#AND HE WILL DEFEND ROME!!!

[jeffersonseaplane]

Mark my words danya clay season sweep

#say hello to your ‘24 rg champion #AND HE WILL DEFEND ROME!!! #tennis #daniil medvedev

[feodor-dostoevsky]

SUCCESSION – Argestes

#succession #successionedit #roman roy #logan roy #shiv roy #kendall roy #userbbelcher #burgertv #useroptional #dailyflicks #myedit #this scene.. these is SO MUCH IN IT #this slap is for shiv. but roman gets it #because he's the one for beating #ken defends rome like he used to to do it in the past #rome just shrugged it like it was nothing deeply hurt again #that tooth comment....... #tom's reaction... #THIS!!

[renaissancefailmarriage]

being a hater real quick but WOW i hate this trend of headcanons thats like "rome sexually abused [insert blorbo] as a child" so much. way to reveal you know nothing about roman history or roman views of sexuality apart from "lol pederasty"

like wow did you know some people are actually interested in rome and find it annoying to see him reduced to a one-note villain in some other character's tragic backstory. did u know.

#hws rome #text #i'm not even trying to like #defend the moral character of personified rome #he absolutely would be capable of horrible shit #just this particular headcanon i see all the time and the way its done leaves a bad taste in my mouth #its always so flat and sensationalized and with 0 interest in history or cultural context #discourse #i guess? #lmk if any of this needs to be tagged lol

[stewykablooey]

kendall big brother (good) kendall big brother (evil) cycle is cycling

#sooooo sweet with rome about his break down but as soon as he feels threatens he pulls out cruelty #did the same thing with shiv last week when he defended her against tom then called her a piece of filth when he found she was lying to him #i know the cycle cycles but seeing the kids cycle on each other is always just so. #succession #succession spoilers #roy sibs #kendall roy #roman roy #m

[rodlaveraryna]

if jannik doesn't win miami this year this will be my new least favorite tournament

#literally all of my wta faves are out #if danya won i would be happy too because i want him to win a title but also he should defend rome first #and win roland garros #daniil medvedev rg24 champion agenda you heard it from me first #anyways #jannik sinner #sorry for talking sm about daniil in tags #miami 2024 #atp

[ameliafuckinjones]

What if Arthur Kirkland IS the legendary King Arthur, and he's just that old of a bastard.

#hetalia #aph england #arthur kirkland #it would make sense in this universe for the magical sword wielding warrior king to be the personification of the land he was defending #this would also mean he saw the fall of rome and maybe experienced roman occupation before that #probably as a child though cause i still headcanon that he had a mother aka Britannia

[just-late-roman-republic-things]

Shout-out to the documentary about the Second Punic War that:

Erased the existence of the First Punic War.

Suggested Lebanon was a colony of Carthage.

Accidentally implied the Battle of Zama took place in Italy thanks to poor editing cuts.

Portrayed Scipio as a savage musclehead instead of winning through diplomacy, strategy, and logistics.

Erased the entire third front of the war in Greece. (AKA the First Macedonian War.)

Claimed the Romans committed genocide in Spain at this time, when the cornerstone of Scipio’s strategy was actually building alliances with indigenous people who hated Carthaginian rule, and his contemporaries criticized him for refusing to destroy Carthage itself.

It’s part of a series called Eight Days That Made Rome, and I won’t be watching further episodes.

#i did not think i'd be defending scipio africanus of all people today #he's not perfect but he was arguably one of rome's least brutal generals #punic wars #scipio africanus #hannibal of carthage #jlrrt watches #ancient rome

[muirneach]

god. honestly i am in utter disbelief i really was expecting carlos madrid sweep for his 21st birthday. okay new gameplan sincaraz final is out and rubledev final is in. with an andrey win to prove that his comeback is real. that or felix inexplicably comes from behind and sweeps up which would be insane but ​this tournament overall is already insane so why not

#well danya or andrey can take it idc but i want danya to defend rome so he can lose this one yknow #sportsball #‘what about jannik’ get his injured ass outta here let him rest #i also want him to win rome lol i can go either way on that

[ghoul-haunted]

me: alright time to take a break from history posting

immediately after: time to break out the ancient rome/ancient china comparatives so I can talk the absolute whirlwind of oath (breaking) related talk going on in MK1

#listening to KL defend BH like. you are his brother not his wife you dont have to try and justify this #that scene with KL and Smoke tho. and BH in the background coming out of the fog. hi. hello. HAUNTED #absolutely losing it like. you're talking to your brother like he's a dog. holy shit man #i dont actually need rome for this but some of the roman scholarship on it is poetic and what empire DOESNT love fucked up brothers

[lilislegacy]

look. either you agree with me or you don’t - either way it doesn’t matter - but i truly think that at some point - after time, a lot of heavy conversations, some yelling, and crying, and a whole lot of honesty and apologies from her parents - annabeth and her family would work things out and become semi-close. which means eventually percy would be on good terms with them too.

that said, you cannot convince me otherwise that at some point, probably soon after moving to new rome, percy gets into a screaming match with mr. and mrs. chase about how they treated annabeth. and he absolutely blows out the pipes of every house within a mile radius.

not because annabeth needs him to fight her battles. not because percy thinks he has to fight annabeth’s battles. but because he can’t even begin to grasp how someone could treat a child - their own child - like they treated annabeth. the man who was raised by sally jackson cannot even begin to fathom how they blamed their child for the danger that followed her, and then gaslit her when she went to them for help. he can’t even begin to understand how they put her brothers before her, because now that he has his own little sister, his mom has never been more clear about how much she loves him.

he’s gonna lose his shit.

(“what kind of father doesn’t do everything in his power to protect this child?” “it doesn’t matter that you didn’t sign up for it. it’s your fucking job.” “what kind of monster encourages her husband to turn his back on his 5 year old daughter?” “yeah you didn’t choose to have a child, but she didn’t choose to be born!” “what? did you hear that demigods don’t have long lifespans and were just waiting for her funeral so you could get on with your lives?” “what kind of parents make it clear to their daughter that their new babies are the priority? that she’s a danger to them? that they are more important?” “would you fall into hell to save her?… if your immediate answer isn’t yes, then making you a father was the dumbest thing athena ever did.” “she was a scared little kid. you were supposed to protect her.”)

the minute they try to defend themselves, the chases are getting soaked. and part of that is from peeing their pants with fear becasue we all know how terrifying percy is when he’s angry. and nothing makes him angrier than someone who’s hurt the girl, the woman, who is his entire world.

you cannot convince me otherwise. don’t even try.

#percy is gonna lose his shit #someone has to say it #and annabeth won’t #it’s canon to me #i want to sob for annabeth #but i really do think they would all make up eventually and get along well #annabeth chase #percy jackson #heroes of olympus #percabeth #pjo #percy jackson and the olympians

[memories-of-ancients]

Just curious, why do you think Rome fell?

OMG do you really have to ask such a big question right before I was going to bed anon? Well, here are the primary reasons IMO as a Roman history buff.

Lots of Civil Wars --- The Romans going way back to the days of the Republic were constantly fighting over who was going to be boss. Sulla fought a civil war and took over Rome and declared himself dictator, ditto Julius Caesar, and of course Octavian did the same and became the first emperor. During the empire there were many civil wars over who would be emperor as the Imperial system often lacked rules for succession resulting in dynastic struggles and civil wars. Not that it would have mattered if they did, as they probably would have just ignored the rules. In the 3rd century the empire underwent a 50 year period of near constant civil war known as the Crises of the Third Century. Constantine became emperor after killing all his opponents in a civil war. The later half of the 4th century had more civil wars. Even in the 5th century factions were fighting each for control of an empire that was collapsing all around them. No side wins a civil war because they are bloody, destructive, there are no spoils of war. There is only self destruction, they are about as helpful to a country as would a person shooting himself in the foot. All the money and resources that went into fighting civil wars and rebuilding after the war was money and resources not being used to maintain infrastructure, maintain public works, regulate the economy, defend from outside threats, and maintain the government.

2. Political Instability --- Most emperors did not die of natural causes, most emperors were murdered, or committed suicide, or died in battle, or died in a prison cell. Roman government was chalk full of power hungry psychopaths who were willing to murder their way to the top. Sometimes emperors could come and go quickly, with reigns lasting 2-3 years or less in the 3rd century.

Roman political history was rife with intrigue, assassinations, and coups occurring all the time. It was like Game of Thrones except instead of lasting 8 seasons it lasted 500 years.

3. The Army Became a Powerful Interest Group --- If you were a Roman emperor the army was a double edged sword. They were good in that they maintained peace and order in the empire and protected it from invaders. They were bad for you in that they could revolt and murder you, replacing you with someone they liked more. Even your own guard, the Praetorian Guards, couldn't be trusted as they could easily slit your throat in your sleep and declare someone else as emperor. To make sure the army was happy, you gave them big pay bonuses called donatives. Basically official bribes paid to keep the soldiers of the army loyal and happy. With each successive emperor the annual donative became bigger and bigger and thus a greater strain on the Imperial Treasury. If an emperor didn't pay up, he could be murdered by his own soldiers. Thus a lot of public money was paid just to keep the army happy so they didn't end up starting another civil war.

4. A Fucked up Economy --- Maintaining a large standing army to defend a large empire is expensive. Fighting civil wars is expensive. Rebuilding after civil wars is expensive. Constant regime change is expensive. Political intrigue is expensive. Eventually it got to the point where there just wasn't enough money to pay for all that. So emperors just minted more money, decreasing the silver content and minting more copper coins until eventually Roman money became worthless.

Today Roman money is still worthless. Go on ebay and find the cheapest Roman coins you can buy. Except for rarer collectibles Roman coins are still very plentiful and thus very cheap to collect. Worthless money made trade and commerce difficult, and thus the economy suffered. Not to mention constant bloody and destructive civil wars were damaging the economy. Political instability also damaged the economy.

5. Growing Disparity in Wealth --- Over time with civil wars and political instability the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Eventually wealth became so concentrated in the upper class that the middle class disappeared entirely by the late 4th - 5th century. By then the average Roman was in a bad way. They had no opportunities and most Romans were forced to live as tenant farmers, essentially sharecroppers.

6. A Corrupt Tax System --- Meanwhile the wealthy became so powerful that they were able to wield that power so that they did not have to pay taxes. They could exploit loopholes, manipulate laws in their favor, or bribe their way out of paying. To try to make up the revenue, tax collectors attempted to squeeze the lower classes, which of course, didn't have any money. Thus by the late 4th - 5th century the empire was severely underfunded. This resulted in the degradation of infrastructure, public works, the army, the weakening of the government, and less investment in the economy and commerce.

7. Patronage --- By the 5th century the average Roman was out of opportunities and the middle class was gone entirely. More and more the lower class Roman was being squeezed for tax money, money which they didn't have. So in order to survive, Roman lower classes sold their services to a wealthy patron. The patron would house you and protect you and take care of your tax problems. If you were lucky and had special skills like a craftsman or artist you could make a good living under a patron. If not, you probably ended up a tenant farmer tied to the land of the patron, essentially a sharecropper, a serf, or a peasant. Due to this change in the socio economic system power was drawn away from the Imperial government and was redirected to the wealthy patrons. Thus the empire was becoming decentralized.

This would become the basis for medieval feudalism.

8. No One Wanted to Join the Army --- Why would you? You're dirt poor and have no opportunities. If you joined the army you may not even get the opportunity to defend the empire, as you're gonna get killed in a stupid civil war fighting a fellow Roman who is also dirt poor and has no opportunities. Your government is corrupt, your emperor is a snobbish entitled incompetent dipshit who was out of touch with reality, the tax man is trying to squeeze you for money you don't have, you have no rights, you've been forced to become a peasant to a proto-feudal lord, and it is clear the empire is dying. By the mid 5th century most Romans were like, "let it fucking die". As a result, the army suffered severe manpower shortages. Right at the time when Goths and Franks and Vandals and Huns are going to start swarming into the empire.

These to me are the primary reasons for the fall. Anyone have anything else to add in addition to this?

[cryptotheism]

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola was an odd duck. As a young scholar, he allegedly mastered Greek and Latin by the age of 13. In 1484 he met Marsillio Ficino and fabulously wealthy italian banker Lorenzo De Medici, and promptly charmed the both of them, roping tutelage from the former, and patronage from the latter. During his time in Florence he would write the 900 Theses, a text which claimed that not only were Plato and Aristotle reconcilable, but that they were compatible with Christianity. He was quite confident in the strength of his work. In fact, he was so confident that he ended the 900 Theses with the following announcement: 

“THE CONCLUSIONS will not be disputed until after the Epiphany. In the meantime they will be published in all Italian universities. And if any philosopher or theologian, even from the ends of Italy, wishes to come to Rome for the sake of debating, his lord the disputer promises to pay the travel expenses from his own funds.”

His plan was to travel to Rome, have the theses published, hold a conference defending his work, defeat every challenger with Facts and Logic, and ride the wave of success to theological glory. On his way to Rome he stopped in the town of Arezzo, had an affair with the wife of one of Lorenzo de Medici’s cousins, attempted to run away with her, got beaten nearly to death, thrown in prison, and then released by order of Lorenzo himself. While recovering from his wounds, he became obsessed with magic.

More Renaissance Magic on Patreon Today

#Magic #esoterica #neoplatonism

[gavisfanta]

TIKTOK - GAVI

summary: you and Gavi do a tiktok trend together

warnings: noneeee

"Okay, so we're gonna ask questions about ourselves and if the other person gets it wrong, were allowed to dip their head into water. Are you ready" You looked away from your phone and then at Gavi.

"Yeah, but you know that I can't remember things very well." Gavi joked and then sat down infront of the bowl filled with water.

"Yeah, you tell yourself that." You put your hand on the back of Gavis head and played with his hair a bit.

"What's my favourite city in the whole world?" You asked and Gavi began to smile while he looked at the camera.

"Barcelona?" He questioned while he looked at you.

You began to smile and let go of his head. "I'll let that count." Gavi looked at you confused and held his hands up into the air.

"What do you mean? Is it not Barcelona?" He asked and you smiled.

"Rome and Barcelona." Gavi's mouth opened slightly as he remembered.

"Righttt we went there for your birthday!" He put his right hand to his head while you two swapped places.

You were now facing the bowl filled with water and Gavi had his hand on the back of your head.

"When did I debut for the first team?" Gavi asked, he thought that you would never get this right. However the smile that spread across your lips made him a bit nervous.

"29th of August 2021."

"how did you know that?" His jaw dropped while you two swapped again.

"I was literally there to experience it, you think I forgot when my boyfriend debuted?" You grinned and slowly a smile made it's way to his face too.

"Yeah okay, fair." 

"So" You began as you two swapped seats again. "What would I name my daughter if I had one?"  You asked and Gavi immediately began to smile.

"Gavi junior." He laughed. "Okay I'm kidding, I'm kidding" He held his hands up to defend himself as he felt your hand push his head a bit closer to the water. "Estrella" He smiled as soon as he heard you sigh.

"Estrella sounds like a good name no?" You asked him as you swapped seats again.

"Yeah, Estrella sounds like a good name for our daughter." Gavi smiled at you and you looked at the camera. Your cheeks colored in a light pinkish tone.

Then as your head was above the water, you smiled while listening to Gavi. "If I had been a girl, what would have been my name?" Gavi asked with a sly smile.

"Your parents hoped you'd be a boy so they never thought about a girl name." You hekd your breath, ready to be dunked but nothing happened.

"Joder you really do listen to me when I talk." Gavi laughed and you nodded your head.

"Yeah, you should maybe listen to me too sometime." You shot back as Gavi's eyes widened and he sat down infront of the bowl.

"I do listen to you?" He said in his defence. You crossed your arms as your eyes widened even more than before.

"Yeah, what's my favourite color?" You asked and immediately dunked his head into the water.

"Hey I know it's red!?" Gavi asked as he pushed his dripping hair out of his face.

"It's purple!" You answered loudly and sat down on the chair as soon as he stood up.

"Okay, sorry." He smiled a bit. You shook your head and turned to look at your phone.

"Okay guys thank you for tuning in and see you next time." You waved at the camera and saw that Gavi was waving too.

After you ended the video you turned on the chair to look at him.

"Y/n, Estrella and Gavi. Hm?" He hummed as he leaned down and pecked your lips.

"Not yet, we're too young." You told him and he just smiled.

"Not yet, I know, but someday, we'll have our own little family." He put his hand on the back of your head as he said that. "You're gonna stay at home and care for the kids while I am at practice and every weekend you'd take them to Camp Nou, and whenever I score a goal, I'll run up to you and kiss you." Gavi smiled as he imagined how his perfect future was supposed to look like.

"Sounds like I'll be fine then." You smiled and he leaned down to peck your lips again.

"You'll be more than just fine Amor."

#barca #fc barcelona #football #gavi #futbol #fanfic #mustread #espana #pablo gavi #gavi x reader #pablo paez gavi #i miss gavi #gavi fluff #trend #tiktok #fiction #gavi fanfiction

[li0nn3stuff]

Aemond and his Italian girlfriend

English is not my first language, be kind.

Modern!Aemond x fem!Reader 

You are in a relationship with modern!Aemond

Warnings: smut

Aemond was just looking at his girlfriend getting ready, as he sat comfortably on the edge of the bed with his legs spread apart. She was tightening the belt of a dress, to a point where Aemond started doubting she could even breathe. She saw a little glimpse of pain cross her face, but as soon as she tied the belt she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

“Doesn’t it hurt you?” he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Well, if beautiful you want to appear, you have to suffer a bit.” she answered, still looking with proudness at her reflection. Aemond almost laughed.

“What?” he asked amused.

“In Italian it sounds better.” she says, raising her shoulders. Aemond shakes his head.

“I’m pretty sure it remains meaningless just as it does in English.” he rolls his eye.

“It’s not meaningless! It’s true!” she immediately defends herself, crossing her arms to her chest and turning to look at him. Aemond gets up as she goes back to look at her reflection, he stands behind her, and he unties the belt, she groans in relief, making Aemond smile slightly.

“You’re beautiful.” he says, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I’ll make sure to remind you everyday, so you won't come up with such ideas anymore. I don’t want to see you suffer.” he kisses her neck as she pouts.

“I can always look better.” she points out, Aemond shakes his head.

“You always look your best. My pretty, perfect girl.” he murmurs, nuzzling his face in her neck, breathing in her scent, as she blushes.

“You’re being cheesy.” she muses and he chuckles.

“Mhh, you want me to be something else?” he wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her back, pressing his body against her. She scoffs and rolls her eyes, but he can see that she is hiding a smile.

“Any other stupid Italian phrases I’ll have to make sure you’ll forget?” he asks, making her roll her eyes.

“Shut up.”  Aemond smiles and hugs her tighter, raising a hand to her neck, and gripping it, making her tilt her head to the side so he has more space to kiss her skin.

“We could go to Italy. I could fuck you in Rome.” he grinds lazily against her back.

“You know I’m not from Rome.” I whine as I push myself back.

“Doesn’t matter, I can fuck you everywhere.” he groans as her grips her hips and he press her firmly against him, keeping her still as he grinds faster.

“Aemond…” she whines as she puts her hands on the mirror to keep her balance.

“What do you need, mh? Tell me what you need and I’ll give it to you, pretty one.”

“I need you…” she says as her breath starts getting heavier, and she pushes herself back.

“You have me, I’m right here.” he smirks as he moves her hair to one side as he keeps working his hardness against her buttocks. She whines louder as she lets her head fall back on his shoulder.

“Aemond…” her cheeks flushed, her eyes closed. She was a beautiful sight. She always was.

“Come on, say it.” he incites her as his grip on her hips tightens.

“Aemond… fuck me, please…” those words were music to his ears. He grabs her by the back of the neck and pushes her down, making her bend forward as he raises the skirt of her dress and he quickly unties his pants, staring at her buttcheeks.

“Want my cock so bad you’re already begging?” he pulls down his pants, letting them pool at his ankles as he pulls to the side her panties, and spreads her legs with his foot as he slowly fisten himself, to get completely hard.

“Yes, yes, I want it, please…” she turns her head to the side, trying to look at him as he positions himself, but he grabs her by her hair and turns her head towards the mirror.

“Want me to make you feel good?”

“Yes, pl- ah!” without preparation, the stretch of his cock was pure bliss, a bit painful, but it was such in a good way, it just made it more pleasurable. He forces himself to start with slow, gentle thrusts, to let her adapt at his length before he could speed up and fuck her brains out like he liked to.

“Fuck, baby, you’re so tight…” Aemond thought she was even tighter than usual, she squeezed him even more than she ususally do, so he knew that he would have never been able to keep this pace. He quickly starts thrusting harder, making her body jolt forward repeatedly, as she sobs and she claws at the mirror.

“A-Aem-ond…” she says, getting interrupted by his thrusts, and her gasps. He starts quickening the pace, digging his fingers in her buttoks, spreading them apart to have a better view of what he was doing to her, how his cock was stretching her wide open, how she was struggling to take him in. 

“You always look good baby.” he groans as he moves his arm back around her waist, his other hand wraps around her neck, pulling her back, keeping her back pressed to his front. “But now that I see you… you look better when you’re taking my cock- fuck-” He groans and he thrusts even faster, the room filled with the sound of his thighs slapping against her buttocks, her moans and his occasional grunts.

“Aemond… I want to cum, make me cum…”

“Yeah? You want to cum on my cock?” she nods eagerly, making him smirk.

He lets go of her neck and he puts his hand beside hers on the mirror, as his other drifts down to play with her pearl, making her moan out loud as her legs start shaking.

“Cum on my cock. Make it yours.”

“Holy- Aemond… fuck-” her legs shake more as she hits her orgasm, sucking him inside, squeezing him like a vice. Aemond opens his mouth and leans his head back, and she eagerly watches him lost in pleasure. His eyebrows knitting together, his pained expression and his mouth hanging open. He didn’t relent. He kept thrusting and thrusting, making her cry out and close her legs because of the overstimulation.

“Shh, just take it baby…” He groans as he leans his head on the back of hers, he opens his eye and he watches her reflection in the mirror, admiring her face of pure pleasure. Her eyes glossy, the desperation in her expression, as her body started to work her towards another orgasm thanks to his actions, her plump lips.

"Look at you, you look so pretty like this... so perfect... you're my perfect girl, aren't you?" he groans, she immediately nods her head.

"Yes- Yes, I'm your perfect girl, yours-" she sobs and he smiles proudly.

"Mine." he growls.

Aemond closed his eye again and quickened his pace, making her gasp in surprise as he pressed her more in the mirror.

“How about one more? Mh? One more and I’ll cum with you, yeah?” he says as he looks back down at her buttocks, he plays faster with her pearl, putting more pressure with his fingers.

“Aem- God… I… I’m…” she mumbles as he takes his hand off the mirror to grip at the skin of her hips, speeding up even more, barely taking it out of her, feeling his orgasm reach him too. He squeezes her flesh and he grunts loudly.

“Cum. Cum pretty girl, please.” 

That hit her, hearing Aemond asking her to come like this was so rare, and it just made her explode a second time, letting out a long moan of his name, he thrusts a few more times before actually stopping himself, after having filled her to the guts with his seed. She leans completely against the mirror, panting. Aemond kisses her cheek nussling his face in hers and caresses the back of her head with his hand as he leans towards the mirror too, careful not to crush her too much.

“You’re so good to me, pretty one.” she smiles softly at his words, and he pulls out, making her whine a bit. She turns around to face him, feeling his seed dripping down her thighs. Aemond smiles at her and he cups her face, kissing her passionately and softly. She hums in appreciation and she wraps her hand around his neck.

“So we’re going to Italy?”

#aemond targaryen fanfic #aemond targaryen fanfiction #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond x you #aemond x reader #aemond smut #aemond targaryen smut #aemond fluff #aemond targaryen fluff #aemond fanfiction #aemond fanfic #aemond fic #aemond targaryen fic #modern!aemond #modern!aemond targaryen #modern!aemond x you #modern!aemond x reader #modern!aemond targaryen x you #modern!aemond targaryen x reader #modern aemond #modern aemond x reader #modern aemond x you #aemond imagine #aemond targaryen imagine #modern aemond targaryen #modern aemond targaryen x you #modern aemond targaryen x reader #hotd fanfic #hotd x reader

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

You wanna know what I just realized....You know how in chapters 1-4 MC/Yu kept asking Crowley to go home. But Once Chapter 5-7 they stopped asking to go home and gave up. Why? Did they just change their minds once they got friends or did they just give up on trying completely until Orthro put it back in their brain? Or Did they just gave up on asking adults period?

Oooh, interesting topic 🤔 I went back in each book to see when instances of Yuu asking about going home were brought up and (shockingly) this actually happens very little, maybe a few times max in the main story (not counting the prologue):

***Main story spoilers (INCLUDING book 7) below the cut!!***

In 1-19, Yuu does NOT ask Crowley; Crowley is the one who brings the topic up. He claims he is in the library to research a way to send Yuu home, and definitely is not reading the latest edition to a new novel before anyone else (which, come on, we all know Crowley is just giving a convenient excuse for himself). Crowley's presence here is then used to inform us of a way to dethrone Riddle via duel.

In 2-4, Yuu DOES ask Crowley when summoned to his office. Crowly then says he is busy preparing for an inter-dorm Magift/Spelldrive tournament, so he hasn't made any progress for Yuu. In 2-14, Yuu also wonders about when they will be able to go home while talking around the campus at night, but does not discuss it further with others.

In 3-6, Yuu does NOT ask Crowley; again, Crowley is the one to bring up the topic when trying to get Yuu to convince Azul to stop his shady dealings. He uses their rising food bills and all that "effort" he's putting into researching as a means to guilt trip Yuu into agreeing.

In 4-2, Yuu DOES ask Crowley if he's actually researching. This occurs because Crowley is all decked out for vacationing in a tropical destination, so Yuu of course questions whether he's doing any real work. Crowley defends himself by saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" and that he's broadening his knowledge base by researching in a southern region.

After book 4, there are no new explicit or even implied scenes of Yuu asking Crowley anything about home. However, 5-33 does feature a flashback to the prologue in which Crowley is struggling to find Yuu's home on a map.

There isn't really a strong mention of Yuu going home in book 6, unless you want to count Yuu talking to Mickey through the mirror and wondering what's on the other side.

7-10 and 7-11 has Ortho to concluding that the mirror with Mickey could be a "connection" to Yuu's original world, and can thus serve as a route home.

Most discussion of Yuu going home is concentrated in the prologue (as it is an important piece of the set-up and explanation for Yuu's presence in Twisted Wonderland), as well as book 7, when the issue becomes very relevant again. There is the occasional instance of Crowley using "oh, there might be information here about a potential way home" as an excuse to rope Yuu into an event's story (ie Glorious Masquerade), but nothing meaningful ever comes from it. These are just contrivances to bring Yuu and Grim along for a more immersive self-insert experience.

If you want a boring answer as to why Yuu asks/seems to care so little about going home and stops completely by the start of book 5, I would wager it's the metacontext. Even in books 1 through 4, Yuu going home is mentioned like maybe once and then is dismissed for the rest of the book. You’ll also notice that in these instances where Yuu going home is mentioned, they are almost immediately then used as a springboard to propel the problem of the week onto them to resolve. Yuu going home isn’t a plot point for most of the main story, it’s a plot device to force Yuu into an OB boy’s path.

There is very little urgency granted to finding a way home because you, the player, WANTS to be in this magical world even if Yuu, the actual in-game character, may be uneasy being away from their friends, family, and home world. Yuu's unease is most likely not depicted or not frequently brought up because it would interfere with the player's enjoyment of the escapism to another world. These desires very obviously clash with one another. However, because the game itself is trying to tell you its story, it has to provide a reason (no matter how nonsensical it is) for there to be no progress made in the search (thus keeping Yuu in Twisted Wonderland), and that reason often happens to be Crowley's incompetence. This is not true of all iterations of Yuu (as the light novel has a strong focus on Yuuya’s anxieties about being in a new world), but it must be this way specifically for in-game Yuu since they are the most easy one for players to project into.

If you're looking for a meatier answer, consider this: book 5 is the turning point in the main story. Before book 5, Yuu seems to defer to Crowley for finding a way home. They don't really wonder or investigate into this area on their own. By the start of VDC/SDC training, it's mid to late winter, or about halfway through the year. Given that Yuu is incentivized by the promise of renovations to let the NRC Tribe boys use Ramshackle as their base of operations, I get the impression that maybe Yuu thinks they'll be stuck in Twisted Wonderland for longer than initially anticipated. Rather than an "I give up", it feels like a "boy, this is taking a while so might as well upgrade the accommodations and make myself as comfy as possible while I wait it out" This thought is helped by the fact that book 5 is also the first time when both Yuu and Crowley don't mention them going home, but also nothing disparaging or hopeless is referenced. As I've said before, we still get a flashback from Yuu which is centered on them going home, so it's clearly still a topic on their mind. It's just not consistently shown to us so as to not interfere with players self-inserting or to avoid making the gaming experience not fun by focusing on Yuu's distress or worries.

Many other significant things happen in book 5 which makes it the "turning point": Malleus reveals his true identity to Yuu, Grim finally going a little feral from the blot stones, and Yuu seeing and speaking with Mickey clearly. From there, Yuu starts thinking about the mirror and how it could lead into another world. They begin to take more agency in their own return, later confiding in their friends about Mickey and what he means for them.

Book 6 mostly glosses over Yuu going home because... well, let's be honest, there's a lot more immediately at stake with six students being kidnapped and experimented on. Yuu's focus and concern is on getting them (and especially Grim) back safely. They weren't thinking about themselves or their own situation back then, they were thinking of others.

Going home returns in book 7 because it has story significance once again. Yuu going back to their own world adds to the growing dread and sense of loneliness that our OB boy for the evening, Malleus, feels over Lilia's departure. It helps to push him closer to the brink of snapping. What's more, this contributes to the overall themes and questions that book 7 poses: those of farewells, change, and leaving friends behind. These are sentiments that Ace, Deuce, and Grim discuss in 7-17, and they parallel Malleus's own anxious thoughts. In all previous books, Yuu's own quest to get home is not closely tied to the themes of a particular book, or it simply was not relevant to mention (it would disrupt the ongoing conflict or pacing).

Finally, to more address each of the specific things asked by the asker (since I know the information in this post is sort of all over the place and might be hard to match up to each question):

[Yuu] stopped asking to go home and gave up. Why?

Yuu did not frequently ask about going home to begin with. (Again, likely because on a metatextual level, the story needs an excuse for Yuu, ie the player, being present in Twisted Wonderland and experiencing its happenings.)

At that point, it comes down to individual interpretation as to why, but personally I believe Yuu realized that the solution was more complicated than just poofing up a portal home, so they decided to make themselves comfortable while they waited for updates rather than keep asking only to be constantly disappointed. Later on, events going on around Yuu become too hectic for them to focus on their own wants.

Did [Yuu] just change their mind once they got friends?

Wouldn’t this imply that Yuu didn’t consider Adeuce and Grim “real” friends until the start of book 5??? I just don’t think that’s true; they were friends way before this point, not hanging out with each other for convenience’s sake. Why would they sit together at lunch every day? Why would Yuu try to help Ace make amends with Riddle? And why would Ace defend Yuu when Riddle insults their upbringing? Why would Yuu try to free the idiots of their anemones at the risk of going homeless themselves? Why would Adeuce use public transportation to go all the way from the Queendom of Roses to Sage’s Island because of a SOS text from Yuu? The same logic goes for the Ramshackle Ghosts, who are very friendly with Yuu and Grim. They play games with them, tell them about the school, and even do Yuu’s chores for them while they’re held hostage in Scarabia.

I also think gaining friends isn’t necessarily a strong enough reason for Yuu to renounce their old life and suddenly be committed to staying. Yes, it can be said that this could change depending on individual interpretation of Yuu—but assuming a very basic backstory, a regular person would not be so quick to forgo their old friends, family, etc. I don’t think new friendships are a significant motivator for Yuu no longer asking about home.

Or did they just give up on trying completely until Orthro put it back in their brain?

Yuu didn’t stop thinking about going home just because they stopped asking about it. Post book 4, they are shown to have flashbacks to earlier discussions of going home. Yuu hardly ever expresses thoughts about their original world or wanting to go back (most likely to not break the self-insert immersion of their character), so it’s easy to perceive this as “Yuu gave up completely/Yuu forgot about it until book 7”.

Or did they just gave up on asking adults period?

I believe Crowley is the only adult Yuu really asks about finding a way back. I doubt Yuu actually thinks all adults are as useless in this endeavor as Crowley is, but we aren’t ever shown Yuu communicating in this manner to other adults. Crowley is the only “required” adult to interact with on account of being the headmaster typically forcing you into the plot anyway. In conclusion (I know I keep bringing this point up, but it’s because I truly believe in it), this is all probably done for convenience and/or to allow the player to fantasize and imagine themselves or their own Yuusonas navigating these circumstances. They don't want to constantly keep the story gloomy by having Yuu angst about how they miss home or how badly they want to go back. They want you, the player, to enjoy the world and the people of Twisted Wonderland and never want to leave, even if it may be contradictory to what Yuu themselves fails to express in the narrative. This is 100% intentional, and it's made clear because it ties in very deeply with the themes in book 7, which is when the idea of Yuu going home becomes extremely relevant again. Book 7 creates an analogy between a digital pet that Malleus owns and how sad he is that its lifespan has to end, that the digital pet is just "fiction designed to amuse". This is also true of what Twisted Wonderland (the game) is. The player is in the same circumstances as Malleus, who is too attached to his fiction and doesn't want to let it go.

As much as the game's structure encourages self-inserting, it cannot be denied that, ultimately, the perspective of the player ≠ the perspective of Yuu. The player does not actually have to worry about never returning home or being stuck in a foreign world, at the mercy of strangers (which, if not for entertainment purposes, would be something truly terrifying to deal with). The player is glimpsing into this other world for fun and can step away whenever they want. Yuu can't.

askhdvasoydvuealalf I know this was a lot, but I hope it made sense and properly communicated my thoughts ^^

#twst #twisted wonderland #Malleus Draconia #Dire Crowley #Ace Trappola #Deuce Spade #Riddle Rosehearts #Yuu #Grim #Mickey Mouse #Ortho Shroud #Azul Ashengrotto #Lilia Vanrouge #disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #question #spoilers #notes from the writing raven #Ramshackle Ghosts #twst theory #twisted wonderland theory #twisted wonderland theories #twst theories #twst light novel #twisted wonderland light novel #Kuroki Yuuya #Yuuya Kuroki

[lockandkeycake]

Ignore this post, my HoTD moots, this is going to be a long post you don't care about.

it's PJO/HoO rant time.

What can I say, Tumblr brings me back to the simpler times of 2016.

Y'all baby Frank too much. Like. Way too much.

Leo was a dick at times, no doubt. But I think y'all forget Frank was absolutely being antagonistic because he was paranoid over Leo looking like Hazel's ex. You can argue it's because Leo fired on New Rome, but Frank himself counters that claim and Leo is initially grateful Frank didn't blame him.

Frank was also the first one to bring up Sammy, not Hazel, just before that. Later, all before Leo says anything against Frank, Piper thinks Frank's behavior is because it seems like Leo and Hazel had a history. This is a longer bit of a book scene, but I feel like it gets ignored.

This is still before Leo says anything against Frank. I will be saying that a number of more times. Leo just complimented his ability and Frank responds with a pretty catty comment about Leo's physical abilities. You can see the difference in how he reacts even more clearly in a scene before, when Hazel is commenting on Frank turning into a dragon

Frank doesn't counter the idea to become a dragon, he just has an issue with leaving Hazel with Leo. Leo again, so far, isn't upset with Frank. He wants to prove he's trustworthy.

When Piper does her fun little exorcism on the lads, this happens. I have to say yet again. Leo has not insulted Frank at this point. Not a huge issue, Frank was a bit shaken up, but it was still kind of a dick move to just. Let him hit the dirt. I'll excuse it because it is very funny.

Later when they find out about Nico, this scene below happens. Leo has still not said anything against Frank at this point - Jason even agrees repeatedly with Leo, but Frank only glares at Leo.

After this, when Hazel is upset and leaves, Leo starts to likely say he should go apologize, but Frank cuts him off saying, "you've done enough."

We're a few hundred pages through the book now at this point. Frank has insulted Leo, he doesn't trust him, doesn't want Hazel around him, singles him out, and literally let him fall to the ground. Leo has not said anything against him yet.

Even Percy notes that Frank's mood is tied to his relationship with Hazel, and Leo seemingly threatening that.

(and for those who are curious - baleful means threateningly, or to wish harm)

This is when, after a good chunk into the novel, we reach Leo's first dig at Frank.

Then ~the iguana incident~ comes not long after, but if you're going to call this Leo bullying him, you'd have to include... Everyone. Since they literally all laughed at Frank turning into a lizard to get out of the finger trap. Hazel, Percy, Annabeth, everyone. Not a fun moment for Frank, I sympathize with him there, but I wouldn't personally call this pointed bullying. You may disagree but I do not think at the very least that Riordan intended it to be seen as bullying. This is followed by Leo sending Frank's dirty laundry out on Buford for awhile (though he does claim that it would be cleaned and returned to him, eventually we do learn the laundry is lost. This was not a planned thing by Leo, and I don't understand why this is characterized by some people as him purposely throwing away Frank's clothes.)

All this eventually leads to this exchange.

Gee, I don't know, Frank. Maybe because you keep glaring at him anytime you're around him to the point even Percy was like oh boy I got to get him off the ship before he folds Leo like a pretzel.

Later, Frank actually helps save Leo in eagle form, but ends up injured in the process - and drops Leo. I really don't think Frank meant to drop him, but Leo thinks Frank dropped him on purpose. That's kind of a big thing, even though it's a minor line.

Then, Frank is back to being untrusting of Leo. He's glowering, glaring, and again - doesn't want to leave Leo with Hazel.

When Hazel is alone with Leo, she finally takes the time to defend Frank.

So, clearly, Frank scares Leo.

Leo scares Frank.

It's a fun horrible little wicked web! It's almost like the author intended them to buttheads! Shocking!

I've run out of pictures to add!

I could and probably will continue this nonsense, but the general point of this rant is Frank is not just some totally sweet big guy who has never done anything wrong in his entire life, and characterizing him as such just makes him boring. He's self conscious, insecure, and lashes out at- boy, doesn't that sound familiar. Anyway.

He was kind of a dick to Leo, and Leo was kind of a dick to him in turn.

I'm pretty sure I had a better ending for this originally, that summed everything up, but now I'm distracted and just bitter they didn't kiss.

I didn't even have time to reach their interactions underwater.

#leo valdez #frank zhang #heroes of olympus #percy jackson #if i tag this #valzhang #how angry would y'all be #what about #frazeleo