealed publicly that Dylan had hired the poor 4 to assassinate Thoren, and Prince of Time Flux Emit showed a great deal of incriminating recorded footage on the big screen. Johnny made claims on Dylan's behalf, claiming that voidco was framed for most of the incidents in the footage. This didn't help all that much for Dylan's case. Soon after, Dylan had an epic breakdown and screeched for at least an entire minute. The massive tv screen threatened to fall, but Flux was able to undo the tv before it could fall, making it disassemble completely! It was at this point that the crowds were largely evacuated from the area. Dylan eventually left with Johnny, back into the shadows, but not before sneezing on him, and then sneezing towards Thoren. With that, Thoren made a final statement and concluded the debate. Thoren immediately took decontamination measures, just in case of contagion. They have thankfully not shown any sign of sickness.

With the end of the debate came the opening of the week long voting period, which will continue until wednesday night. Voting is handled by the archival terminals, located in every major settlement. Reportedly one has also been sent to "Squidlantis" recently, involving some amount of time travel. It is assumed that the visitation of that city will take place technically long after the voting period, as a result of the timeloop involved in the delivery of the final terminal.

In more mundane news, KAZ used the replicator to replicate some eyeballs, which promptly freaked him out upon replication. The eyeballs were taken by Brae Emit, who then sent them to Page of Mind Samm, who had requested the eyeballs in the first place.

Heir of Time Rise Emit returned home from the Hisui region in tears after a mission involving an orphaned growlithe hit too close to home. It is unknown when they will return to finish the mission, but it is assumed that it will need to be addressed eventually to solve the problems of the Cobalt Coastlands.

Bounty hunter Samus Kitten was briefly hospitalized after consuming her weight in oranges. She was discharged from the hospital later that same day.

It was later discovered that Plit Survivor Kale had not known how to operate a tv during his long stay at the same hospital, and was promptly given a tutorial and a list of interesting channels to watch. Rogue of Heart Charles, in the room right next to Kale's, has stated that it would be best if all refugees were given proper technological instructions upon arrival, as many of them come from places where many of the common technologies used here are not used where they came from. This week’s known market stands in Desertia Town:

Katie’s potion stand (*CaFAI filling in for Katie when unavailable)

shinyjiggly pokesnacks stand (ran by Rufus)

That should do it. I got tired and had to sleep halfway through writing, but at least I got my sleep. Work is progressing on the flash animation, but is going slow. Hopefully I can get back into gear soon. https://letssosl.boards.net/thread/380/charcherry-weekly-issue-148

#charcherry weekly #sbarg2.5dungeoncrashers #sbargv2

[army-of-mai-lovers]

i’m sorry it’s hard to believe Tenzin “pro-bending is a corruption of the noble tradition of bending” is Aang’s son. I watched The Blind Bandit I know Aang would have been all over that

#i feel like in a better version of this show Tenzin would have been the kid that Aang didn't pay a ton of attention to #bc their temperaments are so different #idk i feel like it would have been so interesting to hear about Aang struggling to parent his only Airbender son #not bc he's negligent or he doesn't want to but bc he just doesn't know how #like he's trying to impart the values of freedom and fun onto Tenzin and Tenzin just wants to read Air Nomad philosophy #and now Aang's died and Tenzin has to rebuild the Air Nomads and teach the new Avatar how to Airbend but he has all this baggage #from his own relationship with his father #and he feels like he can't maintain that legacy even though it's all he wants to do #idk am i tripping perhaps but I think it would be cool #I still like Tenzin I just think that he and Aang are super super different and that's an interesting dynamic to me #arthur watches lok #death mention

[nyxelenios]

*·.✴ back and forth wants.

Last Legacy: Sage Lesath

❕: themes of indecisiveness, mentions of beer

You're something he can never have but always yearn for. He wants you.

You're something he never knew he needed and continues to think he doesn't need you. He needs you.

You're the one he wants to go home to and rid him of his worries and doubts and regrets, but he's stuck with the illusion that he doesn't deserve you and you deserve someone better than him. Doesn't he deserve good things too?

It sucks to try and love you from a distance. He tries but he's an idiot in love, as in he literally is an idiot when he's in love. He can't think whether or not you're with him, he can't breathe properly or breathe at all, and he can't focus on anything or anyone else but you. He's feeling something new.

He wants your warm hugs, soft touches, and basically all of you on and over him. He's noticed he naturally gravitates towards you, and it's dangerous. It's dangerous for him because his brain will stop all basic function once you show him your adorable smile. He thinks it's dangerous to you because he thinks he'll drop a bombshell on you and scare you away. It hurts him to want you.

He wants to stay away from you, he has to stay away from you. You're way too good for him, and you deserve someone who'll treat you right and not drag you into danger every week. You shouldn't even be here risking your precious life for him; you were accidentally brought here into this world, his world. He wants to stop hurting already.

But even though he slips away before sunrise, he takes the time to watch you sleep, if only for a few moments. The way you're snuggled deep into the warm blankets, softly snoring away your fatigue, makes him smile. He gently brushes his knuckles against your cheek. Sparks fly from the contact of his warm hand against your cool skin, and the feeling of his body heat transferring to you makes him feel dizzy. In a good way. He loves moments like this because they're of you.

Even though he continues to maintain his mysterious aura, he wants to break down his own walls just for you. Risky as it is, he wants to lay himself bare to you, heart and soul. There's no evidence outright, but he knows you won't judge him, you won't run away from him, and you won't hate him. The Astrolabe did choose you as its wielder.

Even though he's messy with his feelings, he wants to tell you how good you make him feel. You make him feel better than when he's downing his nth beer pint, and that's saying something. You make him feel good, the guilt-free and refreshing kind of good. It's the kind of good that makes him feel light and warm and happy, so happy. You make him feel happy.

All this back and forth in his head is frustrating. He doesn't want to think, but he keeps thinking of you. He laughs to himself as he downs his fourth and final beer. "Feelings are so complicated." But he knows you'll make them less complicated.

Sage's voice drifts away and blends with the cacophony of the dive bar. He watches you read a novel from across the table, and a soft smile graces his lips. He's in love.

© nyxelenios, 2021

#sage lesath #sage lesath x reader #fictif sage lesath #sage lesath fictif #last legacy #last legacy fictif games #fictif games #nyxelenios — last legacy

[demonslayedher]

Hi! I keep seeing people commenting again and again that Rengoku's "Umai" comes from "ancient samurai did it to enjoy every meal as if it were their last one", but I can't find a reliable source on that. Do you happen to know if that's true or it's just one of those fandom rumors that spread around and everyone believes them? Did the Rengokus used to be samurai?

I have... never heard this????? Granted, I don't stray from under my Tumblr rock when it comes to interacting with the wider KnY fandom, so that might be part of it. But I also have been a nerd for samurai since long before KnY might have been a twinkle in a gator's eye, and... I still have not heard this??????? Granted, I am but one nerd on the internet, so there's of course plenty I don't know. So I went looking into this on the Japanese interwebs, found a good handful of articles on the epistemology of the "umai" Rengoku uses and how the usage meaning can vary depending on the kanji it's written in, and...

Again, that's not to say there's not something out there, but I couldn't find anything that implied that this started as a samurai-specific phrase with a highly specific meaning behind praising a potential last meal's tastiness. Setting aside the question of the word "umai," though, there is a lot of meat to this interpretation, though. There is a lot of samurai and Zen influence at work in Kyojuro's character, the Rengoku clan, and in Kimetsu no Yaiba as a whole.

Let's start with the question of whether or not Kyojuro (and everyone else in the Rengoku clan) is a samurai. I don't think this is an appropriate phrase for a number of historical reasons as well as reasons in canon. First, to my knowledge, the use of 侍 "samurai" in KnY is limited to context of swordsmen from warrior families (武家 "buke") who would have acted under the title of someone who is a career warrior under the service of a warlord. Child Yoriichi uses this phrase when addressing Michikatsu, saying he wants to be the "second strongest samurai." This is appropriate for them, for as warrior family, they have the social expectations of samurai to live up to. This was back in the Warring States period, but the definition of samurai was a building block of the whole social structure in the Edo period, and being tied in with politics would be problematic for a family committed to an unrecognized/secret organization. The Rengoku clan had their own illustrious family legacies to maintain, their own master they already served separate from whatever warlord is in power, and their own dire mission unrecognized by the political world. Rather than samurai, most of the time the demon slayers (or demon hunters, as they were more commonly called in Yoriichi's day before "Corp" existed as a military phrase) were referred to as swordsmen: 剣士 "kenshi." This is how Yoriichi referred to the Rengoku ancestor who found him after Uta was slain. That all being said, the Rengoku family clearly would had been influenced by samurai culture, so much so that acquaintances might assume they are of the samurai class. Besides the general attitudes, there are many subtle details that make the Rengoku household seem like a buke. You know how excited I was when watching the movie and I saw the garden in Rengoku-san's flashbacks and was like, "ahhhh, look at that, only evergreens, no fading flowers, that is totally a garden appropriate for a samurai abode." "But wait!" you might say. "Cherry blossoms represent the evanescent nature of the samurai, scattering in youthful warrior glory!" Pssh, yeah, that makes it a real inauspicious thing to have in your garden. Sometimes you want a symbol of a samurai's undying loyalty and stuff instead. But the constant awareness of death? Yeah, totally a samurai thing. And that's part of why Zen was so popular with samurai/swordsmen. The more you dig into the samurai psyche about death and constant preparation for it (as well as the struggle to be stoic about it, as opposed to fearing it or being too eager for a glorious death), the more fascinating things you find. Even proper hygiene for making sure your head is a fitting trophy from the battlefield! One method of stoicism found in Zen is mindfulness, and it's actually been on my mind lately how so much of Breath users' abilities does stem from mindfulness (emphasis on the five senses, embracing mundane chores like Tanjiro tending rice as it cooks, heck, even the tree-like state), which would lend itself very well to the interpretation that each meal should be appreciated like your last.

Like, that's one reason the tea ceremony was so popular a practice among samurai too. It draws you attention to the moment. And it's pretty realistic that you'll never encounter a moment like that again with the people you're gathered with. It's the same sort of the approach, and it can absolutely be applied to eating. There is a lot of more general focus throughout KnY on meditation being a source of strength, be it training under waterfalls, Genya repeating the Nembutsu prayer or Ruka practicing Kankagari (meditation done by expectant mothers in the Rengoku clan, staring at a hanging lantern). Breath itself is so, so, so, so closely linked to meditation. It's as though Gotouge is trying to extol the virtues of mastery of the self, and how running away with our passions (perhaps well-meaning, but misguided) is what will make demons out of us. And Kyojuro, who sees good reason for being sad over his father's state, stoically chose mastery over his own emotions. He does not let his potential inadequacies become a passion that rules his heart, and this gives his mind the freedom to adjust quickly to new situations. Kyojuro does tend to live in a state of being in the present, and that means being mindful of an grateful for the details of everything and everyone around him. He accepts not only that he may die protecting his juniors, but that he might also grow old and weak. He neither seeks or flees from either course.

To become a demon would be to let oneself be consumed by passions, ultimately losing that appreciation for our delicate existence. Maybe I wouldn't call him a samurai, but I would feel comfortable calling Kyojuro a 武士 "bushi" (warrior) (albeit the over-idealized bushi mindset took through writings of people who could only look back and admire samurai of the past, and project themselves onto them a bit, but I digress, that's an interesting but irrelevant topic). Not every samurai was a good one, especially as we trickled through the peaceful Edo period, being a samurai was just a happy accident of birth that landed you a civil service position. But for someone who accepted a bushi lifestyle, they accepted that death might always be near. While it's very easy for bushi idealism to be taken to a fanatical level (and for politics, it always has been), KnY lifts up the best of it, with mindful attitudes to strive for even without death constantly down our necks.

#oh look it's 1am #KnY fandom theories and meta #rengoku kyoujurou #rengoku kyojuro #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer

[charmingpplincardigans]

📖

Okay, buckle up! Because I have this idea for an Our Flag Means Death fic that I think about literally hourly, but won't have time to write until at least June due to how long it's probably gonna be and how much planning it's probably gonna take for the four different POVs I want to use and also how I'm moving 1200 miles in like a month. So, you know TM TM TM.

POV 1: Ed

So, that final episode, right? HOW EXCEEDINGLY RUDE TO JUST LEAVE ED US HANGING LIKE THAT. And in my head, obviously what Ed is gonna do is wallow a bit in private and lose himself in the armor that is Blackbeard in public so that no one asks him anything about any of it. Hard to try and give a guy relationship counseling when he's got a knife to your throat or any other squishy part of your body. And Izzy? Izzy's just gonna make it W O R S E.

Izzy's been sailing under Blackbeard as his right hand man for what feels like ages to him. The time before he admired this man for his strength and his terror and his planning feels like a whole other lifetime ago, and though his idol has become a little less bright over the last grip of time, he still has these dazzling moments of brilliance that remind Izzy of why he's there, of who he himself always wanted to be as a man. And so now that he's got Blackbeard proper back he's going to do everything in his power to keep him all tight laced up in the trappings of violent masculinity, because that is what Izzy knows and understands when it comes to a life.

And I do mean everything. I think at first Izzy offers himself up in that way and Ed balks at it, because he's so newly hurt, because this isn't what he wanted, to be trapped back into a toxic role in a toxic relationship. But Ed is a survivor, and Blackbeard can only feed Izzy so many toes (he only has nine left after all, and balance will start to suffer) before the man starts to foment some sort of attention on how Ed is spending so much time alone, how it feels like Blackbeard's heart has gone out of it even as the cruelty remains. So he gives in to some small physical things while still keeping his boundaries around the physical and emotional parts of him he most wanted to give to Stede and Izzy stops asking so many questions because this, this is what a man should be, all lust and terror, and Ed is a consummate performer.

All of this is, of course, in Ed's POV in close third, because I'm me, so there will be a lot of Thoughts about survival and maintaining legacy and probably some light disassociation as Izzy puts himself directly in Ed's way, makes up desires of Ed's to fill. And eventually they will carry on with the work of piracy in their small corner of the world, the one Ed was so ready to leave, but what is there for him out there if not love?

POV 2: Jim

The other POV on the Revenge is, of course, Jim. Given their druthers they would hightail it as soon as they could and find Olu, but there are a few extenuating circumstances for the time being: namely Ivan and Frenchie.

The first man has been tasked with going everywhere Jim goes and never taking their eyes off them as Blackbeard gives them orders to complete and sometimes when they're ashore, murderous missions to see through. Sometimes Fang takes over this watch, but it's hard to get the geniality out of him that they had seen glimpses of before. Everyone on the ship, it seems, is taking Blackbeard's lead in a way the original crew of the Revenge never would have taken Stede's. Jim has to give that to Ed, he knows how to get what he wants from a man.

The second man, well, Jim just doesn't want to leave Frenchie alone with this gang of leather daddies, because for all his intelligence and imagination, Jim doesn't see him being able to fend off more than a couple of the men if Ed's favor turns. Frenchie isn't Jim's responsibility of course, but they'd sailed together long enough that they feel something like friendship for him, and that can't be ignored.

So Jim and Frenchie stick together, listening and waiting, and plotting, mainly through long looks and head tilts and finger twitches. Even if they had the materials to write or draw to one another, they wouldn't want to risk it being found by the eyes that are always on them. Keeping as much as they can in their heads is the safest bet. Until one evening when something from within the wall whispers to Jim in the middle of the night, just as Ivan has started to snore, and it turns out that Lucius is actually alive.

In the face of their current precarity, three conspirators are better than two. Especially when one of them has unfettered access to the musings of their captor--being the only person who is ever close to Ed because Ed doesn't know he's there--and can write notes to be passed off to people in ports for the purposes of leaving a trail, just in case anyone might be on it. So they keep their heads down, and they listen, and they bide their time.

POV 3: Oluwande

The rest of the crew is, of course on the trail, and Oluwande is the first one to receive a message, from Spanish Jackie of all people. He hadn't even gone into her place, couldn't bring himself to without Jim, but she had a way of finding what she wanted. When they did meet she looked him up and down with wide-eyed pity and gave him a folded slip of paper and a bag of coins. Oluwande can't read the paper, but he knows both Lucius's handwriting and Spanish doubloons when he sees them and he takes them both back to Stede where the man is down at the docks stubbornly trying to purchase or borrow a ship with nothing but the rings on his fingers and his wide smile. It is...not going so well.

Thinking fast, Olu presents the bag to his captain as if it is a small portion of a very large spoils they had stashed somewhere and he'd been asked to retrieve it. He explains to the owner of the ship that they only need help getting to this fortune of theirs (borrowing from Frenchie's pyramid scheme) and the owner of the small vessel comes around the minute the bag hits his hand, Olu having palmed several pieces to use for food later. Stede feels quite proud of the accomplishment, telling Olu that see, faith was all they needed, and Olu heaves a long suffering and under appreciated sigh and goes to pull the rest of the crew from the bars and whorehouses they'd scattered to so they can get this underway.

It takes them days to convince Stede that not only could they not get to China in this vessel before starving to death (for it is larger than a fishing boat but smaller still than the Revenge had been, and the Revenge hadn't even been the size of Queen Anne's Revenge, let alone a vessel made for such distances), but that they know Blackbeard isn't headed there. Lucius's note had been somewhat educational for Stede it seemed, but it had been necessarily vague and not educational enough to knock his love struck nonsense back into sense. Olu can sympathize with this somewhat, given how much he misses Jim, but he cannot condone the way Stede talks about Ed at all hours of the day as if they're schoolboys, so he makes himself the most scarce first mate in history.

The doubloons, even though they no longer had them, had also been a clue. There were constant rumours about Blackbeard. Those hadn't even stopped when he was aboard the Revenge with them, and now that he had escaped conscription they were getting even bigger and more wild. Blackbeard had taken on a full English Fleet. Blackbeard had deposed the King of Spain. Blackbeard's ship was made of storm clouds and his beard was now tentacles that could strangle a man without him even having to lift a hand. It was hard to separate the plausible sightings from the weird, but there had been a smaller rumour that Blackbeard had recklessly taken on a Spanish galleon with only half a crew and the doubloons, it seemed, had been proof. So they manned the new ship and headed into the wind to, as Stede had once said, "get their damned men (and them) back."

POV 4: Stede

Stede loves and respects his men more now than he ever has before. They're fearless, they're intelligent, and by god they're getting so much better at communication skills! The morning the hull of Stede's old ship/Blackbeard's current ship breaches the horizon he calls them together on the deck of their purloined boat and gives them the grand speech he's been writing over and over in his head about destiny and fate and love. And not a single one them holds back on telling him what they think! What they think is quite a bit more negative than he was hoping, but baby steps. They are all convinced, it seems, that they're going to die.

For his part, Stede is sure that as soon as they hail the Revenge and he can just explain himself to Ed there won't be any trouble at all. It's a belief he firmly holds right up until one of his own damn cannon balls breaks the point of the forepeak off of their ship way too close to the hull for comfort. Buttons gives Stede a rundown of who he can see above decks through his looking glass, including Jim and Frenchie, but Blackbeard appears to be nowhere in sight and Izzy is at the command. This rankles Stede to no end and he leans into being the obnoxious, dogged terrier of a man he knows he can be.

They don't have any weapons, a folly Oluwande had pointed out several times in the last several weeks, but they are lighter, faster, and more maneuverable, so Stede does the only thing he can think of, the thing he's spent all of his time doing since he left home a truly free man. He tries to get as close to Ed as possible as quickly as possible. The gall of it really takes Blackbeard's crew by surprise, and there are some more shots with cannons and guns and, when he realizes they don't have a dinghy either (perhaps he'd paid too much for this collection of boards after all), Stede strips to his stockings, breeches, and shirt cuffs and dives right overboard to make a swim for it.

It's Jim who pulls him up over the railing and they and Frenchie stand between him and Izzy Hands while he catches his breath and leaks sea water onto the deck. Izzy looks like murder and Stede can feel it reflected in his gut. He's about to step around his crew mates and take the pound of flesh he's been dreaming about when suddenly everything goes very still and Ed (Blackbeard? Blackbeard) appears from the doorway to the captain's quarters. It takes Stede's breath away for several reasons, each more inconvenient than the last.

The very public reunion goes south fast, not at all the way Stede had envisioned, and Blackbeard gives an imperious look that sweeps over both ships and proclaims that he will be meeting with Captain Bonnet in his quarters and that not a shot is to be fired until one or both of them emerges. Stede shoots one last look at Izzy as he follows Ed inside and the man is so red Stede wonders idly if his head will explode and save him the trouble of having to remove it himself.

Anyway, there's a lot of pleading on Stede's part and then shouting on Blackbeard's part and then silence on both of their parts and little by little Stede watches as Blackbeard slips away from the face of the man he loves and all that's left is Ed, gutted, lonely, empty eyed Ed, and Stede's heart breaks in two like the orange for what he's done to this man he loves so dearly. Love. He can't even do that right it seems. Not even when he really wants to.

The End

It's a high seas miracle! All couples are reunited and get their own happy scenes of reconnecting with each other and filling each other in on their lives. Izzy and most of Blackbeard's crew are sent off on the smaller ship to meet up with the rest of his fleet where they're off causing other pain and suffering. And probably there should be a sex scene or two for our heroes to make up for all the Izzy I made people endure in the beginning. Something tender and forgiving, exactly the opposite of who Ed had to be the entire time he thought Stede had abandoned him. He still wants to go to China, just the two of them, but he'll settle for other adventures, as long as he can have them as himself, in Stede's arms, and they steer clear of any and all lighthouses.

[Send me a 📓 and I'll tell you about a fic I haven't written yet, but daydream about.]

#operafloozy #our flag means death #stede bonnet #edward teach #blackbeard #and the whole gang #it's part rebound part of a romcom and part heist fic #i just have to make it worse before i fix it #because i'm me #also because i'm me #there's gonna be so many feelings in this bad boy!!!

[macolegacy]

well i for one can't wait for that mindmap, but indulge us, whom is vrupet influencing this time? big fan of her work 🧐

SO glad you asked. you see i ALWAYS wanted a jedi mole for vrupet and tried a few different character concepts for that but nothing ever stuck bc i could never figure out a good backstory as to WHY. but now that i replayed SOR on najilah my brain connected the two dots and i couldnt be happier rn.

enter Xhaan (the 'xh' like z in zebra)- Xiame's brother.

i drew him once before and he looks like this while he was still sith:

After he urged Xiame to go to nar shaddaa to save herself, he stayed on dromund kaas with their family and did what his father expected of him; basically to prepare/train to carry on the family legacy and become darth in his father's stead. what his father, or ANYONE in their family (not even xiame) didn't know, was that he was part of the revanites. he worked closely with darth arkous and their other allies in the empire together, staged the assault on tython, you know the drill. unlike arkous he managed to maintain a clean record and play pretend further, though he did not want to be part of this any longer and jumped ship. he wasn't on yavin 4, but his name WAS on the files theron sent both to darth marr and to satele, files which vrupet (who was on yavin 4 with khalid and marr) also got a hold of. as someone who mingled quite a lot in sith society, she noticed his name immediately. now he wasn't the only person she blackmailed with that list, but she was the most intrigued with him; his family had prestige (xiame was declared shipwrecked and dead for the sake of the family's image), he was on his way to a secured seat on the dark council - why would he give that up and side with the revanites? she told her agent rylen to track him down, and once they found his location, she interrogated him. he'd tell her he was only interested in revan's teachings of dark and light and not this battle thats happening during SoR, but that he knew if he returned to the empire now, he'd be declared traitor and killed on the spot if they were merciful. vrupet made him an offer; she will get his name cleared off the list and get him out of imperial space safely, only if he will be her mole in the jedi order. he was dumbfounded at first, but quickly realized that was his only option at both doing his own research on revans teachings and actually surviving out there without the empire on his neck. so, he agreed. and THATS how he went to the order and became jedi, all while being vrupet's inside man in the order. he probably isn't her only one but he doesn't know that and i won't develop them anyway so. trust me they're there. <3

he changed his name and his appearance (took off the golden piercings), and the longer he stayed w the jedi, the more he actually found he agreed with them more than with the sith. by the start of KOTET etc he actually becomes a fullblown jedi, but he's still serving out of fear and he feels TERRIBLE about betraying the order.

at some point his formerly orange eyes will become silver as he embraces the light side more, and he'll make a new saber as well with a frost-blue/silvery blade instead of his former purple one. also adding silver piercings cause he missed wearing them. his armor will be hooded and cover his face cause he's still shy/scared about showing his face as a pureblood in the order

#anyway yeah thats all from my notes that i made at 2 am <3 #askbox #anonymous #xaan

[thefreelanceangel]

Shadowbringers Is Finally Ended

With Patch 5.55 and the official end of the Shadowbringers story, setting up now for Endwalker in November, there are now a few months ahead to grind gear, finish content and reflect on the most recent expansion.

And, without any hyperbole, I can say definitively that I have never in my life been as impressed with a game's writing as I have that of Shadowbringers, both the original expansion and a lot of the patch content. I have... thoughts.

I'm a bit of an outlier; I skipped Stormblood (oops) and went straight from completing Heavensward (which greatly impressed me at the time and still does) into Shadowbringers because I wanted to get a max level character already.

Within the first few cutscenes of Shadowbringers, I was absolutely hooked.

First, let me just say that "monstrous angels" is 100% My Thing. I ADORE the reinterpretation of the standard "Renaissance art angelic figures" into something closer to incomprehensible beings taking on twisted, terrifying appearances. The human mind is a finite thing and comprehending an angel would be as difficult as comprehending infinity; these are things so alien to our experience that assuming they'd be easy to grasp and familiar feels disingenuous to me.

So the sin-eaters and the Lightwardens? SLAP.

Also, the intent behind the usage of "Light" in Shadowbringers was deliberate and purposeful. Our Lord and Savior, Yoshi-P, stated this clearly in his Forbes interview.

"The inception of this idea was very simple: in recent fantasy works, the perception that light equates to good and dark equates to evil is very set in stone, we wanted to shake this up a bit.

"Until this point in Final Fantasy XIV, our players have been Warriors of Light: the hero. However, with Shadowbringers, we leave the Source and embark on a journey to the First, and through this I want our players to discover the truth of the world, as well as think about the real nature of light and dark. That is the theme of Shadowbringers.

"In any case, a light too strong could potentially become evil. Darkness and night are also necessary for the world to maintain its balance; that's the kind of theme we will be shedding light on."

And the themes in Shadowbringers had such an amazing resonance that they were both painfully clear and masterfully executed. Not only was the theme of "balance" clearly executed in the "returning Darkness to a world flooded by Light" goal, but the desire for players to "think about the real nature of light and dark" showed in a multitude of ways.

The Warriors of Light (who we met as the Warriors of Darkness in Heavensward) are, in their home world, reviled. They directly caused the Flood which nearly destroyed their home and although they were able to save it with personal sacrifice, the populace at large is unaware of that sacrifice. The motives behind what the Warriors did is essentially lost to history; all that remains is the perception of their actions and the results thereof.

Motives, however, which you (player and WoL) are privy to.

"At long last, you see. To save our world, we gave our lives. We were just adventurers trying to make our way. An odd job here, a favor there—we never aspired to be Warriors of Light. But word of our deeds spread, and soon people were calling us heroes. They placed their hopes and dreams on our shoulders and bid us fight for all that was good and right. We fought and we fought and we fought...until there was no one left to fight. We won...and now our world is being erased from existence. We did everything right, everything that was asked of us, and still—still it came to this! You of all people should understand! We cannot—we will not falter. We brought our world to the brink of destruction, and now we must save it."

You had that fight with the Warriors of Darkness. You heard Ardbert explain exactly what happened, how they came to the point where they faced off against you, and you saw what happened when they were given the choice to hold back the Flood. And you were there when the one favor Ardbert asked was for the Warriors of Darkness to be taken home.

You see how the First remembers them and it's stark contrast to the heroes you met who were fighting desperately to save people who now spit on their names. History quite clearly has two sides and which you believe is dependent entirely on what information you have.

This becomes even more of a clear theme when you meet Emet-Selch and learn more about the Calamity which led to the entire Zodiark/Hydaelyn duality. Here, your previous experiences with Ascians has painted them solely as "villains." They are established enemies, manipulating events and people in order to attain goals which, to you, are nothing but Calamities.

And yet, as you learn more about the original Source and the Amaurotines that once lived on it, these goals are painted in an entirely new light. Instead of merely seeking to wipe out "the world" for no apparent reason or, at best guess, greater power for their deity Zodiark, the Ascians were striving to repair the damage done by the original Sundering. They, in a manner of speaking, were doing what the Warriors of Darkness were. What you, the Warrior of Light, have been doing. They were trying to restore what was lost.

Which leads into another of Shadowbringers' major themes: grief and loss.

The earliest touches of this are in Alisaie's questlines where you learn about what happens to people tainted by the Light. Families are destroyed, people are transmuted into sin-eaters and those who avoid that fate must stand by and watch as their loved ones fall to something far worse than death. "A Purchase of Fruit" shows you exactly what the end result is while also highlighting something very specific: with no hope of removing the Light's taint, knowing that all that awaits the tainted is a painful transmutation and existence as a sin-eater, those untainted make the best they can of those last days and end the tainted individual's pain before it begins.

Grief, yes. Loss? Absolutely. And yet, this is a loving, compassionate thing that those in Amh Araeng are doing. They face their own grief and loss. Rather than refusing to accept the actuality of their circumstances or refuse to weigh themselves down with taking a decisive action, they make the choice to face their grief and loss directly, even willingly taking on the guilt of their actions rather than leaving the tainted to suffer.

Magnus in Twine lost his wife and son, which immobilizes him. He can't find solance in anything save alcohol and brooding over their graves. It takes outside interference to pull him directly from his grief, to help him see past the loss of his family and look towards the future where life might once again be worth living. His struggle with grief is painfully familiar and so very, very close to many real life struggles that it's extremely poignant.

This struggle with grief is the fight the Ascians are, without question, losing. Let's set aside the "tempering" argument when it comes to Emet-Selch and Elidibus for the moment, largely because it's actually quite true that grief can spur people into committing horrific acts either as a desperate attempt to assuage their own pain (revenge) or make 'things right' in some way (vengeance).

Emet-Selch does not, in fact, properly grieve for Amaurot and the Ancients he knew. He clings to them, as Hythlodaeus tells us, weighed down by an aching sense of loss.

"And though he may carry himself with a certain glib ease, Emet-Selch is not a man to bear his burdens lightly. In fact, I imagine they have only grown heavier with every passing century. ...T'is truly a terrible weight he has chosen to carry."

Quite significantly is the word "chosen" in that. Grief is a process that involves, eventually, letting go of the pain and living with the memories of what was loved and what no longer is. Emet-Selch chooses not to do that. He does not grieve for Amaurot and his lost loved ones; he refuses, no matter how often he mentions his loss, to admit that what is gone is gone.

Elidibus, rather similarly, refuses to accept that the duty he took on when called upon to become Zodiark's heart is finally at an end. That the world he and Emet-Selch originated from is gone. Although he admits that he can barely remember why he's set on this path, he refuses to turn away from him.

One won't forget, one can barely remember--neither will grieve and let go.

Even the Ascians' characteristic arrogance and disdain for what they consider "lesser beings" is easy to read as their long-lasting struggle with grief. Considering the Sundering, all the beings that the Ascians are so disdainful of are, in fact, echoes of that which they once knew. If they acknowledged that, accepted those beings as what they are and perhaps even admitted they had worth... well... Rather like realizing abruptly that you've spent a whole day without thinking of someone recently departed, it feels like a betrayal.

To find value in the worlds as they currently are, to turn away from the duty they were asked to uphold, to choose to lay down the memories of the past are all, in essence, choices the Ascians will not make because to do so would be to let go of what's lost, to move into the acceptance of grief and that can feel like betraying those whose memories are slowly fading.

Emet-Selch's end--"Remember us."--is directly tied to his refusal to forget. To let himself have even one day without hoping for an eventuality that's highly unlikely regardless of effort, without remembering the Sundering and the Final Days. He remembered, forcefully and tenaciously, and wishes that legacy to live beyond him.

While Elidibus, in remembering, unable to deny failure any longer, finally expresses grief and loss. "My people. My brothers. ...My friends. Stay strong. Keep the faith. At duty's end, we will meet again. We will. We will. The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day. But you are not here to see it."

And coming from villains, quite specifically from villains that have been largely indistinct "puppet master" figures throughout the previous expansions, these story arcs were a punch to the gut. (Yes, I had to pause writing this to cry helplessly over Elidibus again because my gods, that last line just...) Villains are at their best in fiction when they're relatable. When it's so very easy to see that thin line between villain and hero.

Faced with the loss of everything you'd ever loved, with the faintest possibility of getting it back, what would you do? What wouldn't you do? Yes, the Ascians did terrible things and that's undeniable. Stopping them was necessary to save hundreds of thousands of lives. And doing so, being victorious, didn't feel like a victory and that is such a rare, rare thing in media. The Warrior of Light does the right thing, but in doing so, must face the fact that those they've been fighting have hopes and dreams and feelings and pain as real and as motivating as theirs.

And Shadowbringers does such an impressive job of turning those standard tropes around. Heroes are a dime a dozen because if you just awaken them, as Elidibus did with the starshower, well, there can be dozens of Warriors running around. Villains have heart-wrenching motivations and relatable reasons for their goals. History is multi-faceted and no one person knows what the "truth" truly is. Grief can spur people to helping others (i.e. the tank Role Quest ending) or it can fester and go unhealed and create nothing but more destruction.

There is so much that Shadowbringers did beautifully, I don't have the time to touch on all of it. The lack of "breaking the flawed system fixes everything" trope following Eulmore's liberation from Vauthry and the struggles that Eulmore faces in trying to build a functional, working social order for themselves. Embracing the value of childish dreams and tending to the smallest, most overlooked victims of trauma with the Pixie Tribal Quests. Dealing with a commander whose soldiers died and seeing Lyna's survivor's guilt. Seeing how having a single, unified goal can inspire and rally people into putting differences aside and helping each other.

Shadowbringers has finally ended with Patch 5.55. The story on the First ended with Patch 5.3. And all I can say is that this is a game that I will never forget.

#Shadowbringers #FFXIV #OOC #Yes I had A Lot of Thoughts

[mallowstep]

(Reedwhisker anon)

The Erin's don't say and Reedwhisker is made an apprentice around the same time Ashfur and Ferncloud were, thereabouts I'd expect. (Both Brindleface and Mistyfoot were pregnant at the same time. I think Brindle's litter is a moon or 2 older though. Idk.) But he has been through ALOT. When I realized Mistyfoot didn't mention her kits in Canon I assumed those whose bones were mixed in with Bonehill, but then I noticed Reedwhisker in TNP and investigated him, found out he was Reedpaw, Misty's kit, and had the same thoughts you did. Mistyfoot, who wouldn't stop training Featherpaw even though she, too, was starved? Mistyfoot who watched her brother die but kept on going for Stormpaw and Featherpaw? Like...forget her own son in Canon? Like she would have told Grey and Fire to take Feather and Storm and she'd have gone back for her son. Her only surviving kit. She made him her fucking deputy, a mother's love is literally the MOST painful life a leader receives. In Misty AU, there is no Choice. It sucks, it's fucking painful, but Featherpaw is dying and they need to get out. But I can also see Reedpaw being the one of the few cats desensitized to EVERYTHING when Tigerstar loses all his nine lives? Man, I can even see him say "Oh...so this has happened now too. Can anything else get more fucked up?" Especially in Leopard AU. He's. Well in that one, he's seen and heard some shit. Now a leader's had all nine lives ripped from them with one blow and all clans have three days to get the fuck out or else? And Shadowclan just...flees back to their territory after trashing Riverclan's, their leader and medicine cat aren't talking (not that he can blame Leopardstar, he hates Mudfur too, by now.) He doesn't have a mentor anymore. (Not that Blackfoot really was one.) And he still hasn't seen his mother, or Feather, or Storm. But yay, his dad can actually treat him like he's his son again? So...that's something, I guess. Misty AU, after the Bloodclan battle, finding out his mom's pregnant with that monster's kits, like Twanypaw wasn't enough of a reminder. Tbh, I think he'd honestly have some beef with Twany. "You willingly gave up your mom, who loves you, and your brother, who also loves you and joined a fucking monster? Are you for real right now?" (In either AU, this warrior WOULD definitely have interrupted the Gathering once Blackstar announced Twanypelt's kits names. "You're letting her settle an innocent with that name, giving THAT Monster a fucking Legacy, and burdening her son with THE SAME SHIT SHE LEFT THUNDERCLAN FOR SHADOWCLAN FOR? ARE YOU FOR FUCKING REAL? BECAUSE THERE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD TIGER-WHATEVER THE FUCK? SHE'S A FUCKING SHITTY QUEEN, AND YOU'RE A SHITTY LEADER, BLACKSTAR.") Just...Reedpaw telling Stone or Misty everything he saw and heard that night Feathervand her escaped, Leopardstar's first death, how she struggled against Tigerstar and "he just held her head in the river and looked at her like she was a kit he was chastising." He shakes as he says this, choking on the last words, and Mudfur has to bring him poppy seeds to help him sleep that night. He gives me feels. In Canon he survives Tigerclan, Bloodclan, the destruction of the forest, the journey to the lake, the Great Battle, and now this whole no Starclan thing. If there was ever someone who needed therapy it's him...and I can't really see Reedwhisker being the type to think Misty didn't love him. He knows he was relatively safe compared to Feather and Storm, and...tbh I think he'd tell Misty she made the right choice. And I think that would probably break Mistyfoot's heart more in all three AUs then anything else. Feather's, too. (She's too kind, I swear.)

/nm but for the future if y'all don't mind trying to include some paragraph breaks for your local adhder that would be Appreciated. ik on the old ask box it's not possible but. if you're using the new one i really struggle with text walls. (it's ironic bc i tend to write them but.)

okay. gonna do sentence my sentence thing.

The Erin's don't say and Reedwhisker is made an apprentice around the same time Ashfur and Ferncloud were, thereabouts I'd expect.

(Both Brindleface and Mistyfoot were pregnant at the same time. I think Brindle's litter is a moon or 2 older though. Idk.)

But he has been through ALOT.

When I realized Mistyfoot didn't mention her kits in Canon I assumed those whose bones were mixed in with Bonehill, but then I noticed Reedwhisker in TNP and investigated him, found out he was Reedpaw, Misty's kit, and had the same thoughts you did.

Mistyfoot, who wouldn't stop training Featherpaw even though she, too, was starved?

Mistyfoot who watched her brother die but kept on going for Stormpaw and Featherpaw?

Like...forget her own son in Canon?

Like she would have told Grey and Fire to take Feather and Storm and she'd have gone back for her son. Her only surviving kit.

She made him her fucking deputy, a mother's love is literally the MOST painful life a leader receives.

In Misty AU, there is no Choice. It sucks, it's fucking painful, but Featherpaw is dying and they need to get out.

But I can also see Reedpaw being the one of the few cats desensitized to EVERYTHING when Tigerstar loses all his nine lives?

Man, I can even see him say "Oh...so this has happened now too. Can anything else get more fucked up?"

Especially in Leopard AU.

He's.

Well in that one, he's seen and heard some shit.

Now a leader's had all nine lives ripped from them with one blow and all clans have three days to get the fuck out or else?

And Shadowclan just...flees back to their territory after trashing Riverclan's, their leader and medicine cat aren't talking (not that he can blame Leopardstar, he hates Mudfur too, by now.)

He doesn't have a mentor anymore.

(Not that Blackfoot really was one.)

And he still hasn't seen his mother, or Feather, or Storm.

But yay, his dad can actually treat him like he's his son again?

So...that's something, I guess.

Misty AU, after the Bloodclan battle, finding out his mom's pregnant with that monster's kits, like Twanypaw wasn't enough of a reminder.

Tbh, I think he'd honestly have some beef with Twany.

"You willingly gave up your mom, who loves you, and your brother, who also loves you and joined a fucking monster? Are you for real right now?"

(In either AU, this warrior WOULD definitely have interrupted the Gathering once Blackstar announced Twanypelt's kits names.

"You're letting her settle an innocent with that name, giving THAT Monster a fucking Legacy, and burdening her son with THE SAME SHIT SHE LEFT THUNDERCLAN FOR SHADOWCLAN FOR? ARE YOU FOR FUCKING REAL?

BECAUSE THERE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD TIGER-WHATEVER THE FUCK?

SHE'S A FUCKING SHITTY QUEEN, AND YOU'RE A SHITTY LEADER, BLACKSTAR.")

Just...Reedpaw telling Stone or Misty everything he saw and heard that night Feathervand her escaped, Leopardstar's first death, how she struggled against Tigerstar and "he just held her head in the river and looked at her like she was a kit he was chastising."

He shakes as he says this, choking on the last words, and Mudfur has to bring him poppy seeds to help him sleep that night. He gives me feels.

In Canon he survives Tigerclan, Bloodclan, the destruction of the forest, the journey to the lake, the Great Battle, and now this whole no Starclan thing.

If there was ever someone who needed therapy it's him...and I can't really see Reedwhisker being the type to think Misty didn't love him.

He knows he was relatively safe compared to Feather and Storm, and...tbh I think he'd tell Misty she made the right choice.

And I think that would probably break Mistyfoot's heart more in all three AUs then anything else.

Feather's, too. (She's too kind, I swear.)

okay cool let's start at the top. i love u anon just want u to know. everything u send me about this makes me feel so many things. my beloved. <3

re reedwhisker's age: unless/until i get a confirmation that he was apprenticed, etc., on page, or an erin statement about it, i'm maintaining my position. he doesn't show up in asir which you would 100% expect him to, and asir was published june 2020, which means reedwhisker as mistystar's surviving kit was known, which means that i really don't think he was born yet. like i really, really, really think that someone mistakenly went, "well, mistyfoot had a litter in tpb, so reedwhisker was a part of that litter," and we've all just been operating under that assumption.

(open to changing that opinion on evidence. i just need a source -- an erin statement, author chat, blogclan, a book, w/e, just something that will confirm when reedwhisker was actually born.)

because like -- ferncloud is nearly a year older than the bramble, storm, primrose, etc., so i don't know. there's no good timeline. reedwhisker appears as a fully grown warrior in twilight. so. heck if i know.

like there's no way mistyfoot would leave him behind? there's no way he wouldn't want to reunite with stormfur and feathertail and his mom? like he would be in asir, right? i'm not crazy? of all cats?

scream.

but moving on from my open anger re. the reedpaw problem;

i mean -- to be clear, mistyfoot and featherpaw are in riverclan from the beginning of tigerclan to the end in the misty au. no escapes are made. so even if reedpaw was alive, they're there. unlike the other aus, the misty au is Defined by yours truly because i'm actually writing it. so none of that angst, just the -- pain of watching the fall.

hnng.

and yeah he's just. so done and over everything.

and oh my god like -- he thinks he's Very alone in the leopard au. because he doesn't -- oh my god. and when they show up in riverclan again it's great but also -- he's been alone witnessing all of this Shit holy god i swear.

mistyfoot is...not Really visibly pregnant until after tigerclan, and he wouldn't be close enough to smell it, so yeah -- he'd still be surprised. or maybe. not surprised so much as. argh. you know like. he doesn't want to face it.

i like the idea of him having this very complex but entirely one-sided relationship to tawny. like, they went through some pretty similar stuff, but she chose it, and embraced it, and that's. you know. and she doesn't really think of him because she doesn't Know that like. mistyfoot is his mom.

and yes more people calling out tawnypelt's terrible naming decisions. i mean i love the angst it gives me for writing purposes and tigerheart is my favourite husband in warriors (he's so in love with his wife i love him for that), but yeah. what.

and oh my god like -- he would be the one to explain things. because -- i mean because he's scared and alone and is the only one who saw this and hasn't been able to say anything and he finally sees his family and Safe and. they're all watching him like "oh shit how the fuck did it get worse after we left" and oh-

all of these cats need therapy.

[ID: text that reads "5. Hawkwing and Frecklewish invent therapy." /end ID]

(a chapter title from "Heathertail's School for Attractive, Murderous She-Cats")

and yes. yes yes he would. i bet mistyfoot would apologize and he would be like -

no, why are you apologizing? i was safe, you weren't

and he wasn't really safe but seeing him just -- seeing how he just has this. i dunno how to say it. but when mistyfoot sees him and how's he's just had to grapple with this and oh.

she would be so upset.

<3

#reed au #ask #anon #misty au #leopard au #mine

[ariparri]

MC Patronus

I was tagged by @carewyncromwell on a post for MC patronuses! I, sadly, don't really talk about most of my characters because I'm hyperfixacted on mostly one character 😅

I'll only do this for my Hogwarts Legacy and Hogwarts Mystery MCs. Anyways, let's get to it!

I can't find the original docs I made for my MCs' patronus so majority of this was a copy paste from the site I use to figure out their patronus.

What's My Spirit Animal?

Image Source

McQuaid/Mac Uaid

I mentioned in the Mac Uaid family crest that the wolf is part of the emblem and how every McQuaid's patronus is a wolf.

As a spirit animal, the wolf comes to support and teach us about matters of personal power, balance, self-control, and our animal instincts.

Wolves are misunderstood by many to be aggressive, vicious animals who attack with no provocation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, wolves go out of their way to avoid fights. However, when they want to be heard, when they want to stave off or deter an attacker, they will stand their ground.

Wolves are incredible examples of standing in the seat of your own power. They let predators know that they can fight to the death and are prepared to do so but they rarely initiate combat.

The wolf sometimes appears when we face challenges for which we feel less than prepared. The wolf reminds you that you have all the tools in your spiritual treasure chest to handle this effectively.

For seekers who feel afraid or threatened, the wolf reminds us of how those feelings put our entire psyche off balance. Yes, fear plays an important role in personal safety unless it becomes all-consuming or is baseless. Don’t let the darkness consume your spirit.

Sometimes the wolf calls on us to become the Lone Wolf, who breaks away from the pack to discover the Sacred Self. During times of aloneness, you rediscover your dreams and passions. You also start uncovering the true self and voice that howls at the moon with abandonment!

Humans are animals, and sometimes we overlook the gifts from nature that are already within us. Life has an order and rhythm. When you run with a pack, there is a sense of community, and when you’re alone – liberation.

Those who walk with the wolf sometimes don’t trust themselves as much as they should. When you find yourself falling into that emotional pattern, rely on your keen mind and logic to renew balance.

The key caution for wolf people is your predatory nature. Now, here’s the thing about a wolf’s “predatory” nature – they mostly focus on taking down the weak, sick, and elderly.

Rarely will a Wolf prey on a strong, mature adult. Surely nature has a reason for this, but in terms of symbolism for humans, the lesson here is to make sure that you do not choose to prey on those who are not able to stand against you.

Rohan Mac Uaid (Hogwarts Legacy)

The Gray Wolf is Rohan's patronus. As his patronus is the gray wolf, he is constantly transforming himself, improving himself as he encounters the lessons and challenges of life.

The gray wolf is the wolf who stands at the Western Door. The winds of change will gently flow through the life of the gray wolf soul, stirring him to greet the change with the knowledge of the lessons that such transitional times will herald. The gray wolf soul understands that change is merely growth, an essential part of life, and thus, embraces change easily.

McQuaids with the gray wolf patronus doesn't strain to see what is not yet visible on the other side, merely acknowledges that the changes will surely take place and that the choices he/she makes, will fashion the path they take.

The individual with the totem of the gray wolf understands the importance of protecting and nurturing life in all of its varied and brilliant forms. He is the soul that desires to be of service to others and thus enters a profession which will be in alignment with these principles. She is the soul who desires to nurture the spark of soul awareness in the other members of her society, so as to ensure the survival of the species. In whatever form this urge of guardianship manifests itself, the gray wolf totem will always strive to be of benefit to the whole.

The wolf soul is one who understands the depth of connection with another, be it mate, friend or family member. These individuals will tend to be monogamous in nature. If a mate is not found that shares this same sense of loyalty, then the wolf totem will choose to live as a solitary wolf yet will still have deep and abiding bonds with friends and/or family.

The gray wolf totem is drawn to individuals who possess the ability to employ rational thought coupled with intuitive understanding. As he walks through life, wolf soul uses his keen intelligence to assess issues and situations which demand resolution. He then follows the prompts he receives from his own higher sense of knowing to achieve necessary growth and learning.

Rohan has quite a fierce temper and often scolds others for their incompetence. After meeting Avis, her gentle nature melting his heart of ice, Rohan shows more self restraint in terms of his emotions. He cares little about status or tradition, and merely judges others solely based on their knowledge, skill and loyalty.

Coby McQuaid (Hogwarts Mystery)

Coby's patronus is the Arctic Wolf. It is said that at the door of each of the Four Winds, a wolf keeps silent vigil, each bringing change to the life of those who walk the good Red Road and with the change, a lesson unique to that wind.

The arctic wolf is the Wolf of the North Winds. He stands quietly in rigid determination, unyielding at times, much as the barren landscapes of his home appear to resist the beginning of Spring.  She is a soul that is comfortable with her surroundings and therefore sees no “reason” to change.

Yet the promise of the North Wind is wisdom unfolding through gratitude and acknowledgment. This is the direction in which wisdom is sifted from the sands of experience and then fashioned into a red staff of manifestation that wields personal potential. Therefore, if the white wolf soul can accept change when it appears, yet remain true to his/her values, then the higher vibration of wisdom and truth can emerge from beneath stubborn resistance like shoots of sweet summer grass bursting forth from a blanket of winter’s snow. Thus, personal power can be embraced, understood and ultimately, the soul’s individual potential manifested.

The individual with the arctic wolf as their power totem is one who is capable of withstanding numerous challenges and setbacks, only to emerge stronger than before. It is little wonder that these souls will often face adversity in their lives in order to build the resilience with which to overcome obstacles? Paradoxically, they are also gentle souls with a great deal of emotional sensitivity . . . and this is the area in which they are likely to encounter their greatest lessons. Yet by calling upon the inner strength and resilience of the arctic wolf, they can triumph and raise their heads with gratitude to the loving rays of the sun.

The arctic wolf soul is an individual who is capable of performing nearly miraculous bouts of stamina that would weary other souls as he travels the good Red Road. He possesses within him the ability to push his body and mind to the limits, and in fact, can appear to even derive pleasure from doing so.

With each new goal that has been met, the arctic wolf individual will then set his/her sights on the next task at hand. Preferably the new goal will be even more challenging than the one just completed, as this engenders the acknowledgment within their own reasoning that they are worthy of that which has been given to them, yet the truth of the matter is that anything they have received, has been honestly won.

Veruca McQuaid (Hogwarts Mystery)

The Arctic Wolf is Veruca's patronus. Although she shares the same patronus as her brother, the patronus takes on a different meaning. The Arctic Wolf patronus Veruca has, is the shadow to the alpha Arctic Wolf. So even with her patronus, Veruca is still in Coby's shadow.

When manifesting as a shadow totem, the arctic wolf brings lessons in life experience that will tend to build up a defensive wall around the shadow wolf soul. These individuals enter onto the Red Road with a good deal of vulnerability, in many instances a higher degree of sensitivity to their environments than most. Yet, as time goes by, extremely painful circumstances are met that will either construct a fortress of solitude or a friendly barrier that keeps others at a “safe” distance, thereby decreasing the chances that the individual may once again be hurt.

McQuaids who have the arctic wolf patronus are stoic and resolute individuals who appear to bear any storm with a spirit of strength and perseverance. And indeed, they are quite capable of enduring many hardships, yet the true lesson for the arctic wolf is the act of maintaining a certain measure of vulnerability in the face of the brutal lessons they encounter.

Though those with the arctic wolf patronus are naturally geared toward a mostly solitary existence, they will have a couple, to a few close & trusted friends that will be more like family members than their own biological family. The reason for this is due to the fact that the shadow arctic wolf soul will often grow up in a family that is either highly dysfunctional, or in circumstances where one or both parents are absent, be this as in the sense that the parental figures are deceased, or where the mother and father are emotionally unavailable.

Veruca isn't as close to her mother as she is with her father. Though she loves her just as much, she can't help but feel like a second thought compared to Coby. Carson is a close friend to Veruca that they consider each other siblings. Veruca even refers to the Iveys as her second family and addresses Mr. and Mrs. Ivey as mom and dad.

Again, trust is hard to earn from those who own an arctic wolf patronus, and bonds once forged in trust will rarely be broken unless there is an extreme betrayal on the part of their loved one. The ultimate challenge of these individuals is to learn to be open, vulnerable and trusting in the face of a lifetime of lessons in rejection, disillusionment, and betrayal. Yet it is interesting that these people will often be the ones to break off relationships, and are seldom the one to be “left behind.”

Right after graduation, Veruca leaves everyone behind to find her own peace and come to terms with everything that has happened. After finding her peace, she comes back to reconcile and reunite with everyone else. While on her own journey, her patronus ends up changing to match Diego's patronus.

Carson Ivey (Hogwarts Mystery)

Carson's patronus is the owl, specifically the Brown Owl. The owl cannot be deceived, which is why this spirit animal reminds us to remain true to ourselves, our voice, and our vision. The owl spirit does not tolerate illusion or secrets.

Being Veruca's best friend, it's a given Carson knows what's truly going on with her. Though it's pretty easy for him to read the moods of someone, he's not one to pry into someone's personal affairs.

The owl is a symbol of being able to navigate any darkness in our life; this spirit brings clarity, prophetic inklings, and a strong connection with the mystical world.

Those with the owl patronus have the opportunity to become far more observant. Being able to notice a lot of important details that previously eluded you. The world is filled with layers of symbolism and meaning, and the owl gives you “new” eyes with which to see those.

As a spirit animal, the owl often calls on us to release the past and put down burdens that hold us back. You have to face your shadows and fears, then move beyond them to find true happiness.

Owls don’t just honor us with the ability of “Second Sight." These majestic birds have hearing that is quite literally “perfect stereo." The owl as a spirit animal guide can aid you in hearing what is really being said despite the words and emotions coming from the messenger.

The owl spirit can help support you when the time to speak your truth has arrived. Remember, owls are birds of prey, and little stops them when they set their sites on “the prize.” What or whom do you have your heart set on? Focus, patience, and stillness can win the day.

Invoke owl energy when you need to see all the details of what or who is coming toward you and what is right in front of you.

Carson may be chaotic with his personality, but he can be patient to analyze and assess a situation. He's quite stubborn, might be because his childhood friend is Veruca and he picked up on her own stubbornness, but he will continue to push for what he stands for.

In Celtic mythology, owls knew the way to the underworld and were fierce defenders of truth and honor. The owl has no tolerance for deception, even when we are deceiving ourselves.

The Celtic Owl was tied closely to the ancient Goddess of fertility. It frequently appears in knotwork and bestiaries, being revered for its ability to see in the dark and acting as a messenger between humans and the Divine.

Avis Ni Conraoi (Hogwarts Legacy)

Avis' patronus is the butterfly. Those with the butterfly patronus means it's time for personal growth and greater awareness of mental, physical, and spiritual rhythms. Change can sometimes be challenging and daunting because it moves us out of our comfort zone.

You cannot embrace a “new you” until you release the old. With the butterfly spirit, you’ll find that you can fly gracefully above the barriers that would otherwise hold you back.

The Conraois are quite a spiritually oriented family one can say. They don't appear to worry over minor things that can cause someone to stress out to the point of exhaustion. Avis, herself, lives her life freely with no worries. Life is too short for her to take a slow path and be cautious of everything. She simply goes with the flow, following where the wind takes her on a new journey.

The butterfly as a teacher puts great emphasis on movement: Be it blossom-to-blossom, home-to-home, or one state in our spiritual exploration to another.

An old Irish blessing says,

“May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun, and find your shoulder to light on.

To bring you luck, happiness, and riches today, tomorrow and beyond.”

Throughout Celtic regions, the butterfly represents prosperity, joy, good fortune, and honor. Butterflies also symbolizes the soul. So much was the case that harming a white butterfly was against the law in Ireland because of the belief it bore a dead child’s spirit.

The butterfly often turns our thoughts inward to review elements of our character, morals, and habits that weigh us down, keeping us stuck in a mire of negative energy.

The goal of the winged ally is restoring lightness in your being so you can dance life’s dance with unbridled joy!

People with a butterfly as their patronus have a natural lightness of spirit! They love the beauty of nature and are guided by the greatest good when it comes to maintaining balance with the environment.

Avis is normally against violence, opting to be an advocate of peace. Though if that peace has been disturbed, she will take on a more passive aggressive attitude to protect that peace.

With the butterfly patronus, you’ll find that you’re better equipped to look at difficult situations from another angle. As you fly on her wings, your perspective becomes more global and hopeful.

Butterfly people are naturally social, colorful, and vibrant. They endeavor to live each moment to the fullest.

#veruca mcquaid #carson ivey #coby mcquaid #rohan mac uaid #avis ni conraoi #mc patronus #patronus challenge #hogwarts mystery #hphm #harry potter hogwarts mystery #hphm mc #hogwarts mystery mc #harry potter hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy #hphl #hogwarts legacy mc #hphl mc

[misereremortem]

zero

Kytheon: my shield, my right hand, my truest love. I'm so sorry you have to read this.

From the day I met you I could see you were one of the finest men I'd ever know. Your unwavering loyalty, your unmatched strength, your determination and confidence and courage in the face of certain death. I've always hesitated to say I fell in love with you immediately, but looking back I can't imagine it was anything else. You've always made me feel safe, wanted and loved, and that hasn't changed even now. I hope I've been able to give back even a fraction of the love you've given me-- it could never be enough. One lifetime could never be enough to love you, even if mine had been twice, three times as long. I need you to know this, if nothing else.

I've known I didn't have a chance, though, and I think you did, too. How long did we know it was hopeless? Since Alistair's death, trying to kill a demon for its teeth? The thing showed it to me the night I heard. There’s no question he fought bravely: even when he knew he was going to lose, he and Scarlett and Lumina bared their fangs and went down with demon blood on their tongues and flesh in their smiles. Make sure his memorial in Haven Hold and his crypt in Nilfthall stay maintained, keep them decorated with red poppies and white moonflowers. He'd do the same for me.

Maybe we've known since Antony's death. He tried to make good on his promise to Venetia, but all of us should've known what a fool’s errand trying to kill a god was-- even a minor one. Nemo entertained them for a moment, but with a snap of his fingers and a flash of his blood-red eyes they disintegrated, like paper in a fire.

The thing showed me that, too. I never brought myself to tell you.

Or perhaps I've known it was hopeless all along, from the minute the mace hit my palm and the weight crashed onto my shoulders. Primordial curses aren't designed to be broken easily. Just know I fought until the end-- until the weight was so much I could barely move, much less kill krakens or elementals or anything else.

There were so many days it was a struggle to even wake up, knowing what I'd have to face, but you made it easier. You helped me bear the load I brought on myself, and every time I thought I was about to collapse for good you were there to help me get back up again.

But I finally broke. There's no getting up this time.

Our family is the one thing it can still take from me. I've been seeing you and Serena and Elspeth every day and night, every time I turn around, and every time you're all dead, in ways gruesome beyond words. If I try to push its limits it’s only going to come for you. It already took Alistair. It already took Antony. I'm not letting it take you, too.

Make sure the girls remember me. Tell them about me-- tell them the stories of how we defeated the raised Warmaster and how we helped lead a war against an evil vampire king. Tell them about their uncles Antony and Alistair, and make sure they know their uncles Duvaindir and Caster and Arsenio. Tell Elspeth about her namesake, and tell them how we fought against our families’ legacies and broke the toxic cycles to start anew. Tell them how we died, and tell them how we got back up again. Above all, tell our songbirds how much I loved them, how much I'll always love them.

When my body is found, if the mace is with me, do not touch it. Do not let them touch it. Leave it to the sea. It's the best I can do.

I made you vows, Kytheon. To walk with you, to be yours forever. I never broke them, and I'm not now. Whatever happens to me next, I will never, never stop loving you, and I will always be with you.

“I vow to walk with you wherever you go, to be your constant companion, your light in the darkness. Where you lead, I'll follow, and where I go, I know you're beside me.

“I vow to be your partner in all things-- not greater or lesser, but equal. From this day forward, we are a team: your loss my loss, your triumph my triumph.

“You are my shield, my stronghold, my beloved. Whether near or far, in sickness or health, in times of war or times of peace, I am yours, and you are mine.

“As death brought us together, let death be the only thing to part us.

“I love you, fully, deeply, completely-- to the ends of the earth and to the end of my days.”

I love you, fully, deeply, completely-- to the ends of the earth and beyond the end of my days.

Gods willing, I'll meet you again at the doors. Keep me waiting for a good while though, alright?

Now, forever, always yours.

Aurelia

She stands on the edge of the cliff behind the castle, the Kingslayer in her hands, the moon shining bright. Ten years of crushing melancholy-- centuries of torment to people like her, ambitious or greedy or just foolish enough to fall for the power promised to them with no regard for the price.

Its claws close in around her; she's been feeling them like needles in her spine this entire last year. But, if she's giving it what it's wanted, she's taking it down with her.

Aurelia takes a deep breath and looks up one last time at the night sky. The moon and the Fading Mother look down on her and she can't help a wavering, tearful smile.

“I’ll see you soon, brothers.”

She steps off into the air, and for a few moments it feels like she's flying.

#fic #au: regina mortem #if you think i didn't make myself cry writing this then boy have i got some news for you #kytheon

[punkscowardschampions]

Rio & Buster

Rio: McKenna, don't suppose you've got my debit? Checking around before I cancel it Buster: Hang on, I'll have a scout Buster: Not seeing it Rio: Great Buster: Want me to call the club? They might have it Rio: Don't bother, place was so sketchy they'd probably just keep it themselves if it wasn't knicked by a random Buster: I can't remember Buster: Where were we? Rio: Gonna get far calling them then weren't ya? Rio: Krystle Rio: first in a series of bad ideas Buster: Weren't complaining at the time Buster: I remember that much Rio: Speak for yourself, dickhead Rio: that was probably some other bitch you're 'fondly remembering' over there 👌🍆 Buster: Give me some credit Buster: Even if a thief has fucked yours Rio: What, not working on your overall score last night? Buster: Wasn't in the mood strangely enough, almost like I'd been at a funeral Rio: 🙄 what a terrible inconvenience for you Rio: not what she woulda wanted for you, respect the dead's wishes Buster: Too busy fulfilling the wishes of the living Rio: Sure, didn't need that much convincing Rio: Didn't fuck my brains out, lad Buster: I'm not the one acting like I did Buster: It happened I'm not gonna cry about it Rio: Fucking should Rio: Your Ma certainly would Rio: mine too if she weren't otherwise engaged Buster: Fuck that Buster: She's got room to talk Buster: Her and my dad grew up together just like we did Rio: Hm Rio: True enough, McKenna Rio: just following family tradition of being fucked up Buster: Following in my parents footsteps like a good lad Rio: well, I'd suggest you find another cousin to maintain the legacy with but if you go near any of them I will kill you myself Buster: Nice to know that's what you think of me Rio: Did you expect a different reception? Rio: What the fuck Buster: Don't drag them into this shit, alright? Buster: We did it. Us Buster: I'm not collecting cousins Rio: I'm not saying I didn't but I know my reasoning Rio: Why did you? Buster: 'cause I wanted to Rio: No shit, I knew that, I was there, remember? Rio: but why, and fuck it, don't need to tell me but ask yourself maybe Buster: I don't know what magic words you're expecting Buster: It's not that deep Rio: Don't be stupid Rio: I want to know what's wrong with you Buster: Ain't nothing wrong here Rio: Fine Rio: Whatever helps you sleep at night, McKenna Buster: I can pay for a shrink, Cavante, I don't need your amateur attempts Rio: So can I Rio: Dunno if the funds will stretch for all 9 of us though Rio: Spare a thought Buster: I already do Rio: Does your philanthropy know no bounds? Rio: Feeling the love Buster: Surprised you've got room next to the guilt Rio: what the fuck are you saying Buster: Such a big mistake, yeah? Rio: yeah, what else could it be? Buster: A good time Buster: They're in short supply around here right now Rio: Whatever you say Rio: Not like this kind of thing isn't what got me here in first place Buster: Drew being a perv had nothing to do with you Rio: You're wrong Rio: hardly one-sided either Buster: Yeah it was Buster: Everyone knows that Rio: I thought he was hot, I'd say as much, I flirted with him Buster: Even if you were wet for him you'd never have gone there Buster: You wouldn't do it to Indie Buster: She idolises that cunt. Or did Rio: Wouldn't I? Rio: Think what you like, I don't wanna talk about it anymore Buster: We don't have to, but come on, Rio, it ain't about what I think Rio: No, it ain't Rio: Don't matter what any of us think or say Rio: too late Buster: It's his fuck up Buster: not yours Rio: and where the fuck is he then? did you see him at the funeral crying his heart out? Rio: 'cos I fucking didn't Buster: No Buster: I wish I had, I'd knock him out Rio: Lol Rio: no one would be rushing to stop you Buster: Good Buster: You at home? Rio: why? wanna come round and meet the parents? Buster: Of course Buster: Parents love me Rio: you love yourself Rio: and stop trying to make me laugh Buster: Yeah, and? Buster: I'm not trying anything Buster: Natural gifts, babe Rio: Everyone's got to have something they're good at, suppose Buster: Man of many gifts Buster: Won't rub it in though Buster: Sore enough today, aren't ya? Rio: Don't push it, McKenna Rio: what I should have said Rio: nothing but grazes from the wall, handled worse Buster: I'll wait 'til tonight if you don't like it in the cold light of day Buster: Since you were saying everything but then Rio: and you've never said anything you regret in the moment, eh? Rio: must've said something to Chlo you didn't mean for her to be so 😍 Buster: What's the point if it worked at the time Buster: She heard what she wanted to hear, I never lied Buster: I'm not gonna feel bad for how she interprets things Rio: Heaven forbid Buster McKenna ever feels bad about anything 😜 Buster: Why should I? Rio: If you've done something wrong Rio: but fair on her, not saying otherwise there, she's clearly a 🐰🍲 Buster: Like I said, ain't nothing wrong here Buster: Cheers for the backup on that though Rio: Perhaps not in your fam Rio: but people as a whole would disagree there Buster: I can't speak for anyone but myself, babe Rio: You're seriously infuriating Rio: But I'm sure you already knew that 😏 Buster: Today I'm actually not trying to be Buster: It is what it is I guess Rio: Old habits Rio: Wouldn't be right if you were nice all of a sudden Buster: Yeah Buster: And I do aim to please so Rio: Thanks Rio: for not falling back on cliches 'cos you don't know what else to say Buster: Again, gimme some credit like Rio: Nah Rio: give you an inch, like Buster: Can't argue that, good as I am at it Rio: tell me, had you considered a career in law? 🤔 Rio: how's uni going anyway? Buster: Acing it as per Rio: 🙄 Glad I asked Rio: still, nice to be near Jay, less desirable to be near her Ma but what you gonna do Buster: Too right Buster: I've got her for a few days when I go back Buster: Chlo is treating this time in Dublin like it's a holiday and reckons she deserves one Rio: Naturally Rio: everyone knows how rowdy Irish wakes get Rio: practically Ibiza with the lads Rio: at least you actually enjoy having your kid around so not the punishment she intends it to be Buster: Exactly Buster: You can come see her if you're that way Buster: And want Rio: Better not, eh Rio: Cute distraction, as she is Buster: I'll pass it on Buster: She don't hold a grudge for long yet Rio: she can't even hold her own head up Rio: come for me when you've got object permanence, babe 😂 Buster: Made you laugh Rio: You're baby-brained, McKenna Rio: telling me you've got my nose in a sec Buster: You'd fall for it Rio: Fuck off 😂 Rio: Might not be a Mum but I've got 9 youngers I've been entertaining since the cradle days Rio: 10 if you count Indie Rio: well, back down to 9 now, ha Buster: How is she? Rio: Fucked Rio: Not only is her Dad worse than she let slide already Rio: well, you know Rio: Hi sis, bye sis Rio: I'm doing my best to look after her but Buster: If there's anything Buster: Call me, yeah? Rio: Yeah Rio: Got a cape? Buster: I'll splash the cash this afternoon Buster: Consider it done Rio: fit the ego Rio: oops i meant alter-ego Buster: Nah you didn't Rio: Nope 😘 Buster: I'll let you go and cancel your cards then Buster: Unless there's anything else Rio: One last thing Buster: Go on Rio: Reckon we're going to hell? Buster: Fuck that Buster: There's no god to judge us Rio: I'd like to think so Rio: so, just this once, take your word on it Buster: I won't tell anyone it's alright Buster: You can carry on letting everyone know I talk shit Rio: And who's rep are you really protecting there? Rio: Sneaky Rio: I see you Buster: You always have done Buster: Doubt yourself on whatever else you want but that's not up for debating Rio: Too right Rio: Buster I Rio: Never mind actually Rio: you can go Buster: Fuck off leaving me hanging like Buster: What? Rio: Hang on Rio: Just debating if I lie or that's even more shaming Buster: Just tell me Rio: I wanna see you again Rio: before you go Buster: I'll be there Buster: Where are you now? Rio: Sofa surfing Rio: Come get me Buster: Text me the address Buster: I'm getting in the car Rio: On it Buster: See you in 10 Rio: Hurry Rio: no don't Rio: that was a fucking stupid thing to say Rio: be careful, okay? Buster: I promise you

#*sobs*