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#highest form of honor
canisalbus · 5 months
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For some reason, I was always under the impression that Machete (through various misfortunes and happenstance) just sort of... BECAME a priest - I wasn't aware that be actually WANTED to be one :0 what was his reasoning for that line of work? I mean, I guess growing up in and around the church might foster an interest, but...?
Well, priests were held in extremely high regard at the time. Apart from nobility who had the benefit of proper education, they were usually the only people who were literate, and being able to read was a massive advantage. Social classes were extremely rigid, if you were born a peasant you died a peasant and so on. But if you managed to join the clergy, had luck on your side and didn't do abysmal job, you might be able to ascend to a higher status, accumulate more wealth and live reasonably comfortably regardless of your origins (to my understanding the main reason people didn't choose this path to escape poverty and hardship was because of the literacy requirement. I've read that some village priests could only write their name and memorized everything else, but for the most part you had to be able to write, read and speak at least passable Latin). Committing crimes against men of God was a severe offence, more so than regular laypeople, and (at leasts in some eras and places) priests themselves couldn't be tried in regular courts and had their own ecclesiastical courts instead, all of this made clergy kind of a protected class.
Machete spent his early childhood in a monastery, after his parents left him there (he was sickly and his family was stretched thin and couldn't care for him anymore. Before orphanages monasteries sometimes housed orphans and foundlings until they were old enough to be apprenticed). He grew up in a strongly religious environment so a certain sense of spirituality and fear of God was ingrained in him from early age. He was a quiet, meek, punctual and polite kid, and because he didn't like to play outside and was so well behaved, he was allowed inside the scriptorium and the library. He was inquisitive and very fascinated by books so the monks taught him to read, and when they commented he'd make a good priest he was instantly entranced with the idea. He wasn't interested in preaching, but if there was a chance he could be safe and respected, even regarded as holy, he felt he had to do everything in his power to attain that. Sure he was sort of guided and trained towards that goal all along, but he also genuinely thought it was something that would give his existence meaning and significance, after being discarded by his birth family and feeling vague worthlessness and lack of belonging ever since.
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karalija · 2 months
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Hodari Pavel from the mmo game Palia by Singularity 6. This is based off a certain quest 🤭😉 drawn in procreate. Please enjoy! 🖤💜🖤
Go read FairehavenMaven’s fic “A Hidden Gem” on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51257176/chapters/129513127
Such a beautiful fic. Well written, spicy and inspiring… just *chef’s kiss*
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byronicbi · 7 months
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no. no absolutely not. "this name that has stumped every scholar ever is actually the name of an island in Scandinavia and somehow nobody caught that" cut the shit. you're devising a way to lower the speed of light to one-tenth of its capacity and yet a Norwegian word stumped all your collective asses i am going to rip out someone's throat.
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papirouge · 1 year
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sorry but I will NEVER be over radfem saying a Hollywood celebrity being clowned online was the "purest form of misogyny" just bc she was rich, blonde and White⚰️
like.... if that narrative didn't peak radfem of color about how Whitefem will ALWAYS center themselves as the centerfold of true oppression I truly don't know what else to say to you🥴
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thespoonisvictory · 1 year
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not liking, not reblogging, but a third, secret, even more special thing (sharing the post with people in my life who are not on tumblr)
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thatstroubling · 1 year
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I've seen a meme where the danganronpa characters are grouped into 3s based on certain repeating characteristics and I tried to make a my own, sillier version of it
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dragon-ascent · 10 days
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It's hard to bully Zhongli when he's in his dragon form.
"I'm going to eat you!" you announce, dashing out of the house and towards your husband, a pair of chopsticks at the ready. It's one thing to try and tease him while he's in his usual state, but right now he's stretched out as a big dragon who merely watches you, amused. "I'm going to pluck all your scales one by one for dinner!"
Zhongli barely even feels anything as your chopsticks poke at his side. He utters a low, reverberating chuckle. "You are adorable."
You pout. "Can you at least try to be scared?"
"Ah, I am terrified," he complies, nuzzling you happily.
You huff and switch tactics - you start gently nibbling on him, but Zhongli doesn't find this disarming in the slightest. Again, he can't even feel it. You're like a fly. A cute, silly, and endearing fly.
Wrapping his tail around you, your dragon husband plucks you off the ground. You yelp. "Shall I nibble on you as well?" he asks, bemused, bringing you closer to his open and waiting mouth.
"Eek! No!" Wriggling around in futility, you glower at Zhongli. "Fight me! Fight me!"
"Darling, you cannot take me in a fight," he answers, nuzzling you again. "My silly baobei."
You shake your head. "Nah, I'd win. Because I'm a fairy! And dragons are weak to fairies!"
Zhongli's eyes crinkle in mischief. "Oh? If you are a fairy, then you must have powers of flight." He holds you up before a tree. "Shall I set you down on the highest branch so you can flutter down by yourself, oh honorable fairy?"
You spend the next five minutes screaming and thrashing while Zhongli is the one bullying you, waving you around in that fluffy vice he calls a tail.
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yandere-sins · 8 months
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Never-ending Pleasure
HC that Malleus likes ice cream because it soothes the magic-induced burns in his mouth. Also HC that his darling’s kiss has the same effect (;
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland Characters: Yandere!Malleus Draconia x GN!Reader Warnings: Yandere, Implied Sexual Content, Non-/Dub-Con Behavior (Kissing), Kidnapping, Possessiveness, Delusional Behavior/Thoughts
»»———————— ♡ ————————««
It was strange. Truly curious.
Nobody looked at Malleus and would have guessed the heir to Briar Valley's throne had a sweet tooth. That his freezer was always stocked with an assortment of ice cream for him to consume, nobody daring to touch what belonged to him. They had it wrong, though, as it wasn't the taste luring him towards the delicacy, the sugary sweet delightfulness of it, but its ability to soothe the heat collecting in his mouth when he used magic. His genes were remarkable, but the fire glands he had inherited were rather impractical for his the form he chose to present himself. Not that it was too uncomfortable to bear on occasion, but a nice spoon of ice cream usually managed to soothe the aftermath of any bad tastes or feelings left behind.
And yet, you, with your head tipped back, tears in your eyes, emitting sounds of displeasure and the loss of air, had the exact same effect on him as the ice did. Perhaps even more so, his whole body tingling from the tip of his tongue to his toes. Malleus couldn't help it, the comforting heat emitted between your mouths so very different from his beloved ice cream, yet almost better. It was exhilarating and new, and Malleus wouldn't be lying if he said he had never experienced a more thrilling moment, even when you shifted beside him, your fingers tearing at his clothes desperately. Thus, Malleus did the only thing he could think of in that situation:
Deepen the kiss.
Given, you were no vanilla-strawberry swirl or a deep, rich chocolate flavor, but there were benefits to your taste, too. In fact, you tickled more senses in him than he ever thought could harmonize at the same time. Be it the sensation of his tongue against yours making his eyelids flutter, pants tenting uncomfortably; the sound of your lips smacking against his running a shudder down his spine; or the way your body was so perfectly aligned with Malleus' while the wall in your back kept you trapped, leaving a feeling of a million fireflies behind in his belly.
Had he known about the benefits of a kiss before, he would have done it so much sooner. For months, he kept you waiting for that sweet, sweet confirmation of his feelings, assuring you only in words but never in actions while he kept you locked in the highest tower, trying to figure out how to best approach you. You had become desperate, downright crazy, locked up there all alone, crying and screaming hysterically despite his frequent visits to keep you company.
Malleus tried to honor your wishes. If you told him to stay away, he did. If you said he needed to leave, he sighed but obliged. If you didn't like the food, he sent Sebek or Silver to get you something different, and when you asked for better accommodations, he had them redecorate your room. Letting you go and leave forever weren't requests he could fulfill. But Malleus had paintings of your hometown made so you could hang them up and admire them when you got homesick.
But he ran out of options quickly, unfortunately. And when all of his expenses didn't help, he reconsidered how to keep you happy. It wasn't proper, not protocol at all. He should not have considered desires of the flesh to woo you, but it couldn't be helped when nothing seemed to please you anymore—nothing to shut up your panicked rambles just long enough for him to think of more and better ways.
With his tongue capturing yours, sucking and releasing it over the many sore spots he had acquired from his magic that day, Malleus couldn't help but think how beneficial this was—for both of you.
Sure, tears kept streaming down your pretty face, diluting your gaze. You were shivering, holding on to Malleus desperately. Still, at least your vocal cords had a moment of pause, your body recovering from the wailing and sobbing, not even having to stand on its own as he supported you. Really, what more could you even want in your life when enjoying this kiss was all that was needed to satisfy even Malleus?
But then again, as he pressed forward, wanting to sink deeper into the delicacy of your kiss, he frowned as you struggled, still so very displeased with him.
Perhaps it was not enough.
Perhaps you needed more convincing how wonderful your life was with him. How well you were cared for and loved. More actions that showed you how greatly he admired and desired you. A clearer sign that he loved you very much and would always be by your side.
And perhaps Malleus needed another taste of you. Another chance to learn how else he could soothe the magic burns in his mouth while being elated by the fact his whole body was reacting to yours as if you two were meant for each other. Meant to be together, to kiss, to love, to devour.
So when he pulled away, both of you breathing heavily, and you turned your head away, baring your neck, Malleus' mind began to wander, his mouth feeling terribly dry now that his tongue was so very lonesome without yours, missing the stimulation you gave him. He wondered what you tasted like elsewhere and how good it would feel once his tongue laid down on that bare neck of yours, driving down your shoulders, chest, and lapping at your stomach and legs until it would find the sweetest of spots, the forbidden aphrodisiac to his love-crazed mind.
You might have flinched when he caressed the side of your neck, but with thoughts so beautifully, who could have stopped him?
He just needed one more taste of you.
One lick.
And then only one more for good measure.
Never-ending pleasure just for him.
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starjaeyun · 1 month
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gatekeeper — tsukishima kei !
— tsukishima assures that he is not embarrassed of dating you, you think otherwise
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warning/s : fem! reader, misunderstanding 😁 & a small fight at the beginning, profane language, tinsy bit of angst, fluff & crack from the second half ‘til it ends
note : had this little idea while writing a kageyama drabble so they might be quite similar
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“just give up already”
y/n’s tip-toeing came to a stop. seriously? this was the 4th time this week! with an annoyed groan, she turns around, fists clenched, brows furrowed, and it looks as though a tick mark was formed on her forehead. behind her stood her oh so loving boyfriend, tsukishima kei, who somehow always catches her trying to sneak in the volleyball gym.
“oh c’mon kei! why won’t you let me watch your practice?!” tsukishima sighed, “we’ve talked about this” he grumbled, why does she have to be so stubborn?
“don’t talk like those romanticized, toxic boyfriends on wattpad!” y/n hits his arm, which barely does any damage to him, “and don’t act like them as well!”
tsukishima raises a hand to fix his glasses, “are you saying i’m toxic?”
“i never said that! i just said don’t talk and act like—”
“so you’re implying it?”
“well, you’re going to be if you carry on with that bullshit!” tsukishima grows silent and stares at y/n, who had seemed to be reaching the highest point of her annoyed meter, which would then slowly escalate into anger.
after a few seconds of silence, he spoke, “take these, don’t wait for me and go home. cool your head” in each of his hands were his hoodie and an umbrella, which he brought with him on the way to the gym incase it might rain before they’re able to go back to the locker rooms. with y/n giving no sign of taking it, he placed it on her foot and carried on walking past her.
“i don’t understand you” tsukishima comes to a halt, looking back almost immediately upon noticing y/n’s change of tone. crap, was i too harsh?
“why are you acting like that if you’re embarrassed of me?” he couldn’t tell whether she’s sad or angry.
“acting? acting like what? and what do you mean embarrassed?!” his tone immediately gave away his nervousness.
“in school or when you’re with someone else, you avoid and act like you don’t know me but when we’re alone, suddenly you’re taking care of me! make it clear whether you love me or not to save both our time because i am not about to start losing myself for a boy who can’t love me the way i deserve!” it’s clear that she wanted to say more so tsukishima stayed silent. “if you’re going to love me, at least be honest with me! am i embarrassing or not?!”
“of course not!”
“then why?!” it was a miracle that y/n was not crying nor shouting at the moment.
tsukishima fully turns his body this time, “what’s embarrassing is my explanation…” and the mood suddenly lightens.
“TSUKISHIMA, YOU BASTARD!” tanaka and nishinoya’s yelling made tsukishima sigh.
“you call me selfish but keep shimizu-senpai’s sister all to yourself” kageyama grumbles
tsukishima stands still. hands clasped together behind his back and head bowed down. he looks like a child getting a scolding, or how the the freak duo looks whenever daichi catches their slip ups.
nishinoya and tanaka kneels in front of the first year. head bowed down as if they were praising him, and that they are.
“on this day, we honor you. congratulations on getting a shimizu!” they say in unison.
“you’re overreacting” tsukishima simply says.
“nope, i, too, would congratulate you tsukki. no offense, but you’re not exactly the ideal boyfriend” yamaguchi says with a finger under his chin.
“mhm! so you better treat her right tsukishima! she’s like our little sister” sugawara’s smile does not look comforting at all.
“call me if you need help in buying gifts!” daichi volunteers happily.
“and me if you need advice!” asahi adds.
“why are you guys taking my job?” shimizu comments while giggling. “but, i do think that tsukishima is just right for my little sister” she turns to look at her sister who was now playing around with kageyama and hinata, “she’s as chaotic as those two, he’ll be able to handle her. so i trust that i won’t have to worry much?”
“of course” tsukishima didn’t seem like himself at the moment. his eyes seemed to have soften at the sight of his girlfriend. he smiled, though not too obvious.
“why are you smiling like a male lead in a drama?” tanaka teased. and though tsukishima hates expressing his emotions to his teammates, he certainly loves poking their annoyance scale, “because this is what it’s like to love and be loved”
“Why are you making it seem like kiyoko does not love me back! she does love me! right? right?” tanaka gave kiyoko hopeful eyes and received no response aside from her turning around.
“I’m not talking about platonic love”
“WHY YOU—“
“KEI!” apparently, while he successfully annoyed the second year, his girlfriend heard what he said and would definitely never let it go.
“when have you been so sweet?! love and be loved? seriously?!” she bounced up and down, hands on tsukishima’s shoulder for support.
“she’s no different from the freak duo, i’m afraid” sugawara comments and laughs along with the third years.
“but am i really that beautiful that you had to gatekeep me from your entire team?” she laughed, still bouncing, and tsukishima only stood there with his smile never seeming to fade.
“if that were me i’d be receiving his train of insults by now” hinata says, joining the rest of the team as they watched how tsukishima seemed to be a lot softer around y/n.
“you’re such a gatekeeper kei!” she teased, this time, she stopped bouncing and have started poking her boyfriend’s sides.
“that he is! how dare he gatekeep kiyoko-san’s sister?!” tanaka kneeled back down on one knee with a hand on his chest.
nishinoya followed suit, “and what’s annoying is that she reciprocated his love!”
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© starjaeyun on tumblr | do not steal, copy, translate or repost
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hana-no-seiiki · 3 months
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ARDENT EXALTATION, ETERNAL DAMNATION
⟣┄─ ˑ 𝐈. ✧ yandere worshipper! x secret god! reader (ft. yan! god oc)
inspired by my bootiful @sagesskies n baldur’s gate shar/shadowheart
synopsis: if there was one main rule under your creed, it was for your name and titles thereof to never be spoken. but for this worshipper, it’s all that leaves his lips.
tw/cw: yandere & religious themes. yun sadist hours writing. reader calls oc their child but it’s not incest yall ples. character deaths.
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TO WORSHIP YOU WAS THE GREATEST HONOR ONE COULD RECEIVE. An honor never to be shared nor declared. Selfishness and secrecy were the traits you valued in your followers. You simply felt that flaunting your presence to be superfluous, if not arrogant — thoughtless. A flaw you often saw in other gods that you wished not to have in yourself.
But of course, you were not perfect. No matter how much you may wished to be, even gods had their failures and oversights.
Once such oversight was Ynaël. The Prodigy, Priest of the Night, and your favorite.
He was immaculate. A perfect example of what it meant to worship you. He dedicated his voice, body, and soul only to you. No one knew his name but yourself. No one else knew he even existed. Those that did were sundered from existence, or lived in the afterlife.
You had only the highest of expectations for your child. He had an outstanding beginning. Unprecedented in your long, well hidden line of followers. You called for his name often. Assisted him in the ways you could as a deity in his adventures. Even allowing him to lay with you underneath the stars as mortals and your more carnal siblings did with their creations.
But as mortal beings and gods alike were, when faced with such high praise, it was inevitable for hubris to fester and slowly creep up on him.
He overstepped.
Sharing his devout adoration to his companions. Showering you with praise as he fought. Spreading your transcendent name throughout the very soil he stepped upon, and the crevices of bodies he’d desecrate.
What more was that he was proud of his accomplishments. You deserved to be known. To be remembered and immortalized. To share the spotlight your fellow celestial beings had. Was it not only right that you praise him even more?
But then, he could feel your presence slowly dimming in its luminance.
You never had a temple built to your name, so he could only ponder at night when everyone else had gone off to sleep or have fun underneath the sheets to wonder why you’ve seemingly left him. Was he too harsh? You were known for valuing mercy and forgiveness, the ability to show compassion even to the most tainted beings. Besides, you would never just leave him behind.
Frustrated with your lack of response to his calls, he sets upon a goal to build you a place for worship. One that was overdue in its establishment, in his opinion.
It took many, many agonizing years without a single word from you, but it was finally complete.
He takes a moment to gaze at the statue of your magnificent form he place behind the altar, soon to be covered with sacrifices and blessings. Anything you’d ask for, just as long as you bless him once more with yourself.
But instead, he is greeted by another presence.
A presence very similar to yours. Yet much, much more powerful.
Their voice almost tore Ynaël’s ears wide open in its magnitude.
“You killed them, you — a worthless scum of a mortal.”
Killed whom? Throughout his years working on your temple he had taken no life. He wanted everything to be completed as soon as possible. He had no time for any sorts of conquests.
“Meet your maker.”
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©️ hana.no.seiiki - yun | 2024
— to be continued
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mondaymelon · 11 months
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— 𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘂: 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 ♥
:feat~ xiao, kazuha, heizou, scaramouche x gn!reader:
⤷ cw: obsessiveness, self aware ⤷ speed-wrote this so sorry for any mistakes spps
ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ (open!) : @manager-of-the-pudding-bank, @iamdedinside, @ilyuu, @achlysis
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XIAO is perplexed, if anything.
Why would you write such things about him, of all people? In a way, he’s honored that you’d think highly enough of him, but what’s with this strangely flowery language? The adeptus has read his fair share of local tales, but this is nothing in comparison. Not by far.
In a way, he feels like he’s intruding upon your personal information, but then again, you don’t even know he’s alive, do you? So as long as you stay unaware, it’d be fine, right? At least, that’s what he tells himself as he reads over the text you’ve accidentally left open on your screen, face flushed as sudden heat rises to his cheeks.
Is this… normal? Do all humans do things like… this? Writing their fantasies down in text to satisfy themselves? 
Xiao really won’t ever understand the things that mortals do. The male isn’t sure how to feel at all.
Do you… Do you want him to do these things to you?
Maybe that’s why he keeps reading the words you granted him to read, over and over again, breath shallow. 
Do you want him to whisper his praises into your ear, to confess his love to you while the two of you watch the sunset beneath the mountainous skyline? To smile at you, light glimmering within his amber eyes? To hold you in his arms, to kiss you so tenderly, just like how you wanted him to? Just like how you wrote?
Because if that’s the case, he’s willing to. More than willing.
 A thousand, no, a million times over, he’ll do it all, however many times you want. ♥
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KAZUHA is impressed at your work, and more than a little interested.
After all, the wandering poet he is, Kazuha has written quite the number of literature pieces himself, all of them about you… so he’s quite enthralled when he finds out that you write about him too! He might be overthinking some things, but he’s really, really excited about it… likely more than you’ll ever realize.
Because to him, writing is the highest form of endearment - a way to express oneself in the truest way possible, and to discover that you’ve been doing that for him, well… he can’t stop his heart from beating as fast as it is!
This means you feel the same way about him that he does you, right? After all, if you’re writing about how much you love him, that’s basically a confession, isn’t it?
And If… If you asked, he would be more than willing to show you the countless poems he’s written about you… some written in red ink, some in black, several smudged while others lay half-torn. Either way, all of them are for you, of you, all of them singing praises of your name and affectionate adorations of your being.
Because simply a hundred of them isn’t enough, not by far, to profess his profound love for you. His love for you is an imperfect feeling that sends his heart racing and his face burning.
He’ll just have to keep writing and writing until he can capture the obsessive feeling that seems to swallow him up, however long it’ll take. ♥
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HEIZOU is only slightly surprised, but more so intrigued.
Who knew the creator had such a… shameful side to them? No, that’d be a disrespectful way to describe it… how about bashful? He finds it innocent, almost, which is strange.
In the first place, many wouldn’t expect you to be so susceptible to such fantasies, let alone write such ideas down. And while he is somewhat shocked, it’s also predictable. Heizou has analyzed your personality and character over and over, countless times over, and he knows your tendencies, all of them. This is merely a different foresight in thousands upon thousands of possibilities.
But expectation aside, Heizou can’t help but keep reading what you’ve written about him… do you really think of the detective like this? Someone so… charming and romantic? It’s flattering, almost too much so. The very thought of it, the very sight of your carefully crafted words and sentences, he can hear the way his heart thumps in his ears and the way his face is twisted into a lovesick smile. 
After all, if this is what you’ve dreamed up of, then that’s what you want him to do to you, right? Haha, ask nicely, and Heizou will be more than willing to play along with whatever you have in mind.
Ah, but you should keep in mind.
Once Heizou has a taste of what he wants, he might never stop.♥
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SCARAMOUCHE judges you, of course.
He finds it puzzling and somewhat unsettling at the same time… why is it that you write down such stories about what he would do to you? He hasn’t done a single action described in the fantasies you’ve written, so why do you still persist so earnestly?
…It almost disgusts him.
Of course, he’d never say it to your face… or then again, maybe he would. Scaramouche is a brash man, and that’s common knowledge. After all, the strong can say whatever they want, can’t they?
Still… it’s oddly comforting to see you do this. And the male doesn't really know why. Maybe it’s because you care for him enough to dream about these kinds of things? Or maybe it’s evidence to him that you won’t be another to leave him?
He’s strangely conflicted, and to him, that’s weakness. Both appalled and enthralled… how is he supposed to feel?
And it doesn’t help that even through his whines, he keeps reading. Reading with the slightest dust of red across his cheeks and the way his breath hitches every time you’ve written his name. Heart skipping a beat every time his eyes scan over the sentences one more time, once more, just once more.
Is that the way you feel about him?
And why was it that he felt the same? ♥
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(a/n) oh dear my mental state is declining again wooOoOo
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misguidedasgardian · 7 months
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The Hour of the Wolf (2)
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MASTERLIST
Summary: The trials begin
Pairing: Cregan Stark x Targaryen!Reader
Warnings: Cursing, war, death, mentions of killings, genocide and war, threats, threats of mutilation, death, I think is considered genocide because is a bunch of people, DRAGONFIREEEE. SPOILERS for ASOIAF, and Fire & Blood, also, might spoil House of the Dragon 
MINORS DNI +18
Wordcount: 3.7 k 
Notes: Reader has purple eyes and silver hair!
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They opened the door to your chambers slowly, to not scare you, to let you know of their arrival
“Lord Cregan Stark”, muttered the guard posted at her door
You didn’t even looked at him, you didn't care, you just looked over at Blackwater Bay, where hundreds of ships were making port, the banner of the House Arryn was waving in the highest masts
Too late
You thought
The Arryns, The Starks, the Tullys, all your mother’s bannermen had come to the capital, to you
Important, unprecedented, powerful
And yet
it meant nothing
it was too late 
Your mother, your father figures, your siblings, they were all dead, gone, killed, betrayed, slain, devoured, sunk
“Your grace”, the wolf called, “I have taken the city in your mother’s name”, he said firmly, “in your name”, he continued, “and if you allow me, I will bring justice to her”, you looked at him then, and only nodded.
“I need your words, your grace”, he was not asking, he was demanding, he was at your service, and yet, you immediately felt like you had to give him something in return.
He got to look at you then.
Like all the women in your family, and even some men, your beauty was beyond what words could describe, you were there, emaciated from years of trauma, death and war, and yet, you were the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Your beauty did not belong to this world, he thought, you were a goddess in human form, with those silvery strands and purple eyes
And he was the most imposing man you had seen in return, he felt like this… God, a god of war and justice, wisdom and prowess, like the colossus of Braavos, nothing could tumble him down, he had been here for hundreds of years, and he was going to continue there for hundreds more. it felt like with him by your side, nobody could hurt you, with him by your side, you were safe. Invincible 
Nobody needed to tell you who he was, just by looking at him you would have known, even though you had never seen him before 
“... And I need it in writing”, he said slowly and calmly, “do you trust me to seek justice in your name?”, did you? your brother befriended the man and after he came back, having promised your hand to him in marriage, he had say he was his best friend, and the most honorable men he had met, and that you were going to be happy and safe by his side
There was no one better than him
You went to the small desk in the corner of the room, parchment and quill in hand, you had no clue what you were doing, but you scribbled on the paper that you gave Cregan Stark the authority to act in your name, with long, pompous and unnecessary words of politics, those you knew well, your mother had make sure of it
“Cregan Stark”, you called, turning to him, your decree in hand, he stood still, raising his head and straightening his posture, “I command you to seek justice for my mother, the late Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen” you said, your voice sounds strained, just because you hadn't spoken in so long, “I command you to imprison the ones who conspired and usurped her, and to punish them in my name”, you said then, giving him the paper
“I will be the hand that brings justice, my queen”, he sentenced, reading your words, he nodded approvingly. And you could not hide your surprise
“They named… me?”, you asked
“We did”, he said, “The Tullys, the Arryns, the Starks, the Tarlys, Tyrells…”, you only nodded
“I will come after, to make the announcement of the trials and those who will be put to them”
“Should I go?”, you asked
“A queen should not concern herself with such matters of justice”, he said
“Very well”, he nodded, and just like that, he exited your chambers
With him on the helm, you would be safe
Queen
You were a Queen know
Rhaenys, the Queen that never was, and then your mother The Black Queen
They had failed
And now, here you stood
Were you going to fail too?
Cregan walked slowly, the people that came across him would move away from him, letting him passed uninterrupted, bowing their heads
It was a good sign
The castle that had looked like it was abandoned, was slowly returning to life, people from all the most important families were here, and the first thing he needed to do was to send even more ravens, to all corners of the realms.
There was a New Queen, and all the most important families and their banner men had to be here for her coronation
The staff, maids, servants, soldiers, they did not had armies to fight of gold to use, but they had access to places and that access could be bought by enemies still lurking in the shadows
He had to make sure everyone who was to inhabit the Red Keep was completely loyal to their new Queen. A queen who just turned into a woman, if barely, a broken young woman, who had seen the death of everyone in her family but her baby brother. He had more work than he thought. He came with the purpose of installing the princess on the throne, make her Queen, and then pursue those traitors and turncloaks with his army, lead them to the gates of the citadel itself
But he was starting to think that this was going to be more politics and ink that swords and blood
Cregan Stark needed to relegate, and for that, he needed trusted men, loyal men to the cause of the late Queen and the new one now
And this is how he was going to accomplish that
When he walked into the throne room 
The small council, and their families where inside
It was to his knowledge that Baela Targaryen was also in attendance. The betrothed of the deceased Crown Prince Jacaerys. He basically know the girl, because of how much Jace would talk about her
As he made his way to the throne, he opened the decree and show it to everyone
“I have in my hand a royal decree from the Queen”, he said loudly, “In it, she declared me as her hand to seek justice for the late Queen Rhaenyra”
“Seek justice?”, of course Corlys Velaryon was the first to contradict him
“I will hold trials for the traitors and turncloaks”, he said, and everyone in the throne room began to either whisper nervously, gasp audibly, or said lowly words of disapproval.
His men entered the room, alongside the three of the seven remaining white cloaks he had send for, loyal to Queen Rhaenyra
“Ser Erryk Cargill”, he called, the man stood in front of him with his brothers, “Ser Adrian Redfort and Ser Loreth Lansdale”, the three of them bowed his heads, “do you recognize the true line of succession?”, he asked out loud
“Yes M’lord”, answered Erryk
“Do you recognize Queen Rhaenyra’s eldest daughter as Queen of the seven Kingdoms?”, he asked
“Yes my lord!”, they chanted at the same time, “we swore towards the Queen!”
“Great, do you recognize me, by this decree, hand of the Queen?”, he asked showing them your words, they look amongst themselves and nodded
“Yes my Lord”
“Very well, today, as my first act as hand, I will hold trials, to apprehend traitors who conspired against the true heir, resulting in a bloodied civil war and the death of thousands, do you stand by me?”, he asked
“YES MY LORD!”
“Then apprehend Lord Corlys Velaryon, Lord Tyland Lannister, Larys Strong…. for starters”, he muttered
The court was submerged in chaos 
And he didn’t stop there
He arrested twenty men, including Alard Baratheon, who was new to court and also Gyles Belgrave, former king’s guard to the usurper 
On charges of treachery, conspiracy against the rightful Queen, and other charges.
To every man he placed in chains, he held trails for.
Those on trial had the chance to defend themselves, justify their treachery, present witnesses and evidence of what they had done and why, and ultimately, offer their repentance.
It felt to Cregan to stand as judge, and sentence to death those who were found guilty 
The first day was slow, mostly sentencing, and organizing the witnesses and defenses. The night fell over the Keep rather quickly, soon all servants lit up the torches, as Cregan dismissed them all
He wanted to see you
Rather, he needed to see you
“Ser Erryk, it is to my knowledge that you had been a part of the Queen’s Guard the longest”
“Yes my lord”
“You are the new Commander of the Queensguard, when all of this is over, you alongside the Queen will choose another four to complete the brotherhood”
“It will be my honor, Lord”, he said firmly
“Good”, he said shortly, “one of your brothers will be posted with the Queen at all times, another with the prince Aegon”, he continued
The guard posted at your rooms nodded at his sight, and announced him, entering in your chambers
He found you with your baby brother, having supper.
It was the first time he got to see the young boy in detail, he was small for someone his age, but his ghostly eyes had seen things no child nor adult should ever seen, and he could tell just by looking at them, the pain and sorrow he suffered
“My Lord Cregan, please join us”, you invited him
You and your little brother, all that was left of the greatest dynasty of Westeros
He accepted your offer, sitting across from you. The small boy didn’t meet his eye, he was just playing with his food in front of him, he noticed than when he spoke, he shook like a leaf in the wind
“I made twenty arrests”, he said firmly, “Including Corlys Velaryon, Tyland Lannister and Larys Strong…”, you nodded, “not sure yet, but many are already too guilty, like Larys, or a former while cloak of the usurper…”
“Any hightower?”, you asked. Prince Aegon rose from his seat then, and walk silently to a small door in the other side of the chamber, disappearing from sight 
“Sorry about that”, you said, “he barely speaks to me, and I’m the only one who he talks with”
“He will heal, so will you”, he said, you nodded
“So what about the hIghtowers?”, you asked again
“Those who led armies… are dead… Otto Hightower, his sons, his brother and his oldest son as well…”, he continued, you took a sip of wine, trying to gain some courage 
“What about Alicent?”, you asked, he looked at you
“The Dowager Queen is in lockdown, in the Tower of the Hand your grace”, he said gently. You took a long breath
“I want her dead”, you said brokenly
“You want your first command as Queen to be the death of the former one?”, Cregan asked severely
“She is the cause of everything that happened”, you said, finally looking at him, “she hated my mother, she made her life miserable while we lived here as children, she filled my uncles with poisonous hate for me and my brothers, she turned the entire court against us, she called us bastards and made everyone else say it too, she manipulated her children to usurp my mother’s throne, she was the cause, of everything, I want her dead”, you said, and he looked back at you with warning
“Many would argue, that she herself was manipulated by her father, besides, your mother forgave her”
“I won’t”, you said, “and because she was a cunt and a fool everything should be forgiven? Ignorance is not a crime, but perhaps it should be, why should she draw breath while my entire family doesn’t?”
“I am your hand, your Grace, you wanted it so, so as your hand, my job, is to advice you”, he said gently, “and my advice is to imprison her, yes, but not execute her”, you looked at him with eyes filled with tears and he looked back at you, worried, “The Hightowers are decimated, yes, but they still remain a powerful family… one of the most powerful”
“That could be easily fixed”, you retorted, he frowned
“What do you mean?”, he asked softly, you kept quiet
“You said you wanted to bring justice to the realm, I want the HIghtowers dead, all of them”, you sentenced, “Lannisters, Velaryons… Baratheon… they all riled to Aegon’s side because of them”
Cregan looked at you, and you broke down crying in front of him
You tried to wipe your tears quickly, you held so strongly, but to no avail, you were crying in front of Cregan Stark
“I’m sorry”, you cried, wiping the tears that just wouldn’t stop falling
“I understand your anger, your rage”, he said softly
“My entire family is dead!”, you cried, broken, weeping, you had been holding onto your emotions for so long that now, that you felt safe, the fake wall you had sustained for all these tumultuous months as a hostage in the Keep finally broke down. You cried for long minutes, taking it all out of your chest, freeing yourself, even if just a little, of the sorrow of loss.
When you finally calmed down, reduced to only sniffles, Cregan dared to speak again
“My own uncle betrayed me and took my lands from me”, he confessed, you looked at him, barely able to see him
“What?”
‘I was very young when my father died, he was supposed to act as Lord regent, but he usurped me as Lord of Winterfell”, he told you, “my cousins supported him”
“What did you do?”, you asked, more calm
“I gathered the great houses of the North everyone supported me, I stormed my home, took him prisoner, him and my cousins”, he looked at you softly, gently, “I decreed them traitors, and took their heads with the millennial sword of my house”
“You did?”, you asked
“He who passes the sentence must swing the sword, my queen”, he said gently, “but that applies only to Lords I’m afraid”, you smiled
“I don’t want them dead”, you continued, “I mean, I do, but, I understand why I shouldn't’...”, he smiled softly
“Good”, he said
“But I want them to think that I do, I want them to beg, I want them to empty their coffers to please me, to reinstate the treasury”
“That we can do”, he said firmly, “we will use them as examples, of what happens when you mess with the dragon”, you nodded, “I will call them to court”
Cregan wondered what you meant by “that can be easily arranged”, he also thought about his army, it was great, yes, but he wasn’t sure it was enough to fight the might of the hIghtowers, it had to be, he did plan on marching to Old Town
“Tomorrow you will tell me, how much time passed between now, and when she went to sleep alright?”, he asked your Queenguard on the door
His second in command Jon Dustin was waiting for him
“Tomorrow before the trials but after the young Queen is tended to, you will gather all the servants and maids, everyone who works in this castle, and you will bring them to me”
“Very well my lord”, he nodded 
You were worse than he thought, you were angry, understandably so, but he needed to find a middle ground, punishments hard enough to please your rage, but not that extreme that the Kingdoms start to rebel themselves against their New Queen
The next day, the second day at court, Lady Baela presented herself in front of the Wolf of Winterfell, to plead for her grandfather
“Your grandfather is being charged of Regicide, he is the main suspect of poisoning the Usurper”, he said firmly, “Even though we repudiate his reign, the murder of a monarch cannot stand unpunished”
“He did it to prevent the death of a thousand more my Lord! he did it to protect the Queen, the prince, and me”, she fought
Corlys Velaryon was pardoned after that day, thanks to Baela, and then you, who approved of such forgiveness. Even though you did not wish to see your named grandfather and cousin
Tyland Lannister came then, and the Lion knelt before the wolf. Rhaenyra had him severely tortured, and some words scape him, but he had returned the treasury in his entirety, and pleaded for a space in the small council
He had been good to you and your brother, and Aegon made you forgive him, and you did
In the fourth day of the trial, Alard Baratheon was forgiven too, he belonged to a lesser branch of his house, now the main thanks to the death of Lord Borros, he had no part in the Dance, and as such, he bend the knee to the New Queen’s rule 
The other eighteen men were not so lucky, they were all found guilty of treason,  on the fifth, sixth and seventh and final, including and especially Larys Strong, the maester, and others. 
And in all those days, you were receiving updates by Cregan himself, and you were… meditating
People were being trialed and sentenced to death, they were going to pay for what they had done, this was your comfort, justice, simple and pure justice, for your mother, for your family.
You had promised yourself that this was going to be enough
If you kept punishing these lords, the people was going to reject you as their Queen
And you couldn’t fail
Never
You had seen what happens when you failed
So the sentence of these Lords, and then the Hightowers, and then, you had to calm yourself.
Wanting it or not, the crown had fallen on your head, against all odds, for better or worse.
But here is the catch, the crown was now attached to your head, loose one is loose both
And you owed it to your mother, Daemon, your father, whoever it is, to Jace, Luke, Rhaenys… you owed it to your family to keep your crown over your head, and your head over your shoulders.
So as the days turned long, you were preparing yourself too
You only appeared in court the seventh and last day of the trial
You wore black, you were still in mourning, it was a fearsome dress, you too it from your mother’s coffers, and a magnificent crimson red cape dances behind you as your walked
Your hair was braided with magnificent braids, instead of the crown
You entered the throne room, for the first time as Queen, everyone there bowed to you, everyone except those on trial
Cregan wanted you to take the oaths of House Lannister and Baratheon.
And both lords, Tyland and Alard bowed to you, kneeled in front of you, sincerely, atoning 
You gave him the pardon yourself 
The eighth and last day, you demanded those found guilty to be brought to the cliffs on the outside of King’s Landing
Ser Erryk was holding Blackfyre, right by your left side, and Cregan with his sword Ice, was standing in your right, soldiers, all of them wearing your colors, black and red, brought forth the eighteen men who had been sentenced to death
You could see in the small crowd those who had been pardoned as well, along all the great Lords and Ladies of your households who had sailed to the Capital from Dragonstone in the week after Cregan summoned them
“Pass me the sword Ser Erryk”, you commanded, he nodded, and passed you the sword of your family, it was heavy, you couldn’t raise it above your head to strike even if you wanted to
“My Queen, I can…” Cregan murmured
“He who passes the sentence should swing the sword”, you said firmly, looking at him, the exchange was only heard by you three, not loud enough for the others.
It was a windy day, and you could barely hear the voice above the whistling
“My Queen, I did not mean…”, with one look, he kept quiet, you grabbed the sword of the Conqueror in your hand. You turned to the men in front of you, Cregan moved away, just like Erryk to stand by the side. 
“You had all be found guilty of treason against the legitimate heir of the seven Kingdoms, you conspired against her ascent and work to usurp her”, you said loudly
“Aegon was the true heir!”, screamed Gyles Belgrave, “I'd rather die than serve a bastard! daughter of a whore! you are no true Targaryen!”, those screams and accusations didn’t even bothered you, not anymore
“Oh I am not a true Targaryen?”, you asked
The whistle of the wind was dimmed by a way more stronger, menacing sound
You saw, with pleasure, everybody shake in their places when they heard your dragon roar
“All the dragons were dead!”, cried that small man you didn’t even want to learn the name of. Even Cregan was surprised 
Vhaelar growled in the air, you heard the flap of her wings, and she landed heavily by your side. She roared loudly, menacingly. You felt her anger, or perhaps, what you were feeling was the mirror of your own emotions. 
You caressed the side of her face softly, Vhaelar purred
You saw how the former King’s guard peed his pants, shaking uncontrollably. Larys Strong, you alleged uncle, was only looking at you and smiling sickenly, 
“I Queen (y/n) Targaryen, Queen of the Rhoynar the Andals and the first men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and protector of the realm, sentence you all to die by dragon fire”, you sentenced, grabbing the pommel of Blackfyre tightly, you were nervous, but this was nothing you haven't seen before
This was it, this single act had to be the outlet of your rage.
Soon when you look at those men kneeled in front of you, they all took the faces of everyone you hated, Alicent, Aegon, Criston Cole, they were all there, dressed in green, looking at you in fear and reverence, kneeling on the ground 
“Dracarys”, you said firmly
You felt the joy of Vhaelar who set them on fire, you felt your skin getting warm by the heat of the flames
You saw the men turn to inhumane forms and then to dust
You saw it like that day in Dragonstone, and yet… now you felt nothing.
Only relief
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taglist!
@lyannesworld @tremendouswolfsaladranch @unlesshouse @mimsie95 @ostricx @amelia262006 @marihoneywk @ahristata @happinessinthebeing @dd122004dd @aestmilky
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hanafubukki · 8 months
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God of Death and Destruction x Human AU
In a world mixed with Gods and humans alike.
General Lilia Vanrouge is the God of Death and Destruction.
You are the human.
The story takes place during a time when humanity and the Gods were fighting demons called Blot
General Lilia and a few other Gods didn’t see any purpose in protecting the humans.
But the highest one of them all spoke about the protection of all creation and that was that.
General Lilia still didn’t understand.
What use were they? But canon fodder against the Blot before those greater in power struck the final blow?
Well, that was until he met you.
A lone human that healed others with gauzes and ointments. Who battled with a sword at your side.
Turned out you had no magic to aid you.
Yet, here you were helping others.
With death at your side.
“Fool,” he insulted you.
“Maybe,” you replied in return.
You irked him.
You healed others when you could.
You fought when you needed.
You held the hands of those dead and dying.
You cried all alone.
“Fool,” he whispered.
You leaned on his shoulder, tears trailing down your cheeks.
“Maybe,” you replied, with sadness in your eyes.
If you were the fool, then what did that make him? The one here by your side?
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General Lilia knew he made a mistake when he became soft towards you.
When he allowed you to force him to join you in meals.
When he allowed you to force him to take breaks as you braided his hair.
When he allowed you to sway him in a dance to a tune you hummed gently.
When he allowed you to pull him to a kiss whenever you could.
(You allowed him to ravage you away from the eyes and ears of others, only the sounds of pleasure emitting from you both could be heard, edging him on for more. Greedy for more.)
He knew the rumors circulated about him becoming weak.
The bloodied field of the next battle destroyed those rumors.
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He should have known a love with you would be short.
It wasn't time that took you from him.
But the hand of a foe.
As he held your body, you had simply cupped his cheek with a bloodied hand and told him you loved him. You had stated you will see him soon.
It was then he became death and destruction personified.
Rumors has it, his human form was discarded for a much more horrifying one.
Of limbs and shadows
Of eyes that brought insanity
The war ended not long after.
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Hundreds of years had passed.
The Blot were eradicated.
The story of Gods and humans fighting Blots became naught but a story told in history books.
General Lilia Vanrouge retired from his position in this new era of peace.
Let it be known though, not to mistake him as weak, for his shadows and aura speak of power still.
It was when he least expected that he was reunited with you again.
At Night Raven College
A school for Gods and humans to mingle.
That you showed up in his life again.
A human chosen by the black carriage.
The carriage that so many coveted, Gods and humans alike.
The carriage that only a rare few have had the honor to ride in.
It had chosen you.
A human with no magic.
As he met your eyes, your words came back from a time long passed.
We meet again, Dearest.
Lilia Vanrouge looked forward to this new life with you.
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thedemonofcat · 9 months
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As I immersed myself in the books, watched the show, and even played one of the games, I couldn't help but wonder about the immense popularity of Jaskier among the fan base. Joey Batey's stellar performance in the Netflix series undoubtedly plays a significant role, but that only accounts for his portrayal in that specific adaptation.
Then it struck me.
When it comes to Jaskier, very little information is actually known beyond a few minor facts.
This is everything currently known about Jaskier
1.) Jaskier is an important character, largely depicted through his close friendship with Geralt, which forms a central aspect of his interactions.
2.) A talented bard, Jaskier received his education at Oxenfurt academy, where he graduated with the highest honors as a Master of the seven liberal arts. This suggests that he possesses intelligence beyond what he often portrays.
3.) Originating from the town of Lettenhove, Jaskier holds the title of Viscount, and his true name is Julian Alfred Pankratz Viscount de Lettenhove. The specific location of Lettenhove on the map, however, remains undisclosed.
4.) Jaskier is known to have numerous romantic partners, as the Netflix adaptation even confirms his involvement with both male and female individuals.
5.) Jaskier's loyalty to Geralt knows almost no bounds, and he is willing to make great sacrifices, even risking his life, to ensure Geralt's safety.
6.) Remarkably, despite being one of the few human characters, Jaskier seems to defy the aging process. This intriguing aspect of his character is not just a casting error in the Netflix series but is also referenced in the books, where his youthful appearance compared to his actual age is mentioned
The enigmatic nature of Jaskier's character offers a captivating canvas for fan creations. With limited canonical information, fans can freely explore various backstories and headcanons. Some popular fan theories propose that Jaskier is more than just human, potentially having ties to a non-human lineage. Others imagine a tragic past, where one of his parents, often his father, was abusive, and he grew up with siblings.
In the realm of fan fiction, creative minds have woven tales of Jaskier's immortality, delving into the reasons behind his agelessness. These speculations and many more allow fans to shape Jaskier as a blank slate, utilizing the scarce details available to craft diverse and compelling narratives that align with their own interpretations of the character.
This artistic freedom empowers fans to explore the depths of Jaskier's persona and invent their unique perspectives, making him a versatile and captivating figure in the realm of fan works
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asksythe · 10 months
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The real-life Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng - A tale of two brothers
I’ve been asked this before when talking about topics such as Qiongqi beast and its symbolism in Wei Wuxian’s death, the various hints that Wei Wuxian might be long lost royal, the historical background behind the Yin tiger tally, and why the tiger symbol seemingly being bad juju for Wuxian. 
It’s all connected, of course, through a historical basis. I have some free time today, so let’s get! 
Meet Wei Wuji, also known as Lord Xinling, the second Prince of Wei Kingdom (circa 2nd century BCE), the first person in recorded history to handle a Tiger Tally, and very very likely to be the real-life basis for Wei Wuxian. 
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How very likely? Well, there’s no word of god, of course. But I’ll just let the facts speak for themselves, and you be the judge. 
1. Let’s start with names:
Wei Wuji 魏無忌
Wei Wuxian 魏无羡
Wei 魏 = Wei 魏. An exact match. As a matter of fact, Wei Wuji’s Wei kingdom is the first kingdom to bear this Wei name in recorded history. 
Wu 無 is the traditional form of Wu 无. In the Japanese, Taiwanese, and traditional Mandarin versions, Wei Wuxian is also written with this Wu 無. 
The original meaning of Ji is ‘envy, hatred’ in ancient times (as per the Kangxi dictionary and the original text of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms). In modern times, the meaning of Ji has morphed to represent ‘fear, avoid’ more than ‘envy’ and ‘hatred. 
The meaning of Xian is envy in both ancient and modern times. 
So Wei Wuxian is effectively an alternate way to write Wei Wuji. 
2. The life and death of Wei Wuji and the first Tiger Tally recorded in history:
a. Genius second son, a friend of many, the brightest 4th Young Master:
Wei Wuji was born the second son of King Wei Zhao and the second prince of the Wei Kingdom. He had an elder half-brother: Wei Anli, crown prince and, afterward, King of the Wei Kingdom. 
Despite being the younger brother and not the heir to the throne, Wei Wuji eclipsed his elder brother in talent, courage, military and political acumen, and sheer popularity. 
Wei Wuji was also unique among his period peers for being very open-minded when it came to castes. He lived during the warring state period, during which there existed an extremely strict caste system where the lower and slave castes didn’t even count as humans and could be executed for silly things like being in the presence of their higher caste masters and ‘tainting the air’ they breathed. Not only did Wei Wuji give no thought to this caste system, he would often go out of his way to listen to the lower castes and treat them with respect as if they were of the same caste. 
In one legend (Sima Qian Historical Records, circa 135 BCE), Wei Wuji walked away from a banquet raised in his name to go sit and talk to an old, wise prison guard (Hou Ying). He would then invite this prison guard to his banquet with the highest of honor, even giving the guard his seat (noble seat) and driving the chariot in his place. When other noble banquet guests protested this lowly guard’s presence by vilifying the old prison guard for not knowing his place, Wei Wuji stood up for him and gave him the highest of toasts, thus silencing the guests.   
In another legend, Wei Wuji hosted over 3000 guests in his princely fiefdom. He famously declared that so long as a person had ambitions and a will to do good in his heart, then Wei Wuji would receive him in his hall as a guest and friend regardless of what caste he was or from where he came.
For this, Wei Wuji was known as Lord Xinling and held the loyalty of many in his own brother’s kingdom.
He was one of the Four Gongzi of the Warring State Period (lit. Four Young Masters, Four Noblemen, Four Princes. During this period, Gong was a distinct noble class comparable to Duke. So this can also be understood as the Four Dukes). He was seen as the brightest among the Four. 
b. The tale of the first Tiger Tally in recorded history: 
Sima Qian Historical Records told the tale of the first Tiger Tally as such. It was a time of chaos where the strong trampled the weak, and big countries gobbled up small ones. Wei Kingdom was one of the seven strongest of the time. This meant that their position was precarious. 
Around this time, Wei Wuji’s elder brother, Wei Anli, had ascended the throne and adopted a policy of avoidance. Despite the ferocious fighting, the political struggles, and the easily foreseeable threats, Wei Anli was of the thought that if he did nothing and just closed his door, then trouble wouldn’t come knocking at his door. 
But this was not so. In 260 BC, the state of Qin (of Qin Shi Huang, yes) besieged the state of Zhao and captured the King of Zhao (who was related to the Wei through marriage). Zhao sent for Wei’s help. But King Wei Anli didn’t want to be Qin’s next target, and so refused to send aid. 
This was where the Wei brother’s opinions diverged. Wei Wuji saw that Qin was growing unchecked in power, and if not stopped, then Wei would be next on the chopping block anyway. So not only was Wei politically and morally responsible, but from a long-term strategic standpoint, Wei must respond if they didn’t want Qin to grow too strong and eventually be invaded and absorbed into Qin itself. 
The only problem: Wei Wuji had no right to make this decision. And regardless of his insistence and explanation to his elder brother, Wei Anli would not be moved. Meanwhile, the state of Zhao sent ever more desperate pleas for help (from the Wei’s sister who was Zhao Queen at the time no less). 
Pressured from all sides and with no alternative, Wei Wuji made a decision that would go down as a first in history. He would steal the Tiger Tally from his King’s hand, commandeer the army, and ride to answer Zhao’s pleas for help himself. 
This would eventually become the historical example of military brilliance that required the usurpation of the immediate superior. Wei Wuji’s own name would go down in history as brilliance that eclipsed his station. 
I’ve written on the tiger tally before. So I won’t write more about this now. 
To summarize things, Wei Wuji’s plan worked. Zhao was saved. But at the cost of a rift between brothers. After lifting the siege, Wei Wuji stayed in Zhao for ten years. 
He would only go back to Wei Kingdom when Wei was besieged by Qin in purported retaliation, bringing with him the 3000 guests that stayed loyal to him and went to Zhao for help. Wei Wuji successfully lifted the siege of Wei and the two brothers reunited after a decade of not seeing each other. They cried and embraced one another. Wei Anli made Wei Wuji the Grand General of Wei, and he then took over the safeguarding of Wei against the onslaught of Qin. 
c. The tale of two brothers. Or, as the Chinese say, the King has no brothers. The King has no equal. Fool is he who dares think himself the King’s brother and equal. 
Despite the fact that the brothers reunited, this tale does not end well. 
Wei Wuji was a brilliant general and a ferocious warrior. But more than that, his reputation far eclipsed his elder brother the King. Ever since they were young, Wei Anli had had to suffer being under the shadow of his little brother, despite his being the heir and then King. 
Wei Wuji not only successfully repelled Qin, but he also started making a plan to counterattack and nyx Qin Empire before it could take shape. Because his reputation was such that countless warriors and scholars answered his call to arms. Five other kingdoms also answered his request for an alliance.
The King of Qin was deathly afraid of Wei Wuji. Violence did not work, so the Qin King attempted the other way: through schemes and manipulation. The Qin King sent enormous fortunes and gifts to Wei Anli under the guise of normalizing relations between the two kingdoms and potential peace. Along with his gifts, he would send people, spies of all ranks and castes, to infiltrate Wei Anli’s court and territory. These spies would continuously do things to increase the friction and gap between the two brothers. 
Some of them would falsely congratulate Wei Wuji for having ascended to the throne. 
Some more would treat Wei Wuji with more deference than Wei Anli. 
Some would then whisper into Wei Anli’s ears: “Prince Wei was away from his own Kingdom for 10 years. And yet when he calls, thousands in Wei Kingdom answer him. Why is it him and not you, the King? Do your people only know Wei Wuji and not Wei Anli. Are you sure it’s still you who is the King? He should know his place!”    
Wei Anli… fell for their tactics. So he demoted Wei Wuji and effectively isolated him from the court. He would then give this position to someone else. So, of course, the plan to counterattack Qin with the 5 ally kingdoms fell apart miserably.
Wei Wuji was heartbroken by his own brother’s action. He descended into alcoholism and purportedly died from depression and failing health. In other words, he died from the betrayal of someone who saw as a brother but that same brother saw him not as a brother but as a rival and a carrier of problems. 
Wei Anli died in the same year as Wei Wuji, purportedly from illness. 
18 years later, just as Wei Wuji predicted, Wei Kingdom was conquered and subsumed by Qin. Qin would then go on to become the first true Empire in Chinese History. 
Wei Anli was not technically the last monarch of Wei. But it’s historically agreed that he’s the one who laid the foundation for the fall of Wei due to his suspicion of his own brother and removing the one person capable of turning the tide of Qin.  
So, I will leave this here for you to come to your own conclusion and come back another day for analysis on the parallels between history and story and a few other somewhat ironic anecdotes that I didn’t include here (Like the fact that between the 2 Wei brothers, it’s the real-life Jiang Cheng, Wei Anli, that was the gay one. How gay are we talking about? So gay he’s the origin of Chinese gay porn) 
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