#possibly more I do have a secret uncle apparently

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

Tohru Honda: a Subversion of Shoujo’s Nice Girl Trope

Fruits Basket absolutely nails subverting your expectations of character tropes in anime. 

Momiji is introduced as the cute childish boy but boom we are slapped with the fact that he a mother who hated him so much she had her memories wiped of him. Shigure right off the bat looks like the typical perverted uncle of anime when in reality he is one the most manipulative characters in the series. Ayame is the flamboyant, boisterous one whose bravado hides his regret and desire to repent for his past neglect of his younger brother. Which ultimately brings me to the protagonist of Furuba itself, Tohru Honda.

I'll make it no secret that I have a huge soft spot for Fruits Basket as a series. It was the first manga I read, I watched the 2001 series and I was right on the hype train when I saw it was getting a remake that would follow the manga storyline. But I did my best to be as objective as possible in this essay of sorts saying why I believe Tohru is a great example of subverting the "Nice Girl Protagonist" of Shoujo. Tohru is the protagonist of Fruits Basket and when it comes to those who don't like her, it seems she can be hit or miss due to the assumption that she is perfect. 

The general consensus of those who do not like her or find her bland compared to the rest of the cast is that Tohru is a perfect and bland protagonist with no issues of her own. That all she does is wave her healing wand of warm smiles and makes everything better for those around her.

However, that opinion couldn't be more misguided. In reality, Tohru is just as emotionally broken as the Sohmas and they mend her heart just as much as she mends theirs. As such, I hope to show those who find her bland or otherwise boring that there is more substance to Tohru's character than they believe.

At first glance, Tohru does seems like your typical Shoujo protagonist. She's nice, almost to a fault. She would rather talk her way out of a situation instead of throwing hands, she doesn't get mad in situations other typically would, and she has a hard time asking for help. Oh and with a dash of anime originality, she's an orphan. However even as early as episode 1, you can see hints that Tohru is not going to be the usual nice girl protagonist with her desire to work and be as independent as possible. The mangaka does a great job throughout the series showing with hints and broad examples that Tohru is just as complex as the colorful cast around her.

Ironically enough though, when hints of Tohru's trauma are sprinkled throughout the series it is seen as annoying even when the Furuba takes time to give insight into why she does the things she does.

She mentions her mother constantly in anecdotes of whimsical stories or snippets of wisdom her mother imparted her with.

Compared to the death of parents to other anime protagonists, Tohru's situation is a bit more unique. Tohru's father may have died when she was young but the same cannot be said for her mother, Kyoko, who died fairly recently. When the series begins, Kyoko has only been dead for a few months and it is more than apparent as early as episode 1 that Tohru is desperate to keep any semblance of her mother's existence alive. Kyoko died before Tohru's first year of high school even ended and worse, was told in the middle of class. Tohru has had barely any time to heal from this loss and it is evident in how she talks to her mother's photo.

Yes, in Japanese culture, it may be typical to have photos of departed family members, making a shrine for them and leaving offerings from time to time. But Tohru takes this to a completely different level, showcasing how deep her trauma runs.

When she is digging frantically to take out her mother's photo after the landslide destroyed her tent, she cries "She can't breathe in there. She's in pain." And that's just episode one.

Nobody completely over the death of their parent would speak like this, referring to a photo as a living person. She lost her mother and she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye, even feeling guilt to an extent about the situation. Tohru didn't wake up to tell her mother that she would see her later. There is no way that simply getting up to tell her mother goodbye would have changed the outcome of her fate, but Tohru still feels that way. That it didn't matter if she had tests or work or the next day, the one she should have put first was her mother. 

Anyone who has or is currently experiencing the grief of losing a loved one has likely done the same. Wondering if, if the situation was anything other than illness or old age, there was something they could have done. Things they should have said or could have said differently. What more could they have done to help and the feeling is all consuming. Even if it is unprompted, they somehow will manage to insert their lost family or friend into a conversation that didn't include them or may randomly begin talking about them. A lot of the time, these people don't even realize that they're doing it which is shown in season 2 with Tohru when Hiro asks her why she talks about her mother so much.

She is too positive.

Tohru's positivity is one of the most easily seen aspects of her character. Where others might see the glass half-empty, Tohru sees it as half-full. Her positivity is even noted upon by characters within the show, Saki (Hanajima) mentioning that she doesn't believe she could personally smile like that so soon after the death of a loved one.

Tohru doesn't like thinking about her problems. She doesn't like expressing her sadness. She doesn't want to worry those around her when they likely have their own problems to worry about. Saki predicts that this ability Tohru has to act this way is because she would scold herself if she ever showed a hint of sadness. And Saki was right because we see Tohru later on doing exactly that, crying but forcing herself to try and smile and scolding herself for not keeping it together.

Rather than let Yuki comfort her when she is in tears, she smiles and completely changes the topic even though tears are coming down her face.Tohru tells Kyo that she needs a minute to get herself together because breaking down in tears in front of him wasn't what she planned. She was supposed to smile when she saw him again.

Tohru would rather pretend everything is fine even when she is seconds away from falling apart because toxic positivity is something she struggles with.

No one can be that positive all the time, not even Tohru.

Tohru has a hard time asking others for help.

Yes, Tohru is kind-hearted by nature but she genuinely does believe that she could burden those she troubles for help. Considering how her maternal side of the family wanted nothing to do with her and her paternal side of the family talks poorly about her, it isn't difficult to see where that frame of thinking came to be. When her mother died, her paternal side of the family didn't argue over who wanted to take Tohru in, they argued over who should take Tohru in and that is an important distinction. Even more so the fact, they had these arguments in front of her. When it was finally settled that she should live with her grandfather and that was uprooted due to upcoming renovations, it makes sense that she would rather be homeless in a tent than bother her friends who don't have the space to provide for an additional person even if that.

In Tohru's mind, it was shown very clearly by her family that she is a burden. She's an extra mouth to feed and an unwanted mouth at that, as her family never holds back in disparaging Kyoko even if Tohru is present.

As such, when Tohru is in a situation where she has no other choice than to accept their help, she believes she should be extremely grateful. They're taking their time to help her when they easily could have done otherwise, so why should she want more? Why should she complain? If she has any desires, she pushes it down because of that belief because she feels awful and that she shouldn't want for more when people are already going out of their way to help an extra mouth to feed. Because of this mentality cultivated by the bulk of her paternal relatives mistreatment, she will seldom voice her wants.

She never gets angry or upset.

To say Tohru never gets angry or close to physical in her reactions is far from the truth. Tohru gets angry when the issue impacts those that she cares about.

Tohru can tolerate being mistreated but she will always draw the line at the abuse being directed to someone else. When she first meets Akito and she sees Yuki's clear discomfort and fear, she pushes Akito away from him immediately. When she witnesses Momiji being punched by Akito, she immediately steps in and places herself in front of Momiji to physically shield him. When Rin tells her not to meddle with the curse and involve herself, Tohru, without cruelty, shoots back that she will absolutely meddle and involve herself because she refuses to lose the people she cares about to someone who has clearly been abusing them emotionally and physically for years. Tohru's tolerance for mistreatment has a limit, she is just unfortunately not included in that limit. So when we finally see her get angry in a scenario that includes herselfー when Kyo tries to run away because he feels he doesn't deserve her love, it's incredible.

There is so much more to Tohru than meets the eye. Tohu's reaction to Yuki getting a cold isn't just Tohru overreacting for the sake of being a nice girl, it's because her father died from a cold he brushed off and that cold turned into a fatal illness. For Tohru, colds aren't something that can just be brushed away because what if it turns into something worse.

Tohru would rather wear clothes until they practically fall apart than buy new clothes because she knows that she can't just spend her money haphazardly. But when it came to Valentine's Day and wanting to express her gratitude for those who cared about her, she had no problem dropping an entire check to purchase the ingredients to make enough chocolate for everyone.

She disregards herself and the efforts she puts forward. When she feels she has failed in helping Arisa, she specifically says "everyone around me has always helped me and when it is my turn to do the same, I can't." These aren't problems she overcomes herself by simply "smiling through the pain" as some who discredit her argue. Tohru is repeatedly loved and helped by those around her who care for her and opens herself up to receive that love and help over time. She is taught by her grandfather and Sohmas that is okay for her to be selfish and ask for things.

Her friends teach her that she helps them so much and that in reality they feel like they are never there to help her when she needs it.Her friends get upset that the same amount of money she would spend on them, she wouldn't spend on herself.

She is told that the way she villainized Katsuya after his death because doesn't make her dirty or a bad person because she was a child that was scared to lose her mother. That her fear and desperation to make her mother acknowledge her was understandable. That mimicking her father in her attempt to draw her mother's attention probably helped more than she realized.

Tohru is not just a "Nice Shoujo Girl" Protagonist, she is a girl with trauma who would rather focus on the issues someone else has than look to her own.

Like I said before, this isn't me trying to get Tohrus haters to like her. People are entitled to like and dislike whichever characters they please, but it is a complete disservice to Natsuki Takaya's writing to say Tohru is bland and has no struggles of her own. Tohru has many problems and struggles she has to deal with throughout the series and seeing those issues she overcomes being brushed aside as her being perfect and having no problems is a complete oversight. As such, I just simply wanted to peel back Tohru's layers and showcase that just as characters such as Momiji, Shigure and Ayame are more than the tropes they are introduced as, Tohru is as well.

[i wrote this on reddit too]

#fruits basket #furuba #fruits basket 2019 #tohru honda #kyoru #kyo sohma #yuki sohma #momiji sohma #shigure sohma #ayame sohma #saki hanajima #arisa uotani #kyoko honda #katsuya honda #akito sohma #fruba #fruba 2019 #shoujo #character discussion #animanga thoughts

[loimposibleesloquenoseintenta]

Her favorite uncle

Another short story about teenage Willow Everdeen Mellark, but this time at her home in District 12. She sneaked out to have some fun with her friends at night, and now she must face her parents. But no worries, uncle Haymitch is there to save the day, well kind of. I just wanted to write something about Haymitch being an old uncle/grandpa figure to Katniss and Peeta's daughter. In my mind she can be quite rebellious and impulsive, while still loving her family and wanting to make them proud. But she's also young and wants to have fun. I like thinking that between her and Haymitch there is a special bond, he listens to her and tries his best to guide her. And she trusts him deeply. Also, Willow and her brother (Rye) do get along and love each other, I just didn't develop their relationship that much this time. tw: mentions of underage drinking

The treacherous keys slip from my hands and hit the ground. I curse under my breath. At this pace, there’s no way I’ll get in the house without making any noise. Great. My head’s killing me and now I’ll have to come up with an excuse to explain my night out. I can see my parents’ face already. I think about my brother, biting his tongue, acting like he doesn’t know anything about me sneaking out. He’d never snitch on me, but I know how much he hates secrets. In this family trust is everything, and I respect that. But I just wanted to have some fun with my friends. Is that so wrong?

Under the night sky, I struggle to see the keys, and the drunkenness doesn’t help much. I finally find them and continue on my way, dragging my feet. I'm about to resign myself to the consequences when I notice light coming from Haymitch’s kitchen. Could he be awake at this hour? Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me. Curiosity drives me to stealthily approach his window and when I take a peek inside, I jump back startled. Sitting at the table, drinking something hot, is my old uncle Haymitch looking at me without an ounce of surprise. Mi mind is still somewhat confused, but if one thing’s for sure, is that I’m in trouble. And he knows it too. He points at the door with his thumb and his eyes leave no space for refusal.

As I enter the kitchen, I'm enveloped by the smell of coffee. With his back to me, he's making a second cup. I sit down and place my head on my arms.  

"So, tell me, did you have fun, little one?" he asks handing me the drink.

"How did you know?" I mumble with my eyes closed.

"Your brother called me" I lift my head so fast I get dizzy.

"Hey, you know it’s not his fault. He’s just worried about you. You should be thankful he didn’t tell your parents, honey" and he’s right. I can’t blame Rye for anything. I’m the one who broke the rules.

"What about you? Why didn’t you say anything?"

"I think you’re old enough to fend for yourself. But if they found out, I won’t deny anything, you hear me?" he declares with an accusing finger.

"Thank you Haymitch" I offer him one of those smiles I use to soften him. They always work, even if he denies it.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now drink your coffee and tell me what you’ve been up to over there"

There’s no point in hiding anything to him, he can read my mind without trying. So, I tell him all about the laughs, the dancing, the drinking and the gossip. We keep talking until dawn, and, even though he doesn’t judge me for my juvenile adventures, he asks me to be more responsible next time. Especially with my drinking. At times like this I wonder how his life used to be before I was born. Even if my family tries to be as honest as possible about their past, I know there’re things that are just too hard to explain. I understand that, so I don’t pressure them, but sometimes I can’t help but think about it.

When the phone rings, Haymitch tells my mom I had agreed to help him with his geese that morning. Apparently, I was so excited with the task that I had woken up extra early to enjoy breakfast with my favorite uncle. I doubt she bought it, but she didn’t ask more questions. Later I understand that she just wanted to laugh at my disastrous attempt to deal with those wild animals. Well, at least someone’s having a good time. With that said, I think I won’t drink again for a long, long time.

#the hunger games #thg #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #toast babies #toastbabies #everlark family #everlark #everlark headcanon #post mockingjay #willow mellark #willow everdeen #rye mellark #rye everdeen #haymitch abernathy

[velvetcovered-brick]

Creating a masterpost of convenience since apparently I'm in my Bridgerton writing era. I'll try to keep this updated best I can.

Stay In This Moment Rated G - Penelope/Colin - Complete Summary:

“It’s London, Pen. I can’t find myself here.”

It was almost like watching a crack start in slow motion, the clock breaking. It grew and splintered, threatening the foundations. His mouth was forming words, words once spoken, couldn’t be taken back. An alarm in the back of his mind, the slamming of his heart warning him of the danger in proceeding. He knew but ignored what he’d always known, continuing.

“What could possibly be here? I don’t have anything here for me.”

Some Kind of Disaster Rated T - Penelope/Anthony - Complete - Part of a Series Summary:

Anthony has a lot of expectations for his future Viscountess, so it's up to Benedict to help his brother see the light.

Clumsy (Familiar Strangers) Rated T - Penelope/Anthony - Complete - Part of a SeriesSummary:

Benedict's plan to get Anthony and Penelope in a room come to pass. Whether or not it's a success, well, that is a different story.

i don't know who your god is, but i'm a goddess Rated M - Penelope/Benedict - In Progress Summary:

Benedict finds himself hiding away at a seaside cottage, hoping inspiration for his work strikes him wear he stands. Instead, he finds himself the most gorgeous woman he's ever met. Except, well, she showed up on the beach one morning, nude and clutching a coat, and wounded.

As she heals, he finds himself beyond attracted to the small woman who calls herself Penelope. Sweet Penelope who swims in the ocean by moonlight and seems to know all sorts of morsels of gossip from the village no one has any business knowing.

Of course it was love at first sight. That's just the kind of man Benedict is. But he can see the secrets Penelope keeps behind her eyes and he hopes, before he heads home, she'll open up.

Quiet Rebellion Rated E - Penelope/Francesca - Complete Summary:

There was never anything Penelope couldn't find in a good book. That includes finding Francesca Stirling.

Taste Rated T - Penelope/Colin - Complete Summary:

Penelope + Colin + Mirror and that sweet sweet anticipation we all have

❄️🎄Penelope's 12 Days of Christmas (with @writingwhilecaffeinated)🎄❄️

Treat Yo'Elf Rated M - Penelope/Anthony - Complete Summary:

The holidays can be stressful and if Anthony can help his wife by giving her what she asks so prettily for, he's happy to oblige.

i told you snow Rated T - Penelope/Colin - Complete Summary:

Penelope and Colin are running late to the annual Bridgerton Christmas party, but baby, it's cold outside!

Looking Berry Cute Under the Mistletoe Rated G - Penelope/Benedict - Complete Summary:

Charlotte Bridgerton's favorite was absolutely Uncle Benedict and if she had to help him, that's what she was going to do because grown ups always needed a push.

Sleigh Queen Rated E - Penelope/Gregory - Complete Summary:

Gregory believes in true love. Penelope believed in love, once. Christmas brings about the most interesting moments for fate to take over. Even if it's with a hand up a skirt or on one's knees.

We Have Great Chemis-Tree Rated T - Anthony/Penelope/Benedict - Complete Summary:

It happened like this: A trip to the coffee shop dressed as an elf and then being plowed over, nearly breaking her nose.

Or

When you make a Christmas wish, always remember to keep an open mind, an open heart, and open eyes.

Sleigh My Name Rated E - Penelope/Anthony/Benedict/Colin Summary:

The best Christmas gifts are ones that can be shared. In Penelope's case, she's more than happy to share between her lovers.

Status Update on WIPs (as of February 26, 2024) Posting Soon: 🙈sister fic to Some Kind of Disaster posted February 26, 2024 💋new chapter of i don't care who you god is, but i'm a goddess

In the Works: 💕regency au penelope/gregory 😍regency au penelope/francesca 👀a Penelope/Benedict that will get the church of england petitioning for my arrest

*currently holding back on Polin fic, waiting for s3*

#bridgerton #bridgerton fanfic #bridgerton fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #fanfiction masterlist #fanfic masterlist #bridgerton masterlist #penelope featherington #penelope featherington/anthony bridgerton #penelope featherington/benedict bridgerton #penelope featherington/colin bridgerton #penelope featherington/gregory bridgerton #penelope featherington/francesca bridgerton #polin #penthony #benelope #yeah i got nothing for her and greg sorry #pencesca #rare pairs #rarer triads #my fanfics

[girlrachael]

The Uncles/Dads find out that Casey is a Turtle

They did it, everyone was here. And now they can rest, heal, and just be happy with one another. (and possibly cause immense chaos >:3)

Donatello now has a burning question that now has risen to the top of his list of ‘questions I need answers to’. So Donatello turns to Casey and asks the question that has been on the back burner for awhile.

“So with what happened at the facility, can you answer my question now?”

This makes Casey start to visibly sweat. Donatello simply raises an eyebrow, while the rest of the Uncles/Dads are swiveling back and forth wondering what the heck was going on.

Leo interrupted the stare off, “Donnie, what are you going on about?” Donatello turned to Leo to give a response, “Well my dear twin, this one (points at Casey) went to get the ingredients for the ‘plot twist’ serum and needed to disguise himself. So Casey Jones proceeded to change into a turtle.”

This response made all the turtles turn to Casey in shock and in extreme confusion. Mikey spoke first, “Turtle? Casey, was this a situation that you put on something like a cloaking broche to look like a turtle, or have you stayed a turtle from that one time back in our timeline?” 

Casey looked away and just let the cloaking spell fall and there he was, in all his cute, turtle-y glory. This action gained dropped jaws from everyone but Donatello, who was nodding in the background because he had the answer to his question. 

Leo spoke first after a moment, “Why?”

Casey sighed and looked at his lap before answering, “I just….. Just felt like I was truly a part of ‘this whole situation’. And sure I liked being human but I liked being a part of you guys that much more.”

Raph, who had been sitting mostly in shock the entire time, shook it off and just grabbed Casey and set him in his lap and gave an answer while just lightly petting Casey, “Casey, you were always part of ‘this whole situation’. You’re basically our son/nephew, human or not.”

Casey nodded tearfully and then Leo voiced a question due to Casey’s strange choice of words earlier, “Casey, if you liked being a human, why stay a turtle? It seems like there is more than just you being a turtle and wanting to stay that way?”

Casey fell into a thinking face before turning to Leo and answering the previous question, “To start the process of turning me back, Draxum had to identify what type of turtle I turned into. Sure I look like a red-eared slider but Draxum wanted to make sure. And he was right to double check, apparently I’m a turtle amalgamation of all of your turtle types.”

This made the turtles bug-eyed, Donatello included. Raph spoke up in a rather quiet tone, “Even me?....” Raph looked like he was about to cry, Casey nodded quickly and started talking, “Uh huh, even Draxum was surprised on that front. It’s extremely subtle, it’s my sharp teeth, that’s from you Uncle Raph.” Raph does now start tearing up especially after I flashed a sharp toothy smile at him.

Mikey spoke up next, “And how do I play into this? It’s obvious with Leo. Actually…. What about Donnie?”

Casey turned to Mikey and started to explain, “For you Master Michelangelo, I have a shell pattern extremely similar to Box Turtles. And for UncleTello, these are somehow even more subtle than Uncle Raph’s, I can hold my breath for about the same amount of time as UncleTello and I have a SoftShell Turtle’s jaw strength.” At that Mikey and Donatello both gained star eyes at that. 

Leo stood up suddenly and walked over to Raph and Casey and plopped himself into Raph’s lap after picking up Casey and setting Casey in my lap and just held him close. After both seeing what happened, Mikey and Donatello walked over and leaned on/climbed on the now all turtle cuddle pile. Casey seeing that his Uncles/Dads weren’t mad at him for keeping something this big from them started the water works for the stress of keeping this secret for so long. And all of the Uncles/Dads just started reassuring and some even just cuddling closer to Casey to calm him down.

While that day didn’t go the way they thought the day was going to go, they were still all just happy, healing, and now could just live their lives without fear of the next day.

#fic tag #cass apocalyptic series #tmnt 2018 #rise of the tmnt

[paradoxcase]

Chapter 31 of Gideon the Ninth

Just to state for the record, this chapter killed me dead, I read it last night and am no longer in that state of mind, but like, just for the record

So finally, I think we have all the answers to the questions about Gideon and Harrow's backstory, I think the only one left is "why were no more children born" but based on comments from people here that seems to be an open question that isn't answered definitively in the book. I think the story with Dulcinea is still unresolved, and we still don't know what happened to Protesilaus's body, and I think there is now a new unanswered question as of the last chapter about what happened to Dulcinea's facility key. The Fourth teens did say they saw Protesilaus go into the facility, possibly this is where Harrow found him, so probably whoever took the body also took the key, and that person seems to have chosen to take the key and hide the existence of the body rather than reporting it as another murder. The only people who I think would have any interest in a facility key are Judith Deuteros, who had hers taken by Palamedes, and Corona, but I'm not sure how much interest Corona actually has in the facility, to be honest. Also, if Protesilaus was disassembled in the facility, he had to have been found by someone who already had a facility key, which leaves just Ianthe, Palamedes and Mayonnaise Uncle as possibilities, and I think if Palamedes had found the body he would have said so to someone last chapter. Ianthe was trying to get a facility key for Corona earlier, I recall, so I think she's most likely. There's also the question of how Protesilaus originally died - Harrow says he was stabbed, but his head came off when she undid the spell, and we know there are two people in the incinerator, so I think it's also possible that he was beheaded and his head attached to the body of someone who was stabbed

So, at the start of this chapter, Gideon is still in a general state of "will do anything if Harrow asks nicely", at least after finding out that Harrow didn't murder Protesilaus, and even though what Palamedes said to her at the end of the last chapter didn't convince me, I think it may have convinced Gideon that Harrow isn't actually evil

This was clever, actually. How do you get a child to keep a terrible secret? You instill in them a belief/superstition/custom that they are only allowed to talk about it under certain specific circumstances that can't exist on your planet except in a secret place where no one else is allowed to go

So my first guess that Harrow figured out Protesilaus on the first day actually was correct, and she was just still verifying it at Magnus's anniversary party. Lucky that she got assigned to sit next to him, really. Also the timing I posted in my last post was approximately accurate, but at some point in that same time period, she must have given the white key to Dulcinea. I'm guessing she did that before disassembling Protesilaus, because I think the reason she was asleep and unwakable the next time Gideon saw her was because she was worn out from doing that, maybe? But this re-opens the question of, if she thought Protesilaus was dead on arrival, what role did she think Palamedes played in this? It's pretty apparent, at least from Gideon's POV, that he has never met Dulcinea before they arrived at Canaan House

Also, let's try to imagine what would have been different if Harrow had told Gideon about this at that point. I don't think this would have negatively disposed Gideon towards Dulcinea, I think she probably would have just filled in the same story that Dulcinea just told them for herself and felt worse for her that she didn't actually have a cavalier. So, I'm not sure things would have been that different, except that Gideon wouldn't have briefly assumed that Harrow killed him

Also, the Protesilaus reveal also shows the real reason why Dulcinea couldn't do the soul siphoning challenge. But I would actually expect her to not be able to do any of the challenges without an actually living cavalier, so that raises a new question: how did she get the grey key? And it leaves the old question: why is she trying to get keys in the first place? I think the only thing that makes sense is that she's of the same opinion as Mayonnaise Uncle and doesn't want any of the candidates to become a Lyctor, which is why she willingly gave her keys to him, if she knew he had the same goal. But in that case, why did she offer to make a deal with Palamedes, who has the most keys out of everyone, and would have had five out of eight if he'd agreed? I still think she is already immortal/a Lyctor, I'm not letting go of this conspiracy theory

And this answers the question I raised last chapter. Now I'm really curious about what happened, from Harrow's POV, when she was staying with Palamedes and Camilla and Dulcinea. Like surely there's a fanfic out there where Harrow keeps expecting them all to attack her, meanwhile everyone is behaving completely normally, that actually sounds like it could be pretty funny

This is odd, because last chapter, Gideon tells Palamedes that Harrow didn't do the other murders, and he's the one who says that's "conjecture". Going to return to the paragraph just before this in a minute when we get into the heavy shit

So, Harrow doesn't actually think Dulcinea is evil, she just thought she was up to something weird by reanimating her cavalier. As the only person that Harrow thinks can't have possibly done all of the murders, I predict that she is going to turn out to have been responsible for them somehow. She did have Protesilaus doing something down in the facility just before the Fourth teens were murdered, and for some reason she didn't go with him. Originally I thought he couldn't be responsible for, say, setting up a necromancy trap to kill the Fourth teens, because he wasn't a necromancer, but since he's actually just Dulcinea's puppet, she might be capable of doing necromancy through him. And she also had him punch Mayonnaise Uncle when he was trying to use soul siphoning to get answers out of Magnus and Abigail's bodies - I think I mentioned that she might have inspired him to do that because she was the murderer way back then, but the fact that she literally directed him to do that rather than him just reacting to her scream makes that even more likely, I think. I think the only reason no one is remembering this and finding it suspicious is that I think literally everyone hates Mayonnaise Uncle at this point and finds his soul siphoning methods creepy and unethical. And I guess, by voluntarily giving him her keys, she also made him into the kind of person who steals valuables from bedridden people who are dying, in everyone else's eyes, so if he ever does bring this up, no one will take him seriously

It's interesting that even though I'm sure Harrow came to the pool specifically to tell Gideon about the deaths of the 200 children, she doesn't just tell her about that, and has to wait until Gideon specifically asks, and even then has to spend some time working herself up to answer

(For the record, at this point in the writeup, the Nook app crashed for the third time since I started writing this. Arghhh)

I think this is the part of the story that all the people leaving me comments about how they are excited to see me read the next part were waiting for, right?

I think I maybe should have expected that the 200 children were killed for this reason, because someone told me earlier that Mayonnaise Uncle's comment to Ianthe at Magnus's anniversary party was implying that if Ianthe had died in the womb, Corona would have been stronger. I think that actually does count as a spoiler, because I don't think I would have realized that except on a reread after having read this chapter, but in the event I didn't realize this because of that, so it's fine. I did legitimately learn from the book that the Cohort generates thanergy via warfare, and that the Seventh House likes it when their heirs have blood cancer, because that generates thanergy as well. But like, to put this particular thanergy-related war crime into perspective, based on that early conversation, Corona and Ianthe's parents were not willing to sacrifice one child to make their heir a better necromancer; Mayonnaise Uncle sounds like he would be willing to do that, but even he seems to find the idea of killing 200 children for any reason abominable. But Harrow's parents and great-aunts were willing to do that

And Harrow would too, if she thought she had to. She has this weird kind of doublethink going on where she simultaneously thinks that nothing she could do could possibly make killing 200 children worth it, and also that anything is worth it if she can live long enough to see the body in the Locked Tomb wake up, which I guess is the real reason she wants to be a Lyctor so badly. Actually, I sort of wonder, since the body in the Tomb had such an effect on her that it cut through all of Harrow's thoughts about how she didn't deserve to exist, if it actually cast some sort of glamour on her. Like, presumably it was locked behind all that magic for a reason, and apparently the Emperor didn't actually want the Ninth House to stand guard over the Tomb like they do, he didn't want guarding it to be trusted to humans

So, I think we can start to pick apart Harrow's weird relationship with Gideon now. Harrow has grown up her whole life believing that she deserves to die because of how she came into existence, and Gideon is like, this Harry-Potter-esque Boy (Girl) Who Lived, this pure symbol of Justice and Innocence standing up to her family's tyranny and surviving anyway, and I really think that this whole time she's just wanted to antagonize Gideon to the point where she kills her, completely rightly and justifiably, in her view, and does the thing that Harrow feels she wasn't strong enough to do, and that that's also what Harrow wanted Gideon to do in the scene:

When Gideon says early in this conversation that Harrow would have killed her when she confronted her about Protesilaus, she says:

When Gideon declines to kill her in this scene, she says:

She's still fantasizing about her dying and Gideon surviving. It reminds me of Swordspoint, where Alec has this like fucked up romantic ideal of being killed by Richard, who is essentially the hand of Justice and Honor in his world, to the point where when he's on his deathbed he hires a guy to pretend to be Richard and kill him, and like with Harrow, that all goes back to his guilt over what his social status caused to happen at the university. I've said in the past that Swordspoint is my favorite book, and the more similar to Swordspoint a book is, the more I'll like it, and just in terms of the deeply fucked up interpersonal relationships part of Swordspoint I think this book is like, ten or fifteen Swordspoints at this point, Alec really only had a tiny smidgen of privileged rich boy guilt compared to Harrow. So Harrow wants Gideon to kill her, because that's what would be good and right, but also she really really really wants to be there when the body in the Locked Tomb wakes up. And she thinks she deserves to die, so she suspects people she thinks are good and sensible of wanting to kill her - she thought Magnus and Abigail were going to poison her, she thought Palamedes and Dulcinea were going to try to kill her

(Here we have Nook app crash #4. Actually, it crashed, I restarted it and took another screenshot to add further up, and then it crashed again. Actually, at this point, the Nook app just started crashing every single time I took a screenshot)

Meanwhile, Gideon just thinks that Harrow hates her because she killed her parents, and that she did kill Harrow's parents, and that she deserves all of Harrow's abuse and everything the Ninth House has done to her, so she never fights back. And then Harrow tells her all this stuff, and she doesn't say, "well that sucks, but I can't forgive you for how you've treated me" which I think would be a reasonable thing to say at this point, she just says "I'm so sorry", because I think if you painted a smiley face on a rock Gideon would empathize with it and want it to be her friend

This is like, really going ham with the whole Space Jesus thing already and we haven't even gotten to the actual Space Jesus part yet. And you know - I am actually sold. I can buy this Jesus analog. I've literally hated every other time a character turns out to be Basically Jesus, but this I actually like

(Also, I suspect that at the end of the book Gideon is going to be given the opportunity to outlast Harrow as Harrow requested, and is going to decline that opportunity in favor of dying and saving Harrow, I do see where this is going now)

But like, Harrow does actually seem to want Gideon to like her. She doesn't think she deserves Gideon liking her and thinks she should kill her instead, but she does want Gideon to like her and seems to have been motivated by that a bit since coming to Canaan House:

And then:

So I think this would now make Gideon Harrow's actual cavalier, instead of someone pretending to be Harrow's cavalier, but I don't think we yet have the full context for what "one flesh, one end" actually means in full, and I would not be surprised if there was some very important implication to it that Gideon (and maybe Harrow) does not actually know that will become relevant later

The reveal that Crux blew up the shuttle is honestly a bit of a let-down after the rest of the chapter, I wouldn't actually be surprised if it later turns out to have exploded for some other, completely different reason, but there really seems to be no reason I can think of why anyone would want to kill Ortus and Glaurica, if Harrow had planned to bring them back to the Ninth after they left

At some point Harrow may think to wonder how Gideon knew that the shuttle exploded, and then there may be some drama involving Mayonnaise Uncle and/or Colum

#the locked tomb #gideon the ninth

[minteaspoon]

“Mhysa”

a/n: just a little excerpt of a possible story I might continue if I ever have the motivation for it:) also, sorry if this sucks, it’s my first actual post that has a plot to it and is not just headcanons

*.*.*.**.*.*.*.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Mhysa Stormborne stood and watched his people go about their day.

It has been 2 years since the Scattered War, and the later Unity of Naath.

2 years since he had been crowned Sovereign of Naath

Mhysa stood quiet, until small and quiet steps on stone took his attention.

Turning around, he sees his paramour, the sire of his two biological children - Qoren Martell.

“I was wondering where you must have gone, should’ve known you’d be here,” Qoren stopped in front of the boy- no, Ruler.

“…yes, the festivities of today had made me rather tired, and I sought to calm myself here.”

The place he was crowned. It was lush area - trees stood tall, a white marble and roofed structure protected the throne of Naath’s first ruler, and overlooked the ports, the small and scattered yet compact villages, and the people that looked more like ants from where Mhysa stood.

“-nd Lady Misery’s spies have told her of the, quite frankly amusing, rumors in Westeros.”

Ah, he’d forgotten he was in the company of another ruler.

Mhysa turns his head from the glorious view to the older man in front of him, whose back faced the darkness of trees.

“Apologies, what was it you were saying?”

Qoren chuckles, shaking his head as his shoulders jumped up and down.

“I was simply informing you of the happenings of Westeros, my dear. Your Mistress of Whispers, Mysaria, has told me of her spies in Westeros.”

Qoren slowly sauntered to Mhysa’s side, arms behind his back and front facing the ocean. Mhysa turns around, and does the same.

“They whisper of rumors circulating of the Lords of Westeros searching for the blood of Rhaenyra. For the lost princes - Princes Aegon Targaryen, third of his name, Viserys Targaryen, second of his name, and their eldest brother - Prince Lucerys Velaryon, the former heir of Driftmark, and rightful heir to the Iron Throne.”

“…Have they found any luck?”

“Hm, it appears they haven’t, Chief Mhysa. The Lords’ searches have been done in secret apparently. The Targaryen King and his kin have no clue of their traitorous Lords’ doings.”

Mhysa straightens his back, eyes still on the bellowing waves before turning his head towards Qoren.

“Why must you tell me of this?”

Qoren turns his own head towards the glaring Omega.

“I believed it might… Lift your spirits. After all, wasn’t Westeros your birthplace and home, Prince Lucerys Velaryon?”

The brunette stayed silent, before sighing and turning to move away.

“Westeros is no longer my home. The happenings of a foreign nation is of no concern to me. Naath is my home, my birthplace, and my kingdom - not that cursed land that betrayed my mother.”

Qoren hums, locking his eyes on the ocean.

“Wouldn’t you want to retake your rightful place, as the King of Westeros? It’s ruler? Your mother is dead, your eldest brother - the heir to the heir - is dead. You are in your right to take back what was yours. These Lords could be your ticket to getting to the throne, to the Crown.”

Mhysa was silent.

Qoren was right, he could use the Lords and their waning loyalty to his usurper uncle of a cunt to his advantage. He could take back what was rightfully his by birthright… But no, Westeros had made their decision.

They had betrayed and usurped his mother of the throne simply for being a woman, for not having a dick between her legs. They had decided to side with his traitorous uncle and his kin. They had thrived off of his and his remaining family’s pain and humiliation.

They would’ve enjoyed the sight of his and his family’s heads rolling from the executioner’s block.

“I was bastardized. Forced to call myself and my remaining family bastards in front of the court. Forced to proclaim us heirs to nothing. To all of Westeros, the five of us were nothing but dross, dirt under their shoes, pests that finally got what was coming to them. We had and have no claim to the Iron Throne now. They laughed at us, you know? My brothers… my sons held their tears, but they burst out anyways when we were shoved inside our shared cell. My sisters held a strong face. I admired and respected them for it.”

Mhysa’s - Luke’s eyes watered, yet no tears fell.

He had shed too many tears for Westeros.

No more would he do so.

#lucemond #naath #house of the dragon #hbo house of the dragon #lucerys velaryon #prince lucerys #omega lucerys #qoren martell #game of thrones #hbo got #hbo game of thrones #mysaria #lady misery #white worm

[countrymusiclover]

36- Finally Defeating the Hollow

Part 37

Family is More than Blood

@secretdreamlandmentality

Klaus’s pov

Our entire group was confused including the dead family members that were with us. None of us were prepared to find these people here inside of what you would call her mindscape I suppose. Stepping towards Josette I met her gaze. “Josette, I am not sure why exactly we are seeing you right now.”

“Is it because of Kai?” Uncle Joshua asked, stepping up beside his daughter.

Alina crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s dead. Alaric and our mother killed him. But you can say this is entirely his fault.”

“What do you mean?” Liv asked with Luke looking confused like the rest of us.

Hope eyed her older cousins. “We placed this thing called the Hollow inside of his prison world. But he managed to escape and freed it with him. After he freed it he convinced a student at our school to attack our mother when the Hollow’s magic was inside of her.”

“Mom destroyed the person who had the dark magic but now it’s changing her. She tried to take the magic from everyone in our supernatural school. Which is something she’d never do.” Missy added on to what her sister had said.

Josette covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh geez. She consumed dark magic like last time.” I stared at her remembering when my wife had gone and asked for her aid first. She knew more about this or maybe just as much as I did.

“What the hell is happening to my daughter, Klaus. You made a promise to me that you would protect her.” Eliza stomps up to me getting up in my face as much as possible.

I met her gaze hearing her heart rate increase even though she was technically dead even inside her daughter’s mind. “Calm down, Eliza. I thought we had handled it. This was not an intentional thing.”

“So what was the original plan before you found us apparently inside of Raelyn’s mind?” Luke asked looking at me then to the rest of the family.

Freya stepped up to my side declaring the plan that we had in mind. “The plan we came up with was to combine all of our magical abilities together. Raelyn currently has the dark magic in her controlling her consciousness. We will siphon it away and trap it in another prison world.”

“But if we’re seeing you all then that means we are inside the part of my sister's mind that she finds some joy in. Meaning we’re probably in the wrong spot.” Jacob said, holding Andrea’s hand in his.

Glancing over my shoulder and slightly turning my body back towards my brother in law. “What do you mean, Jacob?”

“I’m saying that we need to be looking for the section that has darkness. The parts of her mind that she keeps barred away. The parts that she wants to hide from herself. The parts that she’s fighting everyday. That’s what we need to be searching for.” He responded.

Joshua tapped his chin in thought. “The one thing I know she dreads is her memories of the Merge.”

“And the fear of losing her children.” Josette points out tucking hair behind her ear.

Davina tapped her foot and Valerie just watched from the sidelines. Freya came up to me seeing that I was lost in my own thoughts. If this was going into the darkness that Raelyn feared I knew the thing that triggered her the most. She was terrified to die because of the Merge. “I know what we’re looking for. We just need what Elijah referred to as his red door.”

“Well that’s great. Do you have any idea of what it could look like?” Valerie grumbled with her hands resting on her hips.

Throwing my head back I groaned wishing that this wasn’t so hard. I believed that I knew my wife more than I apparently did right now. She cared about her cousins, was afraid of accidentally killing them all after the merge and I was all of her firsts in our relationship. Yet her mind seemed to be more complicated if we needed to find where she kept all of her darkest secrets and fears hidden away. I was at a complete bloody loss on the matter. “Jacob, you’re her twin brother. What would she imagine if she wanted to hide things away?”

“Don’t put me on the spot or anything, Klaus.” The male heretic huffed, slumping his shoulders. He ran a hand through his curls in quick thought. “What about our childhood home? After we left there everything pretty much got screwed up.”

Davain began coughing and she covered her mouth with her. She drew it away showing us some blood. “Uh guys…something is going wrong.”

“Urgh!” Alina winced dropping down on her knees where Freya and I rushed over to her with Josette all in a moment of honor and worry.

Placing a hand on the side of her head I scanned her quickly knowing we couldn’t see any physical damage or any kind of injuries while inside her mothers mind. “Alina, what’s wrong sweetheart?”

“I….don’t…know.” She winced, holding her stomach gripping her belly with one hand.

Josette looked between me and my second daughter. “If she’s pregnant in her mindscape. How far along was she when you came in here?”

“I am nearing my due date. Do you think…I’m due now?” She asked the former doctor.

Josette slumped her shoulders. “I believe so. You need to leave here. And whoever else is feeling the effects of the spell. It’s slowly killing you by the amount of magic inside of Raelyn.”

“Davina, you and Alina need to leave now. Hope you go with them.” I declared sternly.

Hope stomps her foot. “I’m not going anywhere, dad. This is mom we are talking about!”

“Actually we might not have a choice here, Hope. All of us are linked to one another so if one of us leaves. We will all still be connected to your mother. Everyone except Klaus since he’s not a witch.” Valerie admitted with a weak expression.

Getting to my feet I could see it on my triplet daughter’s faces that this new plan sucked. But we didn’t have many options if we wanted to save their mother. “This wasn’t what we hoped. Yet we have no other options. You all have your part in siphoning the magic from her. I’ll find the door that we need and make her stop running from her fears.”

“Bring her home, brother.” Freya said while every witch grabbed hands disappearing from my vision.

Eliza placed a hand on my shoulder, sending me a soft smile. “Klaus, I’m sorry for panicking earlier. I just…when you see my daughter tell her that we are all proud of her.”

“I am sorry for all the pain I put her through.” Joshua replied.

Josette grasps my hands in hers, sniffing through tears. “Klaus, tell Raelyn to watch out for my girls. I know you already have but let her know how much I appreciate it.”

“I will….Give me a sign, Raelyn. Show me the fire you need me to through with you.” I lifted my head up to the ceiling, closing my eyes. I heard something blow past me so when I opened my eyes once more I saw nothing but darkness around me. The darkness slightly lightened up showing me a tv tarp that you would play outside movies on. Stepping forward I didn’t quite understand what was happening until I noticed someone was sitting on the ground in front of it watching it silently. “Raelyn?”

“Klaus…it's all happening again. I…I can't face it.” She admitted looking over her shoulder seeing me standing there.

Sitting down beside her I lifted my eyes upwards to the screen figuring out what she meant by that. “Rae, what are you talking about?”

"Jacob!" She suddenly gasped, shooting up in a sitting position. My heart beating quick as my eyes flickered around the forest landing on my twin brother laying on his back. Rushing to her feet she dropped on her knees shaking him lightly trying to wake him up. "Jacob, Jacob. Come on wake up. Please wake up, Jacob." My father stepped up placing a hand on her shoulder making her whip her head up starting to cry. "Why - why won't he wake up dad - what's going on?"

Instead of responding he bends down removing the gemstone necklace from around his neck that he always wore, placing it in her hand. "You have won the Merge, Raelyn."

"He can't die, mother...He's my brother, my twin...I won't lose him!" Suddenly she winced feeling her mother draw magic from her, yanking me away from my brother. Stomping my boots in the dirt she started crying more out of such confusion. "Why would he - what the hell is the Merge, mother!"

She frustratedly runs her fingers through her hair, throwing her head back in agony. "It's a ritual that happens to twins born into our Coven. Since you and Jacob just turned 22 today that is the year to have the Merge...it's where you combine your strengths together...there can only be one winner."

Another memory flashed across the screen that I didn’t recognize, meaning it must have been during the time I was trapped in New Orleans with Marcel. Shifting my gaze to my wife I could see tears slipping down her face by now.

Jo took his other hand and began chanting. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.”

Jo and Kai then began chanting together. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.” Until Jo fell backwards and she saw a new image flash through our minds. Luke had knocked his sister out for a few minutes and declared to merge with his older brother.

Kai and Luke were chanting when she entered his mind again. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus. Sanguinem desimilus-- “

Jo cried. “Luke, no!”

“Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus. Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.” Kai and Luke fell backwards, unconscious with Jo crying out after she had woken up from the sleeping spell.

Joshua declared. “Luke is gone.” His gaze shifted to mine with a horrific look feeling what she had minutes ago.

Liv gasped looking between me and her father. “What? Rae, he can’t be serious.”

Clutching my eyes closed, the vision of Jacob collapsing in front of me flashed through my mind. Releasing my hands from fists sheshook my head sniffing through tears. “Liv I, I wish it wasn’t true. But Luke…he’s…”

Joshua finished my train of thought, still terrified. “I can feel it. He merged with Kai and Kai won. Luke is gone.”

“Rae, look at me. This isn’t real. It’s just the Hollow playing tricks on your mind.” Placing a hand on her shoulder she jumps slightly turning to face me. She had tears streaming down her face now.

She shakes her head sobbing. “Klaus, it’s all still real. It’s all up here…It’s still a part of me.”

“Rae, look at me.” I crawled in front of her cupping her face in my hands pressing my forehead against hers so she’d focus only on me and not the horrors she had haunting her at night. “I know that you feel like these nightmares are your fault. But they are not. These are just horrible things that happened to you.”

She gripped my forearms, shaking under all the stress. “I can’t push it all away, Nik. I can’t just push through what happened.” I didn’t need to turn around to know what the next memory was once I heard Alaric declaring his wedding vows.

Jo chuckled beginning her vows until Raelyn smelled blood, saw she stabbed through the stomach and her dress was red. “Oh, God. That's a tough act to follow. Here goes. Alaric Saltzman, you are…”

Alaric caught his soon to be wife collapsing into his arms. “Jo? Jo? Jo? Oh, my God. Jo? Jo? Jo?! Oh, God. No!”

She winced where Raelyn vamped from my seat, biting into her wrist drawing blood. “Aah! Aah!”

“Jo drink!” Shoving her wrist over her mouth she attempts to drink but she was losing too much blood too fast.

Alaric began crying, staring at me. “No! No, no, no, no.”

Suddenly before our eyes Kai appeared from being invisible standing beside Elena holding a bloody knife in his hand. “I was gonna wait till the "death do us part" bit, but it seemed a little on the nose.”

Raelyn shut her eyes tightly letting the tears fall down her face. She hugged her knees to her chest trying to bury her face into herself. “It’s all too much, Klaus! The Hollow won’t leave me alone unless I get it more magic. The nightmares….they’ll just keep haunting me.”

“Don’t worry about the Hollow. It’s being taken care of, I promise you.” Drawing my head back away from hers I wiped away fallen tears with my thumbs. I knew that she was horrified to let all the pain go away. “I need you to focus on my voice, focus on me being here with you, focus on nothing else but me.”

Raelyn grasped my shirt in her fists. “I can’t let this go….I can’t deal with it like this.”

“You’re not alone with these memories, Raelyn. I will be here for you through the good and the bad. You just need to let go…you need to let go of all the pain and accept the fact that they are gone.” I responded to her praying that she listened to me.

“They’re gone, Nik. They're ... .Jo….Liv….Luke…my mother all gone ... .even uncle Joshua. She buries her face into my chest heavily sobbing. Her fingers wrapped around the material and she remained so close to me as she could possibly manage.

I wrapped my arms around her just holding my wife closer to his chest. Running one hand through her hair I whispered into her ear. “Sssh Rae….I’m here.” Blinking through my own tears I held her close seeing the darkness disappear and I collapsed onto the floor with her too.

I gasped sharply seeing the stars above my head and I slowly sat upright. Frantically looking around the area I ran a hand through my hair seeing Raelyn laying on the ground. “Klaus, we’re just about to do the spell. Did you get her to open her mind?” Freya came rushing over bending down on a knee to me.

“I think so, Raelyn! Raelyn, please wake up. Please take up.” I scrambled to my feet hovering above her body over her sleeping form. I watched her eyes open and she gasped slowly taking in some breaths. “There you are, heretic queen.”

She lifted her hand up touching my face. “Nik…”

“She’s awake, Freya….you’re gonna be just fine honey.” I brushed her hair out of her face and she sniffed through tears right before the torches around us were lit up again.

Valerie came forward past the circle of sand and dropped herself onto a knee. She placed her hands on Raelyn’s chest focusing on her gaze when she started to panic about what was happening in the moment. “Raelyn, don’t panic now. This will save your life. You trust me don’t you?”

“Yes.” She croaked out.

Valerie looked back at the rest of our family. Alina was standing on the outside of the circle with Hayley. Jacob, Andrea, Hope, Davina, Freya, Lizzie, Josie and Missy were all now holding hands siphoning power from one another to be as strong enough to perform the spell. Valerie turned back around taking a breath chanting. “Phasmatos tribum, nas ex veras, radamis phasmatos ex sonos. Resustamen ex veram vatas. Radamis phasmatos ex sonos…”

Keeping my eyes trained on my wife I could see Valerie’s hands turning her chest red from the siphoning. She winced a couple of times before all of us saw a bright blue glow leaving her body. The source shot up into the sky. “Let’s go.” Scooping my wife up in my arms Valerie and I vamped over the barrier.

The Hollow’s blue magic raced around the barricade but it wasn’t going to hold it for long. Whipping my head around I looked at the witches needing to do something. “We need to trap it now.”

“We’re on it, dad…..Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Phesmatos filio, phesmatos effurgarex perpetuum!” Missy declared and the chanting began. The Hollow magic roared and tried fighting against them but the sky turned bright before there was a flash of light and we all saw it had disappeared.

Josie stepped forward catching the Ascendent in her hands. Raelyn held onto me for balance hearing someone cry out and she immediately went into motherly panic mode. “Alina! What is going on? Talk to me sweetheart.”

“Mom…it’s the baby.” Alina clutched her stomach, almost falling to her knees. I moved my attention to my daughter and saw liquid coming from between her legs. She started crying in a panic. “The baby’s coming.”

Comments really appreciated ❤️

#family is more than blood #klaus mikaelson x oc #klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson x heretic reader #klaus mikaelson fanfiction #tvd fanfiction #tvd fandom #klaus mikaelson x reader fanfiction #tvd #tvd x reader #klaus mikaelson fic #ask box is open for feedback #wattpad fanfiction #comments really appreciated #klaus mikaelson x witch reader #oc : raelyn lane #indiana evans #valerie tulle #freya mikaelson #davina claire #lizzie saltzman #josie saltzman #hope mikaelson #tvd fic #tvd universe #tvdu #legacies #oc : alina mikaelson #oc : missy mikaelson #jo parker

[arezenithofyouthlove]

A tged fandom event on Twitter #thisweekwith_llojavi

Day 1: Topic: Rumor

[Two villagers talking to each other at a bar]

"Psss, hey, hey. Do you want to know a secret?" "What, what secret?" "Something strange happened at the Frontera household last week" "Frontera? You mean our lord's home?" "Yeah, that's right" "Sigh He was such a kind man, I don't know how his eldest son turned out to be such a scum like that. That reminds me…I haven't seen that ugly drunkard bastard face recently." "Wait, it's exactly what I was going to talk to you about!" "Oh, then tell me quickly!" "So, one of my relatives - I call him my uncle - works as a doctor. He told me that last week, he was invited to Frontera's household to check Lloyd's condition" "Huh, did that guy finally get karma for drinking too much alcohol or something?" "No no no. Here comes the most bizarre part. He said instead of a sick patient, the one he needed to check was a…" "A…?" "A…" "A what? Just tell me already!" "It was a…BABY!" "A b-baby?" "Yes. A baby" "Why there is a baby in here? How was it related to Lloyd?" "I know this is crazy but apparently…it was that bastard who gave birth to the child!" "H-How is that possible??? Are you sure it wasn't a poor girl who got used by that devil???" "I don't know. It sounds so weird that even my uncle thought he was being played some kind of trick too" "How did your uncle know the baby was that drunkard child?" "They told him so. Sir Javier carried both Lloyd and the baby in his arms back home one night. He told everybody including my uncle how he got the child out of Lloyd's belly in the middle of the road" "T-That sounds horrible" "I know! They can't find any explanation for what happened until Sir Javier suddenly comes up with an idea" "What was it?" "He said that this maybe… was a miracle from God" "A miracle? Seriously?" "There isn't any other way than to accept that anyway. How else do you think a man would be able to give birth to a baby?" "But…why Lloyd of all people? Well, if it was me I wouldn't want to receive that blessing anyway. To be honest, it looks more like a curse in disguise to me" "Yeah, same. But since that day, I heard that Lloyd has been changed to a completely new person" "Huh, I guess motherhood really has the power to change every person" "Haha. But remember to keep this between us only. My uncle told me not to say it to anyone else but since you are my best friend…" "Don't worry, I won't spill any beans I promise"

[Just a few days later, the whole Frontera estate knew the story about Lloyd Frontera who became the first man in history to have a virgin birth. But everybody must agree that the baby looks very cute and has a very unique name: Kim Suho…]

To be continued?

This is inspired by Christmas -> Jesus -> Virgin birth -> Mpreg OgLloyd. Have fun

#tged #the greatest estate developer #lloyd frontera #javier asrahan #thisweekwith_llojavi #tged fandom event

[everlastingdreams]

Weeping Monk x Reader : The Patience Of A Heart     Chapter 3

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Story Summary: After fire claimed the lives of your family, the monastery of your Uncle Carden becomes your new home. As the niece of a priest you are expected to behave prim and proper, but not even the watchful eyes of the Weeping Monk can see all. An ancient magic returns to life when love and duty begin to blur.

Chapter Title: The Gift Of Kindness

Notes: Ah, yes. The innocent chapters. Can you smell the chaos in the air yet?

Warnings: There's a list of warnings for this story: Murder. Violence. Death. Angst. Sexism. Strong Language. Trauma. Childhood trauma. Survivor's guilt. Mentions of child maltreatment. Threat of Sexual assault. PTSD. Misogyny, Self-flagellation. Gore.

Other warnings: Jealousy. Forbidden Love. Romance. Pining. Smut. Little Slow-burn.

Word count of this fic: +110K

Chapter:  3 / lol Gonna keep the chapter count a secret until the end.

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The ruckus outside was what woke you up at dawn. While muttering your discontent, you went to look out the window and saw a group of paladins ready to leave.

Uncle was nowhere in sight, but the Monk was…

You hastily got dressed and hurried out the door, while running through the hallway you almost ran into two unsuspecting paladins who ducked to the side to avoid a collision.

Finally you arrived outside and the group was still there.

After a quick look around, you spotted the Monk and made your way over to him.

He was busy rummaging through the saddle bag of his horse and quietly praising the steed for the patience shown.

You stopped behind him, unable to fight the smile when hearing him speak to the horse “Where off to then?”

It nearly gave him a fright, he had not heard or seen anyone approach him.

The attention of the Monk snapped to you “Pardon?”

Had you truly managed to scare him a little? “Where are you heading today?”

He swallowed, attention returning to the saddle “The market, Lady y/n.”

You invited yourself along “Ah, perfect. I’ll fetch a horse.”

Quick like a whip, the attention was back again “Father has not given permission to-”

He wasn’t given the chance to brush you off.

“Can you ask him?” You pleaded while playfully swaying on your feet.

There was a very deep sigh “If you come along, if, stay in my sights. Do not wander off.”

“I can do that.” You shrugged your shoulders.

The Monk gave a doubtful look “I mean it.”

He could be quite intimidating when needed be…

You would have to be on your best behavior it seemed “Fine, I will. Will you ask?”

With another sigh, the Monk handed you the reins to hold and then went into the monastery to find your uncle.

There you stood, fumbling with the reins in anticipation.

And when he walked back out again, out of habit he gave a command “Mount.”

With wide eyes and a grin, you asked “What?”

He was at your side now and took over the reins “You are riding with me. Up.”

Oh? That was unexpected “Why? Is my uncle afraid I will ride off into the sunset?”

The Monk took hold of your elbow and began to help you “If we continue to dally here, that possibility increases greatly.”

Well, it looked like he didn’t want to waste more time.

Impatiently you were helped up on his horse and after a short wait he mounted too.

His arms locked around you to hold the reins, just like they had on that unfortunate night when you had returned from the village.

One paladin made a remark about it to another.

You had not heard, but the Monk had.

“Brother George. Is there something you wish to say to me?” The Monk challenged Brother George to speak to him directly instead of behind his back.

The paladin grew uneasy “No Brother… forgive me.”

Everyone sensed the agitation it had caused in the Monk.

If looks could kill…

It felt a bit awkward to you, but apparently he did not let it get under his skin in the slightest.

It dawned on you that he leaded the group onto another path than the one you usually took to the village.

“Wait…I thought you said we were going to the market?” You questioned out loud.

He had not thought you would assume the market closest to the monastery and in a lowered voice he offered clarification “Not the one in the village you would often slunk off to.”

The glare he received made his morning even better.

Your eyes narrowed “You’re very bold for someone who is ordered to be at my beck and call.”

Behind you, he was smirking, his voice did not give it away “I was ordered to watch over you, not be your servant.”

Your shoulders shrugged while jesting “And what about us being friends? I don’t want you to get into trouble for doing things you are not supposed to do.”

He clicked his tongue, retort ready “Father has not forbade me from being friendly with you.”

You deadpanned “Yet.”

It was true. There was a high probability that Father would soon forbid him from openly showing any form of attachment to you.

The Monk did not worry too much about it yet “Until then, I will perform my task as I see fit.”

Friendship included.

“You are very lenient with rules, aren’t you?” You tsked him.

The Monk let it fall out of his mouth “The result of a bad influence.”

Slowly you turned your head to look at him, the smirk only grew wider on his face.

“What sort of bad influence?” You dared him to say it.

“The sort that sits in front of me now.” He unashamedly blurted it out.

His attention left you, just long enough for him to look back at the paladins that were staring in his direction.

Their stares ended very quickly, proving once again that when your uncle was not in sight, the Monk was the one in charge.

It was an observation “I don’t think they’ve seen you talk so much before.”

Did he talk too much?

He cleared his throat “It is not why they were staring.”

You questioned aloud “Then why?”

The Monk answer was a sarcastic one “Have you spoken to many women at the monastery so far?”

Oh…“No.”

The explanation was given “My Brothers and I have not either. Of course they will find it peculiar to see us converse.”

It made sense, rarely a paladin would say a word to you. Most kept to themselves, those who did were either elders who sought conversation with anyone, or those who were thought to be not as strict on the vow of celibacy…

“Maybe I should keep quiet then?” You offered.

“Was that always a possibility?” He pretended that he’d wished to have known it earlier.

“You are the worst. Fine, I’m done talking to you.” It was a bitter response.

There were several attempts from him to get you to say something again.

It impressed him when you remained completely silent for the rest of the ride.

  ━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━

  You hopped off the horse before the Monk could even offer any help.

But he was just as fast to dismount and capture your arm “Remain where I can see you.”

You leaned back a little “Surely, your vision is not so bad that I have to be this close for you to see me?”

It made him look down at the little space between you and realize how close he was actually standing against you.

He cleared his throat and let go off you right away, you found the reaction quite amusing.

The Monk walked off to steer the paladins to their waiting tasks and you looked around to find something to keep yourself busy in the meantime.

Seeing a paladin struggle with unloading one of the woven bags made you decide to go and help unload some of the things they had brought to trade at the market.

“Let me help you with that.” You gestured at the wagon the paladin was busy at.

“I don’t think-” He was ready to object.

But you ignored the protests and began to help.

The Monk was busy with giving orders to other paladins to make this visit at the market go fluently.

One second without his attention and you were off unloading the wagon…

The gesture of his hand to call you back to him went ignored.

“Lady y/n.” The Monk called out for you.

“I’m busy!” You called back out.

The look on the faces of his red brothers…

None of the paladins would ever try to dismiss a direct order, especially not like that.

It was met with a look of disbelief from their current leader, he did not know how to get you to follow his charge.

And you knew it.

After a pause, the Monk ignored that it was happening while the paladins tip-toed around him.

Dust from the bags managed to make it’s way on your dress and by the time you were done helping, it looked like you had rolled in it.

The paladin did not even utter a ‘thank you’ , a simple nod of acknowledgment was all you got.

While dusting your dress off, you approached the waiting Monk “That’s done.”

You were all smiles, he was not, not until he saw the state of your clothing.

There was the faint hint of a smile just before he swiftly made you turn to the side a little.

The next thing you knew, he was patting the dust from the back of your arm and part of your shoulder.

“Are you trying to undermine my charge in front of them?” It did not sound like it truly bothered him.

“I’m not ‘trying’ anything.” You sounded disinterested.

He looked at your face now, reading the expression you had and seeing right through it.

“I am.” Your lips curved into a grin.

It took a second for him to scoff, still there was a charming lopsided smirk growing on his face “Remember our agreement. Stay in my sight.”

Your gaze rolled over him “With pleasure.”

He could feel his heart toss itself around in his throat.

With a tilt of the head, the Monk told you to go ahead and explore the wares the market had to offer.

One minute you were doing your best to agitate him, the next you had him forget you were even doing it at all.

It was difficult to predict.

Again he could feel stares, a slow turn of his head towards the paladins was enough for them to stop, they hurriedly went on with their tasks and he went on with his.

  It was a nice sunny day and there were many others at the market to find their needed wares.

No wonder the Monk was so adamant on you staying in his sights, it would be easy to get lost here.

The market was filled with diverse stands that sold various items. From jewelry to clothing, fruits and vegetables, weapons and armor…

There was something for all to find.

While walking by a stand that sold jewelry, your eyes fell on a small necklace. It wasn’t new, but it had still caught your eye.

After losing your parents and home to the fire, you had very little to no personal items left. And now you could not even afford it… you had not a coin to your name and it would remain that way until you found a way to earn a living.

The merchant had noticed your interest, of course he had, it was his work to spot potential buyers “Miss! Oh, yes indeed, that necklace is such a delicate piece.”

Before you could say a word, the merchant had picked the necklace up and had placed it in your hand “I-”

The man proceeded to sum up everything he could think off that explained why this necklace was worth purchasing “Solid silver, Miss, sure to compliment your beauty. Others will be green with envy.”

You put it back down on the stall “Forgive me, sir. I cannot-”

A tug at your arm drew your attention away from the merchant.

The Monk gave the opportunity to purchase it “With the lady’s permission, I shall handle the payment.”

All eyes were on you now “I don’t want your charity…”

It did not discourage him “You have earned it.”

You send a frown.

He clarified “For unloading the wagon.”

With a simple shallow nod to the merchant, the Monk confirmed the transaction beyond your knowledge.

The merchant had already held up the same amount of fingers that the necklace cost in coins. It happened fast, the necklace was taken and placed back into your hands by the Monk.

You weren’t even given the chance to thank him, he went right back to his duties.

There you stood, necklace in hand…

Well…

After fumbling with it a bit, you managed to put the necklace on.

The Monk was still keeping an eye out but let you wander around the place.

You walked from stall to stall, the sunlight reflected off of the silver pendant and indeed drew attention that way.

While browsing, you noticed a young girl not older than seven sneak around the place. Her clothes were worn down heavily, her appearance neglected. She looked around her and when no one saw, she took a pastry from a stall and hid it in her clothes.

As she turned, the child made direct eye-contact and realized you had seen her do it.

You mouthed ‘wait’, still she fled.

The thought of a starving child was what made you follow her.

She fled into a narrow cobblestone alleyway, away from the crowd and the market.

You hurried after her, calling out for her to not be afraid.

She went around a corner and by the time you did too, the girl was nowhere to be seen.

Odd, there were no running footsteps to be heard and it was a dead end…

You walked into the alleyway, sensing that the girl was near “You don’t have to be scared, little one. I did not follow you to hurt you.”

A sound came from behind a large wooden barrel off into a corner, you approached it.

More words of comfort were spoken “I was worried about you and thought you might need some help…”

A moment passed before the girl crawled from behind the barrel.

With doe eyes, the girl looked up at you, her curly brown hair had white flowers woven in them.

Someone must have done that for her…

The reason for her fleeing became apparent, this child was Fey-kind.

By kneeling down, you brought yourself to her eye-level “Are you hungry? I saw you take that pastry.”

The poor child took the pastry from her pocket and hurriedly tried to hand it over to you.

Quickly you refused “Oh, no, no. I’m not here to take it from you. I am here to help.”

Slowly the girl stuffed the pastry back into her pockets, speaking so quietly that you had to strain your ears to hear “Mamma can’t buy food.”

You showed no judgment “How come?”

She rubbed her little hands over her coat “We need coins for that.”

It wasn’t hard to understand that earning or finding coin was extremely difficult for those who were Fey.

You took off the necklace “I don’t have coins…” and offered it to the girl “Bring this to your mother, she can sell or trade it for what you need.”

The innocent child was still so young and took the necklace in her hand without much hesitation “Thank you, Miss…”

You touched one of the many white flowers braided in her hair “Did your mamma do that ?”

She looked so very proud of her hair and nodded.

That smile she had melted your heart “It’s beautiful. Are you sure you’re going to get home safely?”

The girl pointed into the direction behind you “Home.”

Her house must be nearby…

You took her hand in yours “I’ll walk you home. Come on.”

Quietly she went to walk beside you, every few steps she looked up at your face and your smile met hers.

“Look who we have here.” A voice came from behind you.

It happened so fast, one moment you held the girl’s hand, the next a man tore her away from you.

And when you tried to fight him off, his accomplice pinned you to the hard brick wall by the throat.

The ratty looking man held on to the girl by the scruff of her neck “If it ain’t the offspring of that Fey wench. Still stealing, eh? Can’t keep your muddy hands to yourself.”

“Leave her alone!” You tried to break free but the other man’s grip did not loosen one bit.

The bastard was condescending “Who the hell are you? Must have lost your damned mind to help one of their kind.”

They weren’t worth your breath and what the bastard got was a jerk of your knee that hit his groin. The pain it caused him made him lose the grip on you.

You charged at the ratty bastard that held on to the girl, serving him a strong push against his chest that made him lose his balance long enough for you to free the girl from his grasp.

They were quick to compose themselves and more than a little aggravated.

You moved the girl behind you, shielding her from sight “Leave us be!”

They spat their anger “Her mother needs to pay for all that her spawn of evil has stolen! Hand over that Fey! We’ll find someone who’ll pay a price for her.”

They intended to sell a child?!?

“Forget it, you rotten pigs!” You bit back.

One pulled out a knife, old blood still staining the blade.

The girl behind you trembled in fear, winching every time they raised their voice.

It was the sound of steel being dragged across the cobblestones that alerted everyone to the presence of the Weeping Monk.

He sure had a way of drawing attention to himself…and therefore away from you and the child.

The warning was directed at both assailants “Step away from them.”

Never before had you heard that deep timber in his voice before.

The one with the knife did not back down “You’re that ‘Weeping Monk’! This wench is protecting a Fey! Kill that spawn of evil or we’ll do it ourselves!”

The blue eyes of the Monk met the brown ones of the frightened, trembling child.

These men threatened to harm a child and the patience he would have had was lost.

The Monk did not ignore the threat “Y/n. Shield the child.”

With that warning, you covered the child’s eyes and closed your own.

There was shouting, then a blood curling scream that made you hug the child against you and cover her ears.

The silence that followed was palpable in the air.

When your eyes opened, the men were face down on the ground where blood pooled around them.

The Monk approached and led both you and the child away from the scene before the girl would try to look and see.

“She lives nearby.” You pointed in the direction the child had pointed in before.

He noticed the necklace in the girl’s hand and looked at you inquisitively.

“Her mother cannot buy food.” You informed and hoped he’d understand.

His eyes returned to the child and caught her attention “Show us where you live.”

She just kept staring at him, an enigma for her to see.

You gently squeezed her shoulder “Go on.”

The little girl took you two streets further up ahead, arriving at a house that looked abandoned.

But he could smell the other Fey inside, the scent very similar to the one the child had.

The Monk proceeded to take out all the coin he carried on him and offered it to the little Fey girl who kept staring at him “Take it.”

The stare did not end and she spoke the reason why “You’re the Grey Monk…”

The girl, Sky Folk, knew who he was. Yet, she did not flee…

At times he feared other Fey could sense that he was of their kind, as he could sense it on them.

After some hesitation and no initiative from the child, he took her hand and placed the coins in her palm “Go.”

Stubborn as she was, the girl gave you a hug first and then surprised both when she did the same to him.

It was over quickly, still it had him standing still while processing what had just occurred.

The girl waved at both of you before she went inside her house.

The Monk touched your arm “We have to go.”

Was he afraid of what would happen if the mother stepped outside?

You listened to him this time and followed him back to the market “You helped her.”

The opposite would be wrong to him “She is a child.”

“They’re Fey…” There was no doubt that he knew it.

You stopped when he wrapped a hand around your arm.

Father could not learn of this…“I know that what I am to ask of you is not simple. I ask that you do not speak of what happened to anyone else.”

“Not even my uncle?” You squinted your eyes.

He gave a nod, his gaze never losing it’s intensity.

There was no question to it that you would keep it to yourself “It will be our little secret.”

The Monk continued to walk, hint of a smile on his lips “The list of them keeps growing between us.”

You bumped into his side on purpose “Maybe it is because we trust each other.”

That studying gaze of him remained on your face for a while “Perhaps.”

It was his careful smile that brought forth your own.

He cleared his throat, trying to sound stern “You did lie to me.”

A frown graced your face “Lie?”

It was a needed reminder “You said you would remain in my sight and not wander off and still I had to search this village to find you.”

It was true, you had broken your word “I’m sorry, Lancelot.”

His hands folded behind his back, the market now in sight “I forgive you. Your reason for it was noble.”

You felt at ease again “Your reaction was too. Thank you for helping that girl.”

He hummed in response and offered “If we come here again, we can search for something to replace the necklace.”

Oh? That was a generous offer “Ah, because you are all out of coin at the moment. Aren’t you?”

The Monk pretended not to hear “Our business at the market is done. We are heading back.”

“I am riding with you again?” You made a guess.

He was already walking with you towards Goliath “Of course.”

       Taglist:

@ourlazydetectivekitten @the-great-adventures-of-me @linkpk88  @fxrchxldws  @elenaoftheturks @slytherlight @beananacake    @crystallizedtime  @moonlightaura03  @angrygardendeer  @have-aheart   @5am-cigarette @arcanenature  @thewinterskywalker @notyourwildestdream @coloursforyourportrait @koressecretidentity @nike90 @n1ghtlux @rachlovesactors @luckyzipperscissorsbat @morena-doing-stuff  @the-fangirl-diaries @gipsydanger17 @heavenly1927​  @phantasmalbeiing  @labyrinthonmymind  @asarcastic-thiamstan  

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist of this story.

#the weeping monk x reader #weeping monk #theweepingmonk #netflix cursed #weeping monk fanfic #weeping monk x you #weepingmonk #weeping monk x reader #reader x weeping monk #reader x lancelot #lancelot #lancelot x reader #lancelot x you #daniel sharman character #Daniel Sharman #lancelot fic #Cursed Netflix #cursed #lancelot cursed #cursed fic #you x weeping monk

[agentsquirrelsgotrobots]

Trans! Cody fic

There's more than one reason why Morocco isn't welcome on Griffin Rock.

This is a little lead up to the Trans! Cody au that I am writing using one of my favorite tf fanfiction tropes - humans to transformers. It's not necessary to read to understand the fic, so if the tags are triggering for you, feel free to skip. This is just a little thing to show how many times Cody has hidden that he is AFAB from the bots and how his family helps him in that respect.

Tw deadnaming, transphobia

Nobody said anything when Cody went to the pool.

Heatwave noticed that unlike the other boys, Cody wore a t-shirt over a black sports bra? On his chest.

Nobody said a thing when Cody's uncle called him Ce instead of Cody, Cody reintroducing himself and everyone quickly moving on.

Nobody said a thing when Charlie pulled Anna aside for a chat after Frankie invited Cody to a sleepover party at her house.

Why would they ever think that there was anything to miss? Really, it was just an open secret, and honestly, the Burns often forgot that the bots didn't know. That didn't mean that they didn't respect Cody's desire to pass quietly, and they showed their allyship quietly as well.

That didn't mean that everyone was so respectful.

"Carly? Carly Burns, that's enough of that. Be a proper young lady now, that's enough!" Morocco said, pulling a panicking Cody in front of the cameras.

"Carly? My cousin? She left when I was four! My name is Cody. You got the wrong kid!" Cody twisted out of Morocco's grip and ran out of the lab with a copy of his files, smashing the camera as he went.

He was crying, God was that embarrassing. Usually, he had three big siblings and his dad to stand in the way of people like him, but he just felt exposed, vulnerable in every way, and so, so uncomfortable.

He crossed his arms over his chest. He had worn his coat today, so he just wore a comfy sports bra instead of a proper binder or binding tape. He knew it wasn't what he wore, Morocco was around before he was born, but it still ached to know that Morocco had recognized him so quickly. Uncle Woodrow had left around the same time he had changed his name, and even though he wasn't the biggest fan of Ce, he could at least tell that Woodrow was coming from a place of caution.

Being off grid meant he wasn't always clued into name changes and little life events, so he tended to default to generic nicknames until he and Kade's names came up naturally in conversation. (Kade's mom was a piece of work, and his name was changed when he was an infant and a toddler for his own protection.)

He made it to a waiting Chase and hugged Charlie tight. His father returned his hug and had Chase gun it. They made it to city hall, where Morocco was racing with the footage of Cody reacting to his deadname. Open secret or no, outing a minor is incredibly dangerous, and the fear of Cody being killed over Morocco's petty greed was a stomach turning thought in Charlie's mind.

They made it, and Barney had already arrested Morocco for child endangerment. Apparently, chasing two children with dangerous robots was illegal. Imagine that.

Charlie ceised the camera footage, more than happy to make sure it got misplaced. No one threatened his kids and got away with it.

"Chief, I wasn't aware that you once had five children in the house." Chase said back at the house. "Is there a possibility that Carly could be an issue in the future?"

"Chase, I have always had four children. Carly visited for a little while, but Cody has been through a lot today, and I would rather like to go upstairs and make sure he is doing alright. End of discussion." Charlie had to force himself to calm down. The more defensive he got, the more the bots might push, and he REALLY didn't want to hear his son's deadname today anymore than he had to.

The bots were quiet after that, and he met his youngest in the kitchen, eating a bowl of ice cream and nearly swimming in one of the hoodies he had stolen from the boxes of merchandise that was sold at fundraisers before they got the bots, and Optimus's checkbook, available to them. Now, they were just spare clothes to hand out to anyone who needed them.

Kade gave him a bowl of his own. His personal bucket of ice cream was tucked under his arm and already had a giant spoon stuck in it.

"It's that kinda night, dad. Cody's probably gonna finish his ice cream, He already took his sleep medicine and head off to bed. I will have him keep his door open just in case."

Charlie smiled as the meds hit bottom as Cody stopped scraping the bottom of the empty bowl and toddered off to bed, hearing his drop onto his bed with a thud.

#tfrb cody #transformers rescue bots #maccadam #tw misgendering #Morocco is a bitch and Charlie is corrupt in a good way #trans!Cody

[switchyglitch]

🕸️The Mischievous Spider-Glitch 🪶

All right, let's do this one last time.

My name is Dominic Decker, I was bitten by a radioactive spider, and for the past year I've been the one and only Spider-Glitch. A name "affectionately" given to me by my boss and biggest hater, J. Jonah Jameson, when he noticed the effect I have on technology. Apparently that spider that bit me was going through experiments with electricity, because the panic attack I had when I was bit seems to have mixed with that spider's properties, and now screens around me tend to temporarily glitch whenever I get too anxious.

I lost my Uncle Ben just as this all started, he was the only one who supported a certain.. interest I've always had. You see, I've always loved tickling, I really don't know why but it's always been something I've been fascinated by. Ben was the only one who knew, and he never once made me feel weird about it. In fact he said the world could use more tickling, that if people tickled instead of fought then the world would be a less violent place. Once he died, due to the same violence he'd often mention, I decided to put my newfound spider-based abilities to honor that tickly sentiment and became a hero of sorts. A hero that, instead of punching and kicking, tickles villains into submission. No harm, no pain, the job gets done and I get to have some fun of my own.

I made a suit, black and purple, with a spider logo to ensure that nobody would suspect me under the mask. After all, how many arachnophobes would elect to put a big picture of a spider right on their chest? After the suit I figured I could use some webbing, so I fashioned some web-shooters that would suit my purposes. They have three modes, the first being normal high-strength webbing, good for swinging through Manhattan and keeping enemies back when needed. Second, a special vibrating web I synthesized, made with the purpose of hitting a villain's tickle spots when I can't get close enough. And lastly, a sprayable mist to dissipate webs, mainly to stop the vibrating webs once I'm finished so I don't leave a villain in torture waiting for the webs to dissipate naturally.

With all of this in place, things have improved more or less. I mean I have a secret life and a moral responsibility to help people from the crazies causing trouble across Manhattan, but I also get to indulge in glorified tickle fights for the sake of good. Admittedly very dangerous tickle fights with people out to kill me, but regardless, it’s what I do and I can handle it all for the most part.

Really the biggest issue I have, other than the constant life-threatening situations I find myself in, is Doc Ock. Olivia Octavius, a scientist with four flexible mechanical arms strapped to her back. First time I fought her it was a bank robbery, she was trying to grab funding for a project. I stopped her in my tickly way and unlike any villain I've faced yet, she LOVED it.. I mean I love an appreciative Lee as much as the next guy but in this case it's going against what I'm trying to achieve. And worst of all she's too slippery for the police, so now she goes around causing minor havoc to lure me in and tickle her.

I mean I won't lie, I don't hate tickling her, she has the cutest tum of any villain I've faced and an adorable laugh. And I mean she isn't hurting anyone, she really just wants the attention and tickles from me, so.. I don't know, it's a confusing relationship we have. Don't really know how to handle it fully yet, but, it's not the worst cycle to be stuck in.

And that's my life. Tickling cute villains, trying to save people and indulge a bit, making this line of work as minimally violent as possible for the sake of New York and to honor Uncle Ben.

------------------------------------

And there we have it, this is my Spidersona and the world and people around him! I've wanted one of my own for the longest time, since the first Spider-Verse movie really, but I never had much of an idea to go off of. But then recently, I thought about it through the lens of using Spider-Man powers for tickly purposes and came up with all this 😝

Hope you guys are as amused by the thought of this all as I am. I have no idea what I'll do with this Spidersona going forward, if anything at all. I'd make art of him in tickly situations but I'm really not great at human anatomy If any tickle-artists that are also Spider-Man fans want to take up the challenge though feel free, I'd be happy to give what I imagine him, his suit, Doc Ock, and anything else around him in more detail in a future post if anyone was willing to draw him!

But anyways, this is what I have for now, and I'm pretty damn happy with it 😊

#tickling #ticklish #tickles #tickle #lee #ler #switch #tickle community #spidersona #spiderverse

[thebiscuiteternal]

For @internet-snail (for some reason tumblr won’t let me properly @ you, so I hope you see this), my outline/extended concept for a sequel to this fic.

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With his brother still in a coma and a sect to run, Nie Huaisang needs to get the Jin sect to start thinking they're safe if he's going to continue his investigation. He also needs to make sure that Jin Guangshan doesn't go "tying up loose ends". 

So he takes advantage of the fact that Qinghe Nie doesn't do public executions to claim that Jin Guangyao has been killed for the murder attempt.

It mostly gets the effect he wanted, but there are a few unexpected problems.

Like Lan Xichen halting his participation in Nie Mingjue's recovery and starting to send his uncle in his stead.

His brother had said that Lan Xichen always seemed to side with Jin Guangyao in their arguments, but this...

On one hand, Nie Huaisang is all too aware of what grief can push someone to, and a small part of him can’t help but be sympathetic to that pain… On the other, Nie Huaisang no longer feels that he can trust him enough to tell him the truth and bring him in on the plans, if this is how he's going to treat Da-ge over a decision Nie Huaisang made.

So be it. The Nie sect will be handling this on its own as much as possible.

There are other little bits of fallout.

Qin Su's engagement is annulled to "protect her from being bound to the memory of a criminal" and she is sent home to her parents (to the secret relief of her mother).

And Mo Xuanyu is disinherited since he's no longer needed to hold over Jin Guangyao's head, but Jin Guangshan pretty much forgets he even exists almost immediately and so he's not sent away from Koi Tower.

He, Nie Huaisang thinks, could still be helpful.

When Nie Huaisang approaches him, Mo Xuanyu is wary and a little angry at first, since Yao-ge had been one of the other very few people to be nice to him, but after a little hinting as to what's really going on, he makes for an eager and surprisingly good spy.

By the time Da-ge awakens from his recovery coma, Nie Huaisang is sure, they will have sorted this whole mess out and punished those truly responsible.

In the midst of all of this, Jin Guangyao is being kept safely hidden in a set of rooms deep within the Unclean Realms. He has a healer and two servants assigned to him and Nie Huaisang does his best to honor any request that can be safely fulfilled.

His only outside visitors are Nie Huaisang himself, and Mo Xuanyu when he can be smuggled in.

They both keep him informed on how the investigation is going and he contributes what he can, but there's an uneasiness building in him. He can't help being suspicious of his circumstances by nature, especially after what he’s just been through, and a part of him starts wondering if the progress is a ruse. 

If they're waiting for him to break down and... he doesn't know what. 

Be more obedient? 

Be more grateful? 

Is he expected to-

The rational part of his mind knows he's being absurd, but it's hard to listen to it when he's having to spend so much time alone with his own thoughts.

So he decides a little test for his former lover is in order, and the next time Nie Huaisang visits, he makes a silent, but still very clear offering of himself. In gratitude, of course, for the one who saved him from his father’s efforts to have him killed. 

Nie Huaisang tears away and flees in a horrified panic, which is... not the reaction he was expecting.

It isn’t until he reads the letter the assigned servants bring with dinner that his rational mind takes over again.

Nie Huaisang isn't angry with him; he's disgusted with himself for having apparently said or done something that would make Jin Guangyao think such a thing would be demanded of him. There's a promise to work even harder on the investigation and stay out of his space, to find other people he'll feel safer around.

Oh, he’s… he’s seriously hurt someone who has genuinely been trying to look out for him. Genuinely still cares for him. Might still love him, even.

The realization makes him feel ill.

He tries asking for Nie Huaisang to visit through the servants, the healer, and Mo Xuanyu, but his former partner never comes back to his rooms again before Jin Guangyao is informed that the investigation is complete.

The first time he does see Nie Huaisang again, the man explains that they are going to Koi Tower meet with Jin-furen, now dowager of the Jin sect until her grandson is old enough to lead, and the other sect leaders

After that, Nie Huaisang reassures him, he'll be free to go.

He doesn’t see Nie Huaisang again during the trip south.

The meeting is as uncomfortable as expected. He waits in a side room as Nie Huaisang explains the results of the investigation.

It stings to hear the barely-controlled anger in Er-ge’s voice as he accuses Nie Huaisang of having him executed for nothing.

It stings more to see the look on Er-ge's face when Nie Huaisang silently brings him in.

"Lan-xiansheng," Nie Huaisang addresses Lan Qiren as a Nie disciple sets up a little writing desk for Jin Guangyao. "You know our sect's hand signs and I trust you to accurately read what he writes. I leave the questioning in your hands."

And then he walks out of the room, and it's all Jin Guangyao can do to keep himself from running after him to drag him back in.

The questioning is surprisingly gentle. Those in attendance -even Jin-furen, a little bit- are horrified to learn why he has to resort to signals and written answers. 

With the evidence gathered, his innocence is established and his "conviction" is wiped from the ledgers.

As promised, he's free to go where he wishes.

The first thing he does is go looking for Nie Huaisang.

He finds him right when Er-ge catches up, and the chill between the two men is palpable.

"Congratulations, San-ge. Perhaps Now Lan-zongzhu will remember he has two sworn brothers."

Lan Xichen uncomfortably explains what that means, after Nie Huaisang has departed again, and Jin Guangyao... isn't sure how to feel about it. He had always been pleased whenever Er-ge was protective of him before, especially when it had come to his conflicts with Nie Mingjue, but knowing what he does about the whole situation, this time sits a little sour in his stomach. 

He decides they will discuss it later.

He still has to pin Nie Huaisang down so they can clear up their own misunderstanding before the man leaves Lanling altogether.

Jin Guangyao finally manages to corner Nie Huaisang, having been thrown off by the fact that he'd been expecting the man to have been put in the guest room for the Nie sect leader, not his old one.

It's a good thing he'd figured out his mistake, because Nie Huaisang has already finished packing.

The very few small bags hammer home that he hadn't been planning to stay longer than was necessary for the meeting to begin with, and that makes the frantic humming in his nerves all the louder.

When Nie Huaisang still avoids looking at him, panic turns to frustration, and Jin Guangyao puts a little extra spiritual power into it when he smacks the table.

The resulting crack makes Nie Huaisang jump and turn around, wide-eyed.

Jin Guangyao points to a cushion, and the other man obediently sits.

There is already paper and ink on the table along with a folded letter, but he ignores the latter and holds his hand out for a brush.

'I am not a prisoner,' he writes, then looks up, one eyebrow arched.

"You're not," Nie Huaisang agrees meekly.

'I do not have to obey you.'

"That wasn't- ... that's true," Nie Huaisang agrees, a little more pale, a little more wounded.

'You said yourself that I owe you nothing.'

A pained nod, and it's clear now that Nie Huaisang is bracing himself for the worst.

'Good. I just wanted to make sure we had established all that beforehand.'

He gets up and rounds the table, then bends down and drags a very surprised Nie Huaisang up by the collars of his robes for a kiss.

#mdzs #jin guangyao #nie huaisang #cameos by others #sangyao #ideas #not-quite-fanfic

[thebrownssociety]

For Pepé Le Pew, Wile E. Coyote, and Roadrunner, please

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

34. How they react when they are feeling angry

37. What they really think about themselves

2: A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

Wile.E - Despite being a Toon he's not massively keen on kids. It's because they're quite spontaneous and Wile.E finds that stressful to deal with. There's a reason he teaches at university/college level.

He's very good with his own son, I should point out. Calamity. And he's very good with his nephew Lil Beaper. He understands the pair of them well and it helps that they're both very intelligent. Also it helps that Calamity lives with him and Lil Beaper sees him practically every few days, so they're very used to him.

Since having Calamity he's read a lot of parenting books and tries to follow their instructions. Obviously that doesn't always work though, which inevitably gets Wile.E frustrated. Over the years though - and with help, support and guidance from Roadie, Scratchansniff and the rest of the LT's - he's gotten more confident. Also helps that Toons in general have a culture that's very much 'it takes a village to raise a child' mentality.

Pepe - He's a coffee drinker, not a tea drinker. He HATES tea with a passion and, if he has to drink it to be polite, will either find a plant to subtlety throw it into or let it go cold, then say it's 'undrinkable' and throw it away.

With the invention of Microwaves that's scuppered his plans a bit, as the host will sometimes say. 'Would you like me to heat it up for you?'

So Pepe has to go. "Oh...non. It'z fine. I'll do it." And then he's got to find a way to accidently-on-purpose throw it away. The other LT's know he doesn't drink tea though, so it's only some of the Disney Tunes that try to serve it him.

Roadrunner - He's really good with kids. All kids. They love him and like to follow him round and ride on his back. [This is for kids under 5, I should point out.] Baby's reach out for him, toddlers try and hug him [and sometimes pluck him, depending on how motor-controlled they are] and he's got a long line of kids that he babysits. It's a good way to make money when not filming.

As you might imagine he's really good with his own kid - Lil Beaper - and his nephew [Calamity.] Although as they've got older they now think he's embarrassing and try to distance themselves from him. [Watching your dad/uncle give random kids piggy-backs is embarrassing once you hit 13, apparently.]

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

Wile.E - He's convinced he isn't really clever. Sure he can speak multiple languages, invent things that most others wouldn't even consider to be possible and is actually a teacher, but there's always other people better than him. He's really hard on himself and covers it up with a smug exterior. It cracks occasionally - especially in moments of high stress - but he pulls himself back together easily and most Toons just think it's a strange glitch. He tries to push it down because if he thinks about it to much he gets depressed and anxious.

Pepe - He wishes he fought in the war. He's seen the effects it's had on the other toons and feels a bit useless because he can never properly understand what they went through and so when they freak out or have a severe flashback or something, he has no idea what to do. Obviously he's not going to voice this because he knows it sounds insane.

Roadrunner - He's actually really open with himself and doesn't really have secrets. The main thing he's worried about that he won't voice is that Wile.E will die via blowing himself up or something. It's hard for most toons to discuss death because - they're toons, they're not going to die. Not that there's any evidence that they don't just have long life spans...ok that's enough thoughts for now. Let's go for a run. [He runs a lot to take his mind of his dark thoughts]

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

Wile.E - He sees Scratchansniff about his anxiety and feelings of being inferior. They've made progress actually and Wile.E has a couple of strategies now for dealing with this. Writing down his feelings and keeping a log of inventions that have worked and haven't to refer back to and why. Contrary to what is shown on screen most of his inventions DO work.

Pepe - He sees Scratchansniff about his feelings regarding his stink and his being dropped from the show. He's developed depression over the years and has been issued Toon Medication for him to help fight it.

Roadrunner - Roadie doesn't really see a therapist. If anything he's someone that over people end up confiding in because he's sometimes seen as not being very intelligent because he doesn't really talk. So other toons that aren't the Looney Tunes sometimes just rant at him or want to talk to him about something. He kinda falls into those situations though. He runs through Toon World and has met nearly every Toon in the world, if only briefly.

He does sometimes wonder if he should see Scratchansniff about his fear of Wile.E dying, but always talks himself out of it.

34. How they react when they are feeling angry

Wile.E - He'll go away and plan inventions to kill them with. He's got a notepad that he calls his 'Murder-Pad' [Please change the name Wile.E, Roadie says. He doesn't.] filled with ideas that he will never actually make a reality, but he likes to look at them and remind himself that he COULD make them if he wanted to. He's also a ranter and will find someone he trusts [usually Roadie. Sometimes Sylvester or Speedy if Roadie's not about.] and rant at them for ages.

Pepe - He'll either deliberately activate his stink so whatever's annoying him goes away or he'll remove himself from the room to calm down. He likes time to himself to calm down - other people being around just aggravates him further normally. [Penelope is a bit of an exception but even she leaves him alone if he's REALLY angry] Thing about Pepe though is he's quite calm and hard to annoy, so if he IS annoyed something major has occurred.

Roadrunner - Goes for a run. Literally outrunning his problems. He doesn't really yell or shout, but will occasionally burst into a rhyme-rant [literally rants in rhyme]. Occasionally if he's in the rare position of wanting to get someone away from himself or someone he cares about he will kick out with one of his legs and that tends to ward them off.

37. . What they really think about themselves

Wile.E - See 16.

Pepe - He thinks he's an outdated Toon who clinging onto the success of the Looney Tunes as a whole rather than him individually. He's also thinks other Toons won't see past his stink and it's part of the reason why he doesn't really socialise out of the Warner Brothers circle.

Roadrunner - He does wonder if he's trying hard enough to be sociable and friendly with toons other than Wile.E. He thinks he's a little bit shyer than other Toons would say he is. He also thinks he's not a good enough brother to Wile.E [they were created on the same date, so technically considered 'twins' by Toon standards] despite the fact that he often goes up and beyond to help Wile.E out and the coyote himself has said that Road Runner is the best brother he could ever ask for.

#Looney Tunes Asks #Wile.E Headcanons #Pepe Le Pew Headcanons #Roadrunner Headcanons #Toons Headcanons #Wile.E #Pepe Le Pew #Roadrunner #Deep thoughts #They all have issues

[robinwinghood]

https://fate-defiant.tumblr.com/post/705558262114844672/via-robinwinghood-listen-ive-been-kicking

Also don’t be shy, share the ideas! We’d all love to hear!

@fate-defiant

Well, I can try, this isn’t exactly coalesced into a sense-making thing

OK SO,

There ARE more storyspinners in the ‘real’ world, among other kinds of magic, this is a magical world.

Magic is generally kept secret. This world isn’t modern it’s kinda more 1910s-1920s-1930s-ish (tbh, generally, think Tintin-esque) so the magical stuff is not that difficult to hide from the wider world. There is a kind of global supernatural community, people in the know, magic users, etc.

This world kind of crosses paths with several others, including the fairytale land that Siegfried originated from. Travel back and forth is possible, but not easy or simple, unless you have direct connection to one (which is the case with Seigfried and Rue, with Siegfried being from there and Rue carrying The Raven’s blood, and The Raven having originally come from there) (This means that Siegfried would have trouble returning to the ‘real’ world on his own, but Rue wouldn’t, because she has connections to both) (This part is going a li’l bit Namesake I’ll admit)

Kinkan was kinda like an SCP, but with no SCP Foundation to deal with it. Some people went in and were never seen again, but the majority of the time, people would go in and come out, apparently none the worse for wear, except for the fact that their memories were a bit wonky and spotty.

So, like, let’s say Anteaterina was from the outside. She’d be able to remember a lot of the basics of what happened, like that she tried to steal another girl’s boyfriend as revenge for some snub, and somebody talked her down, but she wouldn’t remember the specifics, and probably chock that up to a more rational explanation, like stress from the school year.

Kinkan was also sealed off from outside magical influence. Essentially, the broader supernatural community was AWARE of Kinkan being weird, but nobody could do anything about it. They couldn’t even find out why, if anyone tried to go in, they’d just get pulled into the story, and either vanish, or get spat out with still no idea what Kinkan’s deal is.

So, the vague plot I had in my brainspace involved:

After Drosselmeyer’s power was broken, it takes a while for word to spread, but once it does, you’ve got folks in-the-know coming from miles around to try and find out just what’s been going on with this seemingly random German town over the past century or so. This leads to a small seaplane landing on the lake, which Duck witnesses while Fakir is off talking to an in-the-know person from outside, learning about the situation. Duck sees a few other Kinkan residents being like ‘wtf is that thing?’ and runs face first into the realisation that SHE recognised that it was a plane. Why does SHE know what a plane is? Also, she’s got memories of like... Maybe a DAY/WEEK before Drosselmeyer approached her?

(This did also involve a Duck-gets-to-stay-a-girl headcanon, I admit. She then sees an older girl disembark who bears a STRIKING resemblance to human Duck. Fakir is also informed that Duck should’ve turned back into a normal duck by now, and asked if he’s ABSOLUTELY certain she’s 100% just a duck.)

(Duck’s past was that she’d been part of a li’l kinda Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers/Tintin esque mystery-solving/adventure-having type operation with her elder sister and... I never decided whether it was their dad, their uncle, or even just their wheelman, he was like their Captain Haddock equivalent. Eventually, an incident unrelated to Kinkan led to Duck getting turned into a literal duck, and Drosselmeyer sort of stumbled across her and decided to be opportunistic in finding his Princess Tutu.)

(What follows is... Plot of some description that’s as far as I ever got. A lot of this is a kinda gateway to the outside world and what it’s like out there.)

Various Headcanons:

Paulamoni and the troupe actually DO remember Duck, even though the rest of Kinkan doesn’t. This is because the story didn’t censor the memory of Duck on their way out, because as far as they knew she was a normal kid, and they weren’t present when Drosselmeyer’s power was fully broken. Same goes for Raetsel.

Drosselmeyer throughly screwed himself over picking Duck to be Princess Tutu, but he didn’t know enough about the ‘real’ world a century after his death to know it. She’d already been the beating, bleeding heart of the Rescue Rangers group, the one talking people back from terrible decisions and the like. He found in Duck both the best possible Princess Tutu and the worst for his plans.

I sometimes called Duck’s sister Goose. I sometimes was inclined to think ‘Duck’ was a nickname, based on following their mom/grandma around when she was little.

Duck was always in love with ballet, and the one she first saw as a kid was Sleeping Beauty.

It takes a couple days before Fakir and Ahiru get the chance to compare notes. Obviously she can’t tell him as a duck that she saw someone who looked like her, and he’s not sure what to make of being told that Duck might not’ve been just a Duck, so it takes him some time before he comes round to taking it as permission to write Duck back into a girl, if only to discuss it.

Fakir has some relation to the supernatural community in the outside world, via his mother’s family, and that’s why he’s called Fakir.

#Princess Tutu #AU #Headcanons #I had ideas that an older Clara and Hans from The Nutcracker were two of the in-the-know folks #and that Hans did actually have his Uncle Drosselmeyer but that this guy was a different Drosselmeyer like a relative or something #So much of this comes down to turning the magic system over in my brain like a rottisserie chicken #'A storyspinner like Drosselmeyer is a once-in-a-thousand-years situation and thank god for that' #'Mister Fakir ducks can't count' #I had the idea that Fakir is actually a weaker storyspinner than Drosselmeyer but he's a more efficient one #Where Drosselmeyer could by-and-large brute force change the reality across Kinkan #Fakir working WITH who he's writing (Duck) and working around reality lets him do much more than his flat power level would suggest #This got slightly away from me #I picture a fair few instances where somebody in-the-know went into Kinkan with a rope tied around their waist #Only for the rope to be empty when the other person pulled it back #Because THOSE folks would always get turned into small animals so the rope would fall off

[jennycalendar]

i feel like thought is not often given to jenny and her position in later season two. most of the takes i see about what happened there are either incredibly lukewarm, playing her situation up past the point of villainy when canon is explicit about the position she was in, & i find myself needing to delineate (again, i guess) why this is absolutely not the case.

(disclaimer as ever that jenny is thinly written, and that my reading is not the only reading possible -- but i do authentically believe that in this specific instance, the more uncharitable readings towards jenny are disinteresting, ill-conceived, and ultimately disappointing, & i’ve never pretended to be unbiased in this arena.)

first of all, i’ve seen people argue that jenny “shouldn’t have tried to hurt buffy and giles.” well, when DID she try to hurt buffy and giles? we’re shown her talking to enyos about angel, and the most crucial part of the conversation goes like this:

this establishes two things. first of all, if we’re looking at just this isolated scene, “surprise” is the FIRST EPISODE in which jenny brings up buffy and angel being close, even though buffy and angel have been clearly loosely romantically involved in a way that anyone spying on angel would notice since at least the beginning of this school year! at no point of her apparently Super Secret Spy Mission has she ever actually brought buffy/angel to her uncle’s attention, which in turn really emphasizes that either A) she is a very bad spy or B) she cares about buffy and angel’s relationship and wants to keep their connection a secret from her uncle as long as possible, so that she is not asked to intervene.

the second point ties into this second option. jenny is establishing herself as someone who believes that angel is capable of change! her entire position in this conversation is firmly asserting that enyos and the elder woman are wrong to feel like anything has changed, and that there is absolutely no need for her or for them to take any kind of action against angel. it’s only when enyos forces her hand that she decides to take action -- and it arguably isn’t really any kind of action at all. angel absolutely does need to take the judge’s arm out of the country to make reassembly impossible. he absolutely is the only person who can do it. it’s a stopgap measure, which in itself is also significant: jenny is not on a spy mission. jenny is trying to buy herself time and remain undetected, ALL WITHOUT EVER HARMING EITHER BUFFY OR ANGEL. 

as such, any assertion that jenny ever wanted anything bad to happen to angel is just factually incorrect. when she says “angel was supposed to pay for what he did to my people,” when she says “i was raised by the people that angel hurt the most,” she is ALWAYS attaching her family’s pain to her own motivations. never in canon does she actually say or even implicitly suggest that she herself wants angel to suffer, and she in fact has explicitly argued that angel is capable of change and of helping her family. what she is doing is coming from a place of familial loyalty, but she is not above questioning their motivations -- and it’s important to notice that she does actually have a clear and stated canonical position when it comes to her family’s mission of vengeance!

THIS conversation establishes very clearly that jenny DID NOT KNOW that the curse could break! that this was not information she had, AND that when she is GIVEN this information, she tells her uncle that he’s an idiot and she walks out on him! that her response to her uncle asserting that vengeance is the most important thing in this situation IS to walk out on him! i cannot understand why in 2022 we are still acting like jenny was ever motivated by vengeance in this situation, or like she was ever actually on board with her family’s plans. she isn’t happy about what she’s doing. she wants to stop doing it. she does stop doing it as soon as she has the full picture.

it’s also important to remember that NOTHING jenny does ever actually leads to the curse breaking! as previously established, she didn’t know that the curse could break. she says it herself.

i include the fact that she describes herself as being “sent here to watch [buffy]” because i think it highlights exactly how sloppy and inconsistent this writing for jenny is. we are given the information that jenny has only JUST NOW told enyos about buffy in surprise, yet in innocence she describes herself as “sent here” to watch buffy. this is exactly why describing jenny as any kind of villain is, from both a doylist and a watsonian perspective, fundamentally ridiculous. from a doylist perspective, jenny is poorly written. full stop. they created this plotline and did not even check their own work. from a watsonian perspective, if this kind of discrepancy exists in jenny’s own story -- a discrepancy that actually MAKES HER LOOK WORSE in front of buffy and giles -- this eliminates the possibility of her lying to save her own skin (what possible motivation could she have for presenting herself as a villain?). as such, jenny is not a genuinely effective or convincing liar, and has kept this secret because she honestly didn’t realize her family obligation that she wasn’t invested in had the potential to actually harm people that she cared about.

jenny not being a convincing liar can also be seen when she struggles to lie about buffy’s surprise party -- a moment that’s meant to build tension on a first watch regarding her motivations, but upon a second watch simply becomes a bad lie about a teenager’s birthday. this is also present when she’s visibly uncomfortable about willow questioning her re: angel, and fumbles to come up with an answer.

literally this is the WORST LIE POSSIBLE. why would seeing angel’s face clue jenny in when it came to his intentions? angel’s vamped out before, always to protect the innocent, often by accident when he’s in or coming out of a particularly nasty fight. there would be no reason for jenny to assume that he’s gone evil just based on that piece of information. this is a bad lie. are we supposed to find it credible that a woman who has never hidden her true feelings about anything, a woman who stumbles visibly when she has to lie, has been playing some kind of manipulative long con? it simply doesn’t clock.

arguing that jenny did something wrong in this instance -- i can agree with that. but i have never seen anyone talk about the actual problems with what she decided to do. we are not given enough information about her to say with any clarity that she initially got close to giles to keep tabs on angel, but it’s worth noting that jenny was not initially WRITTEN as a member of the kalderash people, and that this was a last-minute add-in that showed up in “surprise.” there was no foreshadowing as to her position, no suggestion that there was anything motivating her to want to date giles other than simply liking him, and as such i think it is absolutely a shot in the dark to say that she canonically got close to giles and buffy to keep tabs on angel when canon actually explicitly contradicts that fact. canon is saying that jenny dated giles because jenny liked giles, and jenny had pretty much two conversations with buffy, none of them about anything that might suggest they were close outside of a kind of “dad has a new girlfriend that i’m still getting to know” dynamic. y’all can headcanon jenny as a duplicitous spy, but call it what it is: a headcanon. it is not text-supported.

the notion that jenny could have asked more questions -- i gotta say, i don’t see why she needed to. with her responsibilities to her family retconned in, and with her never originally written as a Lying Spy, the implicit narrative suggestion is that she never actually took her mission seriously. her uncle underscores this notion by coming by to demand to know why she hasn’t been writing, refusing to take “no” for an answer, and verbally berating her for “forgetting her place.” it’s definitely true that she could have asked more questions, but this doesn’t feel like the move of an obedient little soldier, and i don’t love that fandom chooses to frame it as such. this to me has always felt like a resentful little soldier who is trying not to ask too many questions so as to not get even more frustrated with her position, and who only starts asking questions when her uncle starts getting unusually persistent about her needing to act quickly. jenny doesn’t ask about what she’s supposed to do not because she believes in it without question, but because she hates doing it. obviously this isn’t great, but what she’s so often criticized for within fandom....just simply isn’t this. she’s instead criticized for an imagined flaw that isn’t text-supported.

my take on jenny is and has always been that she’s a short-term thinker, and that this more than anything led to everything that went wrong. i’ve talked before about this, but her being a one-note love interest for giles and then getting a whole backstory retconned in creates Incredibly Interesting Implications regarding her presenting herself as casually interested in the supernatural. the fact that she breaks up with him over secrets when she has so many secrets she’s not telling HIM could have pointed to her wanting some kind of escape from her own unavoidable responsibilities, but the fact that she makes the decision to get back together with him suggests that her feelings for him run deeper than she’s willing to admit. this is directly supported by her omitting her history: at first, it can be explained by her not wanting to actually get serious with him, but when she gets back together with him, it becomes clear that she cares immensely about him (is possibly even in love with him) and doesn’t know how to deal with that fact. she’s a short-term thinker. 

jenny doesn’t want to commit to someone who might actually be able to understand her, and doesn’t want to make herself accessible and known, so she keeps her family history under wraps -- in part because of this, in part because she genuinely doesn’t see what the problem is. she doesn’t believe in what she’s doing it, and is doing it from a place of guilt and generational trauma. she has not thought long-term about any of these implications, and when they start catching up to her, she tries to find the easiest way to wriggle out of consequences until consequences and jenny are neck and neck.

in short: jenny is hardly manipulative, hardly obedient, and hardly a spy. jenny is bad at her extracurricular responsibility, doesn’t take it seriously, and doesn’t want to ask questions when she doesn’t like what she’s doing. that’s the problem. think about it.

#meta #jenny calendar #i have a rule against getting into The Discourse. #but i figure that if it is on my own blog and i stay in my lane we're doing fine.

[your13threasonwhy]

holy shit im so mad.

!!!SPOILERS FOR SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE KDRAMA AND WEBTOON!!!

(disclaimer-sorry if any of the characters names are spelt wrong or need a hyphen, i get things confused between the kdrama and webtoon)

i read the webtoon way before the kdrama came out and i am still, to this day, so emotionally attached to it like, its one of the most amazing things ive read and i still cry when i think about it too much.

so, imagine my excitement when i find out its getting a kdrama and my absolute dissapointment when i find out that they changed literally everything (this is an exaragation) that made the webtoon so amazing.

when the show came out i was basically begging my sister to watch it with me (since she hasnt read the webtoon) and we are currently seven episodes in because we had to go on holidays however, we will continue watching it (even though i spent a good hour and a half contemplating whether or not i would actually be able to watch it without combusting after i read what they changed) until the end.

so, like the the overly anxious person i am, i searched up the ending just to make sure they hadnt changed anything else apart from min-gi's character and adding han-na (who we will discuss later) and proceeded to rip my hair out after reading that they made the female lead LOSE ALL OF HER MEMORIES ABOUT EVERYONE SHE LOVED.

but before we get into that i want to talk about the things they actually did well, for example, the cinematography, casting and scenery were actually so amazing and its definitely so much better than the webtoon (however the webtoon does still have a special place in my heart) and i think possibly the only good plot change they did was make han-na the reincarnation of seo-ha's mother. as someone who despises sad/bittersweet stuff i love that they made his mother reincarnate and keep her memories even if he doesnt meet her (which i dont know if he does because im only on episode seven) because its so sweet to think that she got a chance to see her son all (sort of) happy and grown up. i also love the fact that they added more depth to her past lives and showed up more scenes of them as, in the webtoon, im pretty sure the only things we got that related to her past lives were- her and min-gi's friendship, her and doyun's 'relationship' in her first life and her being ae-kyung's uncle.

now, onto the things im sad they didnt keep in but that i could deal with, which is mostly min-gi's character as a whole and the convinience store scene with ji-eum and min-gi where they recognise each other from their past lives (which im assuming they dont do since they changed his whole character). apparently, in the kdrama, min-gi and ji-eum used to be rivals/enemies in their past life or whatever so he decides to like hunt her down and basically stalk her😭😭 and then proceed to tell her that she needs to stop speaking and being around people from her past life because it hurts them (something i will talk-type?-about in a bit).

the reason why im so mad at this is because they straight just basically made him antagonistic instead of HAVING HIM AND JI-EUM BE FRIENDS IN THEIR PAST LIVES AND HAVING HIM SAY THEIR LITTLE SECRET MESSAGE AND HER BEING LIKE 'omg someone actually remembers their past life other than me?' AND THEN HIM JUST TRYING TO HELP HER NOT REMEMBER HER PAST LIVES ANYMORE BUT BEING A LITTLE BIT MISGUIDED BUT THEN THEIR STILL FRIENDS AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT 😖😖😖. like, they just ruined his character potential so much my changing that and adding the stupid motherfucking thing about how interacting with people from your past lifes hurts them.

finally, the things i hate, buckle up folks because this is going to be as long as my dick/j. first of all, the ending and THE STUPID 'YOU CANT INTERACT WITH YOUR PAST LIVES' BULLSHIT. i think the ending and the knowing about past lives hurts people is just absolute boiling garbage because 1-it just doesnt make sense 2-it doesnt make ANY fucking sense and 3-why the fuck does she need to forget but the people from her past lives dont forget who she was as ji-eum and as her past lives??? like i would rather they all forget but they're still happy and her and seo-ha are still dating/married and they're all still close but whatever. second, the whole fucking plot change like they apparently made this whole thing that made ji-eum think seo-ha murdered her sister for some fucking angst instead of the perfectly reasonable (and just as dramatic) thing with doyun where she thinks they were married so she distances herself from seo-ha but it turns out they were sisters and her and seo-ha still get to be happy AND THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE DEAL WITH GOD (which also relates to the ending) BECAUSE IN THE END SHE ASKS GOD TO MAKE HER STOP REMEMBERING HER PAST LIVES AND SHE GRADUALLY STARTS TO FORGET THEM BUT SHE STILL KNEW SHE HAD HAD PAST LIVES AND SHE STILL REMEMBERED EVERYONE SHE CARED OUT AND THEN (if i remember correctly) SEO-HA REFUSES GOD'S OFFER TO REMEBER HIS PAST LIVES BECAUSE HE DOESNT WANNA HAVE ANY OTHER LOVE APART FROM HIS AND JI-EUM'S😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭(not sure if thats what he actually says but you get the gist) AND THEN THEY GET MARRIED AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER INSTEAD OF HER FORGETTING LITERALLY EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE SHE EVER CARED ABOUT AND HAVING TO REBUILD HER RELATIONSHIPS WAAAAAAAAA I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME.

in conclusion, the see you in my 19th life kdrama was absolute trash and i think they should remake it. In this essay i will

#see you in my 19th life #crying screaming throwing up #i love them so much they are my life source you dont get it #petition to remake the kdrama RN‼️‼️‼️ #rip my sister after listening to me rant about this for the 18462754th time #but im seriously gonna make her read the webtoon #and if she likes the kdrama more i will gut her/j #kdrama #rant #rambles