#one of said family members was the prince of a nation. the nation is in GIANT trees. like Endor or Lothlorien style. and he ran away bcus | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

natlacentral · 2 months

Text

The cast of Netflix’s adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender knows they can’t please everyone.

It’s a difficult life lesson that many of the show’s young actors have come to learn since they were chosen to star in a live-action reimagining of one of the most beloved animated series of all time.

Like any great saga, the latest iteration of Avatar has taken a circuitous route to the small screen. In 2020, two years after Netflix announced that it was developing a remake, original creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino departed the project over creative differences. A year later, former Nikita and Sleepy Hollow writer-producer Albert Kim officially assumed the role of creator and showrunner, intending to honor the Asian and Indigenous roots of his source material.

Since the debut of the new Avatar last Thursday, longtime fans have remained divided over the many changes that were made to turn a 20-episode half-hour children’s cartoon into an eight-episode serialized drama that has multigenerational appeal. But by maintaining the essence of the original while expanding the world that Konietzko and DiMartino have created, the new creative team is hoping to recapture some of the magic that transformed Avatar into a cultural phenomenon.

Every diehard fan can recite the basic premise by heart: The four nations — Water, Earth, Fire, Air — once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping the peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads. A century later, Aang (Gordon Cormier), a 12-year-old Air Nomad frozen in an iceberg, reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. With his newfound friends Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang sets out on a quest to save the world from the onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim) while avoiding being captured by Ozai’s tempestuous son, Crown Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu).

Almost every Zoomer who grew up watching Nickelodeon seems to have their own relationship with the original Avatar. Kiawentiio, whose older siblings would always have the show playing in their house, recalls being drawn to its depiction of a young Indigenous girl, at a time when there was scant representation of Native Americans. Ousley credits Avatar and Star Wars: The Clone Wars for inspiring him to take up martial arts. Liu has a vivid childhood memory of watching a restless Zuko and his tea-drinking uncle Iroh’s first scene together on a boat. Cormier, as the youngest of the bunch, admits that he had not watched the show prior to auditioning. But by the time he entered production, all he could do was live and breathe Avatar.

Daniel Dae Kim, who watched the original with one of his sons when it first aired, tells Teen Vogue that he held a kind of family meeting with his now-adult children and some of his nieces and nephews after receiving an offer from Albert Kim (no relation) to star in the new version. “I called all of them, and I said, ‘What do you think about me doing a part in Avatar?’ And they were like, ‘You should do it!’ without hesitation. Then I asked the next question: ‘Well, I’m playing Ozai. He’s a bad guy…’ They paused for a second, and then they all screamed, ‘You should still do it!’” he says with a laugh.

Once the cast was assembled, the creative team began the seemingly gargantuan task of trying to breathe new life into each of the characters. While the animated series dealt with weighty issues such as genocide, war and imperialism, there is an added human component in live-action storytelling that requires a more grounded approach to depicting real-life reactions and emotions. “We were all definitely allowed to look into the darker sides of each of our characters,” Cormier says. In Aang’s case, he is tasked with a responsibility that he doesn’t necessarily want but feels obligated to assume after discovering that he is the last living Airbender of his kind.

Aang is “naturally a really fun-loving, goofy 12-year-old, so to be hit with something so serious like a genocide [affecting] all of his people, it really affects him badly,” Cormier says. “We see in the first episode where I blow Katara and Sokka off the mountain how badly it’s affected me. It hurt me so much [that] I blasted into the Avatar state and started destroying my home. I think it just shows how serious and traumatic it is for Aang, but slowly, he’ll get through it and become the Avatar.”

The themes of loss and grief remain prevalent across all eight episodes, with each of the young characters being forced to confront their own unresolved trauma.

Katara is forced to reckon with how her memory of her mother’s death has affected her ability to become a full-fledged Waterbender. “Another thing that I feel like impacted her so much, without even really explicitly touching on it, is being the last Waterbender of her tribe,” Kiawentiio says. “She really feels so deeply connected with that part of [herself], even though it’s something that she can’t really access [at first], and she feels this sense of, ‘This is what I should be doing.’”

After his father left years ago on a mission to fight the Firebenders, Sokka was forced to grow up quickly and protect his tribe, especially his younger sister, from the waterbending abilities that had caused them so much pain. “Sokka is a perfect example of somebody that is not healed, is pushing stuff down and won’t let it come out, is putting on different masks to the point where he doesn’t even know who he is when we first find him,” says Ousley, who insisted on finding a way to bring out a more serious side in Sokka without losing his signature sarcasm in this adaptation. “I think the trauma that he has is covered up by humor often and covered up by acting silly, and he will have lots of moments where he actually discovers who he is.”

Zuko, however, may have the most compelling arc of the first season. Having been banished by Ozai from the Fire Nation, Zuko has effectively lost one father but gained another father figure in his Uncle Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), who takes it upon himself to look after Zuko on his journey to capture the Avatar. In the first season, viewers see Zuko’s Agni Kai — or traditional Firebender duel — with Ozai, who was responsible for giving Zuko his prominent facial scar.

While Ozai “may not have the tools to do it the right way,” Kim understands that his character “is trying, in his own way, to shape his children into what he feels is necessary to secure the future of not only his family, but of the entire Fire Nation.” That kind of tough love, unfortunately, has done irreparable damage to his children.

In a dramatic departure from the original series, the writers decided to introduce Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula earlier than in the original series. In doing so, the family dynamics between Ozai, Zuko and Azula become even more complicated. “Since Zuko’s away on his ship in the first season, you get a glimpse into, while he’s away, what is going on in the Fire Nation and who’s pulling all the strings,” Yu says. “For Azula, Zuko is very much more like a roadblock than anything else. You see that sense of family is not really there.”

“I think the writers did a good job of showing a rivalry between the two fighting for the father’s approval and attention without us directly interacting or speaking with each other,” Liu adds. “Zuko is just trying to prove he is worthy of his father’s love and attention just as much as Azula is. I think people will really come to root for Zuko because of everything that he’s been through.”

The production team was also keen to honor and recreate the costumes of the original series in a way that was not only beautiful but practical for the actors; Kiawentiio and Ousley had to wear heavy coats made of suede and fur, while Kim, Liu and Yu wore layers upon layers of corseted material with large shoulder pads.

“They really helped me complete the character because there was something about when I put on the wardrobe that made me walk [and] feel a certain way,” Kim says, “and it turned my character into someone more regal and powerful.”

It’s almost fitting that the most regal character is played by Hollywood royalty among Asian Americans. For the better part of the last three decades, Kim has been at the forefront of the movement to increase the visibility of Asian Americans in film and television. “The fact that I’m still working and able to see [the change] and be a part of it makes me feel very grateful, because success is not guaranteed to anyone in this business,” he reflects.

Kim believes the new Avatar is a reflection of today’s changing landscape in Western entertainment for more diverse stories that center Asian and Indigenous communities. “I don’t think it’s any secret to say that a live-action version has been done in the past, but it wasn’t done this way,” he says, referring to M. Night Shyamalan’s disastrous The Last Airbender film, which whitewashed many key characters. “I don’t think that it would have been done this way even five or 10 years ago because there wasn’t the same emphasis on proper representation and real diversity [that there is now].”

“I feel like we fought hard for the progress that we’ve made, and at the same time, I acknowledge that there need to be others outside of those of us in the community to push things forward,” he adds. “It takes a community working together along with allies.”

As the most accomplished actor of the group, did Kim have any advice for his younger castmates? “I don’t feel like it’s necessarily my place to be giving advice where it’s not needed or wanted, but it was nice of them to ask me about my experiences and how they could chart their own path forward in a business that’s very difficult,” Kim responds. “I can tell you that I really have been impressed by all of them, and I’m so excited to see the next generation of Asian American actors in particular come in with this attitude, with this opportunity. I would really love nothing more than to see them succeed beyond what we’ve seen in generations previous.”

The first season ends with Aang, Katara and Sokka successfully helping the Northern Water Tribe fend off a vicious attack from the Firebenders. Rather than following the advice of past Avatars, who stressed that he would have to bear the burden of his title alone, Aang realizes that he needs his friends to master all four elements.

“The Avatar still has to learn other elements, so we had to get the ball rolling on water and earth. If we did reach Season 2, I believe that we’ll find Aang already practicing water just because in the group he has quite the master to teach him,” Kiawentiio says with a smile, alluding to her own character.

But the last minutes of the finale also reveal that the attack on the North was actually a decoy for the Fire Nation. Ozai, as it turns out, had his sights on the Earth Kingdom — and his daughter, Azula, has taken over the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu with her own army. Aang’s old friend, King Bumi (Utkarsh Ambudkar), has now been taken prisoner.

“You have this idea of the prodigal son and you put all of your attention to someone who, in Ozai’s eyes, is failing him,” Kim says of the state of Ozai’s relationships with his two most powerful children at the end of the season. “So when there’s another child that you are not looking at in the same way that ends up surprising you, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it changes the way that you see the future. I think Azula was a surprise to him, and it brings him some joy, and he may have overlooked her in the past, but now he sees her as a real heir apparent.”

The revelation that his father has passed him over for his sister, at least for now, shakes up Zuko’s entire world, Liu says. “He feels a weird sense of betrayal because even though it is his sister and his father working against him, they are part of the Fire Nation, and his loyalty towards the Fire Nation was something that we know he was very persistent about, even though he was banished.”

Going forward, Kim would be interested in deepening the portrayal of Ozai’s relationships with his children, as well as his older brother, Iroh. “What is the relationship between the two of them when the second son supersedes the first? And how does Iroh feel about all of that? We never really see that explored,” he remarks. “I’d also like to see what happened to Zuko and Azula’s mom. These kinds of things are crucial to deepening the character, and I would love to see a little bit more of his history and how that informs who he is now.”

While the show has yet to be renewed for a second season, the young actors all have their own hopes for future seasons. Ousley would like to see Sokka “pick up the pieces” emotionally after the beautifully tragic end of his first love, Princess Yue (Amber Midthunder). Yu is ready to “do some of the really iconic Azula lines and scenes that we all know,” especially the Agni Kai in Season 3. Cormier is most excited to potentially adapt “Appa’s Lost Days” and the final fight scene between Aang and Ozai. “Throughout the show, I feel like he's going to learn more and more about why he has to be the Avatar,” he says.

#article #teen vogue #gordon cormier #kiawentiio #ian ousley #dallas liu #daniel dae kim #elizabeth yu #natla #atla #netflix atla #atla netflix #avatar netflix #netflix avatar #avatar the last airbender

72 notes · View notes

lazyveran · 1 month

Note

ask about your arranged marriage au you say >:) :evil_hand_rub:

So. to begin with. Why and How is this what happened? is it a postwar diplomatic treaty thing, and Zuko is already too married to Mai to be the one wed? How much Hell did Azula and Katara put whoever suggested it through, and how did it end up happening anyways? What were each of the girls up to prior to the engagement? how do they feel about it? What does the world look like at the time of this AU, both in terms of the big worldwide stuff and the roles and relationships between the Gaang, whatever side characters are around, and their political positions? Be warned: highly likely that I will continue to enquire

you have unleashed the most self indulgent lore dump. thank you so much for asking. my long winded rambles under the cut

the setting of this au has two major changes; aang is never discovered (im so sorry my baby boy) and iroh is a much more active player within the fire nation. essentially, iroh begins consolidating the white lotus almost immediately after azulon's murder. as such, the fire siblings become terribly co-dependant in both ursa and iroh's absence as he's constantly away scheming against ozai. zuko doesnt get burned at 14. he gets burned at 19! and azula kills ozai for it, setting off a domino effect that lands an underprepared iroh on the throne trying to end the 100 years war as per his agreement with the white lotus members (before azula jumped the gun)

the azutara marriage occurs for like 2000 reasons but the main one is that iroh is forced to make several concessions in order to end the war as his ministers are terribly pro-ozai, thanks to ozai's scheming before azula prematurely offed him, and that the northern water tribe refuses to sign and end the war with the FN, unlike the other nations. azula, having been the princess-general ravaging the earth kingdoms in a five-year long campaign, therefore didnt get to show her face in the water tribes, gets chosen as the one to marry into the southern water tribe. as both a savvy diplomatic move to solidify the peace and to work with said wife towards peace with their sister tribe. iroh has no choice but to agree, and azula as a loyal princess with duty to the throne, also has to agree. (she is terribly, extremely unhappy with this due to ursa-parallel related reasons. and its azula.)

katara is chosen both for her position as the daughter of the chief, and for her prowess as a master bender (to match azula's known reputation). katara herself has been working as a sort of renegade freedom fighter away from the south pole, mostly working against the admiral-prince zuko and his three year campaign against the water tribes. sokka and herself work with an elite team, the black tail wolf pack (extremely indulgent name please forgive me) as guerilla fighters against the fire nation essentially. katara is EXTREMELY unhappy about the marriage alliance that her father has signed her off to, but like azula, her duty to her people and to peace overrides her extreme dislike of the situation.

zuko is the admiral-prince, heir to the throne, burned and shamed by the late firelord ozai, and... marrying toph bei fong. NOW PLEASE hear me out on this. stay with me. as part of the peace agreed by iroh, and the fire nation's precarious position now that expansion and pillaging cant fund their economy, an agreement is made with the earth kingdoms to marry into the wealthiest family in the world. its purely an economic marriage, but since the bei fongs are essentially the only homogenous earth territory ''royals'' that aren't strictly attatched to one kingdom but all of them, and have a daughter to spare, well. their relationship is the funniest to me, they're very much a platonic-married-besties situation. zuko himself is conducting a dreadfully obvious affair with mai, and his siege-weapon of a wife does not care in the slighest. in fact she actively encourages it, as being wife to the heir to the fire nation throne gives her freedom away from her family to be herself. there will be rising tensions between the bei fongs and the fire royals, naturally, as well as toph's own character clashing with the 'no fun allowed' fire nation.

azutara's relationship is an EXTREME slow burn, enemies to enemy-wives to friends to lovers. they're both 20 at the time they're married, but both have been child soldiers for years. azula spends a week acting like an arrogant prat and treating her wife like a peasant through politicking power plays before katara just kicks her ass three times over and azula realises theres actually no power imbalance to play off of. she promptly begins acting like mr darcy. katara has to grapple with the very alien culture of the fire nation and stumbles through all the subtlties of both court and royal life, as well as having to deal with her enemy turned wife and the absolute paradox of a woman that azula is. AND negotiating with her hostile sister tribe into trying to broker peace after a generation of war. i think marrying azula is harder than the whole 'world peace' affair really. they're both miserable and angry and cant understand each other but still see each other

sokka will be an intermitten character, as he becomes a diplomat for the southern water tribe as well as a member of the three nations peace council set up in the wake of the war. im trying to add in suki but im unsure on how, perhaps as another representative or something. ursa will have a plotline and azula will NOT be happy about it at all. iroh is frankly wracked with guilt that in order for peace he has to make the last of his family utterly miserable. all their relationships are complicated and messy and everyone's a little awful

i think a really fun aspect of this au is my odd ideas about azula and gender. azula is, in the eyes of the fire nation, both male AND female. female as a princess, a woman who's royal duties involve marriage and so on. but her status as a master fire bender legally classifies her as male. honestly the fire nation cannot afford to disregard azula on gender lines, since she's the most powerful fire bender on the planet at this point. she's a general in the military too, a traditionally male held role, and so azula herself becomes a grey area in terms of legal gender. as such, azula is technically kataras HUSBAND, not wife. and with that comes all the expectations of a husband over a wife in a royal imperial court. very very indulgent of me i fear

i hope this lore dump/word vomit makes some sort of sense. please feel free to ask more abt this au!!!! i have many many worldbuilding hcs for the fire nation and this au <3333

#political marriage au #im just gna make that its own tag now #azutara #azula #katara #veran speaks #ask #starrdio #i wont go into specific plotlines as i am actually writing this into a fic that will most likely become. very long #but i love to talk abt it. please let me talk abt it

62 notes · View notes

tinietaehyun · 3 months

Text

Forsaken [VIII]

[Sorcerer!Taehyun x Royal!Reader] [Series] [Chapter Eight]

Pairing: Sorcerer!Taehyun x Royal!Reader [Ft. Sorcerer!Yeonjun]

Genres: royal!au, enemies to lovers, fantasy, romance, supernatural, action, angst.

Contains: Profanity, flashback, toxic friendship, gaslighting, manipulation, assassination attempt, pregnancy complications, poison, mentions of blood, injury, longer chapter, dialogue heavy.

Links: Forsaken Masterlist || Masterlist

Summary: Taehyun begins to finally unveil the events that shaped who he is today; what caused him to be exiled with his father, what happened in the past for him to despise the Royal Court?

Twisted memories expose the reality of truth in which the vices of jealousy hold the young sorcerer: Yeonjun in captivity. Truly, today would be a glance back into the past, to make better sense of the dreadful impending future.

“Your majesty, I’m afraid things are dire,” the royal physician states. The Queen clutches her lower stomach with teary eyes peering at her husband, “Dear, I…I’m so sorry.”

The noble couple truly wished to bear another child to accompany their first son: Sehun. The physician resumes, “You two have already been struggling in regards to pregnancy, and…well, Sehun’s birth was already full of complications.”

The physician sighs shakily, “With the utmost respect, your majesties. I believe it would be better to preserve the Queen’s health, and abstain from becoming pregnant. She has already advanced in age, as such, her body is more likely to suffer complications as we saw last time.”

The couple’s faces show utter devastation. They had tried everything from medicines to even sorcery. Internally, they both knew deep down, this was the case.

The physician says, “I advise, if you wish to have a second child to opt for surrogacy or adoption, sire.” The King and Queen look at each other bewildered. They were not keen on either, they wished to have a child on their own, but the life of the Queen would be in peril.

All they wished for was to give Sehun a sibling, someone who he could grow attached to, learn to love, for him to have some support when they were no longer around. When they were younger, the couple wished to have one girl and one boy. Though it appears, this would no longer be the case.

Queen Iseul murmurs, her hand shaking, “I…Why not give a chance to one of our beloved children of Fortuna? The Fortuna National Orphanage?” Her lower lip trembles as she speaks. The King frowns; a dull pain resounds in his chest, unable to even imagine the emotional pain his wife was in. “Whatever you wish for dear, whatever seems best,” he replies delicately. He takes her shaking hand, encasing it within his own.

Meanwhile, the young crown prince entertains himself watching the soldiers train. His gaze remains bored as he rests his chin on the palm of his hand. His caretaker stands beside him, her legs aching from standing for so long.

They were all the same in his eyes, the peasants. Good for nothing, not worthy to be in the presence of such high-blood nobles. He always needed to remind them of their standing otherwise they would get too confident. Well, that's what his family members did and said anyway.

He’d grown accustomed to having everything at his whim’s desire. Sehun was adored by his family, a handsome boy, the next heir to the throne. He was fawned by the Royal Court for his blunt and head-first attitude. He’d wear the very same crown he saw his father adorning. One day he would be king, and everything he sees and touches, this entire kingdom would be his. He could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted!

Well, that’s what Sehun deemed the role of king at this tender age of ten; an immature outlook indeed. But what could one expect from one with such a sheltered and spoilt upbringing, after all, he was the King and Queen’s crown jewel.

He found their baseless nonsense of wanting a sibling, very idiotic. He didn’t need anyone. Sehun never liked sharing anyway. Were they not content with him alone? What’s wrong with an only child?

They thought he was lonely, had no one to talk to close to his age. What a foolish notion, he had plenty of friends! Well, perhaps not plenty, but one.

Nevertheless, one friend was enough. His new friend was rather impressive. Sehun learned at a young age that connections must be valuable. What’s the use in forming a connection when you get no use out of that person? Though this philosophy the young boy was determined to adopt, he found himself being drawn by his sorcerer friend’s amazing sorcery and cool charisma. Choi Yeonjun, son of the Royal Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Although not noble, he was interesting enough to gather Sehun's attention when the young sorcerer approached him in the gardens one day; he fought back against Sehun’s brutal remarks with wit. It impressed him. Furthermore, he now had someone to complain to, it felt rather pleasant. Yeonjun always seemed to know what to do or to say.

As his eyes glance back up at the soldiers training; his eyes glimmer as he spots a familiar young boy with pale blonde hair and sharp features; Yeonjun. Yeonjun peers over with a charismatic smile and gives a brief wave. It appears though he was heading speedily to the Sorcerer’s Tower. Sehun notes to himself, he’d have to visit the Sorcerer’s Tower properly one day, with Yeonjun.

Yeonjun has always been talented, a people’s person, a mischievous soul always sporting a playful smirk on his lips. Unlike his childhood best friend, Taehyun, who always was seen with a neutral expression and cold gaze. He was more reserved to those he didn’t know well, whereas Yeonjun made connections with ease. Two polar opposites, yet they both connected through sorcery.

Yeonjun’s father and Taehyun’s father had a long history, being classmates previously. The two elder sorcerers were close to the King and were often called upon to solve crises.

Taehyun’s father pioneering sorcery in Fortuna truly was an unexpected twist of fate. Though this twist, albeit bringing a lot of positivity, brought with it jealousy. Yeonjun’s father grew to become resentful. He had become reduced to a mere apprentice, always under Taehyun’s father’s shadow. He despised it.

Thus, when Yeonjun was born, he had one aim. If he could not fulfill his chance at becoming Royal Sorcerer, then his son shall. All he wished for was either himself or his son to surpass his friend and his son, Taehyun. Despite this underlying animosity, Yeonjun’s father played an excellent facade.

Yeonjun hurriedly walks up the winding stairs of the tower; his breaths tumbling out. He would be late to class, if he didn’t hurry. Taehyun’s father was a strict man, he could not disappoint. His father was the same, no, worse.

Memories flood Yeonjun’s mind. Even yesterday night, he was forced to sit up memorising a new set of enchantments and reciting them to his father without a single error. After all, he had to surpass everyone, to become the best. His father had a skill for demeaning him constantly, belittling his ability, and punishing him for the smallest mistakes. Yeonjun hated it, he hated how he had to work harder than the one obstacle in his path to becoming the future Royal Sorcerer. His best friend, Kang Taehyun.

The constant hoard of comparisons his father would make between the two, haunted Yeonjun. Why did Taehyun have such skill, why didn’t Taehyun have to work as hard as he did? It was unfair. Why did his own father view him as a vessel to carry out his desires? The onslaught of pressure was dreadful.

Even the thought of his father would drive him mad. Yeonjun became resentful towards his father, but too afraid to speak back, afraid of the cane his father would grab hold of. All Yeonjun sought was his father’s approval. He’d praise Taehyun for hours but never him. It enraged the young boy endlessly. His mother was no better, only offering a look of pity as she remained silent.

No matter what he did, Taehyun was always one step ahead. A ‘child prodigy’, they said. Of course, they came from a long bloodline of magic users, they had the affinity for it. What’s so special about that? Yeonjun’s thighs burn, finally hauling himself up the final few steps towards the wooden door.

He opens the clunky door breathless, the young apprentices peer at him wide-eyed. Taehyun’s father stands unimpressed, “Late. I expect better from such a skilled student, not a good start to the morning, Yeonjun. Sit down.” Irritation courses through Yeonjun’s fatigued body as he takes his usual seat beside Taehyun.

“Why’re you late?” Taehyun whispers. Yeonjun mutters, “Stayed up late, is all.” Taehyun shakes his head, “What have I told you about doing that? It’s going to damage your progress, not enhance it.” Yeonjun’s jaw tightens. Who was he to give advice when he didn’t have to put in effort? Yeonjun dryly hums, “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Taehyun, Yeonjun. Quiet!” Taehyun’s father orders. Yeonjun scoffs, placing his satchel on the empty table beside him. He scoffs, he supposed it had been two weeks since Soobin had left. What a coward. To think he had to gall associate himself with himself and Taehyun.

The lesson resumes as Taehyun’s father teaches theory and spells peering down at his own spell book, precariously bound. A special book that his father had an eye on for a long time. The book contained all the spells Taehyun’s father knew, new draft spells, and other valuable information. It was a treasure trove.

Yeonjun remembers his father once recounting it being the source of a huge argument a few years back. Taehyun’s father allowed no one to look at the book, not even his closest friend. Only Taehyun could. Although it had been resolved, it caused a subtle rift to form between the two sorcerers.

“So this spell will be focusing on enhancing growth. We’ll advance today using seeds. Each pot I’ve placed in front of you contains a rose seed. Through today’s notes, I wish to see you enhance the growth of the seed and make it bloom,” the Royal Sorcerer orders.

The apprentices begin a handful of attempts as Taehyun’s father offers critiques and corrections. Taehyun reads his notes carefully positioning his wand; his father approaches, nudging his elbow lower. Oh, how his father was nothing like his, Yeonjun thinks.

Yeonjun positions his wand as the sorcerer walks over and muses, “Good form, Yeonjun. Keep it up.” Yeonjun nods and peers at Taehyun. Taehyun hums, “Good form, but the question is will the magic be just as good?” Yeonjun rolls his eyes, “Of course it will be. Careful, you’re slouching.” Taehyun smirks, “Let me know if you need help, Jun.” A forced laugh escapes Yeonjun’s lips. Just how arrogant he was, “We’ll see.”

They both resume practice, mouthing out the spells. Yeonjun had previously practiced this spell at his father’s request to get ahead of the class, so as to speak. Though, he couldn’t ever get past the point of the bud - he couldn’t get it to bloom.

The opening of the door resounds and Yeonjun becomes pale at the sight of his father. His father gleams brightly at the Royal Sorcerer. Yeonjun’s gaze darkens, it was all a facade. He saw the fake glint in his father’s eyes, he despised being here. Despised being the royal apprentice.

Nervousness floods his senses. It never went well with his obnoxious father around; he could never properly perform spells with his beady eyes on him. His father beaks at him walking over, “Oh this spell, I recall teaching this to you a few weeks ago?”

Yeonjun nods; his heart racing. His father’s gaze sharpens, “I should hope to see you excel today then, hm?” The crackling of mana energy resounds beside him as he looks over, seeing the stem burst forth out of Taehyun’s pot upwards with remarkable speed.

“Oh how wondrous, Taehyun,” Yeonjun’s father comments. Panic rushes through Yeonjun’s system as his hand trembles. Yeonjun murmurs the spell hurriedly and focuses intensely in the pot in front of him in a flurried attempt to catch up. The seed crackles and a hint of green pops through winding and growing upwards.

“Look at that technique, just exquisite,” his father exclaims, not to him, but to Taehyun. Anger floods within Yeonjun. Even now, he was in Taehyun’s shadow. His father was doing it on purpose, he knew it.

Taehyun’s father warns, “Easy now, too quickly or too slowly can cause the stem to snap, and the flower will instantly die or evaporate. Small bursts of power; boys. No need to compete.”

Yeonjun’s father urges; “Ah, what’s wrong with a little healthy competition? It promotes them to excel?” Taehyun’s father muses, “Like you and me? We all know who’s superior,” he joked. Yeonjun’s father’s jaw tightens and he chuckles dryly, “Oh yes, yes, whatever, Dae-Ho.”

His father’s gaze settles on him. He knew he would be in for a long lecture if he did not succeed, perhaps even a punishment for disgracing him in front of the Royal Sorcerer. Shakily, Yeonjun continues murmuring the spell holding his wand; the plant grows fast.

“Good boy, yes, that’s it. Just like that, delicately now-“ his father warns; slightly sharper. Taehyun flicks his wand delicately upwards and halts when the rose bud forms.

Yeonjun appears to catch up, his own bud forming. Exhilaration fills him, perhaps he could beat him for once! This is the furthest he’d gotten. His eyes meet his father’s glare who waits impatiently. He had to get this right.

“Well?” His father hums sarcastically. Yeonjun’s gaze darkens in annoyance. Taehyun patiently stares at the bud. This was his chance! He murmurs the next incantation and flicks his wand intensely, with fervour. The bud shakes viciously and blooms. Yes! Yes! He did-

The petals begin falling off and shriveling. He had used too much mana. The flower was the most delicate part - he had been too preoccupied in beating Taehyun. Simultaneously, Taehyun gently swirls his wand and after a few seconds of delay, the blood red rose blooms slowly in a beautiful fashion, with one or two petals dropping off.

Yeonjun’s father stiffens; his jaw tightening. “Oh goodness; it appears you got a little excited there, son,” his tone carries weight causing Yeonjun’s legs to quake. He couldn’t win. How foolish was he?

“That’s my boy, good job. I expect you to become a little faster next time okay. Good start for your first attempt,” Taehyun’s father hums. Taehyun nods with a serious expression.

Yeonjun’s father grits out, “What a talented boy you have. If only Yeonjun could be half as good, what an honour to have such a role model as your friend, right son?”

Taehyun asks, “I can help you with the spell if you’d like, it’s quite simple when you break-”Yeonjun cuts in, “No, it’s fine.” Humiliation courses through him. His father drawls, “You need all the help you can get, quit whining, you pompous fool.” Taehyun’s father chuckles, “Come now, he’s a promising sorcerer. We all have different learning speeds.” Yeonjun’s father eases, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder tightly gripping until it hurts, “Of course. I just wish to see my lovely boy, succeed.”

Taehyun smiles sympathetically as Yeonjun averts his gaze, not knowing how to control his rage within. He wished he could be better; that he was the one getting showered with praise instead of constant criticism.

The lesson continues and Taehyun answers questions with ease alongside Yeonjun raising his hand with equal fervour and tenacity. Each upcoming lesson becomes more and more of a competition between the two.

It seems the two young sorcerer’s were gradually souring. Whilst Taehyun took this as friendly rivalry, competition to help each other improve. Yeonjun took it personally, his mindset - to be better, yes, but more than that, to crush Taehyun beneath him.

All through this time, Yeonjun despised seeing his friend’s face. His face being a constant reminder of his second place stature. Distance grew between the two as Yeonjun decided to spend time with his new friend. A noble friend: the Crown Prince, who always sat alone in the garden. Yeonjun was determined to make a better friend. Someone who he knew was in all counts inferior.

The days pass, Sehun quickly becomes dependent on Yeonjun’s presence. A wicked smile plays on his lips. The crown prince was indeed lonely, he knew that, not that Sehun would ever admit it. It made him perfect. After all, who could hate the boy who befriended the bratty crown prince? A boy who was heavy-headed, easily succumbing to praise and flattery. Things Yeonjun knew with ease. After all, he saw his father do it.

Yeonjun’s eyes glimmer as he peers at the twinkling crown on Sehun’s head. He’d become someone better than Taehyun, better than his father. He wanted to aim higher than everyone else. To a position where no one in the nation could criticise him, go against him. Where his word was law. To be king.

Yeonjun hums smiling, poking the crown off Sehun’s head catching it with ease. Sehun scowls, “Hey! Keep your nasty hands off that-“ Yeonjun muses, placing it on his head, peering at his reflection in the water of the fountain. It suited him well. Phenomenally, in fact.

He hands Sehun back the crown with an amused smirk, “Eh, it’s not that great. I don’t see the appeal.” Sehun scoffs, “Of course you don’t. You’re not a noble.”

Yeonjun smiles, “Yes, perhaps. It looks better on you anyway. Sehun stiffens peering at him, “Hm.” His lips twitch trying to contain his pleased smile, “Only naturally.” How entertaining, Yeonjun muses within. This was the day; a new ambition festered within the young sorcerer.

Yeonjun would continue to entertain Sehun, listening to his dreadfully long monologues, or performing magic tricks like court jester shamelessly to garner the affections of the Prince.

Two sorcerers once again meet up. An awkward tension simmers between them. Taehyun sits on the flimsy swing under the tree with Yeonjun pushing him. Taehyun’s mind churns; his closest friend had grown awfully distant these past few months.

Taehyun was not a fool; he knew Yeonjun harbored resentment towards him. Yet, whatever help Taehyun offered, Yeonjun dismissed it. He didn’t want help from Taehyun. He found his friend’s state to be rather pitiful, he didn’t think Yeonjun would be the type. He wasn’t blind to Yeonjun’s father’s constant scolding either.

Yeonjun’s environment, his own ego were getting in the way of his improvement. He saw Taehyun as a pure rival, not a stepping stone, a partner to success. Though he didn’t have time to tolerate such foolishness, no, in fact he expected better. What else could he do, if he was distancing himself and denying any advice or practice? What an idiot, Taehyun surmises.

As much as Taehyun enjoyed praise, even at a few points relishing the rivalry between them, it was now clear that this long-standing friendship was nearing its end. He didn’t expect Yeonjun to take this so seriously, he only wished to nudge him a little forward.

“You’ve heard the King’s declaration, they would be electing adoption as the method for their next child,” Taehyun hums. Yeonjun pushes the swing, “Mhm, suppose they can’t do much with Queen Iseul’s health on the line.”

Taehyun’s tone becomes bitter, “I see you’ve been hanging more around the crown prince. Interesting.” Yeonjun’s lips quirk up into a smirk, another shove of the swing, “Yes, I have. He’s more fascinating than I thought.” Yeonjun relished the bitter tone on Taehyun’s tongue.

“How did you make friends with that spoiled loser?” Taehyun scoffs. Yeonjun mutters coldly, “Why? Can I only be friends with you?” Taehyun is taken aback by his defensiveness, “I never said that, it’s just surprising. He’s a little hard to get along with. He’s a brat honestly.”

“What’s it to you, he’s nice to me, and I’m nice to him, we have a few things we both like, and I find him and his ignorance entertaining.” Taehyun snorts, rolling his eyes, “Right.”

The condescension in Taehyun’s tone infuriates Yeonjun. Even then, he didn’t care, in fact he was demeaning his friendship with Sehun. “Just because you’re not a fan of royalty doesn’t mean I’m not.” He gives the swing a more forceful shove. Taehyun muses, “I can tell you have a problem with me. Just say it.”

Yeonjun seethes, “No you, do. You think you’re so much better than me. Even the prince is more humble than you.”

Taehyun releases a cackle, “Good one! What? It’s not like he’s going to hand you over the crown to Fortuna or something for being his only best friend. You’ll always be insignificant to these royal folks.” Yeonjun despises the truth getting thrown in his face like this. He pushes even harder. “Of course not, I..” Yeonjun scoffs, stiffening slightly.

“To think you’d be hanging around an airhead like that,” Taehyun scoffs, “Whatever it is, we can talk this out.”

Yeonjun’s gaze darkens and with his strength he shoves the swing up high causing it to wobble and Taehyun to tumble off scraping his knees and palms. Taehyun hisses in pain, “Ow-, Jun?”

Yeonjun walks over peering down at him and his lips twitch upwards upon seeing the blood seep out of his wounds. Taehyun glances up seeing a condescending expression.

Yeonjun liked this view. A view where he was standing tall and proud with Taehyun on the floor injured, below him, on the ground. Where he belonged. He holds out his hand with a smirk, “Sorry, I thought you liked going up high.”

Taehyun seethes, peering at his hand, shoving it aside, “You know what, forget it. You’ve changed since you’ve been around Sehun.” Yeonjun murmurs, “You’re just jealous I became friends with the crown prince and you didn’t. You don’t suck up to the royals like your father does. Perhaps learn to do it.”

Taehyun’s gaze falters and he murmurs disappointed, “You’re a sorcerer with a lot of talent, you got that? I don’t want you to waste that.” Yeonjun snaps, “I know. I’m not less than you.”

Taehyun sighs exasperated, “I never said you were.” He brushes himself off and walks off; what a waste of his time. Yeonjun’s hands form shaking fists as anger surges through him.

A few more tense weeks pass by, with the two young sorcerer’s relationship souring. Yeonjun’s father was ever so delighted to find out his son had befriended the Crown Prince. For the first time in a long time, he had heard genuine praise from his father. “Good, make your connections now, son.” He would; he would make his way up, so high that his own father would have to bow to him.

————

Currently, Yeonjun sits with a dull expression at a table in the sorcerer’s tower, watching his father complain away as usual, as he cleans up after the Royal Sorcerer’s various experiments frustrated. Yeonjun had grown used to his venting. The Royal Sorcerer had been summoned to the Northern Territory in a hurry, due to an incident in battle. Within his rush, the sorcerer had shoved his precious spell book in a drawer of his desk, which Yeonjun took note of.

Yeonjun hums, “The spellbook is in that drawer.” His father drawls, “It’s locked you fool.” Yeonjun scoffs, “Why not use an object reversal spell? It should open in reverse. We don’t have many chances like today. He was careless this one time.”

Yeonjun’s father muses, “Why, you clever, clever boy. It seems you are improving. Hmph, I must be quick before his brat of a son comes back.”

So his father does so with great patience and skill; the drawer slides open revealing the tattered spellbook - the most prized spellbook of the Royal Sorcerer.

A glint of deranged satisfaction appears in his father’s eyes, even shaking slightly in delight, “How magnificent. Who knows how much he’s hiding in here; all the possibilities? Why doesn’t he just make this known, it’ll benefit everyone?” Yeonjun peers at his father with an amused smirk.

His father flips through the book even noticing some pages fall out to which he grabs and hands over to Yeonjun, “We’ll take whatever we can get from this. I doubt he'll notice a few torn pages missing, hm? Half of this old thing is in pieces anyway.” Yeonjun takes the papers peering down at them with great interest, scanning over the scrawl of handwriting and diagrams.

With just as much ease, his father places the spellbook back using the same spell, allowing the scene to look untouched. He ruffles Yeonjun hair overjoyed; the first proper sign of affection startling Yeonjun. “Excellent my boy, you’ll become a powerful sorcerer with a mind like yours. I’ll continue guiding you, and progressing you ahead.” He resumes darkly, “I’ll soon become Royal Sorcerer, myself, no matter what it takes.”Yeonjun hums with an innocent expression, “Of course father, you will.”

The Royal Court is up in arms about the decision to adopt a child in the coming years. The King and Queen are disgruntled but remain adamant in their decision. The Royal Sorcerer offers his support to the king and successfully allows a force field to be bestowed in the North against Luna, pleasing the King greatly.

This event causes Luna to retreat and the talks of peace to occur rattle the court and cause joy to spread across the land of Fortuna, the land where sorcery leads.

Meanwhile, Yeonjun watches on as countless nobles compliment Taehyun and his father. Even talks of Taehyun’s father being knighted for his contributions were in the midst of conversation during an upcoming ball. It made his father become enraged; this force field was something he also worked on, but with little to no recognition; after all the force field was powered by the Royal Sorcerer’s mana, not his.

Praise upon praise showered the Royal Sorcerer from all directions. Not to mention his beloved son being soaked in his father’s glory.

The King heartily chuckles, placing his hand on Taehyun’s head, “What a splendid father you have, it is without a doubt that you will become the next Royal Sorcerer and surpass your father’s heights.” Queen Iseul smiles, “How handsome you are, a father’s honour is his son’s. Be proud young man, for your lineage.”

Yeonjun’s gaze darkens at the sight and he muses, “How nice it must be.” His father peers down at him placing his hand on his shoulder, “Do not fret son, this insolence will not last long.” Yeonjun hums in intrigue, “You have an idea?”

“Something like that,” his father answers vaguely. A smirk crosses his lips; who was he to get involved or go against his father?

Sehun’s birthday ball was fast approaching; Yeonjun was growing fatigued with Sehun’s draining excitement. His father had been meticulously planning and scanning over the torn pages from Taehyun’s father’s spellbook. Who knows what nonsense is in those tattered pages?

Yeonjun’s glances at his father, swirling a clear liquid in a small vial; a manic glint in his eye. He peers over with a smile, “Son, do you know what this is?” Yeonjun shrugs, not interested in the dull liquid. “This is the key to our success,” His father drawls out with a beaming grin. Yeonjun deadpans.

His father smiles knowingly, “This may look unimpressive, but it’s potent, undetectable. All I have to do is mask its bitter scent with a little sorcery.” Yeonjun’s mind clicks, poison? It’s poison! How daft! “What if you get caught?” Yeonjun mutters, “Surely there’s better ways than this?”

“How much longer can we wait? I’m not getting younger am I? After I become the Royal Sorcerer, you will. Don’t you want that?” Yeonjun sighs peering out the window; it appears his father was too far gone. He remains silent knowing that it was rather a futile pursuit to convince him otherwise.

His father hums, “This is Nightshade, often causing paralysis, hallucinations and death.” Yeonjun flinches, he knows this horrific plant, with no cure for the symptoms it causes. He resumes, “As per custom, when Kang Dae-Ho, goes to get knighted by the King and Queen, they will share in exchange of red wine at the table.” Young Yeonjun’s mind whirrs; he was planning to poison the King and Queen? That’s treason!

“When they drink the wine, they will fall deathly ill.” Where was he going with this? “This is insane, there’s no cure,” Yeonjun snaps. His father chuckles, “So it’s said,” he holds up a piece of paper, “It appears my dearest friend has found an enchantment that reverses the effects of this. All too many fall victim to this pretty plant. How kind of him.” Taehyun’s father came up with a mana pattern which serves as an antidote? That’s unheard of!

“I don’t think this will go well,” Yeonjun murmurs. His father’s gaze darkens, “Just you wait, you brat. You’ll be thanking me. Don’t think you’re so morally high.” Yeonjun sighs; perhaps he would. Or maybe he’d be exiled with this father for treason, who knows?

The fateful night arrives; adrenaline courses through Yeonjun. His father was in a great mood this day; alongside Taehyun’s father. It was a grand celebration of Sehun’s birthday and Taehyun’s father being knighted.

Taehyun glances over coldly, “Hm, surprised you showed up.” Yeonjun icily hums, “Why?”

“My father’s getting knighted, thought you’d be burning with jealousy,” Taehyun muses. Yeonjun’s jaw tightens, “Why, can’t I be happy for you?”

“I just find it hard to believe, we barely talk anymore,” Taehyun scoffs. Yeonjun’s heart burns deeply at his tone and he hums amused, “So what? We’re still close friends, I can’t deny that.” Taehyun stiffens at his response, “Huh, really.” Yeonjun peers back at the table where the royal couple sit and he smiles, “Yeah.”

Yeonjun muses, “I’ve been having a hard time. I’m sure I’ll work past it.” Taehyun rolls his eyes, “Sure. It sucks to see you like this. I miss our friendship y’know?” Likely story; Yeonjun internally scoffs.

His eyes glance back as the crowd roars in anticipation as Taehyun’s father kneels as the sword touches his shoulders. Yeonjun murmurs lowly, “Congratulations, Taehyun.” This was the calm before the storm.

Taehyun peers over in surprise, “You’re oddly nice this evening.” Yeonjun hums amused, “I’ve cooled down, let's say.” Taehyun smirks, “Huh, who’d have thought.”

Applause resounds as the Royal Sorcerer takes his seat at the table pouring red wine for the royal couple with bright gleam, “I insist, your majesties, allow me.” Sehun waves at Yeonjun and he nods in acknowledgment. Yeonjun’s heart races faster than ever.

His father had snuck the poison into the very bottle on that table. This was the moment of truth; as they raise the glasses to their lips tasting the luxury wine.

Moments pass with no commotion and just as Yeonjun believes a failed attempt had occurred; the Queen starts coughing violently, blood splattering across the plates and table. Next, the King, his eyes roll back as blood splatters from his lips. The ballroom is in chaos with screams and rushing footsteps.

Yeonjun peers on lifelessly at the scene. Taehyun is mortified and his father is appalled. The guards rush forward sealing the exits. It was a clear assassination attempt at its finest.

“Someone save the King and Queen! Get the medic! Get the medic!” A court member screams.

Taehyun trembles, “What-” Yeonjun murmurs emotionless, “Someone tried to kill them..”

Yeonjun peers at his father’s blank expression as he steps forward with a fake panicked expression, “How could you? We talked about this, Dae-Ho? Does your greed not end?!”

The Royal Sorcerer freezes confused, “What? What are you fucking talking about?”

Yeonjun’s father summons his wand pointing it at him, “I saw your notes! I knew you were hiding your spell book for a reason- I knew something was wrong, but this, this is unforgivable, my friend!”

Taehyun’s blood runs cold. Yeonjun’s eyes glimmer; so this was what his father had in mind. To frame his friend with treason. How cunning, how tragic. The crowd gasp in horror.

Taehyun murmurs, “No, no…” He pulls Yeonjun by the collar of his cloak and snarls, “What is your father doing? Tell him to stop, Yeonjun! You of a-all people know he would never do that! You know that!” Taehyun screams manically.

Yeonjun peers at his best friend emptily. Taehyun’s knees buckle as he hears Yeonjun’s father continue to berate his father. He cries out tugging on Yeonjun's cloak, “Tell him to stop! W-We’ll figure this out, calm him down- p-please Yeonjun! My father would never!”

Seeing Taehyun so broken on the floor begging on knees. Everyone stares at the two and Yeonjun’s eyes widen as his lips quiver and twitch. An odd sense of fulfillment fills him, a twisted sense of hope and power.

Yeonjun’s eyes glint malevolently as he leans down, “Taehyun, did you really not know? I find that hard to believe?”

Taehyun’s expression deflates, “W-What?”

The people tremble and whisper around them. Yeonjun tilts his head with a twitching smile and manic eyes, trying to compose himself, “Weren't you the only one allowed to see his book? This is wrong! You should have known, no?”

Taehyun lifelessly peers up at the twisted expression on Yeonjun’s face before lunging at him, “You-! You-“ Yeonjun falls back as the crowd rush to pry Taehyun off him. Blood drips from Yeonjun’s nose and Taehyun screams.

Yeonjun’s father peers down at Taehyun’s with malice, “Oh, Dae-Ho, how far you’ve fallen.”

Yeonjun breathes out with a twisted glint in his eye, looking at Taehyun’s thrashing figure, “Taehyun, how could you not know? I knew something was wrong, the moment you distanced yourself from me.” The people murmur atrociously.

As much as Yeonjun didn’t want to take such an abhorrent route, some part of him enjoyed this. Some sick part of him enjoyed seeing his so-called friend breaking down, shattered.

Thus, the young sorcerer would go to embrace betrayal with open arms. That night he became the epitome of betrayal itself.

Taglist: [open]

@royallyjjk @wolfytae-exe @rencarnationofangel @sirenla @matcha-binz @beomies-world @michinri @parkweylyn @wikireads @hanniehaeeeeeee1004 @elara828 @wonioml @onima-chan @moonekth @glossykai @jjunielvrs @beargyuuzz @cathyun @hanstarrs @m3chigo

54 notes · View notes

forbidden-sunlight · 2 years

Text

I’m not seducing the female lead’s obsessive father!

[yandere!regis floyen x agent!reader headcanons]

PART THREE: MERCILESS

PART TWO

warning: spoilers from the manhwa, obsessive behavior, implied violence. Please take caution.

Hey guys, hope you’ve been doing well and ready to dive into this next chapter! Special thanks to @d10nsaint, @rouecentric and a few more friends for helping get out of some tough corners that came with writing the draft!

I do apologize for the delayed release, I had it on my laptop ready to post when Hurricane Ian came barreling through my area, knocking out the electricity. It just came back on after three days without that and running water. Thankfully, my family was safe while I had been stationed at my medical workplace and the damage to our home was minimal.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who are still lost in the dark.

So with that being said, sit back, relax and be prepared to see what happens next~.

It wasn’t too hard to approach Marquess Griddlebone after the Emperor had dismissed the council for the day. Regis was straightforward with his intention of getting acquainted with her as a fellow member. Especially since she will be replacing her father once he has stepped down from his position as the family head.

She was certainly surprised. Then again, he had been known for not approaching the other nobles, maintaining a ‘stiff’ persona unless someone had insulted his little Jubel. The rumors were not wrong. Look what happened to Marquis Hessen when he and his family insulted the Floyen duchy.

However, the shocked expression was replaced with a smile, replying that she is looking forward to being acquainted with a fellow countryman who wishes eternal prosperity for the Ashet Empire. A fellow countryman who was very good at honeying her words and falsifying a jovial mask when Darius had eyes and ears everywhere. Regis simply nodded and took his leave, not wanting to be here any longer. He wished to have dinner with Jubel for a change instead of by himself.

Due to his workload, Regis had to wait two days before he sent Selli to deliver a secret message to the Griddlebone estate. It was a simple greeting, nothing more. It was best to be cautious.

The following morning, the pigeon returned with a response. Inside was a greeting, inquiring about the health of his daughter and staff, and other mundane questions. But behind this letter were two more pieces, both were inscribed in a strange alphabet of the likes he had never seen before. Not even his intelligence network had used this code. A smaller parchment piece fell out of the envelope, written in elegant handwriting were the following words.

Want to play a game?

The rules are quite simple...

Marquess Griddlebone had sent him a cipher. By using the reference sheet, it should be easy for him to decode the message. Don’t ask anyone for help nor show it to anyone. Decode it, and send it back and he might get a response if he is correct. If, however, he was not interested in this game, she was more than welcome to use another means to communicate with him as he sees fit.

He paced around his room, eyeing the reference sheet and cipher carefully before deciding to decode on a blank parchment paper. When he saw the hidden message…well, it certainly made him raise his brow.

For all his talk on being a great leader of the country, one would wonder how the Emperor could allow to make so many enemies by attempting to conquer neighboring nations when he could have easily profited through an alliance via trade or a political marriage. By allowing the crown prince to be placed in charge of the royal army, he is allowing himself to create another contender for the people’s approval.

Shaking his head, he enclosed it with a note asking how she came about this cipher that he, the nation’s hero, had never seen before, and sent Selli on her way. His response was that it is a secret cipher passed through the Griddlebone family for generations. But who said it is the only cipher that she knows? Is he curious?

This pattern of correspondence continued for three weeks. Each cipher was more challenging than the last one, but to his surprise, it did not annoy him. It was an interesting puzzle, and with each one solved, he learned a little more about Lady Griddlebone.

If someone had told Regis that he’d be freely interacting with a member of the Emperor’s council, he would have ignored them and said they were delusional or drunk. And yet, here he is, interacting with Marquis Griddlebone’s only daughter as she secretly obtained any information he needed regarding the whereabouts of wizards.

At first, he regretted asking her. Wondering if he had made the right choice in trusting with such a task. But she did not question him, instead going to work immediately and promising to inform him of any news. In turn, if he heard anything about LaRue, please inform her. A working relationship with benefits, so to speak.

Within a week, she regretfully informed him that she was not able to find any such information except for a baseless rumor about the sighting of a wizard in the southern continent. However, there was something about a ring that can control a person, binding them to enslavement. It was forbidden magic, a contract between two people. If she wants to expand the investigation, she will.

But Regis immediately declined. It was enough for that person to know about Circe’s Ring. He did not want Lady Griddlebone to be in further danger than she is already guilty of: rebelling against the empire, and aiding the enemy. Him.

Instead, he stirred their conversation by sharing things about each other. In three weeks he learned more about Lady Griddlebone than he wanted to. Her schedule, the people she associated with at banquets, even her favorite colors and least favorite food. On the surface, she appeared as an unapproachable young woman with a silver tongue.

Regis was now aware that she is kind and protective towards others who are younger than her. It is a virtue he is most grateful for, as he did not have to worry about Jubelian being in Lady Griddlebone’s presence. She would not try to take advantage of his daughter, as others have tried. Like Lady LaRue.

On occasion, if his schedule would allow it, he’d extend an invitation to the Floyen duchy under the pretense of a meeting between colleagues, even going so far as to call it a tea party. Unfortunately, she would politely reject the offer every time it was brought up.

Too risky. She confessed. Too many eyes would be on us. It might put Her Grace in danger if the Emperor hears about it.

But…but he wanted to meet with her. He wanted to see the woman, more than he would have liked to admit. He needed to see her.

It was to the point that if his aide heard that the lady from the Griddlebone family would be attending a social event, he would go to it. He was being foolish, to allow his heart to waver for a woman such as her…yet he could not stop himself.

In retrospect, Amelia would have wanted him to move on and be happy at this point, would she not?

Louise did not understand what was happening. She had been putting a lot of effort into being a fine lady of a rich family. Learning about the newest trends, building a network of connections with other aristocrats, making sure not to bring shame to the LaRues, etc. And where has this effort rewarded her?

Nothing. Nothing but continuous anguish and aggravation. Why? Why is this happening?!

She gritted her teeth, trying very hard to tighten the grip on the champagne glass as she stared at the group of ladies surrounding the bashful female lead. She still hadn’t made any progress in a potential friendship with Jubelian.

Jubelian coldly continued to rebuff her invitations for tea and pointedly ignored her at social events such as this one, a birthday for a count’s daughter. The only reason she had even to be here is because of her father. Hell, the male lead had the gall to threaten her when she just wanted to say ‘hi’ to Jubelian!

Seriously, why are they acting like this?! She had even stopped approaching the Duke because she thought he’d actually take interest when she pulled away, damn it! But there he was, across the glass greenhouse, surrounded by screeching, vibrant birds who wanted only his title.

She just wanted a chance to show she was in love with him. Was that too much to ask?! She had to do something. She had to rethink her strategy or else she’ll lose her one chance at happiness!!

“Announcing the arrival of Marquis Griddlebone and his daughter, Marquess Griddlebone.” A servant called out, the guests silencing for a moment as the father-daughter pair entered the greenhouse silently. Louise’s blood turned icy, watching them intensely while the hosts greeted them before scattering across the greenhouse.

What? Why is she here?! It doesn’t make sense! They were part of the loyalists, and they were willingly to come to a house that is affiliated with the neutral faction?!

Outrage and anger boiled simultaneously in her veins as she watched the man who did not want a special woman like Louise LaRue, approached the damned loyalist with a foolish, lovestruck expression and a brief kiss on her gloved palm. Etiquette rules dictate that it is polite for a gentleman to kiss a lady’s hand, but such a romantic gesture is reserved for the female lead only!

And that woman isn’t even reacting like a blushing maiden in love! Just an expressionless face hiding behind a fan! What did a loyalist have that she, a lucky transmigrator, lacked?!

Louise needed Regis. He’s the female lead’s father, an exceedingly handsome man with a prestigious title and a duchy to boot! He was the only one worthy of her affection! There is no way she would settle for less, especially the men that her father wanted to introduce her as potential marriage candidates! There was even someone who is twenty years her senior, for God’s sake!

Is it so much to ask to live a luxurious life with a handsome and rich husband?!

Regis quickly approached Lady Griddlebone and her father, nodding his head respectfully to them. He did not care much for the marquis yet he had to be courteous, even though the sole reason he had come here was to talk to his daughter privately. Jubelian was with Lady Veronica and Lady Rose, so she would be fine until he came to fetch her.

They talked for a few moments before the marquis excused himself to speak to someone across the room. His daughter nodded, watching the portly man scamper away before she turned his attention to him, at last.

“Would you like to speak in private, my lady?” He asked. She blinked at him, tilting her head slightly before she spoke in a low, monotonous voice. “Of course. I shall follow your lead, Your Grace.”

Distant and polite with so many eyes surrounding them. Forcing all of his willpower to become as composed as the object of his adoration, he led them through the crowd and towards the outside of the greenhouse.

Quite frankly, you had prepared to talk about ciphers and the sort with the female lead’s father. However, a loving scolding is something you were not expecting to reach your ears. You watched in stunned disbelief as he fussed over the dark circles beginning to appear under your eyes, if you have been taking care of yourself and so forth with his arms crossed.

Clearing your voice, you snapped your fan closed and lightly tapped on it against your open palm.

“Your Grace, please remember that we are in the public eye at a birthday banquet.” She watched as the man’s face flushed ever so slightly before he coughed.

“My apologies.”

“ ‘Tis all right, Your Grace. Now, how may I assist you?” You asked, getting straight to the point. It would be prudent to not be away too long or else rumors would pop up. “Is everything all right with your daughter, the duchy? Or do you require me to do something else for you?”

He was about to speak when the door to the greenhouse slammed opened, revealing a flushed and angry Louise LaRue. You raised an eyebrow at her darkening expression. Oh? Was she jealous? How quaint. You watched with feigned disinterest as she approached the duke, curtseying before she asked to speak to him in private for a moment. A few minutes of his time is all she desired. Regis seemed infuriated, but you could not blame him. You had to give him kudos for his patience with idiots: in contrast to the female lead’s father, you would have snapped her neck a long time ago.

So why in the world was he looking at you for approval? He was a grown man for crying out loud!

You nonchalantly shrugged your shoulders. “Do not mind me, Your Grace. I am curious to see what other flowers are grown here on Count Orleans’ estate aside from their famous irises.” You said, turning on your heel in the direction where they were supposedly blooming when Duke Floyen said, “If Lady LaRue has something to say, then she is more than welcome to say it here.”

Huh? Why is he getting you involved in this matter? Ugh, HR had better prepare a nice compensation for all the trouble you are going through for the completion of this mission.

Looking over your shoulder, you blinked owlishly before giving the pair your undivided attention, waving your open fan in front of your face. “Then, by all means. I shall be a witness to this…conversation.”

Acting as if he had gotten permission from a university professor to continue a presentation, the female lead’s father glared at LaRue. She too was surprised at this turn of events, no doubt she could have anticipated it.

“Lady LaRue, do you even realize the gravity of the situation you have placed yourself in right now?” Regis asked coldly.

“With all due respect, Your Grace, it is within your best interest to discontinue your association with that woman.” Lady LaRue said, surprisingly calm and collected as the duke. “She is someone whose heart or loyalty cannot be wavered. She is dedicated to the empire and the Emperor. Nothing more.”

“And where is your proof of these allegations?”

“These ‘allegations’ are from reliable sources, rest assured, Your Grace. Please understand that I say this out of concern for you and your daughter -”

“That is not for you to decide.” He said tersely. “If I dare to say so, you have conducted yourself in a manner that is unbecoming of a young woman of high society. You continue to approach my daughter with false intentions, even when she has gently rebuked your company time and time again. If you do so again…I am sure you are aware of what became of Marquis Hessen and his family, do you not?”

“...I understand.” You smiled behind your fan as the sound of the outsider gritting her teeth in frustration reached your ears. Ah, what such sweet music~! “But please…allow me to ask. Why? What does Lady Griddlebone have that I do not? She and I are of the same social status, almost the same age! What is the difference between us that - that you wish to spend your time with her?!”

Wow. Talk about desperate. She is really trying to reel him in before you apprehend her for interfering with this world, huh? Well, too bad.

Even if she had married the Duke, you’d just erase his memories and drag her arse back to the Chapter’s headquarters. You were going to get back to your vacation, damn it.

And it was time to end this farce here.

Snapping your fan shut, you spoke. “Lady LaRue, do you recall the last time we spoke about etiquette? Not only had you been rude to myself, but to Her Grace as well. It is fine to approach another noble lady with the intention of establishing a fellowship amongst peers…but there is a limit to how much…enthusiasm one can place in such a pursuit. I believe they call it ‘stalking’ these days, do they not, Your Grace?” You asked, emphasizing on the word associated with unrelenting harassment with a smirk.

She sputtered over her words, leaving herself wide open for the vicious mockery that left your mouth as you recalled everything she had done to gain the Duke’s attention. The outsider stood there, red-faced and trembling with her delicate hands fisting into the skirts of her dress.

She did not deny or claim that these allegations were true. Just seeing her in such a wretched state and having it witnessed by a few spectators was more than enough for now. They would be sure to spread what happened here throughout the social circles by the end of the day.

Your job is done here now. And it is the last time you would be nice to LaRue. You had no intention of staying in this world any longer than necessary. Turning to the duke, you curtised and excused yourself.

But for all of the knowledge and experience you have gained as an agent, you did not see the look of longing on Duke Floyen’s face with your back turned towards him.

When she had been reborn for a second time, Jubelian swore that she would not seek out her father’s approval and affection. It was obvious that he did not care about her, just as Mikhail did not reciprocate her love for him.

All she wanted to do was live a quiet, luxurious life and not get married to the tyrannical crown prince. To do so, she had to repair her tarnished reputation as a wicked villainess and make connections. That was why she had accepted the invitation to this afternoon’s event. But when she saw the forlorn expression on her father’s face upon returning from the gardens, she became a little…concerned.

Later that evening, she asked Merilynn about what the other servants had been saying, as the brunette knew quite a few people beyond the duchy’s gates. According to her maid-in-waiting, Lady LaRue had approached her father yet again, only to be thoroughly humiliated by Marquess Griddlebone. There was a rumor that he is fond of the woman, but it disappeared as quickly as it had been whispered.

Jubelian knew that the Griddlebone family had been loyal to the imperial family since its founding…why would her father associate himself with a woman like that? She was concerned.

If he did become involved with Griddlebone, her father might force her to break up with Max and force her to marry the crown prince or worse, someone from the political faction that supported the emperor and fell short of the requirements she desired in a man: someone who is more powerful than her father, money, status, and looks! No, she wanted to have a peaceful life with a man she loved!

Determined to not let her plans go awry, she asked Merilynn to bring her some parchment and a quill.

She needed to determine if Marquess Griddlebone was a genuine threat to her happiness and to the Floyen duchy. It was already bad enough that Lady LaRue would not stop following her or her father. And there was no better way to ferret someone’s true intentions than an invitation for afternoon tea out of the blue.

#forbidden-sunlight #yandere #yandere manhwa x reader #father i dont want to get married #the chapter chronicles #yandere male #yandere manhwa au #yandere regis floyen x reader #x reader

526 notes · View notes

anon-e-miss · 5 months

Text

Bearing the Broad - 4

Prowl’s peds hardly ever touched the ground. When he walked, it was only on the softest carpet as he made his way to the bath. The paint did not wash away, not from his peds, not from his face, arms, thighs and belly. It would remain until it wore off and if Jazz’s behaviour was any signal, the paint would still be there when Prowl entered emergence. The oils the Prince massaged into his plating every mega-cycle only helped it last. They also helped his sentio-metallico stretch as his forge extended. It was growing so quickly. By the time he gave emergence, Prowl would be far rounder than he was tall. No one seemed to be concerned for his fitness, it was strange that Polyhexian culture had developed in such a way that the far smaller partner carried. Prowl knew that it was Seekerkin and not Seekers that carried in Vos.

Though the coronation would not take place until a stellar-cycle of mourning took place for the old king, Jazz had become king immediately upon Straxus’ death and he had immediately gone to work. Polyhex, Prowl realized had been poorly managed by the old king who had squanders its resources and emptied its coffers. This was why Jazz had gone through the effort of employing Prowl’s services. Only a member of the royal family with an heir in the cradle or in the forge could be crowned. None had fit that bill until Jazz had paid Prowl to kindle and carry for him. His cousins had tried very hard with a number of lovers but none had ensparked. Jazz did not care of his wastrel cousins and feared what ruin they could bring Polyhex. Prowl did not know how true his fears were but he could at least confirm for himself that Jazz was pouring his all into rebuilding the nation’s resources and pride.

Prowl sat as fount every mega-cycle. These poor mechanisms were so starved new originators could not produce the energon their bitlets needed to survive. Whether it was the fuel he consumed or the environment, Prowl’s wells never trained so long as he sat with Jazz, the pump the temple to Primaprovided forever sucked energon from his nozzles, no matter how long he sat in service for. The priests said his was foster origin to the entire district as every bitlet and sparkling fuelled from his wells. How one mech, even one with his supply could do that made no sense to Prowl? It was Punch who explained it.

“Prima works through ya when ya sit on her throne,” Punch explained.

All Cybertronian life had begun in Prima’s forge, according to the beliefs of Polyhex. Prowl moaned as he saw himself in her image. She sat in the lap of Primus, King of the Gods, and progenitor of all nations. His spike filled her as she, so much smaller than her king, sat in his lap, her legs held up behind her knees. Jazz mirrored this pose as he was painted by the court painter. Went through the expected motions, speaking with his court. His cousins had their supporters and they were not so agreeable. Prowl found himself lifted of Jazz’s spike and held there on display, his gaping valve drooling lubricants. His optics bugged out as Jazz perched his tight aft on his hard spike. He brought no force to bear but allowed gravity to open Prowl’s aft on his spike.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Prowl cried as gravity slowly pulled his aft down on the giant’s massive spike. His little hole was cleaved apart. Chained to his belt, Prowl’s plugged spike twitched and his ruined valve oozed a torrent of lubricants.

Jazz held one of his legs up under the kneed as he fragged Prowl’s aching, empty valve with his digits. Prowl mewled as those digits stimulated his gamma cluster and made his valve gush as his afthole was destroyed by the giant’s spike. His wells grew firm as they engorged and Jazz pulled the clamps off his nozzles which immediately started to leak. Before the entire court, Prowl was debauched. It cowed them, somehow, though it would surely only be temporary. Runamuck and Runabout were Straxus’ natural creations and even though the throne did not pass in such a manner, they felt entitled to it by being his first emerged. Jazz would have to prove himself a worthy king at every step to ensure he had support should they wage a rebellion.

Prowl drank pressed energon as he sat impaled on Jazz’s hard spike. His aft throbbed around the plug that prevented the transfluids Jazz had spilled in him did not leak out. It was a huge plug, carved from a rare gem. It only made him feel fuller as his valve twitched around the giant’s monster spike. His belly bulged out well passed his knees. It was not only Prima working through him when he sat as fount but Primus working through Jazz. The newsparks in his forge were growing quickly, far more quickly than the normally would have. Jazz had booked him for two contracts. How loose would his belly, wells and holes be when the Prince was done?

“What about there?” Prowl pointed at the map. Jazz was searching for the site of an ancient aquifer that could hopefully be renewed and resolve all of Polyhex’s fuel shortage problems. The topography he had noticed looked to be close to an ancient underground river.

“Check there first,” Jazz ordered.

“But…” the engineers looked down at Prowl, so small and debauched in their king’s lap.

“My future queen is brilliant,” Jazz declared and Prowl flushed as the lie continued. “’N singularly blessed by Prima and Primus together. Check there first.”

The aquifer was found where Prowl had suspected it might be, blocked only by an old rock fall, restoring it took an orn, rather than vorns. Jazz stood by an ancient waterfall, just above what had once been a lush garden. He was posed as Primus with Prowl as Prima skewered on his spike and his huge, firm belly on display. The sounds of the river restored roared in Prowl’s audios and he overloaded with a cry as the waterfall was reborn. One by one the hanging pools filled, promising the rebirth of the long dry gardens. All those who gathered bowed and sang blessings.

“Long Live the King. Long Live the Queen. Long Live the Queen!”

“But I am not queen,” Prowl argued later as Jazz massaged oil into his belly. Prowl could not even wrap his arms around it anymore. There was no question he had kindled giant newsparks.

“No reason ya can’t be,” Jazz replied.

“There are many,” Prowl countered. “Namely, you contracted me to carry. You did not court and conjunx me.”

“I can court ya now,” Jazz offered and Prowl flushed. “To their thinkin’ I put bitties in yer forge so I conjunxed ya. Things are different in Polyhex , Prowl.”

“Were you ever planning to return me to Praxus?” Prowl asked. “Or was it easier to pay for my forge rather than find a consort you actually wanted?”

“What makes ya think I don’t want ya, Prowl?” Jazz asked. “I had every intention o’ returnin’ ya home ‘n I have every intention o’ doin’ just that if it’s what ya’d rather.”

“Clients are not meant to fall for surrogates,” Prowl argued, a little distressed by all the new developments falling onto him at once. They had found five newsparks when they had scanned his forge, giants and little bitlets growing together and all growing in line with their spark’s code.

“I don’t know how any o’ yers didn’t,” Jazz said. “Y’re perfect.”

“Oh…” Prowl murmured.

“Don’t ya like doin’ more than forgin’?” Jazz asked. “Don’t ya like usin’ yer processor advisin’ me?”

“I do,” Prowl replied. “They do not like you listening to me.”

“They don’t matter,” Jazz argued. “The citizens think ya embody Prima. They’d despair to see ya go.”

“They do not need me the same way as they did,” Prowl countered. “Now that the pools have refilled and the gardens are coming back to life.”

“The line at the temple ain’t any shorter now than it was,” Jazz replied. “Yer energon is more pure than anythin’ from a river. Prima blesses ya ‘n ‘em as ya sit as faunt. There’ll always be mecha that need ya for this.”

“I can try being your queen,” Prowl said. “For however long this whim lasts.”

#anon-e-miss writes #tf jazz #tf prowl #maccadams #mechpreg #valveplug #extreme penetration

47 notes · View notes

liyawritesss · 2 months

Text

ᖴᒪOᗯEᖇᔕ Iᑎ ᗷᒪOOᗰ - ᐯᗩᒪEᑎTIᑎEᔕ ᗪᖇᗩᗷᗷᒪEᔕ

Ｄａｙ２３－ＱｕａｌｉｔｙＴｉｍｅ

－ A King's Wish - T'Challa Udaku - Marvel's Black Panther

－ In which during a tumultuous time during T'Challa's duties with the Avengers in America, he pays a visit to a certain someone ro calm his mind.

－ Check out more prompts and other activities on the Flowers In Bloom Event Masterlist!

A King should never get too comfortable in his position - and if he is, then he shouldn’t be king. It was one of the many morals instilled upon T’Challa as crowned prince to the Wakandan throne. He knows he’s got a lot to risk for himself, for his people, and unfortunately he doesn’t have the ability to allow himself to get too comfortable. Though, just because he’s King of arguably the most powerful nation on earth, doesn’t mean he’s absolved from having guilty pleasures.

And it just so happens that he’s on his way to visit said guilty pleasure right now.

He has to keep a low profile, though. More than raised eyebrows would occur if people saw a member of the Wakandan royal family casually strolling into a college campus, accompanied by brightly colored warrior women trained to kill. So he dawns much more casual, American clothing, and so do the two members of the KingsGuard accompanying him, because of course, he couldn’t come completely alone.

With so much happening the past few months, all T’Challa truly wants is to be in your arms. To remember how they feel around him, to cement your kisses into his skin so that they never disappear again. It’s wishful thinking, he knows it is; there’s only so much time the two of you will have together, but he doesn’t like to think about that. Instead, he chooses to relish in the present, and perhaps, speak on what future instances would look like.

He remembers the day the two of you first met. Being introduced to each other by his friend who taught the graduate level african history class you were enrolled in, the professor relayed your expressed interest in Wakanda and the desire to study the history of the nation on a deeper level. While he could not grant you access inside the tightly secured country for reasons, T’Challa was more than willing to oblige in your questions to assist in your research. Little did he know that the mere prospect of assisting you in your extended project would lead to something much more deeper.

It was a breath of fresh air for the royal, a change of pace from his constant need to save face. You didn’t treat him like a King - which, granted, he had to get used to - but rather an average scholar you were bouncing ideas off of. While most of his life he has been molded to be a pillar of sovereignty, with you, T’Challa was able to have some semblance of normalcy in his life. Something he didn’t know he craved so carnally until he met you.

He sighs as his fist raps at your door, his body already buzzing with excitement at the idea of seeing you again after a long time being apart. You open it, and T’Challa’s lips immediately crack into a smile.

“Now, I remember telling you to let me know when you’re coming by,” you say in a voice akin to disbelief, standing in the doorway of your apartment that resides close to campus, “y’know, instead of knocking on my door like you’re the police or somethin’?”

“Can you blame me?” T’Challa retorts, “I was in a rush.”

Well, there’s little you can do about the King who seemingly lost his manners, besides welcome him into your home - and your heart - for the night.

19 notes · View notes

ultramarine-spirit · 1 year

Text

Why Athy's coronation is a bigger deal than it seems

Or me overthinking WMMAP's worldbuilding

The narrative of Athy's coronation is so interesting to me. Perhaps it wasn't completely intended by Spoon, but its implications for the world of WMMAP are more than impressive.

What got me thinking about this is that, in real life, the heir to the throne is not "crowned" as crown prince, they are the person expected to succeed since birth. That would be Athy as Claude's only child, so why would she need a coronation? Apart from securing the position that people have been trying to steal from her since she was born. Well, if we look at how royal succession works in real life, until the 20th century crown princesses weren't considered heirs. Being the rulers of their nation by their own right was just not allowed.

They were more often than not the spouse of a crown prince, but even crown princesses by birth wouldn't inherit the throne in a male dominated succession. Which seems to be exactly Obelia's case, despite how its first ruler was a queen, Queen Ambrose, as stated in the novel by Athy. Some interesting events must have happened between Obelia's foundation and the present day for that to change.

We see some subtle signs of this in the manhwa. All the royal portraits only depict male rulers, and Athy mentions how immortal names were only granted by the emperor to his heir, the empress' son, that's why Claude received such a name (meaning "limping"). We aren't told that giving immortal names to the emperor's daughter was outright forbidden, but it's certainly unusual, as -apart from Ambrose- Athy is the only member of Obelia's royal family that we know has a name evocative of immortality. The named emperors, Anastasius, Aevum, Aeternitas, Caelum, were all males.

This makes Diana naming her daughter "Athanasia" incredibly daring. She wasn't the emperor, who has the right to choose an heir, she wasn't even Claude's wife, and yet Diana was the one who gave Athy her name.

So, following Obelia's succession and history, it looks like Athy was never expected to actually rule the empire or exert authority. Sure, she would be the empress, but she wouldn't be looked as an equal to her male predecessors. In the novel, both local and foreign nobles were very invested in who Athy was going to marry, saying that she needed to have a strong and capable husband, like Arlanta's prince Dice, since as a princess she was delicate and weak. Others (Roger) argued that she must marry an obelian nobleman, to maintain the power within the country. This was followed by a hilarious scene of Athy breaking the cutlery and shutting their mouths.

This kind of worldbuilding also explains why Roger was so focused on Ijekiel marrying Jennette, he wanted him or their future son to be emperor. As we see in the novel's LP side story, they never wanted Jennette to seize the throne, and she never got a coronation or the title of heir. The same could be said for the manhwa, Anastasius and Aeternitas wanted to use her as a puppet, not make her an empress, and in that way legitimize their accession to the throne.

Athy actually being considered the heir to the throne by her own merits and later crowned as such is pretty extraordinary for a world like Obelia's. Other series have coronation ceremonies for princes and princesses, so maybe Spoon thought it was a real thing, but both analyzed from a real life point of view and from within the narrative, it's an amazing achievement. Claude is obviously not someone that cares for Obelia's traditions, the nobles rescenting him for his origins, so it's even possible that the ceremony was the first of its kind.

Since Athy is Claude's only child, the reader would expect her to be the next ruler by default, but Obelia doesn't seem like a particularly equal society when it comes to both class and gender. This is even more apparent with the misogynistic treatment she received in the novel, or how a noble tried to belittle her in the manhwa. Even more polite nobles mentioned they thought of Athy as little more than "a cute little princess" before she became the emperor's proxy. So it was natural that, with Anastasius suddenly coming back to life, a good portion of the traditional noble faction would back him, despite being an overthrown tyrant.

In summary, Athy being crowned as heir is an extraordinary accomplishment in itself, breaking Obelia's tradition of perhaps centuries. I would dare to say, maybe an unprecedented event since Queen Ambrose's rule. And as the final chapter states, she would become an empress adored by the people and who would live on in history.

#this was inspired by an old ask where i ranted about Diana naming Athy and by a convo with Lithi #tbh i think Spoon just didn't know coronation ceremonies for princesses (and princes) aren't a thing so #1. Athy didn't 'need' one because she was Claude's heir already or 2. She couldn't get one because (they aren't a thing and) she is a girl #number 2 seems to be Obelia's tradition and how succession works but obviously Claude wouldn't care lol #either way i think adding a coronation to her narrative ends it really well. though it would have been nice to see her reach 18 yo #tl;dr: Athy girlboss #who made me a princess #i suddenly became a princess #suddenly became a princess one day #wmmap #sbap #sbapod #athanasia #athanasia de alger obelia #athy #wmmap meta

181 notes · View notes

btsyeonu · 5 months

Text

👣. !!: YEONU’S PROFILE & FACTS ‧₊˚

↺ 💌 ࣪ ˖ ∿ author’s note , @ the way i already have a whole love interest in mind for this man who is literally absolutely perfect 😍😍 i wanna see if anyone can guess who from the ‘ideal type’ desc lol but at the same time i also have somebody else in mind hmm, anyways enjoy!!

⊂ THE ✶ BASICS ⊃

╭・ฅ🕸﹕birth name - kim yeonu ( 김연우 ) !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕nicknames - korean hinata shouyo , prodi-g , international rizz master , prince of daejeon , hype boy , bangtan’s ace card , mr “he’s large but i’m in charge” , worldwide moneymaker guy , ceo kim !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕birth date - december 30th , 1995 !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕age - 29 ( korean age ) / 27 ( international age ) !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕zodiac sign - capricorn !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕birthplace - daejeon , south korea !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕hometown - yuseong-gu , daejeon , south korea !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕residence - gangnam-gu , seoul , south korea !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕nationality - south korean !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕ethnicity - south korean !

╰・ฅ🕸️ : languages - korean ( 100% – mother tongue ) , japanese ( 80% – fluent ) , english ( 40% – amateur ) , mandarin ( 40% – amateur ) , spanish ( 30% - learning ) , tagalog ( 10% – beginner ) , hindi ( 5% – beginner ) !

⊂ PHYSICAL ✶ TRAITS ⊃

╭・ฅ🕸﹕height - 5’5 ft | 165.1 cm !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕eye colour - black !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕natural hair colour - black !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕modifications - multiple ear piercings , nose piercing ( temporary ) , tattoos !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕blood type - o negative !

╰・ฅ🕸️ : faceclaim - lee jihoon a.k.a woozi ( seventeen ) !

⊂ CAREER ✶ INFO ⊃

╭・ฅ🕸﹕stage name - YeoniX !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕positions - lead rapper , main dancer , vocalist , face of the group , centre !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕representative emoji - 🦊 !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕debut date - june 13th , 2O13 !

╰・ฅ🕸️ : group - bangtan sonyeondan ; bts !

⊂ PERSONAL ✶ INFO ⊃

╭・ฅ🕸﹕mbti - enfj-t !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕family - mother , father , younger sister , younger brother !

﹕・ฅ🕸️﹕positive traits - receptive , reliable , passionate , altruistic , charismatic !

╰・ฅ🕸️ : negative traits - unrealistic , overly idealistic , condescending , intense , overly empathetic !

⊂ HIS ✶ TRIVIA ⊃

HE WAS BORN in yuseong-gu , DAEJEON , south korea.

HIS FAMILY CONSISTS OF: mother , FATHER , younger sister and a younger brother , BUT HE only regularly keeps IN TOUCH with his father.

EDUCATION: daejeon JUAN elementary SCHOOL ; daejeon OESAM middle SCHOOL ; korean ARTS high school ; global cyber UNIVERSITY.

he is TRANSGENDER ftm ( female to MALE ) and was OUTED against his WILL in 2O15 after a series of BABY photos ARISED of him looking ‘feminine’.

YEONU has always had a PASSION for making MUSIC ever since ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. he HAD his own little BAND that would often PLAY at TALENT SHOWS.

he was very POPULAR with the GIRLS in school BECAUSE of his IMMENSE musical talents and OUTGOING personality. he THINKS the boys didn’t LIKE HIM so much because of this.

he was easily SCOUTED by the BIG THREE and various AGENCIES after a VIDEO of him and his BAND playing at a TALENT show was uploaded online.

he CHOSE to go with BIGHIT for many REASONS. he wanted more CREATIVE FREEDOM with his music, he WANTED to be able to COMMUNICATE with management openly and he just LIKED the vision that BIGHIT had.

he was the SECOND member to join BIGHIT after NAMJOON. yeonu and namjoon have KNOWN each other the LONGEST out of all of the MEMBERS.

HOSEOK SAID yeonu drinks MILK at least twice a DAY. he thinks it WILL make him TALLER at some point and that YOONGI actively encourages this THOUGHT PROCESS. (14.09.16 VLIVE)

YEONU says the BODY PART he is most CONFIDENT about is his BICEPS.

he also states that one GOOD thing about his HEIGHT is that he can be CARRIED around by the OTHER MEMBERS all day. YEONU is actively the member who has to use his FEET the least to GET to PLACES because he has a PERSONAL CHAUFFEUR at ALL TIMES by his SIDE.

initially his MEMBERS did not know YEONU WAS TRANSGENDER until he was OUTED.

his FAVOURITE colour is RED & GREY.

when ASKED to rank the MOST ATTRACTIVE member, he said that PERSONALLY, namjoon was EXACTLY his type, but JEONGGUK comes at a CLOSE second. he thinks RM is the most ATTRACTIVE member in BANGTAN.

he is described as a ‘MUSICAL PRODIGY’ for his all roundedness in MUSIC. he can play many INSTRUMENTS, produce and COMPOSE songs, as well as WRITE lyrics etc.

he has 220 SONGS attributed to HIM as a SONGWRITER and a COMPOSER as of 2O23.

his FAVOURITE NUMBER is 10.

he is a GREAT COOK but doesn’t LIKE to do it often unless it’s for himself. ONE of his LOVE LANGUAGES is when he COOKS for someone to show his GRATITUDE.

he CHOREOGRAPHED the dance for NEWJEANS’S debut single ‘ATTENTION’.

HE SAID he often CHECKS his hashtag on X to see the type of content ARMY posts about him. (19.08.22 WEVERSE LIVE)

he was nicknamed ‘KOREAN HINATA SHOUYO’ for his INCREDIBLE ability to defy GRAVITY. he can JUMP the highest within BANGTAN.

he went to HIGH SCHOOL with JIMIN and TAEHYUNG. the three BOYS were said to be the ‘RADIATING TRIO’ amongst their PEERS.

YEONU’S BIRTHDAY is on the same day as TAEHYUNG’S. it was on THEIR REQUEST that the two always do JOINT lives for their BIRTHDAYS to celebrate with ARMY.

IN THE DORM, YEONU is in charge of keeping the TOILETS clean.

HOBBIES: working OUT, writing POETRY, learning to PLAY VARIOUS instruments, reading, GOING on WALKS.

he knew he WANTED to be a RAPPER after coming across hip hop duo OUTKAST. he has MANY of THEIR albums still to THIS DAY.

HE IS deemed the SCARIEST member within BANGTAN, especially during COMEBACK season.

YeoniX’s MOTTO: “NOT everything is a LESSON. sometimes you just FAIL and that’s OKAY TOO.”

when they were living TOGETHER in the dorms, YEONU said he would OFTEN scare the other MEMBERS unintentionally because they would COME INTO the kitchen to FILL up their water BOTTLES at night whilst he was THERE eating a SNACK without any LIGHTS ON.

he is the FATHER to two pet DOGS. one is a MALTIPOO and the other is a GERMAN SHEPHERD. their names are LUCKY and CHAM.

people’s FIRST IMPRESSION of YEONU is that he’s a CHARISMATIC sweet talker. everyone always GRAVITATES towards HIM and he is said TO BE the life of the PARTY.

YEONU is ranked as one of the BEST dancers within KPOP. he stands AMONGST others such as TAEMIN, hoshi, KAI and his fellow members J-HOPE and JIMIN.

YeoniX’s IDEAL DATE: “i WANNA go to the GYM together and WORKOUT. then after that, we CAN go to my house and we can learn a CUTE dance COVER, maybe do SOME karaoke TOO. and when we’re really tired after SUCH A LONG day, we can CUDDLE up against EACH OTHER and fall asleep. that would be MY ideal date.”

💬 — OTHER MEMBERS ABOUT YEONIX.

RM: “i like to THINK i know him VERY well. he may ONLY seem CUTE to some PEOPLE, but there’s a MULTITUDE of SIDES to his personality. he’s built HIS CAREER, his LOVE, EVERYTHING, from the ground up. he’s a real FIGHTER. i admire HIM.”

V: “he’s like a MIX of the OLDEST and youngest COMBINED. SOMETIMES i’ll see him and i think he COULD easily fool others into THINKING he’s the MAKNAE, but then his SERIOUS face intimidates ME. he could be the HYUNG type too. he’s an all rounder in EVERY WAY.”

SUGA: “the FIRST time i saw him, i had to PAUSE for a SECOND. it was like looking INTO a MIRROR. we have very similar faces, BUT THEN i found out about all of his talents. THIS GUY is way beyond my LEVEL. some people JUST have that gift. YOU CAN’T rival IT.”

JUNGKOOK: “he ALWAYS looked out FOR ME when i FIRST joined the COMPANY. not that he DOESN’T now, but i really WANT TO return the FAVOUR towards this HYUNG. i want to PROTECT him with MY LIFE.”

JIN: “ah, THAT GUY? he thinks BEING CUTE will get him out of trouble. he makes THESE silly sound effects and then SMILES at me… i have to tell MYSELF, ‘aish i CAN’T lose this battle.’ it’s like a WAR ZONE out there.”

J-HOPE: “he’s way TOO COOL, honestly. for SOMEONE of his talents, i don’t think the K-POP category is enough to CONTAIN him. he’ll PROVE his international WORTH. he’ll outdo all of US. i don’t doubt it.”

JIMIN: “i think we’re the CLOSEST. we went to HIGH SCHOOL together and he was very POPULAR then. seriously, it was like EVERYONE wanted his attention. i have to TAKE certain measures now when we’re AROUND STRANGERS. he’s too IN DEMAND.”

IN THE DORM he used to HAVE a room to HIMSELF, but it WAS always RAIDED by the other MEMBERS. (180327: BTS’ JHOPE & JIMIN – MORE MAGAZINE MAY ISSUE)

YEONIX’S IDEAL TYPE is someone who will LOVE ALL parts of him EQUALLY. he wants SOMEONE who is attentive to their SURROUNDINGS and is SOFTHEARTED underneath a FIRM persona.

26 notes · View notes

specialagentlokitty · 1 year

Text

Katara x Male!autistic!reader - heal what’s been hurt

Can you please write autistic male reader [unless you don't write male reader, then can be female] where reader comes from a family of firebenders and earthbenders? They can use both and reader can lavabend and lightning bend. Reader is afraid of waterbenders because he was almost killed by one and maybe Zuko catches Katara yelling at reader and reader [out of fear] lavanends in self defense. Katara ends up burned and Zuko yells at Katara and Sokka is mad until Zuko tells him what happened. It's not until dinner when reader comes out of the room [he/she] are staying in that Katara sees all the scars they have on [his/her] back and chest that she understands why reader is terrified of waterbenders. Katara ends up apologizing to reader but reader is still hesitant about her. Maybe they form a friendship? [Sorry if this is too detailed] - Anon💜

You never agreed with Zuko when he tried to chase down the avatar, you believed that it was time for the needless war to end, your family was proof different nations could get along.

Only Iroh and Zuko knew of your true heritage, that you were born to an earth bending mother, and a fire bender father, who happened to be a high ranking member of the army.

They fell in love in a small village in the earth nation, and your father hid her and her family as fire nation citizens from one of the colonies.

You never attempted to stop Zuko, your fire bending was on par to his, you could lava bend, and lightening bend, but you couldn’t bring yourself to hurt him.

He was your best friend.

Sitting on the floor of the fire princes room, you stretched and laid down as you stared at his ceiling.

“We’re leaving.” He said sternly.

“Oh come on!” You huffed.

“Pack a bag we need to go now.”

You sighed and grabbed your already packed bag, following after Zuko as he led you both away from the palace.

You did ask him over and over again where you were going, but he didn’t tell you.

He wouldn’t even tell you what happened.

You simply followed him on the blimp, resting your arms over the edge as you watched the world below you pass.

“Hey Zuko?” You asked.

“Yeah?”

“You’ve abandoned the fire nation haven’t you?”

You turned around to face him.

He looked so sad, and you sighed, walking over to him you placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m worried it to late.”

“It’s never to late to make the right choice Zuko, you’re doing what needs to be done for the good of the world. Iroh would be proud you know.”

“I don’t know…” Zuko mumbled.

“He will, all he ever wanted for you was to choose the right path in life. You got a little sidetracked, and went down the wrong path for a while, but you know what you need to do now. You’re your own person, in control of your own actions, and you’re doing the right thing.”

“You never agreed with me capturing the avatar, did you?” He asked.

You shook your head and rested yourself against the edge of the blimp with him, watching as the stars gently passed you by.

“Why did you follow me then? Why did you stay?”

Laughing slightly, you shot your friend a soft smile.

“I stayed because you’re my best friend you idiot, you’re like a brother to me, okay? You saved me, and helped me heal myself, and I’m here to do that to you, it’s what friends do.”

Zuko smiled, looking up at the stars with you.

“You’ve always been part of our family (Y/N), I know uncle sees you as his own son, and you’re the closest I’ll ever have to having a supportive family. You’re my brother, and you always will be.”

You grinned, turning to face Zuko as you held your your hand.

“Deal?”

Zuko smiled, shaking hands with you.

“Deal.”

“Great, I’m going to sleep!”

Laying down, you quickly fell asleep and Zuko stayed awake to guide you guys where you needed to be.

He didn’t wake you up when you landed, but when he came back feeling defeated he finally woke you up with a heavy frown on his face.

You stirred a little bit, sitting up to look at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“They won’t trust me, they won’t let me help.” He sighed.

“Get some rest Zuko, we’ll talk to them again in the morning, okay?”

He nodded and you helped him set up a camp, and while he went to sleep, you stayed up and kept watch.

You know you didn’t have to, you were safe here, but it was out of habit, and if you didn’t stay awake you knew Zuko would’ve, and he needed his rest.

Hearing a small twig snap, you looked over and quickly got into a fighting stance.

“Who’s there?”

You watched as the earth bender girl stepped forth, and you lowered your guard as you gestured for her to come over and sit with you.

You guys spoke for a little while, and you answered questions she asked you before she left, and you went back to staring into the fire.

Morning came, and Zuko guided you to where Aang and his group were camping out.

“Zuko.” Sokka snarled.

You took a step back as you stared at the clothes he was wearing, you were so focused on Sokka you didn’t even notice Katara had joined.

“Please just let us help!” Zuko begged.

“No! You can’t be trusted, neither of you can!”

“We want to stop this war, it’s all (Y/N) has ever wanted! A peaceful life for his family!” Zuko yelled.

“You’re both enemies! You chased us! Hunted us!” Katara yelled.

She took a step forward, and you took one back.

You were so zoned out you weren’t even aware that they had finally agreed to let you guys stay and help.

Zuko noticed this and he placed his hands on your shoulders.

“Breathe…” he whispered.

“Zuko… I need to go…”

“We’re going to find a room away from you all, to make you feel safer.”

With that Zuko quickly dragged you away.

He helped you through your panic, sitting with you until you were okay, and you decided that some sleep would help.

You avoided Katara and Sokka for days, either staying in your room or near Zuko, and finally Katara had enough.

Her and Sokka cornered you on the ledge outside.

“You’re just here to spy on us aren’t you?!” Katara yelled.

“N…no…” you spoke weakly.

“You are! You’re just here to get information and give it to the fire lord! It’s why you’re always sneaking around!”

You tried to speak, but you couldn’t find your voice, all you could do was shake your head at all the accusations she was throwing your way.

Your heart was pounding, you were struggling to breath and everything was getting blurry.

You couldn’t focus on anything, they didn’t look like Katara and Sokka, friends of the avatar, they looked like the people you dreaded. The people you feared.

Katara suddenly moved her hand and out of relaxed your raised yours, a wall of lava coming up between the pair of you and the two water benders scrambled back.

It came crashing down, and Katara screamed as bits of embers landed on her and burned her skin.

Zuko, Toph and Aang were alerted to the screams, and they came running to help.

Toph built a wall to stop the lava from travelling, blocking it in front of them so it couldn’t travel any closer.

With his airbending Aang put out the lava.

You stood there frozen.

“I’m sorry… i.. I’m so sorry…”

You shook your head and you ran past them, straight to the little room you were camping in.

“Look what he did! I told you they can’t be trusted!” Sokka yelled.

“It’s not his fault!” Zuko yelled.

While Aang helped Katara, and she healed herself with some water, Zuko and Sokka screamed back and forth.

Finally Aang jumped between them.

“I’m sorry, you have to go.” Aang said sternly.

“Let me explain! There’s a reason he did that!”

“Go!” Sokka yelled.

Katara sat there cradling her hands to her chest, tears in her eyes and Zuko frantically looked around.

“He didn’t do it on purpose!”

“Go!” Aang snapped.

Zuko sighed, nodding his head knowing he wasn’t going to be able to force them to listen to him.

“Wait, he’s telling the truth. (Y/N) didn’t do this on purpose. And (Y/N) was telling the truth when he apologised, he didn’t mean to hurt Katara.”

“Then he better have one hell of a good reason.” Sokka growled.

He crouched next to his sister and held her while Zuko sat down.

Aang and Toph did the same next to Katara, and they all stared at Zuko waiting for an explanation.

“(Y/N) has never had any intention of hurting anyone, he hates the war and wants it to stop because his parents live in constant fear of the fire nation. He actually set out to find Aang in the North Pole while I was trying to capture him, he was trying to warn him.”

Zuko sighed as he remembered that day.

“He didn’t get far when he was captured by water benders, he was moved to some sort of cell made completely from ice, he couldn’t use his bending to escape. The water nation wanted him to talk.”

The four shared a confused look, but carried on listening.

“They… the things they did to him are things you wouldn’t survive… no one could survive… but he did…” Zuko whispered.

“What did they do?” Aang asked quietly.

“They broke him, destroyed him, hurt him until there was nothing left but an empty shell of who he was before. But he couldn’t give them the information they wanted, and that’s when they tossed him into the sea to freeze, my uncle came across him and brought him back to our ship. It’s how I met him.”

Zuko looked up at them all.

“You have to understand what they did to him placed a deep fear of water benders in him, he is terrified of members of the water nation. Katara yelled and screaming put him right back in that cell, and out of fear he attacked her because he thought he was in danger, all he ever wanted to do was help the avatar.”

They all stayed silent for a few minute.

“He’s telling the truth.” Toph said softly.

“No! There’s no way the water tribe would do that to him!” Katara growled.

“It is hard to believe…” Aang spoke, “but Toph could tell if Zuko was lying.”

“You can’t be serious!” Sokka huffed.

After talking it over, they agreed to let the pair of you stay, and while Zuko stayed in your room with you, they stayed away from you both.

Zuko came out when dinner was ready, and he let you know that he would save you a bowl for when you were ready.

You were scared, terrified, but slowly you crept from your room, setting your burned shirt that you were trying to fix by the door.

You walked out and crept around the edge of the circle.

Aang was the first to greet you with a smile, and Zuko did the same, holding up a bowl for you.

Walking closer, you knelt to Zuko, whispering a thanks too him and Aang as you sat down between them.

You kept your eyes on your food as you slowly ate, but you couldn’t shake the stares on you.

Sokka and Katara were staring at you.

In the light of the sun, they could see the pale scars covering your chest, some even trailing up to your neck or around your side.

When you finished eating you simply just got up and left, while Sokka looked away shamed Katara had her eyes glued to you.

The scars on your back were worse, deeper, jagged, still healing.

After her dinner, she excused herself and got up, only to be stopped by Zuko.

“Give him his space, leave him a route to get out if he needs to…” he whispered.

“How did you…?”

“I saw you watching him.”

She nodded and thanked Zuko, making her way down to your room and carefully knocked lightly on the stone.

You looked up and when you saw her you shuffled back a little, eyes glued to her.

“Can I came in?”

You didn’t answer.

“That’s okay, I’ll just sit here.”

She sat on the far edge of your doorway, she took a deep breath.

“I’m really sorry for shouting at you, scaring you. I should have let you explain and not jumped to conclusions, I understand why you attacked me, it was to protect yourself and that’s okay. I’m really sorry (Y/N).”

You didn’t stay anything, you simply just carried on working on your shirt.

Katara watched you for a moment, a small smile on her face as she watched your struggle to sow.

“I can fix that if you want?” She asked gently.

You shook your head and she nodded.

“Okay, well, I’ll leave you be. But if you need help just ask.”

With that she got up and walked away.

You set your shirt aside and sighed to yourself, looking at the little pricks on your fingers from trying and failing to sow the holes closed.

You weren’t sure how long you were trying, but it was dark. Zuko had come in at some point and was fast asleep on the other side of the room.

Folding the shirt, you stood up and carefully crept out, making your way to a different section of the temple and slipped in.

You glanced at Sokka who was throwing a small rock in the air and catching it, and he stopped when you walked in.

He watched you pad over to Katara, laying the folded shirt next to her things before you backed away quickly.

“She’s really good you know, she fixes all my clothes for me.” Sokka smiled.

You said nothing and scurried away.

When Katara woke that morning, she sat up and stretched, reaching for her bag she froze when she felt an unfamiliar fabric and looked down.

“He dropped it off last night.” Sokka yawned and rolled over.

Katara smiled to herself and picked it up, getting straight to work.

It took her an hour, she then washed it, asked Aang to dry it and looked around for any sign of where you could be.

She couldn’t find you or Zuko, but she did find Toph playing with Momo.

“Have you seen (Y/N)?”

“Never before.”

“Toph I’m serious.”

“So am I.” She shrugged.

Katara sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Okay, do you know where he may be? Better?”

“Much! He’s petting Appa.” Toph said.

Katara walked over to where the flying bison as laid, and she found you just stood in front of him, ruffling your hands through his fur as you mumbled to the bison.

“(Y/N)?”

You jumped, spinning around to face her.

“I fixed your shirt, I washed it as well. Aang dried it so there’s no water on it.”

She held it out and you looked at her with suspicion.

“I’ll just set it here.”

She set the folded shirt on the floor and back away, and you walked closer so you could pick it up.

Again she found herself staring at the scars on your skin.

“They don’t hurt…” you muttered.

“What?”

“My scars, I know you’re looking at them. They don’t hurt, aside from one on my back, the rest are okay.”

“I can take a look at it for you if you want? I’m a healer as well.”

You looked at her.

Her healing it meant water, and she knew that and you knew that as well, so you shook your head and pulled your shirt over your head.

“That’s okay, but if you change your mind I’m more then happy to heal it.”

“Iroh already took a look, he said it’ll be the hardest to heal, because it’s so deep.”

“I’m really sorry they did they to you (Y/N), I really am. I can’t imagine what you went through, or why they would do that.”

You sighed, looking up at the water bender.

“It’s not your fault…”

“But it was my people.”

“And mine have killed yours, so I suppose it’s fair, right?”

“No, no it’s not. Because you didn’t do any harm to anyone, you were just trying to help us.”

“Zuko told you?”

“He told us everything after the incident, and I don’t blame you for what you did, Sokka doesn’t either, we both understand.”

You just nodded your head and went back to what you were doing.

Katara kept trying to talk to you, while you talked to everyone else, you stayed clear of her and Sokka.

Even as you guys had to move from the air temple, you still avoided them, you even went with Toph just to get away.

She was sitting in her tent when you came over and shuffled awkwardly in front of it.

“Is something wrong?”

Katara noticed your lack of shirt, and the dirt on your skin.

“Can you fix this?”

“Sure? What happened?”

You sat on the outside of her tent and tossed your shirt in.

“Zuko and I were sparring, we got carried away…”

Katara laughed and got everything she needed out.

You watched her carefully, trying to figure out what she was doing so you could start fixing your own clothes.

“It’s pretty simple when you get the hang of it, it just takes some practice. You just have to be slow and careful.” She explained.

You nodded your head.

“So you can lavabend right?”

“Yeah, it’s a trait that runs in my family.”

“Can you earth bend?”

“No, but I can lightening bend, I’m trying to teach Zuko, but he just keeps redirecting it instead.”

“Can everyone lightening bend?”

“No, it’s hard to learn, and extremely dangerous.”

You shuffled a little further in to the tent as it started to softly rain, not wanting to get the water on your skin.

“You have to have a clear mind, a clear energy. You must tame the energies inside of you, because even one slip up can cost you your life. But you can master everything, and still not be able to create lightening, honestly not many people try. Those that do are seen as foolish, reckless. Much like lava bending, you have to have utter control, because one wrong move can cause more damage, it can destroy whole cities if you’re not careful.” You explained.

“Oh I get it, it’s kind of like blood bending, or metal bending.”

“Yeah, except with those there’s no risk to your own life.”

“I see, that’s why you stick to fire bending.”

“Yeah, it’s simple, less dangerous, and is more of a self defence strategy. I try not to use my Lava or lightening bending, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Katara offered you a smile.

“That’s really noble of you.”

“Thanks…”

You looked out at the rain that was coming down heavier and shuffled further inside as the little droplet touched your skin.

Katara set your shirt aside, and moved some things to make room for you to get inside away from the rain.

“I don’t have a towel or anything to dry you with, can I bend the rain off you?”

You slowly nodded your head, you wanted the water off, and you squeezed your eyes shut as she raised her hands.

You waited the pain, but it never came, you felt the water leave your skin, and you slowly opened your eyes.

Katara shaped the water into a small ball, and carefully let it out of the entrance of the tent while you watched.

“Are you okay?”

“Can.. can you show me that again?”

“Are you sure?”

You nodded your head and she smiled, moving to sit next to you as she drew some water in to the tent.

She played with it, sending it between her hands, creating different shapes, separating it and putting it back together.

She kept glancing at you, making sure you were okay, and when she saw you flinch she sent the water back out.

“Everything can be used to hurt others in the wrong hands, but it can also be used to help people too.” She smiled.

You looked at her, shifting a little as you back started to ache.

“Can you… maybe look at my back…?”

“Are you sure? I’d need water to heal it to remove the pain.”

“We… we’re friends… so… I trust you…” you mumbled.

Katara smiled brightly, and shuffled behind you, letting you know exactly what she was doing before she did it, and when you moved or flinched she would wait for you to give her the all clear.

You were terrified, you wanted to get out of there, but when the water touched your back, it soothed the pain you were feeling, it felt almost nice.

“Thank you for trusting me (Y/N), I know this is really hard for you.”

You said nothing in reply, just simply sat there with your eyes closed as you slowly breathed in and out.

She was your friend, you could trust her, you knew she wasn’t going to hurt you, and maybe with her help you would be able to look at water with the love and fascination you did as a child.

Maybe water didn’t have to be such a frightening thing anymore

#avatar the last airbender imagine #avatar the last airbender x you #avatar the last airbender x reader #avatar the last airbender #avatar x reader #avatar imagine #avatar #katara imagine #katara #katara x reader #Katara x you

116 notes · View notes

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

Note

I'm Nigerian and I really don't know how to feel about the event really. I'm honestly really scared not just the outfit thing but also how it can go especially with people that Leona is on bad terms with, and after the fairy gala thing I just don't know

[Referencing this post!]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!! 🙏

I think that’s a fair attitude to have (especially after Fairy Gala 💦). I’m definitely in the same boat with mixed feelings, but as I said, I’m proceeding with both hope and caution. (A balance of the two so that neither overwhelms the other!)

Clothing aside, so far there doesn’t seem to be anything grossly offensive with the portrayal of the characters?? At least they don’t appear to have shallow reasons for visiting. Leona is on pretty much bad terms with most of the TWST cast, so I don’t know if implying that the characters chosen to attend are problems in of themselves?? The story does give reasons for why these specific people were picked over others.

So there’s this tournament of “Catch the Tail” that Leona has to attend, and he has to choose members for the team that will represent him. He initially picks Jack, Lilia, and Vil because they are physically strong (magic is not allowed in Catch the Tail). Yuu and Grim come along due to Lilia’s insistence (Leona’s NOT happy about it). Some reasoning was also given or at least implied for why he didn’t ask others (which basically amount to “I hate them more than I hate you guys so you’re the ones I’m going with”); for example, Leona has clear beef with Malleus and Leona also outright states he’d rather have Vil than Rook.

Leona went out of his way to pick NRC students so he can skip the task of giving them the customary “Lion Guard” lessons if their team wins. (He just wants to do less work 😂)

Kalim was already invited to go by the royal family of the Sunset Savanna (separate of Leona); this is likely because he is from a wealthy and influential merchant family and would have these connections. We should also recall that Kalim has also been stated to be related to a prince, which, by proxy, also makes him nobility. It is not weird at all that royals would reach out to nobles and/or wealthy people from other nations to forge good relationships.

Jack goes with the group, but he ends up not getting an outfit because the heat of the Sunset Savanna gets to him and he’s unable to participate. Kalim has to fill in as a substitute for Jack, so that’s the reason why Kalim gets the Catch the Tail outfit.

The event isn’t out in full, so I don’t think we can fully evaluate its merit (or lack thereof) quite yet. Let’s try to keep our spirits high and enjoy what we can of this event!

#Leona Kingscholar #Malleus Draconia #Rook Hunt #Vil Schoenheit #Lilia Vanrouge #Kalim Al-Asim #Jack Howl #Grim #Yuu #spoilers #notes from the writing raven

119 notes · View notes

natlacentral · 1 month

Text

For ‘Avatar’s’ Dallas Liu and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Zuko and Iroh’s relationship ‘was the most important thing’

One of the most emotional callbacks in Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is in the music.

The fourth episode of the series, “Into the Dark,” features a flashback to a funeral. As young Prince Zuko offers his condolences to his Uncle Iroh on the death of his son Lu Ten, the score transitions into an orchestral version of the familiar melody, “Leaves From the Vine.” The song, first heard in the animated “Avatar” series, has long been associated with the Fire Nation general’s grief.

“That wrecked me,” said Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who portrays Iroh in the new live-action adaptation, now streaming.

“I only just heard the [new] song in December,” added Dallas Liu, who plays Zuko. “I started imagining our scene and [it] killed me.”

The live-action “Avatar” co-stars were in high spirits as they discussed the show and their characters’ relationship over coffee at a West Hollywood hotel earlier this month. (This reporter borrowed a page from Iroh’s book on the joys of spending time with fascinating strangers and opted for tea.)

Both actors say they are big fans of the animated series, which originally aired from 2005 to 2008 on Nickelodeon. More than once they mentioned the high bar set by the original show and the responsibility they felt to honor its spirit (a previous attempt was not well received), especially because everybody else on set loved the show, too.

“Not even just me and Paul,” Liu said. “Our cast members, our writers, even our transportation and craft [services] team.”

“Avatar” is set in a world inspired by Asian and Indigenous cultures, where certain people have the power to manipulate elements through a martial arts-infused ability known as bending. The original series was the rare children’s cartoon that touched on weighty topics such as war, genocide and imperialism within a fantasy coming-of-age story of a young hero destined to save the world.

“Zuko is a character that I’ve always loved since my childhood,” said Liu of the exiled Fire Nation prince. He is desperately searching for the Avatar — a special bender reincarnated into every generation tasked with maintaining harmony in the world — in order to win his father’s approval and a way back home.

Accompanying Zuko on his mission is Iroh, a renowned general and former heir to the crown who’d spent years at the front lines of the Fire Nation’s ongoing war to conquer the other nations.

Iroh “seems very jovial, but you know there is way more to him than that,” Lee said. “He carries a profound sense of sadness and loss.”

Working within a franchise with a passionate fanbase is nothing new for Lee, who has appeared as New Republic pilot Captain Carson Tevain several recent “Star Wars” series including “Ahsoka” and “The Mandalorian.” But getting cast as Iroh has offered the “Kim’s Convenience” actor a chance to take on the challenge of portraying a character that is already well-loved.

For Lee, Zuko and Iroh’s relationship “was the most important thing to get right.”

“It’s such a backbone to [Zuko’s] story arc,” Lee said. “To his pursuit and where he starts and where he ends.”

Because while “Avatar” is a story that follows Aang (Gordon Cormier), the world’s last airbender, as he figures out how to embrace his destiny and become the hero he is meant to be, it’s also a story about the teens in Aang’s orbit carving out their own paths.

Knowing this, Liu appreciated that their “Avatar” explores Zuko and Iroh’s past a earlier than it was revealed in the animated show. While there are some hints, it’s not until the second season that the animation digs into the Fire Nation royal family’s (dysfunctional) backstory. And some flashback scenes, like Lu Ten’s funeral, are original to the adaptation.

“I was excited because there was no expectation for it already,” Liu said. “I think there are scenes and dialogue [from the animated show] that people are going to look for with a certain level of expectation. But for everything that is new for Zuko on our show, it allowed me to be an artist and be creative.”

These moments were blank canvases Liu relished. He explained that to prepare for the younger version of Zuko in these flashbacks, he took hints from what he learned from his time on “PEN15” watching creators Maya Erskine and Anna Conkle portray middle-school versions of themselves.

“I think I got to tap into that younger side of my own self because I do see similarities between myself and Zuko,” said Liu. “Especially 14-year-old Zuko because there’s no ounce of evil in him.”

Iroh is despondent at Lu Ten’s funeral, as a procession of guests stop by to express their sympathies for the death of his only child. When it’s his turn, Zuko only offers the sentiments that are expected of him at first. But then he shares more heartfelt words as he tries to console his uncle. It’s one of the show’s earliest looks at Zuko’s humanity and capacity for love.

“Dallas does some really, really beautiful work at that funeral scene,” Lee said. “That speech that he delivers is just so heartbreakingly beautiful and comforting. He does all the heavy lifting. I just needed to react to what he was giving me.”

Not for the first time, Liu is quick to respond to the compliment by expressing his own appreciation for everything he learned from Paul during their time together on set.

“Especially that scene, and in a lot of our other emotional scenes, I can’t stress how much I actually relied on Paul,” Liu said. “He was always there every day to support me with honestly all of our scenes.”

Equally charming was when Liu tried to credit Iroh’s influence as the reason why Zuko is able to open up, for one brief moment, with Aang during another episode. Lee is quick to point out that Zuko’s compassion was something already within him from when he was younger, as seen in the flashback scenes.

Lee is aware that “Avatar” fans have wondered whether he would sing “Leaves From the Vine” on the series. It was first featured in Season 2 of the animated “Avatar” in an episode that shows Iroh singing the song through tears after he sets up a small memorial for Lu Ten on his birthday. (That segment was dedicated to Mako, Iroh’s original voice actor, who had died before the episode aired.)

“I didn’t want to spoil anything … but I knew that one scene was coming up,” Lee said. It’s one of the reveals that leads to “everybody look[ing] at Zuko differently. I love that. This adaptation, it really is about subtext, past experiences, traumas, success, failures, all of that stuff.”

Both Liu and Lee hope that their Zuko and Iroh will get to continue on their journey.

“What I love about their relationship is, Iroh is there to give advice, but he never tells [Zuko] what to do,” Lee said. Zuko’s “got to find his own way, and he supports him. … I really do wish [we get] to do more [seasons], because I want to see that relationship flourish even more.”

#natla #atla #netflix avatar #netflix atla #atla netflix #avatar netflix #avatar the last airbender #la times #article #dallas liu #paul sun hyung lee #interview

49 notes · View notes

ingek73 · 2 months

Text

In Canada, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Remind the World of Their Impact

As an Invictus Games alumni tells T&C, the Sussexes make you “feel seen and heard.”

BY EMILY BURACKPUBLISHED: FEB 17, 2024 10:00 AM EST

GETTY IMAGES; DESIGN BY MICHAEL STILLWELL

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, drama and public discourse surrounding the couple have ebbed and flowed, from their sit-down interview with Oprah, to Harry’s memoir, Spare, to their attendance at King Charles’s coronation. But over the three days they spent this past week in British Columbia, the world was reminded of the power the couple has for bringing attention to causes that matter to them.

And there’s no cause that’s nearer and dearer to Prince Harry’s heart than the Invictus Games. “These last few days have been very, very special,” he said at the visit’s penultimate event, which was held at a local community center. “Every single one of you inspire me, and you inspire us, every single day.”

KARWAI TANG

The Duke and Duchess at Whistler Sliding Centre on day two of their three-day trip.

Throughout their packed itinerary in Whistler, Squamish, and Vancouver, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time meeting with the wounded and injured veterans who were learning winter adaptive sports ahead of next year’s Invictus Games, as well as with members of local First Nations communities. Wherever they went, it was typically Prince Harry who deviated from the meticulously planned timetable. When they were scheduled to spend 15 minutes on Whistler-Blackcomb mountain meeting with the athletes, they took 45, because Harry had to speak with everyone (and try out sit skiing). One skeleton run at Whistler Sliding Centre quickly turned into multiple, because the Duke of Sussex just had to go again.

As Mike Bourgeois, an Invictus Games alumni who spent time with them on this trip told T&C, “You’ve got a timetable, and we’re in that timetable, standing by ready to go and leap into action. And the first veteran that Harry is able to catch their eyes—the schedule is just out the window. He’s devoted to getting down on his knees and looking an athlete in the eyes and asking about how their experience is,” he says.

Bourgeois, who competed with Team Canada at the Invictus Games at the Hague, was back—along with his wife, Lori—to serve as an ambassador for the Games at the One Year to Go events this week. “We’re nobody,” he says with a self-deprecating smile, “just one of a thousand people that work to support the foundation and the Invictus Games. But the Duke remembers us. If you’ve met [Prince Harry], and you’ve interacted and you’ve talked about your experience as a veteran, he remembers—a year or two years later, you just pick up the conversation, which is pretty astonishing.”

He continues, “Yes, they’re briefed on a daily basis about who they interact with. But the nuances in the conversation, you can’t fake that. The best way I can describe what the impact is of their involvement is: You feel like you’re seen and heard. You’re not lost in the woods, you're not insignificant.”

KARWAI TANG//GETTY IMAGES

Bourgeois stands with Meghan as she borrows his phone to snap a photo of Harry. Lori stands at right (in a matching Invictus Games beanie).

Harry and Meghan’s ability to keep their attention focused on the cause was all the more notable given recent criticism of the couple. After a story published in the Telegraph this week suggested that the Sussexes had “three days to prove they can behave,” their spokesperson issued a statement to the Mirror: “We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They’re still here. They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite constantly being challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.” And in an interview with Good Morning America, Prince Harry did not dwell on any family conflict. He spoke briefly about his father, King Charles, saying, “Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”

The Sussexes’ dedication to their work was evident throughout their time in Canada this week, and Prince Harry was clearly in his element amongst fellow veterans. “We are talking about the royals, there’s a lot of protocol involved,” Bourgeois says. “But when you get into fellow veteran environments, it's like: We’re his people and he’s our people. A little bit of the armor can be shed when you're together because it’s a safe space.”

For Major Joanna Labonté, who competed in the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf with Team Canada last year, the support that Meghan and Harry bring to the wounded and injured veteran community is powerful. “Considering my injury, for a long time, I felt very powerless and invisible,” she told T&C. “I feel like they’re shining a light on us—the military members who have struggled, who have felt a lot of uncertainty in our future. And they're saying ‘Your journey is just beginning, it’s not over. Yes, you’re releasing from the military, but you’re just beginning this brand new phase of your life. And you matter.’”

Labonté continues, “We really genuinely feel like we matter to that lovely couple. Healing through sport is something significant—I've seen it in myself, in my teammates. It's the real deal.”

“We really genuinely feel like we matter to that lovely couple.”

Every Invictus Games participant that T&C spoke with this week said a version of the same thing: The games have changed their life, for the better, and Prince Harry and Meghan are a notable part of that. “The Invictus Games have gone a long way helping my recovery—they have helped me mentally, physically and emotionally,” Peacemaker Azuegbulam, a competitor from Nigeria, says. “Before, I was worried [about] how to cope with my life with the new condition that I’m [in].” (Azuegbulam lost his left leg when his army unit came under fire.) But when he got to the Invictus Games, he says, “It makes me feel good. It makes me feel loved.” Prince Harry later spoke about Azuegbulam, calling him, “quite remarkable.”

JEREMY ALLEN

Chief Sparrow is second from left, at the Hillcrest Community Centre.

This week, too, wasn’t just about the Invictus Games community, but about the First Nations that the 2025 Games are partnered with. At a wheelchair curling event of the week, Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam First Nation and Wilson Williams of Squamish Nation gave a traditional welcome, and land acknowledgement (a message acknowledging original Indigenous inhabitants of the land who have often been displaced). When Harry spoke, he shared, “Thank you to the four First Nations for allowing us to be on your territory.” He and Meghan also spent time with First Nations communities this week, at the Squamish Líl̓wat cultural center, and Mount Currie Community Centre.

“When we met the Duke, he said, ‘I want to learn more about reconciliation,’” Chief Sparrow tells T&C. “That meant a lot to me: The very first time I met him, for him to [say] he wants to learn and then [ask] how we can move forward together—that is something that I brought back to my community. That’s all part of the reconciliation and the wrongdoings of what happened. We can’t dwell on the past. We have to move forward, as a society.”

ANDREW CHIN//GETTY IMAGES

Meghan and Harry take a photo with an athlete.

After the final event concluded at Hillcrest Community Centre, Prince Harry came up to the small group of reporters, including myself, that had been at every event of the week. He thanked us, joked about the cold, and despite his antipathy towards the press in the past, it was clear there was genuine appreciation for the media attention on the Invictus Games.

In that moment, it was hard not to think of Princess Diana. Harry’s warmth, and his ability to make those around him feel seen, is directly reminiscent of his mother—as is his ability to use his spotlight to highlight the causes that matter most to him. In just 72 hours, the impact of Harry and Meghan became clear.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the Invictus Games, and next year’s event will be its seventh edition. In Prince Harry’s remarks closing the week, he spoke directly to the Invictus competitors, saying, “I know how much you love to serve. In many instances, you live to serve.” He finished with a promise, outlining the duty both he and Meghan feel to the community. “We will continue to serve,” he said, “and to inspire people up, down, around the country and around the world.”

#prince harry #meghan markle #duke of sussex #duchess of sussex #invictus games #vancouver #first nations #canada

11 notes · View notes

caffedrine · 1 year

Text

This is just a very quick and dirty plot summary from chapters 11-13. Lots of spoilers, I'm leaving out a lot of information, and there's no guarantee that it's accurate.

I made it so that I could follow along with the plot, keep track of the mysteries, and a few of the interesting scenes.

Spoilers for Gilbert's route

Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers

In the chapel, Gilbert meets with a mysterious person. Gilbert’s plan is in place, everyone is just waiting for his signal. As a reward for his help, Gilbert is giving the person a chance at revenge. The person agrees, only he needs more time to figure out the right target.

The next day, at the beginning of Emma’s daily lessons with Sariel, he admits that there is a new giant problem facing them. They’re coming up on the White Rose festival, where the nation of Rhodolite mourns their dead. Interestingly, it was also during this festival that the Blood Stained Rose day happened 10 years ago, so it has also morphed into a day that Rhodolite mourns the surprise invasion attempt.

Interestingly, Gilbert claims that Obsidian has already paid reparations for the attack. Sariel points out that no official messenger or member of the Royal Family has yet to apologize. Gilbert responds that the emperor will never bow his head in apology. The monetary compensation was the apology.

Well, anyways, Gilbert refuses to hide away and insists that he will participate. At this point Emma chimes in support of Gilbert. Given the silence and the not really an apology-apology, his participation in the White Rose Festival might lessen the animosity between Rhodolite and Obsidian and be a gesture of peace from a country that will never officially apologize.

After they leave Sariel’s Office, Emma asks Gilbert if he was behind the Obsidian invasion on the Blood-Stained Rose Day. He reminds her that he is the Marshal of Eternal Victory, having never lost, so of course he wasn’t in a command position. That said, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t there at all. He was an independent observer, he wanted to see how Rhodolite responded to the invasion so that he could one day invade himself. Instead, the commander was the Emperor of Obsidian himself.

Emma and Gilbert attend the meeting with the Domestic Affairs Faction. Emma gives the gathered ministers an impressive speech asking them to work with Gilbert so that they can come to a mutual understanding of the pain Rhodolite suffered that day. The ministers all stand up and boycott the meeting with Gilbert/Emma. Gilbert asks how Emma’s plan to bring him into the warmth of human kindness is going.

Emma goes from person to person to get the facts of what happened during the Blood-Stained Rose Day: The Obsidian Empire launched an attack against Rhodolite, led by the Obsidian Emperor. That was also the day that Chevalier famously left 1000 of Rhodolite’s citizens to die in order to save the nation. From what Yves recalls, the alliance between Obsidian and Rhodolite had gone sour long before then, with some very unfavorable deals negotiated before it just broke off. The king sent out the known 7 princes to defend the borders, while he and Sariel stayed behind. Sariel was preparing to negotiate with the invading Obsidian forces if they reached the capital. The King was crying in bed, blaming himself for the situation.

From Obsidian’s point of view, Rhodolite nobles along the border had gathered their troops and launched an attack into Obsidian, who was simply defending its’ borders. Sariel recalls that rumor, it had been proven false. Gilbert disagrees, the rumor had been proven true. Though honestly, it really doesn’t matter the reason, the Obsidian Emperor is a warmonger and he would have attacked Rhodolite for one reason or another. From Gilbert’s point of view, there was no lofty ideal behind the attack.

Clavis is oddly reluctant to mention his role in the fight, when he rode into the village of 1000 civilians whom Chevalier left to die. Clavis explains that he’d hate for Emma to hear about his bravery and fall in love with him.

Moving aside from that, Nokto notes that there have been no sightings of the Supreme Commander, the Obsidian Emperor on the battlefield since the incursion. While normal military commanders command from behind the lines, the Obsidian Emperor was famous for enjoying fighting to the point that he would join the ranks himself. Gilbert warns them that the Obsidian Emperor has not given up on Rhodolite.

Licht and Yves recall their role in the Blood Stained Rose Day – Licht nearly died, but interestingly he uses the term ‘could not’ as opposed to ‘did not’. Yves also admits that he was the only prince to come back completely clean because he couldn’t bring himself to fight. Gilbert is amazed at how Rhodolite handles traitors, if it was Obsidian, Yves would have been killed. Both Licht and Emma yell at Gilbert, Emma thinking about how conflicted Yves must have felt.

Gilbert brings up Hope Village, a place that was almost completely destroyed in the invasion. They are told about how Jin had gone to that place, and even so, it was very tragic, and by the time he arrived, it was too late to save the village. Gilbert thinks that while the 1000 prisoners massacred by Obsidian w pretty bad, in his estimation, what happened at Hope Village was just as bad, if not worse. Licht and Yves aren’t thrilled that Gilbert is talking about it like it’s someone else’s problem. Gilbert disagrees, he is part of it, and he’s not going to make excuses otherwise. It’s natural for them to hate him, and he won’t be surprised if he’s murdered at any point during his visit. Even if he puts on a solemn face and mourns, no one will forgive what Obsidian did 10 years ago.

They run into Luke just outside the domestic affairs office, who is was summoned for something but decides to play hooky, reasoning that he’s worried about Emma. He joins her and Gilbert ostensibly to protect her from Gilbert while Emma continues to investigate which prince did what during the Blood-Stained Rose Day. They track down the training grounds, only to find that they just missed Leon and Jin. Julius, Leon’s right-hand soldier, kindly gives them directions to where Leon and Jin are, even drawing a map for them. Emma notes that Julius weirdly doesn’t seem to be afraid of Gilbert, while all the other soldiers in the training grounds are eyeing their group nervously. Maybe he’s just really good at hiding his animosity toward Gilbert.

They find Jin in a quiet, somber area just outside the castle. He’s kneeling before two graves but stands up when he sees the group approach. Emma feels like they’re intruding on him, peeping into his secret, and apologizes to him. Jin doesn’t mind, but he’s surprised to see Gilbert of all people visiting him. He explains that this is a memorial he made in remembrance of Hope Village, one of the great tragedies of the invasion. Interestingly, it’s one of the mysteries too, instead of Rhodolite reclaiming it like standard propaganda says, Obsidian withdrew their forces from it. Maybe Gilbert knows why?

Gilbert guesses that they came across a scary beast and ran away. After all, those soldiers hadn’t been following the rules of war and had been attacking civilians instead of soldiers, so anything could have happened to them. It’s part of the military doctrine in Obsidian to not engage civilians in combat.

This is news to Jin, but Gilbert explains that there were a lot of incompetent military commanders that day. And the bloodthirsty emperor is known to overlook ‘indiscretions’ among the commanders as long as they give him results. Gilbert laughs at the memory, and Jin, who is known to be very kind and warm to all, scowls at him. Jin apologizes to Emma; he understands that she’s trying to compromise with Gilbert to lessen the hostilities between Rhodolite and Obsidian. However, he doesn’t think the country is ready yet to forgive what Obsidian did, and everyone from Obsidian will be hated.

Gilbert laughs, and notes that Luke had described Jin to him as the kindest of all the brothers, does he still think that way?

Luke?

Apparently, this entire time, Luke has been staring blankly at the scene, lost in his own world. Eventually, he realizes that they’re talking to him, and responds as if he just woke up from a dream. Jin is worried that he looks sick, but Luke insists that it’s just the angle of the sun. He grabs Emma’s hand and drags her away from Jin.

As The White Rose Day approaches, Gilbert becomes increasingly kind to Emma, and the harassment increases. Court servants ignore her when she calls out to them or send her on meaningless tasks using Sariel and the princes’ names. Books in her room have needles sticking out of them, and Emma has injured her hand on them. Rio has begun intercepting threatening letters, though some still manage to get through to Emma.

Currently, Emma is locked in a random storeroom. She remembers Yves’ pep talk, but she can’t bring herself to retaliate against people who are hurting because of the White Rose Day. It’s Gilbert who finds and rescues her, only after extracting a promise to bake 1,000 cookies for him. He’s surprised to find that she’s not crying and wonders if he should have waited longer before rescuing her. He asks what Emma is even doing; she’s supposed to be figuring out which prince would make the best king, not running around helping prepare for the festival. He then shows her the lock that he picked to rescue her – it’s high-end, something that a normal servant shouldn’t be able to afford. The servants are the ones who are harassing her, but behind them is a member of the aristocracy, someone who doesn't mind using others to do his dirty work.

Gilbert asks how pulling him into her warm world of human compassion is going.

Emma resolves to continue to try, if she gives up then she’ll definitely fail. Gilbert doesn’t think it’s worth it. He does a magic trick to turn a white rose into a black rose and gives it to her. Emma thinks that she prefers the white rose. They return from the storeroom and give the supplies to Yves who is upset at how long they took, before he realizes what must have happened, and asks Emma if she’s okay. Emma tells a white lie about having trouble finding everything and assures him that she’s okay, but afterward, she wonders when her lie ended.

Later, Emma goes to her room and starts crying, only to be interrupted by Gilbert who’s happy to see her tears. He reminds her about the 1,000 cookie promise, and Emma tells him to give her a moment. He promises he will, but since he gets bored easily, he’ll just poke around her room. He finds the book he lent her, the sequel to her favorite book and they talk about it. It features a hero who encounters many horrible things in a court setting, but remains themself, and doesn’t let the court corrupt them. Emma finally admits that she’s falling short of the protagonist. All the places where the protagonist has triumphed, she has failed.

Surprisingly, Gilbert gives her a pep talk, telling her that it’s not a moral failing to feel overwhelmed and cry every once in a while. He warns her that she’s been cutting off her friends and allies, telling them that she’s okay instead of reaching out for help. If she’s not careful, she’ll become a beast just like him. Gilbert then offers to comfort her.

With his body.

Seriously, Gilbert is offering to bite her wherever she wants.

Emma warns him that if he tries, she will bite back. Gilbert doesn’t mind, in fact, he officially gives her his extra special permission to bite him anywhere she wants. He then helpfully sticks his cold thumb against Emma’s lips.

Emma decides not to bite Gilbert, but he’s just sad that she’s stopped crying. He tugs on her cheek, wishing she would start again. Giving up, he opens the door and ushers her out – she has a lot of cookies to make for him. Feeling better, Emma agrees. Gilbert came all the way to Rhodolite, she has to use the opportunity to make him fall in love with the country. Gilbert thinks about how they both have ulterior motives for this friendship between them.

Late that night, Gilbert receives a report from Roderich. He has a list of names, and Gilbert tells him to eliminate a specific one. He doesn’t mind minor harassment, but this person went too far with his prey. He pulls out a needle that had been placed in the book he lent Emma. Roderich thinks he must really like her, but Gilbert disagrees. The closer he gets to her, the more he hates her. He’s now just constantly angry. With The White Rose Day fast approaching, he’s going to ensure all the malice in the country is pointed at Emma.

After all, he hates white roses.

#ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri spoilers #gilbert von obsidian

82 notes · View notes

snifflesthemouse · 1 year

Text

Did I just get a Scoop in MY neck of the Woods?

DID A REAL SCOOP FALL INTO MY LAP TODAY?

Hello You Lovely Readers!

First of all, I need to say that this author cannot express all the gratitude felt for all of you. This mouse is close to 1000 followers!! I know that is a very big deal to this writing rodent, so thank you all! BUT I HAVE A SCOOP…

Now before I render the scoop, let me reiterate this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this instance. I would like to say that maybe Journalist Jey told Ashli from the DanjaZone (God, we all miss her, don’t we?) but I cannot recall for certain… I was shocked to hear these things today. Especially where I was and with whom. To find someone from the United Kingdom in my neck of the woods is rare… to find one with intel is a blessing.

I don’t know the credentials for this cat, but the stuff being said makes total sense. This man was a transplant from England, in my neck of the woods in the States! And his sentiment regarding the Duo was so honest, that he started telling stories I never heard as an American reading via the media.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING I AM RECALLING IS REHASHED OUT AT HOME, LATER. THIS CAT DIDN'T GIVE ME AN INTERVIEW LOL. I AM PARAPHRASING.

The first story I heard was something that proves Buckingham Palace was in fact protecting Harry and Meghan. This story never made it anywhere I can think of, and they must have a ton of these stories covered up somewhere. This is the story he told:

“In the UK, there is a factory that makes guns specifically for when heirs are born. There’s a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge, and they only make one of each for each child. The guns are given to the Crown Estate, as they are essentially public property. William had his when he was born, and Harry had his. Meghan allegedly forced Harry into putting the guns made for him at birth up for auction. Prince William was forced into buying the guns back at auction so that these very rare, and very publicly owned items, could be returned back to the family. As they had no business being sold, anyway.”

Then, he told us (my husband and I) about how the monarchy isn’t just some people who won the genetic lotto. He explained that monarchy is more about national identity and tradition, and that the entire nation hates them both. He then told us about this part next regarding Harry’s military services:

“When Harry wanted to join the military, they wanted him to go into something like the Coastguard or even like William did. No, Harry didn’t want that. He wanted to serve in the “real” military. Even though, as an heir to the Throne, Harry knew that he would be costing the taxpayers millions more than necessary. He was never alone in those helicopters. There was a team that went out before him, a team that went out with him, and then a team that came back after him to ensure there was no way he could be left vulnerable. He never once had a risk of life or limb or anything at all whiles over there. It was all a sham. The most decorated member of the Royal Family is a fraud and he hides behind his wife. He didn’t even have military uniform on for the funeral, and that is because he was stripped of it all. He and his wife denounced their duties. He didn’t earn any of anything he did have.”

Now you all have no idea how excited we were, as my husband knows and appreciates how much this rat loves the Royals!!

I travel often. I spend a lot of time on the road (compared to the average person), and I spend a lot of time meeting people from Michigan to South Carolina. Yet, I’ve yet to meet someone from the UK (and he and his wife were from Oxford City). My husband has served next to the men and women of the United Kingdom while in Iraq (He was deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once). He already knows how cool the people of the UK are, but for me this was my first in-person encounter. Like I know I sound silly. But it was so neat.

I want to know what you all think. Does this make sense about the guns? I believe the second story, but I know nothing much about the guns (even though I want to say Ashli may’ve mentioned it).

The last thing he said though was that he was certain Harry’s kids aren’t getting titles for several reasons (not what you would think and I am paraphrasing here, this isn’t exact. I am remembering as well as I can):

“Harry is illegitimate. His real dad is Hewitt and everyone in the country knows it. Everyone passes him off as Charles’s because of his mum. His mum had an affair and Harry is illegitimate. His kids shouldn’t have titles because they refused them for the kids by choice. They chose to abandon their roles and duties and country. Those kids aren’t entitled to anything because Harry isn’t. This is why Charles doesn’t care that he left as much as you’d think. Optics is everything in the Royal Family. Charles loves monarchy more than anything else. He’s waited for that seat for too long, and he won’t let Harry knock him out of it. Bet.”

We also discussed the differences between our food and cultures, and I really enjoyed the conversation. My husband and I laughed when he said his wife almost left him like ten times in the first two months of being here.

He said, “She went to make meatballs and spaghetti. She didn’t know all the food here has been pre-seasoned and flavored. She’s adding all her regular spices and flavors, and she takes a bite and starts to cry. She said that was the straw the broke the camel’s back. It’s weird in America. You all think you can throw “ja-loppa-nose (his pronunciation of jalapenos)” on everything and call it spicy. I love this country, but I do miss the food and the culture of my home country.”

It’s amazing the things you find out and learn. He alluded to the fact that Buckingham Palace essentially protected them every step of the way, and they still do protect them.

So… what do you think about the guns or the deployment story or everything else? I’ve heard that Hewitt wasn’t around until after Harry was born, but who would really know for certain? Anything can be denied and covered over with a good story and a photo. It’s the game of optics, remember?

Remember, the plan was for Harry to leave after 10 years for the transition of the slimmed down Monarchy? It seems there is something going on we’re missing.

We’re missing something, right in front of our faces, too.

Bet… I bet the Telegraph will get a surrogacy dossier or something along those lines soon enough. Probably right after the coronation. Maybe even a day or two before, that way the sensationalism is there for action and Charles will finally have that forced hand he needs.

Until the next bit of cheese drops in the floor,

Your Mouse Sniffles.

#yankeewally #murky meg #according2taz #celtviews #uk royal family #megxit

79 notes · View notes