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lilith-incarnate · 2 years

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⋆𝕹𝖔𝖈𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝕽𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊: 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝕻𝖗𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘

✧Not intended for minors!✧

𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔒𝔫𝔢࿐

I believe this is the pile of the Ancients. The old souls. You choose the picture of two lit candles. Imagery of the Twin Flame love. Higher than soulmates because this relationship was ordained and protected by the spirit realm. I know you’re wondering why the spirit world would care about someone’s love life. This is because this relationship will cause a positive ripple effect in the world. This is a testament to the Spirit worlds active, but oh so subtle, hand. I hope those who have chosen this pile are aware they have lived other lives before this one because both you and your significant person have done this before… but it didn’t go right last incarnation. Karma is at play… Big 8th house, Scorpio, Taurus, Libra Venusian energy here. The center card, Primal is numbered 13, which is the number of the divine feminine. Accessing this energy requires you to be fully connected to your body. This relationship is centered around the feminine’s self confidence. Primal doesn’t mean to be aggressive… here primal means being yourself without restraint. You’re a wild one, ancient and through the joy of simply existing, you express the natural beauty of yourself. It’s a long winded way to describe being authentic, lol but I want you to understand that though we live in an edited and filtered social era, we still very much need those who would rather dance to the beat of their own drum. This is what sets you apart. Your significant person will find you untamed, mysterious and extremely attractive when you meet. There’s an emphasis on balance so I know this is something orchestrated by the universe. There could be a work connection or you could start a business venture together. And you know, I wouldn’t be surprised if that business were a metaphysical one :)

✩𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔗𝔴𝔬

You are not mistaken. You’ve had glimpses of your future all your life. You’ve seen things. You’ve had premonitions and dreams that have come true. You may have seen spirits. You cannot ignore the subtle realms, you cannot un-see. You need not share this information with others, if it makes you uncomfortable. Having that type of knowledge can make you feel isolated from most of society. Even with “witchcraft” becoming extremely mainstream, seeing spirits and making spells are not the same thing… anyone can make a spell candle, but not everyone is spiritually gifted like you. The Ace of Grails is related to self expression and artistic communication of our feelings. There’s a pain in you that need to transform into something beautiful. Turn your pain into passion. At this time, the universe wants you to focus on the secret of love…You. So, you gotta learn how incredible you are before someone deserving can rise to meet you. If you don’t know your worth, you’ll continue to select the lowest options for yourself. This relationship will bring a lot of emotional healing, whilst being a spiritual lesson for you about the process of change. This pile is very watery… Scorpio, cancer, Pisces… pay attention to your dreams. Your intuition is strong, don’t doubt yourself. Soft and kind. Sensual as a languid stream…. Your future lover will be gentle with you. There will be so much romantic communication! They have words down to a science. With you, they seem to know what to say to make you blush.

୨୧𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢

With judgement here, this could be someone from your past and if not, this tells of a choice being made that leads to the starts of happiness. It could even mean that there’s a personal transformation (ex. an ego death) and that’s how it begins. Basically, the card is about weighing the actions and events of the past in order to put them to rest, allowing us to experience new beginnings, ideas, and horizons. It is the call to a new age and a final decision! Don’t let the past hold you back! This lover is bringing you a beginning that creates itself from the end of whatever has gone before. The Six of Skulls is a symbol of luck, wishes, and magic charms! In this reading, it depicts a financially secure person who is very capable of giving! Acts of kindness, the giving and receiving of gifts, charity, and generosity. This is a very respectful person with great empathy. Their archetype is that of the Samaritan. This person will offer you help and inspiration, directly or indirectly. Now, onto your Amor cards. Hm! A game of cat and mouse in the game of love, uh oh. Love is treated very seriously by most, but in its essence, is free and playful. Love isn’t always a hill to climb! Have fun with it! Whether you play a childhood game or take a little trip, do it with joy and lightness, away from pain's grip. There is no need to stress. Love is a game and this person is choosing to play with you. You will be pursued and for a while, you likely won’t know it until the person makes themselves known. Because what is modern romance without social media stalking lol. There’s a few animals here so maybe someone has pets or like animals. I’m looking at the Love’s Embrace card and I see that the lovers depicted here are very different. The man is a warrior and the woman is a priestess. Classic case of (seemingly) opposites attracting! Need I say more? Well, I should say someone (or both) is a bit of a Casanova… popular. I think both of you are adept lovers.

❀𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔉𝔬𝔲𝔯

Two 10s here. The ten of knives and the ten of specters. Both of these cards are about a final conclusion and the end of a cycle. On the picture of the ten of knives, a succubus lies staked to a bed. You’ve been through a lot, but your task is to not internalize what we perceive as negative experiences. Through every experience, there’s an opportunity for change. You may have had people around you who were jealous or you may have been jealous of others who seemed to have better fortune than you. Either way, the key is to overcome spite and envy, no matter the source. Bitterness and the refusal to forgive can create a bitter life. Beware those who are bitter, the ones who bring up a moment or person that hurt them, over and over. They want you to inherit their emotional burden. It’s not yours to take on. They are making the choice to carry the pain they complain of. Queen Lamia of Greece is shown on the card Jealousy, she was turned into a serpent from the waist down by Hera, who was jealous over her relationship with Zeus. Lamia suffered Hera’s spite and was cursed to hunger for blood. She is now a vampire, just like the succubus from the ten of knives card. Both are depictions of the dark feminine. Maybe your sex life has been the subject of gossip and shaming. Maybe you have been receiving blessings that has drawn ire and envy out. You might be feeling fear and guilt feeling these eyes on you. The Ten of Scepters represents phases in our life when we are overwhelmed and can find no time to relax. It’s a sign that we are pushing ourselves way too hard. This card is also about taking a last grand stand against oppressive forces. Are you fighting against peoples opinions of you? Such an exhausting endeavor. Where I’m from we say, “People will talk about you beyond the day you die.” We can’t control how we are perceived, so what does it matter what another person thinks? You need not accept what people say about you and you don’t need to live up to their expectations. If you are dealing with a time of drama, remember it will pass. Your Amor cards speak of peace and unbridled joy which is what you will come to when you allow these conclusions to transpire. You’re being asked to rest and refresh your spirit. Reconnect with your self and what you love to do. When's the last time you dared to live a little? Make a little extra time in your schedule to do something wild~

♡𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔉𝔦𝔳𝔢

Wowowow I am definitely going to have to not recommend this reading for minors. This pile is the most erotic of them all, so congratulations! The main card is Faith… The belief that something will take place, or is right, or is a particular way, can be called faith.

Do you believe you will have a deep, sensual love in this life?

A lot can be described here… Capricorn stands out. Masculine energy is very dominantly portrayed (remember it doesn’t matter how you identify, it’s just the energetic description). If for you this is another individual, this person is seductive and their goal is to help you open up your sexual expression. They have a lot of endurance in the bedroom and honestly they have an interest in sex outdoors. Not public, but in nature. Sex is something they really enjoy, but it doesn’t just serve the basic carnal needs for them. There’s a craving for pure connection of the soul, exposed and unbound. Beyond the physical. Beyond the mental. Beyond the earth and the sky and all the stars. For them, sex has been experienced well enough. Now, intimacy is the focus. So, the Devil here is not the biblical one. He is the archetype of the ancient primeval forest god- sometimes known as the Horned God or as the Lord of the Forest. He is a representation of the god Pan, impetuous, beautifully carefree, hearty, deeply sexual, and earthy… His true nature has been misrepresented in the past and reduced to evil by the wicked, the self-deluded, and the self-righteous, either out of fear or religious politics in order to gain power. Is someone into bondage? This lover wants your complete trust in the bedroom. They want your body open up in ways it never has before. What an intense person! Outside of sexual matters, when the eight of swords appears, we are usually keeping ourselves mentally bound. Don’t allow anyone to force a choice on you or hold you back from making one. On the inside, you could be holding back your own fire/creative energy with negative self beliefs. This is your call to release yourself from your own inhibitions. Let go, unleash your desires, and dive headfirst into excess. Seize your joy. Connect deeply. Connect spiritually. Connect intimately… whatever that means to you. 💗

⋆𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔖𝔦𝔵⋆

Alrightttttt. A lot of fire energy. Zeroing in on the energy of Leo. The Hunter card speaks for itself here and honestly, this pile might have a relation to pile 3. If you feel inclined, look at that set of cards as well! This person has high standards and their appearance means a lot to them. I shouldn’t stop there… their appearance, their possessions, their partner must reach their high standards. If that intimidates you, you should pick another pile. This person is fiery and it’s either set the world ablaze with them or get out of the way! This is luxury, passion and adventure! The fire between you will never die down. I love how the panther appears twice lol. Your sex life together appears to be enhanced by now much you love yourselves, respectively. Your lover immensely enjoys the glow you get from practicing self care. Lavishing your body in nourishing lotions, indulging in gorgeous perfumes and expressing your fashion taste are some examples of what this fancy person likes. All of that appeals to their keen senses! They are a provider and they want to see you enjoy what they give you, too. Expect the love language to be surprise gifts. This person is not selfish at all. It pleases them to be able to provide for themselves, too. Very proud of their financial stability! As they become mature of age, they would likely want a family in the future. Did you notice I didn’t mention anything about perfection? This person is not looking for total perfection in a person, because it doesn’t exist. In the simplest of terms, they want someone who knows their worth and knows what they want. A person that knows that life is for living! Don’t deny your nobility, you deserve your highest ideal, ok? The Five of Scepters also represents the awakening of the sexual drive and becoming conscious of our unique sexual energy. Basically, this relationship will open you up to the deeper aspects of sexuality. Honestly, they will revere you. I see them worshipping your body. They probably would enjoy seeing you pleasure yourself. So, now that you know this relationship is coming in your future… you have at this time a wonderful opportunity to do the very best you can, for your self. This will shift your vibration, and attract wonderful new opportunities with kindred spirits like you.

Because it is October at the time of creation, I decided to do a vampire-themed love reading. Remember you are so loved by this conscious universe. It never works against you. I hope you enjoyed your message. Thank you for being here with me. Until next time♡

༺lilith-incarnate༻

꒰ Pick a card readings are always consisting of collective energy so only take what resonates with you and always remember to trust yourself before any tarot reader/psychic/healer. Don't forget: Spirit speaks in symbolism. ꒱

#tarot #pick a card #tarot reading #divination #spirituality #pick a card readings

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livannasalinger · 1 year

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DP AU Prompt

Just putting together some of my favorite ideas that I've seen around here on tumblr, but I've never seen them together so... it's kind of big, but since I'm sure I'm not going to write I'd like to share it at least. So it starts like this:

Danny dies at age 14 and comes back different, but that would start as a nobody knows AU, not even Danny, because he doesn't come back transformed, Sam and Tucker are confused but happy that Danny survived. Danny starts to notice some changes (physical, sixth sense, etc), and the presence of ghosts starts to be stronger in the city in different ways. The powers that begin to manifest themselves first in Danny are those that allow him to see and communicate with spirits, he begins to perceive the presence of people that no one sees, and to feel things that he cannot describe, a presence, an instinct, an emotion that is not his. (more obvious powers later, perhaps only when he is in the Zone initially.)

Lunch Lady appears but the battle plays out differently. She lashes out because she's confused and disoriented and someone has changed the recipe she's spent years perfecting when she senses the presence of something dangerous, something powerful. A child that looks human but fells like a ghost child. The attack stops abruptly when she realizes that she is in the territory of a child who has recently died. I want signs that a ghost child is somewhat important even if not sacred to ghost culture.

Danny manages to talk her out of it (and maybe even fight her) and takes her back to the Zone, but obviously she doesn't stay there, she goes back to feed the child because if not how is he going to get the proper food a Ghost child needs?

Danny and his friends continue to explore the supernatural, other attacks happen, each adding to the experience and showing that after all ghosts are more than what their parents refuse to see. Ghost are good, bad, both, neither. Danny begins to gain respect from the ghosts he helps despite the havoc they wreak in his Haunt. News of the ghost child reaches the government and higher entities of the infinite realms, attracting those who are good, bad and chaotic neutral... Danny increasingly embraces the characteristics of his new culture, and his physical appearance begins to take on ghostly features.

Let's put the first contact with Clockwork differently. I think CW could have disguised himself as an old grandpa who owns an antique shop (with lots of clocks) from a slightly dodgy road that not everyone can find (danny can always find it and clockwork is very proud of it). Danny starts working part time in this shop and feels that clockwork is something else but doesn't say anything because he likes the place, the protection it offers from his boss / adoptive grandfather.

Pariah dark happens and Danny finally appears as Phantom (Phantom may have appeared before perhaps, but more as a rumor or new urban legend). This has consequences because the town now has definitive proof that the Fentons were right, but at the same time everyone knows they were saved by a ghost.

Things get complicated, GIW starts to get involved, Danny starts to see that he will have to make a choice (still unaware that he is the new king).

He has friends and enemies in both worlds, he is starting to understand his obsession and accept his own death, Danny, his sister and his friends know they need to prepare for the worst.

Dan happens, but with some variations. In the end Danny goes back to the CW shop to talk to Clockwork about his true intentions. Clockwork explains that the hoax was meant to save him from the Observants, even if it had benefits (not becoming Dan). CW secretly adopts Danny as his grandson officially and explains the true nature of being chosen as Ghost King.

I like the idea that the definition of Ghost king does not refer to what humans understand a king to be, unlike Pariah Dark (who was not a king but a tyrant) the true King being chosen by the Infinit Realms itself to be the one who you'll be a part of it (the idea that the realms is actually a semi-sentient eldrich God is always cool).

Last idea I would put together would be the DPX DC cossovers, with Danny moving to Gotham to get away from the Fentons, and also to train. He (plus Jazz maybe) try to remain in Gotham unnoticed under the protection of the spirit of the city, while Danny finishes high school, spies on the GIW's movements, and is trained by his grandfather and allies (pandora, frostbite, Dora, nocturne, etc). Of course, somehow he ends up involved with the batfam, I particularly like the stories of Damian paying attention to Danny because Danny lives so much with ghosts that he ended up forgetting a little bit of the common sense of the living over the years, but it could be anything , serious.

#dp x dc #dc x dp prompt #dp au #ghost king au #batfam #eldritch danny #eldrichcore #infinite realms #jazz is a good sister #Jazz is Bamf too #I don't know what tag to put anymore #sorry not sorry for the length of this prompt

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nebulablakemurphy · 1 year

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The Queen’s Hand

(Part VIII: The Black Queen)

Summary Y/N Targaryen is Princess of the seven realms. First born daughter of, Viserys I and Aemma Targaryen. Heir to the iron throne, forced to make impossible decisions to ensure peace amongst the land and the safety of those she holds most dear.

Prologue | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII

“My Queen,” Lord Lyonel says in greeting. The room is empty, save for the two of them. Aemmia has requested him and him alone.

“Grandsire,” Aemmia chokes out. “Now is no time for formalities. I need a kind word and a familiar hand.”

Harwin’s father sighs, “what can I do, dearest?”

“Give me the truth of it. How bad off are we?”

“We?” Lyonel whispers. “Those of us on King’s Landing?”

“Start there, yes.” Aemmia nods.

“We are fortified against any attack, with ships in all directions. No one will come by surprise.”

“The Velaryons will come by sea, my family will come by dragon.” She points out.

“Aemmia,” Lyonel takes her hand in his, “if I may? Vhagar is the largest claimed dragon in all the realms. She would do much damage. Same as Aranthi and Sunfyre. But Rhaenyra has more dragons with more experienced riders. Though none of them have been to war.”

“What about man power? We have Ser Criston, Aemond can fight, along with what’s left of the King’s Army.” She trails off, “they have Daemon, a warrior in his own right, more experienced than any of our soldiers. They have my father, the strongest knight in the seven kingdoms.”

“Who does not intend to use said strength against you of all people. You are his child. He loves you, as your mother loves you.”

Aemmia nods, attempting to compose herself.

“Such love does not disappear on a whim.”

“I know I- I do not know what’s come over me.” She holds a protective hand to her belly, just begun to protrude.

“You are frightened. I have left you too often by yourself, that was not my intention.” Lyonel apologizes.

“We are all doing what we can.” Aemmia shakes her head.

“What of Aemond? I’m sure his presence would be most reassuring to you in these times.”

“My husband cares for me and I for him. But we’ve come up differently. I was taught to lean in for comfort, he learned to close in on himself for solace.”

“Perhaps you will find compromise.” Lyonel smiles, kindly.

Aemmia blinks in quick succession, he is regarding her in a way he never has. “What is it?”

Lyonel pats her cheek. “When your mother first asked for your father’s hand, I denied her. She was highly sought after, proposals flew in from right and left. I, as Hand to your late Grandsire, saw them all. She could have married into a house of higher standing than my own. But she would not marry. I believed it was her chosen path to serve the crown.

My son, had already sired a son by Princess Rhaenyra. King Viserys denied it, but everyone knew. Some say I love Harwin to a fault. Still I could not bring myself to allow Y/N the shame. Nor could I speak on the parentage of Jacaerys, it would mean exile and death for all involved. After Lucerys was born, Y/N came again. She said onto me, I will take him as he is. All he has done, all he will do matters not. I will take Ser Harwin Strong and unsully his name. I will love his sons as my own and ensure their legitimacy. I will bear him children of high status in court and heirs to Harrenhal.”

Lyonel recounts, with a far off look in his eyes. “If you had told me then that one of those children would become Queen of the seven kingdoms, I would’ve laughed. Over the years your mother has become very dear to my heart. It gives me hope to know that her legacy and my boy’s will live on in you.”

“She is much stronger than I.” Aemmia argues, “I am not suited for this.”

“What you do now will live in infamy, Aemmia. By your hand will come the rise or fall of the mighty House Targaryen.”

————————————🌱———————————

Y/N learns of their intruder by a tune. A simple melody echoing up from the lower level. Daemon ordered him locked away for later questioning, though he did not alert the Queen, nor her Princess Hand.

It has been but minutes since the return of Laenor, carrying Viserys’ crown. Passed straight from Aemmia’s hand to his own.

‘How is she, Laenor? How is my girl?’ Y/N takes his arm.

‘She is well,’ Laenor holds back.

Y/N hoped the affirmation of Aemmia’s intentions would calm her uncle. Perhaps she was wrong. The rogue prince still lives within him.

The song has passed down through Y/N’s mother, Aemma, to her children. Y/N follows the sound to the cellar. A body is hunched over on the floor, curled in against itself for warmth.

Carefully Y/N closes the distance between herself and the prisoner. “Aegon?”

He startles, “Y/N.”

“Why’ve you come?”

“By my Grandsire’s will, to plead for the life of my mother and house.” Aegon informs her.

“You seem very lax for delivering such a message.” Y/N scoffs.

“What does it matter?” He throws up a hand. “If you wish to show mercy, then we are already saved. And if you wish to collect on bloodlust then we are naught but walking corpses.”

“Why send you?” Y/N wonders. “Why not Aemmia or Aemond?”

“They are too valuable these days.” Aegon purses his lips.

“Hmm.”

“He thought I might also play into the love we once shared.” Aegon replies, flippantly. “I cant recall, but I’m sure you do.”

When Aegon was born, until his second name day, Y/N doted on her sweet brother. Bringing forth the most beautiful dragon’s egg for him. Unfortunately it was a love that could not be, although they both desperately needed it. Driven apart by jealousy and aspirations of power.

‘She will poison his mind.’ Otto told Alicent, ‘he will favor her over you.’

Y/N nods. “I would like you to return to your mother. Assure her that we are drawing up fair terms, for each and every one of you.”

“Did you love me?” He wonders, cocking his head to the side. He’s never known her to love any of them but Rhaenyra.

Y/N pauses, swallowing down all her guilt. Her heart tearing anew as she finds his eyes, hollow from the hand he was dealt. Much different from hers, and what his own might have been if only- “I did love you, Aegon.” She admits, “I loved you with all my heart.”

Aegon holds her stare, as if willing his mind to recount details it cannot. “Pity.”

“Indeed.”

“That would, however make you one of the few people who ever did.” He lifts a shoulder, “I will not exploit you for it. I do ask you spare my children at least.” Aegon whispers, “I’ve not been much a father to them, but our sins should not be their’s to account for.”

Y/N turns away. “Be a better father when you return, a better husband to your wife. Become the man I hoped you to be and do not take for granted the mercy afforded you.”

“I am not like you, I’m not cut out for this.” Aegon calls out to her. “I never wanted this.”

“And I never wanted it for you. But it matters not what we want, only what we do with the cards we are given.”

————————————🌱———————————

“Do you wish me bald?” Aemond quips, as his wife’s anxious fingers pull at his locks.

He does not mind her toying with his hair, Aemond has come to enjoy the gentle intimacy that Aemmia has brought into his life. But something is off about this.

“There is a time for tugging and a time for stroking, wouldn’t you say?” Aemond tries again. Her restless motions continue until he reaches back, catching her wrist. “Aemmia.”

“Forgive me.” She says immediately, dropping the blonde tresses. Reeling her mind back from the great unknown.

“Where did you go?”

“I was only thinking.” Aemmia presses a kiss to his cheek to reassure him.

“What about?”

“If our children take my features over yours, will you be very disappointed?”

Aemond’s mouth quirks up, “of all the things to worry about, you choose this?”

“And if it is a daughter instead of a son?”

“Then I shall have a father’s girl in your image. She will be terribly spoilt.”

“How about a dragon?” Aemmia goes about pacing the floor.

“Atara might bring forth another clutch.” Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre, said to be the most magnificent in all of Westeros, was a gift from her first.

Aemmia nods, Atara is her mother’s dragon. “My mother always said that dragons are one with our souls. They’re privy to our fears, strengths, weaknesses, our heart’s greatest desires. That’s why some are born to us while others find us later.”

“Hmm,” Aemond hums, it’s an interesting theory.

“Atara and Aranthi have never been apart.”

“Dragons are different than humans, my love.” Aemond murmurs. If Atara is in any distress it would be more likely from Y/N’s longing for Aemmia than the dragon’s longing for one of its own children.

“Did you know my father learned High Valyrian to speak to Atara?”

“Why?”

“Because she is one with my mother and therefore part of him.” Aemmia breaks off.

“You mustn’t do this to yourself.” Aemond scrubs his fingers over his forehead.

“I know that, Aemond. Only sometimes I can’t help it.”

“You miss them terribly,” Aemond says.

“I do,” she admits, staring down at the floor.

“I would like to know them.”

“You plan to stay with me then, when this is finished?”

Aemond sighs, “I do. If it’s allowed of me.”

Aemmia gives him a gentle smile. “Who knows, you may even come to love them.”

“Let’s not be overzealous.”

“My mother would like you.” The brunette presses on.

“She never did.” Aemond replies, with a shake of his head.

“She never had a chance.”

———————————🌱————————————

“It is imperative that we know the intentions of Eyrie, Stark and Baratheon. With house Stark the north will follow.” Daemon says, his tone clipped. He is irritated, to say the least, at Y/N’s choices.

‘If you are to be Hand, you must hold the Queen’s safety above all others. You must be willing to drench yourself in the blood of thousands in her name!’ He scolds Y/N.

‘Who has stood more faithfully by her side than I? While you waged wars and fathered children, free to marry as you saw fit, who was there for Rhaenyra? When you abandoned her during her labors with your daughter to raise hell, who held her? You dare tell me what it means to be my sister’s hand? I have done it all her life!’ Y/N spits back.

‘You love her, I will not deny this.’ Daemon lowers his voice. ‘But loving her and leading her are two very different tasks. You need to toughen your skin as well as your heart to succeed in both. Think of our numbers, in dragons alone. Atara, Syrax, Caraxes, Seasmoke, Meleys, and that doesn’t include the children’s dragons, three more wild reside here on Dragon Stone. We could have every Green head mounted on a spike and Rhaenyra on the throne before the fucking day’s end.”

‘I will not advise Rhaenyra to slay her own kin!’

“Send us.” Jace suggests, “dragons are faster than ravens. We’ll be there in half the time.”

Y/N would usually speak up. Say no, it is an unnecessary risk. Rhaenyra considers this, hoping to meet her sister’s eye for insight. Y/N offers none, stonewalling her. Or maybe she cannot bear to look upon her.

“Very well,” Rhaenyra agrees. “Jacaerys will take Eyrie and Winterfell. Deliver our message, see if they will stand with us.”

“I shall fly with him, my Queen.” Geniysa offers.

“Geniysa-” Harwin shakes his head.

“I’ve received proposals from members of these houses. It is past time for me to marry, we shall kill two birds with one stone.” Geniysa points out.

“You’re prepared to make such a decision on your own?” Y/N frowns at her daughter.

“I will have Jacaerys,” Geniysa slaps her cousin once on the back.

“Indeed,” he agrees. “I will help guide her hand.”

Y/N bites out. “Let it be done, we shall await your safe return.”

Geniysa snaps her mouth shut, nodding curtly to her mother.

Harwin joins his wife, near the head of the table, brushing hair away from her ear to whisper. “Are you absolutely sure about this? Once a betrothal is set in place it, ending it would be frown upon.”

Y/N turns in to him, keeping her tone hushed. “She is a woman grown. Worse still, she is a child of yours and mine, incredibly stubborn. The move is hers to make.”

Harwin gives a tight nod of acknowledgment.

“Your devotion moves me, Princess.” Rhaenyra tells her niece. “It will not be forgotten.”

“Thank you, your grace.”

“Lucerys and Viserus should take to Storm’s End. It is a short flight from here.” Rhaenyra tells the younger boys. They have always done well together, this has not changed with the years.

“I will aid in his safe passage, my Queen.” Viserus tells her.

“And I his,” Luc looks to Y/N.

“I have no doubt. You’ll do us all proud.”

————————————🌱———————————-

The days drag on, leaving Aemond in a state of unease. He spars to soothe the frazzled bits of him that his wife cannot. Though Aemmia would put him out of his misery with her lips to his; whispering the sweetest of nothings as tender hands caress his face. His wedding gift to her bouncing about her neck before the sapphire finally clings to her sweat damp skin. However, fucking his frustrations into her would not allow a favorable place for their child to grow. Only love for you.

Aemond swings his sword toward his opponent, the clank of metal is familiar. Here he has complete control.

“Brother, I have returned with word from Dragon Stone.” Aegon interrupts.

The King huffs, tossing his weapon to the ground. His head aches, radiating out from the scar around his left eye socket. He drags the heel of his palm across the patch, willing it out of his mind. “Let’s hear it.”

“They’re assembling a battalion. Not to fight, unless it comes to that. Drawing up ‘fair’ terms for the lot of us. All of which will presumably including bending the knee to Rhaenyra.”

“Hmm.”

“We should also rally allies.” Aegon looks away, eyes scanning the grounds.

“What for?”

“You would bet your life and that of your child on their willingness to accept our surrender?”

“Rhaenyra would have no reason to harm us.”

“If it is Y/N’s word she follows.” Aegon points out. “Daemon is thirsty for blood and will stop at nothing to get it.”

“How would you advise me?” Aemond squares his shoulders.

“Houses Stark and Baratheon hold the north, both of whom swore oaths to Rhaenyra. Securing them would give us a leg up, should we need it.”

“You think it will come to that?”

“They are a house divided amongst themselves…and we know how well that works out.” Aegon stares down at the dirt.

“Very well.” Aemond agrees, “I will make the journey to Storm’s end.”

“Make haste, Aemond.” Aegon warns, “their troops will be upon us sooner rather than later.”

“What has brought about this sudden sense of urgency?” Aemond asks, it seems out of character.

“Rhaenyra lost the babe.”

“Gods be good.”

“Y/N,” Aegon breathes, “she is unhinged.”

“Yet she let you live.” Aemond points out.

“You did not see her eyes.” The eldest boy’s hands ball into fists. “She is on the precipice.”

————————————🌱———————————

“He asked for what?” Surely Y/N has heard Viserus wrong.

“Stark asked first for Geniysa, then for Rhaelys. I told him no, on both counts. They are not mine to offer.” Viserus repeats.

“Well done, son.” Harwin assures him.

“Well done?” Daemon scoffs, “he has lost us the North.”

“Instead, I offered my hand to Borros Baratheon’s daughters. The youngest is around my age, a bit older, but she seemed quite taken with our terms.” Viserus smirks, “we have the North, dear uncle.”

The older man huffs, squaring his shoulders.

“You can say you’re proud of me,” Viserus jests, “it’s alright.”

Daemon says nothing, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He claps the boy once on the back as he passes.

Jace and Geniysa return a while after with good news. Rhaenyra’s oath still stands amongst Eyrie and Winterfell.

The middle two Strong children exchange stories about their newly betrothed. Geniysa’s future husband, Arnold Arryn of Eyrie, is older by a handful. “He has his own personal vendetta against a cousin for stealing his place as heir. He believes women are too soft to lead.” Nevertheless, he is willing to reside with her on Dragon Stone or King’s Landing.

“No one better than you to change his mind, cousin.” Jacaerys offers.

Viserus is to wed Floris Baratheon, “she is quiet, but I hope she will warm up.”

Y/N and Harwin are invited to dine with the Queen and King Consort. Along with the Lord of the Tides, his lovely wife and their new found friend, Ser Lynis. But as the hour grows later, the Princess has no appetite.

Rhaelys hums happily in the mother’s lap as Y/N weaves a line of intricate patterns into her silver locks.

“Y/N,” a voice calls from the entryway of her chambers.

“Your grace.” Y/N responds, turning to see her sister. Tapping Rhaelys on the shoulder. “Go, love. Angette is waiting just outside for you.”

“Aunt Rhaenyra?” The little girl peers up at her.

“Yes, Rhaelys?”

The six year old frowns, tossing both arms around the woman’s waist. “I’m sorry about your baby.”

Rhaenyra passes a hand over the crown of her head, “me too, my sweet. Run along now, your supper will get cold.”

Rhaelys dashes out the door without any fuss.

“Ser Harwin informed me that you are unwell.” The Queen comes round, closing the space between she and her sister.

“I will see this through, Rhaenyra. You need not worry.”

“I do not worry for my hand, I worry for my sister.” Rhaenyra says, firmly. Taking a seat beside her on the foot stool, leaning her head against Y/N’s shoulder.

The older girl kisses the top of her sister’s head, resting her cheek there. “I will be better on the morrow.”

“Shall I sit with you a while?”

“Or,” Y/N begins, “we could sneak down to the kitchens.”

Rhaenyra draws back to look at her sister. “And eat cake?”

Y/N nods, fighting back a grin.

————————————🌱———————————-

“Aemmia,” Alicent rushes in to the sitting room.

“Alicent.”

“Word has come, the Velaryon fleet has taken to the seas. They will surround King’s Landing before the moon turns.” She warns.

“It is time then.” They all knew this was coming.

“I can only imagine the things your mother hath told you of me, but I do not wish her dead. Nor Rhaenyra.”

“My mother never spoke an ill word about you, Alicent.” Not to her anyway. “Whatever guilt you hold over things past is your own.”

“All I’ve done is to protect my children.”

“Why do you assume she would harm them?”

“That is what-”

“That’s what you would do.” Aemmia crosses both arms over her chest. “Luckily my mother is better than that.”

“I never meant for it to be this way. We had hoped that with you on the throne, the secession would be peaceful.” Alicent eyes the younger girl, warily.

“Supplanting Rhaenyra was never going to be peaceful. Not when my mother and late Grandsire, spent their lives preparing said throne for it’s rightful heir.” Aemmia turns away from her, staring out the window.

“Perhaps this was miscalculated,” Alicent catches her elbow, “but we thought it best for everyone involved.”

“We?”

“My father and I.”

Aemmia scoffs, “Otto has no love for my mother or Rhaenyra.”

“I do.” Alicent murmurs, half under her breath.

“Then agree to their terms. I’m sure they would accept your surrender and spare your life. Trust may take a while but it would come, eventually.”

“You’ve spent a great deal of time with Helaena as of late,” Alicent changes the subject. “I like to think the two of you could’ve been friends.”

“Helaena is my friend.” Aemmia pulls away from her. “We can still right this, for all of us, with no blood shed. We still have a chance.”

The ships arrive the next morning, just after the dragons. Vhagar, Sunfyre and Aranthi have all been freed from the pit, incase they should need them. Leaving only Helaena’s dragon, Dreamfyre, within, she is a small creature. Not suited for war.

“Do I sit or stand?” Aemmia paces anxiously before the throne. Her dress suddenly too tight, constricting her breath.

Aemond takes her hand. Holding her against his side, facing the throne room doors. “Be still.”

Their army stands behind them, more just outside, lying in wait.

Aemmia’s family does appear, with Rhaenyra at the forefront. She is not alone of course, her mother is there and her father. Daemon and their children at her side. The show of force that trails after them makes Aemmia’s stomach turn.

When they finally stand opposite each other no one speaks for a long while.

Finally it is Y/N to land the first blow. “We shall hear the terms of your surrender, in hopes they align with ours. But first I shall have my daughter, and my sister shall have her throne.”

“Go,” Aemond nods, “go to your mother, love.”

Aemmia squeezes his fingers then drops them, prepared to close the gap between their two families. Before her foot touches the first step down, Otto Hightower has his dagger drawn and at her throat.

“Hold,” Rhaenyra puts an arm out, hearing the shuffle of armor behind her.

“Drop your weapons.” Otto demands, watching the enemy do so. “On your knees.”

Only Daemon fights it.

“Daemon,” Rhaenyra warns, “do it, now.”

The man rolls his eyes, kneeling beside his wife. “I am growing too old for such things.”

Otto presses the blade a bit more firmly against Aemmia’s neck, tiny beads of scarlet pooling around the edge. “Here you stand, largest army in Westeros at your heels, come to take what is yours. All you’ve fought for, all you’ve bled for and yearned for; yet you cannot seize it. Instead you drop like flies to your knees. Love is your downfall. Love stays the hand.”

“Grandsire, this is not my wish.” Aemond cuts in. “She is your Queen, to harm her would be the highest of treasons.”

“In a matter of minutes her reign will end, as will yours. Your very lives will be forfeit. Is that your wish Aemond?”

“She is with child.” Aemond informs him, “my child. I wish to see her bear it, mend our houses. As my father so willed it.”

“Your father was so blind to the affairs of your family that he allowed you to be maimed. All in the name of Rhaenyra and her bastards. Sired by the same man as the whore who hath wrought these delusions upon you. Viserys did not defend you. I did! Your mother did!” Otto shouts.

He and Otto move in unison. Aemond is fast to draw his sword, using the blade of it to impale his Grandsire and drive him forward.

“Say what you will, but she has my loyalty.” Aemond seethes. I love her.

Otto’s blood soaked dagger falls to the ground. Aemmia stumbles away with a hand to her throat. Blood oozing out between her fingers, down her wrist and forearm to her elbow.

Alicent is the one to break her fall, moving the girl so that she is cradled against her on the floor. “We must have the Maester!”

Rhaenyra’s army prepares to pounce. “Stay your hand,” the Queen commands.

Aemmia’s parents rush past Otto and Aemond to their daughter.

“There you are,” Otto sputters out as Rhaenyra comes into view. “Come to sit upon your beloved throne.”

She ignores him, headed for her niece instead. Crowding around the girl like everyone else.

“Mama,” Aemmia whispers, her head is light; floating above her body.

“I’m here,” Y/N gentles her. “I’m here.”

“Papa.”

“Yes, sweetheart, all accounted for.” Harwin, pushes a bit of hair from her face. “Let me see,” he pries her fingers away from the wound. Aemmia’s head resting in Alicent’s lap. It is deep, but doesn’t appear to have hit a vein. She will live if they act quickly to seal it. Blood loss will be their worst enemy. “Not too bad, hmm?” Harwin applies firm pressure with his own hand as they wait for the maester. “Just a scratch.”

Y/N holds her daughter’s hand. Unable or willing to focus on anything else.

“For the love of the gods, let us heat up a blade and seal it. I’ve seen this a thousand times in battle.” Daemon says, feigning indifference, though clearly worried as the rest.

“I will do it.” Laenor sprints over to the corner torch lamp. Holding his knife to the flame until it burns red hot.

“Move her hair away.”

“Hold her steady, we want the edges to be clean.”

Everything moves out of time, the smell of charring flesh, the sound of Aemmia’s scream. A collective lurch of bodies, crying out in warning. Y/N turns her head just in time to see Criston Cole charging her way. Sword drawn.

The princess does not move, frozen as lords and knights alike rush to her defense. But they are too late. The sound of metal against metal startles Y/N more than the impact she braced for.

“You dare attack my sister while her back is turned?” Aegon seethes, deadlocked with Ser Criston.

“They cannot take the throne, my Prince. I will die defending your honor.” The man who helped raise him replies. Pushing back against Aegon’s hand.

“I will not kill you, Cole. You have been dear to me, but you mustn’t harm my family.” Aegon says, cooly. “Guards, remove Ser Criston and place him under lock and key.”

Perhaps they are not too far gone. Perhaps they will save each other.

Part IX

Taglist @evyiione @bubblebuttwade @hotd-fanfic@leoramage @hyperfiaxed-freak @chonisbestmistake @poemfreak306 @giulia2372 @stargaryenx @rxscpctals

#the queens hand #rhaenyra targaryen x reader #rhaenrya targaryen #rhaenyra fanfic #harwin strong x y/n #harwin strong x reader #ser harwin x reader #ser harwin strong #laenor valeryon #daemon targaryen #aemond targaryen fanfic #aegon targaryen #alicent hightower #helaena targaryen #ser criston cole #lucerys velaryon #jacaerys velaryon #harwin strong imagine #princess rhaenyra

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horizon-verizon · 19 days

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F&B's Writing & Gyldayn's Intent (Watsonian/In-World)

Gyldayn uses Rhaenyra, Alicent, & other women in the original document (that he's writing in years after the actual war, with the eye of a person who has learned more of the legend than hard boiled facts) to write propaganda-istly w/in the project of writing historically. They are mean tto be "moral" examples of what not to be and what not to allow in society, again, female rulers and woman who--baseline--tried to assert the same or similar tights to me. Or in Alicent's case, tried to use her connection to a male to attain more power to her that would be traditionally given if her son had been heir & become king. Even Alicent receives subtler criticism from Gyldayn/larger Westerosi culture for her trying to gain power or doing acts out of her role because it was not power that came through a passive (not peaceful) transfer of power. I mean that she actively worked to become the next Queen "Mother" (Not regent, she was never officially that. Aemond was Prince regent and she acted as regent while he was gone) instead of passively receiving that rank as her son ascend.

While I recognize & believe that Rhaenyra should have been the ruler just for the precedent if for nothing else, the then-value of her ruling to the cultural setting was that she was chosen by the past ruler, not hat she herself was a good leader. This is the quality that ennobled her cause for others to support her. The lords who followed her wanted to because they wanted to make sure their own heirs would have stronger bases to become the next ruler/leader of their house and thus they wanted to make sure that their own authority & decisions would be stabler. Alicent troubled this element of feudal power transfer by disobeying Viserys' wishes, thus her punishment of losing all her kids is also her punishment for daring to try for power. To in-world many readers.

Many events he describes or uses others to describe is uncredible & throws doubt as to what actually might have happened as well as who these women are & how much agency they could have actually had. After all, Alicent was a royal Consort, not a Queen Regnant. She, like other lady or Queen consorts, will never have the same authority or agency that her husband & male children have (the latter in some ways). The heft of her power is relegated to the court through more subtler, "soft-power" avenues & making marriage alliances only thru her husband's permission, rather than drafting & enforcing policies, going to war, etc. Everything is done under his permission or ignorance.

And even w/Rhaenyra to become a Queen Regnant, as the heir she still has to marry & become stuck in a situation her father poorly planned & arranged for her despite her likely being clear on who she wanted to marry where she faces arguably higher chances of people coming for her position by smearing her reputation. She loses her kids bc other people wanted to take advantage of her gender & were convinced Aegon deserved the throne more than her or were just trying to get power for themselves. She gets usurped for the same. Her mother dies from Viserys/the patriarchy's pursuit of a male heir. And yet, there is proof of her having more than just the one positive female connections AND court esteem than what HotD portrays BEFORE the war.

What about the Descriptions of their Personalities OUTSIDE of F&B?

My thing is that...even with Gyldayn *maybe* trying to make or imply Rhaenyra was this terrible person bc she only wanted to avoid war to protect her kids & not--as show!Rhaenyra does--to not make victims of those most vulnerable suffer the consequences of war and war crimes:

1) [pic below] GRRM described her to Amok as the sort of person who was exactly that, so I don't think it's likely that Rhaenyra was as reserved as adult!show!Rhaenyra was, nor that she cared abt "protecting the realm" anymore than bk!Viserys or either!Otto did. This is not an F&B source. This was recorded back in *2006*.

Amok was the artist who drew the official-official art of various characters, who GRRM gave very specific instructions & descriptions to help him realize these characters, btw. The description for Rhaenyra above yielded the blow pic.

🎨: Amok

2) "The Princess & the Queen" was part of an anthology called "Dangerous Women", & the introduction [pic below] explicitly lends more credence to the concept of both Rhaenyra & Alicent having *enough* agency to want a war & assert what they thought were their dues

As much as blurbs usually give us a quick and cursory idea of what the text actually gives and how Alicent & Rhaenyra could have been labeled as "dangerous" simply for being women with considerable power relative to other women around them and most noblewomen in Westerosi history, there's also just been textual hints (AND the GRRM instructions to Amok above) of Rhaenyra not being as compliant or reserved as most of show!Rhaenys. Asking for Lucerys to be named heir of Driftmark at all while Corlys is sick in bed (in the bk, Viserys didn't arrange for this at all before she married Laenor), for example. She went out to get this for her kids (and before people try to say this is her attempting to steal Driftmark from Baela and Rhaena, once again, CORLYS--the head of that house and the only determinant of who gets to inherit it, thus Rhaenyra's supplication, never wanted a girl to inherit said house. Plus even if he did, he'd have to make the deal with Daemon, the girls' father before he could name them....bc he's not their dad nor are they a part of his "house"!). She was not summoned nor was this a thing someone else did for her.

3) Even in F&B, Rhaenyra *does* try to avoid a war (even if nothing else to protect her kids) AND warns the greens that if they backed out of their claims...that if Aegon were to give up the crown, she wouldn't come for them. Aegon angrily refused her counter terms. Independently. And there is a whole exchange abt it that spans most of the "The Blacks and the Greens" chapter. It's unlikely that this portion was heavily twisted into making Rhaneyra look bad when Aegon is the one who looks out of control AND the maesters are funded by the Hightowers, especially for HotD to completely remove Rhaenyra's famous speech to Orwyle and those prior terms.

Instead, we got Rhaenys:

insist that she is not a part of a war she really is, has always been a part of, and always will be a part of through Daemon's daughters being her granddaughters

only support Rhaenyra once Rhaenyra shows hesitance that I'd argue is unnecessary bc the two camps, like in the bk, were actually waiting on how the lords reacted to their sent ravens and were preparing for a war JIC...so really Rhaenys acts more like the reverse of the evil-bitchy woman trope stereotype that plagued GoT [post by @rhaenyragendereuphoria], further evidenced by her otherwise staying silent like a wooden post

So...

The fact that these women tried to use their wits/courage or just immediately assert themselves gain more power and lift some restrictions on their agency is itself expressed through their more "fiery" personalities and thus I believe this is necessary to show in any adaptation. I mainly speak about Rhaenyra & Rhaenys, because if they hadn't made Alicent a SA victim at 15, I'd be fine with what we got.

And...

there doesn't have to be not a 0 or negative value of power one can wield or agency one could have even as a person with a marginalized identity. HotD hasn't really shown us what exactly Alicent has & hasn't tried to do aside from constantly trying to speak directly to Viserys or how she convinced him to allow her to sit at council. Where's the journey of her accruing that power & influence?

HotD has taken some quotes from Rhaenyra especially that we can't say are examples of her being this harridan of violence and sufferign Gyldayn tries to paint her as

Basically there is a level of credit HotD doesn't really give the original characters because they misinterpreted how & why the maesters wrote F&B, obviously being "team green", but also including accounts that disparage the greens. [this post by ozymalek vs this post by poorshadowspaintedqueens]

Excerpts from ozymalek:

The Dance era in "Fire and Blood" is something that will fundamentally cause the feelings of cognitive dissonance... ......................... It did not provide easy answers, it was written as a historical account, the in-universe historians were clearly biased. People, however, had trouble realizing who the historians are biased for and against. Team Green would have you think that "F&B" is biased against the Greens, because their allegiance as maesters clearly being to Hightowers notwithstanding, they could not evade simple historical facts: that most of the kingdom supported Rhaenyra, that Greens were horrendously misogynistic and that her usurpation was clearly wrong. That's why, approaching it from the "choose your favorite war criminal" point of view, it was difficult for Greens to accept that their preferred side is so cartoonishly evil... ......................... The maester's anti-Targaryen bias, however, manages to sneak in and mess with the reader's balance, causing said cognitive dissonance. ......................... It's hard to deal with it as a reader, let alone as a showrunner who's trying to adapt a story in which not everything is set in stone. They incorrectly assumed that, because they are constantly forced to question what is happening in the story, the bias is with the underlying idea that there was a correct side. As such, they assumed that all the inconsistencies result from maesters not choosing to view it that way.

Excerpt from poorshadowspaintedqueens:

There are hints throughout Fire & Blood that women were doing more behind the scenes and that the narrator (Gyldayn) just doesn’t care, unless they were also having scandalous sex. I, for one, think there was a lot more to Rhaenyra Targaryen, for instance, than those creepy, gross “lessons” Mushroom claimed she took from Daemon when she was 13, or having illegitimate kids with Harwin Strong and being “punished” by gaining weight (which is fatphobic as well as creepy). But a lot of that requires reading into the text and between the lines, rather than taking it at face value.

So if those women would have had their reputations or actions reduced to nothing by the author...where exactly do we see HotD!Alicent, Rhaenys, & Rhaenyra do "behind the scenes" AND in public--even in conversations that superficially look amicable--to realize this thing Gyldayn ignores?!!!

[this is before we realize that this didn't work, I'm in general, how situations are arranged not as they happened or the results which belied what Gyldayn himself would not have expected if he had lived at the time]

End...

So again, yes, F&B establishes the importance of Daenerys' rise to power & the importance of why her rise is so important if for nothing else (bc there's more than the political angle) for the politics of a female ruler becoming Queen in a sexist world. Abt to come to Westeros. At the same time, while Rhaenys, Rhaenyra & Alicent's agency was severely limited...it doesn't mean they had none. They had more than what other women had & usually had & supporters or lives that made them express more..."fiery" personalities & theyr were less afriad to really use those resources. So it really seems more like people can't take haughty & proud women as protagonists.

Real women & other marginalized groups in real history had their agency suppressed as well (relatively)...doesn't mean they had a value of 0 agency or tried to gain more. That through political authority & power even behind the scenes.

So, when I see an Alicent w/o at least deciding to tell her father (after she marries) that she will accrue her own power AND for House Hightower through her kids to compete against Rhaenyra

AND

I see show!Rhaenyra's decision to go to war framed as if she is the one making THE decision to plunge them all into war unfair & a clear wrong done by HotD when:

if Aegon were to become the next king, how seriously would he take the prophecy Viserys bestowed the knowledge on to Rhaenyra?

the greens (Otto) are not even thinking in terms of what's good for "the realm", & it's very obvious

when she came up through the floor on Meleys & killed so many KL peasants, Rhaenys herself basically gave the greens more *public* incentive to declare a war on Rhaenyra & make themselves look more like "protectors" against the "evil" blacks; in whatever version any writer makes of this event in Westerosi history, it will always be true that Rhaenys' granddaughters would be perceived as problems for the greens bc they are Daemon's daughters

Just bc Gyldayn, Mushroom, Septon Eustace, Orwyle, & all those other unnamed secondary tellers might have unintentionally or intentionally twisted some real behaviors or events to make some women seem more evil or irresponsible, or tried to heave that burden of responsibility onto the women rather than Viserys, doesn't mean that the women *didn't display* "fierier" behaviors or that we can't witness specific mini-events of them trying to gain more agency & getting it, even when it pans out to them losing so much through the war. It rather highlights, to me, how those assertive qualities were demonized AND the possible agency-grasping acts were ignored. Like how Alicent isn't that culturally credited for the green council.

But why is it bad or inadvisable to allow Rhaenys, Rhaenyra, Laena, etc. to even at least sometimes act away from their "bear with it" social compulsions as aristocratic women once in a while?! Why is it so conceived as either impossible or disliked for a woman like Rhaenyra or Rhaenys like to articulate their emotions at the violent suppressions of their agency or that of the others' through anger, annoyance, "rudeness", or rage, and more comparatively more evenly distributed instead of it just Rhaenys harping on Rhaenyra or Laena on Daemon?! If we assume Gyldayn made up or twisted their worst actions/words--and not that he exaggerated them--to degrade ANY sort of passion from a woman with authority or incumbent authority as "dangerous", then why do we tolerate the extreme dilution of of theior most active actions?!

Why would all this mean we have to mute their personalities, age them down to experience even more abuse, be even more intellectually unhinged, or experience a lack of support that they DEFINITELY had in the original story? Is this not all inherently sexist?!

There is one moment in episode 8 where Rhaenyra turns away from Vaemond when he disrespectfully mocks her during the council, and it infuriates me that Rhaenyra couldn't even face him or either verbally or nonverbally mock him back...this is then type of shit I'm taking about. And this wouldn't have negated the fact that she thought it necessary to move her kids from the Keep to avoid such various degrees of the same from the wider court and for her own kids.

Let me know if this post needs something. Despite its length, I still feel there needs to be something more added or to explain some thoughts.

#hotd critical #hotd writing #book vs tv comparisons #fire and blood characters #hotd characterization #westerosi women #hotd comment #hotd misogyny

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xiv-wolfram · 10 days

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WolfBahn Ship Summary - Part 2

A Realm Reborn

Part 1 - Prequel I realized the comics are... a lot. So I decided to make a short summary of my Wolfram x Raubahn ship. As I started to write I realized it was also... a lot. So clearly WolfBahn is simply... a lot. Eh, this is still way less to read than the comics, enjoy.

13 years after Wolfram and Raubahn had broken up, Wolf knew full well that he was still in love and would never move on. Frequently hearing news about the famous Flame General of Ul'dah probably hadn't helped matters. He'd made a sort of peace with it and was living as an adventurer in Limsa Lominsa, helping others in order to atone for his past. He and his friend X’Rhun Tia, trained red mages on the rare occasion they had an apprentice. Otherwise, Wolfram's time was usually spent working for the guild or doing odd jobs for the Admiral to pay the bills while Rhun traveled.

During one such job, Wolf stumbled upon a plot by the Serpent Reaver pirates to kidnap people and have them enthralled by the Sahagain god Leviathan. After saving the day, Admiral Merlwyb threw a banquet with the adventurer as her honored guest. It was here that Wolf revealed a crystal he had found to the city leader and his new acquaintance Y’Shtola. They talked about the Warriors of Light that had helped during the Calamity. He was told he held a Crystal of Light and was the vessel of a higher power. Once getting some clarification Wolfram burst out laughing. Obviously, someone tainted like him wouldn't be chosen by a powerful and benevolent goddess. Despite his skepticism, Y'Shtola invited him to meet with the leader of her organization.

After meeting Minfillia, he was relieved to learn about the Echo - it meant the voidsent hadn't been getting stronger as it had claimed. Wolfram joined the Scions to study his mysterious power and help people on a larger scale. However, he couldn't deny that another motivation for joining the was to potentially see his ex-partner again (without the threat of jail, given the Scions' political standing). Having an Echo vision of Carteneau was honestly a bit too much Raubahn for Wolfram to shake off.

Wolf spent some time getting to know his new allies whilst aiding Limsa Lominsa and Gridania. Then he found himself in Thanalan face to face with the primal Ifrit and only had a brief moment to question why he wasn't being tempered before having to fight for his life. He made it out but many of the Immortal Flames weren't so lucky. He lamented not being strong enough to protect them. While thrilled and terrified at the idea - he would apologize to their leader in person.

Wolfram entered Ul'dah for the first time in over a decade. He attended a speech Flame General Aldynn was giving. Instead of the fear he assumed would invade his thoughts - Wolf felt nothing but pride in how far the gladiator had come. His cheers were the loudest.

Raubahn noticed Wolfram in the crowd and hardly believed his eyes. He had spent years lamenting his actions, trying to move on but plagued with regrets and wondering if his former love had survived the Calamity. Even if he’d betrayed his trust, the gladiator didn’t want him dead. Finally, he knew - Wolfram was alive and well! After he was done addressing the Ul'dahn citizens he walked up to Wolf, doing his best to hide a smile, and asked if the adventurer would like a private meeting.

The General had a busy schedule but they had a few moments to speak before his next obligation. Neither could hide their happiness to see each other again. Wolf even teased Rau a bit for being surprised that Wolf hadn’t wondered about him, forgetting that he was famous. Raubahn didn't blame Wolfram for his soldiers Ifrit had taken and was impressed that the man he used to know as a simple cook had defeated a primal. He extended an invitation to join his Grand Company and Wolfram said he would be happy to join the Immortal Flames. The gladiator was relieved to know the mage was alive and well after so long wondering. Their reunion felt wonderfully strange to both of them - any awkwardness was overshadowed by their pure joy.

After returning to the Waking Sands to give Minfilia his report, Wolf went back to Ul'dah the next day to formally join the Grand Company. Raubahn had the day off but wanted to give Wolfram a tour of the headquarters. A new recruit receiving a tour from the General himself drew notice, but most assumed it was because he'd bested Ifrit. However, those who knew him best noted an odd change in their leader’s demeanor. Wolfram and Raubahn did some proper catching up, with Rau asking the mage what he’d been up to since he’d left Ul’dah. After hearing his journey of self-improvement, Raubahn told Wolf that he would have been happy to see him earlier and that his threat had been an empty one born from anger. Wolfram told the gladiator about his new life devoted to aiding others and was surprised to receive praise for the efforts he'd made to become a better person. Unfortunately due to some miscommunication and false assumptions about the other's preference, they ended up agreeing to keep things professional and not let anyone know about their past, despite them each secretly wishing to be friends.

For most of the events of ARR they were coworkers who occasionally fell out of formality accidentally - like when Livia raided the Waking Sands and everyone thought the Scions were dead. Raubahn couldn't hide his relief when Wolf walked into the Alliance’s meeting to discuss the Black Wolf’s ultimatum. Merlwyb even teased Raubahn in private later for the most she'd ever seen him smile in a single sitting. Whenever someone caught on to their familiarity they admitted only that they had been friends years ago but asked that the information not be spread. The Monetarists were enough of a problem already and would absolutely use it to accuse the Scions of favoring the Royalists.

Things started to change between them the night before their attack on Castrum Meridianum. Raubahn took Wolfram aside to speak privately. He hesitantly asked if the mage had enough control over the voidsent to go into a building full of Garleans. Wolf was offended, assuming Rau was worried he would hurt the other Flames. He swore he would end his own life if he felt his control slipping rather than endanger anyone else. The General explained that's not what he meant - he didn't want Wolfram to risk himself and ordered him to flee the battle if he became panicked as he had occasionally in the past. The mage was furious at the suggestion and repeated back word for word something cruel that Raubahn had said to him when they broke up. The gladiator was horrified that those hateful words said in anger had stayed with Wolf all those years and started apologizing in an uncharacteristic panic, stating that if anything he said made Wolf not value his own life he was sorry and didn't mean any of it. Wolfram calmed down and explained that he was just bothered by the hypocrisy of suggesting he take such cowardly action by someone who’d called him selfish. He told the General that his harsh words were the catalyst that had set him on the path of atonement. If he was the hero people claimed him to be - it was because of Raubahn. While tense, that night helped resolve a bit of the pain from their past they were holding onto, helping them move forward and finally become more casual with each other.

Part 3 - A Ream Reborn Patches

#oc wolfram #ffxiv #ffxiv wol #ffxiv oc #hyur highlander #hyur #wolbahn #raubahn aldynn #raubahn #WolfBahn #WolframSaga #WolframBlog

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aita-blorbos · 3 months

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aita for accidentally removing my entire school from existence?

i (f,14) used to study magic at the aforementioned school. i dont have many friends and also love studying in my spare time so i was ahead of the class and started working on my own research in the school's summer house during my break.....

my kind are inherently fragile and the world around us seems especially inhospitable- its something ive noticed since i was little. i wish to create a world free of suffering. and i know im not the first to think this, alchemical texts i found repeat this sentiment. so, i decided to begin following them, and create a perfect being of my kind that exists without suffering. my only friend (m, my age) who ill call V, supported my ideals and findings and offered to help me whenever he could- although he is far more approachable and congenial than i am so he was busier than i was.

to cut things short, my attempts at creating homunculi were all unsuccessful. every single one of my experiments failed in drastic, unpredictable ways. V began to express concern for me as i began to skip classes, but i ignored him and he became preoccupied with other things. eventually i concluded that the homunculus needed a soul. i began to seek out the sealed portal to the spirit realm protected by the school in order to extract a portion of a lost soul. V tried to stop me, but i stupidly ignored him.

i broke the seal of the portal and the spirits & other beings of the aether poured into our plane of existence, abstracting most students and shifting the school to a state of semi non-existence. the teachers managed to seal the portal but were transformed into otherworldly beings. me and V survived, but i think only because we have been chosen by a higher power. my hands and lower arms were scarred from the incident.

aita? i feel a profound guilt but V assures me that it wasnt my fault... i dont think ill ever recover from this but maybe a third opinion would help

#aita #am i the asshole #unreality

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tidal123 · 1 year

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LHJD appreciation post (and some headcanon)

So Luohou Jidu, one most under-valued character in the show. Not that the show didn't demonstrate his very awesome full range, but we didn’t get to see him much before the current events, what’s he really like without all that revenge. In the demon’s realm his title was “the respected/revered one”. Not “the feared one” mind you. And Wu Zhiqi, in Zihu’s words ‘the most free, big-hearted person in the world’ admits that among all of the Shuras he admires Luohou Jidu the most. That must count for something. And considering he didn’t overthrow King Shura when he easily could, if he wanted, Luohou Jidu was not motivated by power, even if he have abundant.

Major spoilers and some images below.

It was said in the novel he wanted to become a woman(before that choice was stole away by the real villain and twisted so horribly that he hated being called his chosen female name). In the show this was not mentioned. I don’t like to think that he wanted to become a woman just to be better accepted to love men, that’s too narrow. Instead, I want to give him some back story, where this decision has more to do with his culture and his self-actualization. So Luohou Jidu did not choose to be female because he feels he had to, but because he decided to. It was said that in the novel his people were initially all born with a male form due to their aggressive nature and the wrath energy they control, but could choose their gender as they reached adulthood. I’d like to think Luohou Jidu would choose to turn female mainly because of his own thoughts, nature and aspirations, because being female is considered as much more difficult but a higher choice, something to aspire to, and very few could manage it. I’d like to think for his people being female is not only not ‘less’ but ‘more’, a way to expand your being and ability, because it’d be especially difficult for those who naturally wield the wrath energy to reconcile that with femininity. Most wouldn’t even bother because they enjoy being males more anyway. So Luohou Jidu’s choice would still be unusual, but not completely shocking among his folks.

Besides, becoming female does not mean being submissive—it’s obvious who tops and who bottoms between Xuanji and Sifeng. There was also none of that female must be mild bullcrap involved. Instead, being female probably means not just able to strike but also protect, to have an ability of gentleness on top of their fierce nature. From the beginning it is shown that Xuanji has strong instinct to protect others and be just, so it’d be natural to assume this is also true for Luohou Jidu. He was not a simple brute who is just a vehicle to carry out some of fic writers’ fantasies.

I like how there was superposition and wholeness in the show. LHJD was very comfortable in his maleness, as Xuanji/God of War was comfortable in her femaleness. It speaks to the truth that human nature cannot be constrained by gender norms expected from society. A very capable mind would naturally shrug off such artificial constrictions. I’d like to think a more capable mind can instead enjoy such artificial constructions and be more. And I think this is one of the reason I really like Xuanji/Luohou Jidu being the same being, but in different manifestations. We can see that Luohou Jidu is a more unrestrained version of Xuanji/God of War and Xuanji as a more happy and agreeable version of Luohou Jidu. Yet they would both fall in love with Sifeng and let themself be anchored to the mortal world because of that love.

#LnD spoiler #Love and Redemption #spoiler alert #cdrama #Asian Drama #head-canon #Luohou Jidu

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merrysithmas · 2 years

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If Anakin actually embraced his demigod-ness what would he actually do? Like if he’s not doing Jedi stuff or something similar is he just chilling on some Force God planet until something requires his intervention?

LOL hmmm... eat space grapes off the vine? swim shirtless through the pools of time? practice his Form V as a constellation in the sky?? cause blackouts with his rage? storms with his sadness? drought with his despair? sunshine with his wonder? run his fingers through the ebony hair of the fates, picking out the strands of his loved one's lives and uncoiling them just to gaze...

but honestly! If we go by The Mortis arc in TCW, The Father firsts tests Anakin to see if he is truly the Chosen One. He forces Anakin into a situation where his children, The Daughter and Son (who represent the Light and Dark), threaten the lives of Obiwan and Ahsoka. The two people most important to him (and another tick against the idea that Anakin & Padme had 100% genuine selfless love for each other).

The Father threatens Anakin with the death of either Ahsoka or Obiwan, and asks him to choose which Child's rage he will control- the Dark or Light.

Anakin, unwilling to choose between the two he loves most, LITERALLY moves the stars and heavens above him, shifting the sky from night to day and back again and pulls on his divine power to subdue both the Light and Dark, freeing both Obi and Ahsoka. It is my favorite scene in all of Star Wars.

After witnessing this, the Father is convinced of Anakin's birthright. He begs Anakin to take his place on Mortis... saying that he is growing too old and weary to watch over and control his children anymore, and that they will be thrown out of balance without his guidance.

It is much like the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indiana is met by the ancient knight in the sacred temple who offers him his sword, utterly grateful to be relieved of duty... seeing this new Knight appear to take up his place as guard of all that is good and just.

That is what Anakin's job is.

To enact his balance of will on the Force-plane, not the mortal plane where mortals are unfit for it - where they can die and suffer the wrath of the gods in immediate and horrifying ways.

Anakin, who is adamant the Chosen One is a myth (out of self protection), tells The Father he cannot abandon his friends and must leave Mortis. This action is very much akin to Luke's when he leaves Dagobah to save Leia and Han and Yoda warns him not to go. Anakin is terrified to leave the mortal realm, unwilling to take on the responsibility, and deeply attached to humanity. He loves them.

The Father warns Anakin that should he leave Mortis he will forever regret it for the remainder of his days.

This can also be seen as a vague allusion to the chaos that turns out to be Luke and Leia, and the ultimate hardships of their lives. Perhaps had Anakin taken up The Father on his offer, and had been able to wrangle the The Daughter and Son into submission and balance, acting as a sentry who understood both the Forces of Dark & Light and the mortals of the Galaxy, then Anakin's own son and daughter (who share his blood and thus his immortal inheritence) would have happier, easier lives and even joined him on Mortis.

In truth, I think Anakin would be miserable and lonely on the plane of the Force Gods. Just as he is miserable and lonely on the mortal plane.

The Force did torture and torment him as a creation. He can be neither happy or totally content in either place. His human heart longs for his mortal friends, and his god soul longs for higher purpose.

His truly is a tragic existence until he dies - where he can be in the afterlife, the magical Force Netherworld, with Obiwan. And we find out in TRoS Luke and Leia also become Force ghosts- and I like to believe Ahsoka, too, so all his children can be with him.

Which is to Anakin, finally the best of his both worlds.

But fr I picture Obiwan and Anakin in the force going on epic supernatural Quests and mulling over the fate of mortals with Anakin trolling people with visions and horrors to "test" their resolve and their preparation for their dark sides - taking on the role of the Ghost of Christmas Future but with far more trolling and he's like laughing to Obi-wan when he materializes home, Obi you should've seen his face when I showed up as his dead girlfriend...! or causing visions which swallow rotten people into the ground like the pits of Sith hells, causing them to wake in abject terror with an unseeable Anakin grinning over their beds wearing Force Sunglasses 😎

Ultimately, I think Anakin, as the Chosen One & master of the Dark Side in life, would take on the afterlife role of caring after and protecting those who are very strong in the light - he'd have a genuine affection for them and consider it his celestial duty to prepare them to face their Dark Sides in order to confront their balance, inner selves, and their capacity for destructive power. He'd want to protect them. That would be his primary patronage although he'd go about it in amusing and sometimes rather grim ways. He'd be very compassionate but brutal about it - a reflection of the extremes of his life, which is the source of his great wisdom.

As for Obi-wan I picture him tending a very cosmic garden planting strife for some, watering some happiness to bloom for others, watching well-deserved wishes take fruition as beautiful blossoming berries after many years of waiting for other certain souls... I picture him keeping a very endless, very eternal library with boundless tomes. Sitting in the sunlight, making careful notes in the margins of people's lives... little reminders or helpful suggestions, that turn up on the mortal plane as nagging feelings or sudden inspiration.

But ultimately they are in the Force having fun together and taking on missions in the Netherworld as they discover, even further, the unknowable reaches of the incredible Force.

#anakin skywalker #luke skywalker #leia organa #obi wan kenobi #obikin #ahsoka tano #also anakin throws a huge fit from the force whenever someone down in the mortal plane wants to date luke or leia (or ahsoka)#and obiwan is like !?!? because Anakin is causing a black hole or hurricane or star implosion #and then he sees it's about han solo again or the mandalorian and rolls his eyes and goes back to gardening #lmao

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commander-jbennett · 13 days

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SHARE AT LEAST FIVE SONGS THAT REMIND YOU OF YOUR MUSE, OR THAT YOU ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR MUSE'S CHARACTER ARC. Including lyrics is optional.

tagged by: stole it tagging: steal it if you'd like :)

Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens (mostly in regards to his relationship with Isaac) = Oh, to see without my eyes. The first time that you kissed me/ Boundless by the time I cried /I built your walls around me/White noise, what an awful sound/ Oh, oh woe-oh-woah is me The first time that you touched me /Oh, will wonders ever cease?/Blessed be the mystery of love/Lord, I no longer believe/Cursed by the love that I received/ Now my riverbed has dried. Shall I find no other?/ Oh, oh woe-oh-woah is me. I'm running like a plover. /Now I'm prone to misery./ The birthmark on your shoulder reminds me./ How much sorrow can I take? Blackbird on my shoulder/And what difference does it make when this love is over?/ Hold your hands upon my head 'til I breathe my last breath/ Oh, oh woe-oh-woah is me, the last time that you touched me.

The Logical Song - Supertramp = When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful/A miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical/But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, oh, responsible, practical. /Then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable. Oh, clinical, oh, intellectual, cynical/ There are times when all the world's asleep the questions run too deep for such a simple man/ Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?/I know it sounds absurd/Please tell me who I am/I said, now, watch what you say, they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal./ Oh, won't you sign up your name? We'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, oh, presentable, a vegetable.

Dream Sweet in Sea Major - Miracle Musical = Alone at the edge of a universe humming a tune/ For merely dreaming we were snow/A siren sounds like the goddess who promises endless apologies of paradise, and only she can make it right so things are different tonight./ We'll go together in flight. /It's now and never, a reverie endeavor awaits somnambulant directives to take the helm./Believe me, darling the stars were made for falling like melting obelisks as tall as another realm./Un ensemble d'enfants, la galaxie s'étend jardin de l'imagination./ Combler la lacune, voler face à la Lune vois comme nous évoluons./ It feels like flying, dut maybe we're dying./ A cosmic confluence of pyramids hologrammed./ Children born of one emotion our devotion's deepest ocean no division reasoned we'll be free./ To know we are beyond a bow, and lo, the hues arrange to show it's perfectly clear. / Pure delights surround us as we sail. / Now that existence is on the wake let's see what we can make. /We will be atoning at last eternal through the past above a blinding star. / One light higher than the sun, invisible to some. Until it's time.

Father - The Front Bottoms = I have this dream that I am hitting my dad with a baseball bat, and he is screaming and crying for help./ And maybe halfway through, it has more to do with me killing him then it ever did protecting myself. /And I believe that, yeah, Dad, maybe no one is perfect, but I believe that you were pushing your luck/ It just sucks it played out like this, a terrible movie and you can tell none of the actors even give a fuck. /Can I sleep in your bed?/ And when I crawl out in the morning can I stay inside your head?/ 'Cause you were high school, and I was just more like real life./ But I was just more like his wife/ I'll do the push-ups, I'll wear the makeup/I'll do whatever he wants all night. /And I am leaving as soon as I come/As soon as I come, you will probably forget my name/I hope I fall asleep at the wheel and crash my car on the ride home. Or I could just stay here.

Broken Crown - Mumford and Sons = Well, touch my mouth and hold my tongue/ I'll never be your chosen one/ The pull on my flesh was just too strong, stifled the choice and the air in my lungs. /Better not to breathe than to breathe a lie. /'Cause when I open my body I breathe in a lie./And I will not speak of your sins/ The mirror shows not/Your values are all shot/But oh, my heart was flawed/ I knew my weakness/ So hold my hand, consign me not to darkness./So crawl on my belly 'til the sun goes down/I'll never wear your broken crown/ I took the road and I fucked it all away/Now in this twilight, how dare you speak of grace?/I can take the road and I can fuck it all away, but in this twilight, our choices seal our fate.

Magnum Bullets - Night Runner = A dark and moonless night has never felt so right. /An empty mirror only shows what's left inside/ The neon beckons me beyond its ghostly light/ No longer I pretend the staircase I descend will lead me anywhere but my unscripted end./My heart and hands collide/The gun lays at my side/Too late to turn back, only fate's left to decide/ Back up the stairs again, I am a different man. /A broken mirror only shows as best it can/Running in shoes that shine with blood that isn't mine./A stinging trophy of the battles I've survived/No longer I defend the choices I pretend could make amends that heal the loss of precious time/My conscience paralyzed against the rising tide of haunting memories that drown a wasted life.

Let the River In - Radical Face = I closed my eyes and saw my father's sins/They covered me like a second skin/I peeled them off and sure I bled a bit/And now I'm free to sink my own damn ship/I cut the branch down from my family tree to start a fire in the middle of the living room/Now the house is just ash this time, sink or swim/Let the river in if blood is thicker than water/We might drift away, but we've got thick skin.

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bitchy-craft · 1 year

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What Mythological Creature You Are | Pick A Pile

Hello and welcome to this Pick A Pile! In here you'll find out what mythological creature you are and what is associated with said creature. I hope you guys enjoy and find this useful. Do make sure to leave comments down below on your experience! I do want to remind you all that this is a General Pick A Pile which means this is for a lot of people; therefore keep what resonates and leave what doesn't.

Masterlist

Pick A Pile!

Pile 1:

The Phoenix is a legendary bird from Greek and Egyptian mythology. It is said to be a magnificent creature with colorful plumage and the ability to regenerate itself. According to the Greek myth, the Phoenix lives for centuries before igniting itself in flames and being reborn from its ashes. This cycle of death and rebirth symbolizes immortality and the eternal nature of life.

The Phoenix is often associated with themes of renewal, transformation, and resurrection. It represents the concept of rising above challenges and emerging stronger from adversity. The Phoenix's ability to rise from the ashes serves as a metaphor for personal growth, spiritual transcendence, and the cyclic nature of existence.

Pile 2:

Kitsune is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a fox with magical abilities. These shapeshifting creatures possess intelligence and possess anywhere from one to nine tails, with each additional tail indicating greater power and wisdom. Kitsune are known for their mischievous nature and their ability to assume human form.

In Japanese mythology, Kitsune represents both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, they are associated with wisdom, cunning, and the protection of their chosen human companions. On the other hand, they are known for their trickery and illusions. Kitsune symbolize the complexities of human nature, the power of transformation, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.

Pile 3:

A pegasus is a winged horse from Greek mythology. According to the myth, Pegasus was born from the decapitated neck of the Gorgon Medusa when the hero Perseus slew her. Pegasus is often depicted as a majestic white horse with wings, capable of flying freely through the skies. It became the trusted mount of the hero Bellerophon, who rode Pegasus during his battles against various monsters.

Pegasus symbolize freedom, inspiration, and the power of the imagination. The ability to soar through the heavens represents the pursuit of higher knowledge, transcending earthly limitations, and reaching new heights. Pegasus is associated with artistic and creative endeavors, as well as the exploration of the divine realm.

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untoldreader · 20 days

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Tangled Alliances

Yelena belova x reader

Chapter 3

In the aftermath of the revelations that shook our world, Yelena and I found ourselves navigating a landscape of tangled alliances. The lines between friend and foe, trust and betrayal, were blurred, and we had to tread carefully to protect ourselves and the love we shared.

As we delved deeper into the murky depths of espionage, we encountered individuals whose motives were shrouded in ambiguity. Some claimed to be allies, offering their assistance and guidance, while others lurked in the shadows, their intentions veiled in mystery.

Yelena, with her keen instincts honed through years of training, became our guiding force. She possessed a unique ability to discern truth from deception, and I relied on her intuition to navigate the treacherous world we found ourselves in. Together, we formed an unbreakable bond, a united front against the forces that sought to tear us apart.

In our search for answers, we uncovered a complex network of alliances, each thread intricately woven into the fabric of espionage. It became apparent that even those we considered friends could be playing a dangerous game, their loyalties tested by circumstance and self-interest.

As we cautiously formed alliances of our own, we learned to trust only in measured doses. The weight of secrets we carried made it difficult to fully open ourselves to others, for fear that our vulnerabilities would be exploited. We became masters of deception ourselves, concealing our true intentions from prying eyes.

The dance of alliances became a delicate balance, where one wrong move could prove fatal. We relied on our wits, our training, and the love that bound us together to navigate this intricate web of shifting loyalties. No longer could we afford to be naive; we had to be strategic, always one step ahead of those who sought to manipulate us.

But amidst the complexity and danger, our love remained a guiding light. It was a constant reminder of our shared purpose, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Our connection served as an anchor, grounding us as we faced the challenges that lay before us.

As we forged alliances and uncovered hidden truths, we also discovered the power of unity. There were others who, like us, had been entangled in this world of shadows. Together, we formed a collective, a band of individuals who sought to expose the darkness and bring about change.

Through our shared experiences and the bonds we formed, we realized that strength lay in numbers. We leveraged our collective knowledge, skills, and resources to challenge the status quo, to dismantle the intricate web of alliances that perpetuated the cycle of deceit.

But as we gained momentum, the stakes grew higher. The forces we challenged fought back with a ferocity we hadn't anticipated. Our lives were in constant jeopardy, and the love we held so dear became a liability, a vulnerability that could be exploited by our enemies.

In this crucible of tangled alliances, we were forced to make difficult choices, to sacrifice pieces of ourselves for the greater good. The path we had chosen was fraught with danger, but we remained resolute. We were determined to unravel the web of deceit, to expose the truth that lay beneath the surface.

As alliances shifted and allegiances were tested, we clung to the belief that love could conquer all. It was the driving force that propelled us forward, that infused us with the courage to face the unknown. Together, we confronted the tangled alliances that threatened to ensnare us, driven by a love that defied boundaries.

And so, with hearts entwined and a shared purpose burning within us, we embarked on a journey that would shape not only our destinies but also the fate of those entangled in this world of espionage. The path ahead was treacherous, but we faced it head-on, prepared to face whatever challenges awaited us.

In the realm of tangled alliances, where trust was a precious commodity, we vowed to stay true to ourselves and to each other. Our love would serve as a beacon, guiding us through the darkness, reminding us of the strength we possessed when united.

Together, we would unravel the intricate threads of deceit, expose the hidden players, and forge a new path—one built on trust, truth, and a love that would endure against all odds.

#marvel #yelena belova x reader #yelena belova #dark love

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slugdragoon · 21 days

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RPG Role Analysis Series #5 - Dragon Quest III vs. Final Fantasy I vol.I

It's time to do a bit of compare and contrast! I want to talk about Dragon Quest III, but I think we need to compare it to Final Fantasy I, because they have such a similar structure, and together are so foundational in the JRPG world.

Dragon Quest III was released just two months after Final Fantasy I, so I don't think they influenced each other much. The Wizardy series was already on IV around the same time, and Ultima IV had come out years earlier, and many of the classes in Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest III are analogous to those games, which in turn are taken from D&D.

Despite this, the chosen classes for each game have so much overlap! FFI has six, which each have a promoted class, but each class promotes only to that advanced class and can't change mid-game. There is also no main charater, your four party members are equal and your party composition can be anything. DQIII on the other hand allows you to choose your three party other members at will mid-game, but you always have to have Erdrick, the protagonist.

Warrior (FF) / Warrior (DQIII) - The damage-dealing knight in both games. Both Warriors are tanks that wear the best armour and swing the strongest weapons, their job is to hit things and stay alive long enough to push through damage. In DQIII however, the Warrior cannot learn Magic, whereas the FF Warriors' promotion, the Knight, can learn low-level White Magic, making it a bit more of a paladin sort, actually. There is no further distinction in FFI of access to spells than the level of spells a job can access, so all low-level White Magic is available to the Knight, meaning they can heal (single or multi-target), deal holy damage to a group of undead, increase allies defence and evasion, or reduce incoming fire and lightning damage, making them have a role in supporting the party as well as dealing damage.

Monk (FF) / Fighter (DQIII) - FFI monks and DQIII fighters are more similar than the Warriors in that in both games, neither can learn spells, including The Monk's Master promotion. Both wear no armour, and no weapons (except claws can be used in DQIII without penalty), and hit hard weaponless, but are left as glass cannons due to their lack of armour. FFI monks emphasize being faster than other classes, and DQIII fighters have a higher critical hit chance, but the main draw of both is that they save the party money by having one fewer member to buy expensive items for. In addition, they can reach their maximum potential better than two Warriors who would compete for the same rare/unique swords. This is especially useful in DQIII, as a Hero-classed Erdrick will always need this gear. These early games don't have monks do especially monk-like things, like have any special fighting abilities, their job is to be low maintenance, above all.

White Mage (FF) / Cleric (DQIII) - Both classes have low physical stats, but aren't as helpless at using weapons as the Black Mage/Mage. They won't deal your main damage, and have to be carefully guarded, but it won't be completely worthless to attack normally when no one needs healing (which is great, as their magic does not focus on damage either), and won't necessarily crumple instantly, but should be carefully guarded. Both types can heal, revive, do multi-target damage for a large MP cost, reduce incoming magic damage, buff (evasion and defence for White Mages, agility for Clerics), and heal status effects. The DQIII Cleric can cause sleep status and debuff enemy defence, wheras the White Mage can only dispel defences (not truly a debuff, which is the realm of the Black Mage). The Cleric also has instant death spells, where the White Mage can protect against the same from enemies.

Black Mage (FF) / Mage (DQIII) - Both the DQIII Mage and the Final Fantasy Black Mage have pitiful weapon attack power, as they are meant to only attack using spells. In DQIII, items exist to cast spells for free, which gives the Mage something to do without blowing all their MP. The Mage can buff party defense, the Black Mage can caste Haste, and both can buff party attack, both cast elemental damaging spells, and slow enemies. The DQIII mage get a lot of the dungeon traversal utility spells that carry over from the protagonist of DQI and the Prince of Cannock in DQII (and some new ones), as was as a magic reflecting spell and some polymorphing. The FFI Black Mage has instant death spells and status effects like blind and stone.

The DQIII mages have more of a mix of spells probably influenced by the roles of the Prince of Cannock and Princess of Moonebrook. The result is that the Cleric feels more like a D&D Cleric, with about the same level of offensive options, and the Mage feels more like a D&D Wizard who learns a variety of spells with different functions, including niche utility cases. The Final Fantasy ones really focused down on having the White Mage do purely beneficial effects to the party and the Black Mage do purely detrimental effects to the enemy (exception:making other people hit them harder), and fully exclusively own those roles.

Damn my posts are so long, I'll do some of the more divergent/interesting classes in another post (Red Mages/Sages, Thieves, the Merchant, Hero and the Jester).

#rpg classes #rpg design #final fantasy #dragon quest #dragon quest iii #final fantasy i #game design #rpg #jrpg #video games

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mech-angel-c09 · 6 months

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- RADIANCE ETERNAL -

- Act I, Chapter 0: Beginnings -

Like all things, everything began with nothing.

An endless void, chaotic and misshapen.

Left alone forever, to writhe in agony.

Until it arrived.

A being came into existence, shining with a blinding power. It spread its endless wings, unleashing a wave of energy across the unborn cosmos. The chaos stopped, the sea of unfinished stars calmed, and nothing became everything.

The first realm was a plain that stretched on forever, littered with small forests on the ground and floating islands in the sky. At the center of all of this was the blinding force that had caused the birth of this world. Around it, something else began to rise up... creatures. Winged beings that were the byproduct of the blinding one's unleash of power. Not knowing any better, they worshipped the heavenly fountain of energy that had generated this plain.

They called it: Eternity, the First Lightwing.

Eternity watched over the blooming Lightwings benevolently, acting as a source of hope and guidance to them. The species began to evolve. Building shelters in the forests, using their wings to travel the skies, and honing the powers that were left to them by Eternity.

There were six core forces that held all existence together: Light, Darkness, Time, Space, Creation, and Destruction. They were equals, one element could not overpower the other on its own. Eternity chose six Lightwings to step up and ascend to a higher power, to become the harbingers of these elements.

The Lightwings known as Oricroi, Dhymmos, Reaver, Exodus, Solargenesis, and Finality were chosen, together becoming the Guardians of Eternity. Along with their master, they would watch over and defend their homeworld from any threats. They developed a bond with each other, becoming almost like siblings to each other. They were inseparable.

Peace reigned in the Lightwing's homeworld for ages, but like all things, it would not last forever.

Eternity had seen this world grow from nothing, but it was... unsatisfied. It viewed this world, and all worlds, as imperfect. Imperfections on what once was a perfect reality. And if it continued, it would be irreversible. Eternity knew what it had to do.

The heavenly force that once watched over the Lightwing's homeworld had spread its wings once again, ready to bring an end to all that existed, including those that worshipped it. Eternity's guardians tried to reason with it, but there was nothing to be reasoned with.

As their homeworld collapsed around them, the Guardians attempted to save as many Lightwings as they could. Those that managed to escape were scattered across the dimensions. But before the Guardians escaped, they used the last of Eternity's power that lied within them to seal their former master away in their collapsing homeworld.

As the Guardians made their escape, Solargenesis and Finality were separated from the others, landing in another dimension. Oricroi, Dhymmos, Reaver, and Exodus would crash-land elsewhere. As they made a small camp for themselves, they lamented their old home's destruction, and those that were lost in the chaos.

Still, they moved on. The Guardians of Eternity, now lost in a new world, took a new oath:

To protect this plane of existence, and prevent its downfall, unlike how they did for their home.

(And that was the intro to everything! I still have a lot to write, since there's gonna be around FIVE ACTS TOTAL, but I'm still proud of this as a start! And I hope everyone reading it likes it too!)

#oc #ocs #oc lore #radiance eternal #lightwings #eternity #oricroi #dhymmos #reaver #exodus #solargenesis #finality

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into-the-blorboverse · 8 months

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Domino: The Lamb

cw cults, infanticide, abuse, etc

Domino was born into a cult. A particular cult whose goal is to make powerful demonic beings. A more recent practice of theirs is to summon a demon into newborn children, with several failed attempts leading up to Domino's birth. Previously the cult members were trying to infuse a stronger, more mature demon into the infants, but the power was too strong for the young vessels. With Domino's indoctrination, his father decided to summon a lesser demon to try and see if the two could grow stronger together without overpowering and killing the child. This made Domino the first success in the newborn trials. As the first sire of the Chosen One, Domino's father gained esteem and a higher position within the cult. This was a huge success so Domino was seen as untouchable Golden Child and they are pleased to learn they have been blessed by a demon of the Electrical Realm.

Domino was never truly loved by his father. He was merely a vessel and a lot of pressure was put on him a young age, testing his demonic abilities and strengths. The older Domino gets, his father starts to fear that he's not progressing as rapidly as he should and he doesn't want to lose his status in the cult. Perhaps the only impressive part of Domino's trials was that he managed to survive, and as time ticks on the other members in the cult are expecting more from him than mere sparks and static electricity. More children have been born since and have now had more obvious results with their possessions. The shine of their Golden Child was starting to wear off.

Over the years his father increased the intensity of the tests, putting him in more and more dangerous situations to get a reaction from the demon inside his son. The demon was starting to defy the father in an attempt to protect Domino from the brutal tests. Being with his host from such a young age for both of them, the demon formed a powerful bond with Domino.

Domino's father as well as others in the community start to think Domino is not deserving of his status after a decade, but as the first success they can't take that away from him... unless...? Can we kill him? Hmm..

The father devises a plan. He claims to have had a vision and must sacrifice his Firstborn (this is a surprise tool to use for later) to the cause. He uses a ritual dagger and treats him like a sacrificial lamb. The light goes out of his eyes and he dies... for a moment. The ritual killing didn't take, it turns out. Interesting! But the onlooking cult members see this as a Miracle! He was the Chosen One! Not only did they make a successful vessel, they also made an unkillable one! :) 👍

This was lauded as a great success and for a while set the skepticism back, business as usual once again. But as Domino still showed resistance and restraint in his powers, there were whispers that maybe the miracle was all a setup. It seemed very convenient that the father would have a vision about his own son just when people were starting to question the validity of his status. Sure they saw the ritual killing but the timing of it all, you know. 🤷‍♂️

They figure that since he is unkillable after all, then it shouldn't be a problem to test it again. The father is fine with this since he was secretly trying to get rid of him anyway, either way works for him. So time and time again, the lamb was led to slaughter. And he survived!

The cult believes that due to the circumstances of Domino's birth and indoctrination, fusing a youngling demon to an infant, is what made him strong enough to come back from the dead. However, unbeknownst to them, its the particular combination of host and demon is what led to this. When other demons are presented with the idea that they don't need their hosts, they would take the opportunity to break away. But Domino's demon truly cares for his welfare, and loves him very much. Their souls are fused and intertwined in such a way (it's messy in there) that he'd do anything to protect him and keep him alive. And so he did.

In the last test that his father would ever do, he gets more and more frustrated with Domino, sensing that he'd like to run away from the cult, and snaps. Enraged, he grabs Domino forcefully and screams in his face, not at all like the gentle facade he put on during the sacrificial ceremonies.

He tells Domino that he's good for nothing and that no one in the outside world would love him like he does, and that you should be grateful for the status that you have here. You're a disgrace, and I will find a way to kill you that'll stick. Frightened at all of this coming out of seemingly nowhere, Domino can't handle it and blacks out, going limp for only a moment before the demon takes over.

Years of all the brutal rigorous testing and the multiple attempts on Domino's life while making a spectacle out of his perceived immortality built up and the demon refuses to take it anymore. Bolts of lighting begin to materialize from Domino's hands that his father was proud to see, if only they weren't aimed directly at him. In his final moments he smiles smugly and utters that is the promise that he wanted to see. But the demon was not about to give him the satisfaction, he would not allow him to bathe in that accomplishment. The bolts of lighting let loose upon that fucker and kills him!

With the father dead, the demon is worn out from the mass exertion of energy and is unable to fully protect Domino from a few burns as the forest around them is now caught aflame. But he is alive. He is free.

TO BE CONTINUED

#original characters #whorror movie #domino #oc backstory #ramblings #long post #SORRY We didn't actually to be continue this yet it's So much #later events go as follows: dom's mother leaves (scared of him) and the cult essentially abandons him after his fathers death #his grandma takes him and and raises him. he scares other kids in the outside world and is still isolated in a major way. grandma (a witch)#does a spell to set the demon into rest mode basically so hopefully he can have a little normal childhood still. failed. grows up anyway.#a homophobe tries to beat him up after catching him cruising with another young man. the demon awakens and kills for Dom for the second tim #the demon is back and he's sooo protective of Domino (<- is in love with him). And now Domino has learned to live like this!

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